Professional Documents
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Margaret Thorn: Featured Boomer
Margaret Thorn: Featured Boomer
Featured Boomer:
Margaret Thorn
Wine & Cheese
Train on the
Strasburg
Railroad
Explore the
Grand Canyon
A P UBL I CAT I ON OF L A NCA S T E R NE WS PA P E RS I NC.
The Grand Canyon 3
U.S. National Arboretum 4
Finally At 50 5
This Old House Has a Story 6
Featured Boomer: 8
Margaret Thorn
Boomer Card Directory 10
Boomer Card Registration 11
Vine & Stein: Strasburg 13
Boomer Health Activities 14
Flashback: 1962 15
Spring Celebration: Brunch 16
Contents
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BOOMers
March 31, 2012
T
he world is full of
amazing things to
see, but there are
a select few sites
that people agree
are truly wonders of the world.
The tradition started a long time
ago, in ancient Greece, when
Antipater of Sidon listed the
unrivaled buildings of the day.
More recently, new lists of world
wonders have been proposed
including both man-made and
natural sites, providing the
perfect blueprint for a travelers
bucket list. Luckily, Americans
can start checking things off
right in their own spectacular
backyard by taking a Grand
Canyon tour.
The Grand Canyon is not
just something to see, but a
destination to be experienced.
Standing on the rim will give you
breathtaking views, certainly, but
a natural wonder of the world
deserves being seen within a
more in-depth context. The
added dimension of hearing the
story of the canyons formation
is easiest to come by if you join
a Grand Canyon tour. Not only
does a tour give you unusual
access to the sites, enriching
your visit, but the cost savings,
when compared to arranging
everything on your own, can be
as much as 40 percent.
To make the most of a Grand
Canyon tour, be sure that you
include these essential elements
in your itinerary:
Go beyond the average view of the
Grand Canyon.
The complex history of the
Grand Canyon stretches back
eons. Rather than sticking your
nose in a guide book and missing
the scenery, a lecture given by an
expert geologist gives you the
opportunity to immerse yourself
in the history of what youre
seeing. Learn about the ecology
and geology during your Grand
Canyon tour before heading out
for a full days exploration.
Take in the surrounding scenery.
Because the Grand Canyon is
situated in one of Americas
most scenically dramatic regions,
the opportunity to see the
surrounding areas is one that
you should take advantage of as
well. Places like Sedona, Ariz.,
Bryce Canyon and Zion National
Park are all within reasonable
distances and should gure into
your travel plans as well; check
to see if they are built into your
Grand Canyon tour.
Relax in stylish hotels.
The American Southwest is
home to some of the countrys
top resorts and hotels, where
a memorable stay adds to the
overall experience. Dont miss
the chance to stay at a lodge
within the Grand Canyon
National Park, where you can
experience the landscape from
sunrise to starry night. Nearby
travel hubs like Scottsdale and
Las Vegas offer the ultimate in
luxury hotels for kicking back,
pre- or post- your Grand Canyon
tour adventure.
Explore your adventurous side.
Taking a hike is a great way to
get up close and personal with
the landscapes of the Southwest,
but there are other ways to dive
into the experience. Try a oat
trip down the Colorado River,
which winds its way through the
region and carves out a dramatic
path through the Grand Canyon.
Or take wing on a helicopter
ride that gives you a whole new
perspective on the size and
grandeur of the site.
While theres no denying
that the Grand Canyon is a
photogenic place, traveling to
this natural wonder will show you
just how difcult it is to capture
its true beauty, immensity and
magic. And because it epitomizes
the concept of a wonder of the
world, its the perfect place to
kick off your goal to see the most
amazing sights on the planet.
How to get an in-depth view of
Americas natural wonder
The Grand Canyon:
March 31, 2012 BOOMers
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COURTESY OF ARA CONTENT
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BOOMers
March 31, 2012
F
or those who enjoy
the outdoors and
the beauty of nature,
a visit to the U.S.
National Arboretum
in northeast Washington, DC
is a must see. Established by
an act of Congress in 1927, the
arboretum boasts 446-acres and
9.5 miles of winding roadways.
Although a guide map is
available, a narrated tram tour
may help familiarize frst-time
visitors by providing an overview
of the facility.
One of the main attractions
in the spring is the thousands
of azaleas that encase the lower
slopes of Mount Hamilton in a
blaze of color. The frst warm days
of spring bring out the fowers,
and the slopes become a glowing
patchwork of color. The azalea
collection includes a number of
varieties that were hybridized by
the arboretums former director
Benjamin Y. Morrison.
A number of the plants on the
south side of Mount Hamilton,
an area known as the Glenn
Dale Hillside, are products of his
work. The brick-walled Morrison
Garden, built in 1952, serves as
the hub of the azalea collection.
Due to the wide variety of
azaleas, visitors will fnd some
blooms lingering through May,
and depending on the weather,
early-June.
Another spring treat are the
dogwoods; fowering dogwoods
begin their bloom in early spring
and Chinese dogwoods continue
to bloom heavily as late as early
June. Dogwoods provide year-
round beauty as they bloom,
bear fruit, and their leaves turn
shades of red and coral.
The large blooms and waxy
leaves of the magnolia are a lure
to many visitors. The arboretum
pairs these showy plants that
evoke thoughts of large, southern
antebellum plantations, with the
red-berried holly thats associated
with the holiday season. The
collection features deciduous
as well as evergreen magnolias.
Deciduous magnolias create a
panorama of pink, white and
purple blooms early spring, and
evergreen varieties begin their
show in high summer.
While the arboretum is a
masterful public garden, its also
a research facility, and a number
of the hollies and magnolias
that are common in the nursery
trade today as well as a number
of other plants in the gardens
today originated here.
The perennial collection is
set among the backdrop of the
shrubs in the boxwood collection.
The boxwood varieties some
with blue-green leaves, some with
variegated leaves with splashes of
cream or yellow, some dwarf with
a mature height of less than two
feet, and one variety that grows
upward in a narrow column
serve as the perfect foils for the
blooms of daffodils, daylilies
and peonies of the perennial
collection.
For those who love ferns, a visit
to fern valley would be in order.
Theres also the National Grove
of State Trees. In most cases,
the offcial state tree is used to
represent each state. However,
some cannot be cultivated in the
outdoor site, so the arboretum
chose substitute trees for Alaska,
Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, and
South Carolina.
The National Bonsai and
Penjing Museum is also located
at the arboretum. Three stylized
pavilions house nearly 150 plants.
This area exudes tranquility
and peace. For a change of
pace, explore the fanciful youth
garden.
Perhaps the most unique
collection at the arboretum is
the National Capitol Columns.
They are set on a foundation
of stones from the steps that
had been on the east side of the
Capitol. Their stately elegance
on a natural knoll makes these
architectural bits of history seem
like theyve been in their setting
for years, but theyve only been
there for a decade.
The sandstone columns began
their life on the east portico of
the US Capitol in 1828. When
the iron dome of the Capitol was
completed in 1864, it appeared
as if it was not adequately
supported by the columns since
the dome was signifcantly
larger than what the designer
envisioned. To correct this, an
addition to the east side of the
Capitol was proposed, but it was
not constructed until 1958.
The variety of plants, the
well-crafted settings and a bit
of history combine to make the
National Arboretum a treasure
For further information and to plan
your trip, visit www.usna.usda.gov.
U.S. National Arboretum
Explore natures beauty at the
Finally at 50
Written by: Rochelle A. Shenk
n
I
ts the one thing all
Baby Boomer women
have in common.
Some of us have more
lines and wrinkles than
others some of us get grayer
before the rest and still others
just seem to have more energy
than our Boomer comrades.
But the one universal the
one challenge facing all Baby
Boomer sisters is the almost
uncontrollable weight gain
sometimes in places we never
even thought about before
That battle of the bulge just gets
harder and harder and harder
to win with each passing year.
For ALL of us.
My best friend, jane doe and
I have always had to struggle
with our weight but we always
managed to get it off.
After a celebration, summer
vacation, birthday, Thanksgiving,
Christmas or Arbor Day, we
would always have the inevitable
fve to 10 pounds to lose. All I
would have to do is sheepishly
return to a Weight Watchers
meeting, hear the music, and
then get serious. The weight
would always come off. Jane,
on the other hand, would do
whatever diet struck her fancy
at the time: NutriSystem, Jenny
Craig, South Beach, Atkins,
Low Carb, High protein, Low
sugar, Cabbage, Sensa She
tried them all, but she did lose
weight.
At least that was how it was
in our twenties and thirties and
even for the frst half of our
forties. Sure it came on easily
holidays, birthdays snow days
but as soon as we knuckled
down, it would always come off.
These days, at age 49, and for
most women in our BOOMer
age group, it takes having a
near eating disorder for the
scale to move. I know women
in their late 40s who starve
themselves, exercise for hours,
drink all kinds of (diet) shakes
and take all kinds of pills in
the effort to lose weight. I even
know of women who are taking
pregnancy hormones in the
effort to be skinny. Seriously?
Trying to lose weight as a
(near) 50-year-old can make
you a little crazy.
Ahh the good old days in
my 20s and 30s If I had to
lose a few pounds all I had to
do was eat a little less and pop
a Jane Fonda tape in the VCR
and work my Suzanne Sommers
Thigh Master.
I have a 50-something
girlfriend. Ive known her
forever and all that time she has
always been effortlessly tiny. And
I mean effortlessly. Id be with
her on New Years Day moaning
about the 5 or 10 pounds I had
to lose after eating through the
holidays and she would just look
at me doe-eyed. I weigh exactly
the same, shed say. Her size 2-4
jeans never budged throughout
the entire season. Fast forward
three decades and she now
knows exactly what I was talking
about. I dont know whats
happening, she told me one
day over the phone. I seem to
be gaining weight in fve pound
increments and I cant lose it!
(Part of me felt really sorry for
her but between you and me, I
did do a fst pump in the air.)
So before we turn 50, jane
doe and I want to lose a few
pounds. And we are helping
each other by keeping track of
each other. We shoot quick texts
throughout the day to let the
other know how were doing,
to get help and also to motivate
each other.
Sometimes we text about what we
are eating:
Caesar Salad.
Weight Watchers Popsicle.
Ice cream.
Sometimes we text about how we
have exercised that day:
Beautiful day walking.
Sweated like a pig on elliptical.
I think I tinkled during Body Combat
class.
Other times we text about how we
are feeling about the sometimes
long, frustrating journey to weight
loss:
I still weigh the same as last week.
Batteries out on scale. Says I weigh
two pounds.
I dont think I can keep doing this.
One day last week I received this
text from jane:
My 5 ft. 7in. niece is trying on size 4
jeans. Shoot me.
Dont worry, I quickly texted
back. One day shell be 50, too.
So we have decided to meet
monthly to talk about certain
issues in our lives that we
specifcally wanted to work on.
jane bought us each a journal
with the word, IMAGINE
written on it. I bought us each a
stone with the word, IMAGINE
carved in it.
Imagine? Imagine what? It might
be imagining fnally getting a
handle on diet, fnally fguring
out relationships, or simply
fnally deciding on a hair color.
But whatever it is, we will discuss
it, have a glass of wine together,
and help each other keep the
momentum going until we are
FINALLY at 50.
Finally at 50
A new survey from The Dannon Company, conducted by
StrategyOne, reveals that Americans are making health-conscious
decisions about the foods they eat, with six in 10 saying they have
made food purchases driven by health concerns. In particular,
43 percent say they have purchased a food to help their digestive
system. While this fnding reveals a positive step for many
Americans, it also means that more than half of us arent paying
close enough attention to our digestive health, said Dr. Miguel
Freitas, Director of Health Affairs for Dannon.
Why is digestive health so important? For starters, the digestive
system is where vitamins, nutrients and minerals are absorbed,
so its important to take good care of it. In addition, a healthy
and well-functioning digestive system can lead to better overall
well-being.
The good news is, there are many steps we can take to improve
our digestive health, including easy changes to the foods we buy
and eat. Nutrition expert Keri Glassman, founder and president
of Nutritious Life and author of the best-selling book, The O2
Diet, shares her simple steps for a healthier digestive system:
Eat until youre satisfed, not stuffed. When eating a snack or meal,
the goal is to feel satiated (the feeling when hunger goes away),
not full or uncomfortable. Foods that contain whole grains will
help you achieve this feeling while also delivering a strong dose of
fber, vitamins, and minerals. Try adding a helping of vegetables to
round out a healthy meal without adding a lot of calories.
Drink lots of fuids. Fluids can help ease the passage of food
through the digestive tract. Drink at least one glass of water at
every meal. If youre tired of plain water, add slices of lemons or
oranges, or whole berries to pack a punch of favor without extra
calories.
Choose digestion-friendly foods. Eating foods that contain
probiotics (friendly bacteria) is an increasingly popular way
to improve digestive health. In the Dannon survey, over half of
Americans (54 percent) reported that they have consumed
products containing probiotics, and two-thirds of these individuals
say they consume them often. Seek out products with specifc
benefts, such as yogurt containing a probiotic culture called
Bifdus Regularis, which helps regulate the digestive system when
consumed daily for two weeks as part of a balanced diet and
healthy lifestyle.
Get moving. Regular exercise, including taking a walk after a meal,
is a great way to keep your digestive tract on track. Be sure to stay
hydrated before, during, and after a vigorous workout.
Understand the gut-brain connection. The gut feeling isnt just a
myth; the gut and brain are closely connected, and if youre feeling
stressed, angry, or nervous, it can affect your digestive system. To
maintain good digestive health, try to fnd ways to stay relaxed
and stress-free.
To learn more about digestive health and the benefts of
probiotics, speak with your health care provider or nutritionist.
Gut check:
Digestive health tips
from nutrition expert
Keri Glassman
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March 31, 2012 BOOMers
5
COURTESy OF ARA COnTEnT n
n
n
Written by: Maureen Leader
M
arcia Trach,
r e t i r e d
e l e me n t a r y
school teacher,
b e c a m e
interested in researching
historical homes when she
purchased an older home on
Mulberry Street in Lancaster.
When she purchased the home,
she was told it was built in 1898.
As she began examining interior
features such as molding, brick,
and exposed oor joists, and the
wide, double plank oors, she
began to suspect that the house
was much older.
Curiosity led her to research
more about 19th century
architecture. She read books,
searched on-line, talked to
experts, researched the deed,
and sought information at the
Historic Preservation Trust.
Since her retirement, she has
become a dedicated volunteer
and member of the Trusts Board
of Directors.
Trach sold the house on
Mulberry Street and purchased a
converted two-room schoolhouse
in Lancaster Township. Once
again, she began the process of
learning more about the history
and architectural design and
changes of her new home.
With two home research
projects under her belt, as well
as extensive study on several
historic properties in Lancaster
County, Trach offers a wealth of
suggestions to those who wish to
know more about the history of
an older home. As the Ancestry.
com advertisement proposes
to would-be genealogists, You
dont have to know what youre
looking for, you just have to start
looking! In Trachs words, the
more people you talk to the
more leads you get on where
to look.
Where to Begin
Begin by closely examining
the architectural features of
your house. Investigate how the
home was built and what types
of building materials were used.
Examine foundation, roofs,
walls, chimneys, doors, windows,
and moldings. Look for original
materials, such as bricks of the
replace. Knock on walls if
the walls sound hollow, there
may have once been a room
there. Look for ll brick
used to enclose windows and
check to see whether or not
the basement has exposed oor
joists. Were wooden pegs used
in lieu of nails? If so, the house
was probably built before 1850.
Housing design has changed
dramatically over the years, and
you may be able to nd clues as
to when your home was built,
what substantial changes have
been made, and how well-off
the original inhabitants were.
Detailed molding, for example,
probably indicates that the home
was owned by someone wealthy.
Search the attic
If you are lucky, you may nd
original blueprints. Drawings
were found in the attic of the
house now used as the home
for the president of Franklin &
Marshall College, proving that it
was designed by the well known
local architect, C. Emlen Urban,
Trach said.
A publication entitled
House Detectives, put out by
the Smithsonian Institution,
recommends looking under
the water tank lid on the toilet.
Toilets are usually date-stamped
6
BOOMers
March 31, 2012
This old house
has a story
Marcia Trachs house on Schoolhouse Road.
Original School bell still works.
Written by: Meredith Westgate
under the lid, giving you a rough
estimate of when the house
was built, since the toilet would
likely have been installed shortly
after it was manufactured. You
can also get an idea of how
long it has been since a room
was remodeled since styles of
cabinets and appliances go out
of vogue every few years.
In addition to these physical
features, look at the style of the
house, inside and out. The style
of a building is a clue to its age
but not always proof. Take
careful notes and photographs
of architectural details. If you
arent able to match architectural
features of your home with a
time period, Trach suggests
exploring architectural books,
available at your local library
or bookstore. Many books have
photos and drawings that can
help to pinpoint a time period. If
your interest develops, consider
taking an architectural course at
the Thaddeus Stevens College
of Technology.
You can learn a lot of history,
simply by talking to an older
neighbor, Trach said. With a
little detective work, you may
be able to track down former
residents or their children. If you
are lucky to nd someone who
has lived in the neighborhood
since its beginnings, they may be
able to help you date changes or
tell you stories about old days
in the neighborhood or about
their lives or experiences in your
home. Another idea is to Google
the names of previous owners. By
researching the history of your
neighborhood, you may discover
information that can provide
insight into your homes history.
Next, you will want to research
the deed of your home to create
a chronological list of all the
owners of your property. You
can do this on-line at www.
lancasterdeeds.com, or go to the
Lancaster County Government
Center at 150 N. Queen St. and
ask for the Recorder of Deeds.
Staff will show you how to search
the deed. This information is
indexed by lot and block number
in a city and a section, township
and range for rural property.
March 31, 2012 BOOMers
7
continued on page 12
Moving here was a smart financial move.
The money weve saved allows us to pursue
our hobbies and develop new interests. Did we
mention spoiling our grandchildren? Theyre
impressed that Grandma and Grandpa have a
clubhouse. Its a far cry from the clubhouse
of our youth.
The Evans, Traditions of America residents
LIVE
BETTER
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one resident age 55 or better and all residents must be at least 19 years or
older. Prices, terms and availability are subject to change without notice.
*See New Home Counselor for details
OPEN HOUSE DAILY 10AM - 6PM | Call 717-492-4529
Directions: Take Rt. 283 east or west to exit for Rt. 772 Manheim/Mount
Joy. Continue west on Rt. 772 for 1/2 mile, turn left at 2nd trafc light
onto Elmcrest Blvd. Community entrance ahead on left.
Learn more about our lifestyle at
TOAMountJoy.com
1319 Emerson Drive, Mount Joy, PA 17552
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8
BOOMers
March 31, 2012
March 31, 2012 BOOMers
9
F
or Margaret Thorn, being
an artist was always her
dream. It was quite
literally a dream
deferred.
Then, she said, I came upon a poem
by Langston Hughes that touched me
so deeply, I knew it was a sign.
That poem, Dream Deferred, spoke
to Thorn and inspired her to move
toward her dream of becoming an
artist. The poem was the inspiration
for the book and play, Raisin in the
Sun, and the words that meant so
much to the Lititz artist went like this:
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
For Thorn, it was all about timing.
And she was ready to explode as a
watercolor artist.
After 18 years as a fourth grade
teacher at Lititz Elementary School,
Thorn retired in 2010. At 62, she was
ready to pursue that dream deferred,
and become a real artist. It was
something she had always been ready
to do. And her husband, Art Thorn,
a retired geologist, has been her
biggest supporter.
He really encouraged me, and now
he does the matting, helps with the
art shows and setting up, takes care of
the web site and handles the business
aspect, so I can paint, said Thorn.
A native of Berks County, Thorn
earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree from Penn State University,
where she majored in printmaking
with a specialty in etchings. She moved
to New Orleans with her husband,
where she continued her education
at Tulane University, earning a Master
of Fine Arts in printmaking. While
at Tulane, she taught adult classes in
printmaking and watercolor.
She experienced what she calls her
Bohemian artist phase while in New
Orleans, packing up her art supplies
and heading off to the French Quarter,
where she was a street artist, doing
watercolors at Jackson Square.
The Thorns moved to Houston,
Texas, for Art Thorns work as a
geologist in oil exploration, while
Margaret Thorn decided to earn her
degree in something practical. That
was teaching, and she studied at the
University of St. Thomas, achieving
a Master of Education degree in
Elementary Education and Art
Education. After teaching elementary
A dream
D E F E R R E D
school in Houston for four years,
her family moved to Lititz in 1990,
and she started teaching at Lititz
Elementary School. They raised
their daughter Sarah, now a married
environmental engineer with two
sons, and their son Michael, now
married and living in Thailand with
his wife and their baby.
After retiring and her children
grown, it was time for that dream.
At rst I wasnt sure I was good
enough. I started with paintings of
subjects I liked, said Thorn.
Those subjects included
landscapes and images from favorite
places, like Ocean City, N.J., the
Maine Coast, Marthas Vineyard,
Nantucket and New Orleans.
She painted the ferris wheel at
Ocean City, Mack & Mancos Pizza,
Browns donuts and scenes on the
boardwalk, as well as lighthouses,
shing docks and beaches.
Many of her images are nostalgic,
like the 1958 Christmas tree that she
remembers from her childhood,
with a Lionel train circling the tree,
Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs and other
toys from the 1950s.
She also found herself looking
back fondly at favorite treats,
like Skybars and Necco wafers.
She painted an entire watercolor
of favorite candies, some still
around, others not. Then there
were paintings of cupcakes and
donuts and popcorn and salt
water taffy.
Thorn is quite petite, but
confesses that she adores
chocolate. So she paints it. She
also painted gorgeous bottles
of red wine from California
vineyards. One of her Ocean
City paintings features all
the boardwalk goodies. like
Shrivers salt water taffy and
Johnsons popcorn.
People seem to love my food
paintings. As it turns out, many of
my favorite things are shared by
others, said Thorn.
Thorn likes to take a light-
hearted approach to life, and is
quite comfortable doing work that
makes people happy. Her paintings
are without angst and reect her
easy-going, down-to-earth outlook.
Now that she is living her dream,
she approaches her new career as
an artist with enthusiasm. She and
her husband go to as many as 20
art shows every spring and summer,
including the Lititz Outdoor Art
Show, Mount Gretna, Ocean City,
West Reading and Belaire, Md.
Their travels to places like
France, Thailand, Ireland, St.
Croix, and Italy provide a constant
supply of subject matter, ranging
from grand Asian elephants to
Parisian pastries.
She paints every day.
Once you realize your dream,
she said, youve got to go for it.
Whats in your frig?
Fruits, vegetables, juices
and Brussels sprouts. I love
Brussels sprouts.
Favorite music?
Brandi Carlisle and
classical music.
Favorite thing to do on a
rainy day?
Paint, of course!
Most amazing place youve
ever been?
Thailand, the colors are
gorgeous.
Favorite food?
Anything chocolate, cake,
candy and the opera fudge
torte at Trattoria Fratelli in
Lebanon.
Favorite color?
No question there,
I love purple.
First concert?
Simon and Garfunkle.
Book reading now?
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.
Favorite candy?
Good & Plenty.
Surprising talent?
Really good softball pitcher.
Her website?
www.margaretthorn.com
C
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