Senior Life - St. Joseph - March 2025 by The Papers Inc.

R.E.A.L. Services bringing new SENIOR CENTER TO SOUTH BEND

By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer

R.E.A.L. Services’ progress on the new Portage Commons Senior Center, located in the former Portage Township Trustee Building at 133 N. William St., South Bend, started late last year with the goal of opening in spring 2025.

R.E.A.L. Services is an organization that provides meals, health education and much more to seniors. It’s also the Council on Aging representative for the South Bend area.

R.E.A.L. Services has 10 meal sites around South Bend, but was lacking in a place for seniors to meet and engage with each other and the community.

Volunteer Services Manager Sandy Chambers cites socialization as one of the biggest needs for seniors.

“There were no places for them to come and spend time and fellowship with other folks, other than maybe a couple hour stint at a nutri-

tion program. We’re hoping to bring them out an keep them active, and we’re happy and excited with what we have going on here,” she said. Chambers explained the building is one floor and already equipped with handicap accessible bathrooms. It’s also on Transpo bus routes 3A and 3B, with a 50¢ reduced fare available for those with a disability, Medicare card holders and seniors over 65.

R.E.A.L. Services will be serving meals at Portage Commons Senior Center, as well as offering health screenings and wellness workshops. Activities like yoga and chair exercises will be offered to help seniors stay active. The organization will be providing State Health Insurance Assistance Program counseling, where seniors can learn about Medicare and financial planning.

Center ambassador Suzan Kesim said rising costs of food, medication and transpiration are also major issues affecting seniors. She is

interested in holding job and resource fairs at the center to help those living at or below the poverty line.

The building presents opportunities for new amenities, as well.

A room with built-in bookshelves will become the in-house miniature library, with books provided through a partnership with the St. Joseph County Library. Another room has been designated as the games/arts and crafts room.

Seniors can meet their social needs through game nights, movie screenings and hobby groups. R.E.A.L. Services recently received a grant for a multi-generational photography program to be held at the center, where teens and seniors will both learn how to take and edit their own photos.

Former county surveyor and center ambassador John McNamara will be leading a genealogy group at the center.

Another opportunity to get involved exists through the center ambassadors,

volunteers who have a hand in shaping the direction and programming at the center.

“I’m an engineer, I’m a surveyor. ... I’ve been doing genealogy for 25 years. I think, I have all these talents that I want to give back to people,” said McNamara.

Anyone age 60 and older can get involved as an ambassador by calling Chambers at (574) 284-7138.

Chambers mentioned there is work still to be done on

the center and once that’s complete, it may be open on a limited basis as R.E.A.L Services builds up volunteers and additional programming.

“I really believe that’s when it’s all going to culminate is when we get folks through the door and build that excitement,” she said.

For updates on the Portage Commons Senior Center and other R.E.A.L. Services news, visit facebook.com/REALServicesInc.

vices director of Advancement and Outreach; Karla Mapes, R.E.A.L. Services CEO; and Sandy Chambers, volunteer services manager. In the back row are Jason Critchlow, Portage Township trustee; Lisa Gammon; Suzan Kesim; Barb Brownell; John McNamara; Pam Murphy; and Steve Welham. Photo provided by Sandy Chambers.

BOOKWORMS — Volunteer Services Manager Sandy Chambers, left, and center ambassador Suzan Kesim check out the built-in bookshelves in the future Portage Commons Senior Center. This room will become a library, with books provided by the St. Joseph County Public Library. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

Community Foundation chair finds joy in service

By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer

Richard Currey, board chair of the St. Joseph County Community Foundation, is a Mishawaka native. He attended Wabash College, graduated from law school at Indiana University Indianapolis in 1979 and has been a practicing lawyer ever since. For the past 20 years, his focus has been in estate law.

Over the years, he’s held leadership positions with Campfire Council Youth Development, Mishawaka School Board and South Bend Civic Theater.

“Nonprofits are looking for people to have lawyers on their board, for oversight and guidance and to keep them out of trouble,” Currey noted.

After the theater received

•

the Community Foundation’s Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence in 2007, he was recruited to volunteer there, as well.

He became part of the Arts Everywhere committee, which he chairs to this day, along with the Lilly Endowment Scholarship committee.

Arts Everywhere awards matching grants to area arts and culture organizations. The South Bend Symphony, South Bend Civic Theater and the Studebaker Museum are some of the local institutions that receive its grant funding.

Through his service on Arts Everywhere, Currey was recruited to serve on the Community Foundation’s board.

Almost two decades after becoming involved with the foundation, he’s now on his second term as board chair.

When he was asked to serve as board chair, Currey said, “it came as a bit of a surprise,

but I suppose it came down to experience. ... I had leadership experience in a number of other organizations.”

He clarified that he had not purposely sought out leadership positions, but rather was looking to get involved in his community.

“I find joy in service and I always have,” he said with a smile. “That kind of work makes your day sing. You get to see the results of your work, it improves lives for people, it gives them opportunities they may not have otherwise had.”

As a member of the board, Currey describes himself as holding an “oversight position.” The staff at the Community Foundation are in charge of identify needs in the community, and the board collaborates with the staff to make sure things are running properly in order to meet those needs.

His responsibilities include presiding over meetings and policy directives, “and to help be a public representative of the organization. ... A private citizen spokesman,” he said.

As part of the Arts Everywhere and Lilly Endowment Scholarship committees, he and his fellow committee members evaluate many different applications and they may not always agree on who should receive funds. It requires discussion and, he noted, can be a difficult choice to make.

Currey explained objectivity and a firm knowledge of your responsibilities are needed to succeed in nonprofit leadership, “so you don’t overstep.”

He also recommended, “an open mind and a kind heart. See what needs to be done and have a desire to address it.”

Currey noted passion for the cause is a vital part of

nonprofit work.

“You ought not to be on this kind of a board if you’re just trying to fill a resume,” he said. “You need to have skin in the game, it needs to matter to you.”

Granger Paths 5K returns May 3

Granger Paths’ annual 5K and one-mile family fun run/ walk returns Saturday, May 3, to Northpoint Elementary School on Cherry Road. Now in its 17th year, the race is among the most highly-anticipated events in the community, bringing together over 400 participants of all ages from throughout Michiana.

“We’re really proud of the

$18,000 we raised last year,” said Eddie Niziolek, this year’s race director. “We look forward to improving on that success in 2025,” he added.

Friends of Granger Paths is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization committed to connecting the community, enhancing recreational opportunities and promoting safety by building multi-use paths. Over the last

20 years, the group has partnered with municipal governments, residents, local businesses and nonprofit organizations to create a 21-mile trail connecting libraries, schools, neighborhoods and businesses.

Lake City Bank has been a sponsor of the race since it began. Kathryn A. Smith, vice president at Lake City Bank, said, “Nothing gives me more pleasure than to watch the walkers, runners, bicyclists and families with their dogs and kids in strollers using the paths.”

Noting their ability to build community, she continued, “You don’t see people getting out like that much anymore.”

Funds raised at last year’s race were used to complete a trail connecting the Fountain Blue neighborhood to the

Northpoint Elementary School property, improving the safety of students as they go to and from school. This year, funds will go toward planning a trail that leads to the proposed county park on Anderson Road.

Early registration through May 1, is $30 per person for the 5K and $10 for the one-mile walk. Family discounts are available. Online registration closes and fees increase after May 1. On-site packet pickup the day of the race starts at 9 a.m. The 5K race begins at 9:30 a.m. and the one-mile walk begins at 9:35 a.m.

Registration will be onsite the day of the race. The event will be held rain or shine. Prizes are awarded to participants with the best times. Participants receive swag bags offered by local businesses and can visit vendor booths.

Sponsorships of the race at the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels are still available. Individuals can show their support by buying engraved bricks to pave the path.

For more details about the race and to register, visit grangerpaths.org.

Earth month litter pick-up is April 5

The Citizens’ Climate Lobby organization will host a litter pickup event from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at the 35th Street Wetlands in South Bend. Take Jefferson Avenue to northbound 36th Street to the dead end at the wetlands. All litter pick-up supplies will be provided; wear sturdy shoes and long pants. For more information, follow the group at facebook.com/citizens.climate.lobby.south.bend. indiana.

RICHARD CURREY

St.

Our

St.

Fuja acts as a voice for children

By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer

Originally from a farm in Durant, Mich., Cynthia Fuja earned a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree from Bethel University.

She and her husband, Tom, have lived in South Bend since 1998. She’s held a variety of different jobs, including training teachers on how to use sensory

integration labs in their schools. While her formal education is useful, Fuja said, learning empathy has been just as important.

“My dad, he was a farmer. He was never book smart, but he was people smart. And I think that’s something that has helped more than anything else, using your life experiences to understand a situation. That’s something you don’t necessarily need to have all kinds of degrees for,” she explained.

CORPORATE OFFICE

VOICE OF A CHILD — Cynthia Fuja, right, is pictured with her husband, Tom Fuja, and granddaughter, Cece Fuja. Cynthia Fuja is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for St. Joseph County, volunteering to represent the best interests of kids in the child

While searching for a volunteer opportunity, Fuja saw an ad about Court Appointed Special Advocates that piqued her interest. For the past eight and a half years, Fuja has been volunteering as a CASA as “a way to make a difference in this county for children; basically ensuring that they get all the resources that they are entitled to and that they deserve — that they don’t become a number,” she said. “A CASA is the voice of a child.”

speed. She said she spends 10 to 13 hours a month on her CASA duties and has handled “five or six cases” over the years. A case can last anywhere from six months to two and a half years, in her experience. If she feels a case is dragging out, it’s part of her job to ask the Department of Child Services what can be done about it.

While Fuja would like to see every child reunited with their parents, she understands it’s not always feasible. Her focus is on improving the situation for all the kids she works with.

“You really make a difference in a kid’s life. It’s not all sunshine and roses, but they’re in a better position because you were there,” she explained.

Fuja also believes seniors are well-suited to the role due to their wealth of life experiences.

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CASAs are appointed in cases of child abuse or neglect. As part of her volunteer duties, Fuja checks in on the children she represents, consults with their parents, and makes recommendations in court on behalf of the children.

Fuja noted she did not know the ins and outs of the legal system when she first volunteered. CASAs undergo 35 hours of training to get them up to

Using her knowledge of county resources, Fuja can also help parents find ways to make their homes safer. For example, if a parent can’t pay heating bills, there may be financial assistance they can receive to get their home heated for their children.

“I try to get the parents the help they need, but my focus is on the kids,” she said. “Are they having trouble in the foster home, are they having trouble at school, what services do they qualify for that maybe they’re not getting?”

“You know struggle, you know parenting... You can empathize with someone. But with a child you know, you don’t want that child to go back into a situation that hasn’t been resolved,” she said.

Outside her CASA duties, Fuja also volunteers at the Cat Lady Cafe. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, reading and attending Notre Dame sports events with her husband.

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Fiddler’s Hearth — like a

A warm surrounding, plenty of mementos and a fireplace. Grab a seat, get a meal and drink a pint. Hear a band or play a game. The welcoming Irish pub, near the intersection of Main and Colfax in South Bend, is a fixture and a beloved place for lunch and dinner.

Fiddler’s Hearth, commonly known as Fid’s, opened in 2002. The owners are Terry and Carol Meehan along with son, Sean. The elder Meehans wanted a change in their lives — he was in construction safety and she was in hospitality. The time was right, and a centralized downtown building was vacant.

The pub has a large following with traveling business people and youth hockey teams, theater-goers, college professors, pickleball folks and sports lovers. Many venture outdoors to the alfresco patio dining area complete with Belgian darts. Big-screen televisions are tuned to soccer, hockey and rugby matches with surround sound.

It has received recognition as one of the 13 restaurants in Indiana to visit before you die and the best place to have a cold beer, according to the South Bend Tribune.

What makes it popular is scratch cooking and traditional Celtic foods, according to the Meehans. The site was formerly the Lido supper club, and there is a history of fun on the block.

Fid’s now offers a 10% discount on food and soft drinks from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday for Senior Life readers. Just tell Fid’s you read Senior Life for the early-bird discount.

The following all make Fid’s such a great place: Irish music Monday nights, Old-Timey music Tuesdays, Open Mic Wednesdays and Thursday is Game Night. Sunday has a carvery, featuring items like roast beef, turkey and sides, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A pup-

pet stage was built previously for the Meehans’ children and it remains at the pub for children to play with.

The hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Parking is available on the street, the parking garage or the nearby PNC lot.

Fid’s is the St. Patrick’s Day headquarters. The downtown parade is the Saturday before the holiday and people come there afterward. For St. Patrick’s Day, it starts with a blessing and a prayer.

For Lent, the Meehans asks that customers first support your church’s fish fry and use the pub as a second choice.

Lastly, the Meehans said it’s a good place to work and there are benefits for full-time staff and is always looking for experienced employees. Visit fiddlershearth.com for events, schedules and the menu.

Weekly At

Seating 11am-2pm

Carving Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding Weekly

Rotating an Additional Roasted Protein at Carving Station

Carving Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding Weekly

Two Additional Entrees on the Buffet (including a vegetarian option)

Rotating an Additional Roasted Protein at Carving Station

Two Additional Entrees on the Buffet (including a vegetarian option)

Assorted Sides & Condiments

Dessert Station

Assorted Sides & Condiments

Dessert Station

Two Additional Entrees on the Buffet (including a vegetarian option)

$25 per person ($14 ages 6-12 / kids under 6 free)

Assorted Sides & Condiments

Dessert Station

$25 per person ($14 ages 6-12 / kids under 6 free)

Dessert Station Only…$7

$25 per person ($14 ages 6-12 / kids under 6 free)

Dessert Station Only…$7

Reservations at www.fiddlershearth.com

$1 off Specials on Spritzes, Mules, and Mimosas!

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Fiddler’s Hearth is the St. Patrick’s Day headquarters. The downtown parade is the Saturday before the holiday and people come to Fiddler’s Hearth afterward. Fiddler’s Hearth have been sponsors of St. Patrick’s Day East Race “greening” since 2002. Photo provided by Fiddler’s Hearth.

Curt Rallo honored for hall of fame induction

By NATHAN PACE Staff Writer

Curt Rallo learned in December he was to be inducted to the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame and the moment was almost 40 years in the making.

“It’s so meaningful. The number of people who have reached out about it. Kids I haven’t heard from in years. It’s really wonderful that they recognize people. To get honored for something you love doing. It’s surreal,” Rallo said. “It just a special moment for me.”

Rallo worked at the South Bend Tribune for his first journalism job. He covered pretty much any local sport he could while working there. Rallo could be found at high school events to college football and even pro sports. He spent eight years covering Notre Dame women’s basketball during the height of the program. He traveled to six final fours during those eight years where coach Ann “Muffet” McGraw coached the team and took on University of Connecticut coached by Jim Calhoun.

“Definitely a special experience to follow those teams. I did get to go to Hartford, Conn. a lot. Those were great rivalries. Two great coaches. Amazing athletes,” Rallo said. He covered minor league

baseball and Big Ten Conference college football games. Through it all he is thankful his wife, Karen, who had to put up with him being on the road most weekends.

“I am blessed to have an amazing wife who was wonderful about me going to to Bloomington, West Lafayette or Chicago to cover events,” Rallo said.

In 2001 Rallo began teaching at Penn High School and he still writes Notre Dame home football games for the Associated Press.

“I really always thought if I wasn’t a journalist I would have been a teacher from the start,” Rallo said. “I loved teaching. The fact that I am still in journalism and have a journalism background that I can cover something on a Friday night and come in on Monday and say this is how they are covering it.”

His favorite teaching moments today is when he sees students he had at Penn now work professionally in sports media. He has seen some students go on to cover teams in the National Football League and other big events.

“One of my favorite moments was when I covered the Final Four in Indianapolis and I ran into three former students from Penn High School and they were working in media. That was really rewarding,” Rallo said.

Rallo says he tries to teach

his students how to add skills for the changing media landscape.

“I tell them they can’t just be specialist. You have to be able to take video, and do photos and podcasts,” Rallo said. “You have to be to tell a story in a lot of different areas. It’s a multimedia world. You have to make yourself indispensable in that kind of way. You have to do a little bit of everything and do it well. Be a life long learner and how to reach audiences in different ways. If there is one thing that has always benefited me is that I have always tried to be a learner. I think that is any profession really but especially journalism.”

Rallo will be officially inducted to the ISSA Hall of Fame at an awards banquet at the Valle Vista Country Club in Greenwood on Sunday, April 6.

Legislation advances to expand protections for health care workers

Members of the Indiana Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee voted 7-1 today in favor of Senate Bill 419 to expand protections for Indiana health care workers.

Indiana law currently provides an enhanced penalty for battery committed against certain licensed health care professionals and any staff member of an emergency department in a hospital. If SB 419 becomes law, these enhanced criminal penalties would be applied to acts of violence and verbal intimidation against all health care workers.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care workers are five times more likely to experience a workplace violence injury than workers in other industries. One study found that most cases of violence against health care workers take place in the outpatient setting.

“We thank Sen. Cyndi Carrasco and members of the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee for standing up for health care workers whose safety

on the job is essential for quality patient care,” said Scott B. Tittle, president of the Indiana Hospital Association “This vote underscores the critical importance of protecting employees from physical and verbal aggressiveness, allowing them to safely deliver care to Hoosier patients.”

Several health care organizations testified in support of SB 419, including IHA, IU Health, Eskenazi Health, the Indiana State Nurses Association and Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership.

Speaking in favor of the bill of behalf of IHA was Larry Tracy, president of Memorial Hospital of South Bend, which is part of Beacon Health System in northern Indiana.

In 2024 alone, Memorial Hospital in South Bend had 250 documented emergency calls for security assistance and its police department made 101 arrests with 23 additional referrals to the local prosecutor. Staff at Memorial experienced 28 instances of battery, 23 instances of dis-

orderly conduct, 15 instances of intimidation, four sexual battery/ assaults and two instances of strangulation.

“While we know Senate Bill 419 will not fix the problem in its entirety, it demonstrates to our health care workforce that we stand with them and will not tolerate any violence or intimidation committed against them,” said Tracy.

The bill is expected to next be heard by the full Senate.

Consider dementia demands

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

A lot of time has been spent talking about how to travel with the grandkids. How to keep them from getting bored and to bathrooms on time and visiting sites that will keep them entertained. But how about travelling with a grandma or grandpa who slips in and out of reality?

Travellers at any level of dementia require special care. Being on the road, whether in an airplane or automobile, means that person’s routine has been altered, which can disorient and even panic them. So you may have to make sure you’re always holding their hand and talking them through airport security or a restaurant washroom or motel lobby. Before launching your trip, make sure you have the stamina to take over their care when their stamina gives out.

MEDIA PRO — Curt Rallo takes a selfie at Notre Dame Stadium prior to a Notre Dame home football game. Photo submitted by Curt Rallo.

‘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

“Shining in the night

A Boomer Blast To The Past By

RANDAL C. HILL

“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

Q. What’s happening at Senior Talk Michiana?

A. Senior Talk Michiana is pleased to announce the addition of an events calendar to its weekly episodes, continuing its commitment to providing valuable information to seniors in the Michiana area. The calendar will feature listings and details on special events organized by senior organizations.

In the upcoming April 3rd episode, listeners can look forward to information about the 2025 Active Aging & Wellness Resource Fair, scheduled for April 17th at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds. Additionally, the April 10th episode will introduce a new event, the Senior Oasis Tent at the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival, taking place on April 25th, 26th, and 27th.

Sponsorship for the podcast comes from Aging Connections of Michiana, Senior Life

Tom Rose

Author & Speaker Balloon in a Box

Coping with Grief Grief Group Facilitator

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 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 composi-

tion 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

Newspapers, and Goshen Home Medical. Tailored specifically for seniors, the podcast serves as a vital resource, offering essential information about services and organizations available in Michiana. Its aim is to help seniors stay informed about the myriad of options that can enhance their quality of life.

Listeners can access the podcast through free subscriptions available on Spotify and Facebook.

Episodes are available at: www.thomaslrose.com/senior-talk.

Rose and Rose Associates Senior Talk Michiana 574-596-6256

www.thomaslrose.com www.cookingtogether.com roseandrose@comcast.net

Advertising with us is a Breeze

“You’re everything I need

“You are so beautiful to me

“To me”

“You’re everything I hoped for

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.

A. Each Senior Life Newspaper is distributed to over 300 locations each month and is free for public pickup and supported by advertisers. Locations for distribution are chosen with the 50+ aged person in mind and include grocery stores, libraries, senior centers, restaurants, senior communities, banks, gas stations, apartment complexes, doctor offices, drug stores, farmer’s markets, resale locations, churches, convenient stores, and retail stores.

There are four distinct issues of Senior Life Newspaper including:

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• Elko — including Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble and Wabash counties in IN and St. Joseph county in MI

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• St. Joseph — including LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties in IN and Berrien and Cass counties in MI

Call today for more information on how we can help your business reach the Senior Life loyal audience.

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JOE COCKER

Tickets on sale for The History Museum’s miniatures workshop

At The History Museum’s miniatures workshop taking place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, March 29, participants can assemble their very own “Sweet Shop” from kits provided by the museum. Local dollhouse collector, Mo Miller, who inspired the museum’s exhibit “Lifting the Roof: The World of Dollhouses,” will give an entertaining talk and assist workshop participants as they construct their miniature bakeries.

Reservations are required for the miniatures workshop.

Tickets are $40, adults; $35, members; $30, youth; and include a visit to “Lifting the Roof: The World of Dollhouses.”

Attendees are invited to bring their own container in which to take home the “Sweet Shop” they have assembled. The event is suitable for youth 8-14; youth must be accompanied by an adult. A discount is offered for an adult accompanying a youth and sharing a kit.

Tickets may be purchased online at historymuseumSB. org.

Miniatures and dollhouses have been part of our culture for years. Decorating their inte-

SWEET SHOP At

The History Museum’s miniatures workshop, taking place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, March 29, participants can assemble their very own “Sweet Shop” from kits provided by the museum. Photo provided by the museum.

riors and designing their exteriors is just part of the fascination with these small houses.

In years past, dollhouses were copies of their owners’ houses, and the miniatures inside were often exotic wood, lavish window coverings, and tiny paintings. They were meant as symbols of a lady’s wealth and social status. In the past centuries, dollhouses slowly made the transition from sta-

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Also Pulp Magazines and Original Illustration Art! Will pay CASH immediately for collections, large or small!

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tus symbols to children’s play things, and the focus turned to fun and imagination.

The exhibit “Lifting the Roof: The World of Dollhouses” showcases over 20 dollhouses. Many of the structures on view are from The History Museum’s collection, given by individuals across the St. Joseph River Valley. Some were formerly used as teaching tools at the Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum of Mishawaka, prior to their collection being acquired by The History Museum. Still others were collected or constructed by Miller.

Some of the dollhouses showcased in the exhibit are the Guske Dollhouse, built by David Guske and a replica of a 1904 Victorian house; one built for J.M. Studebaker for his daughters, one built by Mishawaka Fire Chief Louis Ludwig to teach fire safety; Barbie’s Dream House; and a handmade “Mouse Mansion.”

For information, call (574) 235-9664, ext. 6256 or visit historymuseumSB.org.

to bring cultural life to the city as well as create jobs for its population. Photo provided by museum.

New exhibit about lost landmarks of northern Indiana colleges

The History Museum has opened the exhibit City and Campus: Rediscovering Lost Landmarks, on view now, through Wednesday, Dec. 31, in the museum’s Ernestine M. Raclin Gallery of Notre Dame History.

The exhibit was inspired by the book City and Campus: An Architectural History of South Bend, Notre Dame, and Saint Mary’s, authored by the late John W. Stamper (1950-2022) and published by Notre Dame Press. Stamper was on the faculty of the School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame.

Through images and background information, City and Campus invites visitors to journey back to the time of the Bulla Farmstead, which was located on 160 acres of land near the northeast corner of the original Notre

Dame campus. Then owned by Thomas P. Bulla, the land today is the site of Flanner and Grace Halls.

The story of Father Badin’s Chapel, a log cabin on the edge of Saint Mary’s Lake, is told. The building was the first structure erected on the grounds of what would become the University of Note Dame. Built in 1831, the building was to provide ministry for the native Potawatomi population.

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Second Main Building are described in the exhibit as is the story of The Sisters of Holy Cross, who arrived in South Bend in 1843 to share in the apostolate of education with the Congregation of Holy Cross by the request of Father Sorin. After time in a school in the Dioceses of Detroit in Bertrand, Mich., the school and its buildings were moved to its present-day location on the campus of Saint Mary’s College in 1855.

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In addition, information and photographs are provided about South Bend structures that were once local landmarks but are no longer standing, including the Oliver Opera House, located at 106 North Main Street. The building was constructed because the Oliver Family wished to bring cultural life to the city as well as create jobs for its population. The Granada Theatre, an impressive part of downtown South Bend from 1927-1971, is also detailed.

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Admission to The History Museum is $11 for adults, $9.50 for seniors (60+), $7 for youth (6-17), and free/members, and includes the Oliver Mansion. For an additional cost, visitors can include a visit to the Studebaker National Museum, which adjoins The History Museum. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For information, visit historymuseumSB.org or call (574) 235-9664, ext. 6256.

OLD OPERA HOUSE — The Oliver Opera House was located at 106 North Main Street, South Bend. The building was constructed because the Oliver Family wished

UPDATES & HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA

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 15th of every month at pmuthart@the-papers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number.

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South Bend Civic Theatre presents the musical “Once on This Island,” based upon the novel “My Love, My Love” by Rosa Guy. This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. A Caribbean fable, “Once on This Island” is a coming-of-age musical, appropriate for all ages.

Performances will take place in Wilson Auditorium, located at the South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main St., South Bend. Evening show times are at 7:30 p.m. March 1, 6, 7, and 8. Matinees are at 2 p.m. March 2 and 9. Tickets are reserved seating and range in price from $35-$27 and can be purchased at sbct.org or by calling the box office at (574) 234-1112. Ticket link is ci.ovationtix.com/35243/ production/1213500.

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Bendix Woods County Park is hosting its annual Sugar Camp Days festival March 8-9.

The New Carlisle Lions Club

will host a pancake and sausage breakfast both days. Watch historical crafters demonstrate their trades, enjoy a horsedrawn wagon ride and purchase delicious foods made with maple syrup, such as maple kettle corn, maple cotton candy maple syrup baked goods, maple candy, and Bendix Woods’ pure maple syrup will also be available for purchase. No ATM on site. Breakfast and vendors are cash-only.

Sugar Camp Days hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is an $8 vehicle entrance fee. For more information, call (574) 6543155 or visit sjcparks.org. The main entrance to Bendix Woods County Park is located on Timothy Road in New Carlisle.

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The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra 20th Annual Hoosier Star vocal competition is Sept. 13, at the LaPorte Civic Auditorium and will feature the adult winners from the nine prior Hoosier Star competitions who will compete for the prestigious title “Hoosier Star of Stars”, as well as a cash prize. The finalists will sing their winning songs, accompanied by the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Music Director Dr. Carolyn Watson.

The finalists are: Alyssa Atkinson, South Bend (2024

winner); Kelly Staton, Griffith (2023); Julia Thorn, Crown Point (2022); Jarynn Sampson, South Bend (2021); Alyse Flores, LaPorte (2020); Joe Stewart, Michigan City (2019); Mike Green, LaPorte (2018); Julia Campoli-Biek, South Bend (2017); and James Neary, LaPorte (2016).

The event also serves as a fundraiser for the LCSO; last year’s event raised nearly $50,000 for the symphony’s mission.

There will be no auditions for Hoosier Star this year. Interested parties are encouraged to check the LCSO website in January 2026 for information about Hoosier Star 2026 auditions, which will take place in March 2026.

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RiverBend Cancer Services, 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, offers the following events each month: 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, seated strength; 1 p.m. Mondays, a craft; 5:30 p.m. Mondays, gentle yoga; 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, chair yoga; 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Melt; 10 a.m. Wednesdays, Support Squad and Knitting Krew; 2 p.m. Wednesdays, dominoes; 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Support Group; 3 p.m. Thursdays, Zumba. Visit riverbendcancerservices.org or call (574) 287-4197.

Replacing my missing tiles

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.

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.

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March Events: Nutrition Awareness

Mar. 11 | 11:00am | YMCA of South Bend

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Book Club Mondays 11:00am

Workout Club Mondays & Wednesdays 1:00pm

Stitching Club Tuesdays 12:00pm

Music Club Wednesdays 10am

Baking Club Fridays All Day

Leep Theatre Presents: Mar. 7th Driving Miss Daisy

Mar. 14th The Quiet Man

Mar. 21 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mar. 28th The Pursuit of Happyness FREE ADMISSION

Faith Bremen church parishioners visit Italy’s basilicas, historic sites

By PHOEBE MUTHART Editor

Three St. Dominic Catholic Church parishioners took a trip of a lifetime last year. The church, located in Bremen, is the home church for the three parish members and the church’s former priest, Pastor Rev. Fernando Jimenez, who is now serves at St. Michael Catholic Church in Plymouth.

Kathy and Greg Buck, Dan St. Germain and Jimenez went to six cities in Italy last September.

They visited Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Venice and Assisi and saw 56 churches.

They visited all four major basilicas: Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, St. Peter’s Basilica, Basilica of St. John Lateran, and Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

All four also attended Mass at Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major twice, St. Peter’s Basilica, Florence Cathedral, Milan Cathedral twice, and St. Mark’s in Venice.

According to St. Germain, they also saw the largest Catholic church, St. Peter’s in Rome, the fourth largest Milan Cathedral, fifth largest Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna and the seventh largest Basilica, St. Mary of Angels, in Assisi.

“We also saw the tombs of St. Peter, St. Catherine of Siene, St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Clare, Michelangelo, Galileo, St. Mark, Dante of Dante’s Inferno, Apostles Philip, James The Lesser, Matthew and St. Jerome,” St. Germain said. “We also saw the site of where St. Peter and St. Paul were killed.”

The trip was Sept. 3-17. They left Tuesday, Sept. 3, and arrived in Rome Wednesday, Sept. 4.

The first day they visited Major Basilica of St. Paul outside the Wall Church, and the major Basilica of St. John Lateran Church. They also walked Scala Santa steps, the steps Jesus walked up to Pontius Pilate, who is best known for being the official who presided over the trial of

Jesus and ultimately ordered his crucifixion.

Next, they visited the tomb of St. Clement and San Pietro in Vincoli, and a statue of Moses and Peter’s chains.

A visit to the Vatican was Thursday, Sept. 5. They saw the Basilica of St. Peter’s, Dome Climb, Papal Crypts and attended Mass. They visited the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and Castel Sant’Angelo.

On Friday, Sept. 6, it was a busy day of sightseeing. They visited the Pantheon of St. Mary’s Church.

Also, said St. Germain, they saw Santa Maria sopra Minerva Church, a statue of Christ by Michelangelo, tomb of Saint Catherine of Siena, under the high altar, and The Trevi Fountain, said St. Germain.

On Sept. 7, the group took at train to Florence. While there for three days, they saw the Accademia Gallery and Maria del Flore, the largest brick dome ever, and climbed the bell tower and dome. They also visited the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the oldest church in Florence, founded in A.D. 393, and the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo and a piece of the habit of St. Francis.

On Sept. 10, they took a train to Bologna. While there, they saw the Basilica di Santo Stefano, Bologna’s most storied religious site, which is actually five churches.

Sept. 11-12, the group took a train to Milan. They toured the Cathedral of Milan, or the The Nativity of Mary, which took five centuries to complete.

“It is the fourth largest in

the world, and seats up to 40,000 people, who attend two Masses there,” said St. Germain.

Sept. 13-14, they took a train to Venice, where they toured various scenic religious sites, such as St. Mark’s Basilica, where they attended Mass.

On Sept. 15, they boarded a train to Assisi, where they visited 10 different places.

On the last day, Sept. 16, they took a bus to Rome and flew home Sept. 17.

FLORENCE CATHEDRAL Dr. Greg Buck, Kathy Buck and Pastor Rev. Fernando Jimenez visited Italy last September. They are shown at the Florence Cathedral. Photos provided by Dan St. Germain.

PRIESTLY VISIT Pastor Rev. Fernando Jimenez of St. Michael Catholic Church in Plymouth, is shown at St. Ignatius Church in Italy.

A TRIP TO FLORENCE Dan St. Germain, Kathy Buck and Father Fernando Jimenez are shown in Basilica of St. Croce Church in Florence, Italy. St. Germain and Buck attend St. Dominic Catholic Church in Bremen. Jimenez is the priest at St. Michael’s in Plymouth.

By RANDAL C. HILL

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.

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 Deb-

bie) 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

Applications open for Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm

The Studebaker National Museum announces vehicle applications are now open for the seventh annual Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm, co-presented by LaVine Restorations and The JBS Collection. This gathering celebrates automotive design, engineering and culture and will be held Saturday, July 12, in South Bend.

The Concours will open to the public at 10 a.m. and will close at 4 p.m. The Pass-InReview and Awards Ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m.

2025’s featured marques are Rolls-Royce and Mercury. Open-bodied Full Classic automobiles will be featured in the “American Splendor” class and Full Classic European automobiles will be highlighted in the “European Luxury” class.

The Concours at Copshaholm will celebrate the coachbuilder Ghia in the “Carrozeria Ghia” class, open to all Ghia-bodies automobiles.

Other classes include “The Silent Knights,” for Knight sleeve-valve engine automobiles, “The Roaring ‘20s,” an open class for popular-priced 1920-1929 automobiles, and “Kickin’ Brass” for early 20th-century “Brass era” automobiles.

1960s-era compact cars will be featured in “Think Small” class, and Microcars will fill the “Think Smaller” class. Rounding out the show field will be “Studebaker Sedans,” featuring four-door Studebakers of all years.

Awards will be presented in all classes, as well as Best of Show and other special awards of distinction. The Concours at Copshaholm’s Chief Judge is renowned au-

tomotive scholar and historian Matt Short. Judging will be French Traditional. The awards ceremony will be narrated by renowned automotive historian and raconteur, Bill Rothermel.

To submit your car for consideration, visit concoursatcopshaholm.org. The full class list is shown below. The submission deadline is Saturday, March 15, 2025. Applicants will be notified following the Selection Committee’s meeting on April 12.

Inspired Greatness — RollsRoyce automobiles of all years. Step Out With Mercury! — Mercury automobiles of all years.

American Splendor — Open-bodied Full Classics.

European Luxury — Full Classic European automobiles.

Studebaker Sedans — Closed-bodied four-door Studebakers of all years.

Kickin’ Brass — Brass-era automobiles.

The Roaring ‘20s — An open class for popular-priced 19201929 automobiles.

Carrozeria Ghia — Ghia-bodied automobiles.

Think Small — ‘60s Compacts.

Think Smaller — Microcars.

The Silent Knights — Knight sleeve-valve engined automobiles.

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

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.

History Museum calls for African American Legacy Award nominations

The History Museum announces that the deadline for making nominations for its 2025 African American Legacy Award is March 15. Presentation of the award will take place at The History Museum at a special event on June 10.

States Brian Harding, executive director of The History Museum, “The African American Legacy Award is presented annually by The History Museum to recognize individuals who have been instrumental in collecting, preserving, and disseminating African American history in the St. Joseph River Valley, either working directly with The History Museum or

within the African American community. The award is given to celebrate the immeasurable contributions of African Americans, to honor the legacies and achievements of past generations, to shine a light on those in the present, and to influence efforts that will impact the future.”

To be eligible for the award, an individual: Must be, or have been, a resident of the St. Joseph River Valley for at least 10 years.

The St. Joseph River Valley is considered by the museum to be nine counties in Indiana (LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Lagrange, Stark, Marshall,

Kosciusko, Pulaski, and Fulton) and three in Michigan (Berrien, Cass, and St. Joseph).

Must not have previously received the award.

Has demonstrated leadership and creativity in promoting African American history.

Has increased understanding of and appreciation for the

heritage of African Americans. Has had significant impact on the local community promoting African American history.

Has recognized efforts that are exceptional or have gone above and beyond their job. Nominations can be made by an individual or organiza-

tion by completing an online application or by downloading the application and mailing to: African American Legacy Award Committee, The History Museum. 808 West Washington Street, South Bend, IN 46601. For information, call (574) 235-9664, ext. 6256 or visit historymuseumSB.org

Mature travel matters

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

AARP Opens Discount Doors To Travel

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. Save Time, Money at Alternate Sites

Travelers flock to Florence and plunk down a chunk of

cash (or put a dent in their credit card) for a ticket to cram into line at the Accademia Galleria to ooh and aah at Michelangelo’s statue of David.

Just minutes away, a copy of this world-famous work and those of other Renaissance greats can be viewed leisurely and for free in the city’s Piazza della Signoria.

If you’re traveling through Italy, you can pop into the church of San Pietro in Vincoli overlooking the Coliseum in the heart of Rome and stand quietly and for free within touching distance of another of Michelangelo’s eternal works: Moses, which was commissioned by Pope Julius II at the same time he hired the artist to paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel.

This is just one example of how you can save time and money by looking around for alternates.

A write way to ease anxieties about health

By JAMES GAFFNEY

Mature Life Features

Feeling stressed? Maybe you should be writing more.

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 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.

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.

Assisted Living, nursing And rehAbiLitAtion guide

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Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame

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Dujarie House, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Respite Care, Rehabilitation Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Residential Apartments

Hubbard Hill Retirement Community

28070 CR 24 ., Elkhart, IN 46517 (574) 295-6260 • www.hubbardhill.org

Rehabilitation, Healthcare, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Maintenance Free Homes, Licensed, Locally Owned, Non-Profit, Faith Based, Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapies, Memory Care Support Group, Pet Friendly, There’s No Place Like Hubbard Hill

Majestic

Care of South Bend

52654 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend, IN 46635 (574) 277-8710 • www.Majesticcare.com

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

Primrose Retirement Community of Mishawaka 820 Fulmer Road, Mishawaka, IN 46544 (574) 259-3211 • primroseretirement.com

Our spacious independent and assisted living apartments offer something to retire to not just something to retire from. Residents at Primrose enjoy a healthy and active living environment.

Riveridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center

1333 Wells Street, Niles, MI 49120 (269) 684-1111 • www.riveridgerehab.com

Riveridge Rehab in Niles, Michigan, offers newly renovated rehab units with 4 private suites. Additionally, we have a locked memory care unit with multi-sensory room.

316 Woodies Lane, Bremen, IN 46506 (574) 546-3494 • SHCofBremen.com liaison2.bremen@signaturehealthcarellc.com

Southfield Village

6450 Miami Circle, South Bend, IN 46614 (574) 231-1000 • www.greencroft.org

Independent Living, Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-OccupationalRespiratory-Physical, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Private/ Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Residential Apartments, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Tanglewood Trace Senior Living

530 Tanglewood Lane, Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 277-4310

www.tanglewoodtraceseniorliving.com

Offering Retirement Villas, Independent and Licensed Assisted Living, Therapy Services, Respite Care, Social and Recreational Activities, Pets Welcome, Transportation, Beauty Shop and Spa Services Available.

AGING & HEALTH RESOURCES

REAL SERVICES, INC.

1151 South Michigan Street Phone (574) 233-8205

www.realservices.org

Provides services to empower our community to live with independence, dignity, and strength. Call us to learn more.

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AGING & WELLNESS RESOURCES

AGING CONNECTIONS

Serving Northern IN & Southwest MI

A free online directory for aging & wellness resources. Our members offer a wide variety of services and information for your specific needs. www.agingconnections.org

Hover over Chapters on the navigation bar, then select your area and click directory. Aging Connections is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

ALZHEIMERS/MEMORY CARE

NORTH WOODS VILLAGE AT EDISON LAKES

1409 E. Day Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 247-1866

www.northwoodsmemorycare.com

ALZHEIMERS/MEMORY CARE

SIGNATURE HealthCARE OF BREMEN 316 Woodies Lane Bremen, IN 46506 (574) 546-3494

SHCofBremen.com

liaison2.bremen@signaturehealthcarellc.com

Our Gated Community is a smaller, dedicated unit for comfort and safety for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Residents. We offer Enhanced Quality of Life Programming which includes cognitive strengths, life skills, daily movement, power of music, artistic expression, creativity and socialization.

DAY CENTER

SAINT JOSEPH PACE

250 East Day Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 247-8700

saintjosephPACE@trinity-health.org

Helping seniors live safely at home. PACE’s main objective is to keep seniors out of nursing homes.

CARE SERVICES

- MICHIANA 310 N. Ironwood Dr. South Bend, IN 46615 (574) 232-8487

www.abc-michiana.com

FOOT SOLUTIONS

323 Florence Ave., Granger, IN 46530 (574) 272-3668

granger@footsolutions.com

Better Health Through Your Feet! Solutions for Plantar Facitis Morton’s Neuroma, bunions, morton’s neuroma, sore knees, sore ankles and more. Call for your FREE foot analysis.

COMFORT KEEPERS

6910 N. Main St., Ste. 3, Unit 47 Granger, IN 46530 (574) 277-4121, (574) 327-6123

www.southbendin.comfortkeepers.com

Provides In-Home Care Services through our interactive caregiving approach, personal care, companionship and housekeeping, transportation, respite care, dementia care.

INSTEAD

3025 Grape Rd. Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 256-1479

www.homeinstead.com/343

From companionship to transportation to loving care, to us it’s personal.

FOOT CARE

HOME CARE SERVICES

VILLAGE CAREGIVING

2515 N. Bendix Dr., Ste. 201 South Bend, IN 46628 (574) 931-0712

villagecaregiving.com

Nations Largest Privately Owned And Operated Home Care Agency. VA Provider. We Accept A Variety Of Payment Options. Call Today!

HOSPICE CARE

CARING COVE HOSPICE

3120 N. Home St. Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 855-3017

www.caringcovehospice.com/ We’re here to help by providing personalized exceptional hospice care. Serving St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall and Laporte counties.

VISITING ANGELS OF MICHIANA 3840 Edison Lakes Parkway Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 323-6756

jfinnessy@visitingangels.com

Nonmedical services include: Customized Memory Care Program, Housekeeping, Transportation, Bathing, Dressing, Transferring, Companionship, Meals, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care. We are a VA Provider.“We’re Here for You — Always!”

HEART TO HEART HOSPICE

620 Edison Rd., Suite 122 Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 855-4475

hearttohearthospice.com

Compassionate care from our heart to yours. Volunteers needed. CHAP Accredited

HOME HEALTHCARE AGENCY

NORACARE

1251 N. Eddy Street, Suite 200 South Bend, IN 46617 (574) 222-5992

info@noracare.us

www.noracare.us

Access experienced health professionals to support your home healthcare needs at affordable rates. We accept long-term care insurance.

IN-HOME CARE

SENIOR HELPERS

230 W. Catalpa, Ste. B Mishawaka, IN 46544 (574) 968-1068

https://www.seniorhelpers.com/in/southbend/ South Bend’s Premier Service Provider of Personalized In-Home Senior Care. Our mission is to provide reliable senior care throughout our community. We will visit you or your loved one where you ARE. Call TODAY for more information.

THE VILLAGE AT ARBORWOOD

820 Cleveland Rd. East Granger, IN 46530 (574) 247-4680

www.villageatarborwood.com

A Lifestyle You Deserve, An Apartment You Can Afford.

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MEDICAL CLINIC

NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS

Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesteron, Merrillville, Hammond, LaPorte & DeMotte

By appt. or walk-ins welcome. (219) 763-8112 or (888) 459-2349

www.northshorehealth.org

Affordable medical and urgent care regardless of ability to pay. Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance accepted. Discounted self-pay option.

MEMORY CARE

CHAPTERS LIVING OF SOUTH BEND

955 N. Hickory Road South Bend, IN 46615 (574) 314-5369 chapterssouthbend.com

Memory Care Community where your loved ones can live. Not just exist! Start your next chapter today! Call Today!

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. Continued on page 19

LEVI COFFIN HOUSE Located on U.S. 27 in Fountain City is the house that became known as the “Grand 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 Historic Landmark.

GREAT ESCAPES Text and Photos

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

Continued from page 18 exhibits tell individual stories of slaves seeking safety and shows the paths taken to get to freedom in Canada.

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,

FALSE CARGO HOLD wagon with a hidden compart ment was used to haul runaways further north along the Under ground Railroad.

Armchair journeys

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

A long-time pal has complained regularly about not visiting iconic locales ever since he visited Niagara Falls in his teens. “I saw those cataracts on the Nabisco cereal box every time I ate breakfast,” he said and has since visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Great Wall of China, London’s Big Ben, Rome’s Colosseum and several other favorite tourist attractions around the world without ever leaving his driveway.

He satisfies his travel bug with television shows and letters and post cards from family and friends who hop planes and trains to sites all over the globe.

Those of you who do travel and miss the convenience of crossing borders at will can still satisfy your yearnings by pulling out those photos of your past journeys.

While you may not be able to stroll through sounds and smells to your favorite Indian restaurant or Italian trattoria, you can wander through the sights and sites surrounding those favored spots.

You also can pull together kaffeeklatsches to compare memories with folks who have traveled with you or on their own to places you’ve been to or never seen.

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

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.

Crossroad Tours

Crossroad Tours Open House June 7, 2025

Crossroad Tours

Open House

June 7, 2025

Family Fun Tours

March 15, 2025 - Indy Flower & Patio Show

April 19, 2025 - Shedd Aquarium

Family Fun Tours

March 15, 2025 - Indy Flower & Patio Show

May 10, 2025 - Tulip Festival

Diamond Tours

April 6 - 12, 2025 - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Family Fun Tours

May 26-30, 2025 - The Ark Encounter & Creation Museum

March 15, 2025 - Indy Flower & Patio Show

April 19, 2025 - Shedd Aquarium

May 24, 2025 - Fort Wayne Zoo

May

April 19, 2025 - Shedd Aquarium

May 10, 2025 - Tulip Festival

June 14, 2025 - Indy Zoo

May 10, 2025 - Tulip Festival

May 24, 2025 - Fort Wayne Zoo

June 14, 2025 - Indy Zoo

June 9-13, 2025 - Niagara Falls & Toronto

Crossroad Tours

June 22, 2025 - Dayton Air Show

May 24, 2025 - Fort Wayne Zoo

July 5, 2025 - Columbus Zoo

June 14, 2025 - Indy Zoo

June 22, 2025 - Dayton Air Show

July 12, 2025 - Air Zoo

July 5, 2025 - Columbus Zoo

July 12, 2025 - Air Zoo

June 9-13, 2025 - Niagara Falls & Toronto

August 4-9, 2025 - Beautiful Branson

Open House

June 22, 2025 - Dayton Air Show

July 19, 2025 - Peru Circus

August 4-9, 2025 - Beautiful Branson

June 7, 2025

July 5, 2025 - Columbus Zoo

July 12, 2025 - Air Zoo

August 16, 2025 - Chicago Air Show

August 23, 2025 - Toledo Zoo

September 21-27, 2025 - Beautiful Vermont

July 19, 2025 - Peru Circus

August 16, 2025 - Chicago Air Show

October 11-19, 2025 - Amelia Island, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, FL

August 23, 2025 - Toledo Zoo

September 13, 2025 - Fair Oaks Farms

October 11-19, 2025 - Amelia Island, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, FL

November 3-7, 2025 - Nashville Show Trip

September 27, 2025 - Brookfield Zoo

December 7-12, 2025 - Charleston, South Carolina

Tours INC

6 - 12,

Free elder law workshop for groups

Book a free educational workshop for your group with leading elder law and estate planning attorney, Cliff Rice. 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 CPA’s, 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.

• 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 pets, your own room and also to avoid unnecessary placement in a nursing home as long

By CLIFFORD J. RICE Elder Law Attorney

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

“Great session on estate planning by Rice and Rice!

ing free educational workshops on various aspects

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 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.

“A very educational and

enlightening workshop. Very well presented and easy to understand.” — Karen R.

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

March MPHPL programs for adults

Below is the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library March calendar of events for adults. Registration can be secured at (574) 259-5277; check mphpl.org for the most up-todate information regarding

events or to register.

Bittersweet Branch Events

“DIY at Dusk: Shamrock Quilling,” 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Monday, March 3. Attend this event in person or virtually via Zoom. Registrants will use

quilling tools and materials to create shamrock-themed art. This program is great for all experience levels. Registration required. Details on when and where to pick up program supplies will be sent via email to

Zoom registrants. Bingo, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26. MPHPL is hosting an hour of bingo and beverages. Winners will receive small prizes and raffle tickets for a chance to win

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 interest-

ing 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.

a door prize. Registration required.

Harris Branch Events

“Mindful Moments Meditation,” 11:30-12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 12 and 19. Meditation may reduce stress, enhance focus and improve overall well-being. Learn about mediation at the March sessions. Registration is required for each session.

Chapter Chats Book Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 13. The March book, “The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane” by Katherine Howe, can be picked up in advance at the front desk. Registration required.

Mishawaka Library Events

Saturday Morning Book Club, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Saturday, March 1. Discuss this month’s book selection, “The Splendid and the Vile” by Erik Larson. Books can be picked up in advance at the front desk of the Mishawaka Library. Registration required.

“American Heritage Spotlight,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11. Doug Merritt, chairperson of the Mishawaka Historic Preservation Commission, will discuss the history and restoration of the Old No. 4 Firehouse at 2319 Lincolnway East, Mishawaka. The firehouse was decommissioned in 2013 when a new Station No. 4 opened on Harrison Road and Bennington. Learn more about the old firehouse and its designation as a historic site. No registration required.

“Craft the Magic,” 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 15. Cartoons aren’t just for kids. Enjoy a morning of crafting inspired by everyone’s favorite magical mouse and friends. Multiple crafts will be available for participants to complete, all themed around your favorite classic animated films. Registration required.

OFFERING FREE WORKSHOPS Rice and Rice is now book-

of elder law, or