cumberland county 50plus senior news march 2014

Priscilla Kaufhold, program director for The Iris Club, on the club’s grand staircase. Over hershoulder is a portrait of Alice Nevin, who founded the women’s club in 1895.

Are Your Social Security

Benefits Taxable?

page 6

Special Section:

Living for the Long Term

page 7

Inside:

By Megan Joyce

Our 21st-century dance styles would likely leave the ragtime-dancing,Edwardian-era female founders of The Iris Club confused at best.

But those progressive-for-their-time ladies would be pleased by theirmodern club’s continuing dedication to community service, women’sempowerment, and artistic and enlightened entertainment—spearheaded byits current program director, Priscilla Kaufhold.

“She is always full of great ideas,” said Carol Szutowicz, The Iris Club’sfirst vice president. “While many people have that talent, the difference isPriscilla works to make those ideas happen and sees projects through to theend.”

The Iris Club formed in 1895 when Alice Nevin, daughter of Franklin &Marshall College President John Williamson Nevin, invited 70 women to herhome to initiate a club to encourage women’s socialization and communityinvolvement.

The club’s downtown building was purchased in 1898 and still hosts theclub’s twice-monthly meetings, where members enjoy lunch, entertainment,friendship, and high tea. In October 2013, the club celebrated its 115th

Women’s Club Benefits from ProgramDirector’s Arts Pedigree

Dedication andDance through

the Ages

please see DANCE page 14

Cumberland County Edition March 2014 Vol. 15 No. 3

2 March 2014 50plus SeniorNews › www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Provider and leader of qualityhealthcare in Central PA for more than145 years.50 renovated Personal Care Suites.Applications being accepted for alimited number.Skilled Nursing Care Unitaccommodates 92, including a 21-bed Alzheimer’s Unit.

717-221-79021901 North Fifth StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102

www.homelandcenter.org

Respectful, considerate, heart-felt carefor those with a life-limiting illness.Providing care for hospice patients inthe setting they consider their home.Clinical and bereavement staff providesupport for the patient and family beforeand after the death of your loved one.Providing service in Adams,Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Perry,and York counties.

717-221-78902300 Vartan Way, Suite 115

Harrisburg, PA 17110www.homelandhospice.org

“A Continuing Care Retirement Community”

Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates Remain Low

About one in three adults aged 50 to75 years have not been tested forcolorectal cancer as recommended by theUnited States Preventive Services TaskForce (USPSTF), according to a newVital Signs report from the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention.

Despite research that shows colorectalcancer screening tests save lives, screeningrates remain too low.

“There are more than 20 millionadults in this country who haven’t hadany recommended screening forcolorectal cancer and who may thereforeget cancer and die from a preventabletragedy,” said CDC Director TomFrieden, M.D., M.P.H.

“Screening for colorectal cancer iseffective and can save your life.”

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer among men andwomen in the United States, after lungcancer. Screening tests can prevent canceror detect it at an early stage, whentreatment can be highly effective.

Adults aged 50 years and older shouldget tested with one or a combination ofthese screening tests:

• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal

immunochemical test (FIT) done athome every year

• Flexiblesigmoidoscopy,done every fiveyears, withFOBT/FITdone everythree years

• Colonoscopydone every 10years

A colon-oscopy candetect cancerearly, and it canfind precancer-ous polyps sothey can beremoved beforethey turn into cancer.

An FOBT/FIT is a simple at-hometest that can detect cancer early byidentifying blood in the stool, a possiblesign of cancer.

People are not always offered a choiceof colorectal cancer tests, but studies

have shown that people who are able tochoose the test they prefer are more likelyto get the test done.

CDCresearchersreviewedcolorectalcancerscreening datafrom CDC’s2012Behavioral RiskFactorSurveillanceSystem toestimate thepercentage ofpeople aged 50to 75 years whoreported gettingscreened asrecommendedby type of test.

Major findings:

• Among adults who were screened asrecommended, colonoscopy was by farthe most common screening test (62percent). Use of the other USPSTF-recommended tests was much lower:

fecal occult blood test, 10 percent, andflexible sigmoidoscopy in combinationwith FOBT/FIT, less than 1 percent.

• The highest percentage of adults whowere up to date with colorectal cancerscreening was in Massachusetts (76percent).

• Blacks and whites had similar screeningrates, but a higher percentage of blacksacross all income and education levelsused FOBT.

The authors noted that increasing useof all tests may increase screening rates.Furthermore, research shows that morepeople may get tested if healthcareproviders use an organized approach toidentify people who need to be screened;contact them at their home orcommunity setting; advise them of eachtest; and carefully monitor to make surethey complete their test.

For more information aboutpreventing colorectal cancer, please visitwww.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal.

Source: Centers for Disease Control andPrevention

March is NationalColorectal CancerAwareness Month

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews › March 2014 3

Resource DirectoryThis Resource Directory recognizes advertisers

who have made an extended commitmentto your health and well-being.

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

Kilmore Eye Associates890 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg(717) 697-1414

Cocklin Funeral Home, Inc.30 N. Chestnut St., Dillsburg(717) 432-5312

Alzheimer’s Association(717) 651-5020

American Diabetes Association(800) 342-2383

Arthritis Foundation(717) 763-0900

CONTACT Helpline(717) 652-4400

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 Associates5020 Ritter Road, Suite 10G, Mechanicsburg(717) 766-1500

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

Home Care AssistanceServing Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster,Lebanon, and York counties(717) 540-4663

Senior HelpersServing the Greater Harrisburg Area(717) 920-0707

Senior Home Repairs(717) 545-8747

Homeland Hospice2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg(717) 221-7890

Cumberland County Housing Authority114 N. Hanover St., Carlisle(717) 249-1315

Property Tax/Rent Rebate(888) 728-2937

Salvation Army(717) 249-1411

Apprise Insurance Counseling(800) 783-7067

Homeland Center1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg(717) 221-7902

Homeland Center1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg(717) 221-7902

CVS/pharmacywww.cvs.com

Cumberland County Aging & Community Services(717) 240-6110

Meals on WheelsCarlisle(717) 245-0707

Mechanicsburg(717) 697-5011Newville(717) 776-5251Shippensburg(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

Wheelchair GetawaysServing Pennsylvania, West Virginia,Delaware, and Southern New Jersey(717) 921-2000

American Legion(717) 730-9100

Governor’s Veterans Outreach(717) 234-1681

Lebanon VA Medical Center1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon(717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

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

Veterans Services

Travel

Toll-Free Numbers

Services

Pharmacies

Personal Care Homes

Nursing/Rehab

Insurance

Housing Assistance

Hospice Services

Home Improvement

Home Care Services

Hearing Services

Healthcare Information

Health & Medical Services

Funeral Directors

Eye Care Services

Energy Assistance

Emergency Numbers

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

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Address:______________________________________________________

City:__________________________State: _____ Zip: _________________

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50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc.and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirementcommunities, 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 ofadvertisements for products or services does not constitute anendorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will notbe responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within fivedays of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reviseor reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may bereproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc.

We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information notin compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State lawsor other local laws.

Corporate Office:3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360Chester County:610.675.6240

Cumberland County/Dauphin County:717.770.0140

Berks County/Lancaster County/Lebanon County/York County:

717.285.1350E-mail address:

[email protected] address:

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PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson

EDITORIALVICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EDITOR

Christianne RuppEDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENTPROJECT COORDINATOR

Renee McWilliamsPRODUCTION ARTIST

Janys Cuffe

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Sherry BolingerAngie McComsey Jacoby

Susan KriegerRanee Shaub Miller

Sue RughBarry Surran

SALES & EVENT COORDINATOR

Eileen CulpEVENTS MANAGER

Kimberly Shaffer

CIRCULATIONPROJECT COORDINATOR

Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATIONBUSINESS MANAGER

Elizabeth Duvall

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When Richard Lawrencegraduated from highschool in 1967, he had

already heard a lot about theMarines.

His father had been a Marine inWorld War II, and his older brotherwas a Marine corporal. So he hadheard many war stories centered onwhat it meant to be a Marine.

He could hardly wait to share insome of that glory himself,so, as soon as he graduatedfrom high school, he enlistedin the Marine Corps andheaded for boot camp atParris Island, S.C. He soonfound that grindingtoughness was fundamentalin becoming a Marine.

Then it was to CampLejeune, N.C., to learn allthere was to know aboutfiring rifles, machine guns,and rockets. That wasfollowed by a flight to CampPendleton, Calif., fortraining specific to warfare inVietnam.

Ready for combat, inDecember 1967 he was flownto Da Nang, Vietnam, which was thesite of the main U.S. airbase inVietnam, with U.S. Army, Air Force,Navy, and Marine units.

What was it like to find yourselfin Vietnam?

With a thin grin, he says, “It toldus it was going to be rough, since thebase was under rocket attack as wearrived. I remember that a singlerocket killed everyone in two squadsof Marines in one of the barracksthat night.”

He was assigned to HeadquartersCompany, Service Battalion, 1st

Marine Division. And the job of hisunit was to provide protection formilitary vehicles moving back andforth on Highway One, south of DaNang.

Was that dangerous work? “Well,” he says, “it got pretty close

to me when one night I wasn’t ableto pull my duty of guarding the maingate of our camp, and the guy thatreplaced me got killed.”

Then his unit was moved north tohelp recapture Hue, the major citythat was once the capital of Vietnam.

“The city was a shambles, andthere was nothing but the mostbrutal, house-to-house fighting,”Lawrence says.

He later was transferred to HCompany, 2nd Battalion, 3rd MarineDivision for frontline fighting as arifleman.

“We had a ton of equipment,” hesays, “and you had to carry it all.Ammo for your rifle and for amachine gun, one mortar round, c-rations, plastic poncho and liner, gasmask, and four canteens of water.Believe me, it was a load!

“I headed a five-man fire teamthat once got gassed. I don’t know

what the gas was, but I rememberhaving seizures. Fortunately, I wasable to get an atropine shot, and thatprobably saved my life.

“Just about everybody got junglerot, an infection that came from theinevitable scratches we got. It waseasy to get cut up by the elephantgrass that was just as sharp as a razorblade. And there were bugseverywhere. Believe it or not, there

were centipedes that were afoot long.

“During the monsoonmonths, the rain and the heatwould rot the clothes right offyou. So we had to get themreplaced all the time.”

In January of 1969,Lawrence got hepatitis and wasmed evacuated by C-141 fromSaigon to Alaska and then to ahospital in Fort Dix, N.J.From there, he spent twomonths in the PhiladelphiaNaval Hospital.

When he recovered, hereturned to Parris Island,where he worked in the brig.Then he was transferred to thePhilippines, where he served

for 18 months as a platoon sergeantwith the responsibility of helping tosecure the base.

There, the rebel Huks would tryto steal anything in sight. One night,he broke the arm and a leg of a Hukwho was trying to steal copper wire.

Then his hitch was up, and hewas flown to a hospital in TreasureIsland, San Francisco, where he wastreated for cluster warts that were theresult of an infection he got whileserving in Vietnam. After twomonths, he was discharged from thehospital and from the Marine Corps.

He returned to CentralPennsylvania and worked inconstruction for a while, but he wassuffering from post-traumatic stressand was having recurring nightmares.He received treatment at theHarrisburg Outpatient Center andthen for four years at the LebanonVA Medical Center, where he wasdeemed to have a 100 percentdisability.

He Has a Bullet from the Rifle ofthe First Man He Killed in Combat

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

Sgt. Richard G. Lawrence with South Vietnamesesoldier and captured enemy flag.

Richard Lawrence recuperatingin Philadelphia Naval Hospital in

January 1969.


Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars

Entertainment • Door Prizes

www.50plusExpoPA.com

(717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140(610) 675-6240

Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available

DAUPHIN COUNTY

May 27, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.Hershey Lodge

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CHESTER COUNTY

June 10, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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May 5, 20149 a.m. – 3 p.m.

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YORK COUNTY

Sept. 17, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

York Expo CenterMemorial Hall East

334 Carlisle Avenue

York

12th Annual

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Oct. 22, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Carlisle Expo Center100 K Street

Carlisle

15th Annual

FREE!

LANCASTER COUNTY

Nov. 5, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Spooky Nook Sports2913 Spooky Nook Road

Manheim(Just off Rt. 283 at the Salunga exit)

18th Annual

FREE!

NEWLOCATION!Spooky Nook Sports

2913 Spooky Nook Road

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Two of your favorite events, together!

Lancaster

CelebratesSeniors

It was then he turned to his lifelonginterest in art. As a teenager, he had wona Gold Key in the Scholastic Art Show inhigh school. And even during his days inVietnam, he had continued sketching, ashe had time.

Now he was able to pursue his art inearnest, and he became an establishedartist, with 20 of his pieces exhibited inthe National Vietnam Veterans ArtMuseum in Chicago.

His work has been displayed at the art

museums of several states, and he alsoprovided the art for the book, Soldier’sHeart, which told the story of survivors’views of combat trauma.

He says that his time in Vietnam hasled to the use of the very strong colors heuses in his artwork. So those years, asdifficult as they were at the time, are verymuch with him today.

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber inEurope in World War II.

Have Money to Burn?

Quality may be priceless, but it’ssometimes quite expensive. Take alook at some of the most costlyluxury items available these days:

Cars. The world’s most expensiveautomobile is the LamborghiniAventador LP 700-4, made with goldand jewels. Price tag: 4.6 millionBritish pounds (about $7.4 million).No word on the gas mileage.

Cocktails. The Winston, named forWinston Churchill, is made withGrand Marnier Quintessence,Angostura bitters, and a shot of 1858Croizet cognac ($157,000 a bottle).The Australian bartender who mixedit up charged $12,916.

Home offices. Your typicaltelecommuter probably couldn’tafford this: The Lehman Mansion, afive-story commercial townhouse inNew York City, sold for $40 millionlast fall, a price of $2,410 per squarefoot.

Sporting events. Tickets to Game Sixof the World Series, in which theBoston Red Sox faced the St. LouisCardinals in Boston with the prospectof winning the World Series at home,cost anywhere from $900 forstanding-room-only to $10,000 foractual seats close to the plate, makingthem the most expensive baseballtickets in sports history.

Leaving a Tip?

Here’s How Much

How much to tip can seem ascomplicated as calculus. You don’t wantto seem cheap, butyou don’t want tooverdo it—especiallyif money is tight.

Here’s a quick,basic look at what’sexpected in a varietyof everydaysituations:

Waiter/waitress(full service): 10-15percent of the bill,before tax

Bartender: $1-$2 per drink, or 15-20percent of the total tab

Cleaning service: 15-20 percent pervisit

Hairstylist/barber: 15-20 percent

Masseuse: 15-20 percent

Car valet: $2-$10 whenpicking up yourcar

Room service:15-20 percent

Skycap: $2for the first bag,then $1 for eachadditional bag

Hotelhousekeeper:

$2-$3 per night (or more for a high-end hotel, or if you’ve got more thantwo other people staying with you)

Taxi driver: 15 percent (depending onthe city); an extra $1-$2 if the driverhelps with any bags


Call your representative or 717.285.1350 or email [email protected].

• Your focused message reaches its targeted audience• Multi-venue promotion — online, in print, and social media platforms• Year-round distribution — annual women’s expos and 50plus EXPOs,

local offices of aging, and other popular venues

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Deadline to Reserve Space is May 16, 2014

A key resource for individuals who

work and provide care to a loved one.CAREGIVERSOLUTIONSCAREGIVERSOLUTIONS

Inserted into the July issue of BUSINESSWoman magazine.

Support, assistance, andservices for today’s

caregiver —Let them know there’s help

View the 2013 edition onlineat BusinessWomanPA.com

Articles • Directory of Providers • Ancillary and Support Services

By John Johnston

If you’ve recently begun receivingSocial Security benefits or plan toapply in the near future, you may be

wondering this tax season: Are SocialSecurity benefits taxable?

The short answer is: sometimes. Some people have to pay federal

income taxes on their Social Securitybenefits. This usually happens only ifyou have other substantial income (suchas wages, self-employment, interest,dividends, and other taxable incomethat must be reported on your taxreturn) in addition to your SocialSecurity benefits.

There is never a case when a personpays tax on more than 85 percent of hisor her Social Security benefits, based onInternal Revenue Service (IRS) rules.Now, let’s get down to the numbers.

• If you file a federal tax return as anindividual and your income is between$25,000 and $34,000, you may have to

pay income taxon up to 50percent of yourbenefits.

• If yourincome is morethan $34,000,then up to 85percent of yourbenefits may betaxable.

• If you aremarried and youfile a joint return,and you and yourspouse have acombinedincome that is between $32,000 and$44,000, you may have to pay incometax on up to 50 percent of your benefits.

• If your combined income is morethan $44,000, then up to 85 percent ofyour benefits may be taxable.

Note thatyour “income”for the purposeof determiningwhether youmust pay taxeson some ofyour SocialSecuritybenefitsincludes youradjusted grossincome, yournontaxableinterest, andone-half ofyour SocialSecuritybenefits.

In January, you should have received aSocial Security benefit statement showingthe amount of benefits you received lastyear. You can use this statement, or SSA-1099, when completing your federalincome tax return to find out whethersome of your benefits are subject tofederal income tax.

If you didn’t receive yours, you canrequest one at www.socialsecurity.gov/1099.

So, are your Social Security benefitstaxable? Maybe. To learn more, read page14 of our booklet, Retirement Benefits,available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs orvisit www.irs.gov to obtain more detailedinformation on the subject.

John Johnston is a Social Security publicaffairs specialist.

Are Your Social Security Benefits Taxable?

Social Security News

Free Tax Assistance Offered

Through April 15 of each year, theAARP Tax-Aide program offers free one-on-one counseling as well as assistanceon the telephone and Internet to helpindividuals prepare basic tax forms,including the 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ,and other standard documents.

The following are locations in yourarea. Please call for an appointment orvisit www.aarp.org/money/taxaide formore information.

Carlisle Baptist Church 701 Walnut Bottom Road, CarlisleMondays and Thursdays9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.(717) 243-5523

Chapel Pointe at Carlisle770 S. Hanover St., NewvilleFridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.(717) 249-1363

The Cottages of ShippensburgCommunity Room200 Cottage Drive, ShippensburgMondays and Thursdays8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.(717) 530-1573

East Pennsboro Community Center98 S. Enola Drive, EnolaTuesdays and Thursdays9 a.m. to 3 p.m.(717) 732-3915

Mechanicsburg Senior Center97 W. Portland St., MechanicsburgMondays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.(717) 697-5947

New Cumberland Firehouse319 Fourth St., New Cumberland Mondays and Thursdays9 a.m. to 1 p.m.(717) 697-4117

Presbyterian Church ofMechanicsburg300 E. Simpson St., MechanicsburgThursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.(717) 697-0351

South Middleton Township MunicipalBuilding520 Park Drive, Boiling SpringsTuesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.(717) 258-5324

Trinity Lutheran Church2000 Chestnut St., Camp HillMondays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (717) 737-8635

West Shore Senior Center122 Geary Ave., New Cumberland Mondays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.(717) 774-0409


Living for the Long Term A special section featuring some ofCentral Pennsylvania’s many options for long-term care.Living for the Long Term

Have you noticed that Mom is getting more than a little confused? Isyour spouse’s health more than you can safely handle at home?

“Doing the best for your family member isn’t always keeping them athome,’’ says Debbie Haas, Homeland Center’s director of skilled care.“Sometimes, transitioning to a care facility is the best answer.”

Haas recommends enlisting the help of your loved one’s doctor, whoseopinion can go a long way to ease concerns. Then it’s a matter offinding the right facility.

One step inside Homeland Center will instantly dispel the outmodedmental image still conjured by the words, “nursing home.” Take a tourand talk to our residents and staff. See firsthand what sets us apart.

Homeland has met the needs of Central Pennsylvania since 1867 andholds Medicare’s coveted 5-star rating for quality of care. Call us todayat 717-221-7902 and discover all Homeland Center has to offer.

1901 North Fifth St. • Harrisburg, PA 17102

(717) 221-7902www.homelandcenter.org

Living for the Long Term A special section featuring some ofCentral Pennsylvania’s many options for long-term care.Living for the Long Term

Dear Savvy Senior,What are the eligibility requirements to

get Medicaid coverage for nursing-homecare?– Looking Ahead

Dear Looking,The rules and requirements for

Medicaid eligibility for nursing-homecare are somewhat complicated and willvary according to the state you live in.

With that said, here’s a general,simplified rundown of what it takes toqualify, along with some resources youcan turn to for help.

Medicaid Rules Medicaid, the federal and state joint

program that covers healthcare for thepoor, is also the largest single payer of

America’s nursing-home bills forseniors who don’thave the resources topay for their owncare.

Most people whoenter nursing homesdon’t qualify forMedicaid at first butpay for care eitherthrough long-termcare insurance or outof pocket until theydeplete their savingsand become eligiblefor Medicaid.

To qualify forMedicaid, yourincome and assets

will need to be undera certain level that’sdetermined by yourstate. Most statesrequire that a personhave no more thanabout $2,000 incountable assets thatinclude cash, savings,investments, or otherfinancial resourcesthat can be turnedinto cash.

Assets that aren’tcounted for eligibilityinclude your home ifit’s valued under$543,000 (this limitis higher—up to$814,000—in some

states), your personal possessions andhousehold goods, one vehicle, prepaidfuneral plans, and a small amount of lifeinsurance.

But be aware that while your home isnot considered a countable asset todetermine your eligibility, if you can’treturn to your home, Medicaid can goafter the proceeds of your house to helpreimburse your nursing-home costs,unless your spouse or other dependentrelative lives there. (There are some otherexceptions to this rule.)

After qualifying, all sources of yourincome, such as Social Security andpension checks, must be turned over toMedicaid to pay for your care, except fora small personal-needs allowance—

Paying for Nursing-Home Care with Medicaid

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

please see MEDICAID page 13


Mountain View Apartments 91 Doubling Gap Road

Newville, PA 17241717-776-3292

www.cchra.com

Our beautiful one-bedroom apartments areconveniently located to downtown Newville.

For those who are 62 years and older or disabled.

MOUNTAIN VIEW APARTMENTS OFFER:Scenic Country Living

•24 Hour On-call Maintenance

•Safety and Security

•Elevator Assisted

•Laundry Facilities

•Big Spring Senior Center Located within the Building

•Small Pets Welcome

•Wheelchair Accessible

•Income Limits Apply

ATTENTION SENIORS

For rental information, please contact:

r

This institution is an equal opportunity housing provider and employer.

Scott D. Brenneman Becky J. CocklinFuneral Director, Supervisor Funeral Director

Serving Dillsburg and the Surrounding AreaSince 1935

• Pre-Arrangement Counseling• Cremation

30 N. Chestnut StreetDillsburg, PA 17019

(717) 432-5312

www.cocklinfuneralhome.com

COCKLINFUNERAL HOME, INC.

Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

No, I’m not talking about theNCAA basketball tournamentovertaking the airwaves of every

sports fan in the nation. I’ve never been atall interested in that.

And those diagrams of teams, who theyplay, and where they end up is likecontemplating those convoluted sentencediagrams in English class. I didn’t paymuch attention to those, either.

Actually, the only way these diagramsseem to resemble each other is that thereare subjectively important words onoutspreading lines.

The exception is that there are nodangling lines on the basketball charts.Maybe there should be for the teamswhose chances of advancing are slim. Tothose danglers we could add short,horizontal lines with gloomy-face icons.But what do I know?

Well, I know one thing (my wife saysthat’s about all I know), and so do you.

The days are getting noticeably longer;and soon, the crocuses, daffodils,hyacinths, irises, and other early-springbloomers will push through the soddenearth to showoff their vividsplendor.

I’mamazed thatsome of theseplantswithstand thewild vagariesof March andearly-Aprilweather. It isstriking to see crocuses and daffodilsemerge from a patch of snow, don’t youthink?

We planted two eastern red bud treeslast year on a sweltering summer day.Doing so nearly crippled my wife and me.Why we picked the spots where two

previous trees had once grown isinexplicable.

Much of the old root systems stilllurked roughly 4 or 5 inches below the

surface. Thatshould have beeneasy enough tosurmise, but thosetrees were gonelong enough that Ijust assumed rothad done its job.

It did not. Rotonly takes placewhere it is leastwelcome, such as

landscape timbers, wood house trim, andtires on my barely used truck.

The first shovelful of dirt gave us afalse sense of ease. By the second shovelfulI was well aware that I was going to needa hatchet, a reciprocal saw with a toothypruning blade, a hefty digging iron, 2

gallons of cold drinking water, and ashady place for frequent breaks.

We persevered, though, and the treeswere in-ground by the end of the day. Itwas a satisfying accomplishment, in spiteof my wife and me being scuffed bloody.Anyway, the new buds should soonappear, assuring us that our struggle paidoff.

Since March winds can really knockthe spindly things around, I might haveto stake them. I didn’t stake them afterplanting because I was told that if treeswere planted properly, they wouldn’t needstaking.

And then we watched in horror asheavy storms whacked away at them inlate summer, and the November windsmade valiant attempts to uproot them.They endured it all, but I am still uneasyabout that theory.

The weather is what creates Marchmadness. One day it is sunny and very

The Way I See It

Mike Clark

March Madness


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warm, almost summerlike; other days canbe cold and blustery, seeming as thoughsnow is imminent. This unsettledcondition is essentially what causes Marchto be so windy. It is also why Novemberis the same.

I’m no meteorologist or earth scientist,so I am hardly qualified to go into all thedetails of the forces that come together tomake the wind kick up such a fury. Butit’s one of the things I like about March.

I love how the dramatic, wind-drivenclouds move swiftly overhead on a brightday, creating fluid forms on the ground;walking along the mushy banks as turbidtrout streams rush along, swollen fromthe snow and ice-melt; and the plethoraof regional garden shows that inspire usto start planning for the inevitable arrival

of spring. We have our shows in York,Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.

I’ve heard many people say that theydislike March because it feels so gloomy.Really? Gloominess is in the mind. Thinkabout it a bit more. Think of things thatyou can like about this month. I’ll betyou can come up with somethingsurprising; maybe it will change yourperspective.

After all, a positive outlook makes thetransition to spring a lot less fretful.

Mike Clark writes a regular column for TheGlobe Leader newspaper in New Wilmington,Pa. He has a Bachelor of Science degree inorganizational behavior/applied psychologyfrom Albright College. Mike lives outsideColumbia, Pa., and can be contacted [email protected].

Medicare Manuals Updatedto Rule Out Suspected

‘Improvement Standard’The Center for Medicare Advocacy

recently announced that the Medicarepolicy manuals have been revised as aresult of December’s Jimmo vs. Sebeliussettlement.

Published by the Centers forMedicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) inDecember, the manual revisions clarifythat improvement is not required toobtain Medicare coverage for skillednursing facilities (SNF), home healthcare(HH), or outpatient therapies (OPT).

The manual revisions also improvecoverage for people who require intenserehabilitation in inpatient rehabilitationfacilities (IRF).

Medicare determinations for skillednursing facilities, home health, andoutpatient therapy turn on the need forskilled care—not on the ability of anindividual to improve.

For patients in inpatient rehabilitationfacilities, the manual revisions and CMSeducation campaign clarify that coverageshould never be denied because a patientcannot be expected to achieve completeindependence in self-care or to return tohis/her prior level of functioning.

“As with all components of settlementagreements, the Jimmo revisions are notperfect,” says Judith Stein, executivedirector of the Center for MedicareAdvocacy.

“But they do make it absolutely clearthat skilled care is covered by Medicarefor therapy and nursing to maintain apatient’s condition or slow decline—notjust for improvement.”

The Jimmo case was brought in 2011by the Center for Medicare Advocacyand Vermont Legal Aid on behalf of a

nationwide class of Medicarebeneficiaries who were denied Medicarecoverage and access to necessaryhealthcare or therapy because they didnot have sufficient potential forimprovement.

As a result of the Jimmo settlement,Medicare cannot be denied in a nursinghome, home care, or outpatient therapysetting based on an “improvementstandard.”

As CMS states in the transmittalannouncing the Jimmo manual revisions:

No “improvement standard” is to beapplied in determining Medicare coveragefor maintenance claims that require skilledcare. Medicare has long recognized thateven in situations where no improvement ispossible, skilled care may nevertheless beneeded for maintenance purposes (i.e., toprevent or slow a decline in condition).

The Center for Medicare Advocacyencourages people to appeal if they aretold Medicare is not available for skilled-maintenance nursing or therapy becausethey are not improving. Information andself-help material are available on thecenter’s website (www.medicareadvocacy.org).

Patients can also contact the Centerfor Medicare Advocacy or its website toobtain a card with key provisions fromthe new Medicare manuals to show theirhealthcare providers.

More information is available on thecenter’s website (www.medicareadvocacy.org/medicare-info/improvement-standard)or by calling their national office at(860) 456-7790.


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SpringSpring can be a stream of water,Gushing ’neath the hillside rocks,Giving drinks to thirsty people,Cooling, as we wade in socks.

Spring can be an able athleteAs he runs, pole vault in hand,Watching him spring overtop the high bar,Then on two feet hope to land.

But the spring we’re awaitingComes in March of every year.Winter’s over, days grow longer,Weather’s warmer, skies are clear.

Crocus flowers lift their blossomsThrough the recent snow-lined ground.Soon the daffodils and violetsAdd their colors all around.

Birds’ songs trill for ears that listen,Bright spring birds flit through the air,Fruit trees burst in flowery splendor.Green leaves touch the trees left bare.

Farm equipment roams o’er valleys,Farmers plant each summer crop.Gardeners till their nourished topsoil,Veggie seeds they sow or drop.

Gone the stormy blasts of winter,Gone the coats, warm caps and mitts,Out some scooters, kites, and baseballs,Swinging bats that hope for hits.

Restless children sit in classrooms,Count the days till school is out.Spring is here! It’s sunny playtime!Hear the children’s joyful shout!

Written and submitted by Mary Wingerd

The Nature of SpringAs March winds blow winter into the pastAnd the Belle of the Seasons makes her debut,Indigo skies or showers may be forecastAnd the grass, in the morn, will be silver with dewRobin Red Breast returns, to warble his greetingFrom high in a tree—once laden with snow.Ah, spring! King Winter is fleeting.Soon budding trees will nod their “hello”; Gentle breezes will bring sweet essence of clover,At the edge of the woods, purple violets reside.Yes, nature’s slumber soon will be overFor it’s the nature of spring—To put winter aside.

Written and submitted by Marilyn Beeman


Cumberland County

Calendar of EventsBig Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-447891 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, NewvilleMondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – Zumba Gold at First

United Presbyterian ChurchFridays, Feb. 7 through April 11 – Income Tax Help by

AppointmentMarch 4, 9 a.m. – Learn Counted Cross Stitch

Southampton Place – (717) 530-8217,www.seniors.southamptontwp.com56 Cleversburg Road, ShippensburgMarch 4, 9 a.m. – Fat Tuesday DoughnutsMarch 17, 9:30 a.m. – St. Patrick’s Day CelebrationMarch 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Celebrate Spring

Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.

Support Groups Free and open to the public.

Community Programs Free and open to the public.

Cumberland County Library Programs

Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle,(717) 243-4642March 3, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. – Monday Bosler Book

Discussion GroupMarch 12, 1 to 2 p.m. – Wicked Wednesday Book

Discussion GroupMarch 28, 1 to 2 p.m. – Just Mysteries! Book Club

Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St.,Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900Thursdays, 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Blood Pressure

ScreeningsMarch 11, 7 p.m. – Fredricksen Reads Book Discussions:

Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine BrooksMarch 18, 7 p.m. – A Celtic Concert with Seasons

New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza,New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820March 8, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Write-On Writers

WorkshopMarch 9, 3 to 4 p.m. – Celtic Music by SeasonsMarch 17, 6 to 8 p.m. – Great Books Discussion Group:

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

Senior Center Activities

Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring inCumberland County! Email preferred to: [email protected]

What’s Happening?Give Us the Scoop!

PA State Parks in Cumberland County

March 4, 7 p.m.CanSurmount Cancer Support GroupHealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital175 Lancaster Blvd.Mechanicsburg(717) 691-6786

March 6, 6:30 p.m.Too Sweet: Diabetes Support GroupChapel Hill United Church ofChrist701 Poplar Church RoadCamp Hill(717) 557-9041

March 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Carlisle Area Men’s Cancer SupportGroupThe Live Well Center3 Alexandria Court, Carlisle(717) [email protected]

March 12, 1 p.m.Parkinson’s Support GroupHealthSouth Rehab Hospital175 Lancaster Blvd.Mechanicsburg(717) 877-0624

March 18, 1 p.m.Caregiver Support GroupMechanicsburg Church of theBrethren501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg(717) 766-8880

Mondays and Wednesdays, noonto 12:45 p.m.Silver Sneakers Class: MuscularStrength and Range of MovementLiving Well Fitness Center207 House Ave., Suite 107Camp Hill(717) 439-4070

March 5, 1:30 p.m.The Story of the Englishman WhoSquandered James Hamilton Jr.’sFortuneCumberland County HistoricalSociety21 N. Pitt St., Carlisle(717) 249-7610

March 9, 2 p.m.One Book, One CommunityCelebration of ReadersLebanon Valley CollegeZimmerman Recital Hall101 N. College Ave., AnnvilleRSVP to (717) 867-6976 [email protected]

March 12, 11:30 a.m.NARFE West Shore Chapter 1465VFW Post 67044907 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg(717) 737-1486www.narfe1465.orgVisitors welcome; meeting is free butfee for food.

March 12, 6:30 p.m.Amputee Support Team MeetingHealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg(610) [email protected]

March 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.Local Author Book Signing: John TylerHistory on High – The Shop33 W. High St., Carlisle(717) 249-1626

March 27, 1:30 p.m.Preserving Your MemoriesCumberland County HistoricalSociety21 N. Pitt St., Carlisle(717) 249-7610

AARP Driver Safety Programs

For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse.

March 8, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Elmcroft of Shippensburg, 129 Walnut Bottom Road, Shippensburg,(717) 532-4165

March 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle, (717) 243-4642March 20, 8 a.m. to noon – Messiah Village, 100 Mt. Allen Drive, Mechanicsburg, (717) 591-7203

If you have an event you wouldlike to include, please email

information [email protected]

for consideration.

March 10, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Get Ready for the Bluebirds, Kings Gap Environmental Education Center

Remember toSpring Forward!

March 9

It’s been called one of the mostinfluential programs in the history oftelevision drama. The Twilight Zone,

an anthology series that aired in the early1960s, was created by Rod Serling(1924-1975), a veteran of radio andWorld War II. Both influenced his careeras a writer.

“When he returned from war in thePhilippines, he went to college and wrotefor the campus radio station,” daughterAnne Serling recently recalled to me.“He later wrote plays for commercialradio, then television. He said writingwas a way to get the war trauma ‘out ofhis gut.’”

During the show’s five-year run,Serling was executive producer and chiefwriter, penning more than half theapproximately 150 episodes. But he isbest remembered as the program’s stone-faced host, whose foreboding narrations

introduced the show each week. In biographies after his death, the

master storyteller of chilling sci-fi andfantasy tales was often described as darkand depressed, inaccuracies that led Anne“to set the record straight” in her ownbook about her father.

“He was described as a tortured soul,but that wasn’t my father at all,” saidAnne, who published As I Knew Him:My Dad, Rod Serling in 2013.

“Although the war left scars, he wasalso a very positive, fun, down-to-earthperson. My friends adored him, and anyapprehension they had about meetinghim would instantly dissolve because hecould make anyone feel at ease. He wasbrilliantly funny at home, a greatpractical joker, and was always at thedinner table each night.”

As a child, Anne had little knowledgeof her father’s career.

“I knew he was awriter but didn’tknow what he wroteabout until I wasabout 7. Somemean boy on theschool playgroundasked if I was‘something out ofThe Twilight Zone,’but I had no ideawhat that meantbecause I wasn’tallowed to watchmuch TV duringthe week—mymother’s rule!

“A few yearslater, we watched‘Nightmare at20,000 Feet’together, theepisode whereWilliam Shatnersees a gremlin onan airplane wing.I rememberlooking at myfather andthinking, ‘This iswhat you write?’It was a bit scary.”

Praised for hisoriginal fictionwriting, Serlingwas also highlyrespected forraising socialissues in someepisodes,althoughcontroversialtopics weresubject to thecensors’ whim. So hefrequently concealed hisintent in fantasy.

“He famously oncesaid he could have alienssay things thatDemocrats andRepublicans couldn’t,”Anne recalled.

Several Twilight Zoneactors also shared vividmemories of Serling.

Theodore Bikel is well

known to fans of MyFair Lady as HenryHiggins’ rivallinguist, the noseyZoltan Karpathy.

In July 1960,Austrian-born Bikelappeared on aHollywood TV talkshow, Caucus withBackus, and wasverbally assailed byfellow guests:glamorous silent-filmactress CorinneGriffith and beloved

character-actorAdolphe Menjou.

“We weretalking politicsand they said Ihad no right toopen my mouthbecause I wasn’tborn in thiscountry,” recalledBikel.

Appalled,Serling appearedon a later programdefending Bikel’sright to freedomof speech.

“I will neverforget how Rodcame to mydefense. I laterappeared in TheTwilight Zoneepisode ‘FourO’Clock’ in1962.”

Ann Jillian andMariette Hartley

were teenagers when theyfirst met Serling.

“I was 13 when Istarred in the episode‘Mute,’” Jillian recalled. “Iwas very excited aboutdoing the popular show.Mr. Serling made me feelat ease and didn’t talkdown to me.”

And after seeing himon TV, a gutsy 14-year-old Mariette Hartley

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The Real Rod Serling

Tinseltown Talks

Nick Thomas

Serling and the Twilight Zone icon.

Photo courtesy of Anne Serling

Anne Serling with her father,Rod Serling, in the early 1970s.

Photo courtesy of Jerry Sroka

Mariette Hartley and Robert Lansing in theTwilight Zone episode, “The Long Morrow.”

Rod Serling CBS press photo


telephoned Serling and asked him tospeak to her Connecticut high schooldrama club.

“He said he would be delighted, and Ican still see him sitting in the teacher’sdesk at the front of the classroom talkingto us,” Hartley said.

“Years later, when I started working inHollywood, I met him again when hislimousine pulled up as I was walking outthe studio. He remembered coming tomy class. I told him I was looking forwork, and within a couple of months hegave me the wonderful gift of working in‘The Long Morrow’ episode.”

Today, Serling continues to inspire

other moviemakers. J.J. Abrams, directorof the new Star Trek films, has called TheTwilight Zone a big influence on hiscareer and reportedly has secured therights to adapt Serling’s last, never-produced script, The Stops Along the Way.

Until then, Rod Serling’s work is stillavailable for your viewing pleasure,almost nightly, on classic TV cablechannels … in The Twilight Zone.

Thomas’ features and columns have appearedin more than 300 magazines and newspapers,and he is the author of Raised by the Stars,published by McFarland. He can be reachedat his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com


Celebrate Those Strongly Tied Knots!

Are you or is someone you knowcommemorating a special anniversary this year?Let 50plus Senior News help spread your news—for free!

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MEDICAID from page 7

usually between $30 and $90. You also need to be aware that you

can’t give away your assets to qualify forMedicaid faster. Medicaid officials willlook at your financial records going backfive years to root out suspicious assettransfers.

If they find one, your Medicaidcoverage will be delayed a certain lengthof time, according to a formula thatdivides the transfer amount by theaverage monthly cost of nursing-homecare in your state.

So if, for example, you live in a statewhere the average monthly nursing-homecost is $5,000 and you gave away cash orother assets worth $100,000, you wouldbe ineligible for benefits for 20 months($100,000 divided by $5,000 = 20).

Spousal ProtectionMedicaid also has special rules for

married couples when one spouse entersa nursing home and the other spouseremains at home. In these cases, thehealthy spouse can keep one half of thecouple’s assets up to $117,240 (thisamount varies by state), the familyhome, all the furniture and householdgoods, and one automobile.

The healthy spouse is also entitled tokeep a portion of the couple’s monthlyincome—between $1,938 and $2,931.Any income above that goes toward thecost of the nursing-home recipient’s care.

What about Medicare?Medicare, the federal health insurance

program for seniors 65 and older andsome younger people with disabilities,does not pay for long-term care. It onlyhelps pay up to 100 days of“rehabilitative” nursing-home care,which must occur after a hospital stay.

Get HelpAgain, Medicaid rules are complicated

and vary by state, so contact the localMedicaid office (call (800) 633-4227 forcontact information) for eligibilitydetails.

You can also get help from your StateHealth Insurance Assistance Program(SHIP), which provides free counselingon all Medicare and Medicaid issues. Tofind a local SHIP counselor, visitwww.shiptalk.org or call (800) 677-1116.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to theNBC Today show and author of The SavvySenior Book. www.savvysenior.org

The cover of Anne Serling’sbook, As I Knew Him, whichshe wrote to set the recordstraight about her father.

Rod Serling chats with Charlton Heston on the set ofPlanet of the Apes with director Franklin Schaffner.

Happiness May Depend on

Where You LiveAre you happy? The answer may

depend on where you live. The United Nations’ World

Happiness Report measures well-beingacross a range of economic,psychological, and statistical factors.

The United States came in at No. 17in the 2013 report. Here are the top 10:

1. Denmark 2. Norway 3. Switzerland

4. Netherlands 5. Sweden 6. Canada 7. Finland 8. Austria 9. Iceland 10. Australia

At the bottom of the list, the five leasthappy nations are Rwanda, Burundi,Central African Republic, Benin, andTogo.

anniversary at the same location, greaterthan any other club in the state.

Kaufhold has an extensive career indance, theater, and performancedirection. She runs the MillersvilleCostume Shop, where she began workingshortly after graduating from AmericanUniversity in 1984 with a degree inperformance/dance.

She earned a graduate degree in danceand design at George WashingtonUniversity while starting her family andcontinued to manage the costume shopduring the 15 years she worked asprofessional company director ofKinetics Dance Theatre in Ellicott City,Md.

“The Costume Shop combines all ofmy interests in crafts, sewing, design,theater, dance, etc.,” Kaufhold said.

In 2013, Kaufhold expanded hercreative foothold further when shestarted the Barefoot Dance Company,which includes dancers ranging in agefrom 13 to 55.

Born in Boulder, Colo., with achildhood spent in Williamstown, Mass.,Kaufhold’s family moved to CentralPennsylvania in 1968 when her fatheraccepted a geography-professor positionat Millersville University.

Kaufhold’s artistic genes come

honestly. Her mother directed andchoreographed high-school musicals,operas, Girl Scout jamborees, and showsat the Fulton Opera House. She alsotaught modern dance at the YMCA andas a dance professor at Franklin &Marshall College.

“I grew up going to my mom’s showswith my brothers and father to supportmy mother’s work,” Kaufhold said. “Thishas shaped my goal to create dances andshows that are entertaining—not just topeople who want to attend, but theirbrothers, fathers, sisters, and otherrelations who come to shows becausethey have to.”

Kaufhold connected with The IrisClub four years ago when a memberinvited Kaufhold to perform one of herdance shows, “Dancing through theDecades,” at a club luncheon.

Originally her written thesis projectthat compared women’s fashion withconcurrent dance styles through the firsthalf of the 20th century, the show hassince been expanded to includeadditional decades and renamed“Fashion and Dance through the Ages.”

“It’s turned out to be an entertaininghistory lesson through music, dance, andcostumes,” said Kaufhold, also a talentedseamstress. “[The show] is popular at

retirement villagesas well asschools.”

After her firstIris Clubperformance,Kaufhold said shewas flattered to beasked to become amember. (Unlikea century ago,however,membership is nolonger byinvitation only.)Since then, thehighly popularshow returned inspring 2013 as anIris Clubfundraiser.

“The peopleare great, thebuilding is alovely mansion,and I really enjoymeeting otherartists throughtheir programsand events,” shesaid.

At its height inthe ’50s, the clubhad about 600members. Today,the number iscloser to 90, but itis still a dedicatedand productivegroup of women.

“It makes me feel good to have thechance to work with ladies who careabout their community and give back tothe community,” said Kaufhold. “Theyhave knowledge that I can grow from.”

Now in her second year as programdirector, Kaufhold’s main duty is to findand schedule interesting artists, poets,craftspeople, musicians, historians, anddancers for the club, which offers itsmembers opportunities for communityservice by promoting educationalpursuits and creativity.

In addition to its internalprogramming, which Kaufholdcoordinates, The Iris Club hosts eventsand fundraisers open to the local public.

“I also help plan special weekendevents throughout the year, such asPancakes with Santa, Pancakes with theEaster Bunny, the Fairytale Ball, themeddinners, and dance concert fundraisers,”Kaufhold said.

Kaufhold is also a board member ofThe Iris Club and promotes the arts and

volunteerismthroughpartnerships withothercommunityorganizations.

In 2012,while teaching atthe local schoolof ballet,Kaufhold learnedthat the tenantsof the oldarmory building,which includedthe ballet school,would have torelocate as thebuilding wasgoing up forsale.

“I knew TheIris Club hadlovely woodenfloors, and theclub was lookingfor rentalincome,” shesaid. “I thoughtthe balletcompany andThe Iris Clubwould be a greatfit and benefitmutually.”

The balletcompany nowsplits its classtime between its

nearby studio and The Iris Club.Kaufhold is grateful for the support

of her husband, Jeffrey, and their threechildren, who have followed in theirmother’s volunteer path.

“All three have helped out withcostumes backstage, crafts with camps,and Pancakes with Santa and the EasterBunny over the years,” said Kaufhold.“Other children love them, and I justlike having my kids around while I’mworking on a show or project.”

She also enjoys being around theother members of The Iris Club and isthankful that the women have entrustedher with bringing in entertaining andeducational programming.

“Their energy seems endless, and Irealize I can’t complain around them,”she laughed. “I’m constantly in awe ofthese ladies. I’d be happy to accomplishhalf of what most of these Iris Clubladies have accomplished in their life!”

For more information, contact TheIris Club at (717) 394-7811 or visitwww.irisclublancasterpa.com.

DANCE from page 1

The polyester and disco dance feverof the 1970s

Two dancers truckin’ in the 1940s

Feathered and fringed flappers from the 1920s

Scenes from“Fashion and Dance through the Ages”:


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Literacy Tutor Says 90

is Just a Number

Central Pennsylvania LiteracyCouncil tutor John Eichorn took abreak recently in the adult literacyprogram’s Lemoyne office to celebratehis 90th birthday.

“Ninety is just a number,” theNewberry Township resident says. Hetakes a casualapproach to hissenior milestonebut is seriousabout thesuccess of theadult learners hetutors eachweek.

Eichorn, aWorld War IIArmy Air Corpsveteran, is thefather of fiveadult children,grandfather ofeight, and great-grandfather of three.

He majored in marketing at NewYork University and graduated in 1965,after 42 consecutive months of nightstudy.

He retired from AMF BowlingCenters, Inc. in 1975 and spent 20 yearsserving the Pennsylvania Chamber ofBusiness and Industry. His SIX-LUVlicense plate recalls his tennis-playingdays.

“But I just couldn’t sit around after Istopped playing tennis a couple yearsago,” he says. “So I thought I should useall my education to pass it along topeople who need it.”

Because of his experiences as anairman, his deep respect for education,and his understanding of the persistenceit takes to become educated, Eichornremains committed to the educationalgoals adults set for themselves.

He has tutored several people in

English, reading, and math whilevolunteering with the Central PALiteracy Council. They have improvedtheir skills, found jobs, and gone on toschools.

He tutored Brenda on Mondaymornings and found she had a great

love for history.They enjoyedreading aboutPearl HarborDay.

Eichornremembershearing aboutthe invasionwhen he was a17-year-old highschool senior inRamsey, N.J.He later becamean instructorpilot on B-26Martin

Marauder medium bombers atBarksdale Field, La.

Ousmane, Eichorn’s Friday-morningadult learner, is a native of Birkina Fasoin West Africa. Ousmane passed thecitizenship test in Philadelphia on Dec.16, 2013, after he studied the 100citizenship questions, practiced writingsentences in English, and worked onimproving his English pronunciation.

Central PA Literacy Council wasincorporated as a nonprofit adultprogram in 1972 and offers free,individualized tutoring, byappointment, to adults in Cumberland,Dauphin, eastern Perry, and northernYork counties.

For more information, [email protected] [email protected] or callCarole Sawchuck, executive director, at(717) 763-7522.

John Eichorn with Ousmane,one of his adult learners.

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cumberland county 50plus senior news march 2014

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