Senior Life Northwest Edition March 2021

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Elder Law and Medicaid Planning

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Vol. 24, No. 12

March rch 2021

Cliff Rice

Northwest Edition R Reaching Seniors In Illiana: Cook, Lake & Porter Counties

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An Outreach For Alone, Isolated Elders %\ 67(9( (89,12 )HDWXUH :ULWHU Not even a pandemic can keep good folks down. That includes Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly for northwest Indiana. While COVID-19 has prevented Little Brothers volunteers from in-person contact with their elders, they’re keeping in touch on a more regular basis.

Since 2012, Little Brothers has been bringing friendship and connection to elders in 14 northwest Indiana communities. These elders, who may be living without friends or family, are now experiencing outreach, programs and services.

Little Brothers volunteers are currently engaged in online contact and other virtual programs.

For instance, for Valentine’s Day, Little Brothers staff and volunteers

personally delivered gifts to elders.

Volunteers are also honoring elders’ birthdays and, in emergency cases, staff delivers food.

“We’re still continuing our mission,” said Ann Wohlberg, director of program.

Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly remains committed to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly through volunteer outreach.

Started in 1946 after World War II, Little Brothers has a handful of chapters in the U.S. and is in eight other countries. With the Chicago chapter expanding into northwest Indiana nine years ago, Little Brothers locally serves an estimated 70 elderly through 72 volunteers.

Michael Galbreath, Peotone, Ill., has been a Little Brothers volunteer for six years, serving Chicago,

Hammond, Gary and Hobart. A retired special education administrator, Galbreath said, “You learn a lot about the aging experience. It gives me more compassion for people. It’s like reading a novel. There’s always something new you didn’t expect.”

Lillie Hall of Gary, a six-year volunteer, noted, “I love people. I get such a kick making people laugh, and that makes me laugh. Older people encourage me.”

She added, “I’m on a journey I’m happy I got hooked into. It’s a part of me.”

Speaking Nov. 8, 2019, at the initial End Loneliness Symposium, Wohlberg noted, “Isolation comes with age. We find ways to keep their passions and interests alive and to provide a forum for elders to share them with each other.”

Prior to COVID-19, volunteers

and the elderly enjoyed visits, movies, conversations, lunch and even picnics.

“I’m contributing to someone who needs help and they show so much appreciation,” said seven-year volunteer Valarine Brown of Merrillville. “I’ve learned to be grateful for the things I have. Some of these people are so lonely, it’s a blessing I can help.”

According to Jacqueline Townsend, northwest Indiana expansion program coordinator, all services are free to the elderly. Donations support the program.

Little Brothers welcomes women and men, 70 and older, who are aging without the support of family and friends. The average age of elders is 82, with some at 100 or older and 38% rely on a walker or wheelchair.

Before the pandemic, Townsend Continued on page 2

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2 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ March 2021

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Key Positions

New vice president of human resources leads ‘dream managers’ %\ &$55,( 67(,1:(* )HDWXUH :ULWHU Kurt Meyer started in his new position as vice president of human resources with Methodist Hospitals in December, bringing with him 35 years of experience in leading human resources operations in manufacturing and hospital settings.

The South Bend native majored in business at Ball State University. He was intrigued by human resources and helping people at work, so he decided to go into human resources.

“I always enjoyed work and I wanted others to have the same experience,” he said.

Meyer served as the chief human resources officer and vice president of support services for St. Joseph Health System in Mishawaka. He was also vice president of human resources and physician practices at Elkhart General Health System.

Most recently, he worked as senior director of human resources for Heartland RV. “I consider myself and the human resources team ‘dream managers,’ ” said Meyer. “We

give people a career opportunity that can be their dream job or help them achieve their dreams through work and to care for their family. The work is a means to an end. And if the job has meaning and purpose, it is the best.”

After earning a Bachelor of Science in business management from Ball State University, Meyer earned a Master of Arts in labor and industrial relations degree from the University of Illinois.

“I try to give overall strategy to the human resources functions or the mission of the hospital and to serve our staff to help them become the best versions of themselves. We try to make sure they are appreciated, that they feel part of something special and help them in their jobs and personal life, as well,” said Meyer. “A hospital is really a place you can serve your community. People genuinely care at a hospital and take care of people when they are vulnerable and in need.”

The hardest part of his job, he said, is “asking some people to find their dream elsewhere. Not

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Meyer said that he was

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always inspired by his parents, who he called “hard workers and great people,” as well as his wife, Julie, who is a retired nurse.

“She is always there for me and is a great coach — even when I don’t want to hear it.

She makes me a better man,” he said.

The couple has three adult children, ages 33, 34 and 36, who, he said, “are all success-

ful and wonderful and in the South Bend area,” he said. “Each serve the community: Jacob is a Catholic priest, Ellen is a client service manager with Press/ Ganey and Ryan is an human resources manager with a manufacturer in Elkhart.”

When he has the opportunity, Meyer likes to unwind by reading and playing golf in his spare time.

Our Lady of Sorrows parish hosting fish fry March 5 The Knights of Columbus Council No. 12149 at Our Lady of Sorrows parish, 356 West CR 700N, Valparaiso, will be having a drive-thru fish fry from 4-6:30 p.m. Friday, March 5. Fish or shrimp dinners include French fries, vegetable

and coleslaw. Cost is $10 per dinner. The famous cabbage and noodles family size is $5 each and desserts are $1.

This will be a minimal contact event. All proceeds go to help the parish or community organizations.

An Outreach

Continued from page 1 said, Little Brothers volunteers met at least twice a month with their elderly. Now, she said, volunteers, who are 18 and older, connect virtually at least once a week.

Relationships formed between Little Brothers and elderly, Wohlberg said, are based on

“mutual respect and reciprocity.”

“We’re meeting our elders where they are and walking with them and really being a judgment-free zone.”

For more information on Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, visit www.littlebrotherschicago.org or call Townsend at (219) 736-5233.

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4 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ March 2021

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Spotlight

Retired teacher entertains shoppers at Schererville store %\ &$55,( 67(,1:(* )HDWXUH :ULWHU When you hear someone play piano in what seems to be an effortless way, you often assume that they began taking lessons at a very young age.

That’s not always the case: at least it wasn’t for Carol Schaap.

She started playing piano in seventh grade, but she wasn’t learning from an instructor.

She was teaching herself on a piano her parents bought from a neighbor.

“They literally pushed it across the street,” she said. “I had friends who hated their piano lessons, so I didn’t want to take lessons. I taught myself from the books that came with the piano. I had my first real piano lesson in college.”

When she went to college, majoring in music education seemed the perfect fit for two

:LUPVY 3PML 5VY[O^LZ[ www.seniorlifenewspapers.com Main Office, P.O. Box 188 • 206 S. Main St., Milford, Ind. 46542-0188 (574) 658-4111 1-800-733-4111 Fax 800-886-3796

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reasons: The first was that she loved summer vacation and didn’t want to give it up. The second was that music was always her favorite subject.

Schaap attended Calvin Christian School in South Holland, Ill., and next Illiana Christian High School, then located in Lansing, Ill. After two years at Thornton Community College (now South Suburban College), she finished school at Trinity Christian College.

She later earned her master’s degree from Roosevelt University and took 10 postgraduate classes at the VanderCook College of Music.

“In college, I learned to play all of the band instruments, except the brass instruments.

The only instruments I play at all well are the piano, organ, guitar and ukulele,” she said.

Her teaching career began in Tinley Park, Ill., at School District 140, where she taught music to students in kindergarten through sixth grade. In 1994, she began teaching at Memorial Junior High in Lansing, Ill. There she taught sixth, seventh and eighth grades and choir.

Schaap retired in 2017.

“I’m so glad I don’t have to teach virtually because my classes were always very hands on. My students learned to play piano, guitar and drums using five gallon buckets and drumsticks. On each instrument they could work their way up the levels,” explained Schaap.

“I loved seeing students get excited about playing their

3/$<,1* )25 7+( 38%/,& ³ 3LFWXUHG LV &DURO 6FKDDS SOD\LQJ SLDQR DW 0HQDUGV LQ 6FKHUHUYLOOH 6FKDDS UHWLUHG IURP WHDFKLQJ PXVLF LQ 3KRWR SURYLGHG instruments. I was amazed at how far some students could get in just a nine week marking period. I was fortunate to teach in a district that really supported the fine arts.”

In her retirement, Schaap has had four part-time jobs.

She supervises student teachers at Trinity Christian College, accompanies the choir at Memorial Junior High School, teaches piano lessons and plays piano at a Menards store.

“My husband, Glenn, and I were shopping at the Menards in Schererville in 2016, and I heard someone playing the piano. I talked to the pianist and decided right then that I wanted to do it when I retired,” she said. “I love playing at Me-

nards. I enjoy talking to people who stop by. Sometimes, people I haven’t seen in a long time show up and former students and that’s always a thrill.”

She plays a variety of music when she’s there from oldies to gospel to movie and television themes.

Schaap has also been involved with the worship team at New Hope Church in Lansing, both as a leader and a member, and she has accompanied various choirs, groups and soloists.

She and her husband have two daughters, a son and six grandchildren as well as two rescue dogs — an American Eskimo named Riley and a shepherd/husky named Sierra.

“I’m grateful that my kids all live in the area now since my oldest daughter lived on Prince Edward Island in Canada for seven years and our son lived in Tokyo for 10 years,” she said.

Why does she enjoy music and teaching music so much?

“Music fosters creativity,” she said. “It’s one of the few classes students take that deals with the fun part of their lives.”

March 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 5

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Finance

Understanding Social Security —

Apply for Medicare with Social Security

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Did you know that you can apply for Medicare online even if you are not ready to retire?

Applying online can take less than 10 minutes. There are no forms to sign and usually no required documentation. We’ll process your application and contact you if we need more information.

Visit www.ssa.gov/benefits/

medicare to begin. There you can apply for Medicare and find other important information.

People are usually eligible for Medicare at age 65. If you want to start receiving Medicare at age 65, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after that birthday.

Some Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for extra help to pay for the monthly premiums, annual deductibles and co-pay-

ments related to the Medicare Prescription Drug program. To qualify, you must be receiving Medicare, have limited resources and income, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.

More information on extra help is available at www.ssa.gov/ benefits/medicare/prescriptionhelp.

You may also be interested in reading these publications: “Apply Online for Medicare

Protect your home, savings from nursing home spend down Every day, 10,000 Americans are turning 65 years of age. Statistically, 70% of those individuals will require long-term care.1 The average stay in a nursing home is 2.3 years.2

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If assisted living is required prior to that, the average length of stay in assisted living is in excess of three years.3 With over 80 million Americans expected to reach 65 years of age by 2050 4, this is a serious problem, affecting not only our nation, but every citizen in it.

A private pay nursing home now costs slightly in excess of $100,000 per year and 50% of couples will exhaust their entire life savings within one year of entering a nursing home.5 For single individuals, 75% will exhaust their life savings

6

within one year.

At Rice and Rice Attorneys, we can help. We are elder law attorneys, having joined the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys 28 years ago, in 1993. Now, we are members of Elder Counsel as well. We have been in business for over 48 years and we understand the Medicaid regulations. Get the help you need now. Don’t wait until the last minute to take the steps necessary to protect yourself and your loved ones.

We help individuals just Continued on page 7

— Even if You Are Not Ready to Retire,” available at www.ssa. gov/pubs/EN-05-10530.pdf.

“When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits,” online at www.

ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10147.pdf.

Help a friend or family member by sharing this information.

It can improve the quality of their life.

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ƌĞ zŽƵ ǁĂƌĞ dŚĂƚ͗ ͻ EĞĂƌůLJ ŚĂůĨ ŽĨ Ăůů ƐĞŶŝŽƌƐ ǁŝůů ƐƉĞŶĚ ƟŵĞ ŝŶ Ă ŶƵƌƐŝŶŐ ŚŽŵĞ͘ ͻ >ŽĐĂůůLJ͕ ŶƵƌƐŝŶŐ ŚŽŵĞƐ ĐŽƐƚ ĂďŽƵƚ Ψϳ͕ϱϬϬ ƉĞƌ ŵŽŶƚŚ͕ Žƌ ΨϵϬ͕ϬϬϬ ƉĞƌ LJĞĂƌ͘ &Z ŽŽŬ ͻ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƐĞŶŝŽƌƐ ůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŚŽŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ůŝĨĞ ƐĂǀŝŶŐƐ ƚŽ ŶƵƌƐŝŶŐ &Žƌ ůŝĞŶƚƐ x ŚŽŵĞ ĐŽƐƚƐ͘ EĞĂƌůLJ ŚĂůĨ ŽĨ Ăůů ƐĞŶŝŽƌƐ ǁŝůů ƐƉĞŶĚ ƚŝŵĞ ŝŶ Ă ŶƵƌƐŝŶŐ ŚŽŵĞ͘ tŚŽ Ž x >ŽĐĂůůLJ͕ ŶƵƌƐŝŶŐ ŚŽŵĞƐ ĐŽƐƚ ĂďŽƵƚ Ψϳ͕ϱϬϬ ƉĞƌ ŵŽŶƚŚ͕ Žƌ ΨϵϬ͕ϬϬϬ ƉĞƌ LJĞĂƌ͘ ƌĞ zŽƵ ůƐŽ ǁĂƌĞ dŚĂƚ͗ x ƐŝŐŶŝĨŝĐĂŶƚ ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƐĞŶŝŽƌƐ ůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŚŽŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ůŝĨĞ ƐĂǀŝŶŐƐ ƚŽ ŶƵƌƐŝŶŐ ŚŽŵĞ ĐŽƐƚƐ͘ WůĂŶŶŝŶŐ ͻ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞ͕ ƉƌŽǀĞŶ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĞ LJŽƵƌ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƌĞ zŽƵ ůƐŽ ǁĂƌĞ dŚĂƚ͗ /Ŷ ƐƉĞŶĚͲĚŽǁŶƐ͘ ͻ x dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ƚŽ LJŽƵ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ŝĨ LJŽƵ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ŚĂǀĞ ůŽŶŐͲƚĞƌŵ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ĞĨĨĞĐƚŝǀĞ͕ ƉƌŽǀĞŶ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĞ LJŽƵƌ ĂƐƐĞƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƐƉĞŶĚͲĚŽǁŶƐ͘ DĂƌĐŚ ĐĂƌĞ ŝŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ͘ x dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ƚŽ LJŽƵ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ŝĨ LJŽƵ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ŚĂǀĞ ůŽŶŐͲƚĞƌŵ ĐĂƌĞ ŝŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ͘ ͻ x dŚĞƐĞ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ ĐĂŶ ĂůƐŽ ŚĞůƉ ƚŽ ĂǀŽŝĚ ƉƌŽďĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĞǀĞŶƚ dŚĞƐĞ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ ĐĂŶ ĂůƐŽ ŚĞůƉ ƚŽ ĂǀŽŝĚ ƉƌŽďĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĞǀĞŶƚ ĚŝƐƉƵƚĞ ĂŵŽŶŐ LJŽƵƌ ďĞŶĞĨŝĐŝĂƌŝĞƐ͘ ĚŝƐƉƵƚĞ ĂŵŽŶŐ LJŽƵƌ ďĞŶĞĮĐŝĂƌŝĞƐ͘

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For Persons 65 or Older, Seating is Limited. Come Join Us! Your safety is our priority at Rice & Rice Workshop Events.

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6 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ March 2021

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Sports

Veteran baseball coach prepares the ‘boys of spring’ %\ 67(9( (89,12 )HDWXUH :ULWHU It may not feel like baseball weather, but indoor coaches, like Portage High School’s Bob Dixon, are warming up players for a return to spring sports.

Dixon, 63, is entering his 21st season with the PHS baseball program. Having spent his first seven years as an unpaid volunteer coach, Dixon has been head coach since 2016, succeeding Tim Perowski.

“I enjoy the camaraderie of the kids, the friendships,” Dixon said. “I enjoy teaching the skills they need to be good athletes, good citizens, to be respectful, to be someone positive in the community, to be future leaders, and to enjoy life.”

An avid hunter, Dixon has coached youth basketball and soccer. He got into coaching through his sons, Bryan and Kevin, both three-sport athletes at Portage. Today, Bryan is head boys’ basketball coach at Greensburg High School.

An assistant coach at PHS for 13 years, Dixon was named the IHSAA’s baseball assistant coach of the year for 2013. Today, he plugs his assistants, John Selman, Shane Prance and Mark Dye. Dixon was also part of the Indians’ 2013 sectional champi-

ons. “We’ve been pretty consistent over the past 20 years,” Dixon said, recalling that PHS lost to Crown Point in the 2019 sectional finals and that the Indians were gearing up for the 2020 campaign.

That opportunity never came, as the Indiana High School Athletic Association cancelled all spring sports due to COVID-19.

“The kids were heartbroken,” Dixon recalled. “We had all those kids returning and back as seniors.”

A 1976 Portage graduate, Dixon has been married 43 years to his wife, Glenda, whom he considers “my rock.”

A cancer survivor, Dixon has needed that support. In 2011, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The following spring, he was back on the baseball diamond.

“At the time, it blindsided me a lot,” Dixon said, thanking his head coach. “Tim helped me with the mental stuff and mental is pretty big in baseball. He never let me stop coaching.”

That experience, Dixon said, “taught me don’t take anything for granted. Tomorrow is not always promised.”

Dixon and his squad again put on an all-star baseball camp for grades K-8 in January and February. The camp, which has run for two decades, drew 56 players.

*(77,1* $ -803 21 7+( 6($621 ³ %RE 'L[RQ OHIW 3RUWDJH +LJK 6FKRRO EDVHEDOO KHDG FRDFK ZDWFKHV DV SOD\HUV SHUIRUP D FRQGLWLRQLQJ GULOO LQ WKH 3+6 ÀHOG KRXVH 7KH ,QGLDQV· UHJXODU VHDVRQ EHJLQV 0DUFK 3KRWR E\ 6WHYH (XYLQR A community coach for PHS, Dixon works for the city of Portage as a field director in water reclamation. Having been in sports as an athlete and coach for much of his life, Dixon said today’s student-athlete is a “different breed of kid. Kids today need a little more encouragement.”

Young athletes today, the coach noted, are playing on more outside teams with their own personal trainers.

“My job is to mold baseball players into our status without taking away what they’ve learned from other sources,” Dixon said. “Every year has new athletes and we have to

mold them to stride through the season and get better for conference and sectional time.”

Dixon, who still surprises younger players with his ability, said, “Baseball is a game of failure. You’re only as good as your last chance. I just enjoy being around athletes and their parents — it’s a baseball family.”

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On average, an adult makes funeral arrangement once in a lifetime typically for a parent or spouse. As a result, most people are unaware of the decisions and costs that need to be resolved in a compressed period of time. Healthy, fact-based decision making in this environment provides several advantages to the consumer. The decisions made in our conversation remove the “what if”

Ruth Litherland Preneed Arrangement Counselor question at the time of need. Further, the consumer allocates costs for services and merchandise they choose. The family is able to grieve their loss without the burden of emotional overspending and, know the funds paid in advance are a protected asset.

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cancer in their lifetime, but you can protect yourself by recognizing some simple signs for early detection.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and if you see a dermatologist we can catch melanoma at its earliest stages. It’s when melanoma is ignored or missed when it can begin to spread and become deadly. We recommend an annual skin check which saves lives.

Everyone is at risk and any body part can be affected. Sometimes we find skin cancers on the bottom of the foot, in between the toes, on the buttocks so we have to be vigilant. If you have any moles on your body that break the ABCD rule, then you should give your dermatologist a call. A stands for asymmetry, meaning if you divide the lesion in half, the two halves won’t look the same; B stands

A. David Soleymani M.D., F.A.A.D. Board-Certified Dermatologist for borders referring to moles with irregular borders, C stands for color so look for more than one color, and finally D stands for Diameter, which means if you have a lesion that is greater than 6 mm in diameter or larger than the size of a pencil eraser, you should get your lesion checked by your dermatologist.

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March 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 7

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Ask SHIP —

Did Medicare call or was it a scam?

I got a phone call from someone who said they were with Medicare. They said they needed my Medicare card number to get me scheduled for a COVID vaccine.

I felt like this might have been a scam, and I hung up.

Did I do the right thing?

You did the right thing!

Unfortunately, there are many scammers who are taking advantage of the coronavi-

S. O. S. — Speaking of Seniors

Dishonest double-talk %\ :22'52: :,/&2; One of our clients got unexpected bills after she went for testing of the COVID-19 virus.

She thought that the testing was free, but she got bills for it.

Our client even phoned her Medicare Advantage plan insurance company and got verbal assurances that she would not have to pay anything for the COVID-19 tests. But she got billed anyway.

On Feb. 10, I made a threeway call with our client to her Medicare Advantage policy insurance company. I was surprised by the representative’s explanation of the bills that our client received. The representative said that the test for COVID-19 is free to our client, but that the visit to the clinic that gave her the test is not free. What?

This sounds like dishonest double-talk to me. In my 18 years of helping senior citizens fight mistakes and fraud in the Medicare system, this kind of dishonest double-talk usually comes from federal government agencies and officials.

It has not usually come from private insurance companies.

How is a person supposed to get tested for COVID-19 without going somewhere to get the test done? If the public is told that the test is free, but not warned that going to a clinic or other facility to get the test will cost them money, isn’t that dishonest doubletalk? I believe it is.

So, I wrote this article to

Protect Continued from page 5 like you save their home and assets from the effects of long-term catastrophic illness. If you would like to learn more, attend one of our dinner workshops at 6 p.m. March 3, or 6 p.m. March 10, at Kelsey’s Steakhouse, 2300 E. Morthland Drive, Valparaiso.

Reservations required; seating is limited. Call now (800) 303-7423 or visit our website at www.riceandrice.com.

Resource References 1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

3. National Center for Assisted Living.

4. Pew Research Center.

5. United States Department of Health.

6. United States Department of Health.

warn the public about this dishonest double-talk. Before you get the “free” testing for COVID-19, you should ask if you will be charged for the visit to the place where you get the test.

(Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services, Merrillville. He has saved clients of that firm over $2 million dollars by correcting medical bills.)

rus pandemic.

Con artists may try to get Medicare numbers or personal information so they can steal identities and commit Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud results in higher health care costs and taxes for everyone.

Medicare does cover the COVID vaccine, so there will be no cost to you for vaccination.

You will need to share your Medicare card with your health care provider or pharmacy when receiving your vaccine, even if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan.

However, Medicare would never call you to ask you for your Medicare number.

A few things you should know: • You can’t pay to get early access to a vaccine. If someone tells you that you can, it is likely a scam.

• Don’t share your personal

or financial information if someone calls, texts or emails you promising access to the vaccine for a fee.

When it comes to your Medicare card, you should know: • Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare number or other information unless you’ve arranged that with them in advance.

• Medicare will never call you to sell you anything.

• You may get calls from people promising things if you’ve given them your Medicare number. These are not legitimate deals.

• Medicare will never visit you at your home.

• Medicare can’t enroll you over the phone unless you arranged this in advance with them.

• Be sure to report anything suspicious to Medicare. If you suspect fraud, call (800) MEDI-

CARE or (800) 633-4227. TTY users can call (877) 486-2048.

If you have questions about Medicare Part B or any other questions related to Medicare, call SHIP at (800) 452-4800, (866) 846-0139 TDD or go online to www.medicare.in.gov.

You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

SHIP is a free, unbiased counseling program provided by the Indiana State Department of Insurance.

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8 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ March 2021

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Faith

Barber, minister wants males to become ‘fruitful’ men %\ 67(9( (89,12 )HDWXUH :ULWHU Born and raised in Gary, James Dixon has a barbershop in Hammond. His pulpit is located near the three-point line at a gym in Valparaiso. Dixon, or Brother James as he likes to be called, is the founder of Fruitful First, a ministry aimed at developing young males into fruitful men.

“You’re male by birth, a man by choice,” Dixon stressed.

As a youngster, he was raised in the faith, but he later made some questionable decisions in his life. Now, as a mature adult, he wants to mentor teens and young adults to be fruitful first in life.

Fruitful First takes its name from Genesis 1:28 — “God blessed them, saying: Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and

subdue it.”

This mentoring program currently meets Friday evenings on a gym at The Courts of Northwest Indiana in Valparaiso. For four hours, young men participate in prayer, testimony and basketball.

The program has drawn young males from Chicago to South Bend. Ty Furgye, 25, of Demotte, who has attended for two years, noted, “It’s just a great time to experience a new way, a new meaning to prayer.”

Dixon explained that Fruitful First is founded on the fatherson relationship.

“In order for a man to become a father, he must first be a son,” Dixon said.

Although national statistics point to disparities in fatherless men of African American descent, he believes males of all races are welcome to “partici-

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pate in the father-son pattern to strengthen their individual journey toward manship.”

As Dixon told young hoopsters, “If a father is not present in the family, everybody loses. If

a father is present but he does not know how to be a daddy, everybody loses.”

Fruitful First developed in 1998 when Dixon was helping the Salvation Army in Gary.

Today, he also spends Mondays at Valparaiso University, talking to young males on campus. Since the pandemic, Fruitful First has been averaging 30 males coming to The Courts.

There they pray, share the word and shoot hoops.

“In a setting like this, you have all different walks of life,” Dixon said. “You begin to see lives change. I enjoy seeing a lot of change.”

He also points to the opening of the book of Jeremiah for inspiration: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you.”

“God created you in his image

and likeness in the spiritual.

Then he blessed you with a living body,” Dixon said. “A man is responsible. Life is making the right decisions. You can’t make right decisions without a relationship with God.” Dixon has other adults helping him, including Kirk Reynolds and Rapheal Baker.

Reynolds admitted that when some males read about being fruitful and multiplying, “they have a temptation to do something else first.”

Baker wants young males to develop a sense of purpose and identity, “to know God for yourself, so that if no one else is around, you can get together with someone and be a source to others.”

For more information on Fruitful First, call (219) 4871811 or (219) 242-0550.

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March 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 9

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I got you covered with a lid When you are stuck at home due to COVID, it creates opportunities to deal with household issues you wouldn’t normally ,1 $ have time to 1876+(// mess with. %\ ',&.

I spent a :2/)6,( fair amount of time last weekend putting my books on my shelves in

alphabetical order. The Dewey decimal system was no longer working for me. (Are you under 50? Please Google it.)

Mary Ellen had her own project. She took her usual measured approach, recognizing that one solution does not fit all. There was some trial and error in her method, but she knew that if she resolved the issue, everything would be a snap. The annoyance could be ignored no longer: Most of our Tupperware had lids that didn’t fit or were missing.

I had also recognized there

was a problem. You see, almost every leftover in our refrigerator is in a nifty little pastelcolored plastic container with a piece of Reynolds Wrap over it. I think this is one of the reasons my mouth waters whenever I see aluminum foil.

This lid dilemma is mostly my fault. I always put the Tupperware tops on the bottom shelf of the dishwasher and an hour later the result looks something like a Salvador Dali clock. Years ago, there was a lady in Fort Wayne who had potato chips that looked like

Purdue Extension hosts Southeastern Indiana Llama and Alpaca Conference Purdue Extension will host the second annual Southeastern Indiana Llama and Alpaca Conference March 20.

“We are going virtual for this year’s conference, but that doesn’t mean the content of the conference will be of any less quality as in past years,” said extension educator Miranda Edge. This year’s conference includes beginning and advanced topics from nutrition and health to cost

analysis on hay production.

Participants will have access to all recorded videos after the conference as part of their registration.

The event is for anyone interested in learning more about llama and alpacas or those who already own llamas or an alpaca. This conference will allow attendees the opportunity to interact with extension experts throughout the day’s presentations, as well as

other llama and alpaca owners during a panel discussion.

The fee for the program is $30 per attendee. The deadline to register is March 12.

Fees are nonrefundable. To register, use this link: https:// cvent.com/d/kjqkk5.

For more information on how to register or to request assistance to attend this conference, contact Richard Beckort at rbeckort@purdue. edu.

famous people. I have a Tupperware lid that looks like Mick Jagger.

Whoever invented Tupperware made the same mistake that the Heinz people once made. Not to mention the BIC pen people. And many toothpaste companies. Tops should always be attached. I’m glad the people at American Standard attach the lid to the seat. It’s a good thing, or men like me who are always losing things would spend the first half of the day looking for the TV remote, then divide up the next 12 hours between the cell phone and toilet topper.

“Mary Ellen, have you seen the lid to the toilet seat?”

“Did you misplace it again?

When was the last time you used it?”

“This morning, moments after I brushed my teeth.”

“Well, it must be there. Did you put it down somewhere?

Come to think of it, you never put it down.”

But getting back to my wife’s little project in the kitchen, of trying to match container parts.

Freelance Reporter/ Photographer Wanted For

LCPL offering virtual programs The Lake County Public Library system is offering virtual programs for adults. Registration required for all programs; visit www.lcplin.org/events or call (219) 769-3541.

Shutdowns slam Social Security %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Social Security’s trust fund — the fund into which today’s employee deductions are funneled to pay benefits to today’s retirees — is expected to be depleted faster than estimated thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts and observers had generally agreed that the fund would be depleted in the mid2030s, at which time benefits would have to be cut by more than 20% as the number of retirees, who are living longer, grows faster than the number of workers.

Several forecasters now have warned politicians that the fund will be depleted before the end of this decade if something is not done to offset the unanticipated shortfall in workers’ deductions because of the workforce shrinkage caused by the pandemic shutdowns.

The most talked-about actions include a cutback in benefits paid to retirees coupled with a payroll tax hike to increase the income from those still working.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

An Introduction to Heraldry for Genealogists class is from 11 a.m. to noon, March 3, Lake County Public Library’s Zoom room. Discover this connection between genealogy and heraldry (coats of arms) and find out how heraldry can become “the genealogist’s most colorful tool.”

A virtual book chat is from 10:30-11:30 a.m. March 16, via Hobart branch’s Zoom room.

March’s title is “The Widows”

by Jess Montgomery. Pick up a copy at the Hobart curbside and join the virtual chat.

Contact hobart@lcplin.org for

event details.

A virtual Between the Lines book club is from 3-4 p.m. March 23, via the DyerSchererville branch’s Zoom.

The Between the Lines book club is “Dear Mrs. Bird” by A. J. Pearce. Books for this Zoom discussion can be picked up at the Dyer-Schererville branch a month prior to the event.

A virtual book discussion is from 1:30-2:30 p.m. March 25, at the Munster branch.

This is a virtual discussion using Zoom. Copies of the book are available at the Munster branch.

Personally, I thought the whole thing was a waste of time. “Why are you even bothering, Mary Ellen? Just throw out the misfits. We’ll buy new Tupperware.”

“Well, Dick, that is an odd position to take for a man whose bottom dresser drawer is storing 11 solo socks that don’t have a mate.”

(Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. –Mark Twain) “Mary Ellen, what’s that hint of orange on all these containers?”

“That’s just marinara sauce stains that won’t come out.”

“Well, if all those containers are stained and ugly, you really should throw them out. What good are they?”

“Boy, that sock analogy still hasn’t sunk in, has it?”

It reached the point where I couldn’t stand it anymore.

The shuffling and rattling were disturbing my Sunday nap so I marched into the kitchen.

“Mary Ellen,” I implored, “can’t you stop this silliness for an hour and do something else?”

She told me to put a lid on it.

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10 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ March 2021

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Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

Danger, dames, Double-O-Seven “Bond.

James Bond.”

Film critic Peter Bradshaw once wrote, “It is the most famous selfintroduction from any %\ 5$1'$/ character & +,// in movie history.

Three cool monosyllables. Surname first, a little curtly … and then, as if an afterthought, the first name, followed by the surname again. Sean Connery carried it off with an icily disdainful style, in full evening dress (and) with a cigarette hanging from his lips.”

UK writer Ian Fleming’s novel “Dr. No” was first published in 1958. Four years later, the silver screen treatment gave movie fans worldwide a chance to see, for the first time, Fleming’s fearless, dashing, lady-loving Agent 007 in a highly entertaining bit of celluloid melodrama.

And its handsome star was a 32-year-old newcomer with a thin resume. The Scottish breakout actor, Connery, was born in 1930 to an Edinburgh factory worker and a cleaning

woman. As an adult, Connery worked as a milkman, a truck driver, a lifeguard, an artist’s model and a coffin polisher (!) before he gained fame and fortune via James Bond.

As licensed-to-kill Agent 007, our hero was about as sexy and dangerous as one could get. But before the movie-going public was allowed to see (and fall in love with) Connery, director Terence Young first chose to tutor the rougharound-the-edges actor in how to display wit, charm and style as the charismatic Bond character. And although Connery stood 6 feet, 2 inches tall, all the Bond sets and furniture were built slightly smaller than in real life, so as to make Agent 007 appear even larger and more imposing than he actually was.

In “Dr. No,” Bond is sent to Jamaica to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and his secretary. He eventually becomes involved with a mysterious and sinister nuclear scientist named Dr. Julius No (Joseph Wiseman), who espouses world domination as his goal.

Along the way, Bond has to contend with such inconveniences as a “deadly” tarantula (tarantulas aren’t poisonous), flame throwers, flying bul-

lets, severe beatings and a near drowning. Adding to the complications is a trio of temptresses — the Oriental charmer Miss Taro (Zena Marshall), casino denizen Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson), and the bikini-clad, seashell-collecting siren Honey Ryder (Ursulla Andress).

Dr. No doesn’t actually appear until 1 hour and 27 minutes into the story. At one point, the no-goodnik tries in vain to persuade Agent 007 to join his evil organization.

That’s when Dr. No huffs, “I thought you had some style, Mr. Bond, but I see you’re just a stupid policeman.”

Dr. No provided the signature elements for the later James Bond movie offerings — its distinctive theme music; head-spinning, high-octane action sequences; alluring young women and even James’s preference for vodka martinis (shaken, not stirred).

Footnote: When the feature was released, United Artists had to make some adjustments to the title before it reached foreign markets. In South Korea, for example, the film’s name would have been literally translated as “007 Murder Number,” and in Japan the movie would have been called “We Don’t Want Doctors!”

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Residences Senior Living offers renewed hope for residents %\ &$52/ %,$1&$5', 5HVLGHQFHV 6HQLRU /LYLQJ Residences at Deer Creek in Schererville and Residences at Coffee Creek in Chesterton have partnered with Walgreens to provide residents, staff and essential caregivers priority access to the COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna.

“We’ve received our second vaccine doses, we’re doing fine and we now have a program in place for new residents and staff to access the vaccine onsite moving forward. Vaccines are our platform for the most exciting first step in our community’s journey back to regaining normalcy,” said Karen Ayersman, executive director, Residences at Deer Creek.

The next step is the recent implementation of the new essential caregiver program.

Kaitlynn Redmon, executive director, Residences at Coffee Creek explained, “The vaccines made it possible to put this new plan in place. The ECP allows each resident a designated friend or family member access to more frequent visits. This is such a relief for everyone in our communities.”

“The program is conducted

within state guidelines and is a narrowly defined exception to visitor restrictions. An essential caregiver must be age 18 or older who, prior to visitor restrictions, was regularly engaged with a resident to provide companionship and/or assist with activities,” stated Ayersman. “Our goal with this program is to help our residents connect regularly with their loved ones.

There are multiple dimensions to wellness, one of which is socialization. This new program will help reintroduce this key wellness dimension safely back into our residents’ lives, which changed drastically overnight last spring with statemandated pandemic visitation restrictions.

Redmon agreed. She said, “Everyone is so thrilled to learn there will be more frequent interaction.” She also emphasized that all necessary preventative protocols must still be met for all visitors.

For more information, visit www.ResidencesSeniorLiving. com or call Residences at Deer Creek at (219) 921-5200, Residences at Coffee Creek at (219) 864-0700, or toll-free at (800) 557-9176.

March 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 11

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For Information On How To Advertise Call 219-254-2345

COFFEE & TEA ACROSS 1. Bookie’s number 5. Parents org.

8. Slang for microwave 11. Time distortion 12. One with biggest share?

13. Like a case of appendicitis, Roasting salmon on top of Brussels sprouts and possibly garlic, flavored with wine and fresh oregano, is 15. Decanter simple enough for a weeknight meal yet sophis16. Knowing about ticated enough to serve to company. Serve with 17. Mister in Madrid whole-wheat couscous.

18. *Usually served on ice, 2 words 6 servings; Total: 45 mins 20. Barber’s sound INGREDIENTS: 21. Accepted truth 14 large cloves garlic, divided 22. Took a load off 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 23. Artist’s office 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano, 26. Excites passions, divided 2 words 30. Comic book cry 1 teaspoon salt, divided of horror 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided 31. Rude or 6 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and sliced sarcastic 3/4 cup white wine, preferably Chardonnay 34. Chips, perhaps 2 pounds wild-caught salmon fillet, skinned, cut 35. Roleplay into 6 portions 37. Chinese “way” 1 Lemon wedges 38. Ice floaters DIRECTIONS: 39. 100 centavos Step 1 Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. 40. Merry 42. Table scrap Step 2 Mince 2 garlic cloves and combine in a 43. Breastbone small bowl with oil, 1 tablespoon oregano, 1/2 45. *Double shot of teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Halve the espresso remaining garlic and toss with Brussels sprouts 47. Feather’s partner and 3 tablespoons of the seasoned oil in a large 48. Not here roasting pan. Roast, stirring once, for 15 minutes. 50. Nickname for Putin?

Step 3 Add wine to the remaining oil mixture.

52. *Revolutionary Remove the pan from oven, stir the vegetables event and place salmon on top. Drizzle with the wine 55. *”Tea is the only mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon simple pleasure left oregano and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. to us,” he wrote Bake until the salmon is just cooked through, 5 to 56. Research facil.

10 minutes more. Serve with lemon wedges.

57. Typically used in the fairway NUTRITION FACTS: 59. Goodbye to Per Serving: 333.8 calories; protein 33.1g; amiga carbohydrates 10.3g; exchange other carbs 0.5; dietary fiber 2.7g; sugars 2g; fat 15.4g; saturated 60. Plenty fat 2.8g; cholesterol 70.7mg; vitamin a iu 989.8IU; 61. Why not 62. *Black tea, in vitamin c 64.3mg; folate 74.8mcg; calcium 115.4mg; iron 2.2mg; magnesium 67.8mg; potas- China 63. Bard’s “before” sium 921.3mg; sodium 485mg; thiamin 0.2mg.

64. Pay close attention EXCHANGES: 1 Vegetable, 4 Lean Meat, 2 Fat

DOWN 1. Be in the red 2. Crows’ cousins 3. Actress Barrymore 4. More like rumors 5. ‘70s Ford model 6. Native American emblem 7. Dwarf buffalo 8. Pueblo tribesman 9. On top 10. For each 12. Cosmetic cabinet staple 13. Allegro ____ in music, Italian 14. *____ Perk from “Friends” 19. Exit plus s 22. Eye infection 23. Oozes 24. Article of faith 25. Romanov’s edict 26. *A ____ of tea, in U.K. 27. Prowl around 28. Embryo cradles 29. Green pasta sauce 32. One on the list 33. Faux one 36. *Equal parts espresso and warm milk 38. Fauna’s partner 40. Hudson’s Bay Company original ware 41. Experts 44. Nose channels 46. Kick the bucket 48. Between countertenor and baritone 49. Make this, not waste 50. Affected by the moon 51. Went down a slippery slope 52. Kitchen flooring choice 53. Tried follower 54. Bygone era 55. *The Revolutionary one followed #52 Across 58. The Simpsons’s neighbor

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12 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ March 2021

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83'$7(6 +$33(1,1*6 ,1 7+( $5($ Send listings of events, hosted by nonprofit organizations, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542 by March 29 for April events. With listing, include contact person and a phone number.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The calendar is listing regularly scheduled events. Due to COVID-19, events may be cancelled or postponed. Please reach out to the sponsoring agencies to verify if the events are still being held.)

Bonner Senior Center — Monday: Massage, 9 a.m., yoga 9:45 a.m., fitness 10:30 a.m., Choraleers 12:30 p.m., Zumba 2 p.m. Tuesday: Fitness 10:30 a.m., dancing 12:30 p.m., pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Fitness 10:30 a.m., bunco 12:30 p.m., bridge 12:30 p.m. Thursday: Fitness 10:30 a.m., bingo noon, dancing 1 p.m. Friday: Fitness 10:30 a.m., shopping 12:15 p.m., bingo 12:30 p.m. Bonner Senior Center is located at 5800 Lexington Ave., Portage, (219) 762-1522.

Maria Reiner Center — Monday: Pickleball 8:30 a.m., stretching class 9 a.m., smart phone class 10:30 a.m., ukulele

11 a.m., pinochle 11 a.m., bocce ball noon, oil painting 12:30 p.m., beginner computer class 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday: Pickleball 8:30-11:30 a.m., breakfast 9-11 a.m. ($3), blood pressure checks 10 a.m. to noon (first and third Tuesday), dominos 10 a.m., walking club 10 a.m. to noon, genealogy 10 a.m., tournament pool play 10 a.m., jam session 11 a.m., Mah Jongg (experienced play) 11:15 a.m., ping pong play noon.

Wednesday: Experienced art class 8:30 a.m., pickleball 8:30 a.m., stretch plus 9 a.m., hand and foot 10 a.m. (first Wednesday), scrapbooking class 10 a.m., bean bag toss noon, movie and popcorn noon, beginner art class 12:30 p.m., euchre lessons and play 1 p.m. Thursday: Pickleball 8:30-11:30 a.m., bridge lessons (intermediate and advanced) 9 a.m., Y cardio 9:30 a.m., lunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ($3), ping pong play noon, tournament pool play noon, canasta 12:30 p.m., bridge play 1 p.m., dominos 1 p.m., The Bible as Literature 1 p.m., Happy Hookers and Naughty Knitters 2 p.m. Friday: Yoga 8:30 a.m., pickleball 8:30 a.m., darts 11 a.m., bridge play 12:30 p.m.,

bunco (every first and third Friday) 12:30 p.m., bingo (every second and fourth Friday) 12:30 p.m., Ask the Doc computer class 1-3 p.m. Plus many special classes and presentations. $3 daily visitation fee for nonmembers. Interested in a membership? Call (219) 947-1864 or visit 705 E. Fourth St., Hobart.

For more information, visit www.hobartseniors.com.

AARP — Crown Point Chapter No. 3210 meets at 12:30 p.m. every fourth Monday at the Crown Point Civic Center, 101 S. East St. Guests and new members welcomed. Various speakers and informative topics.

Dues are $5 per year. Light refreshments. For details, contact Sue Mick at (219) 689-9168.

Hebron Seniors Activity Center — Blood pressure screening noon first Wednesday; birthday celebrations first Wednesday; monthly meeting third Wednesday; volunteer opportunity third Thursday (contact site coordinators, Edwin and Ruby Montgomery, for more details). Center is open to anyone for bingo or playing cards from 9 a.m. to noon MondayFriday. Located at 611 Main St., Hebron, (219) 996-5892.

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

New Friends — New Friends, a club for single people 60 years and older, meets every Thursday to socialize and play cards. Members go to restaurants, plays, movies, have a yearly picnic, anniversary dinner and a Christmas party.

Meetings are held at White Funeral Home, 921 W. 45th Ave., Griffith. For more information, call Marge at (219) 201-4174 or Barb at (219) 838-5415.

Thursday Threaders — 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Thursday at Griffith Public Library, 45th and Colfax. Bring your own project to work on while enjoying coffee, snacks and the company of others. Call (219) 838-2825.

AARP — Gary Chapter No. 4387 meets each month at noon the second Thursday (JanuaryJune and September-December) at St. Timothy Community Church, 1600 W. 25th Ave., Gary. Refreshments served.

Guests and new members are always welcome. Dues $15 per year. Must belong to National AARP or join. Very informative guest speakers regarding senior concerns. For more information,

contact Minnie Porter, president, at (219) 882-3093.

St. John Lions Club — Seeking donations of old eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids. Drop-off sites: Standard Bank, Route 41; Community Outpatient Clinic, Route 41; Stop and Shop; St. John Library; The Hammond Clinic, Route 41; Boric Religious Store, Thiel Street; St. John Town Hall, 93rd Avenue; VFW Post 717, 93rd Avenue.

Whiting Lions Club — Seeking donations of old eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids. Drop off in yellow collection box on 119th Street, Whiting.

Highland Lions Club — Seeking donations of old eyeglasses. Drop-off sites are: Town Hall, 3333 Ridge Road; Lincoln Center, 2450 Lincoln St.; Centier Bank, 9701 Indianapolis Blvd.; McColly Realty, 2002 45th St.; Dr. Ligget, 2940 Highway Ave.; Family Eye Care, 8417 Kennedy Ave.; and Johnson Opticians, 8128 Kennedy Ave., Highland. If interested in becoming a Lion, contact Tim Tintor at (219) 838-8756.

Care for your kidneys %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV With medical staff and facilities overburdened and politicians mandating shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become important for everyone to take charge of their well-being.

In the ongoing reports of infections and death resulting from lung and heart malfunction, the fact that the virus can also attack your kidneys is often overlooked.

Two simple steps can help

protect your kidney function: • If you take medication to alleviate pain, avoid such anti-inflammatory drugs as ibuprofen and regularstrength aspirin. Talk to your doctor about treating your pain.

• Cut down on your sodium intake. While table salt can be a culprit, much of our sodium intake is from smoked, cured and canned foods such as ham, bacon, cold cuts and sardines. Cheese also can be high in sodium.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

Letter to the editor Give them a raise Dear Editor, Many Hoosier voters don’t know that Indiana’s minimum wage is really $2.13 per hour. That is what waiters and waitresses make at many restaurants in Indiana. That is how little I made as a waiter in 1996.

Tipped restaurant workers depend on tips. But when restaurants use the tipped workers to take and package orders for carry-out or delivery, the servers make no tips. A waitress I know complained to me that her employer made her

take and package 87 to-go orders in one shift. She made no tips. She was paid only $2.13 per hour. She could not live on that. So, she quit and went to a different restaurant to wait tables and get tips.

Indiana law outlaws slavery.

But $2.13 per hour amounts to “slave wages.” It is time to help those who are being abused and mistreated by Indiana’s $2.13 per hour minimum wage.

Tell the legislature and the governor to give them a raise.

Woodrow Wilcox Dyer

We welcome readers’ letters.

Our requirements are as follows: Letters must be written to the editor, not the public. They must be signed with full name in ink. Signature will be printed on all letters. Letters must include an address and phone number, which will be used for verification, but will not be published. Emailed letters will be accepted but the above information must be included.

We ask that letters be limited to 400 words. Letters longer than 400 words may be edited for brevity.

Writers may be limited to one published letter per month.

Readers with lengthy comments should contact an editor about possible guest columns.

Send letters to: Senior Life, P. O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542 or dpatterson@the-papers.com.

March 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 13

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Health & Fitness

Irish colcannon a warming winter dish

Top of the morning to you!

Coming from a traditional Irish Catholic family, March always included St. Pat’s day and Lent, so this issue is the perfect time to talk about colcannon.

Colcannon is an Irish dish that is basically potatoes and cabbage; or it could be potatoes, kale and onions. It’s one of those dishes that change up depending on what you have on hand and each family does

it a different way. It is a super simple meal that will warm your insides during the cold of winter and also a popular fall dish. It can be accompanied with sausage if you so desire.

The basics are mashed potatoes with cooked cabbage or kale mixed in and topped with green onions. At first, it may not sound that interesting, but I enjoy a boil meal of what is usually corned beef and cabbage, but I do not make the corned beef. I boil cabbage, carrots and potatoes as a meal and colcannon is something like that.

The recipe here calls for both russet and red potatoes, but you can decide. It also uses savoy cabbage, but I have seen regular green cabbage as well as bagged coleslaw (including the carrots) or even sauerkraut. If you are not fond of green onions, you can always use sliced or diced yellow

Ask for a second opinion %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV A neighbor received a call from his doctor, notifying him that a recent test indicated he should undergo minor surgery to eliminate problematic cancer cells.

He asked if he could provide another urine sample for testing to confirm the diagnosis.

Results of the second test revealed there was no malignancy nor need for surgery.

His request for a second test is part of a habit he developed years earlier: always get a second medical opinion. It began when he was misdiagnosed as having serious nerve damage American Heart Association Memorials

A gift from the heart.

For more information, please call 1-800-AHA-USA-1 or visit us online at americanheart.org

©2008, American Heart Association. 1/08CB0243

that would require surgery.

A second medical report revealed that a change in prescribed medication would solve the problem.

It’s been estimated that more than half a million people die each year as a result of incorrect medical diagnoses. So go ahead: ask for a second opinion.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

onion and just cook it up with the cabbage. Being plant-based, I use a dairy free milk, vegetable broth and skip the butter. I do not deny that the browned butter sounds yummy though.

This is just one of those “good for your gut” meals that provides needed nutrition to your gut microbiome that helps regulate digestion, immune function and metabolism. Poor diet, illness, antibiotics and stress can all cause the biome to be imbalanced, so continue to make choices that include fruit, vegetables, beans and greens. Skip the rest to make you the best.

Enjoy trying the colcannon any way you choose and just make it your own. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Colcannon (Irish Potatoes and Cabbage) YIELD Serves 4 to 6 INGREDIENTS 1 pound russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks 1 pound red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch chunks 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional) 1 small head savoy cabbage (about 1 pound), cored and shredded 4 medium scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced and separated 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup whole milk (or dairyfree milk) 1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth) INSTRUCTIONS 1. Boil the potatoes, add-

$ ZDUPLQJ ZLQWHU GLVK 3KRWR IURP %LQJ ing ½ teaspoon salt until fork done.

2. Brown the butter. Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Bring the butter to a simmer and cook until it browns and smells nutty, about 7 minutes. Pour off 1/4 cup and set aside.

3. Cook the cabbage. Return the pan with the remaining browned butter to medium heat and add the cabbage and the whites of the scallions.

Season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper.

Cook until tender and lightly browned, about 8 minutes.

4. Mash the potatoes. Drain, add the milk and mash with

a potato masher. Retain a few small lumps for texture.

5. Deglaze the cabbage pan.

Add the chicken broth to the cabbage pan and scrape vigorously to remove any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Cook until the broth is reduced, about 3 minutes more.

6. Putting it all together. Add the warm cabbage and greens of the scallions to the mashed potatoes and fold to combine.

Transfer the colcannon to a large serving bowl and make a well in the middle of the potatoes. Pour the reserved 1/4 cup brown butter into the well and serve immediately.

Adapted from Thekitchn.com.

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0XQVWHU 0HG ,QQ 7935 Calumet Ave., Munster, IN 46321 (219) 836-8300 • www.munstermed-inn.com

1420 St. Mary Circle, Hobart, IN 46342 (219) 945-1968 • www.meridian.com/hobart

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Assisted Living, Alzheimer’s Unit, Therapies: Speech-OccupationalPhysical, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pets Allowed, Private Dining Room, Enclosed Courtyard, 14 Passenger Van

Dyer Nursing & Rehab Center

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601 Sheffield Avenue, Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 322-2273 • www.dyernursingandrehab.com

221 W. Division Road, Demotte, IN 46310 (219) 987-7005 • www.oakgrovecrv.org

Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-RespiratoryPhysical, Long Term Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

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Hammond-Whiting Care Center

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

1000-114th Street, Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 659-2770 www.hammondwhitingconvalescentcenter.com Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Respite Care, Hospice Care, JCAHO Accredited, Private/SemiPrivate Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Hartsfield Village Continuing Care Community

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

10000 Columbia Avenue, Munster, IN 46321 (800) 297-6188 • www.hartsfieldvillage.com Skilled Licensed Nursing Care, Long Term And Rehabilitation, Physical, Occupational, And Speech Therapies, Specialized Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care Unit, Private And Semi-Private Rooms, Certified Medicare And Medicaid Provider, Assisted Living And Independent Living Apartment Homes Also Available

Lake County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

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Saint Anthony 203 Franciscan Drive. Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 661-5100 MajesticCare.com

5025 McCook Ave., East Chicago, IN 46312 (219) 397-0380 • www.lakecountynursingandrehab.com Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation Unit; Therapies: Speech, Occupational and Physical; Long Term Care, Respite/Temporary Care, Hospice Care, Trach/Respiratory Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Certified Medicare and Medicaid Provider

Advertise Your Community Here!

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

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4410 W. 49th Avenue, Hobart, IN 46410 (219) 947-1507

Reaches YOUR Target Market Adults 50 Years and Better Contact Becky For More Details!

219.254.2345 slwest@the-papers.com • www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

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219.254.2345 slwest@the-papers.com • www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

March 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 15

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Master gardener scholarships, grants available The Porter County Master Gardeners Association invites college students, individuals, groups or charitable organizations in Porter County to apply for $1,000 scholarships or up to $300 in grants for materials for gardening/horticulture-related volunteer projects.

PCMGA will award up to three annual, nonrenewable scholarships of $1,000 each to a college sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student, who is majoring in the field of landscape design or horticulture. Students with other majors may be eligible if they state in the application how they will use their degree to promote home gardening.

PCMGA will also provide grants of up to $300 for materials for gardening or horticulture-related volunteer projects in Porter County. It’s given to eligible volunteer individuals, groups and nonprofit organizations. This includes, but is not limited to, community organizations, youth groups, churches, teachers and individual volunteers. Projects are to benefit the community, feed those in need or promote gardening education.

For applications and complete details, visit www.pcgarden.info. Applications may be emailed to pcmastergardener@ gmail.com or personally delivered to the Purdue Extension-Porter County office, 155 Indiana Ave., Suite 301, Valparaiso, by 4:30 p.m. March 19. Any applications sent by mail must be postmarked by March 12. Late applications will be considered in July. For more information, call (219) 465-3555.

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‘Me and Bobby McGee’ was written by Kristofferson Janis Joplin Kris Kristofferson has earned a place in the history books as one %\ 5$1'$/ of the great & +,// American $ %RRPHU %ODVW songwriters.

7R 7KH 3DVW That honor, though, has come at a high personal price.

In Nashville, the collegeeducated Texan once swept the floors of Music City’s Columbia Recording Studio. In his off hours, Kristofferson created tune after tune in his quest to become a respected songwriter. It took a while, but he eventually gained acclaim by creating such nowrevered classics as “For the Good Times” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down.”

Kristofferson eventually became a singer/songwriter with Monument Records, which was helmed by Fred Foster, a businessman smitten with a Nashville secretary — Barbara “Bobbi” McKee — who worked in a nearby music office. One night, Foster phoned Kristofferson and asked him to write a song about her (but spelling her first name differently to make it gender neutral). In their discussion, Kristofferson thought Foster had said “McGee” instead of “McKee.” The result was the story of a pair of drifters: the narrator and Bobby McGee. Together they hitched a ride from a truck driver and sang “every song that driver knew” as they made their way throughout the south. Later, they went their separate ways, much to the profound sadness of the narrator.

Several country artists recorded the song when it first became available, but it took a fellow

Texan and soon-to-be-doomed exlover of Kristofferson’s to make “Me and Bobby McGee” a millionselling iconic work. As a teenager, Janis Joplin had been a bright but rebellious misfit who cast herself as a beatnik. She later dropped out of the University of Texas in Austin and hitchhiked to San Francisco, where she became the lead singer of the hard-rocking Big Brother and the Holding Company. A heavy drinker and drug abuser, Joplin later offered a throat-shredding performance at 1967’s Monterey Pop Festival before headlining as a soloist at Woodstock two years later.

She recorded Kristofferson’s song for inclusion on what would become her fourth and final album, “Pearl.” (Pearl had been her longtime nickname.) Kristofferson, who had once sung the tune to Joplin, was unaware that she had recorded it until the day after she died of a heroin overdose.

Kristofferson later admitted, “I

couldn’t listen to the song without really breaking up.”

“Me and Bobby McGee” was issued four months after Joplin’s death and became her only No. 1 single on the Billboard chart. It has since been recorded by a variety of artists ranging from Dolly Parton to the Grateful Dead.

That high personal price for Kristofferson? He had grown up in a military family that constantly pushed him toward a military career. A gifted academic, he aimed to please his parents by becoming a U.S. Army captain after graduation. In 1965, though, Kristofferson rejected a chance to teach literature at West Point; after years of spare-time songwriting, he had decided to become a tunesmith in Nashville. His parents disowned him, claiming that Kristofferson’s decision was a rejection of everything they stood for.

Apparently they never reconciled.

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606 Wall Street, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 464-4976

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Advertise Your Community Here!

Reaches YOUR Target Market Adults 50 Years and Better

Contact Becky For More Details! 219.254.2345 slwest@the-papers.com | www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

16 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ March 2021

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Return of the house call — virtually %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV

A healthy thing that may survive this depressing COVID-19 pandemic is what has become known as telemedicine.

It makes a visit to your doctor as simple as a phone call, sending an email or holding a video conference.

An elderly neighbor raved about her doctor calling her.

She was able to see results of her cancer tests on her cellphone.

While this type of virtual visit has been talked about for a couple of decades, it took a global attack by a virus to push the practice closer to reality.

The sudden onrush of infected patients coupled with the medical mantra to avoid contact with other people made stay-at-home diagnoses the modern method for practicing medicine.

Reports from 2019 indicated less than 10% of the nation’s residents used telemedicine.

That changed last year. Physi-

cians reported more than 90% of their patient contacts were in cyberspace as insurance companies extended their coverage to include these doctorpatient virtual visits.

Even seniors lacking computer skills slid comfortably into this phalanx as the practice spread to include smartphones. This allows physicians to not only consult with their patients, but monitor their progress and condition around the clock.

A doctor-patient visit by

telephone, smartphone, tablet or computer is just part of telemedicine. It also includes programs permitting doctors to consult quickly and smoothly with each other, such as a specialist getting in touch with a primary care physician to discuss the patient’s history and possible problems to expect.

Also driving the accelerated use of telemedicine are (1) the growing awareness of its benefits and (2) expanded changes in regulations and policies

governing practitioners, health care providers and insurance coverage. For example, regulations disallowing doctors to treat patients across state lines have been lifted, at least temporarily.

High on the list of advantages is the reduction in distance and the length of time involved in traveling to the doctor or clinic — especially for patients who require ongoing monitoring of issues that range from diabetes to cancer.

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HEALTH AND SERVICES DIRECTORY ADULT DAY SERVICES ST. AGNES ADULT DAY SVC. CENTER 1859 Harrison Blvd.

Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 477-5433 Monday-Friday 8-5 p.m.

Structured Activities, Safe & Secure Surroundings, Health Monitoring Specializing in Alzheimer’s Care “Help make their Golden Years shine a little brighter.”

Email: barbkubiszak@gmail.com www.stagnesvalpo.org

DENTAL UNITED DENTAL CENTERS 1332 119th St., Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 659-4900 5254 Hohman Ave., Hammond, IN 46320 (219) 933-4900 5655 Harrison St., Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 980-4900 18511 Torrence, Suite 2B, Lansing, IL 60438 (708) 474-5055 3540 East 118th St., Chicago, IL 60617 (773) 646-6262 Medicaid, Most Ins., Complete Family Dental Care, Implants, Dentures www.UDCdental.com

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES

RESIDENCES AT COFFEE CREEK See Our 2300 Village Point Ads In This Chesterton, IN 46304 Issue (219) 921-5200 www.ResidencesSeniorLiving.com Assisted Living and Memory Support at the Beautiful Watershed Preserve.

RESIDENCES AT DEER CREEK 401 E. U.S. Highway 30 Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 864-0700 www.ResidencesSeniorLiving.com Assisted Living and Memory Support in a Residential Setting.

VNA OF NWI LIFELINE PROGRAM 501 Marquette St. See Our Valparaiso, IN 46385 Ad In This Additional Offices In: Issue Crown Point, IN and LaPorte, IN (219) 462-5195 (219) 531-8181 Fax https://www.vnanwi.org/services/in-home-services A not-for-profit organization for over 50 years.

The VNA Lifeline program provides dependable, fast access to help when you need it. Live an independent and active lifestyle with the VNA Lifeline program’s medical alert pendant or wristlet.

Making Best Days Possible

FUNERAL HOMES DENTAL DENTAL HOME HEALTH Serving Lake County We will come to those who can’t come to us.

Visits by appointment only.

(219) 718-6684 Dr. Eric Compton dentalhomehealth@gmail.com www.munsterdentist.com

NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesterton, Merrillville & Hammond By appt. or walk-ins welcome.

(219) 763-8112 or (888) 459-2349 www.northshorehealth.org Affordable dental care regardless of ability to pay. Medicare and Medicaid accepted.

Discounted self-pay option.

CALUMET PARK CEMETERY & FUNERAL CHAPEL Privately Owned/Operated Since 1928 Cemetery: 2305 W. 73rd Ave. Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 769-8803 Funeral Chapel: 7535 Taft St. Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 736-5840 www.calumetparkcemetery.com : mycalumetpark

SMITH BIZZELL WARNER FUNERAL HOME 4209 Grant St. Gary, IN 46408 (219) 887-1852 www.smithbizzellwarnerfuneralhome.com : smithbizzellwarnerfuneralhome

HOME CARE SERVICES HEART 2 HEART HOME CARE, INC. Non-medical caregiver, CNA at the comfort of wherever you call home. Assistance with hygiene, meal preparations, reminding medications, household tasks, escorting to activities center or therapies.

LICENSED - BONDED - INSURED Serving all Lake County areas.

200 Russell Street, Suite 103 Hammond, IN 46320 (219) 501-7015 www.heart2hearthomecareinc.com

VISITING ANGELS HOME CARE Nationally respected, non medical, home care service. Providing CNA’s, HHA’s & Companion Care. * Assist w/Hygiene * Meal Preparation * Medication Reminders * Light Housekeeping * Transportation * Hourly, 24-hour Care & Overnight Alzheimer’s / Dementia Care / Palliative Care LICENSED * BONDED * INSURED 2340 Cline Ave., Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 322-6100 www.visitingangels.com

HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES COMMUNITY HOME HEALTH SVCS. Munster Community Home Health, St. Catherine’s Hospital, E. Chicago, St. Mary’s Hospital, Hobart (219) 440-5400 Our nurses offer home health services with expert compassionate care for your medical needs in your home!

HOSPICE CARE HEART TO HEART HOSPICE OF NORTHERN INDIANA 402 Wall Street, Suite 22 Valparaiso, IN 46383 Phone: (219) 462-6529 Fax: (219) 462-9017 CHAP Accredited www.HTOHH.com Compassionate care from our heart to yours.

Volunteers needed.

March 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 17

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Cash is no longer the king %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV

Signs have been cropping up in shops around the globe requiring customers have the precise amount of cash for their purchases because the cashiers don’t have any cash for change.

You read that correctly. The cashiers claim they don’t have any cash.

Some merchants have associated dollars with disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic has

merchants mounting pressure for payment by credit or debit card to avoid any touching during the transaction.

And customers are focusing on contactless purchases.

All this is bundled up in a growing movement to eliminate money.

Economic studies reveal that in 2007, two-thirds of purchases were paid with cash. Today, it’s less than one-third.

Governments around the world are promoting payments by card clicks rather than cash.

Prognosticators tell us automatic teller machines will disappear in about 15 years and bank branches will follow about five years later.

Almost 100% of Britons have dumped cash or a debit card.

Canada no longer makes pennies and is working on eliminating some of its paper notes.

Accelerating this movement toward a cashless society is the growing practice of internet buying.

Millennials make more than

half their purchases online.

The pandemic shutdowns have introduced households to the advantage of cyberspace shopping and having their groceries delivered — paid for by credit or debit card.

There are stumbling blocks to this trend.

One is the fact that not everyone has a bank account.

Some small businesses are not all that enamored with credit card payment because the processing fee can be as much as 3.5%, which cuts

deeply into their profit margin.

And how do you borrow a few bucks from a buddy and then pay her back if cash no longer exists?

Governments have an overriding reason for wanting cash to disappear: taxes.

Cash transactions and payments are untraceable.

The cash you pay your music teacher, landscaper or hairdresser cannot be taxed if they choose not to report that income.

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HEALTH AND SERVICES DIRECTORY HOSPICE CARE HOSPICE OF THE CALUMET See Our AREA MUNSTER Ad In This • Serving Lake, Porter and Bordering Issue Illinois Communities Since 1981 • Hospice Services Are Covered 100% For Patients Who Are Medicare Eligible • Not-for-profit • Care Provided In Your Home Or In Our Hospice House www.hospicecalumet.org (219) 922-2732 / (219) 736-2422

UNITY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE Family owned & operated hospice Offering premier end-of-life care For over 25 years at no cost to you, Because we care.

Serving Porter, Jasper & Newton Counties in Indiana.

219.769.8648 Greater Illinois area 312.427.6000 www.unityhospice.com

See Our VNA OF NWI Ad In This 501 Marquette St. Issue Valparaiso, IN 46385 Additional Offices In: Crown Point, IN and LaPorte, IN (219) 462-5195 (219) 531-8181 Fax www.vnanwi.org A not-for-profit organization for over 50 years.

Accepts all hospice eligible patients, regardless of ability to pay. Veteran specialty hospice program. Serving Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Starke Counties.

Making Best Days Possible

HOUSECALL DOCTORS See Our HOUSECALL DOCTORS, PC Ad In This At-Home Medical Care for Issue Elderly & Homebound Patients Providing at-home care from Medical doctors and Nurse Practitioners.

Serving NW Indiana, Indianapolis & Plymouth/So. Bend areas www.housecalldoc.org Toll Free: 800.945.4654

MEALS ON WHEELS

RETIREMENT LIVING

VNA OF NWI MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM 501 Marquette St. See Our Valparaiso, IN 46385 Ad In This Additional Offices In: Issue Crown Point, IN and LaPorte, IN (219) 462-5195 (219) 531-8181 Fax https://www.vnanwi.org/services/meals-on-wheels A not-for-profit organization for over 50 years.

Providing nutritional meals for individuals in Porter County delivered to your home. Meals are available both on a long-term basis and temporarily, meals are available for ages 3 years and up.

Making Best Days Possible

HARTSFIELD VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING 10000 Columbia Ave. See Our Munster, IN 46321 Ad In This (219) 934-0750 Issue (800) 934-6188 www.hartsfieldvillage.com We are a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community). We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Support and Nursing Care for our residents coming through the continuum of care. Living Well - Living Wise!!

TELEPHONE SERVICES MEDICAL CLINIC NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesterton, Merrillville, Hammond & LaPorte By appt. or walk-ins welcome.

(219) 763-8112 or (888) 459-2349 www.northshorehealth.org Affordable medical and urgent care regardless of ability to pay. Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance accepted.

Discounted self-pay option.

REHABILITATION SERVICES HARTSFIELD VILLAGE See Our REHABILITATION CENTER Ad In This 503 Otis Bowen Drive Issue Munster, IN 46321 (219) 934-0590 (800) 297-6188 (219) 703-6568 Fax www.hartsfieldvillage.com Post-Acute Rehab Center Bridging the gap from Hospital to Home.

VALPARAISO CARE & REHAB 606 Wall St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 464-4976 www.AmericanSrCommunities.com/vcrc

RELAY INDIANA - INTRAC See Our 7702 Woodland Drive #130 Ad In This Indianapolis, IN 46278 Issue (877) 446-8722 Problems hearing on the telephone?

We provide captioned telephones to assist you to read what the other person is saying.

No more garbled or misunderstood conversations. Simply, READ what you’re hearing.

TRANSPORTATION NWI TRANSPORT Non-Emergency Transportation To medical appointments, airport, social gatherings.

Equipped for wheel chair and handicapped individuals.

Serving Lake, Porter and Jasper counties.

(219) 669-0594

18 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ March 2021

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Amelia Island, Isle of Eight Flags For a tiny barrier island off the northeast corner of Florida, Amelia Island has more history

than some states. Since the mid-1500s, eight flags have flown over this 13.5 mile long

May Beane from Elkhart, and granddaughter, Sydney Beane, visited Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains to see and enjoy the beautiful fall colors. They snapped a photo with their Senior Life at an interpretive sign in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Smoky Mountain National Park is America’s most visited national park. The sights of this park include black bears, year-round wildflowers, waterfalls, historic homes and churches, the Appalachian Trail and beautiful mountain scenery.

Gatlinburg, a city located at the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is home to the Gatlinburg Space Needle, amusement centers, wineries, vineyards & distilleries.

Many resorts, lodges, motels and inns are located nearby to accommodate travelers.

Situated in the park, Gatlinburg offers beautiful vistas, incredible experiences and wonderful ways to view them. One can pet stingrays, visit a penguin playhouse, find Nemo’s look-alike in a coral reef, or ride a glide path within a tunnel to check out sharks at Ripley’s Aquarium. Visitors flock to SkyLift Park for its panoramic views. It offers landscape vistas from a ski lift, sky deck, sky trail and the country’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, partially glass-floored. Adventurers can soar through the treetops on the world’s first mountain glider or ride a gravity propelled alpine coaster while visiting Rowdy Bear Mountain adventure park.

Among Gatlinburg’s hidden gems include a salt and pepper shaker museum, scenic helicopter tours and a historic cabin depicting pioneer life with 11 children. Shopping at the Great Smoky

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Arts and Crafts community is an eight mile must-see unique experience. There one will find talented artists creating one of a kind crafts using century-old techniques.

it because of its deep water port and because it controlled the entrance to the St. Mary’s

The Great Smoky Mountains is a wonderful place to visit. Senior Life is thankful for the Beanes taking us with them on their scenic trip to this grand national park.

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spit of sand on the Atlantic Ocean a stone’s throw from Georgia. Everybody wanted

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River. In the process it attracted a bunch of scoundrels, con men, pirates, thieves, smugglers, soldiers of fortune, *5($7 sailors, (6&$3(6 shrimp fish%\ 52' .,1* ermen and, of course, the unsavory hangers-on that were drawn to them.

Known as the Isle of Eight Flags, Amelia Island is the southernmost of the Sea Islands that the French visited, the Spanish developed, the English named and the Americans tamed. First to plant its flag were the French Huguenots in 1562. The Spanish booted them out two years later and remained for 220 years before the British took over and named the island in honor of the daughter of King George II. Twenty years later the Spanish returned and ruled until 1812 when, with the secret blessing of the United States, the Patriots of Amelia Island overthrew the Spanish and hoisted their own flag featuring a Minuteman with fixed bayonet. It was replaced with the U.S. flag the next day. However, the Spanish demanded its return citing salus populi lex suprema (the well-being of the people is the supreme law) and won their case.

On June 29, 1817, Scottish adventurer Gregor MacGregor took over without firing a shot and ran his green cross flag up the pole. MacGregor found himself short of cash and couldn’t pay his men or buy munitions so he left the island in charge of subordinates and went off to raise money. They threw in with the pirate Luis Aury and raised the Mexican rebel flag.

In December, U.S. troops occupied the island and held it in trust for Spain.

The stars and stripes went Continued on page 19

March 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 19

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Amelia Island Continued from page 18 up in 1821 after Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and it waved over Fort Clinch until 1861, when Confederate troops occupied it and hoisted their flag.

It fluttered over the fort for a year until Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered its evacuation just as Union gunboats appeared. No shots were fired and the U.S. flag quickly appeared over the fort and the town of Fernandina.

Fernandina, which was founded in 1811 and named after King Ferdinand VII of Spain, has a 50-block area full of classic homes that is listed on the Register of Historic Places. The streets are lined with live oak trees dripping

with Spanish moss, which, according to locals is neither moss nor Spanish. “Old Town” has a charming collection of boutiques, restaurants and bars.

A tour of Fort Clinch under the guidance of a Union corporal who won’t be caught out of character or out of the late 1800s is fun and the view of the harbor from the battlements is spectacular.

Truckloads of trees (300 to 500) enter the island daily and go directly to two paper mills supplying the growing shipping box industry. Shrimping is still big there.

Consider this little barrier island for your next Florida visit.

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Touchless travel takes off at airports %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Touchless parking is an expanding practice at airports around the country as they promote prepaid parking online.

Travelers get a scannable code by email — so you don’t even have to touch a button to enter the parking garage.

Printing your luggage tags at home and checking in your own bags at the airport kiosk without ever coming into contact with a person has become widespread.

In several airports, advanced technology allows passengers to handle the check-in with their smart phone.

Security checkpoints have increased their use of technology to permit carry-on luggage inspection without having to touch or open bags.

With many airlines cutting back on food service, robots have even been introduced at several airports for touchless

meal purchases before flight time.

And information desks are going virtual. Numerous airports are providing devices, or passengers can use their own, to connect with a customer service agent somewhere in cyberspace.

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20 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ March 2021

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General George Armstrong Custer —

The 7th Cavalry, Lake County and Pvt. Smith %\ 3$6725 *5(* /$:621 0 0LQ 06: *XHVW :ULWHU (EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part series.)

—o— In part one, we learned a brief history about Lake County-born Pvt. Henry G. Smith, a member of Custer’s 7th Cavalry. On Aug. 1, 1876, Smith was “Appointed farrier … to replace Vincent Charley.” Recall that a farrier is one who shoes horses.

We should note that Aug. 1, 1876, was roughly a month and a half after the battle at the Bighorn when Smith replaced Charley. Pvt. Smith later “deserted on Feb. 19, 1877;” his death and burial unknown.

Our attention is now focused on the Battle of the Little Bighorn and associated events.

During this battle, it is obviously known that Gen. Custer was killed. What is likely not commonly known or claimed by historians via the accounts of those Native Americans who participated in the battle is as follows: Buffalo Calf Woman is said to have knocked Custer off his horse. Yes, many women were in the fight from various tribes at this battle.

After Custer was knocked off his horse, Chief White Bull,

a nephew of Sitting Bull, and Custer reported to have engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Custer drew his pistol and White Bull took it before Custer could fire it. White Bull reportedly struck Custer on the side of the head several times and, when he fell, the chief shot him once in the head and once in the chest. Records tell that Chief White Bull did not know that it was Custer with whom he fought and killed until he was later told it was Custer.

During the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the 7th Cavalry farrier, Charley, was killed on the fateful day of June 25, 1876. Charley was born in 1848 in Lucerne, Switzerland, and assigned to Company D as was Pvt. Smith.

Charley had a colorful history with the 7th Cavalry. He “enlisted on March 4, 1871, at age 22,” and was previously a farmer. A year and several months later, he “deserted on June 21, 1872,” but was caught that same day. Apparently he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of AWOL and was sentenced to 10 days in confinement on bread and water.

On March 4, 1876, Charley was discharged from his assignment as 7th Cavalry farrier, but fate would take him on a surprising path. The next day,

he re-enlisted on March 5, 1876, at Fort Lincoln. Charley is described on records as follows: “He had hazel eyes, red hair, sandy complexion and was 5 feet, 10 1/4 inches tall.”

One troop in Company D had to retreat from one of the battle locations and failed to rescue Charley. By the time the troops got away from the location, it was overrun by the “Indians” and it was too late to rescue Charley. He had now been shot through the hips. Although severely wounded, he tried to make “his way to the rear the best he could, half crawling on his feet and one hand.”

As history reveals — he never made it.

(Comments and memories welcome to: Pastor/Dr. Greg Lawson, 1801 E. 3rd St., Mishawaka, IN 46544.)

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Planning a car trip? Pack a pandemic travel kit %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV On top of the usual whatto-pack problems posed when folks start packing the car to prepare for their road trip, the pandemic has introduced a few more items.

High on that list: toilet paper.

Many gas stations, rest

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stops and public parks have shut down their bathroom facilities and there is no assurance that those still open will have the amenities usually associated with such facilities.

So tuck in hand sanitizer and some wipes, too.

Take a package of masks and gloves to get you through restaurants, shops and crowds.

Emerging on the must-take list is a contactless credit card. Just swipe it near the reader without having to touch anything.

Cash, which has been handled by who knows how many, is no longer accepted for payment at many outlets, including grocery stores and restaurants.

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