dauphin county 50plus senior news jan. 2012

By Laura Farnish

“I never buy that ‘at this time of your life’ stuff. It’s as though people

think that if you reach a certain age you should just retire and play checkers

at the fire hall, as though that’s the norm.”

For Chet Williamson, the fire hall is merely a staged scene, and checkers

are nothing more than a prop.

As a board chair for Creative Works of Lancaster, Williamson remains

active in the local community through recognizing the kind of performance

and art Lancaster needs and wants. The non-profit organization’s mission is

“to fuel and sustain the city’s cultural renaissance.” Their free and low-priced

shows aim to fill the artistic gaps in Lancaster’s cultural offerings.

Although started several years ago, the organization has been active for the

past year and a half. Their work includes sock puppet parodies, staged

readings in art galleries, and full productions of non-traditional plays.

Williamson’s current involvement, however, is only an addition to his

repertoire of success over the years.

As a young actor, Williamson was involved in regional theater and

industrial shows, which led him into writing. His first short story, sold to

The New Yorker and other markets, was published in the 1980s, followed by

his first published novel in 1986.

Williamson continued to pursue his career as a writer, publishing suspense

and dark fantasy fiction, children’s books, and written work for a local college.

Creativity‘Works’ forLocal Actor

The view from the audience seats is a change of perspective for Chet Williamson,

who has been comfortable on stage for decades.

How Much You’ll Pay

for Medicare in 2012

page 8

Grandparenting:

Agonies and Ecstasies

page 10

please see CREATIVITY page 14

Inside:

PRSRTSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Landisville, PA

Permit No. 3

Dauphin County Edition January 2012 Vol. 14 No. 1

(717) 545-4001

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This Month in History:January

Events

• Jan. 5, 1972 – President Richard Nixon

signed a bill approving $5.5 billion over

six years to build and test the NASA

space shuttle.

• Jan. 10, 1863 – The world’s first

underground railway service, the

Metropolitan line between Paddington

and Farringdon, opened in London.

• Jan. 22, 1901 – Queen Victoria of

England died after reigning for 64 years,

the longest reign in British history,

during which England had become the

most powerful empire in the world.

Birthdays

• Jan. 1 – American patriot Paul Revere

(1735-1818) was born in Boston, Mass.

He is best known for his ride on the

night of April 18, 1775, warning

Americans of British plans to raid

Lexington and Concord.

• Jan. 8 – Elvis Presley (1935-1977) was

born in Mississippi.

• Jan. 31 – Jackie Robinson (1919-1972)

was born in Georgia. He was the first

African-American to play professional

baseball. He played for the Brooklyn

Dodgers from 1947 to 1956, was

chosen as the National League’s most

valuable player in 1949, and was elected

to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e January 2012 3

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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.

New VA Campaign Provides Online Support for Vets

Make the Connection, a new

campaign launched by the Department

of Veterans Affairs, is creating ways for

veterans and their family members to

connect with the experiences of other

veterans.

The program’s ultimate goal is to

connect veterans with information and

resources to help them confront the

challenges of transitioning from service,

facing health issues, or navigating the

complexities of daily life as a civilian.

“I have seen over and over again how

important it can be for a veteran to hear

a message from another veteran. This

type of communication will be especially

useful in helping to break down the

stigma associated with mental health

issues and treatment,” said Secretary of

Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

“VA is

leveraging this

powerful

connection using

an approachable

online resource

that links veterans

to personal stories

from their peers,

to VA resources

and support, and

to reliable information about mental

health and resilience.”

The campaign’s central focus is a

website, www.maketheconnection.net,

featuring numerous veterans who have

shared their experiences, challenges, and

triumphs. It offers

a place where

veterans and their

families can view

the candid,

personal

testimonials of

other veterans

who have dealt

with and are

working through

a variety of common life experiences,

day-to-day symptoms, and mental health

conditions.

The website also connects veterans

and their family members with services

and resources that may help them live

more fulfilling lives.

At maketheconnection.net, veterans

and their family members can explore

information on mental health issues and

treatment—and easily access support—in

comfort and privacy, anywhere, anytime.

Visitors to the site can customize and

filter their online experience, directly

connecting with content that is the most

relevant to their own lives and situations.

For more information, visit

maketheconnection.net or VA’s mental

health services website at

www.mentalhealth.va.gov.

“This type of communication

will be especially useful in

helping to break down the

stigma associated with

mental health issues and

treatment.

“


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serving the senior community.

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Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360

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PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR

Christianne Rupp

EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Renee Geller

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Janys Cuffe

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

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PROJECT COORDINATOR

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ADMINISTRATION

BUSINESS MANAGER

Elizabeth Duvall

Winner

Member of

Member of

Walter E. Mattson of Camp

Hill, 92, was one of a

very few B-24 bomber

pilots to be designated a “Lone

Wolf” during World War II. He and

his 10-man crew were authorized to

fly solo at night, during bad weather,

and without fighter escorts because

of extensive training in

instrument flying.

Many of his 35 missions

also included daylight flights in

formation and fighter escorts

with his 15th Air Force

Bombardment Group, 760th

Squadron. They hit strategic

targets from September 1944

to May 1945 in Germany,

Austria, Northern Italy,

Czechoslovakia, Hungary,

Poland, Romania, and

Yugoslavia.

On his third mission, Sept.

14, 1944, to Poland, his B-24,

named the Princess Carole, was

badly damaged by flak. His

engineer was seriously injured

and spent 75 days in the

hospital before rejoining his

plane’s crew.

“After the plane was

damaged I had to leave the

formation, going down to

5,000 feet to fly alone, when

two Tuskegee Airmen flying P-

51 fighters escorted me to safe

territory (the Isle of Vis), where

I got fuel and I met Marshal Tito,

who was inspecting his troops on the

island.”

Mattson flew his first nightly

“Lone Wolf” mission on Dec. 8,

1944, dropping all of his bombs on

a railroad marshaling yards at Graz,

Austria.

On Dec. 29, 1944, on a daylight

mission to Verona Porto Vescova

marshaling yards in Northern Italy,

“Flak badly damaged my plane,

knocking out two engines. We were

lucky to find a grass landing strip

formerly used by the Germans. A

third engine caught fire as we were

coming in for a landing, but we

landed safely on one engine.”

Fortunately, the men ran into a

British unit and, after three days,

returned to their base in Southern

Italy in a British truck, which had

brought supplies to the unit.

On April 15, 1945, Mattson and

his B-24 crew took part in the

greatest assembly of aviation when

1,033 planes took to the air in one

of the six missions of maximum

strength. On May 11, three days

after Victory in Europe (VE) Day,

Mattson was promoted to captain.

Since the bombers cruised at

altitudes between 25,000 and

30,000 feet, with temperatures

between -25 and -50 degrees F,

special clothing was required in the

unpressurized cabins.

“We would start with heavy

winter underwear, long woolen

socks, and then put on electrically

heated socks over the other socks;

then our wool military uniform,

pants, and shirt. Over that came the

sheepskin-lined jacket and trousers

and, finally, the sheepskin-lined

boots. Our hands were covered by

heated silk- and sheepskin-lined

leather gloves. Leather sheepskin-

lined helmets with flaps covered our

ears.” The men wore oxygen masks

when flying above 10,000 feet.

A native of Dickson City, near

Scranton, Mattson is the son of

Walter and Mary Maciejewski, two

Polish immigrants.

Mattson graduated from Dickson

City High School (1936) and a

two-year business college (1938).

When it appeared the U.S.

would be drawn into the war in

Europe, Mattson applied to the

Army Flying Cadet Program

because of his interest in flying.

He also enrolled in St.

Thomas College (now the

University of Scranton) to take

courses in mathematics and

aerodynamics. He enrolled in its

Civilian Pilot Training Program

at a local airport, where he

received his private flying

certificate.

When the federal government

enacted the draft law and his

number was called, he convinced

the draft board to defer his

induction until he completed his

education in June 1941, after

which he enlisted.

He received his basic training

at Maxwell Field, Montgomery,

Ala., and advanced training at

Gunter Field, Ala.; Mitchell

Field, N.Y.; Thompson Robbins

Field, Helena, Ark.; and

Blytheville, Ark.

He received his second lieutenant

bars in January 1943. His first

active duty was flying B-25

antisubmarine duty from Fort Dix,

N.J. After the U.S. Navy took over

these flights, Mattson was assigned

to Smyrna Army Air Corps B-24

and B-17 Pilot Instructors School.

He was sent to Boise, Idaho, as

an instructor from January to July

1944. In August, Mattson shipped

overseas to England, where he and

his crew were assigned a new B-24

Liberator bomber and flew it to

their permanent station in Southern

Italy.

“After the war ended in Europe,

my crew and I flew personnel from

various bases to other points for

He Was a ‘Lone Wolf’in Sheepskin Clothing

Beyond the Battlefield

Alvin S. Goodman

Mattson’s aircraft, the B-24 Princess Carole.

Mattson in uniform.


Each month, 50plus Senior News profiles one of your friends or neighbors on

its cover, and many of our best cover-profile suggestions have come from you,

our readers!

Do you or does someone you know have an interesting hobby or collection? A special passion or inspirational experience?

A history of dedicated volunteer work?

If so, tell us, and we’ll consider your suggestion for a future cover story!

Just fill out the questionnaire below and return it to 50plus Senior News, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512,

or email your responses to Megan Joyce, editor, at [email protected].

Your name:___________________________ Your address:_________________________________________________________________________

Your phone number/email address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of person nominated (if not you): _______________________________________________________________________________________

Please receive their permission to nominate them. Nominee’s age range: 50–59 60–69 70–79 80–89 90+

Why would you/your nominee make a great cover profile? _______________________________________________________________________

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3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 (717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240 50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

deployment home or to other locations.

We flew the last B-24 bomber from our

unit to the U.S. Our final destination

was Bradley Air Field in Connecticut.”

In August

1945, two months

after returning

from overseas,

Mattson married

Constance

Boshinski. The

couple has two

sons, Gene and

Greg; three

grandchildren; and

six great-

grandchildren.

Between WWII

and the Korean

Conflict, Mattson

received his

insurance and real

estate licenses. He

was recalled to the

military for the

Korean Conflict

but was not in combat. He received

many decorations, including the

Distinguished Flying Cross.

He worked for 20 years as an engineer

at PennDOT’s testing lab in Harrisburg.

Mattson later established an

international trading business with his

son, representing a number of medical

and dental firms. He traveled extensively

to Poland and other countries, hosting

trade shows throughout Europe.

Last year,

Mattson authored a

book, entitled Lone

Wolf in Enemy Skies

(Aperture Press,

Reading, Pa.). The

224-page

paperback is a well-

documented book

that gives valuable

information that

should be of

interest to aviation

and World War II

history buffs.

Autographed

copies are available

for $16 plus

postage from the

author at 2921

Cumberland Blvd.,

Camp Hill, PA

17011; on Amazon.com; or by emailing

Mattson at [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].

• 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

Mattson today.


As of 2010, almost 15 millionseniors were on Facebook.

In 2012, it’s time we give yousomething new to “like.”

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story links, and more!

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With the sky-high prices for

gold and precious metals

making headlines, I thought

some information and useful tips would

prove helpful. Precious metals,

gemstones, and fine-design pieces have

dazzled us through the ages.

Called precious metals, gold,

platinum, and silver are some of the

world’s rarest materials. These three

metals are found in many parts of the

world, but they are not easily extracted

from their natural state.

Precious metals maintain their luster

and shine and resist corrosion with little

care. Objects dating back to the world’s

ancient civilizations, like the Native

Americans, Egyptians, and Greeks, show

us that these metals endure.

Gold

The ancient Egyptians reserved the

use of gold (yellow gold) for the

pharaohs and related gold to the powers

of the sun.

White gold is created by alloying gold

with nickel or palladium, zinc, and

copper. Alloys are mixtures of different

metals that offer greater strength,

hardness, or malleability to another

metal. For instance, alloying gold with

copper creates pink gold or rose gold.

Workability, the ability for master

craftsmen to shape these metals, is

important to longevity.

On Your Mark

Pure gold is 24-karat gold, and it is

very soft. This is often too soft for

everyday jewelry, so gold is alloyed to

increase its strength.

In the United States, 14-karat gold is

common and a piece must be at least 10-

karat gold to be sold as gold jewelry.

Here are some common marks:

• 14-karat would be marked “14 K” (or

“585” in Europe), indicating that it is

58.5 percent gold.

• 18-karat would be marked “18 K” (or

“750” in Europe), indicating that it is 75

percent gold.

• 24-karat or pure gold would be marked

“24 K” (or “999” in Europe), indicating

that it is 99.9 percent gold.

If you like gold jewelry, these marks

should be committed to memory! Look

for them at your next yard sale; you’ll be

surprised how many yard-sale sellers put

out real gold for sale on their front lawn!

Platinum

Platinum is a popular choice for

bridal jewelry as its strength surpasses

that of gold and silver. A dense metal,

platinum weighs more than gold and has

a high level of purity, making it naturally

hypoallergenic.

Platinum jewelry must show one of

the following marks: “Platinum,” “Pt,” or

“Plat,” which means that piece of jewelry

contains at least 95 percent pure

platinum. Platinum may be worn every

day without fear of damage and is

perfect for wedding rings.

Sterling Silver

Silver is affordable, soft, and

malleable. It has been used to make

objects of adornment dating back to the

Byzantine world.

One of the most common and

recognizable metal marks is the mark for

silver. In the United States, only jewelry

that is at least 92.5 percent pure silver, or

925/1,000 pure, may be marked “silver,”

“sterling,” “sterling silver,” “925,” “92.5,”

or “ster.”

Silver is often alloyed with copper to

increase its strength. Silver will not rust,

but it will tarnish. Tarnish may be

restored with polishing.

Another mark is the vermeil mark,

which is evident when a piece of sterling

silver has been electroplated with karat

gold. If the thickness of the karat gold

plating is at least 100 millionths of an

inch thick, that is referred to as vermeil

(pronounced “vermay”) and sometimes

as “overlay.” This is an affordable

alternative to karat-gold jewelry.

While I know I have the ladies’

attention, I wouldn’t want to leave out

the gentlemen who enjoy a bit of bling.

Today’s styles are introducing men to the

industrial look in fine jewelry, achieved

by metals such as titanium, tungsten

carbide, and stainless steel.

Tips and Trends inPrecious Metals

Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori

Dr. Lori

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This Year, Resolve to Do

Something Different

It’s January again. Have you made

your New Year’s resolutions yet? Maybe

this is the year to forget the boring,

routine promises you won’t keep.

Try resolving to be

more creative in 2012

with these resolutions:

Keep a journal.Spend a few minutes

every day or so

writing down your

thoughts, feelings,

dreams, and

ambitions—not your

daily schedule or your

upcoming

appointments. Let

your mind wander;

free-associate a little.

You may be surprised

at the ideas you

generate.

Read more. Vary

your reading habits

and explore different topics. If you

usually read novels, try a biography. If

you read only history, try a book on

modern-day science. You’ll exercise your

mind and maybe find new connections

between ideas.

Learn something new. Take a class in

something unrelated to your job or your

hobbies—art, auto mechanics,

philosophy, etc. Mastering new skills can

refresh your outlook on life.

Meet new people.Make a positive effort

to make new friends

this year (or

professional contacts).

Look for gatherings of

people whose interests

match yours, and

network. The more

people you know, the

better equipped you

are to learn and grow.

Create somethingfor the heck of it.Paint a picture, write

a poem, or start a

garden—not because

you’ll get paid for it,

but because you want

to. You’ll find

satisfaction in achieving personal goals

and motivation to keep trying new

things.

Volunteer. Find a cause you support,

and offer your time and service. You’ll

meet new people and enjoy the feeling of

helping out with an important cause.


Steel-gray color, light weight, and

strength are some of the qualities of these

non-precious metals. Tungsten is the

world’s hardest metal substance with a

nine on the Mohs hardness scale

(diamonds rank 10 on the scale). These

metals are less likely to scratch, but

resizing a ring made of any of these

metals proves difficult.

Here’s what I like to call famous last

words: take care when cleaning your

precious metals, dry your jewelry before

storing it, and place pieces in separate

compartments to avoid scratching. Keep

gold and silver out of pools, showers,

and hot tubs as chlorine may weaken

their structure and cause breakage.

Know your jeweler and your stuff

when you are selecting valuable precious

metals.

Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author,

and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori

presents antique appraisal events nationwide

and antiques-themed vacation cruises. As

seen on NBC’s The Tonight Show and

Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, watch Dr.

Lori weekdays on Lifetime Television. Visit

www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/

DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.

Sterling silver bracelet of sea life figures


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1901 North Fifth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102

Dear Savvy Senior,

I know we will be getting a slight increase

in our Social Security checks this year, but

what about our Medicare costs? What will

the Medicare premiums and deductibles cost

seniors in 2012?

– Looking Ahead

Dear Looking,

The new Medicare premium,

deductible, and co-pay changes for 2012

were all announced several weeks ago and

the news was actually pretty good. Here’s a

breakdown of what retirees can expect to

pay for Medicare starting in January.

2012 PremiumsFor most Medicare beneficiaries who

enrolled in 2009 or earlier, your monthly

premiums for Part B (which covers doctor

visits and outpatient care) will increase

only $3.50 to $99.90 in 2012. That’s

much less than was predicted by the

government earlier in 2011.

The increase is the first in four years for

most people with Medicare, mainly

because of the federal law that freezes Part

B premiums when there’s no Social

Security cost-of-living adjustment

(COLA), which was the case in 2010 and

2011. But, Social Security recently

announced a 3.6 percent COLA for 2012.

That 3.6 percent increase will boost

monthly Social Security checks by an

average of about $43 for retirees next year.

So, even after your Part B premiums get

deducted from your Social Security

checks, you’ll still have about $40 more

every month.

The news for younger retirees is even

better. Medicare Part B beneficiaries that

enrolled in 2010 who’ve been paying

$110.50 per month, and those that

enrolled in 2011 who have been paying

$115.40 per month, will see their Part B

premiums go down to $99.90.

And for high-income beneficiaries

who’ve been paying higher Part B

premiums because their annual incomes

are more than $85,000 for individuals or

$170,000 for joint filers, they too will see

their monthly Part B premiums drop in

2012.

Here’s a breakdown of what they will

pay this year based on their income level.

• Individuals with incomes of $85,000 to

$107,000, or married couples filing joint

tax returns with incomes of $170,000 to

$214,000, will pay $139.90 per person per

month for Part B. That’s a $21.60

reduction from 2011’s premium.

• Individuals earning $107,000 to

$160,000, or married couples with

incomes of $214,000 to $320,000, will

pay $199.80—a $30.90 reduction.

• Individuals with incomes of $160,000 to

$214,000, or couples with incomes of

$320,000 to $428,000, will pay

$259.70—a $40.20 reduction.

• Individuals over $214,000 or couples

above $428,000 will pay $319.70 each per

month for Part B. That’s $49.40 less than

2011.

Other Medicare changes you need to

know about that will affect all beneficiaries

include the Part B deductible, which will

be $140 in 2012, a decrease of $22. And

the deductible for Part A, which covers

inpatient hospital care, will rise by $24 to

$1,156 this year.

For more information on all the

Medicare premiums and coinsurance rates

for 2012, see medicare.gov/cost or call

(800) 633-4227.

Help with Premiums If you’re a high-income beneficiary and

your income has fallen since 2010 (the tax

year used to determine your 2012

premiums), you may be able to reduce or

eliminate your Medicare Part B premium

surcharge.

To qualify, your income loss must be

tied to a life-changing event, such as a

marriage or divorce, a job loss or reduced

work hours (including retirement), loss of

income from income-producing property,

or cuts in pension benefits. To learn more,

see ssa.gov/pubs/10536.html.

And for lower-income retirees who are

having a difficult time paying their

Medicare costs, help is available through

Medicare Savings Programs. These are

Medicaid-administered programs that pay

Part B premiums and, depending on your

finances, may even pick up the tab on

your copayments and deductibles.

To find out if you qualify, contact your

local Medicaid office—call (800) 633-

4227 for contact information.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC

Today show and author of The Savvy SeniorBook. www.savvysenior.org.

How Much You’ll Payfor Medicare in 2012

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller


1. Rapids transit

6. ___ print

10. Arizona’s governor, tofriends

13. Toothpick fruit

14. Defiant one

15. Arapaho foe

16. 1966 Beatles hit

19. Alexei’s father, for one

20. Times to call, inclassifieds

21. Sweet drink

22. Blue eyes or baldness, e.g.

24. Endings for ecto- andproto-

26. Zesty

29. Hollywood pole

30. Nymph

31. Almanac tidbit

32. Latin “I”

35. 1963 Beatles tune

39. Nonclerical

40. Squander

41. ___ the moment

42. Splendor

43. Ridges

45. Wets

48. Analyze, in a way

49. Neurotransmission site

50. Commend

51. 100 paisa

55. Songwritingpartnership

59. College frat.

60. Newspaper chain

61. Skip off

62. Put away

63. Watering holes

64. Garment slits

1. Egyptian Christian

2. Wistful word

3. Mangrove palm

4. Upset

5. Ballad’s end?

6. Side

7. Exasperates

8. ___ Age

9. Bobble

10. Asian plants

11. Special Forces unit

12. Uncool candies?

14. Lifeboat support

17. Vetch or lupin

18. Prayer leader

23. Optical phenomenon

24. Somewhat, in music

25. Mythological plants

26. Murphy Brown bar owner

27. Part of the Corn Belt

28. Jetty

29. Aircraft compartment

31. Elite group

32. Broadcast

33. Palestinian city

34. Half of binary code

36. Offering

37. Some jazz

38. Move

42. Ivy League team

43. Trick

44. Organic compound

45. Model material

46. College leave

47. Gift recipient

48. They remainedundefeated by theRomans

50. “Time’s a-wastin’!”

52. Bartlett’s abbr.

53. Set aside

54. Roll call calls

56. It’s a wrap

57. Prefix with profit

58. King’s title: abbr.

Across

Down

By Myles Mellor and Sally York

WORD SEARCH

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 12

Would you like to see your ad here? Sponsor the Puzzle Page!

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


• Active adult and residential living

• Independent and retirement living communities

• Assisted living /personal care residences

• Nursing and healthcare services

• Home health, companions, and hospice care providers

• Easy-to-read format

Call for your free copy today!

(717) 285-1350

In print. Online: onlinepub.com

16th EditionNow Available!

The role of grandparents has

undergone complications over

the past several decades. Among

them are families geographically

separated, families that have expanded

through the inclusion of step-

grandparents, and evolving practices on

the care and feeding of babies and

toddlers.

Let’s begin with the latter

complication. Those of us born prior to

1946 may have been raised under the

influence of a Dr. John B. Watson,

whose popular book, Psychological Care of

Infant and Child, advised parents to be

firm with children, expect them to act

like young

adults, and

do not spoil

them with

affection,

hugs, and

kisses.

In 1946

came Dr.

Benjamin

Spock’s

celebrated

book, Baby

and Child

Care, taking

the opposite

view—just in

time for the onslaught of the baby

boomer generation. The Spock book,

which went through several revisions by

the time it had sold more than 50

million copies in 2004 (translated into

39 languages), was criticized by some as

promoting permissiveness in child

development.

This brings us to the matter of the

stereotypical grandparents, who

reputedly overindulge their

grandchildren, conflicting with the

parents who may prefer more constraint.

Other divergent views between

contemporary parents and grandparents

regarding child rearing might center on

the question of which parent is primarily

responsible for childcare. Grandparents

may advocate the mother as the primary

caregiver, while mothers today generally

believe both parents have a fully shared

responsibility.

Grandparents offering child-rearing

advice may find themselves at odds with

other views held by the parents, perhaps

involving childcare centers, babysitters,

the authority of a stepparent, and

nutritional choices.

Providing a good example to the

grandchildren can be a challenge. When

exceeding the speed limit in a 55 mph

zone, a common occurrence today, how

do you explain this rule-breaking to a

questioning child? Do you tease at the

emotional expense of the children or

anyone else in their company? Do you

thank a person who holds open a door

for you and yours?

Kids learn by example. They can make

better persons of grandparents by

creating in

them an

obligation to

teach by

example.

Ideally,

such trials are

offset by

pleasures.

Exercising

with

grandchildren

is much more

common

than in years

past. Today’s

grandparents

are more agile, enrolling in fitness centers

and enjoying jogging, hiking, swimming,

or biking.

We can relive some of our own

childhood by sharing the discoveries and

joy of the children. One of the main

responsibilities of being a grandparent is

to create happy memories.

Grandchildren accelerate our

perceptions of them. They change

rapidly as they grow into their formative

years, drawing us into maintaining a

relationship matching their progressive

development.

Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research

analyst, is the author of MY 22 CENTS’WORTH: The Higher-Valued Opinion of aSenior Citizen, a book of personal-opinion

essays, free of partisan and sectarian

viewpoints. He recently completed the

manuscript for another book of essays, AMUSING MOMENT, scheduled for release

in January 2012. Contact him at

[email protected]

Grandparenting:Agonies & Ecstasies

My 22 Cents’ Worth

Walt Sonneville


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

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717-761-4055

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Camp Hill, PA 17011717-737-8726

Make your next trip or vacation memorable, fun, and affordable.

Looking for a replacement vehicle or want to rentfor the day, week, or month?

ACCESSIBLE VAN RENTALS

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Please call for information or to make a reservation

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Serving Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware & Southern New Jersey

By Sherra Zavitsanos

Question: I recently applied for areplacement Social Security card, but Imight be moving before it arrives in themail. What do I do if I move before I getit?

Answer: Once we have verified all your

documents and processed your application,

it takes approximately 10 to 14 days to

receive your replacement Social Security

card.

If you move after applying for your new

card, notify the post office of your change

of address and the post office will forward

your card to your new address. If you do

not receive your card, please contact your

local Social Security office.

To get another replacement, you will

have to resubmit your evidence of identity

and U.S. citizenship or your lawful

immigration status and authority to work.

You can learn more at

www.socialsecurity.gov.

Question: What’s the average monthlySocial Security benefit for a retiredworker?

Answer: The current average monthly

Social Security benefit for a retired worker

is about $1,164. Social Security benefits are

based on earnings averaged over most of a

worker’s lifetime.

To learn more about how retirement

benefits are calculated, or to get an

immediate and personalized estimate based

on your earnings record, visit us online at

www.socialsecurity.gov.

Question: I am nearing my fullretirement age, but I plan to keepworking after I apply for Social Securitybenefits. Will my benefits be reducedbecause of my income?

Answer: No. If you apply for benefits

once you’ve reached your full retirement

age, you can work while you receive Social

Security and your current benefit will not

be reduced because of the earned income.

If you keep working, it could mean a

higher benefit for you in the future. Higher

benefits can be important to you later in

life and increase the future benefit amounts

your survivors could receive.

If you receive benefits before your full

retirement age, your earnings could reduce

your monthly benefit amount. After you

reach full retirement age, we recalculate

your benefit amount to leave out the

months when we reduced or withheld

benefits due to your excess earnings.

You can learn more by reading our

publication, How Work Affects Your Benefits,at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10069.html.

Question: I get Supplemental SecurityIncome (SSI) because I am elderly andhave no income. My sister recently diedand left me the money she had in asavings account. Will this extra moneyaffect my SSI benefits?

Answer: The money inherited from

your sister is considered income for the

month you receive it and could make you

ineligible for that month, depending on the

amount of the inheritance.

If you keep the money into the next

month, it then becomes a part of your

resources. You cannot have more than

$2,000 in resources to remain eligible for

SSI benefits.

Call Social Security at (800) 772-1213

(TTY, (800) 325-0778) to report the

inheritance. A representative will tell you

how your eligibility and payment amount

might be affected. Learn more by visiting

us online at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Sherra Zavitsanos is the Social Security public

affairs specialist in Harrisburg.

New Year, New Questions

Social Security News


Pu

zzle

s sh

ow

n o

n p

age

9

Puz

zle

So

luti

on

s

Locations in Dauphin, Lancaster & York counties

4601 Devonshire Rd., Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA

1-800-676-7846

Hey ...nice legs!

The Middletown HomeA Continuing Care Retirement Community

• Skilled Nursing

• Personal Care and Apartments

• Respite and Vacation Stays

• Physical, Occupational, and

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• 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

Book Review

Betcha Didn’t Know That!By Leon Castner & Brian Kathenes

Betcha Didn’t Know That! explores

the interesting world of antiques

and collectibles, sports

memorabilia, stamps, and dolls, among

others.

The book investigates interesting

artifacts, such as the rarest baseball card

in the world and the most popular soft

drink collectible. It differentiates itself,

however, in that it reveals the real stories

about why we collect things, uncovering

the human and humorous side of the

story.

The unusual items

included in the book will

surprise and astound you.

They will also give you

insight into their creation

and use and provide

historical context, human

predicament, and comical

delight.

Betcha Didn’t Know

That! is available at

www.betchabook.com and

Amazon.com.

About the Authors

Leon Castner is a

lifelong appraiser of

personal property, a

writer, and a speaker.

He is also a

registered contractor

and has provided

major appraisals for

the U.S Marshals

Office, the attorney

general, and the

FDIC, among others.

Brian Kathenes, co-author and

appraiser, has appraised items ranging

from the Nixon Watergate papers, the

Batmobile, and memorabilia from the

movie Titanic. He was also the on-air

television appraiser and technology

consultant for the Discovery Channel’s

collectibles show, POP NATION:

America’s Coolest Stuff.

Together, Castner and Kathenes host a

weekly radio program, Value This!

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].


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

Just a snippet of what you may be missing …

please call or visit their website for more information.

Dauphin County Library Programs

Dauphin County Department of Parks and Recreation

Jan. 7, 2 to 3 p.m. – “Winter Blues and Greens” Walk, Wildwood Park

Jan. 17, 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Paradise Almost Lost Lecture Series: “Disappearing Species and the Future of

Pennsylvania’s Forests,” Wildwood Park

Jan. 31, 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Paradise Almost Lost Lecture Series: “Protecting the Kittatinny Ridge Corridor,”

Wildwood Park

Programs and Support Groups

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

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

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) 566-0949

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]

Jan. 4, 7 p.m.New Zealand – A Small Country that Delivers BigWorld Culture Club of PA

Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Lecture Room C

500 University Drive, Hershey

www.worldcultureclubpa.org

Jan. 19, 1:30 p.m.Hershey Area AARP Monthly Meeting

Spring Creek Church of the Brethren

335 E. Areba Ave., Hershey

(717) 832-3282

Jan. 24, 6 to 7:30 p.m.Parental Loss Support GroupAseraCare Hospice

75 S. Houcks Road, Suite 101, Harrisburg

(717) 541-4466

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

Cure for the Common Cold?Maybe it’s Yogurt

Colds, sinus infections, and other upper

respiratory tract infections are the leading reason for

visits to the doctor in the United States. But

according to a study reported by Yahoo News, eating

yogurt could help you avoid a cold.

Yogurt contains probiotics—bacteria that can

benefit the body’s immune system. In addition to

yogurt, probiotics are found in fermented and non-

fermented dairy products and in soy products like

miso and soy drinks.

A review of data involving more than 3,000

participants fond that patients who consumed foods

with probiotics for more than one week came down

with 12 percent fewer upper respiratory infections

than those who were treated with placebo or who

ate probiotic foods for less than a week.


Please return your completed entry form byFebruary 20, 2012 to:

50plus Senior News3912 Abel Drive • Columbia, PA 17512

Your Name __________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Phone ______________________________________________________This information is strictly confidential.

Where do you frequent for:Breakfast _____________________________________

Lunch ________________________________________

Dinner _______________________________________

Ethnic Cuisine _________________________________

Celebrating ___________________________________

Bakery _______________________________________

Coffeehouse __________________________________

Fast Food _____________________________________

Seafood ______________________________________

Steak ________________________________________

Outdoor Dining _______________________________

Romantic Setting ______________________________

Smorgasbord/Buffet ___________________________

Caterer _______________________________________

Who Has the Best Bitesin Central PA?

Help 50plus Senior News celebrate the local

eateries that deserve national fame!

CREATIVITY from page 1

Hoping to combine his two passions,

Williamson began playwriting, and thus

renewed his acting career. For the past

five years, he has done work at the

Fulton Theatre and Theatre of the

Seventh Sister, as well as his work with

Creative Works.

“I hooked up with Creative Works

because they seemed to be interested in

doing the same kind of material in

which I was interested,” said

Williamson. “People who are involved

in theater in any city all seem to know

each other, and there’s a lot of mutual

interest and support within a group like

that.”

Williamson’s leadership

responsibilities vary, however, from his

wide-ranging character roles on stage.

As board chair, Williamson jokes that

his role includes signing thank-you

letters to donors and speaking to the

press on occasion.

His diverse work has included: acting

in several Creative Works productions,

walking around with a sandwich board

with painting on it as part of a roaming

art gallery on First Friday, writing

material for last year’s Christmas

comedy show, creating sock puppets,

making arrangements for productions,

and running a freight elevator.

He regards the board as a group of

equals, sharing tasks accordingly.

“Creative Works is a real

collaborative effort, and everybody does

their part,” commented Williamson.

“One of our board members took

charge of getting all the sock puppets

constructed; another member wrote

brilliant lyrics to a song when we

needed one overnight; another takes

care of the business end; another the

legal question; and so on.”

Williamson also holds the role of

being the eldest member of the group;

however, his youthful ideas and insight

challenge this fact. Even though the

next oldest member is 20 years younger,

Williamson’s edgy ideas often keep

members guessing.

“Age really doesn’t matter when

you’re all working toward the same

goal,” said Williamson. “And you can

never predict anything on the basis of

age.”

And although Williamson could be

casted for retirement, the word is

unseen in his vocabulary.

“I got involved in Creative Works for

the same reason I would have gotten

involved with it if I’d been 40 years

younger—it was the chance to do new,

exciting, and meaningful work,” said

Williamson. “I can never see myself

retiring as a writer or as an actor, so I

might as well find new ways to make

what I do in those fields as much fun as

possible for me.”

In fact, Williamson believes there is

much to learn from the younger

population.

“We always say that the younger

population should learn from the

experiences of their elders. Well, it

works the other way as well,” said

Williamson. “You’re never too old to

learn something new. I’ve learned some

new ways of thinking and problem

solving by working with my younger

colleagues, and I’m hopeful they’ve

learned something from me.”

Similarly, one can never predict the

excitement and enjoyment of their

interest in Creative Works, no matter

what age. Creative Works recently

sponsored a 24-Hour Plays event, in

which six 10-minute plays were written,

rehearsed, and performed within 24

hours. The sold-out venue was packed

with play-goers of all ages.

“A major part of our mission is to

appeal to all ages, 50+ as well as people

in their 20s,” said Williamson. “If we

don’t, where are the theater-goers of

tomorrow going to come from?”

To get in touch with Chet

Williamson, check out his website at

chetwilliamson.com. For additional

information on Creative Works, visit

creativelancaster.org or call (717) 723-

8355.

Never Miss

Another Issue!

Subscribe online at

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com


March 15, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Church Farm School1001 East Lincoln Highway, Exton

May 8, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.Overlook Activities Center

Overlook Park • 2040 Lititz Pike, Lancaster

May 30, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.Hershey Lodge

West Chocolate Avenue & University Drive, Hershey

50plusExpoPA.com717.285.1350

2010 Census Shows Older Population Growing QuicklyThe U.S. population 65 and older is

now the largest in terms of size and

percent of the population, compared

with any previous census, according to

a new 2010 census brief released

recently from the U.S. Census Bureau

on the nation’s older population.

The group grew at a faster rate than

the total population between 2000 and

2010.

According to the 2010 census, there

were 40.3 million people 65 and older

on April 1, 2010, increasing by 5.3

million since the 2000 census, when

this population numbered 35 million.

The percentage of the population 65

and older also increased during the

previous decade. In 2010, the older

population represented 13 percent of

the total population, an increase from

12.4 percent in 2000.

65 and Older PopulationGrew Faster than Total Population

Between 2000 and 2010, the

population 65 and older grew 15.1

percent, while the total U.S.

population grew 9.7 percent.

The opposite happened between

1990 and 2000, when the growth of

the older population was slower than

the growth of the total population,

with growth rates of 12 percent and

13.2 percent, respectively.

Population Size and Growth VariedAmong the Older Age Groups

Examining the growth of 10-year

age groups within the older population

shows that 85- to 94-year-olds

experienced the fastest growth between

2000 and 2010. This group grew by

29.9 percent, increasing from 3.9

million to 5.1 million.

Among five-year age groups in the

older population, 65- to 69-year-olds

grew the fastest. This age group grew

by 30.4 percent, rising from 9.5

million to 12.4 million. The 65- to 69-

year-old group is expected to grow

more rapidly over the next decade as

the first baby boomers start turning 65

in 2011.

The only older-population age

group to decline between 2000 and

2010 was the 75- to 79-year-old age

group. This group decreased by 1.3

percent from 7.4 million to 7.3

million. The changes in this group

mainly reflect the relatively low

number of births during the early

1930s as fewer numbers of people

entered these ages between 2000 and

2010.

Population of Older MenIncreased at a More Rapid Rate

than Older Women

While women continue to

outnumber men in the older ages, men

have continued to close the gap over

the decade by increasing at a faster rate

than women.

The largest growth rate for a 10-year

age group within the older population

was for men 85 to 94 years old (46.5

percent). Women in this age group also

increased but to a smaller degree (22.9

percent).

In the 2010 census, there were

approximately twice as many women as

men at age 89. This doubling point

occurred about four years older than it

did in 2000 and six years older than it

did in 1990, illustrating the narrowing

gap in mortality between men and

women at the older ages.

> In the 2010 census, there were

53,364 centenarians (people

100 and older), an increase of

5.8 percent since 2000.

> The number of people 65 and

older more than doubled in

21 counties in the United

States.

> Approximately 1.3 million

people 65 and older—or 3.1

percent of this population—

lived in skilled-nursing

facilities in 2010.

> In 2010, the states with the

highest percentage of people

over age 65 were:

Florida – 17.3 percent

West Virginia – 16 percent

Maine – 15.9 percent

Pennsylvania – 15.4 percent

Iowa – 14.9 percent


Can you belt it out like nobody’s business?

Do you belong on Dancing with the Stars ?

Are you wild and crazy like Steve Martin?

Pennsylvanians over 50 are invited to audition for the seventh annual

PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition!

Auditions held at regional locations

Win a limousine trip to New York City

with dinner and a Broadway show!

For more information or an application:

717.285.1350 www.SeniorIdolPA.com

Brought to you by: Presented by:

Tues., April 24Body Zone

3103 Paper Mill Road

Wyomissing, PA 19610

Wed., May 2Broadway Classics

Theatre at theHarrisburg Mall3501 Paxton Street

Harrisburg, PA 17111

Wed., April 25York Little

Theatre27 South Belmont St.

York, PA 17403

Thurs., May 3The Heritage

Hotel Lancaster500 Centerville Road

Lancaster, PA 17601NEW

LOCATION!

dauphin county 50plus senior news jan. 2012

Documents

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