Postcard collector Bob Sallade preserves images
of days gone by in dozens of binders stored at his home.
Welcoming the
New Year
page 10
Vaccination Options
for Seniors
page 14
Inside:
By Chelsea Shank
Bob Sallade loves the thrill of the hunt.
And as a deltiologist—that is, someone who collects postcards—he takes
every opportunity that he can to hunt for postcards to add to his collection.
Sallade, 63, has a collection of between 4,000 and 5,000 postcards.
Collecting postcards is tied with coin collecting as the second most popular
hobby, next to collecting stamps, said Sallade.
He started his collection about six years ago.
“I went to flea markets for other reasons and I picked up five old
postcards … and that’s what started it,” Sallade said.
As a native of Central Pennsylvania, he takes a personal interest in the
history of the area and enjoys finding postcards featuring old buildings that
are no longer around and others that are still standing.
“My thrill is getting different scenes,” said Sallade.
He has postcards of a former recreational facility called Playland, which
had a roller skating rink and swimming pool where Sallade spent time as a
teenager. There are others in his collection of an old judicial center, the
Wrightsville Bridge, and hotels and motels that are no longer in operation.
“That’s the interesting part—seeing what your town used to look like,”
said Sallade.
please see MEMORIES page 16
Local History Preserved in
Vast Postcard Collection
Memoriesin the Mail
Dauphin County Edition December 2012 Vol. 14 No. 12
2 December 2012 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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Gene Alexander, 88, of
Hummelstown, who served in
both the Merchant Marine and
U.S. Navy during World War II,
volunteered for service transporting
Jewish refugees from Europe to Palestine
after the war.
“When I was back in civilian life and
at the beach, I met a girl who found out
I was a marine engineer and I learned she
was connected to the Haganah, the
Jewish Palestinian secret service.
“Next thing I knew, I was in contact
with the local headquarters and on my
way to pick up a ship. It turned out to be
an old decommissioned U.S. Coast
Guard cutter, the Ulua. We spent a
month getting her ready for duty, then
set sail on the Atlantic.”
Alexander said they ran into a heavy
storm but made it to the Azores. After
refueling, they reached Marseilles,
France, where they spent a month
putting bunks and toilets in the hold.
Then they traveled up the coast of
Europe to the southern coast of Sweden.
“We docked there and picked up 700
young Jewish girls who had been rescued
from the
concentration
camps by the
Swedes.” Before
establishment
of the State of
Israel in 1948,
Palestine was a
British
protectorate,
and Jewish refugees were denied
admission to the Holy Land.
“As we headed south to the
Mediterranean, we ran into the mother
of all storms. We made it through the
storm with seasick passengers. However,
the ship was leaking steam, so we had to
pull into a cove on the coast of North
Africa. It took six hours to fix the
engine.” The next stop was Italy, where
they picked up 600 more passengers who
had survived the Holocaust.
Before reaching Haifa, Palestine,
Alexander’s ship
was intercepted
by five British
patrol boats.
“Our crew
captured the
first boarding
party of British
Marines. One
ship got in
front of us but we rammed her—luckily,
we had an ice-breaker bow. The next
British boarding party took over the ship.
I was hit on the head with a club and
they threw tear gas at us. I was knocked
out and ended up with a deep cut on my
head.
“They rammed our rudder and we hit
a reef and ran aground in the Haifa Bay.
I posed as one of the passengers. They
put us on a prison ship to the Cypress
detention camps. On the way, a British
doctor stitched my scalp. After about a
month in the camps, I escaped with the
help of the Haganah. Two months in a
kibbutz in Palestine and I was sent back
to France.
“As soon as I got there I was assigned
to the Pan York, a ship the Haganah had
bought from the United Fruit Co. We
spent a month in Marseilles retrofitting
her; then we sailed to Constanta,
Romania, on the Black Sea.”
There Alexander was transferred to the
Pan Crescent, sister ship of the Pan York.
They spent two months to retrofit both
ships.
“Then we got word that the
Romanians would not let us take anyone
from their country but they had no
objection if Jews boarded the ships in
His Postwar Mission:Taking Jewish Refugees to Palestine
Beyond the Battlefield
Alvin S. Goodman
The Coast Guard ship Ulua
prior to being decommissioned.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2012 3
Auer Cremation Services of PA(800) 722-8200
Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc.(717) 545-4001
Central PA Poison Center(800) 521-6110
Dauphin County Office of Aging(717) 255-2790
Gipe Floor & Wall Covering(717) 545-6103
Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc.(717) 545-4001
Alzheimer’s Association(717) 651-5020
American Diabetes Association(800) 342-2383
Arthritis Foundation – Central PA Chapter(717) 763-0900
CONTACT Helpline(717) 652-4400
The National Kidney Foundation(717) 757-0604(800) 697-7007
PACE(800) 225-7223
Social Security Information(800) 772-1213
Tri-County Association for the Blind(717) 238-2531
PA Healthcare Cost Containment Council(717) 232-6787
CareMinders Home Care(717) 454-0159
Safe Haven Quality Care(717) 238-1111
Visiting Angels(717) 652-8899
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B’Nai B’rith Apartments(717) 232-7516
Dauphin County Housing Authority(717) 939-9301
Property Tax/Rent Rebate(888) 728-2937
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Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics, Inc.(717) 458-8429
CVS/pharmacywww.cvs.com
Spring Creek Rehabilitation & HealthCare Center(717) 565-7000
Homeland Center(717) 221-7902
The Middletown Home(717) 941-3351
Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging(717) 255-2790
The Salvation ArmyEdgemont Temple Corps(717) 238-8678
American Lung Association(800) LUNG-USA
Bureau of Consumer Protection(800) 441-2555
Meals on Wheels(800) 621-6325
National Council on Aging(800) 424-9046
Social Security Office(800) 772-1213
Veterans Affairs(717) 626-1171(800) 827-1000
CAT Share-A-Ride(717) 232-6100
Lebanon VA Medical Center
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Veterans Services
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Toll-Free Numbers
Services
Retirement Communities
Rehabilitation
Orthotics & Prosthetics
Medical Equipment & Supplies
Insurance
Housing Assistance
Housing/Apartments
Hospice Services
Home Improvement
Home Care Services
Healthcare Information
Health & Medical Services
Funeral Directors
Floor Coverings
Emergency
Cremation
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Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
Bulgaria, so they were taken by train to a
Bulgarian port for transport.
“I don’t know how we managed it, but
we got 7,000 people aboard each ship!”
In the Mediterranean, a British cruiser
and several destroyers confronted them.
The skippers made an agreement with
the British to proceed directly to
Cypress.
“We unloaded the passengers, who
were taken to detention camps. We
anchored the ships in the bay and I and
a small crew were allowed to stay aboard
to keep the auxiliary equipment
running.”
After a month, Alexander was relieved
of the ship and the Haganah sneaked
him into Palestine. From there he made
it to France and then the U.S.
Although he did not achieve his
objective to reach Palestine, Alexander
was glad that he was able to save
thousands of European refugees from
the horrors of the Holocaust, and they
eventually made it to the Promised
Land.
When home he attended City College
of New York, finished off his
engineering credits, and forwarded them
to the Merchant Marine Academy,
where he received a B.S. in marine
engineering.
He then got a B.S. in psychology
from CCNY. He spent a year in Detroit
studying child psychology, received an
M.S. in clinical psychology at the
University of Connecticut, and, six years
later, a doctorate in psychology from the
University of Michigan.
During this time, Alexander spent
two years as a hospital psychologist in
Virginia and six years as a school
psychologist in suburban Detroit.
“After my doctorate, I taught two
years at Indiana State University and
then came to Harrisburg in 1964 to
become director of a mental health
center. I finally ended up teaching
psychology at Shippensburg University
for 27 years.”
Alexander retired at age 70, but five
years later worked part-time as a
geriatric psychologist, finally retiring in
his early 80s.
“Somehow I managed to marry five
times!” He has four children and five
grandchildren. “I enjoy my present wife
Christie’s family. We spent two weeks
teaching English in Spain. We rented an
apartment in Paris and took a 60-foot
houseboat up the canals from
Whitchurch, U.K., to Wales.”
Alexander summed up his vast
experiences by saying, “It has been an
interesting life.”
If you are a mature veteran and have
interesting or unusual experiences in your
military or civilian life, phone Al Goodman
at (717) 541-9889 or email him at
In honor of
World War II vets ...
and in memory of the
attack on Pearl Harbor
4 December 2012 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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Q: I have begun developing my family
genealogy, and in going online, I
found someone with a common
ancestor. This researcher, who is
evidently related to me, has an
extensive family tree for that ancestor,
going back to a king of Persia in 1300
AD. How do I know whether this is
accurate, and if I am descended from
that king? – O.K., Illinois
A: I’m generally wary of such
claims. It is true that if anyone
traces his lineage back 20
generations or so, the odds of
finding a “noble” ancestor increase.
This is because of the huge number
of ancestors any person has in his
20th generation back, and the fact
that if we go that far back in
time, the total number of
people living was much
smaller than today.
1300 AD could be 25
generations or more ago.
You (and I, and everyone)
had about 30 million
ancestors who lived 25
generations back, or about
10 percent of the world’s
population! There probably
was a noble or two in that
group of ancestors, but the
problem is proving it.
Such claims are further lessened
by the fact that in most countries
800 years ago, detailed records
simply didn’t exist, and in fact
many of the countries (or political
boundaries) that existed in 1300 are
no longer here. “Nobles” did keep
better track of lineage than
common folk (or someone kept it
for them), and well-documented
and reliable family trees may exist
for some noble families.
But in this instance, as well as in
more mundane cases where
someone claims to know the names
of, and pertinent information
about, your great-great-
grandparents and their ancestry, the
key question to ask is, “What are
the researcher’s sources?”
Before I went to the trouble of
adding voluminous information to
my family tree from another tree, I
would want to be sure that every
relationship in someone else’s
genealogy database had been
confirmed to my satisfaction.
Consider some types of sources,
from the most reliable to the least:
Primary Records: Your great-
grandmother’s birth record from her
town of birth. Your aunt’s birth
certificate, filed with a local
governmental office. A church
record of your parents’ marriage.
These are all primary records, made
at the time of the specific event they
document. Some, for example, a
marriage record, may be primary
records of one event and secondary
records of another. See below.
Secondary Records: Your great-
grandfather’s tombstone gives his
birth date as Jan. 1, 1898. Your
mother’s marriage certificate says
she was born on June 12, 1950.
Your father’s Army discharge papers
report his birthday. These are all
secondary records of the events I
have noted.
However, the information in
question may be included in a
primary record of another event.
For example, a marriage certificate
is a primary record of the marriage,but only a secondary record of the
births of the bride and groom. Some
information on any sort of record
may be hearsay.
Hearsay: Your father says his
father was born in 1921 in
Belgium. A neighbor of your
grandmother’s tells you that one of
your uncles was married three
times. Your mother says she was
married on April 10, 1972. All of
these are hearsay. The person
conveying the message may be
reliable or not, but the information
they convey is not backed up by a
document (not that you would ask
your mother to prove that she had
been married!).
A good researcher not only
records the names and dates
associated with subjects of a
study, but also documents the
sources of the information, so
that others can decide for
themselves how reliable the
information may be. Such
documentation of sources
may say “personal
conversation with so-and-so,”
which is hearsay; or “birth date
given on death certificate No.
27168, Erie County, N.Y.”
(primary for the death date,
secondary for the birth date); or
“1889 Serradifalco, Sicily, birth
record Number 158 for Gaetano
Coniglio,” a primary record of birth.
Most genealogy software allows
entry of source information, and I
try to include a source for every
important bit of information I
record. If others doubt any
information I have online, they can
usually go to the same source I cite
and check it out. In the case of the
above letter writer, I would suggest
he contact his “relative” and ask:
“What are your sources?”
Angelo Coniglio encourages readers to
contact him by writing to 438 Maynard
Drive, Amherst, N.Y. 14226; by email
at [email protected]; or by
visiting www.conigliofamily.com/
ConiglioGenealogyTips.htm. His new
historical fiction novel, The Lady of theWheel, is available through
Amazon.com.
‘Noble’ Ancestors
The Search for Our Ancestry
Angelo Coniglio
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2012 5
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Monthly Social Security and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
benefits for nearly 62 million Americans
will increase 1.7 percent in 2013, the
Social Security Administration
announced recently.
The 1.7
percent cost-of-
living adjustment
(COLA) will
begin with
benefits that more
than 56 million
Social Security
beneficiaries
receive in January 2013. Increased
payments to more than 8 million SSI
beneficiaries will begin on Dec. 31, 2012.
Some other changes that take effect in
January of each year are based on the
increase in average wages. Based on that
increase, the maximum amount of
earnings subject to the Social Security tax
(taxable maximum) will increase to
$113,700 from $110,100.
Of the estimated 163 million workers
who will pay Social Security taxes in
2013, nearly 10 million will pay higher
taxes as a result of the increase in the
taxable maximum.
Information
about Medicare
changes for 2013,
when announced,
will be available at
www.medicare.gov.
For some
beneficiaries, their
Social Security increase may be partially
or completely offset by increases in
Medicare premiums.
The Social Security Act provides for
how the COLA is calculated. To read
more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/
cola.
“Increased payments to
more than 8 million SSI
beneficiaries will begin
on Dec. 31, 2012.
“
Benefit Increase Announced,Office Hours Reduced
Social Security News
***
Effective Nov. 19, all Social Security
offices are open to the public Monday
through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—a
reduction of 30 minutes each weekday.
In addition, beginning Jan. 2, 2013, the
office will close to the public at noon
every Wednesday.
While agency employees will continue
to work their regular hours, this shorter
public window will allow them to
complete face-to-face interviews and
process claims work without incurring
the cost of overtime.
The significantly reduced funding
provided by Congress under the
continuing resolution for the first six
months of the fiscal year makes it
impossible for the agency to provide the
overtime needed to handle service to the
public as it has done in the past.
Most Social Security services do not
require a visit to a local office. Many
services—including applying for
retirement, disability, or Medicare
benefits; signing up for direct deposit;
replacing a Medicare card; obtaining a
proof of income letter; or informing us
of a change of address or telephone
number—are conveniently available at
www.socialsecurity.gov or by dialing the
toll-free number, (800) 772-1213.
People who are deaf or hard-of-
hearing may call the TTY number,
(800) 325-0778. Many online services
also are available in Spanish at
www.segurosocial.gov.
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AdditionalComments
This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers.
These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.
The listings with ashaded background
have additionalinformation about
their community in adisplay advertisement
in this edition.
Tota
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Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes
My husband, Bob, attracts
lunatics. One is a stand-alone
screwball. Hey, I heard that!
It’s not me. It’s our 6-year-old cat,
Murphy. Of course we adore him, and
he’s the happiest being we’ve ever
known.
Murphy’s not just dimwitted; he’s also
a thief. But he swipes things that no cat
with even half a brain would want. Well,
I’m not being fair. Murphy doesn’t have
half a brain.
There should be a sign over his head
that reads: “Vacancy.”
He’s lightning fast. One night, in a
flash, he jumped on the table, grabbed
an entire crown of broccoli that was
twice the size of his head, and raced
away with it, all the while scarfing it
down so that none of our other cats
could have what every cat dreams of
(sarcastic): broccoli.
His favorite food group? Dust balls.
Yes, we vacuum. They appear out of
nowhere like Bob’s ex-brother-in-law
who’s suddenly in our living room
wanting to borrow more cash.
Murphy has an incessant desire to rip
tape off UPS boxes. When I extract the
tape from his throat, he doesn’t notice.
Can you imagine sticking your fingers 3
inches down your cat’s throat without
him even caring you’re doing it?
Murphy’s race to eat everything
recently took a disastrous turn on a late
Sunday night. Bob put a pill on the
counter for our dog, Gracie. This pill is
so bitter that no pet will take it unless
owners disguise it in something tasteful.
But Murphy made a beeline to it and ate
it.
We called a poison hotline. We were
told he needed to get to a 24-hour
emergency veterinary hospital
immediately. I’m disabled and can’t move
late at night. Bob rushed Murphy to the
vet.
We figured they’d pump his stomach
and send him home. We were wrong.
Bob called me from his cell after the
vet saw Murphy.
“He has to stay here three days. They
made him vomit, but the toxin is still in
his system.” He was sobbing. “He could
lose all kidney function.”
“Did the vet say he could die?”
“Yes.”
I felt as
much
anguish for
Bob as I did
for Murphy.
He went on,
“Murphy’s
so
innocent,”
he said,
crying
harder. “I
hate myself
for letting
this
happen.”
“Oh,
Sweets, you didn’t mean for this to
happen. I wish I was sitting next to you.”
We cried without speaking. Then I said,
“Don’t drive. Not when you’re like this.”
Then I called the vet. I asked her for
emotional guidance for Bob.
She said, “This happens all the time.
It happened with me and my cat. He
needs to forgive himself. It’s impossible
to prevent these things 100 percent. Plus,
I’ve never heard of a cat who’d want to
eat a pill, especially one that tastes so
awful.”
“Bob’s in your parking lot. Would you
please go to him and tell him what you
told me?” And she did.
Three days later, Murphy came home
happy and healthy. When the vet called
and asked about him, I incorrectly
assumed she knew about Murphy’s
insane antics.
“He’s back to normal. He just
presented me with a dust ball the size of
a Burger King Triple Whopper! Isn’t that
great?”
“What?”
“Don’t worry,” I said, and then
cemented myself as a bonehead.
“Nobody’s getting near my broccoli
again!”
She asked to speak to Bob. I said,
“He’s busy. UPS came. Bob’s racing like a
cyclone, ripping tape off the boxes before
disaster hits. You know what he’s like
around UPS tape.”
She sounded confused. “Bob?”
I laughed, “Not Bob—”
Before I could explain she interrupted,
“Please have him call me.”
Bob’s role as a caregiver is not a role
he asked for,
but one he
feels blessed
to have.
He takes
care of me
with my
spinal cord
issues, our
old pet duck
who’s
arthritic, our
young border
collie who
can never
run again
because of a
genetic spinal problem, and our very sick
cat, Josie, to whom Bob administers IV
fluids daily.
“How could I be so lucky?” Bob says,
every single day of his life.
Yesterday at dawn, as the light gently
filled our bedroom, I slowly turned over
to see which of Bob’s brood was in the
protection of his arms. He was cradling
beautiful Murphy, who was sound asleep
on his back in the crook of Bob’s armpit.
Bob’s eyes were open but I didn’t say a
word. I knew he was preserving the
precious moments for as long as he could
before Murphy would wake up.
I watched as Murphy opened his eyes
then curled his paw under his chin. I
heard him purr when he closed his eyes
again, preferring to remain in the safety
of Bob’s arm for just a little while longer.
And so, snuggling next to Bob, I
closed my eyes again too.
Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally
syndicated columnist. Her new book is
Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: StoriesFrom a Life Out of Balance. To find out more,
visit www.saraleeperel.com or email
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2012 7
Broccoli and Happy Endings
Such Is Life
Saralee Perel
Murphy
Have you photographed
a smile that just begs
to be shared?
Have you photographed
a smile that just begs
to be shared?
Send us your favorite smile—your children,
grandchildren, friends, even your “smiling”
pet!—and it could be 50plus Senior News’ next
Smile of the Month!
You can submit your photos
(with captions) either digitally to
[email protected] or by mail to:
50plus Senior NewsSmile of the Month
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resolution of 300 dpi. No professional photos, please.
Please include a SASE if you would like to have your
photo returned.
8 December 2012 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Thank You, Volunteers!On-Line Publishers, Inc. and 50plus Senior News
would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of
the individual and senior group
volunteers who donated their time
and efforts at our 2012 50plus EXPOs.
Because of your assistance, we
were able to bring the contents and
the mission of 50plus Senior News
to life for the residents of
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Who Do I Look Like?
Older But Not Wiser
During the past year I have been
told several times by people
younger than me that I look like
someone.
No, not the same someone, many
different someones. I’ve been told I look
like Billy Graham, Billy Crystal, Hugh
Hefner (even though I don’t wear
pajamas in public), Bob Dylan, Tony
Bennett, and Ed Koch (the former mayor
of New York).
In addition, just the other day I had
an extremely weird conversation with a
middle-aged guy at the checkout line at
the supermarket.
“You look like that actor,” he told me.
“What actor?” I asked.
“You know, that actor.”
“Oh, him.” At this point I just wanted
to get out of the supermarket and away
from this guy. However, he was
relentless.
“He’s in a lot of comedies but he also
does serious pictures, you know, with
heart.”
“So he has a lot of range,” I said.
“Exactly. You look like the actor with
a lot of range.”
“OK, great,” I replied. “I’ll make sure
I see the next picture he’s in.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s dead.”
“So I looked like him before he passed
away?” I asked.
“Yeah, he probably doesn’t look too
good now.”
At first this whole series of “lookalike”
events was kind of amusing to me, and
then I realized what might be happening.
It’s not that I look like a celebrity, even
though I’d love to go on tour as Bob
Dylan.
It’s that people younger than us think
that we seniors all look alike. All they see
is the gray hair and the wrinkles. They
probably also see the turkey neck, but
let’s not dwell on that.
Or maybe, and this is even worse, as
we get older we do all start to look alike.
We become kind of … a generic version
of what we once were. I guess if this is
true, there’s one semi-positive side
effect—all the cool guys I envied in high
school now look like me.
Ironically, when I was a teenager I
desperately wanted to look like
everybody else. I just wanted to blend in.
However, now I wanted to fight this
anonymity.
I started to think of ways to make
myself stand out. I was thinking of
wearing something all the time, like a
scarf, that would become my trademark.
But then I would be known as “the guy
with the scarf ” and I don’t want to take
second billing to an article of clothing.
Then I thought of maybe getting a
tattoo. I’ve seen guys with Chinese
lettering tattooed on their arms or neck. I
could have a have tattoo that says AARP.
I have a feeling no one’s ever done that.
And then, all of the sudden, the
insanity stopped. I’d like to think that it
was a sudden burst of maturity on my
part, but actually it was the fear of the
tattoo needle that brought me to my
senses. I realized that if some younger
people can’t tell us apart, that’s their
problem. We seniors are definitely
unique individuals with unique looks.
I, for example, am just a regular guy
who happens to look like Cary Grant.
Hey, the guy at the supermarket couldn’t
remember the actor’s name, so I get to
fill in the blanks.
Note: If you’re looking at my picture
now and trying to figure out who I really
look like—it was taken seven years ago and
in the right light (semi-darkness).
Sy Rosen
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2012 9
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At this special time of giving thanks and reminiscing, the staff of
On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.
Happy Holidays!
Book Review
Afascinating psycho-biography,
Jackie O: On the Couch takes
readers into the mind of
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
through a first-person, autobiographical
narrative. The book delves into Jackie’s
childhood and helps the reader
understand how and why she became the
person she was. It also explores JFK’s
background and the ways it affected his
marriage.
Jackie’s deep love for Jack, the cat-and-
mouse game he played before their
engagement, his early inattentiveness, the
difficult years they spent together, along
with details of his outrageous
womanizing and their happier times at
the White House late in the marriage—
all are viewed through her
eyes. A poignant
description of Jack’s
assassination and funeral
is recounted.
The book also looks
into the widow Jackie’s
need for Aristotle
Onassis. She debunks the
idea that she married Ari
purely for his money. The
joyful early years and the
gradual collapse of the
marriage are described, as
is Ari’s death.
Jackie’s successful entry into the
publishing world, and how the work
helped to define her, follows. A new
Jackie emerges, who is
probably closer to the one
she would have become
had she not been first
lady.
Her new persona allows
her to form the best
relationship of her life,
with the elderly, stout,
and adoring Maurice
Tempelsman, who gave
her the love, devotion,
and constancy she never
received from her two
husbands.
The book also carefully follows the
progress of the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
disease that led to Jackie’s death at age
63—from her fierce denial to the gradual
acceptance that she would not survive.
Jackie O: On the Couch is available
from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and
directly from Bancroft Press at
www.bancroftpress.com.
About the AuthorAlma H. Bond received her Ph.D.
from Columbia University and became a
highly successful psychoanalyst for 37
years in New York City. Jackie O: On the
Couch, the first of her On the Couch
series to be published, received a
Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and
Finalist International Book Award. She
has also had 19 other books published.
She lives in Carlisle, Pa.
Jackie O: On the CouchInside the Mind and Life of Jackie Kennedy Onassis
By Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.
Calling All AuthorsIf you have written and published a book and would like 50plus Senior News to feature a Book Review, please submit a synopsis
of the book (350 words or fewer) and a short autobiography (80 words or fewer). A copy of the book is required for review. Discretion is advised.
Please send to: On-Line Publishers, Inc., Megan Joyce, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512. For more information, please email [email protected].
10 December 2012 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
(717) 545-4001
A Legacy of Service
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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
By Andrea Gross
The clock strikes midnight.
Fireworks explode. Confetti fills the
air. And I get a chance to make a
whole new set of resolutions, some of
which I may even keep. How can I
not like New Year’s Eve and New
Year’s Day? What’s more, if
celebrating once is nice, wouldn’t
twice be even better?
Squeezing two such festivities into
one year takes planning, but it can be
done. First, welcome the new year on
Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, the dates set by
the internationally accepted
Gregorian calendar.
Then, several weeks later, partake
in a traditional Chinese New Year’s
celebration, the date of which is set
according to the age-old Chinese
calendar. (In 2013, Chinese New
Year will fall on Feb. 10.)
Here, two places that celebrate the
new year in very different ways.
Savannah, Ga.As midnight approaches, people
make their way to the upper deck of the
three-tiered riverboat. They’ve been
partying for more than three hours—
dancing to live music, feasting on hors
d’oeuvres and a buffet of elegant
offerings. Now, as fireworks from
nearby Tybee Island color the sky, it’s
time to welcome the new year.
On shore, Savannah’s famed City
Market, a four-block area of restored
buildings, is filled with landlubbers who
are enjoying the city’s biggest street
party. Some are dining in one of the
many restaurants; others are enjoying
the free entertainment outside.
Then the countdown begins, and a
man lifts his son to his shoulders for a
better view of the fireworks. Another
man lifts his drink as the band strikes
up “Auld Lang Syne.” The new year has
officially begun.
The next day, more than 2,000
people, presumably recovered from the
previous night’s revelry, gather on Tybee
Welcoming the New Year with Double the Fun
Photo courtesy of tybeevisit.com
More than 2,000 people partake in a
New Year’s Day Polar Plunge near
Savannah.
Lion dancers provide
entertainment during
New Year’s Day festivities.
Photo courtesy of Savannah Riverboat Cruises
Traditional stern-wheel
riverboats offer a unique
party spot for New Year’s Eve
revelers in Savannah.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2012 11
June 6, 20139 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Church Farm School1001 East Lincoln Highway, Exton
May 28, 20139 a.m. – 2 p.m.Hershey Lodge
West Chocolate Avenue& University Drive, Hershey
Date and location
to be announced
717.285.1350717.770.0140610.675.6240
Limited SponsorshipOpportunities Available
Island for the Polar Plunge, an event that
raises money for a local charity. In
addition to swimming caps, which range
from ordinary-plain to frivolously freaky,
they are outfitted in glittery capes,
feather boas, bathrobes, PJs, and,
occasionally, regular old bikinis and
briefs.
At noon they race for the water,
emerging a few minutes later, shivering
and smiling.
“I’ve washed off the sins of the past.
Now I’m ready to enjoy the new year,”
says one woman. She wraps her arms
about herself, smiles, and disappears into
the crowd of cold, but cleansed, folks.
www.savannahvisit.com
Richmond, British ColumbiaThree thousand miles away, people in
Richmond, British Columbia, have just
finished packing away the piney boughs
and glass ornaments that represent the
Western holiday season when they begin
preparing for the traditional Chinese
New Year’s celebration.
In Richmond, this second welcoming
of the new year is a very, very big deal.
This isn’t surprising, given that the city
boasts North America’s highest
percentage of people of Chinese heritage
outside of China.
Walking the streets of the area known
as the Golden Village—a four-square-
block enclave that is home to more than
400 Asian restaurants and three Asian-
themed malls—it’s easy to believe you’re
in China, except that there’s no smog,
the water is safe to drink, and most
people understand English.
Festivities begin approximately two
weeks before New Year’s Day, as malls set
up special booths where vendors hawk
elaborate flower arrangements and
special holiday treats. At Landsdowne
Mall, women make paper fish and
lanterns; children perform dances and
demonstrate their skill in martial arts;
and expert calligraphers make banners
that are used to decorate homes and
public places.
On New Year’s Eve, restaurants serve
multicourse feasts where each food has a
special meaning. Since pork symbolizes
good luck, Shanghai River Restaurant
prepares bamboo baskets filled with xiao
long bao (steamed dumplings filled with
minced pork and jellied broth).
“These are packages of good fortune,”
says the waiter.
Seafood dishes are supposed to bring
prosperity because in ancient times only
the wealthy could afford such treats,
while eating long, uncut noodles foretells
a long life. Sweet, sticky rice is served as
a reminder that families should “stick
together” and support one another.
After dinner, many folks go to the
Aberdeen Mall, where the new year is
welcomed with speeches, lion dancing,
and lots and lots of confetti. Others go
to the Kuan Yin Temple of the
International Buddhist Society, which is
modeled in part after the Forbidden City
in Beijing. It is considered by many to
be one of the most magnificent Buddhist
temples in North America.
There, they greet the new year with
prayer, many even staying overnight in
order to be among the first to receive
blessings in the new year. By noon on
New Year’s Day, thousands of folks have
congregated at the temple for a prayer
ceremony and vegetarian lunch.
“Yes,” I say to myself as I munch on
some bamboo shoots, “it’s definitely nice
to celebrate twice.”
www.tourismrichmond.com
Photos © Irv Green; story by Andrea Gross
(www.andreagross.com).
Hot pot dinners are favorites
throughout the year.
Elaborate flower booths
are set up in malls.
Young dancers prepare to
entertain people who are
shopping for holiday presents
at a Richmond mall.
12 December 2012 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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Along with festive sights, a major
part of the holidays is aromatic
smells. From evergreens to the
holiday meal, the holidays offer a feast
for the eyes and for the nose.
Some of the most popular scents
derive from holiday decorations like fruit
wreaths, citrus pomanders, and evergreen
garlands. The models for these luscious
holiday elements all have roots in art
history.
Renaissance WreathsThe works of art by the Renaissance
artisan and master Luca della Robbia
served as the impetus for today’s version
of the holiday fruit wreath. Aptly called
the della Robbia wreath, fruit wreaths
decorate homes and hearths all over the
world.
Della Robbia’s 15th-century
architectural medallions were oftenhighlighted with fruit wreaths and
decorative garlands of green and red
apples, berries, pineapples, lemons, limes,
and oranges. Based on these Renaissance
decorations, the della Robbia-style
wreath was reintroduced during the late
1800s in a time period known as the
Renaissance Revival.
Traditionally, fruit wreaths were
lovingly hung on the exterior doors of
homes at holiday time. Fruit wreaths
gave the winter greenery a bright,
colorful contrast. Fruits often appear in
the paintings, prints, architectural, and
furniture designs of the 18th and 19th
centuries based on Renaissance
iconography.
The type of fruit chosen for such
living wreaths was symbolic. For
instance, ornamental apples symbolized
the family, and this fruit played a major
role in holiday decorations. Apple ring
wreaths were associated, at
Christmastime, with the holy family and
the nativity.
Other related wreaths featured fruits
Holiday Fruits in Home Décor
Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori
Dr. Lori
Photos courtesy of Staff of www.DrLoriV.com
A traditional della Robbia-style fruit
wreath featuring symbolic holiday fruits.
Fruit wreath sculpture by Luca della
Robbia, circa 15th century, from the
collection of the Hermitage Museum,
St. Petersburg, Russia.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2012 13
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such as lemons, pineapples, and oranges.
Wreaths made of whole lemons
symbolized friendship and were typically
hung on doors at the back of homes
(where close friends enter), rather than
on front doors. For the holidays, fruit-
inspired decorations remind us of the
bountiful harvest and the joy of sharing
with family and friends.
Also, pineapples were symbolic fruits
associated with the holiday season. The
pineapple represented the tradition of
hospitality at holiday time and all year
long. The hospitable pineapple form was
typically carved into Chippendale and
Federal furniture, including bedposts,
mantles, dining room sideboards, etc.
Today, pineapples are the fruit of
choice for home décor items ranging
from silver candelabras to front porch
welcome mats.
Fancy FruitLike fruit wreaths, fruit pyramids and
aromatic pomanders dating back to the
Colonial period were among the delights
of a holiday home.
Scents of fresh fruit and spices
lingered from the tabletop fruit
pyramids suggesting architectural
examples in miniature. In the 19th
century, sweet-smelling fruit pomanders
had yet to be relegated to the hall closet,
but instead they were prominently hung
front and center in a Victorian home’s
entry foyer.
Orange, lime, or lemon pomanders,
enhanced with whole cloves, were
suspended over doorways and in
stairwells to give busy areas of a home a
lovely scent. Made by pushing cloves
into whole oranges or other citrus fruits,
a pomander was a welcomed and
popular hostess gift. They were used in
the 1700s and 1800s to ward off foul
odors that were thought to bring illness
into a home in wintertime.
In Colonial America, fruit wreaths,
pyramids, and pomanders were popular
in holiday homes. These antique holiday
handicrafts not only smelled delightful
with the scents of apple, clove, and
citrus, but they were also pretty, natural
additions to the interior decor.
The pleasing aroma of the fruit
decoration allows the pomander to
maintain a prominent place among
holiday decorations. Happy holidays!
Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-
winning TV personality, Dr. Lori presents
antique appraisal events nationwide. Dr. Lori
is the expert appraiser on the hit TV show
Auction Kings on Discovery channel, which
airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Visit
www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/
DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.
December 2012 will have something very new,
No, not a special gift that Santa will bring for you,
You can never again have this as long as you live,
Everyone will receive it, and it’s nothing you can give.
Take your calendar for this year and you will see,
What this “once in a lifetime” surprise will really be,
Count the number of Saturdays and Sundays there will be for you,
Yes, you will find a total of five weekends—too good to be true!
This is your surprise—five weekends to get everything done,
They will be filled with Christmas and New Year’s with all of their fun,
Enjoy it! It will never happen for you again for your happy cheers,
As such a very special December happens only once every 823 years.
The Big Surprise of December 2012
Written and submitted by Erla Z. Stump
Jingle All the Wayto Some Holiday Fun!
4500 Oakhurst Blvd. • Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-540-1895 • www.themanoratoakridge.com
Saturday, December 1
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Holiday Crafts — need to do some last-
minute shopping? Stop by and avoid the
mall crowds!
Thursday, December 6
6:45 p.m.
Hershey Christmas Lights — take our van
to visit the Hershey lights. Seating is
limited. Call today!
Sunday, December 9
2 p.m.
Chris Poje, PA State Senior Idol, will
perform. He’s wonderful and handsome
too, so please join us! Refreshments will
be served.
Saturday, December 15
2 p.m.
Musically Yours Christmas Show — come
celebrate the season with us and enjoy
some hot chocolate too!
Monday, December 17
2 p.m.
Christmas Carols “Where Do They Come
From” presented by Dr. Koones, followed
by a sing along to “Mitch Miller.”
Refreshments will be served.
Saturday, December 22
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Christmas Open House — tour any time
and take home some holiday goodies.
Friday, December 28
3 to 5 p.m.
Year-End Lock in Your Savings Happy
Holidays Social. Join us for eggnog &
hors d’oeuvres and some year-end fun!
RSVP to any event
by calling 717-540-1895
today!
Dear Savvy Senior,
Are there any new or different types of
vaccines being recommended to seniors this
flu season?
– Health-Conscious Carol
Dear Carol,
There are actually several different
types of flu shots available to seniors this
year, along with a new FDA-approved
shot for pneumonia. Here are your
options.
Flu ShotsJust as they do every year, the CDC
strongly recommends a seasonal flu shot
to almost everyone, but it’s especially
important for seniors who are more
vulnerable. The flu puts more than
200,000 people in the hospital each year
and kills around 24,000—90 percent of
whom are seniors.
This year, all seniors 65 and older
have two flu vaccine options from which
to choose: a traditional flu shot or a shot
of Fluzone High-Dose. The high-dose
vaccine contains four times the amount
of antigen (the part of the vaccine that
prompts the body to make antibody) as a
regular flu shot does, which creates a
stronger immune response for better
protection.
And if you’re under age 65, your two
options are a
regular flu
shot or a shot
of Fluzone
Intradermal.
The
intradermal
vaccine uses a
shorter,
thinner
needle to
inject the
vaccine just
under the
skin, rather than deeper in the muscle
like standard flu shots. If you’re
squeamish about needles, this is a nice
option.
You also need to be aware that if
you’re allergic to chicken eggs or if you
have had a severe reaction to a flu
vaccine in the past, you should not get
vaccinated without consulting your
doctor first.
To locate a vaccination site that offers
regular, high-dose, and intradermal flu
shots, ask your doctor or pharmacist or
check the online flu-shot locator
(www.flu.gov). Most chains like CVS,
Walgreens, Safeway, Kmart, Walmart,
Rite Aid, and Kroger offer all types of
shots.
You’ll also be happy to know that if
you’re a Medicare beneficiary, Part B will
cover 100 percent of the costs of any flu
shot. But if you’re not covered, you can
expect to pay around $25 to $35 for a
regular or intradermal flu shot or $50 to
$60 for a shot of the high-dose.
Pneumonia VaccineThe other important vaccination the
CDC recommends to seniors—especially
this time of year—is the pneumococcal
vaccine for pneumonia and meningitis.
Pneumococcal diseases hospitalize around
300,000 U.S. seniors each year and kill
around 5,000.
The CDC currently recommends all
seniors 65 or older get a one-time-only
shot of the vaccine Pneumovax, as well as
those under 65 who smoke or have
chronic health conditions like asthma,
lung and heart disease, diabetes, or a
weakened immune system.
Pneumovax, which protects against 23
strains of the pneumococcal disease, is
also covered
100 percent
under
Medicare
Part B, and
you can get
it on the
same day
you get
your flu
shot. If
you’re not
covered by
insurance,
this vaccine costs around $45 to $85 at
retail clinics.
You also need to know that this year,
there’s an alternative pneumococcal
vaccine available to people age 50 and
older called Prevnar 13. This vaccine,
which has been available to children for
several years, may provide seniors longer-
lasting and better protection against
pneumonia than Pneumovax.
Talk to your doctor to determine
which pneumonia vaccine is best for you.
Prevnar 13 is also covered by most
insurers, including Medicare Part B, but
if you aren’t covered, the shot runs
between $100 and $150.
Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the
NBC Today show and author of The SavvySenior Book. www.savvysenior.org.
Vaccination Options for Seniors This Flu Season
Savvy Senior
Jim Miller
14 December 2012 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2012 15
WORD SEARCH
SUDOKU
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18
Your ad could be here! Sponsor the Puzzle Page!
Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.
1. Texas shrine
6. History
10. Punches
14. Famous prize
15. Folk singer Guthrie16. Orem location
17. Dispensed, with “out”
18. Tidy
19. Showy flower
20. Sampras of tennis
21. Bonanza’s Blocker
22. Bites
23. Ocean
25. Little piggies
27. Fragrances
31. Rooms at the top
35. Ripped
36. Attributes
40. Pecan, for one
41. Swear
42. Coffee holder
43. Old hairstyle
44. Nourished
45. Go to a meeting
48. Mexican money
49. California city
51. Worshipped
53. British school
55. Altar words
56. Ivy, for instance
58. Possess
60. Stumble
64. Fireplace need
65. Long story
66. Fatigued
68. Fem. suffix
69. Plateau
70. Make happy
71. Forest denizen
72. Consumes
73. Thick
1. Joiner
2. Fastener
3. Competent
4. Encounter
5. Most elderly
6. Chinese zoo attraction
7. Domain
8. Bias
9. Small child
10. Magistrate
11. Upon
12. Freshwater fish
13. Haggard novel
22. Fishing aids
24. NY summer hrs.
26. Food grain
27. Office workers
28. Lid
29. Wear away
30. Modern
32. Gather
33. Jinx
34. Remained upright
37. Furrow
38. “___ we there, yet?”
39. Lodge
43. Military address inits.
45. Poker stake
46. Also
47. Parent
50. Return to ___
52. Line type
54. Slangy negatives
55. Peruvian indians
56. Cast a ballot
57. Tiny amount
59. Like an owl
61. Agitate
62. Persia, now
63. Dogs and cats, e.g.
64. Spider’s home
65. Flightless bird
67. A Summer Place starSandra
Across
Down
CROSSWORD
Many people he shows his collection
to do not know that when Milton
Hershey first started manufacturing
Hershey’s chocolate bars, he included
postcards with them as a way to
advertise, Sallade said.
“There are a total of 78 different ones
and I have 77,” he said. “I’m missing one
but it is hard to locate.”
Besides finding the last of the
postcards from Hershey’s chocolate bars,
Sallade said that he has no set goal or
finish line in sight for his postcard
collection. Selling postcards is a popular
way to regroup collections and make
room for more, or to simply make a
profit, but for now his collection remains
a hobby that he enjoys.
Sallade has been retired for five years
from his job as a florist. His grandfather
started the business in 1898 and Sallade
said he worked there since he could hold
a broom in his hand. He majored in
horticulture at Ohio State University
before returning to the family business.
Since retiring, Sallade and his wife,
Caryn, have had more time to travel to
places like Canada and Ireland, and he
purchases postcards everywhere that he
goes.
He has paid as little as 10 cents for a
postcard and as much as $250, he said.
Looking for them at flea markets is more
fun and the price is usually better as well,
said Sallade.
But sometimes postcards he finds for
sale online are only a few dollars.
“It is something that varies
considerably,” Sallade said.
While the bulk of his postcard
collection is from what Sallade calls “the
golden age of postcards,” between 1900
and 1915, he certainly does not shy away
from new postcards.
“I buy new ones too, because some
day they are going to be old,” he said.
He stores the postcards in notebooks
that have plastic liners to protect each
card and has the chance to display the
cards at his postcard club’s monthly
meetings.
Sallade is president of the club. He is
also one of the youngest members, with
the average age of the 45 club members
being between 65 and 70 years.
The club has been around for more
than 30 years and meets monthly at a
local church.
“We welcome anybody to come to
visit,” said Sallade. “We have a speaker
every month or sometimes we do a
display. This month everyone will be
displaying their Thanksgiving or
Christmas postcards.”
Sometimes the club holds events
where vendors come to purchase
postcards from the club members. He
said there are postcard clubs that meet in
York, Lancaster, and Carlisle.
And although so much of the world is
switching to digital, postcard collectors
like Sallade say that the postcard is
something that will always be around.
“I think there is always an interest in a
postcard of some place where someone
went to visit,” said Sallade.
MEMORIES from page 1
16 December 2012 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
VolunteerSpotlight!VolunteerSpotlight!
Time is aPriceless Gift
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.
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’
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.
LIHEAP Now OpenEligible Pennsylvania residents are
encouraged to apply for the Low-Income
Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP), which helps low-income
people pay their heating bills through
home energy assistance grants and crisis
grants.
Cash grants are awarded based on
household income, family size, type of
heating fuel, and region.
Crisis grants are provided in the event
of a heating emergency, including
broken heating equipment or leaking
lines that must be fixed or replaced, lack
of fuel, termination of utility service, or
danger of being without fuel or of
having utility service terminated.
In most counties, assistance with
home heating crisis situations is available
24 hours a day.
The Department of Public Welfare is
sending all LIHEAP clients who applied
online last year a postcard notice
encouraging them to reapply online. In
the past, the department sent only paper
applications to all prospective clients,
even if those individuals applied online
the previous year.
Prior applicants who did not apply
online last year will still be mailed paper
applications.
By way of the new postcard, clients
will be provided with a preregistration
number, giving them access to an online
application that has already been filled
out using last year’s data. Clients will
simply have to ensure online
information is correct and update
anything that may have changed, such as
an address.
All online applications are sent
straight to the county office to
determine eligibility, thereby eliminating
mail and hand processing time.
For more information or to apply
online, visit www.dpw.state.pa.us.
Household sizes and maximum
income limits for LIHEAP’s
2012-13 season:
1 person – $16,755
2 people – $22,695
3 people – $28,635
4 people – $34,575
5 people – $40,515
6 people – $46,455
7 people – $52,395
8 people – $58,335
9 people – $64,275
10 people – $70,215
(For each additional person, add $5,940.)
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2012 17
Dauphin County
Calendar of Events
Dauphin County Library Programs
Dauphin County Department of Parks and Recreation
AARP Driver Safety Programs
For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse.
Nov. 3 and 10, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Mohler Senior Center, 25 Hope Drive, Hershey, (717) 533-2002
Nov. 7 and 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – West Hanover Rec. Center, 628 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 540-6076
Nov. 13, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Susquehanna Township Parks & Recreation Building, 1900 Linglestown Road,
Harrisburg, (717) 909-9228
Programs and Support Groups
East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380
Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825Dec. 27, 1 to 2 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. – Monthly Book Drop-Off
Dec. 27, 6 p.m. – Friends of Elizabethville Area Library Meeting
Harrisburg Downtown Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976
Johnson Memorial Library, 799 E. Center St., Millersburg, (717) 692-2658
Kline Branch, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934
Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library, 2410 N. Third St., Harrisburg, (717) 232-7286
McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976
Northern Dauphin Library, 683 Main St., Lykens, (717) 453-9315
William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book Club
Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m. – Friends of the Alexander Family Library Meeting
Dec. 18, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club
Free and open to the public.
Senior Center Activities
Dec. 8, 10 a.m.Teamster 776 Retirees Christmas Party
Union Hall
2552 Jefferson St., Harrisburg
(717) 233-8766
Dec. 14, 6 to 8 p.m.Live Nativity
Ecumenical Retirement Community
624 Wilhelm St., Harrisburg
(717) 561-2590
Dec. 19, 1:30 p.m.Parkinson’s Support Group on East Shore
Jewish Home
4004 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg
(717) 441-8627
Dec. 20, 1:30 p.m.Hershey Area AARP Meeting
Spring Creek Church of the Brethren
335 E. Areba Ave., Hershey
(717) 832-3282
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to [email protected] for consideration.
Give Us the Scoop!
Please send us your press
releases so we can let our
readers know about
free events occurring in
Dauphin County!
Email preferred to:
(717) 770-0140
(717) 285-1350
Let
Help you get the word out!
Bistline Senior Center – (717) 564-5633
Edgemont Senior Center – (717) 236-2221
Friendship Senior Center – (717) 657-1547
Heinz-Menaker Senior Center – (717) 238-7860
Highspire Area Senior Center – (717) 939-4580
Hoy/Latsha Senior Center – (717) 939-9833
Hummelstown Senior Center – (717) 566-6855
Jewish Community Center – (717) 236-9555
Lick Towers Senior Center – (717) 233-0388
Lykens Senior Center – (717) 453-7985
Millersburg Senior Center – (717) 692-2657
Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002,www.hersheyseniorcenter.com
Royalton Senior Center – (717) 944-4831
Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682,www.rutherfordhouse.orgWednesdays, 12:15 p.m. – Free Aerobics
Steelton Senior Center – (717) 939-0693
Please call or visit the centers’ websites for additional
activities.
Weekends through Dec. 16, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Festival of Trees, Fort Hunter Tavern House
Weekends through Dec. 16, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Toy Train Exhibit, Fort Hunter Centennial Barn
18 December 2012 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Pu
zzle
s sh
ow
n o
n p
age
15
Puz
zle
So
luti
on
sThe Christmas Tree:
An American Tradition
Fragments of History
Victor M. Parachin
In 1851, Mark Carr, a logger from
New York’s Catskill Mountains,
created the first Christmas tree lot.
In order to make a little extra money
over the holiday, he rented sidewalk
space in New York City. His rental
expense for the season was a mere $1.
Day after day, he sold his cut trees to city
dwellers.
Over the years, Carr’s concept of
placing a holiday tree inside the home
would expand across the country, making
the Christmas tree an American
tradition. One poll reveals that nearly 85
percent of all American homes contain a
decorated tree at Christmastime, totaling
between 80 and 90 million decorated
trees.
Although the Christmas tree is
associated with a major Christian holiday
celebrating the birth of Christ, the origin
of placing a festive tree in the home goes
back to the Vikings. In Scandinavian
countries, winter was cold and bleak, and
days were short. In some areas, the sun
disappeared for weeks at a time, creating
a perpetual night. Every community
experienced the death of several villagers
and many animals.
Yet, the Vikings found a point of hope
and comfort in the evergreen tree. They
noted that the evergreen not only
survived one harsh winter after another,
but also continued to grow and thrive in
spite of the season. Consequently, the
Vikings began to cut down evergreens
and place them in their homes. There,
the tree would be a daily symbol of hope.
Along with the Vikings, other
Europeans were intrigued by the mystery
of the tree that stayed green throughout
the winter. Many of them included the
evergreen as part of their pagan religious
practices. It is through those pagan
customs that the evergreen made its way
into Christianity.
There are various legends that offer
explanations for the origins of the
“Christmas tree,”
as it came to be
called.
One of those
legends involved
St. Boniface (675-
754), a British
monk who traveled
across Europe as a
missionary. One
Christmas Eve he
came across some
German-speaking
people who were
preparing a human
sacrifice before an oak tree. According to
legend, he struck the oak a single blow
with his axe and felled the tree.
Impressed by his miraculous powers,
the people abandoned human sacrifice
and embraced Christianity. Boniface
pointed to a small evergreen fir tree,
instructing them to make that tree a
symbol of their new faith and to use it
when celebrating the birth of Christ.
Another legend about the Christmas
tree is tied to Protestant Reformation
leader Martin Luther (1483-1546). On
Christmas Eve, he was walking through
the woods when the beauty of the stars
shining through the branches of the fir
trees moved him deeply. An idea came
to his mind. He quickly cut down a
small tree and brought it home for his
family.
Luther covered it with lit candles and
then used the tree as an object lesson to
explain the faith. He taught his family
that the tree, whose evergreen color
never faded, was like God’s love, which
would never fade
away no matter
what life’s
circumstances
were. The lit
candles were
representative of
Jesus Christ, who
was the “light of
the world.” For
Luther, the tree
was symbolical of
the entire Christian
faith and not just
Christmas.
It is in Germany where the earliest
historical reference to a Christmas tree
first appears. In 1561 at Alsace a law
was passed limiting each “burgher” or
resident to only one Christmas tree. The
law further stipulated the tree could be
no more than “eight shoes” in height.
Evidently, the custom of bringing a live
tree into the home was so popular that
deforestation was becoming an issue.
From Germany the custom of a
Christmas tree spread all over western
Europe. By 1837, a Christmas tree was
being used in France. In 1840 England’s
Queen Victoria and her German-born
husband-to-be, Prince Albert, celebrated
Christmas with a decorated tree.
In the United States, the first
Christmas trees were introduced during
the American Revolution by German
mercenaries fighting for the Colonial
army. The concept of using a live tree at
Christmas did not catch on with the
early Americans, and the tree returned
to Germany with the mercenaries at the
conclusion of the Revolutionary War.
Around 1820, German immigrants to
Pennsylvania brought the tree back, and
this time it caught on. By the 1840s, the
Christmas tree was widely known in the
United States. An 1845 children’s book,
Kriss Kringle’s Christmas Tree, helped
further propel popularity of the tree.
The earliest American trees were
short and small, often displayed on
tables. Americans gradually switched to
larger trees placed in stands on the floor
because they had an ever-increasing
variety of ornaments to place on them.
Those early trees were decorated with
gingerbread, pretzels, cookies, apples,
lemons, oranges, figs, strings of
cranberries or popcorn, candy, dolls,
paper roses, glass balls, and ornaments
made of eggshells or cotton.
As the Christmas tree made its way
into American homes and hearts, some
clergy voiced opposition to what they
declared was originally a pagan custom.
However, the Christmas tree began to
appear in churches during the holiday
season.
From its humble beginnings as a
symbol of hope and strength for the
ancient Vikings, the Christmas tree has
evolved to become the central symbol of
the world’s most celebrated holiday.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2012 19
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“A Continuing Care Retirement Community.”
(717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240 • www.onlinepub.com
On-Line Publishers, Inc.& 50plus Senior Newsjust earned 6 national awards!
First Place – Profile“A Voice for Central PA’s Pets”by Megan Joyce
Second Place – Personal Essay“The Medium is in the Message”and “One Night Only”by Candace O’Donnell
Third Place – General Excellence
First Place – Feature Layout“Healing Foods for a Healthy Life”by Victoria Shanta
Second Place – Profile“Around the World and Back Again”by Lynda Hudzick
Third Place – General Excellence
Essex House Hosts Halloween Bash
Holiday Program HelpsStruggling Seniors
If you have local news you’d like considered for
Around Town, please email [email protected]
Photo courtesy of E.W. Hollinger
Middletown’s Essex House residents council sponsored a Halloween party
on Oct. 31, with music by Scott Fagan and The MAAC Island Band.
The event was coordinated by June Turns with Martha Hernandez,
Margaret Tippitt, Betty Miller, and Sandy Warner.
With so many older adults living
alone and in poverty, some
Cumberland and Perry County seniors
will undoubtedly be struggling to
make ends meet this holiday season.
That’s why the area Home Instead
Senior Care office has partnered with
retailers and community organizations
to make sure isolated seniors receive
gifts and companionship through the
Be a Santa to a Senior program.
With the support of the
Cumberland and Perry County offices
of aging, the Super Secret Santa Squad
of the Dauphin County Courthouse,
local nursing homes with residents
who are financially challenged, and
area retailers, volunteers, and
members of the community, the
local Home Instead Senior Care
office is collecting gifts to seniors
who might otherwise spend the
holiday alone.
Community members are asked
to take an ornament off one of the
Be a Santa to a Senior trees in
Cumberland County locations of
Kmart, Members 1st Federal Credit
Union, and Drayer Physical Therapy,
as well as Bethany Village and
Odyssey Hospice. After purchasing
the gift, return it to the tree with the
ornament attached.
Volunteers are also needed to help
wrap the gifts received. Wrapping event
dates, times, and locations can be
found at http://homeinstead.com/242.
The Home Instead Senior Care office
will then enlist the volunteer help of
its staff, senior-care business associates,
and others to distribute the gifts.
From left, Jen Robertson, Members 1st
Federal Credit Union; Connie Kay,
BASTAS coordinator; Kendra Koser,
community liaison; and Lynne Kay,
marketing manager, at the Members 1st
Federal Credit Union on Carlisle Pike in
Mechanicsburg.
20 December 2012 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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