York County 50plus Senior News January 2015

Janice Ballenger, volunteer EMT and former deputy coroner. The local ambulanceassociation was on the scene with Ballenger during the aftermath of the shooting at the

West Nickel Mines School in October 2006.

How to Fight AgeDiscriminationpage 6

Costars RememberElvis the Actorpage 10

Inside:

By Chelsea Peifer

Whenever Janice Ballenger’s name was listed on the schedule as deputycoroner, the 911 dispatchers joked that they knew they were in for ademanding day.

“My initial years as deputy coroner were filled with a lot of horrific calls,”said Ballenger. “Scenes that I can never erase from my mind.”

Ballenger, 62, had been working at a bank for 23 years when she read aheadline stating a need for volunteers for emergency situations—noexperience necessary.

She began volunteering as a vehicle rescue technician before becoming anemergency medical technician and then serving as her county’s first femaledeputy coroner from 2004 to 2008.

“It was quite the struggle to balance working full time, volunteering as anEMT, and doing deputy coroner calls 24 hours a week,” Ballenger said. “Theamount of time that is required to be a volunteer is unbelievable.”

Ballenger volunteered for nearly 20 years. While beginning in her 40s wasa “late start,” she said that just proves that it is never too late to follow yourdreams.

Volunteers are the world’s greatest unsung heroes, and many people haveno idea how much money is saved thanks to volunteer efforts, said Ballenger.

“If I could say something to those aspiring to enter any of these fields, it

Volunteer EMT, Former Deputy

Coroner Heals by Writing Memoir

Penning a‘New Normal’

York County Edition January 2015 Vol. 16 No. 1

please see NEW NORMAL page 14

2 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Jan. 24 – The criminal trial of O.J. Simpson began inCalifornia. On Oct. 3, the Los Angeles jury found him notguilty of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson,and her friend, Ronald Goldman. A civil court would award awrongful-death judgment against Simpson in 1997.

April 19 – A car bomb detonated outside the MurrahFederal Building in Oklahoma City, Okla., killing 168 people.Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were later convicted ofthe antigovernment plot to avenge the Branch Davidianstandoff in Waco, Texas, exactly two years prior.

Oct. 16 – The Million Man March, a political demonstrationto promote African-American unity and family values, drewhundreds of thousands of African-American men toWashington, D.C. Louis Farrakhan organized the event;speakers included Jesse Jackson, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks.

Dear Readers,Notice anything different on this issue’s front cover? It’s been 20 years since

the first issue of 50plus Senior News hit newsstands, and some traces of a rich,green hue signal the arrival of our “emerald anniversary”!

A lot has changed for us in two decades. 50plus Senior News has expandedto encompass six counties in Central Pennsylvania. Its contents now “come tolife” at six annual 50plus EXPOs.

This publication that began as a humble yet passionate local effort to bringnews and entertainment to Central Pennsylvania’s seniors has gone on to garnerdozens of national awards.

The designs of our logo, pages, and cover have evolved over the years, butour commitment to serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50-plus communityhas stayed the same.

Keep an eye out in the coming months for some special retrospectivefeatures as we peek back at our beginnings in 1995—while still focusing on2015 and the exciting future ahead.

Happy New Year,

Donna Anderson, President On-Line Publishers, Inc.

from

Year of the Sheep

Best Wishesfor a Joyful2015!

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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t January 2015 3

This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have madean extended commitment to your health and well-being.

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

Roth’s Farm Village

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400 S. Pine St., York

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Gordon’s Body Shop, Inc.

10 Mill St., Stewartstown

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Munchel Brothers Jewelry and Coin

Exchange

351 Loucks Road, Suite G-7, York

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Steinmetz Coins & Currency

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York Denture Center

1720 S. Queen St., York

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510 Centerville Road, Lancaster

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CONTACT Helpline

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The National Kidney Foundation

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Social Security Information

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PA HealthCare Cost Containment

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By John Johnston

Happy New Year from Social Security!Put down the champagne and ring in theNew Year with a COLA! And we don’tmean the soda.

In 2015, nearly 64 million Americanswho receive Social Security orSupplemental Security Income (SSI) willreceive a 1.7 percent cost-of-livingadjustment (COLA) increase to theirmonthly benefit payments.

The average monthly Social Securitybenefit for a retired worker in 2015 is$1,328 (up from $1,306 in 2014). Theaverage monthly Social Security benefitfor a disabled worker in 2015 is $1,165(up from $1,146 in 2014).

For people who receive SSI, themaximum federal payment amountincreased to $733 (up from $721 in2014).

Other Social Security changes in 2015are also worth noting. For example, the

maximum amount of earnings subject tothe Social Security payroll tax willincrease to $118,500 (up from $117,000in 2014).

A worker will earn one credit towardSocial Security coverage after paying taxeson $1,220 in earnings in 2015 (up from$1,200 in 2014). As a reminder,eligibility for retirement benefits stillrequires 40 credits (usually about 10 yearsof work).

Information about Medicare changes

for 2015 is available at www.medicare.gov.The Social Security Act outlines how

the COLA is calculated. To read moreabout the COLA, please visitwww.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

To learn more about other changes in2015, read our fact sheet atwww.socialsecurity.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2015.html.

John Johnston is a Social Security publicaffairs specialist.

Social Security Announces 2015 COLA

Social Security News

4 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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

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

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

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

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

Corporate Office:3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360

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PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson

EDITORIALVICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EDITOR

Christianne RuppEDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENTPROJECT COORDINATOR

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Pete Billis was born in Greece.His home was the island ofChios, one of those

picturesque Greek islands that todaydraw millions of tourists to sharetheir beauty.

In 1970, however, his dad foundthe U.S. a lot more attractive, andhe, with his wife and three children,left for Central Pennsylvania. Whyhere?

“Because that’s where my dad’ssister and friends of our family wereliving,” Billis says.

The area quickly became home toBillis, and he was soon speakingEnglish without an accent. Aftergraduation from McCaskey HighSchool in 1982, he enteredMillersville University, graduating in1986.

He then “wanted to do somethingfor his country and to see theworld,” as he puts it. So he enlistedin the Air Force.

He had basic training in Texas atLackland Air Force Base. Whilethere, an Air Force master sergeanthe knew suggested that he take in-flight refueling as a career field.

Normally, you had to complete amore basic assignment for three ormore years after basic training beforerequesting assignment to in-flightrefueling, but a special Air Forceprogram briefly opened the programup, and Billis took it.

After air crew training atSheppard AFB in Texas, and thenland- and water-survival training atFairchild AFB in Washington, he wasassigned to advanced training as anin-flight fueling specialist at CastleAFB in California.

Upon graduation, he was qualifiedto fly in KC-135 Stratotankers asthey refueled aircraft in flight. Hewas home-based at Grissom AFB inIndiana while flying missions inmany parts of the world.

The KC-135 was the Air Force’sfirst jet-powered refueling tanker. Itwas needed in order to keep up withthe speed of the Air Force’s new jetfighters and bombers.

Holding more than 30,000gallons of aviation fuel, it was able to

transfer the fuel in flight that ourbombers and fighters needed inorder to extend their range for longflights or, for the fighters, to extendthe loiter time on station.

The fuel was transferred through aboom at the tail section of the KC-135, with the receiving plane onlyfeet from the tail of the tanker. Thepilot of the KC-135 and thereceiving airplane had to carefullymaintain exactly the same speed andposition throughout the refueling.

The boom operator of the KC135lay on his belly while he peered out asmall window and carefullymaneuvered the boom through asmall port near the nose of theairplane following behind and belowhim. At that time, the success of themission was literally in his hands.

Did it take a lot of skill to do hisjob?

“Not according to the Air Forceafter all the training they gave us,”Billis says with a grin. “But livesdepended on our ability to do itright. Both bombers and interceptorsroutinely flew missions that requiredin-flight refueling. And thathappened around the world.”

Did Billis ever have a time whenthings didn’t go well?

“Well,” he reflects, “there was onetime when our F-16s were scrambledto meet Russian bombers off Icelandthat were trying to penetraterestricted airspace. It was nighttime,and we were at 30,000 feet when Ineeded to refuel an F-16 whose lighton the receiving port had failed, andI had to find the port in the dark.

“It was touch and go, butfortunately, I was able to handle that,and the F-16 pilot was saved from astark experience, since the F-16s,because of the foulest weather atIceland, had to fly on to England toland after the mission.”

Often they were called upon torefuel the AWACS aircraft we used inorder to conduct missions in Iranand Afghanistan. And they weresometimes tasked to fuel aircraftbeing flown in efforts to control drugtrafficking.

In October 1993, Billis, by then asergeant, was discharged and camehome to Central Pennsylvania. Hebecame a distributor of PepperidgeFarm products, and then in 2002established his own eBay business,selling collectibles, mostly stamps andcoins.

Asked what he thinks about hisyears in the Air Force, he says, “Theywere wonderful years. I met some ofthe finest people in this world. Infact, one of my greatest regrets is thatI didn’t stay in until retirement.

“It’s not that I’m not happy now… but for me, the Air Force was awonderful and very special place tobe.”

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

In an Air Force Plane, He Brought theGas to You … 30,000 Gallons at a Time

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

Sgt. Peter Billis in the pilot’scompartment of a KC-135 Stratotanker.

Sgt. Billis on leave in 1992.

Dear Mark: I know that you haveclearly stated multiple times in yourcolumn that casinos do not cheat. I amstill leery of your belief. I guess myquestion is: Who monitors the casinoto ensure their slot machines are on theup-and-up? – Jared J.

Every state that offers land-basedcasinos has some form of a gamingregulatory agency that provides you, thecasino patron, with protection fromplaying on a rigged machine.

Let’s begin with the machine itself.Each new slot machine goes throughroughly a six-month process to beapproved before it hits the casino floor.

A state’s gamingregulatory agencytests the machine tomake sure that itoperates randomlyby scrutinizing howit selects the reelstops on a slotmachine.

The agency doesa thoroughinspection of the machine’s source codefor any possible problems and then peeksat the principles behind how the randomgeneration occurs.

Only then is the machine placed outin the field (casino) for more testingbefore final approval.

After the proverbial two thumbs up,the manufacturer can then sell thatconfiguration of that slot machine to thecasino. Testing then continues once themachine is placed into operation.

For starters, the machine will run self-tests to make sure it hasn’t beentampered with; plus, it makes sure it runswithin certain parameters—meaning itdoesn’t pay out too little or too much.

These internal tests also look out forthe casino’s best interest in that theymake sure the slot machine isn’tsusceptible to cheating.

In most (if not all) states, machinesare also subject to random spot checks inwhich someone from gaming verifies thata machine is identical to the approvedconfiguration, it has not been tamperedwith, and the chips in the machinematch the reference chips approved bythe agency.

Agents in the field show upunannounced and armed with a laptopcomputer that has a database of all thechip signatures. Each chip has a codenumber that contains all its attributes,including its return percentages.

Agents will know on the spot if thechip is legit by inserting the chip intotheir specialized laptop; it reads the chipand all its contents to certify that it is anapproved value chip.

Any hanky panky (Tommy James andthe Shondells, 1966), and we’re talkingthe possible loss of a gaming license.Besides, most casinos today are publiclytraded companies not interested inexposing their gaming license to loss with

any suspicion ofmonkey businessgoing on.

Furthermore, insome states,casinos can’t evenaccess the logicboards in theirmachines. Onlythe gamingauthority can

either make the change or witness theswap.

Some states do allow casinos to makevariations to slot machines under thatstate’s regulations. By variations, I meaneither a paytable modification or a chipswap inside a machine to make it returnmore or less.

As long as “approved” chips are used,and the payback is within the minimumlimit set by each state’s law, it is legit.

Another reason the slot machine is onthe up-and-up is that every machineoffered is mathematically in the casino’sfavor. It is the way they make theirmoolah—by paying you less than thetrue odds on every machine on thecasino floor.

Why cheat? There isn’t any need toswindle you beyond what the statealready allows them via the casino hold.They don’t call slot machines “one-armedbandits” for nothin’.

Please take into account, Jared, thatmy above answer is to some degreegeneralized. Each gaming jurisdictionmay use a slightly different approach, butyou can rest assured that who’s watchingwhom is watching out for you.

Gambling Wisdom of the Month:“Slot machines are the cotton candy andthe McDonald’s of the casino. Everyoneknows that they’re bad for you, but fewcan resist their junk-food appeal.” –Andrew Brisman

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

Who Watches Them?‘Them’ Being the Casino

Deal Me InBy Mark Pilarski

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t January 2015 5

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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

Help50plus Senior News

spread�your�local�news!

• 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

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Your�guide�to�choosing�the�right living

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Dear Savvy Senior,What constitutes age discrimination in

the workplace, and where can I turn forhelp if I think I’ve got a case?– Demoted at 64

Dear Demoted,Age discrimination has become a

much more frequent complaint in recentyears as more and more people areworking into their retirement years.

But, you need to be aware that provingit is extremely difficult to do, especiallysince the 2009 Supreme Court decisionthat raised the bar for the type of legalproof that workers need to win age-discrimination lawsuits.

With that said, here are the steps you’llneed to take to fight age discrimination ifyou think you’ve been treated unlawfully.

ADEA ProtectionThe Age Discrimination in

Employment Act (ADEA) is your firstdefense against age discrimination. Thisis a federal lawthat says anemployercannot fire,refuse to hire,or treat youdifferentlyfrom otheremployeesbecause ofyour age.

Someexamples of age discrimination include:

• You were fired because your bosswanted to keep younger workers who arepaid less.

• You were turned down for apromotion, which went to someoneyounger hired from outside the company,

because the boss says the company“needs new blood.”

• When companylayoffs areannounced, most ofthe persons laid offwere older, whileyounger workerswith less seniorityand less on-the-jobexperience werekept on.

• Before you were fired, your supervisormade age-related remarks about you.

• You didn’t get hired because theemployer wanted a younger-lookingperson to do the job.

The ADEA protects all workers andjob applicants age 40 and over who work

for employers that have 20 or moreemployees—including federal, state, andlocal governments as well as employmentagencies and labor unions.

If your workplace has fewer than 20employees, you may still be protectedunder your state’s anti-age-discriminationlaw. Contact your state labor departmentor your state’s fair employment practicesagency for more information.

Another protection for older workersis the federal Older Workers BenefitProtection Act. Under this law, anemployer cannot reduce health or lifeinsurance benefits for older employees,nor can it stop their pensions fromaccruing if they work past their normalretirement age.

It also discourages businesses fromtargeting older workers when cuttingstaff and prohibits employers fromforcing employees to take earlyretirement.

How to Fight Age Discrimination

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

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Gold AwardWinter 2013 issue

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On-Line Publishers, Inc. was recently honoredwith four national awards.

Thank you for readingour award-winningpublications.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t January 2015 7

What to DoIf you think you are a victim of

employment age discrimination, yourfirst step is to file a charge with theEqual Employment OpportunityCommission (EEOC) usually within180 days from the date of the allegedviolation.

You can do this by mail or in personat your nearest EEOC office(see www.eeoc.gov/contact) or by calling(800) 669-4000. They will help youthrough the filing process and let youknow if you should also file a chargewith your state anti-discriminationagency.

Once the charge is filed, the EEOCwill investigate your complaint and findeither reasonable cause to believe thatage discrimination has occurred or nocause and no basis for a claim.

After the investigation, the EEOCwill then send you their findings alongwith a “notice of right to sue,” which

gives you permission to file a lawsuit ina court of law.

If you decide to sue, you’ll need tohire a lawyer who specializes in employeedischarge suits. Lawyers.com andFindLaw (www.findlaw.com) are twowebsites that can help you locatediscrimination attorneys in your area.

Another option you should consider ismediation, which is a fair and efficientway to help you resolve youremployment disputes and reach anagreement.

The EEOC offers mediation at nocost if your current or former employeragrees to participate. At mediation, youshow up with your evidence, youremployer presents theirs, and themediator makes a determination within aday or less.

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

We may not bemoving toward acashless society, but forsome people, payingwith plastic is thepreferred way to go.

A survey fromCreditCard.com foundthat 51 percent ofadults under 30 willuse a credit or debitcard for purchases less than $5, while 77percent of people 50 or older prefer topay cash when buying something for $5

or less.Debit cards are more

popular than creditcards among theyounger generation by a3-to-1 margin and holda 2-to-1 lead amongusers of all ages.

Americans heldbalances on credit cardsin the amount of half a

trillion dollars by the end of the first halfof 2014, according to the Federal ReserveBank of New York.

Disk Damage: Watch Your BackA herniated spinal

disk can cause severepain. Spinal disks act ascushions between yourvertebrae, and if theybecome damaged or slipout of place, they canirritate surroundingnerves.

The result: weakness,numbness, and/or painin arms, legs, or back.Watch for these riskfactors to assess yourvulnerability:

Age. Spinal disksdegenerate over time,becoming less flexible and more likely totear as you grow older.

Weight. Extraweight puts more ofa strain on yourlower back.

Lifting. If your job(or your personallife) requires you todo a lot of heavylifting, be sure topick objects upproperly and safelyto avoid injury.

Genetics. The MayoClinic websitepoints out that somepeople inherit a

tendency to develop disks that herniateeasily.

Is Cash Losing its Cachet?

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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

By Andrea Gross

I’m a sucker for superlatives. Mypersonal bucket list demands that Ivisit as many “ests” as possible, places

that hold the record for being thehighest, hottest, or in some way the verybest of their category.

I thought compiling the list would besimple, especially after I limited it to theUnited States, but of course it wasn’t. Iran into myriad problems ofmeasurement and definition.

Eventually I came up with my owncriteria, based as much on practicalityand desirability as on quantifiable data.

Here, my recommendations for theBest of the Ests:

Highest I have no intention of actually

climbing the tallest peak, which rules outAlaska’s Mt. McKinley (20,237 feet), yetI want to do more than peer toward theheavens.

Thus I head for Colorado’s Mount

Evans. At 14,265 feet, Mount Evans is apigmy among giants, but—and this isimportant—it’s home to the highestpaved road.

This means I can drive almost all theway to the country’s highest parking lot,

walk a mere quarter mile to the summit,and voila, I’ll be standing atop thehighest reasonably accessible peak in theU.S.

The highway was built between 1917and 1927 as a means of drawing tourists.

It worked. Today, the scenic drive—atwo-lane ribbon that winds betweentowering evergreens, open meadows, andlovely alpine lakes—is one of Colorado’stop attractions. (www.mountevans.com)

Lowest Choosing the lowest spot is easy. Since

I quickly rule out deep-sea diving anddescending into a mine, I’m left withDeath Valley, Calif., which is the lowestpoint of dry land that was formed bynature as opposed to by man-and-shovel.

The valley’s precise lowest point (282feet below sea level) is near BadwaterBasin, which sits amidst nearly 200square miles of salt flats.

A boardwalk lets visitors walk partway into the basin, but most folks stepdown onto the actual flats. Thelandscape is bizarre but beautiful, apattern of interlocking shapes created bythe valley’s unique combination ofextreme heat, minimal rainfall, and lowelevation. (www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm)

A Quest for the Ests: Visiting the Extremes of the United States

Photo courtesy of National Park Service

A boardwalk at Badwater Basin leads froma parking lot to the salt flats that mark the

lowest point in the United States.

Photo courtesy of National Park Service

The salt flats of Death Valley are nothospitable to plants or animals.

People who take a short hike fromthe highest paved parking lot in theU.S. to the summit of Mt. Evans canbrag that they’ve climbed one ofColorado’s famous Fourteeners(mountains that rise more than14,000 feet above sea level).

Visit

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Photo courtesy of Forks Chamber of Commerce

Forks, Wash., is the gateway to therainforests of Olympic National Park.

Great Sand Dunes National Park has thetallest dunes in North America.

Photo courtesy of Mount Washington Observatory

Scientists at the Mount WashingtonObservatory work in a place that’sreputed to have the worst weatherin the world.

DriestHere I run into trouble. Calexico, a

small town on the California-Mexicoborder, has the lowest annual rainfall, butDeath Valley has the most consecutivedays with no rainfall.

In the end I opt for neither. In mymind, “dry” suggests a place where I canmount a camel and ride endless milesacross towering sand dunes. Calexico isdune-less, and while Death Valley hasdunes, they aren’t record-setters.

For that I have to go to Great SandDunes National Park in Colorado,which, although devoid of camels, has750-foot-tall sand piles, the highest inNorth America.

Later I learn that the dunes aren’treally dry. In fact, it’s the moist layer ofsand right under the surface that holdsthe upper dry sand in place.

But that’s OK. At this point in myQuest-Est, I’m more concerned withimagery than scientific accuracy.(www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm)

Wettest As for the wettest place, I must choose

between the soggiest land or thedrippiest sky. Since I don’t have a pair ofwet boots but own several umbrellas, Idecide on Hawaii’s Mount Waleleale.

Then I learn that the mountain’saverage rainfall exceeds 38 feet a year—afact that greatly dampens my enthusiasm(pardon the pun)—so I restrict mysearch to the contiguous United Statesand end up on Washington’s OlympicPeninsula.

While the Aberdeen Reservoir is therainiest place, with 130.6 inches a year,Forks is the rainiest town, with 120

inches a year. More important, it’s given this

accolade not only by the NationalClimatic Data Center, but also byStephenie Meyer, who used it as a settingfor her Twilight book series.

Why, I may even spot a vampire alongthe shore or amidst the trees, and thismakes Forks a double superlative—winner of both the wettest and theweirdest categories. (www.forkswa.com)

ColdestOnce I exclude non-contiguous

Alaska, Rogers Pass, Mont., holds therecord for a one-day temperature low(minus 70 F), but the peak of NewHampshire’s Mount Washington winsthe title for all-time year-around cold(annual average temperature of 27 F).

In addition, with wind gusts thatsometimes reach more than 230 mph, it’salso considered the windiest place in theUnited States.

Therefore, with masochisticdetermination I head to the summit. Theroad is steep, narrow, and bordered withdeadly drop-offs.

But am I glad I went? Absolutely. Theview on top is spectacular and, what’smore, at the Weather Discovery Centerin nearby North Conway I learn thatMount Washington holds bragging rightsto the best Est of all: Home of theWorld’s Worst Weather.

It’s a perfect way to end my search.The title of “worst” makes MountWashington the “best.”(www.mountwashington.org)

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

10 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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For many, the title “King of Rock’n’ Roll” is reserved for one man:Elvis Presley. Had he lived, the

King would have celebrated his 80th

birthday on Jan. 8, 2015.Unlike most departed singers who are

remembered largely for their music,Presley lives on through a phenomenalnumber of appearances in scriptedmotion pictures—31 in all—beginningwith Love Me Tender in 1956 and ending13 years later with Change of Habit in1969.

His movies provide a unique glimpseinto another dimension of one of the 20th

century’s greatest entertainers.Although his films were often

dismissed due to weak and predictablescripts, critics generally regarded Presleyas a surprisingly good actor. But whatdid costars think about working withPresley?

In 1966, 10-year-old Donna

Butterworth costarred in Paradise,Hawaiian Style, the second Presley filmset in Hawaii.

“My mom and dad took me to seeBlue Hawaii when I was just a little girl,and I fell in love with him right then andthere,” said Butterworth. “I used to listen

to his records, and I couldn’t get enoughElvis.”

Butterworth recalls filming her firstscene on the cliffs of Makapuu, onOahu.

“I had to run up into Elvis’s arms andcall out, ‘Uncle Rick, Uncle Rick.’ But I

had only met him a few minutes beforethat. So when the director called ‘action,’I ran up and got in his arms and his facewas about 4 inches from my face.

“After all the anticipation of meetingElvis Presley and working with him, Ijust froze. I couldn’t believe I was so closeto this beautiful man! All the crewcracked up because they knew I was soenamored. In fact, Elvis laughed thehardest—he just loved to laugh.”

Unlike Butterworth, 7-year-old SusanOlsen wasn’t a Presley fan when shebriefly appeared in the talent-contestaudition scene in Presley’s second-to-lastfilm, The Trouble with Girls (1969).

“I couldn’t understand all the hypeover him, and I didn’t even think he wasgood-looking!” said Olsen, who went onto play youngest daughter Cindy on thepopular ’60s TV show The Brady Bunch.

That changed after their first briefencounter.

Costars Remember Elvis the Actor

Tinseltown Talks

Nick Thomas

Donna Butterworth and Elvis inParadise, Hawaiian Style

Marlyn Mason and Elvis in The Trouble with Girls

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t January 2015 11

Nursing & RehabilitationCenter

• Long-Term Care

• Short-Term Rehab

• Specialized Dementia Unit

• In-house PT/OT/ST

• In-house Pharmacy

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with 24- hour Respiratory Care

Efficiency apartments for

seniors who want to enjoy

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Located at 118 Pleasant Acres Rd, York

For More Information Call: (717) 840-7100

Are You Reading?Join the 2015 One Book, One Community campaign by reading

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

85 libraries in Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster,Lebanon, Perry, and York counties and theircommunity partners present the regionalreading campaign.

Visit www.oboc.orgor your library to learn more

Read the book duringJanuary and attend freelibrary programs anddiscussions in February!

“I remember that a bunch of the kids’mothers suddenly started screaming.Elvis had come out of his dressing room,and they crowded around him forautographs. So I thought, ‘What theheck! I’ll get one too.’

“So I went up to him—and I’m notmaking this up—when he looked at me,I thought, ‘Oh, I get it! I see why theylike him so much.’ He had this specialaura about him. I was just dumbstruck; Icouldn’t say anything. He signed thephoto, handed it to me, and said, ‘Hereya go, darling.’”

Presley’s leading lady in The Troublewith Girls came away with more thanjust an autograph. Marlyn Masonsnagged an on-screen kiss.

“It was a comedy kiss,” said Mason,indicating that the only fireworks werethe real ones in the movie scene.

“He was great fun to work with,because I could throw anything at himand he’d just throw it right back.”

She also recalls a private momentwhen Presley shared thoughts about hisacting.

“The saddest thing Elvis said to mewas, ‘I’d like to make one good filmbecause I know people in this town laughat me.’ I’ll never forget that,” she said.

“But he was always down to earth andcomfortable with himself. Some of that

dialogue wasso corny, buthe managedto bring arealness to it.And I thinkthat’s justhow he wasin real life.He was anaturalcomedian,and histiming wasjustimpeccable. Ijust found him tobe a very genuineperson.”

Despite hisfame, WillHutchins saysPresley didn’t playthe celebrity,although he wasusuallyaccompanied onmost of his filmsby pals—the so-called MemphisMafia.

“On the set, Elvis was like a host—aSouthern gentleman—making sure

everyone washaving a goodtime,” saidHutchins,who firstworked inSpinout(1966).

Thefollowing yearhe costarredwith Presleyin Clambake,whichfeatured a lotof ad-libbing

and foolingaround on the set.

“It was moreor less a de factostag party becauseElvis was gettingmarried soon afterthe filming wasfinished,” recalledHutchins. “Elvisand his buddieswould set offfirecrackers. It waspretty wild, but a

lot of fun. For the director’s birthday,they had a cake and pushed it right in hisface!”

Wilda Taylor appeared in three ElvisPresley films but strutted into Presleymovie history as exotic dancer LittleEgypt in Roustabout (1964).

“We rehearsed for about two weeks,”said Taylor. “Elvis was in and out of therehearsal hall every so often between hisother busy filming days for the otherscenes. He knew his material and musicwell, and I grew to admire him a greatdeal.

“It’s amazing, through the years, howmany people know about me and LittleEgypt from that film. Oddly enough, Ireally didn’t know much about Elvisbefore we worked together, but I foundhim to be a lovely, darling person, and Iwas just pleased to be a small part of hislife.”

With each passing decade since hisdeath in 1977 at age 42, the Elvis Presleylegend and legacy continue to grow.When viewed in the context of the oftenzany ’60s TV and film period, it isgratifying that there exists such anextensive film library of the mostcelebrated entertainer in history.

Thomas’ features and columns have appearedin more than 400 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

Wilda Taylor as Little Egypt with Elvis in Roustabout

Will Hutchins and Elvis in Clambake

Call for a Rent-A-Kidin Your Area

York County seniors interested inhelp raking leaves, shoveling snow, orwith other household chores areencouraged to arrange for a Rent-A-Kid.

The Rent-A-Kid program, sponsoredby the York County Area Agency onAging, is a program that brings seniorcitizens and teenagers together.

For more than 30 years, kids havebeen helping and learning from olderadults through the Rent-A-Kid program.

It gives individual teenagers the chanceto help out York County senior citizens,60 years or older, with indoor andoutdoor household chores.

The recommended pay is $5 perhour.

Interested York County residents age60 or older can get assistance by calling(717) 771-9103 or (800) 632-9073.Information is also available atwww.ycaaa.org.

12 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

VolunteerSpotlight

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 Senior News’ Volunteer Spotlight!

Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to

[email protected] or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight,

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.

Patricia Egger,William Tileston,Kathleen Urey-Strickler, and DeenaGross have beennamed Volunteers ofthe Month by theYork County AreaAgency on Aging.

Patricia Egger’sprevious experienceswith older adults havegiven her themotivation tocontinue serving thispopulation by volunteering as theagency’s advisory council president,an APPRISE counselor, and a SeniorGames volunteer.

Egger understands the complexityof Medicare as an APPRISEcounselor and is able to assistMedicare beneficiaries by providingoptions.

William Tileston spent his entirecareer in finance and accounting andupon retirement decided to use hisexpertise as a financial counselor. Hisfocus is on assisting older adults, as he

believes “helpingothers is the rightthing to do; nomatter what, we canalways make time tohelp others.”

Kathleen Urey-Strickler attributesher desire to assistolder adults toaccompanying herfather when hevisited members oftheir church.

Her aspiration tobecome a friendly visitor was furthernurtured by her service as abenevolent committee member of herchurch, where she continues to visitshut-ins of their congregation.

Deena Gross became an agencyvolunteer after caring for her agingparents and in-laws. It was during thistime that she became aware of howdifficult it was to access services forthe elderly.

As an APPRISE counselor, she isable to help older adults navigate theMedicare system and other agencies.

Patricia Egger William Tileston

Deena GrossKathleenUrey-Strickler

YCAAA RecognizesVolunteers of the Month

RSVP volunteer Donna Watkins isknown as the “Reading Bug,” a role shestarted in 2006.

Watkins goes anywhere peoplegather to hand out books to adults andchildren. She also visits schools to readto children and leads activities relatedto lessons currently being taught in theclassroom.

Watkins goes to retirementcommunities, where she reads books tothe resident seniors. Because shedoesn’t drive an automobile, she pushesher books around the City of York.

She has won The Jefferson Awardand The PSEA Civil and HumanRights Award for “Bugging Young andOld Alike.”

Watkins is looking forward tostarting a Creative Reading Room,

where people can come to her to beread to in addition to her traveling tovarious locations.For more information on volunteeropportunities with RSVP, the nation’slargest volunteer program for adults aged55-plus, email [email protected],visit www.rsvcapreg.org, or call RSVP’s YorkCounty office at (443) 619-3842 or thestatewide Senior Corps of Pennsylvaniahotline toll-free at (888) 870-2616.

Honored Volunteer ‘Bugs’ You to Read

Donna Watkins

wake up between 2:30 and 4 o’clockalmost every morning.

A force inside my head flips aswitch, lights go on, and rollers andgears begin to turn. It’s like the startupshift in a manufacturing plant. As theminutes slowly pass, the lights getbrighter, the sounds inside becomecacophonous, and all attempts to sleepare futile.

Then the neuronal network withinmy normally sedate noggin fires away atfull speed to conjure all kinds ofworriment that I think should beimmediately considered.

Problems go back and forth as thoughgoing through acerebral rollingmill, and eachproblem isforged intosmaller, moredetailed elementsthat demandmore intensescrutiny witheach pass.

Concretesolutions to some problems are so elusivethat I must store them in mysubconscious until the next morning—or even the morning after that. And theywill again appear between 2:30 and 4a.m. to bedevil me.

It is necessary, then, to try to solvethese problems as soon as possible beforethey pile up on all the other woeswaiting to steal my sleep. I am too oftenconfounded, and the frustrationexacerbates my troubles.

My wife tends to stir knowingly whenI’m in the “worry” mode. She usuallysays nothing until about 6 a.m. when Istumble downstairs, bleary-eyed andunsteady.

I know that my tossing and turningkeeps her from sleeping soundly, whichmakes me worry even more. She has togo to work in the morning. I, on theother hand, can take a nap during theday to recover from my sleeplessness,which can create some resentment.

I find it odd that my wife doesn’tworry much about anything. And thatoften drives me crazy—I worry aboutwhy she doesn’t worry. Oh, she pondersover the same things that worry me; she

just does not let those thoughts devolveinto a condition of hyperventilation likeI do.

What are some of the things I worryabout? I’ll tell you. But, keep in mindthat the following is far from acomprehensive list. There isn’t enoughspace in this column to elaborate on allof my vexations.

For example, my roof is almost 20years old. Each time there is a downpourthat lasts more than several minutes, Iroam around the house looking forleaks. So far, so good.

But should I replace this roof soon?Will it hold up for a couple more years?

I forget what thelife was on theshingles Ibought. Was it20 years? Ormaybe it was 25.

If I could justfind the originalcontract, maybeI could stopworrying.However, maybe

I would worry more if I found theanswer.

I’m beginning to wonder how long acar with 161,000 miles on it willcontinue to start up and take me where Ineed to go. I have put more than acarload of money into repairs for thething, believing that it is more desirablethan four years (or more) of carpayments.

Whenever I hear an unusual noiseunder the hood, I worry. Should I justgo ahead and strap myself with carpayments?

Our water heater started to leakseveral months ago. I installed it myselfand it lasted much longer than it wassupposed to.

But this time around, I decided tohave somebody else do the installation. Ialso installed a new garbage-disposal unitand a new dishwasher many years ago. Ihad the disposal replaced last year by aplumber.

So, when will the dishwasher go onthe fritz? I cross my fingers and continueto worry on that one.

The Way I See It

Mike Clark

Morning Woes

I

please see WOES page 15

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t January 2015 13

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 14

1. Justice Warren2. Chigger3. Recounted4. Envision5. Indiscretion6. Bread spread7. Sickbed items (abbr.)8. Weakened9. Consummate10. Bring up11. Incision12. Charity14. Dress holder17. Of birth

22. Crone23. Strikes with revulsion24. Bay State city25. Latvian port city26. Draw out27. Fabric28. Watered silk29. Exorcist actress

Burstyn30. Pakistani monetary

unit32. Rascals34. Cleaning implements36. Terminate gradually

40. Contempt42. Sign of assent43. Spar45. Auspices46. Persia, now47. Egypt river48. Goulash49. Hawaii town50. And others (Latin)51. Microbe52. Likelihood55. Genetic material

(abbr.)56. Sailor’s affirmative

Down

CROSSWORD

1. Tritons5. Thwart9. Bear dipper13. Burn plant14. Figure out15. Gimme a Break star

Carter16. Inexorable18. Cripple19. Boy20. Singer Guthrie21. Garments23. Remain

24. Bench25. Porter28. More threadbare31. Utopian32. Tree trunk33. Morose35. TV cop Peter ___36. Levered37. Dog food name38. Vitriolic39. Injure40. Make tea41. Flow out43. Panoramas

44. Forfeiture45. Footless46. Not outdoors49. Ger. title of respect50. Pride53. Hotel name54. Started57. Downwind58. Not fired up59. Unit of length60. Information61. New Mexico city62. Shade trees

Across

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would be that these ‘jobs’ are not asglamorous as portrayed on television,”Ballenger said. “They require a hugeamount of commitment and an ever-larger amount of caring andcompassion.“They are not for the faint of heart,

but you will make a difference—andthat’s what it’s all about.”Her goal was to express empathy and

caring on every call she responded to.“Even if it was a man with knee pain

he’d had for three weeks and [he then]decides to dial 911 at 3 a.m.,” saidBallenger. “In their opinion, when theydial 911, it is one of the worst days oftheir lives, and I respect that.”Performing CPR on calls for people

she knew was very difficult.“I literally had to be pulled off of the

one man by the doctor at the hospital ashe announced time of death,” Ballengersaid. “A little bit of you dies with theperson.”Successful and unsuccessful suicides,

as well as calls involving children, arealways the most difficult, she said.

But onOct. 2,2006, sheresponded toa call thatnothingcould haveprepared herfor.Ballenger

was one ofthe firstrespondersto theshooting atthe WestNickel Mines School, where a manentered the schoolhouse and lined up 10young Amish girls before shooting themexecution style. Five of the girls died;the gunman later took his own life.“I was one of the few to enter the

school with the dead bodies still inside,”Ballenger said.She asked the local ambulance crew

to clean one of the girl’s faces becauseshe did not want the child’s mother to

see her faceentirelycovered inblood.“They

said theyhad beentold not totouch her. Isaid, ‘I willtake fullresponsi -bility andwill risk myjob on it,’”Ballenger

recalled. “They agreed and were flawlessin their work. I am forever indebted.“I was on scene from approximately

11 a.m. until midnight,” she said. “I stillhave no idea how I made it home.”That night, Ballenger had to

complete her reports from the hauntingtragedy that she had barely begun toprocess.“As I downloaded the pictures, it all

seemed surreal,” said Ballenger.

Before she could begin processingany further, her phone began to ringnonstop. “CNN called to say they were on

their way to my home. I said,‘Absolutely not.’”Ballenger took two weeks off from

everything. She visited the ambulancecrew to thank them for everything thatthey did for the victims and families.“It was very emotional. I couldn’t

thank them enough for cleaning herface,” Ballenger said. “And I didn’t get introuble.”She met with counselors and visited

with the Amish families who lost theirchildren on that day.“I still keep in contact with them. I

always leave their homes feeling a littlebetter,” Ballenger said.Her mind kept revisiting the inside of

the Amish school, and in an effort tofind a “new normal,” Ballenger decidedto move and sell nearly everything thatshe owned.“In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t done

that,” Ballenger said. “But I was

NEW NORMAL from page 1

Ballenger gives talks in the community about herexperiences and about her memoir, Addicted to Life &

Death: Memoirs of an EMT & Deputy Coroner.

14 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Puzzles shown on page 13

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York County

Calendar of EventsJan. 2, 10:30 a.m.Partners in Thyme HerbClub of Southern YorkCounty MeetingGlenview Alliance Church10037 Susquehanna TrailSouth, Glen Rock(717) 428-2210

Jan. 6, 7 p.m.Surviving Spouse Socials ofYork CountyFaith United Church ofChrist509 Pacific Ave., York(717) 266-2784

York County Department of Parks and RecreationPre-registration is required for these programs. To register or find out more about these activities or anyadditional scheduled activities, call (717) 428-1961.

Jan. 10, 1 to 4 p.m. – Beekeeping: Is it for You?, Nixon ParkJan. 15, 10 a.m. to noon – Eastern Penn Mushroomers Club Meeting, Nixon ParkJan. 23, 7 to 9:30 p.m. – Owl Walk, Nixon Park

Programs and Support Groups

If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to [email protected] for consideration.

Please return your completed entry form byFebruary 19, 2015 to:

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celebrate the local eateriesthat deserve national fame!

desperate totry to find anormal placein my mind.”She tried

crafts andotherendeavors tooccupy hermind, butwriting amemoirabout herexperienceswas whatfinally gaveher a greatersense of peace.Ballenger had been keeping journals of

her experiences since she startedvolunteering.“As I began seeing some gruesome

sights, I needed a way to vent myemotions. My brother, John, gave me alined journal and when I would returnhome from a call, I recorded myemotions in the journal—which turnedinto many, many journals,” Ballengerexplained.She spent the next two years writing

her first book, Addicted to Life & Death:Memoirs of an EMT & Deputy Coroner.She gives free talks in the community

about her book and experiences andbrings a guest speaker with her to discusssuicide and its effects on those leftbehind. She includes instructions on

giving CPRin her talks.“Some

people havesaid, ‘I guessyou get usedto seeing thethings yousee.’ No, younever get usedto it. If youdo, then it istime to getout of doingthat work,”Ballengersaid.

“Others ask how I could do that work.I reply, ‘Everyone has their place onEarth. I am blessed that I was able to dothat work for many, many years.Someone has to do it. But don’t ask meto be a dental hygienist—I could neverdo that work.”Ballenger is a still a certified EMT but

does not run on calls. She works at askilled nursing facility near Ephrata. Ballenger is available to speak about

her experiences and can be reached at(717) 606-3494, [email protected], or at her Facebook page:www.facebook.com/AddictedToLifeDeathMemoirsOfAnEmtDeputyCoroner.Her book is available online or can be

purchased directly through Ballenger; shewill sign them as requested.

Ballenger’s copies of the local newspaper coverageof the Amish schoolhouse shooting. As one of the firstresponders, Ballenger was a sought-after interview

in the wake of the tragedy.

When it finally goes out, I’ll have topay someone else to install the new one.Can you say “expensive”?

Two of my grandchildren moved toanother state back in June. It wassudden, unexpected, and disheartening. Iam still disheartened by it. I miss themterribly.

I am always wondering if they areadjusting to their new digs. Are theyhappy? Are they making friends? Arethey doing well in their new school?They call, and I am reassured that all iswell. My wife takes them at their word.Still, I worry.

And so it goes until the bright lightsand noise inside my head subside, and Islowly go back to sleep for what remains

of the time left before the alarm goes off.My wife reminds me that in all of our

years together, things have alwaysworked out. Then I worry about apossible exception.

For the new year ahead, I’m going tohave to find ways to banish my morningwoes. After all, my wife really needs hersleep.

Happy New Year.

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].

WOES from page 12

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