Senior Life - NorthWest - March 2025 by The Papers Inc.

Hail the RedHawks —

IUN Hall of Champions seeks to celebrate, inspire

By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

Northwest Indiana has another sports hall of fame, this time on a university campus.

Indiana University Northwest in Gary, already home to that city’s Sports Hall of Fame, in February cut the ribbon on its own “hall.”

More than 100 athletic backers, community leaders and former student athletes celebrated the induction of the IUN sports hall of fame members and the unveiling of the newly-created Hall of Champions.

This year’s class included philanthropists Terry and Karen McMahon, women’s basketball player Sharon Houston and the 2009-10 women’s basketball team.

As Director of Athletics Ryan Shelton explained, “athletics is about bringing people together. We’re here to celebrate the past and inspire current and future athletes to succeed. This hall brings the past and present together.”

Among recent inductees, the contributions of the McMahon family have helped establish the Terry and Karen McMahon Resource Center, the Hall of Champions, gymnasium upgrades, locker room renovations, branded team vans, and student scholarships.

Houston, a four-time All-American and Conference Player of the Year, remains the most decorated student athlete in IUN history. She holds the record for points, rebounds, and blocks and helped lead the women’s basketball team to its first NAIA National Tournament.

That 2009-10 women’s basketball team went 24-12 and

garnered several All-Conference players.

Following the induction ceremony, the IUN Athletics Hall of Champions was unveiled by the McMahons and IUN leadership with a ribbon cutting.

The newly-created space, located on the second floor of the Savannah Center outside the gymnasium, features trophies, jerseys and plaques that tell the history of some of IUN’s sports teams, players, coaches and supporters.

Additionally, touch screens and interactive displays allow guests to access the athletic department’s history.

Athletic programs are relatively new at IUN, starting in 2000. Today the Gary campus fields seven varsity teams in basketball, soccer, cross country and volleyball, in addition to intramurals. About 150 student athletes participate.

Located in a previously underutilized commons area, Continued on page 2

CUTTING THE RIBBON Indiana University Northwest staff and benefactors cut the ribbon in early February in the IUN Hall of Champions. In front from left are Ryan Shelton, director of athletics; Terry and Vicki McMahon, philanthropists; Dr. Ken Iwama, IU vice president; and Dr. Dorothy Frink, IUN interim vice chancellor. In the back are Dr. Vicki Roman-Lagunas, IUN interim chancellor; and Amy Diaz, chief of staff.

Photo provided by IUN.

JUST A TOUCH — Ryan Shelton, director of athletics at Indiana University Nothwest in Gary, stands beside the interactive board that provided access to past and current IUN coaches, teams, student-athletes and sports accomplishments. Photo by Steve Euvino.

REDHAWK GEAR The Indiana University Northwest Hall of Champions features jerseys from various IUN sports teams. The Gary campus fields seven teams in basketball, soccer, cross country and volleyball. Photo by Steve Euvino.

Key Positions

Nursing prof advocating for young patient care

Text and Photos

By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

Dr. Christina Cavinder not only teaches nursing, she practices her profession. She also advocates for the youngest under her care.

Cavinder is assistant dean of graduate nursing and an associate professor of nursing at Valparaiso University. Her areas of expertise include pediatrics, especially newborns and infants.

This nurse practitioner also currently works in newborn intensive care units at Northwest Health Porter and LaPorte, doing daily patient management and transport for critical infants.

A former biology major who started in lab work, she got into nursing and working with babies and her career took off.

“I love working with babies,” Cavinder said. “They’re easy to lift, easy to make happy.”

One drawback to babies, she noted, is they can’t say what’s wrong with them. That’s where nurses have to hone assessment skills.

A nurse practitioner for 26 of her 34 years in nursing, Cavinder takes engineering and nursing students to hospitals to record sounds and lighting that surround infant care.

While hospital staff do their best, Cavinder noted, they are not the normal touch of a mother holding her child. The wrong sounds and lighting, she explained, can lead to depression, attention deficit disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cavinder’s research in lowstress pediatric environment includes working to redesign the newborn ICU to provide different hues of lighting and sound modifications to decrease premature infants’ stress that could alter the child’s DNA.

Even the positioning of windows in the child’s hospital room or the sounds from a helicopter landing nearby can affect a young patient, Cavinder said. She is pursuing developmental care that leaves the baby in a natural position and a calmer setting.

Cavinder estimates the VU graduate nursing program has 50 students. She teaches ethics for nurse practitioners, pathophysiology and a projects course for doctoral students.

Among her written tools with ethics students is Robert Jay Lifton’s “The Nazi Doctors,” in which the author analyzes the roles German doctors played in genocide. She challenges her students with real-life ethical situations.

“The ultimate arrogance is you think you have it all under control,” Cavinder said. “At some point, a higher being has to take over. You can’t do everything.”

She continued, “The biggest thing nurses, especially young nurses, struggle with is a good assessment of what is going on with the patient,” noting there is no one “cookbook” approach to patient care. “There’s more to patients than numbers. Put yourself in their shoes.”

A good nurse, the professor believes, has good assessment

skills, cares about patients and keeps learning.

With all the changes in nursing, Cavinder confessed, “I love interacting with patients. I like to feel I made a difference. I like it when people return years later and we see how the child turned out. Children and their resilience amaze me. They go through a lot.”

Sometimes pediatric patients don’t survive, and staff can help the family, Cavinder said, by preparing parents and creating memories, including photos.

Looking ahead, the veteran nurse commented, “I see more autonomy for nurses will continue. They need a better voice for themselves, showing they’ve earned that autonomy.”

IUN Hall of

Continued from page 1

the IUN Hall of Champions garners glances from student athletes, Shelton said, “who look over their shoulders to see if their name or picture is on the screen. I’ve observed a lot of joy, a lot of pride. Lots of smiles.”

With one touch, the viewer can click onto the Hall of Champions, coaches and players of the year, national qualifiers, All-Americans, and conference champs. In progress is a section for school records.

Terry McMahon, who studied two years at IUN before finishing in Bloomington, has supported the Gary campus in many ways. These include helping to start the first, though

unofficial, men’s basketball team on campus back in 1958.

Shelton approached McMahon about a year ago, when planning for the hall began. McMahon has supported the university with operations, staffing and facility transformation.

“Athletics is expensive,” Shelton noted, “and with his support, he has made a big commitment.”

Shelton said the Hall of Champions draws glances from non-athletes as well.

“We need to celebrate more,” Shelton commented, “and by acknowledging these accomplishments, we can motivate people to work harder in the future.”

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

PLACE FOR LECTURES Dr. Christina Cavinder, an assistant dean of graduate nursing and an associate professor of nursing of nursing at Valparaiso University, is shown in the lecture room of the nursing/ health sciences building. These days, Cavinder teaches graduate-level online, in addition to her hospital work.

SOUND ADVICE — Dr. Christina Cavinder stands beside a sign her son made, featuring a quote she offered him after reading his term paper. She is assistant dean of graduate nursing and an associate professor of nursing at Valparaiso University.

Ellis continuing traditions of 130-year-old women’s social and civic organization

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Cathy Ellis of Valparaiso became a member of the Valparaiso Women’s Association 23 years ago. She was drawn to the history and charitable efforts of its early founders and wanted to be part of keeping it going into the future.

“The history of the club and the home and all the wonderful things they do for the community are the biggest attractions for me. I am very passionate for what this club stands for and the continuation of this club for generations to come,” said Ellis.

“The club was organized in 1895 and women would meet in different members’ homes for

a reading circle,” she said. The club later had an opportunity to purchase the home and clinic of Dr. David Loring, which was built in 1905 at 102 Washington St. in downtown Valparaiso, as a permanent clubhouse. In 1925, the club purchased the home and will be celebrating 100 years at the location this year. In 1984, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Eight years ago, Ellis was asked to serve as the club’s president and she continues to serve in that role. “My favorite part of the VMA is being able to continue the amazing work these ladies have started so many generations ago. Also, to meet and work with these amazing women in this community for the greater good of the club. Fundraising and membership drives are so important to keep this glorious house shining brightly.”

Maintaining the property is a big function of the club — not only because it is the club’s meeting space and a rental venue, but because it also houses women in need by providing them with affordable housing.

CORPORATE OFFICE

“We are a stepping stone for them,” said Ellis. During COVID she took over duties as the caretaker of the house and tenants. “We also have an endowment at Valparaiso University for incoming students, two scholarships for seniors in the Porter County High Schools and poetry and short story contests for the middle school students.”

Aside from the VMA, Ellis is president of TRIAD

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“It’s a group that works with Porter County Sheriff’s Department for the safety and well-being of our seniors in the community,” she said. She is also president and community liaison for the Duneland Seniors, which she co-founded; is a board mem-

ber on the Porter County Aging and Community Services; and is a board member of the Mayor’s Senior Advisory Committee. Ellis is employed by Dunes Hospice as their marketing liaison. “We service all of Northwest Indiana with hospice and palliative services in the home, skilled nursing and assisted living,” she said. “I have a special place in my heart for Dunes and all the amazing staff. We have so many angels among us. It’s an honor for me to meet with patients, families and the community to educate and support them.”

Volunteering is her biggest hobby, Ellis said.

S. O. S. – Speaking Of Seniors

“I want to make a difference in people’s lives. Big or small. But the small ones are the most important. Just to make someone smile and that they know they matter,” she said.

She also has gotten into gaming and says it helps keep her connected to her two adult sons, one of whom lives in Texas with his wife and the other who is a professional American football quarterback playing internationally. She and her husband, Eric, were high school sweethearts who have been married for 37 years. The couple are now empty nesters with a fluffy Husky named Rex.

Medicare ruled against hospital

On Jan. 30, 2025, I got a copy of the document that Medicare sent to our client in response to the appeal that I helped our client file against a hospital in northwest Indiana.

Medicare ruled that the hospital wrongfully sent a bill to our client to pay $319.13. We sent the appeal to Medicare on Dec. 10, 2024.

Here is the beautiful language paragraph from the Medicare ruling.

“We have determined that the above claim is not covered by Medicare. We have also determined that (the hospital) is responsible for the cost of this service.”

You might think that $319.13 is a small amount. But if a senior saved money to handle living in the “golden years” and

By WOODROW WILCOX Senior Problem Resolution Officer

inflation (caused by the federal government) lowers the value of each dollar saved by about

20% in three years, then $319.13 becomes a big amount of money for a senior citizen.

All the help that I gave this client was free of charge. This insurance agency helps all clients with similar problems without charge to demonstrate that we really care and appreciate our clients. If your insurance agent or agency does not give this high level of customer service, why not switch to a firm like ours?

Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville. He has saved clients of that firm over $3 million by fighting mistakes and fraud in the Medicare medical billing system. Also, Wilcox wrote the book “Solving Medicare Problem$” which is available through bookstores and online.

PASSIONATE ABOUT 130 YEAR OLD CLUB Cathy Ellis of Valparaiso is passionate about the Valparaiso Women’s Association, which she joined 23 years ago. She was drawn to the club by its history and charitable efforts. Photo provided.

Free elder law workshop for

Book a free educational workshop for your group with leading elder law and estate planning attorney, Cliff Rice. Attorney Rice has been actively practicing law for over 50 years and has received the Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating, the highest peer rating given to attorneys ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise and ethical standards. His practice is concentrated solely on estate planning and elder law; he has taught estate planning to CPAs, insurance professionals, certified financial planners and attorneys for over 50 years in many states.

Our elder law workshop is a free workshop for everyone who would like to learn more about:

• New laws to help prevent the loss of your home and life savings in the event of a long-term or catastrophic illness. Don’t let the nursing home take everything you worked for your whole life! Nursing home costs are almost $100,000 per year.

• Probate: How to avoid potential lengthy delays, and how to eliminate or minimize court, attorney and executor fees.

• If I die first, and my spouse remarries, could my kids be disinherited?

• Kids’ spouses: protect kids against divorces (current or future), and keep money in the line to your grandchildren.

By CLIFFORD J. RICE ELDER LAW ATTORNEY

• Blended families: His/her/our kids — what you must do to prevent the state from disinheriting your own separate children!

• In-home healthcare instructions — to help keep you in your own home as long as possible, and therefore to maintain your own privacy, your own dignity, comfortable familiar surroundings. So you get to remain with your own pets, your own room, and also to avoid unnecessary placement in a nursing home as long as possible.

• Why putting property in children’s names can be a big mistake.

You will enjoy the relaxed and informative manner of his presentation. Call today to schedule this workshop for your group! (800) 303-7423. If you would like to attend one of our

Rice and Rice.

monthly public seminars, go to riceandrice.com/workshops.

“Great session on estate planning by Rice and Rice! I learned a lot and realize I need to update my will and other documents. Scheduled an appointment the night of the seminar to get the ball rolling. Thanks!” — Linda L.

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“Great seminar! Very informative and looking forward to our free consultation.” — Ed O.

Myths mask base of Social Security benefits

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

There are a couple of persistent myths in circulation regarding how your Social Security benefits are based. Introduce the topic and your almost certain to hear that your benefits are based

on your income over your last three years in the work force, or on your five highest-earning years.

Both are wrong.

Social Security analysts review your income for 35 of your working years. And they use the years with your highest income.

OFFERING FREE WORKSHOPS Rice and Rice is now booking free educational workshops on various aspects of elder law, or attend one of their monthly public seminars. Check out riceandrice.com/ workshops for more information. Shown is Cliff Rice conducting one of the workshops. Photo provided by

Five benefits you can apply for online at ssa.gov

By DANIEL SUMMER, MA Public Affairs Specialist

Social Security Administration

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) 325-0778.)

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.

APPLY FOR BENEFITS ON LINE There are five different benefits Social Security offers that can be applied for online. Check ssa. gov to apply for those benefits. Photo provided by Social Security Administration.

Noe and sons offer accounting services to business and residential clients

By FAITH NOE, CPA

Years ago, when I was a stayat-home mom with three young children, my husband asked me to take a few accounting courses so I could help at his accounting office. I took several classes, aced the CPA exam and have been working in accounting for 40-plus years now. I’ve

worked at both Martin Binder Jeweler and Strongbow Inn as their accountant. I retired from Binder’s, but have continued my accounting practice.

My son, Ben Mortensen, and grandson, Timothy McLean, are now working in my firm. Timothy has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Purdue and a post-baccalaureate certification

in accounting from IU Northwest. Ben has earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Both Timothy and Ben have taken additional classes in federal and state tax preparation.

We serve business and individual clients in all age groups

and income levels. Our goal is personal, professional service at an affordable price. Seniors receive an additional 10% discount.

Clients usually meet with us in our office, but we also can receive your documents safely via an email portal or our telephone app. We make house calls for clients who no longer drive and find computer and phone options difficult. To make an appointment, call or text us at (219) 462-8202, (219) 241-2601, or (219) 246-1457.

Replacing my missing Tile

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 Continued on page 7

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

Replacing

Continued from page 6

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.

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.”

HARRISON FORD AS ‘BOB FALFE’ IN AMERICAN GRAFFITI

Health and movement coach promotes benefits of yoga

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Cheryl Mabry has always been active and since her early teens she has been teaching people to move their bodies. After participating in recreational gymnastics from age 5-12, she began coaching in that gymnastics program as a young teen. In 1990, she began working as a group fitness instructor.

“I loved all forms of aerobics, strength, step and then spin and Pilates classes,” she said. “But back pain from repetitive use and overdoing it and teaching too many classes was about to end what I loved doing the most — educating others to love health and fitness.”

She found that practicing and teaching yoga helped heal her and also made it possible to stay in a field that she loved. “I wanted to keep teaching but couldn’t physically keep up the intensity. Choosing yoga was a way to keep teaching. I had no idea the benefits it would bring me long term,” she said.

In 2020, all of her in-person teaching and coaching came to a halt and those she continued to work with virtually were dealing with work stress, kids’ e-learning, etc. and Mabry said she learned that workouts

weren’t the answer anymore.

“Seeing that they needed more, I realized I needed to become more,” she said. “I hired a coach who offered me accountability, mindset/education, nutrition and a supportive community and I thrived!”

With that personal shift came a career shift, and Mabry is now a holistic health and movement coach who works with individual clients and in group settings. “I immediately began coaching others in their health goals with a greater focus on personal growth and less in calorie burn at the gym. We focus on six macro elements of health: healthy mind, sleep and energy management, healthy weight management, healthy motion, healthy eating/ hydration and healthy surroundings.”

She recently wrapped up a three-part empowerment yoga series at the Lansing Public Library focused on Yoga for Mental Health.

“Using yoga as a tool for self-regulation, we use simple breathing and movements to train our brain, body and nervous system to live in harmony,” she said. “I customized programs for students, teachers and parents in our local school district this past year, with more coming.”

SETTING THE EXAMPLE

Cheryl Mabry started out as gymnastist, moved on to being a group fitness instructor. Now she promotes the benefits of yoga.

Mabry also specializes in teaching yoga for military and first responders. She first became aware of it when talking with her brother-in-law, who told her that Yoga for First Responders has been part of his training at the Chicago Police Academy. Yoga for First Responders is a worldwide nonprofit that Mabry immediately found herself drawn to. Knowing the benefits yoga can

provide both physically and mentally and recalling the toll that military service had taken on her father, a U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran, she was eager to get involved.

She now teaches YFFR at firehouses, police training facilities, military bases and at conferences in Illinois and Northwest Indiana as well, as through Mobile Training Units in Plainfield and Peoria, Ill. for

state accredited 8-hour in-service trainings.

“We offer yoga training that is job specific and culturally informed,” she said.

She also walks about 10,000 steps a day, does physical therapy weekly and trains at Class UFC Gym in Munster where high intensity interval training is part of her regular routine.

Mabry recommends yoga for Continued on page 10

• And More!

A. If your product or service is geared to adults over the age of 50, Senior Life is the newspaper for you! According to CVC, our readers average 45 years of age and older and frequently purchase products or services from the ads they see in Senior Life (74.8%). Call or send me an email today to discuss adding Senior Life into your marketing strategy.

LEADING THE GROUP — Cheryl Mabry, back right, leads a group class in yoga. Mabry has been teaching yoga for a number of years and specializes in teaching yoga to military personnel and first responders. Photo provided by Cheryl Mabry.

Photo provided by Cheryl Mabry.

li f e. on purpose.

A Healthy Lifestyle as You Age

Healthy R Reminders for

A Adults o over 5 50!

1. Take Your Medication as Directed

All medications, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, include directions for safe use. Be sure to follow all printed guidelines and the advice of your doctor to ensure that the medicine works safely and effectively.

2. Don’t Overdo It

Using alcohol and medications unintentionally or to cope with big life changes is called substance misuse. Help can begin with diagnosis, addressing chronic health issues, rebuilding support systems and starting treatment.

3. Check in with Your Mood

Feeling persistently sad or that you don’t have value can indicate depression, especially when these feelings affect your daily routine. Depression can be treated with talk therapy and/or medication. You can also lower the risk of depression when you prepare for major life changes, stay physically active, and share how you are feeling with family or friends.

4. Find Purpose Each Day

Feeling that your life has purpose is a key to fulfillment. It can impact your health positively, and may also slow down aging and increase longevity. Make choices and plan activities based on what is enjoyable, interesting, and important to you.

Learn More When You...

•

• Visit www.porterstarke.org

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

Blast to the Past! —

‘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

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 emulate 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

Health and movement

Continued from page 8

all ages for many reasons.

“So many simple breathing techniques help strengthen respiratory muscles and immunity. Meditative aspects

help balance stresses of change,” she said. “I educate and train people to come with an intention of breath, movement, challenge and release — and that mobility

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.

and flexibility are the result of practice and not its intention.”

To follow or contact Mabry, go to linktr.ee/coachcheryl. mabry.

Would you make a larger impact, if you could?

By KELLY ANOE President & CEO Legacy Foundation

Now is your chance to turn every $1 you donate into $3. Legacy Foundation is raising millions to support a better quality of life in Lake County. Through its Lake County Forever campaign, the foundation has raised 85% of its $1.9 million goal, which will help secure a matching grant of $3.8 million from Lilly Endowment Inc.

The limited-time Lake County Forever campaign is driven by Lilly Endowment’s

promise to donate $2 for every $1 raised. By the end of June 2025, the campaign with the match will raise nearly $6 million toward the foundation’s unrestricted funds, which directly benefit nonprofits addressing community needs throughout Lake County.

Last year, over 40 organizations serving local cities and towns received a grant from the foundation’s unrestricted funds. Organizations addressing hunger, such as Community Help Network, Food Bank of NWI, and Meals on Wheels of NWI. Housing and crisis organizations, such as Crisis Center, Fair Haven RCC and The Caring Place. Organizations serving those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Paladin, Opportunity Enterprises and Tradewinds.

Lake County’s community foundation relies on donations from the public to support nonprofits serving locally. In 2024, Legacy Foundation awarded over $5 million in grants to help nonprofits improve or expand services or launch new programs.

At a time when there is a lot of uncertainty about future funding for nonprofits and the ever-changing needs of our community, this is a way for everyone to give a little to make a big impact on the place we call home. Join over 230 donors who have already given. Every donation counts from $25 to $25,000, and every dollar is tripled!

For more information on the Lake County Forever campaign, visit legacyfdn.org.

JOE COCKER

A Boomer Blast To The Past

ACROSS

1. Doorframe part

The 1930s

5. *The Swing Era or ____ Band Era

8. T-cell killer, acr.

11. Arabian chieftain

12. Actress Sorvino

13. Excessively fat

15. Chore list

16. Second word in fairytale?

17. Doled out cards

18. *1933 movie monster (2 words)

20. Eyeball

21. Golf aid

22. French vineyard

23. *Larry or Curly or Moe

26. Between delta and zeta

30. ____ B vaccine

31. Ciphering machine

34. Kind

35. Black and white cookies

37. ___ chi

38. Fender bender consequences

39. Light beige

40. *First white chocolate manufacturer

42. Grasp

43. Elbow room, to a ship (2 words)

45. Teenagers’ emotions

47. Belly

48. East Indian pepper

50. Buzzing pest

52. *Prairie crisis (2 words)

55. Change, as in U.S. Constitution

56. “If all ____ fails...”

57. Solomon-like

59. Boatload

60. Lab gel

61. Enthusiasm

62. Finale

63. Grazing land

64. Blood vessel network

DOWN

1. Blue Angel

2. In a frenzy

3. Calf-length skirt

4. Ford option

5. Two-footed mortar support

6. Shoemaker without shoes, e.g.

7. *Al Capone’s Chicago Outfit, e.g.

8. Mend, healthwise

9. Small island

10. Doctor Dolittle, e.g.

12. *Shenyang (China) in 1931

13. O in B.O., pl.

14. *Cole Porter’s “Begin the ____”

19. Dashboard windows

22. Accounting title

23. Oxfords and loafers

24. 9 a.m. prayer

25. *George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”

26. Discharge

27. Ding-a-____, pl.

28. Eightsome

29. Egg holders

32. Big-ticket ____

33. Tank filler

36. *a.k.a. The Little Rascals (2 words)

38. Brightest star in Cygnus

40. 1990s negation

41. Second of two

44. Beat the Joneses

46. Angry stare

48. Battle of the ____, a.k.a. Ardennes Offensive

49. Test format

Brain Boosters

This slow-cooker chicken with pineapple has a hint of ginger and sesame and is made with simple ingredients you may already have in your pantry! Look for fresh pineapple that’s been peeled and cored already to make assembly even easier. Serve with brown rice to sop up the sweet and savory sauce. 4 servings; Prep 35 min.; Total Time 2 hrs. 35 min.

INGREDIENTS:

1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

4 teaspoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

3 large cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 cups cubed fresh pineapple

1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 medium onion, cut into 1-inch pieces

Sliced scallions for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Coat a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place chicken in one layer in the bottom of the cooker. Whisk broth, soy sauce and cornstarch in a measuring cup until smooth. Add sesame oil, garlic, ginger and crushed red pepper; stir to combine. Pour the mixture over the chicken, then scatter pineapple, bell pepper and onion over the top. Cover and cook on Low for 4 1/2 hours or on High for 2 hours.

Remove the chicken and vegetables to a bowl. Transfer the liquid to a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Coarsely shred the chicken; place the chicken mixture in a serving bowl. Add the sauce and stir to combine. Garnish with scallions, if desired.

Ramp builders serve as ‘hands and feet of Jesus’

Text and Photos

By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

If faith can move mountains, it can also remove barriers.

Just ask Wally Szymanczyk, who does not have to feel like a “prisoner in my own home.”

Szymancyk, 79, underwent spinal surgery in late 2023 and then had to do two years in rehabilitation. Stuck in a wheelchair or walker, he still had medical appointments.

That’s when St. Michael’s wheelchair ramp ministry came through. In early February, the Catholic ministry group built a ramp, enabling Szymanczyk safe egress and ingress at no charge.

“It’s nice to know someone is out there doing things for others,” the St. John resident said. “This [ramp] means peace of mind, that I can get in and out. I’m not stuck in this house.”

The Szymanczyk ramp was the 87th project for the St. Michael’s group, chaired by Jim Koeling. The ministry dates back to April 2019, when Koeling read about ramp builders. He inquired and was mentored by the group, leading to the first build Nov. 2, 2019 in Gary.

Since then, the ministry has worked throughout Lake County. Koeling and Bill Marvel, another volunteer, have worked on most of these ramps.

According to Koeling, “Our purpose as a service team is to act in a helpful and caring manner to help the less fortunate of our society. Our mission is to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

The group is affiliated with St. Michael the Archangel

Catholic Parish in Schererville and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary.

With about one ramp completed each month, the ministry, Koeling, 76, confessed, “has exceeded my wildest imagination. I could not conceive the impact it would have. I give all the credit to God.”

For inspiration, the St. John man quotes Jesus from Matthew 25:40, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

“The Old Testament talks about taking care of others, and Jesus reaffirmed that,” Koeling said. “God calls us to do this. It’s the right thing to do, trying to give people respect. I feel bad when I can’t help someone.”

The St. Michael’s group receives referrals for assistance.

“We get calls from people whose loved one is leaving the hospital, and a lot of them don’t know where to turn,” Koeling said. “I talk to people; I see their faces.”

Koeling recalled a request from a 102-year-old woman from Munster who had served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later Women’s Army Corps) during WWII.

“What a tremendous honor to do that for that veteran,” Koeling recalled.

On another occasion, the ministry provided a ramp for a blind man in his 80s.

Depending on the site, a ramp can take four hours to complete. The Szymanczyk project involved adding a wooden porch, changing the storm door and adding grab bars to the front door.

2404 Roosevelt Rd. Valparaiso, IN Granite Monuments Markers Mausoleums 219.531.2717 ~ Quality Memorials Since 1934 ~ Hrs: M-F 9-5, Sat. 10-4, Sun./Evenings By Appt.

group built in 2023 for

ramps throughout Lake County.

Average cost is $2,500-$4,000 per ramp, made from aluminum or steel. Top contributors include Legacy Foundation, Franciscan Alliance and Crown

Point Community Foundation.

Koeling has access to a barn for storing used ramps. He asks that anyone seeking assis-

tance contact Daniella Ocanas at Catholic Charities, (219) 886-3459 or outreach@catholic-charities.org.

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.

BUILDING HOPE — Jim Koeling, chairperson for St. Michael’s wheelchair ramp ministry, stands beside the ramp his group finished in early February for a St. John resident recovering from spinal surgery and other medical issues. It is the 87th ramp the ministry has built since 2019.

HELPING THE LEGION Jim Koeling, chairperson for St. Michael’s wheelchair ramp ministry, stands on the ramp his

St. John American Legion Allied Post 369. The ministry has built 87

What’s happening at your local library

Below are all the adult programs, events and classes for the month of March at the various locations of the Lake County Public Library

Cedar Lake

10010 W. 133rd Ave.

Crochet @ Your Library, 4:306:30 p.m. March 5, 12, 19, 26

Book Discussion, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 19

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/cl.htm or call 3747121.

Dyer-Schererville

1001 W. Lincoln Highway (US 30)

Crafters Gathering, 10:3012:30 p.m. March 6, 20

All Ability: Paper/Felt Mini Leprechauns, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 11

Mahjong Open Play, 1-4 p.m. Friday, March 14, 28

Morning Mix, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, March 21

New Parent & Caregiver Meet Up, 11-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 25

Between the Lines Book Discussion, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/ds.htm or call 3224731.

Griffith-Calumet

1215 E. 45th Ave.

Thursday Threaders, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 6, 13, 20, 27

All Ability: Shamrock Mosaic, 6-7 p.m. Monday, March 17

Coffee & Coloring, 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, March 18

All Ability: Gaming, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/

branches/gr.htm or call 8382825.

Highland 2841 Jewett St.

Once Upon a Crime Mystery Book Club, 3-4 p.m. Thursday, March 6

All Ability: Butterfly Scratch Art, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12

Fact or Fiction Book Club, 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 25

Tech Class: Knowing Your Smartphone, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 27

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin. org/branches/hi.htm or call 838-2394.

Hobart

100 Main St.

Stitch’n Time, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 1

Paint’n Time, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 11, 25

Whodunit? Adult Mystery Club, 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 24

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin. org/branches/ho.htm or call 942-2243.

Lake Station 2007 Central Ave. Mah Jongg Instruction at the Library, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, March 1

Tuesday Time Out, 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11

Grown Up Trivia Night, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12

Hobby Hour, 2-4 p.m. Thursday, March 13

Craft and Chat, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 15

Mah Jongg Meet Up - Open Play, 1-4 p.m. Friday, March 21 Bingo at the Library!, 3-4 p.m. Saturday, March 22

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

Grown Up Game Night, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 26

Reading Hour, 2-3 p.m. Thursday, March 27

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin. org/branches/lsnc.htm or call 962-2409.

Merrillville

1919 W. 81st Ave. (US 30) Citizenship Class, 10:3011:30 a.m. March 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19

English as a Second Language, 6-8 p.m. March 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27

Caregivers & Coffee Hour, 11 a.m. to noon March 4, 12, 18, 26

Safer Cleaning Solutions, noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, March 4

Dungeons and Dragons for Adults, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 5

Keep Me In Stitches, 10 a.m.

to noon Saturday, March 8

Circle of Readers Book Discussion, 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11

Genealogy: Beginner Genealogy Class, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13

Monthly Resume Workshop, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 19

Genealogy Class: How to Write A Family History Book, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20

Special Needs Panel Discussion, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 20

Board Meeting, 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, March 27

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin. org/branches/cnl.htm or call 769-3541. Munster 8701 Calumet Ave.

Dungeons and Dragons for

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 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.

Adults, 6-8:15 p.m. March 6, 13

Yoga & Breathing, 10-11 a.m. March 8, 29

Calumet Astronomical Society, 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 25

Munster Book Discussion, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin. org/branches/mu.htm or call 836-8450.

St. John

450 Wicker Ave. (US 41) Off the Hook, 1-3 p.m. March 5, 12, 19, 26

Tech Class: Smart Phone Basics, 10:30-11:30 a.m. March 11 Page Turners Book Discussion, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 12

Registration required for all programs; visit www.lcplin. org/branches/sj.htm or call (219) 365-5379.

Nip migraines in the bud at onset

By JAMES GAFFNEY

Mature Life Features

Migraine sufferers take note: don’t try to stave off that encroaching headache through sheer willpower.

Most people who treat their migraines with triptans — among the most popular and effective medications — will find they work best if taken early in the attack, before skin sensitivity develops, according to research.

As their headaches progress, nearly four out of five migraine sufferers develop skin hypersensitivity (merely touching their hair, scalp, or skin around the eyes becomes painful). A Harvard Medical School study shows that once this hypersensitivity takes root, it’s too late to abort the

painful attack with one of the several triptan medications available on the market.

However, if a triptan is taken before sensitivity develops, it is likely to completely relieve the pain.

Other research suggests two-thirds of people with migraines are pain-free within four hours if they take sumatriptan early enough in the attack.

Some 39 million Americans get migraine headaches.

People who suffer from migraines often are reluctant to take medication at the first sign of the attack for various reasons. The medications are expensive and insurance companies may limit the monthly allowance.

In a recent study, 691 people who get migraines were

included in a test. A placebo was given to 236 when they go a migraine; 233 were given 50mg. of sumatriptan, and 222 were given 100 mg. of sumatriptan. All were required to take the medication within two hours of the start of the migraine.

After four hours, 71 (30%) of the placebo group were pain free, compared to 142 (61%) of the 50 mg. group and 151 (68%) of the 100 mg. group.

The incidence of side effects, such as dizziness and sleepiness, was about the same with the higher dosage of sumatriptan as with the lower. If the medication was taken earlier, the side effects were less than if it was taken later.

A similar study focusing on

Artificial tears soothe seeing

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Dry-eye time stretches out over the entire calendar.

Hopefully, you aren’t crying a lot so you have to think about using artificial tears to protect

your eyes from dust, smoke, heat, air-conditioning and all the other particles swarming in the air around you.

Blinking helps keep your eyeballs lubricated.

If your eyes continue to feel itchy or scratchy, check with

your pharmacist for a handy over-the-counter eye drops that will soothe your seeing through the day. Some users suggest keeping the eye drops in a refrigerator so they’ll feel more refreshing when applied.

zolmitriptan supported those findings. Of 250 patients studied, 60% of those who took the medication within 15

minutes of onset of symptoms were pain-free two hours later.

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.

A write way to ease anxieties about health

By JAMES GAFFNEY Mature Life Features

Feeling stressed? Maybe you should be writing more.

your feelings, problems, how you’re coping, and what makes you happy. And while you’re at it, congratulate yourself — in writing — on your successes.

Keeping a daily journal is a great way to relieve stress for both healthy persons and those with chronic illnesses or medical conditions.

You should not only record your daily activities but also

Writing about all aspects of an illness can help patients suffering from autoimmune disorders, such as severe arthritis or lupus that can be exacerbated by stress.

Aperion Care - Demotte 10352 N. 600 E., Demotte, IN 46310 (219) 345-5211 • www.aperioncare.com

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1300 Vale Park Road, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 531-2484 • www.avivavalparaiso.com

Assisted Living & Memory Care in beautifully renovated community. Parkinson’s Disease Certification. Studios to two-bedroom apartments available.

Hammond-Whiting Care Center

1000-114th Street, Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 659-2770

www.hammondwhitingconvalescentcenter.com

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Respite Care, Hospice Care, JCAHO Accredited, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Ignite Medical Resort of Chesterton

2775 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 304-6700

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Post Hospital Rehabilitation & Care, Physical, Occupational, Speech, Stroke Recovery, Cardiac Care, Pulmonary Rehab, Wound Care, Infection Management, Renal Management, Resort-Style Senior Living, New & Impeccably Designed Facility

Ignite Medical Resort of Crown Point

1555 S. Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 323-8700

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Ignite Medical Resort of Dyer

1532 Calumet Avenue, Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 515-4700

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Lake Park Residential Care

Life

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Assisted Living, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Residential Care, Mental Health Services, Activities, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Care Center of The Willows

1000 Elizabeth Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 464-4858 • www.lcca.com

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing 24/7, Ready Set Go Program for Rehab to Home; Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies; Exceptional Wound Care; Respite Care; Pallitative and Hospice Care; Long-term Care; Private/Semi-Private Rooms; Pet Visitation Allowed; Medicare, Medicaid, Most Insurances, Private Pay Accepted

Life Care Center of Valparaiso

3405 N. Campbell, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 462-1023 • www.lcca.com/Valparaiso

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Ready Set Go Rehab Program, Inpatient/Outpatient Physical, Occupational, Speech, Respiratory, Therapy, Wound Care, Respite And Hospice Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Facility Van, JCAHO Accredited, Medicare, Insurance, Medicaid Accepted

Residences at Coffee Creek

Experience Our Unique Approach To Senior Living & Memory Support 2300 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 921-5200 • ResidencesSeniorLiving.com

Retirement Living, Assisted Living, Dedicated Memory Support, Respite Care, Therapy Available, Pet Friendly and VA Benefits Accepted

Residences at Deer Creek

Experience Our Unique Approach To Senior Living & Memory Support 401 E. U.S. 30, Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 864-0700 • ResidencesSeniorLiving.com

Retirement Living, Assisted Living, Dedicated Memory Support, Respite Care, Therapy Available, Pet Friendly and VA Benefits Accepted

Anthony 203 Franciscan Drive. Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 661-5100

MajesticCare.com

Assisted Living, Private Rooms, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Rehabilitation Services (including Physical, Occupational, Speech and Respiratory Therapy), Pet Visitation, Accepts Most Payer Sources. *Saint Anthony is no longer affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, the Diocese of Gary or the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago.

Saint

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 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

TOM ROSE Author and Speaker Coping with Grief

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 pretend 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.

Lake County Extension Homemakers Association accepting applications for memorial scholarship

Lake County Extension Homemakers Association is accepting applications for the Lucile Smith Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship has been set up to encourage individuals to continue their education.

To be eligible for the scholarship you need to be a Lake County resident for at least 6 months and 21 years of age or older. In addition, you would need to have financial need, show ability to complete education or upgrade vocational skills, be a full or part time student at an academic, educational or vocational school including internships which are state licensed or accredited.

Applications must be received by April 1. The awardee will be notified by mid-April and a check will be awarded at the annual Achievement Day

luncheon on Tuesday, May 20, at Andorra Banquets in Schererville.

The scholarship will be paid up to the amount of $1,000, paid jointly to the recipient and school. The scholarship is to be used for books, tuition costs and other school-related expenses. Selection will be based on a person studying at an undergraduate level.

Lucile Smith was a former Home Economics agent in Lake County. She came to Lake County in 1949 after serving as an agent in Putnam County-Greencastle for six years. Her education consisted of Ball State Teachers College, Manchester College, and she received her masters degree in home economics from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Here in Lake County, she became a lifelong member of the American Home Economics Association.

Smith received the National Distinguished Service Award in 1958 from the National Home Economics Association for her “remarkable job of organizing the demanding programs she carried on in her urban and rural county.” Her service in Lake County was from 1949 until November 1962. After her death in 1962, a memorial fund was established to give scholarships to women over 21 years of age. The original purpose of the scholarship was to encourage adult women to further their education or upgrade their vocational skills. The scholarship has made many changes, including the availability to both women and men.

Lucile Smith Scholarship link: docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe12TNEYv8TmHj314QA7k92dp-J9aeAIa4VKjIZKh11P-

FE39Q/viewform.

For further information or to request an application,

contact Lisa Moreland, educational committee member, at morelend9440@comcast.net.

Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society Society hosting events

The Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society will host “Efficient Genealogy: Streamline Your Research with TextExpander.” The workshop will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Lake County Public Library, 1919 81st Ave., Merrillville and on Zoom. Calling genealogists seeking ways to optimize your research process. Learn about the powerful capabilities of TextExpander and how it can revolutionize your genealogy workflow with speaker Christine E. Neumann, a profes-

sional forensic genealogist.

In April, the genealogical society will host Genealogy: Headlines to Heritage from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, April 19 at the Valparaiso Public Library and on Zoom.

Explore how to utilize newspapers for researching your family history. Hosted by the Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society, the Porter County Public Library System and the Larry J.Clark Genealogy Center in Valparaiso.

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HOSPICE CARE

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HOSPICE OF THE CALUMET AREA MUNSTER

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MEDICAL CLINIC

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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-square-foot 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.

Operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $11, adults (18-59); seniors (60plus), $9; youth (3-17), $6; and

children under 3, free.

Check the website at indianamuseum.org/historic-sites/

levi-catharine-coffin-house for updated times and admission fees.

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

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

Coleman awarded 2025 Joyce Alexa Advocate of the Year Award

VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana recently announced its 2025 Joyce Alexa Advocate of the Year Award will be presented to Brenda Coleman on Monday, March 3, at the VNA Hospice of NWI’s Annual dinner.

The Advocate of the Year Award honors the service and legacy of former VNA administrator and board member Joyce Alexa. The award inscription reads: “Joyce Alexa served the VNA as a nurse, administrator,

and board member for over 40 years. She advocated for fair legislative policy, lobbied for progressive patient care provisions and built relationships throughout the community to support VNA Hospice’s mission and the promotion of senior health services. The Joyce Alexa Advocate of the year Award is given to an individual who exemplifies Joyce’s spirit of fair legislation, empowering the underserved, promoting senior independence and

Centier Bank contributes over $54,000 to United Way

Centier Bank has made a significant contribution of over $54,000 to United Way, demonstrating its commitment to community impact through its annual workplace campaign.

The check presentation ceremony took place at Centier’s Corporate Office, underscoring the partnership’s shared mission of creating opportunities for individuals and families across the region.

The funds, raised through the hard work and generosity of Centier Bank employees across the state of Indiana, will help power United Way Northwest Indiana’s flagship programs, including Level Up, which provides essential resources, education and support to individuals striving for a better future.

“Centier Bank’s dedication to our community goes far beyond banking — it’s about building a brighter tomorrow for everyone,” said Chris White, CEO of United Way Northwest Indiana. “This generous contribution will empower our efforts to drive measurable change in Northwest Indiana and beyond.”

United Way Northwest Indiana is committed to advancing education, financial stability and access to essential resources for families in need. Contributions like Centier Bank’s workplace campaign donation play a vital role in sustaining these efforts.

For more information about United Way Northwest Indiana and its mission, visit unitedwaynwi.org.

United Way NWI empowers homebuyers for a brighter future

United Way of Northwest Indiana is excited to host its annual First-Time Homebuyer Fair, an exceptional opportunity for first-time and repeat homebuyers to prepare for one of life’s most significant investments. Open to the public, this free event will connect prospective buyers directly with realtors, lenders, home appraisers, and other industry professionals who can guide them through the home-buying process and what to expect.

According to the National Association of REALTORS:

• First-time homebuyers comprised 24% of all buyers in 2024.

• The median age of first-time homebuyers was 38 years old.

• The typical first-time buyer’s household income was $97,000, an increase of $26,000 in the last two years.

Homebuyers today face a variety of challenges, from limited housing inventory to rising costs. However, gaining insights and tips directly from seasoned professionals is an excellent way for prospective buyers to prepare for this crucial step in building generational and community wealth.

“At United Way Northwest Indiana, we understand that homeownership is not just about acquiring property — it’s about investing in a brighter

dignity and always advocating for VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana.”

“I am thrilled that Brenda is receiving the Joyce Alexa Award this year,” said Bob Franko, VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana’s president and CEO.

“Brenda is a tireless volunteer, not just for the VNA, but for so many other groups like Women in Bloom, VFW Post #2511 in Porter, Habitat for Humanity, and Bomber Girls,” Franko said. “Beyond that she is a kind, decent and caring person who listens intently, laughs heartily and always asks what else needs to be done.”

Coleman is vice president of Valparaiso-based International Magnaproducts, Inc., a small family-owned business with six employees, but worldwide reach. She is a Valparaiso High School and Concordia University graduate.

“We couldn’t have our annual Hops for Hospice fundraiser without Brenda,” Franko said. “She’s been with us all five years and can run that show better than any of us.”

Joyce Alexa and her husband, Bill, now reside in Florida. Alexa echoed Franko’s comments, stating that she is likewise very pleased to have Coleman receive the award this year.

“The VNA is lucky to have

friends and volunteers like Brenda,” Alexa said. “The VNA is better and the whole community is better because of people like her.”

The VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana is a nonprofit organization working to preserve dignity in aging by helping seniors remain in their homes and in charge of their healthcare decisions

for as long as possible. The VNA provides hospice care; palliative care; Meals on Wheels; Medical Guardian help button; grief support including the Phoenix Center for grieving children, adults and families; and a We Honor Veterans Program. It has offices in Valparaiso and Crown Point and celebrates its 55th anniversary in 2025.

future for families and communities. This First-Time Homebuyer Vendor Fair embodies our commitment to equipping individuals with the tools they need to achieve financial stability and build generational wealth,” said Chris White, CEO of United Way Northwest Indiana. “We are thrilled to provide this platform for connecting residents with experts who can help make the dream of homeownership a reality.”

Why Attend?

The First-Time Homebuyer Vendor Fair is a unique opportunity for attendees to:

• Explore first-time homebuyer assistance programs available.

• Meet trusted professionals who can make their homeownership dreams a reality.

• Understand the home purchasing process.

• Learn about financing options, down payment assistance programs, and mortgage pre-approval.

Event Details

When: March 8, 2025. Where: NEO, 5201 US 6, Portage.

Cost: Free to the public.

Don’t miss this chance to take the first step toward homeownership. Visit unitedwaynwi.org/ fthbf/ for more information and to pre-register.

ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR — Brenda Coleman has been named the 2025 Joyce Alexa Advocate of the Year by VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana. She serves as a volunteer for VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana. Photo provided.

Is new normal 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-a-month 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 face-to-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 industrialization.

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.

Sixtiesmania to perform in Highland

Join Sixtiesmania on a journey through the biggest hits of the 1960s in a one of a kind concert at Highland High School, 9135 Erie St., Highland, at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 16. Single tickets are available on the day of the performance for $30. For more information, contact Carolyn Borchardt at (219) 9329795 or cborc86914@aol.com.

“…a show that recreates the sights, sounds, and feelings of a

decade that changed the world.” — Sun City West, Rec Center News

One of the leading 60s tribute bands in the U.S., having shared the stage with the likes of Herman’s Hermits, Spencer Davis, Johnny Rivers and more, Sixtiesmania covers everything from the Beatles to the music of Woodstock, and everything in between! With authentic

tailored suits from England, vintage instruments, and incredible musicianship, this group takes audiences on a musical roller coaster ride through the 1960s. Audiences will be on their feet dancing and singing along with the biggest hits from superstars like The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, and more!

Moving can 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.

COMING TO HIGHLAND Sixtiesmania will be performing Saturday, March 16, at Highland High School. Come out for an afternoon of great music from the Beatles to Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors and more. Photo provided.