Prime Time August 2013

PRIME TIME August 2013

Sandy Carmichael:

Driving Force of Hospice Art of Gretchen Sigmund

Retirement Decisions

In Tune With Cottonpatch

Editor’s note

There are certain events that occur during our lives that we remember forever.

I couldn’t possibly tell you what gifts I received at my 10th birthday party, but I remember clearly where I was when I heard my first Beatles song on the radio around that same time.

I was sitting in the back seat of my parents’ 1960 Rambler American. We were on 38th Street in Indianapolis, passing Crown Hill Cemetery when “I Want to Hold Your Hand” came on the radio. That was the beginning of a lifelong love affair.

I was a fifth-grader at the time, and the Beatles were just one of the “forever” moments that year.

One afternoon in November 1963, my teacher, Miss Heaton, was called out of the classroom. When she returned, with tears in her eyes, she told my classmates and me that President John F. Kennedy had been shot and was dead.

I was 10 years old. At the time, President Kennedy was my hero, and I was devastated.

School was adjourned for the rest of the day, and we all were sent home. For the next several days, I sat glued to the television, watching history in the making. Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, Texas Book Depository, Parkland Hospital … all names I’d never heard of before that day … names that would be permanently burned into my memory.

But for most baby boomers, Nov. 22, 1963, was indeed a “forever” day. Most of us remember where we were when we heard the news, just like some of us, or our parents, remember the moment when they learned the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.

Our final issue of Prime Time for 2013 will publish on Nov. 6, just 16 days before the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. We’d like for you, the readers, to share your memories of the events of November 1963.

Tell us where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news, how you felt and any special memories of the assassination and its aftermath. If you have any photos or other memorabilia from the time that you’d be willing to share with readers, that would be great, too.

You can email your comments/photos to me at dshowalter@therepublic.com, or send them to me via regular mail at Doug Showalter, c/o The Republic, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201.

Thanks, and I hope to hear from you.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 1

contents 4 6 11 14 20 26 32 34 40 42 48

This & That Sandy Carmichael Overcoming loneliness Gretchen Sigmund

06

Cottonpatch Shuck’s border collies Preparing for retirement

14

Marilyn and Jerry Kerns Drawn to casinos Calendar of events Sharon Mangas column

2 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

20

26

34 Comments should be sent to Doug Showalter, The Republic, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 or call 812-379-5625 or dshowalter@therepublic.com. Advertising information: Call 812-379-5652. ©2013 by Home News Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited. Stock images provided by © Thinkstock.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 3

This & That Some things need to go AARP, which knows old, is offering suggestions on the five old things you need to throw away.

— Piled-up plastic containers. Years-old plastics can leak harmful chemicals into food. Recycle them and buy a new set.

— Expired canned food. It doesn’t last forever. Vegetables and fruit expire in slightly more than 18 months.

— Moldy makeup. After a year, makeup should be replaced because of bacteria buildup that could cause infections.

— Old dried spices. After five years, most spices lose flavor, so dumping more on won’t help. It won’t make you sick, but for more flavorful food, get some new spices.

— Pathetic pillows. Pillows older than 18 months contain fungi, dead skin and dust mites that can aggravate allergies, asthma and sinusitis. Try this: Fold your pillow in half and squeeze out the air. If it doesn’t spring back, it’s too old.

— MCT

Born to run?

The inaugural Mill Race Marathon will be Sept. 28. You can register online at millracemarathon.com. You’ll need to share your name, email, address, phone number, age, gender, 10-character name for your race bib, credit card information for fee payment and shirt size if purchasing one for $12.

Online registration closes on Sept.

20, and any entries sent via regular mail must be postmarked by that date.

Participants may register in person from Sept. 26 through race day, Sept. 28.

Here’s cost information.

4 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Marathon: $60 through Aug. 15; $70 between Aug. 16 and Sept. 20; and $80 Sept. 26 through race day.

Half-marathon cost: $45 through Aug. 15; $50 between Aug. 16 and Sept.

20; and $60 Sept. 26 through race day.

5K cost: $15 through Aug. 15; $18 between Aug. 16 and Sept. 20; and $25 on Sept. 26 through race day.

Just want to help?

If you don’t want to run in any of the races, but would like to be a volunteer, go to millracemarathon.com and click on “volunteers” for more information.

Books for boomers

Rocking retirement Bob Dylan is 71. But with a recent album and new tour dates, you’d never know he was of retirement age. At 67, Neil Young is touring with Crazy Horse. Paul McCartney, now 70, continues to perform three-hour concerts.

Willie Nelson is 80 and seems to be on nonstop tour. Aretha Franklin, Carlos Santana, Carly Simon, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and B.B. King are all still performing their music.

While some of these well-known musicians may not be eligible to receive Social Security benefits, they all are of retirement age — or well beyond. So where are their rocking chairs and knitting needles?

In fact, many people decide to put off applying for retirement benefits. And even after they do begin collecting benefits, many “retirees” prefer to keep working — or at least moving and shaking.

You can begin collecting early Social Security benefits at age 62, with a reduction in the monthly amount. The full retirement age is gradually going up from 66 for people born between 1943 and 1954, to 67 for people born in 1960 and later. You can delay retirement even further and receive a higher payment when you retire, up until you reach age 70. And another thing that has changed since the past generation: You can continue to work and still receive retirement benefits.

Learn more about Social Security retirement benefits by reading our publication on the subject at www.socialsecurity. gov/pubs. Or check out our Retirement Planner at www.socialsecurity.gov/retirement.

— Social Security Administration

“From Granny Panties to Thongs: The Mourning After”

By Penny Burke and Joan Pearlstein Dunn Most women live longer than their husbands.

And because so many people are living longer, there can be a lot of years for a woman to be alone — either to satisfy the expectations of others or because she can’t overcome her embarrassment at the inevitable toll of aging. Or that sense that she is betraying the man who once was the love of her life. The authors have collected the stories of widows who found the courage to start over, facing down self-conscious embarrassment and the disapproval of family and friends, because being alone is very lonely. The widows are anonymous in this book, but their stories are pretty courageous. Panicked calls to daughters for a trip to Victoria’s Secret. Lousy first dates. The surreal request that he get tested for STDs. That first night of intimacy and the anguished wait for him to call again. The anger of the husband’s family when they realize she has moved on. The wounded children who think she has forgotten the father they loved.

— MCT “Start Your Own Home Business After 50”

By Robert W. Bly Want to take charge of your career and build a secure future? Bly, an Internet marketer, copywriter and author of more than 75 books, says his book will show you how to take control of your retirement income by building a profitable business you can operate from the comfort of your own home. If you’re over 50, you have skills, education and experience that younger people can’t match.

Learn how to use your advantages to achieve the income you’ve always wanted, be your own boss and thrive under any economic conditions. Bly explores eight home business opportunities ideal for older entrepreneurs, as well as showing you how to choose the right opportunity for you.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 5

Cover Story

O H

ur Hospice — er Vision

Sandy Carmichael has served countless patients and their families as the only leader the organization has ever known

A

By Sharon Mangas n photos by Greg Jones

As Sandy Carmichael prepares for her retirement in December as president of Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, she still marvels at how young she was — just 31 — when she took charge. “I grew up with hospice,” says Carmichael, 64.

It’s more like hospice was her baby. She nurtured the organization in its infancy in the early 1980s, shepherded it as it grew by leaps and bounds, saw her dreams for an in-patient facility come to fruition in 2004, and throughout her 33 years at the helm, has made sure that terminally ill patients and their families receive the highest quality of care.

Shirley Marsh, who retired as chief operating officer at (then) Bartholomew County Hospital in 1989, was director of nursing when Carmichael started her career as a nurse. She remembers her drive to get a hospice program started.

“Her energy wasn’t easy to harness,” chuckles Marsh, remembering her time as Carmichael’s boss. “She was young and enthusiastic. She had strong ideas, but she could back them up. She did her homework. She had a depth of knowledge unusual in someone so young. She was the right person to get the hospice program up and running. It was like she was destined to do it. She’s done an outstanding job.”

“I hope to introduce the new director at this year’s hospice

6 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Sitting in her office with part of her collection of hospice concert T-shirts, Sandy Carmichael displays one that features her favorite performer, Davy Jones of the Monkees.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 7

[Cover Story]

concert,” says Carmichael. The Labor Day weekend concert is a hospice tradition. This year it will be held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 31 in Mill Race Park.

The headliner is ’60s band Tommy James and The Shondells, of “Crimson and Clover” fame.

The first hospice concert was held on the library plaza in 1987, featuring the big band sound of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. “One of our original hospice board members, Anne Courtney, headed up Popfest for several years and suggested Glenn Miller,” says Carmichael. “But when it came time to plan for the second concert, we didn’t know what other big band group we could get, so we switched to ’60s music, and it really took off from there.

People love that music.”

Carmichael marvels at the concert’s longevity.

“We didn’t know if anyone would even come to the first one. I can’t believe, 27 years later, it’s still going strong … so many events end up going by the wayside after a few years. We had to move the concert to Mill Race Park in 1993 because we’d outgrown the library plaza,” she recalls.

“I think one reason it’s been a success is that it’s free, and people can bring the whole family along.

No one has to get baby sitters. No one yells at the little ones to sit down, and anyone who wants to 8 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Above: Carmichael holds Chinese stress balls, souvenirs from her 1992 trip to China, where she visited hospice patients in their homes.

Opposite page: A collection of concert posters hangs in the hospice offices on 17th Street.

“I’ve always believed the patients’ families have to guide us. I’ve told every staff member I’ve ever oriented for hospice that ‘your best teachers are going to be the patient and the family. Listen to them. Let them tell you what works or doesn’t work. Grow from your experiences.’”

— Sandy Carmichael

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 9

[Cover Story] can dance in the grass. I brought my kids when they were little, and now my grandkids are attending.”

Reflecting on her accomplishments and the things she’ll miss the most, Carmichael always refers back to the families hospice has served. “I’ve always believed the patients’ families have to guide us.

I’ve told every staff member I’ve ever oriented for hospice that ‘your best teachers are going to be the patient and the family. Listen to them. Let them tell you what works or doesn’t work. Grow from your experiences.’”

Eloise Golden, a registered nurse and retired intake coordinator for hospice, worked for Carmichael for 24 years and still fills in from time to time. She remembers the emphasis on family.

“Sandy taught us that the patient and family’s needs always come first … and from the very beginning, Sandy saw the need for an inpatient facility. It was wonderful to watch that dream come true. It’s been an honor to work for her. She always has her door open to discuss concerns and problems, and find solutions. She deserves the respect of her coworkers and our community.”

“I’ll miss the people I work with, though a lot of them have retired now,” says Carmichael. “I know they think they drive me crazy, but they don’t. I’ve worked with so many wonderful people. I’ll miss the involvement with the community, too. It’s been a growth experience for me to meet so many different patients and families. Making a difference in people’s lives is what’s kept me going.”

As she prepares to leave hospice families behind, she looks forward to spending retirement focused on her own family. She has two adult children — Brandon Anderson of San Diego and Stacey Horn of Columbus — and six grandchildren.

“It will be hard to shift gears, but I want to spend more time being a good wife, a good mother, a good grandmother … and a good friend.” Husband John Carmichael, 65, who also plans to retire in December, hopes she’ll take up golf again. “I gave up golf 30 years ago,” laughs Carmichael. “I’m not sure taking it up again is real promising, but I told John I’d give it a try!”

Traveling is on the agenda, too. “One of the first things I want to do is take my whole family — kids and grandkids — to Disney World. I got to travel for hospice meetings, but it was always ‘go to the airport, get to the conference center and fly home.’

You don’t get to see much on business trips. John 10 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Carmichael holds a picture of herself and first lady Barbara Bush, taken at the White House in 1991 as part of recognition for hospice agencies around the country.

“It will be hard to shift gears, but I want to spend more time being a good wife, a good mother, a good grandmother … and a good friend.”

— Sandy Carmichael

and I want to drive the coast of California and take a couple of weeks to tour New England. And Italy is on my bucket list.”

As retirement draws closer, she has some final reflections on her life’s work. “You make your own destiny. I don’t regret for one moment the 30-plus years I’ve been doing this. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. Something just clicked with me. My best reward is the knowledge that Our Hospice is going to go on. Hospice programs are part of mainstream medicine now.” PT

health

Leaving lonelinessbehind Seniors encouraged to make the effort to find companionship

L

By Jenni L. Muncie-Sujan

oneliness can be lethal for seniors. A 2012 study of 1,600 seniors, conducted by doctors at the University of California, San Francisco, found that people who reported being lonely were more likely to suffer a decline in health or die over a six-year period than those who were content with their social lives.

And loneliness didn’t necessarily mean being alone — almost two-thirds of seniors who reported feeling lonely were married or living with a partner.

Researchers defined loneliness as feeling left out or isolated or lacking companionship.

“Loneliness can lead to depression. It doesn’t have to, but it can,” says Laura Berry, a mental health counselor at Centerstone. She notes that loneliness can begin after any kind of crisis event. “A lot of people will eventually make the changes necessary to feel better because they get tired of feeling that way. Then are there those individuals who will not.”

Those who do not make efforts to heal from the crisis will continue to isolate. At this point, Berry says, the loneliness can become depression. “Without that social contact, it can lead to disease, illness.”

Among the health effects, loneliness lowers the immune system, can lead to antisocial behavior, results in poor decision making, increases potential use of alcohol or other drugs, increases health risks such as heart attack and stroke, and can lead to other conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Sandra Richards, 72, and Barbra Heavner, 87, know firsthand about the determination people must have to ward away loneliness. They live in the same apartment building, brought to their common home after the loss of family members.

“I’ve never lived by myself, all my years,” says Richards. “When my husband passed away, that was the first time for me to do it.”

Heavner has a similar story. “After I lost my husPRIME TIME • August 2013 • 11

[health] band, when things settled down, I said, ‘I’ve got to get out of here.’” She and her adult son, who has Down syndrome, took a trip to see family on the West Coast.

“When I got back, I said, ‘We’re not going to sit here.’

And the senior center was there.

“I’m sure the people in the apartment say, ‘Those little old ladies never stay home,’” says Heavner, who has now been a member of Mill Race Center for eight years. She first started attending activities after registering for a line dance class.

One reason Heavner knew she needed to get out and socialize was because she wanted to get away from sitting alone with her computer.

“It got to the point that I was feeling sorry for myself,” Richards recalls. “I know he’s better off now,” she says of her late husband, “but he wouldn’t want me to sit there.” She was invited by Heavner to attend a writing group at Mill Race Center.

Heavner knows that transitioning to a new circle of acquaintances is not easy. “The hardest step is to admit that you need other people around.”

Richards found companionship valuable in many ways. When a kitchen appliance exploded near her, she suffered multiple medical problems from smoke and carbon monoxide inhalation. “I went through a year of a hard time. The people here [at Mill Race Center] and Barb helped me get through it.”

Bob Pitman has been executive director of Mill Race Center for 28 years. His organization offers services and activities for people in the Columbus

12 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

community who are 50 and older. He believes in the positive results of socialization. “It’s hard for a lonely senior to make a decision to go [to Mill Race Center].

It’s a friend, family member or church member who realizes there is an issue and says, ‘Come on. Let’s go do this.’”

Marilyn Clerc is executive director of Just Friends Adult Day Services, which is housed in the Mill Race Center building. She says people may be struggling with loneliness if they: • Do not like to go out anymore, even when invited.

• Have stopped being with friends.

• Are isolating themselves, when in the past they have been more sociable.

• Are experiencing unexplained weight loss.

• Have exhausted caregivers, which wears on the relationship.

For people who are coming into Just Friends, a twohour assessment interview helps to understand what the people liked when they were active.

“Friendship is a fundamental weapon against loneliness,” Pitman says. “Friends buffer against issues you face when you get older.” He explains that when people are older and are often surrounded by loss, they can fall into a “bunker mentality,” figuratively ducking down because they are afraid of what will happen next.

Loss is just one reason people become lonely. Berry notes that social media offer a false substitute for healthy relationships. “It looks like other people are

Feeling blue? Try these having great lives. People don’t connect like they used to. ... It’s almost like wearing a mask, so to speak. You can put anything out there, and it may or may not be real.

“We really are social animals, and we really do need each other,” Berry says. “When people isolate, they need people to reach out to them. Honestly, their quality of life will improve. If you isolate, you tend to be less positive and feel that no one cares about you.”

Heavner and Richards both know how easy it is to fall into the trap of isolation and loneliness. “You come across people,” says Richards. “You’re not the only one. That’s the purpose of coming here. You don’t have to be lonely.”

Berry names some ways to support a family member or friend who may be experiencing loneliness. “What you can do with someone you think is lonely is keep in touch. Listen. Invite them out, but don’t push them.

Go with them to a class or a group, so that they might meet others. Buy them a bus pass.”

She emphasizes another suggestion: “If you make plans, don’t cancel them unless it’s absolutely necessary, because what is the message?”

For the person who is stuck in the rut of loneliness, Berry insists, “Don’t keep a set routine if it keeps you isolated. If it keeps you from socializing, you need to change it.”

“There’s no sense in being lonely when you can make some good friends,” Richards says.

Heavner agrees. “Loneliness will kill you.” PT

Laura Berry, mental health counselor at Centerstone, offers these suggestions for someone dealing with loneliness: • Realize something needs to change.

• Understand your loneliness and how it impacts all aspects of life and health.

• Spend time creating healthy relationships, one at a time.

• Expect to have good experiences and be open to possibilities.

• Let go of the past.

• Discover a life purpose.

• Volunteer.

• Get a pet.

• Join a group/club of like-minded individuals.

• Return to former enjoyable activities and hobbies.

• Take time often to laugh.

• Get a health checkup.

• Exercise, with physician’s approval.

• Join a support group.

• Find opportunities to be part of a crowd.

• Go to church or engage in spiritually meaningful activities with others.

• Take time to work on yourself.

• Attend counseling.

• Take the initiative to create contact with others.

• Practice gratitude — concentrate on being thankful for what you have and visualize what you want in the future.

• Make the most of opportunities for social interaction.

• Practice talking to people — get the conversation started.

• Eat right, practice healthy hygiene and get enough rest.

• Learn something new in a group setting.

• Get organized.

• Organize an event.

• Rediscover who you are.

• Write in a journal.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 13

profile

Quick change artist In her work Gretchen Sigmund takes the everyday and makes it extraordinary

G

By Karen E. Farley n photos by Andrew Laker

Gretchen Sigmund is an inspiration to many. Her boundless energy and creative spirit have made her an icon in Columbus.

Her love of making art out of ordinary items has put her work in great demand, and she doesn’t plan to stop creating any time soon.

Sigmund, 77, has been a mixed media artist for more than 50 years. Growing up in rural Columbus, she was surrounded by nature and was always creating things from everyday objects. She credits both parents with her love of art and ability to capture the imagination.

“I have always loved art,” she says. “Whenever it rained, my mom would say, ‘This is a scrapbook day.’ We would take catalogs and magazines and cut up pictures. I’m sure most of my work probably stems from those scrapbooking days.”

Sigmund’s collages and murals reflect her inspiration from everyday things, and she has a flair for making art interactive and fun. Her creative use of photography, which she learned from her father, is central to many of her pieces.

The late Dr. William B. Sigmund was a neurologist who loved photography, blacksmithing and woodworking. Several years ago, Sigmund found some old slides from her father.

She created her own interpretation of his slides and displayed

14 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 15

[profile] their work side-by-side at Pictura Gallery in Bloomington.

She has exhibited her artwork all over the country. From Chase Manhattan in New York, to Arvin Industries in Columbus, her pieces have been seen in conference rooms and lobbies. Her work also is held in both private and major corporate collections around the world.

Sigmund received her bachelor’s degree from Franklin College in art education and her master’s degree from Indiana University.

After college, she taught elementary art in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. and retired after 13 years. Her passion to share art with others has encouraged many young artists to pursue their dreams.

Sculptor and retired art teacher Bob Pulley taught at Southside Elementary School with Sigmund and remains a good friend.

“Shortly after we came here in the late ’70s, there was an Art League show in the old Commons Gallery,” Pulley says. “I had a couple pieces in it and saw a collage by Gretchen Sigmund. I recalled having seen her work in Evansville at an art exhibition.

I liked her work and remembered the name because it seemed like a good art name. I said to someone, ‘Wow, Gretchen Sigmund lives here?’ They said, ‘Yes, and she wants to meet you.’ We’ve been a mutual admiration society since then.

“Gretchen’s fearless inventiveness, spontaneity, enthusiasm and good humor, in her art and in her life, are always an inspiration,” he says.

Sigmund is an inspiration to many people.

Some of her recent works were inspired by her flock of mild-mannered chickens. She has been raising chickens on her Sunrise Egg Farm for 12 years. She selects the chickens based on their personality, plumage and color of their eggs. She also makes sure the radio in their coop is always tuned to rock music.

Six years ago, Michael Hannasch, a student at Central Middle School, approached Sigmund about a science project. His idea was to see if a particular genre of music 16 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Above: Brushes and paint are tools of the trade in Gretchen Sigmund’s upstairs studio. Opposite: A guest room features her colorful work.

It’s better than mom used to make.

Not that she’ll ever admit it.

What’s better than home cooking? How about having your meals prepared by chefs trained at the country’s finest restaurants and culinary schools. Only the freshest ingredients are used. And everything is served to your table on china. Have a special request? We can make it for you or even add it to our menu. Move in to our Assisted Living Residence today and you’ll receive special discounts and many other nice extras.

To get a small taste of just how good living here can be, call today.

Call or stop by today for more information or to schedule your personal tour.

812-373-0787 • 2011 Chapa Drive • Columbus, IN 47203 • silveroakshc.com PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 17

[profile] would increase egg production in chickens.

“He rigged up the barn with sound and played different types of music,” she says.

“He accounted for variables like light and temperature and discovered that the chickens laid more eggs with rock music.”

She collects about four dozen eggs per week. But after years of feeding chickens and gathering eggs, she realized the artistic potential of feed sacks. Several years ago, she created a series of feed sack works and sold several pieces. One collage featured photos of her chickens, eggshells and the multicolored feathers. Columbus native Daniel Orr, world-renowned chef, author and owner of FARMbloomington, purchased five of her pieces for his restaurant.

“Ms. Sigmund has spent a lifetime in southern Indiana extracting the earthy tones and natural nuances of the local terroir,” he says. “Her palette and paintings reflect the soul of a pastoral country past with nostalgia for time and place. She walks the walk and talks the talk of a true naturalist who displays her passions in a variety of mediums from sculpture, to art books, collage, photography, acrylics and multimedia.”

When Sigmund isn’t raising chickens or creating art, she loves to garden, cook and bake bread. She shares her country home, built from three barns and old schoolhouse floors, with her husband, Wandle Marks.

The couple have been married for 48 years and have two children, son, Schuyler, and daughter, Siegrid.

Sigmund is currently working on a series about foraged food. She photographs the food, prints the images and then applies layers of mixed media that result in a unique piece of layered art. The pieces are one-of-akind and inspired by nature and will be featured at Jacksson Contemporary Art gallery in the fall.

Her secret to enjoying life is keeping busy and always trying something new.

“I don’t want to keep doing the same thing,” she says with a smile. “My work is ever-changing. I want to be able to come up with new ideas that are a bit edgy. I don’t ever want to stop creating.” PT 18 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Above: Sigmund salvages dried paint to re-use in a mixed media creation.

Opposite page top: This mixed media piece features a diver, either ready to jump or holding on. Opposite page bottom: She shows some of her recent projects that mix photography and dried paint.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 19

lifestyle

5 Fun times

Cottonpatch is composed of versatile, longtime musicians who respect each other and the songs

By Doug Showalter n photos by Carla Clark and Joe harpring

I

f you took part in this year’s Girlfriend Ride, or if you’ve been to The Garage Pub and Grill or visited the farmers market in the last year or so, you might have seen and heard the band Cottonpatch.

If you saw the band at The Garage, you might have thought, “What’s a band with a fiddle and a banjo doing playing in a bar?”

The answer to that question would be … having a blast.

The members of Cottonpatch are Liz Bohall on hammered dulcimer, violin and mandolin; Dale Fear on guitar, mandolin, banjo and vocals; Mark Fear on bass and vocals; Roger Banister on banjo, guitar, mandolin, violin and vocals; and Kim DeClue on guitar, harmonica and vocals.

While the band in its present form is only about a year old, its roots can be traced back 46 years to the halls of Columbus High School. That’s when Kim met Dale, and the two formed their first band, The Ninth Decision. They later changed their name to Alfalfa and played dates in Columbus, Cincinnati, Bloomington, Franklin and Indianapolis before breaking up in 1974.

Opposite page: Members of Cottonpatch are, clockwise from left, Roger Banister, Kim DeClue, Mark Fear, Liz Bohall and Dale Fear.

20 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 21

[lifestyle] It took 33 years and a personal loss to bring the friends and former band mates back to the bandstand together.

In 2007, Dale’s wife died following a lengthy illness. At the funeral home, Kim suggested to Dale that the two of them could get together and play some music if and when Dale felt up to it.

A couple of months later, he did. So they started a band, recruiting Dale’s brother, Mark, on bass. At about the same time, Liz Bohall’s husband, Walter, died. Kim, an old friend who had played music with Liz and Walter ever since Liz moved to town in 1977, shared Dale’s experience with her and suggested that joining the band might help her through the grieving process, too.

Thus was born Just Four Fun. The last piece of the puzzle, multi-instrumentalist and former child prodigy Roger Banister, joined the band in May 2012 and the name was changed to Cottonpatch, taken from a former shop in town.

Cottonpatch, owned by Terry Clark and Tom Browning, was open from 1972 to 1982 and sold leather goods, jewelry and gift items.

Perhaps it’s only natural that these five people would finally come together in one band. The four men in the group all graduated from Columbus High within two years of each other. And Liz has been playing music off and on with Kim and Roger, among others, for years.

“The best part of the band is how well we get along,” said Mark during an interview with all five members.

Dale, agrees. “It’s fun being with these folks. I’ve played for 40 years, and this is the best band and best group of musicians I’ve played with.”

The band’s business card says they play “a blend of acoustic music.” Dale said that refers to the blending of their instruments as well as their varied musical interests. They enjoy taking songs that might be familiar to audiences, but giving them a Cottonpatch twist.

“We try to take a tune and get it out of its comfort zone,” Kim said. “We try to look for songs we like with an eye for how can we arrange it differently. Nothing’s out of bounds for us.”

That lack of boundary lines is evident from the songs on their first CD, “Just For Fun.” It features covers of tunes by artists such as America, the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, Green Day and the Violent Femmes.

“We always say, ‘Do you think we could do that 22 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Hear for yourself “Just For Fun,” the first CD by Cottonpatch, is an eclectic mix of tunes, all given the band’s special “blended acoustic” treatment. The 12 songs include everything from perennial favorites such as The Band’s “The Weight” to more modern fare such as Green Day’s “Time of Your Life.”

The CD was recorded at Columbus’ Secret Sounds Music, engineered by Seth Tsui and produced by Tsui and the band. The graphic design work for the CD packaging was done by Terry Clark. His former shop, Cottonpatch, is the source of the band’s name, and some old signage from the shop is included in the cover photos, shot by Terry’s wife, Carla Clark.

Band members said they found the process of recording to be helpful.

“You’re really dissecting what you do and all the warts show up,” said Kim DeClue.

“It gives you an insight that you can’t get playing live.”

“It teaches you, as you’re doing it, what you can and cannot do onstage,” added Liz Bohall.

“Just For Fun” is available at Cottonpatch gigs, the farmers market and at Tre Bicchieri restaurant.

If you’d like to hear the band in person, upcoming dates include: Sept. 14 — Farmers market, 10 a.m.

Sept. 27 — The Garage Pub and Grill, 9 p.m.

For more information on Cottonpatch, check out its Facebook page.

song OUR way?’” Mark said. “There are not a lot of people who do what we do.”

“There are other bands that play the same songs,” Dale said, “but not the same way.”

Though the group prefers to play as a five-piece, that’s not always possible, since Liz and Roger still play with other groups, too. But they try to coordinate schedules whenever they can.

“We just sound so much better when we all play together,” Mark said.

Even when all five are present for a gig, they like to mix it up a bit. Kim usually performs a couple of solo tunes at the start of a show, which also serves as the sound check. Liz and Roger might start a set with a few bluegrass tunes. And they’ve even been known to trade instruments among themselves when the mood strikes.

The band plays only cover tunes, though playing some original material is a possibility at some point.

“People want to sing along,” Mark said, “and unSubmitted photo

Current Cottonpatch members Kim DeClue, left, and Dale Fear played during a 1973 sidewalk sale on Washington Street.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 23

[lifestyle]

less you’re famous, they go ‘What’s that?’ if you play an original tune.”

They admit to being a little bit surprised that their brand of eclectic folk music has proven popular among bar patrons. They say it’s a combination of playing songs that are arranged the right way for the right crowd.

“We have songs we don’t play at The Garage, like the slow ballads,” Mark said.

“Playing to the crowd, that’s the big thing,” added Kim. However, Roger disagrees, to a point.

“You wouldn’t choose a fiddle and a banjo if you were looking for success as a bar band,” he said. “The motivating factor is playing the kinds of songs we enjoy playing.”

24 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Cottonpatch is not, he said, particularly concerned with keeping people on the dance floor. But, Liz said, it’s possible to please both the musicians and the audience. She cites the Steve Earle tune “Copperhead Road” as a good example.

“Everyone loves it, and it is so much fun to play,” she said.

Liz thinks the band is starting to develop a following, as she sees familiar faces at various gigs. And they’re surprising some people, too.

“I hear, ‘I didn’t know Kim DeClue played guitar and sang,” Roger said. “These guys have been playing all their lives. People get to know you through your job or whatever, and they think you don’t have another passion besides your job.”

Speaking of jobs, the members of Cottonpatch all have them, and families too, so they won’t be hitting the road anytime soon. Liz is manager of Bistro 310, Dale is warehouse manager at Dorel, Mark and Kim work for Cummins and Roger for First Financial Bank.

At this stage of life, this band of banjo-loving boomers is enjoying music more than ever.

“Over time you have a greater appreciation for the music, for the song and the person who wrote it,” Kim said.

Roger, who has been playing professionally since childhood, said the feeling he gets when performing before an audience today is quite different than when he was trying to build a musical career.

“I’m enjoying playing music now way more than I

did when I was in my 20s, 30s and 40s because I’m not trying to impress someone,” he said.

Mark said he’s learned the importance of “surrounding yourself with band members you enjoy as people as well as musicians.”

“I’ve played with many different types of bands,” Liz said, “but I feel more comfortable with this group of guys. To me it’s just an extension of myself.”

So from personal loss has come something good.

“We’ve all had issues in our lives,” Dale said. “Music has a way of healing and freeing you.”

“We’re getting paid to do something we’d do anyway,” Mark said. “Half our fun is practices on Thursday night.”

“That’s the bottom line,” Kim said. “It’s fun.” PT PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 25

profile

Where every

dog has his day Troubled by deer on their Brown County property, Kenny and Elaine Shuck found a furry solution in the form of border collies

W

By Jeff Tryon n photos by Greg Jones

When Kenny Shuck retired early, he knew he wanted to move to the Brown County area and pursue his hobby of landscape architecture. But he didn’t know that the hobby would lead inevitably to an even greater passion — border collies.

Now his dream country lifestyle is inseparably entwined with a pack of pets and the dog-topia they help to maintain.

Shuck and his wife, Elaine, had often visited the Nashville area, stayed in a cabin and liked the locale so much they bought 10 acres and moved there.

“One of my hobbies is gardening and landscaping,” he said. “We had a family garden for fruits and vegetables, and we also had flower gardens and things like that.

“We back up to the Hoosier National Forest, and we were just inundated with deer. They would come and just clean

out everything. I tried a lot of potions, I tried everything, but, quite honestly, deer will eat anything.”

Everyone had advice and many remedies were tried, but finally, some of the advice was, “You need to get a dog; a dog would do it.”

“Well, I didn’t want the responsibility,” Shuck said. “I didn’t want something else I had to do. I was enjoying life, and a dog just didn’t fit into the picture.”

But the idea of getting a dog won out “because the deer were winning.”

“We looked around; we weren’t looking for any particular type of dog. We scoured various agencies and organizations, and nothing quite hit our fancy.

We didn’t necessarily want a pure-bred.”

Then, one fateful day, Shuck answered a classified ad in The Republic: “Free to a good home.”

Opposite page: Ken Shuck gets ready to throw a nylon flying disc, as several of his dogs stand ready to go after it.

26 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 27

[profile]

He was a grown but young border collie that had been herding the prize show cattle, as working dogs will do, and so needed a new home.

“We went over, liked him, brought him home and that kind of started a process,” Shuck said. “We liked him so well; he was such a well-behaved dog. It was just kind of a stroke of luck and genius, and everything came together.”

But would the dog, dubbed Max, solve the deer problem? The answer came quickly.

“We took him out, and we were walking across the dam. And lo and behold, a deer shot across the field, and off Max went after him,” Shuck recalls of his first day, “Just like lightning, he was gone.

“And I looked at my wife and I said, ‘Well, at least we didn’t pay anything for him.’ And, quite honestly, I thought we had seen the last of him,” he said.

“One thing the owner had said was, ‘He will respond to his name,’ so I called his name, and in a bit out through the woods he came.

“It was so gratifying to have a dog that actually minded you and would listen to commands and also be so loyal and trusting. It was a wonderful relationship, 28 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

“People own dogs for various reasons. I got into it for a reason, to keep the deer away, and it just so happened that that turned into something that we like.”

— Kenny Shuck

and everything just clicked,” he said “We’ve not had a deer since we got the dogs.”

Dogs? Yes, they decided to get Max a companion, “and that’s basically how it started,” Shuck said.

“We kind of got into border collies; they kind of interacted with us. They’re very loyal, devoted; they behave. There’s no downside to a border collie, that’s why we stuck with them,” he said.

Shuck said his wife is in the process of getting her dogs trained as therapy dogs.

“It’s rare that two people have the same passion, but she has the passion. She enjoys the dogs,” he said.

“She has her dogs, and I have my dogs.”

The couple have four grown and married children who live in another state.

Shuck is a self-professed “project guy” who built his ponds and the decks around them and creates and

H e llo

N E I GH BO R H e llo N E I GH BO R I ’m K e llyW h e e le r,a lic e ns e ds ale sage nt liv ing in C o lumbus ,I N .

WhenitcomestoMedicare,you havechoices.And those choicesdepend onwhereyou live.Letmeintroduceyou toplans from UnitedHealthcare.®Eachplanstrivestogivemembersthe resources,toolsand coveragethey need tohavethebesthealth I ’m K e llyW h e e le r,a lic e ns e ds ale sage nt careexperiencepossible.

liv ing in C o lumbus ,I N .

WhenitcomestoM e dic are ,h yo u hav e ch o e s.A n t ho se I ’m als o appy to me e t ic w ith y o udo ne o no ne .

I’m hereyo tohe u be t teLe r unde rst and yoin ur lo c alU nitedH ealt hcare e dicare c hoice s. choicesdepend onwh ere ulpyo liv e . t me t ro duc e yo uMt o pl an s Iwould behappy totalkwithyou over thephoneor inperson. from UnitedHealthcare . ® Eac h p l an s t riv e s t o giv e me mbe rs t h e K e l l yW h e e l e r resources,toolsand co v e rage t he yTY n e e d tohavethebesthealth 81 2 37 5 2 1 87 ,T 7 1 1 C o ntrac te d, i nde pe nde nt l i c e ns e d age nt auth o ri z e d tos e l l careexperiencepossibl e . e di c areS o l uti o nspo rtfo l i o . pro duc tsw i th i n th eU ni te dH e al th c are M

C o lumbus ,I NR E S I D E N T M E M BE RO FC o l umbus C h ambe r

Gain back

®

C o lumbus ,I NR E S I D E N T M E M BE RO FC o l umbus C h ambe r

I ’m als oh appytome e tw ithy o uo ne o no ne .

I’m heretohelpyou better understand your localUnitedHealthcareMedicarechoices.

Iwould behappy totalkwithyou over thephoneor inperson.

Our skilled rehabilitation program offers services for orthopedic, cardiac, neurological, pulmonary, and medically complex conditions.

K e l l yW h e e l e r

81 2 37 5 2 1 87 ,T T Y7 1 1 C o ntrac te d, i nde pe nde nt l i c e ns e d age nt auth o ri z e d tos e l l

M e di are o l uti o ns po l i o . pro duc ts w th i nr mo th e U ni te e al th are Ifyou prefer,you cancontactUnitedHealth care dire ct lyi fo re in fodH rmat io nc o r toe nro llc at 1-S 80 0 -85 0 -81 9rtfo 7,T T Y711,from 8 a.m.to8 p.m.localtime,7daysa week.Or visitour websiteatwww.UHCMedicareSolutions.com. ®

Thefamily ofUnitedHealthcare®MedicareSolutionsplansareinsured or covered by UnitedHealthcareInsuranceCompany or oneofits af filiates,a MedicareAdvantageorganizationwitha Medicarecontractand Medicare-approved PartD sponsor.

422 5th Street, Columbus 1-800-403-7180

Y 0 0 6 6 _ 1 2 0 81 6 _ 1 30 0 2 1C M SA c c e pt e d

S P R J 9 5 30

LUTHERAN COMMUNITY HOME, INC.

812.522.5927

111 West Church Avenue • Seymour

Ifyou prefer,you cancontactUnitedHealthcaredirectly for moreinformationor toenrollat1-800-850-8197,TTY711,from 8 a.m.to8 p.m.localtime,7daysa week.Or visitour websiteatwww.UHCMedicareSolutions.com.

Thefamily ofUnitedHealthcare®MedicareSolutionsplansareinsured or covered by UnitedHealthcareInsuranceCompany or oneofits af filiates,a MedicareAdvantageorganizationwitha Medicarecontractand Medicare-approved PartD sponsor.

Y 0 0 6 6 _ 1 2 0 81 6 _ 1 30 0 2 1C M SA c c e pt e d

Our mission is to maximize functional independence and to facilitate a safe discharge back home. Private suites now available!

S P R J 9 5 30

www.LutheranCommHome.org PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 29

[profile] tends to the gardens and landscaping.

“Last year we fenced our property,” he said. “They do run free. We let them run and scamper and do the things they like to do.

We’ve got two ponds, and they love to swim.

“I don’t think of the dogs as the main things; it’s just the icing on the cake,” he said.

Their pets periodically have puppies and after strict screening, including a sitdown interview with prospective owners, are placed in homes near and far. Over the years, Shuck has kept in contact with all the dogs, sending out newsletters and passing along information. He also posts a weekly update on his website: shuck’sbordercollies. com.

“We have dogs that are competing nationally in agility,” he said. “We have dogs that are certified sheep-herding dogs. That’s their life; that’s what they do.

“It’s wonderful to hear those stories.”

The Shucks occasionally have a play day for associated dogs that are nearby.

“It’s a day when you can bring your dog by, they can run and jump, get in the water with my dogs, and it socializes everybody,” he said.

Then last winter, Elaine had a bright idea: “Why don’t we do a reunion?”

The idea blossomed, and on a late June weekend, dogs and dog owners from the extended Shuck’s Border Collies pack spent the weekend, not only romping around the grounds, but also sharing information about their breed and getting pointers in a Q&A session with a local vet.

“It’s more than a fun time. It’s an educational time for the dogs and also for the dog owners and the health of the dog,” he said.

“This is the first, but we’re hoping to do it again.

“People own dogs for various reasons,” Shuck said. “I got into it for a reason, to keep the deer away, and it just so happened that that turned into something that we like.

“It’s worked out really, really good for us.” PT Information: shucksbordercollies.com or on Facebook at Shuck’s Border Collies.

30 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Above: With typical border collie intensity and athleticism, a pair of dogs launches off the dock to retrieve the disc.

Far left: Even while swimming to shore, two of the dogs wrestle for their prize.

Left: The inevitable shaking follows.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 31

MONEY

Ready to retire?

Answer to that question hinges on knowing what’s important to you

By Barney Quick

T

here is perhaps no more individualized period of human life than retirement. Infancy, school and the working years are all characterized by commonly shared experiences. Retirement, on the other hand, is largely, whether we’ve considered it so or not, the product of our own choices.

“One of the best questions you can ask is, ‘What does retirement look like for you?’” says Jon Royer, a financial adviser with Edward Jones.

“A lot of my clients are not really ready socially and emotionally to go into retirement,” says Steven Hackman, a certified financial planner in Old National Bank’s wealth management department.

“Part of a CFP’s training deals with preparing clients psychologically. The feeling of self-worth derived from

32 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

working is immense for some, not to mention the social interaction.”

Not only do many people neglect to give adequate thought to a priority of what they’d like to experience and accomplish during retirement, they don’t adequately consider what kind of money they’ll need for the retirement they envision. The Employee Benefit Research Institute has determined that 60 percent of baby boomers have less than $100,000 saved for retirement, and 40 percent have saved less than $25,000. A recent survey by Bankrate.com shows that 76 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, with many of those having little or no savings.

Financial advisers are accustomed to seeing people approaching retirement age who have not funded the

approaching chapter of their lives. There is still hope for them, says Hackman. “You’ll just need to become more focused and committed than ever.”

Royer’s rule of thumb is to “take what you think you’ll need in a given year of retirement and multiply it by 25. That’s what you’ll need in your portfolio.”

He presents clients with a pie chart, based on information gleaned from their conversations. The yellow portion is funding from retirement assets. The green section represents funding from income sources, such as Social Security, a pension or a part-time job. The orange portion represents the shortfall.

There are three ways to get back on track, he says.

Someone can save more, work longer or take less income in retirement. He says his job entails some candor: “I’m often the bearer of bad news. I have no problem telling people the truth.”

There are several basic tools for retirement funding. Traditional IRAs are accounts into which someone puts pre-tax money, and when it’s taken out later, it’s taxed.

Roth IRAs are the opposite.

A person puts in after-tax money, and it’s tax-free when withdrawn after retirement.

Employers sometimes offer retirement tools as benefits.

401(k) and 403(b) plans (the latter of which being generally what is offered by nonprofit organizations) are similar to IRAs. Some employers match contributions, and some don’t.

“I’ve always leaned toward the traditional IRA,” says Matt Kirr, senior client service officer with Kirr, Marbach & Co. “I’m a big believer in putting off paying the government as long as possible.”

A person younger than 50 can contribute a maximum of $5,500 per year to an IRA . (Over that age, the ceiling increases to $6,500.) Kirr notes that the average U.S. household income is $36,000, adding that “it’s pretty tough to save $5,500 at that level, but you can save something.”

The degree of risk a person is willing to assume in an investment strategy is a significant factor to consider. That’s why staying in regular touch with one’s financial adviser is important. Someone may look at his IRA statement, run the numbers regarding its growth rate and the time left before retirement, and decide a

more aggressive mix of stocks is called for. This needs to be communicated to the adviser.

Someone might even decide to change the mix of investment tools. Says Kirr: “Some people stay in stocks their whole lives. Others dial down the stocks and increase investment in bonds.”

The plain fact that more health issues arise in the retirement years must be factored in as well. Planners generally advise people to obtain long-term care insurance. “It’s a separate product, and again, it’s a very individualized consideration,” say Royer. “It can be rather expensive, but trying to pay for long-term care on your own can be even worse.”

Hackman enumerates several other factors that determine when one is ready to take the leap. How close to being debt-free are you? “Pay off the mortgage and the credit cards,” he says. Have the “coffee conversation” with your spouse, a discussion of how in sync your visions for that life period are. Financially wean your children. “Baby boomers love to baby their children,” he observes. Do a trial run, in which you “live on the known income resource amount that will be available in retirement.” If you can’t do it, you’ll need to rethink your plan.

Draw up a will and decide on power of attorney, beneficiaries and end-of-life considerations.

Advisers are generally adamant about avoiding get-richquick schemes. In fact, many of them look disparagingly at the current craze for gold.

“The total quantity of gold on earth is worth $12 trillion,” says Kirr. “For that, you could buy all the farmland in the United States, plus 10 ExxonMobils.”

While there are some rules of thumb for retirement planning, each situation is unique. “We’ve seen just about every scenario,” says Royer. “Two, say, second-grade teachers could come into my office in succession, and their situations would undoubtedly be different, based on what they’d saved, their risk tolerance and unexpected expenses they’d incurred.”

So, in addition to the number-crunching that is attendant to planning for post-work life, one must squarely face a question that may have gotten short shrift over the years: What’s important to you? PT PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 33

profile

According

to plan

Psychotherapists Jerry and Marilyn Kerns feel right at home in their retirement lives

T

By Sharon Mangas n photos by Greg Jones

The home of Jerry and Marilyn Kerns, on a ridge top in southern Brown County, exudes serenity. The house was custom designed and built by the couple in the late 1980s, and nearly every window has a breathtaking view of the Hoosier National Forest, Brown County State Park, Yellowwood State Forest or one of their many gardens.

Jerry, 70, and Marilyn, 64, recently retired from careers as psychotherapists in Columbus. Part of their retirement plan is to simply enjoy more time at their hilltop paradise. They purchased 90 acres in 1974, which included a 900-square-foot farmhouse.

“We lived in the little house until 1988,” says Jerry. “It took us 13 years to get this one built.” The wait was worth it. Their house is as elegant inside as out. They have a unique collection of stained glass lamps, and the polished hardwood floors and beautiful custom cabinetry give the place a warm, natural feel.

The two met when Jerry was a seminary intern at a Presbyterian church in Winchester, Ky., where Marilyn and her family attended. They came to Columbus in 1968, when Jerry, a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, accepted an associate pastorate at First Presbyterian Church.

“We married when I was 19 and had just finished my sophomore year of college,” says Marilyn. “Jerry accepted the position at First Presbyterian, we went on our honeymoon and moved to Columbus.”

Jerry, who trained in clinical pastoral counseling, continued taking clinical psychology seminars during summer breaks from his pastorate. “I knew counseling was what I wanted to do.

Opposite page: Jerry and Marilyn Kerns, with their dog, Higgins, in a portion of the gardens that wrap around their Brown County home.

34 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 35

[profile] “I didn’t want to be an administrator of a church or preach every Sunday. After Bill Laws (the senior minister) moved on in 1972, I was ready to make a change, too. I didn’t want to be a senior minister.” Jerry’s education and experience allowed him to easily segue into a secular counseling career.

Marilyn, who initially earned a teaching degree in home economics from Indiana University, couldn’t find a job after graduating. “I found out there are very few home ec teaching positions … and home ec teachers never retire.” After a short stint teaching language arts at St. Bartholomew School, her interest in Jerry’s career — “I liked what he was doing” — led her back to IU to get a master’s in educational psychology.

Jerry worked as a counselor at Quinco (now Centerstone), as an associate in a doctors group and maintained a private therapy practice during his career. Marilyn was an associate of Dr. Jan Benham at Women’s Health for many years, later moving her practice to Integrative Health Care after Benham retired. Marilyn’s focus was on women’s issues.

As counselors, they have helped many area residents work through life’s problems.

Therapist Alan Winslow, a colleague from Centerstone, attests to their professional skills. “Jerry was devoted to his clients. He developed a lot of loyalty and provided so much assistance to people over the years ... and Marilyn’s capacity to provide services to her clients was unsurpassed. They’re both very resourceful, professionally and personally.”

When asked for tips on how people in general can improve their emotional wellbeing, Marilyn doesn’t hesitate. “Take charge of what you think. In any given situation, ask yourself: ‘What am I telling myself?

What am I thinking? And is what I’m thinking factual?’ Your thinking triggers how you feel, but those feelings may not be the basis of fact. The power is in how you think.”

Jerry, a natural storyteller, remembers a lesson from a grandfather. “My grandfather once asked me if I’d rather be an oak or a willow tree. I told him I wanted to be a 36 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Above: Having more time to sew, Marilyn has repurposed a downstairs room originally designed for listening to music. Opposite page: A talented musician, Jerry is at home at the keyboard.

“Retirement is one of the top life adjustments to make. You have to adjust to sharing space and time with your companion, because previously, you haven’t had time for those things.”

— Jerry Kerns

American Home Health & Hospice

American Home Health & Hospice Medication Assistance • Personal Care Assistance Therapy Services Provided by Legacy Healthcare Services Complimentary Transportation & Valet Services • Full Service Salon Homemade Meals & Nutritious Snacks • Daily Planned Activities Health Screenings • Private Apartments Weekly Rates Available • Short Term Stays Available 4895 Pine Ridge Dr., Columbus (Located off 46 West behind CVS) 812-342-2148 • www.provisionliving.com PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 37

[profile] mighty oak. He said, ‘OK, next time we have a big storm, I’m going to take you out for a ride.’ I found out that oak trees were broken by storms, but that willows remained standing. I learned how important it was to be willing to bend … to be flexible. I used that analogy a lot with my patients. I also believe you should ‘sweat the small stuff.’ Deal with your problems when they’re a manageable size.”

Family is very important to them. Though they have no children, they are very close to their nieces and nephews and work hard to be the “best aunt and uncle ever,” says Marilyn.

They transitioned into retirement, slowly reducing the hours and days they worked.

“Retirement is one of the top life adjustments to make,” says Jerry. “You have to adjust to sharing space and time with your companion, because previously, you haven’t had time for those things. We did a slow step back.”

They have many interests to pursue.

Marilyn enjoys clothing design and fiber arts, and has plans to collaborate with an artist friend on projects. Jerry, a gifted pianist, wants to delve into music theory and try his hand at writing song lyrics.

Traveling is on their agenda, especially visits to Higgins Lake, Mich., where sailing is their favorite activity. “We’re ‘under sail’ for several hours a day up there when the wind is right,” says Jerry. This year marks their 38th summer vacation there.

Jesse Brand and Geri Handley, frequent traveling companions, are amazed at Jerry’s tour director ability. “Jerry’s a real planner; he researches everything he does in great detail,” says Jesse. “He’s planned trips we’ve taken down to where we stop for gas. He always gives us the theme of the trip, but surprises us with details as the adventure unfolds. The trips he plans for us are always outstanding.”

Whether taking pleasure in their peaceful home life, or enjoying the challenges of a road trip, Jerry and Marilyn Kerns are easing into an active retirement … and loving every minute of it. PT 38 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

At top: This chest was used by Jerry’s great-grandparents to carry all of their belongings when they immigrated to the United States. Above: A lily pad and cattail-populated pond. Opposite page: The spectacular view from the Kernses’ hilltop home.

Celebrati n 25 Years! g

at Mill Race Center

812-372-6415

900 Lindsey Street • Columbus, IN 47201

admin@justfriendscolumbus.com • www.justfriendscolumbus.com Continuous activities • Flexible scheduling (as needed basis) Nursing & social work support • Financial assistance available VA, Medicaid Waiver, CHOICE and private pay

“Here When You Need Us!” PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 39

lifestyle

A good bet for seniors

‘Golden gamers’ make casinos part of their social lives

By Karen E. Farley

W

hile casinos are a popular destination for twentysomethings, older adults are also willing to take a chance on them.

“The recreational trip to the casino is now a regular activity at many community senior centers around our state,” says Jerry Long, executive director for Indiana Council on Problem Gambling. “They ride to the casino, spend a predetermined dollar amount, have lunch at the buffet and ride the bus back to their community.”

In Indiana, the opportunity to gamble is widespread. The Casino Association of Indiana has 11 member properties. Most casinos have over a thousand slot machines and hundreds of table games.

According to the CAI, member casinos provide strong tax revenues to support projects throughout the state, and together are the fifth-largest employer in Indiana.

One of those members is Indiana Grand Casino in Shelbyville.

Indiana Grand currently has more than 226,000 Rewards Players Club card members over the age of 50. According to Jason Hammer, media coordinator for the casino, that represents about 65 percent of its members. Throughout the year, it offers perks to cardholders. Membership is free, and players earn points for money spent at the casino. Every Monday, anyone 50 and older receives half off the buffet. The casino also has promotions for veterans on select holidays.

Mill Race Center in Columbus offers frequent day trips to the casino.

“We take a 20-passenger van, and it’s usually a full load,” says Roberta Isaacson, assistant membership coordinator and receptionist at Mill Race Center. “We charge each person $12. Everyone enjoys a day out and fellowship with the other people on the trip. Most are women, but occasionally we have men.”

Isaacson is also an escort on the weekly trips to Shelbyville. She helps organize other day trips that Mill Race offers to casinos throughout Indiana and

40 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Ohio. The next one is planned for Nov. 7 to the Horseshoe Cincinnati Casino. It offers discounts to group members at the buffet and a player’s card that receives reward points. Mill Race hires a charter bus that holds a maximum of 50 people.

Mary Jane Crippen, a Mill Race volunteer, is looking forward to the Cincinnati trip. She usually goes on the trips alone, but enjoys socializing with others at the casino.

“I have a set amount of money to spend and also bring a book along to read,” she explains. “Of course it’s always nice to win, but when I am out of money, I have a cup of coffee and read my book. I will look for others who are there alone and sit with them. I also like to people watch while I’m there.”

Many “golden gamers” visit casinos for fun and entertainment, but there are other reasons people may turn to gambling.

“The loss of a spouse or a loved one can often lead someone to gamble,” says Long. “They have a time that they no longer know how to fill. When they go to bingo night or the casino, there are always people that know their name.”

For most, a trip to the casino is not a problem. It can be a fun day trip or an evening out with friends.

But for some, it can destroy relationships and devastate families.

“Studies have found that about 3 percent of those

Things to know • Skill has nothing to do with winning with very few exceptions.

• Don’t spend or bet what you can’t afford to lose.

• Slot machines have random payouts.

• Winning big early tends to set up unrealistic expectations about winning again.

• State-funded treatment is available for problem gamblers and their families.

• Support for the gambler and family is available.

Visit www.indianaproblemgambling.org for more information about or help with a gambling problem

who gamble frequently will develop a problem that negatively disrupts their lives,” Long explains. “Some of it may be genetic or related to family dynamics.

People tend to repeat behaviors that were common in their family as they grew up.”

Some warning signs for problem gambling are spending too much time gambling, hiding losses, gambling to escape from other life issues, mood swings, increasing bet amounts and trying unsuccessfully to stop.

According to Long, there are said to be three kinds of gamblers: social gamblers, who gamble occasionally with friends and for whom winning is not important; escape gamblers, who gamble to cope with other issues in life; and action gamblers, who gamble for excitement and for whom winning is very important. Many seniors sit at their machines for hours, spending their Social Security income and hoping to win the jackpot.

“The best poster about problem gambling that I ever saw was that of a bunch of senior citizens on stools playing the slots,” Long explains. “They were all tethered to the machines by the cord attached to their player’s card, and the caption read: ‘How will your grandchildren remember you?’”

All of the casinos have posters and brochures on problem gambling. The Indiana Council on Problem Gambling generates awareness and promotes education on problem gambling. It also offers programs and help for individuals or families.

There are many forms of entertainment available for seniors. A trip to the casino may not be an option for some, but for others it can be a day of fun and friendship.

Long’s advice to seniors or anyone making a trip to a casino is to be realistic about winning and to keep it fun. PT PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 41

calendar of events

Rock The Park concert featuring REO Speedwagon

ONGOING ONGOING Through Oct. 29 — Irwin Gardens, 608 Fifth St., is open to the public for free on Tuesdays through the end of October. Enjoy the quiet beauty of the 100-year-old garden, whose owners are keeping the tradition of public hours started by the Irwin family in 1909. See the newly renovated descending fountains and turtle pools while sitting under the wisteria. Tours of the first floor of the house and the gardens will also be available from 1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, noon 42 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

to 1 p.m. on Fridays, and noon to 1 p.m. on some Saturdays. The tour is $15 (4 and under free). Please call or visit website for reservations. Information: 812-376-3663 or inn@irwingardens.com.

Through Sept. 21 — Downtown Columbus Farmers Market. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, Cummins parking lot between Brown and Lindsey streets, downtown Columbus. Purchase fresh produce grown by local farmers/gardeners, fresh-cut flowers, herbs, home-baked goods (including glutenfree), coffee, tea, lemon shake-ups, local art,

jewelry and mosaics, while enjoying music by local and regional musicians. Information: 371-3780.

Through Sept. 25 — Columbus Mid-Week Farmers Market. 4 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Fourth Street between Jackson and Washington streets, downtown Columbus.

Purchase fresh produce and plants grown by local farmers and gardeners.

August AUGUST

9

— Friday Night Cruise-In. 5:30 to 9 p.m., Hope Town Square. Free event.

Information: 314-1823, macy_6593@yahoo. com, or www.communitycenterofhope.org.

10

— Columbus Scottish Bagpipers.

Noon to 2 p.m., Columbus Area Visitors Center, 506 Fifth St.

10

-11 — The Garden Party. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mill Race Center, 900 Lindsey St. Admission: $12. The Garden Party will

Hospice Community Concert featuring Tommy James and the Shondells feature a juried floral display by the Mudlarks Garden Club, tablescapes by area designers/ florists, an art quilt exhibit by Daren Redman, a workshop, educational displays and a gourmet café. Information: 376-9241 or ghandley@millracecenter.org.

10

— Mayor Brown’s Second Annual Motorcycle Ride. 8 to 9:45 a.m. registration; 10 a.m. kickstand start; 1:30 p.m. lunch; 2 p.m. free family activities, City Hall, 123 Washington St. Admission: $25 one rider; $35 rider +1. This is an ABATE Indianasanctioned motorcycle ride with proceeds going to Columbus Cheer Fund. Information: 376-2500 or jking@columbus.in.gov.

17

— Rock The Park. Concert featuring REO Speedwagon, 7:30 p.m., Mill Race Park. Information: caac@ artsincolumbus.org.

17

— Latino Gala Dinner. 8 p.m. - 2 a.m., Factory 12 Event Loft, 1235 Jackson St. Admission: $60. The dinner will feature Grupo Los Hotbaneros, DJ Mauricio Ramirez and Mariachi. Information: 314-8636 or mario.sanchez@cummins.com.

23 Mayor Brown’s Second Annual Motorcycle Ride

-24 — Glass Blowing Workshops and Iron Pour. Held in conjunction with ArtFEST. Information: caac@ artsincolumbus.org. In coordination with the workshops, Jacksson Contemporary Art Gallery, 1030 Jackson St., is hosting an exhibit through Aug. 31 showcasing glass PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 43

[calendar] and metal art pieces. Times: noon to 6 p.m.

Wednesday-Friday; 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday; by appointment. Information: 447-8781 or dkadlec@casaverdellc.com.

24

— ArtFEST. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Washington Street, free. Enjoy artwork from local, regional and national artists: mixed media, ceramics, fiber, leather, furniture, glass, jewelry, printmaking, sculpture, woodwork.

Information: www.columbusartfest.com.

24

— Beach Blanket Bingo. In honor of Annette Funicello. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; bingo begins at 6, Mill Race Center.

Tickets $25 (includes 25 games); $35 ticket includes dinner. Prizes include Vera Bradley items and Longaberger baskets. Beach towel contest, raffles, cash bar. Limited seating,

must be 21 to attend. Tickets available at MRC or online. Information: 376-9241 or www. millracecenter.org. Benefits Mill Race Center and Just Friends Adult Day Care.

25

— Hope Arts & Antiques Fair.

Hope Town Square: artisans, antiques, primitives.

31

— Hospice Community Concert featuring Tommy James and the Shondells. 6:30 p.m., Mill Race Park, Lindsey Street. Free event, proceeds benefit Hospice of South Central Indiana. Enjoy this ’60s super group and the opening act, Groove Essentials.

There will be fireworks at the close of the show. Rain location is Columbus North High School gym.

Hope Heritage Days 44 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

Columbus Scottish Festival

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER

5

— JCB Neighborfest, Rusty Bladen Band. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 300 block of Washington Street. Free. A veteran of the Indiana music scene, Rusty Bladen and his band have played in nearly every club, theater and bar in Indiana to build their careers.

Expect a high energy roots rock ’n’ roll show.

6

— Sneakers at Starlight. 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., Round Lake at Mill Race Park.

Admission: $75 individual; $105 couple.

Enjoy this unique event , black tie optional, sneakers required. Decorate your sneakers to coordinate with your semi-formal attire.

Whether it’s paint, sparkles or jewels, the more creative the sneaker the better the chances of winning a special prize. Live music, local cuisine, wine and beer tasting are all part of the event, which benefits Hamilton Center Preservation & Renovation (presented by

Columbus Park Foundation). Information: 3752759 or awilliams@columbus.in.gov.

7

— Columbus Scottish Bagpipers. Noon to 2 p.m., Columbus Area Visitors Center, 506 Fifth St.

14

— Columbus Bluegrass Jamboree Concert. Mill Race Park (rain location - Donner Center), donations accepted. Open jam 4 p.m.; group performances at 5.

14

— Yes Comedy Showcase with Patti Vasquez (rated PG). 8 p.m., Yes Cinema, 328 Jackson St. $20 advance/$25 door. Information: 378-4937 or email events@ yescinema.org.

14

-15 — Columbus Scottish Festival.

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. Information: 546-6060.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 45

[calendar]

19

— Second Annual Community EdFest. 5:30 to 8 p.m., Columbus Learning Center, 4444 Kelly St., free.

The Community Education Coalition in partnership with Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus, Ivy Tech Community College and Purdue College of Technology is sponsoring the second annual Community EdFest. Join us for a night of free food, live music and fun games for all ages. There will be drawings for iPads and other prizes. Six scholarships will be awarded ($1,000 each).

Information: 314-8591 or stephanie.weber@ eco15.org.

21

— Hot Rods & Rock ’n’ Roll. Free, downtown Columbus. Classic cars, trucks, hot rods, motorcycles and music.

Family-friendly event.

Ethnic Expo 46 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

21

— Hope Bike Ride. Starts at Hope Town Square. Enjoy a countryside bicycle tour, food and live music.

21

— Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Di Wu Plays Gershwin & Liszt. 7:30 p.m., Columbus North High School auditorium. Single tickets are available for purchase online at www.thecip.org, after Aug. 1. Season ticket packages are available by calling the box office at 376-2638, extension 110.

27

-29 — Hope Heritage Days. Hope Town Square. Enjoy live bands, vendors, a parade, fireworks, food, a car show and a pioneer village. Free.

28

— Mill Race Marathon. The event will include a full marathon, half-

19

— Columbus Indiana Philharmonic with guitar virtuoso Christopher Parkening. 7:30 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School. Admission: $10-$45. Information/tickets: 376-2638, extension 110 or tickets@thecip.org.

25

— YES Comedy Showcase with Dave Dugan. 8 p.m., Yes Cinema, 328 Jackson St. Admission: $20 advance/$25 door.

Rated PG. Information: 378-0377.

26

Night of a Thousand Jacks marathon and 5K. The marathon will be sanctioned by USA Track and Field and will be a certified Boston Marathon qualification course. Information: www.millracemarathon. com.

28

— Ninth annual Let’s Get Ready!

Drive-in/Bike-in Movie Event.

Free. 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. games, music and more; 8 p.m. movie, Mill Race Park (rain location Donner Center). Information: 376-2680.

28

— Retro Rock 2013. 6 to 11:30 p.m., Mill Race Center. The Headliners and other acoustic acts, food and beverages will be available for purchase. Admission: $15 advance; $20 door. Information: 376-9241.

October October

11

-12 — Ethnic Expo. Downtown Columbus near City Hall. Free.

International cuisine and bazaar vendors.

Information: 376-2520.

— Night of a Thousand Jacks. PNC Bank parking lot, 333 Washington St. Participants carve jack-o’-lanterns and submit them to be judged. Strolling Night presents fun opportunities for the entire family, including a costume contest, Monster Mutt Parade pet costume contest, kids games and activities, musical entertainment, food and more. Proceeds benefit Advocates for Children. Information: 372-2808.

26

— The 2013 UnCommon Cause.

6:30 p.m., The Commons. Celebrate the sights and sounds of Bollywood, the largest and one of the oldest film industries in the world. Dance to the music of Living Proof, dine on fantastic food, and bid on great items to support the Columbus Area Arts Council.

Information: 376-2539.

27

— Halloween Costume Contest.

Free, Donner Center. 1:30 p.m. numbering for judging; 2 p.m. judging up to 6; 3 p.m. judging 7-12. Information: 376-2680.

November

1

-3 — Third annual YES Film Festival.

Various times, Yes Cinema, 328 Jackson St. The YES Film Festival celebrates the creativity and diversity of independent film, bringing to the screen the best documentaries, narrative features and short films, with competitions in all three categories. Information: 378-0377.

PRIME TIME • August 2013 • 47

My Back Pages Sharon Mangas

I

All I ever needed to know is changing

’m doing a lot of adjusting these days. And it’s not just adjusting to those senior vagaries we all face, like the need for sensible shoes and bifocals. The problem is, I thought by age 62 I would have more wisdom. I thought I’d have life figured out … at least for the most part. But I’m finding that just as I’m slowing down, the world keeps getting faster. Adjusting and changing are harder now.

Take the NSA whistle blower case. When I read about Edward Snowden’s actions, I thought, “whatever.” Don’t we know by now that anything posted online, put in an email, text, etc., will be “out there” forever for all to see?

I decided Snowden was an upstart, a crackpot craving his 15 minutes of fame. Then someone mentioned to me, “What about Daniel Ellsberg? He published the Pentagon Papers in 1971, and most people considered him a hero for spilling the beans about government involvement in Vietnam.”

So now I’m less confident about my opinion of the situation. When is whistle blowing in the public’s best interest, and when is it an act of treason by a rogue employee? I thought I knew, but now I’m not sure. I’m processing this information, trying to see both sides of the story. Adjusting.

I thought I knew about babies. After all, I left college and career aspirations behind to be a stay-athome mom in the late 1970s. I read all the parenting books I could get my hands on. But once you become a grandparent, you have to adjust. Things change.

When my sons were infants, cribs filled with blankets, bumper pads and stuffed animals were de rigueur. And into those cozy, overloaded cribs, I lay drowsy babies on their tummies to sleep. That won’t fly today. Trust me. The baby police (aka your son or

daughter) will call you out for that in 2013.

Despite the fact you know those babies will surely end up with flat heads and bald spots from lying on their backs, do not, I repeat, do not, lay them on their stomachs. Babies need tight swaddling, backsleeping and bare bones cribs in the 21st century.

Print media are going the way of the horse and buggy at warp speed. As an avid lifelong reader, it’s hard for me to adjust to this change. Johannes Gutenberg must be rolling in his grave. Newspapers and magazines are going digital to keep from going under. Bookstores are closing shop. What’s to become of libraries? If they don’t change with the times, they’ll become obsolete. They’ll have to reinvent themselves. Change with the times.

I said I’d never buy a Kindle. I pledged my allegiance to real books. I swore to that on a stack of (real) Bibles. I worked for a bookstore in my younger years; no way would I go to the dark side. Then, as I readied for a recent vacation — packing my usual suitcase full of books — my anti-Kindle resolve began to waver.

Is it really prudent to lug around 50 pounds of reading material when you have a bad back … or better to buy an e-reader? Sorry, Johannes. Your printing press revolutionized the world, but so did Bill Gates’ and Steve Jobs’ computers. I’m adjusting to the electronic age, but with a large portion of wistfulness.

Like death and taxes, change is constant … and it’s harder to accept as you get older. But it’s sink or swim, Prime Timers. We have to keep making adjustments. There’s more to learn about life, no matter how old we get. My late mother always counseled me to keep an open mind. Change and adjust. See both sides. Maybe that’s wisdom, after all.

Sharon Mangas can be reached at sharon.d.mangas@gmail.com.

48 • AUGUST 2013 • PRIME TIME

it’s what makes us different!

Many people throughout the area have concerns about caring for their aging parent.

They are not alone. From adult day care to long-term stays at affordable pricing, call or stop by for a tour today! Experience...it’s what sets us apart! Call (812) 372-0950 today for a complimentary lunch and tour of our Capital Senior Living Community.

A Premier Memory Care Community 2564 Foxpointe Drive, Columbus

812-372-0950

www.keepsakeofcolumbus.com