Senior Life - Allen County Edition - January 2025 by The Papers Inc.

Living Life After 50

Shepherd’s House has served veterans since 1998

Free

January 2025

Shull Writes

Tribute To Her Grandmother

See Page 10

By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer

Simply speaking with Van Ryan, the residential manager at Shepherd’s House, is a testament to how valuable the organization is.

Since 1998, Shepherd’s House has provided clinical services for homeless veterans, who are struggling with addictions and mental health. It provides veterans with case management, employment services, counseling and more.

Ryan is candid in sharing he’s coped with many of the struggles Shepherd’s House was founded to assist with. He knows the grip of addiction, and of dependence on alcohol and drugs. He’s had more than his share of physical challenges, including multiple surgeries, and has also faced anxiety. The list is long. Yet, he has found the answer and hope, crediting Shepherd’s House and his faith for giving him the life he has today.

He shares what he’s learned with those who need it most — those still in the trenches of some of life’s greatest difficulties.

“It makes me feel good,” he said. “We try to help them to find a better life and a better way of doing things.”

His work puts him in direct contact with those receiving the services. He lives onsite.

“I’ve been through the program,” Ryan said. “It’s helped me to get through. I know

what all the guys go through when they first get here.”

Tracey Barr, director of outreach, has seen lives turned around many times.

Shepherd’s House is located at 519 Tennessee Ave., Fort Wayne, in the heart of downtown. It has been providing services for the past 26 years to not only the community, but has expanded to over 28 counties in Indiana and some referrals from out of state.

“Shepherd’s House can house up to 30 veterans,” Barr said. “It’s faith-based and funded through individuals and corporations, among other ways.”

The offerings have continued to expand as the needs have grown. The organization has expanded with providing a second facility, Choices Recovery Residence, six years ago in response to the opioid epidemic.

“We house up to 40 court-ordered individuals, veterans and non-veterans, with the same programming focus on sobriety and ultimately independent living,” Barr continued. “We also responded to the need of veterans in the community back in 2019, when we were awarded a grant to follow with men and women veterans in the community for six months through weekly and monthly contact with a social worker and our co-founder, who is a Marine, and through that we are helping them maintain their independence.”

People reach out to the organization through a phone call, an email or a one-page application on the website.

Overall, Shepherd’s House continues to serve needs, which are not going away.

“There is and always will be a need for services like our’s,” Barr said. “Homelessness is not seasonal, and mental health needs are just as great, if not greater, than substance abuse in our veteran population. We provide a sober living environment to a veteran in need with the goal to eventually help him find independent housing and return to his community with tools to succeed.”

Ryan summed it up, crediting Shepherd’s House with connecting him to the resources and support that has made him a “productive member of society.”

“I wouldn’t be the person I am without Shepherd’s House,” Ryan said. “That’s the bottom line.”

For more information, visit shepherdshouse.org or call (260) 424-2500.

DISCUSSING PROGRAM OPERATIONS

Tracey Barr, director of veteran outreach, seated, discusses program operations with fellow co-workers, Kenny Barr, intake specialist, and James “Gunny” Zuber, vice president and a volunteer. Photo provided by Shepherd’s House.

Allen County edition ReAChing FoRt WAyne And SuRRounding CountieS www.seniorlifenewspapers.com Vol. 37, No. 9

HOUSE MANAGER Van Ryan, residential house manager at Shepherd’s House, is an Army veteran with the National Guard. He graduated from the program and now helps other veterans. Photo provided by Shepherd’s House.

Independent Living RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES &

Evergreen Village is set apart by affordability, dignity, independence

By KIM HALLENBECK Director of Marketing and Sales Evergreen

Village As-

sisted Living

Traditionally, you will find that most assisted living communities are private pay entities with increasing costs due to higher levels of care. One of the ways Evergreen Village is set apart is truly its afford-

ability. Evergreen Village has very competitive rates with a financial assistance program to those who qualify, making this community an ideal choice to maintain your health, wellness and independence.

Residents can, however, receive assistance with daily tasks if needed, along with medication administration and an option for restau-

rant-style dining.

Evergreen Village opened in July 2020 during the pandemic. Today, it boasts a community at full capacity with residents who enjoy living in their own private one- bedroom or studio apartments. Our residents can also take advantage of many other amenities, which include a fitness center, hair salon, therapy and onsite

SENIOR INFORMATION FAIR Senior Information Fair’s board of directors voted at its November meeting to donate to Community Transportation Network for its numerous years in providing

shuttle service to vendors and visitors at its annual fair. On behalf of

Information Fair, CTN

exceptional shuttle service from overflow parking areas to the door of the venue where the fair is held

year. SIF President Betty Foster, second from left, recently presented a check for the donation to CTN Executive Officer Justin Clupper, center, Jackson Anderson, CTN transportation director, left, and Molly Graves, CTN business development director, right. Photo submitted by Betty Foster.

nurse practitioner.

We have an active social calendar with trips to local stores, restaurants, happy hour and seasonal family events.

Maintaining well-rounded care and dignity are in the forefront of Evergreen VIllage’s mission statement. We strive to assist residents when needed while maintaining trust and dignity with care. Our resi-

dents are provided with options for assistance and the ability to still have an active social life outside the community.

Resting at the corner of Auburn Road and Union Chapel, Evergreen Village is essentially an apartment complex for seniors above age 62 with several amenities, ample parking and the ability to come and go at their convenience.

Finding purpose on a lazy day

Writing my stories

By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer

I find myself smiling on occasion.

Lately it seems, for very little reason. And I think this amuses me further.

So I hold the smile just a bit longer.

I realize sometimes when I am watching, an old show that is a rerun on TV, I smile at something that is said, by those characters familiar to me.

Then there will be other times, when I am just sitting lost in thought.

When a random memory will saunter by,

and catch me a bit off guard. And then I might give a little smile.

Innocent and organic as all get out.

A smile provoked by an old, old, memory.

Spontaneous and devout.

Perhaps I make too big of a deal, for what is such a minor issue.

I might tear up during that smile, but not to where I need a tissue.

I feel good when I am touched, by the writers of those old shows.

Lessons are learned through onerous times.

Just ask the Beaver. He knows!

Independent Living

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 20th of every month at pmuthart@ the-papers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number.

—o—

“Ben Klinger: Down on Main Street” will be open until Jan. 5, during public hours, at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St. As a Fort Wayne native, Klinger has always been drawn to bold fonts, neon signs and historic architecture and is a visual artist whose preferred mediums include ink and acrylic paints. He enjoys paying homage to his hometown and the Hoosier state with bright colors and bold lines.

—o—

Holiday Showcase Exhibit: “Gnome for the Holidays” runs until Jan. 5, during public hours, at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. This year’s conservatory’s seasonal exhibit celebrates the festive culture of holiday homecoming with a whimsical twist. Imaginative displays will warm the hearts of visitors and offer themed opportunities to capture treasured family photos.

—o—

The Dinner Detective and Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show will be Friday, Jan. 17, at the Fort Wayne Sport Club, 3102 Ardmore Ave., Fort Wayne. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner and the performance is from 7-10 p.m. Purchase tickets at tinyurl.com/mr29he4e. For more information, call the club at (260) 432-6011 or visit fortwaynesportclub.com.

The Fort Wayne Sport Club supports soccer programs

for adults and youth in the community.

—o—

The 11th annual Kiwanis Chocolate Fest will be at Ceruti’s Diamond Room, 6601 Innovation Blvd, Fort Wayne. It will be from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 14, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 each. For more information, to reserve tickets, or donate silent auction items, contact the John Chapman Kiwanis Foundation at (260) 7494901. There will be no tickets available for purchase at the door. Tickets are also available at givebutter.com/c/ KiwanisChocolateFest.

A silent auction will be held in conjunction with the event and 100% of the profits will go to Riley’s Hospital for Children and other area under-served and under-privileged children’s charities, programs, and projects.

—o—

Headwaters Ice Rink is open from 4-9 p.m. Monday to Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission will be $6 for skaters ages 3 and above; free for age two and below. Skate rental will be $3. An array of special programming is planned with fresh themes in January and February, skating demonstrations and a meet and greet with a very special guest character. Reduced admission skating and skate rental opportunities will be available in January and February.

Ten-punch skating passes will be available to purchase at the rink, 333 S. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, during normal operation hours.

After Jan. 6, the rink will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. The rink will also be closed New Year’s Day. Additional or extended hours will be announced throughout the season. Stay up to date on Facebook for @ HeadwatersParkFW and @ FortWayneParks.

A fresh flavorful approach to food

By CRYSTAL KENNEDY, MBA Director of Sales Orchard Pointe Health

At Orchard Pointe Health campus, our programs and services are designed with one thing in mind: exceeding the expectations of our guests and families. Our inspired dining does just that.

When people ask us what we are about, we invite them to dine with us. We take pride in every meal served. Like the meals you enjoyed growing up, there is a heart behind what’s prepared, from our fluffy scrambled eggs to our showstopping desserts.

The best chefs know their audience. At our Trilogy campuses, we serve an average of 10,000 residents three meals every day and every resident has different needs and favorites. This is why

we have trained chefs, diverse menus, special events, and dietitians on staff.

Together, they offer a dining experience that blends the tastes of home cooking with the expertise of culinary professionals. Because our family deserves nothing less.

Our culture of compassion and service inspires these dining options: Flavorful Balance Program

• Designed to nourish our residents’ bodies and spirits by using fresh, flavorful ingredients to create balanced meals that taste like home. How?

• Dishes are prepared from scratch, using natural ingredients.

• Meals are categorized as gold, silver, and bronze, with gold meals meeting our highest nu-

tritional standards. Our menus include all three.

Multiple Menu Options

With several menus to choose from, our residents will always find a meal that checks all their boxes. Our menu options include:

• A 2-gram sodium menu.

• Rotating daily menu.

• An alternative café menu.

But don’t take our word for it; grab a fork and come see for yourself. Dining is only one piece of our puzzle. We invite you for a tour to explore more of what Orchard Pointe, Kendallville, has to offer in senior living.

Sundays, January 5 & 19 - 2-4pm 3216 West Bartlett Dr., Fort Wayne

Key Positions

Bright future forecast for Fort Wayne parks director

By ROD KING Feature Writer

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department has 89 public parks covering 2,840 acres. They range from downtown Promenade Park and the Foellinger-Freimann

Botanical Conservatory to beautiful flower gardens in Foster and Lakeside Parks, River Greenway Trails, playgrounds and tennis and pickleball courts in various

locations throughout the city. According to Parks Department Director Steve McDaniel, a 32-year veteran of the department, “We recently completed an update to our comprehensive plan for the future of the system. One key takeaway was that there are some gaps in our park coverage. Our rule of thumb is that there should be a park within a 10-minute walk of every citizen. That’s not actually the case presently, but we have

CORPORATE OFFICE

future plans to make that a reality.”

It takes a lot of money to operate a system this large, said McDaniel.

“Our budget last year was nearly $40 million, which includes major capital projects from design and fundraising to construction management, before a new space is open to the public. This also happens on the recreation side, as well. Our team does a tremendous amount of work year-round to plan activities, acquire materials, find instructors and develop classes and programs and only 70% comes from tax dollars,” he added.

He said most people don’t realize that all the flowers in the parks and the botanical conservatory are grown in its own greenhouse.

“Staff and volunteers work 12 months a year to grow them from seed to make our parks beautiful,” said McDaniel.

McDaniel said he’s often asked which park is his favorite.

“Answering that would be like picking one of my two children over the other. I have great memories of all our parks, but I would say that Promenade Park and the ongoing riverfront development are close to my heart because I’ve been able to be part of that transformation from day one and it continues to grow,” he said.

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ADVERTISING

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or .pdf files.

Since the first park, Old Fort Park, was established in 1863 on Main Street next to Fire Station No. 1, the system has grown exponentially along with the expansion of the city. The parks department was officially organized in 1905. Because of the unique needs of the operation, it has nearly 150 overthe-road vehicles ranging from dump trucks and bucket trucks to pickups and SUVs, along with all the necessary hand-held equipment to keep the parks looking beautiful.

“I believe the future of our parks is very bright and positive. The team is always looking forward to what is coming next for our parks

and programs. On the recreation side, they’re analyzing new trends in programming and looking at how people are recreating,” said McDaniel.

The operations side is also looking at its facilities and how they can best be utilized now and into the future.

“We’re looking for those gaps in our coverage. When opportunities arise, then hopefully we are capable of

leveraging our resources to be able to act,” said McDaniel.

The best part of his job is seeing citizens enjoying the parks, facilities and programs.

“I love to see the smiles on children’s faces on our playgrounds. I’m happy to be able to provide places where people can go to get away from the stresses in their daily lives,” McDaniel said.

Local student raises funds for FWACC foster program

Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control received a wonderful surprise from a student of Saint Louis Academy in New Haven. While being part of a family that fosters baby kittens, a love for animals just seems natural. What started as just an idea turned into reality when one student, with his family, approached school administration with an idea. He suggested offering students the option to donate $1 to wear jeans and an additional $1 to wear a hoodie

at school on a specific date in November. Being part of a school, which usually requires uniforms, this fundraiser was a big success, raising $236 for the foster department.

“Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control is so thankful for this generous donation and for the families who are a part of our foster program. During our busiest months, we can have over 300 animals in foster homes, so donations like these are used to purchase

much-needed supplies. We are also thankful to the school for allowing this act of kindness,” said Foster Coordinator Gina Thomas.

Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control is an open access shelter and will never turn away an animal. Anyone struggling to care for their animal can contact the shelter for assistance. If you are interested in learning more about how you can donate to the foster department, visit fwacc.org.

PARKS VETERAN Steve McDaniel, Fort Wayne Parks Department director, first worked at the parks as an intern his sophomore year at Purdue University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management and an associate’s degree in architectural engineering technology. He’s also a certified playground safety Inspector and a certified parks and recreation professional. Photo provided by Fort Wayne Parks Department.

TH E

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Our active and friendly community provides numerous opportunities to socialize, exercise, connect with others and live life to the fullest.

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friendly community provides numerous opportunities exercise, connect with others and live life to the fullest.

24/7 staffing

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Our active and friendly community provides numerous opportunities to socialize, exercise, connect with others and live life to the fullest.

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On-site therapy and health services

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Nutritious, restaurant-style meals

Our active and friendly community provides numerous opportunities to socialize, exercise, connect with others and live life to the fullest.

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Special interest clubs

On-site entertainment

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services

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Enjoy the following:

Special interest clubs

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The fall and winter seasons are a great time to make the move into our community. Call 260-254-7158 to schedule a tour and enjoy a delicious meal in our dining room.

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Comfortable, safe apartments

Transportation services

The fall and winter seasons are a great time to make the move into our community. Call 260-254-7158 to schedule a tour and enjoy a delicious meal in our dining room.

Ask about our specialty memory care program, Magnolia Trails™.

Utilities, Cable and WIFI included

The fall and winter seasons are a great time to make the move into our community. Call 260-254-7158 to schedule a tour and enjoy a delicious meal in our dining room.

Transportation services

Ask about our specialty memory care program, Magnolia Trails™.

The fall and winter seasons are a great time to make the move into our community. Call 260-254-7158 to schedule a tour and enjoy a delicious meal in our dining room.

Ask about our specialty memory care program, Magnolia Trails™.

Enjoy the following:

The fall and winter seasons are a great time to make the move into our community. Call 260-254-7158 to schedule a tour and enjoy a delicious meal in our dining room.

Ask about our specialty memory care program, Magnolia Trails™.

Nutritious, restaurant-style meals Special interest clubs Comfortable, Utilities,

The fall and winter seasons are a great time to make the move into our community. Call 260-254-7158 to schedule a

New Haven Mayor has city moving in positive direction

By ROD KING Feature Writer

New Haven Mayor Steve McMichael is a no-nonsense, get-things-done guy. In the middle of his second term, it’s one of the county’s leading cities in housing starts. Its’ industrial base doubled, small businesses find it a welcoming place to sell products and services and it’s attracting residents at a rapid rate as people want to live in New Haven.

In other words, things in New Haven are moving in a positive direction.

As an elected official, McMichael faces new challenges every day. One is the ever-changing landscape in Indianapolis regarding property taxes and how it affects New Haven. McMichael is deeply concerned with mental health care, poverty and addiction.

The latest one facing the mayor is the prospect of a casino wanting to set up shop on U.S. 30, just east of I-469. A strong opposition group has organized to fight it. After being approached about development, McMichael sought information from Hoosier communities with casinos. He visited 12 of them and in discussions with city leaders and law enforcement officials,

he was assured crime didn’t increase, poverty levels remained static and the casino wasn’t affecting young people. He found the casinos brought jobs and were a financial boom.

Cities were able to accomplish infrastructure improvement projects. His takeaway was that casinos were being responsible corporate citizens.

Should the state legislature approve transfer of the gaming license to the city, it will take several years for the development to come to fruition. If it transpires, it will bring another attraction to New Haven, along with the planned Harvester Homecoming Museum and the sports complex willing to put the city on the tourist destination map.

Despite the challenges, McMichael is optimistic about the future.

“Our city is resilient as proven by how the administration continued serving its constituents and how residents came together during the pandemic. I feel New Haven will continue to be like home to current and future residents, who will find it a great place to live. I’m confident that the next five years will see sustained growth and success for New Haven,” he said.

The mayor’s proud of the city’s housing program and speaks of it as one of his administration’s major accomplishments.

“We put a 10-year plan in place, and I’m pleased with where we are after the first five years. We have a wide diversity of housing underway that includes multi-family dwellings, apartments and stand-alone single-family homes. Another success is the combined sewer overflow update, which has saved residents hundreds of dollars on utility bills,” McMichael stated.

He is proud of and has high regard for the city’s administrative team.

“It’s an honor to work with the city’s administrative team. New Haven is in good hands with them,” he added.

The Pennsylvania native came to Adams Township as a youth in 1973. He is a graduate of Bishop Luers High School, where he first became fascinated with politics.

He attended Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, and studied industrial engineering and business management at Ivy Tech.

Prior to entering politics, he owned a real estate agency, which he operated

NEW HAVEN SCULPTURE New Haven Mayor Steve McMichael was on hand to welcome visitors, city and county officials to the Dec. 11 dedication of the “I Am Allen” bicentennial sculpture, which is located at the eastern edge of city hall property. Photo provided by Steve McMichael.

Medicare Insurance

Q. Prescription drug coverage penalty?

A. Yes, it is true. If a Medicare Beneficiary is found to be without creditable prescription drug coverage for a period of 63 or more days, a late enrollment penalty will be assessed when they enroll in a plan that includes prescription drug coverage. That penalty will be a monthly cost that will continue until drug coverage ends.

Social Security will calculate the penalty, and it is based upon 1% of the national average drug plan cost at the time a Beneficiary enrolls in a plan that includes drug coverage. For 2025, the average cost is $36.78. 1% of this would be multiplied by the number of months that the Beneficiary was without drug coverage and rounded to the nearest dime.

Michelle Walters Executive Vice President

This amount will be permanently added to your monthly MAPD or PDP premium. Example: $36.78 x 1% = $0.3678 x 15 months = $5.50. Have questions or aging into Medicare soon? Give us a call at (260) 484-7010. 3609 Lake Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 484-7010 www.buyhealthinsurancehere.com

Medicare Enrollment and Education Center of Fort Wayne

Senior Relocation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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HOW TO SAVE ON HEATING BILLS

Q. It’s getting harder pay our bills with rising prices. What can I do to make sure my family sta warm this winter?

A. Rising prices should not mean that your family has to sacrifice necessities like water and electricity. When money is tight, every penny counts. Consider taking some of these simple steps that can help reduce energy costs this winter:

• Apply caulking to leaky walls and windows.

• Keep the thermostat at 68 degrees or below while at home.

• Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to push warm air down.

• Open curtains on windows facing south during the day to let in natural warmth from the sun.

• Keep doors to infrequently used rooms closed.

If you have the means, you can also consider investing in a water heater blanket or a programmable thermostat.

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paying for heating and energy bills. For example, the Energy Assistance Program (EAP) provides a one-time annual benefit to assist low-income households with the high cost of electricity.

Aging & In-Home Services can provide more information and assist with enrolling in the EAP and other programs. If you or someone you know needs assistance, Just Call Us!

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A. A gifting trust is an estate planning tool that allows you to take advantage of the Federal gift tax exemption ($19,000 for 2025) to transfer wealth to your loved ones, while also allowing you to retain control of how and when the gifted funds are used.

The gifting trust is established during your lifetime to hold gifted amounts for your loved ones. Distributions are specifically tailored based on the amounts and times you set. The trust can hold funds until a child reaches an age of maturity or disburse based on life events such as graduating college or purchasing a first

Alternatively, it can distribute a percentage or dollar amount in installments or hold back all of the funds for emergency purposes only. In this way, a

Sincerely, Timothy McCulloch

that gifts are not squandered or misused. For more information, or to see if a gifting trust is right for you, contact your trust and estate attorney.

Pool players form tight bond

Text

By ROD KING Feature Writer

If it’s Tuesday or Thursday afternoon, you’ll find David Glant and Milton Scherf playing pool at the Fort Wayne Community Center in downtown Fort Wayne.

It’s not a high-stakes game. They don’t play for money but bragging rights are important. They’re just two distant relatives having fun, taking a break from their regular routines and sharpening their hand-eye coordination. As Glant puts it, “It’s better than sitting on the couch watching television, unless it’s ‘Gun Smoke,’ my favorite show.”

Their relationship is somewhat convoluted. Scherf is David’s brother-in-law’s fatherin-law. They hooked up about a year ago through their mutual love of playing pool. Scherf first got a cue in his hands, started lining up shots and learning the nuances of the game while a seminary student at the old Concordia Seminary at Jefferson and Anthony Boulevards in Fort Wayne in the early 1950s.

“I was studying to be a pastor,” said Scherf, “until they told me I couldn’t get married. I had already fallen in love, so I quit and got married and we moved back to the Chicago area where I was born (Toro, Indiana) to work in the parts department at a Ford Motor Company dealership for 30 years”

Glant’s story is quite the opposite. The summer after graduating from Snider High School in 1971, where he was a member of the wrestling team, he headed for California.

“I was a product of the hippy era and the loose morals of that time. I got married. We were really too young for the work, financial and sharing responsibilities of marriage and it all fell apart in just three years. I basically lost my life along with my wife, my car and everything else, and I actually spent a month in jail,” Glant said. Though most people would

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

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

have considered that to be a huge life-altering disaster, it turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened to him. During that month of incarceration he acknowledged God, became a Christian and got serious about turning his life around.

“I started going to church, met a wonderful woman and have been married to her for the past 44 years. During that time I worked a number of jobs, including 10 years at Deister Machine.”

When he came back to Fort Wayne, he enrolled at Indiana University Purdue University at Fort Wayne where he earned a degree in commercial art.

“Unfortunately,” he said, “computers and the internet came along and it could quickly do what it took 30 of us to do so we all got downsized. I found that commercial art just didn’t bring in enough to pay the bills and make a living.”

David played a lot of pool as a youth, but was pretty rusty at the game before he and Milton began playing regularly at the community center.

“It gives us a way to sharpen our minds and we get a minimal amount of exercise walking around the table to visualize our shots. We’re both getting better, but so far, I’ve had the upper hand. Besides that, it only costs us $2 apiece to play all afternoon. No cussing is allowed when carefully lined up shots go awry or when the cue ball drops in the pocket,” he added.

The church lady and a phone

This past weekend, our church had its annual auction, a big fundraiser where I always have the honor of being the emcee. As we were cleaning up, I couldn’t find my cell phone. I knew I had used my phone earlier to cheat when the congregation played trivia. (I’m kidding,

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

I’m kidding. I really did know the first country to give women the right to vote. It was New Zealand in 1893. You’re welcome.)

When I couldn’t find my phone, I panicked. My wife, as always, was a calming influence, explaining to me that the cell had to be somewhere in the room. I asked my son to call on his phone to see where the device was hiding. No ring was heard, but…

“Hello, this is Amy.”

“Amy, this is Brett Wolfsie, Dick’s son. You were sitting with us all evening tonight. You must have taken my dad’s cell phone home by mistake.”

“I don’t think so, Brett.”

“Well, you’re talking on his cell now. Turn it over and look at the back.”

The back of my cell clearly directs what to do if found. I always debated whether the

instructions should read “IF FOUND CALL” or “IF LOST CALL.” Both make sense, but my initial mistake was listing my own number to call. That person would just be calling me on my phone, which he had in his hand. What an Einstein, I am. But back to the story…

I took Brett’s phone and explained to Amy that she would have to answer my phone that evening and pretend she was Mary Ellen. Otherwise, people would wonder what I was up to when a mysterious woman answered the phone at 11 p.m. I also told Amy that I get a lot of calls late at night because I have several friends on the west coast who like to chat before they go to bed at 8 p.m. (their time). It’s an older crowd.

“Dick, this was an honest mistake I made. I’ll tell whoever calls that I have your phone because we spent the night together.”

“Amy, please rephrase that.”

The next morning, I was lost without a phone. I always check the weather and time before I get out of

bed. I asked Alexa twice, but there was no response. The internet was down temporarily, but I knew Mary Ellen was in the kitchen having coffee…

“What time is it?” I screamed out from the bed. No answer.

“WHAT TIME IS IT?” Louder, this time. No answer again.

Wait, I forgot the most important part. With Alexa, it has to be personal to work. I tried again.

“MARY ELLEN! What time is it?”

“Good morning, Dick. It’s 8 a.m. Now, leave me alone, please. I’m having my coffee.”

Well, at least she was connected and working.

Later that morning at church, Amy returned my phone and said she only got one call. It was from my sister, who was visiting her daughter in California.

“I pretended I was Mary Ellen,” said Amy, “but I’m not sure it worked.”

“I guess she didn’t recognize your voice?”

“She also didn’t recognize my hair, nose, and eyes. She was using FaceTime.”

TAKING AIM David Glant breaks the pool balls to start another game with Milton Scherf, who is looking on. They’ve been playing twice a week at the Fort Wayne Community Center for the past year.

and Photo

NUTSHELL By DICK WOLFSIE

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

Cooperstown, N.Y.:

‘A drinking town with a baseball problem’

By FYLLIS HOCKMAN Mature Life Features

The year is 1954. For the first time in six years, the New York Yankees are not in contention for the World Series.

I spent the early school year racing home to watch my heroes on our tiny black and white television set. I not only know all the players — Andy Carey on third, Mickey Mantle in center, Hank Bauer in right, Moose Skowron on first, Yogi Berra catching — but also their batting averages and other stats. I was obsessed. I was also a 10-year-old girl.

Years later, when all my friends were watching American Bandstand, I was hanging out at Yankee Stadium.

But as years pass, my sports team loyalty switches from baseball to football — and now a native of Washington, D.C., maybe the Capitals hockey team.

But it was an upcoming trip to Cooperstown, N.Y. — home of the Baseball Hall of Fame — that brought me six decades back to that baseball-crazy little girl — and the fear that I would no longer care.

So here I am. And I do. Hard not to focus on baseball when the whole town is obsessed, as noted on well-worn t-shirts sporting (pun intended) the mantra: “A drinking town with a baseball problem.”

Just walking along Main Street is a not-so-subtle introduction to the national pastime.

A quick bite at the Dugout Bar and Grill; a storefront promoting Safe at Home collectibles; Shoeless Joe’s — a Field of Dreams reference — promises more baseball memorabilia; a Baseball Town Motel offers lodging; and the Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum provides a niche version of the usual famous replicas.

Want a bat with your name inscribed on it — and who wouldn’t? Visit the Bat Store.

Okay, I get it — it’s a baseball town. But does it have to be everywhere? Apparently, yes. Several folks in baseball uniforms stroll the street without drawing any attention. And because it was fall, there were pumpkins displayed along the street — all decorated like huge baseballs. Even the toothpicks in the Hotel Otesega Resort restaurant have tiny baseballs attached to their tip. Baseballs apparently come in many sizes.

A TV set in one of the diners had a football game on. Man, did that seem out of place.

At the Doubleday Café, I snarkily asked if it would be more appropriate to be called the Doubleheader Café, until someone patiently — and no doubt a tad pityingly — explained to me that Abner Doubleday was credited with inventing baseball. I slithered away from the café and was only slightly mollified to later discover that actually, he had not.

Want to literally walk in the

steps of Hall of Famers? Plan a stay at the stately Otesaga Resort, a historic Coopers town landmark that houses new inductees, their families and former Famers every induction year. Apparently, pretty much every Hall of Famer has stayed at the resort. And has probably had one of their toothpicks holding a cherry or an olive in a drink.

Which brings us back to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Clearly the rest of the town is just an extension thereof.

Where to begin? An introductory movie starts with a trivia quiz of memorable moments, and then tells you where in the Hall you can get more information or find the famous memorabilia referenced on film. In case you want to see a ball from the first game at which admission was charged — September 10, 1858 — you’ll know where to go.

Lou Gehrig. Cal Ripken. Sandy Koufax. Nolan Ryan. Willie Mays. Despite my many years

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation announces new shows at Foellinger

Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation has added two shows to its lineup at the Foellinger Theatre.

The Honeywell Arts and Entertainment venue presents Tommy James and The Shondells on Saturday, June 28, and “Trace Adkin’s Somewhere in America” tour on Friday, Aug. 22, at the Foellinger Theatre. Tickets are available online at ticketmaster.com or in person at the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department, 705 East State Blvd.

Tommy James and The Shondells is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 28.

Join Tommy James and The Shondells on a thrilling ride

through James’ career, featuring timeless classics like ”Mony Mony,” ”I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Crimson and Clover,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” ”Hanky Panky,” and more.

Having sold over 100 million record-breaking singles and platinum albums in his career, his music has shaped the sound of an era. Groove to the group’s iconic tunes as James continues to captivate audiences with his new album, “ALIVE.”

Don’t miss Tommy and the band perform live and celebrate over 50 years of incredible music. Tickets start at $25.

“Trace Adkins’s Somewhere

away, I still knew a surprising number of players. Traversing the many hallways, it was like walking on sacred ground.

You could spend two hours — or two weeks — and still find stuff to see. The first, a photo gallery covering generations of greats, has write-ups of those on exhibit. But it’s the intimate quotes from the players that humanize the entire sport.

When I got to the Yankees’ Highlights Era, I was channelling a very excited 10-year-old self. I found Mickey and Yogi and felt an immediate kinship. It was as if they knew I was coming back after all these years just to see them.

Of course, there was also Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron and Satchel Page. Even if you’re just a fair weather fan, there

will be something that will delight you.

A large display that caught my interest was devoted to the origin of women’s baseball teams — 1943-54 — which inspired the movie “A League of Their Own.” It warmed my little 10-year-old heart. In my high school days, there was no Title IX, no girls’ baseball team, no opportunity for me to play a game I already loved — and I felt deprived my entire life. I coulda been a female Moose Skowron.

Later, at another local baseball-infused tavern, three TVs were tuned to baseball games. After spending so much time at the Hall of Fame, I didn’t know whether they were historic replays — or current games.

in America” concert is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. A towering baritone, Adkins has sold more than 11 million albums and charted more than 20 singles in his 25 years in Nashville. Adkins is known for his dynamic baritone and fiery, always-memorable live performances. He broke out in 1996 with his debut album, “Dreamin’ Out Loud,” cracking the top five of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with “Every Light in the House is On.” His top singles includes: “You’re Gonna Miss This,” “Ladies Love Country Boys,” “Songs About Me,” “Every Light in the House,” “Chrome,” and “Just Fishin.” Tickets start at $49.

BASEBALL FANATICS Cooperstown, N.Y. is home to the Baseball Hall of Fame and baseball fanatics. These pumpkins were painted to look like a baseball. Photo by Victor Block.

BASEBALL HALL OF FAME The Baseball Hall of Fame is home to all of baseball’s greatest players, including Mickey Mantle.

Photo by Victor Block.

Janice Shull chronicles her grandmother’s life of faith in book

By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer

Janice Shull is proof that a long-held dream can come to pass with great persistence and faith. She wanted to write a book recording her grandmother’s unique experiences as a missionary in India. After dedicated efforts over a few decades, her book, “Only One Alice: The Teaching Life of Alice King Ebey,” released Nov. 10.

Shull, 79, lives at Heritage Pointe senior living community in Fort Wayne. She was so determined to carry her goal over the finish line, she converted an extra room into a writer’s studio to work in.

Shull’s idea to write the story, which is based on her grandmother’s diaries, letters and articles in a church magazine, first took hold when Shull was a young mother.

“I was a stay-at-home mom, and I needed a project,” said Shull, who retrieved the diaries from her mother’s home and set to work.

“I read all of the diaries,

but the ink was fading, and the handwriting was hard to decipher,” she said. “But I knew it was a story that I wanted to write.”

A graduate-level class in documentary editing helped her learn how to research and discover more about her grandmother’s life. That was back in 1983.

“Early on, after I received all of the papers, I knew I needed help. I’d been a librarian, but didn’t have experience dealing with old, fragile documents. I didn’t have a lot of editing experience. I took a class at the University of New Orleans . . . Everyone else had to do a set project but I got to work on my papers for my course work. It took me 10 years to transcribe all the diaries.”

Writing the book became an expression of Shull’s own faith. Shull attends Church of the Brethren. Her grandmother’s missionary work, along with her husband, Adam, Shull’s grandfather, was associated with that same church.

“They were just the seventh and eighth missionaries to be sponsored by the church and were based in a village north of Bombay,” Shull said.

The couple’s roots were planted in Indiana, though. They met when Alice was teaching at a Bible School at Manchester College, since renamed Manchester University.

Upon arriving in India, they committed their lives to working with people who were impoverished and deprived of the basic necessities.

“They worked closely with members of the lower caste and out-of-caste, who were denied care in hospitals,” Shull said.

Shull’s grandparents dispensed medicine and distributed food during a famine, among other efforts. Alice taught women and children to read, often using Bible stories. Eventually, she developed a training school for native preachers. The couple had eight children.

“It was kind of hard for me to get through that part of writing the book,” Shull said.

Finishing the book was a milestone for her. She had a book signing at Heritage Pointe to celebrate. Members of her book club at the residence cheered her on to completion.

Shull continues to be inspired by her grandmother’s courage and faithfulness throughout her life.

“It takes probing and real thought to discover how another person’s story connects to our own lives,” she said.

Shull’s book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Health insurance and claims denials

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

In the wake of the recent death of United Health Care’s CEO, the media has once again created quite a stir in an effort to besmirch insurance carriers. How quickly our society can turn the victim of a tragedy into a villain these days, by how well adept the media has become at twisting and contorting a news story. But I digress.

At some point in our adult lives, we all find ourselves purchasing an insurance policy. Whether it be to insure

our home, our vehicles, our lives, or our health care. No matter the purpose, the definition of insurance remains the same — transfer of risk.

But nowhere in any policy is there any statement or clause, which reads “we will pay everything.”

As a 33-year veteran of the health insurance industry, I can assure you that gone are the days when rubber stamps would indicate whether a claim was approved or denied.

The technical advancements that have been made in insurance claims processing are truly amazing, yet still contain the human element; errors will and do still happen. Many are quick to assume

that insurance companies are all going to deny our claims, but we need to understand that just about every health care service has clinical criteria or medical guidelines that are developed or written by third-party organizations to help “define the role of specific diagnostic and treatment modalities in the diagnosis and management of patients.”

Insurance companies rely on these guidelines to aid in the processing of claims, but there are not hard, fast denials. Review your explanation of benefits, or EOB. If a claim is denied, it will tell you why.

Have questions? Feel free to give me a call at (260) 4847010.

TRIBUTE TO HER GRANDMOTHER — Janice Shull wrote the book, “Only One Alice: The Teaching Life of Alice King Ebey,” which was released Nov. 10. The book is about her grandmother’s unique experiences as a missionary in India. Photo provided by Janice Shull.

Too much of a good thing can kill you

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

As long as a tan is perceived as cool, the risk of contracting skin cancer will continue.

More than 5 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year, 90% of them caused by exposure to the sun, according to the American Cancer Society.

Malignant melanoma, which is easily preventable by wearing sun-protective clothing, using sunscreen and seeking shade, will kill as many as 8,000 Ameri-

cans during the year. Yet more than half of teens and adults believe people look and feel better with a tan.

This was not so fashionable a century or so ago. Bronzed skin then meant you were most likely a menial worker who made a living working out in the field while the owners of the farm or plantation spent the day indoors.

Industrialization reversed all that, as workers moved inside large manufacturing plants and the wealthy began lolling along tropical beaches. So, tans became a fashionable sign of leisure.

Unfortunately, a lot of people haven’t learned to used sunscreen properly.

A lot of people still use a sunscreen with an SPF as low as 15 and then head to the beach or play a couple of games of volleyball and finds their skin turning red. The damage has been done. Added problems are that too little sunscreen is used or it may be washed off by sweat or swimming.

Medical counselors recommend sun screen with an SPF of at least 30, and even higher. The problem is not what you see —

the tan. It’s the unseen ultraviolet radiation that produces it.

The rays from the sun triggers a reaction in pigment-producing skin cells to produce a browner color in the skin. This same radiation causes damage in the DNA of skin cells as well as other types of damage to the skin, and that is what has been related to the risk of skin cancer as well as premature aging of the skin.

There are two reasons tanning salons are not safe, even though they may advertise that they use innocuous UVA radiation and not the UVB that causes sunburn.

First of all, UVA is not totally harmless. Secondly, most tanning booths give users some UVB also. If you use an artificial tanner — tan in a bottle — it will give you a tan in color only. They don’t protect you from sun exposure or ultraviolet light.

The American Cancer Society offers a slogan: “Slip, Slop, Slap” — slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat.

That’s a good way to avoid ultraviolet damage no matter how unfashionable it may appear.

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Blast To The Past! —

‘Mandy’ was Manilow’s brass ring

Barry Manilow

Imagine that you are a multi-talented singer-pianist who just isn’t “happening” in the music-recording world. You might ask yourself,

A Boomer Blast To The Past

it bombed.”

Such is a conversation 31-yearold Barry Manilow could have had with himself as the year 1974 began to wind down.

Eventually he would grab the elusive brass ring, but he nearly blew his chance when he did.

ing. The audience loved him.”

Davis believed that none of Manilow’s maiden LP tracks had shown the potential to be a hit single (at the time a necessity for most new artists seeking success). To the super-savvy Davis, there was nothing more important than to correctly match the just-right singer with the just-right material and the just-right production.

By RANDAL C. HILL

“What would it take to soar to the heights of this world, ride high on the hit charts, and sell out concerts night after night? I’ve got both the pipes and the looks for success. Over the years I’ve learned the ins and outs of the record business. I’ve even managed to sign with a small label and release an LP, even though

He met the right person — record-business veteran Clive Davis, who would soon change the life of the frustrated Brooklynite. After being a Columbia Records executive, Davis was about to take over Bell Records — Manilow’s recording home — and rename it Arista Records.

To see what Manilow had to offer, Davis went to evaluate him when Manilow opened a show for Dionne Warwick. “I was really taken by his performance,” the businessman enthused later in his autobiography. “He was a terrific singer, and his manner was upbeat, funny and self-deprecat-

Manilow knew that Davis had primarily worked with rock artists, but Manilow had no real interest in rock ‘n’ roll. Davis thus set about casting for something suitable — no, perfect — for his talented protege. Davis had nurtured the early careers of several recording luminaries and knew how to connect good artists with good songs.

Sifting through hundreds of discs, Davis was drawn to an obscure tune called “Brandy,”

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a mid-chart 1971 British hit by American expatriate Scott English. But when Davis showed Manilow the hauntingly beautiful ballad of lost love and regret, Manilow balked, thinking “Brandy” would at best be an album-track “filler” and that English’s tune would be of no help to him as a career-launcher.

Davis disagreed and pushed hard for a first-class production and promotion. Eventually, Manilow decided not to argue with his new boss (good idea!) and reluctantly agreed to record the song.

Davis had the disc’s title tweaked to avoid confusion with the 1972 Looking Glass hit “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl).”

To Barry’s amazement, “Mandy” — as it was now known — shot to the top of the Billboard chart, and Barry Manilow was instantly catapulted into the pantheon of

recording superstars.

You can see and hear the original British hit of “Brandy.” Go to Google, key in YouTube, add “Brandy Scott English,” then select the concert video clip. You’ll find that it’s 1971 UK “cool” at its very best!

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Coping with grief takes patience

By TOM ROSE Coping With Grief

There is not an exact timeline for grief that you “should be over it by now.” It takes extreme patience as it may last a long time, short time, or you may spend no time at all with grief. And some grief, to some degree, may last forever. The depth of the relationship that you have with your loved one will probably determine the degree and length of your grief journey or, as I prefer to call it, “your love journey” because, remember, there is no grief without love. In the case of a spouse, child or family the grief will be with you your whole life.

During our lifetime, we will likely experience several different types of grief: the death of a

loved one, job loss, divorce, loss of a pet, a sudden health or handicap issue, etc. All of these can trigger the same emotions. Grief is the same for everyone but only different. We may experience the same feelings and emotions no matter the loss but in various ways. The best example of this is a recent experience of mine.

I was monitoring a grief group where the group leader used my book as his “prompts” for conversation. They were discussing the chapter on emotions, and he asked the group to take a few minutes and write down how they were feeling. The group was mixed with people who had lost spouses, children and siblings, several grieving over divorces and two people coming out of a drug rehab program. Everyone in the group shared their feelings by reading what they had written. I was fascinated by the fact that a man who had lost his wife and a divorced woman had written almost the same thing. If

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they had been sitting beside each other, you would have thought they copied each other, but they were seated at opposite ends of the table. He was grieving the loss of a companion’s life. She was mourning the loss of life, a lifestyle.

There is another kind of grief rarely discussed, anticipatory grief, which is the type of grief you experience when you are anticipating the death of a loved one. If you have ever lost a loved one, knowing it would eventually happen, you have experienced anticipatory grief. This may be particularly true when they have been diagnosed with progressive disease or an incurable diagnosis. The recent pandemic caused a great deal of anticipatory grief when family members were not able to visit terminally ill patients in the hospital.

There is no right or wrong way to deal with grief; as I mentioned before, “it is the same for everyone, only different.” You do

not need to be a certain type of person to grieve; we all grieve. Grief is wrapped up in emotions, feelings and memories. Comparing one person’s grief to another is not helpful.

Like the Frank Sinatra song “My Way,” you need to do it your way.

When experiencing grief, take as much time as necessary to move forward. You will learn to honor the one you lost by finding the freedom to move forward peacefully and love

yourself. You do not need to justify how long it takes you; there are no rules. Just be patient... Editors Note: Tom Rose is the author of “Balloon in a Box, Coping with Grief.” The book is available on Amazon, Fables Books, Goshen or the website thomaslrose.com. He is available for speaking engagements and as a grief group facilitator. He would love to hear your comments or questions. Phone: (574) 596-6256. Email: roseandrose@comcast.net. Senior Talk Michiana podcast available at: thomaslrose.com/ senior-talk

Michael

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Contact: Rose Hillman (260) 402-6398 call or text

Rose@HeartofJesusFW.org www.heartofjesusfw.org

Heart of Jesus Spiritual Companions are a group of Christian men and women who, through training and a love of all souls, seeks to provide spiritual fellowship to those in their final days

Travel

Elkhart RV Museum —

A good insight into RV history

ESCAPES

Text and Photos

By ROD KING

At one time, Elkhart and the surrounding Michiana area had some 300 firms producing recreational vehicles. These RVs accounted for more than 85% of all RVs made in the country. Because of this, Elkhart was known as the RV Capital of the U.S.

Today, you can trace the industry’s heritage by visiting the RV/Manufactured Home museum, library and hall

of fame, located just off the Indiana Turnpike at Exit 96 in the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau building.

Before entering Founders Hall to see the early RVs, take a few minutes to check out the photo timeline highlighting the history of RVs by decade, starting with 1900.

Among the unusual vehicles shown is one produced in the 1970s by Winnebago, called the Heli-home, which was actually designed to fly.

The early RVs were a far cry from present-day luxury homes on wheels. They basically started as camping trailers and add-ons to pickup trucks with attached tents and awnings that rolled out to cover a camp table.

Continued on page 15

TRAILER A 1957 teardrop trailer had barely enough room for two people. An Ohio manufacturer is making them again.

S & S TRAVEL “ADVENTURES”

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Celebrating 45 yrs 1404 E. Lake Bluff Drive 888-262-4423 Kendallville, IN 46755

Celebrating 45 yrs 1404 E. Lake Bluff Drive

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The Godby’s & S & S Travel Family Now Planning our 2025 Great Adventures.

Wisconsin: National RR Museum, Lambeau Field Tour & Hall of Fame, Washington Island, Harbor Beach, Stavkirke & Bjorkunden Chapels, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Famous Fish Boil , Goats on the Roof

OCT 30-NOV 2 FOUR DAY MYSTERY????

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NOV 18-22 BRANSON CHRISTMAS 6 Great

NOV 18-22 BRANSON CHRISTMAS 6 Great Shows: Dutton Family, Hughes Brothers, Christmas Wonderland, Presley’s County Jubilee, Clay Cooper ’s Ozark Christmas, Sight & Sound’s “The Miracle of Christmas & Fantastic Caverns. An S & S Tradition Dec 4-7 OPRYLAND COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

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CLASSIC SOUTHEAST COAST, feat. Savannah GA, Charleston SC, and Islands of Hilton Head, Jekyll, St Simons, Tybee. Enjoy Ft Sumter, Boat Cruises, Charleston Tea, Trolley Tours, Boone Hall Plantation, Atlantic Low Country, Byrd’s Cookie Co., Billy Graham Library, Good Food & Much More

MAY 5, 2025

Wisconsin: National RR Museum, Lambeau Field Tour & Hall of Fame, Washington Island, Harbor Beach, Stavkirke & Bjorkunden Chapels, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Famous Fish Boil , Goats on the Roof

Opryland Hotel Lodging, Ray Stevens Dinner show, Grand Ole Opry Show, Hotel Holiday Show, The Hermitage, Country Music Hall of Fame & More www.s-stravel.com Tours Depart Goshen/Kendallville/Auburn/Ft. Wayn e

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A TERRIFIC TULIP TRADITION. Holland MI: Guided tour of Holland, Veldheers Tulip Farm, Windmill Island, Lunch too.

Complete Tour Calendar available last of February

OVERHEAD VIEW A campground setting with a winding roadway leads visitors on a trip back in time through RV heritage in Founders Hall. The first RVs were basically camping trailers and add-ons to pick-up trucks with attached tents and awnings.

STRIKING VISITORS BUREAU BUILDING The RV/Manufactured Home Museum, Hall of Fame and Library is housed in the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau Building overlooking the Indiana Turnpike near exit 96. It had been located in downtown Elkhart since 1972 before moving into this building seven years ago.

THROUGH THE DECADES This photo board outside Founders Hall shows some of the creations that led up to today’s luxury homes on wheels.

TINY

Some pets not for the nervous

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

The growing popularity of comfort animals overlooks the fact that history hasn’t locked down exactly when us folks began keeping a pet and exactly what it was. The consensus is it was a dog that guarded the entrance to our cave many millennia ago.

Some of you may recall recent news stories about the individual who wanted to take an ostrich aboard a commercial airline flight to keep them comfortable in the air.

COVERED-WAGON TRAILER The first production travel trailer was the covered-wagon trailer in 1929. The company went out of business during World War II.

A good insight

Continued from page 14

Shult Trailer built the first production model in 1911. It was followed in the 1920s by the motorized house car. In the late 1950s, the self-contained vehicles were called “motoring houses” before becoming recreational vehicles.

Founders Hall is laid out roughly in chronological order along a winding roadway through a campground setting with trees, park benches and a foot bridge. An earliest example is the 1913 Earl Travel Trailer. Each has a descriptive information plaque.

Among the oddest are the 1916 Model T “Telescoping Apartment” and the 1935 Bowlus Road Chief, which resembles an Airstream with a fish tail. In the far corner of the hall is the 1988 Star Streak II, looking like an oversize minivan with Cadillac trail fins. Nearby stands the world’s oldest Winnebago, built in 1957, and the 1931 Chevrolet Housecar built by Paramount Pictures to haul actress Mae West from her hotel to the movie set.

Some tiny trailers bring

a new meaning to the word “togetherness.” One is the 1957 Serro Scotty 10-foot teardrop trailer. Two people can supposedly wedge themselves in, but it’s difficult to imagine getting a good night’s sleep.

Also on display is the 1958 prototype of the smallest Airstream trailer ever built called the “der Kleiner Prinz” (Little Prince) for the German market. It never went into production.

The RV/Manufactured Home Museum is located in Elkhart, just off the Indiana Turnpike at exit 96. When you arrive there, turn right onto Executive Parkway and follow it to the museum, which is in the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau building.

Winter hours through March are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Summer hours (April through October) are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and children 6-16, $12.

For more information click on rvmhhalloffame.org or call (800) 378-8694.

This brought to mind the many pets we’ve had over the decades.

Growing up in rural northern Ontario, Canada, our hamlet’s denizens included rabbits, foxes, quail, snakes, mice, groundhogs and an array of other critters. Because our abode was just large enough for my parents and me, we didn’t house the normal pet of dog or cat.

But my father’s hunting sorties did provide us with an array of more exotic pets. The first I recall was a flying squirrel he brought home when I was four years old. He found it struggling through the under brush because a portion of his right side had been torn, either ripped in a fall or by a predator. He brought it home and fashioned a small shelter where it could huddle and eat in safety. We didn’t give it a name but talked with it most afternoons in the summer sun. My mother would let it perch on the clothesline pole to see if it could make its way home. It tried once and just fell to the ground. A few weeks later, it tried again, made it to a nearby tree and never returned.

The following summer, my father came home with five fumbling crows he found in a nest that had fallen out of a tree. He gave two to the storekeeper’s family, another two to the family across the road and kept one for us.

It became my mother’s angry neighbor. As soon as it was strong enough to fly and perch, it began to straddle the clothesline and crap all over my mom’s wash. This led to a broom swishing sessions as my mothers crammed the neighborhood with loud epithets countered by angry crowing from the bird. We moved a few miles down the road that winter. The bird returned to our old abode in the spring and met my father when his railroad section-hand ended each day. But it flew back to its original perch instead of following him to our new residence, which pleased my mother.

Then came the fox with the mauled forepaw. We only kept it a while because it never became comfortable around us. It treated us like intruders on its turf so my dad took it back to the trees where he first picked it. Years later, my teenaged sons picked up a coyote pup near our Baja California summer digs. It had a familiar problem — a smashed forepaw. It was friendlier than the fox but it never really blended in. So, when it no longer hobbled, the boys returned it to the mountains just south of Rosario Beach.

One of our more exotic pets was a black widow spider. The kids spotted it under a stairwell and, to stop their argument about its identity, my wife scooped it up into a mason jar and let them study it after she capped the jar. Sure enough, it was a black widow spider. It was the first poisonous critter we could call our own.

The boys popped a popsicle stick into the jar to give it something to crawl on and put in live flies, dead moths, bits of meat and even some hard boiled egg yolk. It prospered somehow and even took time to produce a couple of wisps of web between the stick and sides of the jar.

Then my sister came to

visit on a weekend and the kids showed her their pet.

Her reaction was natural. She ran screaming out the front door and said she wasn’t returning “until that thing is flushed down the toilet!”

She finally was talked back to earth when she was assured her the creature was contained tightly in the well-screweddown jar and tucked high on a window sill in the garage.

Curiosity overcame her cowardice the next day as she began asking about the care and feeding of a black widow spider. One of the kids swatted a fly and proceeded to give her a short course on black-widow-spiderism.

They unscrewed the top of the jar and were about to dump the dead fly into the jar when she got jumpy and knocked the jar out of their hands. It smashed to pieces on the floor as she began screeching and stomping and scooted out of the area.

The boys got a broom to police the area carefully but it was too late. Her jumping and jostling had ground it into the concrete. She never apologize for the killing. Nor did she offer to get them another black widow spider.

Scammers cash in on online used-car sales

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Sitting around the house day after day gives you plenty of time to wander through the internet, exploring exotic spots around the globe you’d like to visit, but it also makes you easy prey for scammers and schemers trolling cyberspace.

A widespread and highly lucrative scam involves used cars.

Among the spots that may pop up on your screen may be a good-looking vehicle offered at

a tantalizing low price because the seller has been called into the military, has to move or needs the money to pay bills.

The problem is usually a simple one. The seller doesn’t own the vehicle.

Rather than scamper around trying to cover all the bases you can think of to make sure you get the car and title for the money you’re going to send to some post office box, always remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

CHEVROLET HOUSE CAR Paramount Pictures built this house car in 1931 for its star, actress Mae West, to take her from her hotel to the movie set.

Why it’s important to check your earnings history

By MONA HARTER District Manager, South Bend Social Security Office

It may have been years or even decades since you thought about how much you earned at your first job. Did you know that you can find out how much you made that first year? Or any year you worked and paid Social Security taxes?

Your earnings history is a record of your progress toward your future Social Security benefits. We track your earnings so we can pay you the benefits you’ve earned over your lifetime. That is why it’s so important for you to review your earnings record.

Even though it’s your employer’s responsibility to provide accurate earnings information, you should review your earnings history and let us know if there

70s Flashback —

are any errors or omissions. Otherwise, your future Social Security benefits could be lower than you should receive. It’s important to identify and report errors as soon as possible. If too much time passes, it could be hard for you to get older tax documents. Also, some employers may no longer exist or be able to provide past payroll information. The best way to verify your earnings record is to visit ssa. gov/myaccount and create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account. You should review your earnings carefully every year and confirm them using your own records, such as W-2 forms and tax returns. Keep in mind that earnings from this year and last year may not be listed yet. When you have a personal my Social Security account, we send you an email once a year, three months before

your birthday, to remind you to check your earnings and to get future benefit estimates.

If your Social Security earnings record is incorrect and does not match your personal records, you may be able to submit a correction request online using your personal my Social Security at ssa.gov/ myaccount. If that feature is available in your personal my Social Security account, you can use the online process to correct missing earnings, inaccurate earnings from a valid employer, or earnings from an employer you did not work for. You’ll need to provide:

• Your address if we need to contact you about your request.

• Details about your correct earnings and employer.

• Evidence or proof of correct earnings, if available. You can electronically upload

your proof (W-2, W-2C, tax return, wage stub, pay slip, etc.) in a JPG or PDF format. After you successfully submit your evidence, you can print or save a receipt.

Earnings corrections cannot be processed online if they are for:

• The current or prior year, which may not be recorded yet.

• Self-employment.

• Railroad Board.

• Certain years before 1978.

Also, you cannot submit an earnings correction online if you:

• Receive Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, or Medicare.

• Have applied for Social Security benefits or SSI.

If you cannot correct your earnings online, call us at (800) 772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778), 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Fri-

CHECK EARNINGS YEARLY It is important to review your earnings records. Your earning history is a progress toward future Social Security benefits. Photo provided by Social Security Administration.

day to request a correction. Start a conversation today. Ask a family member or friend about their first job and let them know they can find out what they earned that year.

Beware of that ‘big ugly hole’

Sunday, Sept. 8, 1974.

Robert “Evel” Knievel was nervous. “I can’t sleep nights,” he had told Sports Illustrated.

By RANDAL C. HILL

“I toss and turn, and all I can see is that big ugly hole in the ground grinning up at me like a death’s head.”

Near Twin Falls, Idaho, about 15,000 fascinated fans had crowded onto land that rimmed the Snake River Canyon, the “big ugly hole” that Evel had referred to.

The professional daredevil had rented several acres for

what he promised would be a spectacular achievement — soaring across the quartermile-wide river canyon in a steam-powered rocket.

A comic-book superhero come to life, the ruggedly handsome adrenaline junkie had been on the national scene since the 1960s with his spectacular motorcycle jumps — and crashes.

For years, 35-year-old Knievel had boasted he would one day leap the Grand Canyon. When the Department of the Interior turned thumbs down on that oddball idea, he took on Idaho’s less magnificent, but still imposing, Snake River Canyon instead.

His team had set about constructing a 13-foot homemade rocket that Evel dubbed the Skycycle. In reality, it

was a dubious contraption assembled from a discarded airplane fuel tank and a seat from an old go-kart.

The risk-taker had explained to the press he would blast off from the canyon rim, clear the abyss, and parachute down to a soft landing, aided by a shock absorber on the rocket’s nose to cushion the impact.

At least, that was the plan.

That afternoon, at 3:36 p.m. Knievel crawled into the cramped cylinder, flipped the launch switch, and shot up the steeply angled 108-footlong ramp at 200 miles an hour. As he lifted off from the Earth, an emergency parachute at the back of his craft unexpectedly unfurled. It released the main chute, which caused the rocket to roll, then flip downward and begin a lazy drift toward the

river below.

The machine fell out of sight from the crowd, where the people there, including Knievel’s wife and children, feared the worst. Falling into the churning water, everyone knew, would mean certain death for the daredevil strapped inside the Skycycle.

Miraculously, however, the rocket bounced off a canyon wall and came to rest seven feet from the river’s edge. Moments later, a rescue helicopter lifted Evel from the shore and hurried him to the launch site.

The event had lasted 16 minutes.

Most in the crowd were overjoyed that Knievel had returned safely, but some there claimed Evel had released the emergency chute on purpose, that what had unfolded was all planned. He, in return, ar-

gued he had delivered on his promise to make the attempt. End of discussion.

Years later, the undaunted performer shared a favorite quote of President Teddy Roosevelt: “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”

By KURT NESS Realtor, Co-Owner, Auctioneer Ness Bros. Realtors and Auctioneers Senior Relocation Program

Most of the time people assume it is only due to severe health complications, that forces someone to consider downsizing. There are many reasons to downsize and many benefits of doing so.

One main reason is that a person can free up cash that is tied up in their home. With today’s real estate market, many people are surprised on the amount of money they can get if they decide to sell their home. This extra money can be used for such things as travel

or just having a bigger nest egg.

With a smaller home a person would have less yard to maintain, lower utility bills and less home in general to maintain and clean. Less can be best. This would give you more time to focus on yourself and your well-being, rather than draining yourself physically trying to keep up with your list of chores around the house.

Stairs can also be a challenging obstacle for many people; your home shouldn’t feel like an anchor that slows you down from living the life you have dreamed of having. Gaining freedom to do the things that we really want to do should be a priority when

we get older. Having this extra time is what you are going to remember; those special moments with loved ones, not a house. Don’t exhaust yourself stressing about a house that takes up all your time. Contact our Senior Relocation team to get help and answers to your questions on right-sizing. We’re here to help you sort through every chapter of your life.

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

THE SKYCYCLE Evel Knievel’s Skycycle X2. Photo from Wikipedia.