BOOM Magazine September 2015 by FAMILY Magazines of Michiana

SEPTEMBER 2015

FALL FUN

Road Trip WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN HURT YOU LOOK OUT FOR ALLIGATOR PEARS

KIDS—GONE THE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF

BECOMING A STEPMOM

Michiana Heart & Stroke Walk Elkhart County

St. Joseph County

Sunday • September 20, 2015

Sunday • October 4, 2015

1 pm • Donation Turn-In & Pre-Walk Activities 2 pm • Opening Ceremonies 2:30 pm • 5K or Miracle Mile Walk

Kardzhali Park at NIBCO Parkway Downtown Elkhart

Eddy Street Commons at Notre Dame South Bend

• Music to get your heart pumping •Nutrition education • Healthy snacks • Fit zone Register at michianaheartwalk.org or call 574-274-1783 to learn more. Heart & Torch Sponsor

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WHAT'S INSIDE

EVERY MONTH

On The Cover

Contributors & Testimonials

BOOM Timeline

boom PETS 7

boom RECIPE 30

Loving Animals Are In Need Of Families

Tarte Tatin

By: Katie & Theresa Slott

boom BOOK REVIEW 31

Refire! Don't Retire

By: Ken Blanchard & Morton Shaevitz Reviewed By: Michael Zeiger

boom HEALTHY LIVING 8

Staying On Top

Baby Boomers & Suicide

Look Out For Alligator Pears

By: Judy Jourdan, MSA, OTR By: Amy Westbrook Pracht By Margo Bell

boom TRAVELER 14

Day Trip: Plymouth, IN

Highlights of Switzerland

Fall Fun Road Trip: Ocean Grove, NJ

By: Phyllis Rose By: Phyllis Rose By: Rita Miller

boom HOBBIES 20

Welcome To The IPA Family Reunion!

Movie Tail-ers

By: Chuck Bergman

By: Margo & Jim Bell

boom HOME 22

Kids Gone

Life In A Small Town

By: Margo Bell By: Pam Gunterman

boom LIFE

The Smooth Transition Of Becoming A Stepmom

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

By: Rita Miller

By: Thom Villing

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER

Ann Reiff is one of Michianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premiere Real Life Photographers. Her heart and soul define her style, as she is able to capture the moments we wish to always remember. Ann shoots all variety of sessions at her studio in Cassopolis Michigan and also loves doing shoots on location. www.studio513east.com, ann@studio513east.com call 269-228-0373

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ON THE COVER

Learn More About Your Insurance Policy!

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER: Betsy Tavernier Betsy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

MANAGING EDITOR:

Embrace The Empty Nest

Life In A Small Town

September 16th Celebrates National Step Family Day!

Jessica Haviland Jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

AD COORDINATOR & INSIDE SALES MANAGER

Amanda Oiler Amanda@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER: Zuzanna Zmud Zuzanna@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

MEDICAL EDITOR: Dr. Jesse Hsieh

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Leah Elick

BOOM Magazine is a division of Michiana Family Magazines, LLC established in 2006. All rights reserved. We would love to hear from you! Please submit press releases, -event information and inquiries to: Jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Bring ON The Avocados!

The FAMILY Magazines P.O. BOX 577 Granger, IN 46530 PH: 574.387.5420 • FX: 574.217.4700 www.MichianaMom.com Permission from the publisher is required for any reproduction or reprint of this publication. Read BOOM Magazine online each month! Go to www.MichianaMom.com and flip the pages, cover-to-cover the organic and green way! September 2015 Volume 4: Number 9

LOOK WHO’S TALKING

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, AND BECOME OUR FAN ON FACEBOOK. @MichianaBoom www.facebook.com/pages/BOOM-Magazine/ www.pinterest.com/boommagazine/ MichianaBoom

september / CONTRIBUTORS

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PHYLLIS ROSE Phyllis Rose is a freelance writer and editor from Vicksburg, Michigan. For nine years, she wrote a day trip column for the Kalamazoo Gazette, visiting hundreds of places in the Michiana area.

MARGO BELL Margo Bell, a first-wave Boomer, has a B.S. degree in Biology from Arkansas State University and worked in medical and marine biology research before making a midlife career change to writing for adults and children. Margo is a former magazine editor and has published over 50 articles and features in newspapers and magazines. She and her husband Jim live in South Bend and have two grandchildren. Photo Credit: Classic Image Photography

CHUCK BERGMAN

The beer articles are very interesting and they give me an idea of what to try next at a local brewery!” – Donna S.

I am friends with BOOM Magazine on Facebook and they always post inspiring quotes and throwback pictures that keeps my memory fresh!” – Glenda R.

Honestly, one of the best pages to turn to is the timeline page! It always has fun tidbit information that brings back great memories.” – Brenda K.

Chuck Bergman is a local Michiana marketing professional and an avid home brewer. He fell in love with craft beer a few years ago and has never looked at beer the same way. He encourages everyone to support local breweries, home brew stores and be willing to ‘experience new tastes.’

THOM VILLING

is president and co-founder of Villing & Company Marketing Communications. He is also a frequent blogger and writer on business and marketing and serves as vice president of programming for the American Marketing Association.

Want to know when BOOM Magazine is giving away some amazing prizes? SIGN UP TO BE A PART OF OUR EBLAST! boom | SEPTEMBER 2015

SEPTEMBER EVENTS Five Fun Grandparents Facts 1

Tu W

Free Bingo, 10:30 A.M., Newton Center-Lakeville

Fall Home Décor

Th F

Old Fashioned Indoor Flea Market,8:00 A.M., Perennials Galore Greenhouse, La Porte, IN

SEPT. 19TH ND VS Georgia Tech, 3:30 P.M., Notre Dame Stadium (NBC)

AUTUMN PORCHES (www.seetingforfour.com)

OCT. 10TH ND VS Navy Midshipmen, 3:30 P.M., Notre Dame Stadium (NBC) OCT. 17TH ND VS USC Trojans, 7:30 P.M., Notre Dame Stadium (NBC)

Annual Dinner, 6:00 P.M., The History Museum-South Bend

25 26 Johnny Appleseed Day

FALL PILLOWS (www.ebay.com)

NOV. 14TH ND VS Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 3:30 P.M., Notre Dame Stadium (NBC)

Mo Tu

National Good Neighbor Day

NOV. 21ST ND VS Boston College Eagles, 7:30 P.M., Fenway Park, MA (NBCSN)

RUSTIC FALL DÉCOR (www.zulily.com)

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OCT. 31ST ND VS Temple Owls, TBA, Lincoln Financial Field, PA NOV. 7TH ND VS Pittsburgh Panthers, TBA, Heinz Field, PA

Fall Festival, 4:00 P.M., Downtown St. Joseph, MI

SEPT. 26TH ND VS UMass Minutemen, 3:30 P.M., Notre Dame Stadium (NBC) OCT. 3RD ND VS Clemson Tigers, TBA, Memorial Stadium, SC

Ralphie May, 7:00 P.M., The Lerner-Elkhart

Football Schedule

SEPT. 12TH ND VS Virginia Cavaliers, 3:30 P.M., Scott Stadium, VA (ABC)

Grandparent’s Day Deathtrap, 3:00 P.M., Elkhart Civic Theatre-Bristol

20 National Women’s Friendship Day

5. According to grandparents.com, three out of four grandparents think being a grandparent is the single most important and satisfying thing in their life!

SEPT. 5TH ND VS Texas, 7:30 P.M., Notre Dame Stadium (NBC)

16 Step Family Day

4. About 7% of U.S. kids are being raised by their grandparents (roughly over $5 million children).

The 2015 Notre Dame

19th Annual Wine Harvest Festival, Noon, Lemon Creek Winery-Berrien Springs, MI

3. Kids are 50% less likely to be injured in cars driven by their grandparents!

Information Found: www.grandparents.com

6th Annual Harvest Celebration & Grape Stomp, Noon, Baroda Founders Wine Cellar

2. 10th U.S. President, John Tyler, has two grandsons who are currently alive and both in their 70’s!

Wednesday Wine Walks, All Day, Downtown South Bend

11 9/11 Remembrance Day Nappanee’s 2nd Saturday Craft Shows, 12 8:00 A.M., Country Café-Nappanee

1. The average age of a U.S. grandparent is 48 and more than half are Baby Boomers!

Summer Dance Elkhart, 8:00 P.M., Civic Plaza-Downtown Elkhart

for GRANDPARENT’S DAY!

Celebrate Grandparents Day with the grandkids this year on September 13th!

Labor Day

First Fridays, 5:00 P.M., Downtown South Bend & Goshen

Labor Day Weekend Steam & Power Show, 5-6 Big 10:00 A.M., Hesston Steam Museum-La Porte

Sa Su

Habitat For Humanity Of Elkhart County, 12:00 P.M., Goshen Office

NOV. 28TH ND VS Stanford Cardinal, TBA, Stanford Stadium, CA

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PETS

TANGO: I am Tango! My shelter friends say I am energetic, talkative and really like attention. I just know I am a great dog that is ready for a home of my own. I am a five-monthold Labrador mix that is still all puppy and would love to take classes and learn lots of fun stuff.

THISTLE: I am cute little Thistle. I am a petite two-year-old girl. I am curious and like to explore. I know how to arrange myself so you always see me at my cutest. I love the attention I get. I have lived the free life up until now but I am ready to settle down and be your "fur"ever cat. I have been spayed so I am ready to go home.

HYPERBOLE: It is a funny name but I am a very beautiful tabby with a little tan tip on my tail. I'm a curious active girl who likes to pounce on things. I can even juggle three toy mice at once. I can run very fast for short periods of time like a cheetah. When you come to visit, bring toys and we can play together. I am two years old and have been spayed.

boom | SEPTEMBER 2015

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HEALTHY LIVING

By: Judy Jourdan, MSA, OTR

Staying on TOP How Can You Prevent Falls? Did you know that 60 percent of falls take place in the home? One-third of those people are over the age of 65, and 50 percent of them are 80 or older? And when seniors fall, they are likely to be seriously hurt. People 75 and older who fall are four times more likely to be admitted to a long-term facility. Helping to reduce the risk of falling is a great way to stay healthy and independent as long as possible for you, a significant other, an aging parent or a friend. Sept. 23, 2015 marks Falls Prevention Awareness Day. The good news about falls is that most of them can be prevented. The key is to know where to look.

SEPTEMBER 2015 | boom

The National Council on Aging has determined some common factors that can lead to a fall:

• Balance and gait – As we age, most of us lose some coordination, flexibility and balance – primarily through inactivity, increasing the risk of falling.

• Vision – As the eyes age, less light reaches the retina, making contrasting edges, tripping hazards and obstacles harder to see.

• Medications – Some prescriptions and over-thecounter medications can cause dizziness, dehydration or interactions with each other that can lead to a fall.

• Environment – Most seniors have lived in their homes for a long time and have never thought about simple modifications that might keep it safer as they age.

• Chronic conditions – More than 90 percent of older adults have at least one chronic condition like diabetes, stroke or arthritis. Often, these increase the risk of falling because they result in lost function, inactivity, depression, pain or multiple medications.

So, how can you or your loved one prevent falls at home? Here are 10 tips to help reduce the risk of a fall: 1. Place items within reach. 2. Wear proper footwear. Shoes and slippers should have backs, non-slip soles that fit well and are not overly worn. 3. Try to sit on furniture with strong armrests and good back support that you can get into and out of easily. 4. Keep a phone nearby at all times. Place it in a pocket or in walker bag/basket; have the phone next to bed and chairs. 5. Exercise regularly. It is important that the exercises focus on increasing leg strength and improving balance, and they should get more challenging over time. • Tai Chi is an excellent means of balance and coordination training. Tai Chi can decrease blood pressure, increase stability and balance, reduce the fear of falling, and increase confidence in balance and movement.

KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE Each year, millions of adults 65 and older fall. Fortunately, falls are a problem that can be preventable. That is why it is so critical for people to know how to safely set up their home. The physical and occupational therapists at Memorial and Elkhart General Home Care share some simple steps to safely set up your home:

• Walking improves balance, ankle strength, walking speed and the fear of falling.

Living/Sleeping Areas:

• Water aerobics is good exercise for people with arthritis or other joint conditions because it is gentle on joints and provides the same benefits of exercise that other “land exercises” provide.

•

Throw rugs should be removed and replaced with non-slip backed rugs.

•

Pick up clutter and keep pathways clear.

•

Be aware of pets at all times.

•

Good lighting! Day or night, we need more light as our eyes change. Use night-lights in all rooms to avoid obstructions.

•

Add handrails to stairways.

•

Add colored tape to mark the edges of steps.

•

Repair broken or worn steps and uneven walkways.

•

Rearrange furniture to allow open walkways, especially if using a walker or wheelchair.

• Strength training improves muscular endurance and strength, range of motion and flexibility. Strength training can be done using free weights, nautilus equipment or resistance bands. 6. If gait is unsteady, a walker may be beneficial. 7. When able, sit to perform tasks. 8. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review medicines – both prescription and over-the counter – to identify medicines that may cause side effects or interactions such as dizziness or drowsiness.

Bathroom: •

Use securely fastened toilet seat; some may benefit from raised toiled seat or grab bars.

9. Have eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and update eyeglasses to maximize vision. If you wear bifocals, consider getting a pair with single vision distance lenses for some activities such as walking outside.

•

Use shower chair or bench.

•

Securely fasten grab bars in the shower.

•

Wipe up spills as soon as they happen.

•

Install non-slip strips or mat in the shower.

10. Make homes safer by reducing tripping hazards; adding grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower and next to the toilet; adding railings on both sides of stairways; and improving the lighting in homes. •••

*This article does not address all potential causes of falls, but it is a starting point. Please talk to your health care provider if you have further questions or specific needs that a physical therapy or occupational therapist may be able to address. Source: CDC.gov boom | SEPTEMBER 2015

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HEALTHY LIVING

Baby Boomers & SUICIDE Local Families Share Their Stories In Order to Help Others By: Amy Westbrook Pracht

He made his first attempt at suicide at 52 years of age. Two years later, Jamie Ruiz’s father, Robin Wade, ended his life at 54 years old. Her father didn’t leave a note when he walked into the woods that day, but what he left behind was a family who loved him and tried to help him many times. While suicide has typically been seen as an issue with teenagers and the elderly, there is an increase in suicide rates among the Baby Boomer generation, especially men in their 50’s. Many experts tend to believe the culmination of job loss, home loss and stalled income combined with chronic disease, untreated mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, relationship issues were all contributing factors. There is also evidence indicating that when the nation’s economy began to slide in 2008, suicide rates of adults between the ages of 45-64 far surpassed suicide rates for people older than 85, teens and young adults. “He was diagnosed at 50 with bipolar disorder,” said Ruiz. “He had worked at Whirlpool for 20 years and they closed the plant. I think he spiraled after that. He lost his health benefits and had taken medication for chronic back pain and soon couldn’t pay for it and his brain short circuited when he didn’t have his pain meds.” In looking back, while the job loss may have been the tipping point towards her father’s downhill spiral. Ruiz believes he suffered from mental illness for many years but it was masked by his pain medication he took for many years.

After his first suicide attempt, Ruiz immediately sought help for her father. “I jumped in to get him help,” she recalled. “He had opened up to me, was telling me he was hearing voices. We tried getting him a psychiatrist but he would go through a state where he acted like he didn’t have a problem and be released from doctor’s care.” It was a challenging time in Ruiz’s life. Watching a parent go through this was hard. “He was the life of the party, help everyone, shirt off your back kind of guy,” she said. “When he started to go through that, it was hard to watch. He raised us by himself since I was nine years old. He was the mom and dad.” Wade had good moments and bad moments. She recalled the pattern very clearly. “Summertime was his manic states and then the winter was depression.” During this time, Ruiz worked hard helping her father. Between hospitals, doctors, suicide attempts, medications and fits of paranoia, life was a roller coaster for Jamie and her family. Then one day he walked into the woods, and committed suicide. Since her father’s death, Ruiz has found healing in the form of helping others affected by suicide. Today, she volunteers for the Suicide Prevention Center as a member of its Loss Team, where she is trained to assist families affected by suicide. “There is hope. The Suicide Prevention Center gives people the resources they need especially when you feel like your whole world is crashing down on you,” said Ruiz, who also took her passion for suicide awareness further when she joined the board of United Health Services, a nonprofit organization that operates programs such as the Suicide Prevention Center, along with Breast Health Programs, Speech and Hearing Services, Center for All-Deaf and Diabetes Resource Center.

“The Suicide Preventer Center is such an important organization and needed more now than ever. We need to get to these kids, get to these Baby Boomers and veterans and tell them that there is hope and to the survivors that there is a place for people who have through this,” said Ruiz.

“The Suicide Prevention Center is a very important resource for our community,” said Mary Heck, executive director of United Health Services. “Giving survivors a welcoming place to go and talk about their grief, share their stories and aid in the healing process is one of our most important endeavors.”

It was also the safe place for Laura Brandenburg needed after her 45 year-old husband committed suicide in 2013. “We came to the Center within a month of it happening,” she recalled. “We came to a support meeting. It was scary at first, but you get settled in really fast and feel welcome.” Survivors are often sharing similar stories of job loss, depression, hospitals, but they are also united in their survivor grief.

For Brandenburg and her two children, the loss of their husband and father James Johnston was the end of a roller coaster ride similar to Ruiz’s story. Job loss, depression, prescription medication were all contributing factors to Johnston’s suicide. “We would take him to hospitals and doctors, but he knew how to play the system,” said Brandenburg, recalling how he would get sent home time after time. According to Heck, the message is simple. Help is available. “The message that suicide can be prevented inspires a call to action for families, friends and co-workers who recognize the warning signs,” said Heck. “The Suicide Prevention Center is there to help. We can provide resources that can help both individuals and families before a suicide occurs, as well as afterwards and throughout the healing process.”

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”

For Brandenburg’s son Branden Johnston, who was 17 years old at the time of his father’s death, he feels strongly about sharing his story in order to help other people with suicidal thoughts. “If I can help one person from committing suicide by sharing my father’s story with them, I am saving their family,” said Johnston. “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I would tell them don't think about yourselves, think about the people you are leaving behind. •••

boom | SEPTEMBER 2015

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HEALTHY LIVING

Look out for ALLIGATOR

PEARS! By: Margo Bell

Interesting Facts About Avocados

n the 1977 movie Oh, God! God (George Burns) admits to making two mistakes in creation: ostriches (“Silly-looking things”) and avocados (“I made the pit too big”). So, why does an avocado have a pit? Well, despite its use in salads, soups, sauces and dips, the avocado is a fruit, not a vegetable, and the pit is a seed that can be planted to grow a tree. It’s truly a New World product with an ancient history; evidence of its existence was found in a cave in Puebla, Mexico dating some 10,000 years ago, although the fruit may have been around for millions of years.

“The avocado is a fruit, not a vegetable.” The avocado (Persea Americana) belongs to the botanical family Lauraceae with its cousin’s cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel. Because of its shape and rough, dark skin, it also is known as the alligator pear. “Avocado” is Spanish in modern origin and is taken from the proto-Aztecan Nahuatl word for “testicle.” SEPTEMBER 2015 | boom

An Important Cash Crop Avocados are grown in warm areas of the Americas, southwest Europe, the South Pacific, southern Asia and the United States, primarily California and Florida. California provides about 90% of the U.S. produce— mostly from San Diego County—with Mexico being a major supplier to worldwide markets. Of the dozens of cultivars (cultivated varieties), the Hass makes up 95% of the cultivated avocados in the world. These are descendants of a single “mother tree” raised by a California mail carrier, Rudolph Hass, in 1935. The avocado tree can grow up to 66 feet and produces greenish-yellow flowers. Typically it takes four to six years for the tree to produce fruit. Avocados have something in common with bananas; they mature on the tree but ripen off the tree. Once they reach maturity, they’re hand picked while hard and green and then shipped in coolers to markets. Avocados can be left on the tree for several months to achieve a better return for the grower, but if they’re left too long they can fall to the ground. An avocado with a slight neck on top indicates it may have ripened more on the tree, resulting in a richer flavor.

A Nutritional Powerhouse Avocados have always been enjoyed for their delicious, creamy pulp that can be used in a variety of dishes—Brazilians use them in ice cream. Oh, all right, the avocado in the U.S. is perhaps best known for guacamole. In fact, the Hass Avocado Board has estimated that 104 million pounds of avocados were consumed during the 2014 Super Bowl, enough to spread over a football field, reaching over the tops of the goal posts. That's about a third over the 2013 Super Bowl consumption. Yet more studies are presenting this fruit as an abundant source of phytonutrients. Yes, some dieters have shied away from them because of high calories and fat content. About 75% of the 240 calories in one cup of cubed avocado is fat. But most of this fat is oleic acid, a monounsaturated type, that with a balanced diet can lower the risk of heart disease and lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and triglyceride levels while raising HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels. Adding to this is the fact that the avocado is a good source of fiber, and 3.5 oz. contains 2 grams of protein. And the list goes on: avocados contain thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B-6, folate (B-9) and vitamins A, C, E and K. Trace minerals include calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, sodium, zinc and a small amount of fluoride. Also, an avocado has more potassium than a banana. As a bonus, the fat in an avocado can boost carotenoid absorption in low-fat yellow and leafy green vegetables by two to six times. That’s reason enough to include this nourishing fruit in a salad of lettuce and carrots. Avocados can help protect against strokes and certain cancers, as well as soothe pain from osteoarthritis and psoriasis. Avocados are beneficial outside the body as well. The pulp and oil can be used in homemade facial creams to reduce skin damage from UV rays and premature ageing. Of course, there is no perfect fruit. The downside to the avocado is to people with tree-pollen allergies and those with latex-fruit syndrome relating to latex allergy, as it may cause allergic symptoms. Moreover, avocado leaves, bark, skin or pit can injure animals such as dogs, cats and horses; and the fruit can poison certain varieties of birds. Choosing And Preparing an Avocado A good ripe avocado should yield slightly with a gentle push of your hand; it should not be rock hard or squishy. If all the store has are firm avocados, take one home anyway and store it in a paper bag or in a

“The fat in an avocado can boost carotenoid absorption in low-fat yellow and leafy green vegetables by two to six times.” fruit basket until it ripens. Never store an unripened avocado in the refrigerator. A ripe uncut one can stay in the fridge for a week. If you need to store a cut avocado, put it in the sealed reusable glass or plastic container. Squeeze some lemon juice on the cut surface to keep it from turning brown. Unfortunately, the parts of the avocado with the most phytonutrients are the skin and seed. To keep the skin-side nutrients more on the pulp, don’t slice into the pulp more than you have to. Therefore, the California Avocado Commission recommends the “nick and peel” method. Cut the avocado in half lengthwise, keeping the seed intact. Take both halves and twist them in opposing directions until they separate. Use a spoon (I find a grapefruit spoon is best) or the tip of a sharp paring knife to remove the seed. Cut each half lengthwise to make quarters, then with your thumb and forefinger grip the edge of the skin and peel it off as you would a banana. Now you have an avocado with more nutrition. Grow Your Own Just for fun, don’t toss the seed! Wash off the clinging leftover pulp to reduce slipperiness, and insert four toothpicks on the opposite four sides of the seed. Place the seed over a small glass of water, making sure it’s at least half submerged, until the seed germinates, about four to six weeks. Then plant it in a large pot with potting soil and place in a sunny area. Remember, it takes years to produce fruit, so you may want to graft a branch from a fruit-bearing plant onto yours to speed things up. Go online to find recipes for delicious dishes and homemade facial preparations. Now, only if the pit was smaller . . . Enjoy! •••

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THE TRAVELER

DAYPlymouth, TRIP:IN

By: Phyllis Rose

Plymouth is a pleasant place. With a farmers’ market, a

memorable historical museum, unique boutiques, and friendly people, this small Indiana town is worth visiting. Arriving on a Saturday morning, Dave and I had to wait a few minutes for the Marshall County Historical Museum, 123 N. Michigan, to open. So, we wandered down the street checking out the big painted, decorative blueberries in front of some buildings. Decorative blueberries found around town highlight the Marshall County Blueberry Festival in September.

Coming to an intersection, we looked down the hill and saw the Farmers’ Market. We love farmers’ markets so we made a beeline for the market located in a nice park at the corner of E. LaPorte and River Streets. We don’t cook much so we’re not particularly interested in fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead homemade baked goods catch our attention. This market had plenty. I bought a loaf of rhubarb bread with nuts for a friend back home. (She loved it.) For myself, I bought a delightfully delicious banana cupcake from Heet’s Treats, which also has a shop at 309 W. Jefferson. We also enjoy talking to vendors, such as Steve Neff of Freedom Hills Farm in Walkerton, Indiana, who sells honey from his beehives. Steve told us how he has weathered the honey bee die-off affecting many hives all over the country. His hives are healthy and his awardwinning honey is available at the market.

The Chief Menominee Memorial

Then, it was on to the historical museum for a fascinating look at Marshall County History. First, we saw mannequins all dressed in pale yellow corduroy skirts and pants which were decorated with all kinds of art work. What was this?

We discovered it was a local tradition for high school seniors to wear corduroys, also known as “cords,” decorated with images of things important to the wearers - such as footballs, school club logos, year of graduation, instruments played, etc. One pair of trousers even had an Eiffel Tower on one leg. We thought maybe the wearer had gone to Paris for his senior trip. We learned the tradition started with some Purdue seniors in 1904 and continued through the 50s, 60s, and even 70s. We marveled over the tiny waists and hips of these young people back in the day. A museum docent told us their mannequins were even too big for the skirts and trousers. Tearing ourself away from the cords, we explored the rest of the museum, going to the second floor with our guide, Lynne Pollock. The second floor is a fascinating look into the past through various rooms set up to feature a Victorian parlor, a doctor’s office, a kitchen, and other nineteenth century vignettes. The estate of Jonathan and Elizabeth Marshall formed the basis for many of these displays. When Elizabeth died in 2011, she donated the contents of her historic home and 160 acres of land to the Marshall County Historical Society. The land was sold and the money invested to provide an income for the museum and its projects. For sports fans, the second floor also contains the County Sports Hall of Fame, with the highlight being the 1982

Plymouth High School State Basketball Champions, including Scott Skiles, who went on to play and coach in the NBA. Train fans - like Dave - will be delighted with the Train Gallery which has a 40 foot interactive layout. Press the buttons to see what happens. I enjoyed looking at the village vignettes with their iconic buildings like Mel’s Drive-In - while Dave talked to the guys operating the trains. In the museum, we also learned about Chief Menominee and the Trail of Death and a memorial dedicated to him just outside Plymouth, so we got directions to the memorial from museum staff so we could go there after exploring more of the town. Leaving the museum, we stopped first at A. S. K. for Flowers, 107 N. Michigan, not for flowers but for chocolates - a half pound of doubledipped chocolate covered peanuts and a couple of hazelnut truffles as an appetizer. Wonderful! Sitting down on a sidewalk bench to rest, we admired the intricate details of the architecture in the downtown’s historic buildings. Then, we browsed the boutiques: Na Rie Simple Treasures, 104 N. Michigan; La D’Zert Cafe with scrumptious-looking cupcakes; and Boonee’s, a gift shop featuring painted furniture and collectibles. These last two are both located at 203 N. Michigan and are also connected to another gift shop, Simply Thymes 2, 100 W. Garro St. All are wonderful places to browse for unique items for your home decor or a gift for someone who has everything. Before lunch, we drove to the Chief Menominee Monument, a statue dedicated in 1909 to memorialize the forced removal of the Potawatomi from Northern Indiana in what is called the Trail of Death. Located in rural Marshall County, the quiet spot is a good place for historical reflection. Back in Plymouth, we stopped for lunch at Christo’s Family Dining, 2227 N. Michigan. Walking in, we felt we had been there before, but we knew we hadn’t. As we puzzled over why it seemed familiar, I looked down at our placemat at the list of their sister restaurants and there was one we had been to, Round the Clock, in LaPorte, Indiana.

With that settled, we placed our order, starting with Rosa Marina (vegetable) soup for Dave and lemon rice soup for me. Dave chose the lasagna casserole and I went for one of the daily specials - baked Swiss steak. It was such a wonderful meal, we are still talking about it. Dave’s lasagna was huge and covered with tasty tomato sauce. My Swiss steak featured three melt-in-your mouth tender slices of steak along with mashed potatoes, all covered in a vegetable broth. Before leaving, we looked at the many vintage vignettes created on shelves overlooking the soda fountain area and the entrance. It was a perfect ending to a day of history hunting in Plymouth. But what about those decorative blueberries I mentioned at the beginning? They highlight the annual Marshall County Blueberry Festival, held in Centennial Park, 1660 N. Michigan St. If you hurry, you should be able to catch the festival scheduled for September 4-7. Hope to see you there! ••• Photos Provided By: Phyllis Rose

The Marshall County Historical Museum

MORE INFO:

Marshall County Visitors Bureau 201 N. Michigan, Plymouth, IN 574-936-1882 www.visitmarshallcounty.org Marshall county Blueberry Festival www.blueberryfestival.org Marshall County Historical Museum 574-936-2306 www.mchistoricalsociety.org Plymouth Farmers’ Market www.plymouthfarmersmarket.com Chief Menominee Memorial www.potawatomi-tda.org/indiana/chiefms.htm S. K. For Flowers 574-935-9400 www.askforflowers.com

These "cords," worn by seniors, are decorated with artwork highlighting the wearers' school activities.

Na Rie Simple Treasures 574-936-6339 www.facebook.com/nariesimpletreasure Simply Thymes 2 574-935-6688 www.facebook.com/simplythymes2 La D’Zert Cafe 574-935-3505 www.facebook.com/LaDzertCafe Boonee’s 574-993-2619 facebook.com/booneesprimitives Christo’s Family Dining 574-935-5100 www.christosfamilydining.com

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THE TRAVELER

Oberhofen Castle on Lake Thun

of Switzerland

HIGHLIGHTS

Schilthorn Mountain Lauterbrunnen

By: Phyllis Rose

Don’t worry. Be happy. That’s easy!

Just go to Switzerland! The country ranks #1 in the 2015 World Happiness Report, published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a United Nations initiative. From sweeping mountain vistas to sweet Swiss chocolates to cute, quaint villages, Switzerland has a lot to make you happy. Adding to that happiness is a travel bargain with the Swiss Travel Pass, providing unlimited travel on Swiss trains, buses, and boats, free admission to about 500 museums, and reduced fares on private railroads such as the Jungfraubahn that goes to the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest train station at 11,300 feet atop the Jungfrau. Lake Zurich

Abby Library of St. Galleen

So pack your bags and get happy. Here are the Swiss highlights based on my trips where we did day trips first from Zurich and then from Interlaken, about two hours by train from Zurich.

Zurich

Before setting off on day trips, enjoy time in Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city. A window-shopping stroll along the Bahnhofstrasse, a pedestrian boulevard lined with upscale shops from Chanel to Cartier Jewelers, is a slow and easy introduction to the city. Near the end of the Bahnhofstrasse is Lake Zurich where you can board a boat for a 90-minute cruise around the lake. The boat stops at several small towns before arriving back in Zurich.

Interlaken

When you’re rested and ready for a dose of history, explore the Swiss National Museum (Schweizerisches Landesmuseum), located in a neo-Gothic castle across the street from the train station. There you’ll find artifacts from Swiss history, everything from stained glass to suits of armor.

Schaffhausen

About an hour from Zurich is Schaffhausen, a small town of colorfully painted houses with oriel windows and a sixteenth century Munot fortress. To reach the fortress, you climb a long flight of steep steps through a vineyard, but you’re rewarded with beautiful views of the town and the countryside. From there, walk along the river to the Rheinfall, Europe’s largest waterfall. We enjoyed the view from the north bank before crossing the footbridge to the south bank, where steep stairways took us down to the falls for much closer views. The view was well worth the effort and the sore calves the next day.

Interlaken

This small town, located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, makes a wonderful base for visiting nearby small towns and magnificent mountains. First, stroll around town, enjoying the shops and maybe warm apple strudel at a restaurant. If the weather’s clear, you may see the the peaks of the three famous mountains in the area, the Eiger, Monch, and the Jungfrau. Two mountains, easily accessible from Interlaken and not to be missed, are the Jungfrau and the Schilthorn.

St. Gallen

But not to be missed is the Abbey Library of St. Gallen, one of the oldest libraries in the world. The library has 150,000 books along with 2,000 manuscripts from the Middle Ages and earlier.

If the weather is good, you’ll see fabulous Alpine vistas along the way and at the top of the Jungfrau at 11,300 feet. Before taking this trip, check the TV channel in your hotel which shows the views from the tops of area mountains.That will let you know if it’s a good day to go or not. Because of the expense, you don’t want to go when the mountain is shrouded in fog. The full train trip is not covered by your railpass. The cost of a roundtrip ticket today is about $225.

Before entering, you have to slip your feet into large slippers so your shoes don’t damage the beautiful inlay work on the floors. Done in rococo style, the library is absolutely gorgeous with ceiling frescoes depicting the four ecumenical councils: Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon.

Heidiland

If you want someone else to show you around, book a Heidiland tour through Grayline Tours. It’s a day trip that will take you to Rapperswill, Liechtenstein, and Maienfeld, the setting for the Heidi stories. Rapperswill, at the southern end of Lake Zurich, is known for its rose gardens. In Vaduz, Liechtenstein, you can pay to have your passport stamped with the much-prized Liechtenstein stamp. In Maienfeld, you’ll visit a farm, much like the one in the Heidi stories. The quiet, peaceful setting on the green mountainside with the snow-covered Alps in the distance across the valley will likely be one of your favorite spots.

Are you happy yet? If not, get online or call your travel agent and book your trip to Switzerland. Then, we’ll be so happy together. •••

Jungfrau

The train from Interlaken to the Jungfrau involves a couple of transfers, first in Lauterbrunnen where you change for a train to Kleine Scheidegg and then a transfer to the Jungfraubahn for the final leg of the journey.

St. Gallen is a treat with its colorful buildings and oriel windows. The windows reflected the owner's wealth so people competed to create the most ornate windows.

where from the top of the towers, you’ll have a panoramic view of the lake, the town, and the cloud-covered mountains in the distance. Thun also has a castle, built in the 12th century with five large halls housing the city’s historical museum. Climb the towers for more great views of the area.

If the weather isn’t good when you reach the top, you’ll find shops and restaurants where you can spend your time, hoping the weather will clear.

Schilthorn

At 10,000 feet, the Schilthorn has tremendous views, especially on sunny days like we were fortunate enough to experience. Besides its beautiful vistas, this mountain is known for having been featured in the James Bond movie, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” To reach the top of this mountain requires a ride on a gondola, changing gondolas at least three times before arriving at the top, Piz Gloria. After snapping pictures of the fabulous views, go inside the revolving restaurant to have a snack or a meal, enjoying the ever-changing view as the restaurant slowly turns.

Brienz, Spiez, Thun

While in Interlaken, don’t miss the small towns of Brienz, Spiez, and Thun. Brienz is known for wood carving. Spiez has a small castle on the shores of Lake Thun

Rheinfall

FOR MORE INFO: Switzerland www.myswitzerland.com Zurich Tourism www.zuerich.com Interlaken www.interlaken.ch Jungfrau www.jungfrau.ch Swiss Rail Pass www.raileurope.com Grayline Tours www.grayline.com Hotels We chose the following hotels because of their proximity to the train station. They were very comfortable with a nice buffet breakfast. Zurich Hotel Montana Konradsstrasse 39 www.hotelmontana.ch Interlaken Hotel Bernerhof Bahnhofstrasse 16 www.bestwestern.ch/bernerhof Currency Switzerland uses the Swiss franc, not the euro. Some merchants accept euros, but your change will be in Swiss francs. boom | SEPTEMBER 2015

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THE TRAVELER

Fall Fun Road Trip:

OCEAN GROVE, NJ By: Rita Miller

Are you looking for a quiet and quaint beach town for a fall vacation? Look no further than Ocean Grove, New Jersey. I recently spent a week there in June and was so impressed that I’ve already looked into rentals for next summer. Ocean Grove is “God’s square mile at the Jersey shore.” It was founded in 1859 by the Camp Meeting Association, a group dedicated to “spiritual growth and renewal in a seaside setting.” The only outward signs of the emphasis on religion are the daily scripture verse posted by the beach and a medium-sized meeting area on the boardwalk where multi-denominational services are held regularly. The beach itself is gorgeous. It is clean and uncrowded. Multiple life guard chairs provide safety within designated swimming areas. Fodor ranked Ocean Grove one of the “15 best beaches” in 2014. After seeing the beach, I think they will make the 2015 ranking too! A daily pass to the beach is $8 and tags are checked at the entrance. Also at the entrance are “book boats” which hold free books for reading. I snagged a Twilight Zone one that was delightful for late night reading. Immediately after the entrance are chair and umbrella rentals. My umbrella was $10 per day. After a day in the sun, make sure to walk downtown for a fabulous dinner at Seagrass. This restaurant has ample outdoor seating and upscale food, perfect for treating yourself on vacation. Multiple other restaurants are located in the downtown area, all within easy walking distance. Plenty of bake shops, breakfast places, all with a cozy atmosphere. At night, stroll the boardwalk all the way to Asbury Park! It was safe and clean, with breathtaking views of the ocean as you walk. Music fans will want to stop at the Stone Pony, the stomping grounds of the Boss! SEPTEMBER 2015 | boom

Possibly the best part of the entire experience at Ocean Grove was the lodging. Huge Victorian homes line the beach and many of them are rentals. We stayed in a delightful cottage on beach block. I sat in the wicker furniture at night and could see the ocean from my chair. All of the surrounding houses were well cared for, with painted gingerbread trims and manicured flower beds. The entire effect was one of a bygone era. Getting to Ocean Grove is easy. We drove the 11 hour distance, but Newark and Philadelphia airports are close by for those that prefer to fly. Rainy day trips to other cities are also easy. We drove to the Cake Boss bakery in Hoboken in under 90 minutes. We could see the Statue of Liberty as we drove in! I highly recommend Ocean Grove as a special destination this fall, or even next summer. You won’t be disappointed! •••

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IPA boom

HOBBIES

Welcome to the

Family

Reunion! Meeting the different IPA family members. By: Chuck Bergman

As the summer heat transitions to cooler days and nights, our thirst for hoppy brews don’t always drop with the temperatures. Fall is a great time to enjoy a nice India Pale Ale. September is when the hop harvest is in full swing and a perfect opportunity to enjoy a wet-hopped brew. Not familiar with wet hopping? That is when brewers add hops fresh off the vine, rather than dried or processed like the rest of the year. You get a true taste for the specific hop variety with IPAs taking center stage by being wet hopped.

Amarillo, this family started on the west coast and has spread to the south, midwest and northeast. Each branch of the family has a unique taste, but they all share the love of a strong hop profile.

But, what I’d really like to discuss in this article is the entire IPA category. A family reunion is a great metaphor for describing this beer family. We have traditional grandparents, young kids running around and even a few crazy uncles. Get ready to meet the IPA family!

Meet the Cousins

Honor the Grandparents

We all know that the India Pale Ale began as a type of pale ale. English brewers amplified a traditional pale ale with more malt and hops to create an amazing beer, the IPA. The English IPA is the grandparent for this hoppy beer style. Not as hoppy as its American offspring, the English version has a slightly stronger malt profile combined more traditional English hops, such as East Kent Goldings or Fuggle. These hops are lower in alpha acids so while they impart a nice hop flavor, they lack the bitterness of the American variety. The American IPA children are all about the hops! With surnames like Centennial, Citra, Cascade, Simcoe and

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Even the most traditional family has some variety. As the IPA family matured, it started experimenting with different styles. The DIPA, or Double IPA, is just like your cousin that is really into body building … it’s all about the muscle! In this case, the muscle is more hop bitterness and a stronger alcohol level. Also called an Imperial IPA, this style usually ranges from 7-9% ABV. Most standard IPAs are around 5-7%. The key to a good DIPA is balance. The brewer needs to balance the higher alcohol level with a solid malt profile and more hop bitterness. Another cousin is the Rye IPA. This is similar to the American style, but with rye malt added. Rye adds a spicy flavor that can blend very well with the strong hops. One of our foreign cousins is the Red IPA. Basically you take the malt profile of an Irish Red Ale and combine with a traditional American IPA to make a truly tasty brew with an amazing ruby color.

We Americans were weaned on light, low alcohol beers before we discovered the flavorful joy of craft brews. Occasionally we long for the days of drinking multiple beers to enjoy the flavor, but not get intoxicated. Thus the Session IPA was born into the family. You get all the hop flavor of an IPA but with an ABV usually less than 5.0%.

RECEIVE

REDUCED RATES & RESORT CREDIT ON YOUR FAMILY’S HOLIDAY VACATION!

Those Crazy Uncles

Every family has a few crazy uncles. In the IPA family, brewers have experimented with some extreme versions of the style. The Triple IPA is a perfect example. These tend to be the hoppiest and bitterest beers on the market. Usually starting at 10% alcohol and 90-100 IBUs, these are basically English Barley Wines that have been hopped to compensate for the higher ABV. New to the family is the Black IPA. On the west coast it is often called a Cascadian Dark Ale, in honor of the Cascade Range famous for its concentration of hop farmers. While most IPAs have a light golden color, the Black IPA has a dark color similar to a porter or stout, but lacking the strong burnt roast malt flavor associated with those styles. It takes a careful brewing process to create a hoppy beer with a moderate caramel malt character and medium dark roasted malt flavor combined with the wonderful juicy hops of an IPA. Finally, we have another foreign relative that decided to attend the reunion. He hales from Belgium and is known and a Belgian IPA. This is the style for beer enthusiasts who want hoppy IPA character combined with the complex, fruity, spicy character of Belgian Strong Pale Ales. Belgian IPAs include varying degrees and ratios of hoppiness to estery, spicy Belgian yeast character. I hope you enjoyed the IPA family reunion. Take the time to get introduced to this wide range of hoppy beers. Who knew there was such a variety in this amazing family of beer?

CHEERS! •••

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574-534-1521 www.mennotrav.com American Express Vacations brand operated by Travel Impressions, Ltd. Rates are per person and based on double occupancy. *$200 in resort credit is per room, per stay and broken down as follows: two coupons of $40 and one coupon of $20 in Spa treatments, $60 for one romantic dinner per stay with one coupon of $40 and one coupon of $20, $40 for bottles of wine at any restaurant with four coupons of $10. Resort credit is not redeemable for cash and non-transferable. Coupons must be presented at time of service request. **$450 resort credit can be used for up to $100 for services at the spa (2 $50 vouchers), up to $100 for a room upgrade, up to $50 for premium wine (2 $20 vouchers and 1 $10 voucher), and up to $200 for food & beverages (8 $25 vouchers). Blackout, weekend, holiday and peak season surcharges apply. Promotion is accurate at time of posting and is subject to changes, exceptions, cancellation charges and restrictions. Not responsible for errors or omissions in the posting of this information. Additional higher priced packages available. Valid for new bookings only. American Express Vacations materials (including, but not limited to, names, trademark, service marks, logos, marketing materials, etc.) shall not be used, reproduced, transmitted or distributed in any way, except with the express written consent of American Express Vacations. All products and services offered and rendered by American Express Vacations are provided solely by Travel Impressions, Ltd. and its agents. Travel Impressions, Ltd. is not affiliated with American Express Company. For the avoidance of doubt, none of such products or services are offered or rendered by American Express Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates. CST #2029006-20, IOWA #758, Washington UBI #602 425 801. CJ003-15_VK_8.21.15 boom | SEPTEMBER 2015

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HOME

KIDS –

GONE By: Margo Bell

Seven Ways To Tackle the Empty Nest Syndrome

ust about all of us Boomers with grown kids have gone through it; our children whom we’ve fed, clothed, taken to sports events and movies, argued with, hugged, educated—and still love—leave home to start a new life. Some of us take it in stride, knowing this day would come. Others button up their emotions. Still others cry and carry on, as was in my case. As I began to drive to my new job 60 miles away, Mother stood at the foot of the driveway and cried loudly. It was quite a sight but understandable as I was the last of her children. According to a study by EscapeHomes.com, 58% of Boomers declared they were emotionally ready for their children to leave. Males (70%) were more likely to be emotionally prepared than females (55%). One Granger couple describes their experience. Tom Gresik, an economics professor at the University of Notre Dame, and his wife Barbara, school administrator at the Conservatory of Dance, said farewell to their children Andrew and Julia during the past few years. Andrew was home six weeks after graduating from Northwestern University before leaving for a career in Madison, Wisconsin. His younger sister, however, left only 10 days after earning a degree in French from Butler University, heading for Seattle to start a job in international fraud investigation for Amazon. “It was very hard when they left,” Barbara recalls. “Neither one had lived at home since their sophomore years in college, preferring to stay on their respective campuses and work there during summers. So their graduations were really the final step in the progression of separation.” She continues, “Although I had been working since Julia was in middle school, their departure left a huge hole in my life.” Letting go of a child, whether it’s the firstborn or the youngest, can launch the empty nest syndrome, conjuring up feelings of loss and emptiness, fear (What if something happens to them? Can they take care of themselves?), restlessness (What do I do now?) and, in extreme cases, depression. SEPTEMBER 2015 | boom

SO HOW DO YOU FIX THIS AND GET ON WITH LIFE? 1. PREPARE: While they’re at home, make sure they can handle common tasks such as cooking, doing laundry, keep a budget, balance a checkbook. 2. CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE: Often it’s the apprehension of the kids leaving that’s scarier than the actual event. Instead of being lead around by fearful thoughts, try to think of their departure as a big adventure. This is a mighty rung in their ladders. They may be afraid, too, or at least somewhat apprehensive, but if you’ve done Step One, tasks will become more familiar to them. They then relax and you can too. Let them know that your home is still their home, a place they can come back to. If it helps, think about the reduction in your utility and food bills!

3. KEEP IN TOUCH: Make sure you both have working cell phones. Communicate via e-mails, text messages (not while driving, son!) or Skype. Even snail mail works. If necessary, create a special fund to help them with travel expenses to and from home base or to visit them in their new city. Agree on a time once a week to talk if they’re amenable to that. Show you care but don’t be too intrusive.

Each Donation… Inspires Hope

4. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: It’s a great time for you to focus on your own needs. Go back to work or school. Get together with friends and make new ones. Volunteer. Take up a new hobby or interest. Adopt a pet. Travel. Most importantly, don’t neglect your health. If you see yourself after several months still agonizing over the children’s absence, go to a support group or seek professional counseling if you suspect you’re depressed. 5. CHECK ON THE REST OF THE FAMILY: Big brother or sister leaving home can be hard on siblings as well, particularly if they seemed “joined at the hip.” Communicate frequently and honestly with them, and do Step One, as their time will come as well. Reconnect with your own siblings and parents. 6. THAT INCLUDES YOUR PARTNER: Your kids have taken much of your time, so now is a great opportunity to get reacquainted with you spouse. Talk about your feelings, pay attention to his/ hers, and discuss plans for the future. Many empty nesters have discovered a new interest in intimacy. 7. BE PROUD! Give yourself and your partner credit for raising great kids that now ctan go on their own. Tom Gresik adds, “We are very proud of Andrew and Julia and how they’ve managed to successfully find jobs, move off on their own, and support themselves. This helps to offset the loss.” •••

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HOME

eymour, Indiana native, John Mellencamp tells the story of the cycle of life in a small town in his song, Small Town. He sings about the good, the bad and coming to the realization that he loves the small town and its’ ways. Ultimately, he chooses to raise his own family in that same small town.

LIFE in a Small Town

“Priceless” By: Pam Gunterman

I live in a small town and when I tell people where I live I am used to hearing comments like “boy you must have a long drive to work,” “that’s really a small town” or “ I bet there isn’t much to do there.” I do have to admit that on those mornings when things haven’t gone smoothly, the weather is questionable, or when the day has been hectic the 20 miles do seem long and home far away. On a crisp fall morning, when the trees of red, orange and gold seem painted against the perfect blue sky, I can truly enjoy the beauty of the season in this small town. That is because I can fearlessly walk to each place I need to visit on my Saturday morning errands. This alone makes the distance more than worth it. At the eye doctor’s office, where I stop to make an appointment, I speak with a young lady whose father went to school with my husband and whose child is in the same class as my grandson. Mailing a package at the post office, I visit with a woman who was my son’s Sunday school teacher. While checking out books at the library, I touch base with a sorority sister on an upcoming project. I pick up prescriptions from the Pharmacy, which is now a chain, located in the building that once housed a locally owned drug store for which I worked for nine years. At the checkout, the clerk is the daughter of a fishing buddy of the man who owned the local drug store and still owns the building. This ribbon of connections is endless, it will twist and turn and take me to places and to meet, or reconnect, with people who I might not see in the anonymity of a big city. It is true that the selection of things to do in our small town may pale next to the options in the city, but there are options. I admit that most of those options do center on family, extended family, old friends, school functions, community and church activities, but, in my opinion, that is not a bad thing. In this small place, we stay more personally connected than many in this less then personal digital age in which we live.

“The multiple generations and depths of the relationships of this community far out shine the lights of the big city.”

As I head home on this beautiful morning, my to do list complete, I realize the extended family and the history this little town offers is, to borrow the slogan from a credit card commercial, “priceless!” The multiple generations and depths of the relationships of this community far out shine the lights of the big city. The level of comfort that comes with the familiar and the feeling of being truly at home is very big in this small town. And hey, if there is anything that I don’t find here everything else is just a short 20 miles away! •••

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HOBBIES

MOVIE

Tail-ers

By: Margo and Jim Bell

What a year it’s been for animals! Eaglets spotted at county parks, peregrine chicks in downtown South Bend, new babies at the Potawatomi Zoo—then American Pharaoh becomes only the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown. To honor these special critters, we decided to feature animal actors in this month’s movie challenge.

Match up the animal’s character name with its movie: 1. Pie

a. Back To the Future (1985)

2. Elsa

b. Jaws (1975)

3. Cheeta

c. Summer Rental (1985)

4. Clyde

d. Patton (1970)

5. Toto

e. Funny Farm (1988)

6. D.C.

f. . . .Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2013)

7. Perdita

g. Meet the Parents (2000)

8. Jasmine

h. Tarzan movies (1930-50s)

9. Willie

i. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

10. Einstein

j. National Velvet (1944)

11. Sweetie

k. Ruthless People (1986)

12. Jinxy

l. Born Free (1960)

13. Yellow Dog

m. 101 Dalmations (1961, 1996)

14. Archie

n. Every Which Way But Loose (1979)

15. Adolph & Muffy

o. Secondhand Lions (2003)

16. Bruce

p. That Darn Cat (1965)

Answer s on pag e 27

BONUS QUESTIONS #1: How many dogs played Lassie in the movies? a. three b. four c . five d. six

#2: How many lions were featured in the MGM studio logo? a. six b. seven c. eight d. nine

#3: What was interesting about the horse Gerald O’Hara (Thomas Mitchell) rode in Gone With the Wind? a. He wound up being a famous cowboy horse. b. He was a member of the 1940 U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team. c. He sired three Kentucky Derby winners. boom | SEPTEMBER 2015

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LIFE

I recently read two articles that caught my attention:

The Smooth Transition Of Becoming A

STEPMOM By: Rita Miller

• The transition from girlfriend to stepmother causes changes in even the best relationships. • Being a stepmother may be more difficult than being a stepfather. I’m not a stepparent, but these two articles gave me plenty to think about, especially since I have friends that have gone through divorce and re-partnering. Certainly the Twitter wars between Brandi Glanville and LeAnn Rimes have given the whole world plenty to think about regarding the subject of stepfamilies. New types of relationships are becoming common, so common in fact, that National Stepfamily Day is a holiday that will be celebrated on September 16th this year. This holiday was started by a woman from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her celebration started with a family picnic. How can a newly formed family celebrate this holiday? Transitioning from girlfriend/boyfriend to stepparent naturally causes the family dynamic to change. What are some new traditions that can be started to ease these changes? Why not use the same idea as the original founder, a picnic! A perfect spot for a picnic lunch is Fernwood Botanical Gardens in Niles, Michigan. The gardens are open on Stepfamily Day from 10 A.M. - 6 P.M. Admission is $8/adult. Children’s admission, aged 13 - 18, is $4. One of my favorite picnic lunches is a wrap filled with cubed chicken, avocado, bacon, lettuce and a tiny bit of vinaigrette. I like to serve the wraps with an ice cold watermelon feta salad and chocolate chip cookies. Make sure to take wet wipes and napkins. Drinks can be purchased on the premises. You must take your trash with you, so remember a bag! How can a new stepmother make an easier transition from girlfriend to stepmom? A friend of mine married a man with three sons. She recently held a graduation party for one of the boys. She made it very special and invested quite a bit of time in making it personal, but her mantra throughout all the planning phases was “his party, his way.” I thought that was very wise. She put the emphasis on what he wanted. For Stepfamily Day, it may be necessary to take the emphasis away from being a stepfamily, and make the day just a family day. A low key day might be welcome by everyone. Even though you might want to make filet mignon and have everyone at the dinner table with best china, maybe a good alternative is to plan just one fun activity. I recently saw an article about hosting a backyard movie night. It seemed very simple. You already have patio furniture, rig up a sheet for the screen, add popcorn and soda, bring out blankets and pillows and you have a perfectly relaxed celebration. As Andi Parker-Kimbrough said of stepfamilies: “blend little by little.” Each moment spent together can ease the anxieties you might be experiencing by creating a stepfamily. I hope you have a wonderful celebration, big or small, on September 16th! •••

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HOBBIES

MOVIE Tail-ers ANSWERS: By: Margo and Jim Bell

MATCHUP: 1-j: In the book by Enid Bagnold, Pie is shortened name for piebald,

a black-and-white spotted horse. In the movie, Pie is for Pirate, a name given the gelding by his former owner.

12-g:

The beloved but independent Himalayan cat of the Byrnes family creates hairy trouble for houseguest Greg Focker. Says patriarch Jack Byrnes about Jinxy to his daughter: “That cat’s been like a brother to you!”

13-e:

2-l: Based on a true story, Elsa was an orphaned lion cub rescued

After their new dog flees into the woods, Elizabeth Farmer presents her husband Andy one that’s virtually guaranteed not to run away. Yellow Dog is lazy but not enough to keep him from digging up a human arm bone out of the garden.

3-h: The four dozen movies based on the classic by Edgar Rice

Given an incorrect address, the vacationing Chester family has to move out of a Florida house when the owners show up. But not before the Chesters’ dog Archie has chewed through the leg of a couch, sending the owners sprawling when they sit down.

and raised by naturalists Joy and George Adamson, who then released her back into the Kenyan plains after she reaches adulthood. The adventure continues with a 1961 sequel, Living Free.

Burroughs features Cheeta (or Cheetah), played by 12 male and female chimpanzees. Often two chimps were used in each film.

4-n: The human star, Clint Eastwood, said of his orangutan pal:

14-c:

15-k:

“Clyde was one of the most natural actors I ever worked with! But you had to get him on the first take because his boredom level was very limited.” Both appeared in a 1980 sequel, Any Which Way You Can. SOURCE: IMBd.

“Muffy, meet Adolph,” growls Sam Stone to his detested wife’s poodle. “Adolph, kill Muffy!” But things go into reverse when Adolph the Doberman Pinscher and Muffy team up and tear into Sam’s wardrobe.

5-i: The Brindle Cairn terrier was paid $125/week, more than each

16-b: OK, OK, Bruce wasn’t a real animal but we couldn’t leave

of the munchkins who appeared in the 1939 classic. She is buried on a plot of land that is now under the Ventura Freeway in Southern California.

6-p: The “Darn” part of the name was a cleaned-up substitute

given by sisters Hayley Mills and Dorothy Provine for their deceased father’s Siamese cat. They discover a watch around D.C.’s neck that points to a kidnapping and robbery. The FBI agent assigned to the case is allergic to cats.

7-m: In the 1961 animated and 1996 live-action movies, Perdita was the mother Dalmation dog who had 15 natural pups and 84 adopted ones.

8-o:

The tame, toothless pet lion was called Jasmine to honor the long-ago sweetheart of Hub (Michael Caine).

9-d: General Patton named his white bull terrier after William the Conqueror. A lover of animals, he gave his daughters a dog named Tank—appropriate!

10-a: The Catalan sheepdog travels through time with his owner,

him out on the 40th anniversary of this blockbuster film! Actually, Bruce was three mechanical sharks, two with limited movements and one for underwater scenes. A fourth “Bruce” was never used in film and wound up in pieces in a San Fernando Valley auto yard. The mechanical shark was named for Bruce Ramer, director Steven Spielberg’s lawyer.

Bonus Questions

1-(c): Five dogs played Lassie. All were male because a female

collie loses her coat once a year, making it difficult for filming. The first dog, Pal, starred in seven films 1941-53.

2-(b): Seven lions were featured in the logo. The first one, Slats,

didn’t roar; it was 1924 and there was no sound in theatrical film then. The first lion to road was Jackie in 1928. Other lions were Telly, Coffee, Tanner, George, and Leo.

3-(a):

Gerald’s horse, White Cloud, became Silver, the Lone Ranger’s horse. (b) is incorrect because there were no 1940 (or for that matter, 1944) Olympic games due to WWII.

SOURCES: Wikipedia, IMBd, Yahoo Answers, Gizmodo, more.

scientist Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd).

11-f:

Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley winds up taking care of the new family pet, a poodle mix. Younger brother Mannie supplies the name Sweetie, while older obnoxious brother Rodrick gives the dog a feeding dish with the name misspelled: Sweatie.

NEXT MONTH: Steven Spielberg

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LIFE

ike many mothers, mine used old sayings to make a point. “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.” (Which I still don’t understand!) “A stitch in time saves nine (???).” And one of her favorites was, “What you don’t know can’t hurt you.” When it comes to home and auto insurance, however, what you don’t know definitely CAN hurt you – especially in the pocketbook. This writer experienced the issue of insurance gaps firsthand when our home was broken into a few years ago. Our coverage for theft was more than adequate for items like collectibles, but didn’t come close to compensating us for the stolen jewelry. And believe me, we did not have a lot of valuable jewelry. But somewhere out there some bad dude is wearing our high school and college class rings and we have next to nothing to show for it. Insurance gaps are a hot topic these days because there is so much uncertainty among consumers about what their coverage does or does not include. It is no coincidence that some of the major national insurance carriers are currently running advertising campaigns on this very topic. For good reason. What we consumers don’t know about our insurance coverage is as substantial as the potential losses we could face by not understanding the details of our policies. Carsten Schmidt, risk management advisor and manager of the Healy Group’s Insurance Division, an independent property and casualty agency, says “a majority of insurance carriers are very conscientious and try to be transparent about what they cover and what they don’t. The Department of Insurance monitors major policy changes made by a carrier in order to protect the consumer. Most people don’t read their policy from cover to cover and rely on the reputation of their agent or carrier to provide a quality policy. Consumers are bombarded with media messages that highlight potential insurance gaps prompting questions to their agents. Consumers need to be reminded that insurance is the sharing of risk and many variables are contemplated when determining coverage on a specific claim. In general, carriers want to pay claims and keep their clients happy.” Based on an auto and home insurance literacy survey by MetLife, U.S. News & World Report came to the conclusion that “many homeowners are clueless about the ins and outs of their policies, which means they could easily end up paying a lot more money than they expected after damage to their homes.” The report went on to say, “Almost half of all homeowners surveyed didn’t know how much insurance coverage they had for the contents of their home, and one in three didn’t know how much their home was insured for.” SEPTEMBER 2015 | boom

What You Don’t Know

CAN Hurt You By: Thom Villing

(At Least When It Comes To Insurance Coverage)

Let’s see how you would fare on this kind of quiz: 

If your sump pump backs up and causes your house to flood, will your insurance cover the repair costs?



Let’s say part of your home is damaged, but new building codes require upgrades to undamaged areas, who pays? You or your insurance carrier?



Are you covered if an earthquake damages your home?



OK, we’re probably not too likely to have an earthquake here in Michiana, but tornadoes are a distinct possibility. If you have insurance on both your car and your home with the same carrier and both are damaged in a tornado, do you pay one deductible or two?



Speaking of cars, what if yours was broken into and someone stole your cell phone, would that be covered under your policy?

In most of these cases, people assume they are covered when, in fact, they probably are not unless they have special addendums or riders on their basic policies. Schmidt says the solution is simply a matter of consumers being more knowledgeable about their policies and keeping them up to date. “Just as it is important to have a regular check-up with your doctor to protect your health,” he explained, “it is essential to review your policies every few years. This isn’t so your agent can sell you more insurance, but rather to give you peace of mind that your home and auto will be protected in the event of an unforeseen emergency.”

Schmidt also offered these tips for auto and homeowners who may be concerned about their insurance coverage: Replacing your home. When determining the replacement cost of a house, every carrier uses an estimating tool. Consumers often have questions about why that figure is so much higher than the current market value of the house. There are several reasons. One is simply that in the event of a natural disaster, both building materials and labor may be in short supply which will naturally drive up the cost. Many carriers offer endorsements to their policy which can be purchased to provide an additional 25 percent to the stated coverage limit. In addition, carriers extend an inflation guard to their policies which automatically applies a three to five percent increase to the dwelling coverage limit. The replacement cost and inflation guard are established regionally by the carrier as the cost of labor can vary greatly across the country. The increased protection of higher limits results in minimal premium increases and is well worth the investment. Insurance is one of the few products purchased where both parties hope it is never used. However, when tragedy strikes, the quality of the insurance policy will be critcal in rebuilding your house and ultimately putting your life back together.

High-value belongings. All policies provide coverage for personal belongings. The limit is usually determined as a percentage of the dwelling limit on your home. Since most consumers would not be able to accurately calculate a replacement figure for all of their belongings, the carrier provides a limit which they believe will be adequate. Every policy has certain items that have specific limits such as jewelry, cash, silverware, collectibles, paintings/artwork and other unique items like baseball card collections or sports memorabilia. If you have these items, you need to make sure your agent is aware so optional coverage can be considered. Buying a rider to cover specific items is usually not very expensive and eliminates confusion at the time of loss since the carrier and consumer have identified the value and appropriate premium has been charged. Jewelry is the number one item that should be addressed due to the increased coverage afforded by the rider. Most jewelry riders include a mysterious disappearance provision which is a fancy way of saying you lost the item. It is not uncommon to have a homeowner call and inform the agent that the diamond in their ring was lost as a result of a broken prong. In that situation, coverage would only be afforded if a specific supplemental rider were in place. Home office. With more people working from home, many carriers have come out with additional exclusions on their standard homeowners policy. It is critical that your agent know if you are actually conducting business out of your house as opposed to simply doing routine work in your home office. If you are actively engaged in doing business from home, the standard homeowners policy may exclude liability coverage for situations such as one of your clients getting hurt on your property. Home-based businesses could include obvious operations like a beauty salon, but what about liability and inventory coverage related to selling cosmetics, candles or purses? Many carriers require an incidental business endorsement be added to your homeowners policy to protect these activities. In addition, standard office equipment like computers, phones and copiers may not be considered personal property in the event of a loss if they are primarily used for business purposes. The insurance industry establishes premiums in part by trying to put a price on identifiable risks. When the carrier doesn’t understand or know of a risk, it can’t charge an appropriate premium and, as a result, is not likely to cover these items in the event of a loss. When it comes to insurance, like sports, the best defense is often a good offense. It is in your best interests to have complete and ongoing communication with your insurance agent so that you have the protection you need when you need it. ••• boom | SEPTEMBER 2015

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RECIPE

TARTE TATIN

(Upside-Down Apple Pie) By: Katie & Theresa Slott

TIME: 40 minutes prep (divided),

1-2 hours chilling, 20 minutes baking, 20 minutes cooling

1. To make the crust: In the bowl of a food processor,

MAKES: 8-12 servings. INGREDIENTS:

Ingredients for crust: 1 1/2 c. flour 1 1/2 T. sugar 1/8 t. salt 6 T. cold butter, cubed 2 T. plus 1 t. cold shortening 3 T. – 4 1/2 T. cold water

STEPS:

INGREDIENTS FOR FILLING: 3/4 c. sugar 3 T. water 4 T. unsalted butter, cubed 8 medium apples 1 t. cinnamon (optional)

OPTIONAL TOPPING: 1/2 c. heavy cream 1/4 c. sour cream

place the flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse to combine. Working quickly, add the butter and shortening to the bowl and pulse a few times. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs and should have visible chunks of fat remaining. Slowly, add the water until the dough comes together, pulsing so as not to over-work the dough.

2. Place a piece of plastic wrap on the counter and turn

the dough out onto it. Using the plastic wrap, press the dough down, just to finish bringing the dough together; shape into a disk. Wrap in the plastic wrap, place inside a plastic freezer bag, and chill (1 hour in the freezer, or 2 hours in the fridge, and up to 1 day).

3. To make the filling: In a 9" cast iron skillet, place the

TIPS:

• Any pie crust may be substituted for the crust, including a store-bought refrigerated crust.

• Rome, Gala, McIntosh, Granny Smith, and Cortland apples would all work well in this recipe.

sugar and water. Over medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Lower the heat to medium and continue to cook until thickened. The mixture should be amber-colored. Stir in the butter (the mixture will foam).

4. Meanwhile, peel, halve, and core the apples. Place one

half, rounded-side down, in the center of the skillet. Quarter the remaining apples and arrange them on their edges in the skillet around the half. There will be enough apples for a few layers of circles. Turn the heat to mediumlow and cook the apples for 20 minutes. Do not allow the caramel to burn. If desired, sprinkle with cinnamon.

5. Preheat the oven to 375F. Roll out the pie crust to a 9"

circle. Place the circle of dough over the apples after the 20 minutes are done, and quickly trim the dough to fit the skillet. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.

6. Remove the skillet from the oven and cool for 20

minutes. Invert onto a large, round, rimmed serving platter (you may need to encourage it to release from the pan with a spatula). Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or whip heavy whipping cream with sour cream until peaks form and serve the tarte tatin with a dollop on top.

Katie and Theresa Slott are sisters-in-law who write the food blog Cooking for the Fam, where they share lots of tips, family-favorite recipes and meal plans. For more recipes like this one, or to see step-by-step photos of this recipe, check out their website, www.cookingforthefam.com. SEPTEMBER 2015 | boom

Refire! Don’t Retire:

Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life By Ken Blanchard and Morton Shaevitz Reviewed By: Michael Zeiger, Reference Librarian Bittersweet Branch Library

Photo Courtesy: Amazon.com

editor

All The Light We Cannot See By: Anthony Doerr

The Illuminations By: Andrew O'Hagan

Perhaps you’re contemplating retirement or, maybe, you’ve retired recently. Hopefully, this momentous time of change is one that you’re eager to experience, and not one that you’ve braced yourself to endure. If you do feel trepidation, it might be an ideal time to consult Refire! Don’t Retire, by Blanchard (the bestselling co-author of The One Minute Manager) and Shaevitz. Refire! follows Larry and Janice Sparks, a fictional couple, as they seek to approach the challenges, as well as the opportunities, of their later years with zeal. You’ll experience their story as a series of conversations with friends, peers and mentors as they strive to achieve emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual revitalization. Each stage of their process offers prompts for your consideration and some straight-forward recommendations. Though Refire! is an informative selfhelp title, Larry and Janice’s tale is best described as a motivational fable. Originally used in his business publications, the fable approach has been Blanchard’s signature style since 1982. Since then, it has been often imitated, inspiring bestselling authors like Spencer Johnson (Who Moved My Cheese) and Patrick Lencioni (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team), who brought the concept to its peak in the early 2000s.

You might be asking, “What’s not so great about Refire! and its counterparts?” In his 2013 article “Business Fables: The End,” Kevin Evers, of the Harvard Business Review, wrote frankly: “The lessons of these authors overwhelm their narratives. As a result, their stories are mediocre, and their teachings are often banal.” That’s a strong criticism for fables of all sorts. Admittedly, the exchanges in Refire! can be stilted at times, and some of its references aren’t quite right. (At nearly 14 years old, you’ve likely heard of a Segway before and probably don’t think of it as “new.”) So, is Refire! for you? In an easily-digested number of pages, Blanchard and Shaevitz offer readers an inspirational story, co-mingled with simple strategies and attainable steps to bettering their later years. With some tempered stylistic expectations, you’ll even find a great deal to learn about, and appreciate, within. Refire! Don’t Retire is currently available as an e-book or e-audiobook on the hoopla digital platform for PC/Mac at https://www.hoopladigital.com/ or by downloading hoopla from your iOS or Android device’s app store. Just use your library card to register and then enjoy its growing selection of digital books, audiobooks, comics, music albums, movies and television programs! •••

Images Found At: www.amazon.com boom | SEPTEMBER 2015

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