Still in the gamepage 4

making new friendS in retirementpage 10

50 yearS ago: ‘California dreamin’’page 13

Complimentary | Cumberland County edition | April 2016 • Vol. 17 No. 4

2 April 2016 50plus LIFE › www.50plusLifePA.com

Syncing gardening with technology, engaging hands-on with the local environment and nature, night lighting, garden whimsy, and layered landscapes incorporating various types of plants are some of the garden trends for this year.

Each year, the Garden Media Group (www.gardenmediagroup.com)— a marketing firm for the home and garden industry—identifies key gardening trends for the coming season. For 2016 they’ve pegged eight of these, which you’ll no doubt see reflected in products, plants, and advertisements. Just as consumers are syncing their electronic devices, they’re looking to sync more with nature. This bodes well for the environment but has a flipside that may be hard for

true gardeners to understand.

As the report states, “Our connection with nature is hardwired. So much so, that going on a strenuous hike is considered fun, whereas weeding a garden for the same amount of time is seen as work or a chore.” It’s interesting that one of the trends—shifting from “doing” to “making”—doesn’t seem to translate into the art of making (including weeding) a garden. Yet this group the report calls “yuccies”— “young urban creatives,” a cross between a yuppie and hipster—likes to grow for purposes and

experiences, such as hops for brewing and herbs for dyes. Another trend shows people using their handheld technology to sync with garden habits and with other garden hobbyists. They’re hoping technology will help them be successful with gardening, “without a

lot of work or information.” Technology is being used

increasingly to monitor, even control, what happens in the home and outside in the garden. Purchasing is shifting for many from browsing in stores to get inspired to shopping online. This technology trend, perhaps surprisingly, is huge with the 46- to 64-year-old baby boomers, who spend more on technology than any other age group. One out of five boomers now uses social media daily, whether for work or even for keeping connected with other gardeners. Another technology trend the report identifies is the use of technology to engage kids with nature, gardening, health, and fitness. This is seen by many as essential, with Generation Z (those born between 1995 and 2009) being

the most sedentary ever. Creating outdoor adventures,

running, storytelling, or geocaching are some examples the report states are necessary to get people outside playing, “off the couch, outside, and digging in the dirt again.” As most gardeners already know, “horticulture is intrinsically tied to health and wellness”—the trend the report terms “welltality.” People are more aware of and placing a higher priority on their health.

The hospitality industry has tapped this trend with indoor forests, living walls, and locally grown food. Berries are popular, particularly the newer, compact varieties for container culture and blueberries with their high levels of healthy antioxidants. Whimsy and lighting have been around gardening for some time but are a trend highlighted as popular for this year, with a twist. Plain containers are being replaced with ones containing speakers and LED lighting, for instance.

Night lighting is moving from the plain, simple lights on walks and up trees to LED cord wraps around structures like swings and whimsical shapes or creating bright, bold colors and lighted patterns on walls. These are used to make the outdoors more of a destination, get children outside, bring back memories, or create experiences.

The Green Mountain Gardener

Garden Trends for 2016Dr. Leonard Perry

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aSSiSted living reSidenCeSBrookdale Grandon Farms 1100 Grandon Way, Mechanicsburg (717) 730-4033

funeral & Cremation ServiCeSCremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Cumberland County (800) 720-8221

emergenCy numberSAmerican Red Cross (717) 845-2751

Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110

Cumberland County Assistance (800) 269-0173

energy aSSiStanCeCumberland County Board of Assistance (800) 269-0173

eye Care ServiCeSKilmore Eye Associates 890 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 697-1414

funeral direCtorSCocklin Funeral Home, Inc. 30 N. Chestnut St., Dillsburg (717) 432-5312

health & mediCal ServiCeSAlzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020

American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383

Arthritis Foundation (717) 763-0900

CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400

The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007

PACE (800) 225-7223

Social Security Administration (Medicare) (800) 302-1274

healthCare informationPa. HealthCare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787

hearing ServiCeSDuncan Nulph Hearing Associates 5020 Ritter Road, Suite 10G Mechanicsburg (717) 766-1500

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

heating/aC/PlumbingFarr Tech Heat (717) 889-3960 3537 Hartzdale Drive, Camp Hill

home Care ServiCeSAsbury Home Services (717) 591-8332

Senior Helpers (717) 920-0707

home imProvementGrand Opening Windows & Doors 46 Warwick Circle, Mechanicsburg (717) 691-5670

hoSPiCe ServiCeSHomeland Hospice 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg (717) 221-7890

hoSPitalSCarlisle Regional Medical Center (717) 960-1696

houSing aSSiStanCeCumberland County Housing Authority 114 N. Hanover St., Carlisle (717) 249-1315

Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937

Salvation Army (717) 249-1411

inSuranCeApprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067

intelleCtual diSabilitieSKeystone Human Services 124 Pine St., Harrisburg (717) 232-7509

nurSing/rehabHomeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902

nutritionMeals on Wheels

Carlisle (717) 245-0707 Mechanicsburg (717) 697-5011 Newville (717) 776-5251 Shippensburg (717) 532-4904 West Shore (717) 737-3942

orthoPediCSOSS Health 856 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 747-8315

PerSonal Care homeSHomeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902

PharmaCieSCVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

ServiCeSCumberland County Aging & Community Services (717) 240-6110

toll-free numberSBureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555

Cancer Information Service (800) 422-6237

Consumer Information (888) 878-3256

Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Drug Information (800) 729-6686

Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228

Health and Human Services Discrimination (800) 368-1019

Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-1040

Liberty Program (866) 542-3788

Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833

National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046

Organ Donor Hotline (800) 243-6667

Passport Information (888) 362-8668

Smoking Information (800) 232-1331

Social Security Fraud (800) 269-0217

Social Security Office (800) 772-1213

travelAAA Central Penn (717) 657-2244

Journease Travel Specialists (717) 462-4806

veteranS ServiCeSAmerican Legion (717) 730-9100

Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681

Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

Veterans Affairs (717) 240-6178 or (717) 697-0371

Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away.

At Your Fingertips

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

Going along with the book The Living Landscape by authors Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy is the trend of the layered landscape. This involves replacing the “green desert” of lawns and non-native plantings with a layered effect, similar to what one finds in a forest.

Understory perennials and shrubs up to canopy trees help support

pollinators and wildlife, creating a more natural ecosystem. Increasingly, property owners want sustainable landscapes that will function and last for many years and plants “for their function as well as their beauty.”

Many have pets, and increasingly the trend is for these people to be more aware of their plants and to make sure they are not toxic or

harmful. One in three dogs a year gets cancer. Many dog owners believe that having a safe, organic, chemical-free landscape will help avoid this, along with a nutritious diet. Such “petscaping” also involves designing landscapes pets can use, yet “protecting precious plants from pets.” Resources in many areas are becoming limited, particularly

water, or impacted by land-care practices. More are realizing this under this trend of protecting resources, particularly those in areas such as parts of California, where water usage has been reduced by 25 percent.

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

4 April 2016 50plus LIFE › www.50plusLifePA.com

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By Megan Joyce

The feel of the bat pressed into your palms. The gritty dirt scuffing beneath your shoes. The tang of fresh air as it buffets your face. Jerry Munley knows the sensory, mental, and athletic appeal of baseball and softball is a lifelong draw.

As a co-manager for both Susquehanna Senior Softball’s 55+ and 62+ leagues, Munley, of Linglestown, also knows his generation’s passion for ball and bat is alive and well in Central Pennsylvania.

“I think all of us who played baseball in our younger years enjoyed it because it was fun and made us feel better,” Munley said.

Munley, a retired audit supervisor for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, began his baseball “life” as a second-base Little League player.

As a young adult, he played third base on his college fraternity’s team and, after returning from college to his hometown of Archbald, Pa., he took up second base and outfield in a 20+ league.

It would be another 30 years before he transitioned to softball after spotting a “softball players needed” notice in his church’s newsletter.

“When we get to be in our 50s, we are getting closer to retiring, and our [children] are now adults and need less of our help,” freeing up time for hobbies, he said.

After about three years as a player, Munley was asked to manage temporarily for a manager who needed time off for health reasons—but the manager never did return, and Munley’s managerial position became permanent.

“I volunteered because I used to be a Little League assistant manager and figured it would be almost the same, but the ‘kids’ older,” Munley said.

As one of 10 managers in the 55+ league and one of six in the

62+ league, Munley’s duties include ensuring the teams have enough players for the upcoming season; holding team meetings; providing game schedules and making sure enough players will be available for each game; paying umpires and coming up with funds to pay for league fees; and notifying players of game cancelations.

Teams in both leagues comprise players from Dauphin, York, and Cumberland counties.

Games in the 55+ league are played Monday and Wednesday evenings. This league includes 10 teams and uses a slow-pitch softball and wooden bats.

There are 11 defensive players on the field: four outfielders and seven infielders. Games are seven innings and are “very competitive,” Munley said.

Currently, four municipalities—Susquehanna Township, Mechanicsburg Borough, Derry Township, and Fairview Township—provide fields for play for the 55+ league.

Six teams compose the morning league, which is for players over age 62. Its structure is altered a bit to accommodate players who prefer a less competitive, nine-inning game: Every player who attends the game is placed in the batting order and must play a minimum of three innings on the field.

Games in the 62+ morning league are played on a field provided by Susquehanna Township.

The appeal of 55-and-over softball for Munley and his teammates extends far beyond simple nostalgia, however.

“I am not a doctor, but it’s easy to observe that those playing ball are in good physical shape, especially for their ages … Baseball season starts for us in April and goes almost to November, so this gets the body moving quite a bit,” Munley said, adding that the leagues even have players over age 75.

But the physical exercise is

just one advantage of league participation. Perhaps even greater are the mental and social rewards.

“The players … also benefit from the companionship and the feeling of being needed and part of a team,” Munley said. “The players in the league encourage their team’s players and also give the opposing team’s players compliments when they do well.”

Friendships are formed that transcend the ball field into everyday life, with players often getting together after games—even with opposing players—for a bite to eat. Players’ wives sometimes socialize after games as well, Munley said.

And then there’s the good, old-fashioned razzing that goes on—an essential element to any sports team.

“Team players also enjoy playing because they get to tease the other guys, and both know it’s just for fun.”

Munley said the companionship and fun of playing in the league has helped some players through life’s tougher times, too. And the drive to play encourages players to keep themselves in shape during the off months so they’re ready to swing the bat come April.

“Also, when an injury occurs, they strive to get back in shape as soon as possible,” Munley added.

As a native Pennsylvanian, Munley’s pro-ball allegiance must fall with the Phillies or Pirates—right?

“I follow the San Francisco Giants. This may seem odd for a Pennsylvania guy,” he said. “It all started when I was in grade school. We had a baseball board game, and since I was one of the last to join, I was given the Giants as a team. Since then, I stayed as a Giants fan.”

Both the 55+ and 62+ softball leagues are seeking additional players. For more information about joining a league, contact Jerry Munley at (717) 877-3356 or email gmunleysr@gmail.com.

Cover Story

Still in the Game

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE › April 2016 5

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Savvy Senior

financial Paperwork: What to Keep, What to toss

Dear Savvy Senior,How long should a person hang on to

old receipts, stock records, tax returns, and other financial documents? I have accumulated boxes full of such papers over the years and would like to get rid of some of it now that I’m retired.

– Getting Organized Dear Getting,This is a great time

of the year to get rid of unnecessary or outdated paperwork and to organize your records in preparation for filing your tax return.

Here’s a checklist of what to keep and what to toss out, along with some tips to help you reduce your future paper accumulation.

Toss Out

• ATM receipts and bank-deposit slips as soon as you match them up with your monthly statement

• Credit card receipts after you get your statement, unless you might return the item or need proof of purchase for a warranty

• Credit card statements that do not have a tax-related expense on them

• Utility bills when the following month’s bill arrives showing that your prior payment was received—but if you wish to track utility usage over time, you may want to keep them for a year, or if you deduct a home office on your taxes, keep them for seven years

To avoid identity theft, be sure you

shred anything you throw away that contains your personal information. It’s best to use a crosscut shredder rather than a strip one, which leaves long paper bands that could be reassembled.

Keep One Year• Paycheck stubs until you get your W-2 in January to check its accuracy

• Bank statements (savings and checking account) to confirm your 1099s

• Brokerage, 401(k), IRA, and other investment statements until you get your annual summary (keep longer for tax purposes if they show a gain or loss)

• Receipts for healthcare bills in case you qualify for a medical deduction

Keep Seven Years

Keep supporting documents for your taxes, including W-2s, 1099s, and receipts or canceled checks that substantiate deductions, for seven years.

The IRS usually has up to three years after you file to audit you but may look back up to six years if it suspects you substantially underreported income or committed fraud.

Keep Indefinitely

• Tax returns with proof of filing and payment—you should keep these for at least seven years, but many experts recommend you keep them forever because they provide a record of your financial history

• IRS forms that you filed when making nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA or a Roth conversion

• Receipts for capital improvements that you’ve made to your home until seven years after you sell the house

Jim Miller

please see PAPerWorK page 7

6 April 2016 50plus LIFE › www.50plusLifePA.com

Connections at HomeVIA Willow Valley(717) 299-6941www.ConnectionsAtHome.orgYear Est.: 2014Counties Served: LancasterRNs: YesLPNs: YesCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Connections at Home ViA Willow Valley delivers unparalleled, personalized care and companionship in the home, hospital, or senior living community, by compassionate, reliable, dedicated caregivers who are backed by the area’s most trusted name in senior living for more than 30 years—Willow Valley Communities.

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

Homeland Hospice(717) 221-7890www.homelandhospice.org

Year Est.: 2009Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, franklin, fulton, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, YorkRNs: YesLPNs: YesCNAs/Home Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: Yes

Other Certifications and Services: exemplary personalized care that enables patients and families to live each day as fully as possible. registered nurses who are certified in hospice and palliative care for both adults and children.

Central Penn Nursing Care, Inc.(717) 569-0451www.cpnc.com

Year Est.: 1984Counties Served: Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, YorkRNs: YesLPNs: YesCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Providing all levels of care (PCAs, CNAs, LPNs, rNs), in the home, hospital, or retirement communities with specifically trained caregivers for Alzheimer’s and dementia clients. Home care provided up to 24 hours a day to assist with personal care and housekeeping. A free nursing assessment is offered.

if you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your

account representative or call (717) 285-1350.

Keystone In-Home Care(717) 898-2825; (866) 857-4601 (toll-free)www.keystoneinhomecare.com

Year Est.: 2004Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, YorkRNs: NoLPNs: NoCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services:two- to 24-hour non-medical assistance provided by qualified, caring, competent, compassionate, and compatible caregivers. Personalized service with Assistance for Daily Living (ADL, iADL): companionship, meal prep, bathing, cleaning, and personal care needs. respite care, day surgery assistance. Assistance with veterans’ homecare benefits. Medicaid Waiver approved.

Senior Helpers(717) 920-0707www.seniorhelpers.com/harrisburg

Year Est.: 2007Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, YorkRNs: NoLPNs: NoCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: offering nonmedical home care to provide positive solutions for aging in place. Companionship, personal care, and our specialized dementia care. No minimum number of hours. Medicaid Waiver approved. Convenient, free assessment.

Visiting AngelsCarlisle: (717) 241-5900; Chambersburg: (717) 709-7244East Shore: (717) 652-8899; Gettysburg: (717) 337-0620Hanover: (717) 630-0067; Lancaster: (717) 393-3450West Shore: (717) 737-8899; York: (717) 751-2488 www.visitingangels.com

Year Est.: 2001RNs: NoLPNs: NoCNAs: YesHome Aides: YesMedicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Visiting Angels provides seniors and adults with the needed assistance to continue living at home. flexible hours up to 24 hours per day. Companionship, personal hygiene, meal prep, and more. our caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and insured. Call today for a complimentary and informational meeting.

home Care Services & hospice ProvidersListings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

All Hands Home Care(717) 737-7905www.allhandshomecare.com

Year Est.: 2014Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, YorkRNs: NoLPNs: NoCNAs: YesHome Aides: Yes

Medicare Certified?: NoOther Certifications and Services:Caregivers for all of your in-home care needs. We provide trained and compassionate non-medical, in-home care to seniors and individuals of all ages in the Central Pennsylvania region. our company is fully insured and bonded. Call now for a free in-home consultation!

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE › April 2016 7

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Pursue your favorite hobbies or engage in our many activities.

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• Retirement and brokerage account annual statements as long as you hold those investments

• Defined-benefit pension plan documents

• Savings bonds until redeemed

• Loan documents until the loan is paid off

• Vehicle titles and registration information as long as you own the car, boat, truck, or other vehicle

• Insurance policies as long as you have them

• Warranties or receipts for big-ticket purchases for as long as you own the item to support warranty and insurance claims

Keep Forever

You should never get rid of personal and family records like

birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce papers, Social Security cards, military discharge papers, and estate-planning documents (power of attorney, will, trust, and advanced directive).

Keep these in a fireproof safe or safe-deposit box.

Reduce Your Paper

To reduce your paper clutter, consider digitizing your documents by scanning them and converting them into PDF files so you can store them on your computer and back them up onto a USB flash drive or external hard drive like iCloud (www.icloud.com) or Carbonite (www.carbonite.com).

You can also reduce your future paper load by switching to electronic statements and records whenever possible.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org

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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers

the temple on the Hill

It’s an eye-popping, head-scratching sight. There, right in the middle of Middle America, stands one of the most recognizable buildings in Europe: the Greek Parthenon, generally considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

What in the name of Zeus is this historic monument doing in Nashville, Tenn.?

Of course, the Tennessee building is a replica, but it looks much more like the temple where Socrates and Plato debated the merits of democracy than does the one in Athens.

The original Parthenon, built in the fifth century B.C., shows its age. Some of the columns have crumbled; most of the roof is gone, and the marble sculptures that decorated its exterior are now in the British Museum of London, the center of

a longstanding dispute between England and Greece.

What’s more, the giant statue of Athena, which was created by Pheidias, the most famous sculptor of his time, disappeared 1,500 years ago.

In contrast, the building in Nashville is in perfect condition.

My husband and I are awed by the

50 graceful Doric columns, which, like the original, are ingeniously tapered so that, to the eye, they appear straight while they actually tilt

slightly inward, an architectural trick to make them appear regally tall.

Inside we’re mesmerized by a 42-foot-tall statue of Athena, reproduced by Nashville sculptor Alan LeQuire. The goddess of wisdom and prudent warfare, whom the Parthenon was built to honor, is attired in a flowing gown and gilded with 8 pounds of 23.75-karat gold. In her right hand she holds an adult-size statue of Nike, the goddess of victory.

In short, Nashville’s Parthenon resembles the original as it was, not as it is.

This, of course, gets us back to our original question: Why Nashville? Nashville doesn’t even rank in the top 70 largest Greek-American communities.

The answer dates back to the mid-1800s, when the city was known as a

By Andrea Gross

the Nashville Parthenon is a near-exact replica of the one that

was built in Greece in the fifth century BC.

the statue of Athena, goddess of wisdom and prudent warfare, is 42

feet tall.

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE › April 2016 9

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center of wisdom, art, and learning. It was the first city in the South to have a public school system, and it had more colleges and universities than other cities of its size.

Proud Nashvillians said that in their reverence for knowledge and love of philosophical debate, they and the ancient Greeks were kindred spirits.

In addition to thinking like the Greeks, the city had a Greek flair due to its abundance of Greek Revival architecture. Nashville became known as “The Athens of the South.”

Thus, in 1897 when it was asked to erect a pavilion for the state’s Centennial Exposition, it seemed natural to build a life-sized model of the Parthenon.

The building was only intended to last for the six-month duration of the exposition, but the citizens balked at tearing it down. Instead they replaced the temporary structure with a permanent one, which was completed in 1931.

Today the Nashville Parthenon serves as the city’s art museum. In addition, it hosts a series of free educational programs that range from

panel discussions to formal lectures.

As for Nashville’s Greek atmosphere, its streets are still filled with fine examples of classical Greek architecture. Not far from the Parthenon, the Tennessee State Capitol, modeled after a Greek temple, sits atop Nashville’s own acropolis.

In 1955 the capitol, which was then nearly 100 years old, needed a fix-up. We drive to the north side of the building, where we find some of the original pillars that weren’t used in the restoration. They’re scattered on a small patch of grass, where

they bear an eerie resemblance to the ruins of ancient Greece.

Later we explore the area near West End Avenue and Belle Meade Boulevard, where many homes have the trademark Greek columns and porticos.

The most famous of the Greek Revival homes belongs to Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. His home, The Hermitage, was originally built in the Federal style, but after being destroyed by a fire, it was rebuilt with the classical elements that were more in vogue at the time.

Finally, we go to the Athens Family Restaurant. It’s housed in an architecturally bland building but is renowned for its authentically spiced Greek food, including gyros and souvlaki.

Of course, in what is altogether fitting for the culture that practically invented democracy, the chefs also serve thoroughly American hamburgers!For more information on Tennessee and other exciting destinations, visit www.traveltizers.com. Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).

fragments of pillars lie near the tennessee State Capitol, giving

visitors the feeling they are wandering among Greek ruins.

tulip Grove, on the grounds of Jackson’s estate, also has elements

of Greek style.

the Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, is an example of

classical Greek architecture.

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10 April 2016 50plus LIFE › www.50plusLifePA.com

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volunteerSpotlight

Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus LIFE’s Volunteer Spotlight! Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus LIFE, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.

restless retiree Now tutors elementary Students

Christine Parr retired, relaxed, and then, like so many others, got a little restless.

So a few years ago, when she passed an RSVP volunteer booth at a 50plus EXPO, she decided to stop and get more information.

That resulted in a volunteer spot as a reading tutor in a Carlisle elementary school, a position Parr is thoroughly enjoying.

“It’s great to see the kids improving since the beginning of the year,” she said.

Parr, RSVP’s April Volunteer of the Month for Cumberland County, knows a thing or two about watching children develop. She’s raised four of her own and is now enjoying her first grandbaby.

“It’s so wonderful; it’s the best

thing ever. I Skype with her every day,” Parr said.

Plus, she’ll have another grandchild in April and the wedding of her recently engaged

daughter to plan. “It’s a crazy time,

but I’m so lucky.” In addition to

volunteering and her busy family life, Parr recently went back to work part-time at the UPS Store. Before retirement, she’d worked there for eight years.

“I really like dealing with the people,” Parr said.

For more information about volunteering with RSVP in Cumberland County, contact Michelle Jones at (717) 541-9521 or by email at perrycumb@rsvpcapreg.org.

Christine Parr

On Life and Love after 50

Single Mom Nearing Retirement Wants to Make New friends

I have often stressed to older singles the importance of getting involved in activities and making new friends. This week, Lynda, of Carlisle, Pa., emailed asking for advice on how to do that.

Lynda said, “I was a single mom for 17 years and was very involved in my children’s lives and their activities. I have had the same type of work for

32 years and have moved a lot due to a military way of life. When I was in my 20s and 30s, making friends happened without even thinking about it.

“Now, in my mid-50s, making friends seems to be tougher than I imagined. I have friends at work but most of them are married and have their own lives outside of work.

tom Blake

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE › April 2016 11

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“I have a good boss, I like my job a lot, and I get to see my grandkids, who live an hour away, once in a while.

“Since I am approaching retirement, I’m trying to figure out what I can do to make friends and get involved in my community. I love animals and have two dogs of my own. I hope to someday find someone I can experience life with, although I am very content being on my own with my dogs.

“I have thought about volunteering with Meals on Wheels and/or helping out with dog-rescue places. Any input would be appreciated.”

Tom’s Answer: Making new friends now is wise. By doing so, you will already have friends when you retire.

Yes, making friends is more difficult compared to when we were younger. For women, having women friends is as important, if not more important, than having men friends. By pursuing activities you enjoy, making new friends will easily follow.

You already seem to know what you want to do: You love animals and have two dogs. You have thought about volunteering at an animal shelter. Go for it; you’re a natural.

Two months ago, I rescued a dog named Samson and got to know the volunteers at my local shelter. They all had one thing in common: They loved dogs and cats. In addition, they were wonderful people. You would immediately make friends at an animal shelter.

Next, you mentioned volunteering for Meals on Wheels. That’s a great cause. I suggest you start doing that once or twice a week.

It is important to try new things, particularly after you stop working. After my life partner, Greta, retired, she became involved in tai chi, yoga, and water aerobics classes.

Through exercise, she has made many wonderful new friends.

If you need more ideas, check out Meetup (www.Meetup.com), a free site that lists all kinds of clubs and activities across the U.S. that you can join. Pick a couple of activities

that interest you and try them.

One other point: You say you would like to meet a man with whom to experience life, but if that does not happen, you are

content just spending time with your dogs.

I think you can do both. Make time without the dogs to let a man into your life. Yes, you treasure your dogs, but don’t be so obsessed with them that you shut out potential mates.

The above paragraph is important for people wanting to meet a mate. Often, I see women and sometimes men who are so into their pets they post their pet’s photo as their Facebook profile photo instead of their own.

The message that sent is loud and clear: My pets are everything to me. Don’t get me wrong; I love all animals. However, wouldn’t it be nice to have a mate and have your pets?

Lynda, you have many positives in your life: You have worked in the same field for 32 years, which shows stability, dedication, and loyalty—great traits to have. Not many people have worked in a job that long.

In addition, you were a single mom for 17 years, and that required a huge commitment. I have great respect for single moms—that has to be the toughest job in the world.

Pursue making new friends before retirement with the same energy you put forth into working and raising your children. You will accomplish your goal quickly.

For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.findingloveafter60.com.

12 April 2016 50plus LIFE › www.50plusLifePA.com

Calendar of eventsCumberland County

SuPPort grouPS Free and open to the public

April 4, 4 to 5 p.m.Caregivers Support GroupMessiah Lifeways Meetinghouse1155 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle(717) 243-0447

April 5, 6 p.m.CanSurmount Cancer Support GroupHealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg(717) 691-6786

April 5, 6 to 7 p.m.Alzheimer’s Support GroupSenior Helpers3806 Market St., Suite 3, Camp Hill(717) 920-0707

April 7, 6:30 p.m.Too Sweet: Diabetes Support GroupChapel Hill United Church of Christ701 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill(717) 557-9041

April 12, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Carlisle Area Men’s Cancer Support GroupThe Live Well Center3 Alexandria Court, Carlisle(717) 877-7561sirbrady12@gmail.com

April 13, 1:30 p.m.Parkinson’s Support GroupBethany Village West – Springfield Room325 Asbury Drive, Mechanicsburg(717) 877-0624

April 19, 1 p.m.Caregiver Support GroupMechanicsburg Church of the Brethren501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg(717) 766-8880

April 26, 6 p.m.Multiple Sclerosis Support GroupHealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg(717) 486-3596apcoulson@comcast.net

Community ProgramS Free and open to the public

Senior Center aCtivitieSBig Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-447891 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, NewvilleMondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – Zumba GoldApril 20, 12:15 p.m. – Stress Management

ProgramApril 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Healthy Steps for

Older Adults Fall-Prevention Program

Branch Creek Place – (717) 300-3563115 N. Fayette St., Shippensburg

Carlisle Senior Action Center – (717) 249-500720 E. Pomfret St., Carlisle

Mary Schaner Senior Citizens Center – (717) 732-391598 S. Enola Drive, Enola

Mechanicsburg Place – (717) 697-594797 W. Portland St., MechanicsburgApril 22, 3 to 6 p.m. – Open House

West Shore Senior Citizens Center – (717) 774-0409122 Geary St., New Cumberland

Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.

library ProgramSBosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle, (717) 243-4642April 5, 12, 26, 6:3 0 to 8:30 p.m. – Upstairs

Stitchers Embroidery GroupApril 13, 1 to 2 p.m. – Wicked Wednesday Book

Discussion GroupApril 22, 1 to 2 p.m. – Just Mysteries! Book Club

Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900April 8, 2 and 7 p.m. – Foreign Film Friday: Two

Days, One NightApril 22, 23, 24, times vary – Spring Book and

Media SaleApril 27, 9:30 a.m. – Meet and Play for

Grandparents and Grandchildren

New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820April 7, 10: 15 a.m. to noon – Ruth’s Mystery

Discussion Group: Female DetectivesApril 9, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p .m. – Write-On

Writer’s WorkshopApril 10, 3 to 4 p. m. – The Art of Watercolor

and What to Do with Alpacas

Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 12:45 p.m.SilverSneakers and Silver and Fit ClassesLiving Well Fitness Center207 House Ave., Suite 107, Camp Hill(717) 439-4070

April 13, 11:30 a.m.NARFE West Shore Chapter 1465VFW Post 75304545 Westport Drive, Mechanicsburg(717) 737-1486www.narfe1465.orgVisitors welcome; meeting is free but fee for food.

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

to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

When the Media Gets in on April fools’ DayIf you’re looking for

inspiration on April 1, remember one of the all-time great media hoaxes.

In 1957, the BBC’s respected news program Panorama ran a story celebrating a bumper spaghetti crop in Switzerland—thanks to a mild winter and the near elimination of the destructive “spaghetti weevil.”

The program included footage

of Swiss farm workers pulling strands of spaghetti from trees and laying them in the sun to dry.

Although some viewers caught on—and chastised the BBC for playing fast and loose in a news program—others fell hook, line, and pasta ladle. Many even telephoned the network to ask where they could get their own spaghetti trees.

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE › April 2016 13

It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘California Dreamin’ ’

“All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray …”

Michelle Phillips well remembers the 4 a.m. incident that changed her life.

Her husband, John, was gently shaking her awake with the words, “‘You have to help me finish this song, Mich. Help me, and you’ll thank me for this someday,’” wrote Michelle in her book, California Dreamin’: The True Story of the Mamas and the Papas.

John already had much of the song composed by the time he woke her that morning.

In his autobiography written with Jim Jerome, Papa John: An Autobiography by John Phillips, John recalled, “One of the first songs we worked on was written during the winter [of 1963-64], inspired by a bone-chilling walk through the snows of Central Park. We were daydreaming of bright sun, blue skies, and palm trees.

“LA was home for Michelle, and as winter dragged on in New York, it was impossible not to miss the 12-month California summer.”

To escape the bitter cold, the pair had briefly visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, an inspiration for the song’s second verse: “Stopped into a church we passed along the way.” Michelle enjoyed visiting churches; John wanted only to get warm.

Michelle later explained the line, “Well, I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray”: “John hated the verse, as he was turned off to churches by unpleasant memories of parochial school. But he couldn’t think of anything better, so he left it in.”

Note: In “California Dreamin,’” listeners have often mistakenly thought the group sang “I began to pray” rather than “I pretend to pray,” and many heard the line “The preacher liked the cold” as “The preacher lights the coals.”

The future classic was first recorded in Los Angeles by Barry McGuire—with the Mamas and the Papas providing background vocals—as a follow-up to his million-selling “Eve of Destruction.”

But at the last minute, Dunhill Records owner Lou Adler erased

McGuire’s vocals and had the Mamas and the Papas record their voices over the instrumental track.

John Phillips decided he wanted something more exotic than the standard middle guitar solo. During a break, he stepped into the hallway at the recording studio and ran into session jazz musician Bud Shank, a master of the saxophone and flute.

When John asked Shank to contribute an alto flute solo to the song’s break, Shank nailed it elegantly on the first take.

“California Dreamin’” was to be the first of nine Top 40 singles for the group that had once lived in a tent in the Virgin Islands.

Between 1965 and 1968, the Mamas and the Papas would sell 40 million records. (The group’s back story unfolds in their million-selling 1967 musical biography called Creeque Alley.)

To many music fans, nothing would ever resonate quite as strongly as the song that first brought the Mamas and the Papas fame.

In her autobiography California Dreamin’, Michelle Phillips recalled, “‘California Dreamin’’ was a great song. It was one of those songs, like, ‘Damnit, I don’t want to be boxed in to what my life has to offer. I’m going to change it … The only one who can change it is me … It gave impetus to change.”

Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

randal Hill

“California Dreamin’”The Mamas and the Papas

April 1966

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14 April 2016 50plus LIFE › www.50plusLifePA.com

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B-25 Bombers Land Better with their Gear Down

Conrad Hamp had long known that, of course, but he got a frightening reminder of it one time when the landing gear of the B-25 he was flying decided not to come down.

Although he had never expected an accident like that to happen to him, he had wanted to fly ever since 1935, when, as a 9-year-old in Baltimore, he had been taken by his father to a fly-in of Army bombers.

Just by walking around them and marveling at those awesome planes, he decided that being a pilot was his goal, once he became of age.

So, in 1943, as a 17-year-old in high school, he went to Towson, Md., and enlisted in the Pre-Aviation Cadet Enlisted Reserve. And, when he was called to active duty in April 1945, his only question was, “Why did it take so long?”

He was first sent to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for basic training and classification. After going through a battery of tests, he got good news—and bad. The good news was that he was classified a pilot.

The bad news was the Air Force had closed down the pilot training program, and he was sent to Keesler Field for aircraft and engine mechanic training. Lacking a chance to fly, he opted to leave the Air Force in November 1945.

A variety of civilian jobs followed until 1950, when he saw a huge sign in front of the library saying that the Air

Force was again seeking flight crew candidates. So, he promptly enlisted again and was sent to Connally Air Force Base near Waco, Texas, to go through classification once more.

And he was again selected to be a pilot. There he took basic flying training in the single-engine T-6 before shipping to Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas, for advance training in the twin-engine B-25 bomber.

On his first solo flight in the B-25, he then had his problem with the landing gear. They were about to shoot practice landings at an auxiliary field when they found that, whatever they could do, they couldn’t get the gear to come down.

They then called in the problem to the airbase … and got the curt order to “come back and crash.” So they did come back, but then spent a couple of hours trying everything they knew to solve the problem.

The base sent up a T-28 with two instructors to look the plane over, but they couldn’t suggest anything either. The right wheel had come part way down, but that only made the problem worse.

Then the flight chief noticed

hydraulic fluid flowing down the bulkhead on the side of the passageway to the bombardier’s station. He cut a hole through the aluminum and found that an extra-long bolt had been used on a strut to the landing gear (after its preceding 100-hour inspection).

It had cleanly severed the tube for the hydraulic fluid when

the gear was retracted, permitting all the fluid to drain out. He crimped the tube shut, and they were then able to coax enough hydraulic fluid from another accumulator to finally get the gear down and locked.

As they landed, they found that the base commander, many flight instructors, a fire truck, an ambulance, and the chaplain were waiting to see how the drama would turn out. Did that seem to be a signal that flying was more dangerous than he thought?

“Nah,” he grins. “Never gave it a thought.”

He must not have, because he next shipped to Bolling Field in Washington, D.C., where, for a year, he served in the Special Missions Squadron, flying VIPs around the U.S. and Canada in C-47s and B-25s.

Then in 1952 it was to Rhein-Main

Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany, to fly the C-119 troop carrier and drop U.S., British, and French troops in exercises in various European countries. That was followed by an assignment in Neubiberg, Germany, where, in C-119s, he hauled material to bases all over Europe and North Africa.

In July 1955, he returned to New York aboard a civilian-crewed Navy transport and was separated from the Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, S.C., in 1956.

He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in flight service for many years in Key West and Myrtle Beach before retiring in 1976.

He lived in Hilton Head Plantation, S.C., for a few years before returning to Baltimore in the ’80s. How did he happen to come to Central Pennsylvania?

He says, “I had an uncle who liked to eat. One day, he said to me, ‘Want a good meal?’”

Hamp said sure, and his uncle then drove them north to Central Pennsylvania, where he “treated me to some of the best food I had ever eaten,” Hamp says. “That’s a big part of what brought me here to live.”

So, since 2004, he has lived in a Central Pennsylvania retirement community that offers just what he needs … including an endless supply of that great local food.Col. Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.

robert D. Wilcox

1st Lt. francis Conrad Hamp, at rhein-Main, Germany,

in 1952.

www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE › April 2016 15

Yesterday’s wealth, today’s heritage—that is the saga of America’s aging farm barns. Standing or leaning, they are memorials to our agrarian past.

Old barns have inspired preservation organizations and barn-touring groups and found repurpose when converted to offices, homes, and, occasionally, a landscape and nursery retail enterprise.

Like covered bridges and stream-powered grain mills, they become more valued as they continue to decline in number.

In the book Eric Sloane’s America, Sloane states: “It might be said that the early barn is the best example of American Colonial architecture. Each old barn was born of American soil and fitted to an American landscape for specific American needs.

“From the beginning, the American barn was big, like the hopes and plans for life in the New World. It was unlike anything built anywhere else. It was entirely American.”

Early farm homes were shanties. It was common practice for pioneer farmers to construct their barn before their house was completed. Barns were their lifeline.

Old barns tell us something of life on an early American farm. Their presence invokes what we may have been told by our grandparents about early farming.

Raising cash crops was part of the work. Small gardens of potatoes, carrots, beans, and lettuce were another responsibility, generally assigned to some of the children. Chickens were raised and eggs sold.

Farm families generally included five to seven children, composing the necessary labor force. The oldest girl often assisted the mother with cooking and preserving while the second-oldest girl might be the family baker. The older boys became “farm hands,” cleaning the chicken house and assisting with harvesting and fence repair.

Barns in America began to be

erected in 1639, 32 years after the settlement at Jamestown, Va., and 19 years after the settlement at Plymouth, Mass. Barn architecture evolved through the needs of individual farmers, not from plans provided by architects.

There are two predominant barn styles in American agrarian history: Pennsylvania Dutch barns and New England barns.

Pennsylvania Dutch barns frequently are called “bank barns” to indicate they were built on the bank (or slope) of a hillside. This permitted wagon entry to the upper level of the barn from the higher level of the slope and a second entry to the lower level at the descending slope.

New England barns lacked this feature. The New England barn often was part of a connected series of buildings with the house at one end, the barn at the other, and smaller buildings in between to house tools and wood. This allowed the farm family an interior access to each building without exposing themselves to snow, rain, or cold.

There are other barn types. They include crib barns, the insides of which might contain one or more cribs to separate storage items and livestock, and tobacco barns, an early barn type that required more ventilation to cure the hanging crop.

Barns were not built to impress. Expressions of architectural creativity were limited to the addition of cupolas; dormers; novel latches and hardware; weathervanes in the form of an arrow or, near the coast, a fish or a whale; decorative hex signs; barn stars; shutters (solid or louvered); and ventilation slits that could be diamond shaped or rectangular.

Most barns were constructed of oak. Some barns were a mix of stone and

wood, others of stone only. It wasn’t until 1873 that the barn’s profile was dominated by the introduction of the silo.

Barns had practical features added as well, including lightning

rods, entrance holes for owls (to control vermin), and holes for martins.

Some barns eventually included virtual billboards, promoting products and tourist destinations. Barns frequently displayed the name of the farm or its owner and the year of the barn’s construction.

Barns in Pennsylvania were inventoried after the state’s bi-cameral legislature adopted separate resolutions in 2005. A resulting survey found that 46 percent of barns in eastern

Pennsylvania were built before the Civil War, with sidings typically of stone and wood. Almost three-quarters of statewide respondents reported their barns were in good or excellent condition.

There are eight barns in Pennsylvania listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Four are in Chester County, one each in Bucks and Centre counties, and two in Dauphin County. Nationally, there are 262 barns on the register, located in 27 states.

Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research analyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth: The Higher-Valued Opinion of a Senior Citizen and A Musing Moment: Meditative Essays on Life and Learning, books of personal-opinion essays, free of partisan and sectarian viewpoints. Contact him at waltsonneville@verizon.net.

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WELCOME TO THE FAMILYImagine a place where the only things on your “To Do” list are the things you enjoy most: spending time with your family, entertaining friends or taking in a movie. Imagine yourself living at The Woods at Cedar Run without all the worries and hassles of home ownership. The Woods at Cedar Run offers residents an active social life combined with first class amenities including scenic walking paths, a movie theatre, a pool room, a pub and much more. It’s not only a wonderful place to live, it’s also an inviting destination for friends and family.

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Aging farm Barns and our Agrarian PastWalt Sonneville

16 April 2016 50plus LIFE › www.50plusLifePA.com