Tyrone Daily Herald from Tyrone, Pennsylvania • Page 8

Page 8 THE DAILY HERALD, Tyrone, Wednesday, June 14, 1989 Ragtime music main attraction at arts festival Security officials for the commuter airline from Philadelphia to Slate College were understandably puzzled last summer when a passenger appeared attired in a brocaded vest, striped shin with sleeve garters, spats and a derby hat. The traveler, Paul D. Molans, quickly explained that his turn-of-the- century attire was necessitated by back- lo-back appearances in ragtime piano festivals ni Stroudsburg and the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. The continuing popularity of ragtime has encouraged CPFA planners to give ii a more prominent role in this year's July 12-16 festival in Stale College. monies have been increased for participants in the competition, which will be held Sunday, July 16, beginning ai 11 a.m.

Molans, who has participated in the competition every year since its inccp- lion in 1981, will make his eighth appcarcncc this year, both as a performer and a judge. Three prizes will be awarded in each of three categories: children, under the age of 12; youth, from 13 to 17; and adult, 18 and over. In addition, awards will be presented for iho best new ragtime compositions. Summer is prime time for ragtime festivals, Molans notes. The largest of them attracts as many as 20,000 enthusiasts to Scdalia, the hometown of ihc legendary "king of rag" Scott loplin, for a sampling of ihc offerings of ragiirne exponents from around the United States.

"No one is sure how ragtime gol its name," Molans notes. "It began around 1895 in bars and dives, where honky- iniik piano players may have welcomed a change from the standard 'lear- Kikcis' they were usually expected to provide. "flic ragtime style was borrowed Irnm ilie march and uses four themes. Thr player's left hand keeps a steady heal while the right hand docs the syn- aipation. It's like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time," Molans adds.

who had had some musical training, was eking out a living playing piano in a bar, and he was quick to rcal- the potential of the new music he was hearing. Previously none of it had Iven written down, so he began to show tuniposcrs how to do this. "He was fortunate that when he hegan to compose himself, he found a music publisher named John Stark who believed in him," Molans continues. "The Mapleleaf Rag" was an instantaneous success, and Joplin was able to sun a school with his royalties. He helped further the development of the I'orm by slowing down the tempo of the music and building up the phrases to make them more melodic and harmonious." Ragtime had given way to jazz by the lime of the firs I World War, but it surged back into public favor in 1974 when the movie The Sling used a ragtime score.

"Its acceptance today is in part a nostalgia thing," Molans points out. "There are ragtime clubs all around the country, and collectors will pay $100 and up lor sheet music of early rags by the thiee best-known Joseph Lamb and James Scott." Molans, who lives in Jcannettc, became interested in ragtime soon after he st.irled piano lessons at the age of 13. His lather had a Max Morath record album, and young Molans was fascinated by the rhythms. Now he performs Your Social Security By CRAIG M. DONEBRAKEK Social Security Manager In Altoona Many people inquiring for the first lime about ihcir Social Security retirement benefits have misconceptions about how their benefits will be computed.

A question which comes up often, "Is my benefit amount based on my his five years of work or my last five years of work?" The answer is "Neither one!" Retirement benefits are calculated on the total earnings during a lifetime of work under the Social Security system. Years of high earnings will increase the amount of the benefit, but no group of years counts more than another group. The exact number of years used in computing a retirement benefit depends on the person's year of birth. Generally speaking, the benefit is computed by counting the number of years beginning with 1951 and ending with the year the individual reaches age 62. Once this is determined the five lowest years arc dropped and the benefit is based on the remaining number of years.

Using an example better illustrates the point. For an individual bom in 1927 we would use 33 years in computing that person's benefit (1927 plus 62 equals 1989,1989 minus 1951 equals 38, 38 minus 5 equals 33). In this case there arc 38 years between 1951 and 1989 (the year age 62 is attained) we drop out the five lowcsts years and base the benefit on the remaining number of years which in this example would be 38. The above example pertains to the number of years used in computing retirement benefits. The formula differs somewhat for disability and survivors benefits but that will be discussed in a future column.

The Social Security Administration encourages people of all ages to become better informed about what to expect in future benefits. The Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement (PEBES) provides an individual's ycar-by-ycar record of earnings and estimates of retirement, disability and suvivors benefits. To request a PEBES, people can call 1-800-937-2000 or write to Consumer Information Center, Department 55 Pueblo, Colorado 81009. The Altoona Social Security office is located at 3415 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Pleasant Valley Shopping Center, Altoona, Pa. 16602; the telephone number is 943-5208.

Those with a loll call can use Social Security's toll free number 1 -800-2345-SSA. We recommend using the toll-number during the following before 10 a.m., after 3 p.m., on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and when possible any week other than "check week" which of course is the first week of the month. Those of you having questions which you would like to sec addressed in this column please forward them to the Altoona Social Security Administration, ATTN: "Your Social Security Column" at the above address. TV Personality Fran Allison Dead At 81 By JAMES RYAN LOS ANGELES (UPI) Television and radio personality Fran Allison, who starred alongside two puppets in the 1950s show "Kukla, Fran Ollic," died Tuesday at a hospital, a spokeswoman said. She was 81.

Allison, a resident of Van Nuys.dicd at 7:20 a.m. at Sherman Oaks Community Hospital, the spokeswoman said. No information on the cause of death was immediately available. The actress and singer made her debut as the sweet, garrulous co-host of the show on a Chicago broadcast over WBKB-TV on Oct. 13, 1947.

By 1951, the show was carried nationally by NBC. "Kukla, Fran Ollic" became a Sunday afternoon TV program in 1952, festivals throughout Pennsylvania and at various private affairs. Undoubtedly the highlight of his performing career thus far has been an appearance at Scdalia. "I met all the great names of ragtime," he recalls, "including Morath, and I was even able to play his 'Gold Bar Rag' for him." When competitions arc held, contestants arc usually judged in three categories, according to Molans. These include technique, style and interpretation and showmanship.

The deadline for entrants for the ragtime contest at the Central Pcnnsylvani- a Festival of the Arts is July 5. Further information can be obtained by contacting CPFA at 108 West Beaver Avenue, Siaic College, 16801. airing for two years, and returned as a daily five-minute spot at NBC in 1961-62. The show moved to Public Broadcasting from 1969 to 1971 and later was rebroadcast in syndication. Burr Tillstrom, the creator of "Kukla, Fran Ollic," provided the voices for Kukla, Ollie and other members of the "Kuklapolitan Players" puppet cast, but never was seen on the show.

Tillstrom died Dec. 6, 1985, in Palm Springs, Calif. Allison also appeared with Tillstrom and the puppets as hosts of the CBS Saturday afternoon series "Children's Film Festival" from 1971 to 1979. Allison was bom in La Porte City, Iowa, Nov. 20, 1907.

After studying at Coc College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she worked as a public school teacher. She began her entertainment career singing on radio in 1934 and later moved to Chicago. As the loquacious "Aunt Fanny," she was a regular on the nationally broadcast weekday morning variety show hosted by Don "Breakfast Club," that originated in Chicago in 1933. She also starred in' 'The Fran Allison Show" on Chicago's WGN-TV in 1958-60. Allison was married to producer Archie Lcvington, who died some years ago.

They had no children. the Sunflower Group U.S., Japan Open Trade Discussion KAWANA, Japan (UPI) negotiators, still stinging from President Bush's listing of Tokyo as an unfair trading partner, refused Tuesday to formally discuss specific issues with a visiting American trade delegation. The U.S. delegation led by Undersecretary of State Richard McCormack discussed general trade issues with senior Japanese officials for four hours at a luxurious seaside resort about 100 miles west of Tokyo. The Japanese side refused to negotiate specific issues related to Bush's citation of Japan on May 25 as an unfair trading partner under the 1988 U.S.

Trade Act. Bush listed three specific imports supercomputers, satellites and forest products restricted by the Japanese, and added that structural factors, such as the complicated retail distribution system must be changed. Tuesday's talks were the first formal discussions since Bush's announcement. A second round of talks was scheduled for Wednesday. The U.S.

Trade Act requires trading partners to eliminate specific trade barriers within three years of citation or be open to U.S. retaliation, including tariffs on their products up to 100 percent. "The quicker we get a response from the Japanese, the more likely we arc to meet the three-year deadline," said a U.S. official involved in the talks. The Bush administration, frustrated by the persistent trade deficit with Japan of more than $50 billion a year, decided to apply strong pressure to force Japan to accept more U.S.

imports. Some U.S. trade experts have questioned whether the tough approach will work with Japan or backfire, possibly leading to Japanese retaliation against ihc Uniicd States. Japan's first rcaciion had been anger and a vow not to negotiate the specific items listed by Bush. The talks Tuesday were described by both sides as a "frank" airing of problems and feelings, but no progress was reported by cither delegation.

"The U.S. side presented its position strongly that the Japanese side needs to be willing to sit clown to negotiate," said the U.S. official. A senior member of the Japanese delegation said, "Under the threat of retaliation we are not in a position to negotiate." The U.S. official said the Japanese gave no sign they would change their position.

"There was no movement in their suincc," he said. The specific products were not discussed by cither side at the talks, but the U.S. officials did explain in more detail what structural changes arc sought, the officials said. The Japanese contend all their markets arc open. Japan imported S2.2 billion of forest products from the United States last year, but U.S.

forest industry officials say without barriers the imports would jump another Si.2 billion a year. In addition, Japan also buys satellites from the United States, including five of eight satellites it will purchase this year. miu Fifth Wheel Makes Longtime Friendship Screech to a Halt By Abigail Van Buren Universal Press Syndicate DEAR ABBY: I am an older woman, livingalone in a small apartment. I recently invited a couple I'll call Mary and John f.o my place for dinner. Mary told me her brother was visiting her from out of town, so I made him welcome, too.

I have a small table in my dining area that seats only four people comfortably. I have service for only four in china, crystal and si I verware, as well as a set of four hand-embroidered place mats. I prepared four shrimp cocktails, four porterhouse steaks, four baked potatoes and four baked Alaskas. An hour before my guests were due to arrive, Mary phoned to say that "Cliff," a friend of theirs whom they know I dialike intensely, had dropped in on them, and could they bring him along to dinner? I told Mary that I could accommodate only four at my table, and not to bring Cliff. She stammered a bit and said she'd call me back in a few minutes.

A few minutes later, my phone rang. This time it was John. I couldn't believe my ears when he said, "If we can't bring Cliff, we'll have to take a rain check." I told John that bringing Cliff was out of the question, and with that I canceled my dinner. Abby, after a friendship of more than 30 years, Mary and John are no longer speaking to me. Do you think I was wrong to have refused to let them bring Cliff? It would have been terribly inconvenient on such short notice, and besides, I really didn't want him.

END OF FRIENDSHIP "Six Reasons to Say No to Sex." Then it lists the reasons: 1. Getting caught 2. Getting a bad reputation 3. Getting pregnant, or getting her pregnant 4. Getting V.D.

or herpes 5. Getting AIDS 6. And after that there's no getting better This courageous educational campaign was developed by Dr. Woodrow Meyers, director of Indiana's Department of Public Health. I applaud the efforts of Dr.

Meyers, and would like to see every high school in the nation display this poster. DEAR ABBY: I recently hud an interesting discussion with a friend concerning this question: Would it be in poor taste to take a friend out for dinner on her birthday and use- a two-for-one coupon? (Buy one dinner, get the second dinner free.) I said I thought it would be extremely tacky because the hostess would not really be treating her friend to dinner if she got the dinner for free. My friend says, "It doesn't matter that a two-for-one coupon was used. It's the thought that counts." What do you say, Abby? CONFUSED IN CLEVELAND DEAR CONFUSED: I vote with your friend. DEAR END: You were not wrong.

You do not need the friendship of people who would attempt to pressure you as did Mary and John. Let them cash in their "rain check" when it hails in the Sahara. DEAR READERS: 1 recently received a poster that will soon be seen in the halls of all the public high schools in Indiana. The poster pictures six typical high school students boys and girls, hanging around their lockers, talking to one another. The banner across the top reads: The facts about drugs, AIDS, and how to prevent unwanted pregnancy arc all in Abby's new expanded booklet, "What Every Teen Should Know." To order, send your name and address, plus check or money order for Sli.Sfl ($4 in Canada) to: Denr Abby's Teen Booklet, P.O.

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