cumberland 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 in the Harrisburg area. A member of the Penn-Cumberland

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 at Ames True Temper in Camp Hill.

Second Opinions:

When to Get One

page 4

She Served in the British

and Israeli Armies

page 10

please see GARDEN page 18

Inside:

Cumberland County Edition August 2012 Vol. 13 No. 8

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

Friendly faces, helping hands, warm hearts.

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Take part in activities that will put you in charge of your

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To register, please call Jodie at 717-302-3853.

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 6

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

American Red Cross

(717) 845-2751

Central PA Poison Center

(800) 521-6110

Cumberland County Assistance

(800) 269-0173

Cumberland County Board of Assistance

(800) 269-0173

Cocklin Funeral Home, Inc.

(717) 432-5312

Wegmans

(717) 791-4500

Alzheimer’s Association

(717) 651-5020

American Diabetes Association

(800) 342-2383

Arthritis Foundation

(717) 763-0900

CONTACT Helpline

(717) 652-4400

Health Network Labs

(717) 243-2634

The National Kidney Foundation

(800) 697-7007

PACE

(800) 225-7223

Social Security Administration (Medicare)

(800) 302-1274

Pa. HealthCare Cost Containment Council

(717) 232-6787

Duncan Nulph Hearing Associates

(717) 766-1500

Gable Associates

(717) 737-4800

Safe Haven Quality Care

717-582-9977

Visiting Angels

717-241-5900

Homeland Hospice

(717) 221-7890

Cumberland County Housing Authority

(717) 249-1315

Property Tax/Rent Rebate

(888) 728-2937

Salvation Army

(717) 249-1411

Apprise Insurance Counseling

(800) 783-7067

Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc

(877) 848-2936

CVS/pharmacy

www.cvs.com

Chapel Pointe at Carlisle

(717) 249-1363

Church of God Home

(717) 249-5322

Homeland Center

(717) 221-7902

Cumberland County

Aging & Community Services

(717) 240-6110

Meals on Wheels

Carlisle

(717) 245-0707

Mechanicsburg

(717) 697-5011

Newville

(717) 776-5251

Shippensburg

(717) 532-4904

Bureau of Consumer Protection

(800) 441-2555

Cancer Information Service

(800) 422-6237

Consumer Information

(888) 878-3256

Disease and Health Risk

(888) 232-3228

Domestic Violence

(800) 799-7233

Drug Information

(800) 729-6686

Flu or Influenza

(888) 232-3228

Health and Human Services

Discrimination

(800) 368-1019

Internal Revenue Service

(800) 829-1040

Liberty Program

(866) 542-3788

Medicare Hotline

(800) 638-6833

National Council on Aging

(800) 424-9046

Organ Donor Hotline

(800) 243-6667

Passport Information

(888) 362-8668

Smoking Information

(800) 232-1331

Social Security Fraud

(800) 269-0217

Social Security Office

(800) 772-1213

American Legion

(717) 730-9100

Governor’s Veterans Outreach

(717) 234-1681

Lebanon VA Medical Center

(717) 228-6000

(800) 409-8771

Veterans Affairs

(717) 240-6178 or (717) 697-0371

Veterans ServicesToll-Free Numbers

Services

Retirement Communities

Pharmacies

Orthotics & Prosthetics

Insurance

Housing Assistance

Hospice Services

Home Care Services

Hearing Services

Healthcare Information

Health & Medical Services

Grocers

Funeral Directors

Energy Assistance

Emergency Numbers

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

Resource Directory

This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made

an extended commitment to your health and well-being.


50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement

communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets

serving the senior community.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish

advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature.

Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters

are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of

advertisements for products or services does not constitute an

endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not

be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five

days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise

or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be

reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc.

We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not

in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws

or other local laws.

Corporate Office:3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360

Chester County:

610.675.6240

Cumberland County/Dauphin County:

717.770.0140

Berks County/Lancaster County/

Lebanon County/York County:

717.285.1350

E-mail address:

[email protected]

Website address:

www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR

Christianne Rupp

EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Renee McWilliams

PRODUCTION ARTIST

Janys Cuffe

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Lori Lampert

Angie McComsey

Ranee Shaub Miller

Sue Rugh

SALES COORDINATOR

Eileen Culp

CIRCULATION

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATION

BUSINESS MANAGER

Elizabeth Duvall

Winner

Member of

Member of

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


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

The Politics of CarsIn 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

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].

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.

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.c

om or call Doris Ulrich, MSPA 2007

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

or email [email protected].


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 livingcommunities

• Assisted living residences andpersonal care homes

• Nursing and healthcare services

• Home care, companions, andhospice care providers

• Ancillary services

In print. Online at onlinepub.com.

Call about EarlyBird Savings!

Must reserve by Aug. 24, 2012

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]

Sept. 19, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.York Expo Center

Memorial Hall–East • 334 Carlisle Avenue, York

www.50plusExpoPA.com717.285.1350

Oct. 23, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.Carlisle Expo Center

100 K Street, Carlisle

Nov. 6, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.Lancaster Host Resort

2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster

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.


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


(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


(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


(717) 390-4126

www.woodcrestvilla.org

Woodland Heights Retirement Community

2499 Zerbe Road

Narvon, PA 17555

Lynne A. Bickta


and Sales

(717) 445-8741

www.retireatwoodlandheights.com

The CCRC Communities listed

are sponsoring this message.


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

Your ad could be here! Sponsor the Puzzle Page!

Please call (717) 770-0140 for more information.


A gale in the night

Woke me with its roar.

It came in great gusts

Like waves on the shore.

It tugged at the screen

And rattled the pane;

Howled like a banshee,

And raged like a train.

It battered the wall

And tried to get in.

It quieted down

Then roared back again.

I lay there awake

For part of the night;

The wind in the dark

Can bring on a fright.

Despite my concern

I fell back to sleep.

The wind in the morn

Still sounded as deep.

The cares of the night

Soon dwindled away.

The sound of the wind

Was exciting by day.

Written and submitted by John McGrath

The Gale

October 23, 20129 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Carlisle Expo Center100 K Street, Carlisle

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars • Entertainment

For sponsorship and exhibitor information: www.50plusExpoPA.com • (717) 770-0140

Does Your Marketing Reach Active, Affluent Boomers & Seniors?

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801 N. Hanover St. • Carlisle, PA 17013

(717) 249-5322, ext. 3017www.churchofgodhome.org

Now Open!

Physical therapy servicesare now available to community

residents in our newly renovated

and expanded therapy area.

Please call for more information!

Esther Boldes, 86, of suburban

Harrisburg, was a member of the

British Army during World War

II, the Palestinian underground prior to

1948, and the Israeli Defense Force after

the establishment of the State of Israel.

A native of Frankfurt, Germany,

Boldes attended a large, accredited Jewish

school. In 1936, Boldes’ older sister

immigrated to Palestine. Two years later,

her father lost his job with a Jewish scrap

metal company that was taken over by

the Germans.

Unable to find another job in

Germany, he, along with his wife and

daughter, made plans to move to Prague,

Czechoslovakia, where the rest of his

family was living.

Before they could leave, German SA

came to take her father to a

concentration camp. Boldes’ mother told

them they were not German but Czech

and showed them their Czech passports.

The police

believed her story

and did not arrest

him.

Once in Prague,

Boldes’ father,

along with other

Jewish transplants,

had to be

retrained. An

accountant in

Germany, he was

trained to repair

shoes. His plans

were to go to

Palestine to join

his eldest daughter.

Boldes’ cousin

encouraged her to

join a Jewish

youth group to

help pass the time.

She couldn’t go to

school because she

could not speak

Czech. As the

Nazi regime

spread throughout

Europe, including

Czechoslovakia,

Boldes’ parents

decided to get to

Palestine right

away. When

Boldes’ visa was

approved before

her parents’, they

took her to the

German

Occupation Office

in Prague to get

her passport

stamped.

“All Jews had a

big J stamped on

the outside of it.”

In July 1939, Boldes’ parents brought

her to the train station, where she met

other children bound for Palestine. The

train took them to Genoa, Italy, where,

after staying in a youth hostel, they

boarded The Jerusalem, the last legitimate

ship to transport youth from Prague to

Palestine.

Boldes’ parents never made it to the

Holy Land. She and her sister received a

postcard from the Red Cross informing

them that their mother had died of

cancer in a Prague hospital. They do not

know what happened to their father, who

was last known to have been in a ghetto

in Poland. All other members of their

mother’s family died in concentration

camps.

Boldes joined her sister in Herzliya,

Palestine. Since she had learned Hebrew

and English at her school in Germany,

Boldes was able to converse with the

locals. The youth in the village

She Served in the British, Israeli Armies and

Palestinian Underground

Beyond the Battlefield

Alvin S. Goodman

Boldes, left,

on a train

bound from

Cairo to

Tel Aviv

on leave.

Esther Boldes in the Israeli Army.

For free tickets or for more information, go to: aGreatWayToSpendMyDay.com 717.285.1350

omen’s xpo

Cumberland County

E

Please, Join Us!The premier women’s expo in the Capital area

will feature exhibitors, demonstrations, shopping,and information that encompasses many aspects

of a woman’s life, including:

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and more!

November 3, 20129 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Carlisle Expo Center100 K Street, Carlisle, PA

11.03.12Register today

and get in free! ($5 at the door)


East Gate Apartments35 Eastgate Drive, Carlisle • South Middletown Township

Less than 2 miles from downtown Carlisle,

within walking distance to K-Mart and Nells.

Close to churches, banks, and Carlisle Regional Medical Center.

Apply

Today!

Affordable & Secure Livingfor Seniors 62 or older

“Make Your Life Worry-Free”

1-bedroom apartments with affordable rents and utilities included

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Income restrictions apply. Small pets welcome.

If interested in an application, please contact

Judy Smith at 717-249-9800

www.cchra.com

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introduced her to the “underground,” a

group formed to defend themselves

against the Arabs, although she added

there were Arab neighbors who were

very nice and generous.

The new settlements were always

being attacked by Arabs, and the only

guns they had were British World War I

issue, all others having been confiscated

by the British. Everyone was required to

do night patrol.

The unmarried

youth of the

country, both

native-born

“sabras” and

immigrants,

joined the

underground.

They later

formed the elite

Palmach Force of

the Israeli

Defense Force

(IDF). They

learned how to

send signals by

Morse code and

semaphore flags and

how to identify

night noises they

heard while on

patrol.

After graduating

from school, Boldes

volunteered with the

Auxiliary Territorial

Service (ATS), the

female branch of the

British Army out of

Palestine.

“I was 17 at the

time and lied about

my age,” she said.

Her main job was driving all types of

trucks, from pickups and jeeps to 3-ton

British trucks.

“Those large British trucks were hard

to maneuver, especially in the narrow

streets of Cairo,” she said, adding that

she ended up in the sand twice during

early training.

In addition to being a driver, she was

trained in vehicle maintenance and

repairs. Her routes covered Alexandria

and Cairo, Egypt, to Haifa, Palestine,

which took two to three days.

“At first, Egypt sympathized with the

Axis countries and Egyptian villagers

harassed us. Some Egyptians would

chase our slow-moving trucks and steal

equipment and supplies from them.”

After two months she was transferred

to Camp Mena Four, not far from a

hotel where President Roosevelt and

Prime Minister Churchill met.

In 1944, she was stationed in Haifa,

Palestine. She was discharged from the

British Army in 1946 and the British

paid for her schooling to become a

pediatric nurse, after which she worked

in a hospital and a refugee camp for

babies and children from Cypress in

1947 and 1948.

Everyone was getting ready for war

after the UN approved the

establishment of Israel in 1948, and

Boldes took a first aid course, where she

met her future

husband, Heinz,

who was the

instructor. When

Israel was

attacked by its

Arab neighbors

in May 1948,

she knew she

might be drafted

into the Israeli

Army.

They were

married that year,

and Boldes

enlisted in the

army rather than be

drafted since she

preferred driving

trucks to being

assigned to a

medical unit. She

drove a pickup truck

that supplied the

front lines and, after

her marriage, drove

a staff car for a

captain in charge of

civil defense in

Chadera.

When she got

pregnant, Boldes was

assigned to desk

duty until she was discharged in 1949.

Her husband was a major in the Israeli

Army in charge of a specialized medical

unit that could build a field hospital in

20 minutes. He traveled the entire

country training people in first aid.

The Boldeses came to the U.S. in

July 1957, first to Philadelphia, where a

cousin lived, and then to Harrisburg in

1964. After retirement, they enjoyed

traveling throughout the U.S. and other

countries. Heinz Boldes died in 1999.

They have a daughter, Naava; a son,

Eitan; three grandchildren; and six

great-grandchildren.

In 2010, Boldes wrote to the U.K.

War Office in London and Queen

Elizabeth inquiring about medals earned

for her service in the British Army. She

received two medals from the United

Kingdom: a World War II Victory

Medal and a Distinguished Service

Medal.

“I was surprised when I got them,”

she said.

Photo by Al Goodman

Esther Boldes today.

Boldes drove big rigs like this one in the

British Army during WWII.


• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards

• John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday

• Bruce Collier & The Drive Home

WE PLAY OVER1500 GREAT SONGS!

Harrisburg’sOldies Channel!

Find us at AM 960 or at whylradio.com

Tom Gugerty

Business Director

Citadel Federal Credit Union

“The 50plus EXPO always

attracts an interested

and engaged audience

by featuring a wide

variety of exhibitors

from the area, under

one roof, in a

convenient, central

location. The Citadel

staff always meets lots

of current and

prospective members

during the event.”

For more information,call 717.285.1350 or visitwww.50plusExpoPA.com

Visual Examples Prove Persuasive

NurseNews

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

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.


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

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Do you have a friendly face?

Does this describe a 50+volunteer in your community?

Then nominate them for On-Line Publishers’

2012 Cumberland CountyOutstanding Senior Award!

The Outstanding Senior Award recognizes a

50+ county resident or group for exceptional community service.

On a separate sheet, please type or print in ink:

• Their contributions to the local area—be specific

• How they have impacted the community

• A name, address, and phone number for the nominee(s)—no photos, please

No posthumous selections will be made.

This form must be used for all entries but may be photocopied.

For more information, please call (717) 285-1350.

Mail to: Outstanding Senior

On-Line Publishers, Inc., 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

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Cumberland County

Calendar of EventsBig Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-447891 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, Newville

Aug. 3, 12:30 p.m. – Luau at Green Ridge Village

Aug. 8, 12:15 p.m. – Changes in Newville Presentation

Aug. 14, 12:30 p.m. – Pitfalls and Special Consideration

in Estate Planning

Carlisle Senior Action Center – (717) 249-500720 E. Pomfret St., Carlisle

Mary Schaner Senior Citizens Center – (717) 732-391598 S. Enola Drive, Enola

Mechanicsburg Area Senior Adult Center(717) 697-594797 W. Portland St., Mechanicsburg

Southampton Place – (717) 530-8217www.seniors.southamptontwp.com56 Cleversburg Road, Shippensburg

West Shore Senior Citizens Center – (717) 774-0409122 Geary St., New Cumberland

Just a snippet of what you may be missing …

please call or visit their website for more information.

Cumberland County Library Programs

Programs and Support Groups Free and open to the public.

Amelia Givin Library, 114 N. Baltimore Ave., Mt. Holly Springs, (717) 486-3688

Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle,(717) 243-4642Aug. 15, 1 p.m. – Afternoon Classic Movies at Bosler

Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900

East Pennsboro Branch Library, 98 S. Enola Drive,Enola, (717) 732-4274

John Graham Public Library, 9 Parsonage St.,Newville, (717) 776-5900

Joseph T. Simpson Public Library, 16 N. Walnut St.,Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-0171

New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza,New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820Aug. 2, 10:30 a.m. – Mystery Discussion Group: Crime

in a Cold Climate

Aug. 4 and Aug. 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Book Sale

Aug. 22, 6 to 9 p.m. – Write-On Writer’s Workshop

Shippensburg Public Library, 73 W. King St.,Shippensburg, (717) 532-4508

Aug. 5, 4 to 8:30 p.m. – Music on the Mountain: Bluegrass, Kings Gap Environmental Education Center

Aug. 11, 6 to 8 p.m. – Summer Concert Series: The Shippensburg Swing Band, Colonel Denning State Park

Aug. 19, 2 to 3 p.m. – Iron-Making and Iron-Makers at Pine Grove Furnace, Pine Grove Furnace State Park

Senior Center ActivitiesPA State Parks in Cumberland County

Aug. 4, 8 a.m.Yard and Bake Sale

Susquehanna View Apartments

208 Senate Ave., Camp Hill

(717) 232-1375

Aug. 5, 6 p.m.New Cumberland Town Band Performance

Adams Ricci Park, East Penn Township

(717) 737-8779

www.nctownband.org

Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m.Too Sweet: Diabetes Support Group

Chapel Hill United Church of Christ

701 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill

(717) 557-9041

Aug. 8, 11:30 a.m.National Active and Retired Federal Employees

West Shore Chapter 1465

VFW Post 6704

4907 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg

(717) 737-1486

www.narfe1465.org

Visitors welcome; meeting is free but fee for food.

Aug. 12, 6 p.m.New Cumberland Town Band Performance

Anna and Bailey streets Park, New Cumberland

(717) 737-8779

www.nctownband.org

Aug. 21, 11 a.m.NARFE Chapter 1816 Mechanicsburg Meeting

Hoss’s Steak & Sea House

61 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg

(717) 545-1603

[email protected]

Aug. 21, 1 p.m.Caregiver Support Group

Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren

501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg

(717) 766-8880

Aug. 28, 6:30 p.m.Amputee Support Team Board Meeting

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center

175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg

(717) 944-2250

[email protected]

www.astamputees.com

Until Oct. 27Exhibit: Pine Grove – A Lasting LegacyCumberland County Historical Society

21 N. Pitt St., Carlisle

(7170 243-3437

If you have an event you would like to

include, please email information to

[email protected] for consideration.

OOnnee BBooookk,, OOnnee CCoommmmuunniittyy

2012 BookAnnouncementPlease 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 atwww.mtpl.info.

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

being the only center of literacy andlearning in the West, maintained

meticulous accounting records.Ink was rare and expensive.

When monasteries and far-flung churches had littlemoney and they could notafford ink, domesticated

animals were bled to provide asubstitute in the dipping wells.

As a result, poor financial recordswere usually written “in the red.”

September 8, 2012City Island, Harrisburg

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

Tiffani Chambers, Constituent Relations Manager


(717) 651-5020 [email protected]


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.


Name: _______________________________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________

City:__________________________State: _____ Zip: _________________

Please specify edition:

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You can have 50 plus Senior Newsdelivered right to your home!

Simply mail this form and $15 for an annual subscription to:

50 plus Senior News • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Or, subscribe online at www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com!

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].


Pu

zzle

s sh

ow

n o

n p

age

8

Puz

zle

So

luti

on

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 Penn-Cumberland 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, Ames True

Temper, a company that has produced

gardening tools since the 1700s, asked

the Penn-Cumberland Garden Club 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 in

Shiremanstown.

Dwayne Greenly, Ames True Temper

CEO at the time, envisioned using the

money and the land to establish a

community garden that the Penn-

Cumberland Garden Club, of which his

wife Sue was a member, would then

manage and maintain.

Penn-Cumberland Garden Club

member Amy Hatfield and McNichol

joined forces to manage the garden,

which contains 127 raised beds. The

garden is also outfitted with hoses,

connected to the water lines of the Ames

True Temper corporate office building,

and a gardening shed filled with all the

tools a gardener could possibly want.

Community gardeners, therefore, need

only bring their

seeds and a

willingness to

work to have a

successful plot.

Together,

Hatfield and

McNichol

worked to sign

up gardeners

and establish a

set of rules and

regulations. In

addition, they

organized

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 the Ames True

Temper community garden project,

McNichol was asked to act as chairman

for the Penn-Cumberland Garden Club’s

Junior Gardening Committee. McNichol

agreed, on the condition that she could

establish a garden at the Harrisburg

YWCA so she could work with inner-

city youth.

McNichol worked with the staff at the

YWCA to apply for funding for the

garden. After receiving a private family

donation, the YWCA was 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). Her

success with the children has sparked

discussions about establishing a second

garden at the YWCA for the adults.

Although McNichol has plenty on her

gardening plate, she is looking forward to

helping the Penn-Cumberland Garden

Club with its future initiatives. Last year,

the club celebrated its 50th anniversary by

providing all the townships in the region

with a $500 gardening gift of their

choice, such as a tree or help establishing

a garden.

The club also holds a biannual flower

sale and benefit, with the proceeds going

to various environmental organizations,

such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

McNichol is assisted in her efforts by

fellow Penn-Cumberland Garden Club

members Sue Greenly, Amy Hatfield,

Susan Wilder, Donna Royal, and Shirley

Lysic.

She also 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

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.

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 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.

The 1930 Census

The Search for Our Ancestry

Angelo Coniglio


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Documents

garden page

rock garden

rose garden

francesca mcnichol

bed community garden

mcnichols mother

growing plants

mcnichols introduction