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She is funny, articulate and has a great personality. Gina Greiner is also 100 years old.

Gina celebrated her birthday on Friday, May 11, with family and friends at a party held at the Mahoning Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Elizabeth, N.J., she spent her life in Newark and then Iselin, N.J.

She married her husband, Robert, and was his wife for 40 years until his death.

She also worked for Globe Indemnity Co. in the claims department and traveled into New York City for many years for her job.

Features

STACEY SOLT/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, right, presents Girl Scout leader Larissa Kimmel with a proclamation marking the group's celebration. He noted that Girl Scouts now claims 3.8 million members nationwide. Kimmel is the leader of Troop 3112 of Palmerton. She is wearing her old Girl Scout sash from when she was a Senior Girl Scout in Troop 583 of Lehighton.

Palmerton Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years

Palmerton Area Girl Scouts recently celebrated 100 years of Girl Scouts at Jerusalem United Church of Christ in Trachsville. Palmerton is home to 244 registered Girl Scout members, including 165 girls and young women and approximately 80 adult volunteers. It is the 73rd year of Girl Scouting in Palmerton. ABOVE LEFT: Skye Graver and Paige Shupp paint rocks with camping scenes at the Palmerton Girl Scouts' celebration of 100 years of Scouting. Both girls recently "bridged" from Junior to Cadette Girl Scouts.

Announcements

Marriage licenses

Sheena M. Booth and Andrew J. Whitacre, 131 Second St., Coaldale. Leah L. Luchetta, 109 N. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo and Shawn Fenker, 229 W. Sherman St. (rear), McAdoo. Amy M. Sims and Jonathan S. Palmer, 1125 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City.

Columns

Peripheral arterial disease

Q. My toe nails and leg hair don't seem to be growing as fast as they used to. Is this age-related or is it something else?

It could be caused by something harmless, but it is possible that it is a little-known symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). If I were you, I'd go to a doctor for a checkup. (Cliche alert!) Better safe than sorry.

PAD also known as peripheral vascular disease usually strikes the legs, but also can affect the blood vessels to your head, arms, kidneys and stomach.

Shoulder problems part two

(This is the second of two columns on shoulder problems.)

The shoulder is made up of three bones: the collarbone, the shoulder blade and the upper arm bone. The shoulder is the body's most movable joint. It is also unstable because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it.

The unstable shoulder is held in place by soft tissue: muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Shoulder problems plague seniors more than athletes

Q. You can settle a bet for me. Who gets shoulder problems more often, athletes or seniors?

Athletes such as pitchers, tennis players and swimmers are especially susceptible to shoulder problems because of their repetitive overhead motions. However, shoulder problems are most likely to victimize people older than 60. You can deduce that, as a group, old athletes are at the highest risk of shoulder injury.

(Shoulder problems are so common among seniors that I am doing a two-parter on the subject. This is the first column.)

Let's start with some anatomy.

Taste disorders may be treatable

Q. What is a taste disorder?

There are several types of taste disorders. You can have a persistent bad taste in the mouth. This is called a dysgeusia. Some people have hypogeusia, or the reduced ability to taste. Others can't detect taste at all, which is called ageusia. People with taste disorders experience a specific ageusia of one or more of the five taste categories: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and savory.

The most common complaint is "phantom taste perception," which is tasting something that isn't there.

Food

Irish Soda Bread for St. Patrick's Day

With a history spanning more than two centuries, soda bread is a traditional Irish specialty. The first loaf, consisting of little more than flour, baking soda, salt, and sour milk, made its debut in the mid-1800s when baking soda found its way into Irish kitchens.

The sweet taste of New Orleans – warm beignets

It may look like a doughnut. It may be filled or glazed like a doughnut. It may even be cooked like a doughnut. But don't call it a doughnut.

It's a beignet. And it's one of New Orleans' two iconic sweets (the other being the party loving king cake). With Mardi Gras approaching, it's a perfect time to get to know beignets.

An easy, do-ahead chocolate mousse your love will love

AP Photo/Matthew Mead Valentine's Day practically screams for a chocolate dessert. This Milk Chocolate Mango Mousse is an easy way to incorporate chocolate without being overly indulgent.

Valentine's Day practically screams for a chocolate dessert. And this mousse is an easy way to incorporate chocolate without being overly indulgent.

Because this is a chilled dessert, you can make it ahead of time and not worry about things coming out of the oven at the right time when you're busy trying to impress your sweetheart with dinner.

For a restaurant-worthy dish, spoon the mousse into parfait glasses and top with fresh berries.

Milk ChocolateMango Mousse

Start to finish: 30 minutes, plus chilling

Servings: 4

1 cup frozen mango chunks, thawed

Say 'I love you' with seafood and cream

AP Photo/Matthew Mead Warm and creamy, Seafood Au Gratin is perfect for a cold winter night.

Warm and creamy, au gratin is perfect for a cold winter night. And what better way to say "I love you" than with a little indulgence of seafood and cream.

This dish goes together with just a little effort and you end up with an impressive and delicious dinner for two. Serve with crusty bread and a green salad dressed with a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, sea salt and ground black pepper.

SeafoodAu Gratin