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Living Life After 50
Allen County edition ReAChing FoRt WAyne And SuRRounding CountieS
September 2025
Vol. 38, No. 5
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Park is passionate about
WORKING TOGETHER — Student Amber Tarrgart, left, and Eran Park work on a glass creation together. Photos by Ladasia Green.
NEXT STEP — Eran Park prepares to push molten glass into a pan of colored glass.
GATHERING MOLTEN GLASS — Artist and glass blower, Eran Park, ‘gathers’ a ball of hot glass from his furnace to make a graceful yard/garden flower.
See Story on Pg 3
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2 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ September 2025
Key Positions
Beth Squires is developing a legacy By LINDA LIPP Feature Writer Beth Squires grew up in a home where community service was the norm. Her parents, both professionals, gave their time and energy to support causes in her hometown of Wabash. “They served the community in a variety of ways. That’s just what we were taught to serve,” she recalled. Squires is director of philanthropy for The League for the Blind and Disabled. After graduating from DePauw University, with degrees in elementary education and psychology, Squires got a prized opportunity to interview for a job at Procter and Gamble. But she also had the chance to raise money for DePauw. “I thought, do I want to sell paper towels and dish soap? Or do I want to sell an educational experience I can represent?” she said. She picked the latter. “I knew I could sell feeling, and that’s what my career is all about. If I’m passionate about something, because it’s important, I gravitate to it,” she said. Many people find asking for donations is difficult. Squires doesn’t. “I don’t mind asking people to give to something I believe in and something I know will make the world a better place,” she said. Although Squires, 61, has held an unusually large number of jobs over the years, they tend to reflect common goals and themes. In her hometown of Wabash, she worked as project development manager with well-known philanthropist, Robert Ford. He spearheaded the renovation of the historic Charley Creek Inn, among
many other community projects. She also served as executive director of the Charley Creek Foundation, which advocated the use of arts and culture to spur economic development. In addition, she raised funds for the Honeywell Foundation, served as interim director of the Wabash County Historical Museum, and as foundation director for Parkview Wabash. “The work I did in Wabash changed the place. I know that. There are certain things that are going to be highlights in your life, and for me that’s one of them,” she said. Outside of Wabash, and before she joined The League in October 2024, Squires worked with the Turnstone Center, Humane Fort Wayne, Vincent Village, the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation and the Parkview Cancer Institute, among many others. All served causes important to her. What makes The League special, she said, is that it has maintained its values without suffering from what is sometimes called “mission drift.” “This is a place that has remained focused for 75 years on caring for people with disabilities and making the community better,” she said. “I believe that the community of Fort Wayne, really any place, has an obligation to make itself accessible,” she said. Squires knows not everyone can afford to donate to charity. But there are other options, such as volunteering, that she hopes people will try. “I just think we have an obligation to give time, talent and treasure to something. There are people who need help, and would love to have help,” she said. Squires has been thinking a
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DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY — Beth Squires joined The League as director of philanthropy in 2024. Photo by Linda Lipp. lot as her career has progressed about the legacy she will leave. “At the end of your life, what do you want to have accomplished? What is important to you?” she said. Family, of course, is part of
that, she said. “I have beautiful children and I have two beautiful granddaughters,” she said. “To those whom much is given, much is expected,” she added, paraphrasing the Bible verse from Luke.
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“I’ve had this fabulous life and I want to leave something behind to show that I was here and I cared for people,” she said. Squires has three grown children and two grandchildren.
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September 2025 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ 3
Park is passionate about glass blowing By ROD KING Feature Writer Nobody has more fun at their job than small businessman/artist/glassblower Eran Park. At his studio, the Glass Park, located on Fairfield Avenue at the corner of Maxine Drive in Fort Wayne, he pours himself into creating beautiful glass objects and teaching others how to make graceful flowers for yard and garden, paper weights and a wide variety of colorful items. The Fort Wayne native got his first taste of glass blowing when he moved to Grants Pass, Oregon, in 1999 just before his senior year in high school. “It was mesmerizing,” he
recalled. “I was hooked immediately.” He got a job at the Glass Forge there making Christmas tree ornaments and they are still one of the items he really enjoys teaching. Park conducts classes by appointment seven days a week. “Most of my students are here because they want to see how the magic happens. I get the ball rolling by demonstrating the process and getting them involved. On my blow pipe, I get a ball of molten glass, blow it to get an initial shape and roll it on the table in front of the furnace in a handful of colored glass,” he said. “At this point, I’ve got the students’ full attention.” Next, he puts a pan full of
By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer I suppose our lives are like blank paper with an emptiness that needs filling in. It will take a lot of years and a lot of work to get to the point of “you
Feel free to
colored glass (student’s choice) on the floor and holds the pipe with the hot glass over it a second or two to get it fully extended. Then he pushes the pipe and glowing glass firmly into the pan and presses it down so it looks like a red-hot plate on a long stick. Using sturdy tongs, he creates the flower petals, returns the creation to the furnace and repeats the process. When he’s satisfied with the shape, he lets the weight of the flower extend the glass, which he then expertly makes into a graceful stem. Then it goes into a 900-degree kiln to cure before it’s ready to brighten any garden. Park maintains a running
narrative while explaining the process that starts with dipping the blow pipe into the 2,300-degree furnace (two times hotter than molten lava) to make a “gather” of glass to work with. When not conducting a class, he enjoys making things that interest him. Surprisingly, Park says he really gets a kick out of creating marbles and paper weights. “They’re not as easy to make as one might think,” he said. “They’re a challenge because it takes special skill to take a lump of glass and turn it into a perfect marble. When they come out the way you want them it feels good, but sometimes the glass breaks. I go through several hundred
Hitting the sweet spot
have been.” But I’ve decided “I have been” about as far as I am going. Physically, it would appear, my life is surely slowing. But I find quality in my memories. Now all I need are the words.
To tell my stories properly, I’ll need adjectives, nouns, and verbs. But quantity should not be what we seek, as rabbits and mosquitoes might attest. But finding value in the works of life should really be your daily
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quest. The flower, the breeze, the sky, the trees. A chance encounter of a pleasant kind. For me I find this engages my soul, and my soul engages my mind. And I think of my own
pounds of glass each month. Colored glass, because it’s expensive, gets recycled. Unfortunately, I can’t get it here in Fort Wayne so I have to have it shipped in from all over the world. Broken clear glass goes into the trash.” Park, who set up shop in Fort Wayne 13 years ago, is passionate about his art and gets a great deal of satisfaction from helping others learn how to take a red-hot ball of glass and make it into a work of art. Many of Parks’ creations are on display in the Paradigm Gallery at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. For information about classes, hours and prices, call (260) 579-7530 or check out his Facebook page at Glass Park.
blank slate. That is pretty much all filled in, But there is always a hint of a smile. When I think of the long, strange trip it’s been.
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4 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ September 2025
The ghosts of World War II By LINDA LIPP Feature Writer
rumors and other misdirections to fool the German Army about the Allied troops’ movements in Europe. But for 50 years after the war ended, their missions were classified top secret. No one knew what they had done. An exhibit, “The Ghost Army, the Combat Con Artists of WWII,” was created at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. It tells their story in photos, drawings, military flags, uniforms and insignia. The road show version now on
An exhibit about a secret unit of World War II soldiers may seem an odd choice for the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. But it was the artistic talent of those soldiers, including Fort Wayne native Bill Blass, which made their exploits possible. The so-called Ghost Army, really the 603rd camouflage engineer battalion, used inflatable tanks, deceptive radio transmissions, carefully-planted
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www.seniorlifenewspapers.com Senior Life newspapers are monthly publications dedicated to inform, serve and entertain the adults over 50 in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Each of the four editions focus on local news, features, photos and profiles for each area. Senior Life is privately owned and published by The Papers Incorporated. CORPORATE OFFICE 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 Betty Foster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . slallen@the-papers.com • 260-494-9321 Jerry Long, Circulation Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jlong@the-papers.com EDITORIAL DEADLINES Elkhart/Kosciusko Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15th Month Prior St. Joseph Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15th Month Prior Allen Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th Month Prior Northwest Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th Month Prior SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $37 for one year; and $64 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 Betty Foster at 260-494-9321 or slallen@the-papers.com. PRODUCTION Senior Life is digitally composed on Macintosh Computers using Digital Technology’s Newspaper Publishing Suite software and Photoshop software. Submit ads as .tif, .eps or .pdf files. ASCII (generic text) may be submitted via email or on CD/DVD. Check our website at www.the-papers.com for guidelines on preparing ads electronically. Graphics for ads can be emailed as PDF files to adcomp@the-papers.com. If you have any questions, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it. REPRINT RIGHTS Reprinting in part or whole of any article in Senior Life is not allowed without express written permission from Senior Life.
display here has been enhanced with items specific to Bill Blass. “Literally the reason the exhibit came here was the Bill Blass connection,” said Brian Williams, curator and technical director. “This is not a show a typical art museum would do. But we’re not a typical art museum.” Blass, who went on to become a world famous fashion designer, was the son of a dressmaker and a salesman, who died when Blass was just 3 years old. He learned about fabrics and garment making from his mother. A talented artist, he was sketching his own designs as a teen and selling them to fashion connections in New York City for $25 a pop — a lot of money in the 1930s. Blass graduated from South Side High School in 1940 and headed straight to New York City to make a name for himself. He was barely in his 20s when his career was interrupted by WWII. He entered the Army in 1943, part of a special deceptions unit the Army was creating. The Army recruited other artists as well, along with Broadway set designers and others with creative skills. ”The army … knew they needed people with a specialized eye and talent to be able to do the kinds of things this unit needed to do, “ Williamson said. Americans had seen British troops in North Africa using inflatables as decoys. They thought it was an idea they could use, and “of course as
AN INFLATABLE — Inflatable tanks, like this one, were used to fool the enemy from a distance, but obviously fake close up. Photo by Linda Lipp. Americans, we’d do things better,” Williamson said. The military scenarios the Ghost Army faked were convincing down to the last details of sight and sound. They even recorded and replayed the sounds of tanks advancing, bridges and roads being built and foxholes being dug. “It was play acting. You had to be very creative at it too. It couldn’t just be static. You had to have all the dimensions of it,” Williamson said. Some of the illusions used were hundreds of inflatable tanks — good enough to fool the enemy from a distance, but obviously fake close up. A reproduction of one tank is part of the exhibit. The originals were destroyed after the war to maintain secrecy. Creating such elaborate
illusions was a big job, and they did it quickly and under cover of darkness. “They arrived one night and disappeared the next, like ghosts,” Williamson said. After a stellar career as a designer, art collector and philanthropist, Blass died of cancer in 2002. A book by Elizabeth Sayles and Rick Beyer, “The Ghost Army of WWII,” and a PBS documentary also have chronicled the story. The unit’s work is believed to have saved thousands of soldiers’ lives. In 2024, the U.S. finally awarded the Ghost Army the Congressional Gold Medal. The Ghost Army exhibit is open at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art through Oct. 26. For more information on hours and ticket prices, visit fwmoa.org.
Aging and In-Home Services receives Alzheimer’s Association grant Aging and In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana has been awarded $125,000 from the Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation to enhance the quality and availability of dementia-specific respite care for people living with dementia and their caregivers in northeast Indiana. AIHS is one of only 41 recipients chosen to receive grant funding from more than 200 applicants across the country. The funds will be used to provide person-centered respite services to people living with dementia and their caregivers at select County Councils on Aging, including memory enhancing activities, socialization and education. Monthly caregiver navigation services will be available. The program will launch in Steuben and Whitley counties, two of the top three rural counties identified as having the greatest need in August. Caregivers interested in learning more about dementia-specific respite care can contact Project Manager Denise Hughes, RN, BSN, at (260) 600-0844 or Dhughes@agingihs.org. “AIHS gratefully acknowledges the recognition to be included in this program,” said President and CEO Beth Evans, MHA. “For
the past four years, AIHS has implemented an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Programs Initiative grant serving PLWD and their caregivers, which identified 40% of participants residing in rural areas. We look forward to this expansion and enhancement of our rural respite program to meet that identified need.” In conjunction with the grant, AIHS will also receive online training and ongoing technical assistance from the CDRI to ensure respite services are dementia-capable and to support sustainability. The CDRI will also collect data and evaluate the impact of these innovative projects from all grant recipients to inform public policy. “We congratulate Aging and In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana on its grant and look forward to working with its team to help enhance respite care services for local dementia caregivers,” said Sam Fazio, Ph.D., vice president care and support programs and research, Alzheimer’s Association. “We intend to gain insights from each respite program we fund, ultimately developing a catalog of programs, tools and resources that will be easily accessible to interested caregivers and care providers.” The Alzheimer’s Association
created the CDRI in 2024 after receiving a $25 million grant from the Administration for Community Living, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Over the next four years, the CDRI will provide $25 million in grant funding to local respite providers and organizations to enhance the quality and availability of respite care nationwide. Visit alz.org/cdri to see the full list of this year’s grant recipients. There are more than 11 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S. providing care for people living with dementia and 219,000 across Indiana alone. Many struggle with stress, exhaustion and burnout, yet access to respite care remains limited, especially throughout rural counties. This program aims to bridge that gap by offering caregivers flexible, compassionate care solutions so they can take a break. This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living , U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a financial assistance award totaling $13,261,685 with 75 percent funded by ACL/HHS and $3,285,728 with 25 percent funded by non-government source(s).
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September 2025 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ 5
SPOTLIGHT
ON 2025 SENIOR INFORMATION FAIR The Senior Information Fair marks its 26th year of providing seniors, their families, and caregivers with access to professionals in senior-related services at one location. The fair is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 18, beginning at 9 a.m. at Turnstone Plassman Athletic Center, 3320 N. Clinton St. in Fort Wayne. Senior Information Fair strives to help seniors enrich their lives by providing an event for them to gather information and resources which enables and empowers them to live healthy and safe lives as they age. The Senior Information Fair began in 1999 as a City of Fort Wayne committee under Mayor Paul Helmke. The event was first held at the Fort Wayne Community Center, relocated to the Allen County Public Library in 2008, and has been held at Turnstone since 2022. A variety of health screenings will be available,
including mammograms, diabetes/glucose testing, comprehensive hearing screening, blood pressure measurement, oxygen saturation checks, a Dexa scan for osteoporosis, and stroke risk assessment. Vaccines provided by a local pharmacy include flu, shingles, and pneumonia for seniors or anyone aged 18 years or older. Please bring your insurance card. There will be two presentations on relevant topics during the morning and afternoon sessions. Each speaker will provide seniors with information about recent changes and updates that may affect them. Charles Backs, an attorney at Barnes & Thornburg, is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. on planning for future medical care and asset preservation. Todd Hunnicutt from Aging & In Home Services will present at 12:45 p.m. on community support for caregivers and
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available resources. Both sessions will allow time for attendees to ask questions and receive factual answers. The Senior Information Fair is held annually to provide information for seniors, their families, caregivers, and individuals seeking services such as in-home care, legal assistance, relocation, senior residential communities, leisure activities, or retirement planning. More than 100 vendors will be present to offer details and respond to inquiries. Complimentary parking is available on-site at any of the three designated lots at Turnstone. Additional overflow parking can be found at Glenbrook Mall near Coldwater Road, with a CTN shuttle service providing transportation to and from Turnstone for visitors. For those utilizing public transit, a Citilink bus stop is conveniently situated at the entrance on Clinton Street.
JOHNNY TINCAP RECEIVES A WARM WELCOME FROM A VENDOR AT THE 2024 SENIOR INFORMATION FAIR Free lunch for visitors starts at 11:30 a.m., while supplies last. Enjoy live music from Joe Justice, playing classics from the 60s to 80s. Johnny TinCap and the 3 Rivers Therapy dogs will also attend.
Plan now to attend Senior Information Fair on Thursday, Sept. 18 at Turnstone. For more information visit www. seniorfair.info or call (260) 209-4173. Advertorial
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Thursday, September 18th Plassman Turnstone Plassman Turnstone AthleticAthletic Center Center
3320 N. Clinton Street, Fort Wayne 3320 N. Clinton Street,Street, Fort Wayne 3320 N. Clinton Fort Wayne
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ENTERTAINMENT
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9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Planning for Future Medical Care and Preserving Your Assets
ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT HEALTH SCREENINGS
Mammography Francine’s Friends Mobile Mamm Otoscopic Ear Exam Blood Pressure & Glucose Hearing Aids Plus Lutheran Health Network FAMILY FUN THERAPY DOGS LIVEMUSIC MUSIC FAMILY FUN THERAPY DOGS LIVE Stroke Risk Assessment DEXA Scan & Blood Pressure Parkview Health Neurosciences IU Health Fort WayneFAMILY Joe Justice Johnny Three Rivers FUN THERAPY DOGS LIVE MUSIC Joe Justice Johnny Three Rivers FAMILY FUN THERAPY DOGS LIVE MUSIC Therapeutic Hand Massages TinCap Dogs Diabetes/Glucose & Blood Pressure Visiting TinCap Visiting Dogs Paradigm Health JoeJoe Justice Johnny Rivers Parkview Diabetes Treatment Center & Three Justice Johnny Three Rivers Vaccine Clinic (Flu, Shingles, P TinCap Visiting Dogs TinCap Students Visiting Dogs University of Saint Francis Nursing Walgreens Hearing Screen Vital Signs Screening Beltone Hearing Aids & GiveHear Supreme Home Care Services Balance/Stability Training Turnstone
SiF enables, empowers and promotes seniors to live healthy and safe lives! SiF empowers andand promotes seniors to liveto healthy and safeand lives! SiFenables, enables, empowers promotes seniors live healthy safe lives! Planning for FutureMedical MedicalCare Care Planning for Future and Preserving Assets 10:00 a.m. -Your 11:00 and Preserving Your Assets 10:00 a.m. -a.m. 11:00 a.m.
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OVER 100 VENDORS & EXHIBITS
Community Support Support Community for Caregivers Caregivers 12:45 p.m. -p.m. 1:45- p.m. for 12:45 1:45 p.m.
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SiF is a FREE event open to the public
SiF is a FREE event open to the public OVER 100 OVER VENDORS & EXHIBITS HEALTH SCREENINGS SiF is a FREE event open to the public 100 VENDORS & EXHIBITS HEALTH SCREENINGS HEALTH SCREENINGS Mammography Balance/Stability Training HEALTH FREE Parking for Visitors & Attendees SCREENINGS FREE Parking for Visitors & Attendees HEALTH SCREENINGS Mammography Balance/Stability Training FEATURED SPEAKERS Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography Turnstone FEATURED SPEAKERS Available in Turnstone Parking Lots Available in Turnstone Parking Lots FREE Parking for Visitors & Attendees Mammography Balance/Stability Training Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography Turnstone Otoscopic Ear Exam Blood Pressure & Glucose Mammography Balance/Stability Training TURNSTONE TOURS FEATURED SPEAKERS Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography Turnstone & at the Glenbrook Mall TURNSTONE TOURS Hearing AidsEar Plus Otoscopic Exam Health Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography Turnstone Blood Pressure &Network Glucose Available in Turnstone Parking Lots &Lutheran atParking the Glenbrook Mall FREE for Visitors & Attendees VALUABLE RESOURCES, Otoscopic Ear Exam Blood Pressure & Glucose Stroke Risk Assessment Hearing Aids Plus Otoscopic Ear Exam Lutheran Health Network DEXA & Blood Pressure BloodScan Pressure & Glucose TURNSTONE TOURS Hearing Aids Plus VALUABLE RESOURCES, Lutheran Health Network Parkview Health Neurosciences INFORMATION & EDUCATIONAL & Available at the Mall Stroke Risk Assessment Hearing Aids PlusAssessment RIDE A CITILINK BUS IULutheran HealthGlenbrook Fort Wayne inNetwork Turnstone Parking Lots Health Stroke Risk DEXA Scan & Scan Blood Pressure Therapeutic Hand Massages DEXA & Blood Pressure Parkview Health Neurosciences MATERIALS Stroke Risk Assessment to the Turnstone bus stop! VALUABLE RESOURCES, & Blood Pressure Parkview Health Neurosciences IUDiabetes/Glucose Health Fort Wayne INFORMATION & EDUCATIONAL DEXAIUScan & Blood Pressure Paradigm Health Health Fort Wayne RIDE Aat CITILINK BUS Parkview Health Neurosciences & the Glenbrook Mall Therapeutic Hand Massages Parkview Diabetes Treatment Center & Therapeutic Hand Massages FREE LUNCH (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST) IU Health Fort Wayne Vaccine Clinic (Flu, Shingles, Pneumonia) Bring your Citilink Day Pass to the SiF booth and Diabetes/Glucose & Blood Pressure Diabetes/Glucose Blood Pressure Therapeutic Hand Paradigm Health University of Saint Francis&Nursing Students INFORMATION Paradigm HealthMassages MATERIALS& EDUCATIONAL toParkview the bus stop! Walgreens RIDE ATurnstone CITILINK BUS LIVE MUSIC receive another Day Pass to use at a later time! Diabetes/Glucose & Blood Pressure Parkview Diabetes Treatment Center & Diabetes Treatment Center & Paradigm Health Vaccine Clinic (Flu, Shingles, Pneumonia)
HEALTH SCREENINGS SiF is a FREE event open to the public OVER 100 VENDORS & EXHIBITS HEALTH SCREENINGS OVERFLOW PARKING AVAILABLE HEALTH SCREENINGS Overflow parking will be available at the Gle FEATURED SPEAKERS Enter at the traffic light on Coldwater or off TURNSTONE TOURS Use parking lot north of McMahon Tire of event and a CTN shuttle will transport VALUABLE RESOURCES, Vaccine Clinic (Flu, Shingles, Pneumonia) Hearing Screen of Saint Francis Nursing Students Vital Signs Screening University Parkview Diabetes Treatment Center & University of Saint Francis Nursing Students Walgreens SUPPLIES LAST) MATERIALS Vaccine ClinicCare (Flu,Services Shingles, Pneumonia) to theBeltone Turnstone bus stop! FREE LUNCH (WHILE Walgreens Hearing Aids & GiveHear Supreme Home University of Saint Francis Students INFORMATION & EDUCATIONAL Bring yourHearing Citilink Day Pass toNursing the SiF booth and Hearing Screen Vital Signs Screening Screen Walgreens RIDE A CITILINK BUS Vital Signs Screening Beltone Hearing Aids & GiveHear Hearing Screen Home Care Services FREE LUNCH Beltone Hearing Aids & GiveHear LIVE MUSIC(WHILE SUPPLIES LAST) another Day Pass to a laterand time! VitalSupreme Signs Screening Supreme Home Care Services Bringreceive your Citilink Day Pass to theuse SiFatbooth MATERIALS Beltone HearingTurnstone Aids & GiveHear to the bus stop! Supreme Home Care Services THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! LIVE MUSIC receive another Day Pass to use at a later time! www.se LUNCH MEDIA FREE GOLD LUNCH (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST) OVERFLOW PARKING Bring your Citilink Day Pass to the SiF booth AVAILABLE and OVERFLOW PARKING AVAILABLE LIVE MUSIC Overflow parking be available at the Glenbrook Mall off Coldwater Road. receive another Day Pass to use atPARKING awilllater time! OVERFLOW AVAILABLE SPECIALTY PRINT PARTNER
OVERFLOW PARKING AVAILABLE THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!Overflow parking will be available at the Glenbrook Mall off Coldwater Road. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Enter at the traffic light on Coldwater or off Fernhill Ave. near McMahon Tire. LUNCH MEDIA GOLD
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EnterOverflow at the traffic lightwill onbe Coldwater Ave.Mall near parking availableor atoff theFernhill Glenbrook offMcMahon ColdwaterTire. Road. Enter at the traffic light on Coldwater or off Fernhill Ave. near McMahon Tire. Overflow parking will be at Tire the Glenbrook Mall offwill Coldwater Road. Use parking lot north ofavailable McMahon - parking signs be posted day SPECIALTY Enter at and the traffic light on Coldwater or off Fernhill Ave.signs nearTurnstone. McMahon Tire.day of event a CTN shuttle transport you to and from Use parking lot north ofwill McMahon Tire - parking will be posted PRINT of event and a CTN shuttle will transport you to and from Turnstone. PARTNER SPECIALTY Use parking signs signswill willbe beposted postedday day MEDIA Useparking parkinglot lotnorth northof ofMcMahon McMahon Tire Tire -- parking PRINT ofofevent and a CTN you to to and andfrom fromTurnstone. Turnstone. event and a CTNshuttle shuttle will will transport transport you PARTNER
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6 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ September 2025
Sports
Cardio drumming — a combination of exercise and rhythm with music By ROD KING Feature Writer Cardio drumming, at least for residents of Georgetowne Place, is more than just taking out their aggressions on a 3-foot-diameter-vinyl ball with drum sticks. It’s actually a serious upper-body workout. According to Pamela Dorn, life enrichment assistant at the facility and leader of the activity, “it helps keep participants heart healthy by increasing the pumping rate to get more oxygen throughout the body and exercises the arms, chest, shoulders and neck. I design my workouts to include all those things by having them reach and stretch and bend. Stretching is a major part of our workouts. “Of course, there’s a social element to cardio drumming,” she added. “The women tease and talk back and forth about keeping the beat. Only one man has joined the drummers since we began offering this activity about a year ago,” she added. After stretching, working the shoulders back and forth, moving their heads from side to side interspersed with deep breathing, Dorn goes into her library of music and opens the session with “Tequila” followed by Chubby Checker’s “Twist.” “I like to play well-known music that the residents are familiar with, like ‘Splish
Splash I was Taking a Bath,’ ‘Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,’ ‘When the Saints go Marching In’ and ‘Under the Boardwalk.’ All of these songs have a good solid beat, that is easy to drum to. When I play the Saints, I also have them march in place,” Dorn added. The half-hour-long drumming sessions are conducted once a week and generally draw between seven and 15 participants. Many of those who attend are confined to wheelchairs or motorized scooters. The drumming is conducted in a sitting position with the ball balanced in front of the drummers on a plastic laundry basket so it won’t go rolling off across the room. Each ball has lines of nubs to hold the ball in place while it’s being beaten. “We limit the sessions to just a half-hour in order to not put too much stress on anyone’s heart or causing them to become overtired. I learned about cardio drumming when I was at another senior facility,” said Dorn, “and initiated it at Georgetowne when I joined the staff here. I’m from a musical family and really enjoy adding music to the drumming.” Linda Knopf has been drumming since the activity was introduced at Georgetowne Place, Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne native and graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School said she participates
DRUMMING AWAY — A group of cardio drummers pound out the beat on their vinyl balls to the sound of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Along the way they also do stretching and deep breathing exercises. Doing cardio drumming from left are Linda Knopf, Judie Gary and Mary Exner. Photo by Rod King. because the exercise seems to help her arthritic left shoulder. She likes music and during her 32 years of teaching elementary school students, utilized it and the rhythm in her classes. “I participate mostly for the exercise, but I enjoy the social aspect of the activity, It’s really a lot of fun,” she added.
Studies show 14 benefits of cardio drumming. First is physical fitness followed by stress reduction, improvement of coordination, motor skills, agility and hand-eye coordination and brain health. In addition, they show that it’s a great emotional expression, it boosts the body’s immune system and the rhythmic vibrations of the
drumming releases endorphins that can reduce pain. Cardio drumming helps improve focus and concentration, builds confidence and a broad sense of accomplishment, allows for better sleep, increases creativity, contributes to problem solving, establishes a sense of purpose, and helps individuals focus on other tasks.
Re-designed Packard Park opens The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department officially opened the redesigned Packard Park recently with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker, Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel, Fifth District Councilman Geoff Paddock, Parks’ Deputy Director of Planning and Landscape Chad Shaw and president of “Comfort Keepers was an invaluable asset in my toolbox regarding my mother’s home healthcare requirements. I was able to go to work and concentrate on other aspects of my mother’s healthcare needs. It gave me a “peace of mind” feeling on a daily basis knowing that their qualified staff would handle things at mom’s house and keep me updated. Comfort Keepers is a local outstanding healthcare organization; I would recommend them for any in-home healthcare needs” Robert G.R. Son of client, Fort Wayne
the Packard Area Planning Alliance, Holly Munoz, spoke about the passion that fueled the efforts and the excitement to see it develop. “My heart continues to be with our neighborhoods. Our wonderful parks provide the public with opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and the many quality of life amenities we have to offer,” said Tuck“Comfort Keepers is an outstanding healthcare organization in Fort Wayne and surrounding areas. Their professional staff worked with my son to set up a well-balanced healthcare 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
er. “Seeing the renovation of Packard Park is a strong indicator of our commitment to doing all we can to make Fort Wayne the best community possible for residents and visitors.” “Directing ARPA and INN funding to the Packard Park redesign is an opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting impact on this neighborhood,” said 5th District Councilman Geoff Paddock. “This investment strengthens community pride, supports families and helps ensure this park contin-
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ues to be a place of connection and opportunity for years to come.” “The completion of the Packard Park redesign marks a proud moment for Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and the surrounding neighborhoods. After years of thoughtful planning and robust public input, we’re excited to see this space fully come to life,” observed Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel. “This $1.9 million investment — made possible through public and private funding — reflects a true community effort. We’re grateful for the City’s on-going support and for our engaged residents who helped make this transformation possible.” “It’s been a pleasure to work with the neighborhood steering committee to guide the design and priorities of the Packard Park redesign,” noted Parks’ Deputy Director of Planning and Landscape Chad Shaw. “Today the vision is a beautiful reality.” The park transformation includes: • Two new playgrounds; one for pre-school and one for elementary school age kids
with safety surfacing. • An event lawn and event plaza. • Significant landscaping improvements, including planting shade and ornamental trees. • A 1/8-mile perimeter walking path and new pedestrian connections to the neighborhood. The park retains: • Existing covered, open-air pavilion and restrooms. • Beasley Outdoor Futsal Courts installed in 2018. “It’s exciting to see the results after years of planning and discussion,” said Packard Area Planning Alliance President Holly Munoz. “From new playgrounds and an event lawn to walking paths and enhanced landscaping, every element was shaped by the Fort Wayne Parks planning division in conjunction with neighborhood voices.” The Packard Area Planning Alliance and the Fort Wayne Department of Neighborhoods will host an official celebration for the park Saturday, Oct. 4, with support from the Foellinger Foundation. Additional details will be shared as the date approaches.
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September 2025 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ 7
Elder Law
RURAL RESPITE PROGRAM
Q. How sick do I need to be to qualify for Medicaid Waiver? A. If you are considering Medicaid
Q. My spouse has dementia and we live in a rural area. Where can I go to get help? A. Indiana is home to more than 121,000
people living with dementia, many without a medical diagnosis and living in rural communities with limited access to supportive services. AIHS has been selected as one of only 41 recipients of funding from the Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI). The funding will be used to launch the Rural Respite Program, which will provide person-centered respite services to people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers at select County Councils on Aging including memory enhancing activities, socialization and education. Monthly caregiver navigation services will also be available during scheduled respite hours.
Denise Hughes Program Manager
The program will launch in Steuben and Whitley counties, two of the top three rural counties identified as having the greatest need in August 2025. Caregivers interested in learning more about dementia-specific respite care can contact Project Manager Denise Hughes, RN, BSN, at 260-600-0844 or DHughes@agingihs.org.
benefits in Indiana, in addition to financial requirements, there are also health-related requirements. The technical term for the health requirement is that you meet Nursing Facility Level of Care or, in other words, have a substantial medical condition. Often whether a substantial medical condition arises to the level that one qualifies for Nursing Facility Level of Care centers arounds one’s ability to handle their own Activities of Daily Living(“ADLs”). The key question with ADLs is not whether you can complete these tasks, but whether you can do them independently and safely. There are six categories of ADLs: bathing, personal hygiene, dressing, mobility,
Heidi B. Adair Attorney at Law
toileting and feeding. If you struggle with three or more of these areas, you may qualify for Medicaid assistance. Before starting down the Medicaid Waiver path, it is good to consult with an elder law attorney who can talk you through not only the health assessment piece but also the financial requirements and timelines associated with qualifying for Medicaid waiver.
The Rural Respite Program is a free service provided by AIHS in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association CDRI and the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Respite sessions will occur weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays 12:00-3:30pm.
Suite 1100 110 West Berry Street Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802 Telephone (260) 426-9706 DISCLAIMER: Heidi B. Adair 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. Heidi B. Adair 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. Heidi B. Adair 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.
8101 W. Jefferson Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804 www.agingihs.org | 260.745.1200
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Q. Where are Senior Life Newspapers A. Wanting to downsize from your home to a retirement community can be an overwhelming distributed? experience. Many times people want to move, but Tim McCulloch, Owner end up not doing so because of the many things A. Each Senior Life Newspaper is disitems for fair market value, selling your antiques that must be done. A few comments that I have heard over the years include: 1) I have to spend money to fix up my home before I sell it. 2) My attic and basement are full of stuff; I will have to have a garage sale. 3) I have to pack and move all of my belongings. Looking at this list of concerns would cause anyone to just say “Forget It!” This is where we can help! Our services include selling your home as-is in 30 days for your price, selling your unwanted
& collectible items, knowledgeable antique & real estate appraisal services, professional packing & moving services, climate controlled storage & more. Our firm is highly recommended by many of the leading retirement communities in the Allen County area due to client satisfaction. If you are thinking about making the transition to retirement living, call me at (260) 441-8636. My free analysis will give you the information you will need to make a better decision for yourself! Sincerely, Timothy McCulloch Call Us For An Estimate Today
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tributed to over 300 locations each month and is free for public pickup and supported by advertisers. Locations for distribution are chosen with the 50+ aged person in mind and include grocery stores, libraries, senior centers, restaurants, senior communities, banks, gas stations, apartment complexes, doctor offices, drug stores, farmer’s markets, resale locations, churches, convenient stores, and retail stores. There are four distinct issues of Senior Life Newspaper including: • Allen — including Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, Noble, Wells and Whitley counties
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Account Executive • Elko — including Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble and Wabash counties in IN and St. Joseph county in MI • Northwest — including Lake, Porter counties in IN and Cook county in IL • St. Joseph — including LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties in IN and Berrien and Cass counties in MI Call today for more information on how we can help your business reach the Senior Life loyal audience. Serving Fort Wayne and Surrounding Counties 260-494-9321 slallen@the-papers.com
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8 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ September 2025
UPDATES & HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA 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— Salomon Farmers’ Market, 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays and continuing each Wednesday until Sept. 3, at Salomon Farm Park, 817 W. Dupont Road, Fort Wayne. Find fresh produce, baked goods, honey and artisan crafts at this mid-week market. Stop by and say hello to the newest members of the herd — Lucky and London, the Valais blacknose sheep, or Mickie and Frankie, the Highland Coos, as well as the goats, a miniature horse and more. —o— The History Center presents Miami Indian Heritage Days Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Chief Richardville House, 5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne. Learn about the lasting heritage of the Miami and other regional Native American groups. Local artists, performers and presenters will be featured the first Saturday of the month, May to November, from 1-4 p.m. Doug Peconge will present Lacrosse and Other Miami Games Sept. 6. 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 this National Historic Landmark.
Admission for each Saturday event is $9 for adults and $7 for youth and seniors. History Center members and children age 2 and under are free. —o— Historic Swinney Homestead Open House will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7, at the 1844 Historic Swinney House and the 1849 Log House, 1424 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne and is free. Settler members will share history of the house and the Swinney family. Visit settlersinc.org. —o— Costumed artisans will demonstrate historic hand arts, crafts and pioneer era music in Settlers’ Pioneer Village at the Johnny Appleseed Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, and Sunday, Sept. 21, at Johnny Appleseed/Archer Park, 1502 Harry W. Baals Drive, Fort Wayne. Free but a charge for parking; free shuttle bus from Purdue-Fort Wayne lot. Visit settlersinc.org. —o— The Huntington County Community High School Class of 1967 is having its second annual luncheon from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the American Legion Post 85, 1410 S. Jefferson St., Huntington. Reservations: $15 per person. Send to: Diana West, 4124 Westbury Drive, Fort Wayne, or email her at dkfrance2002@ yahoo.com. —o— Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control is excited to partner with Epic Racing Events to host “Paws and Run” 5K Saturday, Oct. 4, at Buckner Park.
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Funds raised through this event will support FWACC’s Angel Fund, which provides lifesaving care to animals with advanced medical needs. Courses include a 5K on paved path and fun run with blowup costumes. Pets welcome. Registration is $35 for 5K Race and $25 for fun run. Bring out your favorite blowup costume and participate in an obstacle course. For more information, call (260) 427-5508. —o— Howl-O-Walkoween will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Promenade Park Pavilion. Learn more at fwacc.org. —o— 10th Annual Holiday Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the American Legion No. 241 Auxiliary, 7605 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne. Tables $15, electricity, $5 For reservations, call Vicki at (260) 7508021, Jean at (260) 438-4386 or the Legion at (260) 747-7851. Proceeds go to veterans and families and local charities. Come and enjoy. Public welcome. —o— “…Something Blue” until Nov. 16, public hours, at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. Something old, something new, something borrowed… and Something Blue! Bask in the romance of summer and autumn at the Botanical Conservatory where dramatic plantings, a grand fountain and enchanting scenes await “nearlyweds” bustling for “something blue.” This formal landscape is a lovely backdrop
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9 a.m. Wednesday, pixie bingo. 9-10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, line dancing. 9 a.m. Tuesday and Friday, 12:30 p.m. Thursday, euchre. 9 a.m. Tuesday, Bible study with Cheryl. 9 a.m. Thursday, craft and chat 10-11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, chair exercise. Noon Tuesday, dominoes. 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, hand and foot card game. 1 p.m. Tuesday, Bible study with Bob. —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.
Honor Flight Northeast Indiana Apartment is celebrating Living flight No. 52
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for heartfelt memories, old or new, this year. Sponsored by the Fort Wayne Park Foundation, English Bonter Mitchell Foundation and Majic 95.1. —o— Joni Walker: Nature Walk/A Collection of Watercolor Paintings until Nov. 16, public hours, at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. She began to draw as soon as she could hold a pencil. A lifelong resident of rural Indiana, she immersed herself in the beauty of the outdoors, spending countless hours sketching, coloring and letting her imagination roam free. Today, the birds and blossoms that live and bloom in her backyard inspire her watercolor paintings. “Painting has led me to create habitats that attract birds, butterflies, bees and other creatures,” said the Columbia City artist. “I love knowing that my paintings might be the only chance someone may have to see a nuthatch or warbler up close or the detail in the petals of a flower.” She also works as a children’s author/ illustrator and professional photographer. She was selected as an Indiana Artisan in 2023. —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.
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Honor Flight Northeast Indiana will celebrate its 52nd flight to Washington D.C., Wednesday, Sept. 10. The Walorski Family Foundation is honored to help sponsor this Honor Flight in her memory and to carry on her legacy. The late U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski always had a heart for veterans. She met every Honor Flight member that she could when she was in Washington, D.C. Whenever she met a veteran, she would always say, “thank you for your service,” followed by “we are a grateful nation.” Honor Flight Northeast Indiana has safely transported 3,901 veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built to honor their service and sacrifice for this country. There are 85 veterans confirmed to go on this flight — WWII, two veterans; Korean War, four veterans; Cold War, 13 veterans; Vietnam War, 66 veterans; Desert Shield/ Desert Storm, five veterans; and Iraqi Freedom, one veteran. Among the honored veterans on this flight, one has been awarded two Purple Hearts, and another has received two
Bronze Stars. HFNI President Cathy Berkshire stated, “Honor Flight Northeast Indiana is very grateful for receiving partial funding from the Walorski Family Foundation in memory of Jackie Walorski for this Honor Flight. Jackie worked tirelessly to make sure all the veterans in northern Indiana were taken care of through the VA Administration and many other veteran organizations. We look forward to continuing to serve our veterans with their Honor Flight as we prepare to fly three missions this fall, taking our veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials built in their honor.” Berkshire continued, “We encourage everyone to attend the welcome home celebration to honor these heroes when they return home from Washington, D.C. Please plan to arrive at the Fort Wayne International Airport by 8:30 p.m. and park in long-term parking.” Honor Flight NE Indiana, Inc. is a volunteer-run, nonprofit, organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
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September 2025 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ 9
Dining/Leisure/Entertainment
Travel planning becomes perilous By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Con artists and crooks create stumbling blocks in the path of worry-free travel and tourism. Scam artists have come up with more realistic schemes designed to pick your pockets before you even hit the road. Part of the problem is the ease with which travel plans can be made on line. It’s difficult to tell if a travel-agency website is legitimate or lying in wait for victims. High on the list of ravel traps are websites claiming to be able to help you — for a fee —
renew or enroll in the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, pre-check program or the Customs and Border Patrol’s global entry system that speed you through airport security. If this topic interests you, initiate your own approach and go directly to the official website tsa.gov. Mail boxes, both traditional and electronic, are being flooded with exotic and enticing offers that sound too good to be true. And more pour into your life on your phone. The old saw is still the voice of wisdom: If it sounds too
A cappella group returns for ‘Holiday Road’ tour Straight No Chaser will be at the Embassy Theatre with its Holiday Road Tour Friday, Dec. 12. RIAA-certified gold and holiday favorites a cappella group, Straight No Chaser, are back for another festive fall. Straight No Chaser will be sharing the joy, “dad jokes” and songs of the season with families around the country starting in October. The Holiday Road Tour, a nod to the theme song of cult classic film “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” kicks off in Findlay, Ohio, Oct. 17, with dates running all the way through New Year’s Eve. The tour will coincide with the release of “Holiday Road,” Straight No Chaser’s first full-length collection of holiday songs since 2020’s “Social Christmasing.” The group will reveal more details, including the full track listing, in the upcoming months. “For Straight No Chaser, it absolutely is the most wonderful time of the year,” said group member, Walter Chase. “This year, we poured our hearts
Chili fly in, drive-in lunch Oct. 11 A chili fly-in and drive-in lunch will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Smith Field Airport, Hangar 2, 426 W. Ludwig Road, Fort Wayne. This annual fly-in/drive-in chili lunch attracts a wide variety of aircraft, classic and collectible cars and the public. Chili, drinks and dessert are served by EAA chapter 2 members in the historic Hangar 2 on the southeast corner of Smith Field Airport, 426 W. Ludwig Road, Fort Wayne. Admission is free. Lunch donations will be accepted for youth aviation programs. Collector and classic cars to show will receive a dash plaque; supplies limited. EAA Chapter 2 is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
into our latest album, ‘Holiday Road.’ I am so excited to see which songs will be our audience’s favorites. If you come to our show, you can expect to laugh, sing and be fully prepared to ring in the holidays. We can’t wait to see you on the Holiday Road Tour.” Tickets cost between $49.50 and $107.50 and can be purchased at fwembassytheatre. org, ticketmaster.com and the STAR Bank box office at the Embassy, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne.
good to be true, it probably is. Those offers of several nights in a luxurious beachfront hotel with free airfare for a couple of hundred bucks falls into this category. An additional sign that this is a scam is any request that payment be made with a gift card. You’ll be making a gift to the crook who just got your money
Bogus rental-car companies and vacation rentals are appearing more frequently as business traffic increases online. Fake customer-service sites are being tucked into cyberspace so you have to double check to make certain you’re communicating with the legitimate contact for a legitimate company.
When you do get out on the road, avoid connecting your laptop or mobile phone into any Wi-Fi source, because hackers around the world sit and wait for the unwary so they can plunder your personal information and clean out your bank or credit-card accounts.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2025
Dolly Parton’s ‘Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol’ Right Angle Entertainment and Paul T. Couch announces the 2025 national tour of Dolly Parton’s “Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol.” This a heartwarming musical, featuring songs by 11-time Grammy winner, Dolly Parton, is based on a book by David H. Bell, adapted for the stage by Bell, Couch, and Curt Wollan. The U.S. tour kicks off Nov. 15, in Owensboro, Ky., before heading to more than 20 cities including Fort Wayne’s Embassy Theatre, for one night only, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8. “I’m thrilled to see my ‘Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol’ hitting the road and spreading holiday cheer from city to city. I poured my heart into the music, and I truly hope folks everywhere feel the love, the laughter, and the magic of my beautiful Smoky Mountains that we’ve packed into every
scene,” said Parton. “There’s nothing like music and the holidays to bring friends and family together.” Set in the 1930s in the Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee, this production and cast imagines Ebenezer Scrooge as the owner of a mining company town, where his callous greed blinds him to the joys and gifts of the season. As a Christmas Eve snowstorm approaches, Scrooge is visited by his deceased business partner and three ghosts who compel him to see life anew and discover that love is the greatest gift to have. The legendary holiday tale, rewritten as a new American classic, features Dickens’ classic characters and Parton’s oneof-a-kind songwriting expertise, making this a holiday event you’ll want to share with those you love. Throughout her illustrious
career, the American singer, songwriter, multi-intrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman and humanitarian, has been an ambassador for the Great Smoky Mountains, where she was born and raised. Her love for this region and its people are woven throughout the music and songs and beautifully tells this classic story in a whole new light. For more information and tour dates, visit smokymountainchristmascarol.com and follow @smokymountainchristmascarol on Facebook and Instagram. Pricing starts at $38.50. Tickets can be purchased at fwembassytheatre.org, ticketmaster.com and at the STAR Bank box office at the Embassy, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Celebrating National Sewing Month The Fort Wayne Chapter of the American Sewing Guild will join sewing enthusiasts across the country to celebrate September as National Sewing Month, a month dedicated to the art, utility and passion for sewing. A highlight will be its annual September workshop featuring day-long sewing with demos for making a jelly roll basket, woven fabric box and zipper pouch. Make one or more of these projects or bring a project of your own. The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 20, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Convoy, Ohio. The cost is $20 for members and $23 for non-members and includes a
hearty lunch. For questions about the event and to register, visit asgfortwayne.org or email the chapter at asgftwayne3@gmail. com. National Sewing Month observance began in 1982 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan designating it “In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our nation.” That importance was shown during the pandemic when both new and experienced sewists became frontline supporters creating masks and other protective equipment. As the need for PPE dropped, the love of sewing — whether new or nurtured — inspired a resurgence in the
Senior Saints 2025 Public Concert Schedule Free and open to the public
Thursday, September 4 • 1:00 p.m. • New Haven Community Center 7500 State Rd. 930 East, Fort Wayne, IN 46803 (Behind McDonalds) | 260-749-2212
Thursday, September 11 • 12:15 p.m. • First Assembly Church 1400 W. Washington Ctr. Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46825 (Door 5) | 260-490-8585
art of sewing. American Sewing Guild is a national organization made up of 130 chapters and over 1,000 neighborhood groups, creating a network of sewing friends with all levels of sewing experience. The Fort Wayne Chapter serves northeast Indiana as well as the Van Wert, Ohio, area. It boasts several neigh-
borhood groups each meeting monthly with a different focus, including quilting, garment sewing/fitting, machine embroidery, community service and more. There is also a group dedicated to owners and would-be owners of antique Singer, featherweight sewing machines. To find out more, visit asgfortwayne.org and asg.org.
I It’s easy! Simply find the ‘Labor Day Hard Hat’ 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. Thiss will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25. (Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, September 15, 2025. Brought To You By
Thursday, September 18 • 7:00 p.m. • Huber Opera House 157 E. High St., Hicksville, OH 43526 | 419-542-9553
Friday, September 26 • 11:00 a.m. • Fort Wayne Community Center 233 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802 | 260-427-6460 Parking Behind Cindy’s Diner (230 W. Berry St.)
Sunday, September 28 • 6:00 p.m. • Grabill Missionary Church 13637 State St., Grabill, IN 46741 | 260-627-3678
Marsha Wright, Director - mnotes@aol.com
Updates are posted at GrabillMC.org/seniorsaints
206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542
The winner of the I Spy Contest for August is Julie McGrath from Elkhart. The ‘Sun Hat’ was located on page 8 in Senior Life Allen; page 13 in Senior Life Northwest; page 14 in Senior Life Elko and page 19 in Senior Life St. Joseph.
www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
10 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ September 2025
Faith
Church’s food pantry chairman has a heart for helping people By CINDY LARSON Feature Writer Fred Schimmel has a heart for helping people. As the chairman of the food bank at Waynedale United Methodist Church, he spends 16-17 hours a week picking up food, ordering food, shopping for deals, helping out when the pantry is open for clients and filing out paperwork. Asked why he does it, the 74-year-old retiree said, “It seems to be the thing to do. People need help so we help them.” Schimmel has been volunteering at the food bank for seven years. He averages 16 to 17 hours a week and most weeks is there five days. Clients can come once every 29 days. They are provided with a list of what they can take and how much they are allowed. The list is well thought out to provide a combination of foods they can use to make meals. No proof of income is required, but clients do have to register. The food bank opened in 1978, when International Harvester left town. It has been open since then. Schimmel said they usually serve 50 to 60 families a week. “Some have been coming since 2012,” he said. “And we get to know a lot of them.” With rising food prices, he’s had to modify what’s available from the pantry.
For example, he used to be able to get a dozen eggs for 98 cents. When they shot up to $4 a carton, “there’s just no way, he said. He gets food from Community Harvest Food Bank and Associated Churches, in addition to shopping for it himself. Church members also make donations. Sometimes farmers swing by to donate fresh produce. The food bank also gets aid from a government program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program, but Schimmel has already seen that source of aid drying up. Occasionally, clients will try to game the system. It was really bad during the pandemic. Sometimes he’d carry a client’s order to their vehicle and see that they had been shopping elsewhere. Still, “99 percent of our clients are just really good people to work with.” Schimmel started his career as an engineer who designed emergency vehicles. He also spent part of his career as a medic. He could be pursuing more leisurely activities as a retiree, but Schimmel has a simple reason for devoting himself to a charitable cause. “It’s just helping people out,” he said. There’s a need out there. It’s supposed to be such a great country.”
HELPING OTHERS — Fred Schimmel is the chairman of the food bank at Waynedale United Methodist Church. He spends 16-17 hours a week picking up food, ordering food, shopping for deals, helping out when the pantry is open for clients and filing out paperwork. Photo by Cindy Larson. Schimmel and his wife were married in Waynedale United Methodist Church and have been long-time members. As such, he knows some interesting history. For example, at one time the church served as a homeless shelter and set up cots in a room adjacent to the worship
hall. Schimmel said he and his wife would stay overnight. The shelter has 24 volunteers, but that number has dwindled in recent years. Schimmel thinks that’s because people are busier and have many activities, especially those with children.
The volunteers had a meeting four years ago because they needed a new chairman. Schimmel said nobody volunteered to take over the responsibilities. He volunteered because “nobody else wanted to do it.” Four years later, he’s still going strong.
I am working the neighborhood There are many people in our neighborhood with diverse professions. There are insurance agents, IN A physicians, NUTSHELL pharBy DICK macists, WOLFSIE computer software experts and salespeople, among others. All of these individuals not only excelled in their
respective fields but are also accomplished in other areas. For many retirees, this is a way to make the most of their newfound leisure time. The other day, my neighbor, Steve, came over for a beer, and he noticed that we had a new door installed in our basement to create an additional bedroom. We still needed a craftsman to put what is called “mud” on the wall so we could paint over the screws that held the drywall in place. I felt sorry for Steve. Poor guy is a retired pharmacist and now has no prescriptions to
YOUR LIBRARY MAKES HOUSE CALLS! Allen County Public Library’s Library at Home provides free delivery of library materials to homebound patrons, and pop-up libraries at facilities throughout Allen County, where residents can sign up for a library card, check out materials, and more!
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fill, so I let him fill the holes in my wall. He was here every day for a week. I assume he was grateful, but he never really thanked me. While this was going on, Mary Ellen had asked on Facebook if anyone knew a good seamstress for a dress she wanted altered. Laura, also retired, called my wife and said she was very accomplished at this sort of thing and would be happy to do the sewing, Free of charge, of course. Mary Ellen was hesitant to accept this offer, but I insisted she do so. Laura has been very nice to us, so we felt we owed her this favor. We decided to let her do it. She deserved it. So far, we have had no outof-pocket expenses, except for Steve, with whom I shared a case of Blue Moon. If my wall could get plastered, so could Steve and I. The next day, our clothes dryer went on the fritz, so on my daily jog around the block, I told everyone I passed that the Wolfsies needed an appliance repairman. Tom, a retired automobile salesman from down the street, called and said it was probably just the heating element, and told
me he could replace it. He enjoys tinkering. I knew he was desperately looking for something to occupy his time. Giving him the opportunity was the least I could do. A couple of days later, Mary Ellen was grappling with an issue related to long-term care, which necessitated a conversation with our lawyer, who is paid by the hour. I once again began my trot around the neighborhood. To each person I passed, I casually mentioned our dilemma. That night, I received a call from our neighbor, Dave, a healthcare expert, offering some complimentary advice. I figured he needed something else to keep him busy on the weekends. I let him help us. Mary Ellen felt guilty about accepting yet another freebie, but I convinced her that this was a magnanimous gesture on our part, a way of helping our friends feel useful in their retirement. Later that month, I let Eric fix a leaky pipe. I permitted Paul to tune up my lawn mower, and Rahul was offered the opportunity to put my computer back online. How lucky those folks are to have me as a neighbor.
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September 2025 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ 11
70s Flashback —
Ron Popeil’s ‘gift of blab’ pays off In the late 1940s, Ron Popeil began pitching his inventor father’s kitchen gadget at a downtown Chicago flea market. Every weekend, By RANDAL Ron would C. HILL arrive early and prepare mounds of potatoes, onions, cabbages and carrots. To the crowds that gathered, he enthusiastically told how his manually operated gizmo could rapidly and easily slice, dice and chop the various vegetables that Popeil had at hand. He worked from 6 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon and often took in as much as $500 a day. He was 13 years old. After his high school years, he worked the area full-time, secur-
ing a spot in the busy downtown Woolworth’s and often earning as much as the store’s manager. Always good to himself, Ron wore the finest clothes when off the job, dined at the best restaurants, and sported a flashy Rolex on his wrist. Impossibly handsome, he was blessed with thick dark hair, blue-green eyes and a mouth that was always upturned in a warm and welcoming smile. But Popeil’s presentations were strictly about the simple, inexpensive and indispensable manual food processor he was demonstrating. Every word of his well-honed promotion counted. Ron maintained that his device had to be explained to customers three or four times, with a different twist each time. To him, the demonstrator needed to show the customer exactly how the widget worked, how it was a boon to one’s kitchen routine, and that,
as revolutionary as it was, it was amazingly easy to operate. The most important part of the sales talk was the “turn.” That’s when Popeil seamlessly switched from explainer to businessman. Those in the crowd before him who surged forward opened their wallets, handed him their money, and left with their item. To those who hesitated, Ron would often say something like, “Wait! There’s something else I want to show you.” With slight variations, the pitch would begin anew, and Popeil would always be able to pocket a few more dollars. In the early 1950s, television offered a whole new arena for Ron Popeil. He could now reach thousands — maybe hundreds of thousands — of potential customers, and the Veg-O-Matic (and later, the similar Chop-O-Matic) were ideal gadgets to offer on TV. In 1964, Ron and a friend — both still in their 20s — started
PHOTO BY JEFFREY FITERMAN FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. a company called Ronco. With television ads, the camera could focus exclusively on the gizmo and thus compel viewers to pay attention to the product being offered. In creating inexpensive 30-minute Ronco TV ads to run late at night, Popeil invented what we now call the infomercial. Over the decades, the Ronco catalog grew and grew. The 1970s alone brought the Pocket Fisher-
man, the Miracle Broom, and the Inside the Egg Shell Scrambler. Later would come such gadgets as the Smokeless Ashtray and the Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ Oven. In 2005, Ron sold Ronco for $55 million— around $90 million in today’s cash. Not bad for a man who could make people smile as they opened their wallets to him.
Assisted Living, nursing And rehAbiLitAtion guide
Adams Heritage
12011 Whittern Road, Monroeville, IN 46773 (260) 623-6440 • www.adamsheritage.org
Orchard Pointe Health Campus
702 Sawyer Rd., Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-3333 • www.orchardpointehc.com
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
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.
The Cedars
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
Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Alzheimer’s 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.
Grand Marquis
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
Life Care Center of Fort Wayne
1649 Spy Run Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 422-8520 • www.lcca.com Rehabilitation Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled-Licensed Nursing Or Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Wound Care, Outpatient Therapy, Medical Transportation, Medicare/Medicaid, Pet Visitation Allowed
Advertise Your Community Here Reaches YOUR Target Market Adults Living Life After 50
14409 Sunrise Court, Leo, IN 46765 (260) 627-2191 • www.thecedarsrc.com
The Village at Anthony Boulevard
6701 S. Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46816 (260) 447-1591 • www.ABetterWayofLiving.org
of Fort Wayne
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
The Village at Kendallville
351 North Allen Chapel Road, Kendallville, IN 46755-0429 (260) 347-2256 • www.ABetterWayofLiving.org
Rehab Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Therapies: Speech, Occupational, Respiratory, Physical, Outpatient Therapy, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare/Medicaid, 3 Years Deficiency Free Surveys
The Village at Pine Valley
9802 Coldwater Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 (260) 469-0600 • www.ABetterWayofLiving.org Rehab Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing 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
Contact Betty For More Details! 260-494-9321 slallen@the-papers.com • www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
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12 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ September 2025
Blast to the Past! —
‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ changed Glen Campbell’s career Glen Campbell Kismet. Another word for fate or destiny. If we’re lucky, kismet, should it enter our life, will be seen as A Boomer Blast something To The Past positive. By RANDAL As one C. HILL of 12 kids, Glen Campbell was born in 1936 on an Arkansas farm with no electricity. When he was 4, one of his uncles gave him a $5 Sears guitar and taught him how to play it. Campbell took to the instrument easily and proved to be a most passionate prodigy. At 14, he left school and moved with some of his brothers to Houston, where they
found work installing insulation. But Glen kept on playing — at churches, at bars, on local radio outlets. In 1960, he moved to California and eventually became a top Hollywood session guitarist and vocalist, as the good-looking Campbell also possessed a warm-as-honey singing voice. In the mid-1960s, he briefly toured as a Brian Wilson replacement after the Beach Boy leader battled drug problems. In time, Glen became a Capitol Records hitmaker and a TV celebrity with his “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.” He even landed a role in the John Wayne movie “True Grit.” But as the years rolled on, Campbell gradually lost his luster. His TV show was axed, his name slipped off radio-station playlists, and nobody came forth with more movie roles. But Glen, who was still in his 30s by the mid-1970s, felt he
still had much left to offer the world of entertainment. One day in 1974, while driving in Los Angeles, he tuned into a country-music station and first heard the song that would change his dwindling career. “Rhinestone Cowboy” had been done by a New York singer/songwriter named Larry Weiss, who was striving for stardom with the original tune that he hoped would put his own name in lights. While nothing in Weiss’s song was anything that Glen could relate to — he had never been a struggling New York country hopeful — Campbell loved the song’s flow and the determination that dominated the narrative. To Glen, “Rhinestone Cowboy” had the potential to herald a comeback, maybe even become his signature song if it ever became a hit cover disc under his own name.
CHANGED HIS CAREER — Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” changed his dwindling career. Photo from The Guardian. He bought a cassette of Weiss’s album “Black and White Suite” and carried it with him during a three-week Australian tour. He claimed later that he listened to “Rhinestone Cowboy” so often that, by the time he returned to America, he could whistle the darned song backwards. Once home, Glen charged into the office of Capitol Records executive Al Coury to tell him of the “discovery” he had made. But before Campbell could share Weiss creation’s
creation with Coury, Al told the artist that he first wanted him to hear a tune that he felt had great potential for the one-time superstar. It was called “Rhinestone Cowboy.” Kismet? Glen’s lavish version of “Rhinestone Cowboy” rocketed to Number One (his first-ever Hot 100 chart-topper) on both the pop and country Billboard lists. Had that been random luck? Or maybe —maybe — something else.
HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY A COMPLETE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
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, Healthcare & Dementia Care, Skilled & Intermediate, Long Term Nursing Care, Life Enrichment Activities, Fitness Center Membership
Call Betty At 1-866-580-1138, Ext. 2403 To Join Our Health Services Directory AUDIOLOGY
CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
GOLDEN YEARS HOMESTEAD 3136 Goeglein Road Fort Wayne, IN 46815 Phone: (260) 749-9655 Greencroft.org/GoldenYears
Golden Years provides a full continuum of care — assisted living, rehabilitation, long-term care and memory care with all private rooms.
HOME CARE SERVICES
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”
ASSISTED, INDEPENDENT LIVING & NURSING CARE
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
COMMUNITY SERVICE
INTEGRITY HOME CARE, LLC Fort Wayne, IN Phone: (260) 452-9691 ajones@integrityhhc.com
“Stay Home With Integrity.” Providing assistance to those in need in the comfort of their own home.
HOME HEALTH CARE
A HIGHER STANDARD OF HOME CARE LIFE CARE CENTER OF FORT WAYNE 1649 Spy Run Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Phone: (260) 422-8520 www.lifecarecenteroffortwaynein.com
Newly remodeled facility, top-of-the-line service for rehab patients. Rapid rehab program, separate wing with 30 rehab suites — private single bed for short-term patients. Medicare, Medicaid & insurances accepted.
HOMEBOUND MEALS PO Box 10179 Fort Wayne, IN 46850 Phone: (260) 422-3296 www.homeboundmealsfw.org
Homebound Meals, Inc. volunteers deliver nutritious, medically tailored meals to seniors and homebound individuals in Fort Wayne and surrounding areas.
BRIGHTSTAR 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.
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September 2025 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ 13
Negotiate the sticker price By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features It’s taken the current financial spiral to yank our attention onto the price of ordinary things around us we buy every day, from a gallon of gasoline to a slice of pizza. A feeling of helplessness seems to have dropped around us as we either dig deeper into our credit-card debt or decide to bypass the purchase. There is a way you can save a few bucks on your shopping trips. It goes under several names — negotiate, haggle, and make a lower bid are just a few. But the simple way is just ask. Many vendors, major and minor, offer discounts to veterans and to seniors. But you usually have to ask. In many cases, such as seasonal closeout sales, shops will accept a
price lower than advertised. This is not as easy in major chains such as Target and Safeway and Home Depot, but if you ask for the store manager, you can deal directly with him or her. Recently, a relative was lounging around a jewelry store while his wife had a dental appointment. Several items had luxurious price tags but there were a few “deals” in one corner counter. A wrist watch caught his eye so, to pass the time and since he didn’t have a wrist watch at the time, he asked to take a closer look at it. The sales clerk told him it was the last of a particular lot and that was why it was so cheap. The sale price was $140. That ended the conversation. He thanked the clerk and put it back, sauntered around the store a bit more and then
walked out. Seconds out of the door, the clerk called after him and asked how much he’d pay for the watch. My neighbor blurted out, “I have $100 in my pocket.” The clerk asked him to wait a minute and came back to tell him her manager would take it. He bought the watch and, checking its costs online when he got home, his watch was e-tailing at more than $300. Acting like he didn’t want it cut his price without even haggling. A nettlesome cost these days is the monthly cable-internet bill, which can top $200 a month if you opt for multi-cable service and highspeed internet service. If you feel you’d like to lower the cost of your existing service, call and tell them you want to cancel your subscription. You’re likely to
be connected with a company representative whose job is to keep customers and has all the latest promotional programs and fees at his or her fingertips. Rather than complain about the lack of service for the price you’re paying, be nice. Point out you really appreciate what you’re getting but just can’t afford it on your income and budget. You don’t have to accept the
first offer. You might point out that you’re a senior and will have to shop around for a plan you can afford. And if you find one, you’d like to sign up for a long-term program so you don’t have to interrupt you service every few months. All of this is designed to help the company rep you’re speaking with come up with the best program that suits you and keep on their list of customers.
The Tri- Lakes Lions fish and tenderloin fry will be from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at Tri-Lakes Lions Hall, 2935 E.
Colony Ave., Columbia City. This is drive-thru only. The meat or meal is $15 and a quart of potato salad is $7.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2025
Tri-Lakes fish fry Sept. 13
HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY HOME PET CARE
HUMANE FORT WAYNE IN-HOME SERVICES 901 Leesburg Road Fort Wayne, IN 46808 Phone: (260) 744-0454 www.humanefortwayne.org
This FREE program helps seniors care for their pets. Services include grooming, walking, waste clean-up, wellness checks, transportation and more.
IN-HOME CARE
Call Betty At 1-866-580-1138, Ext. 2403 To Join Our Health Services Directory MEMORY CARE
NON-MEDICAL HOME CARE
LIFTING HEARTS HOME CARE Fort Wayne, IN 46819 (260) 705-4115 www.liftinghearts.live
Our mission is simple: to provide compassionate, personalized care that enables seniors and individuals to live independently at home. Through a patient-centered approach and tailored services, we ensure the unique needs of each client are met with dignity and respect.
PHYSICAL THERAPY AT HOME HEALERS HOMECARE LLC 7230 Engle Road, Suite 205 Fort Wayne, IN 46804 Phone: (260) 702-0897 care@athomehealershc.com www.athomehealershc.com Personalized centered care: post surgery, Alzheimers & Dementia specialized support, Veteran & personal assistance (bathing, dressing, grooming), light housekeeping, daily/weekly meal prep, appointment transportation. No minimum hourly contract, 24/HR care, two nurse owned & operated, FREE in-home assessment!
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.
ADAMS WOODCREST 1300 Mercer Avenue Decatur, IN 46733 Phone: (260) 724-3311 www.adamswoodcrest.org
Memory Care Unit. We Provide Specialized Care In A Safe Environment To Those Living With Memory Loss, Alzheimer’s And Other Forms Of Dementia. We Offer Dementia-Specific Activities Tailored To Meet The Cognitive Needs Of Your Loved One.
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”
LIFE CARE CENTER OF FORT WAYNE 1649 Spy Run Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Phone: (260) 422-8520 www.lcca.com
Denton Hall, Memory Care Unit We offer a premier special care unit for those with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders. We provide a safe, homelike environment to increase and/or maintain each resident’s level of function at its highest sustainable stage.
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14 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ September 2025
Travel
Korean War Monument —
Unique, meaningful, emotional Veterans of the “forgotten war,” their families and friends will find the Korean War Monument at the Veterans National Memorial GREAT and Shrine ESCAPES on O’Day Text and Photos Road, Fort By ROD KING Wayne, to be both moving and emotional. In fact, it’s probably the most unique monument on the property. It was dedicated two years ago on Veterans Day to recognize those who fought in that conflict and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s located just east of the
Vietnam Wall and north of the W. Paul Wolf War History Museum. It depicts a weary group of a dozen American soldiers slogging their way back from a patrol to their base camp. The larger-thanlife, 7-foot-tall fiberglass figures are unique because the faces on each of the 12 is that of a soldier, airman, sailor or marine from Fort Wayne, Allen County or northeastern Indiana. Each one weighs 125 pounds, and the name of the individual is displayed on its concrete mounting pad. The monument resembles the Korean War Monument in Washington, D.C., but it’s made of different material (the ones in Washington are made of metal) and slightly bigger. Each soldier in the Fort Wayne portrayal is poised in a different position as they proceed through
INJURED SOLDIER ASSISTED — After receiving injuries, machine gunner Gary Sink, left, is being assisted back to base camp by private first-class William Walters. Sink was later awarded the Purple Heart.
S & S TRAVEL
Celebrating Celebrating46 45yrs yrs Celebrating 45 yrs 888-262-4423 888-262-4423 888-262-4423
“ADVENTURES”
1404 E. E. Lake Lake Bluff Bluff Drive Drive 1404 Kendallville, IN 46755 Kendallville, IN 46755 SEPT 24-25: TWO DAYCANYON MYSTERY ?? Barrel –ofPassport Laughs OCT 2-5 AGAWA TRAIN OCT 29-OCT 2-5 AGAWA CANYON TRAIN –Canada Passport SEPT. 2: AGAWA CANYON TRAIN: Required, Lodging Lodging in in Sault Sault Ste Ste Marie Marie MI, MI, Soo Soo Required, Passport Required. 3 night say in Sault Ste Marie, Lock Boat Ride, Shipwreck Museum, Upper/Lower Lock Boat Boat Ride,Ride, Shipwreck Museum, Upper/Lower Soo Locks A Day Exploring Sault Ste Marie, Tahquamenon Falls. Full Full Day Canada Canada Train Ride Tahquamenon Falls. Day Ride Full Day Train Adventure w/Picnic Lunch inTrain the Canyon OCT 22-26 DOOR COUNTY & GREEN BAY OCT NEW ENGLAND FALL ADVENTURE: New OCT5-12: 22-26 DOOR COUNTY & GREEN BAY Wisconsin: National RR Museum, Lambeau Field Hampshire & Vermont: Hildene-Lincoln Home, Wisconsin: National RR Museum, Lambeau Field Lake Winnipesaukee Boat Cruise, Castle in the Clouds, Tour & Hall of Fame, Washington Island, Harbor Tour & Hall of Fame, Washington Island, Harbor Conway Scenic Notch Train Ride, Vermont Statehouse, Beach, Stavkirke Stavkirke Bjorkunden Chapels, Eagle Bluff Bluff Beach, && Bjorkunden Chapels, Eagle Shelburne Museum, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Morse Lighthouse, Famous Famous Fish Fish Boil, Boil, Goats Goats on on the the Roof Roof Lighthouse, Sugar30-NOV Farm, Morgan Horse DAY Farm, MYSTERY???? Quechee Gorge, Ben OCT FOUR OCT 30-NOV 22 FOUR DAY Store, MYSTERY???? & Jerry Factory Tour, VT Country Yankee Candle NOV5-9: 18-22 BRANSONCHOO CHRISTMAS Great NOV 18-22 BRANSON CHRISTMAS 66 Great NOV. CHATTANOOGA CHOO Tennessee: Shows: Dutton Family, Hughes Brothers, Christmas National Dutton corvetteFamily, Museum, City Tour, Visit Chattanooga Shows: Hughes Brothers, Christmas Wonderland, Presley’s County Jubilee, Clay Cooper’s Choo Choo Hotel & Glen County Miller Gardens, Rock City Wonderland, Presley’s Jubilee, Clay Cooper’s Ozark Christmas, Christmas, Sight Sound’s “The Miracle of Gardens, MissionarySight Ridge&&Train Ride,“The RubyMiracle Falls, of Ozark Sound’s Lookout Mountain Incline,Caverns. TN ValleyAn Dinner Train, Christmas Fantastic Caverns. An S Tradition Tradition Christmas && Fantastic SS && S Falcon Crest Mansion & Gardens, Opryland Hotel Dec 4-7 OPRYLAND COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Dec 4-7 OPRYLAND COUNTRY CHRISTMAS NOV. 17-21: BRANSON CHRISTMAS, a Tradition. Opryland Hotel Hotel Lodging, Lodging, Ray Ray Stevens Stevens Dinner Dinner show, show, Opryland Ride thru theOpry Fantastic Caverns, 6 Great Shows: Grand Ole Show, Hotel Holiday Holiday Show, The The Grand Ole Opry Show, Hotel Show, The Dutton Family, The Hughes Brothers, Daniel O’ Hermitage, Country Music of Fame Fame More Hermitage, Country of && More Donnell, Doug Gabriel,Music Sight Hall &Hall Sound’s DAVID, www.s-stravel.com Cassandra Voice ofwww.s-stravel.com an Angel, Lamberts Café. Tours Depart Goshen/Kendallville/Auburn/Ft. Wayne Tours Depart Goshen/Kendallville/Auburn/Ft. DEC. 8-12: BLUE MOUNTAIN MIST CHRISTMAS Wayne Four Nights at the Blue Mountain Mist Bed & Breakfast, Patty Waszak Show, Historic Smoky Mtn Church Tour, Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Red Skelton Tribute Show, Guided Pokin’ around the Smokies Tour, Country Tonite Show, Dollywood, Gatlinburg Light Tour. Details: www.s-stravel.com Tour Calendar: Call 888-262-4423 Tours Depart Goshen/Kendallville/Auburn/Ft. Wayne
the night toward camp. It’s particularly stunning when lit at night and gives the appearance of them coming out of the woods in the background. A paved sidewalk surrounds the monument so visitors can get a close look at each figure. According to Second Vice Commander Eric Johnson, each of the figures required separate molds and is made up of 19 different pieces. “We utilized veterans to pose in various positions and photographed them from the ground and from a drone to get the proper prospective and layout for the monument. They were dressed in uniforms of that time and carried weapons used by the military then.” “Our biggest hurdle,” said Johnson, “was to come up with names of a dozen Korean War veterans in Fort Wayne, Allen County and northeast Indiana.” At the top of the list was U.S. Navy third class petty officer gunners mate, Walter “Bud” Mendenhall, who served on the minesweeper USS Camick. He was active with the Veterans Memorial and served on the board. His figure is at the head of the patrol carrying a mine detector. Mendenhall was 17 when he enlisted and needed his parent’s permission. “Additional names were submitted and we began contacting them (eight of the 12 were still living) to get photos and information. Getting pictures of them when they served was key to the project. We obtained DD 214 government documents that listed their dates of service, rank, where they served, unit they were in and medals received.” An injured soldier, Gary Sink of Zanesville, is being helped. He was later awarded the Purple Heart. Assisting him is private first class, William Walters. He was assigned to the 506th Motor Pool in Korea. Ken Kurtz joined the U.S. Army with 65 other young men from Allen County. “I feel as though I represent
FORGOTTEN WAR — This plaque at the Korean War Monument explains the conflict that involved American troops between 1950 and 1953.
HEADING TO CAMP — This Korean War Monument at the Veterans National Memorial and Shrine on O’Day Road, Fort Wayne, depicts a weary and exhausted patrol trudging back to their base camp. It is unique because each of the 12 figures has the face of a local or area veteran. those I joined with, many of whom didn’t return. I started out as an ammo bearer and was transferred to division personnel where I remained until my enlistment was over,” Kurtz said. CHECKING FOR MINES — Heading the patrol is U.S. Navy third class gunners mate, Walter “Bud” Mendenhall, carrying a mine detector. “Being chosen to be the face of one of the soldiers is the greatest honor of my life,” said Mendenhall.
BUCKET LIST TOURS
Bill Walls and Michelle Chapman are pleased to announce Nomadic Excursions, a Motorcoach group travel company. Moving moments to Memories disrupting the aging process with shared experiences of group travel.
Day Trips
• October 2 - Chocolate and Wine • October 11 - Chicago Magnificent Mile • October 22 - Bluegate Free Time & 4 p.m. show • November 2 - Frankenmuth, MI
Extended Trips
• November 9-15 - Diamond Tours - Myrtle Beach, SC • December 9-12 - Pigeon Forge Dolly Experience Details available on our website www.nomadicbustrips.com Bill4BusTravel@gmail.com (260) 573-0201
Huntington Travel Show September 24th 10:30 AM
Huntington Historical Museum 315 Court Street (next to Pizza Junction)
Pam Crone, Host Bucket List Tours ~Featured Guests ~ Nomadic Excursions Bill Walls, Michelle Chapman Introducing 2026 Motorcoach Tours
Mayflower Cruises & Tours Becky from Mayflower Introducing Cruises & Tours Opportunities
To Receive Flyers And Trip Information Email or Call Bucket List Tours: pamkaycrone@aol.com, 260-224-2339 Nomadic Excursions Bill4BusTravel@gmail.com 260-385-4833 or 260-431-7491
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September 2025 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ 15
Travel
Centuries transform French hill towns By FYLLIS HOCKMAN Mature Life Features On our first morning, we left to explore Pernes-les-Fontaines, a 10-minute walk from our cozy 100-year-old two-story farmhouse we would call home for two weeks. There is a supermarket near Pernes but it was so much more French to stop at the butcher, baker, cheese shop, and produce store to purchase provisions as we traversed streets spanning several centuries in an afternoon’s outing. Our first hill town, one of more than a dozen within an hour’s drive of Pernes, was Gordes, touted to be one of the 100 Most Beautiful Villages in France. Its stone buildings enveloped by stone walls dating back to the 11th century overlook vast vineyards. From Gordes, it’s an easy drive to Roussillion, a town shrouded in a combination of red, maroon, orange, terra cotta and yellow
reflected from nearby ochre cliffs. The next town, Menerbes, is another of the 100 Most Beautiful Villages in France and home town of Peter Mayle, Legion d’Honneur recipient and author of the renowned My Year in Provence. It’s quieter and more subdued than Gordes. When visiting these small towns, park in the lots outside of town. Don’t even think about driving in these towns with streets narrow enough to touch the walls with your outstretched arms. Whatever the village, it’s always a good idea to stroll off the main square to see where the people really live. We found ourselves navigating 13th-century corridors with the sounds of everyday life emanating from apartment windows. There was a lot more life in this ghost town — it was Sunday and everything was closed — than we thought. The next day, when visiting a favorite restaurant, our waiter smilingly led us to
“your usual table.” Voila, we belonged. Avignon was a different experience. A big walled city from the 14th century, the operative word there is big. Massive medieval monuments dominate the square — churches, palaces, municipal buildings, and amphitheaters. We took special note of the Palais de la Pape, which was the center of the papacy in the early 14th century before it returned permanently back to Rome. As my husband’s eyes were beginning to glaze over at the thought of another hill town, we mixed up our days with a local hike, visit to a museum, farmer’s market, and festival of bulls in St. Remy. When planning our next day’s adventures, we picked up a baguette and cheese from the market to accompany another glass of wine before dining al fresco at our arbor-covered, garden-enclosed picnic table Mature Life Features Copyright 2025
PERNES — Pernes-les-Fontaines streets span several centuries. Victor Block Photo, Mature Life Features.
Save time, money at alternate sites By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features Travelers flock to Florence and plunk down a chunk of cash (or put a dent in their credit card) for a ticket to cram into line at the Accademia Galleria to ooh and aah at Michelangelo’s statue of David. Just minutes away, a copy of this world-famous work and those of other Renaissance greats can be viewed leisurely and for free in the city’s Piazza della Signoria. If you’re traveling through
Italy, you can pop into the church of San Pietro in Vincoli overlooking the Coliseum in the heart of Rome and stand quietly and for free within touching distance of another of Michelangelo’s eternal works: Moses, which was commissioned by Pope Julius II at the same time he hired the artist to paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. These are just a couple of examples of how you can save time and money by looking around for alternates. Mature Life Features Copyright 2025
Memories in Motion
“Memories to Last a Lifetime” March 3-9, 2026 .................... New Orleans, “The Big Easy”
2021 is Completely Sold Out
GORDES — Gordes is one of the 100 Most Beautiful Villages in France.Victor Block Photo, Mature Life Features.
BUCKET LIST TOURS Presents Landscapes & Lighthouses of Coastal Maine October 4, 2025 7 Days, 5 Nights at one Hotel
Bus Tours with Covington Travel, Inc.
2022 Trips March 24-26, 2026 ....................................... Come Sail Away A Cruise On Land!
April 7-11, 2026 ................................. Rock ‘N Roll Branson April 29-May 6, 2026 ................................. Southern Charm Savannah & Charleston
Feb. 5, 2022……………………..……...‘HAMILTON June 8-13, 2026 .............. Patriots, Plantations & Presidents
Incredible Destinations & Memories with Bus Advisor/Host Diane Current Fall Into West Baden, French Lick, IN...October 12-14, 2025 FEW SEATS REMAIN - 2 Nights at the famous West Baden Springs Hotel, 3 meals at the hotel, 2-hour lunch cruise on Patoka Lake, 3 local tours, luggage transfers, taxes, and service fees. $899 double / $1,199 single
Monticello, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown Schuster Center, Dayton
June 22-25, 2026 .....................Mississippi Riverboat Cruise
Feb. 19-26, 2022…Manatees, Mermaids & Marine L July 15-16, 2026 ....................................... Celebrate America Crystal River Plantation, Nature Coast of Florida Proud To Be An American ... 2 Shows and Other Attractions
May 18, 2022………..”Cruising Through the Decade August 4-7 2026 ............ Michigan is for Lighthouse Lovers
BOOKING T DISCOUN
SAVE
$100 per person, $200 per couple $3,849 pp double No risk deposit, no change fees. INCLUDES air fare from Fort Wayne
To Receive Flyers And Trip Information Email or Call Bucket List Tours:
pamkaycrone@aol.com 260-224-2339
Christmas Adventures in Frankenmuth, MI...Dec 14-15, 2025 SPECIAL SEPTEMBER OFFER! Overnight stay at the Bavarian Inn Lodge, breakfast buffet, family-style dinner, pretzel rolling class, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, luggage transfers, taxes, and service fees! September Special price $349 double / $399 single. (Regular price $399 / $459) Book by October 1st for discount.
September 2, 2026 ............ “Ring of Fire”, Beef and Boards
May 23 – 27, October 2022…………..Wisconsin’s Door Coun 29-30, 2026 ......................... Halloween FaBOOlous Including Visit to Historic Lambeau Field Mystery Trip
Steve and Sheila Magsamen, Tour Managers June 27-30, 2022………..Mississippi Riverboat Crui
Decatur & Fort Wayne Departures 260-432-8488 For more information or to book your seat, 29 – August 10, 2022…….….Nova Scotia, Cana July www.memoriesinmotion.net email dianec@covingtontravelinc.com or call (260) 486-8769
Sept. 13-16, 2022……………….Niagara Falls, Canad
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16 ■ SENIOR LIFE — Allen Edition ■ September 2025
Finance
Social Security supports rural communities By MONA HARTER District Manager, South Bend Social Security Office Social Security touches the lives of nearly every American. Millions count on us — retirees, people no longer able to work due to disability, dependents, and survivors. As a member of the Rural Partners Network, we want to continue reaching out to rural communities. We make it easy for you to access our programs and services. Our website offers a convenient
way to apply online for benefits. Visit ssa.gov/applyonline to learn how to apply for: Retirement or Spouse’s Benefits — You must be at least 61 years and 9 months and want your benefits to start in no more than 4 months. Disability Benefits — Our disability program pays benefits to workers who are insured and certain family members. This means that they worked long enough — and recently enough — and paid Social Security taxes on their earnings.
Supplemental Security Income — SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness, or people 65 or older, who have low income and resources. After you begin your application online, we will review the information you submit and contact you by mail or phone if we have questions. Medicare — Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older or have a disability or end-stage renal disease. If you are not receiving Social Security benefits and not covered under an employer group health plan, you may want to consider applying for Medicare 3 months before turning age 65.
Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs — Extra Help assists with monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and co-payments related to Medicare prescription drug coverage for people with limited income and resources. Apply at ssa.gov/extrahelp. Rural community leaders should encourage others to sign up for a personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/ myaccount. With a personal my Social Security account, they can request a replacement Social Security card, verify earnings, get future benefit estimates, and obtain benefit verification letters. If they are not able to use our
online services, they can speak with a representative by calling our National toll-free number at (800) 772-1213, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. If an office visit is required, we can make an appointment. In addition, our automated phone services are available 24 hours a day, so they may not need to wait for a representative. Learn more at ssa.gov/agency/ contact/phone.html. We remain committed to helping maintain the well-being of the people we serve — including those in rural areas. Please share this information with others in your local community.
Tips for staying positive as you rightsize By KURT NESS Broker/Co-owner, Auctioneer Ness Bros. Realtors and Auctioneers
TOUCHING NEARLY EVERY AMERICAN — Social Security has millions of Americans counting on them, including those in rural communities. Social Security makes it easy to access programs and services at ssa.gov/applyoneline.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICARE?
Local sales agent. Local Medicare Advantage plans. Joshua McMullen Licensed Sales Agent 260-849-3238, TTY 711 Joshuam31794@gmail.com ®
Senior Relocation Program
Take time with your treasures. As you declutter, allow enough time to thoughtfully go through your belongings and enjoy the memories associated with these items. Do a trial run. If you’re looking at an assisted living facility or 55-plus community, many will let you stay for a few days to try it out. Knowing where the amenities and common areas are will help you acclimate faster. Focus on what you’re gaining, not losing. Change is always
hard, and there will be tough days. Try to think about how your life will improve with these changes. Think of all the extra time you’ll have to enjoy your days and family instead of cleaning, working, or trying to find things. Make plans to see people. If you’re moving, set some concrete dates to meet or chat with friends. Familiar faces and staying busy can help speed up the acclimation process. Enlist help. Even if you hire a professional moving manager, there’s a lot of detail in downsizing. You might need help with tasks, like reviewing contracts, negotiating rates, site visits, or
vetting storage facilities, all of which Ness Bros would be happy to assist with. Even processing your belongings with friends and family can bring a lot of laughter and new memories. Contact our Senior Relocation team to get help and answers to your questions on rightsizing; we’re here to help you stay positive throughout this process. Reach out to our relocation specialists at (260) 459-3911 in Fort Wayne or (260) 356-3911 in Huntington. You can also contact us through our website, NessBros.com, or stop in one of our offices, located at 3344 Mallard Cove Lane, Fort Wayne, or 519 N. Jefferson St., Huntington.
one’s golden years but it was also establishing a saving-money mindset that became a routine. Over the years, the young man who received this advice began devising a few mental money exercises of his own. Instead of buying popcorn at the movies, he’d tuck that money into his savings account. As he grew older, he would pick out three T-shirts, toss one back on the store rack and add the price of the garment to his senior-years stash. As an added fillip, when
spoiling himself with an occasional round of golf or picking up a gallon of his favorite ice cream, he’d match that price with a contribution to his fund. He never missed the money he kept funneling into his savings plan and was rewarded as he enjoyed his financially-worry-free golden years. Money management requires mental discipline but it doesn’t have to be restrictive if you employ a few tricks like those cited above. If you love spending money, just think of how you’ll enjoy spending it on some of the things you’re going to want to do when you have all the time in the world to do them. If retiring to a tropical beach is your vision, imagine that’s what you’re buying every time you add a few extra bucks to your retirement plan along with your regular deposits. Set up a plan with your bank to automatically shift a regular amount from your checking account into your savings/retirement fund. That way, you’ll never see the money so you won’t miss it. And it’ll be a welcome sight when you retire. Researchers in Britain and the U.S. have have come up with another little trick. Instead of trying to save $100 or $200 a month, save a dollar a day.
Minding money tricks By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
A long time ago in a town far away, a wise man told a young lad to always pay himself first. Whether the amount received was a paycheck or payment for a product or service or just a plain gift, the idea was to sock a portion away into what would be a retirement fund before paying off any debt — mortgage, credit card, automobile loan, taxes, anything. The idea was not only to build a comfortable nest egg for
Leave more than memories.
Leave a plan. We can guide you through wills and estate planning that honors your intentions and secures your family’s future.
Our Services Include • Assisting in Organizing • Determining what to Sell, Keep or Donate • Pack for the Move • Inventory Appraising • Move Management • Overseeing Repairs, Painting, Cleaning and Staging Home for Sale • Selling Personal Property & Real Estate • Assisting Executors, Attorneys, Trustees Huntington 260.356.3911 | Fort Wayne 260.459.3911
www.SeniorRelocationServices.info
CONTACT US TODAY: 260.426.9706 | BEERSMALLERS.COM
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