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50plus Senior News, published monthly, is offered to provide individuals 50 and over in the Susquehanna and Delaware Valley areas with timely information pertinent to their needs and interests. Senior News offers information on entertainment, travel, healthy living, financial matters, veterans issues and much, much more.
Citation preview
By Laura Farnish
“I never buy that ‘at this time of your life’ stuff. It’s as though people
think that if you reach a certain age you should just retire and play checkers
at the fire hall, as though that’s the norm.”
For Chet Williamson, the fire hall is merely a staged scene, and checkers
are nothing more than a prop.
As a board chair for Creative Works of Lancaster, Williamson remains
active in the local community through recognizing the kind of performance
and art Lancaster needs and wants. The non-profit organization’s mission is
“to fuel and sustain the city’s cultural renaissance.” Their free and low-priced
shows aim to fill the artistic gaps in Lancaster’s cultural offerings.
Although started several years ago, the organization has been active for the
past year and a half. Their work includes sock puppet parodies, staged
readings in art galleries, and full productions of non-traditional plays.
Williamson’s current involvement, however, is only an addition to his
repertoire of success over the years.
As a young actor, Williamson was involved in regional theater and
industrial shows, which led him into writing. His first short story, sold to
The New Yorker and other markets, was published in the 1980s, followed by
his first published novel in 1986.
Williamson continued to pursue his career as a writer, publishing suspense
and dark fantasy fiction, children’s books, and written work for a local college.
Creativity‘Works’ forLocal Actor
The view from the audience seats is a change of perspective for Chet Williamson,
who has been comfortable on stage for decades.
Grandparenting:
Agonies and Ecstasies
page 16
How Much You’ll Pay
for Medicare in 2012
page 20
please see CREATIVITY page 21
Inside:
PRSRTSTANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDLandisville, PA
Permit No. 3
Lancaster County Edition January 2012 Vol. 18 No. 1
2 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Heckling Hawks and Owls
The Beauty in Nature
Clyde McMillan-Gamber
The day may be quiet in a
southeastern Pennsylvania
neighborhood, and then there is
a sudden uproar of many crows all
cawing loudly and excitedly at once. And
the crows repeatedly dive noisily into a
tall tree.
Crows heckle raptors (hawks and
owls) whenever they find them during
the day through the year. Crows don’t
like hawks and owls because they know
them for what they are: killers. That’s
why they make life miserable for them.
They want to permanently chase those
birds of prey completely out of crow
territory.
When I hear crows cawing
boisterously and angrily, I stop what I’m
doing to watch those agitated hecklers
and see what kind of bird they are
harassing. I feel the crows’ emotion in
their vehement shouting. I know a
raptor, probably a big, common, great
horned owl or red-tailed hawk, is the
target of that clamorous fussing that
electrifies the local bird community.
Often I find the feathered recipient of
the commotion stirred up by the crows
hunched unhappily in an
evergreen tree. The raptor tries
to be inconspicuous in
spite of its being
discovered.
Meanwhile, the
crows
repeatedly
dive close to
it, cawing excitedly, but not
touching it.
Crows are full of bluff and
taunting but stay clear of a raptor’s
strong, sharp talons and beak in case that
bird of prey turns on its tormentors. At
some point the hawk or owl may launch
itself in flight to shake its screaming
hecklers, but it usually is followed by a
shrieking, black entourage all
the way to another
perch.
Raptors’ feathers
camouflage them so they won’t
be spotted by prey animals and
hecklers.
But
sharp-
eyed
crows
spot
some of
these birds
of prey
anyway.
Hawks,
being
daytime
hunters,
don’t want
to be
pestered because the fuss will reveal their
presence to would-be prey. Owls don’t
like being bothered because they need
rest during the day so they can hunt
mice the following night.
Smaller birds also assault hawks and
owls during the day. Some of those
attackers are eastern kingbirds, blue jays,
American robins, purple grackles, red-
winged blackbirds, ruby-throated
hummingbirds, and others.
These birds call loudly with panic in
their voices that stirs the bird
community. Often a few kinds of little
birds join forces to chase a raptor away
from their young.
If the reader hears the agitated voices
of crows and other birds, most likely a
raptor is being heckled. You might spot it
perched uncomfortably in the midst of
the excitement it caused.
Clyde McMillan-Gamber is a Lancaster
County Parks naturalist.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 3
Steinmetz Coins & Currency
(717) 299-1211
(800) 334-3903
Harrison Senior Living – Coatesville
(610) 384-6310
Dri-Masters Carpet Dry Cleaning
(717) 299-1888
Dental Health Associates
(717) 394-9231
Smoketown Family Dentistry
(717) 291-6035
Central PA Poison Center
(800) 521-6110
Office of Aging
(717) 299-7979/(800) 801-3070
Lancaster County Office of Aging
(717) 299-7979
Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
(800) 638-6833
Internal Revenue Service
(717) 898-1900
Fred F. Groff, Inc.
(717) 397-8255
Richard H. Heisey Funeral Home
(717) 626-2464
Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home &
Crematory, Inc.
(717) 393-9661/(717) 872-5041
(717) 627-8668
Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home
(717) 394-4097
Alzheimer’s Association
(717) 651-5020
American Cancer Society
(717) 397-3744
American Diabetes Association
(888) DIABETES
American Heart Association
(717) 393-0725
American Lung Association
(717) 397-5203/(800) LungUSA
American Red Cross
(717) 299-5561
Arthritis Foundation
(717) 397-6271
Consumer Information
(888) 878-3256
CONTACT Helpline
(717) 652-4400
Disease and Health Risk
(888) 232-3228
Domestic Violence
(800) 799-7233
Flu or Influenza
(888) 232-3228
Alliance Home Help
(717) 283-1444
Central Penn Nursing Care, Inc.
(717) 361-9777
(717) 569-0451
Sadie’s Angels
(717) 917-1420
Visiting Angels
(717) 393-3450
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
(717) 367-9753
Hospice of Lancaster County
(717) 295-3900
Eastwood Village Homes, LLC
(717) 397-3138
The Long Community at Highland
(855) 407-9240
Medicare Hotline
(800) 638-6833
Neff’s Safe Lock & Security Inc.
(717) 392-6333
Health Network Labs
(717) 560-8891
Lancaster NeuroScience
& Spine Associates
(717) 569-5331
(800) 628-2080
Conestoga View Nursing & Rehabilitation
(717) 299-7850
Harrison Senior Living – Christiana
(610) 593-6901
The Center for Advanced Orthotics &
Prosthetics
(717) 393-0511
CVS/pharmacy
www.cvs.com
May•Grant Obstetrics & Gynecology
(717) 397-8177
Lancaster County Community
Foundation
(717) 397-1629
Neffsville Plumbing & Heating Services
(717) 625-1000
Prudential Homesale Services Group
Rochelle Welkowitz
(717) 393-0100
Symposium Mediterranean Restaurant
(717) 391-7656
Country Meadows of Lancaster
(717) 392-4100
The Long Community
(855) 407-9240
Luther Acres
(717) 626-1171
St. John’s Herr Estate
(717) 684-0678
TLC Ladies
(717) 228-8764
Transition Solutions for Seniors
Rochelle Welkowitz
(717) 615-6507
Passport Information
(877) 487-2778
Travel
Senior Move Management
Retirement Communities
Restaurants
Real Estate
Plumbing/Heating
Planned Charitable Giving
Physicians — OB/GYN
Pharmacies
Orthotics & Prosthetics
Nursing Homes/Rehab
Neurosurgery & Physiatry
Medical Services
Locksmith
Insurance
Independent Living
Housing
Hospice Providers
Home Improvement
Home Care Services
Health & Medical Services
Funeral Directors
Financial Services
Entertainment
Employment
Emergency Numbers
Dental Services
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
Assisted Living/Personal Care
Appraisals
Resource Directory
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made
an extended commitment to your health and well-being.
4 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
SeniorNews is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is
distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement
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serving the senior community.
On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish
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Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters
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We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not
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Corporate Office:3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512
Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360
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PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR
Christianne Rupp
EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS
Megan Joyce
ART DEPARTMENT
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Renee Geller
PRODUCTION ARTIST
Janys Cuffe
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Leah Craig
Angie McComsey
Ranee Shaub Miller
SALES COORDINATOR
Eileen Culp
CIRCULATION
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Loren Gochnauer
ADMINISTRATION
BUSINESS MANAGER
Elizabeth Duvall
With the sky-high prices
for gold and precious
metals making headlines,
I thought some information and
useful tips would prove helpful.
Precious metals, gemstones, and
fine-design pieces have dazzled us
through the ages.
Called precious metals, gold,
platinum, and silver are some of the
world’s rarest materials. These three
metals are found in many parts of
the world, but they are not easily
extracted from their natural state.
Precious metals maintain their
luster and shine and resist corrosion
with little care. Objects dating back
to the world’s ancient civilizations,
like the Native Americans,
Egyptians, and Greeks, show us that
these metals endure.
Gold
The ancient Egyptians reserved
the use of gold (yellow
gold) for the pharaohs
and related gold to the
powers of the sun.
White gold is created
by alloying gold with
nickel or palladium,
zinc, and copper. Alloys
are mixtures of different
metals that offer greater strength,
hardness, or malleability to another
metal. For instance, alloying gold
with copper creates pink gold or rose
gold.
Workability, the ability for master
craftsmen to shape these metals, is
important to longevity.
On Your Mark
Pure gold is 24-karat gold, and it
is very soft. This is often too soft for
everyday jewelry, so gold is alloyed
to increase its strength.
In the United States, 14-karat
gold is common and a piece must be
at least 10-karat gold to be sold as
gold jewelry.
Here are some common marks:
• 14-karat would be marked “14 K”
(or “585” in Europe), indicating that
it is 58.5 percent gold.
• 18-karat would be marked “18 K”
(or “750” in Europe), indicating that
it is 75 percent gold.
• 24-karat or pure gold would be
marked “24 K” (or “999” in
Europe), indicating that it is 99.9
percent gold.
If you like gold jewelry, these
marks should be committed to
memory! Look for them at your next
yard sale; you’ll be surprised how
many yard-sale sellers put out real
gold for sale on their front lawn!
Platinum
Platinum is a popular choice for
bridal jewelry as its strength
surpasses that of gold and silver. A
dense metal, platinum weighs more
than gold and has a high level of
purity, making it naturally
hypoallergenic.
Platinum jewelry must show one
of the following marks: “Platinum,”
“Pt,” or “Plat,” which means that
piece of jewelry contains at least 95
percent pure platinum. Platinum
may be worn every day without fear
of damage and is perfect for wedding
rings.
Sterling Silver
Silver is affordable, soft, and
malleable. It has been used to make
objects of adornment dating back to
the Byzantine world.
One of the most common and
recognizable metal marks is the mark
for silver. In the United States, only
jewelry that is at least 92.5 percent
pure silver, or 925/1,000 pure, may
be marked “silver,” “sterling,”
“sterling silver,” “925,” “92.5,” or
“ster.”
Silver is often alloyed with copper
to increase its strength. Silver will
not rust, but it will tarnish. Tarnish
may be restored with polishing.
Another mark is the vermeil
mark, which is evident when a piece
of sterling silver has been
electroplated with karat gold. If the
thickness of the karat gold plating is
at least 100 millionths of an inch
thick, that is referred to as vermeil
(pronounced “vermay”) and
sometimes as “overlay.” This is an
affordable alternative to karat-gold
jewelry.
While I know I have the ladies’
attention, I wouldn’t want to leave
out the gentlemen who enjoy a bit of
bling. Today’s styles are introducing
men to the industrial look in fine
jewelry, achieved by metals such as
titanium, tungsten carbide, and
stainless steel.
Steel-gray color, light weight, and
strength are some of the qualities of
these non-precious metals.
Tungsten is the world’s
hardest metal substance
with a nine on the Mohs
hardness scale (diamonds
rank 10 on the scale).
These metals are less likely
to scratch, but resizing a
ring made of any of these
metals proves difficult.
Here’s what I like to call famous
last words: take care when cleaning
your precious metals, dry your
jewelry before storing it, and place
pieces in separate compartments to
avoid scratching. Keep gold and
silver out of pools, showers, and hot
tubs as chlorine may weaken their
structure and cause breakage.
Know your jeweler and your stuff
when you are selecting valuable
precious metals.
Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser,
author, and award-winning TV
personality, Dr. Lori presents antique
appraisal events nationwide and
antiques-themed vacation cruises. As
seen on NBC’s The Tonight Show and
Comedy Central’s The Daily Show,
watch Dr. Lori weekdays on Lifetime
Television. Visit www.DrLoriV.com,
www.Facebook.com/
DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.
Tips and Trends in Precious Metals
Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori
Dr. Lori
Sterling silver bracelet of sea life figures
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 5
Serving Lancaster County for over 26 Years!
©2008. An independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.
Prudential is a registered service mark of The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Moving Yourself or
Moving Mom & Dad ...
You Can Count on
Rocky!
Dedicated to Making Older Adult Transitions Easier,
More Economical, and Lower in Stress
We Can:
• Organize and Implement the Entire Move
• Create a Floor Plan for Your New Residence
• Assist with the Sorting, Packing, Disposal andUnpacking Processes
• Prepare Your Home for Sale to Obtain Top Price
• Sell Your Home or Help You Find a New One *
• Perform Intra-Community Moves
• Work with Estates
• Provide Specialized Services Tailored to Your Needs
Licensed Realtor With:
(717) 295-HOME
CALL NOW FOR FREE INFORMATION
Rochelle “Rocky” Welkowitz, GRI, SRES
Founder
Direct Line: (717) 615-6507
Need a Speakerfor Your Group?
Let Rocky Share Her 26 Yearsof Downsizing Expertise!
Personal, In-Home Care for SeniorsServices include:
• daily bathing/grooming • light housekeeping • laundry services • shopping/appointments • meal planning/cooking • medication reminders• exercise assistance • landscaping needs • small home projects • music therapy
ON CALL 24/7 • INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATEDShort-term and long-term assistance
Sadie’s Angels 717-917-1420 sadiesangels.vpweb.com
Call fora free
assessment!
www.harrisonseniorliving.com
Spacious, serene surroundings. Family-centered
programs. Friendly, dedicated staff. Our residents
look to us for the care they need, and the respect
they deserve. Harrison Senior Living offers all of
the above. But it’s the sparkle in our residents’
eyes that tells us that we’re more than a top-
notch facility. We’re home.
PERSONAL CARE & SENIOR APARTMENTS
300 Strode Avenue • Coatesville, PA 19320 • (610) 384-6310
SKILLED NURSING & REHABILITATION
41 Newport Avenue • Christiana, PA 17509 • (610) 593-6901
in her eyesis the reason
A LOVING ENVIRONMENT, A CARING COMMUNITY
sparkleThe sparkle
we’re herewe’re here
Visit Our Website At:
50plusSeniorNewsPA.comCentral Pennsylvania’s Award-Winning 50+ Publication
6 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
LANCASTER COUNTY
EMPLOYERS NEED YOU!!
For more job listings, call theLancaster County Office of Aging
at (717) 299-7979or visit
www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco_aging
Lancaster County Office of Aging150 N. Queen Street, Suite 415
Lancaster, PA
Job
Opportunities
CALL CENTER REPS – FTLocal bank seeking persons with good customer service skills to respond to phone and other devices to answer
customer inquiries regarding products, services, procedures, or account information. Shifts vary from 9:30 a.m.
to 8 p.m.
Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? How about making a resolution that will enrich your life and the life of an older person inyour community?
The volunteer opportunities available at Lancaster County Office of Aging are diverse, offer flexibility, and require a minimal timecommitment. As a volunteer, you can choose to provide a consumer with hands-on help with laundry, grocery shopping, or cleaning. Youcan also provide socialization as a Phone Pal or Friendly Visitor.
There are also several specialized programs for volunteers through our agency. They include the Volunteer Ombudsman and APPRISEvolunteer programs. Volunteers are also invited to participate in several special events during the year, such as distribution of donatedchicken barbecue dinners and the Christmas holiday program.
For more information about any of these opportunities and others, contact Bev Via, volunteer coordinator, at (717) 299-7979 or byemailing aging@co.lancaster.pa.us. Becoming an Office of Aging volunteer is one resolution you’ll enjoy keeping!
GREETER/SECURITY – PTRetail store seeking persons to
open lobby doors, greetcustomers, and direct them to
returns or merchandise. Must befriendly, have good verbal skills,have a neat appearance, and be
able to work a flexible schedule. SN113411.02
CUSTOMER SERVICE – PTSmall family-owned business in
New Holland area needs areliable individual for data entry,
customer service, receivingpayments, and reconciling
receipts at end of shift. Must beable to work variety of hours
during day.SN111211.04
E.O.E.
VIEW OUR JOB LISTWe list other jobs on the Web at
www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco_aging. To learn more about applyingfor the 55+ Job Bank and these
jobs, call the Employment Unit at(717) 299-7979.
SN-GEN.03
SN111411.01
Age 55 or over? Unemployed? The 55+ Job Bank is one ofthree services offered by Employment Unit at the Office of Aging.
Jobs are matched with those looking for work. Based on anevaluation of your skills and abilities, we can match you with aposition needed by a local employer. Some employers arespecifically looking for older workers because of the reliabilityand experience they bring to the workplace. There is a mix offull-time and part-time jobs covering all shifts, requiring varyinglevels of skill and experience, and offering a wide range ofsalaries.
The other services available through the Office of Aging arethe Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)and the regularly scheduled Job Search Workshops.
I’ll pause in my presentation of online
methods for researching genealogy to
reply to questions from readers. I’ll
pick up that topic again in coming issues,
with Scotland and Ireland.
Q: I’m sure my grandmother was
Sicilian. She spoke that language, celebrated
St. Joseph’s Day and all the other holidays in
Sicilian style, cooked Sicilian food, and so
on, but she said she was born in Tunisia.
How can that be, and how can I do research
on her ancestry? – R.F.L., Kenmore, N.Y.
A: Around 1860, in the time of the
unification of Sicily with the Italian
peninsular states, there was extreme
poverty in the Mezzogiorno (southern
Italy and Sicily). After the formation of
the unified Kingdom of Italy, much of the
already meager wealth of the south was
appropriated by northern officials and
opportunists, and the peasants and
laborers of the Mezzogiorno bore the
brunt of the
economic
hardship.
This
social
upheaval led
to the “great
migration”
out of the
south,
primarily to
the United
States, but
also to
Western
Europe and
even Africa,
only 100
miles away
across the Straits of Sicily. At the start of
this period, Tunisia was under control of
the Ottoman Turks, but in 1881, it
became a French protectorate, until its
independence
in 1956.
In the late
1800s and
the early
1900s, Tunis
and other
coastal cities
of Tunisia
received the
immigration
of tens of
thousands of
Italian
peasants,
mainly from
Sicily and
Sardinia. As a
consequence,
by the first years of the 20th century, there
were more than 100,000 Italian residents
in Tunisia, concentrated in the large cities
of Tunis, Biserta, La Goulette, and Sfax,
and even in smaller cities.
These immigrants established their
own churches and neighborhoods, and
while picking up the Arabic and French
tongues, many retained their Sicilian and
Italian language and social customs. Many
made frequent trips back to their towns of
origin, often convincing others to
emigrate to Tunisia. Some who were
dissatisfied with conditions in Tunisia
eventually emigrated to the United States.
So it’s not unreasonable to think of
your grandmother as Tunisian and
Sicilian. Passenger manifests at Ellis Island
and other U.S. ports, available on Ellis
Island’s free site (www.ellisisland.org) and
the subscription site Ancestry.com, often
show travelers’ last place of residence.
Familiarize yourself with the names of
Tunisian cities, as these manifests may
indicate Tunis, Biserta, or the other large
cities noted above, or smaller ones such as
Zaghouan, Bouficha, Kelibia, or
Reader Questions
The Search for Our Ancestry
Angelo Coniglio
A section from one of Guy Coniglio’s naval musters.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 7
(717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240 • www.onlinepub.com
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Your Favorite Local Publications —Collecting Accolades in Spades!On-Line Publishers, Inc. & 50plus Senior Newsjust earned 4 awards!
141 E. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA | 717-394-4097www.KASnyderFuneralHome.comMark C. DeBord, Supv.
CARING. TRUSTING.
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Serving families in our communityfor four generations.
Branch location: Richard A. Sheetz Funeral Home2024 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603 | 397-6329Randy L. Stoltzfus, Supv.
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Time is a Priceless GiftDo you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others?
Tell us what makes him or her so special and
we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’
Volunteer Spotlight!Volunteer Spotlight!Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are
encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail
nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight,
3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are
encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail
nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight,
3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
Ferryville. If your grandmother came here
through a U.S. port, her manifest may give
the name of the town she came from and
even name the closest relative she left
behind.
Certain Tunisian baptism, marriage,
and death records have been indexed
online at Geneanum.com
(http://www.geneanum.com). You’ll have
to read French or get a French speaker to
help you, but that page gives links to
helpful genealogical sites for Malta, Sicily,
and Tunisia (Tunisie in French).
Clicking on the Tunisie link leads to a
page with the link Bases de données
(databases), and clicking there leads to
choices for baptisms, marriages, and
burials.
Information on parents, spouses, etc., is
shown in limited text form, but copies of
original documents may be ordered
through the site. Caution—given names
are in French: Salvatore is Sauveur,
Antonio is Antoine, Pietro is Pierre, and so
on.
Q: My grandfather was in the U.S. Navy
during World War II. I would like to find
information about his Navy experience and
the ships on which he served. – M.C.,
Norman, Okla.
A: Ancestry.com has many historical
military records, including U.S. World
War II Navy muster rolls, 1938–1949.
These can be searched at Ancestry.com for
free at many public libraries or at a
Mormon Family History Center. The
database can be searched by the sailor’s
name, date of service, and location.
The search results show images of
original “ship musters.” Many such records
have information on enlistment,
assignment, rank or rating, etc. Once you
find the names of the ships on which your
grandfather served, search free sites like
Wikipedia to get more information about
the ships, including photos.
To see an example of my brother Guy’s
pre-WWII musters, see
http://www.conigliofamily.com/GuyPage2.
htm.
Angelo Coniglio encourages readers to contact
him by writing to 438 Maynard Drive,
Amherst, NY 14226; by email at
Genealogytips@aol.com; or by visiting
www.conigliofamily.com/ConiglioGenealogyTi
ps.htm.
New VA Campaign Provides
Online Support for VetsMake the Connection, a new campaign
launched by the Department of Veterans
Affairs, is creating ways for veterans and
their family members to connect with the
experiences of other veterans.
The program’s ultimate goal is to
connect veterans with
information and
resources to help them
confront the challenges
of transitioning from
service, facing health
issues, or navigating the
complexities of daily life
as a civilian.
“I have seen over and
over again how
important it can be for a
veteran to hear a
message from another veteran. This type
of communication will be especially useful
in helping to break down the stigma
associated with mental health issues and
treatment,” said Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
“VA is leveraging this powerful
connection using an approachable online
resource that links veterans to personal
stories from their peers, to VA resources
and support, and to reliable information
about mental health and resilience.”
The campaign’s central focus is a
website, www.maketheconnection.net,
featuring numerous veterans who have
shared their experiences, challenges, and
triumphs. It offers a place where veterans
and their families can view the candid,
personal testimonials of other veterans
who have dealt with and
are working through a
variety of common life
experiences, day-to-day
symptoms, and mental
health conditions.
The website also
connects veterans and
their family members
with services and
resources that may help
them live more fulfilling
lives.
At maketheconnection.net, veterans
and their family members can explore
information on mental health issues and
treatment—and easily access support—in
comfort and privacy, anywhere, anytime.
Visitors to the site can customize and filter
their online experience, directly
connecting with content that is the most
relevant to their own lives and situations.
For more information, visit
maketheconnection.net or VA’s mental
health services website at
www.mentalhealth.va.gov.
“This type of
communication will
be useful in breaking
down the stigma
associated with
mental health issues
and treatment.
“
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8 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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If you have been searching for a little spice in your life,
consider adding Cinnamon.
This handsome 2-year-old is a warm and social friend who
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Around Town, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com
For 10 days in early November, 6,530 American flags
were displayed in the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s
Veterans Grove.
The public was invited to walk through and enjoy the
flag display at their leisure. A program in the Brossman
Ballroom also helped commemorate Veterans Day 2011.
For more information about Masonic Village’s
Veterans Grove, please visit www.masonicvillagespa.org/
elizabethtown.
Thousands of Flags
Honor Nation’s Vets
When you patronize
our advertisers,
please let them know
you saw their ad in
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 9
951 ROHRERSTOWN RD., LANCASTER
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The car was an Alfa-Romeo 6C
2300 Pescara Spyder, but to
M/Sgt. Gerald Schmidt, it was
just another car. And, as it was his
responsibility in combat ordnance, he
drove it back to his echelon behind the
front lines.
Only much later did he learn that he
had driven such a historic car. During the
great depression in Italy, Mussolini had
bailed out the car manufacturer from
going into liquidation,
so he was presented
with this custom-made
car as a gift. Just 60 of
the 6C 2300 Pescara
Spyders were
produced, and
Mussolini’s auto is
believed to be the sole
one surviving.
Although
Mussolini had his
Spyder specialized by
adding horsepower, he
never added
bulletproof glass or
armor plating. He was
often seen riding
around in the car,
saluting crowds as he
stood in the passenger seat, with flowers
and bouquets strewn on the hood.
Famed test driver Ercole Boratto
became Mussolini’s driver and drove the
car in the 1936 Mille Miglia, a dangerous,
1,000-mile, open-road endurance race in
Italy, coming in an impressive 13th place.
So what else is impressive about the car
Jerry Schmidt once drove so casually? It
sold for $1.1 million when auctioned,
that’s what!
But, in 1945 Schmidt knew none of
that … and couldn’t have cared less,
because he had his hands full while he
was part of our Army’s push northward
through Italy, past the battlefields of
Salerno, Anzio, and Monte Cassino to
take the city of Rome and then on to
Florence.
Throughout, his job was to supply new
trucks to replace those that were
destroyed in combat. He had been
assigned to ordnance when he was drafted
in 1944 because he had gotten familiar
with heavy equipment while working for
International Harvester in Boston, where,
at age 24, he had become the youngest
wholesale manager in the company.
And now, after his outfit had fought
their way into Florence, he ran ordnance
as part of a huge depot the Army had
established there. Then he got the news
that the Army had decided that they
needed him a lot more in the Pacific than
they did in Europe. So he spent 42 days
aboard a troop transport on his way to
the Philippines.
What was it like to
spend that much time
aboard ship?
“It was hell on
wheels,” he says. “That
ship pitched so much
that everyone except
the crew were sick as
dogs most of the time.
When I got off, I
vowed that I would
never get on a ship
again. And, except for
the one that took me
home, I never did.
“The fighting in the
Philippines was
tough,” he remembers.
“The Japanese were
fanatically aggressive
fighters, and we were under fire
constantly, until eventually Manila fell.”
In August, after the U.S. had dropped
the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered, and
Schmidt was shipped back to Los Angeles.
He then went by train to Fort Dix, where
he was discharged in January 1946.
He went back to work at International
Harvester, and the company sent him, at
age 26, to Providence, R.I., to build a
new plant to repair and sell their trucks.
After managing that plant for a year, he,
surprisingly, got the company’s backing to
set up his own Cadillac-Oldsmobile
dealership in Providence.
In 1960, he sold his dealership and
came to live in Lancaster to be close to his
son and his family. In retirement, things
are quiet, but Jerry Schmidt has much to
remember about the years when he fought
for his country on two different sides of
the globe.
Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in
Europe in WWII.
After the Fall of Romein WWII, He DroveMussolini’s Auto
Robert D. Wilcox
Salute to a Veteran
M/Sgt. Gerald K. Schmidt in 1945.
10 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
March 15, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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2010 Census Shows Older Population Growing QuicklyThe U.S. population 65 and older is
now the largest in terms of size and
percent of the population, compared
with any previous census, according to
a new 2010 census brief released
recently from the U.S. Census Bureau
on the nation’s older population.
The group grew at a faster rate than
the total population between 2000 and
2010.
According to the 2010 census, there
were 40.3 million people 65 and older
on April 1, 2010, increasing by 5.3
million since the 2000 census, when
this population numbered 35 million.
The percentage of the population 65
and older also increased during the
previous decade. In 2010, the older
population represented 13 percent of
the total population, an increase from
12.4 percent in 2000.
65 and Older PopulationGrew Faster than Total Population
Between 2000 and 2010, the
population 65 and older grew 15.1
percent, while the total U.S.
population grew 9.7 percent.
The opposite happened between
1990 and 2000, when the growth of
the older population was slower than
the growth of the total population,
with growth rates of 12 percent and
13.2 percent, respectively.
Population Size and Growth VariedAmong the Older Age Groups
Examining the growth of 10-year
age groups within the older population
shows that 85- to 94-year-olds
experienced the fastest growth between
2000 and 2010. This group grew by
29.9 percent, increasing from 3.9
million to 5.1 million.
Among five-year age groups in the
older population, 65- to 69-year-olds
grew the fastest. This age group grew
by 30.4 percent, rising from 9.5
million to 12.4 million. The 65- to 69-
year-old group is expected to grow
more rapidly over the next decade as
the first baby boomers start turning 65
in 2011.
The only older-population age
group to decline between 2000 and
2010 was the 75- to 79-year-old age
group. This group decreased by 1.3
percent from 7.4 million to 7.3
million. The changes in this group
mainly reflect the relatively low
number of births during the early
1930s as fewer numbers of people
entered these ages between 2000 and
2010.
Population of Older MenIncreased at a More Rapid Rate
than Older Women
While women continue to
outnumber men in the older ages, men
have continued to close the gap over
the decade by increasing at a faster rate
than women.
The largest growth rate for a 10-year
age group within the older population
was for men 85 to 94 years old (46.5
percent). Women in this age group also
increased but to a smaller degree (22.9
percent).
In the 2010 census, there were
approximately twice as many women as
men at age 89. This doubling point
occurred about four years older than it
did in 2000 and six years older than it
did in 1990, illustrating the narrowing
gap in mortality between men and
women at the older ages.
> In the 2010 census, there were
53,364 centenarians (people
100 and older), an increase of
5.8 percent since 2000.
> The number of people 65 and
older more than doubled in
21 counties in the United
States.
> Approximately 1.3 million
people 65 and older—or 3.1
percent of this population—
lived in skilled-nursing
facilities in 2010.
> In 2010, the states with the
highest percentage of people
over age 65 were:
Florida – 17.3 percent
West Virginia – 16 percent
Maine – 15.9 percent
Pennsylvania – 15.4 percent
Iowa – 14.9 percent
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 11
12 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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This Year, Resolve to Do
Something DifferentIt’s January again. Have you made
your New Year’s resolutions yet? Maybe
this is the year to forget the boring,
routine promises you won’t keep.
Try resolving to be more creative in
2012 with these
resolutions:
Keep a journal.Spend a few minutes
every day or so
writing down your
thoughts, feelings,
dreams, and
ambitions—not your
daily schedule or your
upcoming
appointments. Let
your mind wander;
free-associate a little.
You may be surprised
at the ideas you
generate.
Read more. Vary your reading habits
and explore different topics. If you
usually read novels, try a biography. If
you read only history, try a book on
modern-day science. You’ll exercise your
mind and maybe find new connections
between ideas.
Learn something new. Take a class in
something unrelated to your job or your
hobbies—art, auto mechanics,
philosophy, etc. Mastering new skills can
refresh your outlook on life.
Meet new people.Make a positive effort to
make new friends this year
(or professional contacts).
Look for gatherings of
people whose interests
match yours, and network.
The more people you
know, the better equipped
you are to learn and grow.
Create something forthe heck of it. Paint a
picture, write a poem, or
start a garden—not
because you’ll get paid for
it, but because you want
to. You’ll find satisfaction in achieving
personal goals and motivation to keep
trying new things.
Volunteer. Find a cause you support,
and offer your time and service. You’ll
meet new people and enjoy the feeling of
helping out with an important cause.
A New YearThe old year is over,It’s time to be sober,A New Year lies ahead.
No time to dread the past,Because that time won’t lastNow is the time for you to shine,You can make a differenceIn a new place in time.
Give it all you got to get to the top.Let your love shine for all mankind.Make the New Year a new world for all,Do your best and you’ll stand tall.
The old year is over,So, do what you doDay in and day out,Just let it all come out!
Be brave and have no fear,Your New Year is here,Follow the cheer and you willHave a happy New Year!
Written and submitted byLeigh P. Hoffman
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 13
1. Rapids transit
6. ___ print
10. Arizona’s governor, tofriends
13. Toothpick fruit
14. Defiant one
15. Arapaho foe
16. 1966 Beatles hit
19. Alexei’s father, for one
20. Times to call, inclassifieds
21. Sweet drink
22. Blue eyes or baldness, e.g.
24. Endings for ecto- andproto-
26. Zesty
29. Hollywood pole
30. Nymph
31. Almanac tidbit
32. Latin “I”
35. 1963 Beatles tune
39. Nonclerical
40. Squander
41. ___ the moment
42. Splendor
43. Ridges
45. Wets
48. Analyze, in a way
49. Neurotransmission site
50. Commend
51. 100 paisa
55. Songwritingpartnership
59. College frat.
60. Newspaper chain
61. Skip off
62. Put away
63. Watering holes
64. Garment slits
1. Egyptian Christian
2. Wistful word
3. Mangrove palm
4. Upset
5. Ballad’s end?
6. Side
7. Exasperates
8. ___ Age
9. Bobble
10. Asian plants
11. Special Forces unit
12. Uncool candies?
14. Lifeboat support
17. Vetch or lupin
18. Prayer leader
23. Optical phenomenon
24. Somewhat, in music
25. Mythological plants
26. Murphy Brown bar owner
27. Part of the Corn Belt
28. Jetty
29. Aircraft compartment
31. Elite group
32. Broadcast
33. Palestinian city
34. Half of binary code
36. Offering
37. Some jazz
38. Move
42. Ivy League team
43. Trick
44. Organic compound
45. Model material
46. College leave
47. Gift recipient
48. They remainedundefeated by theRomans
50. “Time’s a-wastin’!”
52. Bartlett’s abbr.
53. Set aside
54. Roll call calls
56. It’s a wrap
57. Prefix with profit
58. King’s title: abbr.
Across
Down
By Myles Mellor and Sally York
WORD SEARCH
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 16
Would you like to see your ad here? Sponsor the Puzzle Page!
Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.
14 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
May 8, 20129 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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For sponsorship and exhibitor information: www.50plusExpoPA.com • (717) 285-1350
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&
Back in the days of stock ticker
machines, standardized company
abbreviations or ticker symbols
reduced the costs of quotations ticked
across telegraph lines.
Although ticker tape was an early
casualty to the electronic revolution,
ticker symbols remain. Most are staid
abbreviations: WMT for Walmart, LLY
for Eli Lily, and MAT for Mattel.
But a few companies show a fun-
loving spirit.
Take Steinway Piano, whose LVB
ticker symbol honors Ludwig van
Beethoven.
When you’re ready to invest in the
Avis Budget group, look to what it
rents—CARS. Likewise, Barnes and
Noble reminds us that they sell BKS.
The scientists at the genetic engineering
firm Genentech showed that they can
crack a joke as well as the human
genome when they settled on DNA for
their ticker symbol.
Restaurant chains seem hungry for
laughs: PZZA (Papa John’s), BUNZ
(Schlotzsky’s deli) and YUM for
Yum Brands, which owns
KFC, Pizza Hut,
Taco Bell, and
Long John
Silver’s. Or
maybe you’re
just hungry.
In that case,
EAT with
Brinker
International,
which includes
Chili’s and
Maggiano’s among its
restaurant brands.
How about a beer with your meal?
Ask for one by name. There’s BUD
(Anheuser Busch) or SAM (Boston
Brewing, maker of Samuel Adams). If
you like draft beer, get it on TAP
(Molson Coors Brewing).
Vroom vroom. Kick start your portfolio
with HOG (Harley-Davidson).
Sotheby’s Auction House’s
symbol (BID) explains
how they make
money. With a
heart in its
logo,
Southwest
Airlines
(LUV) must
love its ticker
symbol, too.
Shuffle Master
(SHFL) makes—what
else? Automatic card
shufflers. FACE stands for Physician
Formula Beauty Products, CHIC for
Charlotte Russe women’s wear shops, and
EYE for Advanced Medical Optics.
Majesco Entertainment (COOL), a
video-game maker, has been anything
but cool for investors lately. TILT might
be a more accurate symbol based on its
stock prices.
Pet Sounds is not just an old Beach
Boys album. They emanate from Wall
Street through veterinary chain VCA
(WOOF) and exchange traded fund
Market Vector Agribusiness (MOO).
While the ticker symbol theoretically
has no effect on a company’s
performance, some people believe that a
clever symbol helps to draw attention to
a stock, like an enticing book cover
attracts a browser. Not every analyst
agrees. Hugh Johnson, of Johnson
Illington Advisors, is quoted as saying,
“It’s interesting. But not much more than
that.”
Sometimes investors just want to have
FUN. In that case, they should check out
Cedar Fair, LP, which runs amusement
parks across the country.
Tickled Ticker Symbols
Silver Threads
W.E. Reinka
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 15
Please return your completed entry form byFebruary 20, 2012 to:
50plus Senior News3912 Abel Drive • Columbia, PA 17512
Your Name __________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Phone ______________________________________________________This information is strictly confidential.
Where do you frequent for:Breakfast _____________________________________
Lunch ________________________________________
Dinner _______________________________________
Ethnic Cuisine _________________________________
Celebrating ___________________________________
Bakery _______________________________________
Coffeehouse __________________________________
Fast Food _____________________________________
Seafood ______________________________________
Steak ________________________________________
Outdoor Dining _______________________________
Romantic Setting ______________________________
Smorgasbord/Buffet ___________________________
Caterer _______________________________________
Who Has the Best Bitesin Central PA?
Help 50plus Senior News celebrate the local
eateries that deserve national fame!
Cook’s Note: In Cincinnati, the famous chili restaurants serve so much
cheese on top that everything else is hidden. For four servings of
five-way chili, you will need the following:
12 ounces spaghetti, cooked, drained, and kept warm
1 (16-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 to 1 cup chopped onion
2 to 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
When I make two servings, I freeze the remaining chili for another meal.
Reduce the toppings if you are only preparing for two.
Copyright by Pat Sinclair. Pat Sinclair announced the publication of her second
cookbook, Scandinavian Classic Baking (Pelican Publishing), in February 2011.
This book has a color photo of every recipe. Her first cookbook, Baking Basicsand Beyond (Surrey Books), won the 2007 Cordon d’Or from the Culinary Arts
Academy. Contact her at http://PatCooksandBakes.blogspot.com
Serves 4 to 6
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 cans (14.5 ounces) stewed tomatoes
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 cup beef broth
1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon coarse salt
½ teaspoon ground cumin
Brown ground beef, onions, and garlic in 5-quart Dutch oven. Stir
occasionally to help browning. Pour off any fat. Add stewed tomatoes,
tomato sauce, and broth.
Combine chili powder, cocoa, cinnamon, salt, and cumin into a
small bowl. Stir into beef mixture. Heat chili to a boil over medium-
high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 30 minutes, stirring
occasionally. Chili can be prepared ahead and refrigerated until serving.
Reheat chili if needed. To serve Cincinnati style, serve with
spaghetti, beans, onion, and lots of cheddar cheese.
Cincinnati ChiliBy Pat Sinclair
Warm chili is the perfect winter supper. Cincinnati’s five-way chili is famous,
and many “fast-food” restaurants feature it.
Skyline Chili is the best known and is no longer limited to Cincinnati.
Chocolate and spices make the flavor different from standard chili.
Serve three-way, four-way, or five-way chili for a hearty meal. Five-way chili
starts with meat sauce and is built with spaghetti, kidney beans, chopped
onion, and lots of shredded cheddar cheese. Serve it with oyster crackers.
16 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Locations in Dauphin, Lancaster & York counties
315 W. James St., #101, Lancaster, PA
717-393-0511 • 1-800-676-7846
Hey ...nice legs!
Subscribe online at
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Never Miss Another Issue!
Pu
zzle
s sh
ow
n o
n p
age
13
Puz
zle
So
luti
on
s
The role of grandparents has
undergone complications over
the past several decades. Among
them are families geographically
separated, families that have expanded
through the inclusion of step-
grandparents, and evolving practices on
the care and feeding of babies and
toddlers.
Let’s begin with the latter
complication. Those of us born prior to
1946 may have been raised under the
influence of a Dr. John B. Watson,
whose popular book, Psychological Care of
Infant and Child, advised parents to be
firm with children, expect them to act
like young adults, and do not spoil them
with affection, hugs, and kisses.
In 1946 came Dr. Benjamin Spock’s
celebrated book, Baby and Child Care,
taking the opposite view—just in time
for the onslaught of the baby boomer
generation. The Spock book, which went
through several revisions by the time it
had sold more than 50 million copies in
2004 (translated into 39 languages), was
criticized by
some as
promoting
permissiveness
in child
development.
This brings
us to the
matter of the
stereotypical
grandparents,
who reputedly
overindulge
their
grandchildren,
conflicting with the parents who may
prefer more constraint.
Other divergent views between
contemporary parents and grandparents
regarding child rearing might center on
the question of which parent is primarily
responsible for childcare. Grandparents
may advocate the mother as the primary
caregiver, while
mothers today
generally believe
both parents
have a fully
shared
responsibility.
Grandparents
offering child-
rearing advice
may find
themselves at
odds with other
views held by
the parents,
perhaps involving childcare centers,
babysitters, the authority of a stepparent,
and nutritional choices.
Providing a good example to the
grandchildren can be a challenge. When
exceeding the speed limit in a 55 mph
zone, a common occurrence today, how
do you explain this rule-breaking to a
questioning child? Do you tease at the
emotional expense of the children or
anyone else in their company? Do you
thank a person who holds open a door
for you and yours?
Kids learn by example. They can make
better persons of grandparents by
creating in them an obligation to teach
by example.
Ideally, such trials are offset by
pleasures. Exercising with grandchildren
is much more common than in years
past. Today’s grandparents are more agile,
enrolling in fitness centers and enjoying
jogging, hiking, swimming, or biking.
We can relive some of our own
childhood by sharing the discoveries and
joy of the children. One of the main
responsibilities of being a grandparent is
to create happy memories.
Grandparenting: Agonies & Ecstasies
My 22 Cents’ Worth
Walt Sonneville
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 17
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Grandchildren accelerate our
perceptions of them. They change
rapidly as they grow into their formative
years, drawing us into maintaining a
relationship matching their progressive
development.
Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research
analyst, is the author of MY 22 CENTS’
WORTH: The Higher-Valued Opinion of aSenior Citizen, a book of personal-opinion
essays, free of partisan and sectarian
viewpoints. He recently completed the
manuscript for another book of essays, AMUSING MOMENT, scheduled for release
in January 2012. Contact him at
waltsonneville@earthlink.net
Book Review
Betcha Didn’t Know That!By Leon Castner & Brian Kathenes
Betcha Didn’t Know That! explores
the interesting world of antiques
and collectibles, sports
memorabilia, stamps, and dolls, among
others.
The book investigates interesting
artifacts, such as the rarest baseball card in
the world and the most popular soft drink
collectible. It differentiates itself, however,
in that it reveals the real stories about why
we collect things, uncovering the human
and humorous side of the story.
The unusual items
included in the book will
surprise and astound you.
They will also give you
insight into their creation and
use and provide historical
context, human predicament,
and comical delight.
Betcha Didn’t Know That! is
available at
www.betchabook.com and
Amazon.com.
About the Authors
Leon Castner is a
lifelong appraiser of
personal property, a writer,
and a speaker. He is also a
registered contractor and
has provided major
appraisals for the U.S
Marshals Office, the
attorney general, and the
FDIC, among others.
Brian Kathenes, co-author and
appraiser, has appraised items ranging
from the Nixon Watergate papers, the
Batmobile, and memorabilia from the
movie Titanic. He was also the on-air
television appraiser and technology
consultant for the Discovery Channel’s
collectibles show, POP NATION:
America’s Coolest Stuff.
Together, Castner and Kathenes host a
weekly radio program, Value This!
Calling All AuthorsIf you have written and published a book and would like 50plus Senior News to feature a Book Review, please submit a synopsis
of the book (350 words or fewer) and a short autobiography (80 words or fewer). A copy of the book is required for review. Discretion is advised.
Please send to: On-Line Publishers, Inc., Megan Joyce, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512. For more information, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com.
18 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards
• John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday
• Bruce Collier & The Drive Home
• Mike Huckabee Three Times Daily
WE PLAY OVER1500 GREAT SONGS!
Harrisburg’sOldies Channel!
Online 24/7 at whylradio.com
By Sherra Zavitsanos
Question: I recently applied for areplacement Social Security card, but Imight be moving before it arrives inthe mail. What do I do if I move beforeI get it?
Answer: Once we have verified all
your documents and processed your
application, it takes approximately 10 to
14 days to receive your replacement
Social Security card.
If you move after applying for your
new card, notify the post office of your
change of address and the post office will
forward your card to your new address. If
you do not receive your card, please
contact your local Social Security office.
To get another replacement, you will
have to resubmit your evidence of
identity and U.S. citizenship or your
lawful immigration status and authority
to work. You can learn more at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Question: What’s the averagemonthly Social Security benefit for a
retired worker?Answer: The current average monthly
Social Security benefit for a retired
worker is about $1,164. Social Security
benefits are based on earnings averaged
over most of a
worker’s lifetime.
To learn more
about how
retirement benefits
are calculated, or
to get an
immediate and
personalized
estimate based on
your earnings
record, visit us
online at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Question: I am nearing my fullretirement age, but I plan to keepworking after I apply for SocialSecurity benefits. Will my benefits bereduced because of my income?
Answer: No. If you apply for benefits
once you’ve reached your full retirement
age, you can work while you receive
Social Security and your current benefit
will not be reduced because of the earned
income.
If you keep working, it could mean a
higher benefit for you in
the future. Higher benefits
can be important to you
later in life and increase
the future benefit amounts
your survivors could
receive.
If you receive benefits
before your full retirement
age, your earnings could
reduce your monthly
benefit amount. After you
reach full retirement age,
we recalculate your benefit amount to
leave out the months when we reduced
or withheld benefits due to your excess
earnings.
You can learn more by reading our
publication, How Work Affects Your
Benefits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/
10069.html.
Question: I get SupplementalSecurity Income (SSI) because I amelderly and have no income. My sisterrecently died and left me the moneyshe had in a savings account. Will thisextra money affect my SSI benefits?
Answer: The money inherited from
your sister is considered income for the
month you receive it and could make
you ineligible for that month, depending
on the amount of the inheritance.
If you keep the money into the next
month, it then becomes a part of your
resources. You cannot have more than
$2,000 in resources to remain eligible for
SSI benefits.
Call Social Security at (800) 772-1213
(TTY, (800) 325-0778) to report the
inheritance. A representative will tell you
how your eligibility and payment amount
might be affected. Learn more by visiting
us online at www.socialsecurity.gov.
Sherra Zavitsanos is the Social Security
public affairs specialist in Harrisburg.
“If you apply for
benefits once
you’ve reached
your full retirement
age, you can work
while you receive
Social Security.
“
New Year, New Questions
Social Security News
Five Locations To Serve You Throughout Lancaster & Dauphin County
Coble-Reber F.H.
208 N. Union St.
Middletown, PA 17057
Brendan J. McGlone,
Supervisor
(717) 944-7413
Spacht F.H.
127 S. Broad St.
Lititz, PA 17543
Stephen J. Montpetit,
Supervisor
(717) 626-2317
Fred F. Groff, Inc.
234 W. Orange Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
Michele DeRosa,
Supervisor
(717) 397-8255
Boyer F. H.
144 E. High Street
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Kristine M. Bostian,
Supervisor
(717) 367-1380
Smedley F. H.
29 N. Gay Street
Marietta, PA 17547
Richard D. Smedley,
Supervisor
(717) 426-3614
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Lancaster County
Calendar of EventsCocalico Senior Association – (717) 336-7489
Jan. 3, 10 a.m. – Visit to Adamstown Library
Jan. 11, 8:15 a.m. – Hot Breakfast with Lee Arment
Jan. 31, 6 p.m. – Senior Social
Columbia Senior Center – (717) 684-4850
Jan. 10, 10:15 a.m. – Music with Honey & Nelson
Jan. 13, 10:15 a.m. – Program on Medicare Fraud
Jan. 23, 10:15 a.m. – Line and Square Dancing
Elizabethtown Senior Center – (717) 367-7984
Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. – Walking in the Gym
Tuesdays, noon – Pickleball
Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. – Badminton
Lancaster House North – (717) 299-1278
Thursdays, noon to 3 p.m. – Happy Hearts Club Pinochle
Lancaster Neighborhood Senior Center – (717) 299-3943
Jan. 3, 9:30 a.m. – Learning Spanish
Jan. 5, 10 a.m. – Blanket Bingo
Jan. 12, 10:30 a.m. – Program on Winter Care
Lancaster Rec. Center – (717) 392-2115, ext. 147
Fridays, 12:30 to 3 p.m. – Happy Hearts Club Bridge
Lititz Senior Center – (717) 626-2800
Jan. 5, 10:30 a.m. – Program by Musical Arts Society
Jan. 12, 10:30 a.m. – “Wildlife Adventure” by Vernon Boose
Jan. 25, 8:45 a.m. – Hot Breakfast
LRC Senior Center – (717) 399-7671
Thursdays, 9 a.m. – Chi Gung
Jan. 19, 10 a.m. – Cell Phone Instructions
Jan. 20, 9 a.m. – Penn State Nutrition Program
Luis Munoz Marin Senior Center – (717) 295-7989
Jan. 6, 10 a.m. – “Three Kings” Celebration
Jan. 11, 10 a.m. – “How to Handle Stressful Situations”
Jan. 18, 10 a.m. – “How to Take Full Advantage of Your
Healthcare Plan”
Millersville Senior Center – (717) 871-9600
Jan. 9, 10 a.m. – Country Music by Jay Eddie
Jan. 25, 10 a.m. – Music by Country Rhythm Band
Jan. 30, 10 a.m. – Penn State Nutrition Program
Next Gen Senior Center – (717) 786-4770
Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. – Bible Study
Jan. 24, 10:30 a.m. – Karaoke
Jan. 31, 10:30 a.m. – Winter Movie Day
Rodney Park Center – (717) 393-7786
Tuesdays, 1 to 3 p.m. – Happy Hearts Club Pinochle and Bingo
Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visittheir website for more information.
Library Programs
Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation
Pre-registration is required for these programs. All activities are held at the Environmental Center in
Central Park unless otherwise noted. To register or to find out more about these activities or any
additional scheduled activities, call (717) 295-2055 or visit www.lancastercountyparks.org.
Jan. 15 and 18, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. – “Let’s Go Tracking,” Chickies Rock
Jan. 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m. – Owl Prowl
Jan. 29, 2:30 to 4 p.m. – Mill Creek Loop Walk, Parking Lot Across from Exhibit Farm Road
Programs and Support Groups Free and open to the public
Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m.Red Rose Singles MeetingFarm & Home Center
1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster
(717) 397-2047
Jan. 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Pennsylvania Music ExpoContinental Inn
2285 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
(717) 898-1246
www.recordcollectors.org
Jan. 9, 10 to 11 a.m.Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support GroupGarden Spot Village – Concord Room
433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland
(717) 355-6076
jmorton@gardenspotvillage.org
Jan. 17, 6:15 p.m.Red Rose Singles Dine OutPark City Diner
884 Plaza Blvd., Lancaster
(717) 397-2047
Jan. 19, noonBrain Tumor Support GroupLancaster General Health Campus
Wellness Center
2100 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster
(717) 626-2894
Jan. 20, 6 to 9 p.m.Music Fridays200 and 300 Blocks of
North Queen Street
24 W. Walnut St., Lancaster
(717) 341-0028
Jan. 23, 2 to 3 p.m.Parkinson’s Support GroupGarden Spot Village – Concord Room
433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland
(717) 355-6259
jshaffer@gardenspotvillage.org
Jan. 25, 6 to 8 p.m.Epilepsy Foundation of EasternPennsylvania Support GroupLancaster General Hospital
Stager Room 5
555 N. Duke St., Lancaster
(800) 887-7165, ext. 104
Adamstown Area Library, 3000 N. Reading Road, Adamstown, (717) 484-4200
Columbia Public Library, 24 S. Sixth St., Columbia, (717) 684-2255
Eastern Lancaster County Library, 11 Chestnut Drive, New Holland, (717) 354-0525
Elizabethtown Public Library, 10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown, (717) 367-7467
Ephrata Public Library, 550 S. Reading Road, Ephrata, (717) 738-9291
Lancaster Public Library, 125 N. Duke St., Lancaster, (717) 394-2651
Lancaster Public Library Leola Branch, 46 Hillcrest Ave., Leola, (717) 656-7920
Lancaster Public Library Mountville Branch, 2 College Ave., Mountville, (717) 285-3231
Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz, (717) 626-2255Jan. 5, 7 p.m. – Lititz Garden Club
Jan. 18, 7 p.m. – Genealogy Club
Jan. 26, 7 p.m. – Concert: Main Street Mystics
Manheim Community Library, 15 E. High St., Manheim, (717) 665-6700
Manheim Township Public Library, 2121 Oregon Pike, Suite 101, Lancaster, (717) 560-6441
Milanof-Schock Library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy, (717) 653-1510
Moores Memorial Library, 326 N. Bridge St., Christiana, (717) 593-6683
Pequea Valley Public Library, 3660 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, (717) 768-3160
Quarryville Library, 357 Buck Road, P.O. Box 678, Quarryville, (717) 786-1336
Strasburg-Heisler Library, 143 Precision Road, Strasburg, (717) 687-8969
Shuts Environmental Library, 3 Nature’s Way, Lancaster, (717) 295-2055
Senior Center Activities
If you have an event you would liketo include, please email information
to mjoyce@onlinepub.com forconsideration.
20 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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Do You Kindle?Step into a young, itinerant engineer’s world as he travels
from state to state accepting cost reduction projects at
manufacturing companies for a stay of 4 to 6 weeks. During
job assignments he meets two young women near Decorah,
Iowa, and one in Lancaster, PA. All of them like him very
much and enjoy his company, but he will be leaving their
towns in a few weeks, so ...
This 365-page story is based on actual experienceswith a dash of wishful thinking.
ADVERTISEMENT
Available from Amazon.com KINDLE ($9.99) or Paperback ($20)
Choices and Decisions
by Carl Nilsen
Dear Savvy Senior,
I know we will be getting a slight
increase in our Social Security checks this
year, but what about our Medicare costs?
What will the Medicare premiums and
deductibles cost seniors in 2012?
– Looking Ahead
Dear Looking,
The new Medicare premium,
deductible, and co-pay changes for 2012
were all announced several weeks ago and
the news was actually pretty good. Here’s
a breakdown of what retirees can expect
to pay for Medicare starting in January.
2012 PremiumsFor most Medicare beneficiaries who
enrolled in 2009 or earlier, your monthly
premiums for Part B (which covers
doctor visits and outpatient care) will
increase only $3.50 to $99.90 in 2012.
That’s much less than was predicted by
the government earlier in 2011.
The increase is the first in four years
for most people with Medicare, mainly
because of the federal law that freezes Part
B premiums when there’s no Social
Security cost-of-living adjustment
(COLA), which was the case in 2010 and
2011. But, Social Security recently
announced a 3.6 percent COLA for
2012.
That 3.6 percent increase will boost
monthly Social Security checks by an
average of about $43 for retirees next
year. So, even after your Part B premiums
get deducted from your Social Security
checks, you’ll still have about $40 more
every month.
The news for younger retirees is even
better. Medicare Part B beneficiaries that
enrolled in 2010 who’ve been paying
$110.50 per month, and those that
enrolled in 2011 who have been paying
$115.40 per month, will see their Part B
premiums go down to $99.90.
And for high-income beneficiaries
who’ve been paying higher Part B
premiums because their annual incomes
are more than $85,000 for individuals or
$170,000 for joint filers, they too will see
their monthly Part B premiums drop in
2012.
Here’s a breakdown of what they will
pay this year based on their income level.
• Individuals with incomes of $85,000 to
$107,000, or married couples filing joint
tax returns with incomes of $170,000 to
$214,000, will pay $139.90 per person
per month for Part B. That’s a $21.60
reduction from 2011’s premium.
• Individuals earning $107,000 to
$160,000, or married couples with
incomes of $214,000 to $320,000, will
pay $199.80—a $30.90 reduction.
• Individuals with incomes of $160,000
to $214,000, or couples with incomes of
$320,000 to $428,000, will pay
$259.70—a $40.20 reduction.
• Individuals over $214,000 or couples
above $428,000 will pay $319.70 each
per month for Part B. That’s $49.40 less
than 2011.
Other Medicare changes you need to
know about that will affect all
beneficiaries include the Part B
deductible, which will be $140 in 2012, a
decrease of $22. And the deductible for
Part A, which covers inpatient hospital
care, will rise by $24 to $1,156 this year.
For more information on all the
Medicare premiums and coinsurance rates
for 2012, see medicare.gov/cost or call
(800) 633-4227.
Help with Premiums If you’re a high-income beneficiary and
How Much You’ll Pay for Medicare in 2012
Savvy Senior
Jim Miller
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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 21
CREATIVITY from page 1
Hoping to combine his two passions,
Williamson began playwriting, and thus
renewed his acting career. For the past
five years, he has done work at the
Fulton Theatre and Theatre of the
Seventh Sister, as well as his work with
Creative Works.
“I hooked up with Creative Works
because they seemed to be interested in
doing the same kind of material in
which I was interested,” said
Williamson. “People who are involved
in theater in any city all seem to know
each other, and there’s a lot of mutual
interest and support within a group like
that.”
Williamson’s leadership
responsibilities vary, however, from his
wide-ranging character roles on stage.
As board chair, Williamson jokes that
his role includes signing thank-you
letters to donors and speaking to the
press on occasion.
His diverse work has included: acting
in several Creative Works productions,
walking around with a sandwich board
with painting on it as part of a roaming
art gallery on First Friday, writing
material for last year’s Christmas
comedy show, creating sock puppets,
making arrangements for productions,
and running a freight elevator.
He regards the board as a group of
equals, sharing tasks accordingly.
“Creative Works is a real
collaborative effort, and everybody does
their part,” commented Williamson.
“One of our board members took
charge of getting all the sock puppets
constructed; another member wrote
brilliant lyrics to a song when we
needed one overnight; another takes
care of the business end; another the
legal question; and so on.”
Williamson also holds the role of
being the eldest member of the group;
however, his youthful ideas and insight
challenge this fact. Even though the
next oldest member is 20 years younger,
Williamson’s edgy ideas often keep
members guessing.
“Age really doesn’t matter when
you’re all working toward the same
goal,” said Williamson. “And you can
never predict anything on the basis of
age.”
And although Williamson could be
casted for retirement, the word is
unseen in his vocabulary.
“I got involved in Creative Works for
the same reason I would have gotten
involved with it if I’d been 40 years
younger—it was the chance to do new,
exciting, and meaningful work,” said
Williamson. “I can never see myself
retiring as a writer or as an actor, so I
might as well find new ways to make
what I do in those fields as much fun as
possible for me.”
In fact, Williamson believes there is
much to learn from the younger
population.
“We always say that the younger
population should learn from the
experiences of their elders. Well, it
works the other way as well,” said
Williamson. “You’re never too old to
learn something new. I’ve learned some
new ways of thinking and problem
solving by working with my younger
colleagues, and I’m hopeful they’ve
learned something from me.”
Similarly, one can never predict the
excitement and enjoyment of their
interest in Creative Works, no matter
what age. Creative Works recently
sponsored a 24-Hour Plays event, in
which six 10-minute plays were written,
rehearsed, and performed within 24
hours. The sold-out venue was packed
with play-goers of all ages.
“A major part of our mission is to
appeal to all ages, 50+ as well as people
in their 20s,” said Williamson. “If we
don’t, where are the theater-goers of
tomorrow going to come from?”
To get in touch with Chet
Williamson, check out his website at
chetwilliamson.com. For additional
information on Creative Works, visit
creativelancaster.org or call (717) 723-
8355.
your income has fallen since 2010 (the
tax year used to determine your 2012
premiums), you may be able to reduce or
eliminate your Medicare Part B premium
surcharge.
To qualify, your income loss must be
tied to a life-changing event, such as a
marriage or divorce, a job loss or reduced
work hours (including retirement), loss
of income from income-producing
property, or cuts in pension benefits. To
learn more, see ssa.gov/pubs/10536.html.
And for lower-income retirees who are
having a difficult time paying their
Medicare costs, help is available through
Medicare Savings Programs. These are
Medicaid-administered programs that
pay Part B premiums and, depending on
your finances, may even pick up the tab
on your copayments and deductibles.
To find out if you qualify, contact
your local Medicaid office—call (800)
633-4227 for contact information.
Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the
NBC Today show and author of The SavvySenior Book. www.savvysenior.org.
22 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Each month, 50plus Senior News profiles one of your friends or neighbors on
its cover, and many of our best cover-profile suggestions have come from you,
our readers!
Do you or does someone you know have an interesting hobby or collection? A special passion or inspirational experience?
A history of dedicated volunteer work?
If so, tell us, and we’ll consider your suggestion for a future cover story!
Just fill out the questionnaire below and return it to 50plus Senior News, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512,
or email your responses to Megan Joyce, editor, at mjoyce@onlinepub.com.
Your name:___________________________ Your address:_________________________________________________________________________
Your phone number/email address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of person nominated (if not you): _______________________________________________________________________________________
Please receive their permission to nominate them. Nominee’s age range: 50–59 60–69 70–79 80–89 90+
Why would you/your nominee make a great cover profile? _______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 (717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240 50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Tea-ing is Believing
Preventive Measures
Wendell Fowler
Ever observe a restaurant patron
bearing their esoteric teabags and
requesting a pot of hot water?
“… And it better be hot, Bub!”
Tea is my cup of joe, diet cola, and
red wine—my “longevi-tea.” I am
thankful for my tenderly brewed tea leaf
friends, for if I am too cold, tea warms
me; if I’m too heated, it cools me down;
if I’m depressed, it cheers me; and when
excited, it mellows my harsh.
Charles Dickens wrote, “My dear, if
you could give me a cup of tea to clear
my muddle of a head, I should better
understand your affairs.” Tea touches our
souls—a stand-up celebration of
simplicity.
As a youthful food server, tea drinkers
were a pain in the teabag, since
maintaining a civilized cup-o-tea
required more responsiveness than
decanting a cup of java. Teabags need
refreshing and the pot of water must be
kept hot and frequently refilled.
“Waiter, where’s the lemon? Would
you please warm the teacup first with hot
water?” Servers instantly roll their eyes at
the “needy, nerdy tea snob.” Tea gets a
bad rap, despite its uber healthy mojo.
Japanese studies urge eight to 10 cups
of green tea per day to positively affect
cholesterol levels and generally reduce
risk for cardiovascular disease, whether
you smoke, drink, or are weighty. The
connection: Green teas and some black
teas contain the same nutrients and
antioxidants in red wine and cocoa that
undo the effects of a fatty diet and
smoking.
Purdue’s School of Consumer and
Family Sciences says drinking more than
four cups of green tea a day provides
enough active compounds to speed-
bump cancer cell growth—prevention in
a teacup.
Our family dentist noticed that our
cavities frequency declined, so when I
read that black or green tea (hot or cold)
aid digestion, are antibacterial, and
contain anti-aging properties, we had our
explanation. Once a day, I slush the
green tea around my mouth as I would a
mouthwash, becoming a bacterial mass-
murderer. The Dental Clinics of North
America explains that the ideal anti-
plaque agents in tea can eliminate
disease-causing bacteria, reducing plaque
and gingivitis.
Natural Health Magazine reports that
green tea (Camellia sinensis) contains
catechins, which destroy bacterial bugs
that cause bad breath. Those bugs turn
sugar into a sticky colony of living
bacteria, sugars, proteins, and cavity-
causing acid when they come in contact
with sugary or starchy foods.
Malty, smoky, full-bodied, aromatic
green tea comes from the leaves of the
tea tree. For centuries, woodsy green tea
has been produced from leaves that
laborers handled gently and heated soon
after harvesting.
By contrast, black tea leaves are
vigorously rolled to make them release a
particular enzyme and are then left to sit
for a few hours, during which time the
enzymes interact with oxygen, causing
the leaves to develop a heartier flavor and
a darker hue.
Join me this year and become a tea
snob. Invite your “nerdy” friends over to
share a freshly brewed pot of tea graced
with raw, local honey.
As you’ve deduced, a wee bit of tea is
good for thee, accompanied by a little
sympathy. Preparing tea is the ceremony
of pouring all one’s attention into the
predefined, patient method. The process
isn’t about drinking tea as much as it is
about the aesthetics of preparing a bowl
of tea from the love from one’s heart.
Wendell Fowler is a retired chef turned
motivational speaker and the author of EatRight, Now! and Earth Suit MaintenanceManual. Contact him at
chefwendellfowler@gmail.com.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews • January 2012 23
As of 2010, almost 15 millionseniors were on Facebook.
In 2012, it’s time we give yousomething new to “like.”
Just stop by
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This Month in History:January
Events
• Jan. 5, 1972 – President Richard Nixon
signed a bill approving $5.5 billion over
six years to build and test the NASA
space shuttle.
• Jan. 10, 1863 – The world’s first
underground railway service, the
Metropolitan line between Paddington
and Farringdon, opened in London.
• Jan. 22, 1901 – Queen Victoria of
England died after reigning for 64 years,
the longest reign in British history,
during which England had become the
most powerful empire in the world.
Birthdays
• Jan. 1 – American patriot Paul Revere
(1735-1818) was born in Boston, Mass.
He is best known for his ride on the
night of April 18, 1775, warning
Americans of British plans to raid
Lexington and Concord.
• Jan. 8 – Elvis Presley (1935-1977) was
born in Mississippi.
• Jan. 31 – Jackie Robinson (1919-1972)
was born in Georgia. He was the first
African-American to play professional
baseball. He played for the Brooklyn
Dodgers from 1947 to 1956, was
chosen as the National League’s most
valuable player in 1949, and was elected
to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
24 January 2012 50plus SeniorNews • www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Can you belt it out like nobody’s business?
Do you belong on Dancing with the Stars ?
Are you wild and crazy like Steve Martin?
Pennsylvanians over 50 are invited to audition for the seventh annual
PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition!
Auditions held at regional locations
Win a limousine trip to New York City
with dinner and a Broadway show!
For more information or an application:
717.285.1350 www.SeniorIdolPA.com
Brought to you by: Presented by:
Tues., April 24Body Zone
3103 Paper Mill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610
Wed., May 2Broadway Classics
Theatre at theHarrisburg Mall3501 Paxton Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111
Wed., April 25York Little
Theatre27 South Belmont St.
York, PA 17403
Thurs., May 3The Heritage
Hotel Lancaster500 Centerville Road
Lancaster, PA 17601NEW
LOCATION!
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