Lebanon County 50plus Senior News August 2012

20
By Katie Weeber Some people enjoy plants, purchasing a few potted blooms each summer to decorate their backyards, while others are born with natural green thumbs. Francesca McNichol is one of the latter. McNichol has been using her greenery prowess to grow a new crop of gardeners. As a member of a local garden club, McNichol has helped organize and run several successful gardening initiatives that have brought the knowledge of growing living things to adults and children alike, including a community garden and a junior gardening class for inner-city youth. McNichol’s introduction to gardening came naturally, starting with her childhood home on Long Island, N.Y. “My mother loved roses. When I was younger, she had a beautiful rose garden,” McNichol said. In addition to the rose garden, there was a rock garden and other beautiful, growing plants that McNichol’s mother cultivated around their home. When she was 19 years old, McNichol’s older brother purchased a farm in upstate New York. He and his wife became avid gardeners caring for the property, and McNichol spent most of her summers sharing in their labors. Growing Community Spirit One Garden at a Time McNichol in the wooden gazebo positioned in the center of the 127-bed community garden she helped to organize. Second Opinions: When to Get One page 4 Salute to a Veteran page 10 please see GARDEN page 18 Inside: Lebanon County Edition August 2012 Vol. 7 No. 8

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50plus Senior News, published monthly, is offered to provide individuals 50 and over in the Susquehanna and Delaware Valley areas with timely information pertinent to their needs and interests. Senior News offers information on entertainment, travel, healthy living, financial matters, veterans issues and much, much more.

Transcript of Lebanon County 50plus Senior News August 2012

By Katie Weeber

Some people enjoy plants, purchasing a few potted blooms each summer

to decorate their backyards, while others are born with natural green thumbs.

Francesca McNichol is one of the latter.

McNichol has been using her greenery prowess to grow a new crop of

gardeners. As a member of a local garden club, McNichol has helped

organize and run several successful gardening initiatives that have brought

the knowledge of growing living things to adults and children alike,

including a community garden and a junior gardening class for inner-city

youth.

McNichol’s introduction to gardening came naturally, starting with her

childhood home on Long Island, N.Y.

“My mother loved roses. When I was younger, she had a beautiful rose

garden,” McNichol said.

In addition to the rose garden, there was a rock garden and other

beautiful, growing plants that McNichol’s mother cultivated around their

home.

When she was 19 years old, McNichol’s older brother purchased a farm in

upstate New York. He and his wife became avid gardeners caring for the

property, and McNichol spent most of her summers sharing in their labors.

GrowingCommunity Spirit

One Gardenat a Time

McNichol in the wooden gazebo positioned in the center of the

127-bed community garden she helped to organize.

Second Opinions:

When to Get One

page 4

Salute to a

Veteran

page 10

please see GARDEN page 18

Inside:

Lebanon County Edition August 2012 Vol. 7 No. 8

2 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

By Andrea Gross

I’m reading the newspaper when I

realize that there are almost as many

articles about Beijing as there are

about Washington, DC.

That’s when it hits me. If one of the

main purposes—and pleasures—of travel

is education, then I have to go to China.

I need to learn more about the country

whose actions will affect the way I live

and, more importantly, the way my

children will live.

A friend recommends China Spree, a

company that offers 12-day tours to

Beijing and Shanghai that include air

from San Francisco; all meals,

admissions, and transportation within

China; guide service; and, as I soon find

out, very nice hotels.

I do the math. Why, I can visit China

for not a lot more than I’d have to pay

for an all-inclusive two-week vacation in

California. I take a deep breath and sign

on the dotted line.

In Beijing our guide leads our small

group to the must-sees: Tiananmen

Square, where Mao proclaimed the birth

of the People’s Republic of China in

1949; the Forbidden City, which was

home to 24 emperors; and, of course, the

Great Wall, which was designed to

protect the country against foreign

invaders.

To learn about more current

endeavors, we visit a jade factory, a silk

factory, a tea plantation, and an herbal

medicine museum.

But my favorite moments occur when

we mingle with ordinary folks, like the

76-year-old woman who hosts us for

lunch. She shows us her home, which is

in a hutong, one of Beijing’s fast-

disappearing old neighborhoods.

The next day we visit a park where we

see seniors doing tai chi, dancing,

fencing, and matchmaking. Their

children, explains our guide, work such

long hours that they don’t have time to

search for a spouse. Therefore, the

parents must help. They make big signs

All-Important China

The Forbidden City was home to

24 emperors during the Ming and

Qing dynasties.

The Great Wall was built

to protect China from

nomadic tribes to its north.

Students welcome American

visitors to their classroom.

please see CHINA page 9

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � August 2012 3

Poison Control Center

(800) 222-1222

Food & Clothing Bank

(717) 274-2490

Food Stamps

(800) 692-7462

Hope/Christian Ministries

(717) 272-4400

Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging

Meals on Wheels

(717) 273-9262

Salvation Army

(717) 273-2655

Alzheimer’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

Dr. M. Nazeeri

(717) 270-9446

Hearing & Ear Care Center, LLC

(717) 274-3851

Melnick, Moffitt, and Mesaros

(717) 274-9775

CareMinders Home Care

(717) 454-0159

Good Samaritan Hospital

(717) 270-7500

Medical Society of Lebanon County

(717) 270-7500

Energy 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

Hope (Helping Our People in

Emergencies)

(717) 272-4400

Housing Assistance & Resources Program

(HARP)

(717) 273-9328

Lebanon County Housing &

Redevelopment Authorities

(717) 274-1401

Medicare Hotline

(800) 638-6833

MidPenn Legal Services

(717) 274-2834

Pennsylvania Bar Association

(717) 238-6715

GSH Home Med Care, Inc.

(717) 272-2057

Lancaster NeuroScience &

Spine Associates

(717) 454-0061

(800) 628-2080

Spang Crest

(717) 274-1495

Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging

(717) 273-9262

CVS/pharmacy

www.cvs.com

Annville 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

Southern Lebanon County Senior

Community Center

(717) 274-7541

Governor’s Veterans Outreach

(717) 234-1681

Lebanon VA Medical Center

(717) 228-6000

(800) 409-8771

Veterans Services

Senior Centers

Pharmacies

Office of Aging

Nursing Homes/Rehab

Neurosurgery & Physiatry

Medical Equipment & Supplies

Legal Services

Insurance

Housing Assistance

Hotlines

Hospitals

Home Care Services

Hearing Aid Services

Health & Medical Services

Food Resources

Emergency Numbers

Resource DirectoryThis Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made

an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

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

4 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360

Chester County:

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717.770.0140

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EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR

Christianne Rupp

EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan Joyce

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Dear Savvy Senior,

Are second medical opinions worth

the trouble or risk of offending your

doctor? And does Medicare cover them?

– Nervous Nelly

Dear Nelly,

Yes! A second opinion is good

medicine and your right as a patient.

Besides, good doctors welcome

second opinions and will even offer

referrals to help you get one. If they

don’t, you probably ought to find

another doctor.

Here’s what you

should know.

SecondOpinions

There’s a

mountain of

evidence that

shows that

second opinions

save lives, prevent

mistakes, and cut

costs. Yet most

older patients

choose not to get

them because

they’re either afraid of offending

their doctor, don’t want to hassle

with it, or fear their insurance won’t

cover it.

But getting a second opinion

from a different doctor may offer

you a fresh perspective, new

information, and additional options

for treating your condition so you

can make a more informed decision.

Or, if the second doctor agrees

with the first, it can give you

reassurance.

Who Pays

In most cases, Medicare pays for

second opinions under Part B and

will even pay for a third opinion if

the first two differ. Most Medicare

Advantage plans also cover second

opinions, but some plans will require

a referral first from your primary

physician.

If you have private insurance,

you’ll need to check with your

insurance provider.

When to Ask

The key times you should seek a

second opinion are when:

• Your doctor suggests surgery. You

should always question elective

procedures, especially if a less

invasive alternative is available.

• You’re diagnosed with a life-

threatening disease such as cancer

or heart disease.

• You’re not getting any better.

• Your regular doctor can’t diagnose

your problem.

• You’re having trouble talking with

your current doctor.

• You’re having multiple medical

problems.

Where to Look

When you opt for a second

opinion, you can ask your first

doctor for a referral or, if that makes

you uncomfortable, seek one on your

own.

Whatever route you choose, it’s

best to go with a doctor that has

extensive experience in treating your

condition and one that’s affiliated

with a different practice or hospital

than your original doctor. Hospitals

and practices can be set in their ways

when it comes to treatments and are

likely to offer similar advice.

Physicians from research and

teaching hospitals are smart choices,

especially for rare or complicated

conditions, because of their ongoing

research and expertise in specific

areas of medicine.

To locate and research potential

doctors, the American Medical

Association (www.ama-assn.org) and

the American Osteopathic

Association (www.osteopathic.org)

offer free doctor-finding services that

list virtually every licensed physician

in the U.S.

Another good resource is Health

Grades (www.healthgrades.com),

which provides detailed reports on

doctors for a small fee.

Also see Vitals.com, a

free service that lets

you search for top-

rated doctors based on

their training,

expertise, consumer

ratings, and

recommendations from

other doctors.

Online Advice

If you’re having a

hard time finding or

getting to another

doctor for a second

opinion, consider the

Internet. Yes, Web-based second

opinions are now available from top

medical centers that allow you to

consult with medical experts

regardless of where they’re located.

The cost for this online advice

ranges between $500 and $1,000 and

is usually not covered by insurance or

Medicare.

Savvy Tips: Before you get a

second opinion, you’ll need to have

your doctor’s office send your

medical records ahead to the second

doctor (you may have to pick them

up and deliver them yourself ), and

be sure he or she knows about your

original diagnosis and the course of

treatment recommended by your first

doctor.

If they disagree, you may want to

seek that third opinion, or go back to

your original doctor for further

consultation.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the

NBC Today show and author of TheSavvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org.

Second Opinions: Why ManySeniors Don’t, but Should, Get One

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � August 2012 5

A Chevy toRemember

Such Is Life

Saralee Perel

My husband, Bob, has gone so

far as to name our car. He

calls it Old Yeller. Whenever I

suggest it’s time to retire it, he lovingly

pets the steering wheel and asks, “You

mean destroy Old Yeller?”

We have a 1970-something yellowish

Chevy Blazer. I can see the street

whizzing by through the holes in the

floorboard. I hear little clinking sounds

whenever we drive, and if I look out the

rear view, I see tiny pieces of Old Yeller

leaving a wake behind us.

I really hate this car.

“It’s time,” I gently said to Bob last

month, as we pulled in our driveway

and the door

handle came

off in my

hand.

“Great!” he

said and

jumped out of

the car. “I’ll

start the gas

grill.”

I brushed clumps of foam rubber (the

insides of the seat) off my pants. We

went in the house. “You know what I

mean,” I said.

“A woodworking show’s on,” he said,

and picked up the remote.

“Sweetheart.” I took the remote.

“Old Yeller’s had a really good life.”

“He just needs a tune-up, that’s all.”

He picked up the keys.

“It put itself into park while we were

driving 30 miles per hour.”

“He stalled,” he said, fondling the

keys.

“It stopped, Bob. My forehead’s still

bleeding.”

He stood and looked out the front

door. “I can’t,” he whispered.

“It’ll be humane, honey.”

“No it won’t,” he said. “No ceremony,

no remorse. Nothing. Just a push of a

lever and Old Yeller’s squashed like a

pancake and dumped in somebody’s

scrap heap.”

Late that night, I heard him get out

of bed and head to the kitchen. I put on

my robe and tiptoed in. He was pouring

himself a shot of whiskey from a bottle

we’ve had over 10 years. He drank it in

one gulp.

After he finished his coughing fit, I

held his hand. He said, “If anybody’s

going to put Old Yeller to sleep, it will

have to be me.”

I knew then: I had to go against his

wishes and take Old Yeller myself. The

next day, I drove the Chevy away and

got back to the house around noon.

“It was quick, Bob. Painless.”

“Old Yeller …” he moaned. Then he

went back to the whiskey bottle, picked

it up, changed his mind, and put it

down. He opened the freezer and found

a bag of mini Milky Ways and began

stuffing five in his mouth at a time.

“Honey. Don’t do this to yourself.” I

tried to take the bag away but he

grabbed it and

ran out of the

room, but not

before

snatching the

peanut butter

and Ritz

crackers.

It took two

weeks to get

Bob back on track. And that happened

yesterday. He was still in bed at 11

o’clock when I called him to come into

the living room. He was a wreck.

Unshaven. Dirty. I wiped the chocolate

off his lip.

“There’s something for you outside.”

“I need marshmallow fluff,” he said.

I took his hand and led him out the

front door. In the driveway was a car

covered by a big brown tarp that I

theatrically removed. There, all shiny

and bright yellow, was the Blazer. New

mirrors, chrome, paint, engine,

transmission, and sparkling hub caps.

Painted in script on the side was, of

course, Old Yeller.

Bob was overwhelmed, to say the

least. He opened the door and saw the

beautiful upholstered seats. Although he

was too moved to say anything, I got

the biggest hug in history. And though

Bob refers to this as one of the best days

of his life, I know it couldn’t have been

half as good as it was for me.

Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally

syndicated columnist. Her new book is

Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: StoriesFrom a Life Out of Balance. To find out

more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email

[email protected].

Have you photographed

a smile that just begs

to be shared?

Have you photographed

a smile that just begs

to be shared?

Send us your favorite smile—your children,

grandchildren, friends, even your “smiling”

pet!—and it could be 50plus Senior News’ next

Smile of the Month!

You can submit your photos

(with captions) either digitally to

[email protected] or by mail to:

50plus Senior NewsSmile of the Month

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Digital photos must be at least 4x6'' with a

resolution of 300 dpi. No professional photos, please.

Please include a SASE if you would like to have your

photo returned.

OOnnee BBooookk,, OOnnee CCoommmmuunniittyy

2012 Book AnnouncementPlease join 70 libraries and their community partners

in celebrating the 2012 One Book, One Community

book announcement and reception.

Wednesday, August 22 at 4 p.m.at the

Manheim Township Public Library595 Granite Run Drive

Lancaster, Pa. 17601

RSVP by August 17, 2012 online at www.mtpl.info.

September 8, 2012City Island, Harrisburg

Registration at 8:30 a.m. • Walk at 10:30 a.m.

Tiffani Chambers, Constituent Relations Manager

Alzheimer’s Association

(717) 651-5020 [email protected]

Alzheimer’s Association

3544 N. Progress Avenue, Suite 205 • Harrisburg, PA 17110

Registration brochures, team packets, and sponsorshippackets available. Please call (717) 651-5020 or email

[email protected]

Easy online registration at http://www.alz.org/walk

Volunteer opportunities available.

Teams and individuals welcome.

Chapter Sponsors

September 15, 2012Morgan Cousler Park, York

Registration at 9:30 a.m. • Walk at 11 a.m.

September 22, 2012Long’s Park, Lancaster

Registration at 8 a.m. • Walk at 10:30 a.m.

6 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

NurseNews

Jack is my friend Jenny’s companion.

He’s a big bear kind of guy,

handsome, but with dangerously

high blood pressure, and he carries an

extra 40 pounds.

If it weren’t so potentially threatening

to his life and independence, it would

be amusing the way he dismisses his

hypertension. He’ll say it’s “white coat

syndrome,” meaning it reflects the

anxiety of seeing a doctor but which,

away from the doctor’s office, is “just

fine.” Or he’ll

excuse it away as

the consequence of

the salty meal he

had had the night

before his

appointment.

Until last week’s

checkup, Jack had

brushed off both

his doctor’s and

Jenny’s clearly

stated concerns and

he’d not been at all

interested in diet

modifications or

medication.

Jenny told me

that Jack saw a new

doctor in the

practice who,

without muss or

fuss or many words, brought out a

graph that showed the direct and

positive correlation between rising high

blood pressure and the increased risk of

strokes, heart attacks, and kidney

failure.

Then the doctor dropped a zinger.

“Jack,” he said, “I can safely predict

you’ll have one of these ‘events’ within

five years if we don’t get this

hypertension and weight under control.”

Now, Jack’s a man with an

engineering background, so visual

representations are what he’s

comfortable with, what he understands.

Jenny said he studied the graph for a

moment, and then to everyone’s

surprise, said, “OK. What do I need to

do?”

Is that all it took, for heaven’s sake? A

graph? Or was it the one-sentence

forecast? Or the combination?

If you think this is merely an isolated

incident of one man’s finally getting the

picture, maybe. But also, maybe not. At

a recent conference of heart doctors in

Chicago, two studies were presented

that showed similar phenomena:

Patients who were shown detailed

pictures of their hearts and arteries

(done by a heart CT scan) were 2.5

times more likely to take their

medication as directed.

And by the way, those who needed to

lose weight were more than three times

more likely to do

so than those who

were merely only

told to.

The underlying

concern for these

docs at the meeting

was that between

50 and 80 percent

of patients who

have been

prescribed

cholesterol-

reducing

medication fail to

take it. And as far

as losing weight

and embracing a

diet lower in

saturated fat, just

look around. What

do you think?

There is an abundance of evidence

that indicates that visual

communication is more effective than

verbal, but the most effective style

combines the two. In other words, we

understand more if we see it; we

understand the most if we can both see

it and hear about it.

Is this the future of patient

education? Don’t be surprised if your

next doctor’s appointment includes a

PowerPoint presentation. After all, it

does make sense. Instead of trying to

decipher all the medical language, why

not show pictures, charts, graphs,

images—whatever it takes to drive the

point home and help motivate patients

to make necessary changes?

Gloria May is a registered nurse with a

master’s degree in adult health education

and a Certified Health Education Specialist

designation.

Visual ExamplesProve Persuasive

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

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � August 2012 7

CCRCContinuing Care

Retirement Communities

CCRCs (Continuing CareRetirement Communities)have so much to offer thevibrant, active, semi- orretired individuals of today.These communities present avariety of residential livingoptions in addition tocomprehensive medical andnursing services. Residentsmove between independentliving, personal care orassisted living, and nursingcare based on changingneeds. CCRCs can rangefrom all-inclusive monthlyrates to pay-as-you-go orfee-for-service.

These communities may alsooffer scheduled activities,programs, swimming pools,banks, chapels, fitnesscenters, walking paths,computer rooms, and more.More important, thesecommunities strive to providethe best in care, whichincludes a professional staff.

Bethany Village

325 Wesley Drive

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Stephanie Lightfoot

Director of Sales & Marketing

(717) 766-0279

www.bethanyvillage.org

Calvary Fellowship Homes

502 Elizabeth Drive

Lancaster, PA 17601

Marlene Morris

Marketing Director

(717) 393-0711

www.calvaryhomes.org

Ephrata Manor

99 Bethany Road

Ephrata, PA 17522

Admissions Department

(717) 738-4940

www.ucc-homes.org

Garden Spot Village

433 South Kinzer Avenue

New Holland, PA 17557

Scott Miller

Director of Marketing

(717) 355-6000

www.gardenspotvillage.org

Homeland Center

1901 North Fifth Street

Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598

Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A.

President/CEO

(717) 221-7902

www.homelandcenter.org

Homestead Village Enhanced Senior

Living

1800 Marietta Avenue

P.O. Box 3227

Lancaster, PA 17604-3227

Susan L. Doyle

Director of Marketing

(717) 397-4831 ext. 158

www.homesteadvillage.org

The Middletown Home

999 West Harrisburg Pike

Middletown, PA 17057

Jennifer Binecz

Director of Residential Services

(717) 944-3351

www.middletownhome.org

Normandie Ridge Senior Living

Community

1700 Normandie Drive

York, PA 17408

Joyce Singer

Director of Marketing

(717) 718-0937

www.normandieridge.org

Willow Valley Retirement Communities

600 Willow Valley Square

Lancaster, PA 17604

Kristin Hambleton

Sales Manager

(717) 464-6800

(800) 770-5445

www.willowvalleyretirement.com

Woodcrest Villa

Mennonite Home Communities

2001 Harrisburg Pike

Lancaster, PA 17601

Connie Buckwalter

Director of Marketing

(717) 390-4126

www.woodcrestvilla.org

Woodland Heights Retirement Community

2499 Zerbe Road

Narvon, PA 17555

Lynne A. Bickta

Director of Marketing

and Sales

(717) 445-8741

www.retireatwoodlandheights.com

The CCRC Communities listed

are sponsoring this message.

8 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Book Review

Cape Cod psychiatrist Dr. Sophie

Green is a hypochondriac and a

compulsive eater who comically

quells her conflicts with leftovers.

Now, Sophie has a

problem of her own: One

of her patients wants her

dead.

There’s Elizabeth,

whose abusive husband

blames Sophie for his

wife’s independence.

There’s Gracie, who is

involved with a

menacingly brilliant

psychiatrist, and there’s

Charlie, a man with

obsessive-compulsive

disorder who thinks he’s

in love with Sophie.

This is not your classic whodunit.

For more information, visit her

website, www.saraleeperel.com. Raw

Nerves is available via Amazon.com.

About the Author Saralee Perel is an

award-winning,

nationally syndicated

columnist. She is a

regular contributor to

Chicken Soup for the Soul

and has been published

in many of the nation’s

leading magazines and

newspapers, including

50plus Senior News.

Although Saralee, a

psychotherapist, claims

that the central character,

a neurotic psychiatrist, is

not autobiographically

inspired, readers who know her insist she

is lying.

Raw NervesBy Saralee Perel

Calling All AuthorsIf you have written and published a book and would like

50plus Senior News to feature a Book Review, please submit

a synopsis of the book (350 words or fewer) and a short

autobiography (80 words or fewer). A copy of the book is

required for review. Discretion is advised.

Please send to: On-Line Publishers, Inc., Megan Joyce,

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.

For more information, please email [email protected].

Travel Safety TipsWhen you’re traveling, whether on

business or vacation, your hotel should

be a safe sanctuary. But thieves can rob

you of your security along with your

valuables unless you’re careful.

Take these simple precautions to

prevent your trip or vacation from

becoming a nightmare:

Pick the safest room. Generally,

higher rooms are safer from thieves and

criminals. Though if you’re nervous

about fires or other possible emergencies,

you may want to be closer to the ground

where rescue is more practical.

Check your security. Make sure the

doors are secure, self-closing, and lock

automatically. Deadbolts should have at

least a 1-inch bolt. Make sure your

windows close and lock firmly and that

any balconies can’t be accessed from the

room next door. Don’t be afraid to ask

for another room if necessary.

Watch your valuables. Before leaving

on your trip, photocopy your credit cards

and other documents, and take pictures

of any jewelry or valuables you’re

bringing with you (if you must bring

them at all.) This will come in handy if

they’re lost or stolen. Don’t let your

luggage out of your sight. Take your

laptop and other important items with

you when you leave the room, or lock

them in the hotel safe.

Know where you are. Pick up a few

business cards in the lobby when you

check in, and keep them with you at all

times. Leave one near your room phone

as well. A large city may have more than

one Westin or Sheraton, and if you get

lost or need to tell someone where you

are, you want to have accurate

information readily available.

VolunteerSpotlight!VolunteerSpotlight!

Time is aPriceless Gift

Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and

photos are encouraged. Email preferred to

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Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to

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and we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’

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photos are encouraged. Email preferred to

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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � August 2012 9

CHINA from page 2

proclaiming their child’s attributes and

network with other parents.

If the seniors spot a potential match,

they arrange a date for their children. It’s

a low-tech eHarmony.

My husband and I deliberately chose

an itinerary that included two free days

for personal exploration. In Beijing we go

to the Art District, where world-class

galleries occupy Communist-era factory

buildings. One heart-stopping exhibition

focuses on prostitution; another has a

disturbing display of soldiers toting

machine guns camouflaged by flowers.

There’s no thought suppression here.

In Shanghai, the energy is palpable. We

walk along the riverfront, through a

shopping thoroughfare, and over to a

public park that has carnival-style rides.

After visiting a market, we go to an

acrobatic show. Our days are packed.

During our free day, we explore two

contrasting neighborhoods: a working-

class area filled with small, slightly grubby

shops and the French Concession, which

has upscale boutiques and trendy

restaurants.

Our guides are remarkably

forthcoming. They criticize their

government but at the same time make

clear that they admire it. They say that a

U.S.-style democracy could never work in

China because there are too many people.

They speak to us about China’s one-

child policy, religion, education, medical

care, the lack of a social safety net, and,

most of all, how hard they have to work

in order to survive.

“We work much harder than people in

America,” says Chang.*

We’re amazed at their misconceptions.

Chang owns a condominium, can afford

to fly his family from his village on the

Yangtze to Shanghai for a holiday, and has

a car that he bought new two years ago.

His daughter has a new iPad as well as an

iPod.

I tell him that this is more than many

people his age in the United States can

afford, and yes, they work as many or

more hours than he does.

Another guide dreams of living on

Wisteria Lane, the home of ABC’s

Desperate Housewives, and we realize how

television shapes Chinese views of the

United States as well as our views of

China. This, says my husband, is why it’s

important for people to travel, to see

things for themselves.

We’re aware that we saw only two

cities, and we spoke with only a handful

of people. We didn’t visit the countryside,

which, despite China’s rapid urbanization,

is still home to the majority of the

population. We didn’t visit the factory

towns that are churning out goods that

are flooding the world’s markets. That will

have to wait until next time.

But in the meantime, we treasure the

glimpse we got of a country that is, and

will continue to be, a major player on the

world’s stage.

Photos © Irv Green; story by Andrea Gross

(www.andreagross.com).

*Name has been changed

Shanghai’s Nanjing Road attracts a

humongous number of shoppers,

especially during weekends and

holidays.

Shanghai’s waterfront is the face of modern China.

Beijing’s streets are a mix

of old and new.

10 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Howard B. Melnick, MD • John J. Moffitt, MD

Glen J. Mesaros, MD • Donald Short, M.A., FAAA

• Sharon K. Hughes, M.S., CCC-A

When Huie Petty grew up in

Illinois, he was part of a

family of eight boys. Two of

the boys died early. The other six all

served in combat overseas during World

War II … two in the Army, two in the

Navy, and two in the Marines.

Petty says, “I always wanted to be a

Marine.” Of course, he didn’t know

much about what a real Marine did. But,

one day, he was about to find out.

When World War II broke out, he

promptly went to Chicago and enlisted

in the Marine Corps. After boot camp in

San Diego, he was assigned to the 2nd

Marine Division and shipped off to New

Zealand. Why New Zealand?

“Because,” he says, “the Japanese

owned the rest of the Pacific. Even

Australia had been bombed.”

So the job of the Marines was to help

take back the Pacific, a vast and highly

problematic job.

After more training, the 2nd Division

left for Guadalcanal to reinforce the 1st

Marine Division and the Army troops

who had driven the Japanese from the

airfield that they then named Henderson

Field. Guadalcanal was of immense

strategic importance, since the Japanese

who occupied it could attack supply

routes between the U.S., Australia, and

New Zealand.

The 1st Marines had suffered large

losses in the invasion, and, by the time

Petty and his division arrived, remaining

resistance was from Japanese stragglers

who, although virtually starving and

existing by eating roots, still fought

tenaciously, preferring to die rather than

surrender.

All told, 1,592 American troops died

on Guadalcanal, and 4,183 were

wounded. The Japanese lost 14,800 in

The Bomb Dump on SaipanBlew Up in His Face

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

Corporal Huie Petty, after discharge from the Marine Corps

at Quantico after World War II.

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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � August 2012 11

A great place to call home —or the care needed to remain at home.

Will they think of you?

A great place to call home —or the care needed to remain at home.

Will they think of you?

• 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.

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To include your community or service in the 2013 edition or for a free copy of the

2012 edition, call your representative or (717) 285-1350 or email [email protected]

battle and 9,000 from disease.

Petty has today the pocket manual he

took from a dead Japanese soldier,

learning from a Japanese lady who

translated it for him many years after the

war that it was the Japanese Field Service

Code—Senjinkun—issued to Japanese

soldiers. It specifically forbade retreat or

surrender.

Petty says, “The Japanese weren’t the

only danger on Guadalcanal, however.

Almost the entire division contracted

malaria, and we were all returned to

New Zealand to recuperate.” The whole

division had it? “Well,” he says, “I never

knew anyone who didn’t have it.”

When they were fit again, it was on to

Tarawa, a tiny atoll whose main island

was 2 miles long but only 800 yards

wide at the widest part. It was important

because it had to be taken in order to

launch the invasion of the heavily

defended Marianas Islands, which stood

in the way of our setting up forward air

bases capable of supporting operations

across the mid-Pacific to the Philippines

and into Japan.

Tarawa proved a horrible place to

fight. Taking it produced one of the

fiercest and bloodiest battles in Marine

Corps history. Anticipating an invasion,

the Japanese had worked intensely for

nearly a year to fortify the island,

building 500 pillboxes, many of which

were reinforced with cement.

Because of coral atolls that ringed the

island, the Higgins boats could approach

no closer than 1,000 yards from shore.

From there, most of the Marines waded

ashore through waist-deep water over

piercing, razor-

sharp coral.

Others boarded

small, rubber boats

and paddled a

mile to the shore.

Many Marines

were lost in the

effort to man

those boats in the

choppy water.

Petty was one of

six Marines on one

such boat, and it

took them a full

six hours to reach

the beach just as

night fell.

They entered

by a lagoon other

Marines had

cleared earlier.

Japanese had gone

out to vessels that had been destroyed by

the coral reefs. There, they fired at the

backs of the landing troops, and, because

it was now dark, lead was firing

everywhere.

The Japanese commander had told his

troops, “It would take 1 million men

100 years” to conquer Tarawa. It took

the Marines three days, although

incurring nearly 3,000 casualties. Of the

4,700 Japanese defenders, only 17

survived.

The division

was sent to

Hawaii to

recuperate for

seven months;

then they were

sent to invade

Saipan. It was

supposed to be

easy. There were

no atolls, so the

Higgins boats

were able to

approach the

beach and drop

the ramps from

which the troops

streamed. Eight

thousand Marines

were landed from

more than 300

LVTs during the

first two hours after dawn on June 15,

1944.

The battle was fierce during the next

three weeks until it ended with a final

suicidal banzai charge by 3,000 Japanese.

Almost the entire garrison of at least

30,000 Japanese died, while, of the

71,000 of our troops who landed, 2,949

were killed and 10,464 were wounded.

And it was there that Petty’s war

ended. Exploding ammo from a bomb

dump caused head injuries and burst

both his ear drums. With blood

streaming down his face, he was

evacuated to a hospital in Hawaii … and

then to the Marine Detachment at the

Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he

was an outpatient.

He was selected to attend Officer

Candidate School at Quantico, but

partway through, the atomic bombs

dropped on Japan brought the war to an

end, and his training was terminated.

Petty left the Marines as a corporal and

entered the University of Maryland

School of Pharmacy. After a few years as

a pharmacist, he became a medical

representative of Sterling Drug for 25

years before retiring in 1977.

He lives today with his collection of

war memorabilia. On the table sits his

well-worn cap with the legend, “Once a

Marine, always a Marine.”

When asked if that’s true, he looks at

you sharply, and then with a thin smile

says, “You better believe it.”

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in

Europe in World War II.

A rubber boat like the one Petty manned in

the assault on Tarawa during World War II.

12 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � August 2012 13

302 South Fifth Street, Lebanon, PA 17042One block west of Good Samaritan Hospital

M. Nazeeri, M.D.Diplomate, American Board of Family Physicians

Medical Care for Adults and Children

MOST INSURANCESACCEPTED

270-9446We are accepting

new patients!

, P.C.

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14 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Last time, I covered the 1940 U.S.

census. I have, in an earlier

column, also discussed the 1920

U.S. census. This month, I want to cover

the intermediate one, the 1930 U.S.

census. I’ll continue this discussion into

next month, as well.

The 1930 census had some basic

information consistent with others that

were taken since the first one in 1790.

This included surname or family name,

gender, and address. Some of the other

questions were unique, and responses to

them can be valuable in finding further

information about the family.

For example, there is a column headed

“Relation – Relationship of this person

to the head of the

family.” This may

be answered

“head,” “wife,”

“son,” or

“daughter” but

also may contain

other descriptions.

The surname of

the wife is usually

not shown, or it

may be written in

as the same as the

husband (or late

husband).

However, if the name of a mother-in-law

or other in-law of the male head is given,

that surname could also be the maiden

name of the wife.

If the “Relation” column shows

stepson or stepdaughter, that obviously

indicates that the “head” had been

previously married. If the stepchild’s

surname is different than that of the

head, that’s a clue to the child’s natural

father’s name. A person may be identified

as a “boarder,” meaning the family

augmented their income by renting space

in the home.

Next is a column headed “Home

Data,” containing four sub-columns:

“Home owned or rented,” filled in with

an O or an R; “Value of home, if owned,

or monthly rent, if rented,” filled in with

a dollar amount; “Radio set,” filled in

with an R if the family had a radio, left

blank if they didn’t; and “Does this

family live on a farm?”

The answers not only tell something

about the financial status of the family,

but if the property was owned, it may

also be possible to find land or probate

records that further elucidate the family’s

life or give names of relatives not living

with the family at the time of the census.

As an aside to the “radio set”

question: On the 1930 census page

where my family appears, there were

seven households. Only one (not my

parents’) had a radio. The question was

designed to measure the extent of the

nation’s leap into new home-appliance

technology. According to the 1930

census, the total U.S. population at the

time was 122,775,046, and only 12

million people, or less than 10 percent,

had access to radios.

Under “Personal

Description,” in

addition to “Sex”

and “Color or

race,” was the sub-

column “Age at last

birthday.” Take this

into consideration

when calculating a

birth year. For

example, the

census was taken

on April 12. My

father’s age was

given as 40, but his

birth year was not necessarily “1930

minus 40 equals 1890.” He may not

have yet reached his 41st birthday on

April 12. Other information confirms

this, as he was born on April 26, 1889.

The remaining two sub-columns

under this category were “Marital

condition” and “Age at first marriage.”

The condition column was marked M

for married, S for single, or W for

widowed. The age at first marriage can

be used with other information on the

census to determine whether the person

was married before or after immigration

to the U.S.

Under “Education,” the census asked

whether the person had attended school

or college since September 1929, and

whether he or she was able to read and

write.

The “Place of Birth” columns are

headed “Person,” “Father,” and

“Mother,” with the description “Place of

birth of each person enumerated and of

his or her parents. If born in the United

The 1930 Census

The Search for Our Ancestry

Angelo Coniglio

“Some of the questions

on the 1930 census

were unique, and

responses to them can

be valuable in finding

further information

about the family.

Lebanon County

Calendar of EventsLebanon County Department of Parks and Recreation

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

Aug. 1, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Midweek Meander

Aug. 5, 1 to 4 p.m. – Music on the Porch: Bluegrass Jam – Patsy Cline

Aug. 25, 10 a.m. – Mushroom Man Bill Russell

Senior Center Activities

Annville Free Library, 216 E. Main St., Annville, (717) 867-1802

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

Matthews Public Library, 102 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, (717) 865-5523

Myerstown Community Library, 199 N. College St., Myerstown, (717) 866-2800

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

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

Annville Senior Community Center – (717) 867-1796200 S. White Oak St., AnnvilleAug. 1, 9 a.m. – Potluck Breakfast

Aug. 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Bus Trip: Jonah at Sight & Sound Theatre

Aug. 16, 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Fiddler on the Roof at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

Maple Street Community Center – (717) 273-1048710 Maple St., LebanonAug. 8, 10:15 a.m. – Bunco Dice Game

Aug. 15, 10:30 a.m. – International Food Day: Oriental

Aug. 27, 5 to 8 p.m. – End of Summer “Crazy Rhythm Fancy Feet” Plated Meal

Myerstown Senior Community Center – (717) 866-678651 W. Stoever Ave., Myerstown

Aug. 8, 11:30 a.m. – Timbers Dinner Theatre

Aug. 15, noon – Everybody’s Birthday Party at Hebron Banquet Hall

Aug. 22, 10:15 a.m. – Card-Making Class

Northern Lebanon Senior Community Center – (717) 865-0944335 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown – www.jonestownpa.org/senior.htmlAug. 7, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Bus Trip: American Music Theatre, American Icon

Aug. 8, 10 a.m. – War Horse Movie and Snacks

Aug. 24, 12:30 p.m. – Pinochle Club

Palmyra Senior Community Center – (717) 838-8237101 S. Railroad St., PalmyraAug. 23, 10:15 a.m. – Sports Bloopers Video

Aug. 28, 11:30 a.m. – Lunch at Heisey’s and Visit Local Orchard

Aug. 29, 10:30 a.m. – How to Write a Legacy Letter

Southern Lebanon Senior Community Center – (717) 274-7541Midway Church of the Brethren, 13 Evergreen Road, Lebanon

Privately Owned Centers

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

If you have an event you would like to include,

please email information to [email protected] for consideration.

Lebanon County Library Programs

Give Us the Scoop!

Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about

free events occurring in Lebanon County!

Email preferred to: [email protected]

(717) 285-1350

Let help you get the word out!

What’s Happening?

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � August 2012 15

States, give State or Territory. If of

foreign birth, give country in which

birthplace is now situated. Distinguish

Canada-French from Canada-English,

and Irish Free State from Northern

Island.”

Usually, only the country or state is

given; however, sometimes the name of a

city or county is given. Don’t overlook

the part about “country in which

birthplace is now situated.” National

boundaries in Europe were anything but

fixed during this time, so, for example, a

place may have been called Prussia when

a person was born in 1890 but Germany

in 1930.

Next time, I’ll discuss the remainder

of the 1930 census questions and explain

how to interpret the information to

uncover other information about

ancestors.

Angelo Coniglio encourages readers to

contact him by writing to 438 Maynard

Drive, Amherst, NY 14226; by email at

[email protected]; or by visiting

www.conigliofamily.com/ConiglioGenealogy

Tips.htm. His new historical fiction novel,

The Lady of the Wheel, is available through

Amazon.com.

In this election year, pollsters and

political strategists are looking at all kinds

of data to determine trends and attitudes.

A two-year study by the research group

Strategic Vision, for example, looked at

how your choice of car correlates with

your political affiliation. The results:

Top five cars driven by RepublicansFord Mustang Convertible

Audi A8

Mercedes GL

Ford Expedition

Ford F-150

Top five cars driven by DemocratsHonda Civic Hybrid

Volvo C30

Nissan Leaf

Acura TSX Wagon

Ford Fiesta Sedan

The Politics of Cars

Name: _______________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________

City:__________________________State: _____ Zip: _________________

Please specify edition:

� Chester � Cumberland � Dauphin � Lancaster � Lebanon � York

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16 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Older But Not Wiser

Wanda and I went to the

county fair, which was kind

of odd for us. We’re not big

fair people, although I was looking

forward to the pig races.

Wanda has been on a kick to try new

things, to live life to the fullest. I tried to

convince her that lying on the couch

and watching the new fall TV season is

an exciting adventure, but for some

reason, she just wouldn’t buy it.

The fair

was kind of

fun but a

little

dangerous.

Everywhere

I looked

there was

food—

hotdogs,

corndogs,

sausage

dogs, beef

ribs, pork

ribs … Just

by

breathing, I

was filling

my body

with

secondhand

cholesterol.

And the rides were a little scary. You

see, I’m afraid of heights. Well, actually,

that’s not true. I’m afraid of falling from

heights. Wanda, on the other hand, was

fearless, especially when we came to this

60-foot giant slide where you had to

climb to the top, put a blanket under

your butt, and then hurtle down to the

bottom.

Wanda insisted that we both try it, so

we trudged up to the top. Being a manly

man, or at least pretending to be, I said

I’d go first.

I pushed off and the wind was in my

face—it was exciting and thrilling and

the best 4 feet of my life. That’s when I

somehow managed to stop myself and

crawl off. Slightly humiliated, I told

Wanda I’d wait for her at the bottom

and I began my walk of shame

downward.

When I reached the bottom, I waved

up to Wanda and she began her fast-

paced decent. She was really flying and

had a look of total exhilaration on her

face. I was smiling just watching her,

when I heard a young couple talking

next to me. The guy, referring to Wanda,

said, “There goes Granny!”

The thing is, I’m not exactly sure why

I took it as such an insult. Our daughter

got married about 6 months ago and we

definitely want grandchildren. But it was

the way he said it—it was mocking,

condescending, and patronizing, like

Wanda

didn’t

belong on

that slide.

He was

definitely

making fun

of her.

Luckily, she

didn’t hear

him.

I was

mad, but I

didn’t want

to make a

big deal

out of it. I

wanted to

handle the

whole

situation

maturely, and I think I did that by not

directly confronting him. Since the guy

was overweight, I simply mumbled

under my breath, “The pig races are

starting in 10 minutes. You better scurry

on down there if you want to

participate.”

The chubby guy thought he heard

something but wasn’t quite sure, so he

said, “Huh?”

I very forcefully said “huh” back.

I then took Wanda’s arm and we went

on our way. When we passed tubby, I

may have made a snorting sound, but it

was done very tastefully and maturely.

The rest of the day was a lot of fun.

Wanda went on several different

rollercoasters and I watched her while

eating several different sausage dogs.

As we were leaving the fair, Wanda

said, “I went on a lot of rides today.”

“Yes, you did,” I replied.

“Not bad for an old lady!” she

exclaimed. And when Wanda said it, it

was OK.

Sy Rosen

There Goes Granny

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � August 2012 17

1. Rushed6. Church seat9. Paddington Bear’s homeland13. Convex molding14. Popular activity at Heavenly in CA15. Harold & _____ Go to White Castle16. Army aid17. Precedes senator18. Circular gasket19. Drum sound21. Willy Wonka’s heir23. Longest division of geological time24. Pinocchio dreamed of becoming

this type of boy25. He floated like a butterfly?

28. Network of intersecting nerves30. Middle Eastern confection35. Like boys that lived in Neverland37. Lacking sensation39. “_____ the day”40. International Civil Aviation

Organization41. Attempts43. Small ladies’ handbag44. Deep opening46. To strike a piece of stone sharply47. Deep-red variety of chalcedony48. Stay clear of50. Clobber52. Big Island flower necklace

53. Of the highest quality55. 2000 lbs.57. Flying nanny61. Aunt Polly’s wayward nephew64. Fully informed65. Type of brew67. County across Golden Gate Bridge69. A pariah avoided by others70. To Kill a Mockingbird author71. “_____ and well”72. A cold ____ of weather73. “____’s the word”74. Having no cover

1. Read-only storage2. Affirm3. Musical finale4. Like last eight in college basketball5. Dolittle’s title6. Attention grabber7. Increase8. Make face in pain9. Make like a cat10. Astrid Lindgren’s ____ of

Lonneberga11. Raja’s wife12. Strong desire15. Eucalyptus-loving marsupials20. Beside, archaic

22. Exclamation of suspicion24. What prompter does25. She followed the white rabbit26. Lakes in Scotland27. Asimov or Mizrahi, e.g.29. Syrian neighbor31. Plural of #70 Across32. ____ signs33. Light shade of blue34. Girl from the Swiss Alps36. Comedy Central’s ____.O38. Corduroy, e.g.42. Phlegms45. Strong point49. Who ___ the prize?

51. Robin Hood or Eragon, e.g.54. Bible song56. African antelope57. Toot and Puddle or

Frog and Toad, e.g.58. ____ & Mzee: The True Story of a

Remarkable Friendship59. Bear with the biggest chair60. Pre-college school61. Appear62. Viking name63. Tear violently66. Romanian money68. Flanders of The Simpsons

Across

Down

WORD SEARCH

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18

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18 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Pu

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17

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sShe has very fond memories of those summers,

including times picking blackberries that would later be

used to make baked goods. It is from her experiences on

her brother’s farm that McNichol believes her interest

in flower gardening comes.

After their marriage, McNichol and her husband,

Bill, lived in an apartment, which limited McNichol’s

ability to garden. Eventually, they moved into a house

on the south shore of Long Island, where McNichol

was able to put in an expansive garden that included

flowers, vegetables, and grapes.

“People would come by and remark that I had a

beautiful garden,” said McNichol.

When the company that Bill had worked for in New

York went bankrupt, the couple relocated to

Pennsylvania, where McNichol became involved with

the local garden club—and she was no ordinary

member. McNichol has held almost every position

available at the club, from secretary to vice president.

“You name it, I did it,” McNichol said.

What makes McNichol such a valuable asset to the

garden club is her ability to organize and champion

many of the group’s largest initiatives.

In the winter of 2010, an area company that has

produced gardening tools since the 1700s, asked for

help with a community garden project. The company

had $100,000 and a 1.7-acre plot of empty land next to

its temporary headquarters.

The CEO of the company at the time had

envisioned using the money and the land to establish a

community garden that the garden club would then

manage and maintain.

The garden contains 127 raised beds and is outfitted

with hoses, connected to the water lines of the

corporate office building, and a gardening shed filled

with all the tools a gardener could possibly need.

Community gardeners, therefore, need only bring

their seeds and a willingness to work to have a

successful plot.

A set of rules and regulations was established and

gardeners signed up for a specified plot. In addition, she

helped organize bimonthly gardening talks, inviting

local gardening experts to give lectures and hold

discussions for the community garden members.

“It turned out to be an incredible success,”

McNichol said. “We had no idea we would be able to

fill [all the plots] up. We opened up May 1, and by

May 31, there was not a plot left in the garden. As of

now, we have a three-year waiting list.”

After her success with that garden project, McNichol

was asked to act as chairman for the garden club’s

Junior Gardening Committee. McNichol agreed, on the

condition that she could establish a garden at a

community nonprofit organization so she could work

with inner-city youth.

McNichol worked with the staff at the nonprofit

organization to apply for funding for the garden. After

receiving a private family donation, they were able to

put in a number of garden plots, surrounded by a split

rail fence with rabbit proofing. McNichol and her class

of 30 students, ranging from kindergarteners to sixth

graders, tend the plots.

In addition to gardening, McNichol’s students are

exposed to a world of information about the

environment and how it works. Their projects have

included building birdhouses and maintaining a worm

farm and compost pile to help fertilize the garden plots.

Thanks to some shelving donated by Home Depot,

the class was able to begin growing plants indoors over

the winter of 2011 and has since moved them outside.

“They made wonderful arrangements out of greens

and flowers that they brought home during

Christmastime,” McNichol said.

The students also received information about

nutrition from Giant Foods’ nutritionist. They even had

a class dedicated to sampling fruits and vegetables,

many of them unique and new to the children. The

students were asked to close their eyes and eat a piece of

the fruit or vegetable, focusing on the texture and taste.

They then wrote poems about the experience.

The class has also been enjoying the fruits of their

labor.

“The children have already been eating what they

have been growing,” McNichol said.

She is very proud of her class and all that they have

learned, including the basic principles of permaculture

(a method of sustainable living that can be applied to

countless aspects of human life).

McNichol receives the loving support of her

husband, Bill, and son, Tim. Tim is a professional

beach volleyball player who has inherited his mother’s

love of flowers. McNichol is certain that when he settles

down and marries, he will have a beautiful garden of his

own.

GARDEN from page 1

YWCA Junior Gardeners showing the fruits

(or veggies) of their labor at the

Ribbon Cutting Day ceremony in June 2012.

Flowers and vegetable plants coexist happily at the

Penn-Cumberland Garden Club’s community

garden at the Ames True Temper site.

The garden is outfitted with hoses that are connected to

the water lines of the corporate office building, which

help the gardeners enjoy prolific yields from their plots.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � August 2012 19

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Ms. PA Senior America Chosen

Linda Bullock, 65, of Berks County

was recently chosen Ms. Pennsylvania

Senior America at the Elks Lodge in

York.

Bullock was chosen out of six

contestants who competed for the title

to compete in the national Ms. Senior

America competition in Atlantic City

at Harrah’s in October. The

competition is open to women over

the age of 60 who are U.S. citizens.

Each contestant is expected to

speak, sharing her philosophy of life;

appear in an evening gown; and

present her special talent for the

audience.

Bullock volunteers her time to

Alzheimer’s patients. Her duties for the

next year in Pennsylvania will be to

entertain and work with the Ms.

Pennsylvania Senior America

organization. Under the direction of

two state directors, the Ms.

Pennsylvania Senior America

organization prepares programs for

senior centers, nursing homes, and

assisted living facilities in Pennsylvania.

For further information, visit:

www.mspennsylvaniasenioramerica.com

or call Doris Ulrich, MSPA 2007 and

co-director, at (717) 926-1322 or

email [email protected].

Standing, from left, Marie Tennant, 2010 state winner; Inge Richard Kiebach, contestant;

Peggy Pablon, contestant; Ilene Gentzler, state first runner up;

Willie Breeze, contestant; Patti Kuhn, 2006 winner; and Barbara Ann de Leon,

co-director and 2011 state winner.

Seated, from left, Nannette Swanson, 2011 state winner; Kimberley Moore,

Ms. Senior America 2010; Linda Bullock, 2012 state winner; Shirley Karinch,

2001 state winner; and Doris Ulrich, co-director and 2007 state winner.

“In the red”In medieval times, the church, being the only

center of literacy and learning in the West,maintained meticulous accounting records. Inkwas rare and expensive. When monasteriesand far-flung churches had little money andthey could not afford ink, domesticatedanimals were bled to provide a substitute inthe dipping wells.

As a result, poor financial records wereusually written “in the red.”

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20 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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