VETS HELPING VETS
Text and Photos
By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer
Like so many who served in the military, Lou Covelli never considered himself a hero. Even after being wounded, he did not see himself as special.
“God, country, family — that’s what I was raised to believe,” Covelli said.
At age 17, he graduated from high school on June 24, 1963. On July 11, he enlisted as a Marine. His was among the first Marine units to fight in Vietnam.
“I served to answer my country’s call,” the St. John resident said.
Speaking at the Victory for Veterans motorcycle ride from Wicker Park in Highland in September, Lou Covelli recalled his return home.
Following his service in Vietnam during 1965-
66, he returned to the states but was cautioned to quickly change into civilian clothes, due to anti-war protesters.
“I’d never heard of anything like that,” Covelli said, adding that upon learning he was near U.S. soil, “that was the greatest sight of my life.”
“I never thought I’d make it home alive,” Covelli said. “What we found here was very different.”
In a veterans education video on YouTube, Covelli recalled returning home a “young old man. My buddies not in the service, I outgrew them. Their ideas were a lot different than mine.”
Covelli confessed he was not proud of how anti-war protesters viewed his military service. Later, he was initially not going on the Honor Flight for veterans. He got talked into going, and he’s glad.
“I was convinced to go, and I went,” Covelli recalled. “It was one of the best days of my life.”
Continued on page 2
VETS Vietnam veteran Lou Covelli was guest speaker at the Victory for Veterans motorcycle ride in September, starting from Wicker Park in Highland. A retired firefighter, Corvelli today is involved with the Disabled American Veterans.
BIKING FOR BUDDIES More than 1,600 motorcyclists took part in the Victory for Veterans motorcycle ride in September. The ride through several communities supports a veterans memorial and veterans programming in the township.
HONORING SERVICE — Craig Brooks of the Celtic Guard Academy in Hobart plays the bagpipes prior to the Victory for Veterans motorcycle ride from Highland.
Key Positions
Hispanic pride celebration an all year-round event
Text and Photos By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer
¡Viva la Hispanidad! Long live Hispanic culture!
Hispanic Heritage Month is over, but Hispanic pride goes year-round. Members of a growing ethnic group in this state, Hispanics have their stories of pride and struggles to share, and much of what they say isn’t found in history books.
Hispanic Heritage Month honors the history, culture, food, music and accomplishments of the Hispanic community. At the Indiana University Northwest observance was the group Latin Satin Soul, some of whose members are seniors.
Saxophonist Phillip Vasquez of Munster said his grandfather immigrated here for better life and to practice the Catholic faith.
“We’re all immigrants,” he said of all ethnicities. “We all came here.”
Guitarist and leader Bob Rodriguez of Dyer grew up in South Chicago, where “things were a lot different in the 1950s and ‘60s.”
Percussionist George Garcia of South Chicago does not like the labels Latino or Hispanic.
“I’m a Mexican,” he proclaims. “My mother and father were both born in Mexico. My roots are from Mexico.”
His father, who came to the U.S. in the 1920s, worked 47 years and six months. “He came for the work and a better life,” Garcia noted.
The three are all retired from jobs in hospital administration, pipefitting and brick masonry.
Indiana University Northwest is the most diverse campus of all IU campuses, with undergraduate enrollment at 28% Hispanic/ Latino. IUN has again been named a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, as is Purdue University Northwest. That federal designation means the accredited institution has at least 25% His-
IBICULTURAL BACKGROUND Dressed in Chilean garb, Indiana University Northwest Interim Chancellor Dr. Vicki Román-Lagunas addresses the Hispanic Heritage Month program at the Gary Campus. Lagunas’ family is bilingual and bicultural, speaking Spanish at home.
panic enrollment.
These students are part of a growing ethnic population in Indiana. Indiana Business Review reports the 2020 Census shows one-fourth of the Hoosier population identifies as part of a minority group, up 19% from the previous decade.
The report also reveals that Indiana’s Hispanic population posted the second largest gain among minorities. Of the 6.8 million Hoosiers reported in 2020, 554,191 are Hispanics. And it’s not just in Indiana. Hispanic culture is reflected in such state names as California, Colorado, Nevada, Florida, Montana and Texas.
Spanish words passed into English vocabulary include barbecue, alligator, barracuda, mustang, mesa, banana, renegade, comrade and chocolate.
Current leadership at IUN, including Interim Chancellor Dr. Vicki Román-Lagunas, reflects Hispanic heritage. Román-Lagunas’ family is bicultural and bilingual. Her family, with Chilean members, speaks only Spanish at home.
Román-Lagunas, who studied
Latin American literature and culture, noted, “this is a big day for all of us. It’s a day to celebrate our antepasados (ancestors), where we came from, and the gifts they brought to this university and the U.S.”
Rodriguez added, “It was great to see the other races come out and just be here.”
Veronica Mora, an administrative coordinator at IUN, came to this country from
NATIVE MEXICAN — Veronica Mora, an administrative staff member at Indiana University Northwest in Gary. came to the U.S. from Guanajuato, Mexico, when she was 3 months old. Her parents immigrated for better opportunities for their family. Photo by Steve Euvino.
Guanajuato, Mexico, when she was 3 months old. Her mother came from a poor mountainous region.
Mora learned to marry American and Mexican values. “In Mexico,” she said, “you do what you gotta do. Here, you have to overachieve to accomplish things.”
Nicholas Casas, an IUN librarian, is a second-generation Mexican American. He said celebrating Hispanic culture is about “who I am, it’s part of my identity. This makes me feel seen.”
VETS HELPING
Continued from page 1
It’s easy! Simply find the POPPY 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.
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Conducted by nonprofit organizations, Honor Flight is a one-day trip to Washington, D.C. for veterans. It includes trips to national war memorials. Its mission is one of gratitude for veterans’ service, sacrifice, and selflessness.
heart diseases because of Agent Orange (defoliant used in Vietnam),” Covelli said. “They deserve a Purple Heart, too. The war never left them.”
health issues often tied to military service, homelessness, unemployment, reconnecting with family and friends, adjusting to a new life, and navigating benefit packages.
The winner of the I Spy Contest for October is Maryann Phelps from Elkhart. The leaves were located on page 8 in Senior Life Allen; page 11 in Senior Life Northwest; page 14 in Senior Life Elko and page 26 in Senior Life St. Joseph.
Covelli recounted his backhome treatment to his flight guide, or guardian. As the guardian assured the Vietnam vet, “that was then, this is now.”
Covelli received the Purple Heart for a shrapnel wound, but today he shrugs off that injury. He focuses on those still suffering.
“There are people today with
Covelli continues to serve as a member of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 80 in Crown Point. Nationally, the DAV serves more than a million veterans annually.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, of the 16.2 million military veterans nationwide, 325,180 reside in Indiana. Some of them face crises upon returning home.
ARK Behavioral Health reports that beyond physical war wounds, veterans face mental
A retired firefighter, Covelli likens that work to the military.
“You form a brotherhood and you rely on the person next to you,” he said. “There’s no greater reward than to bring someone back to life or save their home and them, too.”
Today, Covelli counsels his grandchildren: “Be yourself. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. Set goals and don’t let anybody stop you.”
SALUTING THE COLORS Al Luna of East Chicago salutes stands at attention as an honor guard presents the colors at the Victory for Veterans motorcycle ride.
Munster Man has become genealogy expert
By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer
If you have ever thought about digging in and working on learning your family history, it can be hard to know where to start. Herb Smith, of Munster, was bitten by the genealogy bug decades ago and he’s still uncovering bits of his family history — and enjoys helping others in their searches.
In 1983, when his son was
born, he was given the name Herbert Winfield Smith IV, which prompted Smith to look for information on his grandfather. In 2008, he took his first DNA test, which provided insight into his ethnic background. He’s taken the test with different companies and said his most recent update last month showed that he was 46% Irish, 20% Germanic, 17% Scottish, 11% English/Northwestern European and 5% from the Netherlands. “Before
DNA testing and by asking my grandparents and doing genealogy research, I would have said 75% Irish and 25% German,” said Smith.
Smith has been involved for many years with the South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society and has taught genealogy classes at the Munster Public Library, Merrillville Library and Nordik Folk Lodge.
While it can get frustrating when you seem to hit a wall in your research, that challenge is something Smith really enjoys, as well as “reading centuries-old documents,” linking his family’s history to American and European History and learning about links to European royalty. “I also love that I am recording my family’s history for future generations,” he said.
Some of the most interesting things he learned in his research were that his ancestors helped found Lexington, Ky. and were the second largest producers of gunpowder, used in the War of 1812. “One of my relatives was a Brevetted General whose 1st KY troops killed Tecumseh in 1813,” he said. “They were also Trustees of Transylvania University in Lexington and before that in Stanton, VA at Augusta College.”
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He added, “another interesting thing is that ever since I was a kid my dad always said he never knew his grandpa, but had ‘heard rumors’ that he was named Ed Smith and that he had died from being shot in Colorado. But I could never find any information about him no matter how hard I looked. It was a mystery and I began to think that maybe the name Smith was really just an alias taken back in the day. Then, one day, just to kill some time, I started searching for a great grandmother whose maiden name was Tittle and boom.
Up popped an article about a shooting at the house of a Mr. Tittle, where his son-in-law, Ed Smith, 24, was shot and killed by his brother-in-law, a Mr. Schultz.”
The retired construction superintendent and maintenance senior supervisor also enjoys gardening and being involved with the Sons of Unions Veterans of the Civil War and Sons of the American Revolution. Raised in Chicago, he attended Western Illinois University and married his wife, Lynda, in 1971. They have three children
and eight grandchildren. The couple are also part-time Michigan and Colorado residents. Smith’s advice to others is to talk a lot to your oldest living relatives and write down or record everything they remember about their families. “When they are gone you will think of a million things you forgot to ask them about,” he said. “Also, take a DNA test and put it online with the most complete family tree you have and make it public so relatives can find you and share what they have found.”
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GENEALOGY FAN — Herb Smith of Munster was bitten by the genealogy bug decades ago. He’s even taught genealogy classes at the Munster Public Library, Merrillville Library and Nordik Folk Lodge.
Photo By Carrie Steinweg.
Rice & Rice walks to end Alzheimer’s
Rice & Rice Attorneys joined others in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Oct. 6 at Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso to support all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, including 121,300 in Indiana. An additional 11 million, including 216,000 in Indiana, are providing unpaid care — a physically, emotionally and financially challenging role.
Alzheimer’s is among the most expensive diseases in America and will cost our nation an estimated $360 billion this year. The impact on the workforce is staggering. Six in 10 caregivers were employed in the past year, and 57% of employed caregivers had to go in to work late, leave early or take time off due to caregiving demands.
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is held annually, in more than 600 communities nationwide, and is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk; now the Alzheimer’s Associ-
ation is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
“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, scan the QR code below:
Together, we can advance Alzheimer’s care, support and research on behalf of the more than 7 million Americans living with this disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduc-
WALKING
TO END ALZHEIMER’S Rice & Rice Attorneys came together to form a team to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in early October to support those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
Shown is the turnout for the annual walk which was held at Central Park in Valparaiso. Photo provided by Rice & Rice.
tion and early detection and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call (800) 272-3900.
To learn more about how Rice & Rice Attorneys helps families affected by this
disease, through careful Elder Law planning, call (800) 303-7423 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation or to attend one of our Estate Planning/Medicaid Planning workshops at Avalon Manor,
Merrillville, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, or Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Reservations required, seating is limited! Call now: (800) 303-7423 or visit www. riceandrice.com.
Veterans and
military members: Social Security
By DANIEL SUMMER, MA Public Affairs Specialist
Social Security Administration
Veterans Day is on Monday, Nov. 11. We honor all veterans who served our country and risked their lives to protect us.
If you know a veteran, let them know about our Military and Veterans web page at ssa. gov/people/veterans.
On that page, we have information about Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for veterans, including:
• How SSDI benefits are different from benefits available through the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application.
• How we expedite the
processing of Social Security disability claims for service members.
• Answers to questions asked about Social Security.
Some active-duty military service members are unable to work due to a disabling condition but continue to receive pay while in a hospital or on medical leave. They should consider applying for SSDI. Active-duty status and receipt of military pay doesn’t necessarily prevent payment of SSDI benefits.
Our Military and Veterans webpage is easy to share on social media and with your friends and family. Consider passing this information along to someone who may need it.
SOCIAL SECURITY HAS YOUR BACK — The Social Security Administration honors all veterans who served our country and has a web page dedicated on information about Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for veterans. Photo provided by the Social Security Administration.
Seniors battle online abuse
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Cyberspace crooks steal billions of dollars every year from seniors.
No one knows exactly how high that figure is because less than half of these robberies are reported, according to some experts.
Computer theft from the elderly includes identity theft and credit card, investment, tax return and lottery winnings fraud.
Another cruel caper is attacking the seniors’ computer system with malware that requires payment to remove — and it’s not removed after payment is made. Mature
Mature Life Features
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
Chesterton Senior Olympian encourages running at any age
By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer
When Tom Magill of Chesterton was in his 30s, he said his doctor recommended he find a means of physical activity to work into his life. “I’d gotten way overweight and way out of shape and the doctor told me I better get started with something,” said Magill. “I took up running and lost a lot of weight and I’ve stuck with it.”
And stuck with it he has — for six decades. The recently-turned 96-year-old is still running races. He does about a dozen races a year and works out three times a week at a lo-
cal YMCA. “Now I talk everyone into it that I can,” he said. “I’m like the pied piper of running.”
While he prefers to run 5Ks these days, he has done four marathons in the past — two in Chicago, one in New York and one in London. His favorite race has been an 8-mile race around Mackinac Island.
As a participant in the National Senior Games Association, Magill has racked up a numbers of medals, mostly for first place in his age category. Athletes must qualify at the state level to be able to advance to the national games, which Magill has done for next year’s games in Des Moines, Iowa. “It’s
Update your insurance policies
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Mature Life Features
With the price of housing mushrooming, your home may be worth more than it was insured for initially.
To verify its current replacement value, prepare a file with the year it was built, the size of its living area, the size of any other features.
Show this information to
your insurance agent so they can check their databases to assess your property’s current replacement value. You might do the same with your auto insurance policy. Take the make and model year of your vehicle, miles driven, number of drivers and their ages to your agent and see if you can have the policy price lowered.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
an amazing thing that they do with so many people. Swimming, badminton — name your sport and it’ll be there,” said Magill.
At the senior games he is competing against his peers in smaller age categories. In local races, he said they’ll often have an age category of “75 and older,” which can mean he is competing against runners up to 21 years younger. “That gets kind of tough,” he said. The Senior Olympics breaks it down to five year categories.
Magill retired in his early 60s as vice president at Dean’s Foods. “I wanted to get out and enjoy life,” he said. “I had a sailboat that we lived on for 10 years and had my own airplane. Both my wife and I are pilots.”
While he was still working, he and his wife were on a vacation in Hawaii and they stopped at a scenic spot, where a tour bus pulled up and many of the people got out with wheelchairs and walkers. That prompted his retirement decision. “I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to enjoy everything while I could,” he said.
His wife is also a runner and they are involved in a running club together. “I only associate
with people who are active,” said Magill. “A lot of older people only want to talk about aches and pains.”
He recommends running as a good physical activity for all ages and notes how beneficial it is to run with others. “Get involved with other people if at all possible. Run together. Whatever you choose to do, find something you can stay with. Make it something you enjoy, so you can keep with it,” he said. “That’s so important. People buy expensive exercise equipment and you see it in their house collecting dust.”
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Professional Forum . . .
Your exclusive opportunity to present common questions or concerns “Adults 50 Years And Better” may have relating to your product(s) or service.
Each Senior Life Newspaper is distributed to over 300 locations each month and is
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, apartment complexes, doctor offices, drug stores, farmer’s market, resale locations, churches, convenient stores, and retail stores. There are four distinct issues of Senior Life Newspaper including:
• St. Joseph — including LaPorte, Marshall, Berrien and Cass counties
• Elkhart — including LaGrange, Noble, Kosciusko, Wabash and St. Joseph, MI counties
• Allen — including DeKalb, Noble, Whitley, Huntington, Wells and Adams counties, and
• Northwest — covering Lake, Porter and Cook, IL counties
Call today for more information on how you can advertise in Senior Life.
SENIOR OLYMPIAN — Tom Magill started running in his 30s and hasn’t stopped yet. The 96-year-old still runs and competes, running 5Ks and participating in the National Senior Games. Photo provided by Tom Magill.
50 Years Ago, Blast From The Past —
‘I can help’ an up-tempo blues song
Billy Swan
Billy Swan always maintained that his best songs have come easily and fast.
By RANDAL C. HILL
Case in point: In 1962, at age 20, Swan struck recording gold when a poem he wrote in a high school English class years before morphed into the lyrics of a hastily composed ditty he called “Lover Please.” It became the last Top 10 hit for rhythm-and-blues legend Clyde McPhatter.
One dozen years later, Swan entered Tennessee record producer Chip Young’s Young’un Sound Studio and, in two takes, recorded a chart-topping tune that had taken him 20 minutes to write. Music critics pronounced “I Can Help” a neo-rockabilly shuffle, fueled by an irresistible elec-
tric organ line; Swan, though, saw it as an up-tempo blues song. Either way, it became a smash on both sides of the Atlantic.
Born in Missouri, Swan grew up influenced by country artists and such rock ‘n’ roll pioneers as Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. By age 14, Swan was drumming in local beer joints, while also teaching himself to play rhythm guitar and keyboards. He eventually moved to Memphis, where he wrote several songs for established country artists and, in time, cut his record-production teeth on Tony Joe White’s classic ditty “Polk Salad Annie.”
Billy signed to record for Nashville’s Monument Records. He composed “I Can Help” in the “music room” that his wife, Marlu, had converted from a closet inside the small duplex they shared. Those cramped quarters held an electric organ, an amplifier and a Rhythm Master drum machine.
“That Rhythm Master had something like 10 preset sounds,” recalls Swan. “It had mambo, cha-cha, bossa nova,
Rock 1 and Rock 2. I used one of those rock settings when I wrote ‘I Can Help.’ ”
Young’un Sound was actually a two-room log house in Murfreesboro, Tenn., about 35 miles southeast of Nashville.
To record his million-seller, Swan borrowed a portable organ from a session musician in the studio that day.
Swan explains, “Chip set up a vocal mic. I stood in front of the organ, and what you hear was captured on the second take. While I was playing the organ and singing, I was also shaking my leg all through that take; Chip’s little puppy named Bowser was tugging on my pants leg all through what you hear on the record.”
Let’s examine “I Can Help.”
On the surface, a kind-hearted man is offering his services to a lady who may appreciate his assistance:
“I got two strong arms, I can help
“Apparently, nothing is too big a task for him:
“If your child needs a daddy, I can help.”
But the song’s refrain shows a change in focus, and Mister
Nice Guy is obviously also interested in establishing a romantic relationship:
“When I go to sleep at night
“You’re always a part of my dream
“Holding me tight and tell-
ing me everything
“I want to hear.”
Yes, he’s willing to help, but he yearns for more.
You’ve explained yourself, Billy. Now all you can do is await her decision.
Giving up the car keys doesn’t have to drive you nuts
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Mature Life Features
A neighbor well up in years bounces from furious to frustrated whenever he considers driving.
Family members keep casting hints and harpoons about his diminishing driving skills — loss of hearing, slow reaction time, eyesight not what it used to be, confusion in traffic, and on and on and on.
So he lets his children
drive him wherever he has to go — mainly medical appointments, although they do get out for dinner now and then.
But he gets back at them, without their knowledge. They haven’t taken away his keys. When everyone’s away, he shuffles out to the garage, climbs in behind the wheel and takes the family flivver for a drive — around the block, around the parking lot of a neighboring mall and back into the garage. He
hasn’t told his family about these excursions but he’s made sure he’s told a few of his friends and neighbors.
He could point out to those siblings and children who criticize his driving that older drivers are involved in fewer collisions and traffic fatalities on average than 70-plusyear-old motorists just a few years ago.
One reason is safer cars. But the trend is important because the number of older drivers is growing as the population ages.
At the same time, thanks to lifestyles, diet and medical advances, today’s geriatric drivers are healthier and more fit than their predeces-
HOLIDAY POPS
December
sors a generation or two ago.
As long as you feel capable of driving and handling traffic situations, you should feel comfortable keeping your keys. Be aware at the same time that many forms of dementia, dizziness from sugar lows or simply old age, narrowing eyesight and several other disabilities that can diminish your ability to drive can strike silently and quickly.
You can take stock of when it might be time to give up your car keys.
Ask yourself if you can still read traffic signs readily and if you get lost or confused, especially in heavy traffic. Make sure your bad back
doesn’t stop you from looking around to see if all is clear when you want to change lanes.
Do family and friends still ride with you when you’re driving?
And do you still like to drive?
Giving up our car keys means giving up our independence to most of us. That doesn’t have to be true.
The money you save on car payments, insurance, fuel, maintenance, parking and tolls can pay for more than enough cab rides. You can still go where you want to go whenever you want to, and you don’t have to drive.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
SONGS CAME EASILY AND FAST Billy Swan saw his hit ‘I Can Help’ as an up-tempo blues song and became a smash on both sides of the Atlantic. Photo from Wikipedia.
A Boomer Blast To The Past
ACROSS
1. Kind of wrap
6. Pose a question
9. Be sore
13. Ottoman title
14. Ornamental pond-dweller
15. Florida Key, e.g.
16. Mr. T and friends
17. Knot-tying vow (2 words)
18. Milan’s La ____
19. *Walrus’ cousin (2 words)
21. *Crustacean “on the barbie”
23. Finish line
24. Creole vegetable
25. He had
28. Gives a helping hand
30. Tranquil
35. Frosts, as in cake
37. Bear, in Latin
39. All the words in a language
40. “By ____, I think she’s got it!”
41. Silver to Lone Ranger
43. Chows down
44. Mark Twain to Samuel Langhorne Clemens
46. Toupee spot
47. Pestilence pest
48. Singer Eilish
50. Rub the wrong way
52. Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no ____”
53. *A type of whale or the color of many dolphins
55. Overnight lodging
57. *Inspiration for a certain pineapple dweller
60. *Inspiration for Marvel’s Doc Ock
64. South American juice flavor
65. Bearded antelope
67. All thumbs
68. Pineda of Journey
69. Stomach
pain-causing acronym
70. Hundred, in Italian
71. Hammer part
72. Not stood
73. Bar, legally
DOWN
1. R&R destinations
2. Angie Thomas’ “The ____ U Give”
3. Seaward
4. *Cetology object of study
5. Thin layer
6. *Like green sea turtle and loggerhead sea turtle
7. Grass “carpet”
8. Newsstand, e.g. 9. Fungal spore sacs
10. *Edible bivalve
11. S.O.S.
12. Pilot’s estimate, acr.
15. Netanyahu’s country
20. Abomination
22. 9 to 5, e.g.
24. Bone burial spot
25. Muslim woman’s headscarf
26. Cause for food recall
27. a.k.a. Lucifer
29. Between stop and roll
31. *Coral polyps’ structure
32. Raise one’s rank
33. Potassium nitrate
34. Student’s request for ChatGPT?
36. *#19 Across’ earless cousin
38. Hostile to 42. Opposite of ecbatic
45. Smoke, sometimes
49. Energy
Brain Boosters
unit
51. Attract
54. Front of cuirass
56. Religiously unaffiliated, pl.
57.
58. Glazier’s unit 59. Baker’s baker 60. Give a boot
Closely
Apple Pie Bars
INGREDIENTS:
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
3 medium apples, peeled if desired and sliced (about 3 cups)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour plus ¼ cup, divided
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup nuts, such as sliced almonds or chopped pecans
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Unfold puff pastry and place on a large rimmed baking sheet. With a sharp knife, gently score the pastry about ¼ inch from the edge to create a border.
Combine apples, granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 tablespoon flour in a medium bowl; stir well to coat the apples. Spread the apples evenly over the pastry inside the border.
Combine oats, nuts, brown sugar and the remaining 1/4 cup flour and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in the medium bowl. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples. Bake until the pastry is browned and the apples are soft, 25 to 30 minutes.
OCEAN DWELLERS
Confident answer
confined 62. Plotting
“____! In the Name of Love” 64. Year off in school 66. Giannis’ league
Faith Salvation Army gearing up for busy holidays
Text and Photos By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer
When Captain Jim Prichard, chief administrator and pastor at Salvation Army of Porter County, thinks of the holidays, he recalls an incident from last year.
The Thanksgiving turkey drive was nearly over and some food remained when Prichard received a phone call from a family desperately in need. Prichard was able to provide them with the remaining food.
“We’re here to help those in need,” said Prichard. “It took one little conversation and we had that turkey for them. They were so grateful. The husband and wife were in tears.”
And now another holiday season approaches. Prichard has two things on his wish list — toys and monetary donations.
The toys are for Salvation Army’s “toy shop,” which last year helped 508 children, or “angels,” from 240 families.
Although qualifying parents provide a list of toys, Salvation Army allows parents to pick up the gifts to “offer them a little more dignity,” the pastor explained.
The money enables Salvation Army to purchase toys and food supplies for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Salvation Army provided 35-40 boxes with turkeys last Thanksgiving, helping 130 families and residents at two Valparaiso senior residences.
In addition to food baskets,
SORTING FOOD SUPPLIES
Tom Miller of Valparaiso, a volunteer with Salvation Army of Porter County, prepares food baskets for weekly distribution. Salvation Army is preparing for another holiday season of distributing food and toys among area needy families.
Salvation Army provided food boxes for 225-250 families last Christmas.
For Prichard, the most rewarding part of his ministry is “just seeing smiles on families’ faces, the ones who truly need help.”
For Salvation Army and those who give, the Christmas holiday means one thing — red kettles. This year’s campaign runs 40 days from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24.
The 2024 kettle drive goal is $100,000. This year’s campaign will use tiptap, enabling potential donors to pay electronically.
As usual, volunteers will be needed to work the 19 kettle locations across Porter County.
Throughout the year, Prichard reported Salvation Army’s facility in the South Haven community serves an estimated 4,600 families.
Services include a food pantry open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers see an average of 30 families daily at the pantry.
Other ministries included archery classes, music classes, summer day camp, hygiene closet, utility and rental assistance, and Pathways of Hope, a program designed to help families break the cycle of poverty. With a recent donation of 10 keyboards from Porter County Community Foundation, Prichard hopes to develop more piano classes.
Prichard said Salvation Army is serving 15-20 additional clients monthly with utility and rental assistance.
Salvation Army has been in Porter County 65 years. It has been at its current location at 799 Capitol Road, near US 6, since 1995. The former Lutheran church doubles as an archery site, office space, chapel and food distribution.
Prichard noted through the
years the agency has outgrown its current home. Following talks with other local service organizations, Prichard said, it was determined there was a need to provide a safe place for children of low-income families for after-school activities and other youth programming.
Salvation Army of Porter County has plans for a capital campaign to raise funds for a
new building addition, archery pavilion, updated equipment and expansion of existing services. For more information or to help Salvation Army of Porter County, call (219) 762-9191. The agency is also on Facebook.
Schererville hosts
Remembrance Ceremony
The Town of Schererville and the Schererville Parks Department invite the community to attend the 2024 Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11. The event will be held at the Town Court/War Memorial located at the Schererville Police Station, 25 E. Joliet St., Schererville. This ceremony honors those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The program will feature musical performances, including “America the Beautiful,” the National Anthem and “Amazing Grace.” Local veterans and officials will give brief remarks, and a moment of silence will be observed to remember those who sacrificed for our freedoms. The public is encouraged to attend this meaningful tribute to our veterans. For more details, contact Schererville Parks at (219) 865-5530 or visit www.schererville.org.
SOUNDS OF MUSIC — Captain Jim Prichard, chief administrator and pastor of Salvation Army of Porter County, sits beside one of 10 keyboards recently donated by Porter County Community Foundation. The Valparaiso charity is looking ahead to another busy holiday season serving area residents in need.
FEEDING THE HUNGRY Kimberly Smith of Westville, a volunteer with the Salvation army of Porter County, fills food baskets.
apartment LIVING
Honey, the water pipes are frozen
By PATRICIA J. EVANKO Fountain View Apartments
It’s cold outside, honey. Snow and ice, 12 inches thick on the driveway. The front door won’t close tight anymore. The water pipes have frozen. The fan on the furnace is not working. The plumber can’t be here until Tuesday. The furnace man is so busy this time of year, he won’t be here until Friday. We could turn on the oven, but that doesn’t seem to work. Regardless of the cold, three little mice have found a home in the attic. They came in through
a hole in the roof. Utility bills are sky high because the windows are single pane and insulation was never put in the walls. The cold winds blowing through the broken glass panes don’t seem to help, either.
This could be a good time to move into a nice apartment, in a nice community, with a nice maintenance man, who will take care of any problems that come along and it will be warm.
Fountain View Apartments is that wonderful community — nice, affordable and safe. It is an inexpensive apartment
community for active senior adults. It is being remodeled, with new plank flooring, stainless kitchen appliances, mosaic back splashes, newer carpets, strong roofs and no mice. We plow the snow and salt the walks.
Our apartments are nice and warm. We take care of maintenance issues, from pipes to furnaces to air condi-
tioners to stray cats. Just call the office and the situation is taken care of as soon as possible.
Fountain View Apartments are located in Crown Point. Our location offers proximity to grocery stores, churches and banks all within walking distance. Every apartment had a balcony or patio. Our rent is very reasonable, they start
at $985 per month for a one bedroom to $1,180 for a two bedroom. Call (219) 663-8228 to schedule an appointment. We are located off Merrillville Road and 96th Avenue. The address of our model and office is 9614 Dona Court, Apartment 35, Crown Point. We love to meet new people. Visit www.fountainviewrentals.com for more details.
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Laundry Facilities
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early this year! (Bring this ad & enter a drawing)
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A NICE PLACE TO LIVE Florence shows off her brand new coat. It’s such a wonderful coat for mild winter days when she walks the grounds at Fountain View Apartments in Crown Point. Fountain View Apartments offers an array of amenities while being affordable.
Photo by PJ McGarry.
VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana earns national distinction
By ROBERT FRANKO President VNA Hospice NWI
The VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana has a long history of serving our veterans with the utmost amount of care and respect. In fact, the VNA has
earned the highest distinction in the national We Honor Veterans program because of the care, respect and extra steps we take regarding those who served. It is a rigorous distinction that requires going well above and beyond simple gestures of appreciation.
Why is that important?
We believe it starts with understanding there is no such thing as too much appreciation for those who served. Relatively speaking, a small percentage of us made that commitment to enlist, or answered the call of the draft,
What is an irrevocable trust?
By RYAN HAHN Trust Administrator Wealth Management Center
Creating a trust is an important part of estate planning.
A trust offers several advantages, including the ability for you to maintain control over your assets, ensure they are distributed according to your preferences and provide potential tax advantages. With the assistance of the right estate planning attorney, you can craft a customized trust that fits your needs.
An irrevocable trust is a type of trust that is set up during the lifetime of the grantor.
Unlike a revocable living trust that can be amended or revoked at any time, once an ILT is established, it cannot be amended or revoked. This type of trust is often used for estate planning purposes because once assets are placed into the trust, they cannot be taken out. An ILT can safeguard your assets and protect them from various liabilities that may threaten your financial security.
These types of trusts offer ultimate protection and security for yourself, your family, and your beneficiaries. Contact me to learn more about different types of trusts.
Disclosure
This information is not designed, meant, nor does it constitute the rendering of legal or tax advice. You should consult with your attorney and/ or tax advisor before implementing any strategy discussed here. Trust services provided by MEMBERS Trust Company are not federally insured, are not obligations of or guaranteed by the credit union or any affiliated entity, involve investment risks, including the possible loss of principle. MEMBERS Trust Company is a federal thrift regulated by the office of the comptroller or the currency.
yet all of us benefit greatly from the freedoms we tend to take for granted. Not only does hospice provide comfort, love and support for the veteran and for their families, it’s another chance for all of us to say thank you.
However the VNA also supports our veterans long before hospice. Twice a year with the support of numerous volunteers and sponsors, we host Military Stand Downs. These are events where dozens of vendors from banks, to fitness clubs, to health care providers provide access and materials
for veterans and their families. It may be military discounts for services, or special access to care, or extra support for filings and benefits.
Our next Stand Down is from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Lake County Fairground. If you are veteran or a family member, or a business that would like to participate, call (219) 462-5195 to get more information. There is never a fee for the veterans or their families to attend, nor do we charge businesses to participate, although we do appreciate sponsorships.
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 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.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
LEAPED INTO LEGEND A person calling himself Dan Cooper, later becoming D.B. Cooper, has never been located after a bazarre escapade that remains history’s only unsolved commercial-airline hijacking. Photo from the FBI.
S. O. S. – Speaking Of Seniors
Medicare denied lab bill
By WOODROW WILCOX Senior Problem Resolution Officer Senior Care Insurance Services
On October 17, 2024, a client visited with a medical bill for me to check. The bill was for laboratory work that her doctor ordered for her. The client is from Lake Village.
With some editing to protect privacy, here is the letter that I sent for the client to her doctor and the laboratory:
Our client visited our office and brought a bill from your firm for our review. The bill seeks a balance of $162.91 on bill number XXXXXXXXXX for service on 01/04/24.
service that Medicare refused to cover. In other words, the patient did NOT cause the problem. Either the laboratory or the doctor or both caused the problem.
Please, stop trying to collect the balance and refile the claim correctly.
The client told me, “I’m sure glad that you helped me. People in billing tend to ‘walk’ on seniors when we phone them to discuss a bill.”
It was on a stormy Thanksgiving Eve in 1971 that a person who called himself Dan Cooper leaped into legend in a bizarre escapade that remains history’s only unsolved commercial-airline hijacking.
The night that changed aviation history began in Portland, Oregon, when a well-dressed 40ish man carrying a briefcase approached the flight counter of Northwest Orient Airlines and gave his name as Dan Cooper. (In Canada, “Dan Cooper” was a comic-book hero.) He became D. B. Cooper of popular culture later, when a reporter covering the hijacking mistyped the name from a police source.
By RANDAL C. HILL
Never asked to show identification or to open his briefcase, he paid cash for a one-way ticket on a Boeing 727 to nearby Seattle. As one of 37 passengers, he sat alone in the last row. Once airborne, Cooper passed a folded note to 23-year-old Florence Schaffner, an attractive steward accustomed to men hitting on her. When she tucked the unread message into her purse, the soft-spoken stranger said, “Miss, you’d better look at that note; I have a bomb.”
The note confirmed his threat, and Cooper ordered Schaffner to sit beside him. When she did, she asked to look inside the briefcase. There she saw a tangle of wires, a battery and six round red sticks. The passenger said that, once they landed in Seattle, he wanted $200,000 cash in a knapsack, as well as back and front parachutes. If his demands weren’t met, he warned, he would blow up the plane.
Schaffner took the note to the captain. When she returned, Cooper had donned wraparound sunglasses.
It was raining hard when the plane touched down in Seattle. The requested cash was brought onboard, the 727 was refueled, and the remaining passengers were released. The hijacker then ordered the captain to fly to Mexico City.
Cooper was obviously familiar with the aircraft. He ordered the pilot to fly the plane below 10,000 feet and with the wing flaps set at 15 degrees. (This would keep the 727 under 200 knots—230 miles an hour.) Cooper soon strapped the cash to himself, then slipped on the parachutes. He promised a frightened steward that he would dismantle the bomb or take it with him later, but he did neither.
Over the rugged terrain of southwestern Washington, he moved to the aft stairs, which allowed passengers to disembark from the rear of the airliner. He then leapt into the darkness amid a howling rainstorm and into an area of dense forests, canyons and white-water rapids. He was never seen again.
The client and I phoned both her secondary insurance company and Medicare to learn why there was a balance on this bill. The client has an excellent Medicare supplement insurance policy that pays for anything that Medicare approves but does not pay.
We discovered that the item that Medicare refused to approve was filed incorrectly. To save taxpayer money, when that happens, Medicare refuses to pay for anything that is not filed correctly.
In this case, the laboratory and/or the doctor failed to give adequate medical justification for the
All the help that I gave this client was free of charge. This insurance agency helps all our clients with similar medical bill problems without charge to demonstrate that we really do appreciate and value our clients. If your insurance agency does not give this high level of service, why don’t you switch to another insurance agency? Consider our agency.
Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville, Indiana. He has saved clients of that firm over $3 million by fighting mistakes or fraud in the Medicare billing system. Also, Wilcox wrote the book “Solving Medicare Problem$” which is available through book stores or online.
Travel through time
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
As you motor around the country visiting the grandkids, getting to see the sites on your to-do list or heading back for a class reunion, you can also travel back through time to trace your ancestry.
When you get to your home town, you can leaf through local records to trace your forebears back as far as they lived in that location. Having pored
through your lineage online or through family files, you can stop on the way there or the way back home in towns and cities mentioned in your chronicles.
It’s a good way to see America as well as trace your ancestors.
On a grander scale, you can visit the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation to view some 65 million immigrants who were documented at the island from 1820 to 1957.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
Rivaling an Alfred Hitchcock fantasy, the Cooper incident has achieved cult status in a Robin Hood sort of way. Never mind that the hijacker threatened to murder people, or that he made off with today’s equivalent of $1.5 million in cash.
Some folks have pronounced him a harebrained daredevil, jumping to certain death in the worst imaginable weather. Others, though, have maintained that D. B. Cooper deserves to be seen as a courageous establishment-beater who’s possibly still alive.
WOODROW WILCOX
Strahm guest speaker at Heritage Lions Club
Brian Strahm, who established the Heartbeat of Hoagland Foundation and owns Barney’s Heating and Air, Inc., gave a “heartfelt” talk to the
Imagine
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Heritage Lions on Tuesday Oct. 8. Strahm was persistent in his search for answers to his medical challenges, which included sleeplessness, feeling cold in
warm summer temperatures, and several other symptoms. He suffered for almost 10 years before he was finally diagnosed with a rare heart condition
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called Cardiac Sarcoidosis. He was told he needed a heart transplant, which he received on March 27, 2021. The surgery went exceptionally well and only took four hours, where the norm is usually six. His total treatment cost almost $2 million dollars, most of which was covered by insurance that he had wisely taken out three years prior.
Strahm could have easily died had he not been properly diagnosed and a compatible heart had not been found in time. There are currently 89 people in Indiana waiting for a donor heart, and the mortality rate on the nationwide list is fairly high. The donor can be either a man or a woman and must be matched in approximate age, height, weight, blood
type, and distance between hospitals. In 2021, medical personnel had only 4 hours from the time of death of the donor to the implantation if the heart into the recipient’s chest. Various improvements in technology have increased that window to as much as 24 hours. It now may be possible for a donor to be found anywhere in the world.
Strahm is a deeply religious man and he described the almost spiritual experience of being gifted with a heart, the brief preparation before the surgery, and the surgery itself. He felt that the Holy Spirit had intervened to allow him to continue in this life. Everyone listening could feel his deep emotion and gratitude as he Continued on page 17
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HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT Brian Strahm, founder of Hoagland Heartbeat, recently spoke at the Heritage Lions Club about his own heart transplant experience which lead him to start his own nonprofit.
Hoagland Heartbeat provides those preparing for or who have had a heart transplant a one-time financial donation. Photo provided by Rick Boys and Cindy Wolf.
Caregiving can be as simple as checking in now and then
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Mature Life Features
Think about it.
What would you do if you were heading to your car and someone asked for your keys so he or she could drive? You’d probably point out that it’s your car, that you know where you’re going and how to get there, and that you’re perfectly capable of driving there.
Now what would you do if someone suggested you move out of your home and go live somewhere else?
All seniors and their families face this possibility, despite the fact that seniors’ number one fear is loss of independence, according to an AARP report. And most people, even those who have not reached senior-hood yet, link independence with living in their own home.
Remaining in the family home is not an impractical goal. But there will come a time when seniors, as they grow older, will need some help. Oldsters forget to eat, or don’t eat properly. They don’t get around as much as they did when they were younger and they start losing touch with relatives, friends, neighbors and former colleagues. Many face the peril of falling while alone at home. Almost all face the probability that they will no longer be able to drive at some time, altering their transportation mode drastically.
Then there’s the added threat of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or whatever you want to call failing cognitive abilities.
Without having to don the heavy mantle of caregiving responsibility, there are many things you can do to help an ageing parent or neighbor. They don’t even have to know you’ve “adopted” them.
The first is to telephone often and drop by regularly.
This lets you stay aware of any shifts in the condition of the person you’re watching.
When you drop by, check the refrigerator to see that it’s clean and contains a healthy
assortment of food. One relative who eventually required constants care first began showing signs of diminished capacity by stuffing her worn pantyhose in the freezer.
While you’re in the house, see if the floors have been swept or vacuumed and the dusting done. See to it that lamps, television sets, toasters, and other appliances are safely and properly plugged in.
Peer under beds and behind cupboards to make sure the oldsters aren’t stuffing newspapers, old clothes or whatever into these spots, not only creating a fire hazard but
I do a lot of steps
By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer
There’s a lot of things I no longer do. Some I won’t, a lot I shouldn’t. And of course, the physical stuff.
Anymore I simply couldn’t. But it seems I can do steps. And quite a few at that. My former competitive nature, has made a ‘walking’ comeback.
Moving in with a daughter, their basement became our home.
We actually had a lot of upgrades, including a brand new phone.
Strahm guest
Continued from page 16
struggled to continue his talk. His determination to heal and return to a normal life motivated him to begin walking the corridors very soon after the new heart was in. His medical team repeatedly warned him “not to overdo it.” But Strahm pushed himself to grow stronger by walking as much as possible. When he returned home, he started walking through the cornfield by his house to build his body back up. He refused to be a victim. Instead, he used his circumstance as an opportunity to help others. His doctors called him “the picture-perfect patient” when he followed up with them after six months.
While in the hospital, Strahm noticed the challenges many patients faced. As stated on his website: “Brian shared his vision with a group of individuals and created a nonprofit organization called The Heartbeat of Hoagland Foundation. Strahm stated his mission was to assist those who are preparing for, or have had, a heart transplant or some other organ donation with a one-time donation ($1,000) to help with their many expenses. His foundation works with Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne and Ascension/St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. He is also trying to raise awareness throughout the community of heart donations and the
I can hardly use the technology. It just seems a bit complex. However, one feature was quickly mastered. I became adept at counting steps.
There suddenly came a purpose, for the expanse of kitchen floor.
You’ll find me up there walking laps, on nearly every morning. The day is slowly dawning, As I am getting in those reps. Before this house awakes, I’ll have 4,000 steps. I have been wanting to write a poem on steps for awhile now. Once again, the “in the moment” comes through for me.
importance of organ donations in general.” He encouraged the Heritage Lions to be an organ donors.
Strahm makes regular visits and keeps in contact with heart transplant patients in Indianapolis. One year after his transplant, he held a fundraiser for his foundation at the Hoagland Hayloft that raised $92,000. He has held two other fundraisers since then, including the very successful one at the HAAA Park a few weeks ago. At that event there was a car show, a 5K run, and lots of food was served. Strahm “has never felt better” and his story was an inspiration to all the Heritage Lions in attendance.
indicating one’s judgement is also slipping. Check the mail to make sure bills aren’t piling up but are being paid, and that scam artists are not taking advantage.
Of course, the appearance of the senior himself, or herself, will be an obvious sign of whether or not he or she is functioning normally. If he
looks a bit sloppy, but looked a bit sloppy all his life, then it’s okay. If her normally neat hair is askew and she’s wearing a sweater indoors on a hot summer day, you might want to consider talking to other members of her family to determine what, if any, further assistance is necessary.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
I have a snoring cat
“Dick, I know that the snoring is not intentional. But it has some devastating effects on our health and well-being. What are we going to do about it?”
By DICK WOLFSIE
“I’ve tried everything. It must have to do with the sleeping position.”
“Well, that’s tough to control. But we have to do something.”
“I’ll call the vet first thing in the morning.”
Yes, we have a pet that snores. But it’s not a dog. Believe it or not, we have a cat that snores. Yes, seriously, a cat. Her name is Angel.
We have had two dogs over the years that snored. Both Barney and my second beagle, Toby, were snorers. It wasn’t the occasional snort that kept us awake; it was a full blown, get-out-of-my-way foghorn. Both dogs woke themselves up every night, which made them cranky the next day. Dogs need their 18 hours.
I specifically remember the first onset of Toby’s snoring. Knee surgery had slowed him down a bit, resulting in a modest weight gain, a factor in snoring. I had observed no increase in smoking or alcohol consumption in the hound, another common cause. I Googled pets and snoring. Apparently, there’s a real epidemic of sleep disorders in the canine world: narcolepsy, jet lag, insomnia, night terrors and restless paw syndrome.
But cats?
The first thing I learned was those animals with short, flat faces — like bulldogs, pugs,
Pekingese — are more apt to snore. If your human partner has a short, flat face you just better accept it or trade your significant other for a horse. The site also noted that when pets sleep on their backs, snoring is more apt to occur. The best solution is to roust them out of a deep sleep, then abruptly flip them over on their stomachs. Mary Ellen thought this sounded like a good idea because that method worked temporarily on me several years ago.
But I still snore. Just like the cat.
One pet owner suggested gluing a tennis ball on a leather belt and wrapping it around the cat’s torso, so the bulge on his back would prevent him from rolling over. I tried this with Toby and Barney years ago. Both were pretty adept at twisting themselves into a knot, snatching the ball from the strap, and then dropping it on my head at two in the morning so we could play fetch. I got back on Google. I saw that one woman recommended nasal strips for a pet that snores, but sticking one of those on a beagle’s nose is like trying to keep a bandage on a peeled banana. Another idea was giving your pet a nice foam cushion to prop his head up at night, thus opening the nasal airway. Angel had no interest in this. But both beagles loved the pillows. Every bite of them.
Mary Ellen finally Googled the cat snoring issue. It said there wasn’t much you could do to stop a cat from snoring. A vet on the site suggested having the cat sleep in the basement, but my wife quickly rejected that solution. But that did give her another thought. Now she’s calling my doctor to see if he would advise her to do the same thing with me.
NUTSHELL
Volunteers build high tunnel at Purdue Extension Lake County
Community volunteers rallied as Purdue Extension Lake County broke ground on the first phase of a new Demonstration Garden. More than 20 Master Gardeners, local farmers, 4-H volunteers, and others with an interest in agriculture came together to install a high tunnel structure, with supervision from Extension Educator Becca Koetz and representatives from high tunnel manufacturer Nifty Hoops.
“A high tunnel is similar to a greenhouse, but less expensive, with a metal frame and plastic walls,” Koetz explained. “This system is climate controlled and automated to open and close for ventilation based on temperature sensors. This high tunnel will be used to start plants and to grow things in all seasons, like leafy greens and microgreens over winter. We can grow things with long growing seasons that we would not normally be able to grow in our area, like ginger and celery.”
Located outside the Purdue Extension office at the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point, the Demonstration Garden will provide ongoing education around farming and gardening. The finished garden will consist of the high tunnel, an outdoor classroom area, and raised beds of different designs. These beds will demonstrate different growing and management techniques from seed to harvest to cover crop. Annual and perennial edible, ornamental, sensory, and pollinator gardens will be showcased, as well as compost, water catchment, and a washpack table. Food grown in the garden will be used in nutrition programming, with surplus donated to local food banks.
Lake County Commissioner Michael Repay described the importance of the project, “the Board of Commissioners is proud of Purdue Extension and happy to support the High Tunnel project. This project is
another wonderful example of cooperation between Purdue Extension and Lake County. Residents will be able to learn by using a real-world facility from distinguished educators. This is just the latest in a continuing investment in County Extension service and education.”
“Many thanks to Lake County for providing the initial infrastructure for the garden, which includes a high tunnel, pavement leading to the high tunnel, and electric for the high tunnel,” said Koetz. Additional support for plants and gardening equipment has come from donations from community members, including funds raised through the annual Purdue University Day of Giving campaign.
“This Demonstration Garden has been many years in the making. So many partners have influenced the design behind this garden. A special thank you to my predecessor Nikky Witkowski, now Porter County Extension Educator, for her work in the beginnings of this garden,” concluded Koetz.
Purdue Extension links university research to learning opportunities in all 92 Indiana counties, with the goal of building vibrant communities, strong families and profitable businesses. Learn more about Purdue Extension Lake County at https://extension.purdue. edu/county/lake/ or contact the office at (219) 755-3240.
GETTING SOME HELP
Representatives from high tunnel manufacturer Nifty Hoops provide guidance to the volunteers during construction. Photo provided by Purdue Extension Lake County.
— Shown is the completed high tunnel. As a type of greenhouse it will be used to start plants and grow things like leafy greens and microgreens over the winter.
Specializing in Alzheimer’s
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.”
COMING TOGETHER — Community volunteers work together on a new Purdue Extension Lake County Demonstration Garden. Shown are the volunteers standing in front of the frame of a new High Tunnel, a type of greenhouse. Photo provided by Purdue Extension Lake County.
HIGH TUNNEL COMPLETE
Photo provided by Purdue Extension Lake County.
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
What’s happening at your local library
Below are all of the adult programs/events/classes for the month of November hosted by the various locations of the Lake County Public Library.
Cedar Lake 10010 W. 133rd Avenue
Crochet @ Your Library, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27
Samurai! Japanese SwordsPERSONship for the 21st Century, 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18
Book discussion, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20
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)
Acrylic Painting, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2
Crafters’ Gathering, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, 21
Medicare 101, 1:30-3 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 9
All Ability: Fall Decorations, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12
Adult Craft: Mini Holiday Village Cottages, 3-4 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23
New Parent & Cargiver Meet Up, 11-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26
Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin. org/branches/ds.htm or call (219) 322-4731.
Griffith-Calumet
1215 E. 45th Avenue
Thursday Threaders, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, 14, 21
Mystery Loves Company, 1-2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11
Book Buddies, 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25
Coffee & Coloring, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26
Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin. org/branches/gr.htm or call (219) 838-2825.
Highland
2841 Jewett Street
Once Upon a Crime Mystery Book Club, 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7
Book Discussion, 3-4 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26
Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/hi.htm or call (219) 838-2394.
Hobart
100 Main Street
Stitch’n Time, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2
Medicare 101, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4
Paint’n Time, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, 26
Hobart Book Chat, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19
Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/ho.htm or call (219) 942-2243.
Lake Station
2007 Central Avenue
Arts & Crafts for Adults: Autumn Pot Painting, 6:30-7:30
p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 Craft and Chat, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16
Job Search Support, 2-3 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 18
Tuesday Time Out, 2-3 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19
Bingo at the Library!, 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23
Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/cnl.htm or call (219) 769-3541.
Merrillville
1919 W. 81st Avenue (US 30)
Citizenship Class, 10:3011:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4, 11
English as a Second Language (ESL), 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, 11, 14, 18, 21
Citizenship Class, 10:3011:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 13
Create Your Own Greeting Card, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov.
6
Dungeons & Dragons for Adults, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6
An Evening of Jazz & Wine: Ages 21 and Older, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7
Medicare 101, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11
Environmental BINGO, noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12
Keep Me In Stitches, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 16
Junk Journaling for Adults, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25
Board Meeting, 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26
Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/cnl.htm or call (219) 769-3541.
Munster
8701 Calumet Avenue
Yoga & Breathing, 10-11 a.m. Nov. 2, 16
Dungeons and Dragons for Adults, 6-8:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, 14
Munster Lecture Series: U.S.-China Trade Rivalry, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13
Munster Book Discussion, Continued on page 21
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
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
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
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 Dyer
1532 Calumet Avenue, Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 515-4700
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
Lake Park Residential Care
2075 Ripley Street, Lake Station, IN 46405 (219) 962-9437 • www.assistedlivingfacilities.org Assisted
Remember how you are remembered
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Recalling how people remember you can be fun.
I learned that after bumping into about a dozen 70and 80-year-olds over the past decade who recalled our high-school days at Scollard Hall. This was a small allboys boarding school in North Bay, Ontario, run by the Resurrectionist priests.
I was a student from 1947 to 1952. We had a Grade 13 in Ontario in those days to give kids in smaller towns an opportunity to earn a few college credits before leaving to attend one of the handful of universities in the bigger Ca-
nadian cities. I was a day hop, not a boarder, and learned a lot by osmosis out of the classroom because there were students from far away as Venezuela, Italy, England, the U.S., and most Canadian provinces.
But back to how I was remembered.
At a group gathering during a not-long-ago reunion, many of the old folks commented that I had to have been the model for The Fonz, the pop culture icon featured in TV’s “Happy Days.” Except, “he couldn’t dance like you.”
On another occasion back home, the old-timer leaned on his cane and said, “yeah,
What’s happening
Continued from page 20
1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 Joe Rauen Performance, 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23
Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/mu.htm or call (219) 836-8450.
St. John 450 Wicker Avenue (US 41) Off the Hook, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27 Libby App Basics, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11 Medicare 101, 6-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11 Tech Class: Smart Phone
you’re the guy with the three pens.” I’d forgotten about that. I used to hold three pens in my hand so I could write three lines worth of detentions — penalties or punishment given for some infraction or other, such as “I will not be late for first class after lunch” — 500 times. Those three pens cut down the writing time a lot. Then he added, “and you sure could jive.”
A retired salesman I ran into a few years ago who had to give up a promising professional hockey career because of a shoulder that kept separating just flat out blared, “you were the best jiver in the ‘Bay.” Another
Basics, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12
Page Turners Book Discussion, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13
Registration required for all programs; visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/sj.htm or call (219) 365-5379.
old colleague, recalling my dance floor days, rolled his eyes and said, “man, you made us live!”
This patter and pattern have tumbled through my mind as I recall those dazzling days when I could jitterbug/jive/swing/whatever historians call it today. It was a shuffle and shucking done to a boogie-woogie beat and, while I can’t claim to have been the best in my growing-up town, there was no one better.
It all began in Jack McGinty’s living room. His home is now a rooming house abutting a McIntyre Street motel. His sister, Leona, taught me when I was 14 or 15 how to cut a rug on their living room rug. Jack and I were close friends, along with Frank (who became a wellknown cop and civic leader in Sault Ste. Marie), Tom (who acquired his own surveying firm and became a competitor at international curling bonspiels), two neighbors (who rose to monsignor-ity in the Church) and our big guy (who went on to play several
years of professional football in western and eastern Canada). As it turned out, we were pallbearers at Jack’s funeral after he was killed in a freak traffic accident. I was 17 at the time.
And I always got a picture of him in my mind when I went into swing that gave me access to every gal in town. When the beat got down, all I had to do was point to one and she skipped out and we had a boogie ball. This is said not as a boast, although it is with pride, because we both were having fun.
That’s all I’ve ever wanted out of life — to be able to have fun. And I’ve had to deal with hundreds — probably thousands — of people who have done their utmost to deter me. So, every once in awhile, I toss a big band CD into the tuner and turn up the volume just right while I bob and bounce to the beat as I picture Jack and the living room where his sister taught me to boogie a long time ago in an era far away.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
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
Fort Wayne History Center — A virtual timeline
There it stands.
Right in the middle of modern downtown Fort Wayne. It looks like a castle that should be perched on a hill in 17th century Germany. Its sandstone blocks exude history. History leaks from every door and window.
By ROD KING
It’s the Fort Wayne History Center. This is where the city and Allen County history is on display. It’s a great story that starts with the receding of the glaciers, through the era of the American Indians to the coming of General Mad Anthony Wayne, the development of the city and the products that were invented and produced here.
Built in 1893, the building housed the offices of the mayor, city administration, city court, Fort Wayne Police Department and the jail. The only residents of the jail today are a 1950s FWPD motorcycle and a cardboard stand-up of a forlorn-looking prisoner. Prisoners were escorted from the basement jail to city court on the second floor to hear their cases.
The city court room is now the location of the annual Gingerbread Festival. This cherished event has been held there since 1986. It has become one of the city’s holiday traditions featuring the works of local artists ranging from pre-kindergarten to professionals. This year’s event will be Nov. 29 through Dec. 22.
Old city hall became the headquarters of the Fort Wayne Historical Society in 1980. Since then, it has built its collection to more than 32,000 pieces, including photos, artifacts and
documents representing the history of the city and the county displayed in an easy-to-understand presentation.
American Indians were present in the Three Rivers Area well before the Miami tribe settled here. Little is known of those people, but they left behind tools, drills, arrowheads and pottery.
Much more is known about the Miami Indians who established a village, Kekionga, here because of the portage between the Maumee and Wabash Rivers, which was a key part of the trade route that stretched from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
Kekionga became a major trading center. The museum’s permanent collection has many artifacts documenting the lifestyle of the Miami Indians and their most prominent leaders, Chief Little Turtle and Jean Baptiste de Richardville.
Probably the most valuable piece in the collection is the fold-up camp bed of General Mad Anthony Wayne. He came to the area in 1794 with the singular purpose of constructing a military fort that would control the region. Following its construction, he left and never returned. The fort was named after him and also became the name of the city that grew up around it. The bed is on loan from the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The History Center is a timeline that traces the growth of the area and includes special pieces, like the Farnsworth Model 4 prototype television, which was developed here in 1945 and is one of the earliest Farnsworth TVs in existence. Packard Organ Company’s number one 1872 test organ is also a highlight.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 65 and over, and $5 for youth.
BUILT IN 1893 Old City Hall now serves as the Fort Wayne History Center. The museum is a virtual timeline outlining the history of the city and county from the glaciers, through the American Indian period, Anthony Wayne and the building of the fort named after him, the coming of the canal and railroads to the present.
CARNAHAN DOLLHOUSE The daughter of William and Clara Carnahan woke up to find this dollhouse next to the Christmas tree in 1886.
HARVESTER STEAM WHISTLE This whistle sounded to start the work day for the more than 15,000 workers at the International Harvester truck plant. At one time Fort Wayne was considered the heavy duty truck capital of the world.
GREAT ESCAPES
Text and Photos
On a mission to capture California wines and times
By BEVERLY RAHN SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
The “real California,” that land of myth and movies, does exist.
You’ll find it along the section of the California mission trail that connects Mission San Juan Bautista outside Salinas to the mission for which this city is named, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
We started along the River Road that parallels the Salinas River and Highway 101 as far south as Mission Soledad. This quiet, out-of-theway mission was the 13th the Franciscan friars established in the chain that forms the spine of the Golden State. It sits on a site that was served by native-built redwood aqueducts from hot springs a few miles away on the flanks of the Coastal Range.
Within a couple of hours’ drive-time north of “Obispo” are several other missions — Carmel, Santa Cruz, San Juan Bautista, San Miguel and San Antonio. The last is the next one down the road from Soledad.
San Antonio, founded third after San Diego and Carmel, is on the Hunter Ligget Military Reservation, the only one on a military base. Besides providing settlement centers, the 21 California missions served as military complexes and were built roughly a day’s horse ride apart.
Its southern neighbor is San Miguel, which was established in 1797. It’s the 16th mission to be strung along El Camino Real (The King’s Highway). Window panes were made of stretched sheepskin as a substitute for hard-to-get glass.
We next ducked into Paso Robles, one of the best kept secrets on this out-of-themainstream tourist trail. It anchors a rolling Tuscany-lookalike landscape that supports some 70 wineries.
Before taking the 30-minute drive to San Luis Obispo, we spent a couple of days in Paso Robles to soak in its restfulness and romance while stopping by several
Distributing Over
wineries for savory sampling. When we finally rolled up to Mission San Luis Obispo, we were welcomed by chants of Sunday Mass coming from
the church as we strolled along the creek walk that proclaims the present and past of this historic town.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
MISSION SAN ANTONIO
MISSION SAN MIGUEL
Residences Senior Living, locally owned and offering licensed assisted living and memory care community services through Residences at Deer Creek, Schererville, and Residences at Coffee Creek, Chesterton, brought home to Northwest Indiana three of the eleven distinguished awards presented by the Indiana Assisted Living Association (INALA) at the Awards Luncheon culminating their Annual Fall Conference on Sept. 12. There are currently 366 assisted living communities in Indiana.
“Innovation of the Year” honored Residences at Coffee Creek for their outstanding vision, innovation and creativity through the development and implementation of an idea, design, or project that has benefited residents, staff and community.
Citing the invitation to the Coffee Creek Farmer’s Market to relocate in the front parking lot as an innovation, the many benefits to residents within and throughout Chesterton and surrounding communities were described. Included were increasing access for those who use assistive devices; enabling senior living residents to socialize and foster the feeling that they remain a part of the larger community; and supporting local vendors and purchasers to obtain healthy pro-
duce and artisan-created items.
“We are the only senior living that we are aware of that offers an actual free-standing farmers market to our residents, their families and the community at large on our property,” noted Kaitlynn Redmon, Executive Director, accepting the award.
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR Residences of Coffee Creek received the Innovation of the Year award at the Northwest Indiana’s Residences Senior Living awards during its annual conference.
Shown is Residences of Coffee Creek resident Lottie shopping at the Coffee Creek Farmer’s Market. The facility worked with the founders of the farmers market to have it relocate to the parking lot of Coffee Creek.
The farmers market has increased access to those who use assistive devices and allows residents to remain part of the community.
provided.
“Collaborating with the founders to host the weekly Parkinson’s Support Group and unique Exercise Program and hosting an annual Fun Run fundraiser for their efforts filled an important void in Porter County. Working with the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana, we are also able to present a monthly support group for caregivers, along with a local Grief and Loss support group. All are open to the public as our response to the ever-growing need to provide opportunities for information about chronic conditions affecting the aging and their families,” Redmon emphasized.
“Working in tandem and both receiving awards, we are so proud of our staff: Sue Aimone, RN, won 2024 Outstanding Nurse Leader for her exemplary guidance in putting residents’ needs first and leadership in the community’s caregiving efforts. Sue’s passion for seniors began at the age of 17; she brings over 20 years of nursing experience with special interests in geriatrics, rehabilitative and dementia care. She is a leader to roll up her sleeves and pitch in whenever and wherever there is need throughout our community.
“Lindsey Sherron, our Master’s Level Licensed Clinical Social Worker, won the prestigious 2024 Caregiver of the Year. Nominated by Residences at Deer Creek, Lindsey works tirelessly at both Residences Senior Living sites to offer her expertise, as well as connections to additional community resources for mental and behavioral health. Her certifications in dementia have led her to be an additional facilitator for the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana; she is instrumental in our support groups at both locations. Lindsey’s compassion for new residents and families adjusting to senior living is admired by our entire staff, residents and families. ‘She exceeds the INALA criteria for making our assisted living a valuable community asset,’ adds Karen Ayresman, Executive Director, Residences at Deer Creek.”
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LINDSEY SHERRON
SUE AIMONE