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F
IFTEEN YEARS AGO
I stopped at
Reynolds Sparkle Market to pick up
boneless chicken breasts that were
on special that week. I paid my bill and
headed out, adding up in my head the
cost of the two packages I’d bought.
I didn’t pay enough. I checked the re-
ceipt, which reflected a discount. Then it
dawned on me: The store gives discounts
to seniors who shop on Tuesdays.
At the time I was still in my 40s, but
the teenage cashier apparently thought I
looked old enough to qualify. I was too
embarrassed – or offended – to go back
and demand that I pay more.
I’ve outgrown my disdain for the “se-
nior” label. Now I’m legitimately eligible
for some of the discounts that apply to
the 50-and-older set, and I’m happy to
take advantage of them. After all, if I’m
willing to clip coupons to save 50 cents
on two bars of soap, why wouldn’t I be
happy with 10- or 20-percent off my entire
bill at lunch?
Entertainment deals are usually easy to
spot, but if the sign doesn’t advertise a
senior admission price, it’s certainly worth
asking. Most hotels also offer senior
rates.
One of the biggest
bargains in travel if
you’re at least age 62 and
like to visit national parks
like Yellowstone and
Yosemite is the Senior
Pass, formerly known as
the Golden Age Passport.
The lifetime pass costs
$10 and admits you and
up to three people to more than 2,000
recreation sites. It also gets you discounts
on some tours and camping fees.
Locally owned businesses often offer
senior discounts, so it’s worth asking your
mechanic, contractor or lawn or cleaning
service if they’ll cut you a break. Some
banks and credit unions offer special rates
or deals on accounts for seniors. Even
AT&T and Verizon Wireless have less-
expensive plans just for older folks.
Getting senior discounts from the big
guys can be tricky, especially if it’s a fran-
chise. Some – like the Long John Silvers
in Hermitage – hang banners advertising
them. Others require you to ask or sim-
ply won’t honor a deal advertised
elsewhere.
In case you’re not aware of them, here
are a handful of nationally publicized din-
ing deals in addition to the usual senior
menu options:
˛
Perkins
– 20 percent off on Tues-
days.
˛
Eat’n Park
– $4.99 breakfast buffet
from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays for ages
55 and older.
˛
Denny’s
– 10 percent off for ages 55-
plus; 20 percent for AARP members.
˛
Burger King
– 10 percent off for
ages 60-plus and discounts on coffee and
soft drinks.
˛
Wendy’s
and
Arby’s
– 10 percent off
for ages 55 and older.
˛
Subway
– 10 percent off for ages 60
and older.
˛
Applebee’s
– 15 percent for ages 60-
plus with their Golden Apple Card.
˛
McDonald’s
– discounts on coffee
and soft drinks for ages 55-plus
˛
Taco Bell
– 5 percent off plus free
beverages if you’re age 65 plus.
By the way, Sparkle Market in
Reynolds still gives senior shoppers a 5
percent discount on Tuesdays.
September
2013
Vol. 5 No. 9
life
and
times
@sharonherald.com
EDITOR
Sarah Adams
DESIGN DIRECTOR
John Zavinski
PHOTOGRAPHY
Tom Davidson
John Zavinski
ADVERTISING
Laurie B. Doyle
PRINTING
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LIFE
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TIMES
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SENIOR MUSINGS
4
˛
When your life someday
flashes before your eyes, will
there be anything worth watching?
THE WRITE GARDENER
6
˛
Mary, the mother of
gardening inspiration.
YOUR MONEY
8
˛
When the
finish line is
near, investors
often make some common
retirement-planning mistakes.
TECHNOLOGY
10
˛
Facebook offers
so much
to like – and so
much to be
cautious about.
SENIOR RESOURCES
9
˛
Elder abuse takes many forms. Learn to rec-
ognize it and know what to do about it.
NOW & THEN
20
˛
When school bells
stop tolling and
school’s out forever, some
schoolhouses graduate to new
uses. Others aren’t so lucky.
COVER STORY
12
˛
Farrell’s unstoppable
Father Donald Berdis toils
lovingly from dawn to dusk fulfill-
ing the never-ending needs of a
small-town parish. A priest for half a century,
he sees himself as just a servant for God’s people.
INSIDE
THIS MONTH
FROM THE EDITOR
Sarah Adams,
editor
September 2013
LIFE
&
TIMES
3
Tom Davidson/Life & Times
Did you remember to ask for your senior discount?