By NGOZI ROGERS Feature Writer
When you think of historic preservation, what comes to mind? Creager Smith can explain. His earliest memories of preservation projects include a mouthful of dust.
“I was there with my dad as a kid when he and his buddies dismantled and moved an 1840s log house,” Smith recalled.
Both of his parents were active preservationists. His father was the DeKalb County historian.
Smith also remembers playing with his dump truck in a cemetery while his parents salvaged a historic iron fence. The fence was later installed around the yard of his childhood home in Auburn.
“I always point out it was to keep me in the yard and to keep Beecher Hines from cutting through the yard on his way to classes at Auburn High School,” he said with a laugh.
With those fond memories and early experiences, it’s no
wonder Smith earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in historic preservation. His career goal was clear.
“I wanted to meet and talk to people and have a variety of experiences each day,” he said. “I wanted to help in situations where it was appreciated.”
That’s what he’s done for more than 30 years as the city of Fort Wayne’s historic preservation planner.
His position includes serving as staff liaison to the Fort Wayne Historic Preservation Commission. The commission, created by the Fort Wayne Preservation and Protection Ordinance, recommends districts or individual buildings for designation as local historic districts.
Once a designation is approved, Smith provides technical assistance to homeowners and contractors making changes while preserving a property’s historic character.
“Historic rehabilitation isn’t so much ‘what you do’; it’s as much ‘how you do it,’” he said.
Smith also assists with
neighborhood planning and projects, writes and edits National Register of Historic Places nominations and serves as a resource for cultural heritage projects throughout the community.
Historic preservation efforts help maintain community identity, neighborhood character and civic pride.
“It is the cumulative effect of years of stewardship and ‘doing the right thing’ for our historic resources,” Smith said. “It is hard to measure, but when you look at an area like the West Central Historic District, it can be seen.”
Smith believes his passion for history and preserving the
built environment is his greatest strength. He also takes pride in the landmarks he has helped preserve.
Among them are the restoration of the 1827 Chief Richardville House, securing National Register designation for the 1852 Canal House and saving a modest but historically significant home from being erased from history.
In 1997, a structure identified as a garage and cited by Neighborhood Code for repairs was slated for demolition. After researching the property, Smith discovered it was actually the Mary Rockhill-Tyler House, built in 1918 and one of the five oldest houses in Fort Wayne.
With Smith’s help, the building was acquired by ARCH Inc., restored as a house and remains in use today.
“It is the only Fort Wayne building with a ‘portrait’ on the wall of my office,” Smith said.
Smith believes preservation is not the enemy of progress but part of the future. Most historic homes and buildings remain functional and can be adapted for modern use.
“They aren’t still making old buildings; once gone, they are gone,” Smith said. “The economic opportunity and the embodied energy in the materials and labor used to create historic buildings are of real value.”
Robert G.R. Son of client,
plan that allowed me to stay at my own home and enjoy my later years. Thus, I was able to do everyday activities on my terms. They helped me with personal hygiene needs, light housework, meal preparation, and medication reminders. They treated me like family.”
K. Ellen L. Client,
Fort Wayne
When the comfort of home is where you want to be, having the right care can make all the difference. At Homefront Home Health and Home Care, staff believes everyone deserves to age with dignity, independence and the support of a team that treats them like family.
Homefront wasn’t created from a business plan - it was built from a calling to raise the standard of home care. Every decision is guided by a simple belief: families deserve care that is professional, dependable and delivered with
genuine compassion.
“Homefront was born from my personal experiences as a patient receiving skilled and nonskilled services, as a caregiver providing services, 13 plus years as a senior leader in healthcare organizations and finally as a soldier in the United States Army. My family and I understand firsthand the comfort and peace of mind that comes from having professional, personable, dependable and customized plans of care to assist with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs.”
— Drew Botteron MBA, CEO and Founder
Today, Homefront proudly serves individuals and families throughout Indiana by delivering compassionate home health and home care that supports the whole person while helping clients live safely and confidently at home. Whether care is needed for a few hours each week or on an ongoing basis, the team creates solutions tailored to each client’s needs. Homefront serves clients through private pay, long-term care insurance policies and by helping
eligible individuals navigate Indiana Medicaid and waiver programs, making highquality care accessible to more Hoosier families.
Every caregiver is selected for professionalism, reliability and compassion. Whether recovering from an illness, managing a chronic condition or needing additional support, families can trust Homefront to provide care with dignity, respect, and heart.
Homefront Home Health and Home Care: Proudly serving Indiana like family.
Advertorial
Text and Photos By LINDA LIPP Feature Writer
Deana Davis is a dog lover. She has always had one or two dogs in her home. She is also a regular volunteer with Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control, where her work helps other dogs find good homes.
Back in 2007, Davis and one of her dogs attended a training class held in the agency’s
training room. That was her introduction to FWACC.
“I was curious. I wanted to learn more,” she recalled. Soon, she began volunteering as a dog rotator, giving shelter dogs a chance to get outside, burn off energy, relieve themselves and receive some human TLC.
Nearly 20 years later, she is still volunteering every week and plans to continue as long as she is physically able.
CORPORATE OFFICE
“I’m hopefully showing these dogs that there’s someone out there who loves them, that we’re going to treat them well - especially the ones that are timid. I want to teach them that humans are good and help build their trust,” she said.
Fellow volunteer Mary Huntley spent her career working in the clinical laboratory, blood bank and other medical departments at Parkview Hospital.
“I’m retired from making money, but I’m not retired from working,” she said.
Now Huntley uses some of her medical skills as a volunteer in FWACC’s surgical department.
The department performs routine spay and neuter procedures, along with additional surgeries some dogs and cats require. Huntley works in the presurgical area, where lights are dimmed and noise is kept to a minimum to help keep the animals calm before surgery.
Quietly and efficiently, she prepares and packages sterilized instruments needed for each procedure so surgeries run smoothly.
Years ago, Huntley, who has a Bachelor of Science degree from Huntington College, also assisted with surgeries when needed. Today, those duties are handled by veterinary technicians.
“The staff are the best. They’re so good with these animals,” she said.
The feeling is mutual.
“Everybody here expresses their appreciation for what we do,” Huntley said.
Deana Davis treats this husky mix to a few minutes of exercise at FWACC.
over our mutual love of dogs,” said Davis, who retired in 2019 from a maintenance position with Allen County Parks.
Huntley currently has two dogs and two cats.
“If I have any more than that, I feel like I can’t give them the attention they deserve,” she said.
“I’ve volunteered a number of places, but this is the one I’ll always go back to.”
The Papers Incorporated, 206 S. Main St., P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, 574-658-4111 STAFF
Ron Baumgartner, Publisher rbaumgartner@the-papers.com
Annette Weaver, Business Manager aweaver@the-papers.com
Kristin DeVittorio, Director Of Marketing kdevittorio@the-papers.com
Deb Patterson, Editor-In-Chief dpatterson@the-papers.com
Phoebe Muthart, Editor pmuthart@the-papers.com
Account Executive Kim Lamley slallen@the-papers.com • 260-760-7022
Jerry Long, Circulation Manager jlong@the-papers.com
EDITORIAL DEADLINES Elkhart/Kosciusko Edition
Joseph
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $42 for one year; and $71 for two years. (Select one edition.) Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt. To order a subscription, call 574-658-4111.
ADVERTISING
For advertising deadlines call your sales representative. The existence of advertising in Senior Life is not meant as an endorsement of any product, services or individuals by anyone except the advertisers. Signed letters or columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. To advertise contact Kim Lamley at 260-760-7022 or slallen@the-papers.com. PRODUCTION
One of the greatest benefits of volunteering at FWACC, Davis said, has been the friendships she has developed over the years.
“There are five or six of us who are best friends. We bonded
Davis lost both of her dogs within a short period last year. She has since adopted two rescue dogs.
Both women have also done therapy work with their dogs, visiting local nursing homes and other facilities over the years.
FWACC currently has about 155 active volunteers who contributed more than 15,300
hours in 2025. Volunteers assist in nearly every area of the shelter, including laundry, the adoption desk, kennel cleaning, animal socialization, triage, surgery and off-site adoption locations.
Anyone interested in volunteering can learn more and complete an application on the Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control’s website, cityoffortwayne. in.gov/162/Animal-Care-Control or call (260) 427-1244.
Text and Photos By LINDA LIPP Feature Writer
Habitat for Humanity is marking 40 years in Fort Wayne with an ambitious expansion plan.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne, formed by the 2017 merger of the Fort Wayne, Huntington and Wells County affiliates, plans to build 34 new homes this construction season. That’s by far the most homes the organization has attempted in a single year, according to CEO Melissa McKown.
The increase is possible in part because of new partnerships with builders, who are constructing seven of the homes.
“I think it’s just about being creative about how we continue to serve low-income families,” McKown said.
Most of the homes are being built in the Renaissance Pointe neighborhood on Fort Wayne’s southeast side through a partnership with the city that allows Habitat to build on vacant lots.
As a result, 49 previously vacant infill lots are now occupied by homeowners. Construction is underway on 20 more lots, and Habitat of Greater Fort Wayne owns another 41 lots for future homes.
Habitat also has expanded into a major home repair program. It helps low-income seniors and
people with disabilities remain in their homes.
“We spend a lot of effort and energy and money putting people into new homes, and that’s fantastic, but how many people are at risk of losing their homes because they can’t afford to replace some plumbing or the roof?” McKown said.
Most of the repair work is completed by professional contractors rather than volunteers. Since the program began in February, 17 major repair projects have been completed.
McKown hopes the program will serve as a proof of concept that will help generate funding to continue the effort.
She joined Habitat of Greater Fort Wayne as CEO in October 2025 after spending 18 years in executive positions with Parkview Health. Habitat has been part of her life since she volunteered on a student homebuilding project while attending California Lutheran University.
She became involved with the local affiliate several years ago after a friend invited her to volunteer on one of its Women Build homes.
Kathy O’Shaughnessy, who has volunteered with Habitat for 25 years, leads one of the Women Build teams, Kathy’s Karpenters.
“I just believe in lifting people up and doing good for others,” she said.
With help from spouses and other volunteers, the women work under the supervision of site managers such as Ray Kolling.
“They’re professionals. We’re not. We just do what they say and follow their lead,” O’Shaughnessy said with a laugh.
Kolling understands the importance of Habitat’s work firsthand. He and his wife applied for a Habitat home in 2022 and moved into it in 2024.
He also learned construction skills through the program and began working for the organization as a paid employee three months ago.
Habitat currently has 90 families enrolled in its homeown-
ership program.
“The need continues to grow as the cost of housing rises,” McKown said.
Each family must complete 250 hours of what Habitat calls “sweat equity,” including 100 hours volunteering at construction sites, attending classes on financial management and home maintenance, and helping at the Habitat ReStore.
The ReStore, which moved to a larger location several years ago, has become a significant source of funding for Habitat. It offers an ever-changing selection of building materials, furniture, appliances, fitness equipment and home decor for sale.
McKown hopes to increase
ReStore donations, particularly from seniors who are downsizing. Pickup of donated items is free.
Habitat also is launching an online ReStore to sell unusual, collectible and higher-value items.
While Habitat has successfully attracted major corporate donations and grants, McKown said the organization is looking for better ways to reach smaller donors.
One goal is to increase recurring donations from supporters and encourage planned gifts from people who choose to include Habitat in their estate plans.
For more information or to apply, visit habitatgfw.com or call (260) 422-4828.
The History Center will present Miami Indian Heritage Days Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Chief Richardville House, 5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne.
Visitors can learn about the lasting heritage of the Miami and other regional Native American groups. Local artists, performers and presenters are featured from 1-4 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month from May through November.
Dani Tippmann will present “Miami Harvest: Edible and Usable Plants and Materials” Aug. 1.
The Chief Richardville House, or akima pinšiwa awiiki, is recognized as the oldest Native American structure in the Midwest. Admission to Miami Indian Heritage Days includes a guided tour of the National Historic Landmark.
Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for youth and seniors. History Center members and children age 2 and younger are admitted free.
The remaining 2026 Miami Indian Heritage Days schedule includes:
• Saturday, Sept. 5: Miami Akaawiaki (Quillwork) with Claudia Hedeen.
• Saturday, Oct. 3: Wiikiaami Cattail Matting with Miami Indian Alliance of Miami Indians.
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8: Traders Days, featuring traditional crafts, goods and wares, hands-on demonstrations and interactive educational programs. Admission is free.
For more information, call the History Center at (260) 426-2882 or visit fwhistorycenter.org.
connections
By RANDAL C. HILL
At Disneyland one afternoon, as he observed speaking automaton Abraham Lincoln, sci-fi writer Michael Crichton wondered what would happen if such a machine broke down? Thus was planted the seed for 1973’s now-classic “Westworld” movie.
In the script that Crichton created and directed, well-heeled guests paid a daily fee of $1,000 ($7,500 in today’s cash) to Delos, a company that ran an adult-fantasy resort consisting of (as did Disneyland) three parks - in Crichton’s case, Romanworld, Medievalworld and Westworld.
Each setting in the interactive playground featured life-like robots with whom guests could indulge all their fantasies, no matter how ignoble or dangerous those reveries might be. There was nothing to worry about, Delos officials told customers; everything had been designed with their utmost safety in mind.
Chicago chums John Blane (James Brolin) and Peter Martin (Richard Benjamin) visit the resort. Opting for Westworld, they become cowboys who stroll through an 1880s frontier town with six-shooters (harmless to guests but not robots) astride their hips. The two visit a saloon, where a bully Gunslinger (Yul Brynner) goads Peter into a fight. Martin shoots him, and the baddie’s blood-spewing body thuds to the floor. The next day, Peter would kill him again.
It is all part of the fun fantasy.
For a while.
The “bang-bang-you’re-dead” concept, however, comes to an end later when a robot snake unexpectedly attacks Blane for real.
In the park’s underground control center, operations rapidly break down, and the supervisory team becomes trapped. Soon the automatons are rampaging through the resorts, wantonly slaughtering the overwhelmed and helpless guests.
By now, the Gunslinger has already murdered John Blane, and the evil robot has Peter in his sights as a deadly game of catand-mouse drives the story to its intense conclusion.
“Most of the situations in the
AND
Michael Crichton, a 1964 graduate of Harvard University and a 1969 graduate of Harvard Medical School, speaks on “The Media and Medicine” at Harvard Medical School in Boston Thursday, April 11, 2002. Photo by Jon Chase/ Harvard University News Office.
film are cliches,” Crichton admitted later. “They are incidents out of hundreds of old movies.”
In his script, the best-selling author and screenwriter sought to emphasize corporate greed by having Delos operators initially resist halting operations. “There is a very specific scene where people discuss whether or not to shut down the resort,” Crichton said.
“I think the movie was as much about that decision as anything.”
Film fans, however, seemed to pay little attention to that part of the tale.
“Westworld” was shot in various locales - in California’s arid Mohave Desert, throughout the gardens of the sprawling Harold Lloyd Estate in Beverly Hills and on MGM sound stages.
“Westworld,” made in 30 days and on a low budget, became MGM’s top-grossing release of 1973. It also proved to be groundbreaking in many ways. With pixelated photography that simulated the Gunslinger’s point of view, it became the first movie to utilize digital image processing and computer-generated imagery. Also, years before personal computers and the Internet became commonplace, “Westworld” explored the concepts of intelligent machines, computer viruses and artificial sentience.
Crichton’s “theme park gone haywire” in “Westworld” set the stage for his later “Jurassic Park” novel, which begat seven Jurassic Park films over the years. Bibliography
Internet: Michael Crichton, “Westworld”
(film). Both quotes are from here. (No author or date listed) en.wikipedia.org.
Failes, Ian. “Holey Moley, Michael Crichton’s ‘Westworld’ is 50 This Year.” Aug. 16, 2023. beforesandafters.com.
Lightman, Herb A. “Behind the Scenes on ‘Westworld’: AC Talks to Writer-Director Michael Crichton.” March 20, 2020. November 1973. theasc.com.
DVD:
“Westworld.” warnervideo.com. 2010.
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Airline fares are jumping all over but the wily wanderer still thinks Sunday is the best day to shop airline flights to book the best deal.
Flying from and to hubs is also cheapest. If you don’t live near one, it might be cheaper to drive to one to catch your flight.
The same applies to your destination. If you’re going to rent a car anyhow, flying to a hub makes good bargain sense.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2026
For most Americans Memorial Day represents the de facto start to summer, a time of year chocked full of fun activities including highly-anticipated family vacations.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), early 90% of us will take to the roads at least once during the summer months for a fun-filled family get-away.
On the downside, the NHTSA points out that more traffic accidents occur in summer than any other season, primarily due to the fact more people are driving.
In addition to congested roads, other summer driving challenges include construction zones, vehicle mechanical failures and nasty weather.
As a result, careful planning to ensure a safer and more enjoyable vacation journey is always important. To assist your efforts, here are 5 summer vacation safe driving tips to use before hitting the road.
GET YOUR VEHICLE ROAD-READY
Prior to embarking on your vacation have a mechanic inspect your vehicle’s brakes, tires, belts, hoses, fluid levels, A/C, transmission and oil.
In the summer heat it’s also important to make sure that your car stays hydrated just like your body.
That means inspecting the radiator, radiator hoses and coolant level.
Right before setting out on your trip also check the following:
• Tire pressure including the spare
• Wiper blades
• Battery strength and cable connections
• Oil level
• Look for suspicious fluid leaks underneath the vehicle
• Headlights, brake lights, turn signals and emergency signals
The last thing you need while transporting your family and or yourself cross-country is to
Q. Our doctor has just referred my spouse to a neurologist. If the cognitive impairment is diagnosed as dementia, can I ask for a referral to GUIDE?
Q. I think my spouse has dementia. What resources are available to support me as a caregiver?
Q. I think my spouse has dementia. What resources are available to support me as a caregiver?
A . You are not alone. More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, including over 120,000 Hoosiers.
A . You are not alone. More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, including over 120,000 Hoosiers.
Over the past several years, AIHS has expanded its services to address the rising need for dementia specific support. Wherever you are in your dementia journey, AIHS is here to support you.
Over the past several years, AIHS has expanded its services to address the rising need for dementia specific support. Wherever you are in your dementia journey, AIHS is here to support you.
A Yes, anyone can make a referral. GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) works with the individual living with dementia and their caregiver to improve the quality of life and health outcomes to help people live at home longer. We accomplish that by communicating with your Primary Care Physician and Specialist(s) to support continuity of care.
Our Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) program is a free clinic that can provide dementia diagnosis, ongoing clinical and social support, care navigation, education and more to support eligible individuals living alone with dementia or with a caregiver.
Todd Hunnicutt Dementia Outreach Specialist
Kelsie Owen VP, Nutrition & Integrated Care
resources. NPs can provide services via telehealth, eliminating the need for transportation to physicians’ offices or emergency rooms.
Recently, AIHS established the Northeast Indiana Dementia Alliance (NIDA) to bring together organizations dedicated to addressing gaps in care for dementia patients.
Recently, AIHS established the Northeast Indiana Dementia Alliance (NIDA) to bring together organizations dedicated to addressing gaps in care for dementia patients.
Our Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) program is a free clinic that can provide dementia diagnosis, ongoing clinical and social support, care navigation, education and more to support eligible individuals living alone with dementia or with a caregiver.
The AIHS Family Caregiver Center offers biweekly support groups led by Aging Brain Care-Certified staff, covering various topics related to the caregiving journey.
The AIHS Family Caregiver Center offers biweekly support groups led by Aging Brain Care-Certified staff, covering various topics related to the caregiving journey.
Our Nurse Practitioners (NP) will provide a comprehensive annual assessment, a dementia care plan tailored to the individual, dementia symptom management and ongoing follow-up including 24/7 access to a care team member. GUIDE also provides an in-home assessment and monthly follow-up by an Aging Brain Care Center certified Care Navigator to support the family caregiver with education and connection to community
If you’re interested in learning more about the latest advances in Alzheimer’s treatments, available care and support services in the community and would like to participate in a dementia simulation, join us for a dementia workshop on Monday, April 27th. RSVP is required for this free event. Visit https://shorturl.at/ boUks to reserve your spot.
GUIDE is with you through your personal dementia journey. To learn more about GUIDE and check your eligibility, visit our website: https://www.agingihs.org/guide
If you’re interested in learning more about the latest advances in Alzheimer’s treatments, available care and support services in the community and would like to participate in a dementia simulation, join us for a dementia workshop on Monday, April 27th. RSVP is required for this free event. Visit https://shorturl.at/ boUks to reserve your spot.
A. To contest a Will, the interested person must act quickly and file within three months of the date the Will is admitted to probate court. If this time lapses, the right to challenge the Will is forfeited. The party must petition the court clearly stating the grounds for challenging the Will and provide factual allegations in support.
A Will contest is a legal action taken for one of four reasons: (1) unsoundness of mind of the testator, (2) undue execution of the will, (3) duress or fraud, or (4) any other valid objections to the will’s validity. Unsoundness of mind means the person who wrote the Will did not have the mental capacitary to understand its terms when it was signed. Undue execution means the process of creating the Will was incorrect. Only an interested party can contest the Will. In other words, the person bringing the action must be either a legal heir, beneficiary, or creditor of the estate.
In addition, the person filing the legal action must post a surety bond in a sufficient
Jesica L. Thorson Attorney
amount for payment of all costs if judgment is rendered against the person filing.
The estate’s Personal Representative will defend the document’s validity. Depending on the outcome, the Will can be set aside if invalid, and a prior Will can be reinstated, or the estate will be distributed according to intestate succession. If you are considering a Will contest action it is important to speak with an attorney quickly after your loved one has passed so that you do not miss a filing deadline.
Suite 1100 110 West Berry Street Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Telephone (260) 426-9706
DISCLAIMER: Jesica L. Thorson and Beers Mallers, LLP Attorneys At Law, appreciate the opportunity to provide insight into legal topics of interest. The content of this article is designed to provide information of general interest to the public and is not intended to offer legal advice about specific situations or problems. Jesica L. Thorson and Beers Mallers, LLP Attorneys At Law, do not intend to create an attorney-client relationship by offering this information, and anyone’s review of the information shall not be deemed to create such a relationship. You should consult a lawyer if you have a legal matter requiring attention. Jesica L. Thorson and Beers Mallers, LLP Attorneys At Law, also advise that any information you send to this newsletter shall not be deemed secure or confidential. Please visit our office to ensure complete confidentiality.
Q.
A. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, giving Medicare Beneficiaries access to weight loss drugs like Wegovy, Zepbound, and Foundayo.
To qualify, Medicare Beneficiary must be:
1.) enrolled in either a Medicare Advantage Plan with Prescription Drug Coverage (MAPD), a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), or another qualified plan;
2.) must have their provider submit a prescription to the pharmacy and submit a Prior Authorization form; and
3.) must meet certain age and body mass indices. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program was designed to provide access to GLP1 weight loss drugs only. Medicare Beneficiaries with Type 2 Diabetes and other conditions may qualify for GLP-1
Questions
Scheerer McCulloch:
Your trusted partner in auction, real estate and moving: Introducing Relocation Services
Several years ago, some friends whom had Moving can be a stressful experience for a wide range of people, not just seniors. Whether you’re downsizing, relocating for work, or handling life changes such as divorce or inheritance, the process can feel overwhelming. A few years ago, I spoke with friends who had recently moved from their family home to a retirement community. They shared how the coordination, delays, and stress made the experience challenging. This inspired me to expand our services beyond seniors to help anyone facing a move.
With a background in real estate, auctions, and appraisals, I recognized how our comprehensive services could ease the burden. Today, my team offers professional moving, real estate brokerage, antique and home appraisals,
auctioneering, floor planning, climate-controlled storage, and both online and onsite auctions. We also provide complete property clean-up, selling items, and removing non-salable belongings. Our goal is to make every move seamless, stress-free, and efficient.
We serve clients across surrounding counties and beyond, ensuring everyone has access to reliable, compassionate support during their transition. Contact us today for a free consultation and experience a smoother move. Call (260) 441-8636. We’re here to help.
Tim McCulloch, Owner
and
By NGOZI ROGERS Feature Writer
James Ezell has played tennis competitively for many years. He has won several titles in Quad and Men’s C divisions and even met his wife, Cassie, while attending a tennis tournament in Hilton Head, S.C., in 2005. Tennis has become a major part of his life.
The sport requires a combination of hand-eye coordination, endurance, patience and mental toughness. It is a lifelong activity that welcomes players of all ages, skill levels and, for Ezell and many others, all abilities.
Ezell plays wheelchair tennis with the same fast-paced forehands, backhands, slices, serves and volleys as traditional tennis.
He was encouraged to try adaptive tennis after a life-altering injury.
“I was doing inpatient rehabilitation in Nashville, Tenn., following a car accident that resulted in a C5-C6 spinal cord injury,” Ezell said. “I met some adaptive athletes who later became mentors and encouraged me to try adaptive tennis.”
According to the United
States Tennis Association of Southern California, former freestyle skier Brad Parks discovered tennis during rehabilitation after being paralyzed in a skiing accident in 1976. Along with fellow patient, Jeff Minnebraker, Parks helped prove that wheelchair athletes could compete at a high level.
Despite initial resistance from able-bodied players, their determination led to the creation of wheelchair tennis.
The sport debuted as a demonstration event at the 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, and became an official Paralympic sport at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain.
Wheelchair tennis follows the same rules as traditional tennis, with one exception: the “two-bounce” rule. Players are allowed a second bounce, giving them additional time to reach the ball. The court dimensions, net height and rackets are identical to those used in traditional tennis.
“Early on after my injury, tennis gave me an opportunity to compete and learn from others how to live independently,” Ezell said.
After years of competition,
he now plays primarily for recreation and exercise. He and his wife enjoy taking cruises, glamping and visiting their grandchildren in Tennessee.
Adaptive sports have helped Ezell remain healthy, active and connected. In addition to wheelchair tennis, he has participated in wheelchair rugby, adaptive water-skiing, archery, boccia and other sports. He plans to return to competitive wheelchair rugby this fall.
Ezell credits Turnstone with helping make those opportunities possible.
“I discovered Turnstone shortly after moving to Fort Wayne in 2006 and am constantly amazed by all the things they do to serve the disability community,” he said.
Founded in 1943, Turnstone provides services for people with disabilities and their families. Its programs include sports and recreation, pediatric therapy, adult day services and memory care, helping participants gain independence and live with dignity.
“I like to tell people who are learning to live with a disability that getting involved with adaptive sports is the best therapy they can get,” Ezell
By SABRINA LINK Owner Sabrina’s Cleaning Services LLC
I want to tell you a little story.
On Oct. 22, 2007, I started Sabrina’s Cleaning Services. At the time, I never imagined where the journey would take me. Over the past 19 years, I’ve had the privilege of cleaning for families, seniors and Realtors. I’ve celebrated new homes, helped people prepare for life’s next chapter and met incredible people along
the way.
After all these years, one thing has never changed.
Every time I walk out of a client’s home, I leave with the same feeling: fulfilled.
People often tell me, “I can do my own cleaning.” I always smile because I know they can.
This has never been about whether you can do it. It’s about whether you should have to do it all by yourself.
Maybe your knees don’t let you scrub the bathtub like they used to. Maybe your back
Noble, DeKalb, Allen, Whitley, Huntington,
reminds you that carrying a vacuum up the stairs isn’t as easy anymore. Or maybe you’d rather spend your afternoon with your grandchildren than cleaning baseboards.
That’s where I come in.
My goal has never been to take away your independence. My goal is to help you continue enjoying your home without carrying the entire burden yourself.
Yes, there are less expensive cleaning services available. But when you read my reviews, I hope you’ll see something beyond
said. “Turnstone is the place to find that in northeast Indiana.”
Those interested in trying adaptive sports at Turnstone can be fitted with the appropriate equipment and experience a variety of
sports firsthand. Turnstone is one of nine official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Sites and the only one in Indiana. For more information, visit Turnstone’s website, turnstone.org.
a clean house. I hope you’ll see trust, relationships and people who felt genuinely cared for.
That has always been, and always will be, the heart of Sabrina’s Cleaning Services.
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Mature Life Features
Crooks have been focusing on health fairs that are increasing in popularity among the growing seniors crowd.
Scammers offer free genetic screening. All they need, they say, is a cheek swab and your Medicare number to pay for
the screening.
The crooks then bill Medicare several thousands of dollars which it normally rejects and the person being screened is billed.
If you feel you could use or would benefit from genetic screening, discuss the matter with your family doctor.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2026
Editor’s note: Send listings of events, for nonprofit organizations only, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, or email Editor Phoebe Muthart by the 20th of every month at pmuthart@the-papers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number.
—o—
Back to Our Roots: Enjoy live performances in the outdoor Prado Garden, where local music grows and up-and-coming talent takes root, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. each Thursday through Aug. 27 at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. Featured during $1 Thursdays, this summer music series spotlights emerging artists and seasoned musicians in a relaxed garden setting. With Café Flora just steps away, cultivate local vibes at the Botanical Conservatory. Included with the $1 admission. No reservations are required.
—o—
Pueblo Garden: Styles of the Southwest: Through Nov. 15, public hours at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort
Wayne. Journey into the heart of the Southwest’s botanical heritage this summer and fall. Delight your senses with earthy aromas, vibrant hues and soothing sounds that transport you to a land where tradition meets contemporary design. Encounter adobe-inspired structures and Pueblo gardening techniques, showcasing the resourcefulness and wisdom of indigenous communities. Immerse yourself in a breathtaking botanical display where Southwestern culture comes to life through the timeless beauty of Pueblo style. Sponsored by the English Bonter Mitchell Foundation, Fort Wayne Park Foundation and the O’Rourke-Schof Family Foundation.
—o—
Appleseed Quilters Guild will welcome Rob Appell, a nationally known quilter from California, to its monthly meeting from 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Mizpah Shrine Center, 1015 Memorial Way, Fort Wayne. Appell will present “Quilts From the Sea and Beyond,” a 90-minute program featuring his ocean-inspired quilts, along with an accompanying trunk show of some of
those quilts. A pop-up vendor booth will also be available. The public is invited. Admission is $15 for nonmembers, payable at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit appleseedquiltersguild.com.
—o—
The Family History and Genealogy Workshop and the Family Tree Users Group will meet Wednesday, Aug. 19, at The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne. Both groups meet on the third Wednesday of each month, and the sessions are free and open to the public. No registration is required. The Family History and Genealogy Workshop will meet at 1 p.m. and will focus on conducting research using legal documents, including birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates and tax records. The Family Tree Users Group will meet at 2:15 p.m. and will discuss using genealogy software to organize research and format it into an article about an ancestor to share with family and friends.
—o—
Appleseed Quilters Guild’s September monthly meet-
ing will be from 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Mizpah Shrine Center, 1015 Memorial Way, Fort Wayne. The night’s program will feature Alice Ridge presenting “Quilt Trip Around the World,” a trunk show, and member Show & Tell. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information, contact information@ appleseedquiltersguild.com.
—o—
Woodlands Senior Activity Center
For more information, call (260) 248-8944 or visit whitleycountycouncilonaging.org. The center is located at 710 Opportunity Drive, Columbia City. Pixie bingo, 9 a.m. on the
first, third and fifth Wednesdays of each month.
Line dancing, 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Euchre, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Bible study with Cheryl, 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Alzheimer/Dementia by Aging & In Home Services, 10 a.m on the first Thursday of each month.
Chair exercises, 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Drumming for Joy with Lindsay, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Blood pressure check, 10:45 a.m. the second Wednesday.
Health class with Darcy Continued on page 12
By MARSHA WRIGHT Director Senior Saints
The Senior Saints have announced its August and September concert schedule.
The following are its concert times and dates:
• 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8,Headwaters Church, 2000 N. Wells St., Fort Wayne. Enter through Door 4. Parking is available directly off Wells Street. Information: (260) 4894942.
• 12:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10 - Emmanuel Community Church, 12222 US 24, Fort Wayne. Worship Center, Door 2. Information: (260) 672-3377.
• 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11
- College Park Church, 1945 College Ave., Huntington. Enter through door 2 on Opal Street. Information: (260) 3562642.
• 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23
- Leo Apostolic Church, 11714 Grabill Road, Leo. Information: (260) 627-2944.
• 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug.
Updates are posted at GrabillMC.org/seniorsaints
Saturday, August 8 • 2:00 p.m. • Headwaters Church
2000 N. Wells St., Fort Wayne, IN 46808 | 260-489-4942 | Park Directly Off Wells St. Door 4
Monday, August 10 • 12:30 p.m. • Emmanuel Community Church
12222 US 24, Fort Wayne, IN 46814 | 260-672-3377 | Door 2 Worship Center
Tuesday, August 11 • 1:00 p.m. • College Park Church 1945 College Ave., Huntington, IN 46750 | 260-356-2642 | Enter Door #2 On Opal St.
Sunday, August 23 • 6:30 p.m. • Leo Apostolic Church 11714 Grabill Rd., Leo, IN 46765 | 260-627-2944
Thursday, August 27 • 2:30 p.m. • Decatur Church of God 1129 Mercer Ave., Decatur, IN 46733 | 260-724-2580
Thursday, September 10 • 12:15 p.m. • First Assembly Church 1400 W. Washington Center Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46825 | 260-490-8585 | Door 5
Thursday, September 17 • 7:00 p.m. • Huber Opera House 157 E. High St., Hicksville, OH 43526 | 419-542-9553
Sunday, September 27 • 6:00 p.m. • Grabill Missionary Church 13637 State St., Grabill, IN 46765 | 260-627-3678
Marsha Wright, Director | mnotes@aol.com
IIt’s easy! Simply find the “School Backpack” on another page in this edition. Go online to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com and enter your information, the edition, date and page number you found it on. This will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25. (Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, August 17, 2026. Brought To You By
27 - Decatur Church of God, 1129 Mercer Ave., Decatur. Information: (260) 724-2580.
• 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 - First Assembly Church, 1400 W. Washington Center
Road, Fort Wayne. Enter through door 5. Information: (260) 490-8585.
• 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 - Huber Opera House, 157 E. High St., Hicksville, Ohio.
Information: (419) 542-9553.
• 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27Grabill Missionary Church, 13637 State St., Grabill. For updates, visit GrabillMC.org/seniorsaints.
Tickets are now on sale for the Embassy Theatre’s annual Festival of Trees, returning Nov. 25-Dec. 2 in downtown Fort Wayne.
The holiday fundraiser will feature decorated Christmas trees, festive entertainment, visits with Santa Claus and other seasonal activities throughout the Embassy Theatre and the former Indiana Hotel.
Beginning Aug. 1, adult admission will be $12. Youth tickets for children ages 1-12 are $5, while children younger than 1 are admitted free with a ticket.
The Embassy Theatre will again offer sensory-friendly Festival of Trees hours from 9-11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, providing a quieter experience for guests with sensory needs and their families.
Tickets are also available for Breakfast with Santa, scheduled for Nov. 27-28. The event includes early admission to the Festival of Trees, a hot breakfast buffet, visits with Santa, holiday entertainment, Christmas carols and family activities. Tickets are $35 per person. Seating is limited.
Founded in 1984, the Festival
of Trees is the Embassy Theatre’s largest annual fundraiser, supporting the preservation and operation of the historic theater.
Tickets may be purchased online at fwembassytheatre. org/events/festival-of-trees or at the STAR Bank Box Office at the Embassy Theatre from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Those interested in sponsoring or decorating a tree may contact the Embassy Theatre for additional information. Call (260) 424-6287 or email info@ fwembassytheatre.org.
The Embassy Theatre will host its inaugural “Novel Idea: A Bookish Affair” from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, throughout the Embassy Theatre Lobby, hotel lobby and ballroom.
The event is designed for book lovers and will feature books, literary merchandise and local vendors. Guests can browse offerings from area bookstores, enjoy coffee, cocktails and mocktails, and relax
in a quiet reading lounge.
Participating bookstores include Half Price Books, Moss Heart Books and Sunbound Books, along with additional vendors offering book-inspired gifts and merchandise. Admission is $5. Tickets are on sale and may be purchased online at fwembassytheatre. org and Ticketmaster or in person at the STAR Bank Box Office at the Embassy Theatre,
125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne.
The Embassy Theatre is also accepting applications from bookstores and vendors interested in participating in the event. Those interested may contact Brittneay King-Pope at brittneay@fwembassytheatre. org for more information. Additional information is available at fwembassytheatre. org.
The Humane Society of Whitley County has been celebrating what it says is a successful first half of 2026, highlighting the impact made possible through the work of staff, volunteers, supporters and community partners.
During the first six months of the year, the nonprofit shelter provided care, shelter and lifesaving services to animals
throughout Whitley County while helping hundreds of pets find safety, medical care and loving homes, according to a news release from the organization.
“Our nonprofit shelter numbers are pretty incredible,” said Abbi Carroll, director of operations for the Humane Society of Whitley County. “We take in pets from all across Whitley
County, and every one of these numbers represents an animal whose life has been changed.”
By the numbers
From January through June 2026:
• 198 animals adopted into homes
• 81 animals transferred to rescue partners for additional placement opportunities
• 241 spay/neuter surgeries completed
• 165 lost pets reunited with their families
• 305 pets microchipped
Carroll emphasized that the statistics represent only a portion of the work performed behind the scenes each day.
“Behind every adoption, reunion and happy ending are countless hours of work that most people never see,” Carroll said.
Behind the numbers
206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542
The winner of the I Spy Contest for July is Rich Adam from East Chicago. The ‘First Place Ribbon’ was located on page 2 in Senior Life Allen; page 8 in Senior Life Northwest; page 16 in Senior Life Elko and page 1 in Senior Life St. Joseph.
Over the first six months of 2026, shelter staff and volunteers also:
• Washed more than 2,700 loads of laundry, averaging more than 15 loads every day
• Operated the shelter’s commercial dishwasher for more than 400 hours, sanitizing food bowls, litter pans and medical supplies
Continued on page 12
September 11 & 12
Friday 10am-8pm
Saturday 9am-8pm
This year’s Paulding County Fall Festival, scheduled for September 11 and 12, will be held at the Paulding County Fairgrounds in Paulding, Ohio. The barns and grounds will feature various artisans, craft vendors, home bakers, and flea market vendors. Several food and drink merchants are signed up to offer a variety of options. The Kids Zone will have bounce houses, a clown, petting zoo, and game truck. Tractor pulls will be held on Saturday. There will be car clubs displaying their awesome vehicles. Musical performers will include the Wandering Tulipps, Justice Fuller, and the Erastus Family Band. Other events are in the works and will be announced soon.
sponsored a 300-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a traveling Gold Star Family memorial for the Festival, with a parade in Paulding the evening of September 9th to escort them into town. We could use help from veterans or patriotic groups in escorting and setting up the memorials.
We are celebrating America250 and honoring the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Speakers presenting on the 11th include a Vietnam fighter pilot and POW, a Marine from Wounded Warrior Project, a Civil War historian, and a Gold Star widow. The Northwesternairs Barbershop Chorus will perform a patriotic concert on Friday night.
The Paulding VFW has
Admission to the Festival and all events is free, and the Paulding County Festival Committee, Inc., thanks its sponsors: Paulding VFW; Paulding Putnam Electric; Defiance VFW; Leland Smith Insurance; Baughman Tile; Paulding Eagles; Amrize; Williamson Insurance; Baker-Shindler Contracting; Dooley Funeral Home; Antwerp Exchange Bank; Mansfield Welding Service LLC; Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Home; and Meijer. Follow Paulding County Fall Festival on Facebook for details and email info@ pauldingcountyfestival.com with questions.
A 1976 disco hit suggested to actor John Travolta he should be dancing. To his good fortune, he listened.
The Bee Gees began as a singing English family trio called the Rattlesnakes in 1958, when leader Barry was 12 and
fraternal-twin brothers Maurice and Robin were 9. The music-loving lads developed a harmony so seamless they could have been the Everly Brothers - that is, had Americans Don and Phil been a trio who sang with an English accent.
With no musical training, the British siblings, who never wanted a career other than singing
Continued from page 10
• Distributed tens of thousands of treats to help build trust and reinforce positive behavior
• Traveled thousands of miles transporting animals to rescue partners, veterinary appointments and other lifesaving destinations
• Prepared and served more than 60,000 meals to cats, dogs, kittens and puppies
• Filled and refilled countless water bowls every day
• Cleaned hundreds of kennels and litter boxes, often multiple times daily
• Responded to countless phone calls, emails, adoption applications, lost pet reports and community inquiries
The Human Side
Beyond the measurable statistics, the shelter’s team has provided comfort and compassion to animals during some of their most vulnerable moments, according to the news release.
“Perhaps most importantly, we’ve comforted frightened animals, celebrated happy adoptions, mourned heartbreaking losses, laughed at goofy puppies, cuddled countless kittens and continued showing up every day even when the shelter was overflowing,” Carroll said.
The first half of 2026 has brought significant challenges for animal welfare organizations nationwide, and Whitley County has been no exception, the release stated.
“This year has challenged us,” Carroll said. “Intake has remained high. Kitten season has been relentless. Many days we’ve wondered how we’d make room for just one more animal in need. Yet our staff, volunteers, rescue partners and supporters have continued to step up when animals needed us most.”
As the organization looks toward the remainder of the year, shelter leadership remains focused on expanding lifesaving programs and continuing to serve both animals and the community.
“Thank you for helping us make the first half of 2026 one filled with second chances,” Carroll said. “Here’s to the next six months - and to every life we’ll change together.”
The Humane Society of Whitley County is a nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to providing shelter, care, adoption services, lostand-found assistance, spay/ neuter programs and community outreach for animals in need throughout Whitley County.
and writing songs, formally became the Bee Gees (“Brothers Gibb”) in 1963 when they signed their first recording contract with a small-time English label.
By RANDAL C. HILL
In 1967, after the Beatles-led British Invasion had eased a bit in America but was still strong, the Bee Gees signed a contract with Atco, a subsidiary of New York powerhouse Atlantic Records. For the next five years, the Gibbs guys turned out hit after hit, segueing from orchestrated sophistication to “blue-eyed soul.” Then things went quiet for a while, but eventually the hitmaking threesome returned to the Billboard record charts again. When the trio became reborn as disco artists, they trounced other bands who were likewise hustling to clamber aboard the lucrative disco bandwagon.
On “You Should Be Dancing,” everything on the nascent RSO Records label worked to rocket the Gibbs’ offering skyward. Their chart-topping anthem was fueled by disco “thumps” of hardslammed conga drums, and the track was reined in just short of overload. “Dancing” also featured ear-candy hooks, synthesizer stings, blaring horns, wellplaced guitar licks and a brief hard-rocking instrumental bridge
to bind the work’s introduction and coda.
Barry Gibb had honed his newfound falsetto voice 10 months earlier when he recorded an album track called “Baby, As You Turn Away.” Instantly at ease with this new approach to lead vocal chores for the act, Barry Gibb had recently utilized his high-pitched wail on the group’s best-selling singles “Nights on Broadway” and “Fanny (Be Tender with My Love).”
“You Should Be Dancing” wasn’t a perfect song by any means. The lyrics seemed childlike, almost gibberish and the boisterous chorus of “You Should Be Dancing” was offered up a total of five mind-numbing times as the song pounded along:
“What you doin’ on your bed on your back?
“What you doin’ on your bed on your back?
“You should be dancing, yeah “Dancing, yeah”
“You Should Be Dancing” was a year old when it became a centerpiece of “Saturday Night Fever,” the mega-hit movie (and resulting soundtrack) that featured, in its most iconic segment, John Travolta dancing as Brooklynite Tony Manero. For a few fleeting but majestic moments, Manero’s life as a paint-store salesman was transformed when, with the local disco his temporary stage, he became a human peacock on the dance floor.
Travolta had requestedinsisted, actually - that “You Should Be Dancing” be used for this performance, as that’s the only song that he had been
Continued from page 9 and In Home Services, noon to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Hoopingarner, 11 a.m. on the first Monday.
Birthday lunch/entertainment, second Thursday of each month. Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. and entertainment is at 12:15 p.m.
Rotary, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Tenderloin lunch, 11:30 a.m. the third Monday of each month. Entertainment is at 12:15 p.m.
Dominoes, noon Tuesday.
Rural Respite with Aging
Miller’s craft/games, 12:15 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month.
Afternoon euchre, 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Hand and foot card game, 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Bible study with Bob, 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Euchre tournament, 12:30 p.m. on the third Thursday.
Painting with Evie, 12:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.
practicing to. Good choice, John! Bibliography Book: Bronson, Fred. “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits,” Third Edition. New York: Billboard Publications Inc., 1992, p. 441. Internet: Bee Gees. “You Should Be Dancing” (song). No author or date listed. Wikipedia. Breihan, Tom. “The Number Ones: ‘You Should Be Dancing.’” Sept. 19, 2019. Stereogum. Guarisco, Donald A. “’You Should Be Dancing’ Review.” No date listed. AllMusic. “You Should Be Dancing.” No author or date listed. Songfacts.
Mah Jongg, 1 p.m. every other Monday. The League, 1:30 p.m. every third Tuesday.
Cash Bingo, 5 p.m. Thursday starting mid-January. Grieving with Kim, 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday.
—o—
McMillen Park
Community Center
For information, visit fortwayneparks.org or call (260) 427-6000. The center is located at 3901 Abbott St., Fort Wayne. Pickleball, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Open gym, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Adult open gym, 6-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Adult yoga, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday and noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Volleyball, 6-8 p.m. Monday. Badminton, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. CardioFit, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
Essential steps, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday.
Yoga for seniors, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Yoga for adults, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday.
Men’s basketball league, 6-9 p.m. Thursday.
Editor’s Note: Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear” which covers 200 plus techniques that can drastically improve your mental health
By STAN POPOVICH Guest Columnist
to understand your situation without making any kinds of judgments.
As a result, here are six reasons why you should make your mental health an important priority in your life.
health issues by talking to a qualified professional. There are many health professionals in your area that can give you some ideas on where you can go for assistance.
STAN POPOVICH
Many people underestimate the impact that mental illness can have on an individual or family. It can be difficult to admit that you have a mental health problem in your life. Secondly, it can be just as difficult in getting the people you know
1. Your situation will improve if you get help: Your anxieties and fears can be challenging to manage and more than likely you will need some help. Just as you talk to your doctor about your regular health, you should not be hesitant in seeking help for your mental health. If left untreated, your anxieties and fears may not go away.
2. Drugs and alcohol are not the answer: Drugs and alcohol can make your problems more complicated. Many people have said that drugs and alcohol will only add more problems to your situation. Be smart and learn how to cope with your mental
3. You will save time and money: Eventually, you will have to confront your fears and mental health issues. Save yourself the time and heartache and confront your problems now rather than later. You will save months of struggling by getting help right away. The sooner you get assistance the faster you will start getting some relief.
4. You are not alone: Everyone deals with fear, stress, and anxiety in one’s life whether your friends and others care to admit it. In addition, do not be embarrassed that you are getting help. We all learn new things from others on a daily basis and learning how to manage your anxieties is no different. In addition, your
goal is to get your life back on track and not to get everyone’s approval. If people start asking you questions, just say your dealing with stress. Most people can relate to dealing with stress and anxiety!
5. Do not make the mistake of doing nothing: There are many people who struggled with anxiety and other mental health related issues, and they tried to ignore their problems. As a result, some of these people struggled on a daily basis and eventually things became more difficult. It can be scary asking for assistance, but the key is to take
things one day at a time.
6. You have a variety of options: There are many mental health support groups, organizations, and counselors in your area that can help get your life back on track. Talk to your doctor to get more details on where you can go for some assistance. Help is available but you must be willing to make the choice of getting better. Remember that every problem has a solution. You just have to make the effort to find the answers.
For more information,visit managingfear.com.
NUTSHELL
By DICK WOLFSIE
Mary Ellen and I have some basic disagreements about condiments. As I have gotten older, my taste buds have become less sensitive. As a result, I rely on a variety of enhancements to spice things up in the kitchen. I have failed miserably in other rooms to do the same. Oddly, Mary Ellen has gone in the opposite direction. For her, everything she orders is “too spicy.”
But here’s a product that I had not anticipated would cause dissent in my marriage: mayonnaise? ketchup? Sure, there were always possibilities for a tiff here. You never hear a man say to his wife, “With all that ketchup on the burger, sweetheart, you can’t possibly appreciate the fine texture and flavor of the grass-fed beef.” Women, on the other hand, will say: “If you put ketchup on my chicken kiev, I will rip your ruby-red tongue right out of your mouth.”
Mustard? Yes, I could make an argument for mustard. Over the years, I have tried to improve most of my wife’s cooking with a healthy dose of this condiment. What would her pork milanese have been without mustard? Uneventful. What would her beef bourguignon taste like without a glob of Dijon? I shudder to think. What about that sesame-encrusted salmon without a dollop of you-know-what? Yes, Mary Ellen and I have clashed over mustard.
But a fight over mayonnaise? Who would have predicted this? It all started one morning last week when I accidentally put the mayonnaise jar in the pantry instead of putting it back in the fridge the night before. Without hesitation, Mary Ellen tossed the jar in the garbage with this denouement: “It’s no
good. We have to throw it out.”
I begged to differ. Literally, begged. I just couldn’t accept the product’s ruin in just a few hours. My own mother never refrigerated mayonnaise. It went in the pantry. My brother and sister clearly remember this. That’s why when we now reminisce about our favorite childhood sandwich, we call it the bacon, lettuce, and ptomaine poisoning sandwich. By the way, I have a master’s in English and never realized there was a silent P in that word. Thank you, spell check. The next day, desperate for a smear on my BLT, I fished the mayonnaise out of the garbage, slathered it on my sandwich, then put the jar in the fridge. When Mary Ellen discovered what I had done, she panicked and pointed to the container: “refrigerate after opening.” Suddenly, my eye caught an 800 number on the label, a hotline for people with emergency mayonnaise
questions. I assumed it was the turkey hotline people who were bored with nothing to do for 11 months.
“Hello, Mayo hotline. Can I help you?”
“Yes, I have a question about food poisoning.”
“First of all, this is the mayo hot line, not the Mayo Clinic. And, yes, I know what you’re going to ask. I get husbands all day long with this question. Commercial mayonnaise is loaded with acids that can actually kill bacteria. And the eggs used in prepared mayonnaise are pasteurized. It’s perfectly safe.”
“So, I shouldn’t throw it out?”
“Of course, you should throw it out. A man can’t win a mayonnaise argument.”
He was right, of course. I didn’t tell Mary Ellen about my phone call. She would still claim she was correct. And I wasn’t in the mood to argue.
It would have been Hellmann’s to pay.
Emmy Award-winning journalist and technology expert David Pogue will be the featured speaker at Aging and In-Home Services’ 51st Stakeholder Summit and Community Conversation Friday, Oct. 9, at the Parkview Mirro Center.
Pogue, a correspondent for CBS News’ Sunday Morning, host of PBS’ NOVA, New York Times contributor and bestselling author, will present “AI: How It Works, Where It Fails, and How It Brings Stunning Benefits to Health Providers, Payers, Pharmaceuticals and Patients.”
Pogue has built a career translating technology trends for everyday audiences while helping people navigate an increasingly digital world. He wrote the weekly technology column for The New York Times for 13 years, and his work on CBS News
Sunday Morning has earned him seven Emmy Awards. He is the author of more than 120 books, with more than 3 million copies in print. His works include seven titles in the “For Dummies” series, Pogue’s Basics series and the Missing Manual series of computer books. Each year, Aging and InHome Services welcomes health care professionals, community leaders, individuals with disabilities and family caregivers to the summit to reflect on progress and explore ways to improve access to programs and resources throughout Indiana.
The Parkview Mirro Center is located at 10622 Parkview Plaza Drive, Fort Wayne. For information about sponsorships, tables or tickets, contact Sam Bostater at sbostater@agingihs.org.
By NGOZI ROGERS Feature Writer
Imagine walking to your fitness class or to the pool at the gym and smelling delicious food. Or hearing laughter, prayers and the hum of sewing machines at work. That’s what guests at the Renaissance Pointe YMCA experience every week.
The Union Baptist Church Quilting Guild meets there from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday. The YMCA’s Christ-centered mission and partnership with its Active Older Adults program are a perfect match.
“We were using the church as our place to quilt,” said Jannie Wyatt, quilting guild leader, “and it was becoming more and more difficult for us aging ladies to get our sewing machines and equipment down the stairs.”
The quilting guild started in 2021. Members later moved from the church to the Pontiac Branch Library, but meeting rooms could only be reserved for two hours. The Renaissance Pointe YMCA has hosted the group since 2024.
“It’s been a wonderful collaboration because, obviously, the amenities here are so much better,” Wyatt said.
The new location provides secure storage for sewing machines, supplies and fabric, along with plenty of room to quilt.
According to Wyatt, most members have completed at
least one quilt. One member completed 26 quilts between June and December last year.
“It was her very first time quilting, and they were sizable quilts,” Wyatt said.
That member’s first quilt showcased her genealogy, with her African DNA connections represented throughout the design. She later displayed the quilt at her family reunion and shared stories about her ancestors.
The average age of the group’s members is 65. Wyatt said she especially enjoys seeing children become involved.
“This 12-year-old, during summer break last year, made a quilt from start to finish,” Wyatt said. “He designed it on his cellphone.”
Wyatt found Black Panther-themed fabric at home for his quilt.
“He finished it the day before school started, binding and everything,” she said. “He did a wonderful job.”
The quilting guild includes Union Baptist Church members, YMCA Active Older Adults participants and members of the community.
“We’ve even had people from the fitness classes drop in,” Wyatt said.
Everyone is welcome, whether they know how to sew or not.
“People who thought they would never sew anything, let alone make a quilt, are very proud of what they have been able to accomplish,” Wyatt said.
Having the quilting group at the Renaissance Pointe YMCA is also a point of pride.
“No other YMCA branch has the quilting group, and so to have it here makes it worthwhile because the Active Older Adults program flourishes even more,” said Tashanna Harris-English, aquatics, sports and active older adults director.
The group offers a welcoming place to quilt, along with colorful fabric, sewing machines, guidance from experienced quilters and fellowship. But Wyatt said faith and quilting are what truly bind everyone together.
“It takes faith for you to believe you can make a quilt,” Wyatt said. “It takes faith to open yourself up and be vulnerable with each other and talk about situations in your life that could impact someone else’s. It’s always a prayerful journey.”
The Union Baptist Church Quilting Guild meets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday at the Renaissance Pointe YMCA, 2323 Bowser Ave., Fort Wayne. The drop-in fee is $1 or free with a YMCA membership, SilverSneakers or the Tivity program.
For more information, visit fwymca.org or call Union Baptist Church at (260) 456-3421.
Center for Hospice Care and Visiting Nurse Association Hospice of Northwest Indiana recently announced a legally binding strategic affiliation that will strengthen access to high-quality, compassionate hospice care across much of northern Indiana.
The affiliation reflects a shared mission between the organizations to provide compassionate, skilled care focused on comfort and quality of life for people facing serious, advanced illnesses.
The integration process will allow patients to transition seamlessly within a unified nonprofit care network, ensuring continuity of care without disruption.
As nonprofit, community-based providers, CHC and VNA Hospice NWI invest in the well-being of their communities and are joining together through a member substitution agreement.
“Excellent patient care is, and always will be, our top
priority,” said John Mastrojohn III, president and CEO of CHC.
“This affiliation allows us to build on the strong legacy of both organizations while expanding access to compassionate, expert care. Patients and families can be confident they will continue to receive the same high-quality, patient-centered support they trust, now with the added strength of a broader regional network. We are so pleased to have VNA Hospice NWI join the CHC family.”
“We couldn’t have found a better partner to help us provide care to those with serious, advanced illnesses in the communities we serve,” said Bob Franko, president and CEO of VNA Hospice NWI. “We share common values centered on providing patients and their loved ones with expert, compassionate care.”
By combining resources and aligning operations, CHC and VNA Hospice NWI will strength-
en the long-term sustainability of nonprofit hospice care, ensuring compassionate services remain available to those who need them most.
The transition is designed to occur primarily behind the scenes, preserving the patient experience while enhancing coordination, efficiency and access to care throughout the region.
By JIM CARPENTER Guest Author
I would cut the tree and chop the wood.
To burn it in my stove. Then it was off to the garden, to watch the vegetables grow.
But there really is “no pause” in life.
There is a constant changing of the gears.
You try to do what works for you. Particularly in the later years. I have found that in the act of living, you will become an older age. And for some of us, I suppose, we might pretend we are a sage. “Go with the flow,” “the best you can.”
Is advice that just might last.
But I think my favorite phrase of all, are in the words, “this too shall pass.”
Be at peace and keep the faith.
This journey is not yet done.
I’ve heard it said and I believe. The best is yet to come!
(NAPSI) - Over 12.5 million Americans are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, but many don’t realize this and could be missing out on some valuable benefits. People who qualify for both health care programs can enroll in a type of Medicare Advantage plan called a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan, offered by Aetna and other health care companies.
D-SNPs work with your Medicare and Medicaid benefits to help you maximize your benefits. They provide all the traditional benefits of a Medicare Advantage health plan, while also offering added benefits, such as flexible allowances, which can help pay for healthy food and certain over-the-counter items. Depending on the state where you live, some additional benefits that come with an Aetna D-SNP may include:
• Dental, vision and hearing coverage• $0 co-pays for covered Part D prescriptions at in-network pharmacies • Extra Benefits Card with a monthly allowance to use on certain everyday expenses, like healthy foods and overthe-counter items, such as aspirin and bandages • SilverSneakers fitness membership • Fresh meals home-delivered after a hospital stay
D-SNPs may also come with a personal care coordinator, who can help you find in-network doctors, arrange transportation and schedule appointments. They can also connect you with programs to help beyond health care services.
D-SNPs may help save you money. Most people pay little or no cost for their coverage. Covered Part D prescription drugs are available at no cost at in-network pharmacies, and doctors’ visits may also
be fully covered at no cost to you.
If you qualify, a D-SNP can offer you more complete health care coverage so you can take charge of your health and access the care you need.
To enroll in an Aetna D-SNP plan, you must apply and prove that you meet the eligibility criteria, including having both Medicare and Medicaid. You will also be required to periodically prove that you continue to meet the plan’s requirements. For more information about D-SNPs, call Aetna at (844) 588-0041 (TTY: 711), seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A licensed agent may answer your call. Or visit AetnaMedicare.com/DSNP.
Aetna Medicare is an HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our D-SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enroll-
ment in our plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan ben-
efits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area.
Adams Heritage
12011 Whittern Road, Monroeville, IN 46773 (260) 623-6440 • www.adamsheritage.org
Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech, Occupational, Physical, Respiratory, Outpatient Therapy, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care. Medicare and/or Medicaid.
Adams Woodcrest
1300 Mercer Avenue, Decatur, IN 46733 (260) 724-3311 • www.adamswoodcrest.org
Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Memory Care Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech, Occupational, Physical, Respiratory, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid.
Golden Years Homestead
3136 Goeglein Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815 (260) 749-9655 • Greencroft.org/GoldenYears
Comprehensive care with assisted living, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, memory care, respite care, and on-site/outpatient therapy; Medicare/ Medicaid accepted.
300 East Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46802 (260) 422-5511 • jmull@tgmsi.com
Assisted Living; 50+ Community; Pets Allowed; Medicaid Waiver; Private Rooms; Weekly Events; RCAP Program; Conveniently Located; 24/7 Nursing Staff; On-site Therapy; Downtown Lifestyle; Concierge Service; Smoking Area; Restaurant Style Dining
702 Sawyer Rd., Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-3333 • www.orchardpointehc.com
Offering Memory Care, Assisted & Independent Living Apartments and Skilled Services. We’ll meet you with the appropriate level of care wherever you are — whether you’re fully independent or looking for additional assistance. Call us.
14409 Sunrise Court, Leo, IN 46765 (260) 627-2191 • www.thecedarsrc.com
Assisted Living, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing Or Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-RespiratoryPhysical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid
S. Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46816 (260) 447-1591 • www.ABetterWayofLiving.org
Assisted Living, Rehab Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech, Occupational, Respiratory, Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid, Outpatient Therapy
Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana has appointed three community leaders to its board of directors: Kristin Packnett of Co. Work, Dr. Alan Yahanda of the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute and Dr. Mike Yuan of Radiation Oncology Associates.
The new board members each bring professional expertise and a personal commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by cancer.
Packnett is co-founder of Co. Work, a company that specializes in marketing, development and team coaching for small
ADAMS WOODCREST
1300 Mercer Avenue
Decatur, IN 46733
Phone: (260) 724-3311
www.adamswoodcrest.org
Independent Living, Cottages, Villas, Apartments, Residential & Assisted Living, Short Term Rehab (PT, OT, ST), Healthcare & Dementia Care, Skilled & Intermediate, Long Term Nursing Care, Life Enrichment Activities, Fitness Center Membership
THE CEDARS
14409 Sunrise Court
Leo, IN 46765
Phone: (260) 627-2191
www.thecedarsrc.com
Complete Retirement Amenities: Skilled & Intermediate Long Term Nursing Care, Assisted & Residential Apartments, Total Rehab Unit, Villa Of The Cedars With Condominium Homes - “Come To The Country”
3RIVERS HEARING
7230 Engle Road, Suite 211
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: (260) 257-7691
3rivershearing@gmail.com
www.3rivershearing.com
Family Owned & Operated Hearing Clinic. Free Comprehensive Hearing Test. Multiple Manufacturers. Supplemental Insurance Accepted. Office & Mobile Appointments.
businesses and nonprofits. She became familiar with Cancer Services after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.
“Cancer Services offered my family a safe place to champion my mom as she tried on wigs, anticipating the loss of her hair,” Packnett said. “I look forward to offering my strengths and talents to the Cancer Services board of directors as the organization’s legacy, impact and reach continue to strengthen and grow.”
Yahanda, president of the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute, has worked
closely with Cancer Services through patient referrals.
“For years, patients of mine have benefited from Cancer Services,” Yahanda said. “Now, as a board member, I have an opportunity to give back to that organization in gratitude for all that they have done for my patients and continue to do for the people of our community.”
Yuan, a radiation oncologist with Radiation Oncology Associates, said he has seen firsthand the impact Cancer Services has on patients throughout their cancer journey.
“I joined this board because this organization provides
truly exceptional support to cancer patients navigating an incredibly challenging journey,” Yuan said. “I am deeply looking forward to partnering with the executive team and my fellow board members to continue serving and uplifting our community.”
Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana provides support services for people facing cancer in Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties.
For more information, visit cancer-services.org or call (260) 484-9560.
CARTER HEARING CLINICS
1335 Getz Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
NORTHEAST: 3136 Goeglein Rd., Suite A Phone: (260) 436-6400 or (877) 436-6401
www.carterhearingclinics.com
• Creating A Higher Standard of Care
• Board certified audiologists by the American Board of Audiology serving Fort Wayne since 1967.
• Offices located in Fort Wayne, Auburn and Angola.
PROVIDING
• Hearing Evaluations, Hearing Aids, Assistive Listening Devices and Auditory Training
• FREE TRIAL HEARING AID PROGRAM
Fort Wayne, IN
Phone: (260) 452-9691
ajones@integrityhhc.com
VERACITY SYSTEMS
DBA HOOSIER CARE GIVERS
401 E. Colfax Ave. #350 South Bend, IN 46617 (317) 699-7075
info@veracitysystems.org
Family Caregivers Make $19-$21/hr. Compassionate, Attendant, Caregivers, Companionship. Private Paid, Affordable, Medicaid Certified, United Healthcare, Humana, Anthem Homecare Insured.
333 E. Washington Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: (260) 918-0933
www.brightstarcare.com/fort-wayne
Enthusiastic, kind personal level client care connection, 24/7 support enables clients to check on loved ones. Rigorous caregiver screen/background check ensures optimal security & family peace of mind.
CORNERSTONE CAREGIVING
2809 East Dupont Rd. Fort Wayne, IN 46825
Phone: (260) 254-1571
fortwaynein@cornerstonecaregiving.com
Personalized In-Home Care for You or Your Loved Ones
HOMEFRONT HOME HEALTH
6821 Lima Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46818
Phone: (260) 363-0461
www.HomefrontHomeHealth.com
Homefront empowers independent living with compassionate in-home non-medical and medical skilled healthcare, personalized attendant, companion, nursing, and other support services.
(NAPSI) - You probably know the feeling: you’ve been staring at your screen for hours, your inbox keeps growing and your next meeting starts in five minutes.
Sometimes, the best way to reset is to take a quick moment to focus on something completely different.
Where To Find It
Daily puzzle games have become a popular way to take those quick mental breaks, and platforms like LinkedIn are leaning into that trend. LinkedIn’s newest game, Wend, blends word finding with logic-based problem solving.
“Wend is a word-finding game where players connect letters in a grid to uncover hidden words, using every letter exactly once,” says Helen Smith, Group Product Manager at LinkedIn. “While it
may seem like a traditional word game, it adds a logic twist, as players also have to figure out how the entire board fits together.”
In addition to Wend, the LinkedIn games lineup includes word-based puzzles like Pinpoint and Crossclimb, alongside logic challenges like Queens, Tango, Mini Sudoku, Zip, and Patches, each offering a different way to exercise your brain throughout the day.
1. Why your brain needs a recharge.
Stepping away from a task for even a minute or two can sometimes be exactly what’s needed to return with fresh eyes.
Unlike checking email again or scrolling through your phone, a quick puzzle gives your attention
something entirely different to focus on. The result is a short reset with a clear beginning and end, making it easy to fit between meetings, projects, and other responsibilities.
“That’s part of the appeal of LinkedIn’s games, which can often be completed in just a few minutes,” says Thomas Snyder, LinkedIn’s Principal Puzzlemaster and three-time World Sudoku Champion. “It’s a quick mental break that feels especially satisfying when everything clicks into place.”
2. The social side of puzzle games.
While LinkedIn games are played individually, they can create a great opportunity for connection with others.
Players often share scores with
colleagues, discuss strategies, send puzzles to friends, or spark friendly competition through posts and messages. After you play a game, you’ll see how you stack up against other players you know on a leaderboard.
“For people working across teams, offices, and time zones, games can provide an easy reason to reconnect,” says Lakshman Somasundaram, senior director of Product at LinkedIn. “A shared puzzle score, a little friendly rivalry, or a quick discussion about strategy can turn into a meaningful conversation that can open the door to new professional opportunities.”
And sometimes, according to Somasundaram, that conversation can start with something as simple
as, “Did you play today’s puzzle?” 3. A win before the workday starts.
There’s something satisfying about solving a challenge before your day fully gets underway. Completing a puzzle may not clear your inbox or finish your project plan, but it can provide a small sense of accomplishment early in the day. For many players, solving a puzzle becomes part of a daily routine - a quick challenge that helps them ease into work mode before tackling larger tasks. In a workday filled with constant notifications and multitasking, a quick puzzle may be one of the simplest ways to pause, refresh and reconnect. To try Wend and LinkedIn’s other games, visit linkedin.com/games.
HUMANE FORT WAYNE IN-HOME SERVICES
901 Leesburg Road Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Phone: (260) 744-0454
www.humanefw.org/get-help/pet-promises/
This FREE program helps seniors care for their pets. Services include grooming, walking, waste clean-up, wellness checks, transportation and more.
STILLWATER HOSPICE
5910 Homestead Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46804 (260) 435-3222
stillwater-hospice.org
Helping families face serious illness and loss with comfort, compassion and guidance through hospice, palliative and adult grief support.
ABSOLUTE ANGELS IN-HOME CARE
PO Box 214
Leo, IN 46765
Phone: (260) 715-7777
www.AbsoluteAngels.org
Don@AbsoluteAngels.org
Absolute Angels delivers compassionate, reliable care — bringing peace of mind, dignity and heartfelt support to families when it matters most.
COMFORT KEEPERS
3182 Mallard Cove Lane
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: (260) 484-5858
MollyTritch@comfortkeepers.com
Comfort Keepers provides award winning in-home care for seniors and other adults in need of assistance with daily activities.
MAJESTIC CARE OF JEFFERSON POINTE
5700 Wilkie Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: (260) 432-7556
www.majesticcare.com/location/Jefferson-Pointe
Short-term Rehab, Outpatient Therapy, Long-term Care, Memory Care, In-House Dialysis, Mild Behaviors Unit. Medicaid Accepted. Where Compassion Meets Excellence.
NATURE’S WAY PET AFTERCARE 6428-C St. Joe Center Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46835
Phone: (260) 255-6972
www.natureswaypetaftercare.com
Supporting families every step. Services include: pet euthanasia, cremation, memorial items and grief support. Contact us today to start pre-planning.
HOOSIER PHYSICAL THERAPY
Michael F. Barile, D.C., P.T. 3030 Lake Avenue
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Phone: (260) 420-4400
www.hoosierpt.com
Medicare Assignment Accepted • “Personalized Care”
STROLL WALKING CLUB 4315 Love Grass Lane
Fort Wayne, IN 46845
Phone: (260) 452-6091
www.strollwalkingclub.com
• Guided Group Walks
• Door to Door Transportation
• Built for Seniors • Trusted Local Guides
MAJOR DRAW Lake Chelan in Washington, is a major draw for visitors. The clear body of water stretches about 50 miles with its upper end overshadowed by 6,600 foot-high mountain peaks. There are more than 30 wineries surrounding the lake. Photo Provided by Victor Block.
TIME SHIFTS The grand front doors of The Otesaga Resort Hotel open to echoes of the past lingering in wood-paneled halls with the sunlight dancing off Otsego Lake as it did a century ago. The village of Cooperstown, N.Y., is an eight-minute stroll from the resort. Photo from The Otesaga Resort Hotel.
By VICTOR BLOCK Guest Columnist
Lake Wawasee, Indiana’s largest natural lake, has a history dating back to the Pleistocene Epoch, from 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago.
Lake Maxinkuckee near Culver was first inhabited by Mound Builders. They constructed embankments ranging in size from modest humps of earth to great pyramids of soil that served as ceremonial centers, burial grounds, astronomical markers and political hubs.
These inland bodies of water are scattered around the United States and provide enough variety to meet virtually any preference.
Lake Champlain, located between New York, Vermont and Canada’s Quebec province, is believed by some to be inhabited by a monster. Legends of the crea-
Motorcoach Tours
1404 E. Lake Bluff Dr. Kendallville, IN 46755
SEPT 9-12: AMAZING
NORTHERN MICHIGAN Thunder Bay Elk Viewing & 5 Course Dinner, Castle Farms, Music House, Sleeping Bear Dune Nat. Lakeshore, International Fireworks Championship, Dale Chihuly’s exhibit at Fredrick Meijer Gardens
SEPT 23-26: AGAWA
ture trace back to Abenaki and Iroquois Native Americans who lived in the area. A granite block bears an inscription dedicated to Champ and “the people in Vermont who have seen Champ.”
Other lakes also are associated with nonhuman creatures.
Sightings of one of them in Bear Lake along the Idaho-Utah border were first reported in 1868. It was described as a large brown serpent with small legs and a head resembling an alligator. Later, a man admitted he had fabricated the story.
Another hoax occurred in 1921 when a newspaper reporter claimed to have seen a mermaid-like creature in Walgren Lake, Neb., that spat water into the air.
Of course, lake settings have much more to offer than mythical beasts. The town of Chelan, Wash., was settled by European immigrants in 1886.
Today, Lake Chelan is a major draw for visitors. That clear body of water stretches about 50 miles, and near its upper end is overshadowed by 6,600-foot-high mountain peaks. The charming
town for which the lake is named is surrounded by more than 30 wineries that welcome visitors for tastings and other treats.
Equally inviting is Grand Marais, Minn., perched on the shoreline of Lake Superior. Once inhabited by Ojibwe Indigenous people, the tiny town (population about 1,300) was a fur-trading station in the 1700s populated largely by French Canadians, from whom it got its name, meaning “great marsh.” That recalls a wetland area that once occupied the site.
Summersville Lake in West Virginia spans just 2,800 acres but still ranks as the largest in the state. It was created by a dam to control flooding and has evolved into a popular recreation destination. It attracts fishermen, boating is popular, and scuba divers come to search for a vessel that was sunk to give them something to view. The only working lighthouse in the state overlooks the scene.
Much larger expanses of water make up the Chain of Lakes in central Florida. In contrast with the pristine atmosphere of many
ADVENTURE
ENJOYING THE VIEW Otsego Lake is a 4,046-acre lake in Otsego County in New York. It is the source of the Susquehanna River and the largest lake in the county. The lake takes its name from the Iroquois Indians, who inhabited the area around the lake in and before the 17th century. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk or Oneida word meaning “place of the rock”, referring to the large boulder near the lake’s outlet, today known as Council Rock. Photo provided by Victor Block.
locations, this one appeals to those seeking a variety of manmade attractions.
Cypress Gardens, and the area is dotted with water-ski schools.
Where Compassion Meets Excellence
We are proud to provide compassionate care.
Where Compassion Meets Excellence
We are proud to provide compassionate care.
• Rehab to Home
CANYON TRAIN Sault Ste Marie MI & Canada. Passport Required. Soo Lock Boat Ride, Shipwreck Museum, Tahquamenon Falls, Full Day Train Ride to Agawa Canyon
• Memory Care
• In-House Dialysis
We are proud to provide compassionate care.
Where Compassion Meets Excellence
• Rehab to Home
We are proud to provide compassionate care.
We are proud to provide compassionate care.
• Rehab to Home
• Outpatient Therapy (coming soon)
• Rehab to Home
• VA Contracted
• Rehab to Home
• Memory Care
• VA Contracted
• VA Contracted
• VA Contracted
• VA Contracted
The Legoland Florida Resort includes a theme park, water park and amusement area. Lake Eloise is the self-described water-skiing capital of the world.
• Je erson Point Lymphedema Certified
Numerous movies were shot at
• Outpatient Therapy (coming soon)
OCT 15-18: MARIETTA, OH - a Riverboat Town. Muskingum River Boat Ride, The Castle, Ferry to Blennerhassett Island, Henderson Hall Plantation, Ohio Valley Opry
• Accept Medicare & Medicaid Pending
OCT 17: PUMPKIN
FESTIVAL, Harrison Ohio
• Outpatient Therapy (coming soon)
• Outpatient Therapy (coming soon)
•
• Memory Care
• Outpatient Therapy (coming soon)
• Memory Care
• Memory Care
• In-House Dialysis
• Je erson Point Lymphedema Certified
• In-House Dialysis
• In-House Dialysis
•
• In-House Dialysis
• Mild Behavior
• Accept Medicare & Medicaid Pending
• Accept Medicare & Medicaid Pending
• Accept Medicare & Medicaid Pending
• Accept Medicare & Medicaid Pending
• Long-Term Care
• Accept Medicare & Medicaid Pending
• Je erson Point Lymphedema Certified
• VA Contracted
• Je erson Point Lymphedema Certified
• Je erson Point Lymphedema Certified
• Mild Behavior
• Mild Behavior
• Mild Behavior
• Je erson Point Lymphedema Certified
• Mild Behavior
• Long-Term Care
• Mild Behavior
• Long-Term Care
My personal favorite is the six bodies of water that comprise the Rangeley Lakes in western Maine, where I have spent pleasant summers for decades. Some of their names alone - Umbagog (Abenaki Native American for “shallow water”) and Mooselookmeguntic (“moose feeding place”) - titillate the imagination.
• Long-Term Care
• Long-Term Care
• New Haven Wound Specialist
• New Haven Wound Specialist
• Long-Term Care
• New Haven Wound Specialist
• New Haven Wound Specialist
• New Haven Wound Specialist Je erson Pointe’s Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy teams have over 100 years of experience combined!
• New Haven Wound Specialist
Je erson Pointe’s Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy teams have over 100 years of experience combined!
Je erson Pointe’s Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy teams have over 100 years of experience combined!
Je erson Pointe’s Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy teams have over 100 years of experience combined!
Je erson Pointe’s Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy teams have over 100 years of experience combined!
Je erson Pointe’s Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy teams have over 100 years of experience combined!
Majestic Care of Je erson Pointe
Majestic Care of Je erson Pointe
5700 Wilkie Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
5700 Wilkie Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: 260.432.7556
Majestic Care of Je erson Pointe
Majestic Care of Je erson Pointe
Majestic Care of Je erson Pointe
Phone: 260.432.7556
Majestic Care of New Haven 1201 Daly Dr, New Haven, IN 46774
Majestic Care of New Haven 1201 Daly Dr, New Haven, IN 46774
5700 Wilkie Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: 260.749.0413
Phone: 260.749.0413
Majestic Care of New Haven 1201 Daly Dr, New Haven, IN 46774
OCT 26-31: WASHINGTON DC, with GETTYSBURG Battlefield, Memorials, Nat. Cathedral, Arlington, Free Day for Museums
Phone: 260.432.7556
Details: www.s-stravel.com
Marketing.Je erson @MajesticCare.com
Tour Calendar: Call 888-262-4423
MajesticCare.com
Phone: 260.432.7556
Marketing.Je erson @MajesticCare.com
5700 Wilkie Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
5700 Wilkie Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Marketing.Je erson @MajesticCare.com
Phone: 260.432.7556
Marketing.Je erson @MajesticCare.com
MajesticCare.com
Marketing.Je erson @MajesticCare.com
Majestic Care of New Haven 1201 Daly Dr, New Haven, IN 46774 Phone: 260.749.0413
MajesticCare.com
MajesticCare.com
MajesticCare.com
Majestic Care of New Haven 1201 Daly Dr, New Haven, IN 46774
Marketing.NewHaven @MajesticCare.com
Marketing.NewHaven @MajesticCare.com
Phone: 260.749.0413
Phone: 260.749.0413
Marketing.NewHaven @MajesticCare.com
Marketing.NewHaven @MajesticCare.com
Marketing.NewHaven @MajesticCare.com
seniorlifenewspapers.com
The town (population about 1,200) perched along the lakeshore is named after James Rangeley, an Englishman who inherited a tract there in 1796 from his father and established an estate. Today it offers winter skiing and snowmobiling, spring and summer fishing, biking, bird-watching and more.
When you’re longing for a brief respite by a lake or a longer stay, the choices are varied and inviting.
(Feature Impact) Between busy schedules, daily responsibilities and the seemingly nonstop pace of everyday life, taking time to disconnect can feel impossible. This summer, make an effort to step away from daily distractions and reconnect with yourself, your passions and the moments that matter most.
Whether it’s a solo seaside escape, a culinary adventure with friends or a memory-making family vacation, World of Hyatt’s Global Summer Offers give members access to exclusive savings of up to 25% on stays at participating hotels and resorts across the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Africa, making it easy to plan a perfect getaway to escape the everyday this summer.
From paddleboarding in the Bahamas to wandering through Panama’s historic streets, these curated destination recommendations offer inspiration for every kind of traveler.
Sun-Soaked Seaside Escapes
Some summer vacations are about trading packed schedules for ocean breezes and sun-soaked days by the water. For a chic coastal escape, The Georgian, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, brings timeless glamour to the shores of Santa Monica. Just steps from the ocean, this iconic art deco hotel serves as the perfect seaside retreat for biking along the boardwalk, relaxing on the beach and exploring Santa Monica’s vibrant dining scene.
Every detail of a stay at Dreams Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa is crafted to inspire relaxation, connection and discovery. The all-inclusive resort offers a vibrant escape where contemporary comfort meets timeless Caribbean charm in a tropical haven designed for couples and families alike.
Memory-Making Family Adventures
Families looking to make the most of summer together can head to Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, where every day brings a new adventure. From splashing through the resort’s waterpark and visiting the on-site wildlife sanctuary to enjoying family-friendly dining across more than 45 restaurants and lounges, there’s something for guests of all ages to enjoy together.
Along the shores of Kanapali Beach in Maui, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa provides
ANSWERS:
the perfect setting for families to create lasting memories together. Families can fill their days with everything from culinary experiences to sunrise yoga, snorkeling and wildlife tours. Younger guests can even channel their inner sea creature during the resort’s popular mermaid classes.
Flavor-Filled Getaways
Combining contemporary luxury with Moroccan charm, Park Hyatt Marrakech is an authentic gateway to the destination’s rich culinary heritage. Guests can immerse themselves in local culinary traditions through hands-on experiences, from mastering classic dishes alongside the hotel’s chefs to exploring a Berber village market and sharing a home-cooked lunch with a local family.
Travelers looking to immerse themselves in Panama’s vibrant culture and food scene can enjoy a stay at Hyatt Regency Panama City. Whether exploring the colorful streets of Casco Viejo or savoring authentic cuisine at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Rulfo, guests can experience the flavors and energy that define the destination.
Just steps from Tallinn’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, Hyatt Place Tallinn places guests in the heart of the city’s rich heritage and within easy reach of landmarks such as Toompea Castle and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, as well as cobbled medieval streets, world-class museums, independent galleries and vibrant cafes that bring centuries of history to life.
Steeped in history and tucked in the heart of Westminster, Great Scotland Yard Hotel, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, blends modern luxury with its storied past. Once home to Scottish royalty and later the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police, the hotel’s legacy of sophistication and intrigue inspires every detail and standout experience, including its hidden speak-
easy-style bar, where inventive cocktails are inspired by the building’s colorful history and Michelin-starred dining.
Set along Savannah’s vibrant riverfront, Thompson Savannah offers a stylish gateway to one of the South’s most charming and culturally rich destinations. Travelers can explore centuries-old architecture in the city’s beautifully preserved
Historic District and immerse themselves in the renowned arts scene before unwinding in a private cabana on the hotel’s pool deck or enjoying a cocktail at the rooftop bar.
To find more destinations to aid in the escape from everyday routines, visit Hyatt.com for a full list of participating properties and full offer details.
Source World of Hyatt
By DANIEL SUMMER, MA Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration
If you need an original Social Security number or a replacement card, you can now complete your request online, and if needed, schedule an appointment for faster service.
How It Works
When you visit our Social Security number and card page at ssa.gov/number-card, we’ll ask you a few questions to determine the best way for you to apply.
We will walk you through each step of the application process.
After you submit your online application, we will either process it online or guide you
to schedule an appointment to visit your local Social Security office or card center and complete the process.
By starting the application online, your in-office visit will typically take less time.
We have expanded appointment-based services as part of our ongoing efforts to serve you more efficiently. If you need to visit a local Social Security office or card center, please make an appointment.
Before your visit to complete your application
Determine what documents you need to bring with you. They must be originals or certified copies. Learn more at www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc. htm.
Follow directions at the
kiosk when you arrive at the office. Our Mobile Check-in Express makes it easier to check in. To use Mobile Check-in Express, scan the QR code posted near the entrance and turn on your mobile notifications. We’ll alert you when we’re ready to help you.
Meet with one of our employees who will verify the information you submitted online and review your documents. We don’t need to keep them. That’s it! Whether you apply for a Social Security card online or at an office, we’ll process the application and mail a card to you, usually within 10 business days.
For more helpful information, check out our publications, Your Social Security
Number and Card, at www.ssa. gov/pubs/EN-05-10002.pdf.
Please share this informa-
tion with your friends and family – and post it on social media.
By TERRI DEE Public News Service
AARP data show more than 1 million Hoosiers have roles as family caregivers. The unpaid workers contribute about 860 million hours of work each year and are increasingly filling the roles of medical professionals. If the workers were paid around $19 an hour, their labor would be valued at more than $16.1 billion. Nationally,
the amount is more than $1 trillion.
Myechia Minter-Jordan, CEO of AARP, called family caregivers the “backbone of the nation’s long-term care system.”
“That is equal to nearly 24 million full-time workers, or roughly 17% of the entire U.S. full-time workforce,” Minter-Jordan reported. “Caregivers are stretching their finances, sacrificing their own well-being, and too often they are doing it alone.”
AARP pointed out the labor of unpaid family caregivers provides a significant public benefit by providing savings for taxpayers.
In a virtual news conference last week, Minter-Jordan stressed federal, state, and local officials need to provide more services to help family caregivers. She noted the report lays out steps lawmakers need to take to
support caregivers.
“We are advocating for bold solutions, including a national paid family and medical leave policy, greater respite services and resources, such as those now offered in several states, and state and federal legislation that can bring overdue financial relief,” Minter-Jordan outlined.
AARP highlighted resources family caregivers in Indiana
are able to access. The Family and Social Services Agency connects residents with local health care and community resources to help with aging residents, including food assistance, job training, mental health resources, public health insurance plans and more. INConnect Alliance offers support for caregivers of patients 55 and older and individuals with disabilities.
By KURT NESS Ness Bros.
These days, homeowners looking to build their forever homes are prioritizing home design choices for well after they enter retirement or even planning for the possibility of taking care of elderly parents. A good starting point is to
focus on mobility. Will I be able to climb stairs? Is there space to easily accommodate a wheelchair or walker? Or, can my elderly parents visit and comfortably navigate the space? The answers to these questions will help guide both the exterior and interior design of a new home. Common design considerations are:
• Entrances to the home that do not require steps, whether that means a low-profile front porch, garage entry or access to a back patio.
• Wider doors and short hallways throughout the home and easy flow from one living space to the next.
• Flush entry showers with grab bars, a permanent seat, and an adjustable shower head with a hand wand, as well as sinks and toilets at accessible heights.
• Kitchen counters and islands at wheelchair accessible heights and meal prep areas suitable for sitting rather than standing for long periods.
• Appliances, such as wall ovens and side-by-side washers and dryers with doors that open to the side, rather than folding down.
• Motion-activated lights, rocker panel light switches and lighted switch cover plates and outlets, all installed at a lower level.
• Lever-type door handles versus traditional knobs.
• Smart technology for front door locks, thermostats, and lighting that can be controlled from a smartphone or tablet.
• Smooth, level flooring, such as hardwood, cork or linoleum.
Other factors, such as building lot selection and design style preferences, also play a role in the practicality of incorporating aging in place features.