Dauphin County 50plus Senior News July 2013

Susan Weidener, creator of the Women’s Writing Circle, inside the bookshop where the group meets monthly.

Tales of Glenn Ford

page 450plus EXPO Highlights

page 6

Inside:

By Chelsea Peifer

Sometimes you create a life you’ve dreamed of and worked for, andsomething comes along that changes everything. In the aftermath, a personcan choose to give up and stay put or to keep going forward, to find newmeaning in a life with different circumstances.

As a writer and journalist, Susan Weidener had not only heard the storiesof people from all walks of life, but she had also articulated and retold theirstories so others could hear and understand. Writing had always been a wayfor Weidener to connect with others and to nurture her own soul.

So when Weidener was 44 and lost her husband—and love of her life—toa seven-year battle with cancer, she turned to writing as she chose to moveforward.

Weidener and her husband, John Cavalieri, had two sons, who were ages 7and 11 at the time John passed away.

“There were all of these messages then—and still are—that a singlewoman can’t raise boys alone,” said Weidener. “It’s not true. All a child needsis one charismatic adult in his or her life.”

Weidener’s perspective on single parenting might sound like effortlessperseverance, but she applies her hard work ethic to whatever she approaches,embracing the reality that one person can make a difference in a person’s life.

please see DRAFT page 14

Widowed Journalist Encourages Healingwith Writing Circle

Life’sSecond Draft

Dauphin County Edition July 2013 Vol. 15 No. 7

When youpatronize our

advertisers,please let themknow you saw

their ad in

Are you 62+or Older?COME

LOOK USOVER

Look at all we have to offer...Meal Programs, Beauty Shop,

Grocery Store and More...Give us a call and check out

our fabulous facilities

B’NAI B’RITHAPARTMENTS

130 South Third Street • Harrisburg(717) 232-7516

2 July 2013 50plus SeniorNews www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

On-Line Publishers, Inc. has an opening for a highly motivated person with aprofessional attitude to sell print and online advertising as well as niche events. The successful candidate should:• Enjoy building and maintaining your own long-term business relationships.• Be highly motivated, detail oriented, and able to multitask.• Have good communication skills.• Show a willingness to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment.We offer a competitive compensation plan with a benefits package that includeshealth insurance and a 401(k) plan. If you have sales experience and are interested in joining our growing sales team, please send your resume and compensation history/requirements [email protected].

is seeking an ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

On-Line Publishers, Inc. • 3912 Abel Drive • Columbia, PA 17512 • 717.285.1350www.onlinepub.com

Joseph Switaj, 88, of Camp Hill, wasa gunner on the destroyer USSMarshall, which took part in many of

the major battles of WWII against theJapanese navy and air force.

Switaj served aboard the destroyerfrom the time it was commissioned in1943 until just before the Japanesesurrender. During that time, the shipparticipated in eight major operations aspart of Task Force 58, including:

• Asiatic-Pacific raids on Palau, Yap,Ulithi, Woleai, Truk, Satawan, andPonape

• Western New Guinea (Hollandia)Operation

• Marianas Operation – Capture andoccupation of Saipan, Battle of thePhilippine Sea, Third Bonins Raid, andcapture and occupation of Guam

• Western Carolinas Islands Operation –

Assaults onPhilippine Islands

• Leyte Operation –Battle of Leyte Gulfand Third Fleetsupporting operations

• Luzon Operation –Supporting the ThirdFleet

• Iwo Jima Operation– Assault andoccupation of IwoJima and Fifth Fleetraids on Honshu andthe Nansei Shoto

• Okinawa Operation– Assault and occupation of Okinawa

Switaj said his destroyer was creditedwith shooting down or assisting in thedestruction of five enemy aircraft. He

said the Marshallrescued 21 pilots andair crewmen, some ofwhom ran out of fueland had to ditch theirplanes in the sea,unable to make itback to their carriers.

His ship alsopicked up 44 Japanesesurvivors of the cruiserNatori, which hadbeen sunk by one ofour submarines.

The POWs, whohad spent 22 days atsea in a lifeboat, were

transferred to one of our carriers as we didnot have the facilities to detain them.

From November 1944 through January1945, our task force was hit by some very

bad typhoons, and many of our shipssustained damage with heavy loss of life,although our destroyer escaped seriousdamage.

During one particular typhoon, theMarshall rolled 62 degrees, and we thoughtwe would capsize. Fortunately, it did nothappen. Our ship was tossed in the air andcame crashing down. I was afraid our bowwould break off. I had a top bunk andended up on the floor more than once inriding out the storms.

Despite the displacement of 2,050 tons,the Marshall was no match for thepotential fury of Mother Nature. That’swhy, with imminent bad weather, our ship,when low on fuel, filled its empty tankswith water to give it more ballast.

Our destroyer had a complement of 329men. We suffered no fatalities, but threeshipmates sustained shrapnel wounds andreceived the Purple Heart.

His Ship Took Part in the Major Pacific BattlesDuring World War II, Part 2

Beyond the Battlefield

Alvin S. Goodman

Joseph Switaj, USN.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews July 2013 3

Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc.4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg(717) 545-4001

Central PA Poison Center(800) 521-6110

Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging(717) 780-6130

Gipe Floor & Wall Covering5435 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg(717) 545-6103

Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc.4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg(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

Hershey Hearing Center431 E. Chocolate Ave., Hershey(717) 533-7350

Home Care Assistance2304 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg(717) 540-4663

Safe Haven Quality CareServing Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perrycounties(717) 238-1111

Visiting AngelsServing East and West Shores(717) 652-8899 or (717) 737-8899

Homeland Hospice2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg(717) 221-7890

B’Nai B’rith Apartments130 S. Third St., Harrisburg(717) 232-7516

Dauphin County Housing Authority(717) 939-9301

Homeland CenterCumberland and Dauphin counties(717) 221-7727

Property Tax/Rent Rebate(888) 728-2937

Apprise Insurance Counseling(800) 783-7067

Lincoln Heritage(484) 945-3213

Colonial Park Care Center800 King Russ Road, Harrisburg(717) 657-1520

CVS/pharmacywww.cvs.com

Homeland Center1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg(717) 221-7902

The Middletown Home999 W. Harrisburg Pike, Middletown(717) 941-3351

StoneRidge Retirement Living(717) 866-3204

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 or (800) 827-1000

CAT Share-A-Ride(717) 232-6100

Lebanon VA Medical Center1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon(717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

Veterans Services

Transportation

Toll-Free Numbers

Services

Retirement Communities

Pharmacy

Nursing/Rehab

Insurance

Housing Assistance

Housing/Apartments

Hospice Services

Home Care Services

Hearing Services

Healthcare Information

Health & Medical Services

Funeral Directors

Floor Coverings

Emergency

Cremation

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

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

I suffered an injury to my fingers whenthe gun mount door slammed shut on myhand.

We had one close call when one of ourcrew, who was doing some deck painting,accidentally triggered a depth charge rack.The barrels rolled into the sea while wewere anchored, but they were in the safemode and did not explode. Had they blownup, our ship could have been destroyed orbadly damaged. When activated, they areprogrammed to go off at certain depths.

Some of our frogmen retrieved theexplosives from the shallow water andreturned them to the ship.

On March 19, 1945, during theOkinawa Operation, enemy air attackswere heavy and our carrier, the Franklin,was hit by an enemy bomb, resulting in fireand tremendous explosions throughout theship.

Our destroyer was one of the shipsdesignated to stand by the stricken carrier.After rescuing 212 men in the face ofrecurring air attacks, we joined the specialgroup screening the carrier, which was thenlisting badly but still afloat.

Her crew assigned to damage control putout the fires and she was taken in tow.Later, she got up steam and was able to sailout of the danger area under her ownpower, although not before two near misseshad been scored on her.

Of those plucked from the water, 17crewmen of the Franklin subsequently diedwhile onboard our ship and received thetraditional burial-at-sea services. Thecarrier’s survivors were delivered to Ulithion March 24.

On April 14, 1945, ours was one ofseven destroyers attacked by 18 kamikazeplanes. Two of our destroyers were hit, and

our vessel suffered minor casualties fromtwo bomb near misses, but all kamikazeswere accounted for by the ships’ combinedgunfire and friendly air support.

On June 17, 1945, our squadronreceived the long-awaited orders to returnto the U.S. On July 6, we entered SanFrancisco Bay for a much-needed NavyYard overhaul. The Japanese surrender wasannounced toward the end of the overhaulperiod, and the Marshall was ordered to aninactive status at the U.S. Naval RepairBase at San Diego.

Since her commissioning, our ship hadsteamed 176,465 engine miles, theequivalent of more than sevencircumnavigations of the globe, at anaverage speed of 17 knots, and we engagedin every major invasion and battle in thePacific since the Marshall Islandscampaign.

Switaj said that, in addition to itscrew, the ship was home to a mascot, adog named “Mac,” which had boardedthe destroyer at Pearl Harbor in March1944.

“He won the affection of everyonewith his cheerful disposition,” he said.

After discharge from the Navy, Switajwent to work as a truck driver andretired from Roadway Express at age 65after 22 years with the firm.

On Sept. 6, 1947, he marriedDorothy Slota, who passed away in1988. Switaj has two sons, John andStephen; one daughter, Rose Anna Kepp;and seven grandchildren.

If you are a mature veteran and haveinteresting or unusual experiences in yourmilitary or civilian life, phone Al Goodmanat (717) 541-9889 or email him [email protected].


50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc.and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirementcommunities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets

serving the senior community.On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish

advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters

are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance ofadvertisements for products or services does not constitute anendorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will notbe responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within fivedays of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reviseor reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may bereproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc.

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

Corporate Office:3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360Chester County:610.675.6240

Cumberland County/Dauphin County:717.770.0140

Berks County/Lancaster County/Lebanon County/York County:

717.285.1350E-mail address:

[email protected] address:

www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson

EDITORIALVICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EDITOR

Christianne RuppEDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan JoyceEDITORIAL INTERN

Jessica Johns

ART DEPARTMENTPROJECT COORDINATOR

Renee McWilliamsPRODUCTION ARTIST

Janys CuffeWEB DEVELOPER

Kahla Livelsberger

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Karla BackAngie McComsey Jacoby

Valerie KissingerDoug Kline

Susan KriegerRanee Shaub Miller

Lori PeckSue Rugh

SALES & EVENT COORDINATOR

Eileen Culp

CIRCULATIONPROJECT COORDINATOR

Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATIONBUSINESS MANAGER

Elizabeth Duvall

Winner

Member of

Member of

Tales of Glenn Ford

Tinseltown Talks

Nick Thomas

If you’re a fan of old movies,you’ll recognize what the classicsGilda, Blackboard Jungle, The

Courtship of Eddie’s Father, andFastest Gun Alive all have incommon: Glenn Ford. Oddlyenough, though he appeared inaround 100 feature films, the firstbiography on Ford was onlypublished in 2011.

Ford’s son, Peter, authored GlennFord: A Life and talked about his dadand the book, which is an insightfulHollywood bio filled with stories ofone of film’s most underappreciatedactors.

In addition to acting, Ford had anumber of other interests, includinga great fondness for women, whichPeter approaches with objectivecandor without ever turning thebook into a trashy memoir.

“He’s perceived by the public as aJimmy Stewart—a wholesome, all-American guy,” Peter told me. “Hewas that, but he also had a lot ofErrol Flynn in him. In reviewing allmy sources, I counted 146 womenhe had a dalliance with, includingMarilyn Monroe.”

Those sources included Ford’sown writings.

“My father kept a diary every dayof his life since 1933, and I haveevery one of them. So there was anenormous amount of material there,”explained Peter. “If you picked anyday since then, I could tell you whathe had for breakfast, where he went,what he did, what he thought, whohe talked to, etc.”

Glenn Ford was also a packrat ofmonumental proportions. When Forddied in 2006, Peter says he donatedmany of his father’s personal items tocharities. Other items he sold,including a piano given to Ford byJudy Garland, a slot machine fromFrank Sinatra, and a couch on whichhe “entertained” Monroe.

In fact, an auction house hauledoff two 26-foot-long trucks filled with“stuff ”—and that still barely touchedthe surface of the contents of Ford’s9,000-square-foot home in BeverlyHills.

“He saved everything,” said Peter.

“I have every letter he ever receivedand copies of letters he wrote. I havehis baby teeth, the lock of hair fromhis first haircut, the dish he used as ababy, and every report card fromschool. There [were] also thousandsof photographs and thousands ofbooks.

“Wherever he went, he wouldtake scraps of paper and write histhoughts. Often, he would stickthese randomly in books, along withletters, Christmas cards, and evenmoney.”

Peter donated hundreds of thosebooks to libraries but had to checkeach one in case his father had leftsome long-forgotten treasure within

its pages. In one, he found manyletters from singer Sophie Tucker.

Another Ford “hobby” was tosecretly record telephoneconversations. In the late 1950s,Ford, unbeknownst to his family andfriends, installed a phone tap on thefamily’s phone. After his father died,Peter discovered hundreds of oldreel-to-reel and cassette recordings ofcelebrities and politicians.

“He has some of PresidentRichard Nixon,” said Peter with achuckle. “Isn’t that ironic? The mostinfamous taper himself gettingtaped!” Maybe we now know whereTricky Dick got the idea!

Peter also recalls childhoodSunday-morning walks with his dadalong Santa Monica Boulevard. Thetwo would often stop under a leafyfichus tree, and Ford would ask hisson if he wanted some chewing gum.

Adept at sleight-of-hand tricks,Ford would appear to pull somechewing gum from the tree, leadingyoung Peter to believe there reallywas such a thing as a “gum tree.”

In another story, Peter remembersflying in a private plane with his dadto Cody, Wyo., for the dedication ofthe Buffalo Bill Museum. Theceremony culminated with a livebuffalo dangling in a harness from ahelicopter, flying over the crowd.

But as the pilot hovered above theassembled dignitaries, the terrifiedanimal’s bladder and bowels provedsomewhat unstable. When combinedwith the downward force of thechopper’s rotor blades, Peter says itwas a most memorable event!

Glenn Ford was a complex man,which led to difficulties andintricacies in his professional andpersonal lives. Peter’s revelationsabout his dad—as well as his mom,the great dancer Eleanor Powell—provide a fascinating glimpse of thegolden age of Hollywood.

Thomas’ features and columns haveappeared in more than 300 magazinesand newspapers, and he is the author ofRaised by the Stars, published byMcFarland. He can be reached at hisblog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com

Ford with Rita Hayworth in Gilda (1946).

Photo credit: Peter Ford

Peter Ford, center, with his parents,Eleanor Powell and Glenn Ford.

Photo credit: Peter Ford

Ford, right, with Peter Ford onthe set of Heaven with a Gun

(1969).


Sponsorshipand exhibitorapplications

now beingaccepted.

To reserve space or for more information, go to:

a G r e a t W a y T o S p e n d M y D a y . c o mFREE advance guest registration online! ($5 at the door)

717.285.1350

November 9, 20139 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Carlisle Expo Center

100 K Street, Carlisle

Pump-UUp Your Business.Be an Exhibitor!

In my June column I described how Ihad sent a third DNA sample toAncestryDNA (a subsidiary of

Ancestry.com), after being notified bythem that the first two were notadequate.

Since then, I received a third rejectionemail, asking me to send still anothersample. The original order was about$100 for Ancestry.com subscribers, andalthough there was no extra cost forsending in the additional samples, Idecided that three tries was enough. Iasked for a refund.

Ancestry’s first response was “that isnot our policy,” and they suggested Ihave someone else’s DNA tested on mydime. That was not acceptable, as I wantmy DNA tested, not someone else’s, noteven my son’s, whose DNA wouldcontain genetic material (his mother’s)that is different than mine.

When I explained this to Ancestry,

they graciously agreed to refund mymoney.

Unfortunately, this episode throws amonkey wrench into my plan to give acommentary on these pages about myDNA testing and its results. I’ll take amoratorium onDNA columns andresume them when Ihave decided whichDNA testing venueto use from themany availablecandidates.

Instead, I’d like torevisit a subject Ihave addressedpreviously: onlinegenealogy resources. My reason forreturning to this topic is a conversation Ihad recently.

I volunteer as a librarian at my localMormon FamilySearch Center. Recently

I was helping a patron with an onlinesearch for information about the death ofher grandfather. When I suggested thatwe try the subscription site Fold3(www.fold3.com), she referred toFamilySearch (www.familysearch.org)

and asked, “Doesn’tFamilySearch haveeverything?”

In this day andage of information,I suppose it’s easy tofall into the notionthat everythingabout everybody issomewhere online.So, shouldn’teverything

concerning genealogy be on one of theforemost online genealogy sites? Notquite!

FamilySearch has millions of recordsof all sorts on microfilm, and it is

diligently indexing its images of originalrecords so that they will be viewableonline. However, I venture to state that“everything” will never be online, neitherthere nor at any other site.

Some sites will have voluminousnumbers of ships’ passenger manifestsbut nothing else. Some will have CivilWar pension records but no passengermanifests. Some will have Irish recordsbut no German records, and so on, andso on.

Just as every family is different, itshistory is different, and a genealogyresearcher must be prepared to dig outwhatever sources are available that applyto his or her unique ancestry.

I believe another widely heldmisconception is that, because many ofthe records we pursue are publicdocuments, they should be available free

DNA Interrupted

The Search for Our Ancestry

Angelo Coniglio

“Shouldn’t everything

concerning genealogy

be on one of the

foremost online

genealogy sites?

Not quite!

“

please see DNA page 11


Thank you, sponsors and volunteers!The 50plus EXPO is FREE to the community due to the generosity of our sponsors.

Proudly Sponsored By:

By Megan Joyce

Thousands of visitors dodgedraindrops as they entered the HersheyLodge for the recent Dauphin County50plus EXPO, grateful for the chance todry off and happy to see the friendlyfaces that welcomed them to the event.

The free, one-day EXPO, whichprovides information and resources forthe area’s 50+ community, was presentedby OLP Events and co-sponsored by50plus Senior News and the DauphinCounty Area Agency on Aging.

More than 100 exhibitors were onhand representing travel, housing,medical services, health and wellness,home improvements, finances, andmore.

The day began with the openingceremony, featuring comments fromDonna Anderson, president of On-LinePublishers; George Hartwick and MikePries, Dauphin County commissioners;and Valerie Pritchett, abc27 news

anchor and the EXPO’s honorarychairperson.

Pritchett presented the 2013Dauphin County Outstanding SeniorAward to Richard Comisky ofLower Paxton Township.

Nominated by theRobert Burns,director of theDauphin CountyArea Agency onAging, Comiskey, asurvivor of throatcancer, volunteers toassist older adults,youths who need apositive role model,members of his church, andcommunity organizations.

He has also traveled across thecountry to assist victims of naturaldisasters.

“Thank you for this honor,”Comiskey said. “Give of yourself toothers, and be grateful for every day.

Remember: Yesterday’s history,tomorrow’s a mystery. We only havetoday, and that’s why that wonderfulgift is the present. Live every day giving

of yourself.”PinnacleHealthsponsored a Health &

Wellness Area,featuring screenings,presentations, andone-on-oneguidance fromPinnacleHealthrepresentatives.

The AAA TravelFair included

representatives from 14travel companies all in one

location.Visitors also had the option of

attending free seminars on topics suchas back pain, advance directives, heartconditions, political updates, and cruiseoptions.

In addition to about a dozen door

prizes, the 14th annual event includedfree health screenings for bloodpressure, spinal health, glaucoma,hearing, and more.

The EXPO blended theseinformational resources with ongoingentertainment, starting with apresentation by PinnacleHealth ongrandparenting in 2013.

Later, actors in full costumeperformed musical highlights fromDutch Apple Dinner Theatre’s currentseason before PA STATE SENIOR IDOL

winners Vickie Kissinger (2012), BarrySurran (2008), and Peggy Kurtz Keller(2011) demonstrated again why theyare amongst the state’s top vocalists.

The 50plus EXPOs, presented byOLP Events, will return in fall 2013:Sept. 18 at the York Expo Center, York;Oct. 24 at the Carlisle Expo Center,Carlisle; and Nov. 6 at Spooky NookSports, Manheim.

For more information, call (717) 285-1350 or visit www.50plusExpoPA.com.

50plus EXPO Draws Crowds, Honors Local Volunteer

Brought to you by:

&

GoldTravel Health & Wellness

BronzeGateway Health Plan • HealthAmerica Advantra • Lebanon Valley Brethren Home • Madeira Chiropractic Wellness Center • Menno Haven Retirement Communities

RetireSafe • Scheib Law Offices • The Spine Specialists • Spring Creek Rehabilitation and HealthCare • StoneRidge Retirement Living

Mediaabc27 • WHP580 • WHYL • WIOO

Visitor Bag SponsorPremier Eye Care Group

AutomotiveCiocca Honda

From left, George Hartwick,Dauphin County commissioner;Donna Anderson, president ofOn-Line Publishers; Richard Comiskey, 2013Dauphin County OutstandingSenior Award recipient; Valerie Pritchett, abc27 anchorand 50plus EXPO honorarychairperson; and Mike Pries,Dauphin County commissioner.

The Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (CDC) is urging people toprepare for extreme heat this summer bystaying cool, hydrated, andinformed.

“No one should diefrom a heat wave, butevery year on average,extreme heat causes658 deaths in theUnited States—morethan tornadoes,hurricanes, floods, andlightning combined,”said Robin Ikeda, MD,MPH, acting director of theNational Center for EnvironmentalHealth and Agency for Toxic Substancesand Disease Registry.

Extreme heat can lead to very highbody temperatures, brain and organdamage, and even death. People sufferheat-related illness when their bodies areunable to compensate and coolthemselves properly.

Extreme heat affects everyone, but theelderly, children, the poor or homeless,persons who work or exercise outdoors,

and those with chronic medicalconditions are most at

risk. An analysis of

2012 data indicatesthat deaths are onthe rise. In a two-week period in2012, excessive

heat exposureresulted in 32 deaths

in four states, fourtimes the typical average

for those states for the sametwo-week period from 1999-2009.

More than two-thirds of the deaths(69 percent) occurred at home, and 91percent of those homes lacked airconditioning. Most of those who diedwere unmarried or living alone, and 72percent were male.

CDC recommends that local

governments engage in advancedplanning, such as increasing access to airconditioning, cooling stations, or otherpublic locations that can be used byresidents for temporary relief from heat,particularly when temperatures areelevated for several consecutive days.

CDC is offering new resources,

including a new website to prepare forextreme heat, new data on heat-relatedemergency room visits andhospitalizations, and a Climate Changeand Extreme Heat Events guidebook.

For more information on extreme heatand heat safety, call (800) CDC-INFOor visit www.cdc.gov/extremeheat.

Hospital Gowns Get a Redesign

NurseNews

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

OK, maybe it isn’t in the sameleague as the invention of themicroscope, the discovery of

penicillin, or the formulation ofvaccines, but the creation of the hospitalgown that closes in the back will certainlybe applauded by every patient who hasever had to wear one and who has had toreach, pull, or twist it just so he can getto the bathroom without exposing hisrear end to the world.

When I was caring for patients in thehospital, we often used two of thoseflimsy, thin cotton gowns on ourpatients, one tying in the back and thesecond one over it, tying in the front.

The patients were not as exposed asthey were when they were forced to wearthe single gown, and in addition,wearing two gowns made them feel a bitwarmer. Sometimes we would let thepatients bring pajama bottoms or boxershorts from home and wear them underthe gowns.

The tie-in-the-back version of thegown is handy for nurses and doctors, asit provides easy access to the patient’s

back andmakes itquick andsimple to, forinstance,listen to apatient’slungs orheart or togive aninjection.And it makesit easier forthe patient touse thebedpan ifnecessary.

However,patients hatethose darn gowns. And with goodreason. And although they haveprovided fodder for cartoons for years,it’s time for them to go.

I saw pictures of one kind of newlydesigned gown, and it looks more like awrap-around spa bathrobe. It has acrisscross V-neck closure in the front and

elbow-length sleeves. There aresnaps instead of ties and, while itdoes close in the back, it also hasan “access flap” from the neckdown to the lower back.

The particular gown I saw andread about wascreated at theHenry FordInnovationInstitute and iscurrently beingused at ahospital inDetroit. So far,patient reviewshave beenpositive. Thegoal now isgetting thedesign licensed

and sold to a manufacturer who can getthis going on a grand scale. (I did a littleresearch on the Internet and found thatother designers and companies areworking on this issue as well.)

The current tie-in-the-back design

goes back to the early 20th century, andwhile they were a great idea in a timewhen patients stayed flat in the bedmuch more than they do today, theyhaven’t changed much since then, andthey certainly don’t offer any measure ofprivacy.

And here’s another benefit of the spa-like gown, beyond preserving patientdignity: The new gown is made of athicker fabric, so using two gowns onpatients who are cold (in addition tobeing embarrassed) would no longer benecessary, thus saving on the number ofgowns the hospital needs to purchase.The manufacturing cost of the newgowns is comparable to those of the oldones, and yes, the new gowns launder upwell.

So, while it may not win the NobelPrize, a gown that closes in the back willbe dearly loved. Way to go, designers!

Gloria May is a registered nurse with amaster’s degree in adult health education anda Certified Health Education Specialistdesignation.

Photos courtesy of Henry Ford Innovation Institute

CDC Urges You to Stay Cool When Temps Soar



Provider and leader of qualityhealthcare in Central PA for more than145 years.50 renovated Personal Care Suites.Applications being accepted for alimited number.Skilled Nursing Care Unitaccommodates 92, including a 21-bed Alzheimer’s Unit.

717-221-79021901 North Fifth StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102

www.homelandcenter.org

Respectful, considerate, heart-felt carefor those with a life-limiting illness.Providing care for hospice patients inthe setting they consider their home.Clinical and bereavement staff providesupport for the patient and family beforeand after the death of your loved one.Providing service in Cumberland,Dauphin, Lebanon, Perry, and Yorkcounties.

717-221-78902300 Vartan Way, Suite 115

Harrisburg, PA 17110www.homelandhospice.org

A Garden Worth 10 Scents

The Green Mountain Gardener

Dr. Leonard Perry

How do you describe scents orfragrance in flowers? There areprobably as many ways as there

are people, scent being very subjective.It was in the Victorian times at the

end of the 19th century that fragrance inthe garden became really popular for justthat, not for any functional use. Prior tothat time, fragrance was used medicinallyand to mask unpleasant odors.

It was also at this time (1893) thatscents were first categorized by Countvon Marilaun into six groups.

Since then, these have been expandedto 10 scent groups, all of which are usedfor flowers. These groups are based oncommon essential oils for each group ofplants. It is the volatile compounds fromthese oils that our noses register as“scents.”

1. The indole group has flowers smellinglike and resembling decayed meat or

carrion, such as theskunk cabbage(Lysichiton) and awake-robin (Trilliumerectum), and attractsdung flies forpollination.

2. The aminoidgroup also smellsunpleasant to attractflies, smelling ofdecayed fish orammonia, andincludes many umbelflowers, such as giantfennel.

3. The heavy groupsmells similar to the last, only sweeter,and includes some of the oldest knownfragrant flowers, such as some lilies andnarcissus.

4. The aromaticgroup has some of themost pleasantlyscented flowers withscents of vanilla,balsam, almond, andcloves, such as insome primroses,peonies, stocks, andpinks.

5. The violet groupand smell is, ofcourse, present inviolets. Smelling ofdamp woodlandmoss, it attracts noinsects, as the flowersare self-pollinating.

6. The rose group is pleasant and foundin roses in addition to some peonies andscented geraniums.

7. The lemon group is more often foundin leaves but also in some water lilies andevening primroses.

8. The fruit-scented group includes manyroses and some minor bulbs.

9. The animal-scented group usually isunpleasant and may smell of musk, as insome roses; human perspiration, as invalerian and ox-eye daisy; and animal fur,as in crown imperial.

10. The honey-scented group is similarto the last, only sweeter and often morepleasant. Some examples are the butterflybush (Buddleia), showy stonecrop(Sedum spectabile), and meadowsweet(Filipendula).

As seen in most of these flower-scentgroups, insects or pollinators are themain reason for scent. It basically attracts

Winner of $50 Giant Food Stores Gift Card:

Linda Farley of East Berlin

Congratulations!

Who Has the Best Bites inCentral PA?

50plus Senior News readers have spoken!

Here are the Dauphin County dining favorites for 2013!

Breakfast:

Peachtree Restaurant & Lounge

Lunch:

The Hershey Pantry

Dinner:

Olive Garden

Ethnic Cuisine:

Fabio’s Restaurant

Celebrating:

Texas Roadhouse

Bakery:

Giant Food Stores

Coffeehouse:

Starbucks

Fast Food:

McDonald’s — Kline Plaza

Seafood:

Red Lobster

Steak:

Outback Steakhouse

Outdoor Dining:

Big Woody’s Beach Bar & Grill

Romantic Setting:

Alfred’s Victorian

Smorgasbord/Buffet:

Hoss’s Steak and Sea House

Caterer:

Commonwealth Caterers

www.StoneRidgeRetirement.com

You’ll feel right at home in over 1,400 square feet of luxuriousapartment living. With housekeeping, home maintenance, three dining

venues, a general store, and much more, you can leave the work to usand live the worry-free life you have been dreaming of for years.

Call 717-866-3553 to schedule your tour today!

Main Street is now open!And we are just waiting to welcome you to one of our

premier Park Avenue apartments.

Friendly faces, helpinghands, warm hearts. That’s

what we at Safe Havenbring to our clients.

Providing skilled nursing & non-medical in-home support

24/7/365Skilled Nursing • Personal Care • Homemaking

Respite Care • Errands • Chores • CompanionshipMedicare Certified

~ Free Consultations ~

phone:

717-582-4110Caregivers are supervised,licensed, bonded & insured

www.safehavenqualitycare.com

Safe Haven Skilled Services LLC

Safe Haven Quality Care LLCServing Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties

5435 Jonestown Rd.Harrisburg

545-6103GipeFloorAndWallcovering.com

10%

SeniorDiscounton materials only

SShheeeett VViinnyyll •• FFlloooorr TTiillee •• CCaarrppeettCCeerraammiicc TTiillee •• HHaarrddwwoooodd FFlloooorriinngg

FLOOR & WALL COVERING

PA009846

Hours:Mon.-Wed.: 9-5;Thurs.-Fri.: 9-5 & 6-9;

Sat.: 9-3

When youpatronize our

advertisers,please let themknow you saw

their ad in


pollinators specifically needed topollinate a flower, and at the righttime. Usually if a flower is not ready oris past the time for pollination, or hasbeen pollinated, it won’t have muchfragrance.

If a flower is fragrant at night, oddsare that it is pollinated by moths oreven bats. Sweet scents generally attractbees and flies for pollination, whilethose with fruity or musty-smellingflowers may attract flies or beetles forpollination.

While a species of plant may havefragrance, some of its highly bredoffspring may not. These cultivars

(cultivated varieties) may have beenbred for other traits instead, such asflower size, shape, or disease resistance.Roses are a good example of such aplant. Often, where there are manycultivars to choose from—as with roses,peonies, daffodils, or crabapples—onlysome will have fragrant flowers.

Fragrant summer perennials includebearded iris early in the season, tallgarden phlox later on as well as some ofthe oriental lilies, and lavender (wherehardy).

Dr. Leonard P. Perry is an extensionprofessor at the University of Vermont.


Dauphin County

Calendar of EventsDauphin County Library Programs

Dauphin County Department of Parks and Recreation

July 14, 3 to 4 p.m. – Flower Walk: Still More Blooms, Wildwood ParkJuly 17, 7 to 9 p.m. – Sunset Series: Dave Stahl Big Band, Lykens Borough ParkJuly 27, 10 to 11:30 a.m. – Yoga in Harmony with Nature, Wildwood Park

Programs and Support Groups

East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380

Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825July 18, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; July 19, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; July 20, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Library Book Sale

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

McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976

Northern Dauphin Library, 683 Main St., Lykens, (717) 453-9315

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949July 2, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book ClubJuly 16, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club

Free and open to the public.

Senior Center Activities

July 9, 6 to 7 p.m.Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support GroupGraysonview Personal Care Community150 Kempton Ave., Harrisburg(717) 561-8010

July 17, 1:30 p.m.Parkinson’s Support Group on East ShoreJewish Home of Harrisburg4004 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg(717) 441-8627

July 23, 6 to 7:30 p.m.Parental Loss Support GroupAseraCare Hospice75 S. Houcks Road, Suite 101, Harrisburg(717) 541-4466

July 30, 6 p.m.Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Walking Club Gander Mountain5005 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg(717) 991-5232

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: [email protected]

(717) 770-0140Let help you get the word out!

What’s Happening?

If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to [email protected] for consideration.

Bistline Senior Center – (717) 564-5633

B’Nai B’rith Senior Center – (717) 232-6757

East Hanover Township Senior Center(717) 469-7514

Edgemont Senior Center – (717) 236-2221

Friendship Senior Center – (717) 657-1547

Heinz-Menaker Senior Center – (717) 238-7860

Hoy/Latsha Senior Center – (717) 939-9833

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) 533-2002www.hersheyseniorcenter.comJuly 26, 5 to 9 p.m. – Mohler’s Got Talent Show

Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682www.rutherfordhouse.orgWednesdays, 12:15 p.m. – Free Aerobics

Steelton Senior Center – (717) 939-0693

Please call or visit the centers’ websites for additional activities.

AARP Driver Safety Programs

For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free(888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse.

July 17, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.Jewish Community Center3001 N. Front St., Harrisburg(717) 236-9555, ext. 3115

July 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Mohler Senior Center25 Hope Drive, Hershey(717) 533-2002

Now Your Loved Ones Can Stay At HomeWe Build Friendships With Families

We know it isn’t easy to invite someone into yourhome to provide homecare. You’ll interview and select

any caregiver who we refer to you.At Visiting Angels®, character matters in caregivers!Up to 24 hour care. Hygiene assistance, meals, lighthousework, companionship. All of our experienced

caregivers are carefully screened.

Serving East and West Shores

717-652-8899 717-737-8899

THERE’S NO NEWS LIKE

Help yourself to a

50plusSenior News

and a shopping basket.

Now there are even more places to getyour FREE copy of

50plus Senior News!!!Check out your local

CVS/pharmacy storesand look forthis display.

DNA from page 5

of charge. Folks object to paying forcopies of birth records or payingsubscriptions to online venues beforethey can access information.

This philosophy ignores the fact thateven with public records, someone hasto find them (labor), copy them(equipment and material), mail them(postage), and, in the case of onlinevenues, digitize and organize them(labor and equipment), etc.

I pay for an online service for nosmall annual fee. Using that service, Ihave found dozens of images of originalbirth, marriage, and death records formy ancestors, as well as for my wife’s.

Much as I love visiting Sicily, If I hadhad to travel there to collect the sameinformation, my family tree would bebare indeed.

Next time, I’ll review previouslyanalyzed online sources, coveringchanges and additions to their sites.

Write to Angelo at [email protected] visit his website, www.bit.ly/AFCGen. Heis the author of the book The Lady of theWheel (La Ruotaia), based on hisgenealogical research of Sicilian foundlings.See www.bit.ly/ruotaia for moreinformation, or order the book atwww.amzn.to/racalmuto.


Survey Finds Older Motorists

Practice Safe Driving

Nine in 10 older drivers buckle upwhen they get behind the wheel andmore than a third have taken driverimprovement courses, according to datasurveying more than 7,000 seniors.

Survey findings, collected by AAA,the American Occupational TherapyAssociation (AOTA), and AARP, alsoreveal that twice the number of womenattendeddriver safetycourses despitethe fact thatolder mendrove moreoften thanolder womenby 12 percent.

AAA ispromoting thedata to helpdebunk theperceptionthat olderdrivers are amenace on theroad.

“The silver tsunami is often unfairlydubbed as risky and dangerous. Thesedata tell us that they practice safedriving behaviors and that more than athird of older drivers have activelysought out and participated in programsto improve their skills,” says Jenny M.Robinson, manager of public andgovernment affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The findings were collected fromdrivers who participated in CarFit, a freeprogram offered by AAA, AOTA, andAARP.

Typically offered at communityevents, CarFit runs drivers and theirvehicles through a 12-point checklistwith trained technicians who assess thefit of a driver’s car by checking foroptimum and safe settings, such asdistance from and sight line above thesteering wheel and proper mirrorssettings.

According toCarFitparticipantdata, the topfour “fit”challenges forolder driversincludedimproperdistance fromsteering wheel(59 percent);adequate andsafe views fromside mirrors (32percent);improper seat

height (28 percent); and improper headrestraint height (21 percent).

After a run through the CarFitprogram, 97 percent of participants’issues were resolved.

Other survey data revealed that morethan half (52 percent) of drivers 65 andolder typically drive seven days a week.

“Even when they’re driving every day,seniors do not pose a disproportionatethreat on the roads,” said Robinson. “Infact, drivers in their mid-to-late 80shave lower crash rates per mile driventhan drivers in their early 20s androughly half the crash rate of teenagers.”


• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards

• John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday

• Bruce Collier & The Drive Home

WE PLAY OVER1500 GREAT SONGS!

Harrisburg’sOldies Channel!

Find us at AM 960 or at whylradio.com

Icelebrated my 62nd birthday on April29, and I am still having troubleunderstanding how I could be two

years immersed in my sixth decade. When I think about birthdays, I can’t

remember a time when I said, “I wish Icould be in my 60s.” I do remembersaying that I wish I could be 21, for allthe obvious reasons.

I even thought that 30 was prettygood. By then I had a good job; I wasmarried; I had a newborn son and adaughtertwo yearslater; I hada house andaninexpensivenew car;and I feltthat thingswere goingwell. It washectic andchaotic,though.

When Ihit my 40s,things hadbegun to gowrong. I mean, I had been in my job for12 years and I was actually makingsome money. A couple of bucks left overafter household expenses were paidhinted that I was getting somewhere.

But some serious health problemsinterfered with our lives by the time Iwas 43, and a couple of years later, theteenagers living in our home wereovercome by hormonal madness and anomnipotent wisdom of all things thatever were and ever shall be.

Controlling the demonic forcesturned me into an unrecognizable figureof a man. Did I say there was anger?Oh, yes, and it was a righteous anger.

With the patience of a saint, I taughtboth of my children to drive. And wheneach one passed their driver’s test, I wasalmost willing to buy each a good carand provide a year’s rent somewhere onthe opposite side of the country.

“Get there safely but get there as fastas you can,” I wanted to say, “and don’tcome back until you realize how smartyour mom and I actually are.”

I remember when I was a teenager

how folks who were the age that I amnow would say, “Enjoy being young.Each new year flies by faster and faster.”And I would say, “Blah, blah, blah andblabbity, blabbity, blabbity.”

Just like my teenagers, I kneweverything. How frivolous and carefreeand invincible I was. It’s the universalstory of youth, isn’t it? I told my brotherthe other day that my new favorite songis “Yesterday, When I Was Young” byRoy Clark. Listen to it; you’ll see what I

mean. A

fadedcelebritysingersaid onetime on atalk showthat therewasn’t onedarnedthing thatwas goodaboutgettingold. Isupposethat’s true

for once-famous people who have losttheir luster and have been forgotten bythe public.

But I have never been famous orwidely known by the public. Gettingolder for a regular guy like me is justroutine; I have no delusions orflashbacks of glory.

Look, I’m not saying that gettingolder is a dream. The inevitable loss ofyouth can be difficult. Many of youalready know it; many more soon will.In sad resignation, I have often saidgood riddance to much of thefoolishness and turmoil of that earliertime, while in my heart I yearn for onemore stab at it.

I don’t ever remember saying that Iwish I could be in my 60s, but I surehope I can be in my 70s. The alternativeis difficult to ponder.

Mike Clark writes a regular column for TheGlobe Leader newspaper in NewWilmington, Pa. He lives outside Columbia,Pa., and can be contacted [email protected].

Birthday Thoughts

The Way I See It

Mike Clark


WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 14

Your ad could be here! Sponsor the Puzzle Page!Please call (717) 770-0140 for more information.

1. Funnyman5. Energy-efficient

transportation10. Kind of meet14. State categorically15. Paradigm16. Forum wear17. Soupçon18. Fetid20. Role models22. Degrees23. Midnight medley?24. Buckle under26. Font style, for short

28. Debate position29. Ginger32. Stumps, once35. High dudgeon37. Book of Ruth figure39. Men of the cloth,

briefly40. Soft shoe41. Call it a day42. Novelist Loos44. Cole Porter’s “___

Clown”45. Ill-natured46. ___ de tête

47. Evita role49. Sugar source51. Ringo, for one53. Arena exhibitions57. Once-popular songs60. Flare-up62. Type of punch64. Designer Chanel65. ___ of Green Gables66. Door sign67. Bygone despot68. Fewer69. Squalid70. Dried-up

1. Bivouacs2. Characteristic of birds3. Rocket type4. Most gloomy5. Silver wattle6. Land on the Strait of

Hormuz7. Erb’s ___8. Anima9. Dickens character,

Artful ___10. Violin name, for short11. Cherry, e.g.12. Malarial fever13. Bridge option

19. Synthetic fiber21. Catches on25. Medicinal syrup27. Supple29. Decant30. Pianist Gilels31. Pathos32. Streetcar33. Rockfish34. “... there is no ___

angel but Love”:Shakespeare

36. Old World deer38. Conduits43. Took steps

45. Prig48. Chops up, as potatoes50. Major thoroughfare51. Trig functions52. Itinerary54. Notched55. Odd Couple character56. Salt away57. Nuncupative58. Kind of wolf59. Harasses for payment61. Expended63. Unified

Across

Down

CROSSWORD


Puzz

les

show

n on

pag

e 13

Puzzl

e Solu

tions

Her positive mind has forged the way fora positive life.

And her natural charisma may bewhat prompted so many women to jointhe Women’s Writing Circle thatWeidener began in November 2009.

The Women’s Writing Circle beganout of Weidener’s hope and dream offinding kindred spirits who couldconnect as a community of writers.

“It is very important when you are awriter to ease the loneliness and isolationof the work and find a community oflikeminded souls,” Weidener said. “All ofthese women have given me a new leaseon life.”

The group of women meets on thesecond Saturday of each month at a localbookshop. They share their writing witheach other and offer support andvalidation—things essential to anywriter’s success, both in their careers andas individuals.

“The emphasis is on how writing canlead to healing, self-discovery, andempowerment,” she said.

To merely say that Weidener loveswriting would be an injustice to her truefeelings, as she loves every aspect of it—“even the blood, sweat, and tears” that gointo it.

“I found that writing was a journeyinto the soul—a path to self-discovery, aswell as a way to develop understandingand empathy for others,” she said.

“When you put on paper what hastormented you, you take away the power

of painful memories and put thembehind you.”

Weidener is quick to point out thatthe group meets to connect not only aswriters, but also aswives, mothers,daughters, sisters,and friends sharingtheir journeys.

The group hassince evolved into amonthly critiquesession with aconcentration ondeveloping pieces ofwriting for potentialpublication,explains Weidener.Workshops havealso been formedfrom the Women’sWriting Circle,where the focus is on the craft andalchemy of writing.

The group recently published ananthology of stories and poems, calledSlants of Light: Stories and Poems From theWomen’s Writing Circle. The anthologycan be purchased in some localbookstores or at Amazon.com, and it willbe available as an e-book on Aug. 1.

Weidener brought in outsideworkshop instructors to teach on topicslike fiction and memoir writing andjournaling. She shares her own skills andexperiences as well. Weidener worked asa news and feature writer for The

Philadelphia Inquirer before leaving thepaper in 2007.

While she is committed to freelycheering others on in their journeys—no

matter what agethey may be—Weidener has alsobeen so bold as toshare her own lifejourney in its rawestform in twomemoirs.

Her first book,Again in aHeartbeat, waspublished in2010—the sameyear that she turned60. It is a memoirof love, loss, anddating again.

Weidener has notremarried since losing her husband butstill dates occasionally.

“I never met a man as strong or asconfident, as kind and as honorable asJohn,” said Weidener. “What has keptme going since John’s death is thememory of how he believed in me, mystrength as a woman, and he neverdoubted for an instant that I could raisehis sons on my own.”

She learned a lot about herself as shewrote Again in a Heartbeat and hopes thebook can help anyone who is goingthrough the loss of a loved one.

“When a person we love has cancer, or

any chronic illness, we may not alwayslive up to our own set of personalstandards,” she explained. “My anger andgrief should not have been directed atmy husband for dying but at the cancerand how the disease impacted our family,our two little boys, and my own naïvedream of a happily-ever-after.”

She points out in the book that whena person you love is dying, they willoften distance themselves from you.

“It would have helped me at the timeif I had had someone to talk about it andwhy I felt so abandoned by him.”

Weidener’s second memoir, Morningat Wellington Square, published in 2012,is the story of a woman’s search to findherself beyond traditional roles. Shediscusses the beginning of the Women’sWriting Circle and the end of her careeras a journalist. Leaving the newspaperwas painful in its own way; her time inthe newsroom was so rewarding and feltlike more of a calling than it did a job.

“I am always amazed when I think ofhow an idea to start a writing circle hasturned into a place where, over the lastthree and a half years, more than 200women have read their work,” Weidenersaid.

“Some come once or twice and don’treturn to the circle, while others havebeen coming steadily for a year, twoyears, even three.”

To follow the happenings of theWomen’s Writing Circle, you may visittheir blog at www.susanweidener.com.

DRAFT from page 1

Books authored by Weidener as well asthe entire Women’s Writing Circle havebeen featured at the bookshop where

they meet monthly.

U.S. Dementia Care Costs Reached $215 Billion in 2010The costs of caring for people with

dementia in the United States in 2010were between $159 and $215 billion,and those costs could rise dramaticallywith the increase in the numbers of olderpeople in coming decades, according to

estimates by researchers at RAND Corp.and the University of Michigan, AnnArbor.

The researchers found these costs ofcare comparable to, if not greater than,those for heart disease and cancer.

The study, supported by the NationalInstitutes of Health and publishedrecently in The New England Journal ofMedicine, totaled direct medicalexpenditures and costs attributable to thevast network of informal, unpaid care

that supports people with dementia. Depending on how informal care is

calculated, national expenditures in 2010for dementia among people older than70 were found to be $159 to $215billion.


Your key to choosing the right living andcare options for you or a loved one.

Whether they’re looking for a new homeOr the help needed to stay in their old one —

Will your services come to mind?

Call aboutEarly Bird Savings!

Must reserve by Aug. 30, 2013

• Active adult and residential living• Independent and retirement living

communities• Assisted living residences and

personal care homes• Nursing and healthcare services• Home care, companions, and

hospice care providers• Ancillary services

In print. Online at onlinepub.com.To include your community or service in the 2014 edition or for a free

copy of the 2013 edition, call your representative or (717) 285-1350or email [email protected]

Concession of a Novice e-Book Reader

By Evelyn Merriam

My husband and I now have a small,lightweight, basic e-reader. Although wewere not excited about the prospect, wedecided to try one because it seemed itmight be convenient at times.

With some coaching, we figured outthe gadget sufficiently and thententatively borrowed a few books fromour library system’s collection. Thelending period was brief, the books notcompelling, and our library’s e-books notrenewable, so they disappeared before wefinished them. Not a very good start.

Technical or scholarly e-books of sortswere available through libraries as earlyas the 1990s. But in 2003, U.S. librariesbegan to offer free, downloadablepopular fiction and nonfiction to thepublic. However, a librarian tells us thatthe restrictions and expense of acquiringe-books limits libraries’ collections.

We attended a brief class about usinge-readers and learned the lingo (AdobeEPUB, Adobe PDF, Kindle e-books,“downloading from the cloud,” etc.).

As we found our way further along,we purchased three books we actuallywanted to read: Francona, a baseball

autobiography; Life after Death, a bookabout a believer’s response to hispersonal grief; and Maggie’s Tale, ahistorical novel aboutthe adventures of ayoung Irish girlearning her keep inEngland in 1900.

Although we sharethe device as onewould a dailynewspaper, we areenjoying the booksand find that readingwithout worryingabout the booksevaporating (as thelibrary books did)more satisfactory.

According tostudies done inGermany, young adults show nodifference in reading speed or brainactivity when reading pages on anelectronic device versus a traditionalbook. However, the backlit screens of e-readers (providing more contrast) areeasier on elderly eyes than traditionalbooks. Older eyes read more quickly andwith less effort via e-readers.

Nonetheless, perhaps it is no surprisethat traditional books are still twice aspopular as digital devices with people

over 60. Previously,British researchersfound that, althoughmature users of e-books found themmore convenient, upto date, and easilyavailable thantraditional books, theybelieved them harderto read.

The researchersconcluded thatreducing the pleasureof reading was not acognitivephenomenon, but acultural one.

That may be so, but I would stillrather turn paper pages, use actualbookmarks, and put the books in theirplaces. Nonetheless, I concede that fortravel, it is convenient to have a numberof books and even a complete Bible athand in a wafer-thin notecard size.

It is also pleasant to have the optionsof reading books we do not necessarily

plan to keep. But for me, the best thingabout an e-reader is being able to accesstitles that are only available in electronicversions.

More than a year after two writerfriends in London told me about their e-books, I am able to read them. One ofthem, Maggie’s Tale by Peter M. Cooke,is not exactly Downton Abbey, but fansof that PBS series would easily be able tovisualize the lives of servant girls in abig, English house. The girls faceunexpected, life-altering choices whenlively evangelistic meetings and colorfulcharacters stir up their formerlyunassuming, orderly town.

Wouldn’t it astound Victorians of allstations, most of whom had yet to see anelectric toaster, to find me claiming toread about their lives while silentlyturning pages on a small, muted-graytablet called an e-book?

Before Evelyn and her husband recentlyretired, they worked in Christian ministry for40 years (including five years in Japan andeight in Pennsylvania). She has publishededucational and inspirational articles, bookreviews, poetry, and Bible reading guides andis working on a collection of personal essays.


You bring the talent, We’ll provide the stage!

For more information, updates, or an application:

717.285.1350 • www.SeniorIdolPA.com

Do you dance … sing … play an instrument … perform magic … do comedy?Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be called PA STATE SENIOR IDOL?

Then we’re looking for you!

Pennsylvanians over 50 are invited to audition for the eighth annual PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition at one of these locations:

Finals to be held on October 14, 2013 at:

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre510 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA 17601 • (717) 898-1900

Win a limousine trip to New York City with dinner and a Broadway show!

Emcee:Diane Dayton

of Dayton Communications911

Phot

o Gr

aphi

cs

Tuesday, August 27Holiday Inn Harrisburg East

4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111(Morning/Early Afternoon Auditions)

Thursday, September 5Heritage Hotel – Lancaster

500 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA 17601(Afternoon/Evening Auditions)

Dauphin County 50plus Senior News July 2013

Documents

Transcript of Dauphin County 50plus Senior News July 2013