Life Expectancy

CHAMBERSBURG, PA. - At age 77, Allen Twigg of Chambersburg did not appear very worried that, on average, a Franklin County, Pa., resident can expect to live to be 78 years old. "At least I've got part of a year yet," joked Twigg, who turns 78 in January. On Friday, he was handing out information about the Meals on Wheels program at the 2006 Senior Fair at Southgate Mall. The fair was hosted by state Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin/Cumberland. According to "Eight Americas: Investigating Mortality Disparities across Races, Counties, and Race-Counties in the United States," a study that appeared in the online PLoS Journal, a Franklin Countian can expect to live longer than the average Pennsylvanian, whose life expectancy is 76.7 years, or 31st in the nation.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. ? At age 77, Allen Twigg of Chambersburg did not appear very worried that, on average, a Franklin County, Pa., resident can expect to live to be 78 years old. "At least I've got part of a year yet," joked Twigg, who turns 78 in January. On Friday, he was handing out information about the Meals on Wheels program at the 2006 Senior Fair at Southgate Mall. The fair was hosted by state Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin/Cumberland. According to "Eight Americas: Investigating Mortality Disparities across Races, Counties, and Race-Counties in the United States," a study that appeared in the online PLoS Journal, a Franklin Countian can expect to live longer than the average Pennsylvanian, whose life expectancy is 76.7 years, or 31st in the nation.

Want to increase your odds of seeing your grandchildren grow up or of seeing Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates or Washington Nationals actually win a World Series? There's the obvious: Stop smoking, exercise regularly and eat right. Those three things can't be underestimated, but there are other things that you can do or avoid doing that could help improve your life expectancy, doctors say. Stay connected "Married men live longer than single men. Maybe that's because someone takes care of them," says Dr. David Fein, medical director at Princeton Longevity Center in New Jersey.

According to a study that appeared online, a resident of Franklin County can expect to live to the age of 78, longer than the average Pennsylvanian. The county's average life expectancy ranks 12th among counties in Pennsylvania. Centre County ranks first in the state with a life expectancy of 79.4 years, while Philadelphia County is last with a life expectancy of 72.3 years. The fastest growing demographic age group in Franklin County is those ages 85 and older. The number of people older than 85 rose increased 90 percent between 1980 and 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - The $67.6 million price tag for the last sections of the W.Va. 9 project to be built from Martinsburg to Charles Town, W.Va., will include 12 bridges and two 1,000-foot slabs of concrete pavement being studied by three West Virginia University professors. With the road slated to be completed in November 2009, state Division of Highways officials gave the contractor awarded the last of the three sections notice to proceed last week. "We really have to rush that (portion)

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. ? The $67.6 million price tag for the last sections of the W.Va. 9 project to be built from Martinsburg to Charles Town, W.Va., will include 12 bridges and two 1,000-foot slabs of concrete pavement being studied by three West Virginia University professors. Slated to be completed in November 2009, state Division of Highways officials gave the contractor awarded the last of the three sections notice to proceed last week. "We really have to rush that (portion)

by Yvette May / staff photographer click images to view larger versions New knees a joint venture Marybelle Foster and Anna McSherry are the best of friends with four new knees between them. "We first met in Washington County Hospital in April 1997 when we each had our first knee replacements," said McSherry, 72. That chance meeting and shared experience blossomed into a friendship that has continued and on Jan. 20, they checked in together to have their other knees replaced.

tarar@herald-mail.com With trash piling up at the Forty West Landfill, a county official said last week that construction of a nearly $4.8 million cell will have to be bumped up a year to expand the landfill's capacity. Director of Public Works Gary Rohrer said the landfill has seen an increase in volume from the Westview Homes demolition project, and that an anticipated demolition of the Baldwin House in downtown Hagerstown will add to that. He also said a local recycling company has told him it would like to dispose of 50 to 100 tons a day of materials.

julieg@herald-mail.com The Washington County Commissioners approved a $1.2 million road maintenance contract Thursday morning to have 16 miles of roads repaved late this summer and fall. Roads to be repaved include all or portions of Western Maryland Parkway, Rench Road, Marsh Pike, Edgewood Drive, Mount Aetna Road, Halfway Boulevard and Governor Lane Boulevard. Not on the list are Maugansville Road and Oak Ridge Drive near Funkstown, which County Commissioner John Munson said in June he wanted repaired using the county's surplus.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - Any doubts that Mark Johnston was back to his old self were put to rest last Halloween. The former local police officer - known for his unique brand of humor - figured he would make a good Shrek. So the bald-headed Johnston set out to dress himself up as the intimidating-looking film figure as a treat for his children. To make sure he got the look right, Johnston wrapped rubber bands around his ears. "I'm still keeping my sense of humor," Johnston said.

Affordable Care Act could bolster life expectancy To the editor: In Tom Firey's Jan. 16 opinion piece, he takes a generally dismissive attitude toward the Affordable Care Act. The article asserts that what he does credit the act for addressing, medical coverage “seems to be important.” Lack of medical coverage for 30 million to 50 million people would seem to warrant a higher qualifier than “seems.” Firey also trashes any...

"I'd like to know who is responsible for the condition of Scenic View Court in Boonsboro. Is the town of Boonsboro, or Washington County? Whoever it is, they need to come out here and talk to the neighbors and tell them why they destroyed our street. " - Boonsboro "SSI is not welfare. It is Social Security that is paid to the minor, that the parent has died and has worked and paid in to the system. It is not welfare. It's to try and help keep the child alive, survive, with no income from the parent.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. -- Mark Johnston was battling a brain tumor, but he also was living his life, right to the end. The former Jefferson County police officer had been filling out necessary documents for family affairs, and he remained as active as he could despite his medical prognosis. And as always, his humor still was there, his friends in the law enforcement community said. Friends on Wednesday remembered Johnston. Jefferson County Sheriff Robert E. "Bobby" Shirley said Johnston recently showed him a picture of his tumor.

"I'm calling in response to the letter that was in Wednesday's paper about the woman with a problem with crickets. The only thing I know is to buy a gecko. They eat crickets. " - Hagerstown The gecko will not only get rid of the crickets for you, but you also get to hear all the cute things he says with that neat British accent. "This is to the caller from Halfway who called in about wanting to get rid of crickets. There is an upside to everything. The upside to this would be a cricket's life expectancy is only six to eight weeks, so until then, enjoy the wonderful sounds of nature.

Jeanne Durrell isn't your stereotypical retiree. She doesn't own a rocking chair and she has no interest in moving to Florida. In fact, retiring to a sandy beach was never an option. Instead, she's heading to Africa in a few weeks to explore volunteer work with the Peace Corps. For Ron and Nancy Myers, Tuesdays begin as they have for the past 36 years - together. They have breakfast, catch up on the news, then it's out the door. But instead of heading to work, they head to REACH - a nonprofit organization - where they volunteer with a crisis intervention program.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - Any doubts that Mark Johnston was back to his old self were put to rest last Halloween. The former local police officer - known for his unique brand of humor - figured he would make a good Shrek. So the bald-headed Johnston set out to dress himself up as the intimidating-looking film figure as a treat for his children. To make sure he got the look right, Johnston wrapped rubber bands around his ears. "I'm still keeping my sense of humor," Johnston said.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- Any doubts that Mark Johnston was back to his old self were put to rest last Halloween. The former local police officer -- known for his unique brand of humor -- figured he would make a good Shrek. So the bald-headed Johnston set out to dress himself up as the intimidating-looking film figure as a treat for his children. To make sure he got the look right, Johnston wrapped rubber bands around his ears. "I'm still keeping my sense of humor," Johnston said.

SMITHSBURG -- Kaelii Stout doesn't want people to think she's different. But she is. Not because she takes more than 25 pills a day or undergoes daily chest therapy. Not because she has nightly tube feeds and numerous nebulizer treatments. She's different because she won't allow cystic fibrosis to rule her life. An athletic 14-year-old, Kaelii plays soccer and runs track at Williamsport High School. She likes hanging out with her friends and doing all of the things kids her age do. "I'm just like everybody else, she said.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - The $67.6 million price tag for the last sections of the W.Va. 9 project to be built from Martinsburg to Charles Town, W.Va., will include 12 bridges and two 1,000-foot slabs of concrete pavement being studied by three West Virginia University professors. With the road slated to be completed in November 2009, state Division of Highways officials gave the contractor awarded the last of the three sections notice to proceed last week. "We really have to rush that (portion)

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. ? The $67.6 million price tag for the last sections of the W.Va. 9 project to be built from Martinsburg to Charles Town, W.Va., will include 12 bridges and two 1,000-foot slabs of concrete pavement being studied by three West Virginia University professors. Slated to be completed in November 2009, state Division of Highways officials gave the contractor awarded the last of the three sections notice to proceed last week. "We really have to rush that (portion)