Chester County 50plus Senior News August 2014

Maria Romano Marcinko stands with a couple of feral cats thatwill be spayed/neutered and then released where they were found.

Ergonomic Tools that Can

Ease Gardening Pains

page 4

The Beach at the End

of the Trail

page 8

Inside:

By Rebecca Hanlon

Maria Romano Marcinko is severely allergic to cats.The itchy skin and shortened breaths would send most people running

from these critters.But Marcinko can’t stay away.The 58-year-old energetic woman founded a community stray cat

program in 2010 shortly after being appointed to a seat on the boroughcouncil.

The first item on the agenda that was handed to her in September 2009was for a municipal contract with the local Humane Society. Thousands oftaxpayer dollars were being spent each year for the care of stray animals.More than 85 percent of those were feral cats.

“I’ve always been an animal lover,” Marcinko said. “They hoped thatbecause I had experience in dog rescue services that maybe I could help withthe overwhelming cat population.”

The challenge was “staying outside of the box,” Marcinko said. She tried to understand the concerns of residents who became attached to

the cats, while at the same time relating to the frustrations of neighbors whowanted strays to stay off their lawns.

Feisty feral cats can damage plants, outdoor furniture, and flowerbeds, shesaid. But there was a solution.

please see FELINES page 15

Councilwoman Heads SuccessfulFeral-Cat Program

For the Love of

Felines

Chester County Edition August 2014 Vol. 11 No. 8

he letter began: “Dear Saralee,I’ll get right to it. We arecousins.”

When I first read Robin’s words, Ididn’t believe her. How could I have afirst cousin I knew nothing about?

She found me by Googling myname.

“I would love to speak with you andshare family memories,” she wrote. So Icalled her at her home in Pennsylvania.

Sure enough, her mother was myAunt Rebecca. I never even knew myaunt had a child.

When Robin and I spoke, it was liketalking to a sister. We used the sameexpressions, laughed and cried alike,related like we’d never been apart, andeven described ourselves in the samegoofy way: as lunatics.

Her children’s careers are in writingand psychology, just like my

professions. We bothsign our emails: “Love,me.” And we eachinclude our dogs in thefamily photos we send.

Together, we figuredout why we never kneweach other existed.

I haven’t thoughtabout my mother’smelancholia in a while.Oh, how I blame myselffor waiting until it wastoo late to make thingsbetter.

Mom’s history wasone of neglect andabuse. She wanted so desperately to beloved, but her fury at her parents wasunrelenting. So she took it out on themost important people in her world—the ones she held closest to her heart.

Most of her familywouldn’t speak to her.She didn’t understandthat by constantlyhanging up on relativesafter shouting at them,they’d stop calling.

She didn’t understandthat being mean didn’tsolve problems; it justalienated people.

And I didn’tunderstand that whenMom slammed her dooreach time I’d leave, it wasbecause she wanted menearby, in her home and

in her heart. My poor mother crippled her own

life when all she truly wanted was thecloseness she never had. How immatureand selfish of me, as an adult, not to seethe love she so deeply longed for. WhenI told Robin that Mom ended her ownlife, she was not surprised.

And so, Aunt Rebecca and herhusband, my uncle Jack, were includedin the sad picture of estranged relatives.Therefore, I had no idea Robinexisted—until now.

Sadly, everyone, other than mybrother, stopped talking with me whenthey gave up on my mom. AlthoughI’ve tried to reconnect, no one hasresponded. But now, I’ve been acceptedinto a new family, with all the richnessthat goes along with feeling welcomed

by loved ones with a shared past.In her first email, Robin wrote, “I

was awake all last night thinking of us. Ifind it unbelievable but wonderful andastounding! If you tried to write it, theywould call it fiction.”

I said, “I’m so happy you found me.”“So am I.”My mother would have treasured

being a part of this extraordinaryreunion. After all, the love I found is allshe ever wanted.

The truth is—my mother loved meas intensely as I loved her.

If only I had said, “I love you, Mom.I didn’t mean to hurt you so much,especially when I left for college. Younever meant to hurt me. You justwanted me to always be with youbecause you loved me in the purestsense. I should have known this.”

I wish I had told her that eventhough we didn’t shop, talk on thephone, or share secrets and laughter theway many mothers and daughters do,we still loved each other profoundly—asstrongly as rivers can flow and birds cansoar.

Maybe, oh maybe, somewhere in hertender, aching heart, she knew.

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

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

Such is Life

Saralee Perel

Finding a Family Again

Saralee and her motherin 1977.

T

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Eastwood Village Homes, LLC102 Summers Drive, Lancaster(717) 397-3138

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All I have to do to get mygrandkids’ eyes rolling is talkabout the good old days.

No, I don’t tell ’em how far I walkedto school (school was only a block away).But I might say I remember when, if youwanted to change channels on the TV,you had to get up, walk over, and turn aknob.

Then I’ll tell them how you had toadjust the rabbit ears to get a betterpicture. They’re not curious enough to

ask me what rabbit earswere, or how great TheColgate Comedy Hour was.They don’t care.

They don’t care if I neverhad a telephone that tookpictures. Or how we’d sendfilm into Kodak and getprints back in a week.They’re too busy texting.And they never heard ofKodak. I remember when

text was not a verb and textingwas not a word.

Yes, I have a cell phone.I’m not a Luddite. “Does ithave a crank on it?” you’reprobably asking. No, itdoesn’t. It’s a TracFone. No,it’s not smart, but it only costsme $7 a month. When you’reon a fixed income (aeuphemism for being broke),things like that matter.

I have given up on getting mygrandkids to join me in a game ofcheckers, dominos, or pickup sticks. ButI’ve learned to get their attention byasking them to show me their latestvideo game—a game that interests meabout as much as my games interestthem.

We do have that in common.

Visit www.nostalgiaroad.com

Nostalgia Road

Dick Dedrick

When I Was Your Age

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Dear Savvy Senior,Can you recommend some good

ergonomic gardening gear for seniors?I am a 72-year-old who loves to workin the garden, but I have beenplagued by various gardening injuriesthis year.– Looking for Solutions

Dear Looking,There’s no doubt that gardening

can be tough on an aging body.Garden work often requires a lot ofrepetitive stooping, squatting,kneeling, gripping, and lifting,which can lead to back andknee pain, carpal tunnelsyndrome, and various otherinjuries.

To help make your gardeningchores a little easier is a slew ofnew and improved gardeninggear that’s lightweight,comfortable to use, andergonomically designed to helpprotect your body from thephysical strains of gardening.

Here are several that canhelp.

Gloves: There are a numberof specially designed gloves thatcan improve your grip andprotect your hands while youwork.

Two of the best are the “AtlasNitrile Touch Garden Gloves”(available at Amazon.com for lessthan $6), which are coated with aflexible, synthetic rubber.

And the “ReliefGrip Gardening”gloves (www.bionicgloves.com, $35)have extra padding in the palm andfinger joints, which can improvegrip and cause fewer calluses andblisters.

Digging tools: There areergonomic tools that can helpprotect your wrists by reducing thebending and twisting wristmovement that often comes withdigging and weeding.

Some good options includeRadius Garden tools (www.radiusgarden.com), which make a varietyof curved-handle hand tools(scooper, weeder, transplanter,

cultivator, and trowel) and shovelsthat run between $10 and $50.

And check out Corona tools(www.coronatoolsusa.com), whichmakes the ComfortGEL and eGriphand garden tools.

Another excellent product is the“Cobrahead Weeder and Cultivator”(www.cobrahead.com), an all-purposedigging and weeding tool, availablein a short-handle version for close-up work for $25 and a long handlefor standing work for $60.

Knee and back aids: Kneepadsand garden seats can also protectyour knees and save your back whenworking close to the ground.

Some popular products soldtoday through the Gardener’sSupply Company (www.gardeners.com) are the “GardenEase Kneeler”($70), which is a kneeling pad withsupport handles; the “GardenKneeler” ($35) that’s akneepad/garden bench combo; andthe “Deluxe Tractor Scoot withBucket Basket,” which is a height-adjustable, swivel garden seat onwheels ($90).

Pruning tools: Fiskars(www.fiskars.com) makes some ofthe finest ergonomic pruning toolsthat have also earned the Arthritis

Foundation’s Ease of UseCommendation because of theirpatented PowerGear mechanismsthat increase leverage to makecutting three times easier thantraditional pruners.

The Fiskars PowerGear handpruners, loppers, and hedge shearsall run between $25 and $48.

Bahco and Corona also make anice line of ergonomic pruning toolsand handsaws that you can see atwww.bahcostore.com orwww.coronatoolsusa.com.

Watering: To help make yourwatering chores a little easier,there are lightweight gardenhoses, soaker or drip hoses thatcan be snaked throughout thegarden, and hose chests that canautomatically rewind themselves.

Some good companies thatmake these products includeWater Right Inc.(www.waterrightinc.com), whichmakes a variety of superlightweight garden and coilhoses; the DIG Corp.(www.digcorp.com), which makesconvenient drip-irrigation kitsand micro sprinkler kits; andSuncast (www.suncast.com), theleading maker of self-windinghose reels and hose carts.

Container gardening: Raisedgarden beds, trellises, and containergardening are also easier ways togrow plants and flowers because itbrings the garden to you,eliminating most stooping,squatting, and kneeling.

The Gardener’s Supply Company(www.gardeners.com) offers a widerange of raised beds and gardencontainers at prices ranginganywhere between $10 up to $350.

Locally, Your Garden Solution(www.yourgardensolution.org, (717)919-1010) offers raised beds andgarden tables in a similar pricerange.

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

Ergonomic Tools thatCan Ease Gardening Pains

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

A raised garden table is an option for moreergonomic gardening (Your Garden Solution).


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Dear Mark: Your recent columnabout someone who found credits in aslot machine brought to mind anincident that happened to me a fewweeks ago at the MGM Grand inDetroit.

I accidentally left my $97 voucheron the bar. When I came back from therestroom, it was gone. I reported myloss to security.

Within an hour, they caughtsomeone on “the eye in the sky”cashing the ticket in. This is one timethat I lost my money at a casino andthey gave me my money back. – James B.

Contrary to some mailbag responsethat didn’t quite believe what a casinodoes with the left-behind credits orvouchers, I must reiterate, it really isn’tsmart customer service for a casino topocket lost loot.

Returning player winnings to itsrightful owner is one of many ways acasino builds on customer loyalty. Heck,handing a player $97 that justly belongsto him can keep himyanking handles intheir casino for life.

From the casino’sperspective, customerloyalty comes throughhaving a strongrelationship with itsplayers. When a playersees them as a friendand ally, they are reluctant to jump shipto another casino, even if it means theycan get a sweeter deal elsewhere.

Given the competitive nature of thegambling business, casinos protect theircustomers as a mother bear does hercubs.

Customers will decide whether totrust a casino based upon their day-to-

day behavior. Handing you back your$97 builds on that trust.

Make that type of behavior consistentover time—and here is where many

casinos fall short—and the managementknows you can becounted on as“their” patron. Iftheir behaviorbecomesunpredictable, you,the consumer, willfind another joint to

which you take your money. James, getting your $97 back was a

no-brainer for the casino.

Dear Mark: Are you aware of a goodvideo poker program that will run on aMacintosh laptop? I had Bob Dancer’sprogram on my old PC, which I likeda lot, but it is not available in a Mac

version. I would like to find a similarproduct, but I am not having any luck. – Charlie P.

Unfortunately, Charlie, though I havebeen in the Mac world since its infancy, Itoo have yet to find software comparableto Dancer’s Video Poker for Winners! It isspecifically for that reason that I keep anold PC laptop lying around, as youshould too.

Besides using VP for Winners! as avideo poker game that replicates the IGTmachines you see in a casino, you canalso use it as a tutorial, create strategies,focus on problem areas, check unusualhands, figure slot club paybacks, and awhole lot more.

One of my favorite features of thissoftware program is the ability to printout game-specific strategy charts that youcan take to the casino with you. The

The Casino ReturningLost Loot is a No-Brainer

Deal Me InBy Mark Pilarski

please see CASINO page 11

Charles Wilson grew up in a smalltown near Bel Air, Md. Thoughhe didn’t know it then, he was to

spend a lot of time over the broadPacific on the opposite side of the worldfrom his home.

In January of 1943, he enlisted in theArmy Air Corps and entered the aviationcadet program. After basic, he went toclassified, where he passed all therequirements to become either a pilot, anavigator, or a bombardier. He chose tobecome a pilot and started pilot trainingat Albany, Ga.

He soon discovered that there were

lots of ways to “washout” of pilot training,and he then went tonavigator training atSelma, Ala. There, inDecember 1943, he wonhis navigator wings and acommission as secondlieutenant.

The Air Corps waslooking for navigatorswho had also qualifiedto be bombardiers, so hevolunteered to attendbombardier school at

Roswell, N.M. He thereearned his bombardierwings before beingassigned to a B-25 crewat Greenville, S.C.

The standard B-25crew was made up ofeight men: pilot, copilot,navigator, bombardier,radio man, two waistgunners, and a tailgunner. In his case,however, it was onlyseven men, since heserved as both navigator

and bombardier.Their route to combat took them to

California, Hawaii, and New Guinea.How did they find their way across thosegreat expanses of the Pacific?

“That’s where I came in,” he grins.“By looking down through the Nordenbombsight, I could see the waves, andthat helped me estimate the directionand force of the wind.”

And where did he learn to do that? “In Selma,” he says, “right out of the

textbook.” But without any real waves to see? “Yeah,” he says airily, “but it worked

In WWII in the Pacific, There Was a Lotof Water to Fly Over Between Islands

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

2LT Charles A. Wilson in 1943as he earned his navigator

wings and commission.


CCRCs offer a tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ unique and often changing needs.

Healthy adults entering a CRCC are able to live independently in a home, apartment, or condominium of theirown within the community. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can move intopersonal care, assisted living, rehabilitation, or nursing care facilities. Some CCRCs have designated dementiaareas within the community. These units address the progressing needs of people who have any form of dementia.

With a wealth of available resources, these communities give older adults the option to live in one location forthe duration of their lives, with much of their future care already figured out — which equals both comfort andpeace of mind.

The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.

CCRCContinuing Care

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Bethany Village325 Wesley DriveMechanicsburg, PA 17055Stephanie LightfootDirector of Sales & Marketing(717) 766-0279www.bethanyvillage.org

Chapel Pointeat Carlisle770 South Hanover StreetCarlisle, PA 17013Linda AmsleyDirector of Marketing/Admissions(717) 713-2201www.chapelpointe.com

Church of God Home801 North Hanover StreetCarlisle, PA 17013Sherry HeimDirector of Development/PR(717) [email protected]

Cross Keys VillageThe Brethren Home Community2990 Carlisle PikeNew Oxford, PA 17350Amy KirkpatrickSenior Retirement Counselor(717) 624-5350a.kirkpatrick@crosskeysvillage.orgwww.crosskeysvillage.org

Garden Spot Village433 South Kinzer AvenueNew Holland, PA 17557Megan FarberSales and Marketing(717) [email protected]

Calvary FellowshipHomes502 Elizabeth DriveLancaster, PA 17601Marlene MorrisMarketing Director(717) 393-0711www.calvaryhomes.org


The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.

CCRCContinuing Care

Retirement Communities

Willow Valley Communities600 Willow Valley SquareLancaster, PA 17602Kristin HambletonDirector of Sales(717) 464-6800(800) 770-5445www.willowvalleycommunities.org

Woodcrest VillaMennonite Home Communities2001 Harrisburg PikeLancaster, PA 17601Connie BuckwalterDirector of Marketing(717) 390-4126www.woodcrestvilla.org

Normandie RidgeSenior Living Community1700 Normandie DriveYork, PA 17408Joyce SingerDirector of Sales & Marketing(717) 718-0937www.normandieridge.org

Homeland Center1901 North Fifth StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102-1598Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A.President/CEO(717) 221-7902www.homelandcenter.org

Homestead Village Enhanced Senior Living1800 Marietta AvenueP.O. Box 3227Lancaster, PA 17604-3227Susan L. DoyleDirector of Marketing(717) 397-4831 ext. 158www.homesteadvillage.org

The Middletown Home999 West Harrisburg PikeMiddletown, PA 17057Andrea HenneyDirector of Residential Services(717) 944-3351 www.MiddletownHome.org

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out just fine when you had real waves tolook at. And,” he adds, “I was able to‘shoot the sun’ to judge our speed overthe water.”

With a smile, he says, “It had towork, because I didn’t even know how toswim.”

After bombing the Japanese on NewGuinea and nearby islands, he and hiscrew were relocated to Morotai Island,where it rained for a solid month.Everything—their clothing, theirbedding, everything they had—wascontinually soaked.

Although they flew missions throughthe weather, everybody got “jungle rot.”Their hands swelled up with the tropicalinfection so that they couldn’t even write.Fortunately, the medics had an ointmentto treat it, but it was an experience thatWilson would prefer to forget.

The crew moved again, this time toPalawan Island in the Philippines, where

they bombed Luzon and nearby islands.Wilson says all the island settlementswere on the edge of islands, close to thewater. So they would circle over theland, then, at treetop height, dropbombs on the facilities on their waytoward the water so that, if they werehit, they’d be able to ditch in the waterrather than crash on the land in Japanesehands.

Not all missions involved bombs,though. The Japanese planted crops onsome of the islands they captured. Thefood they produced was needed, becausere-supply from Japan was so precarious.Wilson remembers flying missions tospray those crops with oil and destroythem.

On another kind of mission entirely,their B-25s were fitted with auxiliaryfuel tanks, and they flew a 16-hourmission, leading P-38s to a rendezvouswith B-24s off the coast of China,

aircraft that went on to bomb Japanesebases in China.

On one other key mission, they wereto fly to Leyte Island to cover GeneralMacArthur’s return to the Philippines.They ran into a huge monsoon theytried to climb over, but every time theyneared the top of the clouds, they foundthat the clouds were climbing faster thanthey were. So they had to abort theirshot at history being made.

Did he ever get shot up in combat? “No,” he says. “The closest we came

was when we were supporting theinvasion of Borneo. I saw the B-25 tothe left of us go down in flames. Thenthe same thing happened to the plane tothe right of us. But we came through itwithout a scratch.

“Then, after I had flown 53 missions,my tour was over, and I returned to theU.S. on a converted ocean liner. Justbefore we reached California, we got

news that the A-bomb had beendropped on Hiroshima. And the newsthat the Japanese had surrenderedreached us on the day that I musteredout of the Air Corps at Fort Meade.”

Wilson then entered the University ofMaryland on the G.I. Bill and in 1950graduated with a B.A. in mathematics.He taught high school mathematics for acouple of years, and then worked forthree years at Aberdeen Proving Groundsusing wind tunnels to study the effect ofwind on missiles.

For many years thereafter, he wrotecomputer programs for a major financecompany.

He often thinks of—but rarelydiscusses—all those hours he flew in thePacific with nothing below him butwater.

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


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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

By Andrea Gross

Lewis and Clark traveledmore than 4,000 milessearching for a water

route that would span theAmerican West. Where did theyend up? On a small stretch ofsand near Seaside, Ore., 80miles west of Portland.

Today Seaside is a popularrecreational community,attracting visitors who wantsurf-perfect waves, abundanttide pools, good hiking, and thechance to follow the Lewis andClark Corps of Discoveryduring the last days of their journey tothe Pacific.

My husband and I walk throughtown, heading toward a bronze statuethat immortalizes the area’s flirt withfame. The streets are filled with people.

Some are simply strolling, enjoyingthe sea-fresh air, while others areshopping in an eclectic assortment of

stores, many of which are arrangedaround an old-fashioned merry-go-round in the aptly named CarouselMall.

Of course, we intersperse ourmeanderings with food—a fish taco atFirehouse Grill, homemade root beerand ice cream at Flashback’s, and a cupof the clam chowder that Bon Appétit

dubbed “one of America’s top 10 soups”at Norma’s.

To work off the calories, we go toWheel Fun Rentals, where we debatewhether to rent a surrey (elegant), atandem bike (easy, especially for me), ora regular bicycle (exercise for both of us).

We finally opt for bikes so we canexplore areas on the outskirts of town as

well as pedal the Promenade, a1.5-mile concrete path that runsparallel to the sea.

There, at the point where theProm intersects Broadway, is thebronze statue of the twoexplorers. It’s larger than life, asbefits the men it depicts, and isbacked with a sign that reads,“the END of the LEWIS &CLARK trail, 1805-1806.”

The next morning we set outto learn why and how Seasidebecame the last stop of theLewis and Clark expedition.

We begin at CapeDisappointment, 30 miles

northwest of Seaside. “Since this is one of the foggiest

places in the country, it’s almost certainthat you’re having the same weather asdid the Lewis and Clark team,” says aranger. “But they were too elated toworry about the weather; they hadfinally reached the Pacific Ocean.”

We forego the beachcombing for

The Beach at the End of the Trail

A bronze statue of Lewis andClark stands near the beach in

Seaside, Ore.

People relax on the bench near thePromenade, the 1.5-mile concretewalkway that parallels the beach.

Men from the Lewis and Clarkexpedition first spotted the PacificOcean near Cape Disappointment.

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which the 1,900-acre park is famous,instead spending our time at theinterpretive center and hiking a trail thatwas used by the corpsmen as theyexplored the area.

Although themen were eager toreturn home afterachieving theirgoal, many asnow-coveredmountain stoodbetween thePacific Ocean andtheir startingpoint in St. Louis.They needed ahunkering placefor the winter,and they found asuitable spot onthe Oregon sideof the ColumbiaRiver, midwaybetween the Capeand Seaside.

Today thatspot, FortClatsop, is aNationalHistorical Parkthat features afull-size replica ofthe original fort,ranger-ledprograms, anexhibit area, and abookstore thatwill please eventhe most devotedLewis and Clarkfans.

As we walkthrough the fort,a costumedinterpreterexplains what lifewas like duringthe winter of1805-06. In short,it was hard. Themen were almostout of food, andthey spent muchof their timehunting elk, deer,and small game.

On oneoccasion, hearingthat a whale hadwashed ashore,they hiked overTillamook Head to the beach in what isnow Ecola State Park. To their dismay, bythe time they arrived, the AmericanIndians had picked the whale clean.

We consider following the explorers’footsteps until we read that Clark called

Tillamook Head “the steepest, worst &highest mountain I ever ascended.”

Figuring that he was undoubtedly inbetter shape than we are, we hop in the

car for a 15-minute drive toEcola. From thereit’s acomparativelyeasy trek to thebeached whalesite.

But the mennot only had toget food, they alsohad to preserve it;and to do that,they had toextract salt fromthe ocean.

Therefore, fivecorpsmenestablished a smalloutpost on anearby beach.They made ovensfrom rocks, foundbranches for fuel,and boiledseawater for twomonths,collecting enoughpreservative tosafeguard theirfood for the restof their trip.

A month laterthe corps headedeast, and theabandoned saltworks thusbecame theexpedition’swesternmostcampsite. Todaythe reconstructedsite is just a fewblocks from thestatue thatproclaims Seasideas the end of theLewis and Clarktrail.

We sit on theProm, the oceanin front of us, thestatue behind us.While I suspectLewis and Clarkwere happy toreturn home, theycouldn’t have

found a more beautiful place to end theirjourney.

As for us, we’d like to stay forever.www.seasideor.com

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


Fort Clatsop consisted of two rows of hutsseparated by a central gathering spot.

An old-fashioned merry-go-round repletewith 24 fanciful animals dominates the

Carousel Mall.

Broadway Street is a perfect place to shop,snack, or just have a relaxing stroll.

Tillamook Head is at the southern end ofSeaside Beach.

Veterans’ expoand Job Fair

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November 14, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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Sept. 17, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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Everyone likes to read good news, so tell us what’s happeningin your part of the world so we can share it with others!

Here are some ideas of what we hope you will contribute:

• a birthday or anniversary milestone

• a volunteer who should be recognized

• a photo of a smile that begs to be shared

• a groundbreaking event

• community activities

• support programs

• local news

We would love to consider your submissionfor an upcoming issue of 50plus Senior News*.

Please note: submissions must be received bythe 10th of the month prior to insertion.

* Submissions will be included as space permits.

For more information or to submit your happenings,

email Megan Joyce at [email protected] or mail to:

50plus Senior NewsMegan Joyce

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Help 50plus Senior Newsspread your local news!

Verdegem Recognized

for 38 Years of ServiceLeadingAge PA,

the statewideassociation of not-for-profit senior servicesproviders, recentlypresented their 2014ProfessionalAdvancement Awardto Sue Verdegem, TelHai RetirementCommunity’s seniorexecutive vicepresident of financeand administration.

The annual conference andexposition was held at the HersheyLodge in Hershey.

Verdegem was recognized for herdedicated service to the Tel Haicommunity over a period of 38 yearsduring which the retirement campusand Verdegem personally experienced

growth and thedevelopment ofincreasingly diverseskills.

As the campusexpanded services andhousing options,Verdegem was creditedwith having a vision ofthe “big picture” as wellas the fine attention todetail required of achief financial officer.

Her commitment toTel Hai’s mission has been expressed inher commitment to maintain theorganization’s fiscal strength and herdedication to the people of Tel Hai—from mentoring staff to spending timewith residents, leading groups, andreading to children in the childcarecenter on site.

If you have local news you’d like considered forAround Town, please email [email protected]

Sue Verdegem

The RotaryClub ofThorndale-Downingtownrecently made adonation of$1,200 tosupport the newhome of theDowningtownLibrary. Thefunds will beused for thepurchase andrenovation ofthe library’s newhome at 122Wallace Ave., Downingtown.

The check was presented to FrancineDague, a member of the library’s boardof directors, at the Rotary Clubmeeting. The Rotary Club donatedproceeds from the canoe race at this

year’s GoodNeighbor Day,which they alsomatched fromtheir ownfunds.

The libraryboard hasimplemented afundraisingcampaign thathas raised morethan 57 percentof its $2.2million goal.An agreementof sale for the

existing library facility has been securedand will be used to help purchase theproperty.

For information, contact KarenMiller at (610) 269-2741 or visitwww.downingtownlibrary.org.

Francine Dague, library board member,receiving donation funds from

Tim Taylor, Rotary Club president.

Rotary Club Donates to

New Home for Library


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VolunteerSpotlight

VolunteerSpotlight

Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or herso special and we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’ Volunteer Spotlight!Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred [email protected] or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight,3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.

Pat Richey and her husband, Tom,have enjoyed 11 years as cottageresidents on the Tel Hai campus.Both have been active all their lives—frequently participating in what usedto be known as “elder hostel”programs and as volunteers in GirlScouting as well as at Tel Hai.

This spring, Pat Richey wasrecognized for her long service to TelHai’s Re-Sale Shop.

Richey found her many hourspricing donations for the sales a funway to give back to the community.During her tenure, the Re-Sale Shophas grown from a one-room “fleamarket” sale held each May to a year-round bargain hunter’s dream.

The sales are a favorite withmembers of the surrounding

community, and all proceeds benefitthe Care Assurance Fund, whichsupports campus residents who are nolonger able to assume responsibilityfor the full cost of their care.

The Richeys rescued a turtle,Kelton, from a roadway following astorm 47 years ago. He’s beenfeatured on TV and participated inthe 2013 Pet Parade held on Tel Hai’scampus. He also makes “friendlyvisits” to Lakeview residents on thefront porch in warm summermonths.

For 11 years of tireless support ofthe Re-Sale Shop and hercontributions to the liveliness ofcommunity life, Pat Richey wascelebrated in the Volunteer ServicesDepartment’s “spotlight” this spring.

Pat Richey

Dedicated Volunteer is Friend of

Bargain Hunters

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Chester County

Calendar of EventsSupport Groups Free and open to the public

Senior Center Activities

Programs & Events Free or minimal charge

Aug. 2 and 16, 5 to 10 p.m.Bingo NightsMarine Corps League Detachment430 Chestnut St., Downingtown(610) 431-2234

Aug. 5, 11:30 a.m.West Chester University Retirees LuncheonFor restaurant location, please email [email protected]

Chester County Library Programs

Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741Aug. 12, 6:30 p.m. – Film ForumAug. 21, 6:30 p.m. – Downingtown Library’s Writers GroupAug. 28, 1 p.m. – Senior Book Club

Henrietta Hankin Library, 215 Windgate Drive, Chester Springs, (610) 321-1700Aug. 18, 5:30 p.m. – Free Medicare Overview by APPRISE Members

Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times

Aug. 5, 2 p.m.Grief Support GroupPhoenixville Senior Center153 Church St., Phoenixville(610) 327-7216

Aug. 5 and 19, 5 to 6:30 p.m.Bereavement Support GroupMain Line Unitarian Church816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon(610) [email protected]; all are welcome.

Aug. 6, 6 p.m.Memory Loss and Dementia SupportGroupSunrise Assisted Living of Paoli324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern(610) 251-9994

Aug. 7 and 21, 7 p.m.Alzheimer’s Support GroupThe Solana Willistown1713 West Chester Pike,Willistown(610) 725-1713

Aug. 11 and 25, 10:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.Caregiver Support GroupAdult Care of Chester County201 Sharp Lane, Exton(610) 363-8044

Aug. 12 and 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Bereavement Support GroupJennersville HospitalConference Room B1015 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove(610) 998-1700, ext. 226

Aug. 13, noonFamily Caregiver Support GroupSarah Care425 Technology Drive, Suite 200Malvern(610) 251-0801

Aug. 14 and 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Bereavement Support GroupBrandywine HospitalConference Room 1 West201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville(610) 998-1700, ext. 226

Aug. 19, 6 p.m.Family Caregiver Support GroupSunrise of Westtown501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester(610) 399-4464

Aug. 27, 6 p.m.Living with Cancer Support GroupPaoli Hospital Cancer Center255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli(484) 565-1253

Chester County Department of Parks and Recreation

www.chesco.org/ccparks

Aug. 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – 86th Annual Old Fiddlers’ Picnic, Hibernia County ParkAug. 9, 8 to 9:30 p.m. – “No Light” Night Hike, Warwick County Park

Coatesville Area Senior Center – (610) 383-690022 N. Fifth Ave., Coatesville –www.coatesvilleseniorcenter.orgMondays, 1 p.m. – Coffeehouse Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – Silver Sneakers

Class (Seated Silver Sneakers at 11 a.m.)Aug. 20, 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. – Classic Songs with Dave

DeLuca

Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square –www.kennettseniorcenter.orgAug. 7 and 21, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Free Medicare

Counseling SessionAug. 12, 2:30 to 4 p.m. – Tea Party: “Downton Abbey

Victorian Tea”Aug. 13 and 27, 7 to 9 a.m. – Walnut Street Café

Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.

If you have an event you would like to include,please email information to

[email protected] for consideration.

ER vs. Clinic: Which to Choose?

Hospital emergency rooms arestretched thin by almost 130 millionvisits a year. Many of these visits aretriggered by complaints that could behandled more efficiently at same-dayclinics or pharmacy care centers.

How do you know which to choose?Go to the emergency room (or call an

ambulance) if you or a friend experienceany of these serious symptoms:

• Persistent chest pain

• Persistentshortness of breath

• Severe pain,especially in theabdomen or thelower back

• Loss of balance orfainting

• Difficultyspeaking orthinking clearly

• Sudden, severeheadache

On the otherhand, most same-day clinics are ableto treat theseroutine healthproblems:

• Fever (except inthe case of anewborn infant)

• Minor trauma such as cuts and sprains

• Urinary tract infections

• Severe sore throat

• Nausea and vomiting

• Minor eye irritation

A clinic will also be able to advise youto go to the emergency room if yourcondition is more serious than yourealize.


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Call for your free copy — 717.285.1350or

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CAREGIVER SOLUTIONS

In just months, Marcinko wouldbecome closer to the felines that causedher to sniffle.

To solve the problem of wasted taxdollars and control the growing catcolonies, Marcinko adopted a populartrack, spay/neuter, and return program.Marcinko and a crew of volunteers tooka personal approach. They developrelationships with those who feed andcome to love the stray cats.

Their first case was a woman pleadingfor help with the 50 cats who hadcongregated in her yard. It started whenher little boy didn’t like the crust on hispeanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Tossing the scraps out in the yard forthe birds ended up attracting a stray cat.The family continued to feed it but soonfound they had attracted an entirecolony of hungry felines.

What seemed like a cute way to helpone feral cat turned into anoverwhelming population of hungryfelines.

While they want the problem fixed,the last thing on their minds was hurtingthe animals.

“Most of these people are older andthey don’t have anything else,” she said.“I used to take my business card andthrow it in a mailbox and run, hopingthat they would call me. It’s a programthat requires a lot of patience and

understanding.”Marcinko

learned to pourout compassionfor the people wholonged to help theanimals but didn’twant to lose them.

Entire coloniesare taken to thedesignated clinicat the caretaker’spermission.

“You can’t justtake one or two ata time,” Marcinkosaid. “It doesn’twork to leteveryone else staybehind to have funand make morecats.”

They are thenspayed or neuteredby a volunteerveterinarian, kept for several days torecover, and released where they werefound.

Grant money and donations pay forthe medical care, while volunteers shellout hundreds of hours a month to keepthe program running. PetSmart Charitieshas been a big supporter, allowing themto renovate an old bank for the surgeries.

In about fouryears, the townsaved enoughmoney to hire twopolice officers.Marcinko, whoretired fromcounty parole andprobation, is ableto get 200community servicehours a monthfrom people goingthrough thesystem for non-violent crimes.

Some of themhave been doctors,lawyers, and evenveterinarians whoreturn to helpeven aftercompleting theirrequiredcommunity service

hours.And even though the program

primarily caters to controlling thepopulation, Marcinko can’t resist helpinga hurt cat.

Sometimes the cats come to the clinicwith broken tails or missing eyes fromfights within the colonies. Pregnant catsmight also be sent to the Humane

Society, so the kittens have a chance atavoiding the feral life.

More than 3,300 cats have beenspayed or neutered since 2010, causingthe local population to drop by about 75percent in that time.

“I feel really alive when I do this,” shesaid. “None of us is getting younger, butI hope I can continue to do this,continue to help the community, even asI age.”

While the program avoids adoptingthe cats (most wouldn’t be happy in ahome anyway, Marcinko said), the lovefor these animals is evident.

“The reason why this program keepsgoing is because people love it,”Marcinko said. “Even when I’m in therewith my mask on, trying not to handlethem, there is love.”

Not the type to sit at home in herretirement, Marcinko hopes she cancontinue to keep busy with the catprogram and maybe watch it be adoptedby other municipalities.

“My mother is 94 years old and livesby herself, and we travel together,”Marcinko said. “I’m just hoping I haveher blood and can keep doing this aslong as she keeps running circles aroundme.”

For more information aboutMarcinko’s stray cat program, please call(717) 877-4146.

FELINES from page 1

In a single midsummer day, more than70 feral cats await care from volunteer

veterinarians inside the program’s facility.


Documents

Chester County 50plus Senior News August 2014