Boom Magazine November December 2012

NOVEMBER 2012 • DECEMEBER 2012

Jan lAZzARA

Real Estate Agent

Roaming rome

and beyond

Craft Beer

101

Fight

prostate cancer

Give me a

The Lowdown

Tax tips to help you save

Security

Break!

on Social

Easier on you.

If you have been diagnosed with a heart valve problem, believe you may have symptoms of heart valve disease or if you’re seeking a second opinion, then we can help.

Patients at the region’s first Heart Valve Clinic are assigned a personally dedicated heart valve coordinator who guides them through the entire process. This begins with a consultation that includes a cardiologist and a cardiothoracic surgeon who work with you to develop the right course of treatment.

The sooner heart valve disease is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin. You may not even need surgery or medication; it may be as simple as an aspirin a day, education and close follow-up.

The heart specialists at the Heart Valve Clinic can provide you with the best quality of care right here at home and guide you to a healthier life. To schedule a consultation or for more information, call 574-647-3188 or visit qualityoflife.org/hvc. Most insurances are accepted.

615 N. Michigan St. • South Bend, IN 46601 • 574-647-3188 .qualityoflife.org/hvc Located on the first floor of Memorial Hospital of South Bend in the Leighton Heart and Vascular Center 2

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

ON THE

COVER

boom

CONTENTS

EVERY MONTH 04 letter from the publisher 05 contributors, letter from the editor 06 BOOM Time 08 Book Review: 65 Things To Do When You Retire SPECIAL FEATURES 10 Apps to Keep you Savvy boom FASHION 12 All About Outerwear

By Kathy Friend 14 How to Look Great this Holiday Season

By Rebecca Maalouf

boom HEALTHY LIVING 16 Fight Prostate Cancer

By Training Your Immune System

By Dr. Rafat Ansari, MD, FACP

18 Tomato, Tomaahto

Spice Up the Cold Weather

By Jeannine Eubanks

20 Holiday Cooking with Dietary Needs

By Diane Fisher

boom COVER STORY 30 In the Business of Helping People

By Meagan Church

boom LOVERS' LANE 32 Unstuck

Keep Your Relationship Moving

By Lucas Miles

boom BUSINESS 34 Business Book Synopses

By Jennifer W. Juszkiewicz

36

Trying to Decide When to Retire

38

Give Me a Break!

Social Security Has The Tools You Need

By David Seymour Some Tax Info That Might Help You Out

By Michele Kulp

boom THE ARTS 40 Different Seasons Call for Different Entertainments

A Holiday Arts Preview

By Marcia Fulmer

42 Holiday Entertaining Made Easy (and Budget-Friendly)

By Amy Allen Clark

boom CONNECTIONS 44 A Gift that Replenishes

boom THE TRAVELER 22 Choose Travel NOW!

24 Roaming Rome and Beyond

48 Modern Genealogy

Don't Wait for Retirement

By Charrise McCrorey

boom GIFT IDEAS 26 Craft Beer 101

By Chuck Bergman

28 On The Way to Knit and Crochet

By Cathy Mark

cover story: JAN LAzZARA Photography: CLASSIC IMAGE Photography

Volunteering Across Generations

By Cyndy Searfoss

46 The Need for Guardianship

By Tricia Gorden

Using Present-Day Tools to Dig Into Your Past

By Chelle Costello

THE PLANNER 50 Boom events to put in your planner THE SCENE 54 Read about events around town

boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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letter from the

publisher

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Betsy Tavernier Betsy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

EXECUTIVE Editor:

Stephanie J. Salisbury Stephanie@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Advertising Account Manager: Jessica Marietta Jessica@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

The Joy of

Giving

Photography: Classic Image photography Makeup: CamellIa Cosmetics, Granger

‘Tis the season of thankfulness and giving! It's a wonderful time of the year for sure.

BOOM Magazine has certainly been a gift for me and my magazine staff. We've truly enjoyed putting together this new publication as it has challenged us and stretched us to explore uncharted territory for you, the baby boomer reader. We've received more verbal feedback from the first issue that released in September than any other magazine publication under our company's umbrella. I am very thankful for this early success and I am anxious to bring more to you with this second issue and beyond.

One of the greatest pleasures of launching BOOM Magazine for me, personally, has been working with some fantastic baby boomers. Our first issue featured Mr. Gregg Fore from Elkhart County who owns a highly respected and successful company in Elkhart that supplies the RV Industry. Gregg was a blast to talk with and interview because he is truly enjoying the best years of his life with family, business and extreme hobbies. He's savvy, he's smart and he just gets life and the joy of being alive.

Now, with this issue, you get to meet Jan Lazzara, a top real estate agent in St. Joseph County, a family gal, dance enthusiast, people person and simply one seriously classy gal. Jan carries herself with a charisma that exudes wit, charm, business smarts, professionalism and inner-sparkle. She has a flair for life and for making everyone in her presence feel important.

Jan is sharp and she's a boomer with a swagger.

This issue is loaded with editorials just for you. Please keep the feedback coming so that I can ensure we give you exactly what you want with every issue of BOOM Magazine.

Enjoy the holidays with your grandkids and show them that you are full of life, vibrant, active and "tight" (kids' slang for cool).

Betsy

Isn't this a great gift to send to a colleague, client, friend or family member? The gift of beautiful and delicious food!

Advertising Account Manager: Nicky Graham Nicky@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Creative Promotions manager: Jena Bontrager Jena@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Manager: Zuzanna Zmud Zuzanna@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

MEDICAL EDITOR: Dr. Jesse Hsieh

Distribution Manager: John Ferguson

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: Media@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com The FAMILY Magazines 1233 E. University Dr. Granger, IN 46530 PH: 574.387.5420 • FX: 574.217.4700 www.MichianaFamilyMagazine.com Permission from the publisher is required for any reproduction or reprint of this publication.

Read BOOM Magazine online each month!

Go to www.MichianaFamilyMagazine.com and flip the pages, cover-to-cover the organic and green way!

November & December 2012 Volume 1: Number 2

LOOK WHO’s TALKING

follow us on Twitter, and become our fan on Facebook. @FAMILYMagazine www.facebook.com/Family-Magazine pinterest.com/familymags/

Holiday House Bouquet™ A charming winter fruit bouquet that’s filled with all the magic of the holiday season. Our NEW Holiday House Bouquet™ in a keepsake ceramic gingerbread house container features sweet pineapple gingerbread men dipped in gourmet semisweet chocolate, and is filled with fresh strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew and grapes.

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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

november december / contributors

letter from the

Chuck Bergman

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 and be willing to “experience new tastes.”

David Seymour David Seymour is the Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration of Northeastern Indiana. He also currently serves as adjunct faculty for IUSB’s Raclin School of Arts, is fluent in Spanish and enjoys Latin dance.

Photography: Classic image Photography Makeup: CamellIa Cosmetics, Granger

editor

Dear Readers,

There is nothing in life that I can compare to my trip to Italy. My husband and I had the privilege of traveling to Rome, Florence, Lake Garda, Naples and Venice with a group of boomers and we had the time of our lives. The fall weather was phenomenal, the food was fresh and delicious, the fellowship was spectacular and the history that we found ourselves in the center of at all times was nothing short of breathtaking. Ruins, statues, architecture and culture – wow! Don’t miss the spread on Roaming Rome and Beyond. Listen to the advice of Charrise McCrorey and don’t wait for retirement: “Choose Travel NOW!” The holidays are coming right up, and I want to be prepared! This year I have just under twenty people to cook for at Thanksgiving and with that many, there are bound to be some dietary needs I’ll have to think about during prep time. Diane Fisher gives some great recipes this month, but also some tips on swapping ingredients to help out with different diets when everyone’s at your house for the holidays! Amy Allen Clark shares her budget-friendly ideas for jazzing up leftovers, too.

Don’t forget, we’re here to help you with whatever we can. You’ll find some great money-saving tax tips from Michele Kulp’s “Give Me a Break!” and get the details of how, when and where to file in “The Lowdown on Social Security” by David Seymour. Want to take the temperature of your marriage? Read Lucas Miles’ “Unstuck” to combat some issues you may be facing that are more common than you might think. Wanting to try a new hobby, maybe? Chuck Bergman schools us in “Craft Beer 101” and Cathy Mark gets our feet wet with “On the Way to Knit and Crochet”.

Whatever you choose – be it travel, hobbies, family or friends – have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

Charrise mccrorey

Charrise McCrorey, a certified business coach/ consultant and certified transformative coach, is a sought-after professional speaker and writer, recently honored as a guest lecturer for the US Naval Academy. She is well known as Coach Charrise and the founder of Emergence Business Coaching, LLC.

Here’s to 2013!

Stephanie

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Boomer Statistics

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Election Day

Andy Griffith Show Quiz

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1. How many bullets did Barney Fife carry?

2. What year did the show debut on television?

3. What actress played Aunt Bee? 4. How were Barney and Andy related on the show?

5. What was the name of the barber?

6. What was the name of the spin-off after the Andy Griffith Show ended?

7. The show was shot on the same set as part of what very famous movie?

8. What was the name of Andy’s housekeeper BEFORE Aunt Bee moved in?

9. How old was Andy Griffith when he died in July?

10. What was the last year of the original Andy Griffith Show?

Veteran's Day

Glitz & Sass Fashion Show

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A breakdown of the birth rate during the baby boom, 1946 to 1964: Births per year: 4,000,000 Births per day: 10,958 Births per hour: 456 Births per minute: 7.1 That’s one baby every 8.5 seconds!

By the year 2015, over 45% of the US population will be people aged 50 plus.

Answers: 1 (one), 2 (1960), 3 (Frances Bavier), 4 (Cousins), 5 (Floyd), 6 (Mayberry, RFD), 7 (Gone with the Wind), 8 (Rose), 9 (86), 10 (1968).

F

National Diabetes Month begins

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Antique Study Group

Thanksgiving

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Vienna Boys’ Choir

Mannheim Steamroller

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

Top Ten Songs of 1947 1.

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Francis Craig Near You The Harmonicats Peg O' My Heart Ted Weems Heartaches Ray Noble and Buddy Clark Linda Tex Williams Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette Vaughn Monroe I Wish I Didn't Love You So The Three Suns Peg O' My Heart Al Jolson Anniversary Song Larry Green Near You Sammy Kaye That's My Desire

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Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs Sugar Shack Beach Boys Surfin' U.S.A. Skeeter Davis The End Of The World Cascades Rhythm Of The Rain Chiffons He's So Fine Bobby Vinton Blue Velvet Paul and Paula Hey Paula Little Stevie Wonder Fingertips II Village Stompers Washington Square Impressions It's All Right

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jolly good times: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Turkey Overload and Halftime Naps

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Alzheimer’s & Dementia Workshop

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Southold Dance Theater Nutcracker

Southold Dance Theater Nutcracker

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“A Lerner Christmas” Opens

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Bill of Rights Day

Jeannine's Homemade Granola Base Ingredients: 7 C whole oats 1 T. cinnamon 1 t. ground cloves or nutmeg Dash of salt 1 C water 1 C oil or melted butter 1/2 to 1 C honey

Knitting and Crocheting for the Holidays Decorating Sugar Cookies Snowblowing – you know it’s fun!

Theatre-going Extravaganza A Visit to Florida Forcing Amaryllis Bulbs for Winter Blooms Researching your Family Tree

Optional Ingredients: Chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans) Sunflower or other seeds Raisins or other dried fruit Handful of trail mix Dried coconut Anything else you can think of that would go well in granola!

Directions: In large bowl, mix all dry ingredients thoroughly.

Add liquids. Stir until entire mixture is moist. Add any of the optional ingredients. Spread on greased cookie sheet and bake for one hour at 300. Let cool completely, crumble, and store in airtight container.

Serve dry or with milk (like cereal), cold or warmed in microwave.

Go Caroling Day

Also makes a great parfait with yogurt and fruit.

I make it basic, then add fresh fruit or nuts to my individual bowls for more variety.

QUOTES

25

Christmas

“As you get older; you've probably noticed that you tend to forget things. You'll be talking with somebody at a party, and you'll know that you know this person, but no matter how hard you try, you can't remember his or her name. This can be very embarassing, especially if he or she turns out to be your spouse.”

~ Dave Barry “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” ~ Sophia Loren “You don't stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.”

~ George Bernard Shaw “Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.”

~ John Wilmot

31

New Year's Eve

“I'm pretty sure that eating chocolate keeps wrinkles away because I have never seen a 10-year-old with a Hershey bar and crows’ feet.” ~ Amy Neftzger “One of the many things nobody ever tells you about middle age is that it's such a nice change from being young.” ~ Dorothy Canfield Fisher boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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boom

Book review

65

Things to Do When You Retire Edited by Mark Evan Chimsky

Reviewed by Susie Cleaver

Branch Manager, Harris Branch Library Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library

Are you contemplating reducing your hours at work or even heading into that final stretch before retirement? Do you know what you want to do with the extra time you may now find on your hands? If you answered ‘yes’ to either question, then 65 Things to Do When You Retire, edited by Mark Evan Chimsky, may be the book for you. Sixty-five notable achievers ranging from former President Jimmy Carter to writer/activist Gloria Steinem to less well-known individuals share their practical advice on how to turn the opportunity of “more time” into an opportunity to fulfill a deeply personal goal.

A common theme running through the essays is the importance of establishing your life portfolio. According to Michael Jeans, president of New Directions, Inc. and one of the contributors, a life portfolio is “an agenda for turning careers into callings”. How do you want to live for the rest of your life? Contributor John E. Nelson, author of What Color is Your Parachute? for Retirement, says too many retirees focus on what they felt was lacking during their working years – spending enough time with family, taking opportunities to travel, finishing projects on the house – and focus their retirement on making up for what they missed. Instead, Nelson encourages us to focus on what we desire.

Each essay in 65 Things to Do When You Retire is a glimpse into the life of someone who chose to shape their desires into a rewarding and fulfilling retirement. Sharing their stories helps the rest of us look forward to and plan for this wonderful time in our lives

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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

ANNUAL REPORT OF GOOD DEEDS

the BOOM Annual Report of

GOOD DEEDS CORPORATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND BUSINESSES have been great at giving back to the Michiana Community, and we want to give back to them by honoring them in our magazine. The dollars they invest and donate have changed

BOOM celebrates companies who are investing in the community.

lives in many ways.

In celebration of these organizations that invest in people through environment, health, community, culture and education, BOOM Magazine will honor many of them in the upcoming January 2013 issue. Their good deeds often go unnoticed.

Look for this special section in the next issue of BOOM Magazine.

It’s time to celebrate!

CELEBRATING

BUSINESSES THAT

GIVE BACK. Please call Jena Bontrager at 574.387.5420 or email Jena@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com to have your corporation, institution or business featured in the 2013 BOOM Annual Report of Good Deeds. boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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boom

special features

Apps to

Keep you Savvy Walgreens Mobile

Keep track of your prescriptions, balance rewards, photo prints and get weekly updates all with the simple touch of a button. Scan your prescriptions with your phone and information goes directly to the pharmacy for refills or transfers.

ICE Michiana App

This app will store your emergency contacts, known allergies, a list of your current medications, any medical conditions or diseases and let you record a voice memo in case of an emergency. When 911 dispatches, area EMS personnel have been trained to look for this app on your phone upon their arrival. They can view your medical history and send your information immediately to a local ER, so they will be up to speed before you even arrive. Highly secure and safe to use.

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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

Gas Buddy

This sweet little application will search all of the gas prices by any city or zip code to tell you where to find the least expensive gas any time of the day! Perfect for travel, since you can decide whether to buy gas now or when you’re in the next city or suburb. Never drive past the cheapest station again hoping for the next!

Ancestry.com

The mobile app has been updated again, and you can take your family history discoveries even further with ‘shaky leaves’ that can lead you to new information to help grow your tree. Plus, you can still access generations of family history and add facts, photos and other historical anecdotes at every turn. Get a grip on your genealogy and keep track of how you came to be.

The Christmas List

The perfect way to get organized for the holidays! You can add ideas for people you want to buy for, make lists of what you have already purchased, what’s already wrapped AND the gifts you’ve received so you remember to write thank-you notes to your loved ones. Recently updated, you can see how many shopping days are left until Christmas and keep track of your budget all in one organized place.

MyFitnessPal

Track your caloric intake and help stick to your diet by using MyFitnessPal. It has a food database of over 2 million foods to help you track calories and watch your eating habits. Add the exercise you’ve done each day to see where you rate at the end of the day! You can even scan barcodes with it for information before you buy.

boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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boom

fashion

Outerwear

All About

This winter, style will transcend bright pencil skirts and boots to your outerwear. Trends in scarves and coats include everything from swing car coats to shawls and very structured jackets. This is the first winter in recent memory that I have seen a real such emphasis on outerwear. Here is what to look for:

By Kathy Friend

DETAILS

A military feel is seen in most of the coats this season. We see trench coats with strong hardware and militaristic details, and of course the military feel comes into play with the style of the Pea Coat.

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THE COAT OF THE SEASON

The one coat that stands out as THE trend this season is the trench. The trench coat is one that is classic in style and will be in your closet for years to come. It is an investment, and a wise one.

A SIMPLE VEST

JACKET FOR OUT-AND-ABOUT If you are one that is out-and-about a lot during your day, consider adding a Pea Coat to your outwear wardrobe.

Again, a very classic style but this season, done with new details. Look for a Pea Coat in a bright color or one with unusual buttons.

DRESSING UP

Peplum is a detail that is very popular this season – seen in skirts, tops and in outwear. The Peplum coat is a great look to dress up a simple t-shirt and jeans, or as a detail that will mix perfectly with your holiday best.

A simple vest isn’t so simple anymore!

I love the idea of throwing on something cozy like a vest to get me from the car to the grocery store.

The vest is such a smart way to not overheat when running errands. My challenge has been finding a vest that is cute and fashionable that didn’t make me feel like the Michelin Man. This season, that challenge has been answered in the fur (or fuzzy) vest: such a great on-trend addition, yet functional. The fur vest will add instant style to any outfit, so when you look in the mirror and think, “I need something else to finish this look,”look for the fur vest! You will be glad you did.

FUR and LEATHER

If you aren’t adding some leather and fur to your closet this season, you are missing the trend boat! Fur on boots, as collars on jackets, as a detail on a scarf – fur is everywhere! The definition of fur this season doesn’t necessarily mean an animal skin, but rather refers to anything furry or fuzzy.

Leather or pleather (faux leather) in details and in statement pieces for outerwear this season will be very important. For example, a peplum cut jacket in leather will show you are leading the way in trends! My advice: don’t invest in the leather pieces, instead look for pleather. Your budget will be glad you did.

SCARVES

Scarves became the ‘it’ accessory several years ago. This season, the scarf to have is called the foulard. This style refers to a small print in several generally bright colors. Loosely wrap this season’s scarves around your neck in a “thrown on” way.

boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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boom

fashion

How to Look Great this

Holiday Season

By Rebecca Maalouf

H

olidays used to be so easy. The first invitations started rolling in and you pulled together a dress that showed off your best assets, teased your hair to gravity-defying heights and piled on the powder and black eyeliner. All you needed to finish the look was a martini and an audience.

Fast forward to the present; that cute dress you grabbed off the sale rack doesn’t provide the support you need, and the pictures that you couldn’t wait to see don’t capture the glamorous look you were going for - you’re shocked to see that you look pasty white, shiny and what were you thinking with all of that eyeliner? Now what?

Option 1:

Give up – who cares? Your days of looking good at parties are long gone, pass the cheesecake, thank you.

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Option 2: Freak out – tighten the blinds, ignore the invitations and spend every waking hour researching your surgical options.

Option 3: Learn what to avoid and what to embrace while getting ready for this holiday season with the secrets I learned helping hundreds of women find their best look every holiday season.

EVENT LOOK SECRETS Secret #1 – Avoid looking white and shiny in pictures. The culprit is light reflecting sunscreen, which is found in almost all mineral powder foundations. It does its job of protecting your skin from the sun’s rays by reflecting them off of your skin – but it will do the same thing every time a camera flashes. As the light bounces off that sunscreen, it creates a mirror effect in the photo. Don’t avoid coverage altogether, simply switch to a traditional foundation for those “photo op” events to look like your natural self in pictures.

Secret # 2 - Play up your eyes by focusing on your eyelashes. Fake lashes, lash extensions and lash serums are all tools for you to embrace this holiday season. Lash strips are now as widely accepted as push up bras and Spanx, quickly pulling together your entire event look in no time.

Secret #3 – Hello, cheekbones! Back in the day, we knew what to do with our cheekbones: suck them in and contour the hollow part. Do it again. That’s right, permission granted to pull a “supermodel”. Nothing looks more classically stunning than long, sculpted cheekbones. Create them for those big nights out.

Secret #4 – Learn how to pose.

And if you’re really ambitious, teach your husband how to pose so you can take pictures like a Hollywood “it” couple.

It’s not difficult, but it seldom comes naturally. Is your best pose head down, eyes up? Or head back, chin up? Most women automatically go for chin up, but in reality this pose only works best on a handful of women. Stop avoiding pictures and learn your best pose, and never be afraid to use it.

Se

cret #5 – Don’t until the eve of the big wait to plan your look; do event it now!

Actively planning how you will look at holiday parties of the fastest tracks to is one a ever yday look. Becaus better e when you find that perfect dre shoes, the realization tha ss and and makeup update mi t a hair necessary will become ght be clear. Why not give your crystal ever yday look an upgrade too?

boom

healthy living

Fight

Prostate

Cancer

By Training Your Immune System

By Rafat Ansari, MD, FACP

By the age of fifty, all men should be aware of their risk of prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that one out of every six men will develop this disease at some point in their life. Fortunately, the survival rate for prostate cancer is relatively good.

Most prostate cancers grow slowly and respond well to treatment.

However, once prostate cancer spreads to other organs, it can be deadly. This is because prostate cancer is known as an immuno-evasive disease, meaning its cells can spread easily without your body’s defense system noticing. This makes prostate cancer one of the most dangerous types of cancer if not treated early. For years, patients were considered “out of options” after prostate cancer had metastasized.

Until now.

Not long ago, researchers introduced a new drug called Provenge that can help men live longer with advanced prostate cancer. It’s the result of decades of clinical research, and is considered a breakthrough in the fight against prostate cancer.

But what’s even more interesting than this new drug’s ability to control advanced prostate cancer is the way that it helps control it. Unlike traditional treatments like radiation and chemotherapy which target both healthy and infected cells, Provenge trains your body’s immune system to seek and destroy prostate cancer cells much like it would a cold or flu virus. Provenge is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for advanced prostate cancer that works this way.

In order to train your immune system, your blood must be drawn and infused with Provenge. The drug then stimulates your white blood cells (which are basically the “soldiers” of your immune system) with markers that 16

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

help your immune system to not only identify elusive prostate cancer cells, but also to hunt specifically for them. Afterward, your white blood cells are injected back into your body, where they begin their new fight.

One of the best things about this new drug is that once your immune system is trained, you’re done with treatment. It usually takes five or six treatments for Provenge to influence your immune system enough for it to combat prostate cancer cells at an effective level.

After that, your body will be able to slow the spreading of prostate cancer on its own, and no more treatments will be needed.

It’s important to emphasize that Provenge is not a first-resort option for patients battling prostate cancer.

Rather, it’s a last resort. This drug is for patients battling late stage prostate tumors. Chemotherapy, surgery and hormone therapy are still considered the most effective treatments for most patients facing prostate cancer. But when these treatments just can’t get the cancer under control, or if it has already metastasized, patients now have a good option that can help them live longer – something they’ve never had before.

So, the big question is: just how much longer can you live with help from Provenge? Like most medical questions, the answer depends on various factors. Everyone’s immune system is unique and reacts differently to Provenge. But in many cases, this new treatment has added several years to the lives of patients. While it’s not a cure, it’s definitely a major breakthrough.

Of course, it’s best not to find yourself battling any latestage illness. If you’re a male approaching the age of fifty, please consult your doctor about your recommended prostate cancer screening guidelines. As always, early detection is the key to beating any type of cancer. •••

boom

healthy living

Tomato, Tomaaahto Spice Up the Cold Weather!

By Jeannine Eubanks

Jeannine’s Fresh Tomato Chili (no cans!)

Ingredients: ½ to 1 lb ground beef 1 medium onion, diced ½ green pepper, diced ½ red pepper, diced 1 T minced garlic (2-3 cloves) 20 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges 1 T chili powder (to taste) 1 t cumin (to taste) 1 t salt 1 t black pepper 1-2 cups cooked black beans ½ c brown cooked rice Shredded cheddar cheese Plain yogurt or sour cream Directions: 1. Put onions, garlic and peppers in a large sauce pan. Add ground beef. Cover and cook on medium-low heat until beef is no longer pink.

2. Add tomato wedges, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper; mix thoroughly.

3. Bring to boil, then simmer covered for 30-60 minutes.

4. Just before serving, add beans and rice. If rice is uncooked, let simmer about 10 minutes until rice is done.

5. Serve in bowls with shredded cheese and a dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream.

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Garden Fresh Salsa Ingredients: 6 medium tomatoes, with seeds and insides squeezed out ½ onion 1 jalapeno (for milder salsa cut the seeds and veins out) 2 cloves garlic ¼ t salt 1 T lime juice 1/3 C cilantro Directions: Put all ingredients into a food processor and puree to desired consistency. For very chunky salsa, simply chop all vegetables by hand and stir together. All ingredients are “to taste.” Like your salsa hot? Add more jalapeno.

Hate cilantro? Leave it out!

Optional: Add black beans, corn and/or avocado chunks for a twist

Choose an experience filled with love.

“When my dad was living with terminal cancer, his goals were to be at home and watch his granddaughters play softball. Center for Hospice Care made it possible. He enjoyed an entire season with an excellent quality of life. Their experts helped give my dad an end that was filled with love.”

To learn more or self-refer, call anytime.

800.HOSPICE (467.7423) or CenterForHospice.org Services from Center for Hospice Care are typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. No one is turned away due to inability to pay.

CFIN-020 7.375x4.8125 4c_Rev.indd 1

©2011 Center for Hospice Care boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 19 10/23/12 11:31 AM

boom

healthy living

Holiday with Cooking

Dietary Needs

By Diane Fisher

W

hen cooking meals for those that need to watch their intake of fats, cholesterol, calories and sugar, it can feel daunting at times. It doesn't need to be. With just a few exchanges, your regular recipes can be turned into more health-conscious ones.

I read an article once that talked about the calories that you can take in just by tasting your meal as you are cooking it for Thanksgiving. I was shocked! It has always been hard for me to eat a full meal after I have labored over one, and this has told me why. You can actually take in a whole day’s worth of calories just by testing your cooking...who would have thought? As a caterer, this is very horrifying to me so I try to watch how much I tastetest as I am cooking for others. It is necessary, but I am more conscious about it now.

In our family, we have a number of different dietary needs – gluten-free, lactose-free, fat-free, diabetic – so cooking for all of them at the same time could be unreal. Usually this does not occur all in one meal, but the holidays will usually bring more than one to the table. No problem!

There are so many products available now for lactose intolerance and gluten-free diets that you can always fall back on something boxed. The guests will be thankful that you cared enough to help them enjoy the day as well.

In my business, I only have a few clients that require such needs, but I have found that almost any recipe can be made to accommodate special diets. It just takes time, patience and a little more money. Soy-based cream cheeses, milk, sour cream, etc. will make a big difference in many recipes that use the usual products, and these

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substitutes are readily available at most health food stores. These products have no cholesterol, and are usually lower in calories, but sometime have more salt or sugar (check your labels).

Did you know that there is a gluten/casein/soy-free bible that will list, by product names, thousands of products that have a green light for you to eat? This grocery shopping guide is updated every year or two and is written by Matison and Matison. This is a very helpful guide that can be slipped in a purse on shopping day. Also, check out Kraft block cheeses that claim on the back label that they are lactose-free. This could open a lot of doors in the kitchen!

For those who just want to cut back on fat, cholesterol and calories, always think of using fat-free milk or soy milk in place of whole milk, egg whites or Egg Beaters instead of whole eggs, Smart Balance Lite margarine (lactosefree), applesauce in place of 1/2 of the oil used in cake mixes, even adding shredded zucchini to add moisture to baked goods! Sweeteners are the most challenging to bake with, but use their recipes and you will have great success. Leave the crust off of pies and quiches: they taste great without it. And, above all, always watch your portions. Just because something has less fat or fewer calories doesn’t mean that you should overdo it. This just defeats the purpose of watching at all.

I have a comparison here that will show you how you can take a common recipe and make it a healthier choice.

You don’t have to deprive yourself – just be smarter about what you eat.

Comparison Diane’s Holiday Pumpkin Pie

Libby’s Famous Pumpkin Pie Recipe

1 C sugar 1 t salt substitute 2 t ground cinnamon 1 t cloves 3 egg whites, plus one whole egg 1 can (29oz.) Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin 2 cans fat-free (12oz. each) evaporated milk or whole soy milk no crust

1 ½ C sugar 1 t salt 2 t ground cinnamon 1 t cloves 4 whole eggs 1 can (29oz.) Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin 2 cans (12oz. each) Nestle Carnation evaporated milk 2 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shells

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat the egg in a large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in the evaporated milk.

Pour mixture into 6-8 individual oven-safe dishes and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack, top with fat-free (or sugar-free) whipped topping and serve. Delicious!

If you can just make a few simple changes in a basic recipe, even if it is only one of the ingredients, you will see how, over a year’s time, you will look different as you check yourself out in the mirror!

Enjoy life, live within the boundaries you have been given and keep sharing yourself with others in a positive and loving way. boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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boom

the traveler

Choose Travel

NOW! Don’t Wait for Retirement

By Charrise McCrorey

In the past few months, I’ve traveled multiple times to fabulous places like Traverse City, Chicago, Indianapolis, Virginia Beach, Denver and Aspen. Most of my travel begins with a work purpose, and I almost always add an element of personal entertainment to every trip. I am filled with gratitude for the places I get to visit.

Since I am my own boss, I now travel when and where I want to go. It hasn’t always been this way. In years past, I have had a love/hate relationship with travel. I’ve had jobs where extensive travel was required and have had to miss huge chunks of important family time. I’m sure you can relate to the difference between choosing travel and having your situation dictate that you travel. Choosing travel is much more fun.

When my children were small, we chose not to travel much. Money was tight. It was a hassle taking small children on an airplane. The car ride was too long and grueling. We liked our routine. Do these sound like excuses to you? They sure do to me now, looking back.

When we ask our grown children today about their most cherished childhood memories, they are almost always related to the times when we threw caution to the wind and traveled anyway, despite the excuses. This has been a profound lesson for me.

I used to believe that travel was meant to happen later in life, when I retire. I’m 51 now, and retirement seems like a remote possibility, since I adore my work and plan to work as long as I’m physically able. Travel, however, is something I’m choosing right now. I’ve discovered that traveling to other places enriches my life in ways not otherwise possible. I’m committed to enjoying other cultures and geography every time I have an opportunity.

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In Tim Ferriss’s book “The 4 Hour Work Week”, he explores the notion of extensive travel while still in the money-making years. We tend to think like this: “I’ll work 12-hour days now so I can earn enough money to one day relax and travel.” Or, we somehow believe that we have unlimited time before us, and those things we dream of doing are put off until “someday.” Many people think of the pot of gold at the end of the career rainbow as the time when they will finally get to take that long, exotic trip.

What if we’re dead before then? It happens.

Tim Ferriss points out the false belief that extended world travel is reserved for the super-rich. He proposes a re-positioning of our beliefs about retirement and vacation. He promotes mini-retirements and the death of vacations. His question is, “Why not take the usual 20-30 year retirement and redistribute it throughout life instead of waiting for the end of it?” Novel concept, right?

Let’s get practical. Some people are in jobs that don’t allow for the kind of time and flexibility it takes to travel to wonderful, diverse locations. Likely, some of that inflexibility is self-imposed, as we continue believing that our all our fun will take place after we retire. We’re alive and healthy now. We only ever have this moment.

Let’s make good use of this time, as our future is not guaranteed.

How much time could you allocate to travel, realistically?

How much money do you thoughtlessly spend that could be reinvested into travel adventures? Where would you love to go NOW, while you are young and healthy enough to thoroughly enjoy it? What stops you from taking that dream trip, really?

For some, it may simply be a stretch outside our comfort zone. For others, it may be that the thought of it exhausts us. I know travel can be tiring, and I also know that it’s worth the trade for the experience of getting to know new people and diverse cultures. We tend to be comfortable living inside a world that is small and unexplored, and there is so much more to experience outside of our chosen boundaries.

Wherever your travel takes you, even if it’s simply to the next town over, consider that life is your adventure.

Here are some tips to enhance the diversity of your life experience: • Get lost intentionally • Experience a leisurely, two hour meal with friends without an agenda • Invite people of other cultures into your life • Create relationships for the sake of pleasure and enhanced life experience • Make a strategy to begin your travel dreams NOW • Get a wall sized map, and use pushpins to indicate where you’ve been and where you’d love to go • Be inquisitive, wherever you may be • Be open to embracing differences, as all the learning occurs there • Be spontaneous with day or weekend trips • Slow down and enjoy where you are • Open your mind to possibility • Don’t limit yourself to traditional tourist trips • Do what the locals do • Get a pen-pal Live fully, and live now. The true meaning of life is found in relationships and life experiences. •••

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boom

the traveler

Roaming Rome and Beyond The fall is a beautiful time for a leisurely tour of old Italia. These pictures are from a tour our Executive Editor took with several boomers, roaming such places as Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Lake Garda, Venice and Naples. From wine to Pizza Margherita to endless gelato, from streets of water to historic ruins to majestic art, there’s nothing more evocative to the senses than a trip to Italy! •••

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boom

gift ideas

Craft Beer 101

By Chuck Bergman

M

aybe you’re a Bud or Coors Light drinker looking for something with more flavor. Maybe a friend or family member keeps raving about the local brewpub. Regardless of your reason, you have become interested in craft beer but don’t know where to begin.

Craft beer has been experiencing a renaissance the last few years. In fact, craft brewing in America has slowly become a serious business over the last thirty years.

Every day, there are more and more options at the liquor store and even the local grocery store. You are suddenly seeing names like Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada or New Belgium alongside Bud Light and Miller Genuine Draft.

While this is fun and exciting for beer lovers, it's making it harder and harder to know which beer to choose.

This is especially challenging if you're still a little unclear on the difference between a pilsner and a pale ale, or a porter and a stout. Are you hesitant to drink a craft beer or maybe had one you weren’t so thrilled about? Well a little Craft Beer 101 could lead you into a wonderful world of flavorful, fresh local brews. Trust me, your views of what makes a great beer will never be the same.

That IPA Was Hoptastic!

Phrases like this can create even more confusion when selecting a craft beer. Understanding some of the basic terminology will help you make an informed selection when sampling beer, and it can’t hurt to know some key phrases when entertaining friends.

Simply put, craft beer is beer not brewed by one of the big mega-brewery corporations. It is generally brewed by small, independent and traditional brewers. There are a number of great craft brewers in northern Indiana and southern Michigan.

Beer is simply grain malt (usually barley), water, hops and yeast. Different combinations of these basic ingredients can create the wide variety of beers on the market. Barley produces deeper flavors depending on how much it has been roasted. Lightly toasted barley produces cereal or biscuit flavors. Deeper roasts produce coffee or chocolate flavors. Craft beer fans often refer to the “maltiness” of a beer when referring to the roasted quality of the barley.

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Hops add a wide variety of aromas. If you find fresh herbs, grapefruit or pine needles in your beer’s nose (or scent), those are the hops talking to you! Hops also add bitterness, so beers with a lot of hop character tend also to be more bitter. When someone exclaims that a beer is hoppy, they are referring to a combination of the hop scent and bitterness of the craft beer.

Sugars from the barley are not all consumed by fermentation, so just as unfermented sugars from grapes sweeten wines, these leftover sugars provide a beer with sweetness. These sugar flavors can add accents of brown sugar, molasses, candy or fruits like apple or raisin.

Styles of Beer

Lagers tend to be crisp and clean-tasting beers with a refreshing and lively palate. Most commonly, they have flavors of lightly toasted or bready malts. If you think Bud Light, Natural Light, Corona, Miller Genuine Draft, PBR and Coors all taste the same then congratulations – you’re absolutely right. All these beers are pale lagers with very similar flavor profiles. Few things are better after a long, sweaty day of yard work than a well-crafted lager.

Ales are the other major group of beers. In fact, for most people, ale and beer are synonymous. Ales tend to have a wider range of flavors which can be stronger, sweeter, fruitier and hoppier than lagers. However, there are exceptions to every rule and with the vast variety of ales available, there’s truly something for everyone. The following list is by no means comprehensive, but just a starting point for sampling great craft beer.

Pale Ale is a great starter beer! This bronze- to coppercolored ale uses a nice blend of malts, which provide the sweet base, and hops, which can range from citrusy to piney and bitter flavors. Pale Ales are good gateway beers, because they are relatively small and simple, so your senses won't be overloaded as you develop a taste for quality beer.

One of the most refreshing styles of ale is Wheat Beer, which uses wheat instead of or in addition to barley for the malt. Wheat beer is reminiscent of the first brewed beers and has a low to nonexistent hops presence, a cloudy appearance and often prominent yeast flavor. The flavor

ranges greatly depending on wheat styles, but they’re typically light in flavor, making them great summer beers.

True to its name, Brown Ale is a dark amber color. Brown ales have a higher level of malt, which makes it slightly earthy and less bitter. They are lightly hopped, with mild flavors tending toward the nutty or toasty. This wellbalanced beer gains its popularity and easy drinkability from a unique combination of nutty sweetness, subtle hops and a low alcohol content.

India Pale Ales (IPAs) originated when the British tried to ship beer to India in the early 1800s, and found it was spoiled on arrival. Adding substantially more hops to the beer acted as a preservative and the new, complex bitterness quickly gained a devoted following. IPAs are some of the most popular craft beers in the United States today and there are many sub-styles. The flavor profile can be described as a strong hoppy or citrusy flavor with a slightly bitter taste.

Porters are very dark, almost opaque with a tan or dark brown creamy head. The lighter-bodied companion to stout, porter has an old-school, dark-roasted taste and higher-than-average alcohol content. Porters tend to be lighter in body than stouts, and notes of roasted coffee and dark bitter chocolate are common.

Stouts are made with black, unmalted barley which contributes to most of the color and flavor characteristics common in all stouts. The head of a stout should be thick

and is usually tan to brown. Made with highly roasted malts, barley or oatmeal, this is a rich, extra-dark brew.

Stouts have a heavily roasted flavor and may have hints of coffee, chocolate, licorice or molasses with no apparent hops flavor.

Try Something New

Trying one or two beers from each of these styles will give you a good idea of your personal preference. From there, you can continue to search for beers within that style and then begin to experiment with beers from other similar styles.

Half of the fun is trying out new things to see what kind of a spin each brewer puts on their different styles of beer.

A great thing that many breweries offer is a sample pack.

You get to try different styles of beer, often with a seasonal theme. Another option is the build-your-own-six-pack.

Many local liquor stores now have a section of craft beers that you can pick and choose to create a custom six-pack.

The most important piece of advice I can give is to enjoy the process. Sampling great beer should never be a chore.

Each of us has different tastes, so it stands to reason that different styles of beer will appeal to different people.

Sure, there are certain beers out there that people tend to like more than others, but that doesn't mean that you will or won't like those beers. You’ll never know until you try them. Relax, and have a craft beer. •••

All aboard....

Santa’s Candy Cane Express Celebrate a nostalgic children’s Christmas with the Grandkids at the Hesston Steam Museum The first two weekends in December

R ide the Candy Cane Express Visit Santa in his real railroad Caboose Save 15% on all merchandise in The Depot Store eceive Give & R Donate a new unwrapped toy

Help greet Santa at Noon when he arrives in a vintage Ford Model T!

at Santa’s Candy Cane Express & Receive one free train ride.

FREE ADMISSION. Train Tickets: Adults $5.00, Children $3.00 Museum grounds open at 11:30. Trains from from Noon to 5:00 CDT. No reservations needed.

Visit hesston.org for directions or join our Facebook group.

ne

Visit us onli

hesston.org

boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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boom

gift ideas

On The Way to Knit and Crochet

By Cathy Mark

K

nitting and crocheting soared in popularity a few years ago. Everyone was doing it. Stores had a hard time keeping yarn in stock. We were in heaven with all the possibilities in fibers and tools. Things have calmed since then, but hand work remains popular. There’s an amazing sense of accomplishment upon finishing a project.

Perhaps you haven’t been bitten by the knitting or crocheting bug yet. Maybe you’re just getting started and want to know a little more. There are books and websites available to show you the basics and yarn and craft stores offer classes in knitting and crocheting, too.

When choosing a book or web site, be sure there are clear photos and step-by-step instructions.

While knitting and crocheting share a few characteristics, there are also differences. Knitting requires pointed needles: sometimes one circular needle, sometimes two straight needles and, when you’re working on a small item in the round like socks, you’ll need four needles.

Crochet uses just one hook. Both crafts use yarn which comes in a wide range of weights, colors and fiber contents. Knitting tends to be slower than crocheting, but crochet projects tend to use more yarn. Both crafts offer a variety of stitches and can be used for clothing, accessories and home items.

Needles and hooks are available in different materials, such as plastic, metal and wood. My personal favorite is wood, particularly bamboo. It is smooth and sleek in your hand and has a warmth metal can’t match. I started with straight needles and resisted using circulars until someone I worked with said they were the only type she used and I should switch. Having arthritis and tendonitis, circular also make sense from a comfort and ergonomic standpoint.

You can work with circular needles in the round, or back and forth, just like straight needles. They really are more comfortable to use and easier on your joints. There are also ergonomic versions of crochet hooks available for those who just can’t put that hook down.

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Now that we’ve covered the hardware, let’s talk software: fiber! I LOVE yarn! The colors, the textures, the feel… they lead to the million ideas that pop into my head when I see something new. Yarn is classified by weight, which is not the actual poundage of a skein, but a measure of the thickness of the strand. Super bulky is the thickest, with bulky coming next (sometimes called “chunky”).

Worsted is in the middle of the range and is one of the most useful weights. Sport, or ‘DK’ as the British call it, comes next and is thinner than worsted but thicker than baby weight yarns. Sock weight is the next thinnest with lace weight being the finest.

While certain yarns are better for certain projects, you can play with the possibilities. The trick is to choose the correct needles or hook for the weight of your yarn.

Yarn labels usually include suggested needle and hook sizes. When you use the recommended size tool, you get the best results from the yarn. That doesn’t mean you can’t try something different, though. Using a very large needle with a worsted weight yarn is an easy way to create a lacey fabric without using very fine lace yarn.

Using a smaller needle or hook than suggested gives a sturdier fabric, often useful for bags or totes.

Patterns list the yarn that was used for the item and mention “gauge”. If you can’t find the exact yarn listed (or want to use something else – usually my preference) be sure to check the gauge. This is the number of stitches achieved when you knit (or crochet) the yarn on the given size needle (or hook) for a four-inch swatch. For now, you just need to check your yarn label and be sure the gauge listed is close to the gauge called for.

Wool has more give than other fibers and is my favorite thing to work with. Cotton is often used for warm weather knitting and shows stitches beautifully.

It’s also perfect for washcloths and dishcloths, something many people make for gifts. Mohair is fuzzy and has a lovely, angelic feel. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial and feels like silk. Acrylic is great for kids’ items and things that will get a lot of use and washing. When you’re creating something with intricate or interesting stitches, you’ll want to choose a smooth yarn so your hard work can be seen. When you want to make a simple item, like a garter stitch scarf, feel free to choose a textured yarn. It won’t matter that the stitches aren’t clear. You can do something simple and end up with a stunning piece.

Hopefully this information answers some basic questions and has you wanting to know more. Go ahead, try something new. What have you got to lose? You may find something you love! •••

Classi c Experience TH E J O R DAN WAY

BUYING A CAR MADE EASY: • Simple, easy, STRESS-FREE. • Lowest price posted on the car.

• Negotiation-free experience.

• Money back guarantee.

• Absolute BEST in car buying experience.

New Fords or New Toyotas The Jordan Way!

609 East Jefferson Blvd. • Mishawaka, IN 46545 • 574-259-1981 • www.jordanauto.com boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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C o v er s t o r y

In the Business of Helping People How passion and a drive to help others has made Jan Lazzara the real estate agent she is

O

By Meagan Church

ne night, while local real estate agent Jan Lazzara was showing a house to a client, she received a phone call. “Where are you?” asked the voice on the other end of the line. It was her father. After finishing up with her clients, the two of them were going out to dinner. She told him she’d be there soon.

“I’m watching these pretty girls dance,” he told her. “I wish you’d learn to dance. I’d love to come watch you.”

Apparently he was at home watching Dancing with the Stars.

The conversation ended and the night went on as planned, but a few weeks later he passed away. That conversation stuck with Jan. A while later, she drove by a dance studio but hesitated before going in. “There were so many people there,” she recalled. “But then I told myself, ‘Wait! You’re not shy!’ So I walked in the door and started taking dance lessons.”

Little did she know that, soon after that, she would be asked to take part in the Center for the Homeless’ Dancing with Our Stars charity event. “It was scary, but fun. It was thrilling to know that we were raising money for so many families and getting to learn to dance and have fun in the process.”

Even after the event, Jan admitted she couldn’t stop dancing.

She still takes lessons a few nights a week. How she finds the time is anyone’s guess. After all, she is a top realtor in the Michiana area, a cheerleader for her grown son Brian (CEO for Afdent in Ft. Wayne) and daughter Angela (a student at IPFW), helps care for her mother who lives in an assisted living center and is a board member for Women’s Care Center and Knollwood Country Club. One thing is for sure: she has unending energy and a passion that keeps her focused.

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Before getting into real estate, Jan had been a successful water softener salesperson in the family business. She began to feel it was time for a change, but she wasn’t sure exactly where to go next. One of her friends pointed her in

the direction of real estate. “I had a friend of mine that said, ‘Jan, you love to help people. Why don’t you get into real estate?’”

This passion for helping people is something that Jan has had since she was young. Her father saw it in her when she was a child and suggested she become a doctor because of her love for people. “I didn’t become a doctor, but I am helping people in this business,” Jan said.

She listened to that friend’s advice and joined Cressy & Everett in 2000. “I find it so fulfilling because I am constantly helping somebody. I just love the feeling of helping others. I am fulfilling their dreams of buying or selling a home.”

Jan’s passion for helping people and her endless energy have helped her achieve some pretty impressive professional accomplishments. Since 2003, she has been the number one Cressy & Everett associate in sales and listing volume. Since 2007, she has been the number one agent in St. Joseph County.

How does she do it? “I think it’s the passion inside of me. I have such a passion for this that it gives me the drive to succeed. I am a positive thinker.

I just have that desire and drive.” She went on to say she also believes her faith plays a key role. “People ask me how I am doing so well and I say it’s my belief in God. I thank God every day.”

“I love this business because you can see it in somebody’s eyes when you pull a deal together. You see how happy they are. It makes you feel so good to have been a part of that.”

Jan also believes her outlook puts things into perspective. “You can’t just be in the business to try to sell someone a house. You are selling them a home. It’s their dream and you are helping them reach that dream.”

Fulfilling her clients’ dreams energizes Jan. “I love what I do. I enjoy being with people. Just knowing that I’m helping someone, whether they are a first time buyer or a luxury home purchaser, is so rewarding. They never forget you.” She went on to say, “I love this business because you can see it in somebody’s eyes when you pull a deal together. You see how happy they are. It makes you feel so good to have been a part of that.”

After speaking with Jan for just a few minutes, it’s clear to see that she has an energy and passion that have helped propel her to where she is today. “I have always been that way. Even in growing up, I always had that imagination and drive. I have always been a believer, believing in the best and striving forward. I used to tell my children to shoot for the stars. Never give up.”

It’s a lesson her father taught her and words that he spoke into her life that touch her yet today. “He always said never give up and when you are on a roll keep going. Don’t quit. Don’t quit now. Keep on going.”

Jan has kept on going. Even with the downturn of the economy, she is optimistic. “I feel we’re going to have a wonderful spring. Interest rates are low. Homes are selling. We are running out of inventory now. Business here is picking up and we are looking forward to having one of the best years ever going into 2013, plus it’s just such a great area to live in.”

Call it optimism, passion or perseverance. Whatever the case may be, Jan keeps on going. She keeps on dancing. And she never gives up. ••• boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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Lovers' lane

Unstuck

Keep Your Relationship Moving

By Lucas Miles

Has your marriage been plagued with the same frustrations for years? Often, couples I see that have been married twenty-plus years have a greater tendency to fall into accepting certain aspects of their relationship as unchangeable, but it doesn’t have to be this way. As a pastor and relationship coach, I try to help my clients understand that they are never relationally stuck and that it’s not too late to experience the marriage of their dreams. The problem is, at first they usually don’t believe me. There are a few reasons for this.

To begin with, mature couples sometimes view marriage improvement techniques or even marriage counseling as something only for newlyweds or people on the verge of divorce, but this simply isn’t true. Like taking a car to a mechanic, all relationships need occasional maintenance.

Continuing with the automotive analogy, some people have enough precision and knowledge to work on their own “car” (aka relationship), but most people would benefit from an outside perspective.

Second, couples mistakenly think that the longer they’ve been married, the better their marriage should be. Tony Robbins, one of the world’s leading life coaches says, “Practice doesn’t make perfect – it makes permanent.”

Years and years of utilizing the same ineffective relationship techniques have led some couples to believe their marriage won’t get any better. Couples struggling 32

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with reoccurring relationship issues can probably identify with Bruce Hornsby’s lyrics from his 1980s iconic hit song, “That’s just the way it is – some things will never change.”

But for these couples, I’d encourage them to remember the full chorus, “That's just the way it is. Some things will never change … But don't you believe them.”

The good news is that, for people who are willing to try, personal and relational transformation is possible. This might surprise couples who feel like they have tried everything, but with the right relational tools and a little coaching, your relational goals may not be as far off as you might think. So where do you start? Here are a few ideas to help get you moving.

1.

Find a Coach or Counselor – Marriage counseling comes in a variety of packages.

Pastors, relationship coaches, traditional therapists or

family and marriage counselors, and even other couples are all good considerations for relationship advice. The most critical factor to consider is the comfort both you and your spouse feel in opening up with whomever you choose. A particular counselor can be highly qualified, but if you don’t feel comfortable discussing your relationship with him or her, their qualifications alone will offer little value.

2.

Revisit Your Dreams Together – After being married for over a decade or two, it’s easy to lose sight of your original dreams and goals as a couple. Set aside specific time to revisit your dreams and discuss with one another how you can help achieve mutual success in these areas. Keep in mind that, in relationships with layers of offense or past frustrations, even rekindling enough trust to clearly restate these goals may prove to be a challenge. Consider doing an exercise with your marriage coach, which focuses on each of you writing your thoughts down separately and allowing your spouse to read the answers on her own.

dreams. Every year, the weekend gives us a chance to focus specifically on our relationship, enjoy a great hotel and, most of all, just relax together in an atmosphere that promotes a healthier relationship. Regardless of where you go or what you do, the goal is to get you out of the routine of your relationship and to have some fun!

Beyond all of this, it is important to embrace the idea that your relationship can become unstuck. Don’t give into the lie that, because you’ve been married for a while, things can’t get any better. All marriages have issues from time to time but, in a healthy relationship, couples discover ways to keep moving forward regardless of what they face. This is the key to becoming unstuck. •••

3.

Go on a Marriage Getaway – As I mentioned earlier, reoccurring issues aren’t likely to be resolved by the same techniques which failed in the past.

My suggestion? Take a trip, or even go on a retreat; as long as you do something different! About ten years ago, my wife and I semi-reluctantly attended a marriage weekend called, The Oasis Couples’ Getaway. Now, years later, we actually lead the weekend for Michiana couples of all ages to help them rediscover the marriage of their

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business

Business Book Synopses

By Jennifer W. Juszkiewicz

The Business of Happiness, Ted Leonsis, Regnery Publishing, 2010 Ted Leonsis grew up in a lower middle-class family from Lowell, Massachusetts, and then went on to become a leading light at AOL, create a documentary film (“Nanking”) and own the Washington Capitols. He wrote this book during an upsurge in attention to the importance of happiness.

Leonsis’ book is initially a personal account about his upbringing in New York City and Lowell. He benchmarks the moments in his life when he could have lost direction: “At some level, I said to myself, I can go down this road that will not have a happy ending, or I can take control and make my own path,” he says about turning his grades around in high school. He keeps on this path and never gives up; he follows his best instincts and pursues successful venture after successful venture.

He talks about his friendship with Maria Shriver, his accomplishments in various fields and his many business and film awards. He is proud of pulling himself up by his bootstraps, especially when he hints at his resentment toward fellow Georgetown students who were more privileged: “It used to really bother me to see affluent kids whose parents were paying their way screw around and not apply themselves the way I had to.” This is simply part of Leonsis’ character. Also part of his character is to turn every negative moment or behavior into a point of change for the better. Even that resentment becomes motivation: “It’s possible that I worked as hard as I did, and fully appreciated what Georgetown offered, because I knew I was paying for it,” he reflects.

Leonsis published this book in 2010, which appears to have been high tide in the happiness-as-business-practice trend. After all, the same year The Business of Happiness was published, Scientific American also printed an article stating that “Money—even the thought of it—reduces satisfaction from life’s simple pleasures,” because it inhibits our ability to savor experiences, a key component in a person’s degree of happiness.

Leonsis echoes this same point in his list of six attributes 34

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that people who are successful and happy share. He advocates seeking happiness first and success will follow.

To know what happiness means to you, you must have a “bucket list” of goals (the movie “The Bucket List” came out in 2007). Leonsis created his own bucket list after a plane crash. The crash made him realize he was unfulfilled and that he needed to bring passion and happiness back into his life.

Next, Leonsis emphasizes the importance of expressing yourself and your interests in a satisfying way, which is similar to his point that one should foster a personal sense of purpose.

Finally, Leonsis recommends that people should understand the role of gratitude, what those in a previous generation would call the “silver lining.” Even if you can’t find your own easily, consider being the silver lining. Leonsis’ final recommendation is to give back, the benefits of which he says will return to you exponentially.

This idea was supported in a Christian Science Monitor article (also first published in 2010) that giving buys happiness. The U.S. was the fifth most charitable country polled in 2010 and the most charitable country in 2011.

Particularly giving were those who were over the age of fifty.

Leonsis’ text is a bit overblown and redundant at times, but his passion is clear. Leonsis firmly believes that happiness is achievable for everyone, an encouraging statement that we can embrace even after the happiness surge of 2010.

This is the Moment: How One Man’s Yearlong Journey Captured the Power of Extraordinary Gratitude, Walter Green, Hay House, 2010 The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California recently announced a three-year program called “Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude.”

They aim to learn more about the benefits of gratitude on mental and physical health. They are inspired by other scientists’ research that shows that those who practice regular gratitude have stronger immune systems, lower blood pressure and are more joyful, compassionate and generous. Who knew gratitude could have such a profound impact on our quality of life?

appointment with each person. During these taped interviews, Green told these people specifically how they had impacted his life. He talked to everyone from his wife and sons to his physical therapist to his insurance salesman. After the interview, he would summarize their meeting into a letter that he then sent to each person, along with a CD of their conversation.

Well, Walter Green knew: “The more you exercise that external gratitude muscle by telling others how you feel about them, the more benefits you and they get.” In the first part of his book, Green charts his modest beginnings on the east coast and his eventual role as Chairman, CEO and major shareholder of Harrison Conference Centers.

Then he sold his company in the late 90s and moved to San Diego with his wife.

Green admits to listening to these recordings regularly, reflecting on the amazing conversations he had. And he shares the stories with his readers as well; these stories form the bulk of the book.

After his retirement, Green began reflecting on his life: “Once I became really conscious, I realized that, although I’ve worked hard and been lucky, I’m the furthest thing from self-made.” Rather, Green thought of all the people who had helped him achieve success and wondered what he could have achieved without them. “The conclusion I came to is that I couldn’t.” This inspired Green to travel across the country and around the world in order to thank 44 people who changed or improved his life.

The AARP wrote a positive review of the book, highlighting that Green’s mission is especially appropriate for their members.

They claim that those over fifty “…are well suited to offer explicit thanks, since they have the wisdom of experience, and many are reconnecting with those who mattered in their lives.” But, Green says, act quickly. “Expressing gratitude can never be done too soon, or you miss it.’”

Green ends his book with a message of hope: “When I started out, I thought that my journey would have a beginning and an end, [but] my conversations will continue… gratitude has become a way of life for me.” •••

First, Green made his list of people who had inspired him and how they did so. Then he made a one-on-one, private

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business

Trying to

Decide When

Retire

to

Social Security Has The Tools You Need

By David Seymour

I

t’s never too early to start thinking about your retirement. When you do, one of your first questions may be, “When’s the best time to start receiving retirement benefits?” There’s no one “best age” for everyone and, ultimately, it is your choice.

You should make an informed decision about when to apply for benefits based on your individual and family circumstances.

With that in mind, Social Security has published a new fact sheet to help you make the decision that’s best for you. When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html.

Things to consider are your current cash needs, health, family longevity, whether you plan to work after you retire, future financial needs and obligations, and the amount of your benefit and other income, such as pensions and deductions from retirement funds. Do you have investments to draw from when you need extra money? Will it last as long as you expect to live?

Keep in mind that people are living longer than they used to. About one out of every four 65-year-olds today will live past age 90, and one out of ten will live past age 95. If you decide to retire early, at 62 or any time before your full retirement age, you’ll get your benefits sooner — but you’ll get a reduced benefit for the rest of your life. Your monthly benefit will last as long as you do. So the reduction in monthly payment for taking early retirement can add up to a big difference over the life of your benefits.

Your decision can affect your spouse and family, too. If you die before your spouse and dependent children, they 36

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may be eligible for survivors benefits. But if you took early retirement, their payments would be based on your reduced benefit amount.

When you reach your full retirement age, you can work and earn as much as you want and still receive your full Social Security benefit payment. If you are younger than full retirement age and if your earnings exceed certain dollar amounts, some of your benefit payments during the year will be withheld.

On the other hand, if you put off retirement benefits until after your full retirement age, your amount will increase.

In fact, your benefit amount will continue to go up until you reach age 70 or start receiving benefits, whichever comes first.

And, when thinking about Social Security, don’t forget Medicare. You should sign up for Medicare three months before reaching age 65, no matter when your full retirement age is—even if you decide to delay retirement benefits. Otherwise, your Medicare medical insurance, as well as prescription drug coverage, could be delayed, and you could be charged higher premiums.

Get Your Social Security Statement Online If you would like to get a Social Security Statement, which provides estimates of your future benefits, it is now available online at www.socialsecurity.gov.

“Our new online Social Security Statement is simple, easy-to-use and provides people with estimates they can use to plan for their retirement,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. “The online Statement also provides estimates for disability and survivors

The online Statement provides you the opportunity to save or print the document for future reference, or to have handy for discussions with family members or a financial planner.

According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, users are giving the online Statement a score of 89, making it competitive with our other top-rated, best-in-government online services, such as the Retirement Estimator and online retirement application.

To get a personalized online Statement, you must be age 18 or older and must be able to provide information about yourself that matches information already on file with Social Security. In addition, Social Security uses Experian, an external authentication service provider, for further verification. You must provide identifying information and answer security questions in order to pass this verification. Social Security will not share your Social Security number with Experian, but the identity check is an important part of this new, thorough verification process.

When your identity is verified, you can create a “My Social Security” account with a unique user name and password to access your online Statement. In addition, your online Statement includes links to information about other online Social Security services, such as applications for retirement, disability, and Medicare.

For more information about the new

Estimate Your Future Social Security Benefits The online Retirement Estimator is a convenient, secure and quick financial planning tool that lets workers calculate how much they might expect to receive in Social Security benefits when they retire. The attractive new feature of this calculator is that it eliminates the need to manually key in years of earnings information. It’s so easy to use!

To get an estimate, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. You’ll need to enter your first and last name, date of birth, Social Security number, mother’s maiden name and place of birth. If the information matches our records, then you can enter an expected retirement age and future wages. The Estimator combines this information with the information that we have on record, including your yearly earnings, to provide a quick and reliable online benefit estimate.

To protect your privacy, only the final retirement estimates are given to you online. The Retirement Estimator does not show your earnings record information on which the final benefit estimate was calculated. And it does not reveal any personal information, such as your address, earnings or other information, that could lead to identity theft.

The Estimator also will let you create “what if ” scenarios. You can, for example, change “stop work” dates or expected future earnings to create and compare different retirement options.

When you visit the website to see the new Retirement Estimator, take a few minutes to become familiar with our many other online services – including applying online for Social Security retirement and disability benefits. •••

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In addition to helping with financial planning, the online Statement also provides workers a convenient way to determine whether their earnings are accurately posted to their Social Security records. This feature is important because Social Security benefits are based on average earnings over a person’s lifetime.

If the information is incorrect, the person may not receive proper benefits.

online Statement, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement.

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benefits, making the Statement an important financial planning tool.

People should get in the habit of checking their online Statement each year, around their birthday, for example.”

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www.GetInteriorMotivated.com boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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Give Me a

Break!

Some Tax Info That Might Help You Out

By Michele Kulp

As hard as it is to believe, the time has come yet again to prepare for your business and personal tax returns. I say this knowing that you are already being bombarded with Thanksgiving and Christmas all at once! The positive take-away here is that, if you begin preparing now, you can still utilize the time left before December 31st to make changes that will affect your return.

There are several new tax law changes for 2012 that you may not be aware of. Below is a list five key changes that might affect you:

 Deduction for higher education expenses – Unless a change is made before the end

of the year, the “above-the-line” deduction for higher education expenses will not be available in 2012.  Adoption credit – For 2011, the total expenses that could be taken as a credit for all tax years in connection with a child’s adoption was limited to $13,360 and the credit for a special needs child was also limited to $13,360. For 2012, both amounts drop to $12,650. Additionally, the adoption credit will no longer be refundable  Cell phones – If you are an employee that may be contacted at all times for workrelated emergencies, your employer requires you to be available to speak with clients when away from the office and you must be available to clients outside of your time zone, your employer may pay your cell phone bill without it being considered as income to you. Otherwise, this is part of your income and you must report it and pay tax on the amount.  IRA loans – If you replace the money you take as a distribution from your IRA in sixty days or less, there are no tax consequences. You no longer are able to loan this distribution to someone else. The waiver becomes ineligible, therefore making this short-term cash source taxable.  Home mortgage interest – When unmarried individuals buy a home together, they are subject to the same interest deduction as a married couple. This is a per-residence limit and cannot be used on a per-individual basis.

An area that the IRS is going to be taking a very hard look at this year is the EITC – Earned Income Tax Credit. According to IRS tax statistics, nearly one in five eligible taxpayers fail to claim the EITC, but many of those who do claim it either compute it incorrectly or are ineligible. New regulations taking effect in 2012 require tax return preparers to complete and file form 8867 with each return claiming the EITC. This is an Earned Income Credit Checklist and if they do not file this with your return, they face a $500 penalty for each non-compliant return. You may find the form on the IRS website at irs.gov to see what information you will be required to provide to your preparer.

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Additionally, many taxpayers miss a deduction for medical expenses.

Even if you do not have dental or eye insurance, the amounts you pay for these services and the products you purchase are deductible. You are also allowed a mileage deduction for the miles driven to and from those appointments. You are able to deduct your insurance premiums only if you are paying them after tax, not pre-tax. This means that if your company takes your premiums out of your paycheck prior to taxes being taken out of it, you are unable to take this amount toward your deduction.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the medical deduction is an amount over 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). What you do to calculate this is to take your AGI (line 37 on your tax return), multiply it by 7.5%, and your medical expenses must be higher than the amount you get in order for a deduction.

This deduction is for the money you paid over that 7.5%. In 2013, it is expected that this amount will have to be over 10% of your AGI. One of the big things being missed is the relief one gets for having a foreclosed home or canceled debt.

There is a form 982 that may be able to relieve you from paying tax on the amount that was not recovered by the lending institution. (Yes, if you have a foreclosure and you owe $100,000 and the bank sells the property at sheriff ’s sale for $65,000, you must pay taxes on the remaining $35,000. I know this sounds crazy as you are already in a bad position, but it’s the tax law.) Only until 2013 is this form of relief available, so make sure to contact your lender to find out if they have issued a 1099 for that balance. If so, they may have mailed it to your prior residence and you may not even know it!

Hopefully, you’ll find a nugget of savings in these tips and highlights.

Don’t be afraid to contact a tax preparer with any questions or concerned. Good luck, and a prosperous new year! •••

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Granger and Mishawaka’s Premier Retirement Community

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Christmas is for giving. Giving gifts to loved ones. Giving thanks for the blessings we’ve received. Giving feels good. Especially at this time of year. But nothing feels better than giving hope to those who are struggling or are in real need.

Although monetary donations are always appreciated, gifts can also come in the form of donations of used clothes, furniture and household items to our thrift stores. These donations are either given directly to those in need or are sold in our stores to help support our mission of service to the poor. Thank you for your kindness.

Bring your donations to one of our conveniently located drop boxes or our stores at LaSalle Square and Greenwood Shopping Center.

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The arts

Different Seasons Call for Different Entertainments A Holiday Arts Preview

By Marcia Fulmer

We are now rapidly approaching one season — from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day — that puts the focus on family and is best when one size fits all. From its frequently frigid space in the winter calendar, the thought of this time mainly evokes pleasant memories.

Music, drama, comedy and often fantasy, help us look back at times that, true or not, seem to be happier and more easily dealt with. This holiday season is a time not only to recall celebrations past but to add new memories to those already set firmly — if not always accurately — in place.

In the Michiana area, this is a time to check out entertainment that will be available as the old year gives way to the new and, hopefully, better days of 2013.

Following is a brief look at what will be available, primarily within a 100-mile radius, between Nov. 15 and Jan. 15.

Having spotted some standouts that will be on hand after that deadline, I’ve taken the liberty of adding them as well.

Beginning Close to Home ELKHART CIVIC THEATRE will offer its longtime holiday favorite “Winterlude” Dec. 7-9 at the Bristol Opera House on SR. 120 in Bristol, to be followed by “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” Jan. 11-20. Note: the latter is NOT a musical but definitely contains a good many laughs as well as appropriately lifeless bodies. For information and reservations call 574-848-4116 between 1 and 5:30 p.m. weekdays or visit www.elkhartcivictheatre.org.

LERNER THEATRE, at the corner of South Main and Franklin Streets, is the latest gem in the crown of downtown Elkhart. It can hold a variety of performers.

Country superstar Loretta Lynn will be on stage in concert Nov. 18, with a Contemporary “Nutcracker” Nov. 24 and Patchwork Dance Company’s holiday annual, “Christopher’s Christmas” Nov. 25. Premier Arts will unveil its holiday musical revue “A Lerner Christmas” Dec 14-16 and the Elkhart Symphony Orchestra will offer a Choral Celebration Dec. 22. Information and tickets: 574293-4469 or visit www.thelerner.com

ROUND BARN THEATRE at AMISH ACRES concludes its 26th year of “Plain and Fancy”, playing in repertory with this year’s holiday production, “Miracle on 34th Street” through Dec. 31. For information about everything at Amish Acres on S.R. 6 in Nappanee, call 800-800-4942 or www.amishacres.com.

SOUTH BEND CIVIC THEATRE uses both its performing spaces for music and comedy during the holidays. In the Wilson Mainstage Auditorium, “She Loves Me”, a delightful turn-of-the-century romance, will provide song and dance Nov. 30 through Dec. 16 followed by a fast-paced farce, “Unnecessary Farce” Jan. 18 – Feb. 2.

Downstairs in the Warner Studio Theatre, “A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas” will be presented Dec. 1-15 and “Tea at Five”, with Mary Ann Moran as Katharine Hepburn in a solo tour de force Jan. 11-13. All will be in the theater at 403 N. Main St., South Bend. Tickets: 574-234-1112 or visit www.sbct.org.

MORRIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER in South Bend has booked “Mickey’s Music Festival” (that’s Mickey Mouse, of course) on Nov. 24, Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas Concert Nov. 29, with “Tap Dogs” on Nov. 30-Dec. 1, and Southold Dance Theatre’s “Nutcracker Ballet” Dec. 8-9. Coming Feb. 8-9 is the national tour of “Shrek: The Musical”. Tickets are at 800-539-6415 or www.

MorrisCenter.org.

WAGON WHEEL THEATRE has chosen “Oliver!”, an awardwinning musical version of Charles Dickens’ novel, for production Nov. 30-Dec. 16. “Reviewing the Situation” Wagon Wheel favorite Robert J. Miller will play the crafty pickpocket, Fagin, in one of my ‘don’t miss’ choices for these holidays. New Year’s Eve will find Diamond Rio in concert on the arena stage. For reservations, call 866823-2618 or visit www.wagonwheeltheatre.org.

BLUE GATE THEATRE at 175 Van Buren Street in Shipshewana puts its focus on concerts — David Pendleton, Nov. 2324; Christmas Grand Piano Extravaganza, Dec. 7-8; “The Glory and Majesty of Christmas”, Dec. 12-19 and a New Year’s Eve Extravaganza Dec. 31. For information and reservations, call 888-447-4725.

SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE turns back the centuries each year, this year for the 40th time with a new set and script, to recreate the Madrigal Dinners which celebrate the holidays with singers, dancers and a traditional Renaissance feast Nov. 30 and Dec. 1-2 in Regina Hall. The 28th Annual High School Women’s Choir Festival features performances by twenty choirs Nov. 15-16 in O’Laughlin Auditorium. Admission is free. The South Bend Chamber Singers will offer its annual “Christmas at Loretto” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto. All venues are on the campus in South Bend. For tickets and details, call 574-284-4626.

DEBARTOLO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER at the University of Notre Dame offers a varied quartet of concerts including the Vienna Boys Choir, Nov. 25; The Klezmatics, Dec. 15; the Chicago Sinfonetta, Jan. 19; and Tempo Libres, Jan. 25. The number to call is 574-631-2800. (Note: Good for every season is a concert by South Bend’s gift to the Metropolitan Opera, baritone Nathan Gunn, who will sing May 4 in the hall.)

Miller and the Morris both have “Wicked” on their 2013 rosters. It will be first at Miller (April 24-May 5) then move on down to the Morris (May 8-19). The barricades are still standing!

A bit farther south (and surrounded by construction!), the Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis has a familiar name in the cast of James Still’s new play “The House That Jack Built”. Former Elkhartan Deirdre Lovejoy will be in the midst of a family Thanksgiving celebration (?) which begins Nov. 2 and runs through Nov. 25 in the Upperstage. For times and tickets, call 317-635-3252 or visit www.irtlive.com.

A wide variety of productions are scheduled on the many Chicago stages, ranging from “Cinderella” (for youngsters of all ages) to “The Book of Mormon” (definitely not for children of any age!), for this holiday season and into spring. To check titles, theaters and dates, call (800) 7752000 or visit www.BroadwayinChicago.org. •••

MILLER AUDITORIUM on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo has booked a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert on Nov. 28 and the return of the long-running musical “Les Miserables” Jan.29 through Feb. 3. Undoubtedly, tickets for the new production of Victor Hugo’s classic tale will be going fast.

If you’re interested, the number to call is (800) 228-9858. boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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Holiday Entertaining Made Easy

(and Budget-Friendly)

By Amy Allen Clark

When it comes to entertaining, I really believe that advanced preparation is key to making entertaining easier.

For me, it is all about freezing those dishes in the weeks prior to your Thanksgiving dinner, to stocking your pantry with the essentials for last minute guests, to finding new ways to transform the holiday dinner into a brand new meal the next day to make the holidays enjoyable and not stressful.

Here are a few tips for making the most of your money and your holidays this year: Skip the Big Cooking Day. I don’t know about you, but I just don’t have a day free anymore to do a marathon of cooking. I learned years ago that in order for me to make any celebration happen in our house, I needed to acquaint myself with dishes that can be made ahead, frozen and then pulled out on the big day.

After years of trial and error, I have found that I can make almost every Thanksgiving side dish and a plethora of 42

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holiday appetizers in the weeks prior to our Thanksgiving feast and it tastes just like the day that I made it.

Keep it Simple. When people ask me what special traditions we do for our family on Thanksgiving, I sometimes feel that my answer is too simple because we don’t have any grandiose traditions other than spending the morning watching the parade in our pajamas and snuggling together on the couch as a family. By hosting the Thanksgiving feast in the evening, it gives us time to remember what the holiday is all about: being together. Being a family.

Now that my kids are both reading, I am excited to add a little Thanksgiving Bingo to our holiday tradition of watching this together in the years to come with Thanksgiving snacks they can munch on while I am preparing our dinner.

Skip the Fancy Centerpieces. If your kids are anything like mine, they are bringing home quite a few Thanksgiving crafts. We started a tradition of skipping the fancy

Friday shopping.  Medicine – For those guests that have had one too many glasses of wine the night before.  Granola bars or trail mix – Either option is a great, filling snack to pack for your traveling family and friends.

centerpieces and using the kid’s fabulous masterpieces from school as our table centerpieces.

If you want to create a family tradition that is low on cost but embraces this time of thankfulness, create your own Thankful Tree. Have the kids gather branches from the yard and spray paint them your favorite color. Have them cut out leaves from scrapbook paper and have all of your guests write what they are most thankful for and hang them with ribbon off of the tree.

Check Your Stock. You no doubt have a long grocery list for the multiple Thanksgiving dinner dishes you and your family will enjoy this holiday season. Don’t forget to stock your fridge with crowd favorites for those guests who stick around after the holidays. Make sure to pick up:

 Bread – You can always whip up some French toast

for breakfast or a quick leftover turkey sandwich for an easy lunch.  Eggs – To make frittatas in the morning with your leftover vegetables or easy breakfast burritos for guests that may be heading out to do their Black

Light & Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes makes 4 servings Ingredients: 1 ¼ C all-purpose flour 2 T sugar 2 t baking powder 1/2 t cinnamon 1/2 t ginger 1/2 t nutmeg 1/2 t salt 1 pinch clove 1 ¼ C low-fat milk 1/3 C leftover pumpkin pie (just the filling from the pie) 2 T melted butter 1 egg Directions: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, spices and salt in a bowl. In separate bowl, whisk together milk, pumpkin, melted butter and egg.

Fold mixture into dry ingredients.

Spray or grease a skillet and heat over medium heat: pour in 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook pancakes about 3 minutes per side. This recipe makes six 6-inch pancakes.

Use Those Leftovers. Although visitors can be a blessing, hosting out-of-towners can mean entertaining even after the holidays! Make Black Friday easier by planning a light breakfast using holiday leftovers for all your visiting guests so they are fueled to hit the mall or get back on the road.

Some of my favorite leftovers to use include pumpkin pie, steamed veggies, turkey and mashed potatoes.

Looking for some fun ways to spice up those leftovers?

Here are three ideas to help transform those boring leftovers into fresh new dishes! •••

Turkey & Veggie Frittata

Hash Browns

makes 8 servings

makes 8 servings

(adapted from Family Fun)

Ingredients: Your choice of vegetables – use leftover steamed or fresh Turkey – leftovers, cubed 8 eggs, beaten 4 t olive oil 1/2 C Parmesan cheese 1 t salt 1 t pepper 1 t rosemary Directions: In a 10-inch nonstick, ovenproof skillet, sauté leftover vegetables in 1 t olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes. Season with rosemary, pepper and salt to taste. Empty mixture into a medium bowl and add turkey and eggs.

Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet. Set over medium-low heat and pour the egg mixture into pan.

Cook 10 to 15 minutes, or until the eggs are set on the bottom and lightly browned. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top and broil 3 to 4 minutes, or until cheese is lightly browned.

(Courtesy of AllRecipes.com)

Ingredients: 4 cups leftover mashed potatoes 2 eggs, beaten 2 onions, finely diced 1 t salt 1/2 t ground black pepper 4 T olive oil Directions: Beat egg in a medium size mixing bowl. Mix egg and onion with mashed potatoes. Add salt and pepper.

Heat olive oil in a medium size frying pan over medium heat. Scoop the potato mixture into the frying pan in 4-inch circles, pat with a spatula to flatten the mounds to approximately 1/2 to 1-inch thick. Cook until bottom is browned. Flip the patty over and brown on the other side.

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boom

Connections

A Gift that Replenishes Volunteering Across Generations

By Cyndy Searfoss

A generation of activists, many baby boomers cut their teeth on community engagement during the Vietnam War era, participating in sit-ins, marches and demonstrations.

Their tools included protest songs and hand-painted posters with peace signs that shook up the existing social order. Older generations were taken aback by their outspokenness and determination to effect sweeping cultural changes.

Fast-forward fifty years. The passion for making a difference is still intact. But rather than marching on Washington or sticking flowers in soldiers’ guns, many have found greater personal satisfaction in working side-by-side with their children and grandchildren as volunteers for local causes.

This generation, who grew up with the words from President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” ringing in their ears, have taken to civic engagement as a given – and as something to be passed along to their children and grandchildren.

Caron Gleva is a Hospice Foundation employee who volunteers at the organization’s yearly Walk for Hospice along with her husband, children and grandchildren. “I’m passionate about the event and about the mission in general,” Gleva said. “My kids and grandkids help out with the event every year. Even the little ones enjoy the day and spending time with us. They love helping their grandpa collect registrations and run them back and forth.”

Another firm believer in family-oriented volunteering is Lisa Kelly, a South Bend mother. Her children often accompany her on volunteering duties, helping with fundraising golf outings and other events. “Ultimately, 44

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

kids remember more of what you do than what you say – volunteering together gives them a deeper understanding of your values and what’s important to you,” she said.

She noted that it’s not always easy to get kids, especially teenagers, involved in volunteering with their parents.

“You may have to drag them there, but at the end it’s, ‘I did this thing and I let my mom come along,’” she said with a laugh, “At the end of the event, when you have this experience in common and they’ve made connections with people they don’t usually encounter, everyone realizes they’ve had as much fun as if you’d all gone to the beach.”

In a down economy, volunteer time makes a tremendous impact. According to the most recent Volunteering in America report from the Corporation for National and Community Service, across the U.S. 62.8 million adults gave almost 8.1 billion volunteer hours to local and national organizations in 2010. Their time was worth nearly $173 billion.

Of these volunteers, those in the baby boom generation numbered 21.9 million in 2010 – more than one third of all adult volunteers. Religious institutions and education endeavors are account for 61% of their volunteer activities.

In our region, Indiana and Michigan rank 25th and 26th respectively in the number of residents who volunteer.

In the Michiana area, 30% of the population volunteers – higher than the national average.

Michiana is home to a number of non-profit and religious organizations, which provide many opportunities for everyone of every generation to support what is important to them. Participating in fundraising events, assisting the elderly and working in soup kitchens and

food pantries are just a few of the volunteer activities available for parents and/or grandparents who want to volunteer together with their families.

Area organizations are grateful for the assistance as well.

According to Amy Tribbett, Director of Marketing and Access for Center for Hospice Care, “Hospice volunteers play an indispensable role in enabling Center for Hospice Care to offer the best care possible for patients living with life-limiting illness, their families and caregivers. By sharing their time, energy and expertise, our volunteers bring compassion and caring to the lives of those in need.”

Some organizations help bring together volunteers of all ages to help with community projects. Jeanie Metzger, Director of Alumni Affairs for Indiana University South Bend, noted that, “The IU South Bend Alumni Association [IUAA] and the Student Alumni Association [SAA] take part in many community projects. It is a very important goal for both groups. Some of the events are annual traditions and some are new events. IU South Bend serves our community well and is always giving back to help people in need.”

Some upcoming events IUAA and SAA will help coordinate include a blood drive with the IU South Bend Student Nurses Association on the 29th and 30th of October.

In April 2013, IU alumni of all ages and IU South Bend students will take part in “Rebuilding Together”. The group will be assigned one or two local homes in need of repairs and spend the day painting, caulking and assisting with larger projects. At “Rebuilding Together”, IU alums often volunteer with their children who are current IU students or alums themselves.

One of the best local resources for volunteer opportunities is http://www.makeadifferencemichiana. org. This comprehensive website connects 350 agencies in its service area, which includes St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall, LaPorte and Kosciusko counties of Indiana and Cass and Berrien counties in Michigan. The site’s searchable database of volunteer opportunities includes information about eligible age groups, dates and whether the opportunity is a one-time occurrence or available on an ongoing basis. Potential volunteers can also search by organization and category. Categories include a variety of needs from cleaning and maintenance to serving as a docent for local museums.

Boomers may also find their professional services in demand – volunteering offers a chance to enhance resumes with service on local boards of directors. The local chapter of SCORE has volunteer positions available for working and retired professionals with at least ten years of service in their field. SCORE specializes in providing qualified counselors to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

With the holidays just around the corner, the need for volunteers of all ages is increasing. Food pantries, soup kitchens and thrift stores can use your help. Volunteering a weekend afternoon to make a difference in the Michiana area isn’t just a good thing to do. It’s a good way to pass along what matters to you and to stay connected to your kids and grandkids in a meaningful way.

As Sir Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” •••

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boom

Connections

The

Need for

Guardianship

By Tricia Gorden

When you get older, will you have someone to care for you? Many seniors in Michiana do not. As a result, some go without proper medical care, forget to pay their bills and simply cannot take care of themselves. Safety may be a concern and endangerment becomes a reality.

Different Types of Guardianships

Adult Guardianship is a legal process whereby the court will designate someone to make decisions for a person who has been determined by physician statements and court documents to be incapacitated. The adult is unable to make health care, legal, financial or personal decisions.

Family members or friends may be willing, able or suitable to fulfill this role; however, there are instances when private individuals or corporate guardians are needed. It is important to secure a guardian who will protect the quality of life of the incapacitated adult when they have no one else to care for them, providing person-centered decision making assistance.

Guardianship of the Estate allows an appointed individual to make decisions concerning the protected person’s finances and/or assets. They manage bills and file an asset inventory with the court.

When is a Guardian Appropriate?

Temporary Guardianships are designated during emergency situations when there appears to be immediate need for a decision to be made.

Guardianship is appropriate for older adults who have an incapacity from cognitive deficits such as Alzheimer’s another dementia or any other condition associated with old age. (It is also appropriate for an individual with intellectual or development disabilities once they have reached eighteen years of age or for an adult with a traumatic brain injury.)

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NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

Guardianship of the Person allows an appointed individual to make decisions in all life areas except financial matters.

This may include health needs, shelter, food, clothing or choosing a safe residence.

A Plenary Guardianship is designated when an incapacitated adult requires both a Guardian of the Person and a Guardian of the Estate.

Some adults may be appointed a Limited Guardianship because they have the capacity to make sound decisions in some areas but need supports in other areas.

Guardians often collaborate with Adult Protective services, hospitals, physicians, nursing facilities, law enforcement, the courts and aging services in the community to identify at-risk individuals who would benefit from this service.

Many times, these clients have a long history with local agencies who have tried to resolve endangerment issues, but effective help is not available without a guardian in place.

The guardian coordinates care from these agencies and provides an indirect benefit to them by allowing them to focus their resources on other community members in need.

Special care is taken to make sure that guardianship is only pursued when there is no other community option which can effectively provide protection. A guardian will make any decisions that are necessary for the well-being of their ward.

These decisions include, but are not limited to, the following:

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as a personal advocate • Acting throughout the medical process consistent payment • Ensuring of utility bills and other living expenses

with the quality of • Assisting life needs including grocery, clothing and other personal shopping needs

with • Assisting quality of life networks

maintaining and social

and assisting • Honoring end-of-life decisions

with

Very few guardianship agencies or Corporate Guardians exist in Michiana.

Currently, Logan Protective Services Board at Logan Center serves those individuals over eighteen years of age who have developmental disabilities.

REAL Services, Inc./Area 2 Agency on Aging is the non-profit entity with Guardian Partner and Adult Guardianship Services for mentally incapacitated individuals age sixty years or older who have no family or friends who are willing, able or suitable to be their guardians.

For more information about guardianships and the processes involved, contact your local Area Agency on Aging. •••

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* The numb er of rooms alloc ated for this offer is limited. S avings b ased on the non-disc ounted pri c e of the same p ac kage for 2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child. Tickets valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Advance reservations required. Excludes campsites, 3-Bedroom Villas and is not valid at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms.

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boom | NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012

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boom

Connections

Modern

Genealogy

Using Present-Day Tools to Dig Into Your Past

By Chelle Costello

A

s we race towards the future with the latest iPhone in hand, sometimes it’s important to respect and discover our past. Luckily, modern tools can help us uncover our genealogy more quickly than ever. So whether you’re a newbie or a research pro, read below for tips, tricks and services that are changing modern-day genealogy.

Starting points

You have to begin somewhere! Start out by writing down everything you already know. This includes all names from your direct line, dates and locations. Having a visual reference will help you know where you need to map next. Then, interview the oldest living person from each line that you want to research. Tape these interviews so they can be referred back to with accuracy. Don’t have a recorder? Check your cell or Smartphone – you might have one without even knowing it.

Finally, start collecting copies of documents like your parents marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates and obituaries. This will help not only you, but future genealogists in your family.

Census Research

Fortunately, the majority of genealogical research can now be done online, so it’s a good place to start the researching part of your genealogical journey. My favorite place to start is in census records.

You can guess what the most recent census that the line you are working on would be recorded in and go from there. The 1940 census (the most recent one released to the public) and the 1880 census are both free. For any other census, you can usually visit your public library to see if they have a subscription to Ancestry.com which, along with free sites like HeritageQuest.com, have all of the censuses that are still in readable condition (in other words, not burnt up in a courthouse fire) back to 1790. By reading the census, you can find out all kinds of valuable information about your ancestors. For example, you can find out who lived in their household with them, and their ages, what language they spoke or even what they did for a living.

Every census tells a different story with some of them more detailed 48

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

than others. However, just note that many researchers get stuck before 1850 because the census only tell the Head of Household's name (usually a male).

Let Science Help

One of the most genealogical breakthroughs in the past seven years has been yDNA testing- or paternal Y chromosome testing. The Y chromosome is helpful because it’s passed down almost unchanged from father to son (which usually follows a particular surname). This is especially helpful when you hit a brick wall in your research with a non-paternal event like illegitimacy or adoption, or when you have a common surname like Smith, Jones or Williams. For example, in my family, we descended from an illegitimate child, so we ended up getting different surname matches. Since we knew there was an illegitimacy in 1847, we knew where the surname should have changed.

Because this follows the Y chromosome, a family must have a male tested. This is done by having the male send a swab of the inside of his cheek to the DNA testing site via the mail. (There are DNA test for the females as well, but these are harder to trace since the surnames change every generation.) For more information on yDNA testing, check out FamilyTreeDNA.com. These tests also go on sale, so watch for good deals at a variety of service sites.

Other Helpful Sites

Try visiting FindAGrave.com for more help with your research. FindAGrave is a service, the mission of which is to take as many photos of graves across the country as possible. Simply type your ancestor’s name into the search engine to find their tombstone, or request to have a photo taken by a local volunteer photographer.

Be aware that this can take some time. There are also many online forums where you can ask questions about your specific ancestor to see if other genealogists have more information on them. Try sites like genforum.com and rootsweb.com to interact with others. You may find that you share common ancestors with others through marriage or blood. You never know what you’ll discover, or what information you might have for others.

Now that you have some tools to aid in your search, it’s time to discover that long-lost connection history.

Who knows? Maybe your great-great grandfather was Abraham Lincoln’s driver. With modern-day services, it’s easier than ever to find out! •••

The

Planner November • December 2012

November • December 2012 Events The following listing includes events around town. Always call ahead for updates.

November 15

Glitz & Sass – The Fashion Show of the Year!

Hilton Garden Inn & Gillespie Conference Center, South Bend

Bring your best gal pals and get your sass on for the holidays! Red carpet arrival, festive cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, light and fabulous entertainment, then a fashion show featuring local boutiques and fashionforward businesses. Exclusive and limited seating! Each attendee will receive their ultimate Sassy bag filled with extra-special delights. Drawing for fabulous prizes, and more! Brought to you by Sassy Magazine. $50, limited to 400 guests. 6 PM to 10 PM. To reserve seats or for more information, call our offices at 574.387.5420.

Third Thursdays at the Snite

Snite Museum of Art, Notre Dame, South Bend

Princess Marie Gets a Facelift! South Bend Conservator Monica Radecki explains the treatment that several of the paintings received in preparation for the exhibition Breaking the Mold: The Legacy of the Noah L. and Muriel S. Butkin Collection of NineteenthCentury French Art. Refreshments will be served. After 4PM, free parking is available in the B1 lot south of the stadium. Free. 5 PM to 7:30 PM. For more information, call Phone 574.631.4724 or visit sniteartmuseum.nd.edu.

November 20

Living Well With Heart Failure

Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, MI

Learn to take control of heart failure so you and your loved ones can live life to the fullest every day! Join Lakeland HealthCare for a free community education class on Congestive Heart Failure, which is a condition caused by the heart’s inability to meet the blood flow needs of your body. You’ll learn to identify common causes and symptoms of heart failure and new daily routines that can dramatically improve your quality of life. Preregistration is required. Free. 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Call 866.260.7544 for more information or to register.

Cooperative Antique Study Group Downtown Mishawaka

Mishawaka-Penn-Harris

Library,

The Cooperative Antique Study Group will 52

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2012 | boom

meet in the Spencer Gallery. You may bring one or two antiques to discuss with the group.

Open to all antique-lovers. Registration is not required. Free. 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. For more information, contact Reference Services or call 574.259.5277 EXT 218.

to $63. 3 PM to 4:30 PM. For more information or tickets, visit www.morriscenter.org.

November 21

The traveling concert choirs whose history dates back more than 500 years once again graces the Leighton Concert Hall stage.

Featuring sopranos and altos in a special program for the start of the holiday season, the Vienna Boys’ Choir has truly become an institution for all ages for all time! 4 PM. For more information or for tickets, visit performingarts.nd.edu.

Lose Weight, Find Health

Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center, Niles, MI

Free seminar to learn about solutions to permanent weight loss. Dr. Michael Schuhknecht and staff members will discuss programs available for losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight for years to come. The Lakeland Comprehensive Weight Loss Center specializes in working with each person to create a customized lifestyle plan including medical weight loss management through diet or bariatric surgery, nutrition counseling, individualized exercise programs and monthly support groups. Free. 6 PM to 8:30 PM. For more information, call 269.687.4673 or visit www.lakelandhealth.org/weightloss.

November 23

Let’s Talk… Cooking!

Harris Branch of Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Library, South Bend

Find out what’s cooking from Martha Eck, owner of the Book Nook Café. This is a special cooking demonstration on yummy holiday treats. Registration required no later than Friday, November 23. Nonrefundable $5 fee for supplies. 10 AM. For more information, contact Lynell Wolff at 574.271.3179.

November 24

Disney Live Presents “Mickey’s Music Festival” Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend

Disney hits are remixed to the hottest sounds of today featuring hip hop, pop, swing, reggae, rock, country and much more! Performers include Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Ariel, Sebastian, Ursula, Jasmine, Aladdin, Genie, Woody, Buzz and Jessie among the more than 25 Disney stars featured in this jam session fit for the entire family! You can’t resist dancing, singing, playing your air-guitar and laughing with this band of characters! Ticket prices from $17

November 25 Vienna Boys’ Choir

DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Notre Dame

November 29

Mannheim Steamroller

Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend

Favorite Christmas music along with stateof-the-art multimedia effects in an intimate setting. The tour, now in its 27th year, is still met by sold-out audiences and was one of the top twenty concert tours in the nation last year. Mannheim Steamroller went on to become the biggest selling Christmas music artist in history. The group’s Christmas tour has become an annual holiday tradition right along with decorating the tree, exchanging presents and creating unforgettable moments with friends and family. Tickets range between $36 and $70. 8 PM to 10 PM. For tickets or more information, visit www.morriscenter.org.

November 29 – December 2

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play IUSB Upstage/Recital Hall, South Bend

Enter a 1960s soundstage through this presentation of the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Attendees participate as part of the live studio audience in this show. 8 PM or 2 PM, depending on date. For tickets or information, call 574.520.4203.

November 30 Tap Dogs

Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend

TAP DOGS are currently taking the world by storm with their unprecedented tap show that combines the strength and power of workmen with the precision and talent of tap dancing.

7:30 PM. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.morriscenter.org.

November 30 – December 16 She Loves Me

South Bend Civic Theatre, South Bend

A Christmas setting with old world charm, this holiday offering is an elegant treat. Perfume shop co-workers Georg and Amalia dislike each other at first sight. Arguing and feuding, each only takes comfort in growing affections with their respective anonymous pen pals – unaware they are corresponding with each other! Lovely music by the team who created Fiddler on the Roof makes this a delightful gem of true romance and holiday cheer.

Tickets range between $18 and $21. Times vary depending on date. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sbct.org.

December 2

Doug Kinsey: The Displaced

South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend

Artist Doug Kinsey returns to the South Bend Museum of Art with this solo exhibition of recent work. Kinsey taught at Notre Dame for 31 years and has exhibited throughout the United States and abroad. “This exhibition of oil paintings and monotypes relates to the idea of the refugee. Being displaced is a metaphor of the human condition. Most of the work is recent. It reflects many cultures and is motivated by my desire to find an image that can resonate both for me and for others.” 12 PM to 5 PM. For more information, call 574.235.9102.

December 3

Half Stitched: A New Musical Blue Gate Theater, Shipshewana

Based on Wanda Brunstetter's book, "The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club." Amish widow Emma Yoder's first quilt class brings the most unlikely people together: a young woman yearning for stability, a struggling couple at odds in their marriage, a young widower hoping to find solace in finishing a quilt, a rough and tough biker doing some creative community service and a preacher's wife looking for relaxation when parish problems mount. 7:30 PM. For more information, call 888.447.4725.

December 4 Zumba

Battell Community Center, Mishawaka

This zumba class is FREE to all children and $1.00 for adults. Join the Zumba party and get fit for life! 6 PM to 6:45 PM. For more information, call 574.258.1667.

December 5

Home Instead Senior Care, Mishawaka

Are you caring for an aging parent or relative with Alzheimer’s? Are you familiar with the behaviors, such as wandering and aggression, that can be caused by the disease? These FREE workshops will help you: • Learn about the causes of Alzheimer’s or other dementias, • Understand more about the behaviors that can be caused by the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, • Discover techniques to help handle these behaviors • Learn techniques to encourage your loved one to share their stories and memories.

Free. 5:30 to 7:30 PM. For more information, call 574.256.1479.

December 14 – December 16 A Lerner Christmas by Premier Arts Lerner Theatre, Elkhart

Experience the Christmas season with all the charm and enthusiasm of days gone by! Take a break from the hectic pace of the season.

Come, relax with us and recharge those Christmas season batteries! Ticket prices between $12 and $18. 7:30 PM or 3 PM depending on date. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.premierarts.org.

December 15

Lee Greenwood Tennessee Christmas

Mendel Center, Lake Michigan College, Benton Harbor, MI

December 18

Old World Appalachian String Music Fiddler’s Hearth, South Bend

Old world Appalachian string music led by Josh Stump. 7 PM. For more information, call 574.232.2853.

December 19

The Metropolitan Opera: La Clemenza Di Tito Encore Cinemark Movies 14, Mishawaka

Elina Garanca as Sesto, Giuseppe Filianoti as Tito and Barbara Frittoli as Vitellia star in Mozart's opera set in ancient Rome.

Harry Bicket conducts. 6:30 PM. For more information, call 574.254.9685.

December 20

Hillside Gospel Bluegrass Jamboree Hillside Missionary Church, South Bend

The third Thursday of every month at Hillside Missionary Church there is a gospel bluegrass jam. Free admission, coffee and cookies. Bring your neighbors, friends, relatives, everyone, all ages are welcome 6:30 PM to 9 PM. For more information, call 574.291.2864.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas with singer/songwriter Lee Greenwood. He will deliver a selection of seasonal songs such as “White Christmas,” “Little Drummer Boy” and “Joy to the World.” This Grammy®award winning artist has been honored as Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. He won CMA Song of the Year for ‘I.O.U.,” and his song “God Bless the USA” has been voted the most recognizable patriotic song in America. Tickets range from $38 to $48. 8 PM. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 269.927.1221.

December 23

December 16

The Flipside Band has Been Together for Many Years Performing at area Festivals and Clubs. The Flipside Band Brings With Them Many Years Of Country Music Favorites + Hot New Country, Songs From Derks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, Billy Currington, Brooks & Dunn, Josh Turner and more. 9 PM to 1 AM. For more information, call 574.234.5073.

Community Holiday Hymn Sing

Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Catholic Church, Lakeville

Come and join the parishioners of Sacred Heart and St. Jude as we celebrate the season in song. If you like to sing, come on out! The choir and also some soloists will present several pieces on their own.

However, the purpose of this is to bring people in the community together to share in the joy of the season. 1 PM to 2 PM. For more information, call 574.291.2826.

Christmas Belles

Twin City Players Playhouse, St. Joseph, MI

It's Christmas-time in the small town of Fayro, Texas and the Futrelle Sisters are not exactly in a festive mood. As they try desperately to keep the Christmas Program from spiraling into chaos, the feuding sisters find a way to pull it together to present a show the citizens of Fayro will never forget. 4 PM.

December 29 The Flipside Band

American Legion Post #357, South Bend

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BOOM Magazine promotes Michiana’s cultural offerings, personalities, attractions and local businesses, with a special emphasis on non-profit organizations’ events and activities. We expect this section of BOOM to grow significantly, and we’d like your help to get it rolling!

Please send us some of your favorite photos from your organization’s or charity’s best events and fundraisers.

They just may make the next issue of BOOM Magazine! We prefer snapshots of people that are full of life and enjoying the moment, so please send them our way: stephanie@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com.

Furry Friends Fashion Fair The Humane Society of Elkhart County hosted their 9th annual “Furry Friends Fashion Fair,” where pets shared the spotlight on the catwalk, on November 1 at the Matterhorn Conference Center with more than 300 guests in attendance.

Humane Society of Elkhart County Executive Director Anne Reel and her dog, Jackie.

The unique fashion event showcased local residents in Stephenson’s latest winter looks alongside their furry best friends on the runway. As tradition continues, the honorary emcees included Traci Capellman of Fox 28 News and Danny Reynolds of Stephenson’s. This fashionable dynamic duo are major pet lovers and supporters of the Humane Society of Elkhart County.

Kathy Sears with Baxter at Furry Friends Fashion Fair 2012

Left to Right: Lana Davis, Bobbie Meyers, Kathy Sears, Traci Capellman, Janice Grodnick, Jenny Sharpe, Nancy Stine, Jennifer Ball, Julie Manfredi, Josephine Cohen, Christina Pairitz, Lisa Gilky-Schoetzow, and Bobbi Wilson.

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VibNation Band performs at Hubbard Hill Retirement Community’s Fall Celebration

Hubbard Hill’s 35th Anniversary Fall Celebration 35th Anniversary Fall Celebration Bonfire

In celebration of 35 years of service to the Michiana community, Hubbard Hill opened their estates to showcase the new Angel Garden Senior Park so residents and families could see the progress being made. The park “is funded by donations and will be a wheelchair accessible place of solace for all who have experienced loss to find peace in nature. It is a special place to honor loved ones, have quiet time for reflection, have celebrations or just feed the ducks,” says Dena Benham, Director of Marketing . “Our residents enjoyed live music, desserts with a fall flair, hot cider, warmth from the bonfire and watched fireworks light up the sky as a finale to the wonderful event.”

Patrick Pingel, Executive Director at Hubbard Hill Retirement Community shakes hands with Floran Mast, Original Administrator of Hubbard Hill 35 years ago.

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Bob O’Daniel Bob O’Daniel

When fitness enthusiast Bob O’Daniel began experiencing symptoms that he could not explain, he sought the expertise of Raman Mitra, M.D., Ph.D., at Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute.

Diagnosed with an abnormal heart rhythm known as sick sinus syndrome, Bob became Indiana’s first recipient of the MRI-compatible pacemaker to help regulate his heart rate. Thanks to the expertise of the physicians here at Memorial, Bob has since returned to riding his bike and hasn’t missed a beat.

A cardiac program of firsts: • Memorial is the first hospital in Indiana to implant the MRI-compatible pacemaker • Memorial is the first hospital in Indiana to use cryoablation to treat heart rhythm disorders • Memorial is the first hospital in the region to acquire the Discovery NM 530 nuclear imaging system for capturing highly detailed pictures of the heart If you want to learn more about how Memorial is leading the region in heart care, call 574-647-8120 or visit

memorialmedicalgroup.org/cardio

M. Shakil Aslam M.D., MHP, FACC

Breno Pessanha M.D., FACC, FASE

Andrew Fiedler M.D., M.Div., FACC

Raman Mitra M.D., Ph.D., FACC

Sean Halleran M.D., FACC

Daniel Meng M.D., Ph.D., FACC

610 N. Michigan St. Suite 400 • South Bend, IN 46601 574-647-8120