Athlete and cancer survivor Karen Charlesworth ran her first marathon at age 51and hopes to inspire others to take control of their own health.
By Chelsea Peifer
Some people spend months or even years training to run a marathon. After all, the 26.2 grueling miles require the human body to be in top-
notch condition. But after beating cancer in her late 30s—and with a long-running
commitment to exercise driving her—Karen Charlesworth decided to go forit, running her first marathon at age 51.
While the now 59-year-old said that she was “definitely sore the next day,”Charlesworth strives to always try something new, and the marathon was justone of many adventures she seeks out each passing year.
“I love running with others and getting them to the finish line, especiallynewbies,” she said. “I will run at their pace, regardless, and talk with them todivert their uncomfortable feelings with the first run they have done.”
Since surviving colon cancer at age 37, Charlesworth is incredibly gratefulfor her life, and she hopes to make every year special.
Initially, Charlesworth’s doctor misdiagnosed her as having depression, butshe knew that wasn’t the case.
Always energetic and in tune with her body, Charlesworth could tell thatsomething was amiss because she no longer had her normal energy level. Shewas becoming out of breath just walking from parking lots and intobuildings, in spite of her attempts to build up her stamina.
please see RUN page 13
Athlete, Cancer SurvivorRan First Marathon at 51
In It for the
Long, Long Run
Cumberland County Edition June 2014 Vol. 15 No. 6
A Salute to Our
Veterans of D-Day
page 4
Men’s Health
Resources
page 14
Inside:
2 June 2014 50plus SeniorNews › www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Farmers Market VouchersNow Available
Farmers market nutrition voucherswill be distributed to eligible seniors 60years of age and older at the followinglocations starting June 1.
The nutrition vouchers, with a $20total value, can be exchanged forPennsylvania-grown fruits and vegetablesfrom June 1 through Nov. 30 atparticipating farmers markets androadside stands.
To be eligible, county residents age 60and older must have an annual incomeless than $21,590 for one person,$29,101 for two people, and $36,612for three people.
Proxy forms are available at each siteand must be completed and returnedwith signatures and a photo ID of theeligible senior at the time ofdistribution.
Please keep in mind these vouchersare available on a first-come, first-servedbasis, as funding is limited. Vouchersmay only be obtained once per year.
For eligible income guidelines ormore information, contact CumberlandCounty Aging and Community Servicesat (717) 240-6110.
Distribution sites are as follows:
Big Spring Senior Center, 91 DoublingGap Road, Newville, (717) 776-4478 –Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
Cumberland County Aging &Community Services, 1100 ClaremontRoad, Carlisle, (717) 240-6110 –Tuesdays, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Mechanicsburg Place, 97 W. PortlandSt., Mechanicsburg, (717) 697-5947 –Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon
Salvation Army Senior Action Center,20 E. Pomfret St., Carlisle, (717) 249-5007 – Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m.
Schaner Senior Center, 98 S. EnolaDrive, Enola, (717) 732-3915 – Fridays,8:30 to 11 a.m.
Shippensburg Senior Center, 47 E.King St., Shippensburg (inside ChristUnited Methodist Church), (717) 300-3563 – Fridays, 9 to 11 a.m.
West Shore Senior Center, 122 GearyAve., New Cumberland, (717) 774-0409 –Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.
hen myhusband,Bob, is
unhappy, it breaks myheart.
So I did what mostconventional, predictablepeople do. I took him toa Quantum Field Healingséance—oops, I meansession—to have hisenergy fields balanced.Doesn’t everybody dothat?
I called my friend,nationally noted healer Marcia SloaneHeusted. She knew I was clueless aboutcockamamie—I mean alternative—therapies.
The night before the appointment, Idreamed we crept into Marcia’s dark,
crypt-like dungeon. Wallswere flanked by spiderwebs hanging like thick,wet ropes. Tall, blackcandles oozed hot, blood-red liquid. There was thesmell of century-oldmonk robes and century-old monks.
Bob woke me. Hedoesn’t sleep well when Iscream.
“Cancel it, Bob.Marcia will levitate youand make you speak in
tongues—in Yiddish!” “Saralee, I’m not canceling.”“You’ll be channeling a Jewish
Dorothy. You’ll chant, ‘Latkes andblintzes and borscht. Oy vey!’”
Such is Life
Saralee Perel
Bob’s Balancingis No Act
W
please see BALANCING page 15
Marcia and Bob
Veterans’ expoand Job Fair
H
H
They served us —now let us serve them!
Reserve your space today!
To become a sponsor or exhibitor,please contact your account representative,
call (717) 285-1350, or email [email protected]
November 14, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Eden Resort • 222 Eden Road, Lancaster
The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies togetherwith area businesses to provide information and resources toveterans and their families.
The Job Fair brings veterans and spouses who need jobstogether with employers who can benefit from this richsource of talent to aid their organizations.
At the ExpoVeterans Benefits & ServicesCommunity ServicesThank-a-Vet ParticipantsMedical/Nonmedical ResourcesProducts and Services AvailableSupport/Assistance Programs
At the Job FairEmployersJob CounselingWorkshops/SeminarsResume Writing AssistanceEducation/Training Services
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available
www.veteransexpo.com
$100 off thru 6/30/14!
2 events — 1 location
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews › June 2014 3
Resource DirectoryThis Resource Directory recognizes advertisers
who have made an extended commitmentto your health and well-being.
Church of God Home801 N. Hanover St., Carlisle(717) 866-3204
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
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) 245-0707Mechanicsburg(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 Care Services
Hearing Services
Healthcare Information
Health & Medical Services
Funeral Directors
Eye Care Services
Energy Assistance
Emergency Numbers
CCRC
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
Name: _______________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________
City:__________________________State: _____ Zip: _________________
Please specify edition:Chester Cumberland Dauphin Lancaster Lebanon York
You can have 50 plus Senior Newsdelivered right to your home!
Simply mail this form and $15 for an annual subscription to: 50 plus Senior News • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512Or, subscribe online at www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com!
4 June 2014 50plus SeniorNews › www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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:
www.onlinepub.com
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
Amy KiefferRanee Shaub Miller
Sue RughBarry Surran
ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES
Christina CardamoneAnne Hill
SALES & EVENT COORDINATOR
Eileen CulpEVENTS MANAGER
Kimberly Shaffer
CIRCULATIONPROJECT COORDINATOR
Loren Gochnauer
ADMINISTRATIONBUSINESS MANAGER
Elizabeth Duvall
Winner
Member of
Member of
A Salute to Our Veterans of D-Day
In WorldWar II, 70years ago thismonth, onJune 6, 1944,some 156,000American,British, andCanadian
soldiers landed on five beachesalong a 50-mile stretch of theheavily fortified cost of France.
It was called D-Day, and thegigantic assault was the first stepin the liberation of Europe fromthe hands of German troops. Theworld had never seen such amassive amphibious assault. Andmany military men from CentralPennsylvania were part of theforce that made it happen. This ishow a few remember it:
Eston White says he will neverforget how bad the weather was.When you went over the side of themother transport, the swells were sohigh that you could easily findyourself falling 4 feet as you let go ofthe cargo net to enter the landingcraft that had been ready to step intoa moment before.
He says, “I was one of 30 menaboard the Higgins boat that took usthe 12,000 yards to the beach, and Iwas the only one who didn’t getviolently sick aboard the pitchingboat. Men were so sick they wereheaving everywhere, and they wereglad to see land even though theywere being machine-gunned.”
Dick Winters was aparatrooper who was dropped at1:15 a.m. on D-Day, 8 milesfrom the intended drop zone.The C-47 plane carrying him,dodging heavy flak, dove so fastthat, when he exited the plane,the wind tore away his jump packwith his rifle, grenades—everything but the trench knifesecured in his boot.
Yet he and seven other menwho joined him found their wayto the causeway that our GIswould use to get off Utah Beach.Facing 55 Germans who mannedfour 105s lobbing shells at ourtroops, they were able to destroy allfour guns and free our tanks torumble from the beach.
Paul Miller was a paratroopermedic who headed for France in themiddle of the night.
He says, “Actually, I felt no fearuntil the bullets began to tearthrough the fuselage of the C-47.Then, with exploding ack-ack andburning planes, it was like the mostawesome fireworks display you eversaw.”
The plan was to bail out at 800feet, but because of the evasiontactics of the plane, it was more like300 feet.
“You jumped, the parachutedeployed, and you were on theground,” Miller says.
Paul Winters was in the first waveto hit Omaha Beach.
He says, “It was chaos. Very fewof us were dropped off where wewere supposed to be. We had toadvance over open beach to a far seawall that would give us some cover
from the machine-gun fire andmortar and artillery shells beingthrown at us. Everyone was justtrying to stay alive.
“We were off the beach in fivehours, but I didn’t realize how badit really was until I went back thenext day for medical supplies andsaw all the bodies bobbing in thewater and corpses everywhere onthe beach, many of them stackedlike cordwood.”
Richard Meck made the landingon Omaha Beach.
He says, “It was terrifying. Wewere being hit with shells andmachine-gun fire constantly. Men
were being killed all around me. Ourorders were not to stop for anybody,just wade as fast as we could and getout of the water, cross the beach, andget to the sea wall, where theGerman guns couldn’t swivel downto kill you. Bodies were littering thebeach and bobbing in the surf. It wasa sight I’ve never been able toforget.”
Otis Harrison says, “The numberof ships was simply unbelievable. Itseemed like you could just walk fromship to ship, there were so many ofthem. LSTs loaded with troops were
being blown up all around us. “The Germans had placed
‘hedgehogs’ all along the approachto the beach. They were steel railsthat would snare LSTs as the tidereceded and leave them sittingducks. Many men tried to jump offand wade in, only to be weigheddown by all their gear and sink totheir deaths. It was hell on earth.”
There are few such vets alivetoday, and every day there arefewer. We have only the memory ofmost of them. But what memoriesthey are, and we can best honorthem by never forgetting thesacrifices they made for our
country, which they served sowillingly and so well.
Photos courtesy of U.S. NationalArchives and Records Administration.
Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber inEurope in World War II.
By ColonelRobert Wilcox
The beachhead is secure, but the price washigh. A Coast Guard combat photographer
came upon this monument to a deadAmerican soldier somewhere on the shell-
blasted shore of Normandy.
American soldiers, hardened and ready,lounge under full fighting equipment on
the deck of a Coast Guard assault.
In one corner is the undefeatedreigning champion, Father Time. Inthe other corner is the challenger,
Our Good Looks. You know how thisfight will end. The question is: Howmany rounds will it last, and which willbe the decisive round?
Good looks have advantages in thefirst two trimesters of an aged life. Whenwe enter our senior years, looks that mayarouse interests from the opposite sextypically have almost entirely vanished.Who cares? By that time, our primaryobjectives are to feel good and lookgood, forsaking any hope of good looks.
Eleanor Roosevelt was no eye-catching beauty. She recognized thevalue of our overall appearance this way:“Beautiful young people,” she said, “areaccidents of nature, but beautiful oldpeople are works of art.”
Maybe we aren’t “works of art” in theclassic sense. But if we have a twinkle inour eyes and a smile on our face, we canlook good without being good looking.
Once our good looks begin to vanish,we have other resources to display:charm, kindness, knowledge, integrity,humor, and, as Eleanor Roosevelt hasshown, a measure of wisdom. They areall part of looking good.
There were times Abraham Lincolndepended on self-deprecating humorwhen campaigning for election. HenryVillard, a journalist who covered theLincoln-Douglas debates, wrote Lincolnhad a “gawky figure, an odd-featured,wrinkled, inexpressive, and altogetheruncomely face.”
When Stephan A. Douglas calledLincoln “two-faced,” Lincoln replied: “Ileave it to the audience. If I had anotherface, do you think I would wear thisone?”
This retort scored “Father Abraham,”as he was called by those who saw inhim a biblical image, election points thatotherwise may have been denied himbecause of his lack of good looks.
Comic Jimmy Durante and physicistAlbert Einstein were not handsome. Yetpeople found them appealing becausetheir appearance matched the public’simage—expectations for the roles eachprominently held in life. Their lookswere as if each was an actor supplied bya Hollywood studio’s department of
central casting.Einstein, despite his
brilliance, could notgrasp his publicpopularity. He wonderedwhy “no one understandsme but they like meanyway. I don’tunderstand it.”
Our faces have to becompatible with thestereotypical image thepublic has of certainprofessions. WouldJimmy Durante lookcredible as a world-renowned scientist and would AlbertEinstein find popular support as acomedian?
Would a movie entitled Strange LoveAffair have a chance as a box-officesuccess if it starred “Groucho” Marx andElizabeth Taylor? Our looks, good or not,support or limit us in our destined rolesin life.
Richard Nixon is said to have lostvoter appeal in his 1960 televised debatewith presidential candidate Jack Kennedy.It was not due to Nixon’s discussion ofthe issues, which he handled quite well.He lost appeal because of his whiskerstubble, commonly called a “five o’clockshadow” in the jargon of the 1960s. Tosome, the stubble made him look un-presidential, somewhat malevolent.
Roles in life are determined largely bymore than just our bodies. It is our imagein its entirety, including our clothingstyle down to the type of eyeglasses wewear. Doesn’t a Franciscan monk receivemore public reverence when garbed in abrown robe, or isn’t a doctor given morecredibility when wearing a white medicaljacket? Imagine them both in t-shirts andjeans.
As we enter our senior years, weshould give more attention to anappropriate dress style. It makes us feelbetter and raises the favorability quotientfor how we are perceived by others.
Physical attractiveness need not belimited entirely to the young. Severalfamed movie stars retained a visageappeal—if not their sex appeal—as theyturned elderly. Jimmy Stewart, CaryGrant, Paul Newman, Henry Fonda,Mary Martin, Myrna Loy, Barbara
Stanwyck, and GreerGarson are among them.They were graced withthe beauty of dignity,experience, andcredibility despite theiradvancing years.
Seniors are past the agewhen they indulge theirvanities in cosmeticmakeovers, such as Botoxinjections, breastimplants, liposuction,and other beautificationprocedures. Thesetemporary, time-reversing
treatments typically are for those enteringtheir 40s. Undergoing medicalcosmetology is not aging gracefully; it isgrasping to retain vanishing good looksrather than refining the emerging personawhose focus should be on looking good.
What happens to the body of a man
with a muscle-bound torso once hereaches the fifth decade of life andbeyond? Based on photos of ArnoldSchwarzenegger in swimming trunks, hisMr. Universe physique has badlydeteriorated. It takes most bodybuilderstwo hours a day, six days a week, ofweightlifting to look like a modernGoliath.
After the age of 50 we lose about 3percent of our lean body mass perdecade, most of which is muscle. It takesmore time and energy than most of usare able to dedicate to overcome thatloss. It is a vainglorious mission.
Walt Sonneville, a retired market-researchanalyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth:The Higher-Valued Opinion of a SeniorCitizen and A Musing Moment: MeditativeEssays on Life and Learning, books ofpersonal-opinion essays, free of partisan andsectarian viewpoints. Contact him [email protected].
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews › June 2014 5
• Exhibitors •
• Health Screenings •
• Seminars •
• Entertainment •
• Door Prizes •
www.50plusExpoPA.com
(717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140(610) 675-6240
Limited SponsorshipOpportunities Available
Please join us forthese free events!
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
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
Good Looks and Looking Good
My 22 Cents’ Worth
Walt Sonneville
Brig. Gen. James M. Stewart,USAF Reserve, circa 1968
6 June 2014 50plus SeniorNews › www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Bethany Village — MapleWood325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055717-766-0279 • www.BethanyVillage.org
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100
Assisted Living Residence: Yes
Private: 100
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: No
Short-term Lease: Yes
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: Yes
Comments: 1-bedroom suites; secured
memory support neighborhood;
skilled nursing – The Oaks.
Homewood at Plum Creek425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331717-637-4166 • www.homewood.com
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 98
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: No
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: No
Short-term Lease: Yes
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No
Part/Totally Refundable: No
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes
Alzheimer’s Care: No
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: No
Comments: Excellent care in a lovely
environment. Call to schedule a visit.
Longwood Manor Personal Care & Memory Care2760 Maytown Road • Maytown, PA 17550717-426-0033 • www.longwoodassisted.com
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 144
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: Yes
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: Yes
Short-term Lease: Yes
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No
Part/Totally Refundable: No
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: No
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: No
Health Fee-for-Service Available: No
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: Yes
Comments: Beautiful, homelike
environment nestled in the heartland
of Lancaster County. Specializing in
memory support.
Brandywine Senior Living at Longwood301 Victoria Gardens Drive • Kennett Square, PA 19348484-734-6200 • www.brandycare.com
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 70
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: Yes
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: No
Short-term Lease: No
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes
Part/Totally Refundable: No
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: No
Health Fee-for-Service Available: No
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: Yes
Comments: At Brandywine Senior
Living – life is beautiful!
The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.
Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes
This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.
Colonial Lodge Community2015 North Reading Road • Denver, PA 17519717-336-5501 • www.coloniallodgepa.com
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 70
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: Yes
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: Yes*Short-term Lease: No
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No
Part/Totally Refundable: No
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: No
Alzheimer’s Care: No
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: No
Comments: *SSI depends on
availability. A veteran-approved
“home for heroes” facility, all in a
beautiful, rural setting.
Homeland Center1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102717-221-7727 • www.homelandcenter.org
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 50
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: No
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: No
Short-term Lease: Yes
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes
Part/Totally Refundable: Yes
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: No
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: Yes
Comments: Exemplary care in a caring,
beautiful environment has been
provided for more than 140 years. Our
continuum includes a hospice program.
Lakeview at Tel Hai Retirement Community1200 Tel Hai Circle • Honey Brook, PA 19344610-273-4602 • www.telhai.org
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: Yes
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: No
Short-term Lease: Yes
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes
Part/Totally Refundable: Yes
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: Yes
Comments: Come discover a wonderful,
faith-based community that has been
voted No. 1 retirement community by
readers of the Daily Local newspaper!
Mennonite Home Communities1520 Harrisburg Pike • Lancaster, PA 17601717-393-1301 • www.mennonitehome.org
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 150
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: Yes
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: Yes
Short-term Lease: No
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes
Part/Totally Refundable: No
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: No
Comments: Supportive, encouraging
environment. Various room types and
suites available. Secure memory care
offered.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews › June 2014 7
Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community625 Robert Fulton Highway • Quarryville, PA 17566717-786-7321• 888-786-7331 • www.quarryville.com
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 45
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: No
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: No
Short-term Lease: No
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No
Part/Totally Refundable: No
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: No
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes
Respite Care: No
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: No
Comments: Quarryville assists in
maintaining independence and
preserving dignity in a safe and secure
environment.
The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.
Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes
This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.
Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community1700 Normandie Drive • York, PA 17408717-764-6262 • www.normandieridge.org
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 55
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: Yes
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: No
Short-term Lease: No
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No
Part/Totally Refundable: No
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes
Alzheimer’s Care: No
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: No
Comments: Private or shared living in
spacious rooms with private baths.
Friendly staff assist where needed to
help maintain your independence.
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 46
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: Yes
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: No
Short-term Lease: Yes
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes
Part/Totally Refundable: Yes
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes
Respite Care: Yes
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Yes
Pets Permitted: Yes
Comments: Gorgeous new construction.
Short-term rehabilitation center and
personal care apartments including
secured memory care.
St. Anne’s Retirement Community3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512717-285-6112 • www.stannesrc.org
Personal Care Home: Yes
Private: Yes
Semi-private: No
Private Pay: Yes
SSI Accepted: Yes*Short-term Lease: No
Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Minimal
Part/Totally Refundable: No
Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes
Medication Management: Yes
On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes*Respite Care: No
Social Programs: Yes
Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes
Transportation (Scheduled): Yes
Personal Car Permitted: Pending Approval
Pets Permitted: Yes
Comments: *SSI after three- to five-year
private-pay spend-down. Skilled
Alzheimer’s care coming soon.
VibraLife707 Shepherdstown Road • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055717-591-2100 • www.vibralife.net
By John Johnston
This month I’d like to share somenews about Social Securitydisability benefits for veterans
with disabilities: a new expediteddisability process.
We believe it is important to recognizethose who currently serve in the militaryas well as those injured in the line ofduty and consider it an honor and a dutyto serve them. Whether the injury isphysical or mental, getting a decisionabout Social Security disability benefitsfrom your government shouldn’t add tothe problems faced by the injured.
Carolyn W. Colvin, actingcommissioner of Social Security, recently
unveiled a newinitiative toexpeditedisabilityapplicationsfrom veteranswith aDepartment ofVeteransAffairs (VA)disabilitycompensationrating of 100percentpermanent andtotal (P&T).
Under the new process, Social Securitywill treat these veterans’ applications as
highpriority andissueexpediteddecisions,similar tothe way wecurrentlyhandledisabilityclaims fromwoundedwarriors.
“Ourveterans
have sacrificed so much for our countryand it is only right that we ensure theyhave timely access to the disability
benefits they may be eligible for anddeserve,” said Colvin.
Learn more about the new expeditedprocess for veterans at www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/2014/expedited-dib-process2-pr.html.
Read about this new service atwww.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/disability-pt.htm.
Also, you’ll want to visit ourWounded Warriors page atwww.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors.There you’ll find informative webinars, aDisability Planner, an overview of ourdisability programs and the convenientonline disability application. John Johnston is a Social Security publicaffairs specialist.
Faster Benefit Decisions for Veterans
Social Security News
8 June 2014 50plus SeniorNews › www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
MedicalWWee ssppeecciiaalliizzee iinn mmeeddiiccaall aanndd ddiiaaggnnoossttiicc eexxaammssiinncclluuddiinngg pprroocceedduurreess,, eevvaalluuaattiioonnss,, eemmeerrggeennccyyccaarree,, aanndd ttrreeaattmmeenntt..
SurgicalEEaacchh oonnee ooff oouurr ssuurrggiiccaall ddooccttoorrss iiss hhiigghhllyy ttrraaiinneeddaanndd eexxppeerriieenncceedd wwiitthh ddiivveerrssee bbaacckkggrroouunnddss iinn aallllaarreeaass ooff ssuurrggiiccaall pprroocceedduurreess..
OpticalPPeerrssoonnaalliizzeedd sseerrvviicceess ssuucchh aass ccoonnttaacctt lleennsseess,, bbrraannddnnaammeess,, aanndd ffoollllooww-uupp aaddjjuussttmmeennttss aarree pprroovviiddeedd bbyypprrooffeessssiioonnaall ssttaaffff ooppttiicciiaannss..
KILMORE EYE ASSOCIATES890 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg
(717) 697-1414 • www.kilmoreeye.com
V. Eugene Kilmore, Jr., M.D. John W Pratt, M.D. Foster E. Kreiser, O.D.Ryan J. Hershberger, O.D. Michelle A. Thomas, O.D.
For an application, please contact:
• One-bedroom, garden-styleapartments with manyamenities
• Located in beautiful downtown Mt. Holly Springs
• Maintenance-free living• Off-street parking• Laundry in units• Small pets welcome
(pet rules apply)
• Courteous and helpful staff
Income restrictions applyRent amount based on income
Now Accepting Applicationsat
Chestnut Commons ApartmentsAffordable Senior Housing
for persons 62 years and older
Chestnut Commons Apartments324 Chestnut Street • Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065
or call (717) 245-0516 • (717) 249-3484
www.cchra.comTues., Wed., Thurs. Mon. & Fri.
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Divorce After 50Unique Legal & Financial Challenges to
Prepare You for the Next Phase of Your Life
Thurs, June 5th, 20145:30–6:30 pm
The Law Firm of Daley Zucker Meilton & Miner, LLCPresents Community Outreach Seminar Series
Sat, June 14th, 20149:00–10:00 am
Located at 635 N. 12th Street, Lemoyne, PAContact Donna at 717.724.9821
to reserve your seat today!Light refreshments will be served
dzmmlaw.com
Patricia Carey Zucker
Tina M. Laudermilch
SusanE. Good
Presenters:
It may be surprising to learn that byage 80, more than half of all Americanseither have a cataract or have hadcataract surgery.
A cataract is aclouding of thelens in the eye thataffects vision, andmost are related toaging. The lens is aclear part of theeye that helps tofocus light, or animage, on theretina. The retinais the light-sensitive tissue atthe back of theeye.
There are several steps you can taketo lower your risk for cataract.
Get Regular Eye ExamsBe sure to have regular
comprehensive eye exams. If you are age60 or older, you should have acomprehensive, dilated eye exam at leastonce a year.
Eye exams can help detect cataractsand other age-related eye problems attheir earliest stages. In addition tocataract, your eye-care professional can
check for signs ofage-related maculardegeneration,glaucoma, and othervision disorders.
For many eyediseases, earlytreatment may saveyour sight.
Quit SmokingAsk your doctor
for help to stopsmoking.
Medications, counseling, and otherstrategies are available to help you.
Wear SunglassesUltraviolet light from the sun may
contribute to the development ofcataracts. Wear sunglasses that blockultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you’reoutdoors.
Simple Steps Can Lower
Cataract Risk
June is CataractAwareness Month
Provider and leader of qualityhealthcare in Central PA for morethan 146 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
Exemplary personalized care that enablespatients and families to live each day as fullyas possible.Focused on pain relief, comfort, and supportfor patients and families.Providing hospice care in Cumberland,Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, York,Adams, Franklin, and Mifflin counties.Call us for details on our full array of services.
717-221-78902300 Vartan Way, Suite 115
Harrisburg, PA 17110www.homelandhospice.org
“A Continuing Care Retirement Community” “A Community Outreach of Homeland Center”
for Wheelchair& Scooter Users
Renting wheelchair-accessiblemini vans for the day, week,
or by the month. Delivery available.
ACCESSIBLE VAN RENTALS
Wheelchair Getawaysof Pennsylvania
Please call for information or to make a reservation717-921-2000 • 800-221-6501
[email protected] Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Delaware & Southern New Jersey
When youpatronize our
advertisers,please let themknow you saw
their ad in
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews › June 2014 9
Take Care of Other Health ProblemsFollow your treatment plan if you
have diabetes or other medical conditionsthat can increase your risk of cataracts.
Maintain a Healthy WeightIf your current weight is a healthy
one, work to maintain it by exercisingmost days of the week.
If you’re overweight or obese, work tolose weight slowly by reducing yourcalorie intake and increasing the amountof exercise you get each day.
Choose a Healthy DietChoose a healthy diet that includes
plenty of fruits and vegetables. Adding avariety of colorful fruits and vegetables toyour diet ensures that you’re getting a lotof vitamins and nutrients.
Fruits and vegetables are full ofantioxidants, which in theory couldprevent damage to your eye’s lens.Studies haven’t proven that antioxidantsin pill form can prevent cataracts. Butfruits and vegetables have many provenhealth benefits and are a safe way toincrease the amount of vitamins in yourdiet.
Source: NIH Senior Health
A Birthday in JuneDiversity pops up as June bursts out all over.Beginning with the Gemini twins and some clover.
Lovely spring wanes as children frolic and playSummer is born with promise of many a hot, humid day.
A child of June I just happen to be.Which really suits me fine as you will see.
For near the end of springtime on the tenth as the sun was settingI arrived. The world had no idea just what it was getting.
The month assigned to my birth was a perfect selection.As nature abounds in her renewed glory in every direction.
The next generations of species great and small are revealing,Feathered, winged, furry young—each one most appealing.
Roses, the flower of June, begin their blooming and unfold with much gloryPink for romance’s first blush, red for deep love, yellow is friendship’s story.
Tea roses grow in ordered fashion in gardens tended with great care.Floribunda and climbing ones may show their random beauty anywhere.
A pearl, June’s birthstone, made and finished with silky shine by oysters deepin the sea.Not precious as diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, you scoff. Just perfect for me!
Of all of nature, forests, meadows, hills, sky—my love is a place by theshore.
June: spring, summer, a rose, and a pearl—who could possibly ask formore?
Written and submitted by Cynthia M. Morrow
10 June 2014 50plus SeniorNews › www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
All at an affordable price to you ... priceless to consumers!
• Online e-dition for anywhere, anytime access• Complementary print edition — no additional charge• Links consumer with the appropriate information and resources• Supports local agencies and promotes efficient coordination of services • 400+ informative listings (FREE expanded listing with display ad)• 8,000 free copies distributed throughout the county, including government offices,
CVS/pharmacies, doctors’ offices, 50plus EXPOS, and wherever 50plus Senior News is distributed
Contact your account representative or call 717.285.1350 now to be included in this vital annual directory.
Advertise in this vital community guide
On-Line Publishers, Inc., 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 • 717.285.1350 • 717.770.0140 • 610.675.6240 • [email protected] • www.onlinepub.com
Sponsorships available for greatest exposureIndividual full-color display ads and enhanced listings also available
Ad closing date:July 18, 2014
If your organization or business offers a product or service relevant to seniors,the disabled, caregivers, or their families, you should be included in the
Cumberland County Resource Directory for the Caregiver, Aging, and Disabled!
Mostcomprehensive
directoryof its kind!
Dear Mark: I enjoy your column verymuch, mostly because you spent a lotof time on the inside. Here is myquestion. I was wondering if you haveever given away money to a player thatdid not deserve it. A dealer on ablackjack game once claimed it neverhappens, and yet, he overpaid me twicein two hours. I was wondering if youcould share your thoughts on this.– Ralph I.
Have I, Ralph, ever given away moneyto a player who didn’t deserve it? Oh,gosh yes! I have made my fair share ofblunders, once involving a $7,000overpayment. Aided by the eye-in-the-sky, the casino caught it and recoupedtheir seven grand. Still, I received a non-paid week on the streets. A few morebloopers to come below.
First off, dealers can and do makemistakes. Whoever told you otherwise is
full of it. True, most dealers get quiteskillful at reading the patterns on thecards with proficiency. So countingerrors, withexperience, becomerare.
But these guysand gals deal morethan a half millionhands a year, sothey will makeunpremeditatederrors over thecourse of that time,both on theplayers’ credit and debit sides of theledger.
Casino management is supposed to beon the lookout for dealers making payingerrors, and it is their responsibility tocorrect these transgressions. It is “their”job to monitor “their” pit and make surethat “their” dealers are following the right
dealing protocols and paying off betscorrectly, not yours.
So, Ralph, you got away with a couplefreebies. That’sfine. From a retiredblackjack dealer’sperspective, I wasalways appreciativeof the player whocorrected my paymistakes andhanded back themoney. I still playby those principledrules to this day.
Now, those two dillies I promised.I taught myself blackjack by pitching
cards into a hat, and practiced shuffling,dealing, and the pay and take on anironing board. On my first shift, I madethe dimwitted decision that if you splitaces and got two face cards, you just gotyourself two blackjacks, so I paid
accordingly.I was actually paying this unmerited
royalty on split aces for most of my firstshift until an old-time pit boss noticedmy generosity and corrected me at thebreak. Some joints might have sent mepacking, but perchance he thought that Ihad the potential to do the job a chimpcould do.
The other error was where I wittinglyover or underpaid a player.
Dealing 10-cent roulette in downtownReno, we would get a lot of Chineseplayers via a charter bus service out ofSan Francisco who would jam up a gamewith chips as nothing you could everimagine. As eight is the most prosperousof numbers in Chinese culture, it isconsidered a highly lucky number and isworked into daily life as much aspossible.
The roulette table was one such place,times 10. It was always mathematically
Prosperous Gaffes do Happen
Deal Me InBy Mark Pilarski
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews › June 2014 11
Cumberland County
Calendar of Events
Community Programs Free and open to the public.
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!
Support Groups Free and open to the public.
June 3, 7 p.m.CanSurmount Cancer SupportGroupHealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg(717) 691-6786
June 5, 6:30 p.m.Too Sweet: Diabetes Support GroupChapel Hill United Church ofChrist701 Poplar Church RoadCamp Hill(717) 557-9041
June 10, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Carlisle Area Men’s Cancer SupportGroupThe Live Well Center3 Alexandria Court, Carlisle(717) [email protected]
June 11, 1 p.m.Parkinson’s Support GroupHealthSouth Rehab Hospital175 Lancaster Blvd.Mechanicsburg(717) 877-0624
June 17, 1 p.m.Caregiver Support GroupMechanicsburg Church of theBrethren501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg(717) 766-8880
PA State Parks in Cumberland County
June 1, 1 to 2:30 p.m. – Sandcastle Building Competition, Colonel Denning State ParkJune 7, 9 a.m. to noon – Volunteer Workday, Kings Gap Environmental Education CenterJune 10, 10 to 11:30 a.m. – Golden Trails Hike: More Talk, Less Walk
AARP Driver Safety Programs
For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse.
June 18 and 19, 1 to 4:30 p.m. – Seniors for Safe Driving Program, Faulkner Cadillac, 6643 Carlisle Pike,Mechanicsburg, (800) 559-4880, www.seniorsforsafedriving.com
If you have an event you wouldlike to include, please email
information [email protected]
for consideration.
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
June 11, 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.
June 15, 6 p.m.New Cumberland Town BandPerformanceNew Cumberland Borough Parkwww.nctownband.org
June 29, 7 p.m.New Cumberland Town BandPerformanceAdams-Ricci ParkEast Penn Townshipwww.nctownband.org
Cumberland County Library Programs
Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle,(717) 243-4642June 2, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. – Monday Bosler Book
Discussion GroupJune 11, 1 to 2 p.m. – Wicked Wednesday Book
Discussion GroupJune 27, 1 to 2 p.m. – Just Mysteries! Book Club
Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., CampHill, (717) 761-3900Thursdays, 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Free Blood Pressure
Screenings June 9 through Aug. 31 – Eureka! Fredricksen Adult
Summer Reading ProgramJune 23, 7 p.m. – Summer Concert Series: West Shore
Symphony Orchestra
New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza,New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820June 5, 10:30 a.m. – Ruth’s Mystery Group: An Author
Whose First Name is InitialsJune 11, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Great Books
Discussion Group: Stavrogin’s Confession byFyodor Dostoevsky
June 16, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Senior GEMSAlzheimer’s/Dementia Program
Big Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-447891 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, NewvilleJune 9, 1 to 4 p.m. – Carolyn Hocker’s Watercolor Class’s
Art ShowJune 20, 4 p.m. to June 21, 3 p.m. – Newville’s Fountain
FestivalWednesdays, June 25 through Aug. 27, 9 a.m. – Yoga
Summer Session
Shippensburg Area Senior Center – (717) 300-3563Christ United Methodist Church, 47 E. King St.,ShippensburgMondays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – “Chat It Up” Group
ForumTuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – Tai Chi FormThursdays, 12:30 p.m. – Quilting Club
Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.
interesting when a kazillion chips wouldappear on the eight from all the corners,split possibilities, and straight-up betstowering what seemed like a foot high.
This required drastic measures toavoid a possible mathematicalmisadventure, or my job, so I once calledover a pit boss — actually it was a shiftmanager passing through the pit — and
in order to not look too much like a sap,I asked what he thought a particularpayoff was.
Pretending to know the correct payoff,he said, “Send out a dozen stacks, plusput a $5 chip and a 50-cent piece on thetop.”
I paid the bet as instructed. Althougha patented move by another, it’s not a
bad “go-to” action when this frazzleddealer of 10 minds couldn’t figure out aginormous payout. No harm, no foul, iswhat he figured; plus, we always seemedto get back all the chips in the endanyway.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week: “Icheat my boys every chance I get. I want
to make ’em sharp.” — William AveryRockefeller (c. 1850), John D.’s father
Mark Pilarski is a recognized authority oncasino gambling, having survived 18 years inthe casino trenches. Pilarski is the creator ofthe bestselling, award-winning audio bookseries on casino gambling, Hooked onWinning. www.markpilarski.com
When Jack Shearer enlisted inthe Navy in 1942, he had noidea his service would not be
on the water at all, but on land … andin a land unlike any he had ever heard ofbefore.
He got there despite somethingveterans commonly understood: Nevervolunteer for anything.
He was at Norfolk, Va., training foramphibious landings, when he saw aposter asking for volunteers for“prolonged and hazardous assignments”where the destination was unknown.That sounded like a challenge he’d like.So he volunteered.
He soon learned that the duty forwhich he had volunteered would takehim to China, under conditions hecouldn’t even imagine. He had trainedsix months at the Radio School inBedford Springs, Pa. So, apparently, his
new assignment would have somethingto do with radio. He’d have to wait to
find out.First, he was sent to San Pedro, Calif.
There he boarded a Liberty ship for a10-week trip across the Pacific, withstops in Tasmania and Ceylon (now SriLanka) before arriving at Calcutta, India,on New Year’s Eve.
There he boarded a C-47 for ahazardous flight over “The Hump,” theplane climbing to 17,000 feet to clear themountains. What was that like?
“Well,” he says, “it was plenty bumpy,and we had people using their ‘barf ’ bagsleft and right. I didn’t have one, and Icame awfully close to needing it, butsomehow I managed to get through it.”
When the plane landed inChongqing, China, Shearer and 12 othermen were assigned to an outpost campbordering the Gobi Desert on one sideand Inner Mongolia on the other,beyond the Great Wall of China andabout 40 miles west of the Japaneseforce’s westernmost outpost.
Called Camp 4, it was one of a dozencamps in China that were among thebest-kept secrets of the war. They wereprimarily weather stations createdthrough a pact with China called SACO(Sino-American CooperativeOrganization).
Camp 4 occupied a large, walledCatholic mission just outside the town ofShenpa (now Xamba) that was 800 milesnorth of Chongqing. The three residentsof the mission, a priest and two nuns,had been moved to smaller quarters forthe duration.
The camp was the northernmost ofthe SACO camps. Importantly, it was
400 miles north of Tokyo’s latitude andwas an excellent site for gathering radiointelligence and monitoring theweather upwind from Japan and thePhilippines.
Getting to the camp, however,would prove to be an experience. Ittook the men five entire months oftravel by ancient Chinese trucks fromheadquarters in Chongqing, 1,500miles to the south. The rickety Chinesetrucks were constantly breaking down.
“And,” Shearer says, “I oftenwondered if we would ever make it toour camp.”
How did everything work out, onceyou were there?
“It really didn’t,” Shearer laughs.“The temperature went from more than100 F in the summer to minus 30 F inthe winter. Sandstorms were common,and there was no running water. We gotour water from a well and had to boil itto make it potable.
“Our generators soon were beyondrepair, and all of us took turns crankingthe small hand generator to send ourseven daily radio contacts with radioChongqing and one with Peking (nowBeijing). We provided weatherinformation that was relayed to U.S.ships in the Pacific. That informationwas important to their planning assaultson Japan and the parts of Chinaoccupied by the Japanese.”
How was the food? “We lived off the land,” he says. “We
could buy chicken, eggs, and ‘yellow rice’locally. But you ate the vegetables atyour own peril. The locals fertilized withhuman waste, and eating the vegetablesthey grew produced lots of diarrhea.
“The worst problem, though, was thebugs. They were everywhere. There werecockroaches in our hair, lice in ourclothes, and bedbugs in our bedding.There was no way to get rid of them …they were always with us. That was truefor the whole two years I was there.”
Was there anything to see? “Nope … nothing. There were some
small villages, and we each had a horse.But, when you got there, it was just ascattering of huts with nothing to do orsee. So there was really no point ingoing.”
The two years in the camp seemed
He Spent 2 Years in ‘the Most DetachedDuty Station on the Face of the Earth’
Robert D. Wilcox
Salute to a Veteran
Jack Shearer on the horse issued to himat his remote base in primitive China.
Radioman First ClassJohn R. “Jack” Shearer,
home from China in 1946.
12 June 2014 50plus SeniorNews › www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Have you photographeda smile that just begsto be shared?
Have you photographeda smile that just begsto be shared?
Send us your favorite smile—your children,grandchildren, friends, even your “smiling” pet!—and it could be 50plus Senior News’ next Smile of the Month!
You can submit your photos (with captions) either digitally [email protected] or by mail to:
50plus Senior NewsSmile of the Month3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512
Digital photos must be at least 4x6'' with a resolution of 300 dpi. No professional photos, please.Please include a SASE if you would like to have yourphoto returned.
When her physician was on vacation,she was able to see another doctor whoreviewed her profile, discussed what wasgoing on, and had blood work donebefore sending her straight to thehospital.
The very next day, Charlesworth hadan emergency colectomy surgery toremove a tumor for stage-three coloncancer.
“I was actually glad,” saidCharlesworth—not for the cancerdiagnosis, but to know what the realissue was and that her instincts had beencompletely accurate.
Plus, she was relieved that there was alegitimate reason she had been pushingherself at the gym without seeing anyresults.
After surgery, Charlesworth wentthrough weekly chemotherapy for a year.The treatments ravaged her immunesystem, leaving her sometimes couch-bound and unable to move.
As someone who thrives on livelinessand exercise, the days of inactivity wereespecially irritating. It was during thistime that Charlesworth set a goal ofrunning a marathon when she wasrecovered.
For her 59th birthday, rappelling wasthe adventure of choice.
Rappelling allows a person to make acontrolled descent down a rope from acliff—or, in Charlesworth’s case, the sideof a building. The equipment used to
secure participants helpsto prevent them fromdescending too quicklyor losing control.
Nerves were not afactor becauseCharlesworth knew thatshe would be strapped inand secure as she scaledher way down the FultonBank Building indowntown Harrisburg.
Gaudenzia, atreatment center thatoffers drug and alcoholtreatment programs inPennsylvania, Maryland,and Delaware, sponsoredthe rappelling event to raise money fortheir organization.
“I just wanted to accomplish the 18-floor task,” she said. “I listened to thetrainers, and the focus was just gettingto the floor.”
And Charlesworth is determined thatothers benefit from her experiences—notjust battling colon cancer, but alsoenduring a yearlong misdiagnosis.
A former business analyst, sheorganized a community health seminaron managing your own health in CampHill in the early 1990s, which exceededher expectations with a turnout that wasstanding-room only.
“It was wonderful. I want to do morecommunity health seminars; that is one
of the dreams I amgoing to accomplishthis year,” she said.
Charlesworth’s othergoal for the near futureis to complete atriathlon. Thoughadmittedly a mediocreswimmer, she said shewill still “make ithappen.”
Charlesworth hopesto inspire others to givesports and regularexercise a try.
“It’s all up to you,”Charlesworth said.“Think about it; are
you unkind to yourself when you go to afitness center and think others are
critical of you? Think again. Are youcritical of others? I am impressed withanyone who does what they want to feelbetter and look great.
“You might be sore since your bodyhasn’t experienced exercise in a while,”she said. “Instead of complaining, laughand smile about it. Know that you willget past the soreness and benefit fromit.”
Charlesworth has two daughters andfive grandchildren. In fact, shecompleted a race with her grandson,exposing him to the camaraderie ofrunning communities.
“Be with others,” she said. “They willinspire a routine. There are runningclubs who are pleased to have newbieson board. You don’t have to run at thepace they do; just be there.”
Your key to choosing the rightliving and care options for you
or a loved one.
In print.Online at
onlinepub.com.
18th EditionNow Available!
Call today foryour free copy!
(717) 285-1350
like an eternity, but it finally passed.Shearer says one thing of interest aboutthe grim two years was that sufferingthrough it with him was a medical doctornamed Henry Heimlich, who later wonnational acclaim for developing theHeimlich maneuver that saves peoplewho are choking on food lodged in theirwindpipe.
Did the Chinese food help himdevelop the maneuver?
“It might well have,” Shearer agrees,with a grin.
When the war in the Pacific ended inAugust 1945, everybody but Shearer left.He stayed behind to finalize details withthe local Chinese officials fordeactivating the camp. He then traveled
to Shanghai to catch a ship to SanFrancisco, where he mustered out as aradioman first class after serving 42months in the Navy.
In 1994, the Republic of China, inTaiwan, gave him and his wife, June, anall-expense-paid, 10-day tour to Taiwanin recognition of his wartime service toChina.
At age 92, he now lives in CentralPennsylvania. And he says he will neverforget the endless days he spent deep inprimitive China in the “Rice PaddyNavy.”
Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber inEurope in World War II.
RUN from page 1
Charlesworth, right, with afriend at the 2012 Hershey Half
Marathon. Learning this was herfriend’s first half marathon,
Charlesworth ran at her pace tohelp her get to the finish line.
Time is a Priceless GiftDo you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others?
Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’
Volunteer Spotlight!Volunteer Spotlight!Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos areencouraged. Email preferred to [email protected] or mailnominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos areencouraged. Email preferred to [email protected] or mailnominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews › June 2014 13
Dear Savvy Senior,Any suggestions on how can I get my 55-
year-old husband to see a doctor? He’s gotsome personal health issues he needs toaddress, but he’s stubborn and embarrassedand keeps putting it off. – Nagging Nancy
Dear Nancy,When it comes to their health, many
men take the John Wayne approach.They tough it out! That’s one of thereasons men die more than five yearsyounger than women.
Here are some facts and resources thatmay help you motivate your husband.
The FactsIn every stage of life—from infancy to
the teen years to middle age—men (onaverage) are 40 percent more likely to getsick and die than women. (Current lifeexpectancy for a man in the U.S. is 75.6
versus 80.8 for awoman.)
Why? Thereasons arecomplex;however, mostexperts agreethat biology,such as thedifferent waysmen and womenreact to stress,likely plays arole.
And men,taught sinceboyhood to bestoic in the faceof pain, oftenare their ownworst enemy,avoiding doctorsand engaging in
risky healthbehaviors likeexcessive alcoholconsumption,unhealthy eatinghabits, recklessdriving, andoverexposure tosun, which allthreaten health.
Men’s healthissues also getless publicattention andfunding at atime whenwomen’s healthconcerns (likebreast cancer)are in thenationalspotlight.
What to DoDoctors say that by paying attention
to just a few key areas like bloodpressure, cholesterol, waist size, andsexual function (which can be an earlyindicator of heart disease), men can makedramatic improvements for their overallhealth.
If you’re having a difficult time gettingyour husband to see a doctor, trymotivating him with relevant healthinformation, including treatmentoptions, along with the consequences ofdoing nothing.
The Web is a good place to start, witha growing number of user-friendlyresources dedicated to men’s healthissues. Here are some good ones tocheck:
Mayo Clinic: Provides a special men’shealth section (www.mayoclinic.com/health/mens-health/MY00394) that offersinformation on prostate health, sexualhealth, and diseases, including amultimedia section.
Mayo experts offer up guidance onissues ranging from male depression tothe dangers of belly fat, along withscreenings and self-assessment quizzes.
WebMD: At men.webmd.com, youfind a wide variety of information andvideos on issues ranging from hair loss
and plastic surgery for men to sex andintimacy.
It also provides information ondiseases and conditions, an interactivesymptom checker, discussion boards onexercise and fitness, and support groupson weight loss and prostate cancer.
MedlinePlus (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/menshealth.html): Thiscomprehensive health site links users tomen’s health resources from the NationalLibrary of Medicine, National Institutesof Health, Centers for Disease Control,and other government and health-relatedorganizations.
It provides easy-to-find informationon hundreds of diseases and conditions,along with extensive information onmedications and links to thousands ofclinical trials.
It also offers a senior-specific healthsite (nihseniorhealth.gov) that makes age-related health information easy to get.
Prostate Cancer Foundation(www.prostatecancerfoundation.org):Provides comprehensive information onrisk factors, detection and screening,diagnosis and treatment, questions to askthe doctor, and guidelines on how to livewith the disease.
Men and Depression (www.menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov): Part of theNational Institute of Mental Health, thissite offers personal stories from mensuffering from depression as well as thesigns and symptoms, treatment, andwhen and how to seek help.
FamilyDoctor.org (www.familydoctor.org/men.xml): The AmericanAcademy of Family Physicians’ consumer-friendly site allows users to search bysymptoms for possible diagnosis,suggestions for self-care, and when itmight be necessary to see a doctor.
It also offers help finding a familydoctor by zip code, a body mass indexcalculator, and sections on subjectsranging from prostate health to athlete’sfoot.
Jim Miller is a regular contributor to theNBC Today show and author of The SavvySenior Book. www.savvysenior.org
Men’s Health Resources
Savvy Senior
Jim Miller
Men’s Health Weekis June 9–15
14 June 2014 50plus SeniorNews › www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews › June 2014 15
Messiah Residents, PreschoolersGet Dirty for Grower’s Day
Residents at Messiah Village, a Messiah Lifeways community, rolled up theirsleeves and got down in the dirt during the community’s first Grower’s Day heldon Wednesday, May 14.
The planting party kicked off the growing season. Residents and childrenfrom U-GRO daycare and preschool center in Cumberland County planted the12-foot by 26-foot “Fireside Grille Pizza Garden” with arugula, peppers,zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, heirloom tomato plants, and a variety ofherb seedlings donated by Spiral Path Farm from Loysville, Pa.
Cura Hospitality Director of Sourcing and Sustainability Jamie Moorefocused on the innovations of local farms and producers of food; ways we canincrease awareness through green initiatives, growing our own, and knowing oursource; and why people are turning to organic produce.
All enjoyed pizza samplings, of course, prepared fresh by Messiah’s chefs, whoare employed with Cura Hospitality, the community’s dining services provider.
If you have local news you’d like considered forAround Town, please email [email protected]
From left, preschoolerCaleb LeValley; Ruth Paran,Messiah Village resident;and Jamie Moore,Cura Hospitality director ofsourcing and sustainability.
BALANCING from page 2
That next day, we met with Marcia.Her room was brilliantly lit withsunlight. She was radiant andwelcoming, like my favorite counselor atsummer camp. She offered us tea.
“Don’t drink that potion, Bob,” Iwhispered. “You’ll die.”
Having no knowledge of Bob, muchless his depression of late, she asked himno questions.
I don’t know why I shielded myselffrom faith. When Marcia spoke oftrusting the universe, I remained distant.
Bob stretched out on her table. Ingentle flowing motions, she moved herhands above his body, stopping at times.I never asked what she was doing. I’veknown Marcia for 20 years. We trusteach other unconditionally.
At the end, Bob slowly sat up. Hekept his eyes closed, feeling a newsensation of peace.
He said to Marcia, “When you lookat me, you see a different person thananyone else does. I feel more contentthan I have in years.” He cried when hesaid, “Something has changed.”
I felt an astonishing realization: A far-
reaching healing had occurred. And so, Bob is no longer burdened
with heavy sadness. Did the experiencechange him? Yes. How? I don’t know.Does that matter?
I believe that Marcia is an intuitive, aword she says with shyness. She has agift I do not understand. But I saw achange. No doubt about it.
In that, I have complete faith.For months, Bob had stopped doing
the things he enjoyed. He lost interest ingardening, cooking, and taking photosof our pets. Although he’s won 14 blueribbons at the county fair, he stoppedbaking.
But today the zinnias are displayingtheir colors. My email is full of newpictures of our dog and cats.
And this morning I awoke to theheavenly aroma of homemade zucchinibread.
Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationallysyndicated columnist. Her new book isCracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: StoriesFrom a Life Out of Balance. To find outmore, visit www.saraleeperel.com or [email protected].
Does Your MarketingReach Active, AffluentBoomers & Seniors?
Reserve yyour sspace nnowfor tthe 115tthh annual
October 22, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street, Carlisle
It’s the premier event for baby boomers, caregivers,
and seniors in Cumberland County•
Face-to-face interaction with 1,500+ attendees•
Strengthen brand recognition/launch new products
WWhhyy PPaarrttiicciippaattee??
For sponsorship and exhibitor information:(717) 770-0140
www.50plusExpoPA.com
Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars
Entertainment • Door Prizes
Brought to you by:&
16 June 2014 50plus SeniorNews › www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Under development since 2012 as part of PinnacleHealth’s Vision 2017 plan, West Shore Hospitalopened its doors for the first time on May 19, 2014. Now residents of the West Shore will have
access to the same quality, world-class care that people have come to expect from PinnacleHealth.
PinnacleHealth recently celebrated the opening of theWest Shore Hospital with a ribbon cutting in Mechanicsburg.
1995 Technology ParkwayMechanicsburg, PA 17050
www.pinnaclehealth.org