Still in the gamepage 4

making new friendS in retirementpage 11

50 yearS ago: ‘California dreamin’’page 15

Complimentary | lebanon County edition | April 2016 • Vol. 11 No. 4

2 April 2016 50plus LIFE p www.50plusLifePA.com

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My 22 Cents’ Worth

Aging Farm Barns and Our Agrarian Past

Yesterday’s wealth, today’s heritage—that is the saga of America’s aging farm barns. Standing or leaning, they are memorials to our agrarian past.

Old barns have inspired preservation organizations and barn-touring groups and found repurpose when converted to offices, homes, and, occasionally, a landscape and nursery retail enterprise.

Like covered bridges and stream-powered grain mills, they become more valued as they continue to decline in number.

In the book Eric Sloane’s America, Sloane states: “It might be said that the early barn is the best example of American Colonial architecture. Each old barn was born of American soil and fitted to an American landscape for specific American needs.

“From the beginning, the American barn was big, like the hopes and plans for life in the New World. It was unlike anything built anywhere else. It was entirely American.”

Early farm homes were shanties. It was common practice for pioneer farmers to construct their barn before their house was completed. Barns were their lifeline.

Old barns tell us something of life on an early American farm. Their presence invokes what we may have been told by our grandparents about early farming.

Raising cash crops was part of the work. Small gardens of potatoes, carrots, beans, and lettuce were another responsibility, generally

assigned to some of the children. Chickens were raised and eggs sold.

Farm families generally included five to seven children, composing the necessary labor force. The oldest girl often assisted the mother with cooking and preserving while the second-oldest girl might be the family baker. The older boys became “farm hands,” cleaning the chicken house and assisting with harvesting

and fence repair.

Barns in America began to be erected in 1639, 32 years after the settlement at Jamestown, Va., and 19 years after the

settlement at Plymouth, Mass. Barn architecture evolved through the needs of individual farmers, not from plans provided by architects.

There are two predominant barn styles in American agrarian history: Pennsylvania Dutch barns and New England barns.

Pennsylvania Dutch barns frequently are called “bank barns” to indicate they were built on the bank (or slope) of a hillside. This permitted wagon entry to the upper level of the barn from the higher level of the slope and a second entry to the lower level at the descending slope.

New England barns lacked this feature. The New England barn often was part of a connected series of buildings with the house at one end, the barn at the other, and smaller buildings in between to house tools and wood. This allowed the farm family an interior access to each building without exposing themselves to snow, rain, or cold.

There are other barn types. They

Walt Sonneville

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE p April 2016 3

emergenCy numBerSPoison Control Center (800) 222-1222

food reSourCeSFood Stamps (800) 692-7462

Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging Meals on Wheels (717) 273-9262

Lebanon County Christian Ministries (717) 272-4400

Salvation Army (717) 273-2655

health & mediCal ServiCeSAlzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020

American Cancer Society (717) 231-4582

American Diabetes Association (717) 657-4310

American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association (717) 207-4265

American Lung Association (717) 541-5864

Arthritis Foundation (717) 274-0754

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (717) 787-7500

CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400

Kidney Foundation (717) 652-8123

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (717) 652-6520

Lupus Foundation (888) 215-8787

hearing ServiCeSMelnick, Moffitt & Mesaros ENT Associates 927 Russell Drive, Lebanon (717) 274-9775

Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY

home Care ServiCeSSenior Helpers (717) 920-0707

hoSpitalSMedical Society of Lebanon County (717) 270-7500

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital 252 S. Fourth St., Lebanon (717) 270-7500

hotlineSEnergy Assistance (800) 692-7462

Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Hotline (800) 541-2050

IRS Income Tax Assistance (800) 829-1040

Medicaid (800) 692-7462

Medicare (800) 382-1274

PA Crime Stoppers (800) 472-8477

PennDOT (800) 932-4600

Recycling (800) 346-4242

Social Security Information (800) 772-1213

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (800) 827-1000

houSing — apartmentSCommunity Homes of Lebanon Valley, Inc.(717) 273-3333

houSing aSSiStanCeHousing Assistance & Resources Program (HARP) (717) 273-9328

Lebanon County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (717) 274-1401

Lebanon HOPES (717) 274-7528, ext. 3201

independent living CommunitieSCountry Acres Manufactured Home Park, LP 1600 Kercher Ave., Myerstown (717) 866-5496

inSuranCeMedicare Hotline (800) 638-6833

legal ServiCeSPennsylvania Bar Association (717) 238-6715

offiCe of agingLebanon County Area Agency on Aging (717) 273-9262

pharmaCieSCVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

phySiCianSLebanon NeuroScience & Spine Associates (717) 454-0061

Senior CenterSAnnville Senior Community Center (717) 867-1796

Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048

Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786

Northern Lebanon County Senior Community Center (717) 865-0944

Palmyra Senior Community Center (717) 838-8237

Senior Center of Lebanon Valley (717) 274-3451

travelAAA Central Penn (717) 657-2244

Cruise One (717) 639-3551

veteranS ServiCeSGovernor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681

Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

volunteer opportunitieSRSVP of the Capital Region (717) 754-0307

Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away.

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

At Your Fingertips

include crib barns, the insides of which might contain one or more cribs to separate storage items and livestock, and tobacco barns, an early barn type that required more ventilation to cure the hanging crop.

Barns were not built to impress. Expressions of architectural creativity were limited to the addition of cupolas; dormers; novel latches and hardware; weathervanes in the form of an arrow or, near the coast, a fish or a whale; decorative hex signs; barn stars; shutters (solid or louvered); and ventilation slits that could be

diamond shaped or rectangular. Most barns were constructed

of oak. Some barns were a mix of stone and wood, others of stone only. It wasn’t until 1873 that the barn’s profile was dominated by the introduction of the silo.

Barns had practical features added as well, including lightning rods, entrance holes for owls (to control vermin), and holes for martins.

Some barns eventually included virtual billboards, promoting products and tourist destinations. Barns frequently displayed the name

of the farm or its owner and the year of the barn’s construction.

Barns in Pennsylvania were inventoried after the state’s bi-cameral legislature adopted separate resolutions in 2005. A resulting survey found that 46 percent of barns in eastern Pennsylvania were built before the Civil War, with sidings typically of stone and wood. Almost three-quarters of statewide respondents reported their barns were in good or excellent condition.

There are eight barns in Pennsylvania listed on the National

Register of Historic Places. Four are in Chester County, one each in Bucks and Centre counties, and two in Dauphin County. Nationally, there are 262 barns on the register, located in 27 states.

Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research analyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth: The Higher-Valued Opinion of a Senior Citizen and A Musing Moment: Meditative Essays on Life and Learning, books of personal-opinion essays, free of partisan and sectarian viewpoints. Contact him at waltsonneville@verizon.net.

4 April 2016 50plus LIFE p www.50plusLifePA.com

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By Megan Joyce

The feel of the bat pressed into your palms. The gritty dirt scuffing beneath your shoes. The tang of fresh air as it buffets your face. Jerry Munley knows the sensory, mental, and athletic appeal of baseball and softball is a lifelong draw.

As a co-manager for both Susquehanna Senior Softball’s 55+ and 62+ leagues, Munley also knows his generation’s passion for ball and bat is alive and well in Central Pennsylvania.

“I think all of us who played baseball in our younger years enjoyed it because it was fun and made us feel better,” Munley said.

Munley, a retired audit supervisor for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, began his baseball “life” as a second-base Little League player.

As a young adult, he played third base on his college fraternity’s team and, after returning from college to his hometown of Archbald, Pa., he took up second base and outfield in a 20+ league.

It would be another 30 years before he transitioned to softball after spotting a “softball players needed” notice in his church’s newsletter.

“When we get to be in our 50s, we are getting closer to retiring, and our [children] are now adults and need less of our help,” freeing up time for hobbies, he said.

After about three years as a player, Munley was asked to manage temporarily for a manager who needed time off for health reasons—but the manager never did return, and Munley’s managerial position became permanent.

“I volunteered because I used to be a Little League assistant manager and figured it would be

almost the same, but the ‘kids’ older,” Munley said.

As one of 10 managers in the 55+ league and one of six in the 62+ league, Munley’s duties include ensuring the teams have enough players for the upcoming season; holding team meetings; providing game schedules and making sure enough players will be available for each game; paying umpires and coming up with funds to pay for league fees; and notifying players of game cancelations.

Games in the 55+ league are played Monday and Wednesday evenings. This league includes 10 teams and uses a slow-pitch softball and wooden bats.

There are 11 defensive players on the field: four outfielders and seven infielders. Games are seven innings and are “very competitive,” Munley said.

Six teams compose the morning league, which is for players over age 62. Its structure is altered a bit to accommodate players who prefer a less competitive, nine-inning game: Every player who attends the game is placed in the batting order and must play a minimum of three innings on the field.

The appeal of 55-and-over softball for Munley and his teammates extends far beyond simple nostalgia, however.

“I am not a doctor, but it’s easy to observe that those playing ball are in good physical shape, especially for their ages … Baseball season starts for us with practices in April and goes through late October, so this gets the body moving quite a bit,” Munley said, adding that the leagues even have players over age 75.

But the physical exercise is just one advantage of league participation. Perhaps even greater are the mental and social rewards.

“The players … also benefit

from the companionship and the feeling of being needed and part of a team,” Munley said. “The players in the league encourage their team’s players and also give the opposing team’s players compliments when they do well.”

Friendships are formed that transcend the ball field into everyday life, with players often getting together after games—even with opposing players—for a bite to eat. Players’ wives sometimes socialize after games as well, Munley said.

And then there’s the good, old-fashioned razzing that goes on—an essential element to any sports team.

“Team players also enjoy playing because they get to tease the other guys, and both know it’s just for fun.”

Munley said the companionship and fun of playing in the league has helped some players through life’s tougher times, too. And the drive to play encourages players to keep themselves in shape during the off months so they’re ready to swing the bat come spring.

“Also, when an injury occurs, they strive to get back in shape as soon as possible,” Munley added.

As a native Pennsylvanian, Munley’s pro-ball allegiance must fall with the Phillies or Pirates—right?

“I follow the San Francisco Giants. This may seem odd for a Pennsylvania guy,” he said. “It all started when I was in grade school. We had a baseball board game, and since I was one of the last to join, I was given the Giants as a team. Since then, I stayed as a Giants fan.”

Both the 55+ and 62+ softball leagues are seeking additional players. For more information about joining a league, contact Jerry Munley at (717) 877-3356 or email gmunleysr@gmail.com.

Cover Story

Still in the Game

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE p April 2016 5

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The Beauty in Nature

Locally Nesting Sandpipers and Plovers

Most kinds of sandpipers and plovers (shorebirds) in North America nest on the Arctic tundra, seacoast beaches, or salt marshes.

But a few species, including killdeer plovers, spotted sandpipers, and American woodcocks, raise young inland in much of North America, including here in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Like almost all shorebirds, these inland species nest on the ground but in different habitats, which eliminates competition among them for space and invertebrate food enough for their youngsters to grow and mature.

All these shorebirds are migrants, though some killdeer stay north all winter. But other killdeer and woodcocks arrive here early in March, and spotted sandpipers get here in mid-April.

All shorebirds, being related, lay four eggs per clutch and only raise one brood each year. Chicks hatch fuzzy, open-eyed, camouflaged, and able to feed themselves within 24 hours of hatching.

Eggs, chicks, and adults of all species blend into their sparsely vegetated habitats, making them hard to see by predators and us.

Killdeer originally hatched young on streamside gravel bars. But they adapted to laying eggs on the bare soil of plowed fields and the gravel of driveways, parking lots, railroad beds, and flat, gravel roofs.

But wherever they hatch, killdeer babies are vulnerable to vehicles and predators in their open environments. And those hatching on roofs drop to the ground.

Spotted sandpipers patrol waterway and impoundment shorelines for

invertebrates. And females of this species lay eggs near those waters.

Spotties bob and dance while walking along the edges of water. Their constant dipping mimics objects bouncing in wavelets, blending in to be invisible.

Woodcocks live on dead-leaf floors of bottomland woods. There they poke their long beaks into moist soil to extract

earthworms and other invertebrates. Male woodcocks present courtship

displays most every evening through March and April to attract females to them for mating.

Each male exits a bottomland woods just after sunset and lands on a spot of bare ground in a clearing. There he stands upright and “beeps” about a minute. Then he takes off in spiral, upward flight, his wings twittering all the while.

When he reaches the zenith of his flight, he verbally utters several series of musical notes and swoops down to his bare-soil stage. His displays are interrupted by receptive females. Females lay their clutches on leafy forest floors.

Watch for inland shorebirds this spring. They are interesting.

Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Killdeer

Sandpiper

6 April 2016 50plus LIFE p www.50plusLifePA.com

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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers

The Temple on the Hill

It’s an eye-popping, head-scratching sight. There, right in the middle of Middle America, stands one of the most recognizable buildings in Europe: the Greek Parthenon, generally considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

What in the name of Zeus is this historic monument doing in Nashville, Tenn.?

Of course, the Tennessee building is a replica, but it looks much more like the temple where Socrates and Plato debated the merits of democracy than does the one in Athens.

The original Parthenon, built in the fifth century B.C., shows its age. Some of the columns have crumbled; most of the roof is gone, and the marble sculptures that decorated its exterior are now in the British Museum of London, the center of

a longstanding dispute between England and Greece.

What’s more, the giant statue of Athena, which was created by Pheidias, the most famous sculptor of his time, disappeared 1,500 years ago.

In contrast, the building in Nashville is in perfect condition.

My husband and I are awed by the

50 graceful Doric columns, which, like the original, are ingeniously tapered so that, to the eye, they appear straight while they actually tilt

slightly inward, an architectural trick to make them appear regally tall.

Inside we’re mesmerized by a 42-foot-tall statue of Athena, reproduced by Nashville sculptor Alan LeQuire. The goddess of wisdom and prudent warfare, whom the Parthenon was built to honor, is attired in a flowing gown and gilded with 8 pounds of 23.75-karat gold. In her right hand she holds an adult-size statue of Nike, the goddess of victory.

In short, Nashville’s Parthenon resembles the original as it was, not as it is.

This, of course, gets us back to our original question: Why Nashville? Nashville doesn’t even rank in the top 70 largest Greek-American communities.

The answer dates back to the mid-1800s, when the city was known as a

By Andrea Gross

The Nashville Parthenon is a near-exact replica of the one that

was built in Greece in the fifth century BC.

The statue of Athena, goddess of wisdom and prudent warfare, is 42

feet tall.

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE p April 2016 7

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center of wisdom, art, and learning. It was the first city in the South to have a public school system, and it had more colleges and universities than other cities of its size.

Proud Nashvillians said that in their reverence for knowledge and love of philosophical debate, they and the ancient Greeks were kindred spirits.

In addition to thinking like the Greeks, the city had a Greek flair due to its abundance of Greek Revival architecture. Nashville became known as “The Athens of the South.”

Thus, in 1897 when it was asked to erect a pavilion for the state’s Centennial Exposition, it seemed natural to build a life-sized model of the Parthenon.

The building was only intended to last for the six-month duration of the exposition, but the citizens balked at tearing it down. Instead they replaced the temporary structure with a permanent one, which was completed in 1931.

Today the Nashville Parthenon serves as the city’s art museum. In addition, it hosts a series of free educational programs that range from

panel discussions to formal lectures.

As for Nashville’s Greek atmosphere, its streets are still filled with fine examples of classical Greek architecture. Not far from the Parthenon, the Tennessee State Capitol, modeled after a Greek temple, sits atop Nashville’s own acropolis.

In 1955 the capitol, which was then nearly 100 years old, needed a fix-up. We drive to the north side of the building, where we find some of the original pillars that weren’t used in the restoration. They’re scattered on a small patch of grass, where

they bear an eerie resemblance to the ruins of ancient Greece.

Later we explore the area near West End Avenue and Belle Meade Boulevard, where many homes have the trademark Greek columns and porticos.

The most famous of the Greek Revival homes belongs to Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. His home, The Hermitage, was originally built in the Federal style, but after being destroyed by a fire, it was rebuilt with the classical elements that were more in vogue at the time.

Finally, we go to the Athens Family Restaurant. It’s housed in an architecturally bland building but is renowned for its authentically spiced Greek food, including gyros and souvlaki.

Of course, in what is altogether fitting for the culture that practically invented democracy, the chefs also serve thoroughly American hamburgers!For more information on Tennessee and other exciting destinations, visit www.traveltizers.com. Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).

Fragments of pillars lie near the Tennessee State Capitol, giving

visitors the feeling they are wandering among Greek ruins.

Tulip Grove, on the grounds of Jackson’s estate, also has elements

of Greek style.

The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, is an example of

classical Greek architecture.

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‘Service Station’ Stops at Traditions of Hershey

What’s missing in the world? That’s the question local artist William Chambers has been asking the public for his current art project, “Service Station.”

Chambers, of Lancaster, has been traveling with his interactive embroidery project, asking the public that simple question, and the answers then get stitched onto a vintage hand towel.

This traveling project recently made its way to Traditions of Hershey Independent Living for senior residents and local community members to share their own answers and stitch onto the piece themselves.

At each location, Chambers sets up his Service Station, dressed as a ’50s malt shop employee, and asks passersby, “What’s missing?”

Participants, both children and adults, are able to stitch their answers on the hand towel, which measures 40 yards long, or Chambers can stitch them himself.

Answers vary from simple objects, such as animals, or they can be more philosophical, such as “patience,” “compassion,” or “peace.”

“Service Station” is a yearlong project that has traveled to multiple locations. The project will culminate in July with its exhibition at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

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

AroundTown

Residents Attend Their ‘Senior Prom’

Residents at Traditions of Hershey got the royal treatment with their very own prom recently, held by Traditions of Hershey Independent Living and Personal Care in collaboration with Hershey High School Honor Society students.

The theme was “Roaring ’20s,” and students from Hershey High School acted as escorts for senior residents who did not have dates.

Residents enjoyed dinner followed by dancing with entertainment provided by The Tunesters, performing Big Band music.

They also crowned a prom king and queen, James and Josephine Vickers.

From left, residents Elaine Zakula, Tina Balaster, Neda Longenecker, Jo Bucher,

and William Chambers, artist.

James and Josephine Vickers, prom king and queen 2016.

Savvy Senior

Financial Paperwork: What to Keep, What to Toss

Dear Savvy Senior,How long should a person hang on to

old receipts, stock records, tax returns, and other financial documents? I have accumulated boxes full of such papers over the years and would like to get rid of some of it now that I’m retired.

– Getting Organized Dear Getting,This is a great

time of the year to get rid of unnecessary or outdated paperwork and to organize your records in preparation for filing your tax return.

Here’s a checklist of what to keep and what to toss out, along with some tips to help you reduce your future paper accumulation.

Toss Out

• ATM receipts and bank-deposit slips as soon as you match them up with your monthly statement

• Credit card receipts after you get your statement, unless you might return the item or need proof of

purchase for a warranty

• Credit card statements that do not have a tax-related expense on them

• Utility bills when the following month’s bill arrives showing that your prior payment was received—but if you wish to track utility usage over

time, you may want to keep them for a year, or if you deduct a home office on your taxes, keep them for seven years

To avoid identity

theft, be sure you shred anything you throw away that contains your personal information. It’s best to use a crosscut shredder

rather than a strip one, which leaves long paper bands that could be reassembled.

Keep One Year• Paycheck stubs until you get your W-2 in January to check its accuracy

• Bank statements (savings and checking account) to confirm your 1099s

Jim Miller

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE p April 2016 9

• Brokerage, 401(k), IRA, and other investment statements until you get your annual summary (keep longer for tax purposes if they show a gain or loss)

• Receipts for healthcare bills in case you qualify for a medical deduction

Keep Seven Years

Keep supporting documents for your taxes, including W-2s, 1099s, and receipts or canceled checks that substantiate deductions, for seven years.

The IRS usually has up to three years after you file to audit you but may look back up to six years if it suspects you substantially underreported income or committed fraud.

Keep Indefinitely

• Tax returns with proof of filing and payment—you should keep these for at least seven years, but many experts recommend you keep them forever because they provide a record of your financial history

• IRS forms that you filed when making nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA or a Roth conversion

• Receipts for capital improvements that you’ve made to your home until seven years after you sell the house

• Retirement and brokerage account annual statements as long as you hold those investments

• Defined-benefit pension plan documents

• Savings bonds until redeemed

• Loan documents until the loan is paid off

• Vehicle titles and registration information as long as you own the car, boat, truck, or other vehicle

• Insurance policies as long as you have them

• Warranties or receipts for big-ticket purchases for as long as you own the item to support warranty and insurance claims

Keep Forever

You should never get rid of personal and family records like birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce papers, Social Security cards, military discharge papers, and estate-planning documents (power of attorney, will, trust, and advanced directive).

Keep these in a fireproof safe or safe-deposit box.

Reduce Your Paper

To reduce your paper clutter, consider digitizing your documents by scanning them and converting them into PDF files so you can store them on your computer and back them up onto a USB flash drive or external hard drive like iCloud (www.icloud.com) or Carbonite (www.carbonite.com).

You can also reduce your future paper load by switching to electronic statements and records whenever possible.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org

Call to visit: (717) 866-5496

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Connections at HomeVIA Willow Valley(717) 299-6941www.ConnectionsAtHome.orgYear Est.: 2014Counties Served: LancasterRNs: YesLPNs: YesCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Connections at Home VIA Willow Valley delivers unparalleled, personalized care and companionship in the home, hospital, or senior living community, by compassionate, reliable, dedicated caregivers who are backed by the area’s most trusted name in senior living for more than 30 years—Willow Valley Communities.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Homeland Hospice(717) 221-7890www.homelandhospice.org

Year Est.: 2009Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, YorkRNs: YesLPNs: YesCNAs/Home Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: Yes

Other Certifications and Services: Exemplary personalized care that enables patients and families to live each day as fully as possible. registered nurses who are certified in hospice and palliative care for both adults and children.

Central Penn Nursing Care, Inc.(717) 569-0451www.cpnc.com

Year Est.: 1984Counties Served: Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, YorkRNs: YesLPNs: YesCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Providing all levels of care (PCAs, CNAs, LPNs, rNs), in the home, hospital, or retirement communities with specifically trained caregivers for Alzheimer’s and dementia clients. Home care provided up to 24 hours a day to assist with personal care and housekeeping. A FrEE nursing assessment is offered.

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your

account representative or call (717) 285-1350.

Keystone In-Home Care(717) 898-2825; (866) 857-4601 (toll-free)www.keystoneinhomecare.com

Year Est.: 2004Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, YorkRNs: NoLPNs: NoCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services:Two- to 24-hour non-medical assistance provided by qualified, caring, competent, compassionate, and compatible caregivers. Personalized service with Assistance for Daily Living (ADL, IADL): companionship, meal prep, bathing, cleaning, and personal care needs. respite care, day surgery assistance. Assistance with veterans’ homecare benefits. Medicaid Waiver approved.

Senior Helpers(717) 920-0707www.seniorhelpers.com/harrisburg

Year Est.: 2007Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, YorkRNs: NoLPNs: NoCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Offering nonmedical home care to provide positive solutions for aging in place. Companionship, personal care, and our specialized dementia care. No minimum number of hours. Medicaid Waiver approved. Convenient, free assessment.

Visiting AngelsCarlisle: (717) 241-5900; Chambersburg: (717) 709-7244East Shore: (717) 652-8899; Gettysburg: (717) 337-0620Hanover: (717) 630-0067; Lancaster: (717) 393-3450West Shore: (717) 737-8899; York: (717) 751-2488 www.visitingangels.com

Year Est.: 2001RNs: NoLPNs: NoCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Visiting Angels provides seniors and adults with the needed assistance to continue living at home. Flexible hours up to 24 hours per day. Companionship, personal hygiene, meal prep, and more. Our caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and insured. Call today for a complimentary and informational meeting.

home Care Services & hospice providersListings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

All Hands Home Care(717) 737-7905www.allhandshomecare.com

Year Est.: 2014Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, YorkRNs: NoLPNs: NoCNAs: YesHome Aides: Yes

Medicare Certified?: NoOther Certifications and Services:Caregivers for all of your in-home care needs. We provide trained and compassionate non-medical, in-home care to seniors and individuals of all ages in the Central Pennsylvania region. Our company is fully insured and bonded. Call now for a free in-home consultation!

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE p April 2016 11

I have often stressed to older singles the importance of getting involved in activities and making new friends. This week, Lynda, of Carlisle, Pa., emailed asking for advice on how to do that.

Lynda said, “I was a single mom for 17 years and was very involved in my children’s lives and their activities. I have had the same type of work for 32 years and have moved a lot due to a military way of life. When I was in my 20s and 30s, making friends happened without even thinking about it.

“Now, in my mid-50s, making friends seems to be tougher than I imagined. I have friends at work but most of them are married and have their own lives outside of work.

“I have a good boss, I like my job a lot, and I get to see my grandkids, who live an hour away, once in a while.

“Since I am approaching retirement, I’m trying to figure out what I can do to make friends and get involved in my community. I love animals and have two dogs of my own. I hope to someday find someone I can experience life with, although I am very content being on my own with my dogs.

“I have thought about volunteering with Meals on Wheels and/or helping out with dog-rescue places. Any input would be appreciated.”

Tom’s Answer: Making new friends now is wise. By doing so, you will already have friends when you retire.

Yes, making friends is more difficult compared to when we were younger. For women, having women friends is as important, if not more important, than having men friends. By pursuing activities you enjoy, making new friends will easily follow.

You already seem to know what you want to do: You love animals and have two dogs. You have thought about volunteering at an animal shelter. Go for it; you’re a natural.

Two months ago, I rescued a dog

named Samson and got to know the volunteers at my local shelter. They all had one thing in common: They loved dogs and cats. In addition, they were wonderful people. You would immediately make friends at an animal shelter.

Next, you mentioned volunteering for Meals on Wheels. That’s a great cause. I suggest you start doing that once or twice a week.

It is important to try new things, particularly after you stop working. After my life partner, Greta, retired, she became involved in tai chi, yoga, and water aerobics classes. Through exercise, she has made many wonderful new friends.

If you need more ideas, check out Meetup (www.Meetup.com), a free site that lists all kinds of clubs and activities across the U.S. that you can

join. Pick a couple of activities that interest you and try them.

One other point: You say you would like to meet a man with whom to experience life, but if that does not happen, you are content just spending time with your dogs.

I think you can do both. Make time without the dogs to let a man into your life. Yes, you treasure your dogs, but don’t be so obsessed with them that you shut out potential mates.

The above paragraph is important for people wanting to meet a mate. Often, I see women and sometimes men who are so into their pets they post their pet’s photo as their Facebook profile photo instead of their own.

The message that sent is loud and clear: My pets are everything to me. Don’t get me wrong; I love all animals. However, wouldn’t it be nice

to have a mate and have your pets?Lynda, you have many positives

in your life: You have worked in the same field for 32 years, which shows stability, dedication, and loyalty—great traits to have. Not many people have worked in a job that long.

In addition, you were a single mom for 17 years, and that required a huge commitment. I have great respect for single moms—that has to be the toughest job in the world.

Pursue making new friends before retirement with the same energy you put forth into working and raising your children. You will accomplish your goal quickly.

For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.findingloveafter60.com.

Serving the Lebanon Valley for over 40 years

Currently accepting applications for:

Willow Terrace – 800 Willow St.

Rental rates based on 30% of adjusted gross income

Income limit: $23,800/1 person; $27,200/2 people

Hill Terrace – 745 Maple St.

Maple Terrace – 725 Maple St.

Oak Terrace – 1407 Oak St.

Rents range from $510-$631/month based on Apt. size

Income limit: $28,560/1 person; $32,640/2 people

Includes – h/w/s/t electricity and AC

Must be 62 years of age or older

Contact Rental Office at

(717) 273 – 3333

On Life and Love after 50

Single Mom Nearing retirement Wants to Make New Friends

Tom Blake

Get 50plus LIFE sent straight to your mailbox!Simply mail this form and $15 for an annual subscription to:

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12 April 2016 50plus LIFE p www.50plusLifePA.com

Calendar of EventsLebanon County

Community programS/Support groupS Free and open to the public

April 27, 6 to 7 p.m.Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support GroupLinden Village100 Tuck Court, Lebanon(717) 274-7400

liBrary programS

parkS and reCreation

Senior Center aCtivitieS

Annville Free Library, 216 E. Main St., Annville, (717) 867-1802April 11, 6 p.m. – Geek Night: Staying Safe OnlineApril 26, 6:30 p.m. – One Book, One Community Program: Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Native

Plants in Your Garden

Lebanon Community Library, 125 N. Seventh St., (717) 273-7624

Matthews Public Library, 102 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, (717) 865-5523April 12, 6 p.m. – One Book, One Community Program: Container Vegetable Gardening

Myerstown Community Library, 199 N. College St., Myerstown, (717) 866-2800April 5, 6 p.m. – One Book, One Community Program: Container Vegetable Gardening

Palmyra Public Library, 325 S. Railroad St., (717) 838-1347

Richland Community Library, 111 E. Main St., Richland, (717) 866-4939

All events held at the Park at Governor Dick unless noted.

April 9, 7:30 p.m. – Seeing StarsApril 10, 1:30 p.m. – Senior WalkaboutApril 30, 2 p.m. – The Art of Charcoaling

If you have an event you would like to include,

please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com

for consideration.

Annville Senior Community Center – (717) 867-1796200 S. White Oak St., Annville

Maple Street Senior Community Center – (717) 273-1048710 Maple St., LebanonApril 6, 1 0 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Bus Trip: Chef

Joseph Poon “Wok & Walk Tour” in Chinatown, Philadelphia

Myerstown Senior Community Center – (717) 866-6786Myerstown Baptist Church, 59 Ramona Road, MyerstownApril 13, 7:45 a.m. – Breakfast Club at Country

Fare RestaurantApril 19, noon – 42nd Anniversary Luncheon at

Hebron Catering and EventsApril 28, 4 p.m. – Mini Golf and Dinner

at Kauffman’s Bar-B-Que Restaurant

Northern Lebanon Senior Community Center – (717) 865-0944335 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown – www.jonestownpa.org/senior.htmlApril 20, 2 p.m. – ShuffleboardApril 28, noon – May Flowers BingoApril 29, 12:30 p.m. – Pinochle Club (New

Players Welcome)

Palmyra Senior Community Center – (717) 838-8237101 S. Railroad St., PalmyraApril 5, 10 a.m. – Knitting Club for Veterans and

Hospice PatientsApril 6, 11 a.m. – Volunteer Luncheon at Maple

Street CenterApril 12, 10 a.m. – Watercolor Art Class

Privately Owned Centers

Senior Center of Lebanon Valley, Inc. – (717) 274-3451710 Maple St., Lebanon

Washington Arms – (717) 274-1401303 Chestnut St., Lebanon

Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.

When the Media Gets in on April Fools’ DayIf you’re looking for

inspiration on April 1, remember one of the all-time great media hoaxes.

In 1957, the BBC’s respected news program Panorama ran a story celebrating a bumper spaghetti crop in Switzerland—thanks to a mild winter and the near elimination of the destructive “spaghetti weevil.”

The program included footage

of Swiss farm workers pulling strands of spaghetti from trees and laying them in the sun to dry.

Although some viewers caught on—and chastised the BBC for playing fast and loose in a news program—others fell hook, line, and pasta ladle. Many even telephoned the network to ask where they could get their own spaghetti trees.

Visit Our Website At:50plusLIFEPA.com

Central Pennsylvania’s Award-Winning 50+ Publication

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE p April 2016 13

your ad could be here on this popular page!Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.

CROSSWORD

Across

1. Disfigure4. Uncertain8. Highlander12. Dutch East Indies

island13. On the ___14. Harmonium16. Leave17. Voiced18. Indochinese

peninsula19. It. river21. Balmy23. Ooze24. Fr. bud25. ___ Khayyam

27. Astern29. Twosome30. Brazilian port31. Beverage34. Redo a lawn37. Take the count38. Possess39. Pain40. Saltwater fish41. Elderly42. Haggard novel43. After spark or fire45. Signature witness47. Mortar box48. Decompose49. Sand feature

50. Costello, for one51. Shame52. Circulars55. Indifferent58. Work hard60. Small three-masted

vessel62. Love (It.)64. Regrettably66. Titaness67. More expansive68. Carryall69. Lacerated70. Zest71. Let it stand!72. Before (poet.)

1. Saying2. Excuse3. Ritual4. Wedding words5. Arrange6. Panache7. Scream8. Cry9. Impudence10. Fiend11. Docile12. Gr. letter15. Snooze20. Debauchee22. Pulpit

26. Club ___28. Enemy29. Scot. river30. Fishing gear31. Robe32. Pitcher33. Rooney or Gibb34. Reckless35. Reverberation36. Outbuilding37. Record40. Write out41. Consumed43. Affirmative44. Oaf

45. Brazil, for one46. Cameo stone49. Distend50. Actress Sophia51. Aviator52. Loathe53. Tractor name54. Glance over55. Power tool56. Leave out57. Soft drink59. Grains61. Fem. suffix63. Energy unit65. Congeal

Down

bRainteaSeRS

Written by Alan Stillson. Please see http://stillsonworks.com

Famous Animals of the ’50s and ’60sFind these movie and television animals who were famous in the ’50s and ’60s:

1. L _____ (dog) 2. T_____ (bird) 3. S_____- Doo (dog) 4. F_____ (dolphin) 5. Y_____ (bear) 6. B_____ (chimpanzee) 7. S_____ (horse) 8. Old Y_____ (dog) 9. S_____ (cat) 10. J_____ (mouse)

News Events of the ’60sFill in the blanks:

1. 1960 – K _ _ _ _ _ y elected president 2. 1961 – Alan B. S _ _ _ _ _ d orbits space 3. 1962 – Cuban m _ _ _ _ _ e crisis 4. 1964 – Earthquake destroys A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ e 5. 1964 – Johnson defeats G _ _ _ _ _ _ _ r 6. 1966 – M _ _ _ _ _ a v. Arizona protects rights of the accused 7. 1967 – Moshe D _ _ _ n leads Israel in Six-Day War 8. 1968 – Nixon and A_ _ _ w are elected 9. 1968 – Martin Luther King slain in M _ _ _ _ _ s 10. 1969 – W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ k – Three days of peace and music

SUDOKU

Puzzle PageSolutions for all puzzles can be found on page 14

14 April 2016 50plus LIFE p www.50plusLifePA.com

Puzzl

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tions Brainteasers

Puzz

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pag

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1. Lassie (dog) 2. Tweety (bird) 3. Scooby-Doo (dog) 4. Flipper (dolphin) 5. Yogi (bear)

6. Bonzo (chimpanzee) 7. Silver (horse) 8. Old Yeller (dog) 9. Sylvester (cat) 10. Jerry (mouse)

1. 1960 – Kennedy 2. 1961 – Shepard 3. 1962 – missile 4. 1964 – Anchorage 5. 1964 – Goldwater

6. 1966 – Miranda 7. 1967 – Dayan 8. 1968 – Agnew 9. 1968 – Memphis 10. 1969 – Woodstock

Famous Animals of the ’50s and ’60s

News Events of the ’60s

Salute to a Veteran

B-25 Bombers Land Better with Their Gear Down

Conrad Hamp had long known that, of course, but he got a frightening reminder of it one time when the landing gear of the B-25 he was flying decided not to come down.

Although he had never expected an accident like that to happen to him, he had wanted to fly ever since 1935, when, as a 9-year-old in Baltimore, he had been taken by his father to a fly-in of Army bombers.

Just by walking around them and marveling at those awesome planes, he decided that being a pilot was his goal, once he became of age.

So, in 1943, as a 17-year-old in high school, he went to Towson, Md., and enlisted in the Pre-Aviation Cadet Enlisted Reserve. And, when he was called to active duty in April 1945, his only question was, “Why did it take so long?”

He was first sent to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for basic training and classification. After going through a battery of tests, he got good news—and bad. The good news was that he was classified a pilot.

The bad news was the Air Force had closed down the pilot training program, and he was sent to Keesler Field for aircraft and engine mechanic training. Lacking a chance to fly, he opted to leave the Air Force in November 1945.

A variety of civilian jobs followed until 1950, when he saw a huge sign in front of the library saying that the Air Force was again seeking flight

crew candidates. So, he promptly enlisted again and was sent to Connally Air Force Base near Waco, Texas, to go through classification once more.

And he was again selected to be a pilot. There he took basic flying training in the single-engine T-6 before shipping to Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas, for advance training in the twin-engine B-25 bomber.

On his first solo flight in the B-25, he then had his problem with the landing gear. They were about to shoot practice landings at an auxiliary field when they found that, whatever they could do, they couldn’t get the gear to come down.

They then called in the problem to the airbase … and got the curt order to “come back and crash.” So they did come back, but then spent a couple of hours trying everything they knew to solve the problem.

The base sent up a T-28 with two instructors to look the plane over, but they couldn’t suggest anything either. The right wheel had come part way down, but that only made the problem worse.

Then the flight chief noticed hydraulic fluid flowing down the

bulkhead on the side of the passageway to the bombardier’s station. He cut a hole through the aluminum and found that an extra-long bolt had been used on a strut to the landing gear (after its preceding 100-hour inspection).

It had cleanly severed the tube for the hydraulic fluid when the gear was retracted, permitting

all the fluid to drain out. He crimped the tube shut, and they were then able to coax enough hydraulic fluid from another accumulator to finally get the gear down and locked.

As they landed, they found that the base commander, many flight instructors, a fire truck, an ambulance, and the chaplain were waiting to see how the drama would turn out. Did that seem to be a signal that flying was more dangerous than he thought?

“Nah,” he grins. “Never gave it a thought.”

He must not have, because he next shipped to Bolling Field in Washington, D.C., where, for a year, he served in the Special Missions Squadron, flying VIPs around the U.S. and Canada in C-47s and B-25s.

Then in 1952 it was to Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt,

Germany, to fly the C-119 troop carrier and drop U.S., British, and French troops in exercises in various European countries. That was followed by an assignment in Neubiberg, Germany, where, in C-119s, he hauled material to bases all over Europe and North Africa.

In July 1955, he returned to New York aboard a civilian-crewed Navy transport and was separated from the Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, S.C., in 1956.

He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in flight service for many years in Key West and Myrtle Beach before retiring in 1976.

He lived in Hilton Head Plantation, S.C., for a few years before returning to Baltimore in the ’80s. How did he happen to come to Central Pennsylvania?

He says, “I had an uncle who liked to eat. One day, he said to me, ‘Want a good meal?’”

Hamp said sure, and his uncle then drove them north to Central Pennsylvania, where he “treated me to some of the best food I had ever eaten,” Hamp says. “That’s a big part of what brought me here to live.”

So, since 2004, he has lived in a Central Pennsylvania retirement community that offers just what he needs … including an endless supply of that great local food.Col. Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.

robert D. Wilcox

1st Lt. Francis Conrad Hamp, at rhein-Main, Germany,

in 1952.

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE p April 2016 15

It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘California Dreamin’ ’

“All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray …”

Michelle Phillips well remembers the 4 a.m. incident that changed her life.

Her husband, John, was gently shaking her awake with the words, “‘You have to help me finish this song, Mich. Help me, and you’ll thank me for this someday,’” wrote Michelle in her book, California Dreamin’: The True Story of the Mamas and the Papas.

John already had much of the song composed by the time he woke her that morning.

In his autobiography written with Jim Jerome, Papa John: An Autobiography by John Phillips, John recalled, “One of the first songs we worked on was written during the winter [of 1963-64], inspired by a bone-chilling walk through the snows of Central Park. We were daydreaming of bright sun, blue skies, and palm trees.

“LA was home for Michelle, and as winter dragged on in New York, it was impossible not to miss the 12-month California summer.”

To escape the bitter cold, the pair had briefly visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, an inspiration for the song’s second verse: “Stopped into a church we passed along the way.” Michelle enjoyed visiting churches; John wanted only to get warm.

Michelle later explained the line, “Well, I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray”: “John hated the verse, as he was turned off to churches by unpleasant memories of parochial school. But he couldn’t think of anything better, so he left it in.”

Note: In “California Dreamin,’” listeners have often mistakenly thought the group sang “I began to pray” rather than “I pretend to pray,” and many heard the line “The preacher liked the cold” as “The preacher lights the coals.”

The future classic was first recorded in Los Angeles by Barry McGuire—with the Mamas and the Papas providing background vocals—as a follow-up to his million-selling “Eve of Destruction.”

But at the last minute, Dunhill Records owner Lou Adler erased

McGuire’s vocals and had the Mamas and the Papas record their voices over the instrumental track.

John Phillips decided he wanted something more exotic than the standard middle guitar solo. During a break, he stepped into the hallway at the recording studio and ran into session jazz musician Bud Shank, a master of the saxophone and flute.

When John asked Shank to contribute an alto flute solo to the song’s break, Shank nailed it elegantly on the first take.

“California Dreamin’” was to be the first of nine Top 40 singles for the group that had once lived in a tent in the Virgin Islands.

Between 1965 and 1968, the Mamas and the Papas would sell 40 million records. (The group’s back story unfolds in their million-selling 1967 musical biography called Creeque Alley.)

To many music fans, nothing would ever resonate quite as strongly as the song that first brought the Mamas and the Papas fame.

In her autobiography California Dreamin’, Michelle Phillips recalled, “‘California Dreamin’’ was a great song. It was one of those songs, like, ‘Damnit, I don’t want to be boxed in to what my life has to offer. I’m going to change it … The only one who can change it is me … It gave impetus to change.”

Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

randal Hill

“California Dreamin’”The Mamas and the Papas

April 1966

Please, join us!This combined event is FREE

for veterans of all ages, active military, and their families.

At the Expoveterans benefitscommunity servicesProducts and services availablesupport/assistance Programseducation/training services

At the Job FairemployersJob counselingworkshops/seminarsresume writing assistance

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June 10, 20169 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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April 6, 20169 a.m. – 2 p.m.

York Expo Centermemorial hall east

334 Carlisle Ave., York

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www.veteransexpo.com

16 April 2016 50plus LIFE p www.50plusLifePA.com

Now you don’t have to travel all over to get the cancer care you need. WellSpan Good Samaritan’s new Sechler Family Cancer Center offers advanced treatment and care under one roof, right here in Lebanon County.

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