What is an annual notice of change? page 8 Complimentary | York County Edition September 2022 egypt: land of pyramids and pharaohs, part 2 page 20 a Work heartof page 4
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Negotiate your closing costs. You can sometimes bargain for a lower cost on some closing fees, like pest inspections. Some costs are nonnegotiable, but take a close look at everything in your agreement for items you can reduce.
Thinking of buying a second home? You don’t have to be rich, but you do have to be careful. The New York Times offers these tips on keeping costs a little more reasonable: Lock in your mortgage rate early. Mortgage rates are on the upswing. You’ll save money in a volatile economy by getting your mortgage approved as early as possible, before the rate goes up even more.
2 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com BOOK ONLINE at DutchApple.com Or Call Lancaster,717-898-1900PA NOW – SEPTEMBER 17 SEPTEMBER 23 – NOVEMBER 12 IT’S ONE HOT FALL SEASON! Passion… Scandal… Fame… AND ALL THAT JAZZ! • Competitive Wages • Paid Training– No Experience Required • Bring Your Child To Work– Save The Cost Of Daycare! Parents, Retirees & Gig Workers Are Strongly Encouraged To Apply. apply today call 717-244-4591 or email JoBs@redlionBus.com THE CARGO IS precious. THE JOB, re Warding. EEO Become a school Bus driVer!
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Examine maintenance fees. If you’re buying a condo or any community with a homeowners association, remember you’ll have fees on top of the selling price. Those fees can affect the size of the mortgage you’re eligible for, so take them into account when applying. Look at whether the association has an emergency fund for unexpected issues, and if any special assessments are coming up. Look for tax breaks. Remember that you can deduct mortgage payments and property taxes if your new home is for personal use. If you plan to rent out the property, other tax breaks are available, like deductions for maintenance and depreciation. Plus, you’ll receive event updates, story links, and more! “like” us on facebook!
5. Nurture community connections. Social connectedness is a vital part of all Blue Zone societies. Maintaining such connections can enhance our long-term health as research shows that older adults who support socially active lives have significantly lower disability and cognitive decline rates.
Research has shown that genetics account for only about 25% of life expectancy, which means we can enormously impact the length and quality of our lives through the choices we make every day.
The Blue Zones offer the rest of the world insights into healthy living. While there are no guarantees that incorporating these habits will get us to age 100, doing so could yield powerful benefits.
Fortunately, research also finds it is never too late to make changes that can help us live a longer and healthier life.
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There’s an essential difference between being full and just not being hungry.
Most centenarians are careful not to overeat. Paying attention to your body’s signals is critical; remember that it takes about 20 minutes for our stomach to tell our brain that it is full. So be mindful of how much you’re taking in.
Create Your Own Blue Zone
2. Don’t let stress become a problem. It is well established that chronic stress leads to inflammation and health problems, so it is not surprising that the Blue Zone communities have effective ways of dealing with stress. They know how to keep stress from reaching toxic levels.
4. Take spirituality seriously. A total of 98% of Blue Zone centenarians
By Nancy J. Schaaf, RN
1. Keep moving. People in Blue Zones worldwide don’t set out to exercise; their everyday routines naturally involve moving about. They often walk, whether headed to the market or a neighbor’s home. They cultivate gardens, which consists of bending and moving. Research shows that regular walking can help older adults live longer, even if they don’t walk enough to meet recommended guidelines. We should find ways to move naturally, such as walking or biking to the store or taking the stairs rather than riding in the elevator.
As we age, health becomes more significant. Because of improvements in medicine and health, we live longer lives now. Aging well in body and mind is essential for experiencing a rich quality of Septemberlife. is Healthy Aging Month, which focuses national attention on the positive aspects of growing older and encourages people to emphasize their health and take precautions to face the challenges that come with aging. If our goal is to live a long and healthy life, we might want to try the lifestyle of the people who live in the Blue Zones. These zones are known for their high proportions of people who live to age 100 and beyond, generally avoiding health issues like diabetes and heart disease that afflict many Americans.Today,the five Blue Zones are located around the globe, including Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. National Geographic explorer Dan Buettner worked with a team to uncover the reasons for the Blue Zones’ longevity phenomena and identify the lifestyle habits the people of these regions all shared, despite differences in nationality andHereethnicity.aresix things we can do to emulate them:
Discover stress-relief techniques like walking outdoors and practicing meditation, Pilates, or yoga. Other stress relievers include keeping a gratitude journal, socializing with friends, or indulging in a hobby like reading or puzzling.
3. Focus on family. Blue Zone living involves spending time with family members of multiple generations. According to studies, people who maintain strong family relationships live longer and experience fewer health issues. Regular visits or phone calls with loved ones can strengthen the bonds. Select activities that all can enjoy, like picnics. Devotion to family enables older relatives to remain with their children.
September is Healthy Aging Month
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 3
6. Strive for clean, moderate eating and drinking. People in each Blue Zone focus on plant-based foods, which many grow in their own gardens. Beans feature prominently in most centenarians’ diets, as do fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, and whole grains. Meat is consumed only a few times a month and in small amounts.
Blue Zone recipes focus on locally grown foods free from preservatives and artificial sweeteners. They rely on whole foods full of nutrients and fiber and refrain from processed foods.
interviewed by Buettner’s team adhered to some religious faith. Researchers cannot be sure of the reason, but people who attend religious services at least once a week tend to have a lower mortality rate.
People enjoy moderate amounts of red wine regularly in four of five world Blue Zones (Loma Linda being the exception). “Moderate” means one to three glasses daily, usually as part of a meal.
And although she’s been using this medium for quite a while now, “I continue to take workshops with master pastellists because you never stop learning,” she said. “When I paint, I’m not just copying a scene … I pause and ask myself what I want to express through this painting,” Stepenaski said. “I don’t know if art requires so much courage as confidence in myself. What I do find that takes courage is to accept I can still be better. Art can be Beforehumbling.”Stepenaski begins a new painting, she said she asks herself what she wants to portray.“Artis a process of discovery and growth,” she said. “I enjoy all my paintings, although not all are a technical success.”
Cover Story A Work
“I never stopped painting but couldn’t get serious until the kids were out of school,” she said.
After moving to Lancaster County in 1992, Stepenaski became a member of the Lancaster County Art Association, which “helps keep me active and involved,” she said.
Stepenaski makes it a practice to really get to know her students, which helps her understand of Heart
Around the age of 14, pastel artist Dot Stepenaski became aware of her ability to draw. “I would fill notebooks with drawings, she said. “When I entered high school, they introduced an art program that treated art as a major … I was hooked.” Stepenaski, originally from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, remembers meeting her lifelong mentor, Florence Collins, while taking those high school art classes. “She is a teaching legend in our community,” she said. “She encouraged me to become a member of the Conshocken Art League and attendThatclasses.”membership was vital to her growth as an artist.
As Stepenaski put it, art is a “very internal process and can be isolating. Belonging to our local art associations gives us access to other artists, processes, and opportunities.”
4 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life 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. Awards CORPORATE OffICE P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 Phone (717) 285-1350 (610) 675-6240 Fax (717) 285-1360 Email address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson EDITORIAL Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce ART ProjectDEPARTMENTCoordinator Lauren Phillips BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Senior Marketing Consultant Joshua Binkley Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer ADMINISTRATIONBusinessManager Elizabeth Duvall
After high school, Stepenaski took a fulltime job while also taking classes at the local art association in the evening, but “I was so unsatisfied,” she said. Her mother was strongly against her attending college, but after a few years of saving, Stepenaski took matters into her own hands.
“I found my old set of pastels from high school,” she said. “I struggled on my own for a few years, then connected with some other pastellists and took off from there.”Pastel is composed of pigment and very little binder, Stepenaski explained, so “working in pastels is very dirty work,” she said. “You are holding the stick of pastel in your hand, working directly onto the paper.”
“I bought a car and enrolled in evening classes at the Academy of Fine Arts in Philly four nights a week,” sheItsaid.wasn’t easy, working full time and taking night classes. In 1976, Stepenaski met her husband, who she said has been a loving and supportive partner ever since. In 1978 she started attending the Philadelphia College of Art, but when she started a family, she set college aside.
Initially, Stepenaski was a watercolor painter, but about 20 years ago she felt the need for a change.
Bay Watch Dressed for Spring
Member of
As a member of the LCAA Ladies Art Forum, where artists constructively critique and advise on the artwork of others, it was suggested to Stepenaski that she should teach because “I was pretty clear and animated in my advice,” she said. About 10 years ago, she began teaching pastels at the LCAA, in addition to teaching at the York Art Association, Willow Valley, and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
By Lynda Hudzick
• A group that wants to age at home as long as reasonable
SILVER ECONOMY?Whatareyouwaitingfor?
51% of people aged 52-70 spend fewer than 11 hours a week online. While businesses need an online presence, print adds power to a media campaign. Most boomers and seniors are open to and love classic media.
• Mobile esthetic and concierge services – hairstylist, manicurist, massage, facials
In 2006, Stepenaski was approached by the North Museum in Lancaster to paint murals to complement their display cases featuring Susquehannock Indian history and artifacts. Unsure at first due to the large scale of the project, she decided to give it a try and agreed to do the murals, focusing on a springtime theme.
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The obvious: Home improvements/renovations Tourism and leisure activities tailored for them Caregiver solutions Financial products geared for seniors Retirement living The not-so-obvious: Security technology – mobile apps, sensors, wearable devices, smart clothing, etc.
“Not all were easily found!” she said. Unfortunately, the mural was destroyed during a remodel of the Susquehannock Room, but at the time, it was very well received.
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• They are looking for products and services to help them age well
“I met a young woman from the area … she became very emotional and, at the end of the show’s opening, approached me to share her story,” Stepenaski said. “She was a war veteran suffering from PTSD, and she shared how my work reminded her of happier times wandering the woods as a child … you never know how much of an impact art can have on someone.”
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• Pet care – pet sitting, walking, grooming, food, accessories, etc.
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 5 their skill awkwardpresentarea,juriedfrequentlyteach,said.tonoviceconvincingpartsconfidenceandlevels.“Oneofthehardestofteachingisthetruethatittakestimebecomegood,”sheNotonlydoesshebutherworkisfeaturedinartshowsintheandsheisoftenfortheseevents.“Ifeelalittletalkingaboutmy work, though,” she said. “Art speaks for itself.” A perfect example of that statement took place at a show at the C.X. Carlson Gallery, which featured landscapes of Lancaster County.
Harry and Peetsy Yellow Pepper
• Personal services – running errands, shopping What sectors are on the rise?
50plus Life—Covering Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties—is an excellent venue!
On the cover: Artist Dot Stepenaski amongst some of the sculptural art near the entrance of the Lancaster County Art Association in Strasburg.
• Gardening/lawn services combined with snow removal
“I talked with the specialists at the museum about the importance of the river. I was a Master Gardener at the time and familiar with native plants and birds, so I suggested incorporating a ‘scavenger hunt’ in the mural,” Stepenaski said. As a result, she included about 120 different native birds, insects, animals, and artifacts in the mural.
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Why do you want to reach these buyers?
Are you getting your share of the
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962 million men and women over the age of 60
The COVID-19 pandemic affected the artistic community in ways that might have been surprising to some, considering many people suddenly had more hours at home to fill. “I found that I did less painting than normal and heard from several other artists that they felt the same,” Stepenaski said. “Art is very much an internal dialog, and the pandemic was a huge, almost disorienting event. As time went on, though, folks were fatigued, and did look for creative outlets. That was probably the only upside of the last two years.”Stepenaski strongly encourages anyone who has a desire to learn to paint, or to enhance their current skills by trying a new medium, to remember the “need to acknowledge to themselves that it takes time to understand how to use a new medium and permit themselves to make mistakes to get better.“Anovice student needs to recognize they will not create great paintings until they’ve invested a couple of hundred hours working.”Foranartist, every original work that they’ve put their heart into contains a piece of themselves. But also, every original work contains something that appeals uniquely to the person enjoying it.
• Persons with a life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78.87 years
• They like to take care of themselves, be active, eat well, be fashionable, and have fun
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Call to learn how we can help you reach our 150,000+ readers of 50plus Life!
• They are free of many economic burdens
Persons who prefer in-person contact when possible
“There is nothing like owning a piece of original art,” Stepenaski said. “Not only are you getting a unique work of art, and supporting small business, but also you are making an emotional investment. When you hang original art in your home … it is a part of your self-expression, unique personality, and outlook on life.”
Which buyers make up the Silver Economy?
A group with 11 times more wealth than millennials
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• They have more free time
Mayer-Hess farmstead
fred Cicetti
Healthy Geezer
A sudden increase in floaters could mean a part of the retina has pulled away from its normal position at the back wall of the eye. A detached retina is a serious condition and demands emergency treatment to prevent permanent impairment or even blindness. What should you do when you notice your first floater? It’s a good time to get that eye examination you’ve been putting off.
The Are ‘floaters’ Cause for Concern?
Many new floaters can sometimes appear suddenly. Get to a doctor immediately if this happens.
Q. I’ve been noticing this thing in my eye. At first I thought it was an eyelash. Then I realized the thing was actually in my eye. One of my friends told me it’s a “floater,” and not to worry. What exactly is a “floater,” and should I see a doctor? To allay any fears you may have, I should tell you that floaters are usually nothing to worry about. I have them myself. More than 7 in 10 people experience floaters. Now for someThebiology.lensin the front of your eye focuses light on the retina in the back of your eye. The lens is like the one in a camera, and the retina is like film. The space between the lens and retina is filled with the “vitreous,” a clear gel that helps to maintain the shape of the eye. Floaters occur when the vitreous slowly shrinks over time. As the vitreous changes, it becomes stringy, and the strands can cast shadows on the retina. These strands are the floaters. They can look like specks, filaments, rings, dots, cobwebs, or otherFloatersshapes.are the most vivid when you are looking at the sky or a white surface, such as a ceiling. They move as your eyes move and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly.Inmost cases, floaters are just annoying. When you discover them, they are very distracting. But, in time, they usually settle below the line of sight. Most people who have visible floaters gradually develop the ability to make them “disappear” by ignoring them.When people reach middle age, the vitreous gel may pull away from the retina, causing “posterior vitreous detachment.” It is a common cause of floaters, and it is more likely in people who are diabetics, nearsighted, had eye surgery, or suffered inflammation inside the eye. These vitreous detachments are often accompanied by light flashes. The flashes can be a warning sign of a detached retina. Flashes are also caused by head trauma that makes you “see stars.” Sometimes light flashes appear to be little lightning bolts or waves. This type of flash is usually caused by a blood-vessel spasm in the brain, which is called a migraine. These flashes can happen without a headache and they are called an “ophthalmic migraine.”
6 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com
If your floaters are just bothersome, eye doctors will tell you to ignore them.Inrare cases, a bunch of floaters can hamper sight. Then a “vitrectomy” may be necessary. A vitrectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the vitreous gel with its floaters. A salt solution replaces the vitreous. The vitreous is mostly water, so patients who undergo the procedure don’t notice a difference.However, this is a risky procedure, so most eye surgeons won’t recommend it unless the floaters are a major impediment.
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.
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 7 Puzzle Page Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 22. CROSSWORD Across 1. Engine part 4. Deceivers 9. Farm units 14. Actor Vigoda 15. Groundhog Day actress MacDowell 16. Jeweler’s glass 17. The sun 18. Florida city 19. Cay 20. Jason’s ship 22. Not quite mountains 24. Golf ball props 25. Ben of The Heartbreak Kid 1. Spanish houses 2. Cut short 3. Ransom star 4. Asian language 5. Ruler parts 6. Famous firefighter Red 7. Small brook 8. Water show participant 9. MacGraw of Love Story 10. Last name in Waterworld 11. Governed 12. Fencing swords 13. Solidifies 21. It melts in your mouth Down WORD SEARCH SUDOKU your ad could be here on this popular page! Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information. Camping Gear 27. Comes down to earth 29. Hive dwellers 30. Down East 32. Yellowstone sight 34. Batman Forever actor 38. Ruckus 39. Montana city 40. Before, to poets 41. Andy Griffith’s deputy 44. Reddish brown 46. Buenos ___ 47. Ocean motion 48. Bill of fare 50. Diaz of Charlie’s Angels 23. Pizzeria order 26. Spy novelist Deighton 28. Literary collection 30. Baseball gloves 31. Quantities (abbr.) 32. Defective 33. Wedding words 34. Burlap fiber 35. Co-star in Ransom 36. Sea eagle 37. Pro vote 39. Drills 42. Last name in horror flicks 53. Rob Morrow played him on ExposureNorthern 54. Teem 57. Microwave 58. Continental money 60. Bay window 62. Easy mark 63. Video store section 64. Witherspoon of Legally Blonde 65. Health resort 66. Larceny 67. Pub game 68. Black gold 43. Insect egg 44. Not her 45. Paradise 47. Least wild 48. Sofa 49. Eagle’s nest 50. Town ___ 51. Giraffe relative 52. Katmandu’s land 53. Tell a joke 55. Dictionary entry 56. Sphere 59. Dog command 61. ___ Cayes, Haiti
Dear Savvy Senior, Last year I received a “notice of change” letter from my Medicare provider. Should I expect another one this year, and what should I do with it?
– Medicare Rookie
please see ANNUAL NOTICE on facing page coming in January 2023: The ultimate resource for boomers and senior living and care options in south-central Pennsylvania.
The road of life contains more than a few curves … … and confident decisions are informed decisions. Throughout the year, 50plus Life includes Special Services pages dedicated to connecting you with these resources in our area: • CCRCs/Life Plan Communities • In-home Healthcare • Hospice Providers • Nursing/Rehab Communities • Assisted Living/Personal Care Communities • Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorneys
What is an Annual Notice of Change?
advertisers: you don’t want to miss this opportunity to showcase your community or services.
Jim Miller
So yes, you should expect to receive another letter this month.
time
27th annual edition closing date: nov. 4, 2022 Street date: Jan. 2023 onlinepub.com/living.html to be included in the 2023 edition of 50 plus LIVING , contact your marketing consultant, call (717) 285-1350, or email info@onlinepub.com access this free information any at 50plusLifePA.com/special-services
The letter you’re asking about is actually referred to as the Annual Notice of Change (or ANOC), which is a letter you receive from your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in late September. (People with only a Medigap plan don’t receive these because Medigap plans do not have benefit changes from year to year).
Dear Rookie,
and valuable
Please
The ANOC gives a summary of any changes in your plan’s costs and coverage that will take effect Jan. 1 of the next year. The ANOC is typically mailed with the plan’s “evidence of coverage,” which is a more comprehensive list of the plan’s costs and benefits for the upcoming year. You should review these notices to see if your plan will continue to meet your healthcare needs in 2023. If you are dissatisfied with any upcoming changes, you can make changes to your coverage during fall open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Here are three types of changes to look for: Costs: If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, find out what you can expect to pay for services in Costs2023. such as deductibles and copayments can change each year. For example, your plan may not have had a deductible in 2022, but it could have one in 2023. A deductible is the amount of money you owe out of pocket before your plan begins to cover your care. Another example is that your plan may increase the copayments you owe for visits to your primary care provider or specialists.
8 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com Savvy Senior
Writer Recalls Sept. 11 Attacks from D.C.
Seniors face tense retirement years. Increased security is also a reminder of an increased terror threat. Increased public health warnings on COVID-19, monkeypox, and other exotic diseases abound. Increased fraud messages from Social Security and our financial institutions are another reminder to stay vigilant.Sadly, terrorism is a fact of life for all Americans everywhere in the world. The lesson from Sept. 11 is to be vigilant. If you see something suspicious, report it to your local police.
Sept. 11, 2001, began like many busy mornings for me. I was in my Washington office and ready to leave for an appointment with a colleague near Georgetown University. Later, I had a meeting on Capitol Hill and, after that, I planned to take Amtrak to Penn Station in New York. Moments before I left the office, a radio news presenter said a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York. I was astonished! I stopped to hear more. While I waited for news, I reasoned that a small aircraft with an amateur pilot could have hit one of the Twin Towers.
Reading your ANOC can also prevent any surprises about your coverage in the new Shopping,year.
comparing, and enrolling in a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan during the open enrollment period can easily be done online at Medicare’s Plan Finder Tool at medicare.gov/find-a-plan. Or, if you don’t have a computer or internet access, you can also call Medicare at (800) 633-4227 and they can help you out over the phone.
Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free Medicare counseling, is also a great resource to help you make any changes. To find a local SHIP counselor, visit shiphelp.org or call (877) 839Send2675.your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.
By James Patterson
Drugs: If you have prescription drug coverage, look through the plan’s formulary, which is the list of drugs the plan covers. Formulary changes can happen from year to year, so make sure the medications you’re taking will be covered next year and that they’re not moved to a higher tier, which will affect your copay. If you see any changes that will increase your costs, you may want to select a different drug plan that covers all of your medications. If the formulary is incomplete, or you do not see your drug(s) on the list, contact the plan directly to learn more. If you have not received an ANOC by the end of September, you should contact your Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D plan to request it. This notice can be very helpful in determining whether you should make any changes to your coverage during the fall open enrollment.
Coverage: If you have an Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage, check to see if your doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers and pharmacies will still be in network for 2023. You have the lowest out-of-pocket costs if you go to providers and pharmacies that are in your plan’s network. If you see an out-of-network provider, your plan may not cover any of the cost of your care, leaving you to pay the cost out-of-pocket. You should also contact your providers directly to confirm they will still be accepting your plan in the coming year.
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 9
As a longtime traveler to New York, colleagues had told me stories of pilots in small planes that had hit tall apartment buildings. Accidents happen, I concluded. I proceeded to leave for my appointment.Theradiopresenter then said a commercial jet had flown into the World Trade Center. This boggled my mind, as I knew jets did not fly so low as to hit the World Trade Center. It had to be a hoax, I thought. When the radio presenter said the image was on the network news, I had to see it for myself. I was stunned to see billowing black smoke from the North Tower of the World Trade Center. An incredible pilot error, I thought. Maybe the pilot died in the cockpit? The pilotless airliner crashed into the tower. Still, I had doubts as I stood speechless watching the horrible images. Within a few minutes, I witnessed the live televised image of a second airliner crash in the South Tower. It was a day of unspeakable events and lost friends.Shortly after 9:30 that morning, the windows in my office, located near the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, rattled. I looked out the window and saw black smoke billowing in the distance from Virginia. Nearly 200 people died at the Pentagon that morning. President George W. Bush was in Florida that morning with Vice President Dick Cheney in the White House. Members of Congress were evacuated to safety. Cheney decided to stay in the White House and issued military orders to shoot down any plane out of its flight path. Washington, D.C., was a Federalwarzone!employees were ordered home. Military and National Guard troops quickly appeared to safeguard property and citizens. In a short time, the highways leaving Washington, D.C., became clogged with cars. Many vehicles ran out of gas. Stranded motorists walked away from their cars.
James Patterson is a Washington, D.C.-based writer and speaker.
Washington’s Metrorail was closed in several directions. Washington’s mayor ordered businesses closed and residents to stay indoors. Being a brave fellow, I decided to go for a walk down a deserted Pennsylvania Avenue at around 10:30 a.m. I saw no cars and no people. A military vehicle with troops passed me by. Relieved they did not arrest me, I awkwardly waved at them. Two troops awkwardly waved back at me. I stopped at a neighborhood restaurant to see a sign on the door. “Closed. Go home,” it read. I walked to a barbershop and saw men inside fearful to wave back at me. I saw fear on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. I saw confusion. I wondered when it would be over. Twenty-one years on, the threat of terrorism is not over. Biological and chemical terrorism are in today’s news. Cyberterrorism is a frightening possibility.
ANNUAL NOTICE from facing page
Testosterone. It is more the metabolites of testosterone than the hormone itself. This is why urine metabolite testing is so important. Doing a spot check of testosterone in the morning via blood isn’t as informative unless you also have the metabolites from a urine test to compare with it. I recommend the DUTCH at-home test kit for this.
Melatonin. The famous sleep hormone has anti-cancer activity and has been studied for its protective effect on the prostate gland. Did you know meditation raises levels?
This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.
But right now, what I’d like to do is make sure you’re fully armed with the knowledge of important (measurable) biomarkers that are often overlooked, as there’s so much hyperfocus on PSA and DHT and a few others. Overlooking any one of the following could lead to more complications and progression of cancer at a faster rate. Testing yourself properly is important to your health and longevity.
Estrogen metabolites. Men make estrogen as well as women, and it is the breakdown product (the metabolite) of testosterone! So the more testosterone you make, the higher your estrogen levels … and if you’re breaking estrogen down badly, it raises risk for prostate problems. Urine testing via DUTCH can evaluate these metabolite levels, not blood testing.
Few words strike more fear than the word “cancer,” and this article is devoted to helping you find out what critical metabolites should be evaluated.
Glutathione. Higher levels of glutathione are protective and useful as an antioxidant. This is pretty simple because in prostate cancer patients, antioxidant defenses are low, and DNA damage is high. Glutathione protects the cell because it’s an antioxidant.
If you are interested in a longer version of this article with more details, sign up for my informative newsletter at suzycohen.com.
You
IT’SKEEPINGSENIORSINTHEIRHOMES,WHATWEDO. SERVICES INCLUDE: • Medical care • Transportation • Medication management • Personal & in-home care • Telehealth & wellness checks • LIFE Health and Wellness Center And so much more... CHECK FOR YOUR ELIGIBILITY: SeniorLIFEPA.com or call our York location at 717.757.5433TTY:711 $ 0 • DEDUCTIBLES • CO-PAY • PRESCRIPTIONDRUGCOVERAGE
Prostate cancer is very common in the United States and was responsible for over 34,000 deaths in 2021.
Dear Pharmacist
What Should Test for in Prostate Cancer
10 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com
Early in the course of prostate cancer, before it’s even known, the growth of cancer cells is kept in check by natural, normal pathways in the body, usually those under the control of testosterone and related hormones known as androgens. These reproductive hormones deliver one signal to the prostate cancer cell, telling them to “be fruitful and keepWithmultiplying.”continued replication, the cells pour out a protein called “prostate specific antigen,” dubbed PSA. When the PSA levels are measured in a blood test and seen as abnormal (above the normal reference range), the doctors worry this is a first sign of possible prostateTestingcancer.forPSA levels isn’t nearly enough. Neither is testing for testosterone levels, or DHT. There’s so much more, and thankfully doctors can test you using urine “at-home” test kits now. I offer these at my website too.
Suzy Cohen
Vitamin B12. Too much B12 may produce problems, and it is unclear if this is from the resulting elevation of homocysteine or some other mechanism. Measuring levels is important.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 11 The Reel Deal Hocus Pocus 2
as
an ad in a print newspaper
2 Sources: 1Coda Ventures; 2NAA Because in print or online, newspapers are the most trusted source of news and information among all age groups.1 To advertise your products and services, call 717-285-1350 or email info@onlinepub.com 1 in 5 adults is a caregiver. find all the local products and services you need for your Journey. Features: • Informative Articles • Directory of Providers • Ancillary and Support Services View the 2022 edition online www.BusinessWomanPA.comat
Jen D’Angelo (Young Rock, Workaholics) wrote the screenplay — which doesn’t stray far from the original — and directing chores went to Anne Fletcher (Dumplin’, The Proposal ).
Why newspapers?84% of Baby Boomers have
While this is a family-oriented Disney release is rated PG, be aware there is a smattering of crude language and magical violence scattered throughout the story. Hocus Pocus 2 premieres on Disney+ on Sept. 30. Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming movies from his home on the Oregon coast. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com. Randal Hill Image copyright (©) Disney+ Original or related entities. Used for publicity and promotionalpurposes. taken action a result of seeing in the past 30 days.
After taking eight long years to develop and film the story, Disney’s Hocus Pocus appeared in theaters as a 1993 fantasy/comedy/horror offering. In the story, three villainous Massachusetts sister witches from Salem (of course) feed off the energy of young children in order to retain their youth. All three are eventually hanged for their deeds.However, three centuries later, they inadvertently become resurrected one Halloween night by a naïve teenage boy who’s a newcomer to Salem. And that’s when the fun starts.
With Hocus Pocus, all the boxes looked to be checked to provide Disney with yet another runaway theater hit. Surprisingly, it didn’t happen, and Disney’s release inexplicably fizzled at the box office. But, over the years, and especially around Halloween with repeated showings on the Disney Channel and Freeform, Hocus Pocus gradually evolved into somewhat of a cult classic. Now Disney+ is bringing out a highly anticipated sequel. Hocus Pocus 2 features the same wonderous (and seemingly ageless) cast as it did nearly three decades ago: Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson, and Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson. Appearing again also are Omri Katz as Max Dennison, back then the bumbling adolescent who give the evil ones renewed life, and Doug Jones, now a fan favorite since his portrayal of Billy the Zombie in the original release.Ofcourse, there are several fresh young faces here not seen previously, including Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl ), Belissa Escobedo (Blue Beetle), and newcomer Lilia Buckingham as three teenage pals who become the unfortunate targets of the repugnant Sanderson sisters. Tony Hale ( Arrested Development) and Sam Richardson (Veep) come on board as well to round out the new cast.
Fletcher is particularly enthusiastic about the forthcoming movie: “I am beyond thrilled to be involved in the sequel to a film that is as beloved as Hocus Pocus. Fans around the world have embraced these characters and have made the film a Halloween tradition whose popularity continues to grow. How lucky am I to be back at Disney with these three extraordinarily talented ladies in the iconic roles they created, as well as our fabulous new additions to the cast!”
To check out door prizes and other updates for the 50 plus EXPO, please visit 50plusExpoPA.com.
The 20th annual York County 50 plus EXPO will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the York Expo Center – Memorial Hall East, 334 Carlisle Ave., York. Hosted by OLP EvEnts, 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.
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. 4747_upmc_magee_cpa_why_magee_print_5x6.125.indd 1 7/14/22 11:56 AM
12 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com
Sponsors include 50 plus Life, abc27 WHTM-TV, Bellomo & Associates, BUSINESSWoman, Capital Blue Cross, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of York, Highmark Blue Shield, Homeland at Home, Maryland Vascular Specialists, UPMC, and WellSpan Health.
Boomers, Seniors, Caregivers Invited
The 50 plus EXPO, central Pennsylvania’s one-day information and entertainment event focused on the 50-plus community, will return to York County this fall.
to York County 50 plus EXPO Sept. 28, 2022 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave. York YORK COUNT Y 20th Annual person!toExcitedbein Brought to you by: It’s time to get out and: and more! Sponsored by: Encompass Health and Rehabilitation Hospital of York Maryland Vascular SpecialistsBellomoUPMC&AssociatesCapitalBlueCross
MAGEEWOMENS?
Because
In addition a Health & Wellness Area sponsored by WellSpan Health, guests can enjoy onstage entertainment and educational seminars, including a discussion of estate planning, a presentation on mastering Medicare, and a performance by an award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artist.Plus, Hillcrest Pharmacy & Compounding will provide free flu shots. Please bring your insurance card.
WHY
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 13 Get the Medicare coverage you trust and see the providers you prefer. 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
Seminars and Entertainment at the EXPO!
Presented by Daniel Hill and Jessica Delp, Bellomo & Associates Proper estate planning helps your family avoid time in court, maintain control of your assets, avoid family disputes, and minimize delays. Gain an understanding of the three different “lands” of estate planning that you need to be aware of. Learn what to do, and what not to do, to protect your family and assets.
11:15 a.m. – Elvis Presley Tribute Artist
14 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com
Plans starting at $0 Go to CapitalBlueMedicare.com to learn more. Capital Blue Cross is a HMO, PPO Plan with a Medicare Contract. Enrollment in Capital Blue Cross depends on contract renewal. Capital Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Communications issued by Capital Blue Cross in its capacity as administrator of programs and provider relations for all Y0016_23MED924_Ccompanies.
Capital Blue Cross Medicare
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.
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.
10:30 a.m. – Three Lands of Estate Planning
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 15 Get Medicaresupportpersonalizedfromaexpert. Call a Highmark Personal Medicare Advisor who’s ready to answer all your questions. Just call 800-511-0589 (TTY users call 711), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., or Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or go to HighmarkMedicareGuide.com Door Prizes Andrea Morrison, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Gift card/basket ($40+ value) Appleby Systems Gift card (value TBD) Bethany Village Gift card to local restaurant ($50 value) Better Hearing Aid Center Free hearing aid ($2,500 value) Etzweiler Family Funeral Service Gas gift card ($100 value) HearingLife Gift card ($50 value) Highmark Blue Shield Health and wellness items ($15 value) HomeRite of Central PA Three Karn’s gift cards ($15 value each) Hospice & Community Care Gift card (value TBD) Miracle-Ear $20 Starbucks gift card and variety of ME-branded products ($40 value) Patriot Home Care Promotional items and gift card ($50 value) Pusker Organ & Piano Eight free keyboard classes ($299 value) Sam’s Club TBD ($20-$60 value) Your Best Life Vitamin IV infusion of your choice ($129-$149 value) Health Screenings Capital Blue Cross Connect Tanita scale body composition Bloodscreeningpressure screening Elite Therapy Solutions Pain and movement evaluations Hillcrest Pharmacy and Compounding Flu shots Miracle-Ear 20-second hearing evaluation Your Best Life MD Blood pressure check Your life. Your plan. Your community. At SpiriTrust Lutheran®’s six Life Plan Communities, with both in-town settings and countryside locales, you can find continued growth opportunities with Spirit360®, a lifestyle filled with flexibility and choice, a variety of sought-after services, and no maintenance. You’ll also secure a plan for future care needs. Come discover a place where “planning” and “living” merge and allow for living life to the fullest! 888-404-3500 • www.SpiriTrustLutheran.org et Friendly • The Village at Gettysburg Gettysburg, PA | 717-334-4443 • The Village at Kelly Drive York, PA | 717-767-0579 • The Village at Luther Ridge Chambersburg, PA | 717-261-1251 • The Village at Shrewsbury Shrewsbury, PA | 717-235-5737 • The Village at Sprenkle Drive York, PA | 717-767-0579 • The Village at Utz Terrace Hanover, PA | 717-646-2420 Create your dream homeExpand your horizons Cook only when you want Discoverpassionsnew And say goodbye to one of these Residential Living Cottages & Apartments • Assisted Living • Personal Care Memory Support Care Long-Term Skilled Care Short-Term Rehabilitation What’s your plan? retirement
Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff
The carpet in your living room is brown. At least that’s the way you remember it. You haven’t actually seen it in a few years because you’ve got stuff from corner to corner, held down by furniture you don’t sit on, anchored by things you don’t use. Time for a major cleanup, and it can start with Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff by Matt Paxton with Jordan MichaelCleanupSmith.specialist, Hoarders expert, and Legacy List creator Matt Paxton wasn’t always a guy who deals withBackclutter.when he was a new college grad, he was “selfish and self-indulgent” and was fired from his first job, so he moved back in with his father. Sadly, months later, his father died of cancer, and it was left up to Paxton to clear out the family home. Shortly after that, an elderly lady from church asked for help cleaning up. And then there was another request, and another, and Paxton learned each time. Soon, he had a better way to declutter — one that worksThe. first step is to “uncover the stories behind the stuff.” Have someone nearby to listen to why you kept something, to honor its role in your memories. Surprisingly, that makes it easier to relinquish items you don’t need anymore. Are you selling, moving, tossing, or just tired of a mess? Decide why you’re decluttering and what your “finish line” will look like. Be sure to measure the space where you’ll put the things you’re keeping, and “be smart about” using storageNext,units.tackle the clutter in 10-minute increments, and promise yourself you’ll do that every day. Know where to ask for professional help; in fact, accept help, period . Get rid of any guilt you might be feeling. Learn how to eliminate paper, including extra pictures. Learn how to build a Legacy List. Embrace the beautiful power of donating. And know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 14,000 books.
By Matt Paxton with Jordan Michael Smith c. 2022, Penguin Portfolio 310 pages
Unless you’re a dedicated minimalist — a movement that author Matt Paxton says he’s recently embraced — you probably have too many possessions and too much clutter. And too little time and too much confusion, which is where Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff comes in.
Terri Schlichenmeyer
By Roosevelt Allen
Recent Research further Supports Link between Gum Disease and Dementia
16 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com
Alzheimer’s and Oral Health Before diving into the findings of two recent studies that look at oral bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease, it’s helpful to get a general sense of how Alzheimer’s affects theInbrain.thedisease, neurons in the brain stop functioning and communicating with other neurons and eventually die, disrupting the communication, metabolism, and repair processes that are vital to neurons and their networks.
It’s a no-brainer that regularly brushing and flossing your teeth, plus regular dental cleanings and treatment, can lead to better oral health; however, a growing amount of research is beginning to uncover a possible association between gum disease and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The Bookworm Sez Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff
In a gentle way that’s respectful and forgiving, Paxton (with Jordan Michael Smith) guides readers through more steps than one would expect in an effort to make decluttering and purging seem doable. He also shows how getting rid of stuff can be soulfreeing, which could be attractive to even the most dedicated collector, and for anyone who’s reluctant to even think about emptying a home or storage unit. If you’re downsizing, cleaning up or out, you want to spring clean right, or you’ve just become the recipient of parental belongings, this book helps you take the first tiny steps toward a clean, clutter-free existence. Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff is a book you want in your corner.
One change that causes cell disruption is the formation of groups of beta-amyloid protein or plaques between neurons. Another is the abnormal accumulation of a protein called tau that collects and
Says Paxton, “A new, simpler, and better life awaits you when you do.”
In the study, samples of gumline bacteria and fluid from tissue surrounding the spine from 48 cognitively normal adults aged 65 and older were analyzed. While a small sample size, the data showed that individuals with a harmful imbalance in bacteria were more likely to have reduced amyloid levels in the fluid taken from spinal tissue. This means higher brain amyloid levels, which is what is found in an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
A smaller study conducted by New York University College of Dentistry and Weill Cornell Medicine in 2021 found older adults with a higher accumulation of harmful bacteria in the mouth are more likely to have evidence for beta amyloids in the fluid found within the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This appears to indicate that gum disease and other diseases that cause inflammation disrupt the clearance of amyloid from the brain.
Scientists analyzed publicly available data from the Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics to see if gum disease and oral bacterial infections were linked to dementia and death. Data from 6,000 participants of varying age groups, up to a duration of 26 years, was compared.Thebacteria that most commonly causes gum disease was one of the 19 oral bacteria analyzed against antibodies for an association with the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia and death from Alzheimer’s.
It’s important to note that dementia patients are less likely to be able to brush and floss effectively by themselves, which increases the chances of gum disease and the development of oral infections. Long-term follow-up studies and clinical trials are being planned to get a better sense of the timing of gum-disease onset in relation to the onset of dementia, and to assess if gum-disease treatment can prevent the development or reduce the symptoms of dementia.
The Oral and Overall Health Connection is Further Reinforced While further evaluation is needed on the interplay between gum disease and dementia, these findings appear to indicate that taking good and consistent care of your oral health — brushing and flossing at least twice a day, replacing your toothbrush quarterly, consuming less sugary foods and drinks, and visiting your dentist twice a year, for example — could increase the likelihood of maintaining better overall health later in life.
While the mouth houses both protective and harmful bacteria, the body’s response to harmful bacteria can cause the chronic inflammation and bleeding of the gums, loosening of teeth, and eventual tooth loss in gum disease. These bacteria and molecules that cause inflammation can enter open blood vessels in wounds or inflamed gum tissue and travel from infections in the mouth through the bloodstream to other regions of the body, including the brain.
Roosevelt Allen is chief dental officer at United Concordia Denta l (unitedconcordia.com), a national dental solutions partner headquartered in Camp Hill, Pa. In his current role, he oversees professional affairs, dental directors, and clinical and dental policy.
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 17 Did you know? is available online anytime/anywhereforreading! www.50plusLifePA.com September 24, 2022 Overlook Park, Lancaster Registration at 9:00 a.m. • Walk at 10:00 a.m. October 1, 2022 City Island, Harrisburg Registration at 9:00 a.m. • Walk at 10:00 a.m. October 29, 2022 John C. Rudy Park, York Registration at 9:00 a.m. • Walk at 10:00 a.m. Easy online registration at www.alz.org/gpawalk. • Volunteer opportunities available. • Teams and individuals welcome. Alzheimer’s Association 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100 • Harrisburg, PA 17110 Registration brochures, team packets, and sponsorship packets available. For more information, please contact: Harrisburg/York Walks Brianne Grieb, Walk Manager (717) 678-6463; bcgrieb@alz.org Lancaster Walk Fran Gibbons, Walk Director (717) 568-2595; fgibbons@alz.org branches out inside neurons, blocking the neuron’s transport system. What the Research is Telling Us
Since high levels of healthy bacteria are known to help maintain bacterial balance and decrease inflammation in the mouth, there may be a positive relationship between the healthy bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease.
The first study conducted by National Institute on Aging in 2020 seems to support an association between the bacteria that cause gum disease and the development of Alzheimer’s disease and dementias.
The study found that older adults with signs of gum disease and mouth infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s during the study period. Among those 65 years or older, both Alzheimer’s diagnoses and deaths were associated with antibodies against the gum-disease-causing bacteria, which can then cluster with other bacteria to further increase those risks.
I remember walking along a sidewalk when I was 5 years old and hearing chattering overhead. Looking up, I saw a loose group of small birds flying swiftly. I later learned those rapidly flying birds were chimney swifts: sparrow-sized, sootygray birds that nest down the inside of chimneys in cities and towns across much of the United States and southern Canada. I now look forward to seeing swifts every summer because they are entertaining to watch careening and diving across the sky all day, every day, in pursuit of flying insects over cities, towns, andChimneyfields.
Flocks of chimney swifts migrate south during September. I’m always excited to spot some of their groups wheeling after flying insects as they drift along. Again, they are entertaining to see.
18 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com
Clyde McMillan-Gamber
The Beauty in Nature Chimney Swifts
Swifts are perfectly built for how they live. They have large, powerful chest muscles and long wings for sustained, maneuverable flight, but tiny, weak legs that only cling to rough surfaces by their sharp nails, which is all swifts need legs for.Their small legs reduce body weight for more ease in flight. And swifts have large gapes to their small beaks to better snare flyingChimneyinsects.swifts traditionally rear offspring in still-standing, but hollow, broken-off trees. To swifts, I guess, the innumerable chimneys resemble hollow trees, so they nest in many of them, which has greatly increased their populations. Swifts build unique cradles of tiny twigs and their own saliva, which glues those twigs together and attaches them to the inside of chimneys. Each female swift lays three or four eggs on her twig nursery. And each pair of swifts feeds flying insects to their young on their platform. Close to sunset each evening, starting around the middle of August, swifts congregate in swirling flocks over a large neighborhood chimney, which is exciting to experience. Round and around that chattering gathering wheels, while a few swifts at a time drop out of that whirling mass and dive into the chimney to spend the night. As dusk deepens, several swifts at a time drop into the chimney. Soon, the rest of that circling congregation flies down the chimney, looking like smoke in reverse. Finally, only a few swifts are left in the sky.
Photo credit: Jim McCulloch, flickr.com Chimney swift
swifts avoid northern winters, and starvation, by migrating south to northern South America, where they catch flying insects. But they return to North America by the middle of April, ready to raise young.
NaturesWondersByClyde.BlogSpot.comAnatureblogbyClydeMcMillan-Gamber,retiredLancasterCountyParksnaturalistandlongtime
50 plus LIFE columnist byClyde Nature’s Wonders Eachstoryislikeawalkwithyourownnaturalist. Come learn the world’s greatest card game – BRIDGE • Brand new players • Players coming back to the game • Social players wanting to learn more • Players who just want to start over and fill in some gaps Join us during two new, upcoming courses of 8 sessions each. Tuesday evening sessions begin Sept. 6th 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. for 8 Tuesdays Thursday afternoon sessions begin Sept. 22nd 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. for 8 Thursdays $80 registration includes free book, snacks, ample free parking and handicapped accessible restrooms. All lessons are taught by an ACBL certified instructor. Upon completion of the 8 weeks, you will also re ceive a free 1-year membership to the bridge club. To register, email whiterosebridgeclub@yahoo.com or call Edward at 717-434-3298 White Rose Bridge Club 2109 Industrial Highway | York, PA 17402
Photo credit: Staff of drloriv.com
Any time is a good time to shop for vintage and antique objects, but if you are tired of the crowded thrift stores, Goodwill bins, and Salvation Army shelves, you may want to change things up and experience some outdoor antique and vintage shopping.
Route 127 Yard Sale
What to buy: Car parts, vintage dolls, constructed metal furniture, antique frames, glass lamps Coburg Antique Fair
When: January, April, October Where: Texas What: Round Top Antiques Fair is just like Texas — big! It is a truly massive antique show with something for everybody. Unlike other such antiques fairs, you need tickets to attend, and it is best to purchase tickets in advance. You don’t want to miss a thing. This is the show that most interior decorators do not miss. What to buy: Lightning fixtures and chandeliers, architectural salvage, mirrors, doors, European furnishings, glassware, books
Antique fair booths.Photocredit: Staff of drloriv.com Virtual appraisals with Dr. Lori at Brimfield flea Market in 2020. information and support whenever you need it! View online at: www.onlinepub.com (under supplements)
Plan to Visit the Country’s Top 5 Antique fairs
What: Like Brimfield and so many other major antique fairs, Madison Bouckeville Antique Fair has dealer booths and sellers tables set up in many large, open fields. The items are of high quality and the prices are right. It is a must-see event, and you won’t be disappointed. What to buy: Americana, signage, small-scale furniture, trendy stools, benches, architectural salvage, baskets, quilts Round Top Antiques
When: July, September Where: Massachusetts What: The main streets and expansive fields around Brimfield are transformed into a huge marketplace. I appeared at the first virtual Brimfield antiques appraisal event in 2020 when the pandemic interfered with onsite shopping, but now back in full swing, Brimfield has much to offer. Shoppers love Brimfield for its abundance of stuff for sale.
While yard sales are the cat’s pajamas, huge public flea markets and antique fairs are gearing up to host huge crowds. Want to know where some of the best antique fairs are taking place? I’ve got you covered. Grab your best friend, your best pair of sneakers, and a tote bag or five, and let’s go shopping. Here are some tips on where and what to buy at some of the country’s top antique fairs.
What to buy: Early-American antiques, kitchen items, advertising tins, weathervanes, artwork, chairs, flags, textiles. Madison Bouckville Antique Fair
When: June, August Where: New York
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 19 Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori
When: September Where: Oregon What: The Coburg Antique and Vintage Fair is the place to shop for rare antiques and collectibles, heirlooms from famous families, and period paintings and sculptures. Historic Coburg is a destination in itself with its own shuttle, and the fair features live music too. For treasure hunters in the Pacific Northwest, this is a “be there or be square” event. What to buy: China, tools, kitchenware, vintage linens, jewelry, toys, sports memorabilia, carvings These are some of the most attractive antiques attractions. If you are a shopper or a seller, don’t miss these top antiques fairs.
Lori Verderame
When: August Where: From Addison, Michigan, to Gadsden, Alabama What: This antique fair reaches from Michigan to Alabama for 690 miles through six states and is known as the World’s Longest Yard Sale. Everything and anything can be found over this yard sale, which is highly organized in some areas and more casual in others. The drive-and-shop mentality and the people you meet are some of the attractions, not to mention the offerings, at this continuous antique fair.
Brimfield Flea Market
A Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and awardwinning TV personality, Dr. Lori appears on The Curse of Oak Island on History channel. She gives appraisals at public events nationwide, online at drloriv.com, and on “Ask Dr. Lori LIVE” on www. youtube.com/drloriv or call (888) 431-1010.
20 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com
The Overseas Adventure Travel tour company with which we traveled makes “learning and discovery” part of their tours, and it manifested itself repeatedly. Our knowledgeable guide Hussein went out of his way to establish ad hoc encounters with everyday
youngfromaboutwethoseinterpreter.States,visitorsifapproachedSeveralEgyptians.times,helocals,askedtheywouldspeakwithfromtheUnitedandservedasAmongresultsofchancemeetings,gleanedinformationtopicsrangingeducation(wemetpeoplewhose
Egypt: Land of Pyramids and Pharaohs,
Part 2
accomplishments and aspirations speak well for Egypt’s future), women’s rights (they are improving), and religious tolerance.
Egypt has the largest Muslim population in the Arab world and biggest Christian (Coptic) population in North Africa and the Middle East. What we learned suggests that Muslims, Coptic Christians, and Jews appear to coexist in tranquility.
Victor Block The Nefertiti at dock.Men fishing in the Nile River.
Last month, I described world-famous sites that earn Egypt a place on many people’s Travel Bucket List. This month, we’ll meet the people and delve into the culture of that country, which add other dimensions to a visit there.During our visit, my wife, Fyllis, and I encountered a multilayered culture that accords equal respect to both ancient and modern. While most visitors are drawn to Egypt by its magnificent monuments, many also return home with enduring memories of its people and their way of life.
Willing to Wander
The program will repeat 3 times that day and Saturdays from 11-11:30 a.m.
Lend us your ear!
50 plus Life and Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania have partnered to bring you weekly audio readings of 50 plus Life’s editorial content! for more information, call Vision Resources at (717) 238-2531 and listen at visit www.vrocp.org.
www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 21
Completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1970 brought an end to the flooding and provided a new source of much-needed electricity. At the same time, it has resulted in a decline in the fertility and productivity of riverside farmland. The world-famous relics remaining from Egypt’s historic heyday, along with its rich history, provide more than enough reasons to visit. Experiencing the local lifestyle and centuries-old routines in ancient villages adds much to its allure.For information about Egypt, log on to egypt.travel. After gallivanting around the world, Victor Block still retains the travel bug. He believes that travel is the best possible education. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers, Victor loves to explore new destinations and cultures, and his stories about them have won a number of writing awards. Village along the Nile River. Two young women with whom the author spoke. Village women grinding flour. A traditional felucca on the Nile. Listen to the 12:30-1:30Thursdayslivestreamfromp.m.at www.vrocp.org!
We watched women grinding seeds into flour between two stones and men planting crops using tools that might have been passed down for generations. At the same time, change is coming. Some fellahin (farmers) now use a tractor, which they may rent, and dieselpowered irrigation pumps have replaced many oxdriven valued,modestyofplaceChangewaterwheels.alsoistakingintheattire,especiallywomen.Whilepubliccontinuestobewesawfewwomenwearing a burka , which covers the entire body andManyface. more sported a hijab cloth wrapped round their head and neck, and when asked, they gave a variety of reasons for doing so. These ranged from religious respect to satisfying family members. I didn’t have an opportunity to question one woman I spotted whose head scarf was topped by a New York Yankees baseball cap. Visitors who take a Nile cruise soon learn the river flows near a number of Egypt’s most revered archaeological treasures. Our weeklong voyage was aboard the OAT-owned boat Nefertiti. It provided a passing parade of classic Egyptian scenes. Seated on our stateroom balcony, we waved back to villagers who greeted us as we floated by, spotted fishermen in tiny boats, and admired felucca , traditional wooden sailboats that continue to be used to ferry goods and people. We saw men sitting in the sun enjoying their morning tea and shisha (hookah) pipe and admired the graceful minarets that look over each lowriseWevillage.alsocame to understand how important the Nile is, and has been, in the lives of Egyptians. Without the river, there would be no fertile land, a scarcity of food, and little electricity. Rainfall is scarce in Egypt, and the Nile irrigates a narrow stretch of verdant land along its banks, which quickly gives way to barren desert just behind the slim strip of green. No wonder over 90% of the people live along the Nile, on 3% of the country’s territory. Throughout history, the Nile flooded each summer, leaving behind deposits of rich silt as the water receded. This fertile soil, combined with irrigation methods devised by ancient Egyptians, provided ideal conditions for growing cotton, wheat, and other crops.
We spent one day with a family in a typical small village, which demonstrated that while Egypt in ways is leapfrogging toward the future, rural life continues much as it has for centuries.Subsistence farming remains the staple industry in tiny towns of modest mud-brick and concrete houses, where everyone knows their neighbors and the addition of modern amenities like television and air conditioning hasn’t changed ages-old practices.
In the Middle Ages, the Crusaders brought back cosmetics from the harems. Queen Elizabeth I (1500s) defined the ideal Elizabethan face as pale with plucked eyebrows and a receding hairline. She wore red lipstick for her signature look. The common women powdered with flour but used harsh bleaches, such as lye, to lighten freckles. By the late 1500s, ceruse, a mixture of white lead and vinegar, caused skin irritation and discoloration, hair loss, rotten teeth, facial tremors, and even death. This poisonous lead product killed many society women. Into the 1800s, talc was often the main ingredient in facial powder but also had lethal ingredients, such as lead and arsenic. In mid-1800s, England’s Queen Victoria declared cosmetics “improper, vulgar, and acceptable only for use by actors.” Women who wore cosmetics were considered “painted ladies,” or prostitutes. Use of cosmetics went underground, but the desire for whiter skin continued. In the late 1800s, “Arsenic Whitening Wafers” promised to remove freckles, pimples, and pockmarks. The 1902 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog sold Dr. Rose’s Arsenic Wafers with the assurance they were safe when taken as directed. (No amount of arsenic is safe to Beforeingest.)World War I, use of makeup was considered immoral. Women were encouraged to pinch their cheeks to achieve a pinkish tone. In 1923, Dorothy Gray cosmetic firm introduced a “face patter” to stimulate circulation by slapping yourself with thisMaxstick.Factor of Hollywood created the first face foundation, “pancake” powder, for Technicolor Pictures in 1914. He was also responsible for the word “makeup.” Pancake makeup was a solid cake powder that was applied with a damp sponge. It remained white or light toned. This changed when Coco Chanel, dressmaker and perfume entrepreneur, returned from a beach vacation with a suntan! Women wanted color! Factor made a color-selection guide for salesgirls to find the ideal powder color for each woman. Compacts were introduced in the early 1900s, when cosmetics were still controversial. Many compacts were disguised as hatpins, combs, and purse inserts.Bythe 1920s, powder was sold in a loose form, mixed at the makeup counter, and transferred to decorative compacts made to be seen. The early models had metal sifter systems that prevented clumping when applying. In the 1930s, fine thread sifters were put over the loose powder for the same reason.Solid cake powder was introduced in 1940s. The jewelry-caliber compact experienced its heyday in the 1930-40s but quietly passed out of day-to-day use by the 1960s. Buyer beware: In the 1920s, there was a change in powder ingredients. There was concern that talc, starch, and amorphous silica, if not washed off daily, would enter the pores and ferment. Barium sulfate was also cut due to Doris Montag Nov. 9, 1889, advertisementnewspaperfor“ArsenicComplexionWafers.”
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I by Nicholas Hilliard, c. 1573-75. Elizabeth began wearing white lead face makeup to cover scars left by smallpox.
The History of Ordinary Things The Shocking History of facial Powder
In ancient China, women wore rice powder. The whiter your complexion, the higher your status. It suggested you did not have to work in the hot sun.
22 September 2022 50 plus Life www.50plusLifePA.com SolutionsPuzzle 7.pageonshownPuzzles
Across history, men and women whitened their skin with facial powder to show their respectability and social class. It was also intended to hide facial blemishes, such as smallpox pocks or aged skin. Only much later was powder used to “enhance natural beauty.”
In Roman times (AD), talc, known as French chalk, and vinegar were used to lighten the complexion. Ground orris root (from the iris plant) was incorporated as a stabilizer. But the orris root resulted in stomach pain, diarrhea, and allergic reactions.
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www.50plusLifePA.com 50 plus Life September 2022 23 its toxic characteristics, along with orris root. In 1938, Congress passed a major federal law governing the cleanliness in the frominchemicals.evadedangerousmanufacturerslegislationLoopholesmakeupaboutregulateprocess,manufacturingbutitdidnottheingredients.Inthe1980s,concernscontaminatedemerged.inthe1938allowedtouseingredientsanddisclosureoftheAnFDAreport1989foundsamplesdepartment-storecounters were contaminated with mold, fungus, and pathogenic organisms.
Alert: Foreign cosmetics are unregulated for safety in production and ingredients. They are illegal in the U.S. but are rarely caught in customs.
An FDA study in 2010 found lead in 400 American-made lipsticks. In 2011, the FDA declared formaldehyde a known human carcinogen, yet nearly 20% of all cosmetics products contain formaldehyde.
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. 1920s compacts had metal sifters for the loose powder. In the 1930s, thread sifters replaced the metal mechanism. Cake powder was introduced in the 1940s. PA Call
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