Dauphin County 50plus Senior News Dec. 2011

By Katie Weeber

At Christmastime, George McMurty is always confronted with a

challenge: finding the perfect gift for his wife. The challenge is further

complicated by the couple’s wedding anniversary, which falls on Dec. 26,

turning every holiday season into the search for two special gifts.

One year, McMurty’s gift selection inadvertently sparked a tradition that is

now a favorite element of the Christmas scenery at their retirement

community.

That Christmas, McMurty asked his daughter to help him with his gift

search. While shopping, both were attracted to a collection of lighted

Dickens’ Village houses, and McMurty purchased two of the buildings for his

wife.

The Dickens’ Village Series was developed and produced in 1984 by

Department 56 as part of the company’s Heritage Village Collection.

Inspired by Victorian England, the series contained seven shops and a

church. Since that time, the Heritage Village Collection has been expanded

tremendously to include many new village series, including The New

England Village Series and The Alpine Village Series.

The result is a line of countless Christmastime houses, figures, and

accessories, many inspired by Victorian England or the works of Charles

Dickens. After his first purchase, McMurty quickly came to realize just how

extensive the village collections were.

Dickens-InspiredVillage Ushers in

the Holidays

PRSRTSTANDARDU.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Landisville, PAPermit No. 3

It takes about two weeks for George McMurty to set up

and add his own special touches to his 135-piece Dickens’ Village.

please see DICKENS page 19

Inside:

Dauphin County Edition December 2011 Vol. 13 No. 12

Divine Dedication

page 2

Christmas Travel

page10

2 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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Rev. Dwight D. Edwards, 66, of

suburban Harrisburg, is a

Vietnam veteran who has devoted

his life to public service, counseling, and

ministry.

He enlisted in the Army on June 28,

1963, and was assigned to the 11th Air

Assault Division while in the U.S. He

completed one tour of duty in South

Vietnam from August 1965 to May 1966

with the 1st Cavalry Division, Delta

Company 1/12th Cavalry Airborne and

was discharged from the service in 1968

with the rank of E-4.

He served in a recon platoon and his

job was to acquire details about enemy

troop movements or other information

and report to the battalion commander.

Life expectancy in his unit was 17

seconds in combat. Two of three squads

in the platoon were decimated in a

matter of minutes during his tour.

Citations received included the

Combat Infantry

Badge, Parachutist

Badge, Air Medal,

Nation Defense Medal,

Good Conduct Medal,

Vietnam Gallantry

Cross with Palm,

Vietnam Campaign

Medal with two stars,

Vietnam Service Medal,

Presidential Unit

Citation, and the Air

Assault Badge.

After his discharge,

Edwards became a

welders’ helper at the

Naval Shipyard in

Philadelphia. In 1968,

he served as a veteran in public service as

a teacher intern with the Philadelphia

School District. From 1972 to 1974

Edwards was employed as a probation

officer in the juvenile division of the

Common Pleas Court

of Philadelphia.

Other early

employment included

therapist at the

Philadelphia

Psychiatric Center

(1974-77); director of

Safe Streets Inc., a

Philadelphia halfway

house (1977-78); a

counselor at

Philadelphia

Community College

(1978-80); counselor

at Philadelphia

Veterans Multi-Service

Center (1981-82); and

readjustment counseling specialist and

team leader/director at the Olney Vet

Center, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

(1982-88).

Edwards served as executive director

of the Vietnam Veterans Health Initiative

Commission of the Pennsylvania

Department of Health from 1988 to

1996 and was program administrator of

the Cancer Control Program in the State

Health Department, also in 1996. He

served as a counselor in the Harrisburg

School District from 1996 to 1999.

A native of Philadelphia, Edwards

attended Thomas Alva Edison High

School, receiving a GED in 1964 and his

diploma in 1968. Thomas Edison High

had the highest number of casualties in

the Vietnam War for high schools in the

United States. He received a BA degree

in elementary education from Temple

University in 1972. Edwards attended

Antioch University from 1975 through

1976 and received a Master of Education

in counseling, after which he attended

Lancaster Theological Seminary (1995-

2000), receiving a Master of Divinity

degree.

From Death and Devastationto Divine Dedication

Beyond the Battlefield

Alvin S. Goodman

Rev. Dwight Edwards

in an early photo.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2011 3

Dri-Masters Carpet Dry Cleaning(717) 545-4984/(717) 258-3123(717) 516-5004

Central PA Poison Center(800) 521-6110

Dauphin County Office of Aging(717) 255-2790

Gipe Floor & Wall Covering(717) 545-6103

Neill Funeral Home(717) 564-2633

Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home(717) 545-4001

Alzheimer’s Association(717) 651-5020

American Diabetes Association(800) 342-2383

Arthritis Foundation – Central PA Chapter(717) 763-0900

CONTACT Helpline(717) 652-4400

The National Kidney Foundation(717) 757-0604(800) 697-7007

PACE(800) 225-7223

Social Security Information(800) 772-1213

Tri-County Association for the Blind(717) 238-2531

PA Healthcare Cost Containment Council(717) 232-6787

Central Penn Nursing, Inc.(717) 361-9777(717) 569-0451

Home Instead Senior Care(717) 540-5201

Safe Haven Quality Care(717) 238-1111

Visiting Angels(717) 652-8899

Dreammaker Bath & Kitchen(717) 367-9753

Senior Home Repair(717) 545-8747

B’Nai B’rith Apartments(717) 232-7516

Dauphin County Housing Authority(717) 939-9301

Property Tax/Rent Rebate(888) 728-2937

Apprise Insurance Counseling(800) 783-7067

Keystone Elder Law PC(717) 691-9300

GSH Home Med Care(717) 272-2057

The Center for Advanced Orthotics &Prosthetics(800) 676-7846

CVS/pharmacywww.cvs.com

Spring Creek Rehabilitation & HealthCare Center(717) 565-7000

Country Meadows of Hershey(717) 533-1880

Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging(717) 255-2790

The Salvation ArmyEdgemont Temple Corps(717) 238-8678

American Lung Association(800) LUNG-USA

Bureau of Consumer Protection(800) 441-2555

Meals on Wheels(800) 621-6325

National Council on Aging(800) 424-9046

Social Security Office(800) 772-1213

Veterans Affairs(717) 626-1171(800) 827-1000

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

Wheelchair Getaways(717) 921-2000

Travel

Transportation

Toll-Free Numbers

Services

Retirement Communities

Rehabilitation

Orthotics & Prosthetics

Medical Equipment & Supplies

Legal Services

Insurance

Housing Assistance

Housing/Apartments

Home Improvement

Home Care Services

Healthcare Information

Health & Medical Services

Funeral Services

Floor Coverings

Emergency

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

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

Resource DirectoryThis Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made

an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

From 2001 to 2007, Edwards was

pastor of the Bethel African Methodist

Episcopal Church in Carlisle. Prior to

that, he was spiritual leader of AME

Churches in Parkesburg, Marietta, and

Mercersburg. A friend described Edwards

as a “riveting, old-time ‘fire and

brimstone’-type preacher.”

Among his numerous awards were the

Rosa Parks Community Service Award of

the Interdenominational Ministers

Counsel of Harrisburg (2009); Certificate

of Appreciation, Veterans of Graterford

(Prison), where he counseled inmates

(2007); Certificate of Appreciation,

Vietnam Vets of Mechanicsburg (1998);

Certificate of Congressional Recognition

for Community Service, U.S. House of

Representatives Congressional Black

Caucus (1996).

Also, Veterans of the Vietnam War

Service Recognition Award, Secretary of

Health Outstanding Employee Award,

Thomas Miller Outstanding Service

Award, Vietnam Veterans of America and

the Philadelphia Stand Down

Appreciation Award (1994),

Mechanicsburg Area Veterans Council

Service Award (1993), and a

Commendation for Service to Minority

Veterans from the Black Vietnam Era

Black Veterans of Western Pennsylvania

(2001).

In 1990, Edwards

received a Service

Recognition Award

from the Pennsylvania

Concerned Citizens for

POW-MIAs. He also

was the recipient of the

Chapel of the Four

Chaplains Legion of

Merit in 1989 and a

Commendation from

the U.S. Department of

Veterans Affairs,

Readjustment

Counseling Service for serving as acting

deputy regional manager of Region 2 in

1988.

Edwards developed a curriculum for

healthcare professionals regarding the

adverse health effects of Vietnam service.

He edited and revised The Vietnam

Experience, a nationally acclaimed

diagnostic and treatment manual for

physicians regarding the treatment of

diseases and psychological disorders

associated with Vietnam

service. He also prepared

a quarterly newsletter

for commonwealth

veterans.

Edwards was involved

in the preparation of

several TV

documentaries,

including a 1995 Emmy

Award-winning

program, Reunion, Class

of 1965; a 1992

documentary, Vietnam,

The Dream Shut Down;

a 1986 PBS Frontline program, The

Bloods of ’Nam; and was host of the

Veterans Recovery Hour WDAS radio

program from 1982 to 1989 in

Philadelphia.

Edwards married Carolyn

Brewington-Edwards. The couple has a

blended family of six children, Shawn,

Pam, Michael, Kevin, Kelly, and

Stephen, and 10 grandchildren.

Although retired from the active

pastorate, Edwards continues to be

involved in religious affairs. He said he is

thankful to the Almighty “and mindful

of all he has done for me,” adding: “If it

had not been for the Lord on my side, I

don’t know where I would be.”

Two years ago he authored a book

entitled Expressions of a Madman. It is a

compilation of poems he wrote over the

years on a variety of subjects. The book

sells for $15, including shipping, and can

be purchased by contacting Rev. Dwight

D. Edwards, 6664 Springford Terrace,

Harrisburg, PA 17111, or via his email

address, [email protected].

If you are a mature veteran and have

interesting or unusual experiences in your

military or civilian life, phone Al Goodman

at (717) 541-9889 or email him at

[email protected].

Edwards and his wife, Carolyn.

am afraid we’re robbing them of

dignity.

It seems to me that we have

them on lockdown.

After an hour I understand that

all of us, volunteer “hosts” and our

“guests,” are on lockdown.

Last week our local TV news

carried the story that one of our

churches had been forced to turn

away some homeless women from

their winter shelter because they did

not have enough volunteers to

accommodate them. They appealed

to the community for help. I call

and sign up for Friday night. My

shift is from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

My volunteer partner is Judy, a

warm and welcoming member of

the church. We are set up at a long

table to process the four female

guests expected. (Ten men are

staying on a separate floor.) Each

guest must read two pages of

detailed rules and sign a statement

that she comprehends the routines

and will abide by them.

She must surrender cigarettes,

matches, liquor, drugs, weapons,

and keys, all of which are sealed in

manila envelopes to be returned in

the morning. They are each handed

a plastic bag filled with basic

toiletries. This all proceeds

peacefully, and no one is patted

down. Still, I’m embarrassed at

putting them through such a

humiliating search.

The four women arrive fairly well

bundled against the icy February

night, lugging backpacks,

large plastic bags, and, in

one case, a small suitcase

on wheels. They have

walked 3 miles from the

central shelter, carrying all

their worldly possessions.

Laura* is a newcomer

to “the life.” This is only

her second night, and the

other three women help to

get her acclimated. She

clutches her lower rib,

bruised by a mugging. As

we chat, she abruptly

announces, “I bet you

wouldn’t believe I have a

degree in retail marketing.”

I reply, “Of course, I believe it. I

know any one of us, including

myself, could be down on her luck.”

Molly seems to be the oldest of

the four—perhaps 70—with white

hair growing through the dyed

strawberry blond. She is the most

meticulous about her appearance.

She plans to take a bus early

tomorrow to check on a house she

owns in a nearby town. Drug

dealers have taken over her property,

rendering her own home

uninhabitable to her.

Sheila is a pretty woman—big

eyes and a nice smile (although she

tells me she has no bottom teeth).

Her husband, an out-of-work

electrician, is also here tonight, just

two floors away.

Sheila has lupus. She has been

waiting for a long time for disability

compensation. Her lip is swollen

from a mugging. All of her cash and

her cell phone were stolen, and she’s

distraught because her phone had

her son’s number in Ohio. Now, she

can’t remember it and doesn’t know

how to reach him.

Sheila has brought cookies to

share with everyone. The church has

hot food waiting.

Betty is short, friendly, and

somewhat weather-beaten. She

seems the most savvy about how the

system works and is willing to share

her knowledge with Laura. Betty,

too, is waiting for a check, a

settlement from a car accident.

We get our guests settled with

relatively few glitches. They are to

sleep in a large seminar room. Judy

and I are stationed in the hallway

outside and are to take turns

sleeping in the adjacent small

nursery-school room. Sheila’s cot

collapses, which gives us all a good

chuckle, and we fix it easily. There

are no pillows. The blankets are thin

cotton, and we’re two short. We

send for extras.

By 10 p.m. all four guests are

asleep, but they wake up one by

one. Laura comes into the nursery

room to dry her hair over the

radiator.

Molly then disappears into the

powder room for over an hour. This

worries Judy. She wonders if Molly

has fallen ill, possibly even passed

out. Just as we’re contemplating a

discreet tap on the door to see if

she’s all right, Molly emerges, bangs

neatly pin-curled.

Next, Betty comes out into the

hall to report that the sleeping room

is freezing. We go in to investigate,

proceeding in whispers because

Laura seems to be deep in slumber.

With the help of Molly’s flashlight,

we read that the controls are set to

“heat on,” but icy blasts are spewing

out of the wall radiators and ceiling

fans.

There seems to be no choice but

to move all the cots into the

nursery, which is warmer but really

too small for six cots. There is some

giggling when I apologize for the

One Night Only

Balancing Act

Candace O’Donnell

I

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1205 South 28th Street � Harrisburg, PA 17111

Nursing services:

� Short-term rehabilitation

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� Alzheimer’s memory care

717-565-7000

Care Through theContinuum of Life

We invite you to come see us for yourself … tours are given daily.

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� 24-hour licensed respiratory therapy

� 24-hour licensed nursing care

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BiPAP/CPAP for sleep apnea

Medicated treatments

Short-term/permanent placement available

irony of the situation: We are supposed

to be keeping these ladies out of the

chill.

After these adjustments, our guests

fall back asleep with ease. I suppose they

are so exhausted from hours of shuffling

around from place to place, trying to

stay warm, that they can crash

anywhere.

Judy and I return to our posts at the

long table just outside the seminar room

and nursery. At least one of us must

remain awake “in case of an emergency.”

We understand that this is code for

actually being on guard. I can’t imagine

what harm these four beaten-down

women could possibly cause. Anything

remotely dangerous has been

confiscated. The adjacent hallways are

blocked off with yellow tape, and we

hostesses are ever vigilant.

Judy and I

sit up

whispering.

We are both

uncomfortable

in our role as

guards.

“Don’t all

these rules

seem a little

harsh to you?”

she asks.

“Yes,” I

sputter. “I feel

as if all of us

are in prison,

but I guess

there’s a fine

line between stripping them of dignity

and letting unsafe behavior slip by.”

I offer to take the first shift so Judy

can sleep from midnight to 3 a.m. This

is not purely altruistic. I am a night owl.

The night grinds on. I read, pray,

walk up and down the corridor, even file

my nails to keep awake. I feel a steadily

growing sense of claustrophobia—a new

sensation for me. This is illogical.

There’s plenty of space here. Why am I

such a wimp?

I’ve forgotten my watch. What time is

it? I stealthily open doors to all the

Sunday-school classrooms on my hall.

No clocks on the walls. Finally, I breakthe rules and slip under the yellow tape

and down a forbidden hall. Eureka—the

fifth-grade room has a working clock.

It’s only 1:20. Six hours and 10 minutes

to go. I return sheepishly to my post.

Shortly before 3 a.m., Judy comes

through the door. I wouldn’t have had

the heart to wake her. She is bleary-eyed

and estimates she’s slept a total of one

hour.

I feel my way to my cot. The room is

frigid. I shiver, fully clothed, under my

thin blanket and heavy coat.

I doze fitfully amid strange dreams.

As I slip in and out of sleep, the tune of

“One Night Only” keeps pulsing

through my brain. It’s from Dreamgirls,

which I have just seen with my

daughters, but it seems strange that this

risqué rock phrase would come welling

up from my subconscious in this

particular situation.

Then it hits me. I am in this prison

for “one night only.” Laura, Molly,

Sheila, and Betty, and all their fellow

homeless, are mired in this for the

foreseeable future—who knows how

many months or years?

I keep tiptoeing past the other cots to

peer through the stained-glass windows.

The outside world does exist and is

waiting for me. If tall buildings didn’t

intervene, I could see my own windows,

just four blocks away—my own lovely

condo with

its high

ceilings, and

Oriental

carpets, and

original art,

and framed

photos of my

grandbabies,

and, most

important,

my husband.

At last

morning

dawns, a

feeble gray

light. Our

guests awake

without any prompting. They know they

must be out by 7:30. Judy and I do not

remind them. They know it only too

well.

They gulp their coffee and tidy up in

the larger bathroom down the hall. They

thank us, and I hand each one a little

bottle of shampoo, unfortunately

marked from one of my cruises. Is this a

faux pas?

As I hug each one I whisper, “God

bless you. You’re in my prayers,” but I

feel guilty that I hadn’t found a way to

give them that modicum of comfort

earlier.

Judy and I hug goodbye and promise

to keep in touch, which we do. We go

down the elevator to the lobby and then

out into wind so piercing that every

filling in your teeth tingles.

I have only 10 minutes to John,

warmth, privacy, a hot bath, and all day

to sleep.

I head for home.

*Guests’ names changed.

Candace welcomes feedback via letter to 231

N. Shippen St., Unit 424, Lancaster, PA

17602 or by phone at (717) 392-7214.


Bethany Village – The Oaks

325 Wesley Drive

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

717-766-0279

www.bethanyvillage.org

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LeadingAge PA

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Living also available.

Claremont Nursing & Rehabilitation

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1000 Claremont Road

Carlisle, PA 17013

717-243-2031

www.ccpa.net

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Claremont offers long-term

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1 Longsdorf Way

Carlisle, PA 17015

717-240-6013 • 800-722-0267

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1520 Harrisburg Pike

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717-390-1301

www.mennonitehome.org

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Person-centered care

with reputation for

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in 1903.

Quarryville Presbyterian

Retirement Community

625 Robert Fulton Highway

Quarryville, PA 17566

717-786-7321

www.quarryville.com

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The assurance of qualitycare in a secured, caring,

Christ-centeredcommunity. New: Great

Rock cottages.

Spring Creek Rehabilitation

& Health Care Center

1205 South 28th Street

Harrisburg, PA 17111

717-565-7000

www.springcreekcares.com

404 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

A charming campus

offering sub-acute

rehab, long-term skilled

nursing care, respiratory

care, and Alzheimer’s

memory care.

StoneRidge Retirement Living

440 East Lincoln Avenue

Myerstown, PA 17067

717-866-3200

www.stoneridgeretirement.com

194 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

Continuing care

retirement community

with two Myerstown sites

convenient to Lebanon,

Berks, and Lancaster

counties.

The Village of Laurel Run

6375 Chambersburg Road

Fayetteville, PA 17222

717-352-2721

www.laurelrunliving.com

92 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �PHCACCRC

New addition for 2011:

“Stonebrook”

independent apartments

and cottages. Call for

appointment.

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1. What holiday celebrates the end of slavery in the United

States?

A. Sweetest Day

B. Freedom Day

C. Kwanzaa

D. Juneteenth Day

2. Celebration of the Jewish New Year is known as what?

A. Yom Kippur

B. Rosh Hashanah

C. Ramadan

D. Purim

3. During what ancient festival did masters temporarily serve

their slaves?

A. Lupercalia

B. Saturnalia

C. Floralia

D. Agonia

4. What holiday was established in California in 1966 by

scholar/activist Dr. Maulana Karenga?

A. Earth Day

B. Flag Day

C. Kwanzaa

D. National S’mores Day

5. In the Netherlands, what is the name of Santa Claus’s helper

who judges which children were bad during the year?

A. Green Eric

B. Eli the Elf

C. Black Peter

D. Mrs. Claus

Braintwisters

This month’s answers on page 8

Source: UsefulTrivia.com

Cook’s Note: The secret to a smooth pastry cream is cooking over low

heat. It takes longer but prevents the egg yolks from curdling.

Whisking a little of the hot pudding into the yolks is called

tempering and warms them so that they don’t cook too fast and

curdle. Use a thermometer to prevent overcooking, and if you have

flecks of cooked egg, don’t hesitate to strain it out.

Copyright by Pat Sinclair. Pat Sinclair announced the publication of her second

cookbook, Scandinavian Classic Baking (Pelican Publishing), in February 2011.

This book has a color photo of every recipe. Her first cookbook, Baking Basicsand Beyond (Surrey Books), won the 2007 Cordon d’Or from the Culinary Arts

Academy. Contact her at http://PatCooksandBakes.blogspot.com

Cake (Serves 2 to 4)

4 slices (3/8-inch thick) pound

cake

1 tablespoon seedless

raspberry jam

2 to 3 tablespoons cream sherry

Pastry cream (see right)

1/3 cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon powdered sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla

½ pint fresh raspberries

For trifle, spread the jam on

each slice of cake. Arrange the cake

in a small glass bowl, breaking to

fit, and drizzle with the sherry.

Spoon the warm pastry cream into

the bowl. Refrigerate until cool.

(You can also make individual

trifles in wine glasses.)

Whip the cream in a medium

bowl until soft peaks form. Add

the powdered sugar and vanilla and

continue beating until thick.

Spoon onto the trifle and garnish

with raspberries. Refrigerate until

serving, at least four hours.

Pastry Cream (Makes 1 cup)

¾ cup half-and-half

¼ cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla

Additional flavoring

Heat the half-and-half in a small

saucepan until it almost comes to a

boil.

Mix the sugar with the cornstarch

in a small bowl. Whisk the egg yolks

in a medium bowl; slowly add the

sugar mixture and continue

whisking until the mixture lightens.

Slowly stir in the hot half-and-

half, beating constantly with a

whisk. Pour the sauce back into the

saucepan and cook over low heat

until the custard thickens. Do not

let the custard boil. (I use an

instant-read thermometer and cook

to 160 degrees F.)

Remove from heat and add the

vanilla. Stir until it cools slightly and

cover with plastic wrap until needed.

Raspberry TrifleBy Pat Sinclair

On Christmas Eve when my family gathers, we feast on hearty appetizers

and rich desserts. Everyone chooses a favorite appetizer and I provide dessert.

For many years, Raspberry Trifle has been my contribution for the center of

the table. This festive English dessert adds to the celebration, carefully arranged

in a large, glass trifle bowl and crowned with mounds of whipped cream. Fresh

raspberries and mint leaves mimic the colors of the season.

Here is a recipe for two to four servings. I have posted the recipe for 10 to

12 servings on my blog, Pat Cooks and Bakes (http://PatCooksandBakes.blog

spot.com). It’s from Baking Basics and Beyond, which has just been reprinted

and now includes new photos.


Winter To-Do List:

1. Pay utility bills(enough $ in account??)

2. Shovel walkway (try not to fall)

3. Brave bad weather to get to

the grocery store

There has to be

a better way!

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I Married for Love, Sort Of

Such Is Life

Saralee Perel

One part I loathe about the

holiday season is that it’s usually

a time of reflection. From age 5

until 8, I reflected on hating my parents

because we were Jewish so I didn’t get

any Christmas presents.

From 9 to 15, I reflected on hating

my parents because they wouldn’t let me

bring one lousy tree in the house. Hey!

People have plant life indoors. So what if

it has lights and tinsel on it?

At age 16, my reflections changed. I

reflected on how rotten my parents were

because it was Christmas, for heaven’s

sake. How about forking over a huge

wad of dough so I could buy my own

presents?

And Chanukah? You think lighting

candles on a menorah was what I

dreamed of? No. I dreamed of jewelry

and boys. Well, I’d get one present. What

all teenagers die for. A new dictionary.

There’s nothing like the Christmas

lights in New England, where I now live.

Makes me reflect on

evening drives my

mom and I took

through the infidels’

decorated

neighborhoods in

Maryland, where I

grew up. It must

have brought her

joy while I’d scream,

“They’re just lights,

Ma! It’s not like

they’re satanic! Why can’t we have them?”

She must have loved the constant

fracas of changing radio stations from

Sinatra to Christmas carols. She’d nearly

drive off the road during our hand-

slapping battles while I’d shout, “PA

RUM PUM PUM PUM” over Sinatra’s

“My Way.”

And New Year’s? Oy vey. The Jewish

new year is as close to our national new

year as Big Macs are

to hamburgers made

from soy beans. On

Rosh Hashanah

(new year), we don’t

do fireworks. We go

to temple. I’d

pretend to listen to

the rabbi while I’d

play mind games—

imagining the

Hebrew letters in the

prayer book as people in weird

positions—when I was 40.

At some point, I focused on getting

married. Although love is important, I

needed something else too. I wanted a

man who not only adored me, but who

also had a characteristic I’d cherish as

much as love: a God-loving, present-

giving Christian.

Last month, my Christian husband,

Bob, and I celebrated our anniversary

with a whole bunch of presents (oh yeah,

we said “I love you” a lot too).

The finest present I’ve ever received

was from a sad and silent man—my

grandfather. I was his fundamental

source of joy. And I adored him. Other

than when he’d look at me, the only time

I’d see rapture on his face was while he’d

play his violin. When he’d visit from

Manhattan, we’d hug like there was no

tomorrow.

Born in 1885, he was 76 when I was

10. That Chanukah, he walked the aisles

of Woolworths, collecting 5- and 10-cent

“pearls” and “sapphires” and hundreds of

pieces of sparkling jewelry that he put in

a fancy jewelry box. What man would do

such a thing in that day and age?

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I see myself as that little girl opening the

magical box. I remember feeling the

strands of jewelry but only looking at

Grandpa. I needed him to see my face

filled with delight and adoration because

I knew, even then, there was something

more important than jewelry. I needed

to see him smile. His smiles were so rare.

I needed him to know how happy he

made me. For that would bring him

peace, if only for a few moments.

Late in his life, Grandpa was moved

to my parents’ house. I can still visualize

him, having arrived at the Baltimore &

Ohio Railroad Station. He was sitting in

a wheelchair outside the train, all alone,

while passengers and luggage carriers

rushed around. In his arms was his

beloved violin, though he could no

longer play it.

So nowadays, when Bob comes home,

we hug like there’s no tomorrow. Bob

has my grandpa’s soul. I must have

“sensed” that when we met.

I have learned that presents don’t

matter (oh, who am I kidding?). What

truly matters is the joy on Bob’s lovely

face as he tenderly opens a present yet

looks at me before seeing what it is. His

expression is identical to the look of

adoration I had for Grandpa.

I have a heart filled with treasures

from my grandfather and my husband.

And nothing, no matter what may lie

ahead, will diminish the wealth these

two loves of my life have permanently

etched in my heart.

Award-winning columnist Saralee Perel

welcomes emails at [email protected]

or via her website: www.saraleeperel.com.

Many Reasons to Celebrate

December is a month of many

holiday celebrations crossing a variety of

cultures, nationalities, and beliefs. Here’s

a quick snapshot of what people

celebrate, and why:

Al Hijra. The Islamic new year,

observed in 2011 from Nov. 26 through

Dec. 24. Al Hijra marks the emigration

of the Prophet Muhammad and his

followers from Mecca to Medina in 622

A.D.

Hanukkah. This Jewish holiday begins

in 2011 on Dec. 20 (at sundown) and

lasts through Dec. 28. Hanukkah

celebrates the rededication of the Temple

of Jerusalem after the Jewish victory over

the Maccabees in 165 B.C. Each night,

families light one candle on the

menorah, observing the traditional story

of how the oil for the temple’s eternal

flame burned for eight days.

Christmas. Observed on Dec. 25, this

Christian holiday celebrates the birth of

Jesus, probably between the years 7 and

2 B.C. The 25th may have been chosen

to correspond with a Roman holiday

honoring the sun during the same

period. Christmas became a federal

holiday in the United States in 1870.

Kwanzaa. A seven-day celebration of

African heritage and culture, Kwanzaa is

observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

Activist Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa

in 1966 to emphasize African-

Americans’ shared history and

experience. The name Kwanzaa is

derived from “matunda ya kwanza,” a

Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits.”


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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that

Whet the Appetite for Travel

By Andrea Gross

Martha Washington tops Martha

Stewart on my list of hostesses

extraordinaire. In order to

prepare for her Christmas guests, the first

Martha whipped 40 eggs, 4 pounds of

butter, 4 pounds of sugar, and 5 pounds

of flour into a massive cake.

Meanwhile, almost 2,000 miles away,

in a part of the country that was most

likely

beyond the

imagination

of the first

family,

Native

Americans

joined

Spanish

settlers in

serving

posole and

enchiladas.

Today,

modern

renditions of these

holiday festivities take

place at George and

Martha’s Mount

Vernon home in

Virginia and around

an adobe plaza in New

Mexico.

A Mount VernonChristmas

I don’t expect to see

a camel at Mount

Vernon. Christmas

trees, poinsettias, even

a gingerbread house …

sure. But a camel?

Then I learn that when

Washington wasn’t off

winning wars or

fathering a country, he enjoyed playing

with exotic animals and often rented a

camel to entertain his Christmas guests.

In 1789, George Washington spent

his first Christmas as president attending

St. Paul’s Church in New York City. The

following week he returned to Mt.

Vernon where he and Martha relaxed

with family and friends.

Camels aside, the president’s

Christmas, as most 18th-century

Christmases, was low keyed compared to

today. There would have been few gifts

and certainly no Santas or reindeer,

neither of which became popular

Christmas symbols until the 19th century.

Today, Christmas at Mount Vernon is

still mostly about welcoming guests. In

addition to the regular attractions, which

include tours of the mansion as well as

the slave quarters, stables, gardens, and

farm, the

holiday season

brings a host of

special delights.

I go into the

mansion, past

12 decorated

trees, through

the dining room

where a table is

set to

accommodate

guests, and up to

the garret

chamber, which

is only open during the

holidays.

“This is where Martha

lived the last years of her

life,” says a cheery

woman who’s dressed in

Colonial garb. “After

George died, she never

returned to their shared

quarters.”

The thought of a

lonely woman huddled

in an attic room saddens

me, so to lift my spirits, I

follow the smell of

chocolate and cinnamon.

In the kitchen a woman

is stirring chocolate by

an open fire, just as it

was done in Colonial

days.

Nearby there’s a large gingerbread

house designed to look like Mount

Vernon as well as Martha’s grand cake,

which was modeled after those

traditionally served on the 12th day of

Christmas (Jan. 6). A guide offers me the

recipe, but the mention of 40 eggs and 4

pounds of butter leads to thoughts of

calories and cholesterol, and I politely

decline.

Christmas Travel: ColonialCakes and Spanish Stew

MOUNT VERNON LADIES’ ASSOCIATION

A gingerbread version of Mount

Vernon is on display throughout

the holidays.

MOUNT VERNON LADIES’ ASSOCIATION

Washington rented a camel to entertain guests

during the Christmas holidays. Today, Mount Vernon

does the same.


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Ledoux Street is filled with merrymakers and art lovers during the holidays.

TINA LARKIN OF THE TAOS NEWS

Christmas trees and luminarias decorate

the plaza during the holidays.

GRAHAM’S GRILLE

Posole is a traditional dish during the

holidays.

That night a costumed actor cajoles

me into dancing the Virginia reel, and a

costumed Martha leads a candlelight tour

of the mansion. I sing carols by the

fireplace, sip cider, and reluctantly bid

goodbye to Mount Vernon and George’s

Christmas camel.

www.mountvernon.org

A New Mexican Holiday

Santa has an easy time in Taos, N.M.,

where the town’s flat, adobe rooftops

provide sure footing for his team of

reindeer. But while the town welcomes

St. Nick, its holiday charm is rooted in

its blend of Native American, Hispanic,

and Anglo traditions.

The Hispanic culture is represented by

the farolitos (small bonfires) and

luminarias (paper bags lit with votive

candles) that shine from streets to

rooftops, bathing the town in a soft glow.

Las Posadas, a candlelight procession that

reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for

shelter, takes place from Dec. 16–24.

As for Hispanic holiday food, I

become addicted to biscochitos, the melt-

in-your-mouth Christmas cookies that

are flavored with anise and cinnamon.

The original recipe dates back to the

Spanish colonists. For heartier fare, I try

posole, a spicy stew of meat and corn

that’s served in most Taos restaurants

throughout the holiday season.

After the 16th century when

missionaries converted many of the

Natives to Catholicism, Spanish and

Native American customs blended and

eventually created traditions that are

distinctly New Mexican.

In this spirit, the 1,200-year-old Taos

Pueblo has a Christmas Eve vespers

service as well as Christmas and New

Year’s Day celebrations that feature the

Deer or Matachines (animal) dances.

Anglo customs are highlighted (pun

intended) with a gloriously tall Christmas

tree that dominates the town plaza. In

addition, the Taos Chamber Music Group

presents “A Classical Holiday Encore.”

But my favorite holiday activity is the

annual Lighting of Ledoux, a tradition of

mixed origins during which luminariasguide people up the winding road that’s

home to Taos’ famed art galleries and

studios. All the while, the piney aroma of

piñón smoke wafts through the chilly

desert air. For me as for many people,

that signals that Christmas has come to

Taos.

www.taos.org

Story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com)

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The Squint-Eyed Senior

Theodore Rickard

Sometimes I think we have all

become unwitting victims of both

Charles Dickens and Norman

Rockwell or, at least, our vision of their

creations.

We became hopelessly self-convinced

that the roaring fireplace and jolly Mr.

Fezziwig might be real and that there

will surely still be a job there when we

go back to work on Dec. 26. And,

certainly, the smiling turkey carver at the

head of the table will still have room on

the Visa card for his spouse to hit the

post-holiday sales.

However, we who have survived

to retirement know

how wishful

these little

dreams

really

were in

our own

times of job

holding and

child raising.

Nevertheless, we treasured the

cozy fiction then and I, for one, still do

now.

The whole family knows that the son-

in-law’s employer is downsizing its

middle management—again. And the

oldest son’s business, once so promising,

is stuck in the doldrums, even though

the bank was willing to extend the loans

one more time.

I think I’ve heard this before: that was

in the ’70s when, besides a frozen

economy, we had the additional specter

of nuclear incineration threatened by a

madman tyrant sworn to destroy us. We

wondered then if Norman Rockwell’s

beaming holiday family would live long

enough for Easter. And we suspected Mr.

Fezziwig’s business would be in

bankruptcy by New Year’s.

But Santa came anyway in those

years. He brought more wardrobe pieces

for Barbie and extra straight track for the

electric train. International crises, vicious

political confrontations, and domestic

financial problems raged unabated.

But somehow there were tennis

rackets and first baseman’s mitts—and

skis followed by several weeks in a cast,

being chauffeured to school, and going

on crutches to the junior prom. This last

was first viewed as the depth of

embarrassment to the would-be femme

fatale. But the next day we noticed that

her cast had been signed by more than a

dozen new names, and all of them were

male.

At Christmas there may be bomb

threats in Bethlehem and terror in Wall

Street—each with the familiar ring of

years-ago disasters. However, for a single

day at least, we can leave hysteria

outside. And we will do so again this

year.

Now the once-children have children

of their own. The electric train has

been divided up

between two

of the boys

and, to

no one’s

surprise,

one

daughter.

And it has been

hugely expanded since. The

grandchildren aren’t terribly interested in

the tin crossing gate that actually goes

down when the train approaches, not

nearly as much as their fathers and their

uncles are. These folks join Grandfather

on hands and knees to watch the train

go through the tunnel and insist on

turning off all the lights so the sweep of

the train’s locomotive lights can be seen

more clearly—and fully appreciated.

A few years ago, Barbie’s original

wardrobe and personal property were

heartlessly sold on eBay by a college

senior facing eviction. Her sisters say

they have forgiven her. I think her

mother has, too. But I’m not so sure the

once-impecunious student has forgiven

herself. Not if we judge by what she gave

her nieces for Christmas: Paris Hilton

doesn’t have this kind of wardrobe.

The dinner table this year will once

more make room for a highchair and a

chubby, tow-headed occupant.

Highchairs now, I find, have seatbelts.

But I’m proud to say that this

grandchild has found a way to squirm

out of the chair, despite the belts, and

end up in Grandmother’s lap, where the

sippy cup is waved in juice-strewing

triumph and it’s much easier to pull at

Christmasby the Book


50plus Senior News continues to bring important information as well as entertaining

articles to the 50+ community. We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our

sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus Senior News:

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and

freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to

read each month. The pages of 50plus Senior News are enriched by your contributions.

Than

k Yo

u!

Chaz Allen (Little-Known Facts)

Angelo Coniglio (The Search for Our Ancestry)

Wendell Fowler (Preventive Measures) Al Goodman (Beyond the Battlefield )

Andrea Gross (Traveltizers)

Dr. Lori (Art and Antiques)

Gloria May (NurseNews)

Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature)

Myles Mellor (crossword puzzles)

Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior)

Candace O’Donnell (Balancing Act)

Victor Parachin (Fragments of History)

Saralee Perel (Such is Life)

Dr. Leonard Perry (The Green Mountain Gardener)

W.E. Reinka (Silver Threads)

Ted Rickard (The Squint-Eyed Senior)

Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser)

Pat Sinclair (Recipes for Two)

Walt Sonneville (My 22 Cents’ Worth)

Robert Wilcox (Salute to a Veteran)

Judith Zausner (Creativity Matters)

Sherra Zavitsanos (Social Security News)

Thank You, Columnists!

This Month in History:December

Events

• Dec. 5, 1933 – The 18th Amendment to the

U.S. Constitution, the Prohibition Amendment,

was repealed. For nearly 14 years, since Jan. 29,

1920, it had outlawed the manufacture,

transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in

the U.S.

• Dec. 17, 1903 – After three years of

experimentation, Orville and Wilbur Wright

achieved the first powered, controlled airplane

flights. They made four flights near Kitty Hawk,

N.C., the longest lasting about a minute.

• Dec. 18, 1865 – The 13th Amendment to the

U.S. Constitution was ratified, abolishing

slavery. It stated, “Neither slavery nor

involuntary servitude, save as a punishment for

crime whereof the party shall have been duly

convicted, shall exist within the United States,

or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Birthdays

• Dec. 6 – Photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt

(1898-1995) was born in Dirschau, Prussia.

He is best known for his Life magazine cover

photos, including the sailor kissing a nurse in

Times Square, celebrating the end of World

War II.

• Dec. 19 – British explorer William Parry

(1790-1855) was born in Bath, England. He

conducted Arctic expeditions and made three

attempts to find a Northwest Passage.

• Dec. 25 – Film actor Humphrey Bogart

(1899-1957) was born in New York City. He is

best known for The African Queen, The Maltese

Falcon, Casablanca, and To Have and Have Not.

the tablecloth and tip over the wine

glasses. That’s why there are mothers

and aunts: to do the mopping up.

Grandmother has the baby in her lap

and Grandpa is busy fixing the

crossing gate.

Dessert will be the traditional

choice of pies. Then there is a second

crisis—a decision involving whipped

cream or ice cream on top. A half-

whispered estimate of “at least 500

calories” will be made, with

appropriate scorn, by the high-school

freshman granddaughter who is

getting a “B” in home ec.

She is convinced that her parents

have managed to make it this far in

life only via miraculous divine

intervention—or hers. Then,

somewhere around her sophomore

year in college after two years of dorm

food, she will become a family dinner

enthusiast and we won’t hear any more

about calories.

Mr. Fezziwig didn’t count calories.

Not at Christmas. Why should we?


Dauphin County

Calendar of EventsBistline Senior Center – (717) 564-5633

Edgemont Senior Center – (717) 236-2221

Friendship Senior Center – (717) 657-1547

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

Highspire Area Senior Center – (717) 939-4580

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

Hummelstown Senior Center – (717) 566-6855

Jewish Community Center – (717) 236-9555

Lick Towers Senior Center – (717) 233-0388

Lykens Senior Center – (717) 453-7985

Millersburg Senior Center – (717) 692-2657

Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002,www.hersheyseniorcenter.com

Royalton Senior Center – (717) 944-4831

Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682,www.rutherfordhouse.org

Steelton Senior Center – (717) 939-0693

Dauphin County Library Programs

Dauphin County Department of Parks and Recreation

Dec. 4, 1 to 4 p.m. – Open Hearth Cooking Demonstrations, Tavern House Summer Kitchen

Dec. 7, 7 p.m. – Harp Concert, Fort Hunter Park

Through Dec. 18, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Festival of Trees, Fort Hunter Tavern House

Programs and Support Groups

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

Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825

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

Johnson Memorial Library, 799 E. Center St., Millersburg, (717) 692-2658

Kline Branch, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934

Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library, 2410 N. Third St., Harrisburg, (717) 232-7286

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

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book Club

Dec. 20, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club

Free and open to the public.

Senior Center Activities

Give Us the Scoop!

Please send us your press

releases so we can let our

readers know about

free events occurring in

Dauphin County!

Email preferred to:

[email protected]

(717) 770-0140

(717) 285-1350

Let

Help you get the word out!

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.Free Art Classes

Thrive

100 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg

(717) 238-1887 or [email protected]

Dec. 1, 6 to 8:30 p.m.Beyond Kubler-Ross: New Perspectives on Death, Dying,and Grief

Harrisburg Hospital

Brady Hall, Susquehanna Room

111 S. Front St., Harrisburg

(717) 231-8900

Dec. 10Teamster 776 Retirees Club Christmas Party

Union Hall

2552 Jefferson St., Harrisburg

(717) 233-8766

Call for time

Dec. 15, 1:30 p.m.Hershey Area AARP Monthly MeetingSpring Creek Church of the Brethren

335 E. Areba Ave., Hershey

(717) 832-3282

Dec. 27, 6 to 7:30 p.m.Parental Loss Support Group

AseraCare Hospice

75 S. Houcks Road, Suite 101, Harrisburg

(717) 541-4466

If you have an event you would like toinclude, please email information to

[email protected] forconsideration.

FFiirrsstt DDaayy ooff WWiinntteerr

BBuunnddllee UUpp!!

Dec. 22


Through the years, all that’s changedis our ability to do even more.

For over 80 years, Rolling Green Cemetery and Neill Funeral Homes have served the

Central PA area with the highest level of personal service. As a Dignity Memorial®

provider,

we’re pleased to offer a number of additional benefits exclusive to the Dignity network.

Like our 100% Service Guarantee, that assures you of service beyond expectation before,

during, and after the service. But what makes us even prouder is the way we work with each

individual family, helping to create lasting memorials as unique as the loved ones they honor.

ONE-OF-A-KIND MEMORIALS | GRIEF COUNSELING

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NEILL FUNERAL HOME, INC.

Steven Wilsbach, Supervisor3501 Derry Street

Harrisburg, PA 17111717-564-2633

ROLLING GREEN CEMETERY

1811 Carlisle Road Camp Hill, PA 17011

717-761-4055

NEILL FUNERAL HOME, INC.

Kevin Shillabeer, Supervisor3401 Market Street

Camp Hill, PA 17011717-737-8726

NurseNews

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

It took only hours after the news of

Steve Jobs’ death for the medical

journalists and bloggers to begin:

Did he “succumb to alternative

medicine”? Did he put his life in

jeopardy by choosing, as one writer put

it, “woo” over medicine? And, as his

biographer Walter Isaacson claims, did

he ultimately express regret over trying

for so long to beat his cancer with these

methods?

In 2003,

Jobs was

diagnosed

with

pancreatic

cancer—not

the Patrick

Swayze/

Michael

Landon/

Luciano

Pavarotti kind

(with the

grimmest of

prognoses),

but a rare form called islet cell

neuroendocrine cancer, which is much

more treatable if managed aggressively

from the get-go.

Jobs declined the surgery that was

initially recommended and instead

pursued a regime of acupuncture, diet,

herbs, and supplements. Months later,

when these remedies proved to have

been of no benefit, Jobs had surgery,

chemotherapy, and, eventually, a liver

transplant. But by that time, his odds of

survival had plummeted.

While the debate will probably go on

for years over what kind of care Jobs

chose, didn’t choose, or should have

chosen, the issue is really not his

treatment choices per se, but his right

to choose them, to be autonomous,

and, in this case, to follow his own

path—reportedly to the dismay and

distress of his doctors, family, and

friends.

Given that your spouse, partner,

parent, or best friend is competent (a

legal determination, not a medical one)

to make life and treatment decisions,

and given that they understand the

benefits and consequences of their

choices, whatever they decide to do or

not to do is their own decision. If we

try to take control of another

competent adult’s behavior, the

resulting resistance will not lead to

compliance or cooperation but to an

unwinnable power struggle with plenty

of anger and resentment to go around.

But that doesn’t at all mean that we

should give up. When it comes to

trying to help someone, to guide them,

to protect them, or to provide for them,

we can often

make a

difference and

affect change

if we first

realize that

the most

difficult task

is readjusting

not their way

of thinking or

behaving, but

ours.

Whether

you are

dealing with

your aunt who won’t wear her hearing

aids, your uncle who won’t quit

smoking, your spouse who won’t lose

weight, or your parent who won’t accept

outside help in their home (a common

concern), what we need to do, after

stepping back and taking a deep breath,

is to get help ourselves.

Yes, they are the one with the

problem, but we are the ones who need

help. And there is plenty out there:

doctors, nurses, social workers, case

managers, friends, other family

members, websites, even blogs.

In these ridiculously frustrating and

ludicrously exasperating situations

where we are only trying to help and

our efforts are met with resistance and

rejection, we often need to be reminded

and encouraged to value baby steps over

sweeping reforms, to appreciate the

value of patience over expediency, to

embrace flexibility over the hard line, to

choose negotiating over dictating, and

to share control rather than trying to

assume it.

Gloria May is a registered nurse with a

master’s degree in adult health education

and a Certified Health Education Specialist

designation.

Autonomy inTreatment


• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards

• John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday

• Bruce Collier & The Drive Home

• Mike Huckabee Three Times Daily

WE PLAY OVER1500 GREAT SONGS!

Harrisburg’sOldies Channel!

Online 24/7 at whylradio.com

Are you 62+

or Older?

COME

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Meal Programs, Beauty Shop,

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our fabulous facilities

B’NAI B’RITHAPARTMENTS

130 South Third Street • Harrisburg

(717) 232-7516

Would you like

to advertise here?

Call: (717) 770-0140

Thank You, Volunteers!On-Line Publishers, Inc. and 50plus Senior News would like

to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of the individual and

senior group volunteers who donated their

time and efforts at our 2011 50plus EXPOs.

Because of your assistance, we were

able to bring the contents and the mission

of 50plus Senior News to life for the

residents of Central Pennsylvania!

By Sherra Zavitsanos

Question: When a person who hasworked and paid Social Security taxesdies, are benefits payable on thatperson’s record?

Answer: Social Security survivors

benefits can be paid to:

• A widow or widower—unreduced

benefits at full retirement age or

reduced benefits as early as age 60

• A disabled widow or widower—as early

as age 50

• A widow or widower at any age if he or

she takes care of the deceased’s child

who is under age 16 or disabled and

receiving Social Security benefits

• Unmarried children under 18 or up to

age 19 if they are attending high school

full time; under certain circumstances,

benefits can be paid to stepchildren,

grandchildren, or adopted children

• Children at any age who were disabled

before age 22 and remain disabled

• Dependent parents age 62 or older

Even if you are divorced, you still may

qualify for survivors benefits. For more

information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

Question: I lost my Social Securitycard. Should I get a new one?

Answer: You

may not need to

get a

replacement

card. Knowing

your Social

Security number

is what is

important. However, you can replace

your Social Security card for free if it is

lost or stolen. Remember, you are limited

to three replacement cards in a year and

10 during your lifetime. Learn more at

www.socialsecurity.gov.

Question: How long does a personneed to work to become eligible forretirement benefits?

Answer: We base Social Security

benefits on work credits. Anyone born in

1929 or later needs 40 Social Security

credits to be eligible for retirement

benefits. You can earn up to four credits

a year, so you will need to work at least

10 years to become eligible for

retirement benefits. Learn more by

reading the

publication How

You Earn Credits at

www.socialsecurity.

gov/pubs/10072.

html.

Question: AreSupplemental

Security Income (SSI) payments paidonly to disabled or blind people?

Answer: No. In addition to people

with disabilities or blindness, SSI

payments can be made to people who are

age 65 or older and have limited income

and financial resources. For more

information, read our publication,

Supplemental Security Income, at

www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html.

Question: If both my spouse and Iare entitled to Social Security benefits,is there any reduction in our paymentsbecause we are married?

Answer: No. We calculate lifetime

earnings independently to determine

each spouse’s Social Security benefit

amount. When each member of a

married couple meets all other eligibility

requirements to receive Social Security

retirement benefits, each spouse receives

a monthly benefit amount based on his

or her own earnings. Couples are not

penalized simply because they are

married.

If one member of the couple earned

low wages or failed to earn enough Social

Security credits (40) to be insured for

retirement benefits, he or she may be

eligible to receive benefits as a spouse.

Learn more about Social Security at

www.socialsecurity.gov.

Sherra Zavitsanos is the Social Security

public affairs specialist in Harrisburg.

“Learn more about

Social Security at

socialsecurity.gov.

“

Questions and Answers for December

Social Security News


1. Graphical userinterface feature

5. Latke ingredient

11. Attain

14. Game name

15. Trash container

16. Old Tokyo

17. Restrain

18. Calkins

19. Inflamed

20. Not extreme

23. Like old records

24. Choppers

25. Yellowfin, e.g.

28. 1995 hurricane

32. Its symbol is anomega

35. Present

38. Cartoon art

39. Taking drasticmeasures

42. Hitchcockian

43. Like some colonies

44. Harvester ___

45. First place?

46. Cargo boat type

48. Cherokee andWrangler

53. Foreign currency

56. Tolerance

62. One with asupporting role

63. More viscous

64. Way to go

65. Tide alternative

66. Short musical pieces

67. Mythologyanthology

68. Departureannouncement

69. Abandon

70. Textile worker

1. SALT concern

2. Demand

3. Best

4. “You ___ bother!”

5. Clip

6. Capital on a fjord

7. Grand ___

8. Decrease

9. Church donation

10. Attack

11. “My ___!”

12. It comes to mind

13. Sarah’s husband

21. Potter

22. River of Lyon

26. Excluding

27. Asian buffalo

29. Cotton fabric

30. Grace period?

31. In case

32. Double curve

33. Worked the soil

34. Slough

36. Mushroom you caneat

37. Departure

38. Historian Toynbee

40. Soldier of fortune

41. Black gunk

47. Alate

49. Just beat

50. Gush

51. Reverent

52. Like a snicker

54. “___ or not ...”

55. In reserve

56. Give away

57. Bank

58. Lothario’s look

59. Bucks

60. Start with while

61. Telephone button

Across

Down

Solution on page 18

By Myles Mellor

and Sally York

For Karns Quality Foods at 101 S. Union St.,Middletown:

Essex House – 320 Market St., Middletown

Kuppy’s Diner – Brown and Poplar streets, Middletown

Middletown Borough Building – 60 W. Emmaus St., Middletown

Middletown Public Library – 20 N. Catherine St., Middletown

Royalton Senior Center – 101 Northumberland St., Royalton

Turkey Hill – 158 E. Main Street, Middletown

For Karns Quality Foods at 761 Cherry Drive,Hershey:

Briarcrest Gardens Apartments – 999 Briarcrest Drive, Hershey

Central PA Eye Institute – 825 Fishburn Road, Hershey

Hershey Medical Cardiac Rehabilitation – Campus Drive, Parking Lot K, Hershey

Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center – 15 Hope Drive, Hershey

Mohler Senior Center – 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey

University Physician Group – 670 Cherry Drive, Hershey

For Karns Quality Foods, 6001 Allentown Blvd., Paxton Square, Harrisburg:

Charlton United Methodist Church – 5920 Jonestown Road,Harrisburg

CVS/pharmacy – 6007 Allentown Blvd., Harrisburg

Friendship Community Center – 5000 Commons Drive, Harrisburg

Old Country Buffet – 5083 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg

RSVP – 5301 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg

Turkey Hill – 707 N. Mountain Road, Harrisburg

Questions? Call (717) 285-1350 or email [email protected] for reading!

As of December 2011, 50plus Senior News

is no longer available at Karns Quality Foods.

For your convenience, the following is a list of

nearby alternative pickup locations in your area.

r

r


The Middletown HomeA Continuing Care Retirement Community

• Skilled Nursing

• Personal Care and Apartments

• Respite and Vacation Stays

• Physical, Occupational, and

Speech Therapy

• Pet Visitation

• Computer and Wii Availability

(717) 944-3351 • www.middletownhome.org999 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057

Courtyard Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Crescent View Personal Care

West View Terrace Apartments

Crossword

shown on page 17

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GGeett aa 1122--mmoonntthh ssuubbssccrriippttiioonn ttoo 50plus Senior News ffoorr jjuusstt $$1100..0000..

MMaaiill ffoorrmm ttoo:: 50plus Senior News,33991122 AAbbeell DDrriivvee,, CCoolluummbbiiaa,, PPAA 1177551122

Give someone you love

the gift that entertains,

informs, and inspires,

month after month!

Or renew an

existing subscription!

Festive Foresight for Furry FriendsBy Laura Farnish

It’s the most wonderful time of the year …

Cheerful songs of the season fill the

radio as Christmastime approaches. The

newspapers are overflowing with sales

and specials on the latest toys, trends,

and technology. Children anxiously await

the arrival of Santa, snow, and school

freedom.

There are plenty of reasons to engage

in the happiest time of the year. Our

furry, feathered, and fishy friends,

however, can get caught in the holiday

hurricane. Be sure to keep your pets’

needs in mind as everyone enjoys this

holiday season.

There will be much mistletoe-ing …

Christmas wouldn’t be complete

without a Christmas tree, and for some,

it wouldn’t be complete without a tree

mishap. It is important to securely

anchor your tree, so that our pets cannot

pull it down. Pine needles can be

dangerous if ingested, as they may

puncture holes in the pet’s intestine.

Aside from injury sustained in the fall,

chemicals in the tree’s water can be

harmful to pets’ stomachs. Fertilizers, as

well as stagnant water, are additional

hazards.

Although a Christmas tree may be an

inevitable December purchase, other

plants around the home can be avoided

to ensure safety.

You will receive

much more than

a kiss if a pet

ingests

mistletoe, as the

berries are

extremely

poisonous. The

berries can cause

vomiting,

excessive

urination, and a

fast heart rate, among other reactions.

Like mistletoe, the berries on the holly

plant are poisonous and can cause

gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular

problems. It is suggested that the berries

be removed before adorning your home.

Similarly, poinsettias are a danger for

both pets and people. The poinsettia

leaves themselves are not poisonous;

however, the sap on the leaves is

problematic if ingested. The sap can also

cause skin and mouth irritation and

vomiting.

And parties for hosting …

Decorations are a vital addition to

holiday parties; however, they may pose a

larger problem for

our pets. Kittens,

who can’t resist

sparkling toys,

can reap the

negative side

effects of

ingesting tinsel. If

swallowed, tinsel

can lead to severe

damage to the

digestive tract,

resulting in

nausea, vomiting, and potential surgery.

Although you can control what you

bring into your home around the

holidays, the same cannot be said for

your guests. The noise and commotion

of holiday parties may stress and frighten

your pet. Be sure to have a safe place

where the pet can seek refuge if the home

becomes overly crowded.

If your pet is brave enough to socialize

with your great-aunt or second-cousin-

twice-removed, ask your relatives to

refrain from feeding your pet holiday

food. Fatty meats, gravies, bones, and

chocolate pose problems to our furry

friends. If you suspect your pet has

consumed a dangerous substance, call

your veterinarian or poison control

center immediately.

Perhaps you are traveling for the

holidays. It is imperative to determine

what is best for the pet: Is the pet

welcome? Will the pet be in a safe

environment? It may be best to hire a pet

sitter.

When traveling, remember to give

your pet plenty of water, and try to keep

everyone on a regular schedule. Taking

your pet for walks can also help keep

nerves calm.

And hearts will be glowing, when loved

ones are near …

As the holiday season is filled with

cheer, it is important to include your pet

in the holiday festivities. Showing your

pet love is always the best medicine!

Be sure to keep these pet precautions

in mind to ensure that the holiday season

truly is the most wonderful time of the

year for all!


Time is running out to make your

Medicare coverage decision for 2012

Don’t delay! Medicare Annual Enrollment ends on December 7!

Call today to receive Lighting Your

Way to Better Health, our no-cost,

no-obligation informational kit. In it

you’ll discover important answers to

your Medicare questions.

Call 1-866-218-9822 (TTY/TDD 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Or go online for more information

www.MyHealthAmericaMedicare.com/CPA.

Let us shine a light on our Medicare Advantage plans:

• Monthly plan premiums as low as $0!

• A maximum out-of-pocket cost protection that puts a fi xed limit on how much you have to pay for health care costs in a year

• Low copays for primary care physician offi ce visits

• $0 copays for routine vision and hearing exams

A Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare Advantage contract.

The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not

a comprehensive description of benefits. For more information

contact the plan.

Y0022_CCP_2012_4002_498_Final13 File & Use date: 10/23/2011

“I realized how many buildings there

were and I just started buying them each

year,” he said.

From that year on, McMurty

purchased four to eight buildings

annually, and his original gift set to his

wife soon grew into a sizeable collection.

He now has around 135 pieces.

Beside buildings, McMurty’s collection

includes figures of people, many

characters from Dickens’ novels. His

collection also features several large,

special pieces. Some of these are fictional

palaces and churches mentioned in

Dickens’ works, while some, like the

replicas of Big Ben, the Tower of London,

and Kensington

Palace, are wonderful

renditions of real-

world locations.

Every Christmas,

McMurty would

take the time to set

up his collection in a

winter display for his

house. As the

number of pieces in

his collection grew

each year, the task

became more and

more monumental.

McMurty recalls a

time when the collection became a

permanent fixture in the house.

“I was able to have a room in the

basement that we dedicated to the

Dickens’ Village. For four or five years, I

never took it down. I would change it a

bit each year, of course,” he said.

When the McMurtys moved to Willow

Valley Retirement Community, the

Dickens’ Village was put in storage, but

not for long. One year, residents began

looking for extra Christmas decorations to

use to decorate some of the building’s

common spaces. One such common space

is not far from McMurty’s apartment.

“It’s usually used as a place where a

jigsaw puzzle is set up that the residents

work on. At Christmastime they went to

decorate it a little differently. One woman

asked my wife if there was anything she

knew they could use to decorate it with,”

McMurty said.

McMurty’s wife immediately suggested

the use of the Dickens’ Village houses,

and, with her help, McMurty went to

work on a display.

McMurty spends a great deal of time

planning the community’s display. He has

developed a system of organization, with

each house and character holding a

specific place. The display contains three

tables, each representing three sections of

a Victorian town.

The first area is the residential section,

which contains houses, like Tiny Tim’s,

and some other related buildings, like

churches and the police department.

The second area, located next to the

residential section, contains what

McMurty calls the “clean” businesses.

These buildings in this section are

business oriented and include the jewelry

store, clothing store, candy store, and

leather shop.

The third area contains the “unclean”

businesses, like the blacksmith shop,

warehouses, and the brewery.

“I lay it out as much as I can as you

would expect a regular town to look,”

McMurty said.

The display,

which contains

around 60 houses in

total, also receives a

number of special

touches from

McMurty. He sets

up the lighting for

each building and

then cuts pieces of

cotton, which he lays

out between and on

the houses as a

blanket of snow. The

result is a beautiful

winter scene,

complete with children sledding in the

streets and workers coming and going

from their places of employment. The

entire process takes about two weeks.

The Dickens’ Village has been a huge

success and has become one of the

retirement community’s most favored

holiday displays. It is not advertised and

sits in what might be considered an out-

of-the-way location, but its popularity

continues to grow as residents spread its

story by word of mouth.

“Each year there have been more and

more people. I’ve had a lot of nice

compliments about it,” McMurty said.

McMurty has enjoyed the Dickens’

Village for years and takes pleasure in

sharing it with others.

“I just really enjoy putting it together

and looking at it afterwards. I never

started it as something to put on display

or show. It’s been a personal pleasure for

me to do. I get a big kick out of it,” he

said.

McMurty’s wife has occasionally

mentioned that the Dickens’ Village grew

out of hand over the years, taking over

entire rooms and storage cages. As

McMurty explains, however, the village

never would have come into being

without his need to purchase a gift for her.

“I think she secretly enjoys it,” he said.

The residents of Willow Valley and

their holiday visitors certainly do.

DICKENS from page 1

Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim from

A Christmas Carol pose outside

their home.

Dauphin County 50plus Senior News Dec. 2011

Documents

Transcript of Dauphin County 50plus Senior News Dec. 2011