Senior Life - Allen County - March 2025 by The Papers Inc.

Living Life After 50

Workers for the Blind chapter tirelessly assists visually impaired

By ROD KING Feature Writer

It got its start because of the horrors of war. The Indiana Association of Workers for the Blind officially began in 1917 in Indianapolis as a way to assist veterans blinded during military service in World War I. Since then, it evolved into a state-wide organization helping all blind persons and those having some vision but was considered legally blind.

Numerous active chapters sprung up all over the state. Today, however, the Fort Wayne chapter is the only one that has survived. Even the state organization was dissolved a few years ago.

According to President Ron Collins, the mission of the organization is to assist all legally blind individuals in coming together to discuss issues of common significance, participate in social activities, provide community service and dispense charitable assistance to members when needed.

“Our goal, he stated, is to keep visually-impaired persons from becoming isolated, lonely and subsequently depressed because of their disability. Our constitution requires the I, as president and at least onethird of our board of directors, be totally blind or have significant visual impairment,” Collins said.

The all-volunteer, tax exempt,

not-for-profit organization consists of about 50 visually-impaired persons and sighted members. Sighted members serve as drivers and fulfill other roles in the organization, which cannot be discharged by the visually-impaired.

Monthly meetings are held at churches and other facilities around Fort Wayne, which host its members and provide lunches. Collins noted that the organization is not religious but welcomes all individuals regardless of who they are as long as they meet the requirement of being either legally blind or wishing to volunteer to assist those who are visually impaired.

“We provide our members an annual Christmas party, a summer picnic and various other activities of interest to our membership, “ said Collins.

A visit is planned later this year to Sweetwater Sound. For many years, Workers for the Blind hosted a bowling league, but COVID and the lack of available drivers curtailed that activity.

“We’re hoping to resume the league on a limited basis starting in April,” said Collins.

In addition to its social activities, the chapter is mindful of its responsibility to others who are less fortunate. It has established outreach programs to support the “Boundless Energy” playground that is geared to individuals with disabilities.

Free

March 2025

PICNIC

IN THE PARK Workers for the

It also collects canned goods at meetings, which are donated to food pantries, and also donates daily-living items to nursing homes.

The Association of Workers for the Blind for many years was well known for its annual White Cane fundraiser in partnership with area Kroger stores. Unfortunately, COVID curtailed that effort and

Kroger subsequently modified its in-store solicitation policy, eliminating that source of income.

“We periodically receive grants from foundations,” said Collins. “But these are significantly restricted because we are primarily a ‘social services’ organization and not a ‘charitable’ organization. In the past, Lions Clubs were a major supporter of our organization, but because

their membership numbers are dwindling, so has their level of support. We have received some financial support from Anthony Wayne Services Foundation and the League for the Blind and Disabled.”

More information about the Fort Wayne Chapter of the Indiana Association of Workers for the Blind can be found on its website, workersfortheblind. org or call (260) 7045001.

County edition ReAChing FoRt WAyne And SuRRounding CountieS

Vol. 37, No. 11

Blind hosts a picnic every summer for its members. Photo provided by Workers for the Blind.

ANNUAL PARTY The Indiana Association of Workers for the Blind officially began in 1917 in Indianapolis. The all-volunteer, tax exempt, not-for-profit organization consists of about 50 visually impaired persons and sighted members. It provides its members an annual Christmas party, a summer picnic and various other activities. Photo provided by The Indiana Association of Workers for the Blind.

President helps promote public parks

By ROD KING Feature Writer

New Haven residents are blessed with one of the most extensive parks, trails and recreation systems in the state for a city its size. The New Haven Adams Township Parks and Recreation Department manages 19 properties covering 335 acres. In addition, it’s responsible for maintaining eight miles of trails.

The five-person board of directors (four representing New Haven and one representing unincorporated Adams Township) is charged with monitoring the finances of the parks and recreation department to assure the public that the $1.7 million budget is well spent in their interest.

Heading the board is President Irv Arnold. He has been on the board for nine years and its leader since 2023.

“Our main goal is to the give the taxpayers a good return on their investment. The new bond that went into effect recently has made it possible for us to implement updates to equipment in many of our parks,” he said.

He pointed out that construction is underway at a couple of parks. One is Marylands Farm Park, which has been under development for the past several years on the north side of Rose Avenue, immediately west of the railroad tracks. A bid to build the first phase of the sensory trail has

been approved.

“Haskamp Park, which is presently a work in process, has been part of the parks system for the past 15 years and is probably the best-kept secret among the 19 parks. It’s located in Haskamp Woods south of Seiler Road west of Hartzel Road. The 40-acre property has a .7-mile trail starting and ending at Pinestone subdivision. We’ll be improving the trail, keeping it as natural as possible, and adding a small parking area.”

The park system has been growing by leaps and bounds for the past 50 years, he said.

“Our partnership with the YMCA at the New Haven Community Center is very promising. They’ll be using our facility for their many programs that will be a great benefit for our citizenry,” he said.

The Huntington native said his favorite park in the system is Schnelker Park.

“It’s the centerpiece of the entire system, it’s located close to downtown New Haven at the south end of Broadway and its potential is limited only by our creativity. I’m extremely proud of the way our six, full-time employees and the 15 part-time workers, who join them during the summer season, keep our parks looking great,” said Arnold.

Arnold, who has been a parks user going back to his childhood and a promoter for public parks as long as he can

remember, was honored to have been asked to serve on the board of directors nearly a decade ago.

“My goal is to listen to the public, attempt to develop the programs they want and to offer the community a parks system they can be proud of,”

he said.

Arnold and his wife, Susan, came to the New Haven area in 1989. He attended two years at Huntington College and later completed his education through Concordia University Wisconsin. They have two sons, who are New Haven

High School graduates. A United States Marine Corps veteran, Arnold was employed by GTE/Verizon for 32 years, followed by six years at Fort Wayne Veterans Hospital. He enjoys working part time at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Grief is an individual experience

Grief is a very individual experience, or as I like to say, “it is the same but different for everyone.” Sometime in our life we will all lose someone that we hold dear to us, a spouse, parent, sibling or good friend and it will impact on our life significantly. It will change our view of life and how we understand life but in different ways depending on our personality, age and our view of life. As we begin to understand that even though it is painful, grief can lead to a deeper appreciation for life and living. It can help strengthen our desire to move

on leading meaningful, full lives.

The important part of “moving on” is understanding that grief is all about love. After all, we only grieve for those that we loved, whether it be a spouse, family member, a relationship or even a family pet. If we are experiencing deep grief, it is because we experience deep love. We can never lose what we loved so deeply because it becomes part of us.

“To become a deeper man is the privilege of those who have suffered.”

- Oscar Wilde

TOM ROSE Author and Speaker Coping with Grief

I have learned over the past years on my grief journey that a griever must find a way to express himself, to find the words. Then they

must share their feelings and say those words, and of course they need to know those words have been heard.

“Grief shared is halved, Joy shared is doubled.”

- An old proverb

In the process of writing my book, “Balloon in a Box,” I understand it can be hard to put into words the wide range of emotions that the griever is experiencing. Those emotions may include sadness, loneliness, regret, guilt, anger, and sadness, among many. Please note that I said it may include these as I have been told by many that they have not experienced all of these emotions. As an example, several people have shared that they have never experienced anger.

“Grief is like living two lives. One is where you pre-

tend that everything is alright and the other is where your heart silently screams out in pain.”

- Author unknown

Our individual experiences with grief may depend upon our support from family and friends. But most importantly the depth of our religious beliefs. God will help, just ask! He will not abandon you during your time of grief. He will always be there; all you need to do is go to him. With God as our driver on the journey we may encounter less potholes and bumps in the road. Having Him with us makes the journey a lot smoother.

“Hear my cry O God; Attend my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to you.

When my heart is overwhelmed

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Surviving grief may require making changes in the way we live our life. We must learn to move past the emotions of grief, in particular guilt and regret. We must face the reality that life continues and we must embrace the changes. Yes, life continues... embrace the changes.

FAVORITE PARK Schnelker Park, according to New Haven Adams Township Parks and Recreation Department Board President Irv Arnold, is the center piece of the 19 properties managed and maintained by the department. Photo by Rod King.

‘You Are So Beautiful’ lifted Crocker into Top 5 on weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart

Joe Cocker

Do you recognize these heartfelt song lyrics?

“Such joy and happiness you bring

“Just like a dream

“You’re like a guiding light

A Boomer Blast To The Past

By RANDAL C. HILL

“Shining in the night

“You’re heaven’s gift to me”

Unless you’re a diehard Billy Preston fan, the answer is probably no. If you are, though, you may remember these words from his recording of “You Are So Beautiful,” a tune composed by Preston and collaborator Bruce Fisher. It was written as a loving tribute to Billy’s mother, a stage actress.

However, your recollections of “You Are So Beautiful” most likely come from English singer Joe Cocker.

He first came to prominence in the States via the 1970 “Woodstock” movie, which featured the sandpaper-voiced

Cocker — he smoked 80 cigarettes a day— with his amazing performance of “A Little Help from My Friends,” the Ringo Starr-led opening track of the Beatles’ “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album.

At Woodstock, in Joe’s capable hands, “Friends” became a rousing yet tortured anthem as he flailed his arms, jerked his body about, played air guitar and air drums, and transported himself to another world for eight riveting minutes as attendees watched slack-jawed.

Born in 1944, Cocker grew up in the rundown steel-manufacturing center of Sheffield. A school dropout, he worked as a gas-company apprentice while drifting in and out of different pub bands. He hated the workaday world and never forsook his lifelong dream of becoming a recording star, having fallen sway to pioneer American rockers such as Elvis and Chuck Berry before Ray Charles’s “What’d I Say” blew Joe’s 15-year-old mind in the summer of 1959.

In Charles, Cocker found his mentor and set about working endless hours learning to emu-

late the American’s approach to singing.

Since the mid-1950s, Charles had shown the world a voice and a style that he used to fashion a new form of black pop music by fusing gospel with rhythm and blues (R & B), creating an aural stew that music fans worldwide embraced with gusto. Like several UK singers of the 1960s — Mick Jagger, Eric Burdon, Tom Jones — Joe Cocker managed to sound Black, which was something that British artists often saw as a coveted achievement.

Years later, Ray Charles himself said, “I would never say Joe Cocker is a disciple of mine. He’s an equal of mine.”

In early 1975, “You Are So Beautiful” lifted Joe into the Top Five on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart. A tinkling piano introduces the composition before lush strings carry him away with passionate ecstasy, proving that he could be both breathlessly gentle and gloriously stirring within the confines of a single recording.

“You are so beautiful to me

“Can’t you see

“You’re everything I

hoped for

“You’re everything I need

“You are so beautiful to me

“To me”

These were the only words

that Joe Cocker needed to show the world that Billy Preston’s original version could be pared down to just 32 words of raw, Ray Charles-like emotion.

Doctor’s Day returns March 1

Science Central’s annual event focusing on the health care field, Doctor’s Day, returns Saturday, March 1, for its 30th year at Science Central. It will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Presented by the Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance, and sponsored by Lutheran Health Network, Indiana University Health and Parkview Health, this free admission event will feature health and wellness-oriented family-friendly activities, prizes and giveaways. This event promises fun, informative learning opportunities to engage and explore over 35 participating booths.

This event offers a unique opportunity for individuals of all ages to explore careers in health care. Visitors can participate in various activi-

ties, including medical demonstrations, interactive tables, wellness tips and more.

Visitors can expect to see “The Doctor Is In” booth again this year, allowing visitors to ask questions of local health care professionals, to learn about their careers and expertise.

Get an up-close look at heart, lung and brain specimens to

understand human anatomy and engage in fun, hands-on experiences that bring medical science to life. Discover the vast array of career opportunities available in the medical field, from traditional roles to emerging specialties.

Local, fifth-grade students from select schools will be recognized for their FWMSA medical career research pre-

sentations and receive awards for participating.

The Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance is celebrating 30 years of connecting the community with the world of health care.

Science Central, a not-forprofit organization, has provided a hands-on, fun learning environment for 30 years. Through 200-plus exhibits,

school tours, distance learning programs and weekend public events, it brings the excitement of science and technology to over 140,000 children and adults annually.

Science Central is located at 1950 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne. For more information, contact Science Central at (260) 424-2400 or visit sciencecentral.org.

JOE COCKER

Lintz’s 13-year project results in first book

By ROD KING Feature Writer

What started as a simple family history genealogy turned into a monster project for Allen County resident, Archie Lintz, and concluded in his first book. After 13 years of research and writing, “William and Jane: A Scots-Irish Story of Colonial America, Revolution and the Early Republic” was published by Amazon.

“Though it started out as a memorial piece, its broader historical importance soon became obvious. The book is non-fiction, but I tried to imagine some of the scenes for the reader with an occasional touch of historical fiction,” Lintz said.

One example was when William made it home to his mother and brothers after five years of war.

“The real history of our country,” insists Lintz, “is found

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in the story of its families. My book focuses on the lives of my fourth great-grandparents who lived on the western frontier of Colonial America. William was a militia rifleman who campaigned for American independence from the siege of Boston in 1775 through the Valley Forge winter to the heat and humidity of the Carolinas, where he fought at King’s Mountain. He was an ensign who carried the first stars and stripes into battle. His wife, Jane, gave birth to eight, first-generation American citizens. The life of the country depended on both of them.”

Lintz kicked off his research with the help of Sarah Kirby, genealogist at the Huntington Public Library, by attaining a file on Revolutionary War veteran’s service records.

“The most valuable information in the file turned out to be William’s widow’s pension application testimony. The nationally-acclaimed genealogy department of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, just 27 miles away, was a huge asset, as well. A trip to King’s Mountain, S.C., where the American Patriot Militia won a major battle at a time when the Continental Army was on the ropes, proved helpful,” Lintz said.

Lintz said at some point, early on, it seemed the book woke up something from the past that wanted to be understood so he followed where it took him, step by step.

and

time,” said Lintz, “I was able to make connections within that body of data that had not been made before. That is what is possible when you live and breathe a subject for 13 years.

actually written,” Lintz said. Then he began writing the index, which he found to be the most difficult and time-consuming work of the entire project.

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“I contacted various museums, but the most frustrating phase was when the COVID pandemic shut down many of my sources for long periods of time. I was very discouraged at times, but never tempted to quit,” he said.

“Though the information had existed for a very long

I learned that the Scots-Irish were instrumental in getting the Bill of Rights attached to the Constitution. I called it ‘the miracle after the miracle at Philadelphia.’”

When Lintz completed the book, he and his wife, Lu Ann, proofed and edited it by reading it aloud.

“There’s nothing like reading aloud to find out what you’ve

“Without an index, a non-fiction book is pretty much worthless,” he added. “It’s a 366-page, three-part, 17-chapter work with supplementary material, a glossary and the all-important index,” Lintz said.

The 76-year-old retired classroom teacher is already working on a new book. This one is on a family during the Civil War.

First Merchants Bank funds financial education series

Brightpoint Development Fund has received $5,000 from First Merchants Bank to fund a series of courses called Personal Financial Foundations. The series focuses on providing opportunities and tools to help individuals reach their financial goals.

“First Merchants Bank is proud to partner with Brightpoint in their vital work serving northeast Indiana,” said Scott McKee, chief corporate social responsibility officer for First Merchants Bank. “We believe in their mission and are committed to supporting their efforts to make a positive impact on our community. We’re honored to play a role in their success.”

The Personal Financial Foundations courses start with an overview of the key points in the four-part series and how to

begin a path toward financial stability. The remaining three sessions provide information about budgeting, credit and banking.

“First Merchants Bank’s sponsorship enables Brightpoint to bring this critical financial education to more individuals and families,” said Matt Crouch, vice president of Community Economic Development for Brightpoint. “Their support underscores the dedication to our shared values of empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures.”

The series is free and open to the public. The courses will be held at the main branch of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne March 17, April 21, May 19, and June 16.

For more information or to sign up, visit mybrightpoint.org.

LONG-TIME PROJECT— Author Archie Lintz put 13 years into research

writing his first book, “William and Jane: A Scots-Irish Story of Colonial America, Revolution and the Early Republic,” which is now available on Amazon. Photo provided by Archie Lintz.

Alley Kats dance their way to fitness

By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer

Mary Till is involved in something that she and others consider a team sport. She’s a long-time member of a tap dance troupe, the Alley Kats. Members meet twice a week at the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Community Center on Main Street.

“I started in my 60s,” Till said. “I’m 76. A lot the girls have done tap from the age of 4 or 5 years old. I learned after I retired.”

On Monday and Thursday afternoons, she gets together with about a dozen women, ranging in their 60s up to the eldest woman, who is 90. They dance for about an hour and a half.

“We practice routines for the upcoming performances. We also do routines we’re trying to perfect or will do later. For most of us, it counts as part

of our fitness,” she said. “It becomes very physical at times.

We’re moving all the time.”

The Alley Kats have a full schedule, including three performances in March and several that are scheduled later in the year. They’ve already got a show set up for December.

“It requires a big commitment,” Till said. “All of us put in mega hours and this is all volunteer time.”

Learning a new routine is especially something that requires focus.

“We’ve just been given a new routine,” Till said. “We usually video it on our phones and we practice at home.”

The women wear different costumes that are coordinated with whatever music they are doing. The duty of figuring out the choreography, taking care of the costumes, and whatever else is needed is shared among the members.

“We all have our little jobs to

do,” Till said. She emphasized they work as a unit and their system is effective because each one takes responsibility for their act.

Joshua Ogle of the parks and recreation department, manages their schedule and decides on where they’ll go. There is a charge for the Alley Kats to perform and the funds that are raised are used for the program, such as purchasing costumes.

“Sometimes, we change five or six times in a performance,” Till said. “We’ll be at the Huntington Summer Expo. We do luncheons, go to nursing homes, and go other places. We don’t perform on weekends or in the evenings.”

They wear tap shoes and will have a black leotard and tights so the women can easily switch outfits efficiently during performances. Performing on carpet or cement isn’t possible because it’s hard on their shoes

and/or doesn’t make sounds.

“I’ve got a couple dozen costumes,” Till said. “Some are probably 30 years old. I’ve got tubs full of them at home.”

When Till joined, she didn’t know anyone in the group. Now, she has numerous friends there and some will meet outside of dancing to play cards or socialize in other ways. They enjoy a camaraderie they treasure and are always looking to add more to their team. When someone joins, they help them learn the steps and make them feel comfortable before they become part of the performances.

“We have a good time,” Till said. “We laugh. We just really have a good time together.”

NUTSHELL

By DICK WOLFSIE

I tend to lose stuff. Once, I lost a cell phone and found it in the freezer. Then, I misplaced my wallet and found it at the bottom of the dog food canister. There is a logical explanation for both of those incidents — sort of.

My wife has told me many times that I am clearly a loser. She’s witnessed many of my misplacements, so I accept that label. But when her mother first met me, she told Mary Ellen I was a loser. She knew that after one visit. How perceptive.

To prevent further device separation, I bought a Tile. This ingenious product, about the size of a credit card, slips into your wallet and allows you to discover where you left your billfold by looking at a GPS map posted on your

phone or computer. The screen gives the exact location of your valuables. Your cell phone also makes a beeping noise as you get closer to where your wallet is hiding.

The problem was that when I sat down anywhere, the pressure on my wallet in my pocket against the chair set off the Tile: BUZZ! BEEP! You’ve heard of a butt call. This was a trouser arouser. This sound confirmed that my wallet was nearby. Of course, it was nearby. It was in my pants. This was an unnecessary alert. And very annoying. It kept sounding off

one morning at breakfast until my friends asked me to remove the Tile from my back pocket and place it on the table. An hour later, I walked out of the restaurant without my Tile. I didn’t realize it was missing until the following week. I had no idea where I left it.

Later that evening, my wife and I were headed out for dinner, but I couldn’t find my wallet. Mary Ellen said, “why not use your Tile to locate it?”

“I lost my Tile.”

“Wait a second. Are you telling me you spent $50 on a device to find your wallet and you then lost the device you

bought to find your wallet?”

“Yup, you nailed it.”

“Now what are you going to do?”

“I am going on Amazon to see if they make another techie item that I can buy to find the Tile that I bought to find things I can’t find.”

Later that week, I was fiddling with my phone. Suddenly, I got a prompt that said, “the last time you used your Tile was at Another Broken Egg Cafe three weeks ago.”

This is where our group meets for breakfast. I leave things there all the time, except a tip (just kidding).

I retrieved my Tile from the café and discovered the battery was low, which is not rechargeable. I bought a new Tile and asked my AI program what to do next. They gave me a dozen steps to replace the dead Tile with a fresh one. Years ago, I had an uncle who had a problem with booze and went for help. His Twelve Steps were probably easier to follow than the 12 I got from AI.

Recently, I returned a few items at a local department store and did a little browsing.

“Can I help you find anything?” the clerk asked.

If he only knew.

TAP TO BE FIT Mary Till is a member of the Alley Kats. She started tapping in her 60s. The group meets twice a week in Fort Wayne.

Photo provided by Mary Till.

70s Flashback —

He was known as ‘Harrison the Headache’

He’s one of the world’s biggest box-office stars, but to those who once worked alongside Harrison Ford, his later success no doubt left many people scratching their heads in amazement.

By RANDAL C. HILL

In June 1972, George Lucas filmed “American Graffiti,” using the California city of Petaluma as a stand-in for his hometown of Modesto. Ford turned 30 during that shoot, but folks who witnessed his behavior then would have never labeled him the most mature of the film’s young cast.

Lucas had hand-picked his actors for their chemistry onscreen, but during “down times” some of the performers proved to be less — much less —

than professional.

Harrison, who doesn’t appear till near the end of the story, portrayed Bob Falfa, a sneering, aggressive hotshot from out of town who roared around in a souped-up 1955 Chevy while looking to dethrone John Milner (Paul Le Mat), the undisputed king of Modesto’s street racers.

Away from the set, Ford and Le Mat partied hard at Petaluma’s Holiday Inn, where George and the crew were established. Sometimes, Harrison and Paul roared their movie cars up and down the quiet main street, urinated in the hotel’s soft-drink machine, and tried (unsuccessfully) to set fire to Lucas’s room as a prank.

One “sport” for the pair was to race each other in a climb to the peak of the Holiday Inn sign and set empty beer bottles on the top railing.

Their adolescent behavior terrorized some of the young “American Graffiti” females.

Candy Clark (who played Debbie) said, “Harrison and Paul were pretty wild. They were drinking a lot of beer in those days. I found them very intimidating, like Hell’s Angel’s types.”

How bad was that behavior? In one instance, Ford and Le Mat hurled empty beer bottles from their balcony into the parking lot. This sparked an argument with the more serious Richard Dreyfuss (the Curt character). “There was this huge commotion down the hall from me,” Cindy Williams— Laurie in the story—recalled. “Harrison ended up chucking Richard into the swimming pool from the second story.”

George may have let the annoying behavior slide, but the hotel folks didn’t. Harrison was ejected from the Holiday Inn and relegated to the nearby Howard Johnson hotel.

One issue that Lucas had was Ford’s long hair, something cool in 1972 but hardly

de rigueur in 1962, the year of the film’s storyline. George wanted Falfa to wear a “flat top.” Harrison balked but countered with, “How about me wearing a white cowboy hat?” Lucas remembered some of the Modesto hot-rodders cruising town while wearing Stetsons, so he agreed to Ford’s suggestion. However, near the movie’s finale, Harrison’s

hat falls off after the ill-fated drag race, and his long locks are readily displayed as Ford stumbles about after crashing his car.

The future superstar would later admit, “I was a bit of a carouser in those days, and I was in the company of other hell-raisers. If I’d been in the company of priests, I would have behaved differently.”

Some free advice about financial advisers

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Joe Paterno, long-time football coach at Penn State University, is “a little wary of new players,” according to an advertisement by a national financial services firm.

The point being made is that investors should be wary of financial advisors who do not have a track record.

It’s worth considering.

Do you want to map your investment route with a new kid on the block who’s full of risk and vinegar? Or would you rather have someone with experience work with you to prepare a financial plan that best meets your needs?

These are just a couple of questions you need answered when you hunt for a financial planner.

First off, you need to know that a financial planner can be anyone: your stock broker, insurance agent, tax preparer,

“Comfort Keepers was an invaluable asset in my toolbox regarding my mother’s home healthcare requirements.

I was able to go to work and concentrate on other aspects of my mother’s healthcare needs. It gave me a “peace of mind” feeling on a daily basis knowing that their qualified staff would handle things at mom’s house and keep me updated.

Comfort Keepers is a local outstanding healthcare organization; I would recommend them for any in-home healthcare needs” Robert G.R. Son of client, Fort Wayne

brother-in-law, or neighbor. There is no credential required before anybody can hoist a financial planner shingle over their door.

The nationwide Financial Planning Association has set itself up as a financial-planner membership organization designed to certify its members and disseminate information about their industry.

The group points out the first hurdles you must clear with a financial planner are trust and comfort. No matter how highly successful a prospective economic advisor is, he or she will not be able to work with you if you don’t trust or feel comfortable with the individual.

Before you begin to shop for an advisor, determine what he or she has to do for you. Do you want advice for investments, retirement planning, an inheritance, or general financial consultation?

Then you can start collect-

“Comfort Keepers is an outstanding healthcare organization in Fort Wayne and surrounding areas. Their professional staff worked with my son to set up a well-balanced healthcare plan that allowed me to stay at my own home and enjoy my later years. Thus, I was able to do everyday activities on my terms. They helped me with personal hygiene needs, light housework, meal preparation, and medication reminders. They treated me like family.” K. Ellen L. Client, Fort Wayne

ing names. You want someone nearby, in your town or city.

Ask your friends, neighbors, dentist, doctor, accountant, attorney and relatives who they use. Make calls to these names as the first step in screening. You might find out during your call a particular planner requires a minimum portfolio or net worth that is out of your range. Ask for their brochures that outline the services they provide. Check these names with the local Better Business Bureau. Ask for referrals.

When you’ve narrowed the choice down to three or four, call the people on your referral list.

Then meet with the finalists to determine your comfort

level with each individual and firm. Also find out how much they charge and how they charge it.

Financial advisors collect their fees a number of ways — by a percentage of your assets that they manage, by commissions of the products (stocks, bonds and mutual funds, for example) they sell, or a combination of the two. Some also charge for specialized services you might require, such as providing specific information for your tax preparer.

There is a debate over which are more user-friendly: fee-only or commission-based advisors. Those who disparage commission-based financial planners argue their incentive is to recommend and make trades that pay them the best commissions.

And you pay those commissions. However, let’s say a fee-only financial consultant takes 1% a year for managing your fiscal future. And let’s say you’ve agreed that you need to earn 7% a year to provide you with the retirement income you need. That means your portfolio has to increase 8% a year to meet your needs.

If most of your investments are wrapped up in mutual funds, many of which charge up to 1% a year in fees, your portfolio now has to bring in a 9% growth rate to meet your needs.

Social Security benefits to increase for some

By MICHELLE M. WALTERS, RSSA, PHR, CHRS, CCWS, CSIS Executive Vice President Health Insurance Shop

The long-debated reduction to many retired American’s Social Security benefits will be ending soon. The Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset have both been repealed with the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023. Those affected should see payment for these reductions back to De-

cember 2023 as soon as the feds determine how to facilitate those transactions.

Before getting too excited, it’s important to know whether your Social Security benefit is/was impacted. If you had employment earnings that didn’t have Social Security taxes withheld (because you worked in a city, state or federal government job), those earnings that would have otherwise been included in your Social Security benefit calculation are subject to the WEP. The theory behind this was to prevent

workers who receive non-covered pensions from collecting higher Social Security benefits.

The GPO impacted workers who received non-covered pensions ability to collect spousal or survivor benefits. Essentially, if two thirds of the pension amount was greater than half of the spouse’s Social Security benefit, no benefit would be paid. If two thirds was less than half of the spouse’s Social Security benefit, the benefit amount would be reduced by two thirds of the pension.

HARRISON FORD AS ‘BOB FALFE’ IN AMERICAN GRAFFITI

Medicare Insurance

Q. Are all Medicare Advantage Plans the same?

A. Medicare Advantage Plans (Medicare Part C) are individual health insurance plans that are sponsored by private health insurers who contract with Medicare to provide coverage for Medicare Part A & Part B. By contracting, Medicare passes the responsibility of payment of claims to the private insurer. In order to be contracted, every insurer that sponsors Medicare Advantage plans must meet or exceed many requirements that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stipulates. Suffice it to say (and despite what you may hear otherwise), carriers who contract with CMS place themselves under the light of scrutiny with all their day-to-day activities with Medicare Beneficiaries.

Medicare Advantage plans are given some flexibility to the design of their plans provided that they all pay as good (if not

Michelle Walters Executive Vice President

better) than Original Medicare would pay. Copays; networks; coinsurance; deductibles, etc. are all areas that Medicare Advantage plans can “flex” a benefit plan to compete with their competitors.

Have questions or aging into Medicare soon? Give us a call at (260) 484-7010.

Medicare Enrollment and Education Center of Fort Wayne

Lake Avenue

Elder Law

Q. Driving and Dementia: How to take away the keys?

A. Trying to decide when to take the car keys from a loved one can be one of the most challenging things on the journey through dementia. Initially, the family may have a hard time determining if it is safe for the person to continue to drive. The ability to drive allows your loved one to continue to have their freedom and independence.

While things like taking away the car keys, disabling the car, or selling the car may seem like a good idea, it may lead to more confusion and arguments. Their doctor may be able to evaluate their mental competence and explain why their driving poses a threat to themselves and others. If their doctor wants more details about your loved one’s cognitive ability to drive, they may recommend a driving evaluation. There are many places in Indiana that will complete this type of evalu-

ation, and they can be found under the Driver Ability Department of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The driver will need to refer to the list of Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialists.

If you are in the difficult position of taking away the keys from your loved one, you should prepare to have some transportation alternatives quickly available.

Senior Relocation

Q. Is there a service to help me with my downsizing move?

A. Wanting to downsize from your home to a retirement community can be an overwhelming experience. Many times people want to move, but end up not doing so because of the many things that must be done.

A few comments that I have heard over the years include:

1) I have to spend money to fix up my home before I sell it.

2) My attic and basement are full of stuff; I will have to have a garage sale.

3) I have to pack and move all of my belongings.

Looking at this list of concerns would cause anyone to just say “Forget It!”

This is where we can help!

Our services include selling your home as-is in 30 days for your price, selling your unwanted

SENIOR NUTRITION

Q. I don't feel like eating since my spouse passed away. What should I do?

A. You are not alone. It is common for older adults to struggle with nutrition after the loss of a loved one. Ten percent of older adults living in their own homes do not eat enough.

Our firm is highly recommended by many of the leading retirement communities in the Allen County area due to client satisfaction. If you are thinking about making the transition to retirement living, call me at (260) 441-8636. My free analysis will give you the information you will need to make a better decision for yourself!

Sincerely, Timothy McCulloch

356-4111 Huntington and clean out your junk!

This year Aging & In-Home Services is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of our Senior Nutrition Program, which addresses problems of food insecurity and promotes socialization and well-being through nutrition services. We serve more than 200,00 meals each year through three Older Americans Act funded programs:

• H Home Delivered Meals: Clients receive 3, 5 or 7 frozen meals delivered to their homes once a week.

• Congregate Dining: Members of the community can visit a designated location and enjoy a meal in the company of their peers.

• Restaurant Vouchers: Participants receive vouchers that can be exchanged for a meal from a preapproved menu at participating restaurants. Each of these programs has a unique set of eligibility requirements.

Felicia Say Nutrition & Wellness Supervisor 260-745-1200

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, Just Call Us to help determine your eligibility. While the need for meals is increasing, funding is not. For the first time ever, we have been forced to implement a waitlist for individuals requesting Meals on Wheels. Every donation we receive helps us pull more people from the waitlist. Visit www.agingihs.org/donatenutrition to make a donation and support older adults in northeast Indiana!

Tim McCulloch, Owner

Jesica L. Thorson Attorney At Law

UPDATES & HAPPENINGS IN

Editor’s note: Send listings of events, for nonprofit organizations only, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, or email Editor Phoebe Muthart by the 20th of every month at pmuthart@the-papers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number.

—o—

“Bright and Bold, A Celebration of Color” is March 1-31, and features paintings, mixed media, pottery, metal, glass and jewelry by many artists, all with rich, intense hues. Artist members, plus

THE AREA

invited guest artists from around the region, are creating vibrant new work for this must-see exhibition at The Orchard Gallery of Fine Arts, 6312-A Covington Road, Fort Wayne. An artists’ reception is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 1. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Call (260) 436-0927 or visit theorchardgallery.com. No charge.

—o—

A sweetheart orchid exhibit is on display until March 2, during public hours, at Foellinger-Frei-

Fort Wayne Southwest

Fort Wayne Northeast

Fort Wayne Southwest

mann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. Be allured by the colorful mystique of orchids on display in the botanical conservatory’s Tropical House. Experience captivating, long-lasting blooms in an intimately-devoted space that mirrors the everlasting love shared with those closest to you. Orchids and other noteworthy plants are available for purchase in the conservatory’s shop. The display is included with general admission.

—o—

A Fat Tuesday tenderloin fry by Big Eye Fish will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, at Grace Lutheran Church, 204 N. Main St., Columbia City. This is a dine-in or carry-out dinner with potato salad, applesauce, dessert and drinks. Cost is $13 for adults, $6 for children 6 to 12 years old and free for children 5 and under. Proceeds will benefit Grace Lutheran Food Pantry and Scouting America Troop 84.

—o—

Meet General “Mad” Anthony Wayne and his wife, Mary Penrose Wayne. Settlers, Inc. will celebrate Allen County’s bicentennial with a morning of local history from 9-11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Historic Swinney Homestead, 1424 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. The

$20 cost includes refreshments. Registration due by Thursday, March 6. Call (260) 432-7314 or visit settlersinc.org.

Taylor Chapel Women will host its second annual spring bazaar from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at Taylor Chapel Ministries, 10145 Maysville Road, Fort Wayne. It will feature 36 unique crafters, a bake sale, and lunch; free admission.

—o—

The Allen County Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Road, Fort Wayne, will host its annual spring gift and craft show, from 9-2 p.m. Saturday, March 22.

Admittance and parking are free. For more information or if you are interested in being a vendor, contact Sheila momriley5@yahoo.com or allencountyfairgroundsin.com.

—o—

“Lisa Heintzman: Innovative Abstractor,” until April 5, at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. See paintings inspired by the energy and emotions Heintzman experiences. She is very observant of how one motion affects the next and how simple daily life has so many moments all compiled into one day. The artist paints abstract art with these

emotions and perfect imperfections of each moment. Time is suspended in the paintings. Heintzman believes beauty is necessary and the intent and purpose is to help view the imperfect world by bringing calmness, joy and serenity of the movements in the paintings.

—o—

A winter showcase exhibit, “Floor is Lava,” until April 6, during public hours, at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. It’s the hottest garden around as visitors to the botanical conservatory experience the daring feats of a favorite childhood game. This winter, don’t miss your landing, as you navigate a challenging set of obstacles for all ages and abilities. Fiery hues of reds and oranges flood the challenge course amidst towering tropical plants under the shadows of a roaring volcano.

—o—

Woodlands Senior Activity Center

For more information, call (260) 248-8944 or visit whitleycountycouncilonaging.org. The center is located at 710 Opportunity Drive, Columbia City.

9 a.m. Wednesday, pixie bingo. 9-10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday Continued on page 9

Blue River Apartments

Churubusco & Columbia City

Fort Wayne Northeast

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

offer spiritual life programs, pastoral care and interfaith gatherings to help residents explore their faith and find solace during life’s transitions. Photo provided by

Why choose a faith-based, nonprofit senior living community

By GREENCROFT COMMUNITIES

Choosing a senior living community or healthcare provider is about more than amenities and care levels — it’s about values that guide every action. A faith-based, nonprofit senior living community offers an environment of holistic well-being, support and long term stability.

Faith-based communities are driven by spiritual and moral values that foster compassion, empathy and respect for each individual’s dignity. Nonprofits prioritize residents’ well-being, focusing on quality care and personal growth over profit. This commitment ensures decisions are made with residents’ best interests at heart.

In faith-based nonprofits, residents are the true stake-

holders. Revenue is reinvested into the community, enhancing programs, improving facilities and supporting team education. This creates a sustainable environment where all improvements benefit everyone.

Wellness in faith-based communities includes physical, emotional, social and spiritual health. Spiritual life programs, pastoral care and interfaith gatherings help residents explore their faith and find solace during life’s transitions. This holistic approach acknowledges that healing goes beyond medical care, supporting residents in all aspects of their lives.

Without the pressure of satisfying external investors, faith-based nonprofits focus on long term sustainability. Revenue is used to improve facilities, recruit skilled team members, and adapt to

healthcare needs, ensuring consistent improvements for residents over time.

Choosing a faith-based, nonprofit senior living community means partnering with an organization where integrity, empathy and service are daily practices. It’s a community focused on compassionate care, meaningful relationships, and doing good in the world — always putting people before profit.

For a mission-driven, compassionate community, consider Greencroft Communities, with six locations in Northern Indiana — DeMotte, Fort Wayne, Goshen, Middlebury, South Bend and New Carlisle. Greencroft is dedicated to providing holistic care and long term stability while serving both residents and the wider community with compassion and integrity.

Coin, Currency Show March 16

The Old Fort Coin Club’s annual Coin and Currency Show is Sunday, March 16. The show is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Allen County Fairgrounds, 2726 Carroll Road, Fort Wayne. Admission and parking are free.

The club is dedicated to the educational, historical, literary and fraternal nature of numismatics. It encourages the promotion of the advancement of collecting coins, currency and tokens in all its many forms. It’s been providing ongoing encouragement of the hobby for both young and old. It has promoted numis-

UPDATES & HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA

and Friday, line dancing.

9 a.m. Tuesday and Friday, 12:30 p.m. Thursday, euchre.

9 a.m. Tuesday, Bible study with Cheryl.

9 a.m. Thursday, craft and chat

Continued from page 8 with Bob. —o— McMillen Park Community Center For information, visit fortwayneparks.org or call (260) 427-6000. The center is located at 3901 Abbott St., Fort Wayne. Pickleball, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday. Open gym, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

10-11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, chair exercise. Noon Tuesday, dominoes. 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, hand and foot card game.

1 p.m. Tuesday, Bible study

matic excellence since 1956, serving northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio with members who have hundreds of years of collecting experience. Learn more, improve your collection, and meet other like-minded collectors at the club’s annual show.

Adult yoga, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday and noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Volleyball, 6-8 p.m. Monday. Badminton, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. CardioFit, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday. Essential steps, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday. Yoga for seniors, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Yoga for adults, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday.

Justin Moore, Joe Nichols to perform at Foellinger Theatre

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation announces that Foellinger Theatre will host multi-platinum-selling country artists, Justin Moore and Joe Nichols, live in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5.

The tour will feature a 90-minute set of Moore’s biggest hits, as well as new music, including “Small Town USA,” “Bait A Hook,” and his latest “Time’s Ticking.” Moore recently notched his 13th No. 1 single with “This is My Dirt” and he released his 12-track ‘This is My Dirt’ album, featuring Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton and Randy Houser in October.

For more information, visit justinmooremusic.com.

Nichols will join the tour as direct support, performing

his collection of chart-topping hits including “Sunny and 75,” “Brokenheartsville,” “Gimmie That Girl,” “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and more along with his latest single, “Better Than You,” a duet with rising star Annie Bosko. Nichols is currently on tour supporting the release of his 11th studio album, “Honky Tonks and Country Songs.”

For more information, visit joenichols.com.

Pre-sale tickets are available ticketmaster.com/justin-moorefort-wayne-indiana-06-05-2025/ event/05006243383E5045.

All general and in-person sales can be purchased at the parks and recreation department, 705 E. State Blvd. For more information, visit foellingertheatre.org.

History Center presents Sunday lecture series

The History Center in Fort Wayne will present the next lecture of the 2025 George R. Mather Sunday Lecture Series on Sunday, March 2.

In this lecture, “Spectacles, Politics, and Patriotism: Cultural Uses of Joan of Arc in Fort Wayne and Beyond,” Suzanne LaVere, will explore how Joan of Arc’s brief, brilliant career fighting for 15thcentury France and dying a martyr’s death has served as an inspiration for people both in and well beyond her country of origin.

During her lifetime and in the centuries since her death, Joan of Arc has become a powerful, malleable cultural symbol. This is true in the United States, where many different groups and individuals have

employed Joan of Arc’s image and the events of her life to promote causes, like women’s suffrage and the U.S.’s entry into World War I, to draw attention to women stepping outside of the domestic sphere and even to entertain audiences and advertise products.

Using examples from Fort Wayne and Indiana media, this presentation will explore the many ways Joan of Arc’s image was deployed in late 19th and early 20th century American culture and society. The lecture begins at 2 p.m. Admission is free to the public.

All George R. Mather lectures are made possible through the generous support of the Floyd and Betty Lou Lancia Family Foundation and Indiana Humanities.

It’s easy! Simply find the Party Dog on another page in this edition. Go online to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com and enter your information, the edition, date and page number you found it on. This will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25. (Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, March 17, 2025.

Brought To You By

Adult open gym, 6-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Men’s basketball league, 6-9 p.m. Thursday.

206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542

The winner of the I Spy Contest for February is Kimber Bickle from Nappanee. The Valentine’s bouquet was located on page 14 in Senior Life Allen; page 1 in Senior Life Northwest; page 1 in Senior Life Elko and page 19 in Senior Life St. Joseph.

ATTENDING TO ALL ASPECT OF LIFE— Along with addressing resident’s physical needs, Greencroft Communities

Greencroft Communities.

Woman’s faith sustains her in everyday life

By CATHY SHOUSE

Feature Writer

Kayleen Reusser is a person of faith who grew up in a Christian home surrounded by love. At age 16, while at church camp, she chose her “life verse.”

The verse, Romans 8:28, has continued to guide her in a difficult season recently, as she now grieves the loss of her husband, John. The verse, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called, according to his purpose.”

“In fall of 2020, John underwent radiation therapy for prostate cancer,” Reusser said. “He remained in a healthy state, while being tested every six months until May 2023, when he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer with metastasis into his bones,” she said.

His cancer was “very aggressive,” she said, and he eventually succumbed Oct. 16, 2024, after being admitted to Stillwater Hospice on Homestead Road in Fort Wayne for

two days.

“We were so thrilled and thankful for the staff of Stillwater who cared for him so well,” she said.

Through the medical struggles, Reusser, who is a writer by profession, sought a way to cope.

“I thought of how mom had baked every Saturday in case we had company on Sunday,” Reusser said. “She had learned skills from her own mother. My grandma always made sugar cookies for us when we visited. My mother-in-law, Jane Reusser, was a skilled baker as well. Needing to surround myself with loving memories of people who had loved and supported me, I began baking from cookbooks that mom, my mother-in-law and grandma may have used — vintage or pre-1984.”

She posted photos on her website in a new blog, Vintage Eats. Remembering the strength of her family members who also faced widowhood has inspired and sustained her.

“It has been tough. Actually,

as I’m sure most widows would agree, it has been horrible,” she said. “Things to figure out with paying bills, maintaining a home, finding someone to do repairs, etc. Taxes are the big thing looming ahead.”

That’s all besides handling the sad, bad memories of caregiving and his last days, she added.

Married for 44 years at his death, she continues to attend St. Luke Church in Adams County where they went together. Members have supported Reusser and their three grown children in friendship, even showing up with 15 trucks and 10 trailers during a move when John was ill. The Cancer Institute and Parkview North were there for them, too.

Phone counseling with Peggy F. Murphy Grief Counseling Center and Grief Share groups have also helped.

“Grief happens to everyone,” Reusser said. “Until you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, you have no idea of the depth of sorrow or loss or confusion or anger that occurs. Someone advised me to

‘embrace the fog’ and not fight it. I’m doing that with the help of many loving people, and I encourage others to reach out as well for healing.”

While she is still working through the sadness at missing her best friend of 45 years, she has found pleasure in baking.

“And that was never more

true than when I decided to make my own birthday cake,” she proclaimed.

For the occasion, she tackled a multi-step recipe for a 1980 checkerboard chocolate cake. For more information about Vintage Eats, visit KayleenReusser.com or email her at kjreusser@adamswells.com.

Worship Anew’s special Ash Wednesday program aims

Worship Anew will offer a special Ash Wednesday program March 5 for an additional opportunity for aging adults to hear God’s word.

Worship Anew regularly broadcasts a worship program each Sunday for viewers across the country. For the first time, Worship Anew will offer an Ash Wednesday program for viewers, especially those who are unable to attend Lenten services at their home church.

The program will be led by guest pastor, Chaplain Craig Muehler. Muehler is the director of the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces. In his position, he is the chief liaison to the Department of Defense for 125 LCMS chaplains serving in all branches of the military — active and reserve — and the Civil Air Patrol.

His program, “Can God Really Forgive Me?,” shares how God shows us his love and mercy in his dealing with King David

to bring God’s word to you

“My prayer is that (the viewers) will be ready for the battlefield of life as they face their sicknesses, temptations, addictions, guilt, broken relationships, pet sins, loneliness, or whatever the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh hurl at us,” Muehler said. “We are all in a sin-sick world and poor miserable sinners, but as we go through this Lenten season, we are reminded again and again that we are forgiven for Christ’s sake and that our Lord Jesus saves us.”

The program will be offered through Worship Anew’s digital-only platforms, including streaming on its YouTube channel, through its app on Roku, Apple TV, Google TV, and Amazon Firestick, and its website, WorshipAnew.org, or through an app on iPhone and Android devices. Learn about these ways to watch the program at WorshipAnew.org/app.

Since 1980, Worship Anew, headquartered in Fort Wayne,

YOUR LIBRARY MAKES HOUSE CALLS!

Allen County Public Library’s Library at Home provides free delivery of library materials to homebound patrons, and pop-up libraries at facilities throughout Allen County, where residents can sign up for a library card, check out materials, and more!

has been broadcasting weekly worship services for aging adults who seek to help them live an abundant life in Christ. Today, Worship Anew reaches thousands of people each week across the nation and around the world on television and streamed online. To learn more about Worship Anew and other ministries, including the care ministry and Hope-Full Living daily devotions, visit WorshipAnew.org.

GUEST PASTOR Chaplain Craig Muehler will be the guest pastor for a service March 5, which is Ash Wednesday, on Worship Anew.org and other digital platforms. Photo provided by Worship Anew.

Acceptance of life

By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer

Different pursuits, different hobbies.

It’s interesting what people might do.

Passions gained are lifelong friends. They will always be a part of you.

And so I find that I like to write.

My years grow less but I have more time.

I would not say my life is perfect.

But I would say it’s mostly fine.

I speak only from my own experience.

Perhaps with others I would relate.

Old age provides an interesting transition. Some things to love, some things to hate.

As one who likes to analyze, this is what I will extol. There needs to be acceptance involved, when it comes to things you can’t control.

Times of trouble, times of joy. There’s enough to pass around.

But even when the road is rocky, There’s still some worth that might be found.

The goal is simply to survive today.

And to keep your roots dug deep. So even in the chill of night, you’ll have a warmth that you might keep.

MADE WITH LOVE — Kayleen Reusser, left, and her daughter, Mandy, are photographed with the 1980 chocolate checkerboard cake her mother made for her birthday in February. Photo provided by Kayleen Reusser.

Time to save is all the time, it’s simple

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

It’s never too late or too early to start saving.

If you haven’t started, put a couple of bucks away right now. And you never can save too much.

Saving can be as simple as pouring pennies into a piggy bank or cramming money under the mattress.

That simple stratagem should grow to include a plan to set aside and invest a certain amount of cash regularly during your earning years so you can enjoy your non-earning retirement years.

This also calls for a periodic review to see where you stand. Things change, and changes during your work and after-work life affect how much you’re going to need.

Acquiring a non-immune disease or falling off a ladder and

Adams Heritage

crushing a hip will mean higher medical bills for the rest of your life. That might mean having to increase the amount you save now to make sure you can pay all your bills when you leave the labor force.

If you’re already retired and survived a heart attack or stroke, your medical costs already have been affected so you’ll probably have to eliminate previously-made travel plans from your financial budget.

Being retired doesn’t mean you can quit saving and spend to the limit you set for yourself before you quit work. You can still save money by not trading in your automobile every two or three years. Today’s vehicles are built to last many thousands of miles and, unless you’re going to travel several hundred miles every year to visit the grandkids, you can keep your coupleof-years-old auto forever.

While reviewing this section of your retirement budget, consider how far you’re going to have to drive each year. If it’s minimal, you might consider eliminating the cost of car and liability insurance, parking, monthly payments, auto maintenance and fuel by selling the vehicle. That money and the savings can buy you more than enough cab fares without the responsibility of ownership.

Many seniors have discovered trips to the grocery store no longer are a problem. They use their telephone or computer to order and the victuals are delivered — for no charge in some cases.

Other ways you can still save in your Social Security years is to cut back on the number of times you eat out.

Cutting back on gifts for Christmas, birthdays, graduation, weddings and other special occasions also can mean

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Adams Woodcrest

Welcome Home

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savings. It does no good to make a gift or charitable donations above your means. In most cases, a card or telephone call will do.

If you feel cutting back on costs will cut into your social life, you can still have coffee with cronies, just not as often. Volunteering your time and talent to an organization whose work you support will expand

your social circle. But you’ve already sold your car, you say. Don’t worry, someone will pick you up.

Or call a cab and you’ll probably be given a ride home.

These are just a few of the facets to consider when you review your savings plan, whether you’re living on it now or haven’t put away a penny yet.

AARP opens discount doors to travel options

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

An American Association of Retired Persons, or AARP membership is also a ticket to discounted travel.

The membership card can open doors to discounted

pricing on airlines, car rentals, hotels, cruise lines and tour packages ranging from British Airways to the Grand Canyon Railway.

You can also shop for a senior discount lifetime pass to the more than 440 sites overseen by the National Park Service.

Orchard Pointe Health Campus

702 Sawyer Rd., Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-3333 • www.orchardpointehc.com

Offering Memory Care, Assisted & Independent Living Apartments and Skilled Services. We’ll meet you with the appropriate level of care wherever you are — whether you’re fully independent or looking for additional assistance.

Call us.

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To a senior community in a quiet northeast residential setting

• Long Term Care and Memory Care suites with bathrooms and showers ensuring privacy

Care e and d M Memory suites and showers ensuring privacy

Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech, Occupational, Physical, Respiratory, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid.

Assisted Living, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing Or Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-RespiratoryPhysical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid Golden Years Homestead, Inc.

• 5-star quality care, staff provide 24 hour services

• 5-star care, staff 24 hour services

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Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing Or Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Respiratory-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid 260-749-9655 www.goldenyearshome.org

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Grand Marquis

300 East Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46802 (260) 422-5511 • jmull@tgmsi.com

Assisted Living; 50+ Community; Pets Allowed; Medicaid Waiver; Private Rooms; Weekly Events; RCAP Program; Conveniently Located; 24/7 Nursing Staff; On-site Therapy; Downtown Lifestyle; Concierge Service; Smoking Area; Restaurant Style Dining

Life Care Center of Fort Wayne

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351 North Allen Chapel Road, Kendallville, IN 46755-0429 (260) 347-2256 • www.ABetterWayofLiving.org Rehab Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Therapies: Speech, Occupational, Respiratory, Physical, Outpatient Therapy, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare/Medicaid, 3 Years Deficiency Free Surveys

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Not driving doesn’t have to drive you nuts

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

A neighbor well up in years bounces from furious to frustrated whenever he considers driving.

Family members keep casting hints and harpoons about his diminishing driving skills — loss of hearing, slow reaction time, eyesight not what it used to be, confusion in traffic, and on and on and on.

So he lets his children drive him wherever he has to go —

mainly medical appointments, although they do get out for dinner now and then.

But he gets back at them, without their knowledge. They haven’t taken away his keys. When everyone’s away, he shuffles out to the garage, climbs in behind the wheel and takes the family flier for a drive — around the block, around the parking lot of a neighboring mall and back into the garage. He hasn’t told his family about these excursions but he’s made sure he’s told a few of his friends

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Decatur, IN 46733

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Wayne, IN 46815

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and neighbors. He could point out to those siblings and children who criticize his driving that older drivers are involved in fewer collisions and traffic fatalities on average than 70-plus-year-old motorists just a few years ago.

One reason is safer cars. But the trend is important because the number of older drivers is growing as the population ages.

At the same time, thanks to lifestyles, diet and medical advances, today’s geriatric drivers are healthier and more fit than their predecessors a generation or two ago.

As long as you feel capable

of driving and handling traffic situations, you should feel comfortable keeping your keys. Be aware at the same time that many forms of dementia, dizziness from sugar lows or simply old age, narrowing eyesight and several other disabilities that can diminish your ability to drive can strike silently and quickly.

You can take stock on when it might be time to give up your car keys.

Ask yourself if you can still read traffic signs readily and if you get lost or confused, especially in heavy traffic. Make sure your bad back doesn’t stop

you from looking around to see of all is clear when you want to change lanes.

Do family and friends still ride with you when you’re driving?

And do you still like to drive? Giving up our car keys means giving up our independence to most of us. That doesn’t have to be true.

The money you save on car payments, insurance, fuel, maintenance, parking and tolls can pay for more than enough cab rides. You can still go where you want to go whenever you want to, and you don’t have to drive.

Keep the weather out of the house

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Take a few tours around the house to see what needs repairing. You might have noticed readily that the screen door needs replac-

ing and the back porch should be repainted, and those steps need to be repaired.

If you haven’t noticed the following yet, you might check it out.

Manually check the frames of all windows and doors to see if

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Phone: (260) 422-8520

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Newly remodeled facility, top-of-the-line service for rehab patients. Rapid rehab program, separate wing with 30 rehab suites — private

they leak and you can feel a draft. Repairing them can save you a lot of money by lowering air-conditioning bills during hot weather and less heating cost in the cold season.

Phone: (260) 436-6400 or (877) 436-6401

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• Creating A Higher Standard of Care

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HOME CARE SERVICES

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813 W. Cook Road, Suite 1 Fort Wayne, IN 46818

Phone: (260) 452-9691 ajones@integrityhhc.com

Phone: (260) 918-0933

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Is the new normal, really normal?

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

The only normal thing about normal is that it constantly changes.

Life changed when Henry Ford initiated the assembly line so everyone could get a car of any color “as long as it was black,” he said.

The new normal of the 1950s was drastically different than the old normal of the 1940s as most of the globe was licking its scars after a massive war.

The normal also changed with the introduction of the telephone, then television and then the Internet and cell phones.

Some simple lifestyle changes emerged out of the corona-virus pandemic.

Having groceries delivered after ordering online seems to have caught on.

Unlike many European

shoppers, we don’t head out daily to shop for fresh victuals for dinner. We buy family-sized and frozen-food packages that we keep stocked up in our fridges and freezers. Many folks who made the weekly or twice-amonth trek to the supermarket discovered the convenience of delivery during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Store operators, including those that offered shopping service before COVID-19, found they could stock their shelves quickly while putting together orders to deliver to online and telephone shoppers.

Another entry into normalcy is the expansion of telemedicine. Visits to the doctor are being via cyberspace with your computer or smart phone. This practice is catching on as the senior population grows and the supply of doctors diminishes.

Studies and surveys reveal that most of your time during an hour-or-so visit to your primary care physician or specialist is spent with aides and assistants who update your history and prepare you for a five- to 10-minute faceto-face chat with the doctor.

Most non-emergency visits can be managed by computer and medication can be delivered by the pharmacy.

Another interesting development is the wearing masks in public. While still sporadic on this side of the Pacific, most of us have seen televised events from Japan revealing streets packed with people wearing masks.

The Japanese “germ mask” dates back more than eight decades as a safeguard against rising air-pollution that was a byproduct of in-

dustrialization.

High-tech pollution-barrier masks are a norm in China’s major cities. Philippine motorcycle riders wear masks to deflect vehicular exhausts in heavy traffic.

In Taiwan, older people add sunglasses and sun hats to masks to obscure their entire faces. The full blockade wards off sunburns.

You can help during times of grief

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Grief isn’t something you can shrug off.

Some people swallow it and let it tear apart their insides out of sight of those around them.

Others go to the other extreme and weep, wail and tear at their clothes and hair as they make it plain they’re suffering the loss of a loved one.

Whichever type of mourner a friend may be when they’ve lost a spouse, sibling or dear one, you have to remember that grief is normal no matter how abnormal their behavior.

After you accept the fact that the way and length of time grief is experienced varies greatly, you can help your friend or family member work their way through their bleakness.

Just being available to listen

is immense assistance. You also can offer some simple help, like rescheduling some appointments for the mourner or dropping by with their favorite takeout dinner.

You also can serve by reminding them they have to take care of themselves and to keep taking their daily walk and continue their weekly kaffeeklatsch with old friends.

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Fort Wayne, IN 46816

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Fort Wayne, IN 46804

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Coffin house was an Underground Railroad ‘Grand Central Station’

By ROD KING

In the first half of the 19th century, the Underground Railroad ran through the little town of Fountain City (then Newport). The so-called “Grand Central Station” of the system was the home of Levi and Catharine Coffin. Levi Coffin, who publicly spoke out against slavery, jokingly referred to himself as the “president” of the Underground Railroad.

The couple fed, clothed and hid runaway slaves in their eight-room house and transported them in a wagon with a false cargo hold. They continually confounded bounty hunters who came to their door by demanding to see a search warrant. If a bounty hunter actually rode the 12 miles to the county seat to get one, any slaves that had been hidden were long gone. Bounty hunters never searched the house. During their 20 years in Newport they helped more than 2,000 slaves on their way north.

The Coffins were Quakers who came to Newport from North Carolina in 1826. They were well respected in the community. Levi Coffin opened a general store and later had

several business interests.

Everyone in town knew he was defying the Federal Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, but no one turned him in. Others helped by giving money, food, clothing and protection for their work. Catharine Coffin organized sewing circles to make clothing for the freedom seekers.

The house, which is a State Historic Site and is a registered National Historic Landmark, was carefully planned for the purpose of hiding runaways. The dining room, for instance, has five doors leading outside for a quick getaway and two staircases to the second floor. They hid young girls between the straw and feather ticks in a bed, in a secret garret in a bedroom and in the basement.

Levi Coffin wrote a book about their adventures entitled “Reminiscences,” which was published in 1876.

In 1847, the Coffins moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to operate a wholesale warehouse supplying goods to free labor stores selling products not produced by slave labor. While there, they continued to assist slaves fleeing to Canada. After the Coffins left Newport, the house changed hands several times, and in 1910, it became The Underground Railroad Hotel. Two dollars got customers a comfortable room and breakfast.

Plan to visit the 5,156-squarefoot Levi Coffin House Interpretive Center, which opens in September, right next to the original house. It features a theater where visitors will be introduced to the Coffins and explain how they assisted escaping slaves. In addition, exhibits tell individual stories of slaves seeking safety and shows the paths taken to get to freedom in Canada.

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Central Station” of the Underground Railroad. Its owners, Levi and Catharine Coffin, helped more than 2,000 runaway slaves on their way to Canada. The house is an Indiana State Museum and Historic Site and is a registered National His

toric Landmark.

DESCRIPTIVE MURAL Across the street from the Coffin House is this huge mural showing Levi and Catharine Coffin assisting runaway slaves.

FREEDOM SEEKER — Runaway slave, William Bush, stayed in Newport to help the Coffins in their efforts to assist freedom seekers.

COFFIN HOUSE

OUTSPOKEN ABOLITIONIST Levi Coffin (in painting above desk) openly defied the Federal Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 and jokingly referred to himself as president of the Underground Railroad. Everyone in town knew what he was doing, but no one turned him in.

SECRET HIDING PLACE — A small door in an upstairs bedroom served as hiding place for slaves on their way north. The Coffins sometimes hid young girls in the beds between the straw and feather ticks.

GREAT ESCAPES

Text and Photos

Roman festival brightens Umbrian hillside

By BEVERLY RAHN SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

“Why not drop around on Sunday,” Ricardo suggested, “we’ll have a few artichokes.”

The retired Alitalia pilot and his wife, Mariolina, were our landlords when we arrived in this medieval central Italy castle town. They were friends when we left.

This fortress overlooks Lake Trasemino, the peninsula’s fourth largest lake, to the north; the manicured Tuscan countryside to the west; and the rolling Umbrian hills to the south and east.

They opted out of big city living in Rome several years ago and occupied our spacious apartment while they built a picture book home in a hill-clinging olive grove just below the town’s centuries old walls.

“I bought this apartment because when I look out that (living room) window, that’s Umbria,” he said.

The Umbria you see is the reddish-yellow brick and rock front of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel (one of seven churches in this village) leaning on a restaurant (one of three here) by an archway that frames the main piazza with its 500-year-old fountain and bars, hair salons, tourist office, stationery and gift shops, grocery stores, butcher shop, and small groups of standing and sitting locals solving the various problems of the day.

As every hiker knows, you walk a hill at your own pace. That’s why no one hurries. Everything here is uphill. So it was about a 25-minute walk to Ricardo’s.

We knew we were in for something special as we approached the lane sloping into their farmyard. It was like

breaking into an opera.

About three dozen people wearing the full array of bright yellows, reds, greens — pick a color — were milling about chittering, chattering, and chanting in that Italian sing song from which arias emerged.

The accompaniment was provided by Ricardo’s tractor as it hauled dead olive branches to a pile resembling a titanic tumbleweed.

We became a member of the cast immediately because everyone was hauled in to contribute.

“You don’t work, you don’t eat,” was Mariolina’s mandate.

Our immediate chore was to

gather mint leaves off the plant stems and chop the stocks off the artichokes — shopping cart-sized mounds of them. Then the mint leaves were minced with garlic and olive oil (we’ve had some of Ricardo’s oil in our larder for quite some time). The artichoke stocks were boiled with lemons and the heads are given a good slam on the ground to soften them because the centers are opened up and crammed with the mint leaf-garlic-oil mixture.

Through all this, you had to balance wine — almost everybody brings their own to determine whose is best for bragging rights — with oil-drenched

RV travel gaining support

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

There was a time when motor home travel was considered laborious and rather quaint by jetsetters who bounced around the globe and toured what were deemed exotic locations or poured out of luxury cruise ships into alluring attractions.

Well, recreational vehicle vacations have been taking on new luster. More than 40 million Americans go RVing each year. More than 1 million live in their vehicles that provide them with the convenience of traveling safely on their own home to go wherever whenever they want to.

First-timers unfamiliar with life on campgrounds and campsites learn that overnight parking is offered at most of the thousands of retail locations operated in the U.S. and Canada by such

chains as Walmart, Cracker Barrel, Costco, Sam’s Club, Home Depot and Cabela’s. All they have to do is check local regulations with the business manager before settling in.

Veteran RVers draw up an itinerary with a map of RV parks that provide at least electrical and water connections. Many also offer bathrooms, Wi-Fi, showers, club rooms and swimming pools.

Rental fees can begin as low as $30 a night depending on the facility and size of the motor home.

Government-owned and operated campgrounds normally are less expensive or free but permits or passes may be required. They usually lack hookups and comforts available at RV parks.

If you’re not sure about how you’ll like this type of vacation or mode of travel, you can rent an RV — pick the size and type you think

bread, cheese, fresh fava beans, and more wine before the fire was ready.

It was at this point that Mariolina explained these artichoke afternoons are a traditional Roman ritual because the plant originates in the region south of the capital.

The giant pile of shrubbery is burned and the ashes raked into a flat lava-like bed of coals.

Then you have to tuck your artichoke into the coals to cook.

And Mariolina’s rule reigned: you only get to eat the one you cooked.

Again, the operatic metaphor arose as each person displayed a distinctive dance pirouetting around the blistering mound. It takes about 45 minutes for the artichokes to cook in this manner, which gave everyone time

to sample more wine with the sausages and pork barbecued on a fire fed with larger chunks of trimmed olive wood.

Then flowed the desserts, all of them home-made.

On an earlier visit to Italy, we made it a point to get to the nearby cities and towns that dot our imaginations and the Italian landscape — Assisi, Sienna, Orvieto, Cortona, Spello, Perugia, all within an hour’s drive of here — and Rome, Florence and Pisa, each a couple of hours away.

This time, we still got to some new nearby towns — Montepulciano, Torgiano and Narni.

But also adopted Ricardo’s attitude. We took a harder look out our window. There was Panicale. Umbria. Italy.

you’ll like — for a trial spin around the country. Shopping for a rental will help familiarize yourself with the pluses and minuses of the types of vehicles available.

CLOCK TOWER — Sienna’s main piazza, where annual horse racing competitions draw crowds from the surrounding Tuscany region, is crowned by its clock tower. Photo by Cecil Scaglione.

SPELLO STREETS Spello streets are free of traffic and worry.

Photo by Cecil Scaglione.

Five benefits you can apply for online at ssa.gov

By MONA HARTER District Manager, South Bend Social Security Office

We continue to make it easier for you to access our programs and benefits. Our website — www.SSA.gov — offers a convenient way to apply online for benefits.

You can apply for: Retirement or Spouse’s Benefits — You must be at least 61 years and 9 months and want your benefits to start in no more than four months. Apply at ssa. gov/retirement.

Disability Benefits — You can use our online application at ssa.gov/disability to apply for disability benefits if you: Are age 18 or older.

Are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

Have not been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days. If your application was recently denied, you can appeal our deci-

sion online and request a review of the determination we made. Visitssa.gov/apply/appeal-decision-we-made.

Supplemental Security Income — SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness who have limited income and few resources. People age 65 and older without disabilities who have limited income and resources may also be eligible for SSI. Some adults with disabilities who meet certain requirements may complete the application process online. To learn more, visit ssa.gov/ssi. If you cannot visit our website, you can call (800)-772-1213 to schedule an appointment. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may contact our TTY/TDD number, (800) 3250778.)

Medicare — Medicare is a federal health insurance program for:

People age 65 or older.

Younger workers who have received disability benefits for

24 months.

People with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Note: They do not have a two-year waiting period.

If you are not already receiving Social Security benefits, you should apply for Medicare up to three months before turning age 65 at ssa.gov/medicare. You should consider your Medicare options even if you are still working and covered under an employer group health plan (or your spouse’s employer health plan through their active employment).

Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs — The Extra Help program helps Medicare beneficiaries with prescription drug costs, like deductibles and copays. People on Medicare who need assistance with the cost of their medications can apply for Extra Help at ssa. gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help. Share this information with those who need it.

Moving can sometimes be taxing

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

What to do after quitting work and where to do it eats up a lot of planning time.

Factors range from downsizing to cut day to day living costs to moving closer to the grandkids relocating to a more amiable climate.

Often overlooked are the hidden costs of making a move that will make your retirement years as comfortable as you hope.

Such as the taxes.

Moving out of the country does not allow you to evade U.S. taxes, but there are an array of regulations that need studying to determine how much you will have to pay depending on what type of documentation you have.

Thousands of expatriates live in comfortable communities in Mexico, the most popular retirement country for U.S. retirees, where reports reveal a couple can live comfortably for between $2,000 and $3,000 a month.

Many expatriate Canadians look forward to getting back home to spend time at the family cottage or in their old neighborhood.

Those thinking of returning or escaping to Canada have to do some arithmetic to determine the tax rate on their level of income.

The highest-taxing province is Quebec, with neighbor Ontario settling down among the lowest.

On the other hand, New Yorkers and Californians have

become aware of their burdensome state taxes and are slipping away to Florida, Texas and Arizona.

Among the tax-friendliest states, according to a Bottom Line report, are Florida, Texas, Alaska, Nevada and Wyoming. It takes more than just moving to escape high-tax states. You have to cut all linkages. You

have to sell any and all property in the state you’re moving from and establish your address in the new location.

Co-owning any property can put you in a position of owing taxes in the state you leave. For example, co-signing a mortgage loan for one of your children may establish you as a property owner in that state.

Snowbirds fall into a trap by thinking all they have to do is switch their address from the burdensome-tax northern state to the more affordable sunshine state. The tax man looks at such things as which is the larger home, how much time you spend in each residence, and where you keep your stuff.

Put time on your side when heart attack strikes

By JAMES GAFFNEY

Mature Life Features

When a heart attack strikes, the window for recovery and survival becomes narrower with every minute that

passes, according to research.

A delay in seeking medical treatment after the onset of symptoms greatly increases a patient’s risk of developing complications and death, and may decrease the effective-

ness of emergency angioplasty.

Experts say it is crucial that patients know how to recognize the signs of heart attack and take them seriously.

By KURT NESS Broker/Co-Owner Ness Bros. Realtors and Auctioneers

Just as your family is unique from everyone else’s, so are your needs and the challenges you face. Our first step to promoting a smooth transition for your family is having a meaningful conversation so we can better identify your needs and the best solutions for your family. We will go through each step in the process with you and make sure that all your questions are answered completely, and all your concerns are addressed and put to rest. Establish a Plan

After the needs, challenges, and goals that are specific to your family have been assessed, we begin establishing

a plan to meet all the necessary criteria. No matter what you do in life, a good plan is essential, especially when it comes to such an important and complex task as transitioning your family and their belongings smoothly. Each plan is customized for you and your family, with a complete list of expenditures to expect. No hidden fees or surprises

Get to Work

After establishing your family’s needs and establishing a plan, it’s time to get to work. We take all the information we have discussed in the plan and put it into action. Once the ball is rolling, if you have any questions or concerns, we’re with you through every step of the way to assist in any way you need.

Our Good Samaritan program works with you hand in hand with the following services:

• Assisting in organizing.

• Determining what to sell, keep or donate.

• Packing for the move.

• Move management. Contact our Senior Relocation team to get help and answers to your questions on rightsizing; we’re here to help you sort through every chapter of your life.

Reach out to our relocation specialists at (260) 459-3911 in Fort Wayne or (260) 3563911 in Huntington. You can also contact us through our website NessBros.com, or stop in one of our offices, located at 3344 Mallard Cove Lane, Fort Wayne, or 519 N. Jefferson St., Huntington.