50plus Senior News - Cumberland County July 2011 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Cumberland County Edition

July 2011

Vol. 12 No. 7

Filled to Overflowing 2011 PA State Senior Idol Winner Performs to ‘Keep Her Bucket Full’ By Megan Joyce Two days after her PA STATE SENIOR IDOL win, Peggy Kurtz Keller was still being inundated with flowers—flowers at home, flowers at work, flowers and phone calls from acquaintances she hadn’t heard from in years. “It’s really nice being recognized by your peers,” she admitted. Keller, of Ephrata, was recognized by more than 400 of her peers on June 6, taking home the title of 2011 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL at the conclusion of the finals competition at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster. She impressed both the audience and the judges, first with her rendition of “Summertime” from Porgy & Bess, followed by her finalist performance of “Cabaret” from the famous musical. After “Summertime,” Keller felt confident. “I thought, ‘I did the best I could and whatever will be, will be,’” she remembered. “The reason why I did the competition is not so much for the competition and certainly not about winning; it’s about being able to perform. It gives me one more chance to perform at the Dutch Apple, on stage, with the lights, and have the audience receive what I’m giving.” And what she gives, according to SENIOR IDOL judge and WGAL news anchor Janelle Stelson, “is joy, and that’s such a gift.” This was Keller’s fourth consecutive year as a semifinalist in the annual competition, produced by On-Line Publishers, Inc., publishers of 50plus please see FILLED page 16 2011 PA

SENIOR IDOL Peggy Keller earned the win during her fourth consecutive year as a semifinalist.

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Health Matters

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Sales rep Bob Clinton was 241 pounds a year ago. “My doctor told me I had Type-2 diabetes and if I didn’t lose weight soon, he’d be taking off my feet in the not-too-distant future. Well, that was all the push I needed. “I went to a dietitian and set about making changes to my life. I started eating healthily and keeping track of my blood glucose, which was all over the place. I’m a rep on the road and people try to feed you all day. I also used to get through a block of chocolate a night and then I’d have four pieces of toast before I went to bed. Anyone who has tried to lose weight knows it’s not easy. Bob Clinton With a major change in diet you get the shakes and headaches. “Then I found A1Control, an all-natural, low-GI powder that I put in my breakfast, and it goes in the salad my wife makes me for lunch. I also put it on the veggies I steam for dinner.” Just one teaspoon with each meal is all it takes. “I’ve been on A1Control for 12 months now and I’ve just had my annual checkup and been given a clean bill of health. My doctor was thrilled with my results. I still take my A1Control every day and will continue to do so. I still feel full of energy, and after all this time, I have stopped craving for sweet things. “It’s been a hard battle, but A1Control helped me lose the weight and control my diabetes.” At just 20 cents per meal, A1Control helps manage blood sugars and supports digestive well-being. Simply add to the family meals. For info and research data, visit www.a1control.us

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Lisa M. Petsche hen a relationship ends due to divorce or the death of a spouse or other close companion, mature adults typically face the challenge of learning to live alone— often for the first time. Loneliness may be profound and difficult to overcome. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some tips that can help.

Be Kind to Yourself Give yourself permission to feel all emotions that surface, including resentment and frustration. Recognize that there will be good days and bad days. Try not to dwell on the past— it only fosters self-pity and keeps you from moving forward. Prepare a list of things to do on the bad days. Include small indulgences to give you a lift, as well as tasks or projects that will give you a sense of satisfaction. Look after your physical health. Eat nutritious meals, get adequate rest, and exercise regularly. In addition to safeguarding your overall health, these measures will also help ward off depression. Take things one day at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. Plan your days so you don’t have too much free time on your hands. If you don’t like coming home to silence, leave the television or radio on when you go out. Nurture Your Spirit Write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a journal, chronicling your journey of self-discovery and growth. Nurture your spirit by doing things that bring inner peace, such as meditating, praying, reading something uplifting, listening to soothing music, or

July 2011

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spending time in nature. Get a pet. Cats and dogs provide companionship and affection and give you a sense of purpose. A dog also offers a measure of security and ensures that you’ll get out of the house. (And while walking the dog, you might meet new friends.) Learn and Do New Things Get out of the house every day. To combat isolation, join a dinner club, fitness center, or exercise class. Sign up for an adult education course or lessons that interest you— for example, gourmet cooking, sculpting, or modern jazz. Be sure to check out any available programs at the local senior center or recreation center as well as those offered by educational institutions. Learning something new is energizing and boosts your self-confidence. And you might make new friends in the process. Get involved in your community. Volunteer for a neighborhood association, charitable or environmental cause, animal shelter, or political campaign. Cultivate some solitary pastimes. Take up crossword puzzles, woodworking, gardening, writing, or sketching. Learn to enjoy your own company. Reach Out to Others Take the initiative in calling friends and relatives to talk or get together. Do nice things for others, especially those who are also going through a difficult time. This takes your mind off your own situation, boosts your selfesteem, and strengthens relationships. Find at least one person you can talk to openly who will listen and understand. Join a support group. If it’s hard to get out or you prefer anonymity, try an Internet forum instead. please see ALONE page 5

www.SeniorNewsPA.com

Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. Emergency Numbers American Red Cross (717) 845-2751 Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Cumberland County Assistance (800) 269-0173 Energy Assistance Cumberland County Board of Assistance (800) 269-0173 Fitness West Shore YMCA (717) 737-0511 Funeral Directors Cocklin Funeral Home (717) 432-5312 Neill Funeral Home (717) 564-2633 Health & Medical Services

Hearing Services

S&A Home Builders (717) 245-0189

Gable Associates (717) 737-7800 Home Care Services Home Instead Senior Care 717-731-9984 Safe Haven Quality Care 717-582-9977 Visiting Angels 717-241-5900 Home Improvement Pennsylvania Home Solutions (717) 412-4674 Hospice Providers Compassionate Care Hospice (717) 944-4466 Housing Assistance Cumberland County Housing Authority (717) 249-1315

Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020

Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937

American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383

Salvation Army (717) 249-1411

Arthritis Foundation (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 Health Network Labs (717) 243-2634 The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007 PACE (800) 225-7223 Social Security Administration (Medicare) (800) 302-1274 Healthcare Information Pa. HealthCare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787

Real Estate

Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (717) 255-2790 Legal Resources Keystone Elder Law PC (717) 691-9300 Monuments Carlisle Memorial Service, Inc. (717) 243-5480 Pharmacies

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Restaurants Drug Information (800) 729-6686

Old Country Buffet (717) 691-8790 Retirement Communities Chapel Pointe at Carlisle (717) 249-1363 Country Meadows of West Shore (717) 737-4028 Menno Haven (717) 262-2373

Physicians

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

Messiah Village (717) 790-8201 Reverse Mortgages

Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833 National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046

PNC Mortgage, LLC (717) 612-1401 ext.1008

Organ Donor Hotline (800) 243-6667

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

Passport Information (888) 362-8668 Smoking Information (800) 232-1331

Meals on Wheels Carlisle (717) 245-0707

Social Security Fraud (800) 269-0217

Mechanicsburg (717) 697-5011

Social Security Office (800) 772-1213

Newville (717) 776-5251

Veterans Services

Shippensburg (717) 532-4904

American Legion (717) 730-9100

Toll-Free Numbers Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555 Cancer Information Service (800) 422-6237

CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228

Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681 Veterans Affairs (717) 240-6178 or (717) 697-0371

Consumer Information (888) 878-3256

Lung, Asthma & Sleep Associates P.C. (717) 701-8819 Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.

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July 2011

My 22 Cents’ Worth Corporate Office:

Getting Older but Not Old

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Christianne Rupp EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT PROJECT COORDINATOR Renee Geller PRODUCTION ARTIST Janys Cuffe

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Angie McComsey Susan Miller Ranee Shaub Miller SALES COORDINATOR Eileen Culp

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ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall

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Walt Sonneville t the age of 70, one has a mindset essentially unchanged from the age of 50 or 60. If one enjoys reasonably good health at 60 or 70, old age may be thought to be further down the road of life. Upon reaching 80, reality seizes the senses and one’s perspective undergoes serious recalibration. For those who currently have reached the age of 75 or more, there should be a sense of gratitude for having been born at the right time. The Depression of the 1930s was an era when the simple pleasures of life molded our character. The future could only get better and the technological marvels exhibited at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York forecast more and more comforts. There was confidence in continuing progress. Life was getting better. Patriotism during the Second World War unified Americans in a way we have not seen since, with the possible exception, briefly, of 9/11. Spending on houses and automobiles was suspended during WWII, creating a post-bellum posterity based on pent-up demand, accumulated savings, and expansion of consumer credit. Life was good. Marriage, family formation, college attendance, and employment at living wages blossomed nationally until 1980, when the unemployment rate grew to 7.1 percent from 4.9 percent 10

years earlier. Lower- and middleincome Americans saw their share of the nation’s income drop from 66 percent in 1980 to 52 percent in 2008, with the balance going to the top 10 percent of households. Evidence of global warming was a troubling phenomenon not recognized in our younger years. Public debt reached levels unimaginable prior to the financial turmoil that began in October 2008. Financial “bubbles” had given us a sense of economic prosperity until these fantasies burst. The American dream became out of reach as unemployment rose to 9.8 percent in November 2010. Life was much less bountiful. How would you describe your “golden years”? Is it a time of greater calm, fewer unmet wants, and a greater satisfaction from a relaxing meal than from other corporeal pleasures? Or is it mostly a time of unpleasant memories, anxiety, precision budgeting, and dread of the coming years? If your golden years lack luster, take cheer that, nevertheless, you probably are becoming wiser and more tolerant as you age into your 70s and 80s. That is a conclusion reached in various studies of septuagenarians and octogenarians by the National Academy of Science, the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan, and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

This modern research reaffirms what the Bible had disclosed: “With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days, knowledge.” You can witness that your generation is wiser than the young and middle-aged. The evidence is there: Men today wear earrings, women are tattooed, and both genders display body-pierced ornaments. These are tribal artifacts. It is the younger generations that tend to be addle-minded. In our own youth and mid-life there wasn’t any need for how-to books entitled The Idiot’s Guide to … (fill in the blank and you will probably find a published title). Comedian George Burns showed that popularity can surge as one approaches his or her centennial. Burns observed: “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” There is wisdom in that observation, as there is in this thought from Oliver Wendell Holmes: “To be 70 years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be 40 years old.” Holmes spoke from experience. He resigned from the Supreme Court at the age of 91. He was our longestserving justice. Walt Sonneville is a retired marketresearch analyst. He enjoys writing and reading non-partisan opinion essays. Contact him at waltsonneville@earthlink.net.

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50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community. On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.

July 2011

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is reminding senior citizens that there is no fee when applications are made to the commonwealth’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Under the program, participants can receive a rebate of up to $650 on their rent or property taxes. Pennsylvania residents who are age 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and those 18 years or older with

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disabilities are eligible for the program. The Department of Revenue, which administers the program, is aware that the Senior Advisory Center, a California-based company, is contacting older Pennsylvanians by mail with an offer to prepare their application for a processing fee of $39. The department says there appears to be nothing illegal about the offer but advises seniors they are

being charged for a service the government and other agencies provide for free. Property Tax/Rent Rebate application forms and assistance are available at no cost from the Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers, and state legislators’ offices. More information can be found at these locations and online at www.revenue.state.pa.us. www.SeniorNewsPA.com

‘We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident … ’ On July 4, Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was officially adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, although Congress formally declared independence from Great Britain on July 2, and the Declaration wasn’t signed by all 56 members until August. Some other facts about the founding document of the United States that you may not know: • There is a message on the back. No, it’s not an invisible treasure map (as in the Nicholas Cage movie National Treasure). The words “Original Declaration of Independence, dated 4th July 1776” appear on the reverse side of the document on display in the National Rotunda, at the bottom and upside down. • About 200 copies of the Declaration were immediately produced by printer

ALONE

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

John Dunlap for distribution through the 13 colonies. Of these original “Dunlap broadsides,” 26 still exist. • The original document wasn’t printed on paper, but “engrossed” on parchment. Engrossing is a process for preparing an official document in large, clear handwriting. • At the bottom left corner of the Declaration is an unidentified handprint. Historians speculate that it’s the result of the document’s being rolled up for transport and handled by various people for extensive exhibition in the early years of its existence. • The two youngest signers of the Declaration were Thomas Lynch Jr. and Edward Rutledge, both of South Carolina, both 26 years old at the time. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, 70. Nine of the original signers died before the American Revolution ended in 1783.

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If you were a caregiver and put your personal life on hold, now is the time to reinvest in yourself by resuming former interests and pursuing new ones. Don’t forget to nurture neglected relationships as well as to expand your social network. Whether or not the loss was anticipated, the reality of being on your own may initially seem overwhelming and perhaps frightening.

But with time, patience, and trust in your resilience, you will successfully adapt to your new circumstances. And you may end up growing in ways you never imagined. Lisa M. Petsche is a clinical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior issues.

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July 2011

Beyond the Battlefield

He’s ‘The Real Thing!’ Ex-Trooper in the Army and Scouting Alvin S. Goodman hen Lee N. Whitaker of suburban Harrisburg joined the Army paratroopers during World War II, his unit dropped behind enemy lines near Worms, Germany. Their mission was to secure the area along the Rhine River for the approaching ground troops led by Gen. George S. Patton, including the famous bridge at Remagen. Whitaker was drafted into the Army in April 1944 and was inducted at New Cumberland Army Depot. He traveled, along with a trainload of recruits, to Camp Blanding, Fla., for basic training and assignment. “It took a couple days to assign all of the 300+ recruits to various Army units, such as the artillery, infantry, and Air Corps—all except me. I was told my name was not on the list. “I was referred to a certain colonel who said the reason I had not been

Airborne Headquarters. assigned was that I had I was in Germany when scored high on tests and the war in Europe they wanted to assign ended in May 1945. We me to a new intelligence went back to France unit they intended to and were being readied create. to be sent to China to “They said I could prepare for the invasion go to Officers’ Training of Japan when the School, but I declined,” Japanese surrendered in he continued. “When August 1945. the new unit was “At that time, I had formed, I went to earned enough points to school half a day and return to the States,” training half a day. After Lee N. Whitaker Whitaker said. “After 30 the training was days at Indiantown Gap, completed, I I was sent to Ft. Bragg, N.C., where volunteered to join the paratroopers. I occupation troops were being formed, had special training for that, after which but I was sent back to Indiantown Gap I was assigned to Communications and discharged from the Army in School. “I was then shipped overseas to France January 1946.” Whitaker, who is 90, is a native of and was assigned to the 13th Airborne Division and attached to the Allied Halifax, Pa., and a graduate of Halifax

Time is a Priceless Gift Do 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’

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High School and Oxford Business College, where he majored in business administration. He was employed by the Mid-Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Companies, formerly known as the James E. Crass Bottling Corp., from 1940 to 1983, when he retired. The last 16 years of his employment were as the general manager of the Harrisburg Production and Distribution Center. He also served the corporation as training chairman and transportation manager. He was a member of the former Stevens Memorial Methodist Church, where he was Sunday school superintendent, chairman of the administrative board, chairman of the pastor parish committee, communion steward, and trustee. He is currently a member of the 29th Street United Methodist Church. please see REAL THING page 13

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This Month in History: July Events

Whose Food Keeps You Coming Back For More? 50plus Senior News readers have spoken! Here are the Cumberland County dining favorites for 2011! Breakfast: Carlisle Fairgrounds Diner Lunch: Scalles

• July 10, 1943 – The Allied invasion of Italy began with an attack on the island of Sicily. The British entry into Syracuse was the first Allied success in Europe. General Dwight D. Eisenhower labeled the invasion “the first page in the liberation of the European Continent.”

Dinner: Texas Roadhouse

• July 20, 1969 – A global audience watched on television as Apollo 11 Astronaut Neil Armstrong took his first step onto the moon. As he stepped onto the moon’s surface, he proclaimed, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”— inadvertently omitting an a before man and slightly changing the meaning.

Celebrating: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar

• July 25, 1898 – During the Spanish-American War, the United States invaded Puerto Rico, which was then a Spanish colony. In 1917, Puerto Ricans became American citizens and Puerto Rico became an unincorporated territory of the United States. Partial self-government was granted in 1947, allowing citizens to elect their own governor. In 1951, Puerto Ricans wrote their own constitution and elected a non-voting commissioner to represent them in Washington.

Birthdays

Ethnic Cuisine: Great Wall

Bakery: Pennsylvania Bakery Coffeehouse: Dunkin’ Donuts Fast Food: McDonald ’s Seafood: Red Lobster Steak: Hoss’s Steak & Sea House

• July 4 – Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) the 30th U.S. president, was born in Plymouth, Vt. He became president on Aug. 3, 1923, after the death of Warren G. Harding. In 1924, Coolidge was elected president but did not run for re-election in 1928.

Outdoor Dining: Duke’s Bar & Grille

• July 12 – American philosopher Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) was born in Concord, Mass. At Walden Pond he wrote, “I frequently tramped 8 or 10 miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.”

Smorgasbord/Buffet: Old Country Buffet

• July 20 – Explorer Edmund Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1919. In 1953, he became first to ascend Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world at 29,023 feet.

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Romantic Setting: Alfred ’s Victorian

Caterer: Lion’s Den Catering Winner of $50 Giant Food Stores Gift Card: Bill Lastoskie of Dillsburg Congratulations!

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July 2011

The Squint-Eyed Senior

Family Fourth Theodore Rickard or some reason, Independence Day brings out the clan instinct in a lot of us—or used to, anyway. And each tribal family seemed to produce its dominant individual. In my family in my youth, it was my Uncle Albert. Albert was a forceful yet benign personality. He was the source of good advice—brusquely rendered but sympathetic and highly conservative. Albert was a successful engineer. More importantly, he was well paid and never out of work. Thus, he was first in the family to have a suburban house, a detached, single-family structure with a large backyard. This was how the Fourth of July family picnic moved from the local park to Albert’s backyard. It was a big step up for all of us. Siblings, cousins, and in-laws gathered early on the Fourth of July at Albert’s backyard. Suburbia was still an outing

destination for us then, and the boulevard route with its graceful lining of old elms offered entry to a world of assured gentility. Out of habit, many of us brought something to eat. German potato salad, Irish soda bread, Polish sausage—and beer. And we all brought children. As a youngster I can recall a change in the atmosphere as we penetrated the suburbs. Wedged in the back of a clattering old Ford, I was squeezed between my brother and sister so they wouldn’t fight. Somehow, silence and decorum seemed appropriate as we turned off the boulevard and headed up a gentle grade to our destination. Dad had to shift gears as we ground our way up the street, past green parkways and wide lawns. This was not our territory. “Oh, there’s Ed and Martha,” my father said as he coasted the car to the curb behind another Ford even older

than ours. The relief in his voice was evident. There was someone else now, someone to share the strangeness, even if it was only an in-law relative who’d recently tried to borrow money. As we got out of the car we could hear our cousins—youngsters of our ages and in between—in greetings of overly high pitch coming from the back of the house. Cousins meant deviltry and chasing one another around as soon as the initial awkwardness was over. Maybe the picnic would be just like before, in the park, with parents distracted with one another and us kids running loose. Immediately, however, we knew that this was different. Uncle Albert had hired a couple, a silently competent man and woman, who would cook and serve. Tables had been set up in the yard, with bright red, white, and blue tablecloths clamped to the tabletop. The tables were covered with trays of snacks and cold

cuts that were other than bologna, and there was even sliced roast beef! And there were whole bottles of Coca-Cola and Schlitz beer chilling in watery, ice-filled tubs where you could just help yourself. There were waxy paper cups there, too, and Uncle Joe got a firm spousal nudge in the ribs when he started drinking right out of the bottle. It was later in the day before he dared dispense with the paper cup. The women had brought food, as they had in years past, and now slid their offerings as unobtrusively as possible on to the nearest table. The dishes clashed with the careful geometric arrangements of the caterer’s trays. Diplomatically, the serving woman rearranged them and out of nowhere came up with plates and serving spoons, even for the dumplings. Behind a large charcoal grill, the white-starched caterer was holding fort please see FOURTH page 17

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Make Music, Make Merry 6th Annual PA State Senior Idol Finals Night Mixes Music, Laughter, and Goodwill By Megan Joyce After six years, it’s a well-known fact in the PA STATE SENIOR IDOL community that the level of talent amongst the competition’s 15 semifinalists grows progressively higher each year and that a “clear winner” within that initial group becomes less and less visible. But with each passing year, the finals night of PA STATE SENIOR IDOL also becomes even funnier. It’s no surprise that a competition with the very upbeat mission of highlighting the talents of the commonwealth’s 50-plus community should be so steeped in positivity and fellowship—but the sold-out crowd at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre must leave with worn-out facial muscles from a solid three hours of laughter. Many of those laughs come courtesy of the competition’s judges, all well-respected media and music personalities whose witty rapport and good-natured joking become an unexpected recipe for a highly comedic foursome. The obvious camaraderie between Adrian “Buddy” King of the former The Magnificent Men, Janelle Stelson of WGAL-8, RJ Harris of WHP580, and, new this year, Chuck Rhodes from abc27 set the lighthearted tone for the evening. Produced by On-Line Publishers, Inc., publishers of 50plus Senior News, and warmly emceed by Diane Dayton of Dayton Communications, the finals competition was the culmination of more than 100 preliminary auditions at four regional tryouts held back in the spring. Of those, the top 15 performers had been selected to compete against each other for the title of 2011 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL. After Chris Poje, last year’s SENIOR IDOL champ, reminded the audience just why he was chosen with a powerful rendition of The Platters’ “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” Donald Dickinson of Shippensburg was the first of this year’s contenders to take the stage. Singing “All the Things You Are” from Very Warm for May, Dickinson received praise from King for “the sincerity with which [he] delivered that song.” “I think that is one of the more complex songs ever sung at one of these competitions, and I think a much harder song to sing; you did a great job,” added Harris. Patty Price of York stepped onto the Dutch Apple stage for the second consecutive year, having been a semifinalist for the 2010 competition as well. She sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” made famous, of course, by Judy Garland. King commented on the unique “roundness” to Price’s tones. “They say anybody who yells can get somebody to listen to them, but that was a little bit of a soft sell,”

July 2011

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observed Stelson. “You’re one of those people who, even when you whisper and speak softly, people lean in to hear it.” Hailing from Ephrata, Jose Angel Cruz sang “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle, very clearly tapping into the emotion he feels for his own 10-year-old daughter. Rhodes concurred, saying, “As a father of two grown daughters and now a granddaughter, that song moves me every time I hear it, and you did a super job.” Next up was “Smooth Operator” Elaine Dukeman of Morgantown, channeling original artist Sade as she glided to the front of the stage in a series of flowing dance moves. Rhodes liked how she came out with attitude and confidence. “And I have a feeling you’d do that if the building were empty … the lights could go out, the sound system could go out, and I think you’d just keep on going,” he said. The audience and judges were in store for a change of musical pace next as Jack Wolfe of Mechanicsburg launched into Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Texas Flood,” a blues number that showcased both Wolfe’s instrumental prowess and his vocal ability. “I’ve always thought guitars were the most difficult instrument to master,” King said. “You know your way around that fret board for sure.” Constance Kuba Fisher’s theater background was evident from the first notes of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from Funny Girl. The Mechanicsburg resident presented a spirited, bold, and amusing performance supported by her strong vocals. “I have a feeling you’re one of those people who just has music and performance buried in your soul and it needs to find a way to get out!” Stelson said. Theater experience was apparent once again as Margie Sheaffer of New Providence strutted onstage to deliver a feisty, serious-faced rendition of “Fever” by Peggy Lee. King commented on how “natural” and “relaxed” Sheaffer seemed, while Rhodes proclaimed with laughter, “Had you done one more chorus, Janelle was going to be up on the table dancing.” Don “Duke” Larson, the competition’s musical veteran at almost 76 years young, charmed both judges and audience with his impassioned and vocally impressive version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” Dressed in a sharp tux and angled fedora, Larson both looked and sounded the part of the crooner. “Ray Price comes to mind in terms of your vocal,” complimented King, referring to the baritone-voiced country singer. “Your feeling, your expression, your experience—it all comes through.” A familiar face to many annual SENIOR IDOL finalegoers, Peggy Kurtz Keller of Ephrata took the stage for www.SeniorNewsPA.com

the fourth consecutive year, this time singing “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess. Keller’s sweet, crystalline voice glided over a sassy version of the familiar tune, and Harris called her “the whole package … head to toe.” “You are one of those rare people who just lights up the room, and the really great thing is that you come and you back it up with talent,” Stelson noted. “And I think anybody who is under 50 who’s sitting behind me is going, ‘I want to be her when I grow up!’” Philadelphia’s Dan Kelly auditioned for SENIOR IDOL after a “happenstance” encounter with Harris’s radio partner, Dan Steele, at a local breakfast restaurant. Another theater vet, Kelly belted out “Why God, Why” from Miss Saigon. “That’s a very difficult song, but you delivered it with a wonderful amount of passion,” King said. Harris couldn’t resist the opportunity to rib Steele the following morning. “Tomorrow for the radio show, did you happen to notice how many stacks of pancakes Dan ate?” he quipped. Steve Reuben of Manheim had chosen a bold, white tux to match his bold, resonating voice for his performance of “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific. King praised Reuben’s delivery, especially his difficult falsetto notes. “It’s such a strong voice—so mellifluous,” stated Stelson, which prompted Harris to joke that his gift for Stelson last Christmas had been a word-of-the-day calendar. “We were told this was going to be the best year ever—and you hear that a lot—but it is,” Harris added. “You guys are all gangbusters.” Sinatra classics are a welcome staple of the PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition, and Mark Ettaro of Reading did justice to the trend singing “Witchcraft.” Ettaro surprised the judges and the audience when, midway through his clean vocals, he launched into a lively, legkicking dance routine. Rhodes praised Ettaro’s “Sinatra phrasing” and added, “I like that you caught everybody off-guard with your impromptu—well-rehearsed, but impromptu—dance.” “If this Idol thing doesn’t work out, you can become a Pip,” Harris suggested. Robesonia resident Inge Kiebach was up next and delivered an almost operatic version of “If I Loved You” from Carousel. Rhodes noted her obvious opera training, saying he suspected that if she wished, she could “really reach the rafters” with her formidable voice. “When I was 10, I joined the adult choir at church because I think I had the same voice when I was little

that I have now,” recalled Kiebach with a laugh. “The variety we’re seeing here tonight is incredible to me,” King remarked. “It’s one of the best years in terms of all of the different styles and everything else that we’re witnessing here tonight.” The listening audience was in for a musical 180 once again with Steven Leaman’s hand-clapping, rocking performance of Grand Funk Railroad’s “Some Kind of Wonderful.” A plumber from Manheim, Leaman encouraged enthusiastic audience participation from the get-go and used the whole stage while wowing the judges with his confident vocals. Rhodes couldn’t help but offer up the available pun: “What are the odds—a plumber with good pipes!” “You’re just a showman,” said Harris. “I loved all your motions and getting the audience involved in a big way; it was great.” Harrisburg’s Jay Megonnell wrapped up the evening’s 15 semifinalist performances with his trumpet-and-vocal presentation of Louis Prima’s “I’m Just a Gigolo,” which had the audience chuckling and, as the judges noted, tempted to sing along. “What a way to tie up the evening,” Stelson said. “That was such a fun song, such a good choice, and such a perfect choice for you.” After a brief intermission during which the four judges’ scores were tallied, all 15 semifinalists lined up on the stage … and Margie Sheaffer, Steven Leaman, and Peggy Keller were named the night’s three finalists. For their second selections, Sheaffer sang “The Rose” by Bette Midler; Leaman performed “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe; and Keller sang “Cabaret” from the musical of the same name. The judges as well as the audience then voted for their favorite, and Keller was named the 2011 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL. As colorful balloons dropped amidst hearty applause, Keller, beaming with excitement, stepped forward to accept the trophy and a bouquet of flowers. “When they announced that I won, I was stunned and shocked and overjoyed,” Keller said. She then performed “Summertime” again, with many of her fellow semifinalists linking arms behind her and swaying along to the beat. As the winner, Keller will receive a limousine trip for two to New York City for dinner and a Broadway show. “You’re a real inspiration for 50-plussers all over the state,” Harris told Keller. For more information and highlights from the 2011 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition, visit www.SeniorIdolPA.com.

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REAL THING

from page 6

He has been extremely active in the Masonic fraternity and has been a member and presiding officer of many of its subordinate bodies, including the Scottish and York Rite, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, the Zembo Shriners and several Shrine Clubs, and Harrisburg Chapter No. 76, National Sojourners. He is a past grand master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Master Masons of Pennsylvania. In 1988 he was made an honorary member of the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry/Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, receiving his 33° at the Supreme Council session in Grand Rapids, Mich. Whitaker’s civic and business memberships also are extensive. They include Keystone Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, serving as district chairman, president of the executive board, and vice president, scouting; president and zone chairman of the Harrisburg Lions Club; board of directors and chairman, Commerce

Division of the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce; chairman allocations, nominating committee, and speakers bureau of the Tri-County United Way; board member and financial development chairman of the Arthritis Foundation; board member of the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania; and advisory board of the YWCA. Also, the Executive Club, OldTimers Association, VFW, American Legion, Police Athletic League, and the Lady Keystone Open Golf Tournament. Whitaker’s wife, Anne D. Magaro Whitaker, died Feb. 2, 2005, after 63 years of marriage. He is the father of three children, Nancy Lee, Lee Jr., and Claudia; three grandchildren, Cindy, Julie, and Jason; and three greatgrandchildren, Andria, Jeremy, and Brandon.

By Myles Mellor

If you are a mature veteran and have interesting or unusual experiences in your military or civilian life, phone Al Goodman at (717) 541-9889 or email him at klezmer630@comcast.net.

July Fourth Two hundred thirty-five years ago, At a Philadelphia site, Continental Congress met to solve The colonists’ imminent plight. Jefferson, Franklin, and fifty-four more, Signed the official decree. The Declaration of Independence showed The colonists chose to be free. The lines were drawn, the stakes were high, Treason committed, freedom declared. “We can conquer the British Redcoats” in war The patriots brazenly dared. Scattered Yankee troops met the British brigade. Then Washington took command To form a colonist army From each little tattered band. Five years of heroic fighting, France helping on land and on sea. Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown The colonists now were free! Two thousand eleven, July the 4th. We’ll celebrate night and day, Remembering the patriots long ago Who gave us the USA. Written and submitted by Mary Wingerd

Across 1. Holy man 5. Annoyances 10. Like some columns 14. Baker’s need 15. Fancy tie 16. Stalactite site 17. Sandwich bread 18. Bathroom item 19. Hands 20. Indian restaurant fare 23. Coarse file 24. Disaster 25. Fragrant oil 28. Canal site Down 1. Chop (off ) 2. Tel ___ 3. Allot, with “out” 4. Word riddles 5. Yesteryears 6. Break 7. One who crosses the line? 8. No charge on the bridge? 9. It is best stainless 10. Absorb 11. Henry VIII’s last wife 12. Always Solution on page 15

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30. 34. 36. 38. 39. 43. 44. 45. 46. 49. 51. 52.

13. 21. 22. 25. 26. 27. 29. 31. 32. 33. 35. 37. 40.

Bloodstream fluid Start to like Miss-named? “___ Time transfigured me.” – Yeats Fine produce Apply Flatter, in a way Building blocks Fine thread Polar worker Idiotic Gorbachev was its last leader (abbr.)

54. Floating, perhaps 56. Celebratory meal, probably 62. Basil, e.g. 63. Accustom 64. Enthusiasm 66. Advocate 67. One who makes dreams come true 68. Dead against 69. Rude person 70. Good point 71. Bit of choreography

Wet, as morning grass Third of nine Newspaper div. Bad Foot bones Genealogical diagrams Sweetheart Peach dessert Dress up Literature Nobelist Hermann Lab eggs Flight board abbr. Table centerpieces

41. 42. 47. 48. 50.

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53. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 65.

Bye word Windfalls Felled trees Medium ability? Imaginary land of supernatural beings Goat-like antelope Precipitation Great Lakes fish Deli sandwich Jason’s ship Women in habits Tiny payment Can’t take Mouthpiece July 2011

Cumberland County

Calendar of Events Cumberland County Department of Parks and Recreation

Senior Center Activities

July 2, 6 to 8 p.m. – Summer Concert Series: The Wallace Brother Band, Colonel Denning State Park

Big Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-4478 91 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, Newville

July 12, 10 to 11:30 a.m. – “Golden Trails: More Walk, Less Talk,” Kings Gap Environmental Education Center July 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m. – “Birds and Boats” Kayak Tour, Pine Grove Furnace State Park

AARP Driver Safety Programs For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse. July 5 and 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Camp Hill Borough Office, 2125 Walnut St., Camp Hill, (717) 737-4548 July 12 and 14, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Mt. Holly Springs Methodist Church, 202 W. Butler St., Mt. Holly Springs, (717) 486-8060 July 13, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Silver Spring Township Building, 6475 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-0178

Cumberland County Library Programs Amelia Givin Library, 114 N. Baltimore Ave., Mt. Holly Springs, (717) 486-3688 Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle, (717) 243-4642 July 20, 1 p.m. – Afternoon Classic Movies at Bosler Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900 East Pennsboro Branch Library, 98 S. Enola Drive, Enola, (717) 732-4274 John Graham Public Library, 9 Parsonage St., Newville, (717) 776-5900 Joseph T. Simpson Public Library, 16 N. Walnut St., Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-0171 New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820 July 4, 10:40 a.m. – Old-Fashioned Independence Day Festivities July 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Great Books Discussion Group: Krakatau by Jim Shepard July 27, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Great Books Discussion Group: Weekend by Fay Weldon Shippensburg Public Library, 73 W. King St., Shippensburg, (717) 532-4508

Programs and Support Groups

Free and open to the public.

Mondays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. Exercise for 2011 Classes Susquehanna View Apartments 208 Senate Ave., Camp Hill (717) 232-1375

July 17, 7 p.m. New Cumberland Town Band Performance Anna and Bailey Streets Park, New Cumberland (717) 737-8779 www.nctownband.org

July 4, 11 a.m. New Cumberland Town Band Performance New Cumberland Public Library 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland (717) 737-8779 www.nctownband.org

July 19, 1 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren 501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg (717) 766-8880

July 7, 6:30 p.m. Too Sweet: Diabetes Support Group Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill (717) 557-9041

July 2011

Carlisle Senior Action Center – (717) 249-5007 20 E. Pomfret St., Carlisle Mary Schaner Senior Citizens Center – (717) 732-3915 98 S. Enola Drive, Enola Mechanicsburg Area Senior Adult Center – (717) 697-5947 97 W. Portland St., Mechanicsburg Southampton Place – (717) 530-8217, www.seniors.southamptontwp.com 56 Cleversburg Road, Shippensburg West Shore Senior Citizens Center – (717) 774-0409 122 Geary St., New Cumberland Mondays, 10:30 a.m. – Fitness Mondays, 3 p.m. – Yoga Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – Tai Chi Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.

Give Us the Scoop! Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Cumberland County!

July 31, 7 p.m. New Cumberland Town Band Performance Schaffner Park, Hummelstown (717) 737-8779 www.nctownband.org

July 13, 6:30 p.m. Amputee Support Team Board Meeting HealthSouth Rehab 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 944-2250 www.astamputees.com

July 1 – Fourth of July Celebration July 15, 10 a.m. – Walking Program in Mechanicsburg July 27, 11:30 a.m. – Lunch and Learn: Rumors and Facts about Big Spring Area Development

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If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com

(717) 770-0140 (717) 285-1350

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Savvy Senior

How to Stop Junk Mail Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, How can I reduce the junk mail my elderly mother gets? She gets around 25 pieces of junk mail each day, and I just discovered that she’s given away nearly $2,000 over the past year to many of the sleazy groups that mail her this junk. How can I stop this? – Frustrated Daughter Dear Frustrated, Millions of seniors get bombarded with unwanted junk mail these days, including mail fraud schemes that you and your mom need to be particularly leery of. Here’s what you can do to help. Senior Alert While junk mail comes in many different forms—credit card applications, sweepstakes entries, magazine offers, coupon mailers, donation requests, political fliers, catalogs, and more—the most troublesome type that all seniors need to be aware of is mail fraud. This is the junkiest of junk mail that comes from con artists who are only trying to take your money. Mail fraud can be tricky to detect because there are many different types of schemes out there that may seem legitimate. Some of the most common mail scams targeting seniors today are fake checks (see fakechecks.org), phony sweepstakes, foreign lotteries, free prize or vacation scams, donation requests from charities or government agencies that don’t exist, get-rich chain letters, work-at-home schemes, inheritance and investment scams, and many more. If your mom is getting any type of junk mail that is asking for money in exchange for free gifts or winnings, or if she’s receiving checks that require her to wire money, she needs to call the U.S. Postal Inspector Service at (877) 8762455 and report it, and then throw it away. Unfortunately, once a person gets on these mail-fraud mailing lists, it’s very www.SeniorNewsPA.com

difficult to get off. That’s because these criminals regularly trade and sell mailing lists of people whom they believe to be susceptible to fraud, and they won’t remove a name when you request it. Knowing this, a good first step to help protect your mom is to alert her to the different kinds of mail fraud and what to watch for. The Postal Inspection Service offers some great publications and videos (see postalinspectors.uspis.gov) that can help with this. Another option is to see if your mom would be willing to let you sort her mail before she opens it so you can weed out the junk. You may want to have the post office forward her mail directly to you to ensure this. If your mom feels compelled to donate to certain charities, ask her to let you check them out to make sure they’re legitimate. You can do this through your state’s attorney general or charity regulator’s office—see nasconet.org for contact information or look into charity watchdog sites like charitywatch.org, give.org, and charitynavigator.org.

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Reduce Junk Mail While scam artists aren’t likely to take your mom’s name off their mailing lists, most legitimate mail-order businesses will. To do this, start with the Direct Marketing Association, which offers a consumer opt-out service at dmachoice.org. This won’t eliminate all her junk mail, but it will reduce it. The opt-out service is free if you register online or $1 by mail. Then, to put a stop to the credit card and insurance offers she gets, call the consumer credit reporting industry opt-out service at (888) 567-8688 and follow the automated prompts to opt her out for either five years or permanently. Be prepared to give her

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July 2011

FILLED

from page 1

Senior News. Always a crowd pleaser, Keller’s “stick-to-it-iveness” finally earned her the top prize. Her genuine love of performance for performance’s sake prompted her to keep trying, year after year. “It keeps my bucket full,” she said of performing. “It makes me feel adequate. It makes me know that I can continue to do the things that I really love to do. It gives me that energy and that power to just continue to keep on going.” Keller had considered not auditioning again this year, but as always, the lure of

performance drew her back. “I really enjoy the [SENIOR IDOL] experience,” she said. “From OLP employees to the people that work at the Dutch Apple, everyone was so helpful and friendly. It was such a great experience—why would you not want to be a part of it?” Keller grew up in Leola, the oldest of three children (she has two younger brothers). Her family owned Kurtz’s Store in town, a grocery store that was Keller’s second home and her first place of employment. She discovered her fondness for singing early on and would

Braintwisters 1. What U.S. state boasts the following rivers: the Guadalupe, Trinity, Rio Grande, Brazos, and Colorado? A. California B. Oklahoma C. Texas D. Colorado

often “force” family ensemble that had members to be part never included a of a concert when vocalist—until they came to visit, then. starting with her Keller taking tickets at the approached the door. “I would use band’s instructor The Sound of Music with her wish to and sing the whole audition. “He said, album … I would ‘Well, we don’t play every part.” have a singer,’ and Her first public I said, ‘Well, you Keller, center, received her trophy and solo was in do now!’” She was flowers from Kimberly Shaffer, left, kindergarten, when allowed to On-Line Publishers’ events manager, she was invited to and Donna Anderson, right, president of audition and, of sing with the high course, got in. On-Line Publishers. school choir. To Later, that same mark the occasion, instructor invited Keller’s parents bought her a new pair of her to sing the national anthem before Hush Puppies shoes, which ended up high-school football games, which had being the only way her parents could Keller, also a cheerleader, singing in spot their diminutive child amongst the between cheering sets. crush of teenage singers. “Except for “I think because I was assertive and hearing my voice and seeing my Hush said, ‘I really want to do this,’ I made Puppies, they would’ve never known it some changes within what was normal was me.” within that school at that time,” said When her family moved to Ephrata Keller. for her second year of high school, Keller During her senior year, Keller won the began to blossom musically as a member Junior Miss Pageant at the local level of the vocal ensemble, chorus, and the singing “Summertime.” It would be a school’s dance band, an instrumental jazz jazzed-up version of that same song that

2. Which of the following states does not border the Great Lakes? A. Ohio B. Michigan C. Iowa D. Illinois 3. Pierre is the capital of what U.S. state? A. Montana B. Wisconsin C. South Dakota D. Rhode Island

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would, years later, win her the SENIOR IDOL title. Keller’s career path is wide and varied, but she is thankful to have truly enjoyed every occupation she has taken on. A certified dental assistant just after high school, Keller had the first of her two children at age 20. She stayed at home full time for several years until working in her then-husband’s new business, an echo of her family-run grocery store roots. Later, she worked in therapeutic recreation at a nursing facility; as a flight attendant until she was furloughed after 9/11; and then went to nursing school, graduating in 2003. She worked in dialysis, obstetrics/gynecology, and then as a school nurse, a perfect schedule for Keller, who had remarried and gained two school-age stepchildren. Keller is now in her second fulltime year of teaching medical assisting to adult students, and she sees the connection between her roles as teacher and musical performer. “It’s just like being a performer, because every day that’s what I have to do, to entice my students to pay attention, to learn, and hopefully bring them a presentation that will bring them some kind of enlightenment,” she said. Through the many career changes, Keller managed to stay in touch with her musical side. When her children became older and more independent, she reconnected with a friend from high school and the duo sang together on the “senior group circuits.” Individually, Keller also had roles in community theater and sang for service organizations, senior groups, and holiday parties. Around the same time she first heard of SENIOR IDOL, Keller also auditioned to sing the national anthem for the Lancaster Barnstormers, an engagement she’s now held for the past four seasons. From her work life to her musical career, Keller has always gravitated toward and adored performing for the over-50 community. She loves to sing the standards: Sinatra, big-band music, and songs from the ’40s and ’50s.

“I believe that the senior crowd appreciates entertainment, and they communicate appreciation,” she noted. “When I go and sing for seniors or community-service groups, I know I have their attention. I’m singing things they recognize, and they sing with me. They give me energy, I give them energy, and by the time I leave everyone’s feeling so good—it’s good for everybody.” Keller said “the energy was wonderful” during her fourth go-round at the SENIOR IDOL finals competition and said nerves weren’t a factor—at least at the start. “When I perform, I rarely get nervous before I sing because nobody can make a judgment on me until I’m done. For me, it’s wasted energy to be nervous beforehand because nobody knows what I can do.” After delivering “Summertime” to high praise, Keller went backstage feeling satisfied with her effort and enjoying the fast-developing camaraderie that bonded her with the other semifinalists that evening. When her name was called as one of the three finalists, it wasn’t until Margie Sheaffer, a fellow finalist, gave her a visual nudge that she realized she had, in fact, heard her name. And later, as she clasped hands with Sheaffer and finalist Steven Leaman and heard her name called one more time— this time as winner—the shock and sheer joy running through her body were evident. “When I heard my name, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ll be able to represent OLP as PA STATE SENIOR IDOL all over the place now, no matter what we do! Let’s keep me really busy!’” The coming year is guaranteed to be a busy and fulfilling one for Keller, whose pure mission is to continue performing as often as possible. “I love being a teacher—I truly do love what I do during the daytime, but my bucket stays full because I can do something after school, and that is performing,” she said. “I’m proud I stuck it out, I did it, and I didn’t give up. I’m 54, and I can—we can do anything.”

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with spatula behind piles of hamburger patties, sausages and—making each of us pause—sirloin steaks. We’d seen these before, but only in the butcher’s case. Without being told, we kids settled for bratwurst or hamburger. In fact, even among the adults, only Uncle Ed and Kurt ordered the steak. By then, I guess, they’d both had their first beer and felt up to it. Two generations have passed since www.SeniorNewsPA.com

then. Now we have cousins of cousins who have never heard of one another. Almost all of us live in suburbs of our own. None of us has emerged as head of the family, nor does anybody seem to want to: not even those who have regular employment. Each has his own backyard now, I guess, although I’m not so sure that’s entirely a good thing. Every Fourth of July I wonder.

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Social Security number and date of birth. You can also do this online at optoutprescreen.com. If you choose the permanent opt-out, you’ll have to send a form in the mail. Some other resources that can help are the National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov, (888) 382-1222), which will cut down on your mom’s telemarketing calls, and catalogchoice.org, a free service that lets you opt her out of the unwanted

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Residents Hold Annual Version of Olympic Games The seventh annual Bethany Games recently came to the campus of Bethany Village in Mechanicsburg. The games are modeled after the National Senior Games, and nearly 200 participants ranging in age from 62 to 99 compete during the weeklong event. The games are open to all residents and Mary Murphy, winner of include mixed teams from the community’s eight medals and independent living, assisted living, and participant in 10 events. skilled nursing levels and feature events such as swimming, bocce, cycling, badminton, disc golf, water volleyball, and others. Participants form teams by choosing from five countries—USA, Germany, Ireland, England, and Mexico—and receive a shirt to represent that country. “Some choose a country that has personal ties, while other multiple-year participants want to add to their shirt collection,” said Justin Margut, wellness specialist at Bethany Village. “Additionally, rather than competing by age group or skill level, the events are divided into male and female, so ‘boys against the girls’ never really goes away!” Resident Mary Murphy, a longtime participant, said, “It’s great getting together with different people and trying a variety of games. Some have tried new games just for fun and won medals! I enjoy seeing how well we do. If we don’t do well, we have something to work on for the next year.”

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