Senior Life - Allen County - December 2024 by The Papers Inc.

Free Living Life After 50

Indiana Welcome Center full of

HOLIDAY CHEER

Text and Photos

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Eighteen years ago, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority shared a group of window displays at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond that had appeared in the windows of Macy’s Department Store in New York. Why would people in Northwest Indiana be interested in these decorations from New York? They had a local link with appeal for all ages. Those displays had focused on the classic movie, “A Christmas Story.”

Released on Nov. 18, 1983, “A Christmas Story” wasn’t a big box office hit. But its frequent rerunning on cable during the holiday season later earned it a following of fans. Viewers could relate to the premise of the movie of a young boy’s strong desire for one coveted Christmas present — in this case, a Red Ryder BB gun. The movie centered on one holiday season in the life of young Ralphie Parker, who wanted nothing more from Santa than that toy rifle.

The movie was based on writings by humorist and author Jean Shepherd, which included bits of his real childhood memories of growing up in the Hessville neighborhood of Hammond, Indiana. In the movie, his fictional hometown is called Hohman (a nod to one of Hammond’s main corridors).

The “A Christmas Story Comes Home” exhibit features six animatronic window displays that were brought

Continued on page 2

SANTA’S MOUNTAIN — A visit to the Indiana Welcome Center during the holiday season is not complete without a photo at Santa’s Mountain.

A FOREST OF CHRISTMAS TREES — As part of the “A Christmas Story Comes Home” exhibit, about 30 holiday trees are on display, decorated by representatives of local nonprofits, businesses and municipalities.

MEMORABLE SCENE — Outside the Indiana Welcome Center is a statue of Flick with his tongue stuck on the flagpole, imitating a scene from the movie “A Christmas Story.”

Key Positions

New chamber director brings extensive background role

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Jerry Czarnecki officially moves into his new role as executive director of the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce in January, but he has been working at the chamber and transitioning into the position since August. The Michigan native and his wife moved to Portage three years ago after Czarnecki retired from a career in education that spanned three decades, followed by various post-retirement jobs.

“I was in public education for almost 30 years as a high school math and science teacher. I was fortunate to be a finalist for the Michigan Teacher of the Year in 2011. Following my teaching career, I spent five years in municipal government in a variety of positions — one of those positions being the City Manager of the City of Hastings (Michigan),” he said. “Three years ago, we moved to Northwest Indiana (Portage) and I have held positions in the non-profit world. I worked with NEO Adult Ed, Portage Township YMCA, Family Promise of Porter County and Gabriel’s Horn Homeless Shelter. I spent two years as a part time news anchor and radio personality for the Adams Radio Group. Since last summer, I have been the Public Address Announcer for the Gary Southshore Railcats, which was

a bucket list job.”

The Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce Executive Director provides executive oversight for strategic, operational and financial performance of the Chamber. The role calls for building partnerships with members as well as city, county and other entities.

“The executive director coordinates and implements the many activities of the Chamber of Commerce through various committees and supervises the work of the staff in the pursuit of meeting the Chambers’s goals and objectives,” said Czarnecki.

He plans to use his background in education to help build those relationships.

“Many people do not know the purpose of a Chamber of Commerce and are sometimes reluctant to join as a member. For this reason, my background in education helps with working with potential members. Usually, once a business or organization joins the chamber, they find many benefits.”

In his short time working with the chamber, Carnecki has already seen the rewards of witnessing the success of individuals, businesses and organizations.

“If I can help by removing an obstacle, it is very satisfying,” he said. “I can help make the connections, help to remove obstacles, but then the business

owner takes over and makes it all a success.”

His favorite way to spend time outside of work is with his family. He and his wife, Bridgett, are high school sweethearts who have been married for 33 years and have two adult children — Alicia, who resides in La Porte with her husband, Nick, and works for the Shirley Heinze Land Trust and son, Aaron, who lives in New York City.

“We like movies, board games, walking on the many trails in the area and we volunteer,” he said. “We enjoy monitoring a trail for the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, I am part of the Kiwanis Club of Portage and we spend time at the Portage Township YMCA.”

Best gifts for seniors are a balance of fun and function

By NATALIE REISEN Director Sales and Marketing Residences at Coffee Creek

Wondering how to wow your favorite senior with the best gift ever? Residences Senior Living recommends items that are fun to have but also serve a function. The right balance of gift giving also means gifts or activities

they actually need and will use.

Ladies enjoy cozy, soft clothing, quality skin care products, personalized jewelry and photo albums and hobby-related supplies. Beautifully packaged lotions, soaps and nail care collections are always welcomed.

Gentlemen still love gadgets. There are wallets that keep a cell phone safe, up to three credit or ID cards and cash, close and protected — ideal for those who take frequent walks. Fitbit watches track health and wellness, plus a GPS locator. During winter, when confined or just because it’s an easy way to keep circulation moving, there are bike pedal exercisers. These fit under tables or in front of a favorite chair. Another bonus — low risk for falls!

Everyone loves a treat and it’s something to look forward to if you give the gift of a subscrip-

tion. Choose decaffeinated teas and coffees, sugar free candies and jams, fruits, soups and more for the health conscious. There are movie and book — including audio — subscriptions. Audible subscriptions offer a special boost to those with low vision or even dementia. For those with low vision, there are LED page magnifiers and keyboards with high contrast and oversize keys for laptops.

Still, nothing beats a surprise visit from family. New puzzles to enjoy together, with a roll-up mat to save for next visit, or playing a game that brings generations together like the Grandkids vs. Grandparents Trivia game. Time spent together will always be the best gift ever!

Need more ideas? Visit our website ResidencesSeniorLiving. com

Indiana Welcome

to Hammond after its run in New York, including the scenes where neighborhood dogs devour Christmas dinner and where Flick’s tongue gets stuck to a flagpole. Last year, for the 40th anniversary of the movie, they even had several of the original movie actors on hand to meet fans and sign autographs.

“Families from near and far come every year to make our ACS exhibit part of their holiday tradition,” said South Shore CVA Communications and Social Media Manager, Stephanie Smith. “There was a family last year that told us they have been here every year since we opened the exhibit, and they even brought Santa a photobook of all the pictures they have taken with him.”

Between 25,000 to 30,000 people make their way through the exhibit each year to see not only the window displays, but also to visit with Mr. Claus atop Santa’s Mountain, a recreation of the department store set-up in the movie, where Santa shockingly shoots down Ralphie’s request, declaring, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”

“The exhibit and photos with Santa is our big draw,” said Smith. “We also have 30-plus trees surrounding the exhibit that local hospitality partners, cities/towns or other nonprofits decorate and attendees can vote on their favorite.”

The exhibit will run through Monday, Dec. 30. It is free and open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with special hours for events, including a sensory-friendly night; Holidays for Heroes event where local first responders and their families are welcome; and photo sessions for dogs and cats with Santa.

Visit AChristmasStoryComesHome.com for more information and follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AChristmasStoryComesHome for additional announcements. Join the VIP club text group for further notifications. To join, text LEGLAMP to (219) 799-7770

Be sure to also stop in the Welcome Center’s Gift Shop for a variety of movie memorabilia, including the infamous leg lamp.

NEW CHAMBER DIRECTOR — Jerry Czarnecki will be taking the reigns of Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce in January. He will be bringing an extensive background in education and nonprofit work to the position.

Photo provided.

Turning houses of God into homes for people

Text and Photos By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

Felix Perry in recent years has been to a Scientology church turned Eastern Orthodox, and a Nazarene church. Now he’s at a former Lutheran church building. He’s not switching religions; he’s flipping churches into private homes.

The director of support services for the School City of

Hobart, Perry has been working on churches for about 10 years. As he sees it, “These are good old buildings that need to be preserved and repurposed.”

Today, Perry and his wife, Kelsey, live in the former Nazarene church near Hobart’s downtown. He started with the former Scientology-turned-Orthodox church, then focused his attention and sawing to the Nazarene worship area. He and Kelsey have lived in both.

CORPORATE OFFICE

“I’ve always done construction and rehabs,” Perry explained. “I’ve always liked the openness of churches. When these became available, I got to work.”

Perry, 61, is currently working on the former Augustana Lutheran Church across from Hobart’s Pennsy Depot. He estimates the project will take a year. He has already begun work on the building exterior, but much more remains with the church interior.

The building, which was about to topple onto the next-door former parsonage, is now stable. The former pastor’s home is today a private residence.

“I like bringing buildings back to life,” Perry said, “buildings that may be in disrepair or destined to be demolished.”

According to homedesignlover. com, warehouses, barns, offices and churches can be used as homes with beautiful interiors and exteriors. Homeowners are seeking old churches, the website states, “because from being sturdy, they have high ceilings and have a huge dose of history.”

The first church erected in Hobart, Augustana was dedicated in 1874, with a basement added in 1921. The church building, which survived two fires, was sold by the Lutherans in 1956, as Augustana moved into a larger facility with a parking lot.

The former church did not have a nearby parking lot, Perry noted, as it was built at a time when people lived within walking distance of their faith community.

As with old buildings in general, churches pose some challenges, Perry noted.

homes and lives in one of them.

WORK IN PROGRESS — This is the former Augustana Lutheran Church in Hobart that Felix Perry is restoring as living quarters. Considered Hobart’s first church, Augustana, a wooden structure, was dedicated in 1874 and survived two fires.

condominiums.”

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“There’s almost never any plumbing or restrooms,” he said. “You also have to put in a kitchen and bath. Also, there’s heating and air conditioning work to be done because of the church’s openness.”

Including purchase price, Perry estimates he will have invested around $200,000 in this latest project.

What’s neat about churches, Perry said, “is the way they were

constructed, usually different from homes.”

Perry noted his first two projects were commercial buildings, while the former Augustana has a timber frame which has since been covered.

There is a market for these restored churches as residential properties, Perry said. “Some may be too large for single-family dwellings,” he noted, “but they can be used as apartments or

S. O. S. – Speaking Of

Seniors

As for Perry, “I like the openness and high ceilings” of these vintage church structures.

In particular, the former Nazarene church, where Perry and his wife reside, boasts a ceiling made from cedar in pieces 6 inches wide by 3.5 inches thick.

“That’s not your conventional ceiling,” Perry commented. “To replicate that today, it might cost a million dollars.”

Helped Hobart woman cancel $1,632 bill

By WOODROW WILCOX Senior Problem Resolution Officer Senior Care Insurance Services

On Friday, Nov. 15, I came back to my desk from a break to find an envelope on my desk. I opened the envelope to learn that a client from Hobart got a letter from a hospital in Florida telling her that a bill for $1,632 was gone.

She had visited Florida during the winter and needed medical services. She went to a nearby hospital and showed her Medicare and supplement insurance cards. She got help.

But for some reason the hospital bill was not entirely paid. In early fall, she brought to me an unpaid bill and other papers. I checked the matter and learned

By WOODROW WILCOX Senior Problem Resolution Officer

mation, it won’t pay a claim.

That’s when a person who understands the Medicare system can help to get the bill paid. I got the bill paid.

All the help that I gave the client from Hobart was free of charge! This insurance agency helps all our clients with such billing problems without charging any money. If your agent or agency does not give this high level of service, why don’t you switch to another

agency that does?

REBUILDING EFFORT — Felix Perry saws pieces of wood for window frames on the former Augustana Lutheran Church in Hobart that he will convert into living spaces. Perry has already “flipped” two former churches into

Now I hear this very well with help

My wife convinced me to get hearing aids about three years ago; however, I frequently forgot to wear them. I had to keep asking, “What?”

NUTSHELL

By DICK WOLFSIE

After a while, it annoyed my friends and family, so I added a little variety, like, “Say what?” and “Excuse me?” When I returned to New York for a visit, I asked, “Are you talking to me?” Mary Ellen kept telling me

I wasn’t hearing well. I’m not sure she was correct. I think the proper grammar is “You are not hearing good,” but I need to check that with my editor, who is my wife, so now the case is closed. This kind of problem is usually more apparent with glasses. I didn’t need my spouse to point out vision issues. I got a lot of practical feedback walking into a glass door or putting on two different-colored socks or a sneaker and a loafer.

When Mary Ellen realized I was having vision issues, she first said I wasn’t good looking and then said I didn’t look well. I didn’t care about the grammar. I didn’t like the sound of either one.

Hearing aids are relatively easy to use. You put them in your ears, both of them; then you put both of the hearing aids into both of your ears. Then, you take them out of both of your ears at night. I’m glad I read the directions. I am quite good at inserting them, although sometimes I would put them in the wrong ears, making it hard to understand people on my right. Sorry, I don’t mean that politically.

I fell asleep the other night in my La-Z-Boy while listening to music in the family room, so I neglected to remove the devices from my ears. I thrash around when I doze, so when I woke up, they had fallen out, lost somewhere in my chair, I assumed.

Drowsy driving can dash dreams

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Driving to visit the grandkids, old school crowd or bucket list sites has climbed to the top of many travel-planning lists in the wake of the global COVID-19 shutdown.

Putting together a long drive includes checking maps, reviewing what type of weather to expect, having your vehicle inspected and repaired or deciding what type of vehicle to rent for the trip, and deciding where and

what you might like to see along the way there and the way back.

It’s also the time you should plan how long you can drive each day without getting sleepy behind the wheel rather than focusing on how fast you can get there and back.

Traffic studies indicate drowsy drivers are responsible for more than 325,000 traffic accidents a year. Some of them are fatal.

A major problem is many drivers don’t realize they’ve fallen asleep.

The simplest way to avoid this hazard is to stop frequently and switch drivers. When you stop, get out and stretch your limbs.

Back in the car, keep talking to your passengers. If they fall asleep, turn on the radio or play a tape.

Also open your driver’s side window. The breeze and noise will help keep you awake.

And if you feel a bit sleepy, stop and take a few strolls around the car.

The search began.

First, I felt around the insides of the cushion. I did find two pencils, three dimes, and my Costco card. I also found a cluster of dog hair, which is pretty troubling because we haven’t had a dog for 10 years.

My wife is usually quite helpful in situations like this. The last time I thought I had misplaced my glasses, she pointed out I was still wearing them, so her question, “Did you check your

ears?” seemed quite reasonable. No, they weren’t in my ears, lost in the cushion, or on the floor. Because I take prescription sleep meds, I wondered if I could have unknowingly wandered about the house in my sleep, a possible side effect of this drug. I checked the bathroom, the laundry room, and the second bedroom. I finally found them in a very unlikely place. They seemed to work fine — after I defrosted them.

Rice & Rice walks to end Alzheimer’s

By CLIFF RICE Elder Law Attorney

As we approach the end of the year, please consider the Alzheimer’s Association and Team Rice & Rice in your yearend donations.

“Alzheimer’s has a dramatic impact on families in our community and around the country,” said Donna Rice, partner at Rice & Rice Attorneys. “The Alzheimer’s Association provides care and support to all those impacted by the disease while also advancing critical research toward methods of treatment and prevention and ultimately, a cure. This is why

we are proud to support the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“Our fundraising efforts continue for this important cause. Would you join us in the fight to end Alzheimer’s? We can’t do it without you!”

To support the Alzheimer’s Association with a donation to Team Rice & Rice, go to act. alz.org. Click on Walk To End Alzheimer’s, then click on Find A Team and enter Rice & Rice Attorneys in the search box.

Together, we can advance Alzheimer’s care, support and research on behalf of the more than 7 million Americans living with this disease.

lawsuits and other claims • Preserving your estate for your children if your surviving spouse gets remarried • How probate works and more importantly, how you can avoid probate altogether • Planning before you need Long-Term Care

Will remarrying affect my Social Security benefits?

By DANIEL SUMMER, MA Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration

Are you getting remarried? If so, we can help you with Social Security related questions regarding your remarriage.

You may be wondering how your new marriage affects your Social Security benefits now or in the future. Remarrying may affect your benefits if you receive (or expect to receive) any of the following: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments

– Your SSI eligibility and payment amount may change (or stop) due to your new spouse’s income and resources.

Surviving spouse or divorced surviving spouse benefits –

If you remarry before age 50 — You won’t be eligible for survivors or disability benefits as a surviving spouse unless your later marriage ends by divorce or annulment.

If you remarry between the ages of 50 and 59 — You may be able to get benefits as a disabled surviving spouse (or disabled surviving divorced spouse) if you were disabled and unable to work when you remarried and your remarriage occurred after age 50. If you remarry before you reach age 60 and that marriage ends, you may be able to get benefits on your previous deceased spouse’s record. If you remarry after age 60 — You may be eligible for survivors benefits on your deceased spouse’s record or benefits on your new spouse’s record.

Divorced spouse’s

benefits — Generally, if you remarry, benefits paid to you on your former spouse’s record stop. You should report your new marriage to us to avoid being overpaid.

Children’s benefits (under age 18 or full-time student ages 18 or 19)

Under certain circumstances, we may be able to make payments to stepchildren of a worker who receives retirement or disability benefits.

To learn more about how your new marriage will affect your Social Security benefits now or in the future, read our blog post Will Remarrying Affect My Social Security Benefits at blog.ssa.gov/ will-remarrying-affect-my-social-security-benefits.

Share this with family and friends — and post it on social media.

The Gift of Giving: Donations can benefit you and your community

By ERICA FIZER KATSEPAS Vice President of Philanthropy Legacy Foundation

During the holidays, we can spend hours planning travel arrangements, the perfect presents and homemade dishes to share with family and friends. But have you considered a plan to support your local community?

We may not think much about the ways philanthropy shows up in our daily lives, but we benefit from the symphony’s summer music concerts,

the block club’s beautification projects and food programs that provide nutrition to those in need from youth to seniors. These are the results of donations by many, like you, contributing to making our communities safer, healthier, more interesting places to call home.

Before year-end, I encourage you to give locally. Giving through Legacy Foundation, the community foundation for Lake County, offers flexibility and potential tax benefits. Flexibility in how to give.

ERICA FIZER KATSEPAS Vice President of Philanthropy Legacy Foundation

Most people still donate with cash, but donating appreciated stock is an easy way to give back and reduce your capital gains tax. If you are age 73 or older, making a qualified charitable distribution from an IRA can reduce your taxable income and satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution. Make an impact where it matters to you. Don’t know where to give but want to support the local community? Donate to Legacy Foundation’s Lake County Forever Fund or

start your own Lake County fund and receive a $2 to $1 match! The match triples the impact of your generosity and directly benefits our communities’ greatest needs.

Create a legacy of giving. We can help you leave a gift to charity in your will. Set up an endowment in your or your family’s name or in tribute to a loved one. This ensures your philanthropic wishes are carried out for years to come.

Who’s helping you with major 2025 Medicare changes?

By BENJAMIN SNYDER, PhD and AMY SNYDER, RN Trusted Insurance Solutions

The Annual Enrollment Period , which runs from Oct.

15 through Dec. 7, will be the most disruptive in recent history. Estimates that as many as 70% of Medicare beneficiaries will be shopping around has proven true.

Everyone with Part D benefits is impacted, whether you have a Medicare Supplement Plan with a standalone prescription drug plan or an Advantage Plan.

Changes for 2025 are that the Donut Hole/Coverage Gap is ending, the Max Out of Pocket for prescription drugs is dropping from $8,000 to $2,000, the Medicare Prescrip-

tion Payment Plan begins and Medicare reimbursements to insurance companies are below the rate of inflation.

The good news is the most you could pay for covered medications in 2025 is $2,000, you can set up a payment plan to pay now for your 2025 medications to budget and with no donut hole, there will be no mid-year cost increases.

The bad news is neither Medicare nor your insurance company will cover these expenses. If you have Part D, you bear the cost of these improvements.

The Part D changes have lead to a sharp increase in supplement costs and prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage benefits have decreased significantly for some companies, and tier level changes for some medications.

If you are not already working with a local agent, we would be honored to guide you through reviewing your coverage. It doesn’t cost anything to work with us, we offer all Medicare coverage types (Supplements/Medigap, Part D, and Advantage plans) with a wide variety of carriers, and you will have a local resource to call when questions arise. See our ad for our contact information.

REMARRYING AND SOCIAL SECURITY Social Security can help answer questions regarding remarriage and Social Security benefits. Photo provided by Social Security.

li f e. on purpose.

A Healthy Lifestyle as You Age

Healthy R Reminders for

A Adults o over 5 50!

1. Take Your Medication as Directed

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

2. Don’t Overdo It

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

3. Check in with Your Mood

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

4. Find Purpose Each Day

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

Learn More When You...

•

• Visit www.porterstarke.org

Aquanastics class builds strength, camaraderie

Text and Photos

By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

That warm water in the leisure pool at the Valparaiso Family YMCA must feel good on a cold morning — just the thing to get older muscles going. Throw in a 45-minute Aquanastics class, and seniors not only limber up but socialize while growing stronger.

Described as a low-to-medium-level intensive class, Aquanastics promotes strength, mobility, improved circulation and relaxation.

As class instructor Julie Polizotto explained, “The Aquanastics class is a great class for anyone that has arthritis and just wants a no-impact workout. You don’t have to know how to swim, since the water is only chest high.”

Class members use flotation hand weights and kickboards and the water is warm. Polizotto added, “A great beginner class or an aerobics class if you push yourself. The camaraderie is great!”

Polizotto has been with the Valpo Y for 30 years and has taught for 41 years. She had taught at Indiana University Northwest in Gary and at the former Raquet Barn fitness center in Valparaiso. The Valparaiso

resident teaches two other YMCA classes.

This mother of three and grandmother of one started at the Valpo Y as a volunteer. She became such a regular that she eventually joined the staff.

“I like the camaraderie,” Polizotto said. “It’s my family. It’s a big family. I can come here and read the paper. Basically, all the friends I have, I’ve met at the Y.”

She has also gone on a YMCA tour of Italy and plans on another to Germany, along with bus tour trips and holiday parties.

As to Aquanastics, Polizotto explained, “It’s for people with arthritis, but it’s open to anyone.”

According to Harvard University, as with land-based exercises, water aerobics can be effective for improving cardio fitness, building strength, boosting one’s mood, easing joint pain, sleeping better and reducing heart disease, diabetes and even cancer.

“Your joints need to be moved, so there’s constant movement,” Polizotto said. “There’s a sense of well-being when you get out. Also, the warm water is very healing, especially in wintertime.”

The water in the YMCA leisure pool is 86 degrees; the poolside air is 88 degrees.

Polizotto also teaches Silver Splash, another aquatics class,

GROUP EFFORT — Julie Polizotto, far right, works with seniors in an aquanastics class in the Valparaiso Family YMCA. The class averages 20 participants, as the Valpo Y offers several aquatic classes designed for seniors.

and Silver Sneakers, an on-land class focusing on balance, coordination and stability.

Her advice to seniors is simple — keep moving. “A body in motion has lotion,” she noted.

Away from the Y, Polizotto keeps in motion as a caregiver, an usher at Valparaiso’s Memorial Opera House and at South Haven Christian Church.

The Valpo Y offers 20 weekday water classes, drawing an average of 21 participants. Most of those 420 class members are seniors. Of its total membership,

nearly 4,000 are adult seniors. Polizotto’s students look forward to Aquanastics.

Donna Robinson of Chesterton said the class “has saved me. I had knee problems and my daughter, a physical therapist, suggested water classes.”

Sharon Lakia of Valparaiso loves everything about the class, “camaraderie, socializing and exercising.”

Valparaiso resident Linda Werkheiser echoes that, citing the “exercise and warm water together.”

Professional Services

A. A Healthcare Directive is a document that allows you to specify your wishes concerning medical care in the event of an emergency or if you become unable to communicate those wishes. This can be in the form of 1) a Living Will, which provides instructions related to medical treatment, or 2) a Healthcare Power of Attorney that designates a trusted decision-maker to act on your behalf, if needed. A Healthcare Directive can

help protect your loved ones from having to make difficult decisions during difficult times. By providing detailed instructions regarding your desired course of action for various medical scenarios, you can ensure that any decisions made regarding your care will reflect and preserve your values and preferences.

Contact Everwise for more information on healthcare directives and why it’s important to have a healthcare directive in your estate plan.

and is

Each Senior Life Newspaper is dis-

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:

• Allen — including Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, Noble, Wells and Whitley counties

Becky Berggren,

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

• Northwest — including Lake, Porter counties in IN and Cook county in IL

• 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.

USING HER NOODLE — Julie Polizotto uses a noodle as part of an exercise during an aquanastics class at the Valparaiso YMCA. The low-impact class, done in warm water, is designed to strengthen joints and overall fitness.

Having a plan provides peace of mind

By DORA SILVIA Senior Vice President Sales/Marketing

Crown Point Christian Village

Having a plan is always a promising idea, especially when it comes to our health and well-being. As we age, we need to have a plan that provides peace of mind for our healthcare and financial needs, the main reasons adults 55 and up decide to move to a life plan community.

The full journey on the life plan campus at Crown Point Christian Village starts in independent living in a newly remodeled garden villa with stainless steel appliances, washer and dryer, ADT security system, attached garage, private patio and more features. This lifestyle is for the person or couple who wants the independence of a home, likes to be out enjoying time with friends and family, volunteering, learning, or just enjoying being at home, but doesn’t want the hassle of yard or house maintenance or snow removal. The campus offers a clubhouse for the 16-garden villa neighborhood, with access to the library and musical and educational programs in the main building.

Many independent living residents make the move to a

life plan campus to enjoy the retirement years and ensure they are set if they experience a decline in health or require assistance. It is also ideal for couples whose clinical needs and aging process differs from one another. When a

change occurs, assisted living, short-term rehab, therapy, long-term care and memory care are available and the team at Crown Point Christian Village collaborates with you and your family and physician to ensure you have the

care needed. With statistics reporting that 70% of adults 65 and older will develop a long-term care need in their lifetimes, having a plan and growing with the community and neighbors will enhance lives of older adults.

For more information on the benefits of independent living, email Elaine Essary at EEssary@chliving.org or contact her at (219) 226-2112. Visit Crown Point Christian Village on Facebook to see our live plan campus in action!

Ease disability discomfort

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

It’s not polite to stare at people with a disability or discuss their sickness, we’ve been told by mothers over the years.

When someone shows up in a wheelchair after a serious accident or announces they have a deadly disease such as cancer or ALS, the tendency is for us to

avoid discussing the matter.

First of all, the individual afflicted is fully aware of his or her problem and pain. If they wish to explain further, they will.

If not, such lame reactions as telling them they still look good or that they’re strong and will overcome are just that —lame. You don’t “overcome” the loss of a leg. You adjust and adapt to living without it.

Nor do you overcome ALS, known more familiarly as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Until medical researchers find a cure, the disease is fatal.

A tried and true reaction to encountering anyone with a disability is to ask them if they need anything — any assistance — or if there’s anything they’d like to do that you can help them with.

Talking about old times will

The seasons change

By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer

Sometimes it takes a while to realize, when you are in a different stage of your life.

Having been distracted for so many

years, with merely trying to survive.

But lately it seems, I have conceded.

My life has turned a page, Recent events have convinced me,

I am into an older age. Basement apartment with family.

It seems we have all we need.

But one thing was forgotten, we have a new identity.

Years of raising garden and kids, while budgeting all the while.

Keeping the sheds and barn together, using duct tape and baling wire.

But now the checks come in,

probably help both enjoy the visit.

But be ready to listen. It’s quite possible that the stricken individual will blurt out an explanation of what happened, how they feel, or an apology for making you feel uncomfortable. It’s your job to keep things comfortable by acting human and responding calmly and honestly.

even as the duties are lessened. The abundance of free hours, can be a curse or a blessing. But whatever it is, it is different.

And I will try to use the time.

To record my continued journey in life.

In simple words, that just might rhyme.

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

50 Years Ago, Blast to the Past —

‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’

Elton John

until 1982 and enjoyed by the Beatles whenever they toured America.)

By RANDAL C. HILL

Lucy O’Donnell was 4 years old when she attended the upscale Heath House School in Weybridge, Surrey, England. One of her best friends there was John Lennon’s son, Julian, who arrived at school each day in a Rolls-Royce.

Years later, in a BBC interview, Lucy recalled, “I remember Julian and I both doing pictures on a double-sided easel and throwing paint at each other, much to the horror of the classroom attendant. Julian painted a picture of me.”

The lad’s 5” x 7” paper artwork showed Lucy floating in an orange haze among stars that he called “diamonds.” That afternoon, the boy took his creation home and proudly showed it to his dad.

John loved the image. It reminded him of a scene from Lewis Carroll’s classic “Through The Looking Glass,” in which Alice floats in a boat beneath a sunny sky. Lennon immediately summoned Beatles partner Paul McCartney to work up a song inspired by Julian’s picture.

Four days later, the two had “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” ready to be added to what would become the quartet’s LP masterpiece, “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” (The name supposedly derived from the Dr. Pepper drink, unavailable in the UK

Recording at London’s Abbey Road studios, the Fab Four spent 700 drug-fueled hours recording psychedelic-inspired music that would, in essence, sweep away traditional rock ‘n’ roll and usher in sophisticated “rock art.” Much of the creation of “Sergeant Pepper” was Paul’s idea, including the wearing of marching-band uniforms and displaying the songs’ lyrics on the back of the 1967 album.

Although drugs had fueled the “Lucy” recording, the tune itself, according to Lennon, had nothing to do with lysergic acid diethylamide — LSD. “Until somebody pointed it out, I never even thought of it,” he said later. “I mean, who would ever bother to look at the initials of a title?”

As 1974 drew to a close, Elton John’s version of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” gave him his third Number One American single when his MCA Records disc topped the Hot 100 chart for two weeks. His friend (and the song’s co-creator) John Lennon had provided some guitar work and backup vocals along the way, although Lennon forgot some of the chords during the recording session.

Okay, so “Lucy” supposedly wasn’t about drugs, but no one can deny that many of the lyrics are “trippy”:

“Picture yourself in a boat on a river

“With tangerine trees and marmalade skies

“Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly

“A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.”

Lucy O’Donnell (later Lucy Vodden) appreciated the Beatles’ music but did once admit,

It’s easy! Simply find the HOLLY on another page in this edition. Go online to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com and enter your information, the edition, date and page number you found it on. This will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25. (Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Thursday, December 12, 2024. Brought To You By

“As a teenager, I made the mistake of telling a couple of friends at school I was the Lucy

in the song. They said, ‘No, it’s not about you. My parents said it’s about drugs.’ And I didn’t

know what LSD was

the time, so I just kept it quiet, to myself.”

Local author has new book out

Local author Carrie Steinweg recently released a new book, Unique Eats and Eateries of Indiana, published by Reedy Press.

From the sandy shores of Lake Michigan to rolling hills of southern Indiana are small towns, larger cities, historic county seats and charming communities offering all kinds of cuisine. From housemade fried bologna in a nostalgic gasstation-turned-diner, to premium Wagyu raised down the road exclusively for its restaurant patrons and everything in between, you’ll find something for every palette.

The Hoosier State is known best for two foods, its official state pie, sugar cream pie and its unofficial state sandwich, the breaded pork tenderloin. You’ll find both throughout the state, but each place you try it is a little different.

A secret ingredient, a non-traditional cooking method or an extra personal touch by the cook can make every experience of tasting the same food an awakening.

Although Hoosiers know how to do pie and BPTs, they aren’t the only foods you should seek out. A bowl of traditional Macedonian stew from a centuries

old recipe. A shrimp cocktail sauce so hot, it will completely clear your sinuses.

A hot yeast doughnut that will melt in your mouth. A piece of caramel still cut on a 19th century machine. A corned beef piled high at an authentic Jewish deli. A mound of handmade meatballs served in a martini glass. A serving of homemade pasta rolled into a 90-pound block of premium Parmesan right before your eyes. A plate of Amish-style comfort food that will put your grandmother’s pot roast and noodles to shame.

Enjoy some wonderful food in some one of a kind places. Dine in the Indiana Dunes just steps from the water or on a rooftop with a stunning view of the Chicago skyline across Lake Michigan. Have a pint of beer and a sandwich in a craft brewery housed inside a mansion built for one of the nation’s most loved car manufacturers. Fill up on a hearty “garbage” breakfast in a spot that only seats a dozen customers. Get a taste of the Caribbean and some Bob Marley vibes in a laid back lakeside cafe. Have some famous fried chicken in Northern Indiana’s oldest restaurant in a historic inn. Experience fine dining in a newly repur-

posed bank turned boutique hotel with hints of Indy’s racing history. Have a few chili dogs with a glass bottle of coke at an iconic Coney Island stand — the oldest one in the country. Dine 50s style on a barstool or in your front seat after your meal is delivered by carhop.

Steinweg takes readers all over the state for a melting pot of cuisines and dining experiences, giving insight into the stories behind the businesses, the buildings and the recipes. Steinweg is co-founder of the blog “Chicago Foodie Sisters,” chicagofoodiesisters.com, that she and her sister Becky Clark started in 2011.

She’s been writing about food locally and on the road since 2000 for a number of outlets. Her travel column appears in the Northwest Indiana Times and she blogs about Indiana restaurants at visitindiana. com.

She’s authored eight books, one of which is a children’s book about the life of a dog who is a picky eater, called “Waffle likes Falafel.” Steinweg is a native of the Chicago suburbs who now resides with her husband and sons in Northwest Indiana while managing a farmers market.

206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542

The winner of the I Spy Contest for November is Linda Trinkle from Hammond. The poppy was located on page 1 in Senior Life Allen; page 8 in Senior Life Northwest; page 6 in Senior Life Elko and page 5 in Senior Life St. Joseph.

A Boomer Blast To The Past

Cranberry-Brie BITES

Baked Brie is a perennially popular appetizer. Here, we complement the Brie with tart cranberry sauce and bake it in pretty individual tartlets using premade pie crust for an ultra-easy crowd-pleasing appetizer. 24 servings; Prep 20 minutes; Total Time 35 minutes.

INGREDIENTS:

1 (7 to 8 ounce) prepared pie crust (1/2 of a 14 ounce package)

1/2 cup prepared cranberry sauce or homemade, divided 3 ounces Brie cheese, cut into 24 pieces, divided 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives (Optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 450°F. Lightly coat a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.

Unroll pie crust onto a cutting board or clean surface. Flatten dough to about 12 inches in diameter. Cut 24 2-inch circles out of the dough with a biscuit cutter, rerolling scraps if needed. Place the dough circles in the prepared muffin cups, gently pressing on the bottom and sides. Prick the dough with a fork. Bake until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven.

Add 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce to each cup, then top with a piece of Brie. Return to the oven and bake until the sauce is hot and the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes more. Let cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chives, if desired, and serve warm.

57. *”I’m going to ____, I’m gonna mess around”

61. *”And I will ____ love you”

64. Do penance

65. Melvin Purvis’ org.

67. High school balls

69. Goes with shaker

70. Cardinal, color

71. Lock horns

72. Eurasian duck

73. Pop-ups, e.g.

74. Earp of the Wild West

Most populous country 19. *”It’s going down, I’m yelling ____” 21. *”Sugarpie honeybunch, you know that I ____ ____” 23. Act on IOU 24. Spanish sparkling wine 25. Mel ____, Giant Hall-of-Famer

28. Garbage in, garbage out, acr. 30. *”If everybody had an ocean ____ the U.S.A., then everybody’d be surfing”

35. Less than average tide 37. All’s opposite 39. ____, Wind & Fire

40. Gas station brand

41. Bottom-ranking employee

43. *”The future’s not ours to see, que ____”

44. ____ Coffee, whisky drink

46. African river

47. Part of a sweatshirt, sometimes 48. ____-____-tat, drum roll sound

50. Please get back to me, acr.

52. 007, for one

53. Impulse 55. Consume food

DOWN

1. Undergarment

2. Catalog

3. Fungal spore sacs

4. “____ at the bit”

5. Soldier’s knapsack

6. Pinocchio, e.g.

7. Be unwell

8. Pancho’s last name

9. Like certain print

10. *”Here’s a story of a lovely ____”

11. Assortment

12. Genesis twin

15. Fast and lively, in music

20. Giving a once-over

22. Spermatozoa counterparts

Like an implied

Faith Picking sides is a part of life

By THE REV. MARK WILKINS Guest Writer

Not long ago I found myself internally reliving a childhood memory that many of us share. A vested part of our history so anxiety-ridden and traumatic that it still has the

to reduce otherwise competent adults to the consistency of a quivering mass of Jello. This is to say that I had the occasion to watch a group of children picking teams for a game they were about to play.

How I came to watch this rite of childhood enacted doesn’t matter, but it immediately brought me back to elementary school gym class, where two team “captains” would be chosen for opposing teams, and then each in turn would choose the people they wanted to play on their team from a lineup of the class assembled before them.

Personally, I must admit that as a child I was terribly unathletic, but I made up for it by being phenomenally uncoordinated. So as the picking of sides continued and the cast of available players thinned, I stood there just hoping against hope that a miracle would occur, and I would not be the last kid picked. It rarely worked, and the social (and psychic) stigma of that moment still lies within me, as it does in a few of us who remain members of the “picked last for dodgeball” club.

As we grew into adulthood, we came to realize that picking sides is a part of life. In our social

circles, our workplaces, even in families, there is an instinctive human drive to know that someone is in and someone is out.

As a society, we have become sadly creative about building walls that divide us from one another — walls of race, culture, economics and as we have seen recently, politics. We are coming off of a vitriolic political year, and one that has revealed the divisions in our country. Sadly, now that the election has passed, those divisions have remained

and in fact grown deeper. This is nothing new, but it seems that these days the walls have grown taller, and the divide more profound.

But then comes Christmas. Christmas, at its deepest core, is the story of a God who came to choose sides. And He chose to come take our side. God sent angels to people who were, quite literally, on the outside, to proclaim “good news to all people.”

An angel promises to a bewildered Joseph the coming of a

child whose very name would be “God with us.”

Christmas is a story of a God who goes to extraordinary lengths to jump the walls that we have built and to unburn the bridges we have torched — bridges with Him and just maybe with one another. It’s a story of irrational, unorthodox invitation — because of a God who comes to choose broken, messy people like you and me, first.

Maybe Christmas, particularly this year, is the perfect antidote

for where we are as a people and as a nation. Maybe it’s an invitation to tear down the walls of division and see one another as God sees us — broken people that He has chosen from the lineup of the ages to be a part of His family.

That’s not a bad hope for a charter member of the “picked last for dodge ball” club.

Valparaiso American Legion Post 94 Riders raise $12,500 for VNA

The Valparaiso American Legion Riders Post 94 held its inaugural Forever Our Heroes ride on Aug. 10, with nearly 50 riders who stopped at American Legions in Michigan City,

Kingsford Heights and Kouts. The ride raised $12,500 for VNA Hospice NWI in recognition of its We Honor Veterans program. A group of Legion Riders presented the check to VNA Hospice on Sunday, Oct. 27, at its administrative offices in Valparaiso.

“VNA Hospice is extremely grateful for this generous gift that helps us support even more veterans, not just those under our care but any veteran who need additional assistance,” said Bob Franko, VNA Hospice president and CEO.

“An example of our commitment to veterans is our Military Stand Downs we do twice a year,” Franko said.

Hospice NWI

Stand Downs are resource fairs specifically for veterans, active-duty military and their families and caregivers to learn about and receive services and benefits from a variety of businesses and governmental agencies.

The American Legion Riders began in 1993 in Garden City, Mich., and now has over 110,000 riders in over 2,000 chapters in three countries. Each chapter chooses its own cause to support which includes Operation Wounded Warrior, service at VA hospitals and thousands of nonprofit organizations across the country. They also escort military units as they deploy to combat tours, and then welcome them

home upon their return.

The Charles Pratt American Legion Post 94 is dedicated to the memory of Sgt. Charles A. Pratt of Jackson Township who was killed in combat on Nov. 3, 1918 in France. He is buried in Meuart Ardennes, France, and was awarded Croix de Guerre with two silver stars. Post 94 is located at 4 Monroe Street in Valparaiso.

VNA Hospice of NWI is a nonprofit organization providing hospice services, palliative care, VNA Meals on Wheels of Porter County, Medical Guardian help button and the Phoenix Center for Grief. It has offices in Valparaiso and Crown Point. It celebrates its 54th anniversary in 2024. For more information about VNA Hospice and the services it offers visit, vnanwi. org or call (219) 462-5195.

Mark Wilkins is the Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Crown Point (fumccp. org).

SUPPORTING VNA HOSPICE OF NWI —Valparaiso American Legion Riders Post 94 recently presented a check to VNA Hospice of NWI for $12,500.

The check represents the proceeds from the Riders inaugural Forever Our Heros ride held in August. Approximately 50 riders participated in the ride. Photo provided by VNA Hospice of NWI.

Get your spark back:

after a planned surgery or bout of illness. Ignite’s dedicated team of in house therapists will customize a rehabilitation plan to get you back on your feet and back to the things you love.

Bobby Riggs said

On Sept. 20, 1973, over 30,000 people crowded into Houston’s cavernous Astrodome. At the same time, TV viewers around the world switched on over 90 million sets. The reason? To witness a tennis match that promoters had trumpeted as the Battle of the Sexes. The contestants were 55-year-old Bobby Riggs, at one time the nation’s best male tennis professionals, and Billie Jean King, age 29, consistently ranked among the greatest women players of all time. The winner would take home $100,000 — about $700,000 today.

By RANDAL C. HILL

a late-in-life career launch playing exhibition matches against easily defeated women.

Both players hailed from Southern California. Riggs had begun playing tennis at age 12, and by 1946 he was the world’s top professional. King also proved to be a natural at the game and, at 17, won the women ‘s doubles title at Wimbledon, the first of 20 such victories for her there.

Riggs had always loved the media spotlight, and by the early 1970s women tennis players had become a favorite target of his bombast. Some of his jaw-dropping proclamations back then included such whoppers as “Women belong in the kitchen and the bedroom, in that order” and “Women don’t have the emotional stability to win.”

His first tennis coach had been a woman.

BOBBY RIGGS

In Las Vegas, sports bettors heavily favored Riggs; Jimmy the Greek declared, “King money is scarce. It’s hard to find a bet on the girl.”

Bobby boasted that he could beat any woman player on the planet. Billie Jean felt she had a duty to accept Rigg’s highly publicized challenge for the event after thinking, “It would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win that match. It would affect the self-esteem of all women.” (At the time, a woman could still not obtain a credit card without a man’s signature.) Bobby, though, viewed the quirky contest as a springboard to easy cash and

Riggs usually trained rigorously for his matches, but he had slacked off with the King contest. While Billie Jean spent practice time playing skilled male players, Bobby chased women, went to parties, knocked back cocktails, puffed on cigars and gained 15 pounds. When asked about King as an opponent, he chortled, “There’s no way that broad can beat me.”

Riggs ended up eating his words. From the match’s outset, King forced Bobby to cover the entire court as she ran him from side to side, always playing to his weak backhand and rocketing shots past the

out-of-shape opponent. Winning three straight sets, Billie Jean had simply ground down her much older rival, a man the same age as her father.

Bobby declared himself a

“bum” and sank into a sixmonth funk before becoming a tennis pro and greeter at a Las Vegas casino. Billie Jean continued to mow down the competition and retired with

39 Grand Slam titles.

“To beat a 55-year-old guy was no thrill for me,” King said later about the match. “The thrill was exposing a lot of new people to tennis.”

Powers Health brings advanced testing equipment to Northwest Indiana

A new system at Powers Health laboratories reduces time in analyzing and processing tests, giving patients and their healthcare providers answers more quickly.

Powers Health teamed up with Roche Diagnostics to bring groundbreaking, conveyor-system testing equipment to Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.

Roche Diagnostics’ Total Solution is only the second clinical laboratory automation system in the country that allows patient samples to be transported up and down, with no reduction in speed or intake.

“We are so excited to have this impressive, lifesaving equipment at our hospitals,” said Elizabeth Yee, vice president of Clinical Ancillary Services for Powers Health. “Every second counts when a patient is experiencing a medical crisis. This equipment gets answers to physicians and our medical teams faster so they can treat patients efficiently for the best possible outcome.”

Total Solution brings together the Roche’s cobas p612 pre-analytical and p701 refrigeration systems to automate many manual tasks, such as sample receipt, centrifugation, aliquoting, sorting and storage of all samples. This automation is combined with Roche’s newest analytical testing solution, the cobas pro system, for the majority of clinical chemistry and immunochemistry testing done in the laboratory.

Total Solution also offers one of Roche’s newest innovations, the CCM Vertical, as part of the sample transportation line. This innovation allows for samples to travel not only at ground level, but it also moves samples on an elevated section above the operators. This allows for better workflow with employees being able to walk under the line — instead of

around — to save time.

The CCM Vertical, its elevator and overhead components help low-, mid- and high-volume laboratories optimize space, productivity and patient care. Sample transportation moves up to 1,400 samples per hour and ensures timely results with less blood required from patients.

“The CCM Vertical is the second laboratory conveyor system in the U.S. that moves samples up and down without reducing overall track speed, throughput or turnaround times,” said Brad Moore, president and CEO, Roche Diagnostics North America. “The CCM system is about quality, flexibility and efficiency — helping labs of all sizes meet today’s challenges to increase testing capacity, accelerate results, overcome staffing shortages and reduce errors.”

Community Hospital’s CCM Vertical is the second installation to date in the United States and has the longest span, with an elevated line at over 16 feet.

The system also significantly reduces manual steps in the laboratory, enhancing error-free handling, safety and process quality.

“Powers Health is proud to offer this technology to our patients,” said Alan Kumar, MD, chief operating officer. “Our ultimate goal as a healthcare provider is to bring the most advanced and effective technology to the patients we serve. The addition of Roche Diagnostics’ Total Solution is a perfect example of how we strive to better the quality of life for those who turn to us for help.”

Indiana set to celebrate 49th ‘Great American Smokeout’

In celebration of the American Cancer Society’s 49th Great American Smokeout held on Nov. 21, Hoosiers across

Indiana are encouraged to “make the commitment and quit smoking today”.

“With the holidays just

around the corner, it’s a great time for people to give the ‘gift’ of a better life to themselves and to their family and friends

Annual bone density scans support osteoporosis patients

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Several scientific studies and numerous reports have questioned the necessity and effectiveness of some diagnostic imaging techniques, but osteoporosis experts say bone density scans are a vital tool for finding and monitoring

that disease.

Bone mineral density measurement is the gold standard for diagnosis of osteoporosis before a fracture occurs, say experts. In addition, it is a sensitive tool to assess the response to drugs used in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Increasingly, experts say the correlation between bone min-

eral density and bone strength allows doctors to use scans to assess bone quality. But other factors, including age, gender and race, must be factored in to accurately assess patients’ conditions. An annual bone density scan should be considered as part of routine care for osteoporosis patients.

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 Americans 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.

by quitting. With fewer places to smoke in Indiana, now is the perfect time to quit,” said Carrie Higgins, program director of The Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter County. Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of early death and disease in the United States and leads to over 11,000 deaths annually in Indiana. Indiana’s rate of adult smoking and use of e-cigarettes remain higher than the national average. For any smokers in Indiana who want to quit, including those that vape e-cigarettes, help is available and there’s no better time to quit than now, according to Higgins.

The free Indiana Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, is available seven days a week, 365 days a year to provide tips and counseling on how to quit for any Indiana resident.

“The Quitline is staffed with professional ‘quit’ coaches, who are trained on helping people to quit using tobacco, as well as free Nicotine Replacement Therapy for many adults. It’s a free resource and it’s a great first stop in treating what we know is a difficult addiction to overcome,” added Higgins. Giving up smoking is a journey, and it can be hard, but you can increase your chances

of success with a good plan and support. Success may look different for different people. There are many ways to quit smoking, and some work better than others. Getting help through counseling and medications doubles or even triples your chances of quitting successfully.

“It may be surprising to most people that the effects of stopping smoking are almost immediate; a person’s heart rate and blood pressure drop just 20 minutes after quitting,” explained Higgins.

According to Higgins, quitting smoking is critical to improving one’s life at a time when tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world.

“Whether you’re trying to quit or even thinking about it, the Great American Smokeout is a great time to think about living a healthier life. It may be a challenging path, but it will be worthwhile for a lifetime,” added Higgins.

Free resources are available by calling (800) 784-8669, texting “READY” to 34191 or by visiting quitnowindiana. com. Visit the local coalition webpage for additional information and resources at valpo. edu/tepc.

Humane Indiana commissions South Shore poster with new artist

The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and South Shore Arts partnered earlier this year and invited new artists to contribute to the “Just Around the Corner” poster series. It has been more than 10 years since a new artist was commissioned for the series, and Kristina Knowski was selected from pool of 13 artists.

“We are thrilled to partner with SSCVA and the incredibly talented artist Kristina for this special project,” said Brian Fitzpatrick, CEO of Humane Indiana. “The upcoming poster not only highlights her beautiful artwork but also serves a larger purpose — helping to protect our region’s wildlife. The proceeds from this initiative will directly benefit Humane Indiana’s Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, allowing us to continue rescuing and rehabilitating thousands of animals in need. We’re grateful to everyone involved in making this project

a reality and supporting our mission.

Knowski is a watercolorist depicting primarily avifauna and is best known for her portfolio of extinct bird species and posters for the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival. The natural world is her inspiration, drawing from the existing beauty of our environment. As an avid birder, Knowski prefers to work from life and spends most of her time sketching and researching species in the field.

“I am thrilled to be an official South Shore poster artist and continue the legacy of the arts in NWI,” stated Knowski. “Preserving and protecting Indiana’s native wildlife for future generations has always been a fundamental objective in my work. Humane Indiana Wildlife has been such a pleasure to work with and I look forward to partnering with them in their mission.”

This curated series was started in 1997 and aims to

promote visitors to northwest Indiana while instilling a sense of pride within residents by visually sharing the region’s story. Each artist in the roster brings their own style and specialty.

Businesses and organizations interested in commissioning a South Shore poster can contact Andrea Rivera, art director, South Shore Convention and Visitor’s Authority at (219) 301-7754.

FOR THE BIRDS Shown is work done by artist Kristina Knowski. She was recently selected to be a new artist to design a poster for the South Shore Convention and Visitor’s Authority. Knowski specializes in watercolor and is also an avid birder.

Assisted Living, nursing And rehAbiLitAtion guide

Aperion Care - Demotte

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

Short Term Rehab, Long Term Care, On-Site Therapy 7 Days A Week, Orthopedic Rehab, Post-Stroke Rehab, Nurse Practitioner Oversight, Wound Care, Respiratory Care, IV Therapy, Cardiac Rehab, Newly Remodeled Communities, Memory Care

Aperion Care - Tolleston Park

2350 Taft Street, Gary, IN 46404 (219) 977-2600 • www.aperioncare.com

AVIVA - Merrillville | Memory Care

7900 Rhode Island St., Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 525-4123 • www.avivamerrillville.com

Memory Care only. It’s our sole focus. Alzheimer care. From initial to end-state dementia. Comfortable, caring enviornment. Peace of mind for families.

AVIVA - Valparaiso | Senior Living

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

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

Crown Point Christian Village

6685 E. 117th Avenue, Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 662-0642

Assisted Living apartments available. Healthcare: Rehabilitation unit, Memory Care, Long Term and Skilled Care. Therapies of Physical, Speech, Occupational & Respiratory. Semi-private and private rooms. Medicare and Medicaid provider for Healthcare. 32 years of outstanding resident/patient care.

Hammond-Whiting Care Center

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

www.hammondwhitingconvalescentcenter.com

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

Ignite Medical Resort of Chesterton

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

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

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

Ignite Medical Resort of Crown

Point

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

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Ignite Medical Resort of Dyer

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

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Lake Park Residential Care

2075 Ripley Street, Lake Station, IN 46405 (219) 962-9437 • www.assistedlivingfacilities.org Assisted

Memorial Opera House will hold auditions for ‘Singin’ in the Rain’

Auditions for “Signin’ in the Rain” will be held at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 9-10, at the Memorial Opera House, 104 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso. Callbacks (as needed) will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Memorial Opera House.

Fill out the Audition form here: forms.gle/GxxYm8gpYzssMMZH7

Arrive at auditions prepared to sing a song of your choice (16 measures or less), and provide sheet music for the accompanist. Acapella auditions will not be accepted.

Video submissions will be accepted, due via email no later than 5 p.m. Tuesday, December 10th.

For any questions regarding the audition or production, or to submit a video audition, email MOH Production Manager, Vicki Zimmerman: vzimmerman@memorialoperahouse.com

Performances will be Feb. 28 through March 16. Ten

performances total, Thursday through Sunday, which includes an additional matinee on March 8. All performances will be held at Memorial Opera House.

Rehearsals officially begin in January 2025, with the possibility for rehearsals in late December 2024. Rehearsals will take place 7-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. A read through is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 19, at Memorial Opera House.

The “Greatest Movie Musical of All Time” is faithfully and lovingly adapted by Broadway legends, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, from their original award-winning screenplay in “Singin’ in the Rain.” Each unforgettable scene, song and dance is accounted for, including the show-stopping title number, complete with an onstage rainstorm! Hilarious situations, snappy dialogue and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards make “Singin’ in the

Rain” the perfect entertainment for any fan of the golden age of movie musicals.

“Singin’ in the Rain” has all the makings of a Tinseltown tabloid headline — the starlet, the leading man and a love affair that could change lives and make or break careers! In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item but, behind the scenes, things aren’t always as they appear on the big screen! Meanwhile, Lina’s squeaky voice might be the end of her career in “talking pictures” without the help of a talented young actress to do the talking and singing for her.

Filled with every memorable moment from the film and a downpour of unforgettable songs, “Singin’ in the Rain” is a guaranteed hit for any theater. All roles are open for those of all identities, ethnicities, and backgrounds aged 16 or older. All levels of dancing abilities are encouraged to audition.

This production is seeking no

more than 24 actors. Roles: Don Lockwood — A suave Hollywood actor and dancer. Cosmo’s best friend and Lina’s regular co-star. Vocal range top: Ab4. Vocal range bottom: G2.

Cosmo Brown —A wacky and playful on-set pianist for silent films. Don’s best friend and former dance partner. Vocal range top: Ab4. Vocal range bottom: C3.

Kathy Selden — An earnest, talented actress with wit and charm. She falls in love with Don and performs as Lina’s speaking and singing voice. Vocal range top: F5. Vocal range bottom: G3.

Lina Lamont — A slow-witted silent film diva with a big personality and a harshly unpleasant voice. She is Don’s regular co-star. Vocal range top: Eb5. Vocal range bottom: C4.

R.F. Simpson — A successful, magnanimous film producer. He leads the other characters in creating a new

movie musical.

Roscoe Dexter — A famous film director with theatrical mannerisms and tendencies. Frequently frazzled and works with Lina and Don.

Rod — An excitable film agent bordering on manic. He works for Simpson.

Male and Female Featured Ensemble: Sam, Zelda Zanders, Miss Dinsmore, Sid Phillips, Cumberland Spendrill III, etc.

Ensemble: Crowd, pedestrians, stars, fans, policeman, party guests, chorus girls, Broadway chorus, guests, stagehands, sound crew, screening guests, etc.

Memorial Opera House is a non-equity theater in Valparaiso. All actors are volunteer and non-compensated.

“Singin’ in the Rain” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, mtishows. com.

Assisted Living, nursing And rehAbiLitAtion guide

Life Care Center of The Willows

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

Life Care Center of Valparaiso

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

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

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

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

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

Residences at Deer Creek

Saint Anthony

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

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

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

MajesticCare.com

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

606 Wall Street, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 464-4976 • ASCCare.com/VCRC Caring people make the difference! Short-Term Rehabilitation, Memory Care, Long-Term Care, Skilled Nusring Care, Advanced Pulmonary & Ventilator Care, Respite Care, Hospice Care. Therapies include Speech, Occupational, Physical, Respiratory. Private

What’s happening at your local library

Below are all of the adult programs/events/classes for the month of December at the various locations of the Lake County Public Library

Cedar Lake 10010 W. 133rd Ave.

Crochet @ Your Library, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 11, 18

Environmental Bingo, 6:307:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11

Book Discussion, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18

Registration required for all programs, visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/cl.htm or call (219)

374-7121. Dyer-Schererville

1001 W. Lincoln Highway (US 30)

Teen & Adult Puzzle Challenge, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3

Crafters’ Gathering, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 5, 19

Acrylic Painting, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7

Santa’s Wild Home, 1-3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9

All Ability: Holiday Trees, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10

Between the Lines Book Discussion, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30

p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12

Mahjong Open Play, 1-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13

Morning Mix: Ages 18 and Over, 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec. 20

Mahjong Open Play, 1-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/ds.htm or call (219) 322-4731.

Griffith-Calumet

1215 E. 45th Ave.

Thursday Threaders, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26

Duneland Chamber Foundation officially established

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce recently announced the establishment of the Duneland Chamber Foundation, Inc., a newly created 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to driving community development and supporting local projects.

This foundation represents a significant milestone in the chamber’s ongoing efforts to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life across the Duneland area.

The Duneland Chamber Foundation’s mission is clear: to strengthen Duneland communities through philanthropy, workforce enhancement,

leadership development, and education. With this mission, the foundation will work to expand support for local businesses, workforce development, and community enrichment programs.

Foundation leadership:

Chair — David Gilbert, Tethan’s Candy & Confections Vice Chair — Bob Kollar, Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. Treasurer — Dawn Thostesen, Community Supporter Secretary — Christy Jarka, Duneland School Corporation At-Large — Bonny Hildebrand, Franciscan Alliance Director — David Hiestand, Smith Legal Group LLC

Monitor automatic payments

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Paying bills by automatic withdrawals from your bank account can save you from late payments as well as cut back on your postage and mailing costs.

Some folks prefer to have the monthly payments withdrawn from a credit card,

which is paid off with a single monthly payment from the bank account. In either case, you should make a list of such payments that can be reviewed by survivors after your death to make sure all payments are made and scammers have not added charges to your accounts.

Director — Katie Cortes, Everwise

Director — Shaun Ensign, Legacy Sign Group

Maura Mundell, Duneland Chamber of Commerce

Gilbert shared his excitement, “The creation of the Duneland Chamber Foundation marks an exciting new chapter in our commitment to this community. Through the foundation, we will address the immediate needs of our local economy while focusing on leadership development and education to cultivate the next generation of Duneland leaders and innovators. This is a commitment to sustainable growth and prosperity for all in our cherished Duneland community.”

Through the work of the Duneland Chamber Foundation, the chamber will serve as a catalyst for new opportunities and collaborations, paving the way for impactful initiatives that will support the growth and vitality of the Duneland area for years to come.

For more information, contact Mundell at maura@ dunelandchamber.org

ST. AGNES ADULT

Specializing in Alzheimer’s Care

1859 Harrison Blvd. Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 477-5433

www.stagnesvalpo.org

Email: barbkubiszak@gmail.com

Monday-Friday 8-5 p.m.

Structured Activities, Safe & Secure Surroundings, Health Monitoring

“Help make their Golden Years shine a little brighter.”

Mystery Loves Company, 1-2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/gr.htm or call (219) 838-2825

Highland 2841 Jewett St.

Once Upon a Crime Mystery Book Club, 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5

Lucy! by Paradise Playhouse, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9

Fact or Fiction Book Club, 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/hi.htm or call (219) 838-2394.

Hobart

100 Main St. Stitch’n Time, 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7

Paint’n Time, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10

Lucy! by Paradise Playhouse, 3-4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10

Hobart Book Chat, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/ho.htm or call (219) 942-2243.

Lake Station 2007 Central Ave. Resume Assistance, 2-3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2

Mahjong Instruction at the Library, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7

Holiday Grown Up Game Night, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11

Tuesday Time Out, 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17

Craft and Chat, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Bingo at the Library!, 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/cnl.htm or call (219) 769-3541.

Merrillville

1919 W. 81st Ave. (US 30)

Caregivers & Coffee Hour,

11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 3, 11, 17

Create Your Own Greeting Card, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4

Dungeons & Dragons for Adults, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4

Origami Ornaments, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7

Noteables Choir Concert, 7-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9

Friends of the Library Meeting, 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, December 10

Circle of Readers Book Discussion, 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10

Teen Cartoon School, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11

Keep Me In Stitches, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 14

Some Reading Required, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16

Board Meeting, 4:30-6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/cnl.htm or call (219) 769-3541.

Munster 8701 Calumet Ave.

Dungeons and Dragons for Adults, 6-8:15 p.m. Dec. 5, 12 Yoga & Breathing, 10-11 a.m. Dec. 7, 14

Munster Lecture Series: U.S. Global Power, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11

Book Discussion, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/mu.htm or call (219) 836-8450.

St. John 450 Wicker Ave. (US 41) Off the Hook, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 11, 18 Lucy!, 1-2:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9

Book Discussion, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 Libby App Basics, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16

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

Medicare and Medicaid accepted. Discounted self-pay option.

HOME HEALTH CARE

BRIGHTSTAR CARE OF LAKE COUNTY 9521 Indianapolis Blvd., Suite 0 Highland, IN 46322 (219) 924-0200 www.brightstarcare.com/west-lake-county/ In-Home Nursing, Caregiving & Companionship

• Assist with personal & hygiene care

• Companion care

• Skilled Nursing Care

• Respite care & family relief

• Transportation

• Light housekeeping

• Meal preparation

• Available 24/7

WE ARE LICENSED, BONDED, INSURED & ACCREDITED BY THE JOINT COMMISSION

VISITING ANGELS HOME CARE

2340 Cline Ave., Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 322-6100

www.visitingangels.com

Nationally respected, non medical, home care service. Providing CNA’s, HHA’s & Companion Care.

* Assist w/Hygiene

* Meal Preparation

* Medication Reminders

* Light Housekeeping

* Transportation

* Hourly, 24-hour Care & Overnight Alzheimer’s / Dementia Care / Palliative Care LICENSED * BONDED * INSURED

HOSPICE CARE

HEART TO HEART HOSPICE OF NORTHERN INDIANA

402 Wall Street, Suite 22

Valparaiso, IN 46383

Phone: (219) 462-6529

Fax: (219) 462-9017

www.HTOHH.com

Compassionate care from our heart to yours. Volunteers needed.

CHAP Accredited

HOSPICE OF THE CALUMET AREA MUNSTER

www.hospicecalumet.org (219) 922-2732 / (219) 736-2422

• Serving Lake, Porter and Bordering Illinois Communities Since 1981

• Hospice Services Are Covered 100% For Patients Who Are Medicare Eligible

• Not-for-profit

• Care Provided In Your Home Or In Our Hospice House

HOSPICE CARE

UNITY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

Serving Porter, Jasper & Newton Counties in Indiana. (219) 769-8648

Greater Illinois area (312) 427-6000

www.unityhospice.com

Family owned & operated hospice

Offering premier end-of-life care

For over 25 years at no cost to you, Because we care.

MEALS ON WHEELS

MEALS ON WHEELS OF NORTHWEST INDIANA 8446 Virginia St., Merrillville, IN (219) 756-3663 www.mownwi.org

A non-profit nutrition provider offering Chef Prepared Hot Lunches delivered daily (M-F). All meals are heart healthy & low sodium. Specialized diets are also available, as well as 5 or 7 packs of frozen meals.

Serving Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke & Pulaski counties.

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.

IGNITE MEDICAL RESORTS

2775 Village Point Chesterton, IN (219) 304-6700 1555 S. Main Street Crown Point, IN (219) 323-8700 1532 Calumet Avenue Dyer, IN (219) 515-4700 www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Stroke Recovery, Cardiac Care, Pulmonary Rehab, Wound Care, Infection Management, Renal Management

MEMORY CARE

AVIVA SENIOR LIVING 7900 Rhode Island St. Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 525-4123 avivamerrillville.com

• Free standing Memory Care

• Wearable Pendant System

• Care for Early to End Stage Alzheimer’s and Dementia

RITE CARE PHARMACY 2075 Indianapolis Blvd. Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 655-5028

GET VACCINATED AT HOME! FREE Service for all Medicare Clients: Flu, Shingles, Pneumonia, RSV, Tdap, Covid, Hep B Accept Medicare, Medicaid & Commercial Ins. FREE Medication Delivery Hrs: M-F 10 am, 5 pm; Sat 10 am, 1 pm Ritecarehm

TELEPHONE SERVICES

(877) 446-8722

Problems hearing on the telephone? We provide captioned telephones to assist you to read what the other person is saying. No more garbled or misunderstood conversations. Simply, READ what you’re hearing.

OF NWI

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 — Sept. 10, 1858 — you’ll know where to go.

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

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.

It’s about time all over the world

By TOM MORROW Mature Life Features

It happens every autumn. We “fall” back one hour to Standard Time from Daylight Savings Time.

The first implementation of DST was by the city of Port Arthur in Ontario, Canada, in 1908. A merchant talked the city council into launching the new time so he (and his fellow townsfolk) could enjoy an extra hour of summer daylight.

The first nationwide implementation was launched April 30, 1916, by the German and Austro-Hungarian empires to save energy during World War I. The United States adopted the practice about the same time for the same reason, dropped it after the war and reinstituted it during World War II.

Japan, China, India and most of Africa and South America do not adust their clocks twice a year.

But about the only time most of us take notice of “time” is when we have to keep an appointment, find out when our favorite television program is aired — or cuss out the confounding leap forward and fall back changing of our clocks and watches.

And if we have to call someone at the other end of the country or across an ocean.

The definition of a time zone is a longitudinal (up and down) geographic location that observes a uniform area for legal, commercial and social purposes. There are 24 time zones wrapped around the globe. Each is 15 degrees (60 miles a degree) apart longitudinally. They often follow the boundaries between states and countries and their subdivisions instead of strictly following longitude degrees, because it is convenient for areas in frequent communication to keep the same time … like railroads, airlines, and communications networks.

In reality, the position of the sun in the sky designates solar time, which is by location because of the spherical shape of the Earth.

This variation corresponds to four minutes of time for every degree of longitude. So, for example, when it is solar noon in London, it is about 10 minutes before solar noon in Bristol, England, which is about 2.5 degrees west of that city.

The British Royal Observatory in Greenwich was founded in 1675, establishing “Greenwich Mean Time,” which measures solar time from that geographic location.

In the 19th century, as transportation and telecommunications improved, it became increasingly inconvenient for each community to observe its own solar time. In November 1840, the Great Western Railway started using GMT on portable chronometers. This practice was soon followed by other railway companies in Great Britain and became

known as “Railway Time.”

During the summer of 1852, time signals were first transmitted by telegraph from the Royal Observatory. By 1855, Great Britain’s public clocks were using GMT, but that didn’t become England’s legal time until 1880.

Timekeeping on North American railroads in the 19th century was complex. Each railroad used its own standard of time, usually based on the local time of its headquarters or, more importantly, its terminus. Each railroad’s train schedules was published using its own time. Some junctions served by several railroads had a clock for each railroad, each of which showed a different time.

In 1863, school principal Charles F. Dowd proposed a system of hourly standard time zones for North American railroads but never consulted the railroads until 1869.

He proposed four ideal time zones for the United States, having north-south borders, with the first centered on Washington, D.C. But the first time zone was established in 1872 and was centered on

meridian 75 degrees west of Greenwich. Dowd’s system was never accepted.

Instead, U.S. and Canadian railroads implemented a version proposed by the Traveler’s Official Railway Guide. The

borders of its time zones ran through major cities’ railroad stations

Canadian-born Sanford Fleming proposed a worldwide system that divided the globe

Continued on page 22

STANDARD TIME ZONES OF THE WORLD

What a way to start the holidays

GREAT ESCAPES

As holiday shows go, there is none better than the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Yuletide Celebration. In fact, it’s the largest orchestra-produced holiday production in North America. Believe me, it has everything. It’s got dancing, singing, beautiful costumes and a wonderful version of “The Night Before Christmas” story.

who are more than willing to pose for photos. Inside, there are even more. A 30-foot-tall tree dominates the lobby and an organist is playing carols. Children and grandchildren are eagerly awaiting the reading of “How Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Text and Photos By

ROD KING

The venue is the beautiful Hilbert Theater on the circle in downtown Indianapolis. Yuletide goers are greeted under the marque by a host of larger than life costumed characters,

The atmosphere is light and festive and is a great buildup to the two-hour stage show. Hosting the performance will be popular vocalist, Sandi Patty. This year marks her 10th time to host Yuletide. She’ll not only sing several songs, but will change gowns and perform with the ensemble.

Santa takes center stage. At first a couple Santas enter from stage right and begin tap dancing. They’re quickly joined by a few more until they fill the entire stage. There are 30 of them who conclude their dancing with a kick line reminiscent of the Rockettes of

large building blocks.

Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Tap dancing Santas have been an audience pleaser and staple of the show since the symphony’s initial Yuletide presentation 38 years ago.

It’s about

Continued from page 21

Another eye catching specialty will be the Holly Jolly Dollies. Dressed as Raggedy Anns, the Dollies will spell various holiday greetings with large building blocks and even

Continued on page 23

into 24 time zones. All clocks within each zone would be set to the same time and differ by one hour from those in the neighboring zones.

By 1900, almost all inhabited places on earth had adopted a standard time zone, but many applied the time at a local astronomical observatory to an entire country without any reference to GMT. It took several decades before all time zones were based on some standard offset from GMT.

By 1929, the majority of countries had adopted hourly time zones, except Iran, India and parts of Australia,

which have time zones with a 30-minute offset. Today, several countries and subdivisions use half-hour or quarter-hour deviations from standard time. China and India use a single time zone even though the extent of their territory far exceeds the ideal 15 degrees of longitude for one hour; while others such as Spain and Argentina, use standard hour-based offsets, but not necessarily those that would be determined by their geographical location. Russia, which has 11 time zones, removed two zones in 2010, but they were reinstated in 2014.

CROWD PLEASER Holly Jolly Dollies provide a lot of action as they spell holiday greetings with

EXTRAVAGANT GOWNS — Strong voices and elegant costumes provide color to the program, which is backed by the 65-member Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

What a way

throw in a salute to the local sports teams. It looks chaotic as the Dollies assemble words with their blocks, but everyone seems to know where they need to be to make sure the words are correct. It’s one of the most fun segments of the show.

There’s plenty more. A number of specialty dance, vocal and instrumental presentations make for a great change of pace. And, you’ll be surprised and amazed at the novelty performers.

Enthralling is the only way to explain the “’Twas The Night Before Christmas” story. Blackclad puppeteers enter down the main aisle with a cartoonish Santa and his reindeer on 10-foot-tall poles. Onstage, Santa is lowered into a chimney and out pops a life-size Santa, who goes about delivering gifts as the music swells and the story unfolds. With the children snug in their beds, Santa goes back into the fireplace and the puppeteers depart back up the center aisle.

Providing smooth transitions between segments and an overall grand musical flow to the show is the 65-musician Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Conductor Jack Everly.

The tightly choreographed production has a cast of 50 singer and dancers and a crew of 40 backstage making sure Continued from page 22

costumes are ready for changes and scenery is set to go onstage. There are no dead spots because everything is kept moving. It’s nonstop action.

The show runs from Dec. 6-23. Tickets are available by calling the ISO box office at (317) 639-4300.

To get your holiday season off to a glorious, colorful, rousing, and fun start, plan to attend the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Yuletide Celebration.

Fighting the fear of flying

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

It’s bad enough to know that eight out of 10 people in the jetliner cabin has some version of flight phobia, but the added strain of airport searches, luggage pricing and fees for a pillow and blanket has upgraded the number of unruly, impolite, rude and downright ornery passengers on your flight.

Piling on the stress of sitting in the middle seat are oversized seat mates with cute little pets and oversize bags packed underfoot.

Almost every air travel trip recap and recollection is dominated by complaints rather than contentment.

• “The guy in front of me put his seat all the way back so I couldn’t even move my knees.”

• “When I get an aisle seat, everybody — even the flight attendant — bumps me when they go up and down the aisle.”

• “The blind on the window seat rarely works — it either won’t stay up or stay down.”

• “The cool air blower blows right down my neck.”

Sound familiar.

Yet people keep flying, despite the fact that ticket prices are climbing at jet speed and airlines are shaving flights from their schedules so their planes will be crammed full.

It’s important to point out again that the majority of fellow passengers aboard your plane are emotionally brittle because of their flying phobias, which range from anxiety to claustrophobia to pure panic.

Almost 20% of the adult population cannot fly.

John Madden, legendary coach of the Oakland Raiders, never set foot on an airplane after his panic attack in 1979. He continued his sports commentator career by travelling coast to coast in a motor home.

The fact that the U.S. National Safety Council statistics have proved over and over that flying is much safer than travelling in traffic has not diminished the number of fearful flyers. An average of 21,000 people die on the road in the U.S. in a six-month period. This is about the same total of all commercial air travel fatalities worldwide in 40 years.

While the flights may be safe, it appears flying has become less safe.

The internet is packed as tightly as a jet plane with videos of confrontations in airports and on airliners. Noting a “disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behaviour,” the Federal Aviation Administration has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for those who “interfere with, physically assault, or threaten to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft” and increased fines to as high as $37,000 for each incident.

Airlines have reported more than 1,400 unruly passenger cases to the FAA through September of this year and it reports an average of 100 of these case to the Federal Bureau of Investigation each year. Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

Wheel your way through airports

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

There are ways you can make your trip through those busy airports more enjoyable.

First off, get to the airport early.

This will ease the strain on your patience because you won’t be fighting the clock as well as the crowd to get to your departure gate.

Airports can be daunting because of their size.

Sky Harbor International Airport sprawls over 300 acres just three miles from downtown Phoenix, Arizona.

It’s more than a mile-and-ahalf from the ticket counter to some gates in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

There is help available for seniors. Simply ask for a wheelchair.

Federal law requires all airlines operating in the U.S. to provide a wheelchair or mo-

torized cart with an attendant to anyone making a request. No proof of any disability is required. Just ask for it at check-in.

Better yet, call the airline at least 48 hours before checkin and make your request. If you plan on taking a carry-on, make sure it’s small and manageable enough to ride in the wheelchair with you.

If your trip involves making connections, keep in mind that wheelchair users debark the airplane last, so you have to

allow for that time between flights.

Wheelchair attendants are not required to make stops at restaurants or food stands, so you may want to prepare your own airport lunch before leaving home. You’ll also have to take that into account if you plan to use wheelchair service for connecting flights.

And don’t forget to tip the attendant. If he or she does stop so you can pick up a bite, make the tip larger.

TAP DANCING SANTAS Long a staple of Yuletide are the tap dancing Santas who end their routine with a kick line reminiscent of the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Puppeteers with Santa and his reindeer exit after the telling of the famous Clement Moore story. All photos provided by the Indianapolis Symphony.

Rediscovering independence: Vision therapy for older adults

By STEVEN A. LEVIN, O.D. FCOVD Levin Eye Care

As we age, vision changes can negatively affect our ability to live independently.

Vision therapy provides a tailored, nonsurgical solution to address these challenges, helping patients improve their visual function and quality of life. By retraining the connection between the eyes and the brain, this therapy can address issues such as difficulty focusing, double vision, reduced depth perception, vertigo and headaches. For many, these visual improvements restore confidence and independence to enjoy a full life.

Older adults often face visual challenges resulting from strokes, brain injuries,

or age-related conditions. These difficulties may lead to problems with reading words, comprehension, navigating stairs and recognizing faces. Other signs include frequent falls, eye fatigue or trouble judging distances. A detailed assessment helps pinpoint these issues, evaluating how well the visual system processes information. Improving our visual ability can positively impact coordination, memory, and overall cognitive function.

The benefits of vision therapy for seniors go far beyond better eyesight. Patients often regain the ability to participate in hobbies such as crafting, cooking or gardening activities. Improved handeye coordination reduces the risk of falls and make regular tasks more manageable. For

those recovering from neurological conditions, therapy can help rebuild vital visual functions.

Most programs involve weekly in-office sessions complemented by simple at-home activities like eye tracking exercises, computer therapy programs and visual memory tasks. The process is flexible and designed to fit an individual’s unique needs. With regular practice, seniors can look forward to significant improvements in a relatively short time, instilling a sense of hope and motivation.

Vision therapy is a journey that empowers older adults to reclaim control over their lives. For anyone noticing changes in their visual abilities, scheduling an evaluation could open the door to renewed independence and

improved quality of life. By addressing vision issues early, patients can continue enjoying the activities they love with confidence and clarity.

Levin Eye Care is located at 1334 199th St., Whiting. Call our office to schedule an appointment at (219) 6593050. Feel free to visit our website, www.levineyecare. com as well for more information.

Mildly depressed older women more likely to live longer

By JAMES GAFFNEY Mature Life Feature

Apparently a bout of the blues can be good for you. Contrary to the prevailing view that depression increas-

es one’s risk of dying, there is evidence that mild depression can actually enable older women to live longer lives.

According to the study, women 65 years or older with mild depression are only 60% as likely to die as senior women who are not depressed and women who experience more depressive symptoms.

Mild depression among older women could reflect a healthy coping mechanism associated with longevity and not a risk factor for early mortality, as many earlier studies have found for more severe depression, according to an article in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Researchers examined data on depression and mortality over a decade on more than 1,000 people 65 years and older who were interviewed at three-year intervals to assess their health status.

No effects on mortality were found among men, but the women exhibited what appeared to be a striking protective effect from this form of depression.

The study looked at adults living in community settings, not at clinical populations being treated for debilitating episodes of depression.

But the women with mild depression still appeared to live longer even when factors associated with lowering the risk of mortality, such as age, marital status, and socioeconomic class, that could have skewed the results were considered.

Apparently, previous studies indicated depression may be adaptive by increasing an organism’s ability to cope.

The report indicated that it is possible sub-threshold depression, a less severe depressed mood, in elderly women is not damaging but is a biological or psychological response to protect women from future risk.

STEVEN A. LEVIN O.D. FCOVD LEVIN EYE CARE