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ersDecember 31, 2011
®
TOP 10 COMMON PET CARE MYTH’S
A PUBLICATION OF LANCASTER NEWSPAPERS INC.
FEATURED BOOMER SHERYL TROWER
HOW TOHIT THE SLOPES ON A BUDGET
15
12
6
The First Baby Boomer 3Chronic Illness & Hearing Loss 4Flash Back: 1959 5Healthy 2012 Resolutions 6Ski Trip On A Budget 7Featured Boomer: Sheryl Trower 810 Creative Ways Your Display Books 12Are You Ready For Retirement 14Top Ten Common Pet Care Myths 15Ring In The New Year 16
contents
Don’t forget yourBOOMers ® Card!
Look on page 11 for more information on how to get your very own BOOMers® card. BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOMers ers BOOMers BOOM BOOMers BOOM BOOMers BOOM BOOMers BOOM BOOMers BOOM BOOMers BOOM BOOMers BOOM BOOMers BOOMers BOOMers BOOM BOOMers BOOM BOOMers BOOMers ers ers ers ers BOOMers BOOMers ers
©©
The card carried by
A PUBLICATION OF LANCASTER NEWSPAPERS, INC.
BOOMers©
2 BOOMers ® • December 31, 2011
Cover photo: Sheryl Trower
December 31, 2011 • BOOMers ® 3
The First Baby Boomer
Few people attain celebrity simply by being born, but that’s just what happened to Kathleen Casey-Kirschling.
Born one second past midnight on January 1, 1946, Kathy Casey became the fi rst Baby Boomer to be born in the United States. Kirschling leads the ranks of the reported 79 million Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964.
It has taken a while for Kirschling to grow accustomed to her notoriety. Her fi rst taste of fame came when she was heralded as the fi rst Boomer in the Landon Jones book “Great Expectations: America and the Baby Boom Generation.” Jones helped paint Kirschling as the face of the generation. Throughout her adult life Kirschling has been featured in numerous magazine, newspaper and television features about her life and times as the fi rst Baby Boomer. The world watched when she turned 40, 50 and 60 ... when she fi led for Social Security benefi ts. Chances are the world will also be watching when Kirschling rings in the new year while turning 65.
In a 2006 interview with USA Today, Kirschling said, “I don’t feel like I am a spokesman for the generation, but I have just a little part of every part of the generation in me. I am defi nitely a Baby Boomer, in the true sense of the word — the good and the bad.”
Kathy Casey-Kirschling isn’t the only person who was born on January, 1, 1946 — although she very well may be the fi rst. Here are some other notable Baby Boomers who share the same birthday.
• Rick Hurst, Actor • Robert Rivelino, Brazilian football player • Manfred Stengl, Austrian Olympic Gold Medalist Baby Boomer Diane Keaton (born Diane Hall) on
January 5, 1946 was one of the fi rst Baby Boomers born in this country. In 1987 she starred in a movie called “Baby Boom,” a satire of many Boomer women in that era.
Keaton stars as J.C. Wiatt, a yuppie advertising execu-tive at the top of the corporate ladder in New York City. When she gets word of a family inheritance from a rela-tive in another company, the “tiger lady,” as she’s known in business, assumes it’s money. However, what J.C. really inherits is a baby girl. This infant throws J.C.’s life upside down, as she subsequently quits her job, leaves her boy-friend and relocates to rural Vermont — with many inter-esting turns along the way.
I don’t feel like I am a spokesman for the generation, but I have just a
little part of every part of the generation in me. I am defi nitely a
Baby Boomer, in the true sense of the word — the good and the bad.
~Kathleen Casey-Kirschling
■
4 BOOMers ® • December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011 • BOOMers ® 5
COURTESY OF ARA CONTENT
Hearing loss isn’t a harmless condition to be ignored. In fact, hearing loss often coexists with
other serious health problems. And a growing body of research indicates that there may be a link. Studies show that people with heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression may all have an increased risk of hearing loss.
When left untreated, hearing loss alone can lead to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions. Impaired memory and the impaired ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk to personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension and stress are among its more common side effects. But when untreated hearing loss coexists with a chronic illness, the likelihood is all the greater that the individual will experience exacerbated levels of stress and diminished quality of life.
Here’s the good news: Research also indicates that professionally fitted hearing aids can help improve quality of life for people with chronic diseases when hearing loss does coexist.
“In the vast majority of cases, hearing loss can be addressed with hearing aids to help people hear better and improve their quality of life,” says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute (BHI). “I strongly urge anyone with heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, and/or depression to talk with their doctor and make hearing screenings a routine part of their medical care.”
BHI encourages people to take a free, quick and confidential online hearing test at www.hearingcheck.org to determine if they need a comprehensive hearing check by a hearing professional. For more information on hearing loss, visit www.betterhearing.org.
The link between hearing loss and certain chronic diseases
Numerous studies have long linked untreated hearing loss to diminished psychological and overall health. But an emerging body of research is now revealing a link between hearing loss and other chronic health conditions.
For example, hearing loss is
about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Another study, published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, found that older adults with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher prevalence of hearing loss than those of the same age without CKD.
Other studies have shown that a significantly higher percentage of people with Alzheimer’s disease may have hearing loss than their normally aging peers. In fact, older adults with hearing loss appear more likely to develop dementia, and their risk increases as hearing loss becomes more severe, according to a study published in the Archives of Neurology. The researchers also found that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease specifically increased with hearing loss.
The link between unaddressed hearing loss and depression also is compelling. An Italian study found that working adults aged 35 to 55 who were affected by mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears reported higher levels of disability and psychological distress - and lower levels of social functioning - than a well-matched normal control population.
Perhaps the link between cardiovascular disease and hearing
loss is the most widely recognized. In a study published in the June 2010 issue of the American Journal of Audiology, the authors reviewed research that had been conducted over the past 60 plus years. They found that the negative influence
of impaired cardiovascular health on both the peripheral and central auditory system, and the potential positive influence of improved cardiovascular health on these same systems, was found through a sizable body of research.
The link between chronic disease
and hearing loss: Are you at risk?
“With so much evidence emerging on the potential link between hearing loss and various chronic illnesses, it becomes all the more pressing for people to identify and address hearing loss early on,” Kochkin says. “Talk to your doctor. Get your hearing checked. And be assured that in most cases, today’s state-of-the-art hearing aids, programmed to the specific hearing requirements of the individual, can help people hear better and thereby regain quality of life.”
n
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December 31, 2011 • BOOMers ® 5
EVERYDAY LIVINGAverage Cost of a New Home ............... $12,400Average Yearly Wages ............................. $5,010Cost of a Gallon of Gas ..........................25 centsAverage Cost of a New Car ...................... $2,200Movie Ticket ............................................... $1.00Loaf of Bread .........................................20 centsKodak Movie Camera ............................... $67.50Ladies Stockings ......................................... $1.00
WHAT HAPPENEDThe Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in New York City is completed.
Mattel’s Barbie Doll is launched.
Alaska becomes the 49th State of the United States.
The St. Lawrence Seaway, a joint US/Canadian venture, is completed linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. Hudson and Nash join on January 14th to become AMC (American Motors Association).
US unemployment reaches 1.4 million.
NASA introduces America’s fi rst astronauts to the world including John H. Glenn Jr, and Alan Shepard Jr.
Direct dial payphones introduced tn the UK.
Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev argue about advantages of communism and capitalism in a Kitchen known as the (Kitchen Debate) on July 24th.
TOP SONGS
FLASH BACK » 1959
• Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin• The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton• Venus by Frankie Avalon• Stagger Lee by Lloyed Price
• The Three Bells by the Browns
POPULAR FILMS• Ben-Hur • Some Like It Hot
• Anatomy of a Murder • North by Northwest • Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty
COURTESY OF ARA CONTENT
POP CULTURE• The US Grammy Music Awards started.
• The last musical from Rodgers and Hammerstein “The Sound of Music” opens on Broadway.
• The chartered plane transporting musicians Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the
Big Bopper goes down in an Iowa snowstorm, killing all four occupants on board. The tragedy is later termed “The Day the Music Died,” popularized in Don McLean’s song,
“American Pie.”
• The Film Ben-Hur premieres in New York City.
POP TV SHOWS• Bonanza• Juke Box Jury• Dixon of Dock Green (UK)• The Huckleberry Hound Show
•
6 BOOMers ® • December 31, 2011
Resolve to reduce stress
Stress is a major part of most adults’ lives, and that’s especially so after the hectic holiday season when everyone is pulled in so many different directions. Work is a common cause of stress, but family and personal finances, especially nowadays, are big sources of stress as well. This year, resolve to reduce stress in all aspects of life. At the office,
analyze ways in which you can manage
time more
effectively, including how to best prioritize work projects so you don’t always feel as if you’re up against a wall. Outside the office, recognize the importance of maintaining a personal life and its relation to reducing stress. Spending time with friends and family can relax you and provide a welcome respite from the stress of the office. Resolve to eat better
Losing weight and adopting a healthier diet are
not necessarily the same thing. While a healthier diet might help you
lose weight, the goal of adopting a healthier diet is to improve overall health. A healthy diet can strengthen the body’s immune system, making it easier to fight cold, flu and other ailments. A healthy diet can also help in the battle against any preexisting conditions. For example, replacing salt with healthier and flavorful herbs can help reduce high blood pressure, and many people cannot even taste the difference.
Resolve to exercise more
Much like changing a diet, exercising more is often seen as a means to weight loss. While that’s
a positive side effect of daily exercise, the goal should not be to lose weight. Instead, the goal of daily exercise is to get healthier. According to the
American College of Sports Medicine, exercise
helps lower the risk of heart disease and hypertension by 40 percent while lowering the risk of depression by 30 percent. In
addition, men and women with a family history of diabetes should know that regular exercise lowers their risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly 60 percent. So while exercise is a great means to losing weight, it’s even better at helping reduce the risk for serious disease.
When incorporating exercise into a daily routine, start slowly and gradually work your way up to more vigorous exercise regimens. Going full speed from the outset is a great way to increase risk of injury, which could actually restrict your ability to exercise for some time.
When making resolutions at the start of a new year, men and women often focus on healthy resolutions. But healthy resolutions go beyond losing a few extra pounds, and many involve dedication throughout the year to improve overall health this year and for years to come.
Resolve to Quit smoking
To nonsmokers, keep up the good work. For smokers, perhaps some statistics are enough to get
you on the path toward quitting smoking:
• More than 150,000 Americans were projected to succumb to lung cancer in 2011, according to the National Cancer Institute.
• The Canadian Cancer Society estimated that 20,000 Canadians would lose their lives to lung cancer in 2011.
• More than 6 percent of all deaths in the United Kingdom in 2011 were related to lung cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.
If those statistics aren’t enough to get men and women serious about quitting smoking, consider the negative effect secondhand smoke has on your loved ones. The American Cancer Society notes that roughly 3,000 nonsmoking adults experience lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke in the U.S. each year. When making a resolution this year, smokers’ top priority should be to quit smoking.
HealtHy resolutions
for 2012
As the calendar turns to a new year, the focus often shifts as well. After the hectic holiday season has come and gone, many people re-dedicate themselves to their personal health
and well-being. That renewed dedication might be thanks to all those big holiday meals or it might just be a result of the new calendar year being symbolic of a fresh start.
Regardless of the reasons behind this renewed vigor, the opportunities to make the next 12 months healthier abound. While losing weight might the most popular resolution, there are a host of other health-related resolutions individuals can make to improve their lives over the next 365 days.
COURTESY OF ARA CONTENT
n
Look for areas with multiple resorts
Time for a quick economics lesson: Competition drives cost down. Consumers can find better deals in areas that have multiple ski resorts, so look at places like Salt Lake City, which has seven resorts within a 30-mile radius. Many Colorado mountain towns, such as Breckenridge and Vail, have multiple resorts and lodges to choose from as well. Online resources like Away.com’s Ski & Snowboard Guide have resort guides and user reviews to point travelers in the right direction.
Find resorts near airline hubs
More flights coming into an airport typically means more deals for customers, so look for ski resorts that are near a major airport. Denver is a hub for United and Continental airlines, and a focus city for Southwest, which means travelers are likely find better deals from these carriers. Denver also nabs a spot on Orbtiz.com’s Holiday Travel Index as a top destination
for the holidays because of moderately priced airfare and deals on hotels.
Research package deals and “low key” resorts
Continue planning by looking at resort package deals that cover airfare, lodging and lift tickets. Sometimes resorts toss out some mighty competitive deals, but either way this is a good baseline for a ski trip search. Remember, the fancier the resort, the more expensive the lift ticket, food and lodging will be. Places like Vermont, West Virginia, North Carolina, or Oregon have slopes that are considered “off the beaten path” and can make for a fun ski trip without the high price tag. Travelers who are spontaneous can likely grab a room the week before they leave, when resorts often have last-minute specials to reach their occupancy goals.
Go with a multi-day pass Rather than buying multiple one-day
passes, save $10 to $20 a day by buying multi-day passes. Also shop the lesson/tickets deals - sometimes a ski pass will be cheaper
as part of a package. And, check individual ski-area websites for daily specials. Families will be pleased to know that many resorts offer a free youth ticket with every adult ticket purchased.
Rent equipment off the mountain
On-mountain equipment rental shops will be more expensive and crowded; ever been in a pole room with more than 10 people? Ask fellow skiers or boarders to recommend a local ski shop off the main path - the deals will be better and the employees will be less stressed.
Eat like a local Eating at mountain lodges can get
expensive. Do some research or ask employees for the local hot spots. Visitors will likely discover nearby restaurants or
pubs with cheap burgers and happy hour specials. Consider packing a lunch for the slopes; either make a sandwich or grab one from a local deli. Bring it along if skiing with a backpack, or store it in a cooler in a locker.
Visit during off-peak times Arapahoe Basin, Colo., was still open
for skiing on July 4 this past season, and Breckenridge saw its first snow Sept. 15. Suffice it to say that travelers have plenty of time to get in that ski vacation. Save money on airfare, lodging and lift tickets by avoiding travel over the main winter and spring holidays. Plus, fewer people on the slopes means more runs down the mountain. Sites like Trip.com allow you to check different dates and compare multiple carriers to aid in finding the best deal.
How to hit the slopes on a budget December 31, 2011 • BOOMers ® 7
Planning a ski trip starts with answering these three questions: What mountain should I ski/snowboard? Where should I stay while I’m there? And how much am I willing to spend on lift tickets and equipment rental? A ski excursion can easily cost a
traveler thousands of dollars, but consumers who are frugal can get by on about $150 a day per person without sacrificing creature comforts. Here are some money-saving strategies for planning this season’s ski trip:
COURTESY OF ARA CONTENTCOURTESY OF ARA CONTENT
n
was not alone and that there was a need out there for some manner training.”
In 2008, Trower went to the Etiquette Institute, in St. Louis, Missouri, where she studied business etiquette, and in 2011, she went back to the American School of Protocol to get her corporate etiquette certifi cation. “I realized that ‘soft skills’ were not something frequently taught to college grads, going off to fi nd their fi rst jobs,” states Trower. “I especially love to work with college students and new hires.”
Trower learned how to reenter the workforce by taking baby steps. She explains that she read a lot of fi nance and self-help books since she felt unprepared to go back into the workforce after 18 years as a
stay-at-home mom. “I also was terrifi ed, at the time, of technology and my lack of knowledge about it,” says Trower.
Trower also prayed that God would direct her path. She also purposely surrounded herself with smart businesswomen. Additionally, she joined the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the American Business Women’s Association, and she keeps current by attending seminars and serving on two non-profi t boards.
“I love my job and believe that I am better equipped and more capable now to do my job than when I was in my 20s and 30s because of all of my life experiences,” states Trower.
Trower lists two life experiences that trained her for her current
role in business -- raising three children and volunteering in her community. “I am more aware of their (children’s) development stages and what I can expect from them at different ages. Also, while I was a stay-at-home mom, I did oodles of volunteer work at the school, church, and community. I performed many tasks for free that now I get paid for,” says Trower.
“The best part of being a Boomer entrepreneur is having the confi dence and time to create my business in the fi rst place,” concludes Trower. “I never would have had the courage to go out on my own when I was younger. I am much less fearful now than I was when I was younger to try new things and to enter unchartered waters. When life gives you lemons,
you make lemonade.”
To learn more about the Etiquette School of Central Pennsylvania, visit Trower’s Facebook site at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Etiquette-School-of-Central-Pennsylvania/107704672589058, where she shares an “Etiquette Tip of the Day.”
8 BOOMers ® • December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011 • BOOMers ® 9
One characteristic that stands out from the Boomer generation is the ability to reinvent oneself — whether
by choice or by circumstances. Sheryl Trower, of Lititz, followed this path by going from a stay-at-home mom to single, nearly empty-nester, all within a few years.
“I went from having a busy household, with three teenagers and all their friends, a dog, and a husband to just my daughter and myself within the period of two years,” explains Trower. “My boys went off to college, and my husband and I divorced. So, suddenly, the house was eerily quiet all the time; not something that I was used to. It was a very diffi cult period of my life. I relocated to Lancaster.” Her mother lives here, too.
Trower is a native of Lancaster County, but moved to Mahwah, N.J., where she raised her family. Today, Trower has three grown children, Ryan, 26, Sean, 25, and Tara, 20.
Since Trower’s were children were settled into their adult when she found that she needed to reinvent herself at a time when many Boomers are at the top of their careers and looking forward
to retirement. “I believe it is very challenging to start over at 50 because you are facing the great unknown. Up until that point, my life was mapped out for me,” says Trower. “I was a student; went to college; got a job; got married; had kids; and raised a family.
“When the carpet is pulled out from under you, it can be very scary. I had to reinvent myself and fi nd a new ‘norm.’ Dating was terrifying, and I had been out of the workforce for years. My own parents divorced in their 40s, but Mom only worked briefl y after college and never entertained the idea of having a career. Suddenly, I was competing against 30-year-olds in love and in the workplace.”
Trower says that she experienced a wide gamut of emotions ranging from grief and self-pity, to anger and depression, to hopefulness, excitement, and gratitude. After going through those mid-life changes, however, Trower arrived with a new lease on life. Today, she’s the president and owner of the Etiquette School of Central Pennsylvania, in Lititz, where she works as an etiquette consultant to children and corporations.
Trower discovered her career niche
while she was still living in New Jersey. “I was having lunch with a friend who said her sister was an etiquette consultant in California. For some reason, this really piqued my interest and (I) was Googling everything I could fi nd on etiquette schools,” explains Trower. “I decided on the American School of Protocol, which is located in Atlanta, (Georgia). I fi rst got certifi ed as a children’s etiquette consultant and started the Etiquette School of Central Pennsylvania.”
Trower says that she began teaching etiquette to children because she felt there was a need for children to learn how to behave in public settings. “Growing up in the 50s and 60s, manners were taught at home. We ate dinner together as a family and life was much less hectic. By the time I raised my kids in the 1990s, families were crazed with after school sports and activities,” says Trower.
“We lived outside New York City, and my husband worked on Wall Street. One of my children was an actor, and so we traveled in and out of Manhattan frequently with the other two in tow eating McDonalds over the dinner hour,” continues Trower. “I knew I
Sheryl Trower F I N D S B O O M E R Y E A R S
A S A T I M E T O R E I N V E N T H E R S E L F
FAVORITE PLACE IN NEW JERSEY
“My favorite place in N.J. is Mahwah where I lived for 26 years. My best friends all still live there and we get together often.”
FAVORITE OUTFIT OF THE 80’S
“My favorite outfi t of the 80’s were my workout outfi ts. I loved the Jane Fonda look — leotards, tights, leggings, and headband.”
FAVORITE LANCASTER COUNTY EATERY
The Belvedere: “I love their grilled Caesar salad.”
BIGGEST PET PEEVE WHEN IT COMES TO MANNERS
“Answering a cell phone in the middle of a meeting.”
Written By WENDY KOMANCHECK
■
Sheryl with oldest son Ryan
Sheryl and family.
Sheryl with future daughter-in-law Candice.
was not alone and that there was a need out there for some manner training.”
In 2008, Trower went to the Etiquette Institute, in St. Louis, Missouri, where she studied business etiquette, and in 2011, she went back to the American School of Protocol to get her corporate etiquette certifi cation. “I realized that ‘soft skills’ were not something frequently taught to college grads, going off to fi nd their fi rst jobs,” states Trower. “I especially love to work with college students and new hires.”
Trower learned how to reenter the workforce by taking baby steps. She explains that she read a lot of fi nance and self-help books since she felt unprepared to go back into the workforce after 18 years as a
stay-at-home mom. “I also was terrifi ed, at the time, of technology and my lack of knowledge about it,” says Trower.
Trower also prayed that God would direct her path. She also purposely surrounded herself with smart businesswomen. Additionally, she joined the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the American Business Women’s Association, and she keeps current by attending seminars and serving on two non-profi t boards.
“I love my job and believe that I am better equipped and more capable now to do my job than when I was in my 20s and 30s because of all of my life experiences,” states Trower.
Trower lists two life experiences that trained her for her current
role in business -- raising three children and volunteering in her community. “I am more aware of their (children’s) development stages and what I can expect from them at different ages. Also, while I was a stay-at-home mom, I did oodles of volunteer work at the school, church, and community. I performed many tasks for free that now I get paid for,” says Trower.
“The best part of being a Boomer entrepreneur is having the confi dence and time to create my business in the fi rst place,” concludes Trower. “I never would have had the courage to go out on my own when I was younger. I am much less fearful now than I was when I was younger to try new things and to enter unchartered waters. When life gives you lemons,
you make lemonade.”
To learn more about the Etiquette School of Central Pennsylvania, visit Trower’s Facebook site at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Etiquette-School-of-Central-Pennsylvania/107704672589058, where she shares an “Etiquette Tip of the Day.”
8 BOOMers ® • December 31, 2011 December 31, 2011 • BOOMers ® 9
One characteristic that stands out from the Boomer generation is the ability to reinvent oneself — whether
by choice or by circumstances. Sheryl Trower, of Lititz, followed this path by going from a stay-at-home mom to single, nearly empty-nester, all within a few years.
“I went from having a busy household, with three teenagers and all their friends, a dog, and a husband to just my daughter and myself within the period of two years,” explains Trower. “My boys went off to college, and my husband and I divorced. So, suddenly, the house was eerily quiet all the time; not something that I was used to. It was a very diffi cult period of my life. I relocated to Lancaster.” Her mother lives here, too.
Trower is a native of Lancaster County, but moved to Mahwah, N.J., where she raised her family. Today, Trower has three grown children, Ryan, 26, Sean, 25, and Tara, 20.
Since Trower’s were children were settled into their adult when she found that she needed to reinvent herself at a time when many Boomers are at the top of their careers and looking forward
to retirement. “I believe it is very challenging to start over at 50 because you are facing the great unknown. Up until that point, my life was mapped out for me,” says Trower. “I was a student; went to college; got a job; got married; had kids; and raised a family.
“When the carpet is pulled out from under you, it can be very scary. I had to reinvent myself and fi nd a new ‘norm.’ Dating was terrifying, and I had been out of the workforce for years. My own parents divorced in their 40s, but Mom only worked briefl y after college and never entertained the idea of having a career. Suddenly, I was competing against 30-year-olds in love and in the workplace.”
Trower says that she experienced a wide gamut of emotions ranging from grief and self-pity, to anger and depression, to hopefulness, excitement, and gratitude. After going through those mid-life changes, however, Trower arrived with a new lease on life. Today, she’s the president and owner of the Etiquette School of Central Pennsylvania, in Lititz, where she works as an etiquette consultant to children and corporations.
Trower discovered her career niche
while she was still living in New Jersey. “I was having lunch with a friend who said her sister was an etiquette consultant in California. For some reason, this really piqued my interest and (I) was Googling everything I could fi nd on etiquette schools,” explains Trower. “I decided on the American School of Protocol, which is located in Atlanta, (Georgia). I fi rst got certifi ed as a children’s etiquette consultant and started the Etiquette School of Central Pennsylvania.”
Trower says that she began teaching etiquette to children because she felt there was a need for children to learn how to behave in public settings. “Growing up in the 50s and 60s, manners were taught at home. We ate dinner together as a family and life was much less hectic. By the time I raised my kids in the 1990s, families were crazed with after school sports and activities,” says Trower.
“We lived outside New York City, and my husband worked on Wall Street. One of my children was an actor, and so we traveled in and out of Manhattan frequently with the other two in tow eating McDonalds over the dinner hour,” continues Trower. “I knew I
Sheryl Trower F I N D S B O O M E R Y E A R S
A S A T I M E T O R E I N V E N T H E R S E L F
FAVORITE PLACE IN NEW JERSEY
“My favorite place in N.J. is Mahwah where I lived for 26 years. My best friends all still live there and we get together often.”
FAVORITE OUTFIT OF THE 80’S
“My favorite outfi t of the 80’s were my workout outfi ts. I loved the Jane Fonda look — leotards, tights, leggings, and headband.”
FAVORITE LANCASTER COUNTY EATERY
The Belvedere: “I love their grilled Caesar salad.”
BIGGEST PET PEEVE WHEN IT COMES TO MANNERS
“Answering a cell phone in the middle of a meeting.”
Written By WENDY KOMANCHECK
■
Sheryl with oldest son Ryan
Sheryl and family.
Sheryl with future daughter-in-law Candice.
“I take as much time as possible so my patients
know their options.”
“If our patients can honestly say we have solved their problems and they felt cared about, that is fulfillment of my greatest ambition in medicine.”
Thomas R. Westphal, MD, FACS
Dr. Westphal’s expertise
Graduate of Thomas Jefferson University
Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
Specializes in the arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the
shoulder, hip and knee
717-358-0800 www.brainsandbones.comLANCASTER Main O�ce, 2150 Harrisburg Pike, Suite 200
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A Legacy of Trust. A Future of Excellence.
10 BOOMers ® • December 31, 2011
ALWAYS NEW TO YOU21 S. Broad Street (Route 501)
Lititz • 627-5435
MIRACLES CONSIGNMENT SHOP3545 Marietta AvenueLancaster • 285-0058
RED WING SHOE STORE106 S. Centerville Rd. Lanc.
509-1990 • [email protected]
SECRET SNEAKER409 Granite Run Dr.
Lancaster • 569-6101
BARRY’S PAINT SHOPEphrata • 733-6900
barryspaintshop.com
LANCASTER HONDA2350 Dairy Rd. • 898-0100 www.lancasterhonda.com
LANDIS LUXURY COACHES4412 Oregon Pike • Ephrata
859-5466 • www.landisenterprise.com
BULLY’S RESTAURANT & PUB647 Union St., Columbia
684-2854
COLUMBIA FAMILY RESTAURANT960 Lancaster Ave • Columbia Plaza
Columbia, PA • 684-7503
CONESTOGA RESTAURANT & BAR1501 E. King St. • Lancaster
393-0290 • www.theconestoga.com
EDEN RESORT INN & SUITES569-6444
www.edenresort.com
FOXCHASE GOLF CLUB300 Stevens Rd. • Stevens
336-3673 • www.foxchasegolf.com
HERSHEY FARM RESTAURANT & INNRt. 896 • Strasburg, PA www.hersheyfarm.com
IRON HILL BREWERY & RESTAURANT
781 Harrisburg Pk • Lancaster 291-9800 • www.ironhillbrewery.com
IRON HORSE INN135 E. Main St. • Strasburg
687-6362 • www.ironhorsepa.com
La CASETTA360 Hartman Bridge Rd.
Strasburg • 687-3671
LANCASTER ARTS HOTEL300 Harrisburg Ave. • 299-3000
www.lancasterartshotel.com
NEPTUNE DINER924 N. Prince St. • Lancaster
399-8358 • www.theneptunediner.com
PRUDHOMMES CAJUN KITCHEN50 Lancaster Ave. • Columbia
684-1706 • www.lostcajunkitchen.com
SHANK’S TAVERN36 S. Waterford Ave. • Marietta
426-1205 • www.shankstavern.com
SPILL THE BEANS CAFE43 E. Main St. • Lititz
627-7827 • www.spillthebeanscafe.com
SYMPOSIUM RESTAURANT125 South Centerville Rd.
Lancaster • 391-7656
T. BURK & CO. DELI RESTAURANT2433A Old Philadelphia Pike
293-0976 • [email protected]
THE CHERISHED PEARLBED AND BREAKFAST
Honeybrook • 610-273-2312www.thecherishedpearl.com
WILLOW VALLEY RESTAURANT2416 Willow Street Pk • Lancaster
464-2711 • willowvalley.com
CHOO CHOO BARN, INC.Route 741 East, Strasburg
687-7911 • www.choochoobarn.com
DUTCH APPLE DINNER THEATRE510 Centerville Rd, Lancaster
898-1900 • DutchApple.com
LEISURE LANES3440 Columbia Ave.
Lancaster • 392-2121
JUKEBOX NIGHTCLUB1703 New Holland Ave. • Lancaster394-9978 • Jukeboxnightclub.com
NEW SINGLES713-1494
www.newsinglesusa.com
SOVEREIGN CENTERReading, PA
www.sovereigncenter.com
TELL LIMOUSINES18 Richard Dr., • Lititz
www.telllimo.com • 1-866-469-8355
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL30 E. Roseville Rd. • Lancaster
Ted Williams • 431-0522
AMERICAN SLEEP CENTER1957 Fruitville Pk. • Lancaster
560-6660 • www.specialtysleepcenter.com
THE BED & FURNITURE WAREHOUSE
166 Arrowhead Dr.Rapho Industrial Park • 653-8096
www.bedandfurniture.com
FURNITURE THAT FITS3515 Columbia Ave
Mountville • 285-2547
HERITAGE DESIGN INTERIORS1064 Main St., Rt. 23 • Blue Ball354-2233 • [email protected]
WICKER IMPORTS1766 Oregon Pike
Lancaster • 560-6325
WOLF FURNITURERohrerstown Rd. exit of Rt. 30 • Lanc
209-6949 • wolffurniture.com
A THERAPEUTIC EFFECT123 Oakridge Dr.
Mountville • 285-9955
ALBRIGHT & THIRY ORTHODONTICS1834 Oregon Pk • Lancaster
569-6421
AMERICAN LASER CENTER898-9170
www.americanlaser.com
COCALICO AREA HEARING SERVICES
3 Cardinal Drive • 336-8198
DR. BENJAMIN F.D. CHIKESPractice limited to orthodontics
Ephrata • 738-4901
HARMONY FITNESS-A Women’s Gym3695 Marietta Ave. • Lancaster
285-3476 • harmonyfi [email protected]
HARTZ Physical Therapy’sMedically Adapted Gym (M.A.G.)
90 Good Drive • Lancaster735-8880 • www.hartzpt.com
HEALTH e-TECHNOLOGIES538-8392
www.healthe-tech.com
HOME FITNESS EQUIPMENT1955 Manheim Pk. (Foxshire Plaza)
Lancaster • 509-7752
JUICE PLUS+/HURST PARTNERSINTERNATIONAL, LTD.
800-384-1962 www.yourhealthstyles.us
L & E MASSAGE THERAPY CENTERSLancaster and Ephrata locations
560-6788 and 721-3254
MERLE NORMAN COSMETIC STUDIO
Park City Center • Kohl’s Wing Lancaster • 393-2393
PATRICIA’S HAIRSTYLING CENTER3844 Columbia Ave.
Mountville • 285-2838
PAVELKO SENIOR CONSULTING SERVICES, LLC
517-8871 • www.pavelko.org
POUNDS TO FREEDOM900 B Centerville Rd.
892-7448
SUSQUEHANNA HEARING CENTER24A E. Roseville RoadLancaster • 569-0000
THE REJUVENATION CENTER616 Paxton Place • Suite 102
Lititz • 569-3040
THE SPA AT INTERCOURSE VILLAGE3544 Old Philadelphia Pk • Intercourse
768-0555 • 800-801-2219
YOUR HEALTH STYLES FOR LIFE(Laser Skin Care)
148 E. Main St. • Leola • 405-0881
CALDER DOOR & SPECIALTY CO.1296 Loop Rd. • Lancaster
397-8295
CDR IMPROVEMENTS, INC.P.O. Box 192 • Denver
800-543-9896 • [email protected]
DEB’S PET BUDDIESLititz • 283-4438
www.debspetbuddies.com
FURNITURE MEDIC2274 Manor Ridge Dr.Lancaster • 393-8545
GOCHNAUER’S HOMEAPPLIANCE CENTER
5939 Main St • East Petersburg569-0439 • www.gochnauers.com
HERITAGE DESIGN INTERIORS1064 Main St., Rt. 23Blue Ball • 354-2233
www.heritagedesigninteriors.com
HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CAREServing Lancaster County • 207-0755
homeinstead.com/589
INDEPENDENT STAIR LIFT SOLUTIONS401 Granite Run Dr. • Lancaster
626-4401 • yourIHS.com
ISLAND PAINTING, INC.3806 Concordia Rd
Columbia, PA • 285-9074
KEN GUNZENHAUSER & ASSOC.BASEMENT DAMP PROOFING171 Ridgeway Ave. • Ephrata
368-6183
KREIDER’S CANVAS SERVICE73 W. Main St. • Leola
656-7387 • www.KreidersCanvas.com
LANCASTER BUILDING SUPPLYWINDOWS DOORS and MORE, LLC1851 Lincoln Hwy East • Lancaster
393-1321 • www.lancasterbuildingsupply.com
LANCASTER DOOR SERVICE1851 Lincoln Hwy East • Lancaster394-4724 • www.lancasterdoor.com
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December 31, 2011 • BOOMers ® 11
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LANDIS at HOMEwww.landisathome.org
PREMIERE CARPET CLEANERSwww.premierecarpetcleaners.com/boomers
842-2015
SCOOTER WAREHOUSE401 Granite Run Dr. • Lancaster
393-8213 • LancasterScooterWarehouse.com
SIEGRIST DECORATING232 W. Main St.
Leola • 656-2826
STERMER BROTHERS STOVES & SPAS1330 Harrisburg Pk • 207-0901
www.stermer.com
TRIANGLE REFRIGERATION CO.Brownstown • 656-2711
ZIMMERMAN’S ROOFING, LLC325 B West Main St. • New Holland
354-3737 • www.zimmermansroofi ng.com
PARKHILL JEWELRYEphrata • 733-8800
VINCENT & CO. FINE JEWELERS1633 Lititz Pike • Lancaster
299-GEMS
DREAM DINNERSLancaster • 509-4530
www.dreamdinners.com
AMERICAN TASTESSuite E, Silver Spring Center
3545 Marietta Ave. • Lancaster • 285-1361
ELLEN’S HUMMELS2495 Lincoln Hwy, Quality Center
Lancaster • 394-8138
FLOWERS BY PAULETTE258 N. Queen St. • Lancaster
295-5411 • www.fl owersbypaulette.com
IHDE’S STUDIOS25 N. Charles St. • Ephrata
738-0835 • www.ihdestudios.com
KEYSTONE EQUINE PET & WILDLIFE781 E. Main St.
Mount Joy • 492-0027
LEGACY USED BOOKS & COLLECTIBLES145 E. Main St. • New Holland
351-0740www.legacyusedbooksandcollectibles.com
NIMBLE THIMBLE45 N. Market St. (next to Quilt Museum)
Lancaster • [email protected] • nimblethimble.biz
PENNSYLVANIA TOY ACADEMY &THE PARTY SHOP INC
705 Olde Hickory Rd • Lancaster569-2286 • [email protected]
PUFF N’ STUFF253 N. Queen St. • Lancaster • 393-9772
Myspace.com/puffstuff253
SUK SHUGLIE GALLERY1320 B Manheim Pk (beside Essis)
Lancaster • 393-0966
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12 BOOMers ® • December 31, 2011
Ten tips to decoratively display your favorite books
Written By WENDY KOMANCHECK
December 31, 2011 • BOOMers ® 13
Most bibliophiles have scores of books. Everything from children’s and gardening, to classics, and dictionaries, as well as old and
new books. Of course, most people neatly display their books on book shelves or on night stands. But for us bibliophiles, who have an array of different books of all shapes and sizes, how can we best use them as part of our home’s decor?
Below are 10 ideas to creatively display your favorite books:
1. Stack your favorite books on each side of your favorite reading chair; if you have a wicker or an overstuffed chair, all the better. The stack gives a feeling of cozy comfort and demonstrates the reader in you.
2. Take old books — with tattered edges, faded titles, etc. — and tie them with twine, string, or ivory-colored ribbon and display them on an antique bench or chair.
3. Stack up table top books and use them as end tables.
4. Go to a used furniture store and buy a ceiling high book shelf. Take wallpaper and paper the backs of each row in the bookshelf. This gives a whimsical feel to your book collection.
5. Take a stack of antique romance novels, tie string around them, and use them to hold a vase of flowers.
6. Take cookbooks and display them on top of your cabinets. You can stack them alone or with other kitchen decorations that match your style.
7. If you’re lucky enough to live in an older home with deep set window sills, arrange three books, with antique book holders as part of the display, or place your books in a stack with the spines facing outward for a unique twist.
8. Take any book and make it into a work of art. Altered books are a fun way of recycling books. You can take a children’s book and rearrange it into something from your
R. Matthew Good, admitted “book nerd” and librarian, created this Christmas tree from just a few of his (and his wife Kathy Robb’s) personal library.
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childhood or take a hardback novel and make it into a memory book, an artificial cake, or any other unique item that you set your mind to.
For more information on making altered books, go to Mimi Shapiro’s website, www.mimiartz.com. She teaches altered books workshops, as well as displays her books at her gallery and other venues in Lancaster County.
Another source for altered book ideas can be at your local library. Go to the Lancaster Library System’s website and type in “altered books” in the subject area of the online catalog (www.catalog.lancasterlibraries.org/). Get out books to jog your imagination or to try various how-to’s on making whimsical book art. Arrange your altered books throughout your home or apartment as works of art. After you make one or a dozen altered books, the hobby starts to become an addiction as your mind thinks of new ways of transforming a book into a collage.
9. Make a holiday craft with a paperback. “Parade” magazine recently had directions for taking a paperback and transforming it into a pumpkin. See directions for the novel pumpkin here www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/2011/10/30-paperback-pumpkin.html.
10. Buy an old-fashioned double duty table or chair to hold your books. Decorate it with a doily or an antique tea towel to create a comfortable spot to read.
Many of these ideas can be found online at www.interiordec.about.com/cs/articl2/a/org_displaybook.htm and www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/stylish-ways-to-display-your-book-collection-131581. Maybe as you go through your stacks, you’ll come across an old favorite to reread again.
The idea of retirement is both exciting and daunting. After leaving the workforce, you’ll have
the opportunity to pursue dreams that you have envisioned for your retirement. But you’ll need to have the financial wherewithal to fund those dreams and cover your day-to-day living expenses.
It is clear from everything we read in the news that many Americans likely aren’t saving enough. While many people might rely on Social Security to help cover their costs during retirement, it may not be enough and those who want to live a full life in their later years should focus now on saving more.
This fact is underscored by a LinkedIn Poll that Prudential Retirement began on Sept. 9 about Americans’ perceptions of workplace retirement plans. There were more than 300,000 impressions and more than 1,000 individuals voted. Of those voters, more than 50 percent were “very interested” in a guaranteed retirement income feature. Moreover, 23 percent were “somewhat interested.”
Some options to consider include:
Workplace retirement opportunities. If you’re fortunate
enough to have access to a workplace retirement plan, take advantage of it - they are one of the best ways to save for retirement. Market volatility will always impact the stock market. However, in an effort to make workplace retirement plans more user-friendly and better help participants plan for a more secure retirement, Prudential Retirement is leading a push to introduce features into defined contribution plans that provide guaranteed retirement income. You can learn more at www.prudential.com.
Diversification: Commonly known as, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” diversification is simply choosing a variety of investments that react differently to market conditions. Choosing a variety of them can help you manage risk since positive
performance in one option may help offset poor performance in another option. Diversification should be a central theme of your retirement funding plan. However, keep in mind that application of asset allocation and diversification concepts does not assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market. It is possible to lose money by investing in securities. If you feel unsure of what you should be doing, what your options are or need help understanding just what you need for retirement, a financial advisor can help you lay out a more clearly defined path toward your goals.
Seek protection. “Expect the unexpected” is a classic adage that has endured for good reason. The plans you make might not follow the path your life actually takes, so it’s a good idea to protect yourself
in case the unexpected should happen. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure that you have an adequate amount of insurance to protect your income and your assets. In addition to a smart retirement planning strategy, life, health, disability and long-term care insurance can help protect both you and your loved ones.
Budget and cut back on excessive spending. While we all want to live a full life every day, the decisions you make now could have a negative or positive impact on your future - it all comes down to the choices you make. Of course there are unavoidable costs that come along with day-to-day living, but the more discretionary spending you do now, the more money
you’ll have later. Think about cutting back on extravagances and extras - without eliminating them completely - in a way that will allow you to invest more money in your future retirement.
NOTE: Guarantees are based on the claims-
paying ability of the insurance company and are subject to certain terms, limitations, and conditions. Withdrawals from your retirement plan are typically subject to income taxes and potentially a 10% federal income tax penalty if taken before age 59 ½ (457 plans not subject to 10% penalty). Prudential Financial and its representatives are not tax or legal advisors. Consult your own legal or tax advisor with specific questions.
Retirement products and services are provided by Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Hartford, CT, or its affiliates.
What you need to consider
Are you retirement
ready?
14 BOOMers ® • December 31, 2011
Whether you’re in your 20s or your 50s, retirement should be on your mind. Regardless of your age, now is the time to start planning so that you can make sure you are able to save
enough to live the retirement you envision. Spend some time considering these points and consult with a financial advisor who can help you lay out a plan to maximize your savings.
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COURTESY OF ARA CONTENT
If you are a pet owner, your pet is a beloved member of your family. You buy treats and toys and sometimes even
costumes to keep your pet happy and an integral part of the family. But, what about your pet’s health? In the midst of all the fun, it is vital that pet owners work with their veterinarians to keep their pets healthy.
Over the past decade, as the population of dog and cat owners has increased, the number of pets that are receiving proper veterinary care has seen an alarming decline. A two-phase study of pet owners and veterinarians, which was commissioned by Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division and conducted by Brakke Consulting in collaboration with the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues, assessed this disturbing trend.
Data from the Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study suggests that the decline in veterinary visits could be due to misconceptions pet owners have about their pet’s health. Below is a list of pet health myths along with facts that can help pet owners understand the importance of veterinary care:
Myth: Annual wellness exams are unnecessary and do not help my pet.
Fact: The recent Bayer study found that 95 percent of veterinarians surveyed believe that companion animals - both dogs and cats - require at least one veterinary well-visit annually. Yet many owners think that their pets only need to go to the veterinarian for vaccinations or shots. During routine check-ups, veterinarians evaluate health
status using a number of tools such as ear and eye checks, listening to the pet’s heart, X-rays and blood work. By using a range of medical techniques, veterinarians can catch conditions that, if undetected, can become costly-to-treat or chronic illnesses.
Myth: All it takes is a click of the computer mouse and I can figure out what’s wrong with my pet.
Fact: All too often, pet owners look to the Internet for answers regarding their sick pet. According to the Bayer study, 39 percent of pet owners look online before consulting their veterinarian if the pet gets sick or injured. With the availability of online resources - some helpful and some not - pet owners are waiting too long to bring their pets in for care, and the pets are sicker than they would have been if the pet owner brought their pet in at the first sign of concern. The Internet can’t cure whatever issue your pet is having, and this delay could lead to costlier and more
time intensive treatment.
Myth: It is simply not as important to bring your cat to the vet as it is your dog, and the stress of taking the cat isn’t worth it.
Fact: Cat owners know all too well the challenge of putting a cat in a carrier and transporting it to the veterinarian, and the stress cats sometimes exhibit once you actually get them there. In the battle between cats and humans to get to the vet, cats are clearly winning. The Bayer study found that more than one-third of cats had not been to the veterinarian in the last year, missing out on necessary care.
With this in mind, many veterinarians are taking steps to create more “cat-friendly” areas in their clinics. For example, some veterinarians have separate entrances for cats, or quiet rooms away from dogs for cats and their owners.
Myth: Older pets need less care than younger pets.
Fact: There is a perception
that, since older pets require fewer vaccinations, they need less veterinary care. But, older animals are more susceptible to a range of chronic and costly illnesses like diabetes, cancer and arthritis. Much like humans, as pets age, they need frequent medical care and observation to ensure continued optimum health.
Myth: I just need to bring my pet in when it is sick; the value of an annual wellness exam is not comparable to the cost of a visit.
Fact: Think about all the doctors you see during the year. From an ophthalmologist to a dentist to your internist or family doctor. For your pet, the veterinarian provides all these services. When your pet goes for an annual wellness exam, that veterinarian needs to play the role of every doctor a human would see. So, for every veterinarian visit, Fluffy or Fido is getting a
full check up with the skills of a number of doctors combined into one.
In addition to these important facts, veterinarians are working to keep up with their clients increasing use of social media. Some veterinarians are integrating new marketing strategies and tools, including using Facebook and Twitter or texting to connect with pet owners.
“When looking at these myths and facts, it is important to remember that the life span of pets is much shorter than that of humans, so skipping out on the veterinary visit for even one year, is similar to a human skipping doctor visits for seven years,” said Sheldon Rubin, DVM and Oprah’s former veterinarian of 15 years. “With this in mind, it is imperative that pets get the healthcare they need to live long and healthy lives, and don’t go more than a year without seeing a veterinarian.”
Your pet’s health: Debunking
common myths
December 31, 2011 • BOOMers ® 15
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COURTESY OF ARA CONTENT
COURTESY OF ARA CONTENT
16 BOOMers ® • December 31, 2011
Family and friends have been stopping by and you’ve wrapped up most of the holiday. Chances
are you’re well under way with plans for welcoming in the New Year tonight.
People will gather to nibble and chat around your table, probably filled with a punch bowl, party platter, or even a multi-service warming tray. But… what about the centerpiece?!
Heads up, do you have a chandelier, maybe a lighted fan? That will be the focal point of the cascading centerpiece. Any type of lighting fixture with extended arms for fins or bulbs will provide a shimmering cascade of delight and your own little, “Times Square” experience.
This cascading centerpiece can be put together in mere minutes. New Year colors are traditionally blue and silver and could very well be hiding in a holiday tree nearby. Ok, think of it as borrowing the holiday cheer to bring in a shimmering New Year!
Helpful Hint: Ornaments are pretty much on clearance; make a quick run to the Dollar Tree, Family Dollar or even a Big Lots near you. You too can pick up everything needed without spending much time or energy.
What you will need: sewing thread or fishing line; ornaments in silver, blue and try clear plastic crystal shapes; silver ornament bells; blue/silver garland, although white also works well.
Alternatives: A child or grandchild’s dress up clothes, which may include; a feathery/furry boa;
plastic clear/blue/silver beaded necklaces; earrings of the same colors; kitchen bell; pocket watch and even aluminum foil.
The kids will enjoy scrunching aluminum foil up repeatedly; the foil can be made into an icicle or ball form. To make this easy for the kids, tie a piece of string around the wrinkled center of the foil section, bend in half and twist downward into an icicle point or ball it up into a round ornament. If you happen to have a kitchen bell or a pocket watch, explain these are to represent the counting down or the ringing in of the New Year.
Draping, yep that’s all you do, but first attach two sections of string from opposing sides to hold a bell or pocket watch. The bell could be rung at midnight and the watch should be very secure for checking the time. Start draping the garland between the arms and this will give extra hanging room for an ornament or two; it also creates a nice wreath above the centerpiece. String will vary in lengths, about 24 inches to 48 inches. An ornament is tied to both ends of the string and then draped over separate fixture arms, allowing space between each ornament. Don’t tie them on, as this will allow you to adjust the lengths somewhat as a pulley action, if one side is raised, the other side will descend. Keep it simple and light as you work the ornaments outward from the center.
May the New Year shine on you and yours.
Ring in the New Year
Written By MARCI WATTERSON
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The thick, spiced drink we know as eggnog has become synonymous with the holidays. It is
so linked with the Christmas season that a person may be hard-pressed to find it sold in the supermarket any other time of the year. But eggnog wasn’t always the holiday beverage it has become.
Eggnog is believed to have originated in 17th century Europe, primarily as a drink for the elite, since the ingredients in the beverage were hard to come by and thusly relegated to the very rich.
There are different theories on the origins of the word eggnog itself. Some believe it has gotten its name from the Old English word “nog,” which meant “strong beer.” The “egg” refers to one of the ingredients in the beverage, fresh eggs. Others surmise that it comes from the word “noggin,” which was a vessel for serving drinks
in taverns. The drink was called “egg in a noggin,” which was shortened to “eggnog.” Still, there are others who say its name is derived from the term “grog,” which was another term for booze. “Egg n’ grog” was eventually abbreviated to “eggnog.”
Although there is little certainty to the origins of the name, the recipe for eggnog has essentially remained unchanged throughout the centuries. It consists of beaten eggs, cream or milk and sugar mixed with some sort of alcoholic spirit. The Old English were believed to mix it with wine, though once the drink was brought to the New World, colonists substituted rum for the wine. Rum was readily available through tradesman running between the Americas and the Caribbean and therefore less expensive than another spirit. As America grew and eggnog was enjoyed in different parts
of the country, the rum was replaced with regional spirits, including bourbon or grain alcohol. Other ingredients were also added to give it a customized flavor. However, the use of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves has become traditional flavors for the holiday brew.
Although eggnog is widely enjoyed throughout the holiday season, in the past it was served at special events and social occasions. As a warmed beverage it can easily chase away winter’s chill. This is how it may have come to be enjoyed primarily during the holidays.
Love it or hate it, eggnog is a drink that can evoke strong feelings of the holidays within minutes. There are variations of eggnog sold commercially, but many people swear by homemade versions for their taste and authenticity.
Try your own homemade eggnog with this recipe, courtesy of Cooks.com.
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Origins of a holiday staple
Holiday Eggnog (Spirited)
1 dOzEN EggS1 pOuNd pOWdEREd
SugAR1/2 TEASpOON SAlT1/4 Cup vANIllA8 CupS EvApORATEd MIlk3 CupS WATER1 quART SpICEd RuM
Freshly ground Nutmeg, to garnish. Beat eggs until light in color, gradually add sugar, salt and vanilla. Then add milk and water. Stir in rum (brandy, bourbon or rye may also be used). Cover the nog and ripen for 24 hours in the refrigerator. Stir again and serve sprinkled with nutmeg.