lebanon county 50plus senior news december 2013

Robert and Barbara Buchanan in the studio in their home.

Chicago’s Christmas Magic

page 8Salute to a Veteran

page 14

Inside:

By Alicia Morrissey

Something about Barbara Pillette caught Robert Buchanan’s eye at an artshow in Mount Gretna in 1981. Maybe it was her beautiful artwork, orperhaps it was her kind smile. Either way, neither of them had any idea whatwas in store for them at the moment their eyes locked.

“She was in one booth and I was in another,” Robert reminisced. “Ihelped her carry her work out to her car.”

After that sweet gesture, Robert and Barbara began dating, despite thetwo-hour commute it took to see each other. A couple of years later, theytied the knot. After that, the two artists had to figure out how to mesh notonly their lives, but also their artistic styles and habits.

“I always have to have music on—Barb doesn’t,” Robert said.“I enjoy music, but I do like complete quiet,” Barbara agreed.Laughing, Robert added, “Barb cooperates. She just acquiesces.”Despite their differing preferences for work environment, Robert and

Barbara have found they coexist quite well. They both continued to thrive intheir artwork, often asking each other advice on how to improve a piece.

please see CANVAS page 12

Couple Blends Artistic andDomestic Living

A Colorful

Marriage On

Canvas and Off

Lebanon County Edition December 2013 Vol. 8 No. 12

2 December 2013 50plus SeniorNews www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Dear Savvy Senior,Can you recommend some easy-to-use

television remote controls for seniors? I gotmy 74-year-old mother a new HDTV forher birthday, but the remote control is veryconfusing for her to operate.– Shopping Son

Dear Shopping,It seems like most television remote

controls today come with dozens ofunnecessary buttons that make them veryconfusing to operate.

Add in the fact that many people usetwo or three remotes to operate theirhome entertainment equipment (TV,cable box, VCR, DVD player, etc.) and itcompounds the problem even further.

Fortunately, there are several universalTV remotes available today that arespecifically designed for seniors and thetechnically challenged. These remotecontrols have bigger buttons and fewer

options that makethem much easier tosee, program, andoperate.

Simplified RemotesTwo popular senior-

friendly products toconsider are the FlipperRemote and the SuperRemote SR3.

The Flipper(www.flipperremote.com) works allmajor TVs, includingcable, satellite, and digital TV receiverboxes with only one remote.

Available for $25, it offers a tapereddesign that makes it easy to hold, and forsimplicity it has only six large, color-coded buttons that are exposed (on/off,channel up and down, volume up anddown, and mute).

All other buttonsare accessed by slidingthe top panel down, sothey won’t get in theway during day-to-dayTV watching.

Flipper also has anoptional feature thatlets you program up to30 of your mom’sfavorite channels foreasy access.

The Super RemoteSR3 from UniversalRemote Control, Inc.

(sold through Amazon.com for around$13) is a slightly more sophisticated,user-friendly remote that can controlthree devices: TVs, cable or satelliteboxes, and DVD players.

It offers a lightweight, ergonomicdesign; large, easy-to-see numericbuttons, each in the shape of the number

it represents; and a centrally located “mybutton” that gives your mom the abilityturn on the TV and set the tuner to herfavorite channel with a single buttonpress.

It also provides four “favorite” buttonsfor one-touch access to her favoritechannels and an “all off ” button that letsher shut down the entire home-entertainment system with a singlebutton press.

Super-Sized RemotesThere are also a number of oversized

TV remotes that are ideal for seniorswith vision problems.

The Tek Partner, Big Button, and TekPal remotes, all made by the Hy-TekManufacturing Company(www.bigbuttonremotes.com, (630) 466-7664) in Sugar Grove, Ill., are three solidoptions to consider.

Simple TV Remotes Designed for Seniors

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

please see REMOTES page 4

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews December 2013 3

Poison Control Center(800) 222-1222

Food & Clothing Bank(717) 274-2490

Food Stamps(800) 692-7462

Hope/Christian Ministries(717) 272-4400

Lebanon County Area Agency on AgingMeals on Wheels(717) 273-9262

Salvation Army(717) 273-2655

Alzheimer’s Association(717) 651-5020

American Cancer Society(717) 231-4582

American Diabetes Association(717) 657-4310

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association(717) 207-4265

American Lung Association(717) 541-5864

Arthritis Foundation(717) 274-0754

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

CONTACT Helpline(717) 652-4400

Kidney Foundation(717) 652-8123

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society(717) 652-6520

Lupus Foundation(888) 215-8787

Hearing & Ear Care Center, LLC200 Schneider Drive, Suite 1, Lebanon(717) 274-3851

Melnick, Moffitt, and Mesaros927 Russell Drive, Lebanon(717) 274-9775

Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hardof Hearing(800) 233-3008 V/TTY

Good Samaritan Hospital252 S. Fourth St., Lebanon(717) 270-7500

Medical Society of Lebanon County(717) 270-7500

Energy Assistance(800) 692-7462

Environmental Protection AgencyEmergency Hotline(800) 541-2050

IRS Income Tax Assistance(800) 829-1040

Medicaid(800) 692-7462

Medicare(800) 382-1274

PA Crime Stoppers(800) 472-8477

PennDOT(800) 932-4600

Recycling(800) 346-4242

Social Security Information(800) 772-1213

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

Hope (Helping Our People inEmergencies)(717) 272-4400

Housing Assistance & Resources Program(HARP)(717) 273-9328

Lebanon County Housing &Redevelopment Authorities(717) 274-1401

Medicare Hotline(800) 638-6833

Pennsylvania Bar Association(717) 238-6715

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

CVS/pharmacywww.cvs.com

StoneRidge Retirement Living(717) 866-3204

Annville Senior Community Center(717) 867-1796

Maple Street Senior Community Center(717) 273-1048

Myerstown Senior Community Center(717) 866-6786

Northern Lebanon County SeniorCommunity Center(717) 865-0944

Palmyra Senior Community Center(717) 838-8237

Senior Center of Lebanon Valley(717) 274-3451

Southern Lebanon County SeniorCommunity Center(717) 274-7541

Governor’s Veterans Outreach(717) 234-1681

Lebanon VA Medical Center1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon(717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

Veterans Services

Senior Centers

Retirement Communities

Pharmacies

Office of Aging

Legal Services

Insurance

Housing Assistance

Hotlines

Hospitals

Hearing Services

Health & Medical Services

Food Resources

Emergency Numbers

Resource DirectoryThis Resource Directory recognizes advertisers

who have made an extended commitmentto your health and well-being.

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

Thank You,Volunteers!On-Line Publishers, Inc. and 50plus

Senior News would like to extend aheartfelt thank-you to all of theindividual and senior group volunteerswho donated their time and efforts atour 2013 50plus EXPOs.

Because of your assistance, we wereable to bring the contents and themission of 50plus Senior News to life forthe residents of Central Pennsylvania!


50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc.and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirementcommunities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets

serving the senior community.On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish

advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters

are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance ofadvertisements for products or services does not constitute anendorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will notbe responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within fivedays of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reviseor reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may bereproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc.

We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information notin compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State lawsor other local laws.

Corporate Office:3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360Chester County:610.675.6240

Cumberland County/Dauphin County:717.770.0140

Berks County/Lancaster County/Lebanon County/York County:

717.285.1350E-mail address:

[email protected] address:

www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson

EDITORIALVICE-PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EDITOR

Christianne RuppEDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENTPROJECT COORDINATOR

Renee McWilliamsPRODUCTION ARTIST

Janys CuffePRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Jessica Johns

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Karla BackAngie McComsey Jacoby

Valerie KissingerSusan Krieger

Ranee Shaub MillerSue Rugh

SALES & EVENT COORDINATOR

Eileen Culp

CIRCULATIONPROJECT COORDINATOR

Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATIONBUSINESS MANAGER

Elizabeth Duvall

Winner

Member of

Awards

REMOTES from page 2

If you’re interested in an extra-large remote control, the $40 TekPartner—which is 5.5 inches wideand 8.5 inches long—is theirbiggest. It offers huge, brightly litbuttons with big, readable charactersand a narrowed center (3.5 inches),which makes it easy to handle for abig remote.

It also contains only the essentialfunctions, making it easy to use andprogram, and it operates any

combination of TVs, VCRs, DVDplayers, cable boxes, and satellitedishes.

If you’re looking for something alittle smaller (2.5 by 9.5 inches)there’s the $25, rectangular-shapedBig Button remote that offers thesame large and illuminating buttonsas the Tek Partner and the exactsame features.

Or, if you only want a basicremote for the TV, there’s the Tek

Pal that comes with just six largebuttons (on/off, mute, channel upand down, and volume up anddown buttons) that light up whenpushed.

Available for $19, the Pal willonly work with televisions that havecable wired directly into the TV.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to theNBC Today show and author of TheSavvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org

The Green Mountain Gardener

Dr. Leonard Perry

Although any aromatic herb isideal for holiday decorations,wreaths, and table

centerpieces, four have biblical linkswith Christmas.

Many crafts shops and floristscarry these dried herb plants alongwith the baskets, bowls, and othertrimmings needed for decorating.You may find live, cut sprigs of themat florists and garden stores duringthe holidays, perhaps even plants inpots.

English pennyroyal, a perennialherb, was said to have been placed inthe manger on the night of theChrist child’s birth and burst intobloom the moment the child wasborn.

English pennyroyal adds afragrant aroma to wreaths but can betoxic if ingested, so keep out of reachof pets and children. It is often usedin potpourri and cosmetics and isnative to southern Europe andwestern Asia.

Rosemary is one of the mostbeautiful and fragrant of the seasonalherbs. According to folklore,rosemary will bring happiness for thecoming year to anyone who smells iton Christmas Eve.

During the flight into Egypt,Mary is said to have spread herchild’s garments on a rosemary plantto dry. The flowers, originally white,turned blue and acquired the sweetscent they have today.

Another legend claims that atmidnight on Jan. 5, the “old

Christmas Eve,” rosemary plants willsimultaneously burst into flower incelebration of Christmas.

Rosemary plants addattractiveness and fragrance toholiday wreaths and are especiallysuitable for tussie mussies, which aresmall bouquets made with driedflowers, doilies, and ribbons for useat individual place settings on theholiday dinner table.

Rosemary plants are one of themost common holiday herbs you canfind in pots, often trained intovarious shapes, such as wreaths,hearts, or topiaries. Look for thetrailing or pendulous selections,which you can try training on a wireor support into such a shape.

Given a cool location with light—such as a minimally heated hallwaywith windows or an unheated roomor garage (but not freezing, around

50 to 60 degrees F is ideal)—theycan be kept indoors over winter.You’ll be rewarded with their light-blue flowers through much of fall.

Put your potted rosemary outsidein summer, gradually increasing theamount of light over a period ofweeks to help them acclimate. Keepwatered but not too wet.

Wild thyme, a pungent herb andmember of the mint family, wascollected from the fields outside ofBethlehem to make a soft bed forMary during the birth of her child.It is thought to have antisepticproperties and was burned as incenselater in history by the Greeks.

Today thyme is a popularculinary seasoning but can be usedin dried-flower arrangements,bouquets, and potpourri during theholiday season. Plant thyme nextspring in raised beds or rockgardens.

It is said the Virgin Mary dyedher newborn’s swaddling clothes byspreading them on a bed of wildlavender. This herb, also of the mintfamily, grows as a small evergreenshrub (but isn’t hardy outdoors inmuch of the cold North).

It has gray-green leaves, light-purple flowers, and a sweet, floralscent. When dried, it can be usedwhole for wreaths and centerpiecesor crushed to use in sachets forclosets or drawers or to scent a bath.

Dr. Leonard P. Perry is an extensionprofessor at the University of Vermont.

Herbs with a Holiday History

To mark the International Day ofOlder Persons in 2012, severalorganizations, including some

United Nation agencies, collaborated in areport entitled “Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and aChallenge.”

That intriguing title provokes one toquestion: What is there to celebrate aboutaging, and what are the challenges? Thereport limited examination of celebrationand challenge to a single perspective:“access to, and enjoyment of, the fullrange of human rights.”

Let us look at a broader spectrum ofchallenges and the silver linings on theshadow of aging that we care to celebrate.Human rights, which we seniors generallyenjoy as Americans, are left aside.

From our own personal experiences wecan easily identify several physical,mental, and social challenges commonlyassociated with aging, some of whichworsen as age increases. What werecognize less easily is that most elderlyAmericans are self-reliant, leading contentand productive lives.

The American PsychologicalAssociation’s report (April 1998), from its“Working Group on the Older Adult,”states that only 9 percent of thosebetween ages 65 and 69 need personalassistance, while up to 50 percent of thoseover 85 need assistance with everydayactivities. The implication is that fewerthan half of those over 85 may not needpersonal assistance.

The comforting data for those under85 are supported in detail by the federalgovernment’s Administration on Aging in

its report “A Profile of Older Americans –2011.” The profile shows that for non-institutionalized elderly ages 65-74, 6percent have difficulty bathing orshowering, 5 percent have difficultydressing, 2 percent eating, 9 percentgetting in/out ofbed, and 17percent walking.

For those ages75-84, therespectivepercentages are 14,10, 4, 15, and 28percent. Thestatistical oddssignificantly favor the absence of suchdependencies for those under the age of85.

Before our celebration carries us toofar, one should acknowledge thecommonly reported challenges of aging.They include diminished hearing andvision, higher blood pressure, diabetes, adecrease in muscle mass, and, on averageby the age of 80, a loss of 2 inches inheight and almost half of our sense ofsmell.

For most of us, these are limitationswith which we can function adequately,thanks to prescribed health products andservices and to an increased capacity tocope with routine adversities.

Seniors 65 years of age and olderapparently are more satisfied with theirlives than those in the 50-64 age group.This is the conclusion of a survey asked ofrespondents, aged 50 years or older, in all50 states, conducted in 2006 by theCenters for Disease Control and

Prevention in its study “The State ofMental Health and Aging in America:Life Satisfaction” (2006).

Nationally, 5.8 percent of respondentsin the 50-64 age group said they were“dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” with

their life. Only 3.5percent ofrespondentsamong those 65years or older saidthey weredissatisfied or verydissatisfied.

The two stateshaving the highest

percentages of dissatisfied or verydissatisfied respondents, among those 65years or older, were California (4.7percent) and New Jersey (4.6 percent).Hawaii (1.8 percent) and Iowa (2.1percent) had the lowest percentages forthis age group.

In every state, the 50-64 age group had

higher percentages of those dissatisfiedthan the 65 or older group.

The elderly may have more healthissues than those younger, but they findmore satisfaction with life. A UnitedKingdom publication, The Telegraph, citedresearch that “the elderly brain has theability to let negative memories fade morequickly than the young.”

Other studies, reported by the samesource, found that “older adults report lessdistress than other age groups … andemotional happiness improves with age.”

It seems true, as John Webster wrote(Westward Ho) in 1607, “Old wood doesburn brighter.”

Walt Sonneville, a retired market-researchanalyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth:The Higher-Valued Opinion of a SeniorCitizen and A Musing Moment: MeditativeEssays on Life and Learning, books ofpersonal-opinion essays, free of partisan andsectarian viewpoints. Contact him [email protected].


Spacious Apartments1BR 840 Sq. Ft., 2BR 1050 Sq. Ft, 3 BR 1200 Sq. Ft.

Please call 717-273-8559 for more information.Summit Square Apartments • 1201 W. Crestview Dr., Lebanon

Rent includes gas for heating andcooking, sewer, and trash. Centralheat and air. Laundry in each building.Maintenance free. Close to a shoppingcenter, resident manager on premise,24-hour maintenance. Near Hersheyand VA Hospital. Large dog park.

As On-LinePublishers, Inc.sees the conclusion ofyet another year, we aregrateful to our dedicatedstaff, loyal readers, and supportiveadvertisers who have all enabled usto continue to grow in our missionto serve the mind, heart, and spirit ofthe 50+ community.

We wish to thank each of you forhelping to make 50plus Senior Newsa fun, interesting, and unique sourceof information and entertainmentfor our readers in CentralPennsylvania.

At this special time of givingthanks and reminiscing, the staff ofOn-Line Publishers wishes you, ourfriends, warmest holiday wishes.

Silver Linings on Our Aging Shadow

My 22 Cents’ Worth

Walt Sonneville

“... emotional happinessimproves with age.”


Bethany Village — Maplewood325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055717-766-0279 • www.bethanyvillage.org

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100

Assisted Living Residence: Yes

Private: 100

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No

Short-term Lease: Yes

Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No

Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes

Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Alzheimer’s Care: Yes

Respite Care: Yes

Social Programs: Yes

Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes

Transportation (Scheduled): Yes

Personal Car Permitted: Yes

Pets Permitted: Yes

Comments: 1-bedroom suites; secured

memory support neighborhood;

skilled nursing – The Oaks.

Homewood at Plum Creek425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331717-637-4166 • www.homewood.com


Personal Care Home: Yes

Private: Yes

Semi-private: No

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No



Part/Totally Refundable: No





Alzheimer’s Care: No

Respite Care: Yes





Pets Permitted: No

Comments: Excellent care in a lovely

environment. Call to schedule a visit.

Brandywine Senior Living at Longwood301 Victoria Gardens Drive • Kennett Square, PA 19348484-734-6200 • www.brandycare.com



Private: Yes

Semi-private: Yes

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No

Short-term Lease: No

Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes




On-call Medical Service: No

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No


Respite Care: Yes





Pets Permitted: Yes

Comments: At Brandywine Senior

Living – life is beautiful!

Chapel Pointe770 South Hanover Street • Carlisle, PA 17013717-249-1363 • www.chapelpointe.org



Private: Yes

Semi-private: No

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No




Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: No





Respite Care: No




Personal Car Permitted: No

Pets Permitted: No

Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes

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

Colonial Lodge Community2015 North Reading Road • Denver, PA 17519717-336-5501 • www.coloniallodgepa.com



Private: Yes

Semi-private: Yes

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No









Respite Care: Yes





Pets Permitted: No

Comments: A veteran-approved “home

for heroes” facility all in a beautiful,

rural setting.

Homeland Center1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102717-221-7727 • www.homelandcenter.org



Private: Yes

Semi-private: No

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No



Part/Totally Refundable: Yes






Respite Care: Yes





Pets Permitted: Yes

Comments: Exemplary care in a caring,

beautiful environment has been

provided for more than 140 years. Our

continuum includes a hospice program.

Lakeview at Tel Hai Retirement Community1200 Tel Hai Circle • Honey Brook, PA 19344610-273-4602 • www.telhai.org



Private: Yes

Semi-private: Yes

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No









Respite Care: Yes





Pets Permitted: Yes

Comments: Come discover a wonderful,

faith-based community that has been

voted No. 1 retirement community by

readers of the Daily Local newspaper!

Mennonite Home Communities1520 Harrisburg Pike • Lancaster, PA 17601717-393-1301 • www.mennonitehome.org



Private: Yes

Semi-private: Yes

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: Yes









Respite Care: Yes





Pets Permitted: No

Comments: Supportive, encouraging

environment. Various room types and

suites available. Secure memory care

offered.


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

Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community1700 Normandie Drive • York, PA 17408717-764-6262 • www.normandieridge.org



Private: Yes

Semi-private: Yes

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No









Respite Care: Yes





Pets Permitted: No

Comments: Private or shared living in

spacious rooms with private baths.

Friendly staff assist where needed to

help maintain your independence.



Private: Yes

Semi-private: Yes

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No









Respite Care: Yes





Pets Permitted: Yes

Comments: Gorgeous new construction.

Short-term rehabilitation center and

personal care apartments including

secured memory care.

St. Anne’s Retirement Community3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512717-285-6112 • www.stannesrc.org


Private: Yes

Semi-private: No

Private Pay: Yes

SSI Accepted: No


Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Minimal







Respite Care: No




Personal Car Permitted: Pending

Approval

Pets Permitted: Yes

VibraLife707 Shepherdstown Road • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055717-591-2100 • www.vibralife.net

If you would like to be featured

on this important page, please contact

your account representative

or call (717) 285-1350.

Ellen, the woman who raised me,had live-in quarters in our 15-room, red-brick house. I do believe

that my mother would have enjoyedtending to me, but she conducted herselfin ways that Caucasian women in hersociety were taught to behave.Nonetheless, I don’t think she liked it.

Within five minutes of Ellen servingdinner in the formal dining room, I’dbecome such a whiny irritant that mymother would let me leave the table andeat supper with Ellen in the kitchen.

We’d talk and laugh and put togethercardboard puzzles while we ate. I betMom would have loved to be excusedfrom the table and have had her mealswith us instead.

In the night, I’d run, frightened, to

Ellen’s room. I’d be afraidto go back to sleep afterhaving a bad dream. She’dsay, “Baby, God gave usdreams so he’d have aplace to talk to us. WhenGod talks to us, there’snothing to be scared of.”

I would then fall asleepnext to her in her bed.Whenever my motherdiscovered me there, shenever made me go back to my bedroom. Ithink she not only loved Ellen, but wasalso happy for me that I received maternallove from someone so wonderful.

Ellen put up with my fidgeting whenshe’d dress me to go to girlfriends’birthday parties. When done, she’d get

me giggling while havingme perform a pirouette.Then I’d do a goofy, long,drawn-out bow to whichshe’d respond byenveloping me in herarms.

I think Mom wouldhave gotten a big kick outof dressing me for parties.I also bet she would havewanted to be the one who

put Mercurochrome on my constantlyscratched knees or who’d raid therefrigerator with me in the night and eatthe tuna noodle casserole right from thebaking pan.

My mother’s main undoing was thatshe was convinced her lot in life was laid

out for her. And that there was not adamned thing that she thought she coulddo about it.

I married someone who was not likemy relatives—not Jewish, not wealthy,not even employed. What did I have thatmy mother didn’t? Love. Happiness. Andsociety’s support that it was OK to makemy own path.

I know that Mom would have beenjust as nurturing as Ellen. I wish for hersake she had known that too.

Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationallysyndicated columnist. Her new book isCracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: StoriesFrom a Life Out of Balance. To find out more,visit www.saraleeperel.com or [email protected].

Such is Life

Saralee Perel

The Help Was a Source of Love

Saralee and Ellen

Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes


• Comprehensive audiologic evaluation

• Featuring the most advanced hearing products

• Accessories, batteries and ALDS

• Custom earpiece for iPods and cell phones

• Home Visits

• Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Your one-stop shop for all your hearing care needs!Most insurances accepted. Major credit cards accepted. Payment plans offered.

Hearing and Ear Care Center, LLCSupported with Trust

200 Schneider Drive, Suite 1 • Lebanon717.274.3851 www.HelpingUHear.com

Linda Gonya-Hartman, Au.D.Audiologist

www.StoneRidgeRetirement.com

Also Offering Short-Term Rehaband Skilled Memory Care

Call 717-866-3200and Start Living Today!

Three Lifestyles to Meet Your Needs

Independent LivingEntrance fee or monthly plans available

Personal Care

Long-Term Nursing

Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

By Andrea Gross

The day is frosty cold, and Isay a silent thanks to theunknown goose that

donated his feathers to fill myparka.

My husband hands me a mugfilled with Glühwein. The hot,spicy drink burns my throat in anice, cinnamonny way and, as thename implies, makes me glow withholiday cheer.

We, along with several hundredother folks, are braving the weatherat Christkindlmarket, Chicago’slargest open-air Christmas festival.The atmosphere is distinctlyEuropean, with chalet-style stallsoffering a mind-boggling selectionof Alpine delicacies and crafts.

We taste-test a variety of wursts,schnitzels, strudels, and chocolates andgaze longingly at the imported cuckooclocks and nutcrackers. I buy a smallornament for my brother, but, like most

of the Christkindlmarket crowd, I’mmore interested in having fun than inseriously shopping.

Afterward, well fortified with anothermug of Glühwein, we move on to “TheLoop,” where we walk along streets linedwith government buildings, museums,

theaters, public art, parks, restaurants,skyscrapers, and, yes, retail establishmentsboth big and small.

But again, we’re not here to shop.We’re here to see the former MarshallField’s, which was once one of the mostrenowned and most innovative

department stores in the world. It offered the first bridal registry,

the first personal shoppingassistants, the first department-storerestaurants, and the first escalatorsand was the first store to createholiday window displays for thesole purpose of spreading joy.

This holiday tradition, whichbegan in the early 1870s, holds truetoday. There are no windows filledwith glitzy clothes, new appliances,or tempting foods, no attempt tolure folks to the cash register. Thedisplays are meant to bring smiles,not to extract cash. Now how niceis that?

When, in 2005, after a series ofcorporate changes, the iconic storewas acquired by May Company, the

terms included the requirement thatmany Marshall Field’s traditions becontinued.

So although the Chicago store, whichis the third largest department store in

Chicago’s Christmas Magic

The mall at Water Tower Placedraws crowds with a

combination of festivedecorations and popular stores.

Bugles herald the holidayseason on State Street.

Diners at Macy’s historicWalnut Room sit under a

45-foot-tall tree.

please see CHICAGO page 10


50plus Senior News continues to bring important information as well asentertaining articles to the 50+ community. We at On-Line Publishers

would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to theeditorial contributors of 50plus Senior News:

It is through the varied interests and considerable talentsof our contributors and freelance writers that such a range

of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month.The pages of 50plus Senior News are enriched by your contributions.

MMiikkee CCllaarrkk (The Way I See It)AAnnggeelloo CCoonniigglliioo (The Search for Our Ancestry)WWeennddeellll FFoowwlleerr (Preventive Measures)AAll GGooooddmmaann (Beyond the Battlefield )AAnnddrreeaa GGrroossss (Traveltizers)DDrr.. LLoorrii (Art and Antiques)GGlloorriiaa MMaayy (NurseNews)CCllyyddee MMccMMiillllaann-GGaammbbeerr (The Beauty in Nature)JJiimm MMiilllleerr (The Savvy Senior)

VViiccttoorr PPaarraacchhiinn (Fragments of History)SSaarraalleeee PPeerreell (Such is Life)DDrr.. LLeeoonnaarrdd PPeerrrryy (The Green Mountain Gardener)TTeedd RRiicckkaarrdd (The Squint-Eyed Senior)SSyy RRoosseenn (Older But Not Wiser)PPaatt SSiinnccllaaiirr (Recipes for Two)WWaalltt SSoonnnneevviillllee (My 22 Cents’ Worth)RRoobbeerrtt WWiillccooxx (Salute to a Veteran)JJuuddiitthh ZZaauussnneerr (Creativity Matters)

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CHICAGO from page 8

the world, now goes by the name ofMacy’s on State Street, their Christmaswindows continue to delight hundreds ofonlookers.

We walk slowly, carefully admiringeach animated scene, and then enter thestore to view the celebrated domed ceilingthat’s made of more than 1.6 millionpieces of iridescent glass. Designed byLouis Tiffany in 1907 and hand-set overa two-year period, it’s a glorious mosaic ofserpentine swirls and graceful ovals intones of amber, blue, and gold withtouches of red.

I stare in awe until my neck begins tohurt, after which we take the escalator upto the fifth floor, where I can see thedetails more clearly.

Eventually we make our way to thehistoric Walnut Room, known for theclassic chicken potpie that was first servedin 1907. As always during the Christmasseason, a 45-foot tree festooned withmore than 1,000 ornaments brightens theroom.

We try to get a table, but no luck. Therestaurant doesn’t take reservations, andthe wait, according to the very nicehostess, will be more than an hour.

Instead we satisfy our hunger bypurchasing—and devouring—someFrango chocolates. The minty truffles

have been associated with the store sinceMarshall Field’s acquired the originalcandy company in the late 1920s.

Although they are no longer made in-store, in my mind there’s no doubt aboutit: Chocolate beats chicken potpie anyseason of the year!

Our final stop is at the Museum of

Science and Industry, which hostsChristmas Around the World, an annualexhibit that celebrates the world’s—andChicago’s—cultures and traditions. Thefirst such display took place in 1942 whenChicagoans of all ethnicities wanted toshow that they supported America’s WorldWar II allies.

The museum placed a single pine treein the rotunda, and volunteersrepresenting various nationalities changedthe decorations on a daily basis. Theresult: a rotating display that honoreddiversity as well as community.

In the 70-plus years since then, thatsingle pine has morphed into a 50-treeexhibit that lasts from mid-Novemberuntil the end of December.

We walk slowly, admiring theornaments on each tree. The treerepresenting Kenya is adorned with woodanimal carvings. The one from Denmarkis laden with woven hearts, while the onefrom Bosnia-Herzegovina has miniaturedolls and skis.

And on it goes … Russian matryoshkas(nested dolls), Romanian snowmen … aninternational display for an internationalcity.

As we head back to our hotel, agentleman who is sitting behind me onthe train begins humming an old FrankSinatra lyric, “Chicago is my kind oftown.” My sentiments exactly.

For the latest information on Chicago’s2013 Christmas activities, go towww.choosechicago.com

Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted;story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).

The display at Chicago’s Museum ofScience and Industry features trees thatrepresent Chicago’s—and the world’s—

various cultures.

Hot spiced wine helps people stay warmas they enjoy Christkindlmart.

Macy’s window displays capture themagic of Christmas.


Lebanon County

Calendar of EventsSenior Center Activities

Annville Senior Community Center – (717) 867-1796200 S. White Oak St., AnnvilleDec. 5, 10:30 a.m. – Christmas Party at Heisey’s DinerDec. 27, 9 a.m. – Covered Dish Brunch and Ugly Sweater DayDec. 31, 11 a.m. – Noonday Party

Maple Street Community Center – (717) 273-1048710 Maple St., LebanonDec. 6, 11 a.m. – Ham Christmas DinnerDec. 13, 9 a.m. – Christmas BreakfastDec. 23, 8:30 a.m. – Mel’s Diner Christmas Breakfast, Visit from Santa

Myerstown Senior Community Center – (717) 866-678651 W. Stoever Ave., MyerstownDec. 13, noon – Center Christmas Party at Hebron Banquet HallDec. 17, 11:30 a.m. – Holiday Luncheon at Light’s Victorian HouseDec. 31, noon – New Year Celebration at Harper’s Tavern

Northern Lebanon Senior Community Center – (717) 865-0944335 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown – www.jonestownpa.org/senior.html

Palmyra Senior Community Center – (717) 838-8237101 S. Railroad St., PalmyraDec. 6, 11:30 a.m. – Christmas Party at Hometown’sDec. 13, 10 a.m. – Brunch at Funck’s, Christmas Concert at Hershey Founder HallDec. 23, 10:30 a.m. – Christmas Special Meal and Gift Exchange

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

Privately Owned Centers

Senior Center of Lebanon Valley, Inc. – (717) 274-3451710 Maple St., Lebanon

Washington Arms – (717) 274-4104303 Chestnut St., Lebanon

Please call or visit the centers’ websites for additional activities.

If you have an event you would like to include,

please email information to [email protected] for consideration.

Lebanon County Library Programs

Annville Free Library, 216 E. Main St., Annville, (717) 867-1802

Lebanon Community Library, 125 N. Seventh St., (717) 273-7624

Matthews Public Library, 102 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, (717) 865-5523

Myerstown Community Library, 199 N. College St., Myerstown, (717) 866-2800

Palmyra Public Library, 325 S. Railroad St., (717) 838-1347

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

Lebanon County Department of Parks and Recreation

All events held at the Park at Governor Dick unless noted.

Dec. 1, 1 to 4 p.m. – Christmas Music by the Fire

Christmas Traditions: The Real Story

The December holidays are a time tohonor traditions handed down over thecenturies.

You might be surprised to learn thatmany Christmas customs actuallyoriginated in older traditions and pagancelebrations. Here’s a quick look:

Christmas Day. Dec. 25 wasdesignated as Christmas Day by PopeSaint Julius I in the fourth century,reflecting a decision to combine severalpagan festivities into one Christiancelebration.

Dec. 25 previously marked theRoman Saturnalia, as well as thepurported birth date of Mithra, thePersian sun god, and the mythical firstappearance of the Norse god Odin to theworld.

Food anddrink. Parties,overeating,and generalmayhem arealso related tothe Saturnalia.This Romanfestival wasnamed forSaturn, anagriculturegod, and wascelebratedwith feastingand generalrevelry.

Christmas pudding. The Celtscelebrated their god of the harvest by

making a potof porridge andstirring it forhim. Later,plum puddingwas made byadding prunesto the porridge,which evolvedinto what wenow know asChristmaspudding.

Traditionsays that eachmember of thefamily should

stir the pot in an east-west manner (asthe sun moves across the sky). Flamingbrandy poured onto the pudding is also a

symbol of the sun’s energy.

Christmas stockings. The firstChristmas stocking was supposedlyderived from the charity of a kindlyTurkish bishop, who slipped a bag ofgold into the stocking of a girl in need ofa dowry.

Christmas trees. DecoratingChristmas trees has its origins inGermany. During the winter, thepopulace wanted to encourage tree spiritsto return to the trees and reawaken themin the spring.

The practice originally focused on oaktrees but later came to be associated withfir trees by Christians, who associated thetriangle outline of the firs with the HolyTrinity.


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Occasionally, Robert and Barbaracombine their distinctive skills and createa work of art together. When they dothis, Robert does the basic paintingbefore letting Barbara take over with thedetails. Robert prefers to work inwatercolor and oil; Barbara prefers towork in pastel and oil.

They both do a lot of realism andfrequently paint general scenes, such asfarmhouses or nature scenes. They havefound people have a connection withthose pieces because the scene remindsthem of their childhood home or a placethey used to vacation.

Even though Robert and Barbara areboth successful painters now, theirjourneys to their success were quitedivergent.

In his undergraduate years, Robertstudied illustration at University of theArts in Philadelphia. Later in 1990, hegot his master’s degree in illustrationfrom Syracuse University.

Robert has truly been making a namefor himself through his work. He hasreceived numerous awards, has beenpublished countless times, and isincluded in many collections, such as hispieces in the corporate collection at TheEastman-Kodak Corporation and in The

Harley-DavidsonMuseum.

In addition tocreating piecesfor others toenjoy, Roberthas also beensharing hisknowledgethroughteaching. Formore than 30years, he has taught courses in fine art,illustration, painting, and life drawing atthe Art Institute of York.

His teachings and work have not goneunappreciated; the school’s art studio wasrecently named the Robert E. BuchananIllustration Studio.

It is his work as a teacher, out of allthe honors and recognitions, that Robertdeems his greatest accomplishment. Hefeels pride in knowing he helped studentsget a start to a successful career byincreasing their knowledge of the fieldand honing their skills.

Barbara’s background, on the otherhand, hasn’t always included painting.For 24 years she worked in graphicdesign, and before that, she took a two-year course in fashion illustration at the

Art Institute ofPittsburgh.

It wasn’t until2000, when theYork ArtAssociationcontacted her toteach drawingclasses, that shebegan doing art ona regular basis.Once she started,

she didn’t rest. She stopped doing graphicdesign and began teaching and paintingfull time.

Barbara taught at the LancasterMuseum of Art for a few years and hasdone a great amount of commission workfor a variety of clients, includingPfaltzgraff and the Hope Lodge inHershey.

“Art is the focus of my life now,”Barbara said. “The older I get, thestronger my desire to create in the formof painting becomes.”

Aging seems to have had a great effecton Barbara’s confidence as well. As herinterest in painting has increased, so hasher knowledge of the field.

“You have to keep growing and learnnew things,” Barbara said. “There’s always

going to be more to learn, and I’m nevergoing to learn it all.

“Every time I do a painting, I try todo it better than I did before. Doing theartwork has made me very content andhappy in my life.”

Robert has found that aging has givenhim a new drive to produce artwork.When he was younger, he was impatient;he always wanted to be doing somethingand going somewhere. He was not asmotivated to paint as he is now.

“You know you don’t have forever,”Robert explained. “[Age] drives you alittle harder to realize you want to make astatement.”

When they got married, Barbara andRobert combined not only their love foreach other, but also their love for art.And through their marriage, they savedeach other emotionally.

“My greatest satisfaction,” Robert said,“is I’ve changed and helped one life onthis earth, which is my wife.”

Barbara and Robert will be showingtheir work in December and January atthe Blue Moon Restaurant at 361 W.Market St., York.

For more information, email Robert [email protected], call at (717) 224-0973, or visit www.robertebuchanan.com.

CANVAS from page 1

Various examples of Robert’s sketches.


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Tom McInnes served two tours inVietnam … and found out thatno one was ever really safe there,

not even chaplains. Of course, there was the everyday

reality that the Viet Cong wore nouniforms and looked like every otherVietnamese person, while their fondestwish was to slit your throat if they everhad the chance. That was enough to giveyou the feeling that every day might beyour last.

But for McInnes, something elseoccurred that was not at all expected.

On his first Vietnam tour in 1963, hewas a chaplain assigned to the 9th

Assistance Advisory Group. One of hismain efforts was to help the Vietnamesepeople in any way he could—which, as itturned out, didn’t help him a whole lot.

One day, he was to help in taking foodto the Vietnamese in a small, nearbyvillage. He was to travel by “Jeepster” (anenclosed Jeep that carried people andcargo) with a GI driver, a gunner, and aGreen Beret medic officer who couldspeak French and thus could speak tosome of the Montagnard people theyintended to help.

Four 100-pound sacks of rice weresqueezed into the Jeepster and held thequantities of rice that were to bedistributed to the ill-fed Montagnardpeople, who were our allies. McInnesexplains that, although the Montagnardswere Vietnamese, they were a lot like ourNative Americans.

“Just as the Apaches were separate fromthe Cherokees,” he says, “so were theMontagnards from each other, with

different tribes havingtheir own language,dress, and culture. But,because of the previousFrench occupation oftheir land, a few ofthem spoke a littleFrench, and that’swhere the French-speaking medic camein.”

As their loadedJeepster started downthe steep hill fromtheir camp, theysuddenly found theyhad no brakes. Duringthe night, the VietCong had apparently severed the lines tothe brakes, so they barreled down the hill,continuing to gather speed until theycame to a hairpin turn and an evensteeper drop at the bottom.

There the Jeepster took off, hurtlingthrough the air and coming to a crashinghalt on its back, with men and rice bagspiled one on top of another.

“There were plenty of strains andbruises,” he says, “but, fortunately,nobody needed to be hospitalized.”

His tour of duty was for only a year,and he was the only Protestant chaplainin the 2nd Corps, which spanned an areaabout half the size of New Jersey. Heroutinely flew in helicopters of all kindsto hold services in the field and to workto help the local Vietnamese.

He did counseling and also advised thecommander on morale. He enjoyedserving as a sort of ombudsman for the

troops, hearing theircomplaints and servingtheir interests.

The year passedrather quickly, and hewas returned to FortDix, N.J., where heserved for two yearsbefore his second one-year tour in Vietnam in1967.

Before joining themilitary, McInnes hadgraduated from highschool in Buffalo andthen had two years atRochester University,where he was working

toward a degree in chemistry. And it wasthere that he enlisted in the Army AirCorps in 1946 and served for 18 monthsbefore being discharged in August 1947.

He had remained in the Reserve,however, and after he entered HoughtonCollege for his junior year, he was recalledfor 21 months. He was then discharged asa staff sergeant and was able to return toHoughton to finish his senior year.

It was then that he felt the call to theministry. So, in 1953 he entered EasternBaptist Seminary in Philadelphia,graduating with a Bachelor of Divinitydegree. There he also became an Armysecond lieutenant before his graduation asa chaplain in 1957. After serving as a firstlieutenant in the Reserve, he was recalledto active duty in 1962 as a captain andserved as a chaplain at Fort Belvoir beforegoing to Vietnam.

He smiles as he recalls that they noted

that on his “dream list,” he had said thathe would like to serve in exotic places likeHawaii or Thailand.

“The interviewing officer said, ‘I seeyou said you’d like to serve in Thailand.Well, you’re getting your wish. We’resending you to Vietnam, just a little eastof Thailand, where you picked to be.’”

So he was off to Vietnam, where hewas assigned to the 9th Assistance AdvisoryGroup … and where his career almostended in the sabotage to his Jeepster.

After his one-year tour there, he wasglad to be back in the U.S., where hespent two years at Fort Dix before beingreturned to Vietnam for his second one-year tour. After returning to the U.S., hethen shipped to Germany for duty duringthe occupation.

Returning to the U.S. in 1972, heentered the chaplain’s school at FortHamilton, N.Y., to earn his master’sdegree. And after service at other bases, hewas assigned to Aberdeen ProvingGrounds for two years and retired as acolonel in 1979, having served hiscountry for 33 years.

McInnes now lives in a retirementcommunity in Central Pennsylvania, aftera man he taught in a Bible class gaveMcInnes a ton of material extolling thewonders of the area.

“My wife, Ruth, and I came to look itover and couldn’t imagine a morewonderful place to live,” McInnes grins.“So, we came here, and we wouldn’t tradeit for any other place in the world.”

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber inEurope in World War II.

The Viet Cong Kept FindingNew Ways to Kill You

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

Lieutenant ColonelThomas J. McInnes in 1972,

home from Germany


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Media Division,MagazineFall 2012

Thank you for readingour award-winningpublications.On-Line Publishers, Inc. was recentlyhonored with two national awards.

Media Division

Article:“Solace forWounded

Spirits”BY LORI VAN INGEN

Older But Not Wiser

My daughter, Ann, gave birth lastweek to a beautiful baby girl.Ann was in labor for 29 hours,

which is longer than I held my first job. In the middle of the night (while Ann

was still in labor), my wife, Wanda, andAnn’s husband, Edward, fell asleep. Justmy daughter and I were up.

So in the semi-darkness of the room,where the only light was coming from thehospital monitors in the background, wetalked. We talked about importantmatters:

“So you’re having a baby,” I said.“You figured that out, huh, Dad?”OK, it wasn’t a great start, but this was

my time to pass on some knowledge tomy daughter, to share my years ofwisdom. However, for some reason Iwent into this rambling monologue aboutjust one event:

“I remember when you were growingup, we always tried to make you feel very

special. We treated you like you were thecenter of the universe, but we couldn’tstop the world from sometimes changingthat.

“When you were about 5 years old, Itook you to this children’s show wherethis guy, who was playinga guitar, was takingrequests from the kids inthe audience. And youkept yelling that youwanted to hear ‘Itsy BitsySpider,’ but he didn’t payany attention to you andyou started to cry. I meancry so loudly they couldhear you in outer space.

“So I took you into the lobby andhugged you tightly. And Ann, I wantedto maturely explain to you that eventhough you were very special, there arepeople who won’t treat you that way andthat maybe they’ll even ignore you, but

that’s OK; it’s not a big deal and it’s theirloss.

“Instead, I told you that the guyplaying the guitar was a stupid, doo-doo-headed jerk. OK, that probably wasn’t themost mature thing to say, but I would do

it again. “Anyway, Ann, the

point is—and I do havea point; it just takes mea while to get to it—isthat there will be timeswhen you unfortunatelycan’t protect yourdaughter from theinsensitivity of theoutside world, but if you

raise her right and love her enormously,she’ll be able to handle it. And yourbackup position is to call those insensitivepeople doo-doo heads.”

It was a long-winded story, and itdidn’t really make that much sense, but it

seemed to take Ann’s mind off of thelabor.

The next day, Ann gave birth. I, ofcourse, wasn’t in the delivery room.Edward, the father, had that honor. Also,I was afraid I would faint.

The next day, Ann and Edwardofficially named their daughter. Aftermuch debate, they decided to name herSummer. And it has become the season ofSummer.

Two days later, I held Summer for thefirst time. I was a little afraid because sheis so small and fragile. She weighs 6pounds, 15 ounces, which we roundedup to 7 pounds. I guess in a few yearswe’ll round up her IQ to genius level.

I whispered in Summer’s ear that I’lltake her to the movies and the park, andI’ll feed her ice cream even though herparents tell me not to. And then I startedsinging to her. Of course I sang “ItsyBitsy Spider.”

Sy Rosen

I Have a Granddaughter


comfortingcare.org

One of America’s top hospitals.Right here in Lebanon County.

The Good Samaritan Hospital is recognized by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® for achieving excellence in performanceon its accountability measures during 2012 for Heart Attack, Heart Failure,Pneumonia and Surgical Care.

Out of the 3,343 eligible hospitals submitting accountability measure data to The Joint Commission, The Good Samaritan Hospital was one of 1,099 to meet or exceed the target rates of performance.

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2012

lebanon county 50plus senior news december 2013

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