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

Lebanon County Edition

July 2011

Vol. 6 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.

STATE

Inside:

Lebanon County Senior Games page 2

PA STATE SENIOR IDOL

Highlights page 10

Landisville, PA Permit No. 3

PAID PRSRT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE

Athletes Beat the Heat at Lebanon County Senior Games “[The games represent] health and fitness and just fun. Who doesn’t like that?” he said. “It’s good to get seniors out, get them active, get to know other people, and even develop friendships and relationships.” Wolfe said they had about 128 participants, which was down slightly from last year, but chalked up the minor decrease to the adjustment period that is so often the result of any kind of major change. “Everybody had a great time,” Wolfe noted. “That was probably the highlight. I don’t think there was one person that got upset over anything; everyone had an outstanding time.” Good-natured sport is at the center of the Senior Games, as well as an opportunity to be “out and about” and to commune with friends and neighbors. Wolfe said the games’ most popular events were

By Megan Joyce Everyone in Central Pennsylvania knows that the month of June blasted its way into the area this year, bringing with it days of blazing-hot temperatures usually not experienced until the dog days of midsummer. Thankfully, the Lebanon County Senior Games, now in its 26th year, only had one day adversely affected by the brutal weather, according to Brian Wolfe, director of the YMCA at the VA, which organized the 2011 games. The very first day of the Senior Games—June 1—featured events such as the half-mile and mile walks, miniature golf, bowling, and a newly added 5K race held in the evening. Coincidentally, it was also on that inaugural day that local temperatures soared into the 90s. “I’m guessing that due to the heat in the evening, we had a few no-shows for the race,” he said, but other than that, “the weather was fantastic.” This is the first year that the YMCA has taken over much of the games’ organization from the Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging, which still co-sponsors the event along with the Community Health Council 50+ Festival and 50plus Senior News. Wolfe said the Senior Games are an important annual event for the community.

please see GAMES page 13

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July 2011

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Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (717) 787-7500

Medicare (800) 382-1274

CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400

PA Crime Stoppers (800) 472-8477

Tri-Valley Contractors (717) 277-7674

Kidney Foundation (717) 652-8123

PennDOT (800) 932-4600

Emergency Numbers Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (717) 652-6520

Recycling (800) 346-4242

Lupus Foundation (888) 215-8787

Social Security Information (800) 772-1213

Hearing Aid Services Hearing & Ear Care Center, LLC (717) 274-3851

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (800) 827-1000

Appraisals Eckenrode Rare Coins (717) 272-4579 Construction

Food Resources Food & Clothing Bank (717) 274-2490 Food Stamps (800) 692-7462 Hope/Christian Ministries (717) 272-4400 Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging Meals on Wheels (717) 273-9262 Salvation Army (717) 273-2655 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Cancer Society (717) 231-4582 American Diabetes Association (717) 657-4310

Home Care Services Central Penn Nursing Care, Inc. (717) 361-9777 (717) 569-0451 Hospice Providers Compassionate Care Hospice (717) 944-4466 Hospitals Good Samaritan Hospital (717) 270-7500 Medical Society of Lebanon County (717) 270-7500

Neurosurgery & Physiatry Lancaster NeuroScience & Spine Associates (717) 569-5331 (800) 628-2080 Nursing Homes/Rehab Spang Crest Manor (717) 274-1495

Pharmacies

Housing Assistance

Hotlines

CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Restaurants

Hope (Helping Our People in Emergencies) (717) 272-4400 Housing Assistance & Resources Program (HARP) (717) 273-9328 Lebanon County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (717) 274-1401 Insurance Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833 Legal Services

The Reading Hospital (610) 988-4357

Office of Aging Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging (717) 273-9262

Old Country Buffet (717) 657-6290 – Harrisburg (717) 390-8800 – Lancaster (610) 375-9954 – Wyomissing Senior Centers Annville Senior Community Center (717) 867-1796 Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048 Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786

Melnick, Moffitt, and Mesaros (717) 274-9775

Northern Lebanon County Senior Community Center (717) 865-0944

American Heart Association (717) 273-0463

Energy Assistance (800) 692-7462

MidPenn Legal Services (717) 274-2834

Palmyra Senior Community Center (717) 838-8237

American Lung Association (717) 541-5864

Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Hotline (800) 541-2050

Pennsylvania Bar Association (717) 238-6715

Senior Center of Lebanon Valley (717) 274-3451

Medical Equipment & Supplies GSH Home Med Care, Inc. (717) 272-2057

Southern Lebanon County Senior Community Center (717) 274-7541

Monuments Ficco Memorials (717) 272-6308

Veterans Services Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681

American Stroke Association (717) 273-0463 Arthritis Foundation (717) 274-0754

IRS Income Tax Assistance (800) 829-1040 Medicaid (800) 692-7462

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

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50plus SeniorNews

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

CIRCULATION PROJECT COORDINATOR Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

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.

Awards

No Fee to Apply for State Rebate Program

Winner

SeniorNews 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

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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

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

Salute to a Veteran

In His P-40, He Passed Out at 23,000 Feet Robert D. Wilcox obert Brocklehurst grew up in Michigan in the days when aircraft overhead were a rarity. When one did fly by, people would call others to come and watch it. The biggest thrill in his life was when his uncle would take him to see the fliers in the Michigan National Guard practicing aerobatics. He thus knew early on that being a flier was what he desperately wanted to do. In 1940, he was old enough to enlist, but the Air Corps required at least two years of college in order to become an aviation cadet. “However,” Brocklehurst says, “they had an equivalency test that would qualify you if you could pass it. So I crammed for seven months to take that test. And, in September 1940, I passed it.” He enlisted in the Army and went through the aviation cadet program, earning his pilot’s wings and the gold bar of a second lieutenant at Kelly Field in

San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 26, 1941. What was the best thing about the PHe then shipped to Selfridge Field in 40? “It was tougher than any other of the Michigan to learn to fly a fighter planes of that day. P-40 pursuit plane. “For Although most people the first time,” he know it best for its use in chuckles, “I was given China by our American manuals to study, then Volunteer Group, it was put in the airplane to fly used in theaters of war it by myself. No dual from the Pacific to North instruction … just figure Africa and Russia. The it out as you went.” early models were good for Wasn’t it daunting to combat only to about go from the 600 12,000 feet, but it was horsepower AT-6 trainer surprisingly fast. It was the to the 1,040 horsepower third most produced P-40 fighter? He grins as American fighter plane in Aviation Cadet Robert L. he says, “Sure. But the WWII, surpassed only by Brocklehurst, Class 41-G, in great thing about the the P-51 and P-47.” advanced flying training at military was that they Brocklehurst had Kelly Field, Texas, in September 1941. didn’t ask you if you completed his P-40 thought you could do training at Selfridge Field something. They told you what you were when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, going to do, and you did it.” and the following Saturday he was on a

Have you photographed a smile that just begs to 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 to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or by mail to:

50plus Senior News Smile of the Month 3912 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 your photo returned.

troop train to Sacramento, where he picked up a brand new P-40 that he flew to Elmendorf Field, near Anchorage, Alaska. The fear was that the Japanese would advance through the Aleutians, and the P-40s were to prevent their advance. When Brocklehurst arrived at Elmendorf in March of 1942, the newer P-40s were turned over to more experienced second lieutenants, and the new pilots were given obsolescent Curtis P-36s. Brocklehurst notes that, “When a P-40 flew by you, and you were in the P36, it felt like the P-36 was backing up.” He was then assigned to a squadron on Kodiak Island, where, in a P-36, he had blacked out at 23,000 feet. He explains, “We needed oxygen above 10,000 feet, and the P-36 system was pretty primitive. The oxygen came through a tube you clenched between your teeth. As we got please see P-40 page 17

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July 2011

Lebanon County

Calendar of Events Senior Center Activities

Lebanon County Department of Parks and Recreation All events held at the Park at Governor Dick unless noted. July 3, 1 to 4 p.m. – Music on the Porch: Bluegrass/Traditional Appalachian Workshop and Jam July 9, 9 to 10:30 a.m. – “Come to Your Senses” Hike

Annville Senior Community Center – (717) 867-1796 200 S. White Oak St., Annville July 11, 1 to 6 p.m. – Bus Trip: Shady Maple July 18, 1 p.m. – Special Meal: Pinochle Card Party July 27, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Bus Trip: Knoebel’s Park Craft Fair Day

July 22, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. – “Nature Through the Camera’s Eye” Presentation

Maple Street Community Center – (717) 273-1048 710 Maple St., Lebanon

Lebanon County Library Programs Annville Free Library, 216 E. Main St., Annville, (717) 867-1802 Lebanon Community Library, 125 N. Seventh St., (717) 273-7624 Matthews Public Library, 102 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, (717) 865-5523 Myerstown Community Library, 199 N. College St., Myerstown, (717) 866-2800 Palmyra Public Library, 325 S. Railroad St., (717) 838-1347

July 15, 10 a.m. – Visit the Four-Square Gardens at the Expo July 22, 9 a.m. – Midsummer Breakfast, Midday Matinee Movie July 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Bus Trip: Philadelphia Belle Steamboat

Myerstown Senior Community Center – (717) 866-6786 51 W. Stoever Ave., Myerstown

Richland Community Library, 111 E. Main St., Richland, (717) 866-4939

Northern Lebanon Senior Community Center – (717) 865-0944 335 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown – www.jonestownpa.org/senior.html

Programs and Support Groups

July 14, 11:30 a.m. – Lunch Bunch at Olive Garden July 21, 8:30 a.m. – Breakfast Bunch at Buddies Restaurant July 29, 12:30 p.m. – Pinochle Club

Free and open to the public

July 2, 7 p.m. – Lebanon Community Concert Band Performance, Mt. Gretna Tabernacle, Third Street and Glossbrenner Avenue, Mt. Gretna, (717) 484-0946 If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Palmyra Senior Community Center – (717) 838-8237 101 S. Railroad St., Palmyra July 22, 4 p.m. – Dinner and Miniature Golf at Kauffman’s Restaurant July 25, 5 to 11 p.m. – Bus Trip: Reading Phillies Baseball Game and Picnic July 27, 2 p.m. – Senior Citizens Day at Lebanon County Fair

Southern Lebanon Senior Community Center – (717) 274-7541 Midway Church of the Brethren, 13 Evergreen Road, Lebanon

Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200, and a substantial tax cut saves you 30 cents?

...

My grandmother was a very tough woman. She buried three husbands, and two of them were just napping.

...

My husband wanted one of those big-screen TVs for his birthday. So I just moved his chair closer to the one we have already.

July 11, 10:15 a.m. – Blood Pressure Checks July 17, 11:30 a.m. – Bus Trip: Dance Explosion at American Music Theatre July 27, 10:30 a.m. – Bible Study

Privately Owned Centers Senior Center of Lebanon Valley, Inc. – (717) 274-3451 710 Maple St., Lebanon Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.

What’s Happening? “Let the cat out of the bag” At medieval markets, unscrupulous traders would display a pig for sale. However, the pig was always given to the customer in a bag, with strict instructions not to open the bag until they were some way away. The trader would hand the customer a bag containing something that wriggled, and it was only later that the buyer would find he’d been conned when he opened the bag to reveal that it contained a cat, not a pig. Therefore, “letting the cat out of the bag” revealed the secret of the con trick.

July 2011

50plus SeniorNews

Give Us the Scoop! Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Lebanon County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com Let

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

This Month in History: July Events

Whose Food Keeps You Coming Back For More? 50plus Senior News readers have spoken! Here are the Lebanon County dining favorites for 2011! Breakfast: Cedar Grill Lunch: Lisa’s Cafe

• 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: Quentin Tavern

• 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: Tony’s Mining Company Restaurant

• 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 • 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. • 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.” • 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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Ethnic Cuisine: China Moon

Bakery: Sweet Sensations Coffeehouse: Dunkin’ Donuts Fast Food: Wendy’s Seafood: Red Lobster Steak: Gin Mill Outdoor Dining: The Blue Bird Inn Romantic Setting: Hotel Hershey Smorgasbord/Buffet: Dutchway Restaurant Caterer: Elaine’s Catering Winner of $50 Giant Food Stores Gift Card: Bill Lastoskie of Dillsburg Congratulations!

50plus SeniorNews

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

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July 2011

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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 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 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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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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July 2011

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‘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 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.

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miniature golf, bowling, and golfing. New events this year included the 5K race and pickleball. This was the third year Wolfe had been involved with the Senior Games. “There have been a lot of repeat athletes coming back,” he observed, “but we did see plenty of new faces, too.” In Wolfe’s experience, athletics and recreation seem to bring out a childlike enjoyment of sheer play that transcends age. “I just love to watch the seniors have fun—they’re just a bunch of kids,” he laughed. “It’s great to watch them get out there and get competitive. They’re just having a good time.” For more information on the 2011 Lebanon County Senior games, visit www.lebanonymca.org or call (717) 273-2691. www.SeniorNewsPA.com

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July 2011

Savvy Senior

How to Stop Junk Mail and Prevent Mail Fraud 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

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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-athome 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 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. Reduce Junk Mail While scam artists aren’t likely to take your mom’s name off their mailing lists, most legitimate mailorder 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 optout 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 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 catalogs she receives. Savvy Tip: If you don’t want to hassle with stopping the junk mail yourself, you can hire a private company (like 41pounds.org or stopthejunkmail.com) to do it for you for a small fee. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org.

www.SeniorNewsPA.com

Health Matters

Learning to Live Alone

By Myles Mellor

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 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 www.SeniorNewsPA.com

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. 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.

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 17

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.)

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41. 42. 47. 48. 50.

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

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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 often “force” family members to be part of a concert when they came to visit, starting with her taking tickets at the door. “I

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

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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

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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.”

from page 5

higher, I had more and more trouble flying formation. And finally, at 23,000 feet, I blacked out completely. “Fortunately, I had the ship carefully trimmed up, so I didn’t just fall out of the sky. But it was more than a shock to eventually come to and find that I had fallen all the way to 5,000 feet. That’s one of the reasons I believe in God.” What caused him to black out? “Well, it was clearly lack of oxygen. But why it happened could have been a failure in the system or that I wasn’t careful enough on how I drew on the oxygen tube. We never found out, and I was just glad to be alive.” In July 1942, he was selected to go to Florida for advanced fighter training in P40s and then to California to pick up a new P-40 and fly it back to Cold Bay at the western end of the Alaskan peninsula, where his squadron had been assigned in his absence. Over time, he flew out of Kodiak Island, Cold Bay, Umnak, Atka, Adak, Dutch Harbor, Shemya, and Attu in the Aleutian chain. The weather was foul, with 250 days of rain. Cloud layers, fog, and sudden rain and snow squalls were common. They had no accurate maps or www.SeniorNewsPA.com

navigation aids. Brocklehurst says he had firsthand knowledge of 126 aircraft that were lost, mostly as a result of the abysmal flying conditions. In 1951, he was returned to the States, where he held increasingly responsible positions from the Pentagon to Okinawa, checking out in 13 types of aircraft, from P-38s to F-86s in his 4,300 hours of flying. In 1963, he returned to Alaska for three years as director of plans and programs for Alaskan Air Command in Anchorage. He retired from the Air Force Systems Command at Andrews AFB in Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel in February 1967. In civilian life, he worked as sales manager for a manufacturer of custom kitchens in Myerstown, Pa. He liked Myerstown so much that he decided to settle down there, where he started his own company, Brocklehurst Enterprises, with sales representatives in 11 states. He says his many years of service in the Air Force mean a great deal to him … especially those dangerous but exciting years as a young man doing seat-of-thepants flying in P-40s in Alaska.

Crossword shown on page 15

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 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 4. Lake Okeechobee is located in what U.S. state? A. Wyoming B. Florida C. Oklahoma D. Texas 5. What is the smallest U.S. state? A. Delaware B. Maryland C. Rhode Island D. Maine Source: www.usefultrivia.com

This month’s answers on page 18

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in WWII.

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July 2011

The Beauty in Nature

Florida Apple Snail Predators Clyde McMillan-Gamber ative Florida apple snails are the largest freshwater snails on Earth. They are the size of golf balls and round, the reason they are called apple snails. They live in tropical ponds, marshes, ditches, and rivers, including in Florida. And they are amphibious because they have a gill for underwater respiration and a lung for air breathing. They are survivors, genetically adapted to flooding and drought. They feed mostly on aquatic plants and need emergent vegetation or breathing air when they have to and to lay eggs so fish can’t eat them. Many kinds of animals prey on apple snails, including alligators, water turtles, raccoons, boat-tailed grackles, and other predators. And snail kites and limpkins feed almost exclusively on apple snails, the reason those tropical birds live and breed in Florida.

Snail kites are a small hawk that the shell), of the snail and pulling its inhabit freshwater wetlands and range body out of the shell. from peninsular All raptors have Florida to much of hooked beaks, but South America. They snail kites’ bills have are endangered in the developed beyond United States but are the norm because of doing well in South their specialized diet and Central America. of extracting apple They are dark and snails from their have long, broad, shells. The better rounded wings; long designed the bill for tails; and white that purpose, the DAVID ROACH rumps. Males have more snails they can Limpkin with apple snail red legs and females eat. and young have orange ones. Limpkins are another apple snail eater Snail kites slowly fly over marshes by in freshwater marshes from Florida to day to watch for apple snails on plant South America, although they also eat stalks. When a snail is spotted, the kite mussels, insects, frogs, tadpoles, and drops to it, picks it from the plant, and lizards. Limpkins are related to cranes flies to a perch to eat it. Snail kites have and rails and have long legs, toes, necks, deeply hooked bills for opening the and beaks like cranes. Limpkins have operculum, or protective covering (not brown feathering all over with white

spotting for camouflage. Their loud calls are scary wails that sound like “kkwweeeerrr” or “kkkaaaaarrr.” Limpkins ease slowly through vegetation in marshes in search of apple snails, mostly at night. Remember, snail kites hunt them by day from the air— different techniques at different times of day, which reduces competition for the same food source. Limpkins have long beaks that are slightly open near the tip to give the birds a tweezer-like action in removing snails from their shells. In some individual birds, the tip of the bill curves slightly to the right, like apple snails’ shells. Any feature a creature is born with that helps it get its food is an advantage. All creatures are valuable to their ecosystems. Florida apple snails are the base of several food chains in Florida wetlands, especially involving snail kites and limpkins.

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Celebrating 100 years of... Good Samaritan Home Health. This year, Good Samaritan celebrates 100 years of bringing powerful medicine and comforting care into patient homes. Since our founding in 1911, Good Samaritan Home Health has expanded beyond solely visiting nurses to include other in-home care like physical, speech and occupational therapies. We would like to thank our dedicated Home Health team for providing a broad range of home healthcare services that help our patients remain independent at home. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powerful medicine and comforting care. Only at Good Samaritan.

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July 2011

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