Fran Horkowitz, founder of the Senior Theatre Players, backstage at the Little Theatre ofMechanicsburg, where exposed brickwork from the original building can be seen.

It was first constructed as a one-room schoolhouse in 1863.

The Other Side of

Leonard Nimoy

page 2

The National

September 11 Museum

page 7

Inside:

By Chelsea Peifer

Theater has been a pivotal part of human culture since the most primitivetimes. Once the lifeblood of every community, today local theaters mustcompete with entertainment formats like television and movies for theattention of audiences.

But in Central Pennsylvania, local theaters continue thriving because ofpassionate individuals like Fran Horkowitz.

Horkowitz, 87, has acted, directed, and served on the board for severaltheaters, and her primary involvement has been with the Little Theatre ofMechanicsburg.

But in 2009, she saw an empty niche for seniors who wanted to remaininvolved with performing arts but without the commitment of memorizing atremendous amount of lines or attending several months’ worth of rehearsals.

Ever the go-getter, Horkowitz decided to form the Senior Theatre Playersto fill that void.

The Senior Theatre Players began with six players traveling to seniorcenters, assisted and independent living homes, and various locations inCentral Pennsylvania to perform short skits. The group has grown to include15 players ranging in age from 50 to 91.

please see LAUGHS page 15

Theater Group and its Founder SpreadHumor and Active Aging

For SeniorLaughs, the

Play’s the Thing

Chester County Edition September 2014 Vol. 11 No. 9

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As Star Trek’s Mr.Spock, LeonardNimoy created

one of the most iconiccharacters in televisionhistory. But for the pasttwo decades, Nimoy hastransported his career tothe other side of thecamera and is nowregarded as a leadingcontemporary Americanphotographer.

Early in his actingcareer, he recognizedphotography could bemore than just snapshots on location.

“I carried a camera with me whereverI went and began to realize I was missingthe place I was in because my eye wasbehind the camera so much,” Nimoyrecalled from his home in Los Angeles.“I had the photographs, but I hadn’t had

the experience. So I began using thecamera when I was on a specific,thematic quest.”

The photography bug eventually bithim hard at the pinnacle of his career.

“I had finished three seasons of StarTrek and two seasons of Mission:

Impossible, and I actually consideredchanging careers,” Nimoy explained. “Iwent to school at UCLA to studyphotography under master artphotographer Robert Heineken andbecame very excited about the prospect.”

But with no enthusiasm for

commercial photography,he realized a career infine-art photographywould be difficult at thetime.

“So I decided to staywith my acting anddirecting, although Icontinued to studyphotography and work atit.”

Around 1994, hebecame a full-timephotographer (whilecontinuing to tackle somefilm and TV projects of

interest), producing work that waslargely concept driven—themes that tolda story, rather than random, individualphotos. His diverse subjects includehands, eggs, landscapes, nudes, anddancers, all shot with black-and-whitefilm cameras.

The Other Side of Leonard Nimoy

Tinseltown Talks

Nick Thomas

William Shatner asCaptain Kirk and Nimoy as

Mr. Spock in Star Trek.

Photo courtesy of Seth Kaye PhotographyNimoy has transported his career to the

other side of the camera and is nowregarded as a leading contemporary

American photographer.

Photo courtesy of Seth Kaye PhotographyNimoy in 2010 posing with a subject

and her life-sized Secret Self.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews September 2014 3

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“I have two darkrooms and do myown printing up to a 16- by 20-inchimage. I like to be in touch with thewhole process.”

His provocative Full Body project,published in book form in 2007,featured mostly naked, full-figuredwomen.

“My original idea was to replicatesome rather famous images shot by otherphotographers who had used fashionmodels, and to use these women in thosesame poses.”

More recently, for his Secret Selvesproject—his first shot in color—hephotographed 100 people from all walksof life, each acting out a fantasy identity.

Nimoy, who is represented by R.Michelson Galleries in Northampton,Mass., had three concurrent exhibitionsin the Boston area that began in lateMarch, when the artist turned 83.

“The exhibits cover about 20 years ofmy career, so it’s quite comprehensive.”

AlthoughNimoy’s works canbe pricey (up to$18,000), moreaffordable imageswith a Spock theme(e.g., the Vulcanhand salute) aresold through a sitemanaged by hisgranddaughter(www.shopllap.com).

“She’s quite theentrepreneur andoperates it like aclassy boutique,” said Nimoy. “There aret-shirts, tote bags, and photographssigned by me. The things we do for ourgrandchildren!”

In February, reports surfaced thatNimoy was suffering from chronicobstructive pulmonary disease, a lungailment that affects some 13 millionAmericans, according to the Centers for

Disease Controland Prevention,and is causedprimarily bysmoking.

“Before Istopped smoking30 years ago, Iwas deeplyaddicted,” hesaid. “I had to gothrough variousprograms beforeI quit. But bythen, the damage

was done. In my late 70s and early 80s, Irecognized that I did not have greatbreathing capacity, so I wasn’t surprisedby the COPD diagnosis.

“I use medication daily and givemyself a jolt of oxygen when I need it,”he said. “The main difficulty is highaltitudes. We’ve had a house in LakeTahoe for 20 years, which is a beautiful

retreat. But at 6,000 feet, I just can’t gothere anymore. Other than that, I’m stillvery active and not ready to cash it inyet!”

Despite rumors throughout his actingcareer that he resented being typecast asSpock, Nimoy says he regards thecharacter with fondness.

“I’ve always been proud to beidentified with Spock.”

And what if J.J. Abrams, theproducer/director of the new Star Trekfilms, approached him for another filmrole?

“I’d take his call, but doubt I’d do anyacting,” he said. “I don’t want to go offon location again. I’m enjoying life withmy family too much.”

Thomas’ features and columns have appearedin more than 300 magazines and newspapers,and he is the author of Raised by the Stars,published by McFarland. He can be reachedat his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com

Photo courtesy of Seth Kaye PhotographyNimoy’s diverse subjects include hands,

eggs, landscapes, nudes, and dancers, allshot with black-and-white film cameras.

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Dear Savvy Senior,Can you recommend any credible

resources that rate the best vehicles forolder drivers? My wife and I are bothin our 70s and are looking topurchase a new automobile but coulduse some help choosing one that’s agefriendly. What can you tell us? – Car Shoppers

Dear Shoppers,While there are a number of

websites that rate new vehiclesfor older drivers, one of themost credible is Edmunds.com,a top-rated online resource forautomotive researchinformation.

For 2014, they developed alist of “top 10 vehicles forseniors” based on user-friendlyfeatures that help compensatefor many of the physicalchanges—like diminishedvision, arthritis, and range-of-motion loss—that can comewith aging.

But before we get to the list,here is a rundown of differentfeatures that are available on manynew vehicles today and how theycan help with various age-relatedphysical problems. So depending onwhat ails you or your wife, here’swhat to look for.

Knee, hip, or leg problems: Forcomfort, a better fit, and easierentry and exit, look for vehicles thathave six-way adjustable power seatsthat move the seat forward,backward, up, and down and theseat-back forward and backward.

Also look for low door thresholdsand seat heights that don’t requiretoo much bending or climbing toget into. Leather or faux-leatherseats are also easier to slide in andout of than cloth seats.

Limited upper-body range ofmotion: If you have difficultylooking over your shoulder to backup or merge into traffic, look forvehicles with a large rear windowfor better visibility; wide-anglemirrors, which can minimize blind

spots; backup cameras; activeparallel-park assistance; and blind-spot warning systems that alert youto objects in the way.

Also, for comfort and fit,consider vehicles that have a tilt andtelescoping steering wheel,adjustable seatbelts, and heated seatswith lumbar support.

Arthritic hands: To help withdifficult and painful gripping andturning problems, features that canhelp include a keyless entry and apush-button ignition, a thickersteering wheel, power mirrors andseats, and larger dashboard controls.

And in SUVs and crossovers, anautomatic tailgate closer can be areal bonus.

Diminished vision: Look forvehicles with larger instrumentpanels and dashboard controls withcontrasting text that’s easier to see.

And those with sensitivity toglare will benefit from extendablesun visors, an auto-dimmingrearview mirror, and glare-reducingside mirrors.

Short and/or overweight: Lookfor six-way adjustable seats,adjustable foot pedals, and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.

2014 Best VehiclesHere is Edmunds’ list of top 10

vehicles for 2014 listed inalphabetical order. Each offersfeatures designed to support driverscoping with the conditionsdiscussed above.

Their picks include both sedansand SUVs and range from top-of-the-line luxury models to those withmore affordable price tags.

• Acura RDX SUV

• Audi A8 sedan

• Ford Taurus sedan

• Honda Accord sedan

• Hyundai Sonata sedan

• Lexus ES 350 sedan

• Mazda CX-9 SUV

• Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan

• Toyota Avalon sedan

• Volkswagen Passat

To read more about the detailsof these choices, visit

www.edmunds.com and type “top 10vehicles for seniors for 2014” intotheir search bar.

AAA ResourceAnother excellent resource that

can help you chose a vehicle thatmeets your needs is the AmericanAutomobile Association’s online toolcalled “Smart Features for OlderDrivers.”

At www.seniordriving.aaa.com/smartfeatures you can input the areasyou have problems with—like kneeproblems, arthritic hands, or a stiffupper body—and the tool willidentify the makes and models thathave the features that will bestaccommodate your needs.

Although this tool looks atmodel-year 2013 vehicles, in manycases the features shown are carriedover for 2014 models.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor tothe NBC Today show and author ofThe Savvy Senior Book.www.savvysenior.org

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

Top-Rated New Vehicles for Seniors

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews September 2014 5

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Dear Mark: With apologies toGeneral Douglas MacArthur, thequestion still remains: What happensto old slot machines that have outlivedtheir usefulness? I have noticed thatsome of my favorite machinesmysteriously disappear, one casino at atime, until they are just a fleetingmemory of spinning reels and flashinglights. Gone, but not forgotten. Isthere a graveyard for our dearlydeparted friends?

– Leigh H.

Any time you see a slot machinedisappear from the floor, from thecasino’s point of view, that machine wasmisbehaving, or better stated,underperforming.

All machines, Leigh, need to showreasonable results, or their replacementis inevitable. A gaming machine’s

performance is measured by two factors:the amount of coins wagered daily(“coin in”) and theamount collecteddaily by the casino(“win”).

If a machine’sperformance faltersever so slightly, a slotmanager coulddecide a change isneeded in the slotmix, meaning theplacement andpositioning ofmachines on thecasino floor.

My guess here,Leigh, is that youmight also beinquiring aboutthose 20th-century

antique machines from manufacturerslike Mills and Jennings or some of the

later IGT or Ballymachines from the’70s or ’80s.

Their resting placeshave a variety ofpossibilities. The firstbeing, as with any slotmachine, they areusually sent to afacility that stripsthem for usable partsand sorts the rest forscrap.

Also, stored in thebasement of manycasinos is that slotgraveyard you speakof, where they live outtheir lives collectingdust.

Some machines might go to a privatecollection, but, depending on local law,they may have to be renderedinoperable. Many a man cave has onesitting in the corner to pilfer quartersfrom the owner’s friends.

A collector like yours truly wouldnever part with his 1934 Mills Star“Firebird” QT nickel machine, as it paysfor the free Guinness or PBR, theirchoice, offered when some sucker isyanking its handle.

Then there are retail establishmentsspecific to the selling of older slotmachines in gambling towns like Renoand Las Vegas, where selling gamblingequipment is legal. Some of these storeshave a decent-sized collection on site.

If you are a want-to-be buyer of a“dearly departed friend,” it is importantto check state and local laws before you

Where’d Ya Go?

Deal Me InBy Mark Pilarski

please see WHERE page 12

6 September 2014 50plus SeniorNews www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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Alden Thorpe just missed WorldWar II, but he knew it well fromhis two brothers, who fought in

Europe during the Battle of the Bulge.They wrote to give him a gritty pictureof those desperate days of combat ourtroops went through during “the Bulge,”the largest land battle the U.S. Army everfought in.

Thorpe was seeking adventure,though, and the Navy poster that said,“Join the Navy and see the world” lookedmighty good to him. So, at age 17, hegot his parents to sign their permissionfor him to join the Navy. And he was onhis way.

After boot camp at Bainbridge, Md.,he was picked for duty on destroyers andwas sent to Great Lakes BasicEngineering School in Michigan. Therehe learned to operate and service boilers,pumps, engines—every moving part of acombat ship.

His exam resultsqualified him to be afireman, and he was offto San Diego, where hebecame part of the crewaboard the destroyerUSS Hawkins.

The destroyer hadbeen assisting inoccupation operations inJapan and in escortingships to and from theMarianas beforereturning to San Diego,where Thorpe joined thecrew. He remembersbeing surprised thatmany of the crewmembers were scarcelyolder than he, mostly17- and 18-year-olds.

The next few months were spent intraining operations off the West Coast

before the Hawkinssailed again for the FarEast in January 1947.

They stopped brieflyin Hawaii, and thenheaded for Guam. Onthe way there, they raninto a mammoth three-day typhoon that attimes caused their shipto roll 45 degrees.Thorpe says he askedone of the chiefs, “Doesit get any rougher thanthis?” To which the chiefanswered grimly, “If itdoes, we won’t be in it;we’ll be under it.”

When the stormsubsided, theycontinued on to Guam

and then to China. There, they steamedbetween Chinese and Korean ports,

assisting and supporting AmericanMarine units in their attempts to stabilizethe explosive Chinese situation at thattime and to protect American lives.

During the summer of 1947, theHawkins steamed up the Yellow River,dodging the many sandbars as they madetheir way to Shanghai to evacuate theAmerican Marine detachment there.Thorpe says he decided to take a jeepride to see the Great Wall … until, onthe way there, he got fired on byCommunist Chinese and gave up thatidea in a hurry.

For a time, their home port wasTsingtao in northern China, where it wasoften 20 degrees F at noontime, andthere was ice everywhere. They stayedbusy, chipping off the ice that constantlycoated the ship. Their main duty therewas to keep an eye on Russian shipswhile following them up and down thecoast.

Life in the Navy Was Great …Except for the Typhoons

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

Fireman Second ClassAlden Thorpe, aboard the

destroyer USS Hawkins.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews September 2014 7

One of their ports of call was HongKong. Thorpe had a day off to spend inthe town, and he remembers thatalthough all was glitter in that bustlingcity, and anything you could ever thinkof was available to buy, you could stillsee in the harbor the hulls of ships thatwere sunk and overturned in combat.

In Hong Kong, they got anemergency call from the Chinese steamerSS Hong Kheng that had run aground onthe rocky island shore at Chilang Point,8 miles north of Hong Kong, and wasbreaking up.

Steaming north at flank speed, theHawkins joined another Americandestroyer and a British destroyer inbraving the rough seas, successfullyrescuing the crew and some 2,000Chinese men, women, and children anddelivering them to Hong Kong.

Thorpe says, “Everything was soscarce in China that any time a vessel

was beached, theChinese wouldswarm over thewreck, takingeverything theycould find. All woodwas valuable, butespecially themahogany thatmany ships werefitted with.”

When the Hawkins returned to theU.S., they brought with them adetachment of Marines that theydropped off at Guam. Continuing on,they ran into another vicious three-daytyphoon before reaching San Diego.

There, Thorpe said he could havesigned up for another hitch and gone ona trip that the ship was scheduled tomake literally around the world. But hesays that civilian life sounded pretty goodto him right then, and he took his

discharge inDecember 1948.

Although helater used the G.I.Bill to learn to fly,Thorpe says, “Inever flew anythinglarger than aGreyhound bus.For the next 37

years, I drove—and for a whiledispatched—Greyhound buses on seven-day tours.”

On one of his trips from Manhattanto Tidewater, N.J., an interesting mantook the seat behind him, and theytalked a lot about The 700 Club and PatRobertson’s ministry. It turned out thatthe man was the personal relationscontact for Robertson’s ChristianBroadcasting Network.

He introduced Thorpe to Robertson,who then offered Thorpe the chance to

serve the ministry through manning thenational prayer call line two or threetimes a week.

“That appealed to my own strongfaith,” Thorpe says, “and was a richexperience for me for the two years I wasable to do that before my work patternchanged and drew me away.”

Thorpe retired in 1990, and in 2008,he discovered what he calls “an idealretirement community” in CentralPennsylvania, where he has lived eversince. Thinking back to his years in theNavy, he says, “I enjoyed every minute ofmy time in the Navy … except duringthose typhoons that had me wonderingwhat I was ever doing there.”

Shaking his head, he says with a littlesmile, “I sure wouldn’t ever want to dothat again.”

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

The USS Hawkins, on whichAlden Thorpe served.

Like many others, I lost friends onSept. 11, 2001. As a museumprofessional and historian

dedicated to the study of objects andtheir role in culture, I am pleased tohighlight the September 11 Memorialand its new Museum that recalls thathistoric day.

The National September 11 Memorial& Museum debuted with ceremony andremembrance recently. The Memorial &Museum are located on 8 of the 16 acresof the World Trade Center site in lowerManhattan (New York City).

The memorial, designed by MichaelArad and Peter Walker, honors the 2,983people who were killed in the attacks ofboth Sept. 11, 2001, and Feb. 26, 1993.The memorial consists of two reflectingpools formed in the footprints of theoriginal Twin Tower buildings.

The National September 11 Museumis sited below ground and displaysartifacts linked to the events of 9/11,while telling the stories of loss,compassion, and recovery of the 2001and 1993 attacks. This is achievedthrough displays, multimedia, andinteractive exhibits.

Davis Brody Bond is the lead architecton the museum project, sited below thememorial plaza. The architectural firm

wasestablished in1952 by LewisDavis andSamuel Brodyand becameDavis BrodyBond in 1990.

“Themagnitude ofthe historicimportance ofthe site and itssymbolismmade itessential for usto find abalance between the collective and theindividual experience,” said architectSteven Davis, FAIA.

Over the years, Davis Brody Bond hasdesigned buildings for prestigiousuniversities such as Cornell,Northwestern, Princeton, and Columbia.Also, they designed museum buildingsincluding The Frick Collection and theNational Museum of African AmericanHistory and Culture.

Before the public opening of TheNational September 11 Memorial &Museum, there were a few days set asidewhen the museum hosted 9/11 families,

President andMrs. Obama,firstresponders,rescue andrecoveryworkers,survivors, andresidents oflowerManhattan.

Themuseum waskept open for24 hours tohost theseindividuals in

the same way that rescue and recoverypersonnel worked continuously atGround Zero in the aftermath of the9/11 tragedy.

The museum boasts 110,000 squarefeet of exhibit space, which featuresinteractive multimedia displays, personalnarratives, and impressive monumentaland uniquely personal artifacts.

The breathtaking “In Memoriam”exhibition remembers the people lost. Athree-part, mainly historical exhibitionleads visitors through the background ofthe attacks, the events of the day, and theaftermath.

“The museum tells heartbreakingstories of unimaginable loss but alsoinspiring stories of courage andcompassion. Its opening honors thecommitment we made to 9/11 familymembers and to all future generations:that we would never forget those we lostor the terrible lessons we learned thatday,” said Michael Bloomberg, chairmanof the memorial and museum and formerNew York City mayor.

Museum donations came from peopleacross the country and around the world,including New York City schoolchildren,who donated their pennies to the project.

The museum opened to the generalpublic on May 21, 2014. Admission is$24 for adults with discounted rates forseniors, U.S. veterans, U.S. collegestudents, and youths. Admission is freeon Tuesdays from 5 to 8 p.m.

For more information, seewww.911memorial.org. I urge you tovisit, learn, and remember.

Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author,and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lorihosts antiques appraisal events worldwide. Dr.Lori is the star appraiser on Discoverychannel’s hit TV show Auction Kings. Visitwww.DrLoriV.com/Events, www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum

Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori

Lori Verderame

Photo credit: Jin Lee, courtesy of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

On exhibit is the NYFD Ladder 3 at the NationalSeptember 11 Memorial & Museum, highlighting

the role of the first responders.

Istill use cast-iron skillets. They havealways been in my life, fromchildhood up to the present; I think I

appreciate them more today than ever. When I was a child, my mom and dad

used at least one cast-iron skillet daily. Imention my dad because he also knewhow to cook, especially hamburgerbarbecue from scratch and country eggson Saturday mornings, always in a cast-iron skillet. He never seemed intimidatedby my mom’s skills, she being a farm girlfrom a large family. And those farm girlscould put out a good spread, I can tellyou.

My dad’s brothers could put togethera tasty meal, too. Consequently, theability to cook has rubbed off on mybrother and me. My brother even wrotea newspaper column about grilling. Itwas called Clarkie on the Grill, and it ranfor almost eight years in the Lancasternewspaper.

He started young, and by the time hewas in high school, he was pan-fryingcheeseburgers in a cast-iron skillet beforeheading off to school. I’m sure hisclassmates were intrigued. It wasgenuinely original.

People today are sosmitten with theircoated and multi-cladpots and pans thatthey have abandonedcast iron, the originalnonstick cookware.And that’s a shame.

Caring for cast ironprobably seemed toofussy for them.Perhaps the ritual of proper seasoningand cleaning required to keep cast iron inthe best serviceable condition was toomuch trouble. It is not, however, thatdifficult.

First, do not buy the new stuff with

the rough, unfinished surfaces; it willgive you fits and is probably the reasonwhy people abandon cast-iron cookware.Start, instead, by purchasing the old,already well-seasoned skillets with analmost glassy-smooth surface. Get them

while they arestill available andsomewhatreasonablypriced.Remember, theydon’t make themlike they used to.

If the castmetal is stillgray, then you’ll

have to season them yourself, whichmeans cooking in them until they getdeep brown or black. That’s whatseasoning is—the multiple layers ofgrease and oil that have been cookedhard on the surface of the metal overtime. Once that coating is developed,then you have a slippery, nonsticksurface.

You can preserve that surface by justwiping out the pan with a paper towelafter each use, leaving behind a thin coatof oil that becomes another coat ofseasoning the next time you cook in it.

If a skillet gets encrusted with certainfoods, you can fill the pan with about ahalf inch of water and bring it to a lowboil while lightly scraping over thebottom with a stainless-steel spatula(rounded corners on the spatula ispreferred) to remove the buildup. Do notscrape so hard that you remove the

seasoning, however. Rinse the pan out, hand dry it as well

as you can, and put it on a warm burneror in a warm oven to complete thedrying process. Rust will develop if youdon’t. I then apply a light coat ofcooking oil (usually canola) on the drysurface before I store the skillet.

For light food buildup, sprinkle sometable salt in your skillet and wipe overthe surface. The salt acts as a mildabrasive. Try to avoid soap; if you feelthat soap is required for a cleanup, use itsparingly and make sure it is mild. Thetruth is, you will seldom need soap on awell-seasoned cast-iron skillet.

This morning I made an omelet on around, No. 9 Griswold griddle, whichfits perfectly over the large electric burneron my stove. That omelet floated nicelyon the seasoned surface as I scooped itup for the flip. Also on top of my stove,always ready for action, is a No. 7Wagner, a No. 7 National, and a No. 9Griswold, all well-seasoned skillets.

Give cast iron another try. Once youget the hang of it, it’s hard to go back tothe modern stuff. And besides, it adds alittle needed iron to your diet each timeyou use it. That seems more healthfulthan adding copper, stainless steel, andnonstick coating to your favorite meal.

Mike Clark writes a regular column for TheGlobe Leader newspaper in New Wilmington,Pa. He has a Bachelor of Science degree inorganizational behavior/applied psychologyfrom Albright College. Mike lives outsideColumbia, Pa., and can be contacted atmikemac429@aol.com.

8 September 2014 50plus SeniorNews www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews September 2014 9

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 10

1. Armageddon4. Devotee7. ___ Raton, Fla.11. Afr. perennial12. Heroic tale13. Reversal of Fortune star15. Hidden danger17. Dutch cheese18. Increases19. Bloviates21. Big Apple inits.22. Golf item23. Extensive24. God of war27. TV ET

28. Egg dish30. Pain33. See 17 Across36. Accumulations38. Threshold39. Dudgeon40. Nitty-gritty41. Playwright Neil43. Moving vehicles45. The Mystery of ___ Vep

(Charles Ludlam play)46. Cloud of gas48. Time zone50. Measure out51. Old oath

53. Spoil56. UN agency58. Awaken60. “Prince ___” (Aladdin

song)61. Roof parts64. Authorized66. Less damp67. Glimpsed68. Auto need69. Food shop70. China’s Lao-___71. Cheetah

1. Run off2. Slipknot3. Society girl4. Unit of capacitance5. Playing marble6. Scruff7. Oversized8. Acapulco gold9. Attorney10. Fergie’s ex11. Border12. Discord14. Pouch16. Caterwaul

20. Lost Horizon actor Jaffe25. Agent (abbr.)26. Draw out27. Organism28. Doomsayer’s sign29. Tenure30. Circulars31. Doubloon32. Amateur picture show34. Opera star35. Altar in the sky37. Body of water42. Pecan44. Add spice to

47. Grazing land49. Goulash51. Cupolas52. Nepalese money53. Opera singer Callas54. Wary55. Amusement park

feature56. Espouse57. Difficult59. Musical interval62. Moray63. ___ Lanka65. And so on (abbr.)

Across

Down

CROSSWORD

10 September 2014 50plus SeniorNews www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Puzz

les

show

n on

pag

e 9

Puzzl

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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

By Andrea Gross

was told that Denver wouldtake my breath away.

First there’s the surprise.Denver is flat. Most visitorsenvision exiting the airport andfinding themselves surroundedby snow-capped peaks.

Nope. Denver is the gatewayto the Rockies; it’s not in theRockies. You’ll have to drive ahalf hour or more before you’llneed your hiking boots.

Then, there’s the altitude.The 13th step of the state capital,the gold-domed centerpiece ofdowntown Denver, is exactly 1mile above sea level. This is aheight that leaves most folksgiddy from the clear, mountainair, but a few become woozyfrom lack of oxygen.

Hint: take a deep breath,guzzle water, and eat carbs,which require less oxygen fordigestion.

Finally, there’s the delight.Though you’ll undoubtedly want to seethe mountain heights, there’s charmaplenty down in the flats—a topnotchart museum, zoo, botanic garden,theater district … The list goes on.

But there are also some lesser-knownattractions that you can’t find everyplaceelse. Here, a rundown of breathtakingexperiences in the city proper.

Fitness Mecca – Denverites take theoutdoors seriously, probably becausewith more than 300 days of sunshineper year, it’s a seriously beautiful city. Toact local, take a morning bike ride on

some of the 850 miles of paved trailsthat crisscross and encircle the city.

No bike? No problem. Denver’s B-cycle program is the first large-scalebike-sharing plan in the country. Eightdollars buys a day’s access to one of thecity’s 800-plus red bikes, which areavailable at more than 80 stationsthroughout the city.

https://denver.bcycle.com andwww.traillink.com

20th-Century Design Pop – TheKirkland Museum of Fine andDecorative Art is home to some of the

best Arts & Crafts, Bauhaus, Art Deco,Modern and Pop art in the country.

Among the more than 3,500 objectsare chairs by Frank Lloyd Wright andCharles Rennie Mackintosh; hundreds ofpieces of 20th-century ceramics,tableware, glassware, and metal ware; andeven an iconic Electrolux vacuumcleaner.

Much of the art is displayed ingalleries that resemble a homey livingroom. The result is an exceptionallyunusual, informative, and classymuseum.

www.kirklandmuseum.org

Modern Talk – Imaginelistening to two experts discusssuch disparate topics as“Machiavelli & Fresh MeatSausage” or “Minimalism &Giant Wombats.”

This is what happens duringthe Museum of ContemporaryArt’s series titled “Re-MixedTaste: Tag Team Lectures onUnrelated Topics.”

Each guru has 20 minutes tomake his point, after which theaudience jumps in to askquestions in an attempt to forcethe seemingly unrelated torelate. Bizarre? Occasionally.Fascinating? Always.

http://mcadenver.org/mixedtaste2014.php

Star Status – Denver is oneof only 12 U.S. metro areas thatare represented by teams of allfour major professional sportsleagues. It’s a rare week whenthere’s not a game in play.

But unlike the other 11 cities,Denver boasts something extra. Theyhave rarefied mountain air that makesballs soar farther, pucks glide faster, andbeer—for which the city is alsofamous—taste better.

Wild at Heart – So, you want to seesome bison, the celebrated symbol of theWild West? The Rocky MountainArsenal National Wildlife Refuge is justminutes off the interstate that joinsDenver International Airport and thedowntown area.

Breathless in Denver

Mountains are visible frommost points in Denver, but the

actual city is flat.

Denver has three major leaguestadiums: Coors Field for baseball,

Sports Authority Field at MileHigh for football, and Pepsi Center

for basketball and hockey.

Bison roam in large fields just afew miles from both the Denverairport and the downtown area.

I

Denver is one of only 12 metro areasthat have four major league teams.

Paved trails make biking safe, easy, andextremely popular.

please see DENVER page 14

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews September 2014 11

Chester County

Calendar of EventsSupport Groups Free and open to the public

Senior Center Activities

Chester County Library Programs

Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave.,Downingtown, (610) 269-2741Sept. 18, 6:30 p.m. – Downingtown Library’s Writers

GroupSept. 25, 1 p.m. – Senior Book ClubSept. 25, 6:30 p.m. – Reading the Classics

Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times

Sept. 2, 2 p.m.Grief Support GroupPhoenixville Senior Center153 Church St., Phoenixville(610) 327-7216

Sept. 2, 16, 30, 5 to 6:30 p.m.Bereavement Support GroupMain Line Unitarian Church816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon(610) 585-6604phoenixbereavement@yahoo.comNondenominational; all arewelcome.

Sept. 3, 6 p.m.Memory Loss and Dementia SupportGroupSunrise Assisted Living of Paoli324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern(610) 251-9994

Sept. 4 and 18, 7 p.m.Alzheimer’s Support GroupThe Solana Willistown1713 West Chester Pike, Willistown(610) 725-1713

Sept. 8 and 22, 10:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.Caregiver Support GroupAdult Care of Chester County201 Sharp Lane, Exton(610) 363-8044

Sept. 9 and 23, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Bereavement Support GroupJennersville HospitalConference Room B1015 W. Baltimore PikeWest Grove(610) 998-1700, ext. 226

Sept. 10, noonFamily Caregiver Support GroupSarah Care425 Technology Drive, Suite 200Malvern(610) 251-0801

Sept. 11 and 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Bereavement Support GroupBrandywine HospitalConference Room 1 West201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville(610) 998-1700, ext. 226

Sept. 16, 6 p.m.Family Caregiver Support GroupSunrise of Westtown501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester(610) 399-4464

Sept. 24, 6 p.m.Living with Cancer Support GroupPaoli Hospital Cancer Center255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli(484) 565-1253

Programs & Events Free or minimal charge

Sept. 2, 11:30 a.m.West Chester University Retirees LuncheonFor restaurant location, please emaildarsie@verizon.net

Sept. 3, 5:30 to 7 p.m.Workshop: Conversations about DementiaSunrise of Westtown501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester(800) 272-3900

Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m.Concert Series: Carol Jantsch, Tuba Tel Hai Retirement Community Chapel1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook(610) 273-9333

Sept. 5, 7 p.m.Exploring Revolutionary Camp Life –Reenactment Tel Hai Retirement Community Chapel1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook(610) 273-9333

Sept. 6 and 20, 5 to 10 p.m.Bingo NightsMarine Corps League Detachment430 Chestnut St., Downingtown(610) 431-2234

Sept. 10, 7 p.m.13-Week GriefShare Class/WorkshopGrove United Methodist Church490 W. Boot Road, West Chester(610) 350-9372pastor.lin.george@gmail.com

Sept. 11, 6 to 7:30 p.m.Free Community DinnerGrove United Methodist Church490 W. Boot Road, West Chester(610) 431-4526grovecommunitydinner@gmail.com

Sept. 17, 12:10 p.m.The Ordeal of Richard NealOsher Lifelong Learning InstituteWidener University Exton Campus825 Springdale DriveWest Whiteland Township(484) 713-0088

Sept. 24, 12:10 p.m.The King’s Speech EpilogueOsher Lifelong Learning InstituteWidener University Exton Campus825 Springdale DriveWest Whiteland Township(484) 713-0088

Sept. 26, 11 a.m.Secretary of Aging Brian DukeTel Hai Retirement Community Chapel1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook(610) 273-9333

Sept. 28, 3 to 5 p.m.Free Ice Cream SocialGrove United Methodist Church490 W. Boot Road, West Chester(484) 459-9260brelewis@comcast.net

Chester County Department of Parks and Recreation

www.chesco.org/ccparks

Sept. 14, 2 to 3 p.m. – Attract More Wild Birds, Warwick County ParkSept. 27, 9 to 11 a.m. – Fall Plant Swap, Hibernia County ParkSept. 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Community Day, Warwick County Park

If you have an event you

would like to include,

please email information to

mjoyce@onlinepub.com for

consideration.

Coatesville Area Senior Center – (610) 383-690022 N. Fifth Ave., Coatesville –www.coatesvilleseniorcenter.orgSept. 16, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. – 10-Week Fall Prevention

ProgramSept. 17, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Vibrant Living Fair

Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, MalvernSept. 9, 1:30 p.m. – Jewelry ClassSept. 11 and 25, 10 a.m. – Canasta GamesSept. 24, 11 a.m. – A Meal and a Message

Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square –www.kennettseniorcenter.orgSept. 9, 10 to 11 a.m. – Book Club: All Fall Down by

Jennifer WeinerSept. 16, 7 to 9 p.m. – APPRISE Program: “Medicare 101”Sept. 28, 1 to 3 p.m. – Sunday Dinner with Friends:

“Our Mushroom Dinner”

Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.

12 September 2014 50plus SeniorNews www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

pull the trigger (handle), although,generally speaking, antique slotmachines are legal in most states if theyare over 25 years old.

You can also do an online search for“old slot machines for sale,” or go toeBay, where a plethora of slots is alwaysfor sale.

Even though Nevada may be thegambling capital of the United States,the slot machine was actually bornelsewhere, in San Francisco.

The first mechanical slot machine,the Liberty Bell, was invented in 1895by Charles Fey, a San Franciscomechanic. Fey’s machine housed threespinning reels, each decorated with

diamonds, spades, hearts, and onecracked Liberty Bell per reel. When thebells lined up, they produced yourbiggest payoff: 10 nickels.

The original Liberty Bell used to beon display at the Liberty Belle Saloon &Restaurant in Reno, but since its closingin 2006, it is now exhibited at theNevada State Museum.

Back in the ’40s and early ’50s, thoseolder mechanical slots were chock full ofsprings and gears that were powered bya player pulling the handle, whichstarted the reels spinning. The problemwith these early machines was that theywere limited in the size of the jackpotsbecause they could only accept one coin,

which restricted the number of coinsthey could pay out.

Once the electromechanical machineappeared, it allowed multiple-coin play,which included electrically poweredhoppers that could pay out much largerjackpots.

When the computerized slots wereintroduced in the ’80s, machines withprogressive jackpots were linked amongdifferent machines hundreds of milesapart, offered huge jackpots starting inthe millions.

Essentially, Leigh, slot machines keepadvancing and getting morecomplicated, necessitating new homesfor the older ones. I will write in a

future column about some new three-reel mechanical slots with the feel of atraditional slot that are now hitting thefloor.

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

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

WHERE from page 5

There are several firms that cater tothe general public for testing ofindividual DNA. Most of them

actively promote their services and canbe found on the Internet.

The “big four,” with the main thrustsof their services, are: 23andMe (medical,genealogical, and personal ancestry);Family Tree DNA (genealogical, personalancestry); AncestryDNA (genealogical,personal ancestry); and Genographic byNational Geographic (populationgenetics research, personal ancestry).

The first three charge about $100 fora basic test, while NG charges about$200 for a more comprehensive test. Fora detailed comparison of these firms, seehttp://bit.ly/DNATestVendorsCompared.

The premise behind all of these tests isthat humans, like all living things, have agenome—a set of biological “plans” thatdetermines the details of our veryexistence: hair color; eye color; bodyshape; susceptibility to asthma, ortuberculosis, or color blindness; ability toprocreate; etc.—the very things thatmake us individuals.

These traits, however, have beenpassed down from our ancestors via thecoding described by substances calleddeoxyribonucleic acids: DNA.

We receive some of the DNA fromone parent, some from the other. Sinceour parents had parents, they, too,

received some from each parent, meaningthat part of our DNA is from ourgrandparents—and from our great-grandparents and our great-great-grandparents, back to the first humans.

Our DNAis containedmostly ingenes, in ourchromosomes,of which wehave 23 pairs.Most of ourDNA is of atype calledautosomal,contained in22 of the 23chromosomepairs. The 23rd pair is the one thatdetermines our sex. In males, the paircomprises one X and one Y chromosome,and in females it has two Xchromosomes. Thus, the DNA in the Ychromosome (Y-DNA or paternal DNA)is passed only from male to male.

Another key form of DNA ismitochondrial DNA (mtDNA ormaternal DNA), which can be passedfrom a woman to both male and femaleoffspring but cannot be further passed onby the males. These characteristics meanthat paternal and maternal DNA can(separately) be compared to known DNA

characteristics of various ethnic andgeographic groups (called haplogroups)that existed in the distant past.

Last time, I noted that one of thegenealogical reasons for DNA testing

includes thedesire to knowone’s broadethnic ornational origins.Many people areintrigued bysuch questions.Do they haveblack, or Jewish,or NativeAmericanancestry?

While the testvendors use DNA analyses to indicate asubject’s “ancestry composition,” I believemany researchers put undue weight onsuch descriptions.

For example, my 23andMe ancestrycomposition shows 87.7 percentEuropean, with 75.1 percent SouthernEuropean and 59.9 percent Italian, and itfound that less than one-tenth of 1percent of my ancestry is Irish or British.

Those findings are not surprising,because I have found by traditional“paper genealogy” that most of myancestors back to the sixth generation inthe mid-1700s were from one of only

two towns in central Sicily. The partabout 5.1 percent being Middle Easternor African is intriguing but no moresurprising.

The “small print” says that theseestimates are for one’s ancestryapproximately “500 years ago, beforeocean-crossing ships and airplanes cameon the scene.”

Other results claim to define one’sancestry as far back as 5,000 to 50,000years, but I feel that such “ancestry”simply refers to stages or regions thatthe familial forebears passed throughduring the long history of mankind. Ihappen to believe that all mankinddescended from the first humans inAfrica, so that if the DNA studies wereall completely accurate, everyone’sancestral composition would be thesame: 100 percent African.

Next time, I’ll discuss what DNAtesting can do to answer the questionsI’m most interested in: thosesurrounding “personal ancestry.”

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 atgenealogytips@aol.com.

How Can DNA Results Help Our Search?

The Search for Our Ancestry

Angelo Coniglio

“One of the genealogical

reasons for DNA testing

includes the desire to

know one’s broad ethnic

or national origins.

“

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews September 2014 13

Freedom Village at Brandywinerecently announced eight scholarshipwinners who were acknowledged foroutstanding service.

Scholarships were taken from theFreedom Village Scholarship Fund,which are funds donated by residentsand others for the purpose ofawarding these annual scholarship(s)to worthy employees who apply.

Awards are based on scholastics,outside activities, years of service,financial need, and employmentstanding.

2014 award recipients were:Casey Barringer, dining department;Gheya Boulware, diningdepartment; Christina Burt, residentprograms department; LauraMartin, activities and diningdepartments; Christine McDonald,therapy department; Amy McGrory,medical records department, skillednursing facility; Sarah Sherman,dining services department; andJessica Stanton, dining department,the Gardens.

If you have local news you’d like considered forAround Town, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com

Freedom Village Announces

Scholarship Winners

Casey Barringer Gheya Boulware Christina Burt Laura Martin ChristineMcDonald

Amy McGrory Sarah Sherman Jessica Stanton

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,

email Megan Joyce at mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail to:

50plus Senior NewsMegan Joyce

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Help 50plus Senior Newsspread your local news!

How We Pay for ThingsThese Days

We depend onautomatic tellermachines for cash, andmore and more we’rerelying on electronicpayments when we don’twant to write a check.

According to theFederal Reserve, ATMwithdrawals from 2006to 2009 numbered 6billion transactions, for a total of about$600 billion.

That was an increase from 5.8 billionduring the 2003-2006 period, when

withdrawals came to $578billion.

The Federal Reservealso notes that during thesame period, consumersdepended on electronictransfers via suchinstruments as debit cardsand prepaid credit cardsfor more than three-quarters of their

transactions—a 9.7 percent increase. Debit card payments rose 14.8

percent from 2006 to 2009; prepaidcard transactions grew 21.5 percent.

14 September 2014 50plus SeniorNews www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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At more than 15,000 acres, the refugeis one of the largest urban open spaces inthe country and home to more than 330species of birds and animals. Here youcan see not only bison and deer, but alsored-tailed hawk and bald eagle.

But the refuge has been used for morethan animals. During and after WorldWar II the land was the site of one of thecountry’s largest chemical-weaponsmanufacturing facilities. That story, as

well as the one about the extensivecleanup that followed, is told in asomber, not-to-be-missed exhibit in therefuge’s visitor center.

www.fws.gov/rockymountainarsenal

Pinnacle Climb – As the largest cityfor nearly 800 miles in every direction,Denver has major malls as well as trendyboutiques. But the most unusual place todrop your dollars is at Recreational

Equipment, Inc., better known as REI. At 94,000 square feet, Denver’s

flagship store is 3.5 times larger than theaverage REI, which means that inaddition to a mind-boggling array ofoutdoorsy clothes and equipment, it isone of only a few stores that has a trackon which you can test your mountainbike and a 47-foot-tall, freestandingmonolith replete with hand-cracks,finger-cracks, back-cracks, and more.

Here, for a price, you can practicescaling a sandstone boulder like those onColorado’s Front Range—and you won’teven need the sunscreen.

Like so many things in Denver, itreally is enough to take your breath away.

http://www.rei.com/stores/denver.html

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

DENVER from page 10

Their performances are usually nolonger than 30 to 40 minutes, saidHorkowitz.

“It’s just enough. We work with booksin hand and we don’t memorize lines,”explained Horkowitz.

The technique is sometimes referredto as “Readers Theater,” and shecompares their style of performance tothat of a live radio presentation.

“Our skits are always humorous,” shesaid. “Our purpose is to make peoplelaugh a little.”

One comedic skit that always seems tobe a crowd favorite is called Sure As HellGrowing Old.

“They love it because all of the mencan see themselves in it. One can’t hear,one can’t see,” laughed Horkowitz.

After the show, audiences always tellthe players that they made them laugh.

“That’s what they always say, andthat’s what matters,” Horkowitz said.“We just want to make people laugh.”

Plays with a local historical focus arepopular too, added Horkowitz.

Local playwright Cindy Dlugoleckiwrote The Ghost of Mechanicsburg, andthe audience thoroughly enjoyed theconnection to places they knew andloved.

Former Harrisburg resident BarbaraBlank wrote How to Marry a Rabbi, andthe Senior Theatre Players performed theskit to a roaring audience at the JewishCommunity Center.

If the skits the Senior Theatre Playersuse are not written by local playwrights,they are usually selected by Horkowitz

from a seniortheater catalog.

Horkowitzfirst becameinvolved withtheater in herlate 40s andwas recruitedfor a role asone of thesinging nuns ina performanceof The Soundof Music.

Herhusband,Gabe, served asan Armydentist, andtheir family was stationed at theAberdeen Proving Ground in Marylandat the time.

Theaters on military bases used toserve as a central source ofentertainment, said Horkowitz. And,perhaps more importantly, they helpedto keep the troops from getting intotrouble elsewhere, she laughed.

Horkowitz sang in choirs at each ofthe posts they were stationed. Every posthad men’s and women’s choirs to provideentertainment at formal dinners hostedby the generals.

But once she tried acting in her firstmusical, she was hooked. After TheSound of Music came her role as apregnant widow in a comedy.

“It was hysterical, and nobody elsewould take the role because they didn’t

want to go onstagepregnant,”Horkowitzsaid. “Butyou’re acting,and that’s thepoint.”

Since then,Horkowitzbranched outto countlessacting anddirectingroles,includingproductions atlocal theaterslike Theatre

Harrisburg, Molly Pitcher Troupe, OysterMill Playhouse, Allenberry Playhouse,and Gretna Theatre.

The talent in Central Pennsylvania is“extremely strong,” said Horkowitz.

When Horkowitz was performing atthe various Army posts where herhusband was stationed, sometimes shealmost did not even have to audition forroles.

“But when I came here and saw thecompetition, I was intimidated,”Horkowitz said. “We have so much talenthere, and I have a great deal of respect foreveryone here.”

Horkowitz is president emeritus at theLittle Theatre of Mechanicsburg and nowfocuses solely on leading andparticipating in the Senior TheatrePlayers.

“Theater is really my favorite pastime,and that’s why I do Senior Players,” saidHorkowitz.

Horkowitz has found that the group’sskits can also help perpetuate themessage that senior living doesn’t have toequal sedentary living.

A friend of Horkowitz’s was worriedabout her parents spending too muchtime watching television, so she askedher for a copy of the script she saw theSenior Theatre Players perform aboutsomeone in a retirement home who didnot want to do anything.

“She really wished her parents wouldget involved,” Horkowitz said. “There isa lot out there to do.

“My husband is 91 and he still jogsfor an hour every morning,” she said.“He doesn’t jog like he did when he was80, but he still moves his legs.”

In addition to the Senior TheatrePlayers, Horkowitz teaches theater tochildren at vacation Bible school over thesummer. She plays bridge a few times amonth and is an active member of herchurch.

“I keep very busy. I like people,”Horkowitz said.

She and her husband are Penn Stategraduates and have three children—allPenn State graduates—and twograndchildren.

Anyone who is interested in joiningthe Senior Theatre Players as a performeror who would like to request that thegroup performs at their event or locationmay contact Fran Horkowitz at (717)243-1941.

LAUGHS from page 1

Members of this season’s Senior Theater Playersinclude, standing, from left, Charles Smith, FranHorkowitz, Linda Draper, and Gabriel Horkowitz.

Seated, Carvel Markley.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews September 2014 15

The History of Labor Day

Labor Day is a creation of the labormovement and is dedicated to the socialand economic achievements of Americanworkers. It’s a national tribute to thecontributions workers have made to thestrength, prosperity, and well-being ofthe United States.

Some records show that Peter J.McGuire, general secretary of theBrotherhood of Carpenters and Joinersand a co-founder of the AmericanFederation of Labor, was first to suggest aday to honor those “who from rudenature have delved and carved all thegrandeur we behold.”

But other research seems to supportthe contention that machinist MatthewMaguire, later the secretary of Local 344of the International Association ofMachinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed

the holiday in1882 whileserving assecretary of theCentral LaborUnion in NewYork.

The CentralLabor Unionadopted a LaborDay proposaland appointed acommittee toplan ademonstrationand picnic.

Either way,the first Labor Day holiday wascelebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, inNew York City, in accordance with the

plans of theCentral LaborUnion. Theunion held itssecond LaborDay holiday justa year later, onSept. 5, 1883.

In 1884, thefirst Monday inSeptember wasselected as theholiday. As labororganizationsgrew in size andpower, so didthe idea of

Labor Day. In 1885 Labor Day wascelebrated in many industrial centers ofthe country.

The first governmental recognition ofthe holiday came through municipalordinances passed during 1885 and1886. While the first state bill proposingthe holiday was introduced into the NewYork legislature, Oregon passed the firstlaw on Feb. 21, 1887.

Four more states—Colorado,Massachusetts, New Jersey, and NewYork—created the Labor Day holiday bylegislative enactment that same year.

By the end of the decade,Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvaniahad followed suit. By 1894, 23 otherstates had adopted the holiday in honorof workers, and on June 28 of that year,Congress passed an act making the firstMonday in September of each year alegal holiday in the District of Columbiaand the territories.

Labor Day:Sept. 1

16 September 2014 50plus SeniorNews www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Veterans’ expoand Job Fair

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November 14, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Eden Resort • 222 Eden Road, Lancaster

The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies together with area businesses to provideinformation and resources to veterans, active military, and their families.

The Job Fair brings veterans, active military, and their families who need jobs together withemployers who can benefit from this rich source of talent to aid their organizations.

At the ExpoVeterans Benefits & ServicesCommunity ServicesThank-a-Vet ParticipantsMedical/Nonmedical ResourcesProducts and Services AvailableSupport/Assistance Programs

At the Job FairEmployersJob CounselingWorkshops/SeminarsResume Writing AssistanceEducation/Training Services

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

For more information, visit www.veteransexpo.com

2 events — 1 location

Special appearances, including the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard,who will recognize all branches of service

FREE!

Sponsored by:

Liberty Sponsor:Fulton Financial Corporation

Program Sponsor:USAA

Media Sponsors:Blue Ridge Communications

WKZF

Hosted by: