Dauphin County 50plus Senior News July 2014

Registered horticultural therapist Paula Swearingen, seated, often treats seniorsand people with mobility issues using a ground garden or raised garden table,

such as these offered by certified square-foot gardening instructor Joe Manotti, standing.

By Megan Joyce

In horticulture therapy, a very tangible activity is used to create intangiblehealing.

Much more than simply planting flowers, horticulture therapy is “theengagement of a participant in horticultural activities facilitated by a trainedtherapist to achieve specific and documented treatment goals,” according tothe American Horticultural Therapy Association.

Increasingly, this type of therapy is a highly effective practice for bothseniors and adults with mobility challenges.

Physically, the therapy strengthens muscles and boosts coordination,balance, and endurance. And when it comes to those improved intangibles,horticultural therapy has been shown to increase memory, cognitive abilities,task initiation, language skills, and socialization.

Paula Swearingen, M.Ed. and owner of Floral Touch HorticulturalTherapy and Floral Design, is a registered horticultural therapist who hasseen the evidence firsthand.

“Like most horticultural therapists, I came into this vocation as asecondary career path,” she said.

Swearingen spent 17 years as a mental health and special educationprofessional, working with children, youth, and adults with variousdisabilities.

please see GREEN-THUMB page 14

Horticultural Therapy Helps SeniorsGrow Well-Being

Green-Thumb

Therapy

DAUPHIN COUNTY

Dauphin County

50plus EXPO Highlights

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Special Focus:

Celebrating Life

page 8

Inside:

Dauphin County Edition July 2014 Vol. 16 No. 7

2 July 2014 50plus SeniorNews www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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The Squint-Eyed Senior

Theodore Rickard

Afew weeks ago the news markedthe 100th anniversary of theopening of Wrigley Field in

Chicago. Wrigley was and still is thehome of the so-often last-place ChicagoCubs.

Despite this, Wrigley still retains asacred, cathedral-like status to anybodyraised, as I was, on Chicago’s Northsideduring the ’30s and ’40s. Summer dayswith the Cubs in town were special.

On game days, the front car on theRapid Transit “El” trains bore detachablemetal signs that read, in capital black onwhite, “BASEBALL TODAY.”

For kids, the best baseball day was aweekday since there’d be lots of emptyseats, even in the bleachers. This was the’30s. The baseball fans who had jobswere at work and the ones that didn’thave jobs didn’t have any money either.

My baseball buddy, 10 years old as Iwas, was David Schwarzen, who went by

the name of “Yankee.” His parents hadcome from someplace in central Europeand his repeatedinsistence on hiscitizenship as anickname seemedsomehow related tothat.

In the ’30s, 10-year-olds were notexactly flush withpocket money. Mostwere thankful theirfathers were wieldingshovels on WPAprojects while theirmothers waited for theprecinct captain tobring the next “Kelly basket” full ofcanned goods, oatmeal, and flour so shecould cook something for dinner.

My baseball buddy and I were lucky.Our fathers had jobs. And so did we.

Yankee had a break-of-dawn paper routeand I had developed a group of regular

customers to whom Isold the SaturdayEvening Post everyThursday. When thePost went from 5 centsa copy to 10, thecommission on eachcopy bounded from1.5 cents to 3 cents. Iwas simply rolling inthe stuff.

The alternative towalking 20 blocks wasto ride the El to theAddison Street station,a block east of the

Wrigley Field bleachers. Half fare on theEl was only 3 cents, but you had to beaccompanied by an adult.

The trick, of course, was to wait inthe El Station until an adult came along

and then to follow immediately behindand plunk down the three pennies at thecashier cage and just keep going.Somehow we convinced ourselves thatthe cashier didn’t guess what we weredoing.

Once past the cashier, we’d dash to theplatform and pretend to be breathlesswith having escaped pursuit, even thoughwe knew there really was none.

On game days, the old wooden carsbuilt for the 1892 Columbia Expositionwould be put into service and we wouldride on the open platform of the last car.From here, to the passing world, we’dwhoop cheers for the Cubs on our wayto Wrigley Field.

The game would have started beforewe got there. There was no point ingetting there earlier since the bleacherushers didn’t abandon their posts untilsometime in the sixth inning. Then theywould wander into the stands to watch

Baseball Today

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews July 2014 3

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Central PA Poison Center(800) 521-6110

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Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc.4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg(717) 545-4001

Alzheimer’s Association(717) 651-5020

American Diabetes Association(800) 342-2383

Arthritis Foundation – Central PA Chapter(717) 763-0900

CONTACT Helpline(717) 652-4400

The National Kidney Foundation(717) 757-0604(800) 697-7007

PACE(800) 225-7223

Social Security Information(800) 772-1213

Tri-County Association for the Blind(717) 238-2531

PA Healthcare Cost Containment Council(717) 232-6787

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

3-D Consultants(717) 651-5133

Senior Home Repairs(717) 545-8747

Homeland Hospice2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg(717) 221-7890

B’Nai B’rith Apartments130 S. Third St., Harrisburg(717) 232-7516

Dauphin County Housing Authority(717) 939-9301

Property Tax/Rent Rebate(888) 728-2937

Apprise Insurance Counseling(800) 783-7067

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CVS/pharmacywww.cvs.com

Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging(717) 255-2790

The Salvation ArmyEdgemont Temple Corps(717) 238-8678

American Lung Association(800) LUNG-USA

Bureau of Consumer Protection(800) 441-2555

Meals on Wheels(800) 621-6325

National Council on Aging(800) 424-9046

Social Security Office(800) 772-1213

Veterans Affairs(717) 626-1171 or (800) 827-1000

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Toll-Free Numbers

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Personal Care Homes

Nursing/Rehab

Insurance

Housing Assistance

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Healthcare Information

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the game or simply sit on the steps andsmoke cigarettes.

But before dashing in, Yankee and Iwould pool our financial resources topatronize Louis’s hot dog wagon. Louis’shot dogs were 15 cents. This was apremium price for a hot dog, but Louis’swere extra long as well as extra fat, or atleast that’s how they looked to us. Louiswould cut the hot dog in half for us. Wealways ordered “ever’thing on it.”

Usually by the time we’d polished offthe hot dog and licked the last of the“ever’thing” off our fingers, the ushershad given up and we slipped into thestadium and up the stairs that led tobleacher seats along the right-field foulline. We were convinced that left-handed batters hit most homeruns andby being past right field, we would havea better chance of retrieving a homerunball. But we never did.

The Cubs right fielder was BillNicholson. You could yell “Hi, Bill” tohim from the bleachers. “Big Bill” wasconsidered a homerun threat, althoughwe never saw him hit a homer. He wassaid to be fond of chewing tobacco. Avidadult fans would throw packages ofchew to him in dull moments, and atthe end of a slow inning, he’d trot backinto the dugout with a bulgingshirtfront full of Plow Boy or Red Man

Plug. These treats cost at least 15 centseach.

The display of such adultextravagance was a wonderment to bothof us. In fact, there are moments when itstill seems so — at least to me.

A collection of Ted Rickard’s family-funessays is titled Anything Worth Knowing ILearned from the Grandkids. It is nowavailable in paperback on Amazon.com.

Labor Dept. Awards $3.2M in GrantsThe U.S. Department of Labor

recently announced a one-timedemonstration grant award of $3,224,509to 14 community service organizations toimprove services to low-income olderworkers through the Senior CommunityService Employment Program.

“Older workers are essential to thefabric of our nation, but it can be difficultfor many of these Americans to accessgood jobs,” said Portia Wu, assistant

secretary of labor for employment andtraining.

“The federal grants we’re announcing… will help these individuals overcomechallenges in re-entering the workforceand attaining economic stability.”

The grantees awarded will developprograms focused on the following threepriorities: improving unsubsidized jobplacements through increased employerengagement, enhancing services to SCSEP

participants through development orimprovement of partnerships, andexpanding training options for SCSEPparticipants.

Grant recipients included AARP Inc.,Experience Works, Goodwill Industries,National Able Network, and the NationalCaucus and Center on Black Aged,among others.

The SCSEP (http://www.doleta.gov/seniors) provides part-time,

community service-based job training forlow-income, unemployed individuals 55and older.

SCSEP participants gain workexperience in a variety of communityservice activities at nonprofit and publicfacilities, including schools, hospitals,daycare centers, and senior centers.

Participants also have access toemployment assistance through AmericanJob Centers (http://jobcenter.usa.gov).


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.

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Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360Chester County:610.675.6240

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Luke Wise grew up in a familyof six boys and six girls. Allthe boys but Wise went in the

Army. His oldest brother served in the

artillery in World War II, and at FortSill he trained under Marine artilleryofficers.

So he gave his kid brother somesage advice that Luke never forgot:“If you ever go into the military,choose the Marines.” So when Wisewas 21, that’s exactly what he did.

The Korean War was on, so afterhis basic training at Parris Island,S.C., he shipped out to Korea.There, he was to have an experiencethat every Marine might havedreamed about. He was to hear,“Wise, the general wants to talk toyou.”

The general was the legendaryMarine “Chesty” Puller, who hadearned an unheard-of five NavyCrosses for valor in combat—although he was best known for hiscomment, “We’ve been looking forthe enemy for some time now. We’vefinally found him. We’re surrounded.That simplifies things.”

Now, “Chesty” wanted to see Sgt.Luke Wise.

“The only thing that came tomind,” Wise says, “is, ‘What couldhe possibly want to talk to meabout?’”

He was about to find out. “Sergeant,” the general said, “they

tell me your IQ is off the charts …and that you have a photographicmemory. I have a hazardousassignment that I won’t order youtake, but I’m sure hoping you’llvolunteer for it.”

He then explained that theyneeded someone to make repeatedforays behind enemy lines and reportdetails of ammunition dumps theenemy had spread out over severalmiles (and one even across the YaluRiver in Manchuria).

What did Wise say? “What do you think I said? You

think I could stand in front of a manlike ‘Chesty’ Puller, who hadspecifically asked for me, and tellhim, ‘No, General, I think I would

really rather not’?”So then, how many missions did

he run, and what were they like? “Well, there were 15 of them in

all, and they were all pretty hairy.They always meant moving only atnight, because the North Koreantroops were everywhere. I wasforbidden to make notes …everything had to be memorized. I

was to zero-in on the ammunitiondumps that our air observers couldsee but could not come close enoughto target on.

“When I got back from missions,the general had me use my codename, ‘Sgt. Dutch,’ and send theexact coordinates for best bombing tothe carrier, USS Oriskany (“TheMighty O”). Her aircraft would thenfly the missions to flatten thoseammo dumps. We could often see thedumps erupt in terrific blasts.”

Wise had to extend his tour tofinish the job, and he says, “When itwas over, Gen. Puller asked me whatkind of assignment I’d like next,saying, ‘You name it, and you’ve gotit.’ I figured I ought to go for it, so Isaid, ‘Sir, I’d like to chauffeur for anadmiral.’

“And the next thing I knew, I wasassigned to the USS Pocono, theflagship for the Commander,Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet.Sure enough, I was the admiral’schauffeur and in charge of the ship’sorderlies.”

One more thing about Gen.Puller: Wise later got a personal letterfrom the general, thanking andcommending him for the work hedid in his clandestine missions.

Aboard the Pocono, Wise touredthe Caribbean, with stops at manyexotic ports, from Jamaica toTrinidad. And yes, he was theadmiral’s chauffeur whenever theadmiral was ashore.

Wise left active duty in July 1954but stayed in the Reserve until 1959as a staff sergeant. He then returnedto Central Pennsylvania and workedin construction and cabinetry beforeretiring in 1999.

In retirement, he had one almostunbelievable “small world”experience. He was shopping one dayat a local farmers market, wearing hisMarine Corps cap.

A man stopped him and said, “Wesure needed you Marines in Korea.”When Wise asked him how he knewabout that, the guy said, “I was flyingoff the Oriskany, bombing the ammodumps that you guys pinpointed forus.”

When Wise asked him if he couldremember the code name of thespotter who gave him the info, theguy said, “I’ll never forget it. Hiscode name was ‘Sgt. Dutch.’”

To which Wise said, “Well … I’mSgt. Dutch.”

Wise laughs and says, “You shouldhave seen that guy’s jaw drop. Hecouldn’t believe he would everactually run into Sgt. Dutch. And atthe [farmers market], of all places.Turned out he was from Florida, justpassing through. What were thechances of that? Maybe one in abillion.”

Wise now lives in retirement withhis wife, Collette, in a comfortableretirement community in CentralPennsylvania. But he keeps acollection of Marine Corps caps thathe wears … always glad for thechance to meet other vets with whomhe swaps stories of those terrible—but wonderful—days in the Marines.

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

Marine General ‘Chesty’ Puller Made

Him an Offer He Couldn’t Refuse

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

Sgt. Luke Wise uponhis return to the U.S.

in 1953.


E

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UNTIL JUNE 30, 2014!Dear Savvy Senior,What can you tell me about reverse

mortgages? I was considering one last year,but now I hear they are more difficult toget. – Ready to Reverse

Dear Ready,That’s correct. Tighter rules on reverse

mortgages that have recently gone intoeffect have madethem harder to get,especially for seniorswith heavy debtproblems.

The reason theFederal HousingAdministration(FHA) made thesechanges was tostrengthen theproduct, which hassuffered from astruggling housingmarket and agrowing number ofdefaults byborrowers.

Here’s a rundown of how reversemortgages now work in 2014.

Overview: The basics are still thesame. A reverse mortgage is a loan thatallows senior homeowners to borrowmoney against the equity in their house.

The loan doesn’t have to be repaiduntil the homeowner dies, sells the house,or moves out for at least 12 months.

It’s also important to know that with areverse mortgage, you, not the bank, ownthe house, so you’re still responsible forproperty taxes, insurance, and repairs.

Eligibility: To be eligible for a reversemortgage, you must be at least 62 yearsold, own your own home (or owe only asmall balance), and currently be livingthere.

You will also need to undergo afinancial assessment to determine whetheryou can afford to make all the necessarytax and insurance payments over theprojected life of the loan.

Lenders will look at your sources ofincome, your assets, and your credithistory. Depending on your financialsituation, you may be required to put

part of your loan into an escrow accountto pay future bills.

If the financial assessment finds thatyou cannot pay your insurance and taxesand have enough cash left to live on, youwill be denied.

Loans: Nearly all reverse mortgagesoffered today are home equity conversionmortgages (HECM), which are FHA

insured and offeredthrough privatemortgage lenders andbanks.

HECMs also havehome-value limits thatvary by county butcannot exceed$625,500. See the U.S.Department ofHousing and UrbanDevelopment online(hud.gov/ll/code/llslcrit.cfm) for a list of HUD-approved lenders.

Loan amounts: Theamount you get

through a reverse mortgage depends onyour age, your home’s value, and theprevailing interest rates.

Generally, the older you are, the moreyour house is worth, and the lower theinterest rates are, the more you canborrow. A 70-year-old, for example, witha home worth $300,000 could borrowaround $170,000 with a fixed-rateHECM.

To calculate how much you canborrow, visit the National ReverseMortgage Lenders Association’s website(www.reversemortgage.org).

Loan costs: Reverse mortgages have anumber of upfront fees, including a 2percent lender origination fee for the first$200,000 of the home’s value and 1percent of the remaining value, with acap of $6,000.

There is also a 0.5 percent initialmortgage insurance premium fee, alongwith an appraisal fee, closing costs, andother miscellaneous expenses. Most feescan be deducted for the loan amount toreduce your out-of-pocket cost at closing.

How Reverse MortgagesWork in 2014

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

please see MORTGAGES page 13

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When NASA honored JuneLockhart last October, itwould have been quite fitting

to borrow the above lyrics from apopular Simon and Garfunkel song tosalute the 89-year-old actress.

Best remembered by sci-fi fans for herrole of TV space mom MaureenRobinson in the ’60s series Lost in Space,Lockhart told me recently that theNASA recognition was a highlight of herlong career, which includes a TonyAward, an Emmy nomination, and acouple of stars on the Hollywood Walkof Fame.

“I was presented with the ExceptionalPublic Achievement Medal for my workwith the space agency,” she explained.“I’ve been to two space shuttle launchesand worked with NASA since the 1970s,addressing their employees and travelingon NASA’s behalf to promote the agency.

“So I’m absolutely thrilled by thisrecognition,” she said. “No other actresshas received this honor.”

One of her memorable experiencesoccurred during a space shuttle missionin 1992.

“I called NASA one day and spokewith astronaut Ken Reightler and toldhim I had a good wake-up song for themto use,” recalled Lockhart.

She was referring to “The World isWaiting for the Sunrise,” a catchy ’50shit by Les Paul and Mary Ford. The songheld special significance because thelyrics were written by her father, belovedcharacter actor Gene Lockhart.

“So I went to mission control inHouston, and at around 2 a.m. they

played the song for the crew of theColumbia mission,” she explained.“Then a voice from space came over thespeaker: ‘Some of us up here want toknow what Lassie’s mother is doing inmission control at 2 o’clock in themorning!’”

Lassie, one of TV’s longest-runningshows (1954-1973), was Lockhart’s otherbig hit in which she dispensed maternalwisdom, this time for six seasons as afarm mom. Later, she morphed frommatriarch to medic as Dr. Janet Craig forthree seasons on Petticoat Junction.

“Petticoat Junction was a delight to do

with wonderful scripts,” said Lockhart.“It was great playing comedy after Lost inSpace, which was more dramatic, andLassie, which didn’t have many laughs.”

On the big screen, 12-year-oldLockhart made her debut in the 1938holiday classic A Christmas Carol,alongside both her parents, Gene andKathleen Lockhart, who played theCratchits.

While she went on to costar withgreats such as Gary Cooper in SergeantYork and Judy Garland in Meet Me in St.Louis, A Christmas Carol is special since itwas the only time she appeared with herparents in a motion picture.

But it was memorable for otherreasons, too.

“My daughter, Junie, andgranddaughter, Christianna, have neverlet me forget that the first words I everspoke in movies were: ‘I know, I know–sausages!’” said Lockhart, referring to heron-screen guess for the contents of a foodpackage Mr. Cratchit brings home. “Weall shriek with laugher when we watch itnow.”

In addition to being an advocate forNASA and many other causes, Lockhartcontinues to work and co-starred in thecomedy spoof Zombie Hamlet, which hadits world premiere at the 2012 PalmBeach International Film Festival and wasreleased on DVD in December 2013.

In 2013, she appeared in theinteractive movie series Tex Murphy, agaming platform that combinesanimation with full-motion video of realactors.

“That was a new experience, and Ireally enjoyed it. And in December, I alsocelebrated my 80th year as a paidperformer in the business! I made mydebut at the age of 8 in Peter Ibbetson atthe Metropolitan Opera House.”

While actors are used to receivingaccolades for career milestones, Lockhartadmits to still being quite overwhelmedby the NASA recognition and is, she says,“over the moon about it!”

Congratulations, Mrs. Robinson!

Thomas’ features and columns have appearedin more than 300 magazines and newspapers,and he is the author of Raised by the Stars,published by McFarland. He can be reachedat his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com

Here’s to You, Mrs. Robinson

Tinseltown Talks

Nick Thomas

Publicity photo of Guy Williams andJune Lockhart promoting their roles on

the television series Lost in Space.

National Symphony Orchestra ConductorEmil de Cou, right, listens to Lockhartintroduce a set of space-themed musicduring the “Salute to Apollo” ceremony atthe Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The1960 cast of Lassie. Pictured areJune Lockhart, Hugh Reilly, Jon Provost,

and Lassie.

EAST COAST GOSPEL BEST 2014Singles gospel singing competition

Aug. 30 & Sept. 6, 2014Audition in person on Aug. 9

Auditions on CD accepted until Aug. 16All ages welcome!

Registration fee – $25

For more information, event tickets, or audition guidelines, contactValerie Waller at (717) 233-2364 or [email protected]

www.eastcoastgospelbest.com

Hosted by New HopeLiving Baptist Church

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Veterans’ expoand Job Fair

They served us —now let us serve them!

Reserve your space today!

To become a sponsor or exhibitor,please contact your account representative,

call (717) 285-1350, or email [email protected]

November 14, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies togetherwith area businesses to provide information and resources toveterans and their families.

The Job Fair brings veterans and spouses who need jobstogether with employers who can benefit from this richsource of talent to aid their organizations.

At the ExpoVeterans Benefits & ServicesCommunity ServicesThank-a-Vet ParticipantsMedical/Nonmedical ResourcesProducts and Services AvailableSupport/Assistance Programs

At the Job FairEmployersJob CounselingWorkshops/SeminarsResume Writing AssistanceEducation/Training Services

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.veteransexpo.com

2 events — 1 location

By John Johnston

My name is John Johnston and I ama public affairs specialist for the SocialSecurity Administration.

Every month I get questions frompeople all over Pennsylvania on allaspects of the Social Security program. Ioffer this column to share some of thosequestions and answers with the readersand to strengthen their understanding ofSocial Security.

To contact Social Security by phone,call (800) 772-1213 or visit our website(www.socialsecurity.gov).

Question: Whatis a Social Security“credit”?

Answer: Duringyour working years,earnings covered bySocial Security areposted to yourrecord. You earnSocial Securitycredits based onthose earnings.

The amount ofearnings needed for one credit rises asaverage earnings levels rise. In 2014, youreceive one credit for each $1,200 ofearnings.

You can earn up to a maximum offour credits a year. Most people willneed 40 credits (or 10 years of work) tobe eligible for retirement benefits.

Learn more by reading the onlinepublication How You Earn Credits atwww.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Question: I’ve heard you can applyonline for retirement benefits. Butisn’t it easier just to go into an office?

Answer: Retiring online is the easierway to go. There’s no need to fighttraffic to travel to a local Social Securityoffice and wait for an appointment witha Social Security representative.

You can apply in as little as 15minutes. Just visit www.socialsecurity.gov.Once you submit your electronicapplication, you’re done. In most casesthere are no forms to sign or documentsto mail.

Question: I pay my monthlypremium directly to my Medicareprescription drug plan provider. Whycan’t I also pay my income-related

monthly adjustment amount directlyto my Medicare prescription drugplan provider?

Answer: By law, we must deductyour income-related monthlyadjustment amount from your SocialSecurity payments.

If the amount you owe is more thanthe amount of your payment, or youdon’t get monthly payments, you willget a separate bill from another federalagency, such as the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services or the RailroadRetirement Board.

Read our publication, MedicarePremiums: Rules for Higher-Income

Beneficiaries, for anidea of what you canexpect to pay. You’llfind it at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Question: What isthe earliest age that Ican receive SocialSecurity disabilitybenefits?

Answer: There isno minimum age as

long as you meet the Social Securitydefinition of disabled and you havesufficient work to qualify for benefits.

To qualify for disability benefits, youmust have worked under SocialSecurity long enough to earn therequired number of work credits, andsome of the work must be recent.

You can earn up to a maximum offour work credits each year. Theamount of earnings required for acredit increases each year as generalwage levels go up, and currently, theamount is $1,200.

The number of work credits youneed for disability benefits depends onthe age you become disabled. Forexample, if you are under age 24, youmay qualify with as few as six credits ofcoverage.

But people disabled at age 31 orolder generally need between 20 and 40credits to qualify, and some of the workmust have been recent.

For example, you may need to haveworked five out of the past 10 years.Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.

John Johnston is a Social Security publicaffairs specialist.

Q&A’s for July

Social Security News


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To include your community or service in the 2015 edition

or for a free copy of the 2014 edition, call your representative or

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Celebrating LL ii ff ee

By Lori M. Myers

Whether you are a caretaker for afamily member or the person puttingyour own personal papers in order, it isimportant to realize the importance oftwo basic documents: a living will and adurable healthcare power of attorney.

There are similarities between thetwo, but there are also some differencesyou should know about.

Both the living will and the durablepower of attorney for healthcare allow anindividual to specify their wishes for thetype and extent of medical care they wishto have if they should become unable tospeak on their own. Both allow you tochoose someone you trust to makecertain medical choices on your behalf.

You must be at least 18 years of age tocreate either document and be of soundmind, meaning that you are able tounderstand what the document means,what it contains, and how it works. No

one can coerce you into creating eitherdocument. Together they are often calledan advance directive.

Now let’s look at how the two aredifferent.

The living will details the type of careyou want or don’t want if you becomeincapacitated. It answers the questionwhether or not life-prolonging measuresare to be given if there’s no hope ofrecovery. Such procedures typicallyinclude transfusions of blood and bloodproducts, cardiopulmonary resuscitation,diagnostic tests, dialysis, administrationof drugs, use of a respirator, and surgery.

We’ve all read instances of patientswho are brain dead or have a terminalillness, and how heartbreaking it couldbe for family members who becomeemotional, perhaps guilt-ridden, whenno living will is present and they areforced to make this ultimate decision fora loved one. Having this documentwould avoid this scenario.

While the living will generally coversvery specific issues like “do notresuscitate,” it may not deal with otherimportant medical concerns that arise.That’s where a durable power of attorneyfor healthcare comes into play.

This document covers all healthcaredecisions and lasts only as long as youare incapable of making decisions onyour own. You would appoint someoneyou trust to be your healthcare agent tomake any necessary healthcare decisionsfor you and to make sure that doctorsand other healthcare providers give youthe type of care you wish to receive.

The healthcare durable power ofattorney allows the agent to consent orrefuse consent to any medical treatmentthat affects your physical or mentalhealth, hire or fire medical personnel,make decisions about the best medicalfacilities for you, visit you in the hospitaleven when other visiting is restricted,gain access to medical records, and get

court authorization if for any reason ahospital or doctor does not honor yourliving will or the authority of thehealthcare agent.

Under a durable healthcare power ofattorney, most of the agent’s authorityends upon your death, but more andmore states give the agent permission tooversee the disposition of the body,including authorizing an autopsy orcarrying out any wishes for organdonation. If you want your agent to havethese powers, you should say so in yourpower of attorney document.

A good thing to do is to consult withyour attorney, your physician, and yourfamily about your advance healthcaredirective documents. The advantages ofmaking these decisions early and puttingthem in writing are that you have agreater assurance your specific wishes willbe carried out and that family conflictscan be avoided.

Living Will vs. Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney —

What You Should Know


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Celebrating LL ii ff eeBy Lori M. Myers

Hospice has become a way to die withdignity and receive appropriate care inthe last phase of life. It has become partof the care continuum for patients, andmedical interns and residents are beingmade aware of this option and thenecessary empathy needed toward notonly the patient, but also the family.

Hospice is not a place. It is a specialkind of healthcare focused on keeping thepatient comfortable once the patient andphysician have decided that theunderlying disease, despite all efforts, canno longer be treated or cured. It helps thepatient, their families, and othercaregivers during a most stressful time; itis care that could take place in a varietyof settings and is focused on the beliefthat quality of life is as important aslength of life.

But it’s more than reassuring familymembers or providing emotional andspiritual support. Hospice staff members

also help manage pain and symptomsand can make those last months, weeks,or days more comfortable. The patient isrelieved of discomfort, yet still alertenough to enjoy the people aroundthem.

According to the American CancerSociety, all hospices must provide certainservices, but they have differentapproaches and types of support offered.Along with pain and symptom control,the hospice can arrange for inpatient careand will stay involved in your care andyour family.

Spiritual care can be arranged to meetthe patient’s specific needs and/orrequests. It might include helping youlook at what death means to you, helpingyou say goodbye, or helping with acertain religious ceremony or ritual.

A hospice nurse or social worker alsosets up regularly scheduled familyconferences to keep family membersinformed about your condition and whatto expect. These conferences give

everyone the opportunity to sharefeelings, find support, and realize stressrelief.

Hospice is a seven-days-a-week, 24-hours-a-day service that may also includeother community professionals such asthe pharmacist, clergy, and doctors. This“team” can be contacted at any time —someone is always on call to help oranswer any questions, assuring you andyour family that you are not alone duringthis time.

If a doctor has certified the prognosisas not longer than six months, anindividual is eligible for hospice. Thisapplies to anyone of any age, with anytype of illness, including Alzheimer’sdisease. It generally costs less thaninpatient care in a hospital, nursinghome, or other facility because withhome hospice, you pay only for thespecific care that you need. In addition,volunteers may be able to provide manyservices at little or no cost.

Medicare, Medicaid, and most private

insurance plans cover hospice services.Medicare regulations require that yourhospice care be provided at home, withonly short stays in an inpatient facility.

In order to qualify for the Medicarehospice benefit, your physician must re-certify you at the beginning of eachbenefit period, and you must sign anelective statement indicating that youunderstand the nature of your illness orcondition and of hospice care.

By signing the statement, yousurrender your right to other Medicarebenefits related to your illness. If you areunable to sign the document, a familymember may sign the election statementfor you.

While patients usually pay out ofpocket for any services not covered byinsurance, hospice services are generallyprovided without charge if you havelimited or nonexistent financial resources.

Don’t think of hospice as simplydying. Think of it as dying with dignity,grace, and support.

Help Through Hospice


By Lori M. Myers

We planned our careers, ourchildren’s lives (much to their chagrin),and our travels. But thinking aboutplanning for own death makes usuneasy. We know we should preplan, getit down on paper, and make it official.It’s important. But why?

First, it removes the burden of doingso from our loved ones. A death can bean emotional time without the addedstress of organizing and paying for thosefinal arrangements while in the midst ofgrief. It’s even worse if the death is asudden one, leaving loved onesunprepared and confused. They mayrush to pay for a cemetery plot or gravewithout careful thought.

Second, it ensures our own specificwishes will be carried out. Preplanningallows us to have the funeral reflect whowe are and what we want.

Do you want to be cremated orburied? If cremated, how should theremains be scattered and where? Who

should keep them? If buried, where do you want your

final resting place to be? What sort of memorial service do

you want? Do you wish somethingsimple with only close family inattendance? Or is more of a largecelebration something you feelcomfortable with? Are there favoritesongs or readings you wish to share withthose who are present? Are there photosyou want displayed as mourners enterthe service?

Depending on one’s religious beliefs,some funerals have to be conductedwithin 24-48 hours. Others have a littlebit more time.

Funeral preplanning saves a familymuch time agonizing over what they“think” your wishes could be as well ashow to pay and who will pay. Accordingto the Federal Trade Commission’sconsumer information, you may wish tomake decisions about your arrangementsin advance but not pay for them inadvance.

If you decide to take this route, keepin mind that over time, prices willfluctuate and businesses may close orchange ownership. It’s a good idea, theysay, to review and revise your decisionsevery few years, and to make sure youcommunicate any and all plans andchanges of those plans to your family.

Any preferences should be put inwriting and copies given to familymembers and your attorney, with onecopy in a place where it can be easilyfound. Avoid putting the only copy ofyour preferences in a safe-deposit box inthe event arrangements have to be madeon a weekend or holiday before the boxcan be opened.

According to the Federal TradeCommission, if you do prepay some orall of the funeral expenses, it’s importantto consider the following:

• What are you paying for? Are youbuying only merchandise, like a casketand vault, or are you purchasingfuneral services as well?

• What happens to the money you’veprepaid? States have differentrequirements for handling funds paidfor prearranged funeral services.

• What happens to the interest incomeon money that is prepaid and put intoa trust account?

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

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

• What happens if you move to adifferent area or die while away fromhome? Some prepaid funeral plans canbe transferred, but it could be at anadded cost.

Whatever planning you do, let yourfamily know the details. Let them knowwhere the documents are filed, whetheror not you have prepaid. You may alsowish to consult an attorney on the bestway to ensure that your wishes arefollowed.

Funeral Preplanning – Emotional and Financial Security for Loved Ones

Celebrating LL ii ff ee

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• Exhibitors •

• Health Screenings •

• Seminars •

• Entertainment •

• Door Prizes •

www.50plusExpoPA.com

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

Limited SponsorshipOpportunities Available

Please join us forthese free events!Please join us forthese free events!

YORK COUNTY

Sept. 17, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

York Expo CenterMemorial Hall East

334 Carlisle Avenue

York

12th Annual

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Oct. 22, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Carlisle Expo Center100 K Street

Carlisle

15th Annual

LANCASTER COUNTY

Nov. 5, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Spooky Nook Sports2913 Spooky Nook Road

Manheim(Just off Rt. 283 at the Salunga exit)

18th Annual

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Dauphin County

Calendar of EventsPrograms and Support Groups

Dauphin County Library Programs

East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg,(717) 652-9380July 22, 9:30 a.m. – Friends of the East Shore Area

Library Meeting

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library,200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949July 1, 6 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book ClubJuly 15, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club

Free and open to the public.

Senior Center Activities

July 8, 6 to 7 p.m.Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support GroupGraysonview Personal Care Community150 Kempton Ave., Harrisburg(717) 561-8010

July 8, 7:30 to 10 p.m.New Cumberland Town Band PerformanceDauphin Lions Carnival202 Church St., Dauphinwww.nctownband.org

July 16, 1:30 p.m.Parkinson’s Support Group on East ShoreJewish Home of Harrisburg4004 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg(717) 441-8627

July 20, 7 p.m.New Cumberland Town Band PerformanceSchaffner ParkPoplar Avenue and Water Street, Hummelstownwww.nctownband.org

July 23, 7 p.m.Piecemakers Quilt Guild of MiddletownSt. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran ChurchSpring and Union streets, Middletown(717) [email protected]

July 29, 6 p.m.Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Walking Club Gander Mountain5005 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg(717) 991-5232

Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002,www.hersheyseniorcenter.comJuly 16, 1 p.m. – Book Club: Unbroken: A World War II

Story of Survival, Resilience, andRedemption by Laura Hillenbrand

July 18, 11:30 a.m. – Social with Zembo Shrine Orchestra

Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682,www.rutherfordhouse.orgTuesdays, 11 a.m. – ZumbaWednesdays, 10 a.m. – AerobicsThursdays, 10 a.m. – Healthy Steps in Motion

Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.

AARP Driver Safety Programs

For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse.

July 21, 5 to 9 p.m. – Mohler Senior Center, 25 Hope Drive, Hershey, (717) 533-2002

There’s a place just off our familyroom that I like to call myworkshop. Workshop is a

misnomer, however. There’s hardly roomto move in there, let alone do work.

It’s become a place where I go only tolook for tools when something in thehouse breaks, leaks, or falls apart.Sometimes I even think about makingstuff—until I turn the lights on.

I look there because I know I puttools in there at one time or another. Ijust don’t remember which ones orwhere. I store tools in other places, too(which exacerbates my problem), but theshop is the principal place for theessential implements that I need tomaintain our home.

Halloween decorations and paint cans(filled to various levels with paint and

dried paint scum) are out in the open ona shelf toward the back of the workshop.

I haven’t used either in years, but atleast they are easy to find. I don’t knowwhy Halloweendecorations are inthere. I certainlydidn’t make them.And the paint colorsare outdated.

Easily findingthings that are nolonger of any use tome indicates anotherproblem, as of yetundefined. Hoarding?

But specific tools,when I am in urgentneed of them, are hard to find. Not alltools, mind you, are hard to find; large,

cumbersome tools are difficult tomisplace, after all. There’s a 10-inch tablesaw right about in the center of the shop.It acts as an anchor and is a symbol of

the possibilities andpotential of what couldsomeday be a viableworkshop.

To get to it, I muststep over a chain saw, acircular saw, a jigsaw,and a router. All thesepower tools are in theiroriginal, molded-plastic cases, whichenhances the size ofeach obstruction.Therefore, they offer a

challenge when trying to climb overthem.

The router, by the way, is brand new;I forgot I had it. I also forget why Ibought it.

I would like to move everything asidewhile walking to my table saw and theworkbench beyond, but pushing theseungainly objects to and fro just jamsthem more tightly against other articlesthat should not be on a workshop floor.These power tools can only be stored inthe spaces in which they sit. I pick themup, and I set them down.

Hand tools are not always so visible,however. And therein lies the gist of mytroubles.

Any relatively flat surface in thevicinity of a job I’m doing is a potentialstorage spot for a small hand tool. It isalso a convenient spot to deposit wood

The Way I See It

Mike Clark

My Workshop

please see WORKSHOP page 13


Thank you, sponsors!The 50plus EXPO is FREE to the community due to the generosity of our sponsors.

DAUPHIN COUNTY

Proudly Sponsored By:

By Christina Cardamone

Visitors arrived at the Hershey Lodgeon May 27 for the 15th annual DauphinCounty 50plus EXPO. The event was co-hosted by OLP EVENTS and theDauphin County Area Agency onAging.

Guests were able to attend this one-day event for free and peruse nearly 80exhibitors, who presented informationon traveling, finances, homeimprovement, retirement, and wellness.

The day began with the openingceremony where Donna Anderson,president of On-Line Publishers,welcomed the crowd and introducedValerie Pritchett, abc27 news anchor,who presented Claire Zeiters of WestHanover Township with the 2014Dauphin County Outstanding SeniorAward.

A longtime volunteer for the

Dauphin County Area Agency onAging, Zeiters has served as coordinatorof the senior transportation program for14 years.

Zeiterscommented onfeeling“overwhelmed”after acceptingthe award. Underthe direction ofher co-workers atthe Area Agencyon Aging, Zeitersthought she wasonly attending theEXPO to help.

“You don’t do it alone—you can’t,”Zeiters said of her volunteer efforts. “Ittakes other people who are willing togive their time as well.”

As the day continued, attendees tookadvantage of health screenings offered

by Hearing Aid Associates, OrthopedicInstitute of Pennsylvania, and TakeShape for Life.

AAA Central Penn helmed a travelfair withinformation andresources for folkslooking to get away.They also presentedfive seminars ontrips such as “AAAHoliday Time onthe Danube,”“Celebrity Cruises,”and “AAA National

Park Wonders.”Ascendant Home Health Care

provided tote bags for each attendee’sconvenience. Participants were also ableto sample free Turkey Hill ice creamand relax by the event’s stage, whereentertainment was held throughout theday.

The entertainment started with achorus of Dutch Apple Dinner Theater’scurrent cast. Performers sang hits fromShrek, The Music Man, and Hairspray.Other entertainment included ZumbaGold, in which instructor JudyMcMillen encouraged audiencemembers to participate from their chairsor the floor.

The day’s events also included agardening demonstration by CertifiedMaster Gardener and greenhouse salesspecialist Sarah Riling and vocalperformances by Barry Surran, who wonthe PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition in2008.

The 50plus EXPOs, presented by OLPEVENTS, will return in fall 2014: on Sept.17 at the York Expo Center; on Oct. 22at the Carlisle Expo Center; and on Nov.5 at Spooky Nook Sports, Manheim.For more information, call (717)-285-1350 or visit www.50plusexpopa.com.

Music, Gardening, Travel Highlighted at 50plus EXPO

DAUPHIN COUNTY

Brought to you by:

&

Visitor Bag Sponsor:

Ascendant Home Health Care

Patron Sponsor:

Country MeadowsOrthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania

Media Sponsors:

abc27 • WHP580 • WIOOSupporting Sponsors:

Gateway HealthThe Middletown Home

USAA

Travel Fair Sponsor: Principal Sponsors:

A Continuing Care Retirement Community A Community Outreach of Homeland Center

From left, Valerie Pritchett,abc27 news anchor and theEXPO’s honorary chairperson;Claire Zeiters, recipient of the2014 Dauphin CountyOutstanding Senior Award;Donna Anderson, president ofOn-Line Publishers; andRobert Burns, executivedirector of the DauphinCounty Area Agency on Aging.


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•Stair lifts

Keith Davis (717) 651-5133 (Office) (717) 433-2143 (Cell)www.3-DConsultants.com

3-DConsultants

Winner of $50 Giant Food Stores Gift Card:

Sharon Gettel

Congratulations!

Who Has the Best Bites inCentral PA?

50plus Senior News readers have spoken!

Here are the Dauphin County dining favorites for 2014!

Breakfast:

Skyline Family Restaurant

Lunch:

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill

Dinner:

The Brownstone Café

Ethnic Cuisine:

Passage to India

Celebrating:

Tavern on the Hill

Bakery:

Schenk’s Pastry & Ice Cream

Coffeehouse:

The Cornerstone Coffeehouse

Fast Food:

Burger King

Seafood:

Red Lobster

Steak:

The Glass Lounge

Outdoor Dining:

RockBass Grill

Romantic Setting:

Alfred’s Victorian

Smorgasbord/Buffet:

Hoss’s Steak and Sea House

Caterer:

Rubinic’s Catering Service

MORTGAGES from page 5

In addition, you’ll also have to payan annual mortgage insurancepremium of 1.25 percent of the loanamount.

Payment options: You can receivethe money in a lump sum, a line ofcredit, regular monthly checks, or acombination of these.

But in most cases, you cannotwithdraw more than 60 percent of theloan during the first year. If you do,you’ll pay a 2.5 percent upfrontinsurance premium fee.

Counseling: All borrowers are

required to get face-to-face ortelephone counseling through a HUD-approved independent counselingagency before taking out a reversemortgage. Some agencies are awardedgrants that enable them to offercounseling for free, but most chargearound $125 to $250.

To locate a counseling agency nearyou, visit HUD’s Home EquityConversion Mortgages for Seniorswebpage (hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmhome.cfm) or call (800) 569-4287.

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

scraps, bent nails, stripped screws, andother, larger tools. It happens oftenenough that a significant supply ofimportant hand tools can end upconcealed under mounds of things thatshould have been discarded long ago.

Oh, the tools and gadgets that I’vetaken the time and care to hang on mylarge, brown peg-board are fairly neatand in order. I attribute that to the factthat I seldom use those things. Theyconsist of screwdrivers, chisels, nut-drivers, pliers, wrenches, hand saws,hand drills, leftover plumbing supplies,and miscellaneous doodads that are allthe wrong sizes and types for the tasksthat I need to tend.

I must have needed them at onetime. I mean, why else would they bethere?

I have often searched an inordinatelylong time for a tool that I know I have.And in my frustration, I give uplooking. Then I go to the hardware storeand buy a new tool. It saves me a lot oftime, and the tool I need is usuallyinexpensive. The hours I waste lookingcould be spent repairing, I always say.

In the latest episode, my garbagedisposal jammed. You’ll have to ask mywife why, though. Fine, it could havehappened to anyone (as she says). So Iwent down to my workshop to fetch aquarter-inch Allen wrench to jog theflywheel back and forth, which usuallyclears the jam.

I searched until I found an array ofAllen wrenches lying scattershot in aplace far from where they should havebeen. There was no quarter-inchwrench in the pile, although I know Ihave one—somewhere. In themeantime, I went to the hardware storeto get a new one.

Someday I’ll clean out and organizemy workshop. And when I do, I’llmore than likely find two ofeverything.

I’m going to plan a yard sale.

Mike Clark writes a regular column for TheGlobe Leader newspaper in New Wilmington,Pa. He has a Bachelor of Science degree inorganizational behavior/applied psychologyfrom Albright College. Mike lives outsideColumbia, Pa., and can be contacted [email protected].

WORKSHOP from page 11

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“As the new millennium approached,it became more important to me tocreate a more balanced life—one where Icould experience joy and pleasure whilestill serving others.”

More than a decade ago, Swearingenresigned her job as an assistant directorof special education in a public schooldistrict, sold her house, and started fromscratch working as a landscape gardenerat a local retirement community.

After completing coursework andinterning under the direction of ahorticultural therapist, Swearingenearned a certificate in horticulturaltherapy from Temple University,effectively combining her background inhuman services with her love of plantsand flowers.

The therapeutic benefits of gardensand gardening have been documentedfor centuries, but it was Dr. BenjaminRush, the “father of Americanpsychiatry” and a signer of theDeclaration of Independence, who firstrecorded the positive effects the therapyhad on patients with mental illness in the1800s.

In the mid-20th century, horticulturaltherapy was used to aid the rehabilitationof hospitalized war veterans, expandingthe practice beyond the confines ofmental-illness treatment.

“Seniors often find themselves facingloss of all types,” Swearingen said. “Theymay often find that they are offeredfewer opportunities to contribute to thehappenings within their family, theirchurches, or their communities.”

Swearingen cited the example of apastor’s wife named Jane who hadcreated the flower arrangements for herchurch for 40 years. After her husbanddied, she moved to a skilled nursing carecommunity and her health deteriorated.

She also became withdrawn andclinically depressed, refusing to leave herroom for months until she gradually

began participating in flower-arrangingprograms.

“Eventually, she proudly found herdesigns on display in the main lobby. Shebecame recognized by the entirecommunity for her beautiful creations,”Swearingenrecalled. “Sheimprovedemotionallyand physicallyto the pointthat she wasable to leavethe skilled carecommunityand move inwith herfamily.”

Swearingenalso recountedher experiencewith three menwho regularlygrew andharvestedvegetables for the local food bank, raisingmany pounds of food for theircommunity “despite having ailmentssuch as congestive heart failure,dementia, and limited mobility,” shesaid.

“They grew all of their vegetables inraised garden beds, harvesting from thecomfort and stability of their chairs.”

Raised garden beds are the specialtyand passion of Joe Manotti, certifiedsquare-foot gardening instructor for YourGarden Solution, with locations inCamp Hill and Harrisburg. Thesegardens consist of soil enclosed by asquare frame, usually made of wood,which is raised above the surroundingsoil.

Raised garden beds are available intwo types: a ground garden is raisedabout 8 inches off the ground, and agarden table stands on legs 3 feet high, a

perfect height for those unable to bendover to garden.

Manotti was inspired to offer raisedgarden beds after his aging father, alifelong gardener, had not gardened in 15years due health issues and limited

mobility.“Two years

ago, we builthim a gardentable, and thishas enabledhim to do whathe had donealmost all of hislife, and thatwas to grow hisownvegetables,”Manotti said.“We thought, ifhe needed this,so did a lot ofother people.”

Your GardenSolution’s

garden tables are created by local Amishcraftsmen out of Douglas fir, sassafras,and cedar woods. Manotti recommends atechnique called square-foot gardening,where the 4-foot by 4-foot garden bed isfilled with 6 inches of soil andsubdivided into 16 square-foot sections.

Each square foot grows differentvegetables or flowers, enabling a gardenerto grow a lot of plants in a small space. Asquare-foot garden bed typically yieldsmany more vegetables than traditionalrow gardening and with fewer weeds.

“The average person quits gardeningafter 2.5 years. Why? Because of themaintenance involved, such as weeding,”Manotti said. “Raised beds eliminatemuch of the maintenance since the soil[we offer] is formulated to provide plantswith the optimal growing environment.”

Manotti said that garden tables cangrow most vegetables, with the exception

of some deep-rooted plants like potatoesor garlic, which need more than 6 inchesof soil.

Raised garden beds—both groundgardens and garden tables—have becomeimportant elements of horticulturaltherapy, enabling horticultural therapiststo bring the practice to patients withphysical limitations.

“Seniors and those with limitedmobility love the garden tables! It enablesthem to enjoy gardening again,” Manottisaid.

Manotti shared the story of a CentralPennsylvania woman with severe arthritisin one knee that prohibited her fromkneeling to tend to a vegetable garden.

As a result, she had not had a gardenfor many years and missed it greatly—until her son told her about square-footgardening and purchased her a gardentable, which quickly yielded so manyvegetables she was able to share themwith others.

Swearingen noted that horticulturetherapy is often used as a complement totraditional therapeutic treatments.Therapists, she said, are trained tosupport participants who have physicallimitations through the use of adaptivetools and proper body mechanics.

“Horticultural therapy is unique inthat it involves tangible outcomes thatare valued by the participant and thecommunity. The activities provideopportunities for decision making,creative expression, and contribution toothers,” she said.

Avid gardeners as well as those whohave never tended a garden in their livescan benefit from horticulture both inand out of a therapeutic setting.

“Plants are not influenced by povertyor wealth, by age or ability,” saidSwearingen. “Nurture them, and theywill grow. The same is true for us—if wenurture ourselves, we will grow. It isnever too late.”

GREEN-THUMB from page 1

Seniors gardening in raised garden beds.

Dear Mark: I was asked to leave acasino by security for, if you canbelieve this, playing someone else’sleftover $12 worth of credits that theyhad left on a slot machine and didn’tcash out.

Although not banned for life, I wasrudely told it was against the law,made to return the $12, and told notto come back for 30 days.

You have got to be kidding me!Whatever happened to “finder’skeepers, loser’s weepers?” – Matt N.

For starters, Matt, the casino madeyou give back the money simply becauseit didn’t belong to you.

“Finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers” isnot a defense for taking creditsdiscovered on a slot machine. You arebasing your newly found booty on thepremise that when something isabandoned, whoever finds it can claim it.

Unfortunately, within the casino walls,this raises ethical and legal challenges.

On the casino floor, credits left onmachines do not belong to the personwho finds them, but it doesn’t necessarilymean that they belong to the casinoeither. Casinos, as well as some gamingjurisdictions, have specific policies onhow to handle abandoned credits.

The children’s rhyme, “finder’skeepers, loser’s weepers” may apply inchildren’s games but doesn’t pass musterin gambling establishments.

Like a pair of sunglasses left at ablackjack game, in the joints where I

worked, we regarded credits left on a slotmachine specifically as “lost property”and did our best to find their rightfulowner. Today,especially if oneuses his or herPlayer’s card, itis relatively easyto track theprevious player.

Nevertheless,a tip to you andother slot-playing patrons:before you walkaway from anyslot machine,don’t forget topress the cash-out button.

As for you being 86’d from the casino,well, that might have been a bit over thetop. I have never heard of any leftover-credits-playing player being given theheave-ho.

That said, that doesn’t mean there arenot swindlers who make a livingscavenging the millions lost each year bygamblers who forget their stored credits(winnings).

The pretender who purposively circlesthe casino floor looking for orphancredits on a slot machine, or even changeon the floor for that matter, can warrantthe dreaded permanent 86 for making afull-time occupation of cruising thecasino eyeing easy pickings.

I will buy, however, that you weren’t acredit conniver looking for an easy score.

So, playing slot manager for just a

moment, my casino-management stylewould not have even warranted a wristslap. I was one to operate more in the

spirit of the law,not the letter of,although, I mustacknowledgethat everygamingsupervisor willhandle yourscenario theirown way.

All I wouldhave told youwas that thenext time youfind credits

remaining on the machine, you shouldinform some slot-floor personnel, andthen I would have gone on my merry

way. Had we found the previous player, Ijust would have credited him or her $12.

Now let’s look at the positive here,Matt, of which there is one. For the next30 days, you won’t be playing on amachine that has a house edge of up to20 percent.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: “Ihave seen a pregnant woman stand at a21 game, oblivious to labor pains, untilwe thought we were going to becomemidwives, and leave only when wesummoned an ambulance.” – Harold S.Smith Sr., I Want to Quit Winners (1961)

Mark Pilarski is a recognized authority oncasino gambling, having survived 18 years inthe casino trenches. Pilarski is the creator ofthe bestselling, award-winning audio bookseries on casino gambling, Hooked onWinning. www.markpilarski.com

Did This Player Deserveto Be Tossed from the Casino?

Deal Me InBy Mark Pilarski

5435 Jonestown Rd.Harrisburg

545-6103GipeFloorAndWallcovering.com

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