50plus Life Cumberland County – October 2022

The History of Ordinary Things Husking Tools and the Homestead Act of 1862

The 1862 Homestead Act, signed by Lincoln prior to the Civil War, was an important piece of legislation about federal land.

The Homestead Act provided that any adult citizen who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants had to live on the acreage for five years and improve their plot by cultivating the land and building a home.

The act was designed to encourage Americans to settle in the Great Plains region. The government was trying to encourage Americans to move west of the Mississippi River, which was considered a barren area. Hundreds of thousands of

From top, a thumb stall with metal studs, an early pedal whittled from wood, and a bone peg with leather strap.

“The Little Husker,” a palm husking hook with dual adjustable hooks, patent 1892.

people moved to the Great Plains to “homestead,” as it was called.

The Homestead Act led to Western expansion and allowed citizens of all walks of life — including women, immigrants, and former slaves — to become landowners. The harsh winters, barren land, and isolation resulted in many abandoning the homestead prior to completing the five years.

If the claim was successful, by the 1900s, about 60 of the 160 acres were planted in corn. It was grown for livestock feed and for the next year’s corn seeds. The ear of corn had to be removed from the stalk by hand, and the husk had to be manually removed for use.

Pass the Word — Employment Opportunities Await

Job Fair

Oct. 26, 2022

3:30

Harris Hotel (Formerly Radisson Hotel)

Camp Hill Bypass, Camp

Open to employees in transition, those actively seeking a career change, and those who may consider a change for the right opportunity.

• Meet with multiple company representatives in one location

• Learn about open positions and job benefits

• Present your resume for consideration

• Begin the process of securing a position

more information, call Kimberly Shaffer at 717-285-8123 or email kshaffer@onlinepub.com

Employers:

Doris Montag

Early American settlers learned about the husking peg, or pin, from the Native Americans. Just a pointed stick or bone, they were tied over the joints of the fingers with vine and later leather. The peg worked by thrusting it downward between the husk and the ear and grasping the husks with help of the thumb.

The husk removal with the peg required two passes over the ear. The wear on the thumb was so great that a thumb cot, or stall, was designed to protect the thumb. The thumb stalls were made of leather with attached metal rivets or of a chain mesh.

Leather straps held the stall in place.

Husking hooks were introduced in the 1880s. There were three designs, each a metal plate with punched V-shaped hook(s) bent outward. The hooks attached to a heavy leather pad held on the hand with wrist straps. The palm hook had the hook high in the middle of the palm. The wrist hook was positioned low on the wrist. The thumb hook was placed over the thumb pad.

The husking hooks required only one pass down the ear of corn, making picking faster. The choice of husking hook position was a matter of personal preference. (The thumb hook was preferred 2-to-1 in the corn-picking competitions of the early 1900s.)

My late father, James Montag, was an Iowa farmer who collected early harvest tools and passed his collection on to me. As a boy of 16, he remembered picking corn for 3 cents a bushel during hard times in 1934.

He once described Depression-era corn husking to my sister for a college project. She summarized his experience in this excerpt:

“The corn picker walked between two rows of corn with the wagon and team of horses to his right. He found the corn ears on each stalk with his left hand and raked the ear across the husking hook, or husking peg, on the right hand.

“In the husking action, the ear was transferred to the right hand, broken from the stalk, and thrown overhead into the wagon with a snap of the wrist. The best corn huskers always had an ear in the air. The wagons had a bang board on the opposite side, creating a large target for the flying ears of corn.

“A successful picker could hand pick 1-1.5 acres per day. If corn yielded 60 bushels per acre (typical of the 1920s), the picker harvested an average of 60-100 bushels per day. The pay for picking was generally 6 or 7 cents per bushel.”

Commercial corn production was not possible until the husks could be removed mechanically. The first mechanical corn picker was introduced in 1909. By the 1920s, a one- and two-row picker powered by the tractor allowed growth in acres planted to corn.

The impact of corn and corn syrup in our economy and our diets has been present since the 1940s-’50s.

Doris Montag is a homespun historian and an exhibit curator who researches and displays historical collections of ordinary things, such as can openers, crochet, toy sewing machines, hand corn planters, powder compacts, egg cartons, and more. Contact or follow her on Facebook, HistoryofOrdinaryThings.

Medical

Surgical

Optical

Painting of farmer walking between two corn rows with horse team and wagon. Artist unknown, from author’s personal collection.

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P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604

Phone (717) 285-1350 (610) 675-6240

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Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce

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Awards

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Cover Story Breast Tests that Could Save Your Life

By Sandra Gordon

A yearly mammogram is the gold standard for breast cancer screening and detection. Mammography is the only test that has been scientifically proven to save lives. Still, it’s not infallible.

“In women with very dense breasts, mammography will miss cancer 58% of the time,” says Thomas Kolb, M.D., a breast cancer radiologist.

Dense breasts contain more glands, ducts, and connective tissue than fat. Breasts tend to be denser during a woman’s reproductive years. Density makes it harder to detect suspicious lumps on a mammogram; that’s because glandular tissue appears white on a mammogram, just like a mass can.

mass from overlapping structures that can hide or mimic cancer, such as ligaments or glandular tissue.

Tomosynthesis can be used for screening and diagnostic mammograms.

Pros/cons: Compared to a digital (2D) mammogram, tomosynthesis is more precise. Studies show that three more women per thousand will receive a cancer diagnosis with tomosynthesis, compared to a digital mammogram.

Tomosynthesis, or 3D mammogram, takes images of breast tissue from multiple angles.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Also, women with dense breasts who undergo tomosynthesis are 40% less likely to be called back for additional imaging.

Should you ask for it? Screening tomosynthesis is in order if you have dense breasts or you’re at average or intermediate risk for breast cancer.

Fortunately, there are new tools that can give a more precise diagnosis, especially if you have dense breasts or you’re at higher risk for breast cancer because of your personal or family health history.

Here are three that may give you a clearer picture of your breast health — and could possibly save your life.

Tomosynthesis

The latest in breast cancer detection technology, tomosynthesis, also known as 3D mammogram, is a digital mammogram that takes images of the breast in thin slices from multiple angles.

High risk is defined as a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 20% or more; intermediate risk is a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 15-20% and average risk is anything under 15%.

Automated Breast Ultrasound

During this test, an automated ultrasound machine, which uses a computer program, takes ultrasound images of breast tissue. The images are recorded and given to a radiologist who can interpret them.

Magnetic resonance imaging (Mri) machine.

Tomosynthesis takes an arc of pictures through each breast, in 5-millimeter slices, which are then reconstructed into a three-dimensional image.

It allows radiologists to see through the breast tissue so they can more easily distinguish a true

Doctors currently use handheld ultrasound devices to hunt for breast tumors in some patients. The labor-intensive process can skip some tumors. Automated breast ultrasound eliminates the need for an ultrasound technologist so there’s less risk of missing a lesion.

Pros/cons: Automated breast ultrasound can help detect breast cancer. Breast cancer detection doubled from 23 to 46 in 6,425 screening studies using automated breast ultrasound with mammography, resulting in a significant cancer-detection improvement. Some insurance providers don’t cover the test yet, so check your policy.

Should you ask for it? Ask for automated breast ultrasound in addition to a screening mammogram if you have extremely dense breast tissue (in the 75% or greater range).

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

This tool employs magnetic and radio waves instead of X-rays to create highdefinition cross-sectional images of breast tissue.

For the test itself, the patient is injected with safe, nonradioactive contrasting salt solution in the arm, then lies face down on a table with both breasts positioned into cushioned coils that contain signal receivers. The entire bed is then sent through a tube-like magnet.

In areas where there might be cancer, the contrasting agent pools and is illuminated on computer-generated images.

Do You Have Dense Breasts?

Breast density depends in part on hormonal status, which is why premenopausal women are more likely to have dense breasts.

Genetics also plays a part. If your mom had dense breasts, you’re more likely to have them. But only a mammogram can make that determination.

In some states, radiologists are required by law to tell you, in the letter you receive about your mammogram results, whether you have dense breasts. If your state doesn’t require that information, simply ask your doctor if your mammogram results indicate whether you have dense breasts.

The letter about breast density won’t tell you the percent of breast density, which can be helpful for knowing which supplemental tests to push for, such as MRI.

To find out the percentage of breast density, ask your doctor for a copy of the radiology report he/she received. You have a right to it.

When to Get a Mammogram

The American Cancer Society recommends that women at average risk between age 40 and 44 have the option to start with a screening mammogram every year.

Women 45-54 should get a mammogram yearly. Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year or choose to continue yearly mammography.

If you’re at high or intermediate risk, your doctor may advise starting mammography before age 40.

Pros/cons: MRI has been shown to find 2-6% more cancers than mammogram alone. In 1,000 women, studies show MRI will find twice as many cancers, compared to 3D mammogram alone.

Should you ask for it? If you’re at high risk for breast cancer (in the 20% category or more), you automatically qualify for supplemental screening with MRI.

Insurance carriers will cover the cost of this sensitive but expensive test. If you’re not a high risk but you have extremely dense breasts, consider paying out of pocket for this test. Screening breast MRI costs $600 to $700.

“Even if you have as little as a 2% risk of breast cancer over the next five years, talk to your doctor about adding MRI,” says Wendie Berg, M.D., Ph.D., a breast imaging consultant.

MRI breast-imaging centers are springing up across the country, but it’s important to seek out a facility that has MRI-guided biopsy capability, so a tissue sample can be retrieved for diagnosis at the time of your scan if a questionable mass is spotted.

Legal Ease

What Happens if My Fiduciary Dies Before i Do?

Dear Jonathan: I am single. A few years ago I engaged in estate planning. The documents I prepared included a will, financial and healthcare durable powers of attorney, and a trust.

I only have one sibling, my sister, and I named her as my fiduciary in every document — the executor of my will, my agent under my financial durable power of attorney, my patient advocate under my healthcare durable power of attorney, and the trustee of my trust when I am no longer able to act.

She recently had a health scare and spent some time in the hospital, which made me wonder what would happen if she were unable to act as my fiduciary, either because she died before me or due to health issues. What would happen in that event?

Jonathan says: You would have a problem. Regardless of the reason, if your sister is unable (or unwilling) to act as your fiduciary, your financial and healthcare durable powers of attorney would be rendered useless if you ever suffer a disability and are unable to act for yourself.

In this event, the only way someone would be able to act for you is if they petitioned the probate court (or the appropriate court, which has jurisdiction over these matters in the county where you live) to be appointed your guardian and conservator.

Regarding your will, the probate court would need to appoint an executor if you have an estate that needs to be probated.

Regarding your trust, a successor trustee would need to be appointed in the manner your trust requires. Sometimes a trust will allow the trust beneficiaries to appoint a successor trustee without seeking court approval; other times, the trust will require the beneficiaries to seek court approval for

the appointment of a successor trustee. Unfortunately, this is the risk you run when you don’t name enough backup fiduciaries in your estate planning documents.

The good news is you can update your documents now to avoid this from happening in the future. When doing so, I suggest you name at least two backup fiduciaries to make sure you have someone available to act when called upon to do so. Good luck.

Dear Jonathan: I recently updated my estate planning documents, and something occurred to me that did not occur to me at the time I was having those documents prepared.

I named my brother as my patient advocate under my healthcare durable power of attorney. In that document, I gave him authority to make any and all decisions regarding my medical needs and personal health.

My question is: When does his authority to act begin?

This may be an extreme example, but if my physician recommends I have surgery, and I decide after careful consideration not to follow his advice, can my brother overrule my decision and force me to have that surgery because I have named him as my patient advocate?

In other words, can my brother overrule my decision making? I just need to be clear as to what rights I have forfeited and what rights I have going forward.

Jonathan says: You have not forfeited any of your rights. So long as you have legal capacity and are competent to make your own healthcare decisions, your brother has no authority to act on your behalf and cannot overrule your decisions.

Your brother’s authority to act only begins after it has been determined you no longer have the ability to make your own medical and healthcare decisions.

So in the case of the example you provided, until that determination has been made, you get to decide whether to have that surgery, and your brother does not have the authority to overrule your decision.

If you have further questions, I suggest you talk to the attorney who prepared your power of attorney. He or she can review with you the procedure that must be followed for an incapacity determination to be made, which would trigger your brother’s right to begin acting on your behalf under that instrument. Good luck.

Jonathan J. David is a shareholder in the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C., 1700 E. Beltline N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49525.

Jonathan J. David

October is National Estate Planning Month

ELdER L Aw

AttORnEyS

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

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33 North Duke Street Lancaster, PA 17602

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bellomo & associates

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MPL Law Firm, LLP

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nikolaus & hohenadel, llp

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specific areas of elder law in which the firm concentrates:

Estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills/advanced healthcare directives, estate administration, guardianship, Medicaid planning, and business succession planning. Experienced, responsive, and friendly staff.

3 3 2010 2010 Yes Yes No Yes

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1 1 1982 1991 No Yes No Yes

Estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, estate administration, guardianships. York County Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Law Section, chairman since 2001, friendly and efficient service and staff.

2 5 1965 1965 Yes Yes Yes Yes

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7 20 1972 2006 No Yes Yes Yes

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Offices in Lancaster, Columbia, Elizabethtown, and Quarryville.

if you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your marketing consultant or call (717) 285-1350.

* Indicates that at least one attorney in the firm is a member. Information contained herein was provided by the firm.

The Healthy Geezer

Shingles: ‘Little Pox’ Can Cause Big Discomfort

Q. I heard a comedian make a humorous reference to “shingles.” I had shingles, and I didn’t find any humor in the experience. Am I missing something?

Shingles is a painful skin disease caused by the chickenpox virus awakening from a dormant state to attack your body again.

Some people report fever and weakness when the disease starts. Within two to three days, a red, blotchy rash develops. The rash erupts into small blisters that look like chickenpox. And it’s very painful.

Does this sound funny? I don’t think so

…

Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles. Half of all Americans will get shingles by the time they are 80. Shingles occurs in people of all ages, but it is most common in people between 60 and 80. Each year, about 1 million Americans are diagnosed with shingles.

The virus that causes chickenpox and shingles remains in your body for life. It stays inactive until a period when your immunity is down. And, when you’re older, your defenses “ain’t what they used to be.”

The inactive virus rests in nerve cells near the spine. When it reactivates, it follows a single nerve path to the skin. The shingles rash helps with its diagnosis; the rash erupts in a belt-like pattern on only one side of the body, or it appears on one side of the face. It usually begins as a patch of red dots that become blisters.

Physicians treat shingles with antiviral and pain medications. The antivirals don’t cure shingles, but they weaken the virus, reduce the pain, and accelerate healing. The antiviral medications work faster if they are started early — within 72 hours from the appearance of the rash.

The disease’s name comes from the Latin word cingulum, which means “belt.” The virus that causes shingles is varicella-zoster, which combines the Latin word for “little pox” with the Greek word for “girdle.” In Italy, shingles is often called St. Anthony’s fire.

If you have had chickenpox, shingles is not contagious. If you have never had chickenpox, you can catch the virus from contacting the fluid in shingles blisters. In this case, you will not get shingles, but you could get chickenpox.

The pain of shingles can be severe. If it is strong and lasts for months or years, it is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Persistent pain is a common symptom in people over 60. However, most victims of shingles overcome their symptoms in about a month. And the odds are against them getting shingles again.

Outbreaks that start on the face or eyes can cause vision or hearing problems. Even permanent blindness can result if the cornea of the eye is affected. In patients with immune deficiency, the rash can be much more extensive than usual, and the illness can be complicated by pneumonia. These cases, while more serious, are rarely fatal.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the Shingrix vaccine

to prevent painful shingles. Large international trials have shown that the vaccine prevents more than 90% of shingles cases, even at older ages.

Shingrix replaces Zostavax, an earlier shingles vaccine that was removed from the U.S. market.

A committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted to make Shingrix the preferred vaccine and recommended it for all adults over age 50. The committee also recommended Shingrix for adults who’ve received Zostavax.

Check your health insurance provider to determine the coverage it offers for the new vaccine.

Fred Cicetti is a senior and health writer with more than three decades of experience. The Healthy Geezer is devoted to the health questions of seniors who are wondering what is going on with these bodies of ours.

Preserving the dignity, comfort, and health of older adults is our priority. From toenail and callus care, to diabetic wound care, to providing assessment and treatment of balance and circulatory problems, we can help folks of all ages stay on their feet. And staying on their feet means staying healthy, active, and independent.

Fred Cicetti

Boomers, Seniors, Caregivers invited to Cumberland County 50 plus EXPO

The 50 plus EXPO, central Pennsylvania’s one-day information and entertainment event focused on the 50-plus community, will return to Cumberland County this fall.

The 23rd annual Cumberland County 50 plus EXPO will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K St., Carlisle.

Hosted by OLP EvEnts and the Cumberland County Area Agency on Aging, the EXPO’s exhibitors will provide up-to-date information focused on the health, lifestyle, and needs of the local 50-plus community. Admission and parking are free.

In addition a Health & Wellness Area sponsored by WellSpan Health, guests can enjoy onstage entertainment and seminars, including a discussion of the benefits of staying active, a presentation on mastering Medicare, and a performance by an award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artist.

Plus, Quality Care Pharmacy will provide free flu shots, and South Central PA Medical Reserve Corps will offer free flu shots, COVID19 booster shots, and COVID-19 at-home test kits. Please bring your insurance card.

Sponsors include 50 plus Life; abc27 WHTM-TV; BUSINESSWoman; Capital Blue Cross; Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Mechanicsburg; Highmark Blue Shield; Hillside Foot and Ankle Associates, LLC; Homeland Center/Homeland at Home; Menno Haven; The Savings Guide; UPMC; WellSpan Health; and WHYF AM720.

To check out door prizes and other updates for the 50 plus EXPO, please visit 50plusExpoPA.com

Door Prizes

Appleby

Bethany Village

Drayer Physical Therapy

Gift

Highmark Blue Shield

HomeRite of Central PA

Three Karn’s gift cards ($15 value each)

Miracle-Ear

Gift card and variety of MEbranded products ($40 value)

Patriot Home Care

Promotional items and gift card ($50 value)

Twila Glenn Group & Joy Daniels Real Estate

Coffee/tea goodie bag with TGG swag ($15 value)

Hillside Foot

spa

Get the Medicare coverage you

WellSpan Health is proud to be your trusted partner. We work to give our communities the information they need to make the best choices for their lifelong health, lifestyle and coverage.

Learn more by visiting wellspan.org/medicare

CHOICE

At Encompass Health, we create rehabilitation programs that are specifically designed for each patient’s needs, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. It’s why so many people and their caregivers choose us. And why we are the trusted choice of a growing number of medical professionals.

Seminars and Entertainment at the EXPO!

9:45 a.m. – Medicare Basics: Your Questions Answered

Presented by Taneya Porter, Medicare and Individual Sales Representative, Capital Blue Cross Medicare — a word most people cringe at, and some can’t believe the term even applies to them. Attend this free seminar and learn the basics: what the differences are between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplemental plans, when you should initiate the process, how to avoid late-enrollment penalties, and more.

10:30 a.m. – Why Staying Active is So Important for Your Physical and Cognitive Well-being

Presented by Jessica Arnold, Director of Therapy, and Kylie Van Dam, Senior Physical Therapist, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Mechanicsburg

Join us to learn how staying active will help protect your brain, maintain sleep quality, and enhance your mental well-being. Key takeaways will include increasing your energy level and lowering your risk for developing cognitive impairments.

11:15 a.m. – Elvis Presley Tribute Artist

Presented by Jeff Krick Jr.

At only 25, Reading native Jeff Krick Jr. is one of the most successful Elvis tribute artists in the country. At age 19, Jeff placed No. 6 in the world at the prestigious Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest and in the top 10 at the Images of the King Contest in Memphis. He is a two-time fan-favorite award winner and three-time top 10 finalist at Maryland’s Ocean City Tribute Festival, and Jeff has headlined cruise ships and numerous Elvis music festivals.

WHY MAGEEWOMENS?

Because we’ve been caring for women and their families for more than 110 years.

With the region’s largest network of ob-gyn experts, UPMC Magee-Womens provides comprehensive care for women of all ages. And with many locations close to home in central Pa., women can easily find the routine or specialized care they need when they need it. To learn more, visit UPMC.com/WhyMageeCPA.

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Big Spike Ahead in the Barbie Doll Market

Barbie has been in the news lately ahead of the upcoming release of the 2023 Barbie movie. The doll, which was introduced in the late 1950s and skyrocketed in popularity in the 1960s, has recently made big strides in the collectibles market.

German Bild Lilli dolls, adult fashion dolls of the postwar era, first inspired Barbie’s creation. These German dolls have surged in value in the auction market. Recently, a Bild Lilli doll sold for a whopping $5,000, making all the Barbie collectors sit up and take notice.

Appraised values for vintage collectible Barbies are high, well into the thousands for just one doll. The original Barbie No. 1, with her black-and-white-striped bathing suit (1959), still brings high values.

Be sure to check the marks on a Barbie doll’s back or buttocks for information about the date your Barbie was made. Don’t disregard post-1990s Barbies, as they have value too.

Valuable Barbies

Barbie was a different type of doll. Teenage girls were

Lori Verderame Barbie doll, circa early 1960s.

not what traditional dolls typically looked like during the 1940s and 1950s. Prior to Barbie’s introduction, most dolls were baby dolls, china dolls, or dolls geared to young children.

Barbie highlighted teen and young adult issues, an interest in contemporary clothing, and how young people thought about jobs and the future. Barbie had her own character; she wasn’t a doll imitating other characters from literature or film.

This is Barbie’s great appeal. Barbie was not following the pack; she was a leader, and young girls and teens were attracted to this new doll concept.

This new concept also made Barbie an unknown in the marketplace, and this gave market insiders pause. Such dolls were untested in the market, but Barbie persevered. Quickly, it became obvious that the new doll concept put forth by Barbie was desirable. Buyers bought Barbie dolls — an unexpected but great result for the new doll and its makers at Mattel.

Barbie remains influential today because she changes with the changing tides. The collectible toy market and major

movies have kept Barbie in the front of people’s minds.

She adapts to cultural and social changes of the decades, from the 1960s to the early 2000s. Barbie had various careers and even embraced new technology. Mattel, Inc. has done an excellent job of allowing Barbie to change with the times too.

Collectors or people hoping to sell a vintage Barbie doll should look for good condition, rarity, and quality. Condition is most important when it comes to appraised value. Barbie dolls must have no stains, dirt, or damage. Collectors like to collect dolls and their accessories, like clothing, shoes, sunglasses, etc.

Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality Dr. Lori appears on The Curse of Oak Island on History channel. She gives appraisal value information at drloriv.com and youtube.com/drloriv or call (888) 431-1010.

Photo by Nelson Tiffany, Los Angeles Times, licensed under CC by 4.0.

Barbie’s first clothing designer, Charlotte Johnson, posing with a 1965 Barbie doll model.

TH is Create a Great Funeral Day

A Traditional Funeral or a Celebration of Life — What’s the Difference?

By Shelley Hoachlander

If you’re a regular reader of obituary notices, you’ve probably noticed more and more “celebrations of life” are taking place as opposed to standard funeral services. There are several differences between the two services, just as there are several similarities.

For many years, the traditional funeral service began with a viewing or visitation, followed by the funeral, and ending with the burial in a cemetery.

With cremations on the rise, the option of green burials, former COVID restrictions, and countless other reasons, some families are choosing to honor their loved ones in a celebratory manner instead of the final farewell of a traditional service.

Why a Celebration of Life?

Sometimes, a somber funeral service doesn’t truly represent a loved one’s

legacy. For example, let’s say Aunt Sandy was very flamboyant, dressed in bright colors, and had a great, contagious laugh.

Those who knew Aunt Sandy also knew she wouldn’t want her loved ones sitting through a tear-filled funeral service. She would want a party! In her honor, her family chooses a gathering, encouraging guests to wear bright colors, which portrayed Aunt Sandy’s bubbly personality.

Often, a celebration of life is held following a funeral service. For example, perhaps a loved one was very spiritual and loved singing hymns in church but also enjoyed playing a good round of golf. Following the traditional service, the family gathers at a local golf club and celebrates the life of their loved one, surrounded by the very sport that he or she loved.

A celebration of life can be many things. It can honor a person’s life with photos, speakers, and a meal. It can also be a picnic or party with a collection of items in remembrance of a loved one or trinkets given to each guest. It can be a tribute to a life well lived, an accomplished musician, a star athlete, or a young life gone too soon.

Losing a loved one is hard, and grief is personal. For some, the finality of the burial leaves a wound too deep to comprehend. Celebrating a loved one’s life can be more uplifting; provide a better, happier closure; and not only remind us of the time we had with our loved one, but also remind us we were very blessed to share those happier times with him or her.

When planning a celebration of life, you have several options. Just like a traditional service, you can have a celebrant or clergy create a personalized memorial. While a celebration of life can take place at a funeral home, many opt for a venue or location that is more suited to their loved one’s lifestyle.

Typical funerals often include photos or mementos of the deceased, but a celebration of life can include themed decorations, color schemes, a specific dress code, food, and gifts for each guest to take home in remembrance. You can also include a larger array of music, multiple speakers and loved ones sharing memories, and party favors for keepsakes.

A celebration of life allows more opportunities to show a loved one’s true self, to include a more festive and upbeat memorial. It is more flexible, can include more activities, and is open to more creativity.

Traditional Funerals Still Suit Many Families

However, not everyone is comfortable with a celebration, opting for the traditional funeral service to honor a loved one’s passing.

The traditional service is often more spiritual in content. While both types of services can be spiritual, the funeral can sometimes be compared to a church service. It includes hymns and favorite songs of the deceased, with singing, clergy, moments of remembrance, scripture readings, and spiritual guidance.

The funeral is typically held in the funeral home or a church, with a specific order of service. Those in attendance tend to dress up more, unless there’s a special request from the family.

Some funeral services display keepsakes of the deceased, an array of photos

OCTOBER 30 TH is Create a Great Funeral Day

Funeral Preplanning an Extension of Estate Planning

To help relieve their families, an increasing number of people are planning their own funerals, designating their funeral preferences, and sometimes paying for them in advance. They see funeral planning as an extension of will and estate planning.

Funeral Planning Tips

Thinking ahead can help you make informed and thoughtful decisions about funeral arrangements. It allows you to choose the specific items you want and need and compare the prices offered by several funeral providers.

It also spares your survivors the stress of making these decisions under the pressure of time and strong emotions. You can make arrangements directly with a funeral establishment.

An important consideration when planning a funeral pre-need is where the remains will be buried, entombed, or scattered.

In the short time between the death and burial of a loved one, many family members find themselves rushing to buy a cemetery plot or grave — often without careful thought or a personal visit to the site. That’s why it’s in the family’s best interest to buy cemetery plots before you need them.

You may wish to make decisions about your arrangements in advance but not pay for them in advance. Keep in mind that over time, prices may go up and businesses may close or change ownership.

However, in some areas with increased competition, prices may go down over time. It’s a good idea to review and revise your decisions every few years, and to make sure your family is aware of your wishes.

Put your preferences in writing, give copies to family members and your attorney, and keep a copy in a handy place. Don’t designate your preferences in your will, because a will often is not found or read until after the funeral.

And avoid putting the only copy of your preferences in a safe-deposit box. That’s because your family may have to make arrangements on a weekend or holiday, before the box can be opened.

Prepaying

Millions of Americans have entered into contracts to arrange their funerals and prepay some or all of the expenses involved.

Laws of individual states govern the prepayment of funeral goods and

services; various states have laws to help ensure that these advance payments are available to pay for the funeral products and services when they’re needed.

But protections vary widely from state to state, and some state laws offer little or no effective protection. Some state laws require the funeral home or cemetery to place a percentage of the prepayment in a stateregulated trust or to purchase a life insurance policy with the death benefits assigned to the funeral home or cemetery.

If you’re thinking about prepaying for funeral goods and services, it’s important to consider these issues before putting down any money:

• What are you are paying for? Are you buying only merchandise, like a casket and vault, or are you purchasing funeral services as well?

• What happens to the money you’ve prepaid? States have different requirements for handling funds paid for prearranged funeral services.

• What happens to the interest income on money that is prepaid and put into a trust account?

• Are you protected if the firm you dealt with goes out of business?

• Can you cancel the contract and get a full refund if you change your mind?

• What happens if you move to a different area or die while away from home? Some prepaid funeral plans can be transferred, but often at an added cost.

Be sure to tell your family about the plans you’ve made; let them know where the documents are filed. If your family isn’t aware that you’ve made plans, your wishes may not be carried out.

And if family members don’t know that you’ve prepaid the funeral costs, they could end up paying for the same arrangements. You may wish to consult an attorney on the best way to ensure that your wishes are followed.

Source: Federal Trade Commission

and memoirs, and like the celebration of life, have a theme.

Ultimately, the type of service should be what the family is comfortable with in honoring their loved one.

The sky is the limit when planning a service, and if you prefer one over the other and have special requests, you might want to consider preplanning your

final arrangements. Not only does this relieve your family of stress, but it is also more cost effective. Plus, you can plan for the service you wish to have, right down to every last detail.

Shelley Hoachlander, office manager for Neill Funeral Homes, Inc., has worked for the company for 22 years. Neill Funeral Homes has two locations, Harrisburg and Camp Hill, and is part of Dignity Memorial. In addition to her duties as office manager, Hoachlander also handles community outreach and event planning.

remembering Yvonne De Carlo at 100

Due for release this fall, the Rob Zombie-produced, -written, and -directed film The Munsters seems like an appropriate pre-Halloween offering but will almost certainly be a “love it or loathe it” experience for fans of the beloved ’60s TV series on which the new production is based.

In addition to voice cameos from two of the surviving original cast members, the new movie features Zombie’s wife, Sheri Moon Zombie, as Munster matriarch Lily, memorably played by Yvonne De Carlo in the TV series.

A stunningly beautiful actress during the 1940s and ’50s, Yvonne De Carlo first found fame on the classic-movie silver screen before branching out into what many major film stars of the era would have deemed unthinkable: joining the cast of a ’60s sitcom.

Born 100 years ago in September in Vancouver, British Columbia, the actress’s name still conjures up the image of an exotic Hollywood woman of mystery. No wonder De Carlo, who died in 2007, was the perfect choice for the sultry Anna Marie in 1945’s Salome, Where She Danced , her first lead role.

In 2011, I asked Bruce Morgan to share some insights about his famous mother.

“I was probably in my early 20s, and I saw the film projected in the screening room at someone’s home,” recalled Morgan. “Even though it was my mother, I was extremely impressed with her talent at such an early age — she was only around 22 when she made the film. She had total command of herself.”

A decade later, De Carlo was still dazzling audiences as glamorous Sephora, the desert-dwelling shepherdess and wife to Moses (Charlton Heston), in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 biblical epic The Ten Commandments

Yvonne De Carlo’s rise to stardom began in various Canadian theaters and nightclubs before moving to Hollywood to work briefly as a dancer at the Florentine Gardens, followed by several years as a film extra at Paramount.

“Basically, the studio didn’t quite know what to do with her,” noted Morgan.

Her big break loomed when DeMille considered using her in what would have been her first lead role in The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944), but the deal fell through.

“DeMille had his eye on Yvonne and discovered her long before The Ten Commandments,” said Morgan.

De Carlo continued to appear in films throughout her 50-year movie career, sharing the big screen with major stars such as Burt Lancaster, John Wayne, Clark Gable, Alec Guinness, Peter Ustinov, and Rock Hudson.

While she could have faded into Norma Desmond-like movie-star oblivion, De Carlo reinvented herself in the 1960s by accepting the comedic role of TV’s Lily Munster.

“Long before The Munsters ever came along, my mother loved spooking people and enjoyed spooky movies,” Morgan explained. “She loved Dracula, so I had to laugh when she got the role of Lily Munster because something worked out that was meant to happen. She also understood what it meant to be in a hit television series, which could be meteoric in terms of your fame. She said, ‘It made me hot again!’”

But De Carlo wasn’t the first choice for the pallid, yet alluring, misfit monster TV mom.

“That was Joan Marshall,” said Morgan. “She was good, but she looked too much like Carolyn Jones of The Addams Family. So, my mother got the part and was told to play the role as if she was the mother in a normal sitcom.”

But aside from normal-looking daughter Marilyn Munster (played by Pat Priest, who took over the role halfway through the first season from Beverley Owen), the series was far from a typical sitcom production, with the remaining cast portraying a family of spooky but harmless monster-like characters.

Preparation for filming was demanding for those actors, and Morgan remembers accompanying his mother to the studio in the early-morning darkness.

“I would watch Abe Haberman make her up for the three to five hours needed with all the base makeup and highlights that were designed for black-and-white filming,” he recalled. “The makeup was green and blue and designed for the panchromatic film that was used. Black-and-white film sees color as shades of gray, so green was not the same as blue.

“There was a high level of technical quality on The Munsters, considering it was a TV show. The set was done right, and the number of mechanical please see DE CArLO on facing page

Nick Thomas

Photo courtesy Universal Pictures. Yvonne De Carlo as Salome in Salome, Where She Danced (1945).

Photo courtesy CBS.

De Carlo as Lily Munster.

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DE CArLO from facing page

effects per show was surprising. It was not an easy series to do.”

The Munsters was a hit for CBS, and even behind the tediously applied layers of makeup, De Carlo’s star status continued to shine through. And while she spent most of her career in motion pictures, like so many others who had success in a popular ’60s sitcom, she will forever be identified with one TV character.

Morgan believes his mother’s acting career was also inevitable, partly because of his grandmother, who he says was herself “a frustrated

performer and dancer, transferring that ambition to her daughter.”

But he also remembers his mother describing a trip to California in 1932, when she was 10 years old, visiting the main library in downtown Los Angeles.

“She felt that she would one day be famous,” he recalled. “Whether real or imagined, she was endeared with a sense of destiny.”

This interview with Bruce Morgan was condensed and edited from the author’s book, Raised by the Stars. Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for many magazines and newspapers. See getnickt.org.

It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘Garden Party’

I went to a garden party

To reminisce with my old friends

A chance to share old memories

And play my songs again

That’s what Rick Nelson expected when he signed on as a “special added attraction” at a New York oldies concert at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 15, 1971. But a tactical error by Nelson led to his storming offstage, his set cut short by several tunes.

A year later, via “Garden Party,” his 19th — and final — Top 10 hit, he told the world his story behind that long-ago Friday night.

Chuck Berry was the show’s headliner, with supporting acts that included Bobby Rydell, Bo Diddley, the Shirelles, the Coasters, and Gary U.S. Bonds. Each of the performers — Nelson included — had been hitless since 1964, the year that a Liverpool, England, quartet swept Americans off the charts overnight.

When I got to the garden party

They all knew my name

No one recognized me

I didn’t look the same

That evening, Nelson strolled onstage with ultra-long hair, bell-bottom jeans, a velvet shirt, and cowboy boots. His longtime fans were aghast.

Nelson would later recount to Rolling Stone, “They kept looking at me and my long hair as if they couldn’t believe I was the same person. But I couldn’t have done it any differently, except by getting my hair cut and putting braces on my teeth.”

He opened with “Be-Bop Baby,” one of his early hits, and for a while Nelson’s classics brought screams of recognition and appreciation. But later in his set he offered a cover version of Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs to Me,” and the mood of the audience instantly dampened.

To make matters worse, Nelson set down his guitar, seated himself at an onstage piano, and launched into the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women.” What followed was a tsunami of boos.

Concert promoter Richard Nader later explained, “The people that were in Madison Square Garden were not there to hear contemporary music; they were there to escape it.”

When I sang a song about a honky tonk

It was time to leave

Nelson played one more number before exiting the stage to seek refuge in a dressing room that night.

He soon renewed performing as he had since his return to the concert stage in 1969, mixing his oldies with some newer material.

Outside of the New York debacle, he never encountered any problems; on a 1972 U.K. tour, for example, Nelson played London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall. His song set was essentially the same as the one at the Garden, only with more newer offerings. The exuberant crowd that night demanded four encores.

Nelson would eventually create his story song about that disastrous 1971 night. In doing so, Nelson’s “Garden Party” served notice to the world that he would never again be part of any strictly “oldies” gig.

If you gotta play at garden parties

I wish you a lotta luck

But if memories were all I sang

I’d rather drive a truck

Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

randal Hill

“Garden Party”

By rick Nelson October 1972

Photo credit: CBS Television

rick Nelson performing on the television program The Jim Nabors Show.

On Life and Love after 50 Nonromantic Love important for Seniors

Most single seniors who contact me would relish being in a romantic relationship. But many of them are realistic, realizing that finding romantic love becomes more difficult as they age, and consequently, may not happen.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy a loving nonromantic relationship.

Today, two older women share details of their nonromantic relationships.

Althea wrote, “I’ve had a 10-year relationship with my friend Bill. We met online and had our first date in August 2012.

“He was nice, a welcome change from the duds I had been meeting. He had a sense of humor and a pleasant, dimpled smile. He was 44 and I was 63 — a 19-year difference. He thought I was 53 and told me he liked older women. Eventually I told him my real age. He didn’t mind the bigger age gap.

“When we met, he was just three months out of his marriage, and he told me it was in the divorce process.

“We loved dogs and the outdoors, and he had a good sense of humor. But that’s all we had in common; plus, our lifestyles were much different, due to our ages and living situations.

“Bill has always had his own business as a handyman. He made little money, and his wife rarely worked, so he was their sole support. At one point they had to move into his parents’ house when his girls were young. He was still living there when we met; I realized he was never going to make enough money to afford living on his own.

“We have never been intimate except for kissing. I was afraid I would end up supporting him. Also, he never got a divorce because his business was in both his name and his wife’s name. We dated for a few months.

“I realized he was not going to be the forever-man for me because we were in totally different places in our lives that didn’t mesh. The dating ended, but

we kept in touch. He still wanted a relationship; I still wanted a friendship.

“For 10 years, he’s been a good friend. Each time I relocated, he’s helped me pack and move. I’ve always paid him. This May, he drove me to my storage unit, packed my stuff into his truck, and brought it back 85 miles to my new storage unit and unpacked it.

“He now pops over to say hi when he’s working in the area. On Wednesday, he took me for an evening sunset ride in his 2004 Mercedes convertible. When he brought me home, as he was hugging me goodbye outside in the cool evening air, he said, ‘I love you.’ I was a bit stunned but smiled at him and said spontaneously, ‘I love you too!’”

Another woman, Brenda, said, “I have an unromantic love relationship with an older man. He and I have played very important roles in each other’s lives and shared many laughs and tears. We have confided things to each other that we’ve never discussed with others. I wouldn’t trade his friendship for anything.”

Tom’s comment: Althea has managed her relationship well. She had the common sense to not get into a living-together or intimate relationship. It wasn’t only the 19-year age difference that was a roadblock. It also was the lack of many important things in common.

And yet, after 10 years, Althea and Bill have remained friends and professed their nonromantic love to one another. They are there for each other and help each other.

Brenda’s comment is spot on. Nonromantic love can be priceless.

For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to findingloveafter50.com.

Tom Blake

3 Alternatives to that Gross Kitchen Sponge

You won’t like hearing this, but your kitchen sponge has more bacteria than a laboratory petri dish!

So if you’re worried about catching food poisoning from undercooked meat, the odds are far higher if you clean your dishes with a dirty sponge.

I say that because about 5% of raw chicken sold in supermarkets may be contaminated with salmonella, according to the latest data. Compare that with a microbial paradise like a sponge that could house 54 billion bacteria in every cubic centimeter. That’s the size of a sugar cube!

A dirty kitchen sponge can lead to a variety of symptoms that are hard to diagnose. That’s because the clinical presentation of diarrhea, fever, and fatigue is going to look like a lot of things. Certainly, sponge-related illness is never going to come up! It’s almost 100% of the time chalked up to “food poisoning.”

Here are some of the germs living on your sponge:

Campylobacter. This could cause diarrhea. People typically get an infection of this from undercooked (or raw) chicken, unpasteurized milk, or contaminated lettuce or vegetables. Those who become ill from this can expect loose stools, abdominal pain, fever, and feeling queasy.

Enterobacter cloacae. Germophobes beware: This guy lives in your gut as part of your normal intestinal flora! It’s not considered dangerous unless you become immunocompromised.

It’s also a common nosocomial infection — the kind you get while you’re in the hospital. Then it will rise up with all its glory and attack your skin, respiratory tract, internal organs, and blood. It can cause endocarditis and pneumonia.

E. coli. People who become infected with E. coli have the usual stomach complaints that look like food poisoning. To be clear, E. coli can be transmitted from raw or undercooked ground beef, raw milk, some cheese, or

Suzy Cohen please see SPONGE on facing page

troops deserve our help and to know they aren’t forgotten!

Military Families, a PA-based nonprofit, encourages you to brighten the holidays for our troops overseas by sponsoring a care package!

Thousands of essential items have been received for veterans, but monetary donations to defray shipping costs are desperately needed.

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Halloween is Here — Are You ready?

Trick-or-treating is about to commence. Here are some fun facts to share while you’re handing out candy:

• The word “witch” comes from an Old English word, “wicce,” meaning “wise woman.”

• Black and orange are associated with Halloween because they’re signs of autumn. Orange signifies harvest, and black alludes to darkness coming earlier.

• Jack-o-lanterns are Irish. In an Irish folktale, a man named Stingy Jack fooled the devil and was punished by being forced to walk the Earth with only a burning coal in a hollowed turnip to light his way. “Jack of the Lantern” became “Jack-o-lantern.”

• Trick-or-treating has a long history. In medieval times, children would go door to door on All Souls Day, asking for food in exchange for prayers for the inhabitants’ deceased family members.

• The most popular kids’ Halloween costume is Spider-man. According to the National Retail Federation, it’s followed by princesses, Batman, witch, ghost, pumpkin, Superman, zombie, and Avengers hero.

SPONGE from facing page

contaminated vegetables.

Most cases include a mild fever, painful stomach cramping, diarrhea (often tinged with blood), and nausea/vomiting. It may cause life-threatening symptoms, so always visit a doctor if you become short of breath or weak or if you develop a nosebleed or decreased urination.

Other organisms that a sponge can harbor include Klebsiella , Staphylococcus, and Moraxella osloensis. That last one is the same bug responsible for the malodor of wet laundry!

There are many options if you are grossed out about using your sponge. Like one of my friends said, “It’s a love-hate relationship.”

Here are three reasonable alternatives to a sponge:

1. Use a scrub brush with bristles. You can put those in a dishwasher. The advantage is that they do not have nooks and crannies like a sponge, so they harbor fewer organisms.

2. Use a dishwasher, but be aware that the soaps all have a bunch of chemicals.

3. Microwave a wet sponge every week.

If you’d like to read a more comprehensive, detailed version of my article, visit suzycohen.com.

This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.

Medicare has changed. Find out how it can affect

Important changes to the federal Medicare program became effective at the beginning of the year. As a result, retirees in your state may be eligible for coverage with new options.

To get the most out of Medicare — and the facts that matter to you, it is urgent that you understand your rights and options. PLUS — Find out if you qualify for Medicare Supplement insurance that can help limit your out-of-pocket expenses.

Get the

that

We are not connected with, nor endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare Program. I understand I have no obligation. A licensed agent may contact you. Policy form number L030PA, L031PA, L035PA, L036PA, L037PA, L038PA, F001PA, F002PA.