Prime March 18, 2014 by The Times of NWI

prime. A LIFESTYLE RESOURCE • APRIL 2014

MEDIAWATCHER’S PREVIEWS

April Season Classics

60-SOMETHING SKINCARE

Who Do You Trust?

NATURAL OBSESSION

Photographer Michael Lewandowski

Seeks the rare and wonderful

Amatulli & Associates “The Safe Money People”

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prime.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 3

publisher CHRISTOPHER T. WHITE

vp of sales JOHN TUCKER

associate publisher/editor PAT COLANDER

advertising operations manager ERIC HORON

managing editor KATHLEEN DORSEY

advertising managers DEB ANSELM, CRAIG CHISM, DEE DEE WHITE

associate content producer TARA MCELMURRY design director BEN CUNNINGHAM designer APRIL BURFORD

contributing editors JANE AMMESON, DENISE DECLUE, TRICIA DESPRES, JANE DUNNE, JULIE DEAN KESSLER, KATHRYN MACNEIL, CAROLYN PURNELL, CARRIE STEINWEG

creative production manager TOM KACIUS published by LEE ENTERPRISES The Times of Northwest Indiana Munster 219.933.3200 Crown Point 219.662.5300 Valparaiso 219.462.5151 Copyright, Reprints and Permissions: You must have permission before reproducing material from Prime.

calendar. THROUGH APR 30 Region United, Nation Divided—Following Lincoln, 8am-5pm, Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Dr, Hammond. 219.989.7770. southshorecva.com. Photos, artifacts and reproductions of Northwest Indiana Civil War regimental battle flags tell the story of the Lake, Porter and LaPorte County men who fought to preserve the Union and end slavery. MAR 22 Shelf Ice Exploration 2pm, Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600

N 25 E, Chesterton. 219.926.1390. Spring is here! Come check out the breaking and caving shelf ice on Lake Michigan. Explore ice formation creation and then get a great vantage of it from atop the historic beach pavilion. Meet at the Beach Pavilion.

MAR 26 Living with Arthritis, 5:30pm, Valparaiso Family YMCA

Y Community Room, 1201 Cumberland Crossing Dr, Valparaiso. 888.909.3627. valpoymca.org. Vineet Shah, DO talks about the latest treatments for arthritis and joint pain, including joint replacement during this free seminar. Registration required, by phone or at the Valparaiso Family YMCA lobby.

APR 11 Mini Taste of Munster, noon-3pm, Community Park Social Center, 8710 Lions Club Dr, Munster. 219.836.7275. munster.org. The best restaurants in Munster come together for this delicious event where attendees will be treated to samples of some of the best cuisine Munster has to offer. APR 12 The Times Ultimate Garage Sale, call for times, Porter County Expo Center, 215 E Division Rd, Valparaiso. 219.464.0133. porterco. org. Open to the public, this large annual garage-type sale features collectibles and deals. Last year’s event drew thousands and featured more than 200 booths. A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

Residences at Deer Creek in Schererville

Residences at Deer Creek Creates a Family-Oriented Atmosphere

esidences at Deer Creek takes great pride in creating a homelike atmosphere and encouraging the continued involvement of residents’ families in their loved ones lives. Lindsey Sherron, Director of Social Services believes it is important not only to provide excellent service to the residents but to their families as well. “We strive to exceed expectations by providing one of a kind service,” Sherron said. “We encourage family involvement and participation in special events and outings. We seek out activities to involve families, including grandchildren and great grandchildren.” Recent community events included a petting zoo and a bedtime slumber party. Family members are encourage to keep up with their loved ones and upcoming events through the Residences at Deer Creek’s informative and fun Facebook page. Sherron said residents’ families are encouraged to host their family parties, club meetings and support groups at Residences at Deer Creek. Sherron, who offers support groups for both residents and their families, meets with all residents when they move in and addresses their individual needs. “I get to know the residents personally and begin building a rapport,” Sherron said. “It is my hope that as needs arise, residents feel comfortable and can approach me for assistance. I am available to meet with all residents and families as needed as this is not only an adjustment for the residents but also for their families.” Sherron’s goal at Residences at Deer Creek is to enhance the residents’ quality of life. “For some residents, this is meeting with them individually and allowing them to process their feelings and then validating those emotions,” Sherron said. “For others, this is linking with community resources such as library services, advocating for them or collaborating with staff and getting creative to meet individual needs.” Sherron said it is not uncommon for

residents to have an array of emotions when making the decision to move into assisted living. “Some experience grief/loss as they feel as though they are losing their homes, their possessions due to downsizing and their independence,” Sherron said. “Often times, these feelings are short lived as they are able to process through their emotions and realize that our goal is for them to be as independent as they can safely be! Others have an immediate sense of relief as they know that they will have the assistance that they need.” Located at 401 U.S. 30, the senior living and memory support community was conceived by a group of physicians. It offers a new unique approach to senior living; the best in traditional care, with a culture of independence and choice. “Our residents enjoy the convenience of a month-to-month payment model, without any large upfront fees,” Melissa Huffman Director of Sales and Marketing said. “Our apartments are tastefully appointed and available in studio, one or two bedroom floor plans.” In addition to twenty-first century living, Residences at Deer Creek also offers worldclass gourmet cuisine, fun and enriching activities, a beauty salon, theater, a wellness/ fitness center, family gathering spaces, planned events, respite care and 24/7 access to nursing professionals. All of the amenity spaces, meals, wireless internet and utilities are included in the monthly fee to keep life simple, Huffman said. To arrange a private tour of Residences at Deer Creek, contact Huffman at (219) 864-0700.

For Your Information RESIDENCES AT DEER CREEK 401 U.S. 30 Schererville, Indiana (219) 864-0700 www.residencesatdeercreek.com Visit us on Facebook March 18, 2014 |||||| PRIME |||||| 3

60-something.

Ask a stupid question, get a

complicated answer

Leaf through a magazine while you’re in the grocery store check-out line; click around channels on your TV; write someone an email with the words “anti-aging;” in the subject line. Doubtless, you will be bombarded with more claims of miraculous wrinkle-removers than Lourdes sends out news stories of lame people throwing away their crutches.

nfortunately most of these claims can not be substantiated. Why not? Isn’t the government supposed to protect us from false claims and “snake oil” salesmen? Isn’t there supposed to be truth in advertising? Ask a stupid question, and if you ask the right people, you’ll get a very detailed explanation of why your question is not necessarily stupid, but difficult to answer succinctly. Dr. Michael O’Donoghue, dermatologist with Franciscan Alliance, led me to fascinating article by Dr. Zoe Diana Draelos, Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine Durham, North Carolina in the scholarly journal Dermatologic Therapy, Vol. 25. Some of us have come to believe that Cindy Crawford or Ellen DeGeneres or Oprah is the Queen of Cosmetics. Actually it’s Dr. Draelos and she’s very good at separating miracles from mole hills. The coloring agents and the preservatives in cosmetics are regulated by the government, Dr. Draelos writes, because in the 1930s some cosmetics were tainted with lead, mercury and arsenic. The feds came up with lists of ingredients that could be harmful. One of the most common bleaching creams—known as skin-whitening creams at the time, the 1930s—contained mercury and another contained arsenic. The introduction of these dangerous products led the federal government to recognize the need to protect us from these hazards. “This type of protection is very important,” she writes, “as the quickest way to whiten skin is to induce a state of anemia, which is how some of the skin- whitening products worked.” If you want to take a look back at the earliest users, ancient Egyptians wore a lot of eye makeup,

color sometimes made from natural products and skin creams made of oils and herbs. But in the 1600s in Europe, a new kind of cosmetic became popular. Little velvet beauty patches, sometimes shaped like stars, moons, or hearts, were used to cover scars on the faces of those who survived smallpox epidemics. A white DENISE DECLUE powder was also used to cover up scars. Later a theatrical white paste was developed, but perspiration made it gooey. “Grease paint” which suspended white pigment in oily vehicles came next. For centuries only floozies painted their faces. But when Suffragettes marched in 1912 as part of the “Gals-Should-Vote” campaign, they wore lipstick. Naughty. Not too many years later, Max Factor developed a cake makeup and patented it. Dr. Draelos notes that cosmetic safety is especially important around the eyes and lips, so safety experts became focused on colorants and preservatives. The FDA approves only purified natural colors or inorganic pigments that won’t seep into your body and cause harm. Certain colorants can only be used in areas where they won’t be ingested. Although later in her article, Dr. Draelos delves deeply into the chemistry of skin cells, she allows herself a bit of scholarly humor while pooh-poohing worries about the tiny amount of lead which may be contained in red lipstick. “Miniscule,” she says. “Persons who eat large quantities of red lipstick should be careful.” Dr. Draelos is equally skeptical of concerns about

preservatives in cosmetics. She says there is no such thing as a preservative-free commercially made cosmetic. Many contain water, which can attract bacteria; or ingredients that react with oxygen. Sometimes ingredients are sneaky preservatives like phenoxyethanol, “which has a lovely rose scent and may be used as a fragrance ingredient when in reality is it a preservative. Many spices, such as clove essences, can be used for a combination of fragrance and preservation.” This led up to the new ingredients in the antiaging creams that are not regulated, termed by some “cosmeceuticals.” Cosmetics have moved beyond appearance issues to include “active” ingredients: chemicals that may push their way into the very heart of old skin cells and cause them to act more like young skin cells. According to Dr. Draelos, the FDA does not recognize “cosmeceuticals” as a category and simply views them as cosmetics. “While ‘cosmeceuticals’ are considered quasi-drugs in Japan, it is unlikely that this category will receive governmental recognition in the United States,” she writes. “Cosmeceuticals have been called by many names including active cosmetics and functional skin care. For the most part, they are moisturizers that have additional ingredients added to provide benefits beyond traditional skin creams. “Most commonly added ingredients are botanicals (herbs/flowers/plants/trees), marine extracts (sea gunk), and vitamins, many of which function either directly or indirectly as antioxidants. Since oxidation is a key event in aging that can be easily understood by consumers, this is a good target for product claims.” So what’s a moderately “old-ish” gal with lots of fine lines and a few wrinkles to do? Well, if you’re going the non-surgical, non-dermatological, overthe-counter route, there are some good suggestions out there that will have to wait until next month.

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A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

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media watcher. “Hospice of the Calumet Area helped me

care for my father at home .”

Alicia, Abraham’s daughter

“As my father’s cancer progressed, he wanted to live his final months at home. Hospice of the Calumet Area made his wish a reality. “Their expert team taught me what to expect and made sure I was prepared to work with them to keep my father comfortable. They improved his quality of life and helped our family share meaningful time together.” Hospice of the Calumet Area seeks to make every day fulfilling. To learn more, call or visit our website.

Mad Men and Veep

Worth the Wait P rogramming alert: Something you may not have dared to dream about for a long, long time is happening in a few weeks: The first half of the seventh—and final— season of Mad Men will premiere on Sunday, April 13, at 9 p.m on AMC. According to AMC, the last season of the award-winning ’60s-era advertising drama will be split into two halves—in a manner similar to the network’s acclaimed series Breaking Bad, which ended its successful run with a record high 10.3 million viewers in September 2013. Each half of the seventh season of Mad Men will consist of seven episodes (the second half is slated to begin in spring of 2015). The popularity and buzz surrounding Mad Men may have been eclipsed more recently by edgier progeny such as Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, and other beloved basic cable series—or even new entries from Netflix including Orange Is the New Black and House of Cards. But Mad Men is still considered hugely influential, not only for how it raised the bar for television excellence, but for renewing interest in ’60s fashion, style and culture, and sparking the national conversation about gender and race bias. And one more thing: Mad Men was an early offender in a still-growing list of shows that push the limits of the dreaded “Extended Hiatus.” Network TV series used to run like clockwork from approximately September to May, with short rerun seasons over the holidays and summer. The Cosby Show ran for eight seasons on NBC (19841992)—starting in September and ending in May. NBC drama ER (1994-2009) ran for 15 seasons—each season spanning September to May. At first, there was outrage when this practice of sustained breaks started, but now, it’s a sanity-preservation tactic to simply put the shows out of mind, and be pleasantly surprised (if not blindsided) when they return. For example, keep your eyes open for another series premiere coming up soon: HBO’s award-winning, outrageously profane Veep, starring Julia

FRANK OCKENFELS In this undated image released by AMC, the cast of “Mad Men,” from left, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, Jared Harris, Vincent Kartheiser, Jon Hamm, Robert Morse and Elisabeth Moss are shown. Louis-Dreyfus. The mad-cap political comedy follows a predictable schedule, at least; the series premiered on April 22, 2012, with an eight-episode season, and followed up with a second season of ten episodes debuting on April 14, 2013. The ten-episode third season of Veep is slated to premiere in a couple of weeks on April 6. So consider yourself warned about the premiere of Mad Men, because you may need these next few weeks to remind yourself where the story left off those many months ago. When we last saw Don Draper, he was being told by his colleagues at Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce that he should take a nice, long break…and in this case, the viewers were forced to follow suit. Does the building anticipation make the show more desirable? Or are we as consumers just getting used to waiting? I prefer to think that it’s a combination of both sentiments, mixed in with a healthy dose of realism: quite simply, excellent storytelling combined with visual artistry and exceptional craftsmanship require more time to produce. Now that we’ve had a taste of the extraordinary quality that television shows can provide, we will settle for nothing less…and good things come to those who wait. -KATHY MACNEIL

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Saving Lives Getting a jump and Limbs generations.

INTO THE

online dating world

t-a-click romance isn’t just for 20-somethings. It’s also for the young at heart. In fact, the 50 and over segment is the fastest growing group of subscribers for online dating, according to a study by Lehman Brothers Equity Research. The convenience of clicking through profiles of potential dates is the main reason seniors are opting for the internet over expensive, fading personal ads. But if you choose to go this route, there are certain precautions to take to ensure your safety and well-being.

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU REACH OUT There are literally hundreds of online dating websites across the internet. Some are targeted toward certain races, interests and backgrounds, so if you have a type in mind, you can whittle down your pool by choosing the site that fits your needs. Are you looking for a physically active mate? A certain age range? Search through the many options to find the one that you feel comfortable using.

SAFETY FIRST As with any online endeavor that may lead to a face-to-face meeting, your safety is paramount. It is troubling to think that some people use online dating sites to lure ARE YOU READY? The popularity of online dating sites has unsuspecting people into dangerous situations, but that is the reality. exploded over the past 10 years due to Agree to meet your date in a their ease of use and the convenience populated restaurant or sporting of being able to browse through prospective dates. But just because more event where many other people will be around. If going out at night, be sure not people are using these sites doesn’t to walk through dimly lit mean they are right for you. areas by yourself and Are you coming off of a long, try to park close to frustrating relationship? Did your your destination. spouse recently pass away, leaving you If any red flags with emotional and mental come up during anguish? the online courting If your emotions and process, back out psychological state immediately seem a bit unstable, and move on consider sitting down to the next with a therapist profile. There before adding are many the complexities other fish in of another the online relationship into ocean. the mix.

Many people suffer from non-healing wounds or pain in their legs due to decreased blood flow that may be caused by peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, or neuropathy. Oftentimes, patients with these conditions do not recognize the severity of the problem until it is too late, causing a loss of limb. Community Hospital’s Peripheral Arterial Disease Center offers treatment options for non-healing wounds or pain the lower legs. This program diagnoses, treats, educates and rehabilitates patients to help patients toward recovery. Our multidisciplinary team incorporates interventional cardiovascular medicine, infectious disease specialists, diabetes management, nutrition and exercise education to provide each patient with the best possible outcome.

To make an appointment with the specialists at the Peripheral Arterial Disease Center, call 219-836-7713.

901 MacArthur Blvd., Munster, Indiana 46321 GREENSHOOT MEDIA A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

www.comhs.org

MARCH 18, 2014 |||||| PRIME |||||| 7

GREENSHOOT MEDIA

HEALTH PROBLEMS?

FIND THE

Light

pending time outdoors during pleasant, sunny weather is a pastime enjoyed by many. New research finds that it also may be vital to senior health. The vitamins and health benefits provided by the sun are important for everyone to receive, especially the senior population. And while medical professionals know that sun exposure is crucial for elders, specific recommendations for just how much are hard to pin down. Skin types, time of day and geographic location all play a role in determining an optimum amount for each individual. Consult with your physician to find out what would work best for your body.

VITAMIN D The Vitamin D Council recommends that on days that you do not get enough full body sun exposure that you take a supplement to help keep your levels high. You can also give your body a boost by eating Vitamin-D rich foods, like fatty fish, beef liver, egg yolks and fortified cereals. The council, however, urges people not to depend on food alone for their vitamin D intake. 8 |||||| PRIME ||||| MARCH 18, 2014

EYE HEALTH The British Journal of Ophthalmology recently found that elders may have both a higher need for natural light and a harder time getting it compared to younger people. This can lead to the lack of blue light from the sun, which usually helps the brain produce melatonin to regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycles. This eye issue can lead to insomnia and other medical problems that can be major factors in conditions like depression and heart disease. DON’T OVERDO IT Spending too much time outdoors without protection from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light can be damaging to the eyes and skin. Seniors are also susceptible to overheating or dehydration in warm conditions, so use your judgment when you’re trying to take advantage of the sunlight. Avoid extremely hot and humid days that can drain your energy. On days you do go outside, drink plenty of water and mix in a few breaks inside instead of spending hours working in the garden without breaks for rest or hydration. -GREENSHOOT MEDIA

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

device devotee.

Wearing the

office supplies

our phone rings; instead of rooting around your pants pockets and three jacket pockets looking for the phone while people around you get tired of hearing the Walking Dead theme song, you simply push a button on your wrist and you’re free to talk. The recent trend among device makers has been to take the technology you love from your phone and transfer to a device that can be worn out and even have it be stylish. We first experienced the introduction of wearables with the Kickstarter funded Pebble Smartwatch. The little $150 gadget did nothing more than allow you to check your notifications, change your music and yes, check the time from your iPhone or Android phone. This year makers launched a new barrage of wearables from Samsung to Sony to help you channel your inner spy.

SAMSUNG GALAXY GEAR: $299

The massive success of Pebble’s little watch attracted the attention of South Korean technology giant Samsung. However, Samsung being Samsung, they only made a simple watch into something out of a spy thriller. The Samsung Galaxy Gear, a watch, allows you to sync your wearable device to your Samsung Note 3 or S4 phone and expand on its functionality. This colorful 1.6 inch display grants the user the ability to make phone calls, take low resolution pictures and even short 720p videos. Along with the new tweaks on a familiar design, the watch allows you to check notifications and the time. The device, released in October 2013, was popular enough Samsung is already looking to improve it with the new, not yet released, Samsung Galaxy Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo and the Gear Fit.

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

PEBBLE STEEL: $250

From the same company that brought us that original Kickstarter-funded Pebble Smartwatch, the new Pebble Steel uses a new marine-grade steel case and choice of leather or metal bands. The watch aims to keep it clean and sleek, however, this new version uses a new power connector and you can’t easily swap the band it comes with for one that’s more stylish. Along with the new upgrades, the 1.97 ounce device improved on the software, making it much more clean and easily to use. It now has more third party-apps complimenting the hardware. While both the software and hardware have been improved, the watch still has its downsides; the user interface when using third party apps can sometimes be tricky to navigate around in. Finally, the device is a bit unbalanced when dealing with different operating systems. In Android the watch works back and forth easily where in iOS it falters.

SONY SMARTWATCH 2: $199

Much like other wearables in its field, this is nothing more than a companion device. Sony’s SmartWatch 2 is both sleek and something that will help you achieve that zero count on the inbox folder. The watch allows you to check with Twitter, Facebook and Gmail, and with the addition of other third party apps will assist with other platforms. However, the device lacks information and iOS functionality. When you finally check the notification, there is only a little bit of info; from there you will decide if reaching into your pocket and pulling your android-only phone is worth it. And the device does not work with Apple iOS. —TRAVIS KIPPER

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cover story

Environmentalists inspire

WORDS BY DIANE POULTON

photographer’s

“J

ust a guy, a camera and a lot of clicking,” Michael Lewandowski says on his Lew Shots Facebook page. Lewandowski’s photography has recently garnered local attention at exhibits at Hammond’s Paul Henry Gallery, Pier 74 in Cedar Lake and the Blue Room Café in Hammond. Lewandowski, 50, has worked as a boilermaker for twenty five years and out of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local Lodge 1 in Chicago since 2000. His responsibilities include field construction work at power houses, refineries and steel mills. About three years ago, Lewandowski, who always enjoyed photography, bought a “decent camera.” “I like shooting wildlife, old cemeteries and cars,” Lewandowski says. “I’m not a people photographer. My wife showed me an article about Lora Mercado and her photography and I loved her cemetery shots.” Mercado became Lewandowski’s mentor. “She got me started, showing my photography in a local show at Pier 74 in Cedar Lake,” Lewandowski says. “I joined a local art group which is now called South Lake Arts Co-Op. They had an anniversary show at Paul Henry’s Art Gallery in Hammond and one of my pieces was a shot from the inside of St. Joseph’s church in down town Hammond. That led to me having a solo show put on by David Mueller of Paul Henry Gallery at the Blue Room Café featuring my St. Joseph’s photos.” An interesting connection which would lead to Lewandowski’s photographing some of what are becoming his best

passion for wildlife

The biggest challenge in photographing the eagles, Lewandowski says, was trying to get the takeoff shot. “I had kept them in focus for over an hour waiting for them to fly off a branch,” Lewandowski says. “Sometimes I had to switch hands because of cramping and shaking. I really like that shot and have had some good luck with it.” In his video montage, Lewandowski has photographs of one adult eagle which was in a tree about one hundred yards from the nest. It broke off a branch and flew it to the nest. The other eagle then took the branch and placed it in the nest. “These are two of my better take off shots,” Lewandowski says. “The first is called ‘9-11’ because I shot it on September 11 and it is also my first take off shot ever. The second is ‘Double Take Off’ which has a blackbird tagging along. What Lewandowsk finds most satisfying about photography is “knowing when you are out shooting that you have shot something really special; something that is a keeper.” “That’s the great thing about digital; you can shoot a bunch of shots and TONY V. MARTIN might only keep a few money shots,” Lewandowski says. “You can also correct Nature photographer Michael Lewandowski with some of his work on things as you go.” display at the Comfy Couch store in Highland. For the future, Lewandowski plans to the eagles was one of the greatest things I continue taking photos and getting into known and most satisfying shots of art shows. have done. It took four months.” a group of bald eagles. Lewandowski He currently has framed photos for Lewandowski says he would like to introduced himself to Mike Echterling of sale on display at Paul Henry’s Art Gallery have his eagle photographs used for WJOB radio at The Friends of the Little in Hammond and at both The Comfy education locally. Calumet River clean up in March 2013. Couch and Hoosier Highlander stores in “I have been working on that,” Echterling took Lewandowski under his downtown Highland. Lewandowski says. “I made a DVD wing, so to speak, showing him the bald “It is a great honor that someone montage of my shots that I am very proud eagles’ nest. thinks enough of my work to buy it and of.” “I was working nights and would go The Indiana Welcome Center is giving hang it in their homes,” Lewandowski out before work and shoot the nest,” says. Lewandowski a few places to try. Lewandowski says. “I was there one day More of Lewandowski’s photography “I dropped off my video montage of my when I heard both adults screeching and eagle shots and it is supposed to be played can be seen on his Facebook page Lew looking skyward. Then one adult took Shots Photography. on a monitor there,” Lewandowski says. off to scare away a hawk. Photographing

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photo finish. orthopaedic specialists

of Northwest Indiana

“Visionaire Instrumentation” Custom Alignment for Knee Replacement Here the imaging is used to precisely measure how much bone and cartilage is removed so that the knee replacement components have the ideal fit for each individual patient. One orthopedic manufacturer, SmithNephew,uses a preoperative MRI,which is used for the measurements.That data is reviewed by the company engineers and the patients surgeon and when all that information appears correct, custom-made cutting blocks are created for component placement during surgery. Branded “Visionaire” technique, the cutting blocks are made of a hard nylon material, come sterilized for use in the operating room and fit exactly over the bone. Once secured to the bone, they have a cutting slot where the bone cuts are completed.

First Place: “Morning Bliss at Trillium Lake Oregon” by Cody Blunt Second Place (left): “Perfect Timing” by Lisa Downs

Third Place (below): “Gorillas” by Kim Prium. Mother gorilla Koola (middle) spending time with her daughters Kamba (left) and Nora (right) at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois.

ARE YOU A PHOTOGRAPHY ADDICT? Do you carry your camera with you wherever you go, looking for the perfect shot? If so, send your photos in to prime@ nwi.com and you will be entered for a chance to see your photo printed in an upcoming edition of Prime. The photos should be no larger than 4 MB in Jpeg format. Please provide your full name, address, telephone number and caption information for the photo. Good luck, and happy shooting!

New Techniques in Joint Replacement Computer modeled cutting blocks, custom designed for each patient and based on their own X-Ray and MRI imaging helps the surgery become even less invasive, faster and with less blood loss. There are several advantages to this. One, as already mentioned, is precision and customized component placement. Additionally these blocks are smaller than even the minimally invasive instruments, so the surgery can be less invasive. Since they come “pre-aligned,” there are no larger alignment instruments needed, so the surgery is often done in significantly less time. Finally, there is no rod placement down the central bone canal as in traditional techniques, which can lead to extra post-op blood loss.

ARTHRITIS UPDATE:

ADVANCES IN JOINT REPLACEMENT ♦ Residency/Training: Univ. of Chicago ♦ Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons (ABOS) ♦ Member American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS)

For more information about Visionaire Custom Alignment Knee, I can be contacted at:

Joseph Hecht, M.D

Orthopaedic Specialists of Northwest Indiana 730-45th Street, Munster, IN 46321 www.josephhechtmd.com

Phone 219-924-3300 Fax (219) 922-5424 A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TIMES MEDIA CO.

March 18, 2014 |||||| PRIME |||||| 11

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