SUPPORTIVE SERVICES In addition to housing, the center also provides supportive services to aid veterans. The center partners with the Veteran Affairs for health services and referrals while also providing an in-house clinical social work team to provide assistance with disability benefits, food stamps and employment.
By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer
“While there are a lot of general misconceptions about people who experience homelessness that feeds into stigma, such as the erroneous belief that they are all addicts or are just too lazy to work,” Lani Vivirito, chief resource and veteran’s service officer of the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center, said, “I will say that this community is incredible in its support of homeless vets — they are really able to see them as humans who need a hand up.”
The Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center is a male-only 25-bed facility that opened in January 2012. Since the center opened its doors, it has been able to serve over 750 veterans, helping 70% of
those veterans move into permanent housing.
“The truth is that there is no single story to homelessness,” Vivirito explained. “Clearly, a common denominator is financial as most of our vets simply do not have enough income to maintain housing. This might be due to job loss or a divorce and they just need a bit of time to get back on their feet.”
Vivirito also suggested, “Or, it could be because they have developed a disabling condition that prevents them from maintaining employment and they need help navigating disability claims through the VA or Social Security, as well as help finding housing.”
The center has served Veterans as young as 23 and up to 80. The
center tailors supportive services to each individual Veteran.
“We strive to be as comprehensive as possible while also ensuring we are quickly moving them into permanent housing,” Vivirito assured. The center works with the VA for primary and mental health, substance misuse and to refer Veterans to other community-based services. The center also houses a clinical social work team onsite to provide additional mental health and recovery supports, as well as functional supports including assistance with applications for disability benefits, food stamps and employment.
“Our namesake, Robert L. Miller Sr., served in the Navy during the Korean War and understood just how important
espirit de coeur — the sense of purpose gained from belonging to a group — was to Veterans who were down on their luck,” Vivirito explained. “He also understood how important it was for all veterans to have access to a Last Salute — the military honors conveyed when veterans are laid to rest.”
The Millers Vets Color Guard predates the Miller Veterans Center, having been established in 2009. Today, the Miller Vets Color Guard, a corps of homeless and formerly homeless veterans, provide service to funerals, sporting events, graduations and other veteran service events across the community. The color guard is led by Ed Buras, a Vietnam and Marine Corp veteran, and it provides volunteer services to
approximately 250 events each year.
“We are so proud of the service we provide to the community with the Color Guard,” Vivirito remarked.
Over the course of the nearly decade and a half, the accomplishments made by the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center is immeasurable. According to Vivirito, “too many to even begin to recount!”
“We have built incredible relationships with community organizations who want to support our Veterans,” Vivirito said. “And we have watched Veterans land their dream jobs, secure their service-connected pensions and reunite with family and loved ones. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve them.”
By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer
“I have always been a people person, someone who deeply cares about others’ well-being,” Chief Carl Buchanon explained. “So, when I saw the South Bend Fire Department was taking applications, I knew what my purpose was.”
Buchanon was appointed as South Bend Fire Department chief by Mayor James Mueller in 2020. This appointment came after a courageous firefighting career that spanned over decades.
“I have a never-ending desire to learn and be a team player and contributor. I’ve been able to learn something about myself through every phase of my career,” Chief Buchanon explained. “I’ve been able to learn something about myself through every phase of my career.”
When Buchanon worked as private, he learned “repetition increased my ability to excel.”
As he worked his way up to captain, he learned how to be “an effective leader and communicator.” He served as captain from 1991 to 2007. As battalion chief, he learned
how to correctly and effectively manage his workers. Buchanon served as battalion chief for 13 years.
“And all of these attributes is what shaped me to be the man that I am today,” Buchanon declared.
On his journey to becoming chief, Buchanon had earned various certifications, including: 1st and 2nd Class Firefighter, Strategy and Tactics, Pump and Aerial Operations and Special Operations. Examples of some of the Special Operations certifications Buchanon obtained include: Haz-Mat Technician, Rope and Knots Specialist, Swiftwater Operations, Technical Rescue, Inspectors I and II and EMT. Buchanon has also completed numerous leadership courses through his firefighting career.
“The challenges can be numerous, but the rewards outweigh them and are never-ending,” Buchanon explained. “Being around so many men and women who feel the same way as I do about serving their communities is one of the rewards of the job.”
Buchanon is a lifelong South Bend resident. He is
married to his wife, Cathy, and father to LaToya, Gina, Carl II, Nicolas and Jarrod.
“When my children were young, they used to love coming to the fire station and seeing what I do,” Buchanon reminisced. “But one day, they actually saw me on a fire call, and seeing their faces light up as we extinguished the fire was the greatest feeling that I’ve ever felt to this day.”
When Buchanon is not at the firehouse, he likes to golf, ride his bike and spend every chance he gets with his family.
As the holiday season approaches, its important to keep safety front and forward during your family festivities. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires.
“Do not leave anything unattended,” Chief Buchanon reminded.
He also cautioned to be wary of extension cords, saying,“do not plug extension cords into outlets that are not capable of supplying their electrical capabilities.”
The Elves for Elders program is back again this year. Help reach its goal of providing 1,000 gifts for seniors.
The holidays are all about sharing love and making memories with family and friends. Unfortunately, for many elderly, disabled and homebound individuals, the holiday season can be a lonely time. That is why Elves for Elders is inviting you to join its effort to make their holiday season a little bit brighter.
This year, it is requesting $50 Visa or MasterCard gift card(s) to allow elders to safely shop for something they need. Of course, it welcomes any amount of gift you desire to share. It will group smaller denomination cards and monetary gifts together to ensure that each person receives a $50 gift. If you prefer to let it do the leg work, mail your gift card or donate online at realservices.formstack.com/forms/ real_donation_onetime_elves_ for_elders.
Your generosity will make a world of difference and bring hope and happiness to someone who needs it most.
Gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to: 1151 S. Michigan St., South Bend.
This opportunity is a way to spread joy and kindness to lonely individuals during this holiday season. If you have any questions about the program, call Sandy at (574) 284-7138.
St. Paul’s Independent Living apartments provide convenience and freedom within a warm and friendly environment.
Our Assisted Living apartments offer seniors all the benefits of a St. Paul’s lifestyle with the added security of 24-hour support and assistance from our nursing staff. MEMORY
St. Paul’s Independent Living apartments provide convenience and freedom within a warm and friendly environment. ASSISTED LIVING
We offer advanced care and all-inclusive pricing in a neighborhood-style setting with private suites and numerous amenities.
Our Assisted Living apartments offer seniors all the benefits of a St. Paul’s lifestyle with the added security of 24-hour support and assistance from our nursing staff.
574.284.9000 to learn how St. Paul’s can add more to your life.
We offer
By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer
“It was hard to know what we were in for, but it was one of the greater trips I have ever had,” Vietnam Navy veteran Steve Juhasz explained. “Seeing some of the memorials was very emotional to me and the others in our group.”
Juhasz was a passenger on
an Honor Flight, a flight from Fort Wayne to Washington D.C. to see the war memorials built in veterans’ honor. Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization that transports on average 340 veterans per year.
Juhasz joined the Navy the same year as his father. He started his training in 1967 at Great Lakes Navy Training Center, in Illinois. He then went
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on to jet aircraft pilot training school where he started as a jet engine maintenance tech. His next assignment was helicopter combat support squadron. He was stationed in New Jersey during this time. He would work his way up to maintenance supervisor for the line and jet engine shop. Juhasz earned his Sea Air Rescue crewmen wings as he was deployed on ships for some time. He returned home in 1973.
In its early stages, Honor Flight was formed to fly World War II Veterans to Washington D.C. to see the, at the time, newly constructed war memorial.
The trip still includes a stop at the World War II Memorial, but also includes stops at: the Marine Corps Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, FDR Memorial, the Women in Military Service Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
“We started from Fort Wayne at 0500 with a breakfast and set up teams for our bus tour when we got to Washington D.C.,” Juhasz remembered. Guest of the Honor Flight arrive at the 122nd Air National Guard base in Fort Wayne. They board an American Airlines Airbus A321 for approximately an hour flight into Ronald Reagan National Airport, where four motor-coaches pick the Veterans up for the final leg of their travels to Washington D.C.
VIETNAM NAVY VETERAN Steve Juhasz, a Vietnam Navy veteran, was a passenger on a recent Honor Flight from Fort Wayne to Washington D.C. Juhasz enlisted in the Navy the same time as his father and started his training in 1967 at the Great Lakes Navy Training Center. Photo provided by Steve Juhasz.
flown home where they are received at Fort Wayne International Airport with a hero’s welcome from community members.
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“We met a lot of veterans on our bus and when we went to all the sights of D.C.,” Juhasz explained. “I received a book that showed where we went and got in some of the photos. It was a great experience, once in a lifetime.”
After a long day of touring, veterans are shuttled back to Ronald Reagan National and
“It showed me that our veterans, past and present, are not forgotten,” Juhasz said. “It is important to know that my sons and grandchildren will be able to see this and know that we must stand and fight for our country. That we must never forget those that never made it back.”
Veterans interested in applying for an opportunity to participate in an Honor Flight
can submit their application online at app.hfnei.org/apply/veteran. Veterans who would like to request a paper version of the application can contact the organization by calling (260) 633-0049. For more information about Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, visit hfnei.org/.
“I was surprised because I sent my application in six years earlier. It was an honor to be selected,” Juhasz gleamed. “We cannot thank the organizers and volunteers and all the vendors that made the trip possible. Just do not delay if you are able to go on a flight!”
By AMY DRAKE St. Joseph County Councilwoman Clay Township
Have you gotten your 55 and older county tax break yet?
Last year, the St. Joseph County Council passed a tax benefit for seniors, which will keep property tax bills from increasing more than 2% per year for the next three years. I sponsored this bill after hearing the complaints of so many local taxpayers, especially those on limited incomes, when I was campaigning for office in 2022.
While this bill is a Republican-initiated project, it won bipartisan support because all of us on the nine-person council agreed that this was
something needed in our community. While the county council does not typically have a role in controlling property taxes, the state of Indiana gave legislators, like us, the ability to pass this savings onto taxpayers for a limited window, and we wanted to take advantage of it.
All those taxpayers 55 and older, who have a homestead deduction, which you typically have when your home is your primary residence, and have lived in their home for 10 years, are eligible for this program. The 10-year residency rule is a state requirement that the council didn’t have the power to change; however, what we could control was how much of the county would
benefit and what income levels would qualify. We put no income limits on the legislation and made this available to every geographical corner of the county. We want as many people as possible to gain some savings.
We have spent the last year doing FAQs around the county to make sure people know about our new program and have more than 7,000 applications already filed and approved. In order to get this savings, you must apply.
To receive a break on your bill starting next year, you must apply by Dec. 31. You can apply online at sjcindiana. gov/2302/auditor or if you need help, we will have a special county sign-up session at the
Since being elected as St. Joseph County’s Probate Court Judge in 2018, Judge Jason Cichowicz quickly set his sights on improving the safety and well-being of the community. Since then, he has accumulated numerous successful programs and plans to continue to do so if re-elected this month.
In just one term, Cichowicz expanded the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, eliminating the wait list and ensuring all children moving through the system have a dedicated advocate. He also enacted the first crisis stabilization program in the County Probate Court system to provide more appropriate resources quickly
to youth in a state of crisis. He has enacted measures to improve court efficiency and create stronger partnerships with local schools to address student truancy issues.
Cichowicz credits his experience, both in life and professionally, as a major driver for his success as Probate Court Judge. Originally from South Bend’s west side, he earned his Bachelor’s of Business degree from Indiana University and a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, while working in the construction trade.
After graduating from law school, he became a practicing attorney who built his own
practice while also spending over 10 years as a public defender, focused on family and children advocacy. He maintained dual roles until he was elected to his first term as St. Joseph County Probate Court Judge.
Cichowicz and his wife, Elizabeth, sweethearts since childhood, are proud parents of two children. Known as a dedicated family man, local youth sports coach, and community advocate, Cichowicz is running for a second term to build upon his success and ensure greater outcomes for at-risk youth to create a stronger future for your community.
County City Building, South Bend, from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 2, on the second floor.
A few notes to remember when applying. Continue to watch your assessments and appeal as you think necessary. When the three years of this program are up and full property taxes return, you want your assessment to be as accurate as possible. Also, if you have
a school referendum tax, for instance, this tax savings will not apply to that. It will only affect the property tax on your homestead.
Finally, there is also a helpful tax break for those 65 and older, with very stringent income and assessment guidelines. If you already have that, that is the better bargain. You cannot combine the 65-plus tax break with the 55-plus tax break.
By NATHAN PACE Staff Writer
John Broden has been a political figure in Indiana for decades, but baseball is where he gets to enjoy life outside of the political arena. Broden participates in the Sappy Moffitt Baseball League in South Bend.
“It’s a great deal of fun. The quality of players are pretty solid,” Broden said. “The time commitment is just perfect. It’s low-key. We just go out and play and let it rip. Serious enough but not too serious.”
Baseball was a passion for Broden when he grew up in South Bend. He graduated from Saint Joesph High School and would later earn college degrees from The University of Notre Dame and Indiana University. Broden was elected to the Indiana Senate in 2000 and held
office for 16 years. Near the end of his final term, Broden checked out the Sappy Moffitt league.
“I’ve had just a ball,” Broden said. “I thought my baseball career was done. It’s the most fun I’ve had playing sports since I hung the cleats up in the ‘80s.”
The Sappy Moffitt League has team names that are based on the history and geography of South Bend. The league has grown to have 12 teams this past season. Broden plays on the South Shore Liners.
“I really credit the league’s founders. It started over a decade ago with just two teams,” Broden said.
Broden says he has always been a pitcher but had to work his way back into form when he joined the league. Before the league gets underway each year, he makes an added effort to prepare his throwing arm.
Broden currently serves as a circuit court judge in South Bend. He says while the league is for fun and social connection, the players do try to compete.
“I have, like, a rubber arm,” Broden said. “In the off season I focus on a little running starting in March. In April, I might throw a ball against a wall to make sure the arm hasn’t atrophied. It’s very social but people play to win. They play hard but very respectful.”
Joining Broden in the league are his two sons, Charlie and John.
“That’s been a blast. Just been great to be able to share it with them. Have a couple nephews on the team. A lot of relatives come out to watch the team. My sons have really enjoyed it for sure, too,” Broden said.
The Sappy Moffitt League plays one game every other week with the schedule beginning in May. The season ends around Labor Day weekend in September.
This past season concluded games at Foundry Field, a new field commemorating an all-black baseball team in the 1920s.
“A lot of historical research that went into it. It’s a tribute to the African-American players who played in the Studebaker League,” Broken said.
Broden knows he is among the older players in the league, but he does have advice for those over 50 who want to play baseball again.
“My velocity is probably among the lower in the league. The whole goal is to keep the game moving,” Broden said. “I would say it’s really just a matter of if you can find a way to stay in decent shape in the off season. It’s a great sport to continue to play. Knock on wood, I haven’t suffered any injuries playing.”
It was on a stormy
By RANDAL C. HILL
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.
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 attrac-
tive 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.
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.
A. 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 (ILT) 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
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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.
A. Each Senior Life Newspaper is distributed to over 300 locations each month and is free for public pickup and supported by advertisers. Locations for distribution are chosen with the 50+ aged person in mind and include grocery stores, libraries, senior centers, restaurants, senior communities, banks, 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.
Marla Schroeder, Publication Manager/ Advertising Sales
Serving South Bend and Surrounding Counties 574-350-4488
1-866-580-1138 Ext. 2319
mschroeder@the-papers.com
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Mature Life Features
As the old year slides slowly past, fades from memory, and the new year nudges its way over the horizon, it carries a reminder that you should be organizing your papers and paperwork so you can find things easily at tax time next year.
You’ll probably find you have two problems: which papers should you keep, and where should you keep them?
A third issues could arise: what documents should you have kept that you don’t have?
To start simply, collect all your receipts and bank statements. If you receive a pension, you can expect a statement from the issuer. You can also expect one from the Social Security Administration if you’re receiving Social Security benefits.
If you have ancillary income — payment for contract or free-lance work or checks from rental property — you’ll need all those pieces of paper, too, along with an accounting of any and all deductible expenses you plan on taking. These include tax receipts, and utility and maintenance bills.
You can keep all these in a cardboard carton or large filing folder until tax time.
Then put a copy of your tax return with the ones you’ve filed from previous years.
Many money mavens suggest you keep all your tax returns. Support documents should be tucked away for at least six years. If you work with a tax preparer, make sure she also keeps copies.
While keeping copies has become easier in this digital age, you should still keep
hard copies.
Store them in a cabinet or sturdy box with labels so you can find them easily if the Internal Revenue Service makes any queries.
While you’re on the topic of storing and identifying important papers, you might track down all your insurance policies — life and property, liability, and any other insurance coverage you have.
If you can’t find one or two, call your agent and have them send you the policy. You might consider getting a small safe to house them.
You should write down all policy numbers and their coverage. Put that list in your wallet and a copy in the safe.
Now, to echo a TV commercial’s phrase, do you know what’s in your wallet?
The digital age makes it easy to take a photograph of the front and back of everything you carry in it. Or you can use a copier to copy both sides of your credit cards, driver’s license, membership and medical insurance cards, insurance policy numbers and whatever else you carry in your wallet or purse.
If your safe is getting full, get a safe-deposit box and use it to store some of this vital information.
While you’re in your information gathering mode, you might use your mobile phone camera to make an inventory of your belongings. Photograph every-
thing in your rooms, closets, cabinets, drawers, garage, basement, yard — everything — and transfer it to a compact disk or thumb drive to keep in your safety deposit box.
If a fire, robbers, storm or any other disaster strikes, you’ll have a record of what was destroyed to show your insurance company. Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
By MONA HARTER District Manager, South Bend Social Security Office
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.
Editor’s note: Send listings of events, for nonprofit organizations only, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, or email Editor Phoebe Muthart by the 15th of every month at pmuthart@the-papers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number
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Love, deception, ambition, and desire collide in “Twelfth Night,” Shakespeare’s great romantic comedy. A delightful blend of mistaken identity, disguises, and love triangles, “Twelfth Night” is brought to life by actors from The London Stage, the renowned five-actor touring group that has called Shakespeare at Notre Dame its artistic home since 2000. With each actor portraying multiple roles, this dynamic, self-directed ensemble brings a fresh and vivacious energy to each new performance. It will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Pre-show discussion is at 6:30 p.m. and a post-show Q&A is at approximately 10 p.m.
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St. Joseph County Public Library’s Entrepreneur Hour will host Ruby Brower of AB Life & Enterprise LLC to uncover the coaching strategies that drive personal and professional growth. It is from 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, in the main library’s community learning center, classroom B. Visit sjcpl. org.
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An evening hike is scheduled the second Thursday of the month, until December, with a different park hosting each month. Hikes will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. and hikes are self-led with a course suggested by staff. Cost is $5 per person; registration is required by the
Tuesday prior to the hike by calling (574) 654-3155. Night hikes will be Nov. 14 at Spicer Lake Nature Preserve, and Dec. 12 at Bendix Woods County Park.
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A state of the economy breakfast is from 8-9:30 a.m. Nov. 19, at Morris Park Country Club, 2200 McKinley Ave., South Bend. This year’s guest lineup includes Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and Jim Cannon, president and CEO of AM General. Guests will frame important economic development information key to the region. Cost: $30 per person. This event is open to chamber member businesses and their employees, and par-
ticipants in YPN South Bend. To register, visit sbrchamber. com/events/detail/2024/11/19/ chamber/state-of-the-economybreakfast.
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Internationally-renowned actor and Shakespeare scholar, Lisa Wolpe, has arguably played more of the Bard’s male roles than any woman in history. From gender explorations to inter-generational trauma to the unforgettable story of her life, she triumphantly illustrates Shakespeare’s insight into the human condition is as relevant as ever. This lyrical, fearless, and deeply personal one-person show is a quest for gender equality and women’s rights. Co-sponsored with the gender studies program and
Notre Dame Film, Television and Theatre, it will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7, at Philbin Studio Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
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Celebrate the wonder of sugar plum fairies and tin soldiers at a magical holiday tea Saturday, Dec. 14. Guests are seated at tables of eight aglow with yuletide decorations. This one-of-a-kind experience offers a menu of savories, sweets, and classic teas, catered by the Oliver Inn Bed and Breakfast.
The tea also includes a private tour of the first floor of the Oliver Mansion, which is decorated for the holidays.
Tickets are $30, adults; $25, members; $15, youth 6-17; and
$5 for children 5 and under. Reservations are required by Monday, Dec. 9 and can be made online at historymuseumSB.org.
For information, call (574) 235-9664 or visit historymuseumSB.org.
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RiverBend Cancer Services, 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, offers the following events each month: 10 a.m. Mondays, seated strength; 5:30 p.m. Mondays, gentle yoga; 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, chair yoga; 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Garden Club; 10 a.m. Wednesdays, Knitting Krew; 9 a.m. Fridays, Walking Club; 10 a.m. Thursdays, yarn work; 3 p.m. Thursdays, Zumba.
100 N. Center St., Mishawaka, IN 46544
FairingtonSouthBend.com
1220 Fairington Circle South Bend, IN 46614
1220 Fairington Circle South Bend, IN 46614
T 574.291.2031
T 574.291.2031
TDD 800.326.9193 #713
By LAURIE LECHLITNER Staff Writer
“If anyone asks me what Bible college I attended, I simply say, ‘Beirut, Lebanon, War College,’” stated Chuck Wotring, Granger. “Before I was called to minister to a church, I was part of the U.S. Navy. I joined the Navy when I was 18. I was part of the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force in Beirut. I served on the USS America CV 66. I helped work on airplane ejection seats, liquid oxygen and cabin pressurization.”
He served from 1980 to 1989.
“I served under President Ronald Reagan, a pretty good boss. Actually, my first choice was the Air Force. I had plans to enlist with my buddy. But I was too fat, so I joined the Navy,” he chuckled.
It wasn’t until he started dating his future wife, Julie, that he got serious about his Christian walk.
“My dad didn’t like Chuck at first,” stated Julie. “Chuck came driving a fast car and appeared wild.”
However, once Chuck dedicated his life to Jesus Christ, her dad felt quite differently about him. Julie’s family went to Harris Prairie Church of Christ, right outside of Granger.
“I became a faithful student in the youth group,” Chuck shared. “We had a South Bend police officer, Mike Rhoades, who was our Sunday school teacher. He and Julie led me to faith in Jesus Christ and it has made all the difference in my life.”
Chuck and Julie got married
in Millington, Tenn.
“By that time, I was in the service,” he said.
Like all service men and women, Chuck had to make sacrifices.
“I had our first child, Alicia, while Chuck was deployed,” Julie said. “She was born on Mother’s Day. When she was 4 months old, I took her to France to meet her father for the first time.”
“It was pretty amazing to see my first child,” Chuck added.
It was not always easy to follow Jesus Christ while serving in the Navy.
He said, “I teamed up with a buddy, Ernie Kulhanek. We both loved the Lord. While some of our fellow servicemen were living it up on shore leave, Ernie and I decided we’d rather be useful. We volunteered at an orphanage and did some other service jobs. Then we had dinner and headed back to the ship. We served the Lord to the best of our ability.”
Chuck learned a great deal in the service.
“I began as a kid. But as I faced tough situations, I grew to be a man. I learned early on that it costs something to stand up for what we believe. And it takes maturity to make a stand.”
Melanie
Melanie can brighten up the Interior of your home.
Melanie can brighten up the Interior of your home.
While Chuck was stationed at Jacksonville, Fla., he and Julie were attending a Christian Church presided over by Brother Glen Mitchell.
“He told me, ‘You’re gonna be a preacher.’ I laughed at him,” he said.
pulpit at Three Oaks Church of Christ, Mich.
“I was there a year and a half. I was ordained to ministry at Northway Church of Christ, South Bend, in 2003,” he said. “I am in my 21st year ministering at Northway.”
“He’s a walking miracle,” Julie added. “He’s suffered two strokes and two heart attacks during his ministry. With God’s help, he keeps on going.”
The Wotrings have two grown children and three grandchildren.
By RYAN HAHN Trust Administrator Wealth Management Center
Walls
Walls
Walls
Ceilings
Ceilings
Chuck did become a preacher.
Window And Door Trim
Window And Door Trim
Ceilings
Stairways
His first ministry was to fill
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.
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References Available Upon Request. 574-304-5075
References Available Upon Request. 574-304-5075
Great Service – Reasonable Rates
References Available Upon Request. 574-304-5075
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.
Preserve Historic La Porte, a nonprofit historic preservation group, invites the public to attend its 2024 Christmas Candlelight Tour of Historic Homes.
The times and dates are from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. All times are Central time.
The tour includes five private homes and are as follows: Christopher Evans and Catherine Abbs, 1209 Michigan Ave.; Darrin and Jennie Riddle, “The Old Ruth” (former Ruth Sabin Home), 1603 Michigan Ave.; Nicholas and Natalie Mills, 1124 Indiana Ave.; Mike and Barbara Krieg, 1503 Indiana Ave.; and John and Jeanne Rafaj, 1302 Jackson St.
Also included on the tour will be the mid-century, Gothic Revival-styled St. John’s Lutheran Church, 111 Kingsbury Ave.; and the downtown storefront, “A Whole World of Good,” 711 Lincolnway, built in 1890.
All seven sites will be open for self-guided touring, and will be decorated for the holiday season. Also included in your one ticketed price will be live musical entertainment at all locations and refreshments at the church.
Advance tickets are $25 each and are available in La Porte at Coachman Antique Mall, CO-OP
the Antique Market and Hoity Toity.
Tickets can also be purchased in New Carlisle at Historic New Carlisle; in Chesterton, at the Red Cup Café; in New Buffalo at Meridian Title; and in Valparaiso, at Indie Indie Bang Bang.
Advance tickets are also available by mail. Payment must be received by Dec. 6, and such tickets will be provided only on a “will-call” basis, at the church during tour hours.
For advance tickets by mail, send your check for $25 per person, payable to: Preserve Historic La Porte, P.O. Box 853, La Porte, IN 46352. The organization asks that you provide an e-mail address or phone number, so they can confirm receipt of your payment.
At-the-door tickets are $30 each and will be available at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 111 Kingsbury Ave., during tour hours only.
For more information, contact Pam Ruminski at (219) 3632094, Tim Stabosz at (219) 363-7485, or email p_ruminski@ yahoo.com.
Ruminski, long-time chairperson of the Candlelight Tour, stated, “We are excited to announce the return of the
President Mark Kurth stated, “PHLP has been conducting the Candlelight Tour dating back to 1996, and 2024 marks our 21st tour.”
“The Candlelight Tour is simultaneously a gathering together of the members of our community, as well as a rolling-out of the welcome mat for tourists, and all those who want to experience the historic beauty of the city of La Porte. Finally, the tour is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of historic preservation in La Porte,” Kurth concluded.
Preserve Historic La Porte is a nonprofit citizens group dedicated to the preservation of the city’s historic architecture, and promoting the economic development and quality of life benefits of historic preservation.
volunteer center for those who are donating their time to accept donations and work on projects. There also is an Ability Center that provides space for support groups as well as other meetings.
They also can provide loaners of donated wheelchairs and other equipment to members of the community regardless of income or disability. Budget assistance is offered to people needing assistance beyond subsidized pricing. Affordable, interest-free payments are offered where income or weak credit for those who might not qualify for traditional financing.
A nonprofit 501(c)(3) business, Wheelchair Help’s mission “is to improve quality of life and health by providing wheelchairs and mobility equipment not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or insurance.
“We will not take a penny from the government or United Way,” said Lidy. “We are locally supported. The Community Foundation of Elkhart County, the Community of St. Joseph County and several other organizations like the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation have helped us out.”
Wheelchair Help is now located at 28423 Old US 33W, noon to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Elkhart. For further information, call (574) 295-2230 or visit wheelchairhelp.org.
The Midwest Dementia Summit 2024, “Innovations in Care,” is a convergence of professionals, leaders, and caregivers, who discover and share groundbreaking strategies in
health care, community services, technology, and the arts, shaping the future of dementia care.
The summit will take place Nov. 6-7, at Ribbon Town Con-
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. 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.
ference and Event Center at Four Winds Casino and Resort, South Bend.
Keynote speakers are Malaz Boustani, M.D., and Eloy van Hal.
Boustani is a geriatrician, a neuroscientist, a serial entrepreneur and an agile scientist with extensive experience in designing, evaluating, implementing, and disseminating
health care innovations with a main focus on brain health.
Eloy van Hal is senior managing advisor and founder of Be Advice. He is one of the founders of The Hogeweyk, Dementia Village, and senior managing advisor of the Be The Care Concept Advisory team of the Vivium Care group. Eloy has over 20 years experience in managing care and more than
10 years in providing strategic and operational advisory services to clients in the public and private sectors. There will be breakout sessions for both professionals and caregivers. For more information or to register, visit alzni. org/2024-midwest-dementia-summit or call (574) 2842646.
BARBERSHOP The History Museum’s “Insights in History” will be Wednesday, Nov. 6. Registrar Catherine Page-Vanore will explores styles of facial hair through the years, like at this barbershop. Photo provided by The History Museum.
At The History Museum’s “Insights in History,” taking place at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, Registrar Catherine Page-Vanore explores styles of facial hair through the years and the ways people have embraced them.
Admission is $3 or $1 for members. Reservations are required by Nov. 4. “Insights in History” is sponsored by THK
Law, LLP.
A tour of the exhibit “Fantastic Facial Hair” will be offered.
Beards, mustaches, and other forms of facial hair vary widely, depending on cultures and time periods in history. From the handlebar, which was seen frequently from the late 1800s to the 1920s, to the pencil, which was sported from
the 1920s to the 1960s, facial hair has changed from one decade to the next.
“Insights in History” is a monthly series featuring a lecture in conjunction with an exhibit at or area of The History Museum.
For information, call The History Museum at (574) 2359664, ext. 6256 or visit historymuseumSB.org.Sumquae.
Introducing The Francis House: A transformative new option for senior care. Finding the right living environment for yourself or a loved one is one of the most important decisions you can make. That’s why The Francis House, a new senior living home operated by the trusted team at Home Instead, is excited to open its doors and offer a unique and personalized care experience to seniors in our community.
Located in a serene, residential setting, The Francis House provides a home-like atmosphere where residents can enjoy a peaceful, supportive environment while receiving the care they need. Eric and Angela Thomas, who have over 30 years of experience in senior care, have created a space that focuses on building meaningful relationships, fostering independence and enriching the lives of every resident.
What makes The Francis House special?
Personalized Care — At The Francis House, every resident is treated like family. The home is staffed with compassionate caregivers from Home Instead, a trusted name in senior care. This experienced team provides individualized attention and support, ensuring each resident’s unique needs are met.
A Home-Like Atmosphere — Unlike large facilities, The
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
Francis House offers a smaller, more intimate setting. This allows residents to feel comfortable and cared for in a space that truly feels like home.
Accessible Care — The Francis House is a licensed waiver home and proudly accepts AFC benefits, as well as private pay and long-term care insurance, making it easier for families to access the care their loved ones need.
For seniors looking to maintain independence while
receiving the care they deserve, The Francis House is an ideal solution. With its compassionate team and beautiful environment, it’s more than just a place to live — it’s a place to thrive.
If you’re interested in learning more or scheduling a tour of The Francis House, contact us at (574) 256-1479 or email e.wilson@homeinstead.com. Let us help you find the perfect care solution for you or your loved one.
Family caregivers are often the unsung heroes in many families. Caregivers provide an economic value of $470 billion, according to AARP. Without family caregivers, healthcare would be even more costly in the United States. While family caregivers should be celebrated every day, November is a month to recognize and honor caregivers, raise awareness around caregiving issues, educate communities, and work to increase support for our nation's caregivers. This month, especially, REAL Services acknowledges and honors families who are often caregiving "around the clock.” That means around-theclock dedication, organization, responsibility, scheduling, and hands-on care. Caregivers are often reluctant to ask for support, so here are some ways you can support the caregivers in your life:
1. Offer Specific Help
Caregivers often hear, “Let me know how I can help!” However, many caregivers don’t know where to start, as their to-do list seems endless. Offer specific help by providing a meal, offering to pick up groceries, driving their loved-one to an appointment, or simply just being with their loved one so they can take care of their own to-do list or find respite.
2. Listen
Sometimes, caregivers just need someone to listen to them, and they often feel unheard. Take the caregiver in your life for a cup of coffee, visit them at their home, or talk with them on the phone and just listen, and offer advice if asked.
3. Raise Awareness
Especially during November, you can take action to raise awareness of
To help caregivers thrive, November’s REAL Talk events are all about caregivers! The topic, When Caring for A Loved One Leaves a Mark: Caregiver Stress, will be presented by the REAL Services’ Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services team.
November 12: 11:00 a.m.: YMCA 111 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, IN 46601
November 21: 11:00 a.m.: OWLS Active Aging Center at Trinity 2715 E. Jackson Blvd. Elkhart, IN 46516
caregiver challenges. Visit the National Council on Aging’s website (www.ncoa.org) to find this year’s Family Caregivers Month campaign, #CaregivingAroundtheClock. Share images and stories to your social media pages about the importance of caregiving, and encourage other’s to take action.
4. Provide Helpful Resources
Caregivers often do not have the luxury of time to find resources on their own, especially when tending to their loved one’s healthcare and basic needs. Let the caregiver in your life know that there are resources to support them, such as the REAL Services’ Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services program. Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana supports individuals and families at all stages of their unique caregiving journey through family consultations, a tollfree helpline, memory screenings, support groups, and more. Visit www.alzni.org to learn more.
5. Encourage Relaxation
Caregivers rarely have time for their own respite and rest. Encourage the caregiver in your life to carve out small moments each day for themselves, even if it is just five to ten minutes to focus on their breath.
Caregiving comes with many rewards and challenges. Let’s use November as an opportunity to reflect on all of the selfless acts caregivers provide each day, around the clock.
Madelyn Martinec REAL Services, Development Director
Elves for Elders has returned to REAL Services this year! While the holidays are about spending time with family, friends and giftgiving, all too often, older adults right here in our community have no one to spend with nor receive a gift during the holidays. The Elves for Elders program is here to change that!
November 22: 11:30 a.m.: 1Roof Southeast Neighborhood Center; 405 E. Dubail Ave. South Bend, IN 46613
To learn more and to register, visit: https://realservices.org/get-involved/real-talk/ or call (574) 284-7189.
REAL Services is requesting Visa or MasterCard gift cards in $50.00 increments to provide a gift to those in need this holiday season. We ask that all cards be in by December 1, 2024. To donate, you may call Volunteer Services at (574) 284-7138, scan the QR code, or drop off a donation to REAL Services 1151 South Michigan St. South Bend, IN 46601.
We look forward to spreading holiday cheer with you!
*Note: All gift cards donated will be used solely for Elves for Elders. REAL Services will not solicit gift cards for any other purpose.
REAL Services, believing in the dignity of all people, will provide services without regard to race, age, color, religion, se x, gender identity, disability, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation or belief, familial status or status as a veteran.
The REAL Services Energy Assistance Program (EAP) is here! Here is what you need to know to stay out of the dark this fall and winter. EAP opened on October 1, 2024. The officially started on November 1, 2024. There is still time to submit an application! Households that qualify for EAP are protected from disconnection from December 1, 2024 March 15, 2025. The program ends on April 14, 2025. When applying, please read all application materials carefully.
EAP is income based, and you are not required to have a senior in your household to participate. Proof of income is required. The household monthly income limits are as follows:
One person: $2,686
Two people: $3,513
Four people: $ 5,166
You must provide your heat and electric bills. You do not have to have a disconnect notice to receive assistance. Payment will be made directly to the utility company, or to you if utilities are included in your rent. Note that payments are onetime payments, not monthly. There are several changes to the program this year. It is no longer necessary to submit ID and social security cards. If there if a credit limit of $250 or more on a utility account, the household does not quality fo r a benefit for that utility. To ensure all households who apply and quality can receive assistance, benefits are lower this year. For more information and to obtain an application, visit our office at 1151 South Michigan St. South Bend, IN 46601, email eapapps@realservices.org, or call (574) 232 -6501.
St Joseph County Mishawaka
100 Center (574) 259-1611
Battell Center
904 N Main St (574) 256-2325
North Liberty
300 S. Main St. (574) 381-8980
Osceola
United Methodist Church
421 Beech Rd (574) 674-6503
South Bend Sanctuary at Trinity Towers 316 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. St (574) 234 -7278
Fairington Apartments 1220 Fairington Circle (574) 291 -5597
Karl King Riverbend Tower 515 E Monroe (574) 232 -4934
South Bend
Charles Black Center 3419 W Washington (574) 229-5911
Heritage Place at LaSalle Square 3224 Ardmore Trail (574) 286-0916
1 Roof Southeast Neighborhood Center 405 E. Dubail Ave. (574)381-8981
Walkerton 302 Kentucky Street, Walkerton 574-334-1047
Aperion Care - Arbors Michigan City
1101 E. Coolspring Avenue, Michigan City, IN 46360 (219) 874-5211 • 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
Hamilton Grove
31869 Chicago Trail, New Carlisle, IN 46552-0836 (574) 654-2200 • www.greencroft.org/hamiltongrove Independent Living Apartments, HUD Housing and Villas, Assisted Living, Rehabilitation, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies - Onsite and Outpatient Also Available, Long Term Care and Respite Care. Maintenance Free Living, HUD and accepting the Medicaid Waiver.
Primrose
Community of Mishawaka 820 Fulmer Road, Mishawaka, IN 46544 (574) 259-3211 • primroseretirement.com
Our spacious independent and assisted living apartments offer something to retire to not just something to retire from. Residents at Primrose enjoy a healthy and active living environment.
Riveridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center 1333 Wells Street, Niles, MI 49120 (269) 684-1111 • www.riveridgerehab.com
Healthwin
20531 Darden Road, South Bend, IN 46637 (574) 272-0100 • www.healthwin.org
A Specialized Care Facility. Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Respiratory-Physical, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid
28070 CR 24 ., Elkhart, IN 46517 (574) 295-6260 • www.hubbardhill.org
Rehabilitation, Healthcare, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Maintenance Free Homes, Licensed, Locally Owned, Non-Profit, Faith Based, Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapies, Memory Care Support Group, Pet Friendly, There’s No Place Like Hubbard Hill
Live Independent with a Helping Hand Tawnya Thayer RN BSN • Argos, IN (574) 952-2929 • info@lilyassist.org
Truly an Affordable Option! One and Two Bedrooms, Private Front Porch, Private Back Patio, Ground Floor, All Appliances Included (with Washer and Dryer), Central Air. lilyassist.org
Majestic Care of South Bend
52654 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend, IN 46635 (574) 277-8710 • www.Majesticcare.com
Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational- Respiratory-Physical, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid
Riveridge Rehab in Niles, Michigan, offers newly renovated rehab units with 4 private suites. Additionally, we have a
316 Woodies Lane, Bremen, IN 46506 (574) 546-3494 • SHCofBremen.com liaison2.bremen@signaturehealthcarellc.com
Our Gated Community is a smaller, dedicated unit for comfort and safety for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Residents. We offer Enhanced Quality of Life Programming which includes cognitive strengths, life skills, daily movement, power of music, artistic expression, creativity and socialization.
Southfield Village
6450 Miami Circle, South Bend, IN 46614 (574) 231-1000 • www.greencroft.org
Independent Living, Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-OccupationalRespiratory-Physical, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Private/ Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Residential Apartments, Medicare and/or Medicaid
530 Tanglewood Lane, Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 277-4310
www.tanglewoodtraceseniorliving.com
Offering Retirement Villas, Independent and Licensed Assisted Living, Therapy Services, Respite Care, Social and Recreational Activities, Pets Welcome, Transportation, Beauty Shop and Spa Services Available.
303 N. Washington Street, Wakarusa IN 46573 (574) 862-1918
admissions@watersofwakarusaALF.com
Independent/Assisted Living. Private studio/1bed/2bed apartments. Home-like family-oriented environment. Family-style dining. Daily activities. Transportation available. 24-hour care-givers. Pet friendly. Out-patient therapy available. Come for tour today.
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Mature Life Features
Frank Sinatra had “a mess of good years” according to a recording he made popular in the mid-1960s.
He cited 17, 21 and 35 as very good years but never got around to a year that many oldsters deem pretty good themselves — 65.
It’s been a target for generations since the German Reichstag tagged it in the 1880s as the age at which workers could
retire and receive a government pension. It was seen as a shrewd move because it staved off socialist unrest that was spreading across Europe at a time when most people didn’t live that long.
Things have changed a lot since then but the magic of age 65 still glitters.
While the goalposts have shifted a bit, the practice persists to apply just before that milestone for Medicare, Social Security and any company pension so you can quit the job and
AGING CONNECTIONS
Serving Northern IN & Southwest MI
A free online directory for aging & wellness resources. Our members offer a wide variety of services and information for your specific needs. www.agingconnections.org
Hover over Chapters on the navigation bar, then select your area and click directory.
Aging Connections is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
REAL SERVICES, INC.
1151 South Michigan Street Phone (574) 233-8205
www.realservices.org
Provides services to empower our community to live with independence, dignity, and strength. Call us to learn more.
NORTH WOODS VILLAGE
AT EDISON LAKES
1409 E. Day Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 247-1866
www.northwoodsmemorycare.com
SIGNATURE HealthCARE OF BREMEN
316 Woodies Lane
Bremen, IN 46506 (574) 546-3494
SHCofBremen.com
liaison2.bremen@signaturehealthcarellc.com
Our Gated Community is a smaller, dedicated unit for comfort and safety for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Residents. We offer Enhanced Quality of Life Programming which includes cognitive strengths, life skills, daily movement, power of music, artistic expression, creativity and socialization.
enjoy a life of leisure — fishing, camping, visiting grandchildren, travel, you name it.
Those moving goalposts have complicated matters a bit. The Social Security retirement age is sliding slowly up the scale, as are the earliest and latest dates you can apply.
This affects planning because it determines the amount your monthly check will be during your retirement years.
Full Retirement Age
Climbing to 67
You can still apply for and
receive benefits at age 62 but your monthly check may be almost one-third less than benefits for those who hold off until their full retirement age. If you wait until age 70 to start collecting Social Security, your income can be about 25% above the full-retirement-age norm.
The aging population is, of course, affecting all this. So is the changing pattern of retirement as more workers opt to remain on the job past age 65.
Almost one-third of the adult population between 65 and 69 is still working, according to researchers.
Deciding which year is best for you to retire no longer is as simple as it used to be.
It seems that as we live longer, we work longer, especially with the growing trend toward home offices that offer opportunities for an array of professional-service providers — accountants, bookkeepers, tax preparers, and computer gurus, for example — to work well up into their senior years.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
SAINT JOSEPH PACE
250 East Day Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 247-8700
saintjosephPACE@trinity-health.org
Helping seniors live safely at home. PACE’s main objective is to keep seniors out of nursing homes.
310 N. Ironwood Dr. South Bend, IN 46615 (574) 232-8487
www.abc-michiana.com
Leaders in Non-Medical Home Care. VA Provider. Indiana Medicaid Waiver Provider. Michigan Medicaid Provider. Private Pay. Long-term Care Insurance. Veterans Care Bridge.
FOOT SOLUTIONS
323 Florence Ave., Granger, IN 46530 (574) 272-3668
granger@footsolutions.com
Better Health Through Your Feet! Solutions for Plantar Facitis Morton’s Neuroma, bunions, morton’s neuroma, sore knees, sore ankles and more. Call for your FREE foot analysis.
COMFORT KEEPERS
6910 N. Main St., Ste. 3, Unit 47 Granger, IN 46530 (574) 277-4121, (574) 327-6123
www.southbendin.comfortkeepers.com
Provides In-Home Care Services through our interactive caregiving approach, personal care, companionship and housekeeping, transportation, respite care, dementia care.
HOME INSTEAD
3025 Grape Rd. Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 256-1479
www.homeinstead.com/343
From companionship to transportation to loving care, to us it’s personal.
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
If you try to rationalize when you’ll have enough money to retire, you’ll never do it.
While finances — the right amount of money or fear of not enough money — are a massive factor in making your decision, instinct and intuition also play a major role.
Several retirees have explained their decision simply. It was time, they say.
Many people work as long as they can, until their mind and muscle can no longer take the strain and stress. If they’ve planned it that way, it can work for them. If they haven’t, they’ll have trouble adjusting to the new life thrust upon them.
Among the happiest retir-
ees are those who compiled a wish list of things they wanted to do during their lifetime — learn to play bridge, visit every corner of their native land, raise orchids, or whatever. In between, they visit the grandchildren and have coffee with old cronies. Some volunteer their time for local nonprofit service organizations.
Their new position, described by much of the world as one’s golden years, can be tarnished by the ugly fact that they didn’t save, save and save some more during their earning years.
Some seniors are able to snag a job as a supermarket bagger or gofer to ease their fiscal strain, but the increasing political pressure to raise minimum wages is pricing
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such prospects out the proverbial window.
Financial preparation helps make retirement more enjoyable. Living on a lower budget before retiring can accomplish a couple of things. By cutting down on the number of nights you eat out, the periodic shopping sprees for new clothes, and not trading in the family car annually for a new model will get you used to getting along with things you don’t need but were accustomed to. And the money you save can be added to your retirement fund so you can enjoy those years more comfortably.
Overlooked in one’s view of retirement is how the maintenance or loss of control over your life affects your life. Planning and making your own decisions is a powerful
portion of your happiness. Sickness, disability and death are among the unexpected that can undermine whatever you plan, but such events and how they can affect you emotionally and economically should be considered when you review your view of retirement.
The recent coronavirus pandemic pandemonium that
sent the stock market tumbling is a graphic example of unexpected events that can affect your financial future. Whether or not you dabble directly in the stock market, it’s possible your pension fund is heavily invested in it, meaning your financial future might be tied to Wall Street more than you realized.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
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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, mid-way 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-the-way 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-the-mainstream 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 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
By TOM MORROW
Mature Life Features
At the turn of the 20th century, the average American had never travelled more than 50 miles from home.
This was primarily because the railroad and the horse were the primary modes of transportation. In good weather, the horse and buggy were the more popular modes of conveyance, but going more than 10 miles could be a major trip. A horse can only go for so long before it needs water and food as well as a rest.
Going from town to town was best accomplished by railroad.
Henry Ford changed America’s availability for personal transportation freedom. The Ford-built Model T was produced from 1908 to 1927. It is generally regarded as the first mass-affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle class Americans.
The relatively low price was partly the result of Ford’s efficient fabrication, including assembly line production instead of individual handcrafting. Known as the Tin Lizzie, the savings on each car allowed the price to decline from $780 in 1910 to $290 per car in 1924.
The Ford Model T was named the most influential car of the 20th century in the 1999 Car of the Century competition. The Model T was successful not only because it provided inexpensive transportation on a massive scale, but also because the car signified innovation for the rising middle class and became a powerful symbol of the United States’ age of modernization. With more than 15 million built, it was the most sold car in history before being surpassed by only the Volkswagen Beetle in 1972.
The first production Model T left the factory on Sept. 27, 1908, in Detroit. Nine years later on May 26, 1927, Henry Ford watched the 15 millionth Model T roll off the assembly line at his factory in Highland Park, MI.
The Model T was Ford’s first automobile mass-produced on moving assembly lines with completely interchangeable parts.
Ford proclaimed: “I will build a motor car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one — and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God’s great open spaces.”
He raised workers’ salaries to $5 per eight-hour day, six days a week, the highest in the nation for non-skilled workers. With those wages, most Ford workers could afford to buy the car they helped build.
The Model T has a
front-mounted 177-cubic-inch inline four-cylinder engine, producing 20 horsepower for a top speed of 42 miles per hour. According to Ford Motor Co. advertising, the Model T had fuel economy of 13 to 21 miles per gallon. The engine was capable of running on gasoline, kerosene or ethanol.
The ignition system used in the Model T was an unusual one, with a low voltage magneto incorporated in the flywheel, supplying alternating current to trembler coils to drive the spark plugs. This was closer to that used for stationary gas engines than the expensive high-voltage ignition magnetos that were used on some other cars.
This ignition also made the Model T more flexible as to the quality or type of fuel it used. The system did not need a starting battery, since proper hand-cranking would generate
enough current for starting. Electric lighting powered by the magneto was adopted in 1915, replacing acetylene gas flame head lamps and oil lamps, but electric starters were not offered until 1919.
The Model T engine was produced for replacement needs as well as stationary and marine applications until 1941, well after production of the Model T ended.
The Model T is a rear-wheel three-speed-drive vehicle but in actuality it is a two-speed, because one of the three speeds is reverse. The right hand floorboard pedal operates the transmission brake … there are no brakes on the wheels. The floor lever also controls the parking brake, which is activated by pulling the lever all the way back. This doubles as an emergency brake.
Ford was very accommodating when it came to exterior
color of the Model T. “Customers can have any color they want as long as it’s black,” he would say. After years of coaxing, his son, Edsel, finally won the “paint argument” as well as the introduction of the newly designed “Model A” in 1927. By 1932, the Ford Motor Co. had begun mass-producing the revolutionary “V-8” engine, which continues to be the standard design for many mid-to-large size American automobiles.
Henry Ford died April 7, 1947, at the age of 83, but he witnessed the beginning of
our nation’s massive highway system to accommodate the millions of vehicles he and other automobile companies put on the road. If you enjoy the personal freedom of driving to work or taking a vacation across the nation, thank Henry.
By TOM MORROW
Mature Life Features
With harvest time just over in our nation, it’s a good time to remind everyone that John Deere and Cyrus McCormick were primarily responsible for plowing the soil and harvesting food for America and, eventually, the world.
These two men were the primary providers of revolutionary farming tools that formed the “Breadbasket of the World.”
Deere, born Feb. 7, 1804, was an American blacksmith who founded Deere & Co., which has labels on mowers, tractors and a variety of farm equipment. McCormick, born five years after Deere, on Feb. 15, 1809, in Virginia, ended up being the father of manufacturing giant International-Harvester. They became two of the world’s leading agricultural and construction equipment inventors, developers
and manufacturers.
In 1837, Deere moved to Illinois, where he invented, designed and manufactured the first commercially successful steel plow. About that same time, McCormick settled in Illinois, where he further developed his reaping machine.
Deere worked in Vermont before settling in Illinois. He found that cast-iron plows of that day were not working very well in cutting through the tough prairie soil. Deere came to the conclusion a plow made out of highly polished steel and a correctly shaped moldboard better handled the soil conditions of the vast prairie, especially its sticky clay. It allowed farmers to double and triple their crop production with relative ease.
Like Deere, McCormick ended up being an Illinois industrialist and inventor who went on to develop a variety of harvesting tools.
In 1831, using the working model developed by his father and the research done by others, McCormick set about developing his mechanical reaper. He built, tested and demonstrated it within a span of 18 months. Sales were slow for the first few years because of the farmers’ skepticism against mechanical machinery. His mechanical reaper for harvesting grain relieved farmers from vast amounts of hand labor, quadrupling their production. McCormick sold only a few for the first years, but he kept on improving his invention. In 1834, he received a patent for the reaper design. He had to overcome the farmers’ suspicion of mechanical equipment. As his machine’s reputation among farmers became better known, orders picked up.
In 1837, Deere developed and manufactured the first commercially successful cast steel plow. The wrought iron framed plow had a polished steel blade. It was ideal for turning the tough Midwestern soil, far surpassing other plows of the day. By early 1838, Deere’s steel plow had farmers passing the word about its labor-saving success. By 1841, Deere was manufacturing 75 to 100 plows a year.
The two revolutionary inventors ended up moving their respective operations to Illinois, the heart of America’s farmland. Deere moved to Moline, because it was a key transportation hub on the Mississippi River. By 1855, Deere had sold more than 10,000 plows. The tool became known as “The Plow that Broke the Plains.”
McCormick moved to Chicago and his factory was destroyed in the Chicago Fire of 1871. He quickly rebuilt another with increased capacity and eventually expanded equipment sales to Europe.
tural patents and companies, expanding his empire to sell mowers, harvesters, and other farming implements around the world.
Later in life, Deere became active in civil and political affairs. He served as president of the National Bank of Moline,
By 1857, McCormick was turning out 23,000 reapers a year. He bought other agricul-
a director of the Moline Free Public Library, a trustee of the First Congregational Church, and as mayor of Moline for two years.
He died at home on May 17, 1886, at the age of 82. McCormick died May 13, 1884, at the age of 75.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
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-plus-year-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 predecessors 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.
Below is the MPHPL November calendar of events for adults. Registration can be secured by calling (574) 2595277 or mphpl.org. Check the website for the most up-to-date information regarding events. Registration is required for most events.
Harris Branch Events
Chapter Chats Book Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov
14. The November book, “Bel Canto” by Ann Patchett, can be picked up in advance at the Harris Branch front desk.
Mishawaka Library Events
Saturday Morning Book Club, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. Discuss this month’s book selection is “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë. Books can be picked up in
advance at the front desk of the Mishawaka Library.
“All the World was on Fire: History of Veterans Day,” 4:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11. Andrew J. DeKever, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and veteran of both the Iraq War and the Afghan War, will discuss World War I, how the conflict resulted in Veterans Day and the uneasy relation-
ship America has with its defenders.
“American Heritage Spotlight,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12. This month, Andrea Hartstein will present, “From Native Lands to Modern Subdivisions: The Story of Granger.”
Learn how indigenous lands transformed into a thriving community of subdivisions. Discover the stories of the first
pioneers, the rise and fall of its farming era, the impact of the railway and the dynamic changes that shaped Granger into the town it is today.
“Cooking Classics: Peanut Butter Cookie Brownies,” 4:305:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19. Try your hand at easy culinary creation in an engaging atmosphere with others; limited to MPHPL library cardholders.
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Recalling how people remember you can be fun.
I learned that after bumping into about a dozen 70- and 80-year-olds over the past decade who recalled our highschool days at Scollard Hall. This was a small all-boys 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 Canadian 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, 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 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 daz-
zling 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 well-known 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
By IGOR LOBANOV
Mature Life Features
Long popular with vacationing royalty, artists and others from across Europe, this rock-bound bastion 50 miles south of Sicily at the crossroads of the Mediterranean remains an enigma to many North Americans.
The island’s balmy year-round climate bathes a land whose legacy ranges from temples a thousand years older than Egypt’s Pyramids at Giza through classical Greece and Rome to the palaces of a patrician unit of Christian crusaders.
The Apostle Paul was shipwrecked here. Arabs occupied the outcropping in 879, followed by the Normans. Napoleon dropped by for six days and his troops hung around for a couple of years until sent packing by the English. Britain’s Royal Navy operated out of the island’s superb natural harbors for a century and a
DAWN IN MALTA Dawn slides over Fort San Angelo and its towering ramparts that guard the entrance to the harbor of Valletta, the capital of Malta. Photo provided by Malta Tourist Office.
half before the Maltese finally attained their independence in 1964.
But it was the Sovereign Military Hospitaler Order of St. John of Jerusalem — better known as the Knights of Malta — whose influence is most heavily felt.
Our arrival here, the island’s capital, was by ship after dark and ventured on deck when the
vessel was picked up the harbor pilot and headed for the quay. Nosing past Valletta’s breakwater and into the narrow entrance, we cruised by the massive spotlighted star-shaped Fort St. Elmo to the right and the spear-like walls of Fort San Angelo to the left, whose towering ramparts took on a creamy yellowish glow.
Quite appropriate, as they were
WEDDING CELEBRATION
Wedding celebrants in Taomina on the northeast coast of Sicily leave the late 17th century baroque Church of San Giuseppe on the Piazza IX Aprile. Photo by Igor Lobanov.
built by the cream of European aristocracy at the time.
The Knights of St. John, ousted from the Holy Land by the Ottoman Turks and later from the island of Rhodes by Suleiman I
The Magnificent, were invited here in the mid-16th century by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who saw Malta as the pivotal bulwark to blunt a Moslem invasion of Southern Europe. The newcomers set to work fortifying the island and, in 1565, withstood a brutal four-month-long Turkish siege that repelled the threat from the East.
Over the next two centuries, they created a place that Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott called “a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen.”
The Renaissance grid of narrow streets holds palaces, municipal buildings and churches, many still honeycombed with secret passages. There is the hulking dark stone residence of the grand master and nearby, some of the auberges, or palace homes, of the various components of knights, based upon their homeland: Auvergne, Aragon, Castile, Italy, France and Allemagne-Angleterre.
The soaring Co-Cathedral of St. John, with its high Baroque ornamentation, has a marble floor quilt pattern of mosaics that covers the tombs of some 350 knights. A museum houses treasures “liberated” from all over the Mediterranean by the far-ranging cavaliers and, on a wall of the Oratory, Italian Renaissance painter Michelangelo Caravaggio’s chill-
ing masterpiece, “The Beheading of St. John the Baptist.”
Now based in Rome, the Knights of St. John continue their charitable work, aimed at alleviating hunger, misery and disease in Third World countries.
Some 160 miles away, on the northeast coast of Sicily and perched on a mountain spur high above the Ionian Sea, is Taormina.
Medieval stone buildings hug cobblestone streets and unexpected portals reveal views past flowering gardens to the deep blue waters where Homer set his tales of Neptune, Ulysses and the Cyclops.
A celebrated resort for well over a century and, much earlier, the preferred residence of wealthy Roman patricians, its quixotic Piazza IX Aprile overlooking the sea has been a social center eliciting such comments as, paraphrasing author D.H. Lawrence, that it was not only a meeting point but also a charming “salon” for continental tea of the Mad Hatter where you wonder who will end up in the teapot.
I don’t know about the teapot, but there are open-air cafes to get a coffee, gelato or marzipan shaped like fruit. It’s also a favorite spot for the lassiggato, the traditional Latin evening stroll.
Aprile is framed by a couple of churches, and a clock tower dating from the Middle Ages that serves as a gateway to the medieval sector. Narrow lanes lead to views of the villa-strewn hillside above and the sea below.
At Taormina’s northeastern fringe, carved into a high spot on the hillside and dating from the 3rd century BC, is the town’s treasured Greco-Roman theater. The Greeks built it for classical plays and musical events. Imperial-age Romans had more grandiose ideas, transforming the venue into an amphitheater for gladiator contests, hunting spectaculars and even naval battles on a flooded stage.
Today, audiences at summer concerts and other events have, like the Romans before them, a grandstand view past the stage to the sea and the largest active volcano in Europe — Sicily’s Mt. Etna.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
“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?”
NUTSHELL 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
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Mature Life Features
Listening to travellers complain about how they were treated in some foreign land is akin to hearing kids complain about their teachers.
First off, keep in mind that travellers are guests where they are. Just because the locals didn’t understand English is no reason to harp about their rudeness. Many travellers discover they had no concept what language was spoken in the country they visited. They didn’t try to learn a few vital words in that language, such as “please” and “thank you.”
Ignorance of one’s surroundings is an all-too-common trait of travellers.
Here is a small sample of such mindlessness.
A member of a small group strolling in the shadow of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City proudly proclaimed loudly how thrilled she felt “walking in the footsteps of Jesus.”
Then she complained — loudly — to her tour guide that the Pope’s noon blessing from his high-up window was too far away to tell if it was really him.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
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.
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
KING
exude history. History leaks from every door and window.
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 cher-
ished 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.
Continued on page 27
Continued from page 26
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.
This distinctive blue
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Columbus Day celebrations with St. Joseph County Councilwoman Amy Drake, left, and her son, Sebastian Drake, middle. Photo provided by Amy Drake.
By LORIS ZAPPIA Guest Writer
My name is Loris Zappia. I’ve spent the past several months working to introduce myself to St. Joseph County and its citizens. If you’ve already voted, you saw my name as a candidate for probate court judge. If you voted for me, thank you. If you have not yet voted, I encourage you to consider installing me as the court’s newest probate judge. Remember, early voting is going on at the County City Building in South Bend and at the Mishawaka County Services Building now, and Centre Township Library; voting at the library began Oct. 21. I encour-
age you to bank your vote early. Otherwise, please show up on Election Day, Nov. 5, at one of the many voting centers in the county.
Since I grew up here in South Bend, I’m lucky to already know a big portion of this vibrant community, and the Zappia family has a significant presence here. Neighbors and friends in St. Joseph County contributed greatly to my own success here, both when I was a child and as I progressed in my career as a lawyer.
With 30 years of litigation trial experience and 25 years working as a deputy prosecuting attorney, I now see this period of my life as a chance to give back
to the community as judge for the probate court. I truly believe that helping just one person can positively impact an entire generation.
The court handles family matters, like wills, guardianship, adoptions, domestic matters and also has oversight over juvenile issues, including the administration of the Juvenile Justice Center.
I am running against current probate judge, Judge Jason Cichowicz, who was recently suspended by the Indiana Supreme Court for judicial misconduct. I would consider it an honor if you would install me as the court’s new judge. Vote Zappia. Integrity matters.
By JAMES GAFFNEY Mature Life Features
Most people know exercise can keep off unwanted pounds while increasing strength, flexibility and balance.
But exercise offers another major advantage, especially for older adults. It can help prevent falls, according to a British healthcare review.
A variety of other factors, from pacemakers to vitamin D supplements, might be useful in preventing certain individuals from falling, but exercise appears to be the most widely effective strategy for reducing both the risk of falling and the overall number of falls among older people.
Exercise may not prevent falls completely, but people who tend to fall frequently may be enabled to fall less often.
An estimated 30% of people above age 65 who do not live in assisted-living facilities experience a fall. Among the reasons are poor balance, diminished eyesight, dementia and the side effects of medications.
One in five of these falls could require medical attention but, even without causing serious injury, falling can make individuals fearful of leaving their homes or participating in activities.
Studies suggest that group
exercise programs, tai chi, and home exercise programs all reduce the risk and rate of falls.
Effective exercise programs for reducing falls focus on balance, strength and flexibility. However, older adults should check with their primary care physician before beginning an exercise, especially if they have significant weakness, balance issues, or dizziness.
Other preventive measures might only be effective for small, targeted groups. For instance, taking vitamin D supplements probably does not reduce falls, except in people who have a low level of vitamin D in their blood. Similarly, cataract surgery and insertion of a pacemaker can help people with poor eyesight or certain blood pressure conditions to fall less often.
Anti-slip devices worn on shoes during icy conditions and reviewing medications regularly are also effective in reducing falls. In some cases, gradually reducing the dosage of sleep aids and depression medicines can reduce the number of falls.
Behavioural changes can also make a difference. An older adult should probably reconsider climbing up a ladder to clean gutters or using a chair to change a light bulb or reach high shelves.
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