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Living Life After 50
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Elko Edition REaching ElkhaRt, kosciusko, noblE and lagRangE countiEs
September 2026
Vol. 39, No. 7
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Kathy Spalding collects and builds
VINTAGE
DOLL DO LLHOUSES HOUSES Photos and Text By ANIKA YODER Feature Writer
Spanning back hundreds of years, dollhouses have been a part of many people’s childhoods and family heirloom collections. Ready-built dollhouses have been sold for decades, and do-ityourself building kits rose to popularity in the 1970s and into the 1980s. After the decline in dollhouse kit manufacturing and children’s toys evolving to replace the miniature structures, kits were phased out. But avid collectors and enthusiasts still take the time to search for intact, buildable structures. Kathy Spalding, 66, has been collecting and building dollhouse kits for eight years, with her latest project starting in 2023 while working on other houses in between. The Victorian mansion, measuring almost three feet tall, takes up her dining room table while she works on roof tiles and windows. “So I started buying DuraCraft [dollhouse kits],” Spalding said. “They’d gone out of business back in 2005. But that dollhouse is from the ‘70s and brand new in the box. That’s what I look for.” Spalding said she became interested in working with dollhouses when she built one for her oldest daughter as a birthday gift but was not able to pick it up as a hobby until much later, after her kids grew up and moved out. Altogether, a project takes about a year, Spalding said, Continued on page 2
LATEST PROJECT — Kathy Spalding shows off her latest project, a Victorian dollhouse she’s been working on for a while. She sources brand-new dollhouse kits through eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
NEXT STEPS — Kathy Spalding looks over the Victorian mansion dollhouse she’s been working on. She uses the included directions as guides rather than hard-set instructions. She also uses materials found around the house to add textures, such as popsicle sticks as hardwood floors.
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2 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Key Positions
Sue Frisby supervises for Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network By ANIKA YODER Feature Writer Last year, the Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network facilitated more than 1,500 organ transplants and helped more than 2,200 individuals donate tissue. A nonprofit organ and tissue procurement organization, the network serves the northern three-quarters of Illinois, as well as Lake County, Indiana. Supervisor for Record Review Sue Frisby, 64, oversees staff who facilitate the donation process, from retrieving to receiving organs and tissue. Frisby’s job is to make sure those donating have their organs and tissue processed for recipients. With a background as an EMT, Frisby said the job helped provide context for working around organs and tissue. Also having worked in histology at Goshen Hospital, Frisby said helping with autopsies and seeing donors sparked her interest in looking for a position in organ and tissue donation.
Something about the network that Frisby said people do not always know is that tissue donation is a large part of the process aside from organ donation. Between replacing ACLs and donating tendons, on top of several other non-organ components, Gift of Hope facilitates the different steps required to get tissue from donors to recipients. Originally working in Chicago, where Gift of Hope is based, during the lockdown in 2020, Frisby said she moved back to Elkhart County, where she is originally from, to be closer to family. With nine employees under her supervision, Frisby said making sure items are processed and information is accurate for donations is all part of the day’s work. Cleaning and sterilization of organs and tissue are overseen by the network to make sure components are prepared for recipients. Part of what is able to be donated, according to Frisby, is bone, which can be used to make screws for patients
instead of metal screws, which can lead to potential rejection. On top of working to oversee the donation process, Frisby said Gift of Hope also aids in providing grief counseling services for families of donors. “We also make these memory quilts, and I’ve helped put those together before,” Frisby said. Frisby said working as an EMT was more difficult because she saw people undergo painful conditions. When she was hired by Gift of Hope, she found the position was helpful for learning about the donation process and that it is a part of the work that is fulfilling, Frisby said. Though she could retire next February at 65, Frisby said she would like to stay working at Gift of Hope and would like to keep working with organ and tissue donation until she does decide to hang up her hat. “Right now, we have 109,000 people waiting for organ transplants just in Illinois, and we cover Lake County, Indiana,” Frisby said.
OVERSEEING ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATIONS — Sue Frisby, an Elkhart native, is a supervisor for record review for the Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network. The network facilitates organ and tissue donations for Lake County, Indiana and northern Illinois. Photo provided.
it a different look, because it’s alright, but it just wasn’t my style,” Spalding said. “I bought a door and put that in instead of the stock door, but it needs to be dressed up more. It’s going to be a mansion, you know?” From creating her own parquet flooring to planning for the dollhouse’s eventual wraparound porch, Spalding said she is thinking of creating a haunted-house theme for
her next project. Sourcing kits on eBay and Facebook Marketplace, Spalding puts her woodworking knowledge to use once she finds a dollhouse, and with four completed projects under her belt, she said it is also a useful wintertime hobby. After her projects have been completed, Spalding said she has given them away to people to make use of the dollhouses. “I gave one to my grand-
Kathy Spalding Continued from page 1
and having developed arthritis, working on the dollhouses takes longer as the building requires precise attention to detail. Between tearing up egg cartons to create flagstone for the turret exterior and using popsicle sticks for floorboards, Spalding said she likes to use the directions as a guide more than hard-set instructions. Sometimes the directions are
not in the order that would best fit the building process, according to Spalding, so being able to use what the instructions provide and also freestyle with the actual building of the structure can make for a unique individual aesthetic. “I got a miniature table saw. I’m not afraid of power saws. The (tiles) I cut off the corners on each one and added a piece of wood on top to give
daughter. And the other ones I’m making for my great-granddaughters. Kind of a family heirloom, we pass down,” Spalding said. “Something that they can pass down to their children, decorate together, and my granddaughter already painted the one I gave her. Something that suits her style more, you know? That’s not a problem, because it’s gonna go through many changes during the years.”
BELLINGHAM MODEL — Shown is another of Kathy Spalding’s creations. She got started making dollhouses when her own daughter was a child.
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 3
Active Aging and Wellness Resource Fair set for Sept. 10 By MALANA MAHER President and Founder Aging Connections of Michiana Aging Connections of
Michiana will host its fourth annual Active Aging and Wellness Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the second-floor Ribbon Town Conference and
Show your children and grandchildren just how much you love them 1237 E. University Drive, Granger. Call (800) 303-7423 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation or to attend one of our free Elder Law Dinner Workshops: 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, or Monday, Sept. 21, at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 902 E. University Drive, Granger. Reservations are required; seating is limited! Call now at (800) 303-7423 or visit riceandrice.com.
By CLIFFORD J. RICE Elder Law Attorney At Rice & Rice Attorneys, we have been doing estate planning for 54 years. As a result of these many years of experience, we have learned how to protect the families of our clients in a number of unique ways. Do you have a child in an unhappy marriage? There is a Protective Trust that can help make sure the monies left to your child will stay with your child and not be taken by the daughter-in-law or son-in-law. If you would like to set some money aside for your grandchildren’s future, we can set up an Education Trust. If you want your children to receive their money over a period of years, we can design a Spray Trust. If you would like to protect your home or other assets from being caught in a spenddown, we can protect those assets by placing them into a Medicaid Trust. If you know someone who has a farm and would like to keep it in the family, there are a number of Farm Trusts that will accomplish that. You can make gifts to young children or grandchildren using a Minor’s Trust, or care for your pets using a Pet Trust. Do you have a child who is just not able to hang onto money? We can protect that child by using a spendthrift trust. If you have a disabled child who is receiving Medicaid or SSDI benefits, a Special Needs Trust will provide for that child, while ensuring the child will not lose government benefits. This is sophisticated planning, so you will want to talk to someone who has the experience to meet your needs and the needs of your loved ones. Legal help is available at Rice & Rice Attorneys,
Event Center at Four Winds Hotel, South Bend. The event will begin with opening ceremonies featuring the Miller’s Vets Color Guard and the national anthem performed by Jennifer Kedik. Featured entertainment will include The Hillsiders, an acoustic band based in the Michiana area. The retired band members perform rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass, country, gospel, patriotic and children’s songs, as well as original music. Janet Gunn, a South Bend native, also will perform. Gunn began singing at age 5 and has performed at venues across the country. She was named Michiana’s Rising Star in 2014 and an AARP Superstar in 2015 after winning the organization’s national competition. She performed at a 2019 presidential campaign rally for former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg
and uses her musical talent to uplift and inspire others. Come for the resources, stay for the entertainment. New this year, the Indiana Immunization Coalition will offer vaccinations to those who qualify. The organization works to reduce the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization, education, advocacy and partnerships. Walk-ins will be accepted, but preregistration is highly recommended to help determine staffing needs and the amount of vaccine required. To preregister, visit the VaxCare registration website and use enrollment code IN65942. Select South Bend9/10. Aging Connections also will host a veterans raffle fundraiser benefiting the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center, a building on the Center for Homeless campus. It houses
24 homeless male veterans. Each attendee will receive one free raffle ticket, with additional tickets available for purchase. Exhibitors will display raffle items at their tables and provide boxes for ticket entries. At 2:30 p.m., exhibitors will draw winning tickets and contact the winners. Founded in 2020, Aging Connections is a nonprofit grassroots cooperative of individuals and organizations working together to promote education, business, community relationships and services for the aging population. The organization serves northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan.
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4 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
What Seniors Think
Do you have a garden? If so, how did it do this summer?
SCOTT FULLER - IRISH LAKE “I keep some tomato plants, they’re doing alright.”
DOI HO - GOSHEN “My flowers looked good for me.”
MARY RITSEMA ELKHART “It’s really something how each year something different blooms more than others. My gardens have done very well. Everything is nice and green.
STEPHANIE SZYNAL SYRACUSE “Yes, flowers and vegetables both. A lot of my garden went to the critters; I was a little upset they didn’t share with me, but that’s how it goes!”
KATHY TITTLE SYRACUSE “I have this neighborhood rabbit that tends to eat my flowers. So good, if not for the rabbit.”
70s Flashback ELKO EDITION
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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. 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 Publication Manager/Account Executive Marla Schroeder . . . . . . . . . . . mschroeder@the-papers.com • 574-350-4488 Lauren Zeugner, Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lzeugner@the-papers.com 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 $42 for one year; and $71 for two years. (Select one edition.) Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt. To order a subscription, call 574-658-4111. ADVERTISING For advertising deadlines call your sales representative. The existence of advertising in Senior Life is not meant as an endorsement of any product, services or individuals by anyone except the advertisers. Signed letters or columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. To advertise contact Marla Schroeder at 574-350-4488 or mschroeder@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.
Were you in the mood for a ring? Every decade has its fads intense and often silly crazes that set popular culture ablaze, only to quickly By RANDAL flame out C. HILL and disappear overnight. The 1950s saw the coming and going of 3-D movies, Davy Crockett caps and Hula Hoops. Miniskirts, lava lamps and tiedyed clothing helped define the next decade. The 1970s brought us Pet Rocks, water beds and mood rings. Ah, yes. Mood rings. How cool were those! Pieces of jewelry that claimed to change color to reflect a wearer’s emotional state. If you were happy, your band turned blue. Brown meant that you were a grouch. Black? You lived under a cloud of gloom. (Cheer up, please!) The fact that mood rings responded to body temperature rather than emotions didn’t seem to concern anyone. What do you remember about these once-hot hoops? They hit their popularity peak in the summer and fall of 1975, and, in addition to the rings themselves, additional mood-revealing items offered included mood nail polish, mood shoes, and mood underwear. (One assumes that the last-mentioned involved the smallest audience.) While the rage was fresh and exciting during the middle of the decade, the technology itself was old hat. Inside the “quartz stones” was heat-sensitive liquid crystal, chemically synthesized from grease extracted from sheep’s wool. Sheep’s wool had also been utilized in an earlier craze: 3-D glasses. Okay, so what was unique about these baubles? One answer is that they were associated with the psycho-spiritual gibberish of the time. For this, we can praise
THE MOOD RING — An original mood ring was introduced as the Mood Stone in 1975. Photo from Wikipedia. or blame (depending on your point of view) a business-driven Wall Street dropout named Joshua Reynolds. During a search to overcome debilitating anxieties, Reynolds had discovered biofeedback - a modulating of one’s brain-wave emissions. This led him to establish Q-Tran (“Tran” for tranquility), a meditation center in the Big Apple. Here stressed-out patrons were promised relief if they were hooked up to a complicated biofeedback machine. But a pair of problems clouded the picture: the machine was jaw-droppingly expensive, and it broke down with seeming regularity. Reynolds countered both issues with a simple solution: create a “portable feedback aid” in the form of a band that featured about a dime’s worth of liquid crystal. He hired a press agent, convinced the cosmetic company Faberge to back him, and soon found himself rocketing to pop-culture popularity. For a while, mood rings reigned as the ultimate “in” item. On the first day they went on sale at Manhattan’s posh Bonwit Teller department store, 1,000 rings were snapped up at $45 each (around $275 in today’s money). By the end of the
year, 15 million had been sold. The knickknacks ranged from $5 knockoffs to 14-karat-gold specialties with a $250 price tag. Superstar celebrities (Paul Newman, Barbra Streisand, Muhammad Ali) vouched for them. Ali even wrote a poem about his. Eventually, mood rings ended up on the slag heap of discarded fads once deemed essential to coolness. Today they are only remembered with a smile, and possibly - or probably - a bit of embarrassment. Bibliography Book: Stern, Jane and Michael. “The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste.” (p. 218) New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1990. Internet: “How Mood Rings Work.” (No author or date listed) bestmoodrings.com. Jacobs, Matt. “The History of the Mystery of the Mood Ring.” May 20, 2021. blinkee.com. Mood Rings. (No author or date listed) en.wikipedia.org. “Mood Rings: From ‘70s Fad and ‘90s Nostalgia to LCDs and NFTS.” (No author listed) Jan. 5, 2024. ripleys.com. Wakeman, Gregory. “How Mood Rings Became a 1970s Sensation.” April 23, 2025. history.com.
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 5
Goshen Health welcomes Kate’s Kart Goshen Health is expanding support for pediatric patients and their families through a new partnership with Kate’s Kart, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comfort, encouragement and hope through the gift of new books. A dedication ceremony celebrating the arrival of a new Kate’s Kart book cart at Goshen Health took place Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Emergency Department entrance. Goshen Health leaders, staff and representatives from Kate’s Kart gathered to mark the occasion. The cart will provide free, brand-new books to hospitalized children and their siblings, offering comfort, normalcy and a positive distraction during their hospital stay. Since its founding in 2008, Kate’s Kart has distributed more than 550,000 books to children and families throughout the region. The Goshen Health cart marks several milestones for Kate’s Kart, including the placement of its 49th book cart, expansion into its 27th hospital and outreach to children and families across 16 northeast Indiana counties and one northwest Ohio county. “We are excited to expand our footprint into Elkhart County,” said Krista Layman, executive director of Kate’s Kart. “Each cart represents an opportunity
NEW ADDITION AT GOSHEN HEALTH — Representatives from Goshen Health, Kate’s Kart and community partners celebrate the to bring comfort and encouragement to children during difficult moments through the power of a new book.” The new cart was made possible through support from the Lippert Cares Team, whose donation provided the initial inventory of books. Kate’s Kart encourages the Elkhart County community to support the pro-
gram through future book donations and restocking efforts. “At Goshen Health, we recognize that healing extends beyond medical care. Programs like Kate’s Kart provide meaningful moments of comfort, joy and normalcy for children and families during a hospital stay. We are deeply grateful for our partnership with Kate’s Kart
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dedication of a new Kate’s Kart book cart at Goshen Health. and for their commitment to supporting the well-being of our youngest patients. We appreciate the difference this program will make for the children and families in the community that we are privileged to serve,” said Julie Crossley, chief nursing officer. Kate’s Kart volunteers stock and maintain carts at partic-
ipating hospitals, ensuring children have access to age-appropriate books they can keep. The organization’s mission is to promote literacy while bringing comfort and encouragement to families facing medical challenges. To learn more about Kate’s Kart or to support its mission through donations, visit kateskart.org.
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6 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Spotlight
Chris Willig shares his love of Glacier National Park By MAKSYM HART Staff Writer Chris Willig has been going to Glacier National Park for decades. It is a place tied to the beginning of his career, years of adventure and, more recently, a chance to pass that love of the outdoors to his children. “Life’s too short,” he said. “You’ve got to live it to the fullest, and there’s something about Glacier Park that inspires me.” Willig, a dentist and founder of Orange Door Dental Group,
first became closely connected to northwestern Montana shortly after dental school, when he worked as a staff dentist at an Indian Health Service hospital in Browning, Mont., near the eastern entrance to Glacier. The location gave Willig and several other young dentists something unusual after work: easy access to one of the country’s most rugged national parks. “We would go to Glacier Park and fish, or swim, or canoe, or hike almost every weekend, and two or three nights after work,” Willig said. “Because it was literally 35 minutes away.” He spent about four years in the area, exploring blue alpine lakes, snow-covered country and mountain trails. The area was remote enough that he could sometimes drive long stretches without seeing another car. The landscape, flora and fauna - including giant moose and bison - left an impression that stayed with him even after he returned to Indiana. Willig has continued returning to Montana over the years, sometimes for skiing and sometimes for summer trips. He made backpacking trips there in 2016 and 2019 before returning again this summer with his son and two friends. The group spent seven nights in the area and three nights backcountry camping. They hiked, canoed, swam and fished, while also dealing with hot weather, smoke from western wildfires and the practical demands of carrying gear and
ADVENTURE AT GLACIER — Chris Willig, center, spends time with his son Bower, right, and a friend of Bower’s at Glacier National Park in Montana. Willig, who first developed a love for the park while working nearby after dental school, has made a point of sharing his appreciation for outdoor adventure with his children. Photo provided by Chris Willig. filtering water along the trail. Willig said one of his favorite experiences is reaching mountain passes, where hikers cross between peaks and, in some places, the Continental Divide. “You’re on a highway that’s been there forever,” he said. “Critters have passed on the highway, early people have passed on this highway.” One highlight of the latest trip
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was hiking through Ptarmigan Tunnel, a passage cut through a mountain in the 1930s. After hiking for hours, Willig said, they walked through the tunnel and came out to a completely different view on the other side. “A lady we encountered there compared it to ‘Lord of the Rings,’” Willig said with a chuckle. Though beautiful, this year’s trip was about more than scenery. Willig did not begin backpacking until college, and now he wants his children to learn that adventure is something they can plan for, prepare for and accomplish themselves. “I just want to pass that on to my kids and show them, hey, you can do this,” he said. “It’s fun, it takes a little planning and a little prep, but it’s
pretty rewarding.” He and his son even joked during the trip about “type two fun,” experiences that may be uncomfortable in the moment, but become good memories later. That description fit parts of their trek. Willig said the younger hikers carried heavier packs, while he focused on food, water and planning. At one point, when he was worn out near the end of a hike, they helped carry his pack. “I was responsible for you guys getting out of here alive,” Willig recalled telling them. “And they helped me get out of there alive.” The mix of challenge, teamwork and discovery is part of the appeal for Willig. “It’s fun to get out a little bit and get away from the road, from the highway, from the pull-offs,” he said. Full Color Circulars/Inserts Newsletters
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 7
REAL Services hosts Diamond Gala, 30th Age of Excellence Awards Text and Photos By PHOEBE MUTHART Editor Community members from across northern Indiana gathered Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Gillespie Conference Center in South Bend for REAL Services’ Diamond Gala and the 30th annual Age of Excellence Awards. The evening featured a cocktail reception, dinner, keynote speaker Chris Singleton, presentation of the Age of Excellence Awards and a fundraiser supporting the organization’s mission. REAL Services, founded in 1966 following the closure of the Studebaker plant in South Bend, has spent 60 years serving older adults, caregivers, families and individuals in need throughout northern Indiana. What began as a senior dining program has grown into an organization focused on providing services that promote dignity, independence and compassion. The Age of Excellence Awards were established in 1996 to recognize individuals and organizations making a difference in their communities. This year’s event marked the first time the awards were combined with the organization’s anniversary celebration and held as an evening gala. “In the past, it has been the Age of Excellence Awards. This year, because of the 60th anniversary, we combined them,” said REAL Services President and CEO KJ Mapes. “It’s our first time having it in the evening, so that’s really cool and exciting.” Mapes said honoring the organization’s history while recognizing community leaders made the celebration especially meaningful. “It’s really special that we’re combining the 60th anniversary of REAL Services with the 30th anniversary of the Age of Excellence because it’s people in the community that have made our organization so strong,” she said. Finding the right keynote speaker helped connect both themes. “When I met Chris and heard his story, I was like, ‘There’s my answer,’” Mapes said. Singleton, a former South Bend Cubs player in the Chicago Cubs organization, returned to the city where he once lived at St. Paul’s Retirement Community. His mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, was one of nine people killed during the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. Since then, he has become a nationally known speaker promoting forgiveness, unity and hope. “When I heard about what the event was, and who would be here, there was no doubt,” Singleton said. “Coming back to South Bend and getting to make an impact on those who make an impact in this community is a blessing for me.” WNDU 16 News Now anchor
Tricia Sloma served as master of ceremonies. She said she hoped attendees left inspired to support older adults and underserved residents. This year’s award recipients were Wanda P. Dudley, Change Agent of the Year; Carl Hetler, Sargent Shriver Champion of the Year; Milton Adult Day Services and Center for Hospice Care, Becky Zaseck Professional of the Year; Spike Abernethy and Pete Mullen, Les Fox Hoosier Lifetime Achievement Award; and the Rev. Dean R. Heisley, who was honored posthumously as Volunteer of the Year. His son accepted the award on his behalf. Following the awards, radio personality Mark McGill led the Fund the Need campaign, raising support for programs that help older adults and families throughout the region. Mapes said community support remains essential as nonprofit organizations face increasing financial challenges. “It does a lot for us as an organization to say there’s 280 people in this room who think we’re important and that our mission still matters,” she said. “Our organization started because people
OPENING REMARKS — Karla (KJ) Mapes, REAL Services President and CEO opened the event held in South Bend. cared about their neighbors who needed help. They wanted to walk alongside them with compassion and dignity. That has never changed.” For more information about REAL Services, visit realservices. org.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD — Pete Mullen was presented with the Les Fox Hoosier Lifetime Achievement Award. He is pictured with KJ Mapes, right, president and CEO of REAL Services. DIAMOND GALA — Chris Singleton, a former South Bend Cubs player in the Chicago Cubs organization, was the keynote speaker Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Gillespie Conference Center in South Bend for REAL Services’ Diamond Gala and the 30th annual Age of Excellence Awards.
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8 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Understanding Social Security and Medicare can help make informed retirement decisions By MARIA WOGOMON, CSA Certified Senior Advisor Financial Representative, Everence Social Security and Medicare are separate government programs, but they work together to support you as you age. Understanding both can help you make informed retirement decisions. Social Security Social Security offers financial support for retirees, disabled workers and families of deceased workers. To qualify, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years. You can begin receiving benefits as early as age 62, but the longer you wait – up to age 70 –the higher your monthly benefit will be. The Social Security Administration also manages eligibility for Medicare Parts A and B. If you take Social Security prior to age 65, you’ll automatically receive Medicare Part A (hospital
insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) when you turn 65 – though you can opt out of Medicare Part B if it is not needed. Medicare Medicare provides health insurance for people 65 and older, and for some younger individuals with disabilities or diseases. Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) is offered by the government. You can add a Medicare Supplement plan to help pay for expenses that Medicare approves, but does not pay for, like deductibles and coinsurance. Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is an alternative to Original Medicare. Part D is insurance for prescription drugs. Both Parts C and D are offered by private insurance companies; however,** enrollment is handled by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. If you’re 65 or older and not receiving Social Security, you’ll need to actively enroll in Medicare through the SSA.
Want to learn more? Join Everence for our Social Security and Retirement Income
workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 14, and our Medicare workshop on Sept. 28 at 1110 N. Main St.,
Goshen. Call 574-537-8773 or visit everence.com/Michiana to learn more or register.
Plan a party, not a funeral By DAVID KEENAN Owner Affordable Hearing Store Caring Celebrations I’ve attended many funerals over the years. I’ve often wondered whether there might be a better way to honor the people we love. Traditional funerals can be meaningful, but when I imagine friends and family gathering in my honor, I would much rather be there to enjoy their company. Why wait until someone is gone to tell stories, share memories and explain how much that person has meant to us? Perhaps it’s time to consider another tradition: celebrating people while they are still with us. When I
mention this idea to friends, many say they would prefer a joyful gathering to a funeral. Yet when I ask whether they would organize such an event for a parent, sibling, aunt or uncle, the response is often the same: “I wouldn’t know where to start.” Our family faced that question when we suggested a large celebration for my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday. She resisted at first, saying none of her friends were doing anything like it. Fortunately, we went ahead. She was delighted to see cousins, friends and loved ones who traveled from near and far to spend time with her. That experience taught us something important. A gathering is not only about
the guest of honor. It is also about the relationships built over a lifetime - the friendships, family bonds, shared experiences, laughter and support that have enriched all of us. Instead of sending expensive flowers after a favorite aunt has died, why not bring her flowers today? Tell her what she means to you. Gather the family. Share the stories while everyone can still laugh about them together. We should begin talking about new ways to celebrate one another and say goodbye with love. Perhaps the best tribute we can give someone is not a beautiful funeral, but a beautiful day together while they are still here to enjoy it.
Professional Forum Interested Businesses Call Marla Schroeder 574-350-4488 A Monthly Question And Answer Advertorial Column
Elder Law
Financial Services
When to create & update your Estate Plan
Q. When is Part D Open Enrollment?
A.
An Estate Plan typically includes at least a Last Will & Testament (“Will”), Durable Power of Attorney, and Advanced Directive. The right time to create your Estate Plan is up to you, but certain events in your life should cause you to consider updating your Estate Plan documents. Typically, these events would include marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, adoption, marriage of children, death of a spouse, moving to a new location, necessary changes to a guardian, trustee or executor, and even changes in tax laws. Another common cause for updates is when your child becomes a responsible adult and can now be entrusted with the powers provided in your Estate Plan. In addition, you should be aware that in order to execute estate planning documents you must be of sound mind, which generally refers to a person’s men-
A.
Tony B. Manns Attorney at Law
tal capacity to understand their actions, make informed decisions free of undue influence, and the consequences of their decisions. Estate planning documents should be signed in front of witnesses that are able to testify to the mental capacity of the signor if challenged. This is also an important reason not to wait to get your Estate Plan created. You should consult your elder law attorney to ensure your Estate Plan preferences are met.
108 W. Michigan Street LaGrange, IN 46761 Ph: (260) 463-4949 Fax: (260) 463-4905 www.beersmallers.com
DISCLAIMER: Tony B. Manns 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. Tony B. Manns 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. Tony B. Manns and Beers Mallers, LLP Attorneys At Law, also advise that any information you send to this advertisement shall not be deemed secure or confidential. Please visit our office to ensure complete confidentiality.
Open Enrollment for Medicare Part D is October 15 through December 7 each year. This is the time to review and make changes to your prescription drug coverage. If you have a Medicare Supplement plan, this enrollment period applies only to your Part D drug plan and does not affect your supplement policy. Medicare Part D is optional insurance that helps cover prescription drugs not paid for by Medicare Part A or Part B. These plans are offered through private insurance companies and vary in coverage, premiums, deductibles, and pharmacy networks. Reviewing your options each year can help ensure you have a plan that fits your current needs and budget.
Maria Wogomon, CSA
Certified Senior Advisor® Financial Representative, Everence® Even if you do not currently take prescription medications, enrolling when first eligible may help you avoid a late enrollment penalty in the future. The Everence Part D Service Team assists Everence Medicare Supplement clients by reviewing their current Part D plan and comparing available options. To learn more, visit everence. com/medicare or call 574-537-8773.
1110 N. Main St. Goshen, IN 46528 574-537-8773 michiana@everence.com
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 9
Q. What’s coming in September? A. Senior Talk “on the road” at
Goshen’s First Friday games night. If you missed it, it is still available online at www.seniortalkmichiana.org. Join us September 4th and October 2nd at the Silver Circle senior tents at Goshen First Friday. We are also hosting a Senior Technology Fair September 12th at Doc’s Pavilion in Wakarusa. Drop in and have all of your tech questions answered by experts. September episodes will feature State Representative Joanna King discussing “Indiana and Seniors”. If you have specific questions, please email seniortalkmichiana@gmail.com. We will also be sharing information on the ACOM Active Aging & Wellness Resource Fair scheduled for September 10th at the Four Winds Event Center.
Hearing Healthcare Tom Rose Podcast Host
Senior Talk Michiana is a non-profit 501(c) (3), sponsored by Greencroft Communities, Everence Financial, Senior Life Newspapers, Aging Connections of Michiana, The Owls Club, and the Wakarusa Chamber of Commerce. Listeners can easily access the podcast through free subscriptions on platforms such as Spotify, Facebook, and www. seniortalkmichiana.org. We would also love to have your feedback, so please get in touch with us at seniortalkmichiana@ gmail.com.
Q. Can you hear better in noise? A. Yes. Really!
Nearly everyone who has hearing aids voices the same concern: “I still don’t hear well in noise.” Well folks, hang on to your hat, because this breakthrough is amazing! This is the second generation of noise reducing hearing aids and they’re finally delivering what they promised. On August 11th, in the middle of that terrific storm, with no power and working by flashlight, our Unitron rep fit me with a new pair of hearing aids and demonstrated how amazingly well they reduce noise. I could hear well and understand in a very noisy environment. Building on what their sister company, Phonak, began with Ultra Sphere, these new Unitron S-RX make the whole
SENIOR TALK MICHIANA
David Keenan process automatic, and does a better job of separating speech and noise. That same morning, I received a call from my Signia rep, (formerly Siemens) who offered us early access to their yet unnamed noise reducing product to be released this month. To be among the first to test drive these amazing new hearing aids, call the Affordable Hearing Store at 574-387-4215. The price? About half of what others charge.
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Call 574-387-4215
Email: seniortalkmichiana@gmail.com www.seniortalkmichiana.org
Voted “Best Hearing Center” 10 times!
Professional Forum Interested Businesses Call Marla Schroeder 574-350-4488 A Monthly Question And Answer Advertorial Column
Senior Relocation
Healthy Aging Q. I don’t think a senior center is for me. Why should I go? A. A lot of people picture
Scheerer McCulloch: Your trusted partner in auction, real estate and moving:
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senior centers as places for “other people” — someone older, less active, or in need of help. But today’s senior centers are often much more than that. A senior center can be a place to meet people, take a class, exercise, share a meal, learn about services, volunteer, or simply get out of the house for a while. You do not have to attend every day or join every
activity. You can start small. Stop in for one event, one lunch, or one program that sounds interesting. The real value is connection. Staying socially connected is good for your health, your mood, and your sense of purpose. A senior center is not about giving up independence. For many people, it is one more way to keep it.
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Several years ago, some friends whom had Moving can be a stressful experience for a wide range of people, not just seniors. Whether you’re downsizing, relocating for work, or handling life changes such as divorce or inheritance, the process can feel overwhelming. A few years ago, I spoke with friends who had recently moved from their family home to a retirement community. They shared how the coordination, delays, and stress made the experience challenging. This inspired me to expand our services beyond seniors to help anyone facing a move. With a background in real estate, auctions, and appraisals, I recognized how our comprehensive services could ease the burden. Today, my team offers professional moving, real estate brokerage, antique and home appraisals,
Tim McCulloch, Owner auctioneering, floor planning, climate-controlled storage, and both online and onsite auctions. We also provide complete property clean-up, selling items, and removing non-salable belongings. Our goal is to make every move seamless, stress-free, and efficient. We serve clients across surrounding counties and beyond, ensuring everyone has access to reliable, compassionate support during their transition. Contact us today for a free consultation and experience a smoother move. Call (260) 441-8636. We’re here to help. Tim McCulloch, Owner Call Us For An Estimate Today
(260) 441-8636 Ft. Wayne or (260) 356-4111 Huntington and clean out your junk!
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10 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Sports
Disc golf good for a spin, says Meulink By MAKSYM HART Staff Writer When Steve Meulink and his wife plan a vacation, one question helps determine where they stay: Where is the nearest disc golf course they have not played? The sport has become a regular part of life for Meulink, who plays two or three times a week and has traveled across much of the country and beyond with discs in tow. Meulink first took up disc golf during the COVID-19 pandemic after two of his sons had already started playing. “Disc golf exploded in popularity during the pandemic, and we all got caught up in it,” Meulink explained. By 2021, Meulink and his wife were invested enough in the hobby to install their own nine-hole course on their 5-acre property. Now retired, the couple stays active in several ways, including working out and taking dance lessons, but disc golf has become one of their favorite forms of recreation. “I think particularly as we age, staying active is so important,” Meulink said. Disc golf borrows much of
its language from traditional golf. Players tee off, try to stay on the fairway and count pars, birdies and bogeys. Instead of hitting a ball into a hole, however, they throw specialized discs toward a basket fitted with chains. Playing commonly involves different discs for different shots, including drivers, fairway drivers and putters. Meulink said he and his wife can generally drive about 200 feet, while younger players can throw 400 or 500 feet. He jokes age has limited some of his distance, and that no part of his game is immune from an off day. “I can suck at all parts of the game, as do most people,” he said. Still, Meulink has won several events in his age group, giving him another reason to keep competing. The appeal goes beyond scores. His youngest son is now a local professional player, but the difference in ability does not keep the family from playing together. “He can play with my wife and me and we can have fun, even though we’re worlds apart in our abilities,” Meulink said. “It’s a great
Grand Emerald Place
HOLE IN ONE — Steve Meulink putts a disc toward a basket at Lucerne Park in Warsaw, one of four courses in town, including those at Harrison, Grace College and Meulink’s own. Meulink plays disc golf two or three times a week and said the sport has become a way to stay active, spend time with family and explore new places. Photo by Maksym Hart. sport for social interaction.” Accessibility is one reason Meulink believes disc golf grew during the pandemic. It was outdoors, naturally spread players apart and offered people an activity when many outdoor gatherings were restricted. It is also relatively inexpensive. Meulink said most courses are free and individual discs generally cost about $10 to $25. “A beginner can get started with only two or three,” he added.
Meulink’s favorite local courses include his home course and Lucerne Park in Warsaw. He is still chasing his first hole-in-one there. On one attempt at Lucerne’s first hole, his disc hit the chains but bounced out. “Sinking a 75-foot putt or 125-foot upshot is always exciting,” he said. Disc golf has also become part of the way Meulink sees the world. He and his wife use the free UDisc app while planning trips so they can find courses near their hotels.
They have played in most states east of the Mississippi, along with California, Puerto Rico and Newfoundland, Canada. Last summer, Meulink played Maple Hill in Massachusetts, which he described as “great fun” and “just gorgeous.” “The number one rated course in the U.S. and it’s $10 to play,” he said. “It’s unreal.” While the travel and tournaments are part of the fun, the strongest draw for Meulink is being active, outside and sharing a game with family.
7 reasons to get started AFFORDABLE SENIOR CARE with your fitness program ing Accept id a ic d Me s Waiver
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574-291-2222 TODAY!
4010 S. Ironwood Dr. South Bend, IN 46614 opsliving.com/grand-emerald-place
(NAPSI) - Because physical activity and healthy aging go hand in hand, getting started with a fitness program included in your health plan can do more than help you maintain your health as you age. “Movement truly is medicine,” says Dr. Jaynie Bjornaraa, physical therapist, fitness professional, adjunct professor, and senior vice president of rehabilitation
services and digital fitness solutions at American Specialty Health. Bjornaraa oversees the Silver&Fit Healthy Aging and Exercise program for ASH, ensuring that its members get evidence-based recommendations when starting their fitness routines. She helped develop the program’s onboarding feature, which sets members on individual fitness journeys based on
their needs. Fitness levels, exercise goals, and personal preferences all factor into a tailored 14-day workout plan. “Research has shown that active movement is the best way to prevent and improve chronic disease. And the great thing about exercise is that it benefits your cognitive health - memory and mood - as much as it affects your physical well-being,” accordContinued on page 11
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 11
Fixated on handyman tips and tricks My doctor’s office isn’t very modern. I don’t mean the scientific knowledge or the high-tech diagnostic tools in IN A his office. NUTSHELL I’m talking By DICK about the WOLFSIE magazines in the waiting room. Recently, I got the chance to read the last print edition of Newsweek from 2012. Last year, I also breezed through Life magazine right before my EKG. One piece of reading material that caught my attention was “Family Handyman.” Here were the cover stories: • “Measure once, panic twice.” • “My drill keeps screwing around.” • “I built a gate and, yes, I nailed it.” • “Why my door and I are both off our hinges.” The lead story was “Five Great Sawhorse Designs.” I couldn’t wait to read it because, off the top of my head, I could think of only four, none of which they mentioned in the article. Also on the cover was “How to Make a Screw
Organizer From a Leftover Piece of PVC Pipe.” I didn’t want to read too much exciting stuff like this since it can temporarily raise your blood pressure before they slap the cuff on you. I turned to a feature story about what to do if your Gorilla Glue gets hard in the tube and another on how to dig post holes in sandy soil. I read both carefully. After 46 years, Mary Ellen and I are always looking for something new to talk about. This is my favorite: There was a three-page spread on “How to Cure a Sick Ceiling Fan.” “What would the fan be complaining of? Periodic dizziness? One piece was called “Best Advice for DIYers.” I thought it was about how to successfully drink beer and drill at the same time. Then I learned that a DIYer is a do-it-yourselfer. Another entry was titled “How to Make a Hidden Cutting Board.” I can never find ours when we need it, so I decided to skip that kitchen improvement project. “Maintaining Your Chimney” begins with a list of what you’ll need to do the job - items found around most houses. You need brushable crown sealer, chimney water repellent and a stainless-steel
chimney cap. I had all of that in the garage except for the brushable crown sealer, the chimney water repellent and a stainless-steel chimney cap. Another article started: “Trying to run fish tape through an insulated stud bay can be a nightmare.” You have to have a pretty dull imagina-
Continued from page 10
ing to Bjornaraa. She offers this short list of other benefits a thoughtful fitness program can provide: 1. Improved Health Being physically active can reduce your risk of disease, strengthen your bones and muscles, help you manage weight, and boost your mental well-being. 2. Preventive Care Physical fitness can help prevent certain high-risk scenarios such as serious injury from falls, which is the leading cause of accidental death in older adults. 3. Social Interaction Some programs offer links to connect with clubs and free group fitness classes online for various types and levels of workouts. 4. Health Rewards Incentives for tracking your activity though a fitness program
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8 8 Closed for the holiday! Closed for the holiday! Spaghetti/Meat Sauce
Italian Vegetables Texas Toast Tropical Fruit Cup Spaghetti/Meat Sauce Spaghetti/Meat Sauce Italian Vegetables Italian Vegetables Texas Toast TexasFruit ToastCup Tropical Tropical Fruit Cup
Chicken Pot Pie Over Biscuit Corn Chicken Pot Pie Brownie Chicken Pot Pie Over Biscuit Over Biscuit Corn Corn Brownie Brownie
Hamburger Mushroom StroganoffMushroom w/Pasta Hamburger California Vegetables Hamburger Mushroom Stroganoff w/Pasta Stroganoff w/Pasta Dinner Roll/Marg. California Vegetables California Vegetables Dinner Roll/Marg. Shortbread Cookie
can earn various awards as well help you work with your medical provider to better manage any chronic disease. 5. Personal Coaching Connecting with a health coach during regularly scheduled sessions through a fitness-focused plan can help you achieve a variety of wellness goals. 6. Cost Savings Fitness-focused plans often include low-cost access to fitness centers and exercise videos for a wider variety of workout choices. 7. Quality of Life A thoughtfully designed program will help members develop a workout plan, which can help you stay mobile and maintain their independence. Even for individuals who don’t currently engage in fitness activities, Bjornaraa says it’s never too late to start.
“You can be 80 years old,” she said. “Whenever you decide to start an exercise routine, you’ll notice the health improvements quickly add up. However, starting slow and staying consistent is the key to building fitness levels and a good program can help you steadily reach your goals.” It’s important that your health plan supports your long-term health - and fitness. If you’re considering adding fitness to your routine, be sure to work with doctors before starting any new exercise regimen. Finally, once you’ve started a fitness plan, make the most of it. Stay committed to a lifestyle of fitness. Regular attendance in exercise classes and engaging in your wellness will go a long way to help you maintain and improve your health.
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Marinated Chicken Diced Sweet Potatoes Broccoli Tuesday Dinner Roll/Marg. Tuesday Pineapple Cup Marinated Chicken Marinated SweetChicken Potatoes Diced Diced Sweet Potatoes Broccoli Hamburger on Bun Broccoli Dinner Roll/Marg. Red Skin Potatoes Dinner Roll/Marg. Pineapple Cup Stewed Tomatoes Pineapple Cup
Jello w/Fruit
Hamburger on Bun Hamburger on Bun Red Skin Potatoes Red Skin Potatoes Stewed Tomatoes Maple Mustard Pork Stewed Tomatoes Jello Potatoes w/Fruit Sweet Jello w/Fruit
Brussels Sprouts Bread/Marg. Maple Mustard Pork Mixed Fruit Cup Maple Mustard Pork Sweet Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Brussels Sprouts Brussels Sprouts Bread/Marg. Bread/Marg. Mixed Fruit Cup Meatloaf Mixed Fruit Cup
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Peas Bread/Marg. Bread/Marg. Mixed Fruit Cup Mixed Fruit Cup
Sausage, Green Bean & PotatoGreen Casserole Sausage, Bean & Tomato &Casserole Zucchini Sausage, Bean & PotatoGreen Potato Casserole Dinner Roll/Marg. Tomato & Zucchini Tomato & Zucchini Dinner Roll/Marg. Warm Spiced Apples
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Polish Sausage/Bun Polish Sausage/Bun Mashed Potatoes Pork Fritter on Bun Mashed Potatoes Sauerkraut Mayo Sauerkraut Warm Spiced Apples Creamed Corn Warm Spiced Apples
Green Beans Cin. Applesauce Pork Fritter on Bun
Pork Fritter Mayoon Bun MayoCorn Creamed BBQ Chicken Breast Creamed Corn Green Beans Macaroni & Cheese Green Beans Cin. Applesauce Cin. Applesauce California Vegetables
Dinner Rolls/Marg.
Scrambled Eggs 23 Diced Potatoes 23 Sausage Gravy over Biscuit
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Banana Sausage Gravy over Biscuit Scrambled Eggs Scrambled Eggs Diced Potatoes Diced Potatoes Banana Banana Bruschetta Chicken Baby Bakers Bruschetta Chicken Vegetable Blend Bruschetta Chicken Baby Bakers Baby Bakers Bread/Marg. Vegetable Blend Vegetable Blend Bread/Marg. Peach Cup
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Riverside Terrace
Riverside Terrace 181 N. Elkhart Ave. | (574) 320-5995 Riverside Terrace 181 181 N. N. Elkhart Elkhart Ave. Ave. || (574) (574) 320-5995 320-5995 Stratford Commons
2601 Oakland Ave. | (574) 320-5996 Stratford Commons Stratford Commons 2601 Oakland Oakland Ave. Ave. || (574) (574) 320-5996 320-5996 2601 Goshen
Goshen 1425 Greencroft Dr., Greencroft Manor II Manor II | (574) 971-6016 Greencroft ManorDr., II Manor II | (574) 971-6016 1425 Greencroft Mentone 1425 Greencroft Dr., Manor II | (574) 971-6016 Bell Memorial Public Library Mentone
101 Main St.Public | (574)Library 353-7555 BellW. Memorial Mentone 101 W. Main St. | (574) 353-7555 Bell Memorial Public Library 101 W. Main St. | (574) 353-7555
North Webster North Community Center North Webster Center Community 301 N. Main Main St. St. Suite D D || (574) (574) 834-1193 834-1193 Community Center 301 N. || Suite 301 N. Main St. | Suite D | (574) 834-1193 Pierceton
Pierceton Senior Center Pierceton Senior 205 N. Center First St. | (574) 526-1060 Senior Center 205 N. First St. | (574) 526-1060 Silver Lake
Suggested Donation: $4.50 Cntry. Fried Steak/Gravy Suggested Donation: $4.50 Mashed Potatoes Green Beans Friday Bread/Marg. Friday Jello Cup
Lion’s Building Silver Lake Lake Silver 108 N. Building Harrison St. | (260) 450-2416 Lion’s Lion’s 108 N. Building Harrison St. | (260) 450-2416 108 N. Harrison St. | (260) 450-2416
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Stuffed Pepper Soup Stuffed Pepper Soup Cauliflower Chicken Un-kabob Cauliflower Dinner Roll/Marg. w/ Pepper, Onion, Tomato Dinner Roll/Marg. Peaches Rice Peaches
Cntry. Fried Steak/Gravy Cntry. Fried Potatoes Steak/Gravy Mashed Chili w/Beans Mashed Potatoes Green Beans Baby Bakers Green Beans Bread/Marg. Broccoli Bread/Marg. Jello Cup Jello Cup Crackers
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Dinner Roll/Marg.
Pudding Cup 10 Chicken Un-kabob 10 w/ Pepper, ChickenOnion, Un-kabob Tomato
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Over Rice Asian Blend Veg. Sweet & Sour Chicken Bread/Marg. Sweet & Sour Chicken Over Rice Fortune Cookie Over Rice Asian Blend Veg. Asian Blend Cup Veg. Pineapple Bread/Marg.
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Bread/Marg. Fortune Cookie Fortune Cookie Pineapple Cup Pineapple Cup
Your donation counts. Every donation makes acounts. difference. Your donation EveryWe serve 160,000 meals each Your over donation Every donation makes acounts. difference. We donation makes a difference. We serve over 160,000 meals each year to seniors! serve over 160,000 meals each year to seniors! year to seniors!
Warsaw
Warsaw Retired WarsawTigers Senior Apartments Retired Tigers Senior Apartments 320 W. Main St.Senior | (574)Apartments 267-0037 Retired Tigers 320 W. Main St. | (574) 267-0037 Warsaw Senior Activity Center
800 N. Park Ave.Activity | (574) Center 267-0026 Warsaw Senior Warsaw Senior Activity Center 800 N. N. Park Ave. | (574) 267-0026 800 BremenPark Ave. | (574) 267-0026 Oakhaven Bremen Community
500 S. Montgomery St. | (574) 933-2944 Bremen Oakhaven Community 500 S. Montgomery St. | (574) 933-2944 Oakhaven Community 500 S. Montgomery St. | (574) 933-2944
Bread/Marg.
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Ham & Beans Carrots Carrots Cornbread/Marg. Cornbread/Marg. Fruit Cup Sweet & Sour Chicken Fruit Cup
Syracuse Lakeside Park Center Syracuse ParkDrive Center Lakeside 1013 N. Long Long || (574) Lakeside Park Center 1013 N. Drive (574) 457-2631 457-2631 1013 N. Long Drive | (574) 457-2631
Chili Babyw/Beans Bakers Baby Bakers Broccoli Potato Crusted Fish Broccoli Crackers Scalloped Potatoes Crackers Mandarin Orange Cup Mandarin Orange Cup Broccoli
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Cornbread/Marg. Fruit Cup Ham & Beans
Elkhart & & Marshal Marshal County County Elkhart Elkhart & Marshal County
Mandarin Orange Cup Chili w/Beans
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w/ Pepper, Rice Onion, Tomato Dinner Roll/Marg. HamRice & Beans Dinner Roll/Marg. Pudding Cup Carrots Pudding Cup
To make a reservation, please call the meal site director at your preferred location listed below. We look forward to serving you.
Elkhart Elkhart Tolson Center ElkhartCenter Tolson 1320 Benham Benham Ave. || (574) (574) 320-5863 320-5863 Tolson CenterAve. 1320 1320 Benham Ave. | (574) 320-5863
Friday
Menus Subject to 3 Change | All Meals Served with Milk 4
BBQ Chicken Breast Strawb. Applesauce BBQ Chicken Breast Macaroni & Cheese MacaroniVegetables & Cheese California California Vegetables Dinner Rolls/Marg. 23 Dinner Rolls/Marg. Strawb. Applesauce Strawb. Applesauce Sausage Gravy over Biscuit
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Menus Subject to Change | AllPepper Meals Served Polish Sausage/Bun Stuffed Soup with Milk Mashed Potatoes Cauliflower Sauerkraut Dinner Roll/Marg. Wednesday Thursday Warm Spiced Apples Peaches Wednesday Thursday
Dinner Roll/Marg. Dinner Roll/Marg. Bread/Marg. Shortbread Cookie Warm Spiced Apples Peach Cup Shortbread Cookie Warm Spiced Apples Peach Cup We welcome Seniors to join our program and access daily nutritional meals while increasing your socialization. We welcome Seniors to join our program and access daily nutritional meals while increasing your socialization. Meals are fresh daily in our locations are open through Friday, 10:00 Meals are prepared prepared fresh daily inprogram our Kitchen. Kitchen. Lunch site locations aremeals open Monday Monday through your Friday, 10:00 a.m. a.m. -- 1:30 1:30 p.m. p.m. We welcome Seniors to join our and Lunch accesssite daily nutritional while increasing socialization. To reservation, please the meal director your location listed below. We forward to To make make reservation, please call theKitchen. meal site site director at your preferred preferred location listed below. We look look forward to serving serving you. Meals areaaprepared fresh dailycall in our Lunch siteat locations are open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. you.
Greencroft Manor II Goshen
Suggested Donation: $4.50
Menus Subject to Change | All Meals Served with Milk
Monday
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places, as in a do-it-yourself plumbing project. It was really a clever gadget, but I tore the page out and threw it away. My next colonoscopy is coming up later in 2026, and with all the cost cutting in medicine, the fewer doctors who know about this, the better.
7 reasons
September September September
tion if this is what you have bad dreams about. The regular monthly column was “How to Make Your Own Tools,” a great way to save money. The author showed how to take a long, flexible piece of tubing and attach a flashlight at the end for working in dark, hard-to-reach
Potato Crusted Fish Pudding Oranges Potato Crusted Fish Scalloped Potatoes Scalloped Potatoes Broccoli Broccoli Bread/Marg. Bread/Marg. Pudding Oranges Pudding Oranges Broccoli Cream Soup
BBQ Pork Sliders
Prince Charles Broccoli Cream Veg. Soup Cup Broccoli Cream Soup BBQJello Pork Sliders BBQ Pork Sliders Prince Charles Veg. PrinceJello Charles Cup Veg. Jello Cup
All donations directly support this donate what Allprogram. donationsPlease directly support you can comfortably afford. All donations directly support this program. Please donate what thisyou program. Please donate what can comfortably afford. Thank you! you can comfortably Thank you! afford. Thank you!
realservices.org/meals-and-nutrition/ realservices.org/meals-and-nutrition/ realservices.org/meals-and-nutrition/ Plymouth Garden Court Plymouth Court West West Garden 400 Garden Court West St. 400 W. W. Washington Washington St. || (574) (574) 935-0047 935-0047 400 W. Washington St. | (574) 935-0047 Bourbon Bourbon Event Center Matchette Bourbon Matchette Event Center 805 N. Harris St. |Center (574) 342-7031 Matchette Event 805 N. Harris Harris St. St. || (574) (574) 342-7031 342-7031 Argos B&R Community Building Argos Argos 194 Michigan St. | (574) 892-9669 B&R Community Building B&RS. 194 S.Community Michigan St.Building | (574) 892-9669
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12 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Finance
5 Social Security resources that can protect elders from scams By DANIEL SUMMER, MA Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was celebrated June 15. On this day, communities, seniors, caregivers, governments, organizations and the private sector united to prevent the mistreatment of and violence against older people. Social Security scams are widespread across the United
States. Scammers use sophisticated tactics to deceive you into providing sensitive information or money. They target everyone - especially the elderly - and their tactics continue to evolve. Here are five easy-to-use resources to prevent Social Security fraud: 1. Create your personal my Social Security account at ssa. gov/myaccount to stay one step ahead of scammers.
2. Read our blog post to learn how to guard your Social Security card – and protect your personal information at ssa.gov/blog/en/ posts/2025-06-05.html. 3. Check out our Protect Yourself from Scams page to learn how we fight scammers at ssa.gov/scam. 4. Read our Scam Alert fact sheet to learn what tactics scammers use and how to protect yourself at ssa.gov/ fraud/assets/materials/EN-0510597.pdf. 5. Learn about other types of fraud on our Office of the Inspector General’s Scam Awareness page at oig.ssa.gov/ scam-awareness/scam-alert. You’ll also see how to report these scams to our OIG and other government agencies. Share this information with your friends and family to help spread awareness about Social Security imposter scams.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMMERS — The Social Security Administration has five easy-to-use resources to prevent Social Security fraud. Find out more at ssa.gov. Photo provided by the Social Security Administration.
Your Medicare Roadmap -
What to know before you turn 65 (Feature Impact) Sixty-five is more than a number. It’s a milestone. A moment to reflect on where you’ve been and look forward with confidence to what comes next. For millions of Americans, turning 65 also means unlocking one of the most valuable benefits you’ve earned: Medicare. The best is still ahead, and it starts with knowing your options. The official source for Medicare information, Medicare. gov, is here to help with clear, trusted information. Get information for your path at Medicare.gov, where you can find out when and how to enroll and explore your coverage options. Understanding Your Medicare Coverage Options When you first sign up for Medicare, you choose how to get your coverage. There are two main options: Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Original Medicare is health coverage provided directly by the federal government. It has two parts: • Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care and home health care. Most people pay no premium for Part A. • Part B (Medical Insurance) covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services (like screenings, vaccines and an-
nual wellness visits) and durable medical equipment like wheelchairs and walkers. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month and is typically deducted from your Social Security check. With Original Medicare, you can visit any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. You can also add optional coverage to help manage costs: • Medigap (Supplemental Insurance) helps pay your share of Medicare costs. • Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) helps pay for medications. Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare that provides Part A and Part B and is offered by private insurers approved by Medicare. You still pay the Part B premium. Some plans charge an additional premium – though many carry a $0 plan premium and may even help cover part of your Part B cost. Most plans include in Part D drug coverage along with extra benefits like dental, vision and hearing. Keep in mind most plans require you to use doctors within the plan’s network. 5 Steps To Enroll With Confidence 1. Use official sources. Go to Medicare.gov or call (800) MEDICARE for step-by-step, personalized guidance on coverage and enrollment. 2. Start early. You don’t have to wait until your birthday. Explore
your options now so you’re ready when your enrollment window opens. 3. Know your enrollment path. Your path depends on your circumstances – some people are automatically enrolled and some are not. There are unique steps for people who are still working. 4. Avoid late enrollment penalties. Missing your enrollment window can result in a permanent premium penalty for both Part B and Part D. Signing up on time protects your wallet for years to come. 5. Compare plans and save. At Medicare.gov, you can compare plan costs side-by-side, based on the specific drugs you take. A quick comparison could save you money each year. You can also confirm your current doctors are in-network before you choose a plan. Turning 65 is a milestone worth celebrating and it’s the perfect time to focus on what matters most: your health and well-being. That includes eating well, exercising and making sure you have health insurance that fits your needs. There’s no onesize-fits-all plan. Start your journey at Medicare.gov – your roadmap to a healthier and confident future. Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 13
Blast to the Past!
‘Disco Duck’ was a DJ’s parody force, and disco’s what DJ Dees Rick Dees and hyped as a part-time hustle His Cast of Idiots at a local club, where he spun At one time, silly novelty songs were commonplace on the radio. The 1950s brought us “The Purple A Boomer Blast People To The Past Eater” (Sheb By RANDAL Wooley) and C. HILL “The Chipmunk Song” (the Chipmunks). The next decade offered “Alley Oop” (the Hollywood Argyles) and “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” (Alan Sherman). But when shots unexpectedly rang out in Dallas on a bright, sunny Friday in November 1963, nothing on the radio seemed funny anymore. Flash forward to the fall of 1976. Rick Dees (born Rigdon Osmond Dees III in 1950) was a fun-loving Memphis radio disc jockey who had earned a reputation for creating preposterous promotions such as the world’s largest fruitcake (3,000 pounds), the world’s largest jelly doughnut (300 pounds), the world’s largest lollipop (150 pounds), and the world’s largest T-shirt (9 feet by 14 feet). In the mid-1970s, disco reigned as a dominant musical
records and cracked jokes. Sensing that the time was right for a disco parody, and recalling a 1966 dance hit called “The Duck” by singer Jackie Lee, Dees came up with “Disco Duck” after hearing a fellow named Ken Pruitt making silly duck noises at a gym where the two worked out. See if you can spot the error in Dees’s lyrics. “Went to a party the other night “All the ladies were treatin’ me right “Movin’ my feet to the disco beat “How in the world could I keep my seat? “All of a sudden I began to change “I was on the dance floor actin’ strange “Flappin’ my arms, I began to cluck “Look at me, I’m the disco duck” Rick found a minor-league Memphis recording home - Freetone Records - for “Disco Duck.” Before long, Dees’s yuk-producing novelty began earning radio airplay throughout the South and eventually appearing poised to go nationwide. As a result, Freetone, for $3,500, leased the recording master to the powerful RSO label, an outfit that was keeping
‘DISCO DUCK’ CREATOR — Rick Dees, a radio disc jockey, created Disco Duck after recalling a 1966 dance hit “The Duck” by Jackie Lee. Photo from the Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection at the UCLA Library and Wikipedia. the charts afire with one peppy Bee Gees hit after another. RSO mogul Al Coury admitted later, “I didn’t even want to hear it.” He didn’t mind doing a bit of research, though. “I don’t generally use my kids as a barometer, but I’ve got to admit they made me think about the universal appeal this thing might have.” There’s little doubt that everyone involved (including Dees) watched in slack-jawed astonishment as the wacky item rocketed to the peak of the Billboard charts and eventually
HealthLinc and Heart City Health announce merger to expand access to care in Elkhart County HealthLinc and Heart City Health recently announced plans to merge, creating a stronger organization dedicated to improving access to high-quality health care in Elkhart County. The merger, which will become official this fall, subject to regulatory approval, will bring together two organizations with a shared commitment to serving patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. “By bringing our organizations together, we are expanding access to care, strengthening services and ensuring more individuals and families receive the care they need close to home,” said Melissa Mitchell, CEO of HealthLinc. Once combined, HealthLinc will operate 18 clinics in nine communities across northern Indiana, serving more than 73,400 individuals each year. Patients will have access to primary medical, dental, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy and more. As the cost of living continues to rise, access to affordable, high-quality services like these is more important than ever. Patient care will remain uninterrupted throughout the transition, with existing
appointments, providers and services remaining in place as the organizations work through the merger process. “This partnership is about more than growth; it’s about transformation,” said LaLaesha Black, CEO of Heart City Health. “By aligning our strengths with HealthLinc, we are creating a stronger, more
resilient system of care that will meet the evolving needs of Elkhart County for years to come.” Additional details will be available at a later date. For questions regarding the merger, please contact Brandi Anstine, HealthLinc’s chief external relations officer, at banstine@ healthlincchc.org.
sold a reported 6 million copies. RSO rushed out an LP called “The Original Disco Duck,” which struggled to No. 157 on the album sales lists. The next single pulled from that record was “Dis-Gorilla,” a romp describing the joys of a disco-dancing gorilla. But it never hit, and follow-up 45s tanked. Apparently, the record-buying public had had enough such foolishness. Did you spot the lyrical faux pas? Ducks don’t cluck. They quack. Chickens cluck. But then, how hip would something called “Disco Chicken” have sounded? Bibliography Books: Bronson, Fred. “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (Third Edition).” (p. 445)
New York: Billboard Publications, Inc., 1992. Shannon, Bob and John Javna. “Behind the Hits: Inside Stories of Classic Pop and Rock and Roll.” (p. 65) New York: Warner Books, Inc. 1986. The Al Coury quote is from here. Internet: Breihan, Tom. “Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots – ‘Disco Duck (Part 1).” Sept. 17, 2019. stereogum.com. Rick Dees, Disco Duck. (No author or date listed) en.wikipedia.org. “’Disco Duck’ By Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots.” (No author or date listed) songfacts. com. Lindain, Liz. “Beloved ‘70s Singer with Classic No. 1 Hit Song, Turns 76.” March 14, 2026. parade.com.
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Building capacity. Creating possibility. 1151 S. Michigan St, South Bend IN 46601 | (574)233-8205 info@ realservices.org
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More Than a Meal
A meal. A friendly face. A moment of connection. A home-delivered meal provides good nutrition, but for many older adults, it offers something just as important: a connection to another person. REAL Services volunteers deliver meals to older adults who may have difficulty leaving home. Along with a nutritious meal, they bring a friendly face, a few minutes of conversation and the reassurance that someone is checking in. For some individuals, the volunteer who arrives at the door may be one of the few people they see that day. That is what makes this opportunity about much more than delivering a meal. Volunteering is also a meaningful way to stay active, meet people and make a direct difference in your community. Whether you have a little time to give or are looking for a regular way to serve, your time can help an older neighbor stay connected and independent at home. Could you give something REAL? Volunteer to deliver meals and see how much can happen in just a few minutes at someone's front door. Businesses, churches and organizations can help, too. Through our Adopt-a-Route program, groups can share responsibility for a Meals on Wheels route and make service part of their regular routine.
Community & Conversations Come Hungry. Leave Connected.
Join Us for REAL Talk Free presentations and community connections. Topics target those 60 and older, but everyone is welcome to attend.
Stay on Your Feet: Falls Prevention Made Simple Sep. 09 | 11:30 AM | Portage Commons (574) 284-7189 Sep. 17 | 11:00 AM | OWLS (574) 336-2652 Sep. 25 | 11:30 AM | 1ROOF (Lunch) (574) 284-7189 Sep. 22 | 11:30 AM | Salvation Army (574) 284-7189 Reserve your spot by visiting realservices.org/get-involved/real-talk/
As we ease into fall, let’s make the most of the longer days. It’s the perfect time to join us for Community & Conversations at Portage Commons Senior Enrichment Center 133 N. William St. Stop by Thursday, September 10 from 4:00–6:30 PM for a free meal and easy conversation in a welcoming setting. No speeches, no formal program, just good food, friendly faces, and the simple joy of community. Come for the meal, stay for the conversation, and celebrate the fresh start that spring brings.
Free and open to all. Donations accepted.
Interested in volunteering? Call REAL Services at 574-233-8205 and ask about Meals on Wheels volunteer opportunities in St. Joseph or Elkhart County.
When You Have Questions We have Answers.
Maybe you’re wondering what services are available for yourself, a parent, a spouse or someone you care about. You may need help at home, transportation, meals, caregiver support or simply guidance about where to begin. You don’t need to know which program to ask for before you call. The REAL Services Aging & Disability Resource Center can help you understand your options, connect you with available resources and identify services that may fit your needs. Sometimes, one conversation is all it takes to find the right next step. Have questions? Start with REAL Services.
Call 574-233-8205 to talk with someone who can help.
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16 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Who will know your story? By KARLA (KJ) MAPES CEO REAL Services September brings Grandparents Day, and it has me thinking about the stories we inherit, the stories we discover and, eventually, the stories we choose to pass along. I only had one grandparent growing up. He came to live with us a week before I started kindergarten and stayed with us for 10 years until he died at home. Some of my strongest memories of him involve baseball. My love of the game came from him and my dad, and it has stayed with me. To this day, baseball can take me back to those years in an instant. Now I have grandsons of my own, and I find myself telling them stories about those days. Stories about baseball. Stories about my dad and grandfather. Stories about growing up and the people and experiences that shaped me. I was adopted, so my family story has always had a little more nuance than most and, as I’ve gotten older, even a few surprises. Maybe that’s one
reason I’ve come to understand that knowing where we come from isn’t only about biology. It’s also about who raised us, the traditions we carry forward, the stories we remember and the pieces people leave with us. We don’t get to choose every part of the story we inherit. But we do get to decide which stories we pass along. That’s worth thinking about this Grandparents Day, whether you’re a grandparent or not. Every one of us has stories that
will disappear if we don’t tell them. Often, they aren’t the big stories. Who taught you to drive? What did Saturday mornings look like when you were a child? What was your first job? What did your family eat on holidays? Who made you laugh? What song takes you immediately back to another time? What happened the day you met the person you would spend your life with? These details may seem ordi-
nary because we lived them. To the generations that follow us, they’re anything but ordinary. They help explain who we are and, sometimes, who they are. Preserving those stories doesn’t require writing a memoir. Label the people in old photographs. Write down a favorite family recipe and where it came from. Record a conversation on your phone. Tell the children and grandchildren in your life a story they haven’t heard before. And perhaps most importantly, ask someone you
love a question you’ve never thought to ask. Someday, my grandsons may tell stories about people they never had the chance to know. Perhaps they’ll love baseball. Perhaps they won’t. But I hope they’ll know why I do. I hope they’ll know something about the grandfather who lived with me, the dad who nurtured that love and the experiences that made me who I am. Our stories don’t have to be remarkable to be worth telling. They just have to be told.
OASIS Group offering older adults skills, insight and support In this 12-week group, you’ll learn ways to manage stress and better communicate. Whether you’re facing health complications, lifestyle changes or feelings of anxiety, depression or grief associated with loss, this group gives you tested and proven strategies that will immediately help you navigate life’s stressors. This group will help you set goals and learn the top tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and
commitment therapy, and the DARE method. You’ll also learn how to communicate more effectively, navigate Medicare and other resources, and hone life skills. Each week, staff members will check in on your depression and anxiety levels. The group will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Oaklawn Elkhart Campus, 2600 Oakland Ave., Elkhart. Topics covered include: • Goal-setting
• How thinking affects your mood, how to identify thinking traps and untwist negative thoughts • Keeping your mind flexible and how to pivot if you get hooked on negative thoughts • Taking a new approach to anxiety so you can manage it better • Effective communication • Medicare and other resources • Life skills New clients should complete an intake assessment
at one of Oaklawn’s Open Access clinics, located at 2600 Oakland Ave., Elkhart, and request placement in the Older Adults Group. More information about Open Access is available at oaklawn. org/access. Hours for Open Access clinics are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays; noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. Current clients can ask their provider for a referral to the group.
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Patriot Day remembrance parade and picnic planned in Warsaw This year marks 25 years since the coordinated, deadly terrorist attacks on America on Sept. 11, 2001. In recognition of the anniversary, as well as this year’s 250th celebration of America’s birth, a special Patriot Day remembrance is being planned in Warsaw for Friday, Sept. 11. On that day, in addition to the annual memorial service, events being planned include a Patriot Day Remembrance Parade and America’s Picnic. Parade registration forms are being accepted through Friday, Sept. 4. There is no charge to participate. All entries must be motorized or
on a float, trailer or vehicle. No walking entries will be accepted. For more information, send an email to the Kosciusko County 9/11 Remembrance Planning Committee at info@ kcfreedomfest.org or call Mike Cox at (574) 453-6042 or Mike Raymer at (574) 371-6555. The parade will begin lining up at 5:30 p.m. at Boggs Industrial Park on West Center Street. At 6:30 p.m., the parade will start toward downtown on West Center to Indiana Street to Canal Street to Central Park. The memorial service is set to begin at 7:15 p.m. at Central Park, 117 E. Canal St.,
featuring the presentation of colors, a moment of silence and a keynote address from Mark Eaton of the Eaton Leadership Foundation. The America’s Picnic to follow will include complimentary hot dogs. Those attending may wish to bring lawn chairs. Organizations helping to organize or sponsor the remembrance event are the Kosciusko
MARK EATON, 9/11 MEMORIAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Elkhart County Quilt Fiber Experience to host fiber retreat The Elkhart County Quilt Fiber Experience will host its 2026 Fiber Retreat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Wellfield Botanic Gardens. The gardens, located at 1011 N. Main St., Elkhart, will remain open until 6 p.m. The retreat is designed to bring together regional fiber artisans while fostering a community of teaching, learning and sharing the art of textiles and fiber. Four presenters will lead sessions during the event: Kris Peterson, “Carefree Weaving”; Barb Snell, “Indonesia, Batiks and Bali, Oh My”; Chris Hornby, “Creating with Wool”; and Susanne Hertzler, “From Sheep to Wool and More.” Registration is $35; advance registration is required. The fee includes admission to the gardens, lunch, snacks, water and a project bag. Door prizes also will be awarded. Participants are encouraged to bring a handwork project to work on during the retreat and share it with fellow attendees. For registration information, visit the Elkhart County Quilt Fiber Experience website at elkhartquiltfiber.org. Questions may be emailed to Gracie. Elkhart@gmail.com. The organization also has a Facebook page. For more information, contact Mary Ann Lienhart Cross at mcrosshart@frontier.com or (574) 596-0556.
QUILT EXPERIENCE — The Elkhart County Quilt Fiber Experience will host its 2026 Fiber Retreat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Wellfield Botanic Gardens, Elkhart. Photo provided by The Elkhart County Quilt Fiber Experience.
County 9/11 Remembrance Planning Committee, Kosciusko County government, the city of Warsaw, ML Community Impact Alliance, the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 49, Fellowship Missions, Leesburg Methodist Church, Rabb Water Systems, Derek Tenney and Tenney & Sons, The Papers Inc. and the Yeager Family Foundation.
The spiked watermelon debacle By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer An outdoor rock concert in Indy. Seemed ideal for us college chums. We packed supplies and away we went. Not knowing the challenge to come. For this event we went all out. And took a watermelon that was spiked. I had embalmed it with a fifth of booze. What could possibly not go right? Parking was bad, we had to hike, and carried that melon along. With visions of eating that boozy fruit. While listening to rock and roll songs. Approaching the gate we were chagrined. That melon was not allowed in! So again it was I hiked quite far. And returned that watermelon to the car. Looking back I have to smile. As I recall that long ago time The juice was awful but it was drank. And we considered it mighty fine.
ELKHART COUNTY QUILT AND FIBER EXPERIENCE
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18 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Faith
Judy Keck thanks the Lord for each new day By LAURIE LECHLITNER Staff Writer “I’m 87 years old, and my life has been anything but easy,” stated Judy Keck, of Elkhart. “But Jesus has been with me through it all. Each morning, I rise and thank the Lord for another day. Then I ask Him for yet another day. I love life, even in the rough patches.” Keck was brought up in the Catholic Church. “I had a rather unique situation. Although my parents were married in the Catholic Church, my mother had been raised as a strict Evangelical. Even though she took membership classes, she just couldn’t accept the Catholic doctrine.” Keck says she found Jesus in the Catholic Church. “I went through catechism and First Communion. But because of my parents’ conflicted ideas about religion, we didn’t continue going to church during my teenage years.” Keck married an Army man. “Our marriage was very short. My husband was interested in making a career out of the military, and I just wanted to come home. By the time my daughter was born, the divorce was in the works. I moved back in with my parents as a single parent.” She had no time for church when her daughter was growing up. “I just fought to survive. I was the main breadwinner in the household. I was working in a band factory and never grew to love my job.” However, she met a couple of Christians on the job, Mary Blanton and Tammy Hill. “They became some of my dearest friends. I started attending Northway Church of Christ with Tammy and liked it very much.” She continued in the Church
of Christ, eventually attending the fellowship in Elkhart. “I loved Pastor Neil Milliman and his wife, Kathy. That church was very kind to me. I remember my dog having a run-in with a skunk. When I let him in from my fenced backyard, the damage was already done. After my dog zoomed around inside the house a couple of times, everything was saturated with the skunk smell. Needless to say, it took me months to get rid of the smell from my house and clothes. I went to church anyway and apologized for my odor. But nobody said a word. They loved me through thick and thin, whether I smelled good or not.” Keck chuckled. “I think that’s what church is all about: loving one another. John 3:16 says, ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.’ Yes, I believe we are most like God when we love one another.” Because of a major stroke and some other health problems,
Keck had to give up driving. “Now I go to Nappanee Missionary Church with my daughter and son-in-law. I’m able to live at home because they live next door and take care of me.” Keck enjoys her freedom and is thankful to be in her own home. She also has a rescue dog that helps take care of her. “Winnie and I need one another. I got him from a dog rescue organization. He’s a little white Shih Tzu, my guardian angel.” Another guardian angel in her life is Dr. Fasih Siddiqui at the Elkhart Clinic. “I believe many doctors have the God-given gift of healing. Dr. Siddiqui has brought me through many health crises. I thank God for him. “I also enjoy my Sunday school class at Nappanee Missionary Church, Living the Message. They’re a friendly group of senior citizens who know what it’s like to struggle in life. I believe Christians who have suffered and struggled exemplify Christ’s love best.”
LOVING LIFE — Judy Keck, of Elkhart, has a zest for life. She believes those who exemplify the love of Jesus best are those who have suffered and struggled. She is living proof that hard times, mixed with Jesus’ grace, can equal great joy. Photo by Laurie Lechlitner.
The Nutcracker and Coppélia at the Lerner Theatre The Lerner Theatre recently announced performances of The Nutcracker at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, and Coppélia at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. Tickets for the performances are now on sale. The Nutcracker This family-friendly retelling of the beloved classic follows Klara, a young girl whose unexpected gift from the mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer leads her on a magical journey of courage, kindness and hope. Along the way, audiences will experience dazzling dances, enchanting
characters, swirling snowflakes, the graceful Sugar Plum Fairy and colorful celebrations inspired by cultures from around the world, including China, Spain, India and more. Performed by the talented dancers of Aurinko Ballet, this annual holiday tradition showcases the passion and artistry of dancers from the community while celebrating the timeless spirit of the season. Complete your holiday experience by attending the accompanying Nutcracker Tea Party, where guests can enjoy
festive treats, meet beloved characters and create lasting family memories before the performance. Coppélia Step into a world of laughter, love and imagination with Coppélia, one of ballet’s most delightful and family-friendly classics. Filled with playful comedy, enchanting choreography and colorful characters, Coppélia tells the charming story of Swanhilda, a spirited young woman determined to uncover the mystery behind the beau-
tiful girl who never seems to move or speak. What follows is a whimsical adventure filled with mistaken identities, surprises and plenty of heart. Performed by the talented dancers of Aurinko Ballet, this joyful production showcases the passion and artistry of dancers from the community while bringing a timeless ballet to life for audiences of all ages. Ticket prices for both ballets are $34.55, $30.10 and $21.10. For more information, visit thelerner.com or call the Lerner Box Office at (574) 293-4469.
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 19
ABOVE AND BEYOND — The Lerner recently honored several volunteers for their time and dedication to the theatre. Ed and Marsha Mahoney were honored with the Above and Beyond Award for their willingness to take on new tasks, be flexible and spread joy among patrons and staff. HELPING HANDS AWARD — Teresa Haywald was honored by the Lerner for doShown from left are Therese Geise, volunteer coordinator at the Lerner, Marsha nating the most time throughout the year. Haywald donated 292 hours. She is shown with and Ed Mahoney, and Deen Tuggle, director of operations for the Lerner. Photo provid- Therese Geise, volunteer coordinator, left, and Deen Tuggle, director of operations. Photo ed by the Lerner. provided by the Lerner.
The Lerner Theatre celebrates volunteers with annual banquet The Lerner Theatre takes great pride in recognizing the invaluable contributions of its volunteers, who play an integral role in the success of the venue. The historic theatre has more than 100 volunteers who dedicate their time. The Lerner Theatre was excited to celebrate these individuals at its Annual Volunteer Banquet, held Aug. 18. More than 75 guests attended the celebration, which honored the dedication and impact of the theatre’s volunteers. City of Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson attended the event to show his appreciation for the volunteers, stating, “The Lerner Theatre is one of Elkhart’s greatest treasures, but what truly brings this beautiful building to life are the people who give their time and their hearts to it.” The Lerner appreciates the hard work and dedication that comes with volunteering. Each year, “year pins” for milestone years of service, such as three, five and 10 years, are awarded to volunteers to reflect their years of service. Volunteers who have served for one year are awarded a name tag. The service awards from this year are as follows: One year: Jackie Clindaniel, Mark Guillaume, Beth Hawn, Frank & Jackie Hughes, John Milliken Three years: Maureen Bybee, Barb & Stan Hiebert, Ed & Marsha Mahoney, Peggy Milliken, Rhonda Shank, Deb Sorokin and Walter Wiandt Five years: Sue Dale Seven years: Peggy Bloczynski, Donna Christy, George & Peg Cooper, Laura Doty, Misty Grubbs, Jan Longcor, Steve Penrose, Scottie Stob, Sue Wilkins and Rhonda Yoder 10 or more years: Kim Schrock, Bufford Skipper, Cookie Stenberg, Brian Thomas, Mark & Nancy Wilson, Cliff & Pat Yehle and Rosie Zirkle One award presented this year was the certificate of appreciation for Commitment to Culture. This recognition was given to volunteers who consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to fostering a positive and supportive culture within the organization. The 2025 Commitment to
Culture Award winners are Francisco Avila, Laura Doty, Mark Guillaume, Ruth Hiar, Ester Lederach, Jim Luccki, Ed Mahoney, Marsha Mahoney, Cookie Stenberg, Stan Hiebert and Barb Hiebert. The Lerner Theatre also recognized Teresa Haywald with the Helping Hands Award, an honor given to the volunteer who donated the most hours throughout the year. Haywald donated 292 hours across a variety of events at the Lerner Theatre in the last year. The top five volunteers recognized for their hours served for 2025 are: Barb Hiebert at 246 hours, Stan Hiebert at 228 hours, Susie Adams at 189 hours, Dawn Little at 187 hours and Ed Mahoney at 161 hours. Another award given at the Annual Volunteer Banquet is the Above and Beyond Award. This award was created to honor a volunteer whose actions aren’t always in the limelight and recognizes someone who is vital to the life and success of the organization, though they often go unnoticed. Ed and Marsha Mahoney were named the 2025 recipients of the Above and
Beyond Award for their willingness to take on new tasks, remain flexible in unknown situations and spread joy in conversations with patrons, tours and staff. The final honor of the evening, the 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award, was given to Jon Simmons. The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to a volunteer chosen by their peers and the Lerner staff as someone who exemplifies the volunteer spirit. Simmons has continued to exceed the expectations of an ambassador and good steward of the Lerner Theatre and the City of Elkhart. His consideration for others, positive presence, overall commitment to volunteerism and many other qualities are among the reasons he stood out as exceptional. The Annual Volunteer Banquet is a highlight of the year at the Lerner, celebrating its hard-working and dedicated volunteer corps. The Lerner thanks the City of Elkhart administration and the Lerner Governing Board for their continued support of the Lerner volunteers. A thank you is also extended to the Friends of the
I It’s easy! Simply find the “Fall Acorns” 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.
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The winner of the I Spy Contest for August is Steven MacDougall from Fort Wayne. The ‘School Backpack’ was located on page 1 in Senior Life Allen; page 12 in Senior Life Northwest; page 5 in Senior Life Elko and page 9 in Senior Life St. Joseph.
Lerner for their continued support of the volunteer program through funding opportunities and the management of volun-
teer funds. For more information or to apply to be a volunteer, visit thelerner.com/volunteer.
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20 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Dining/Leisure/Entertainment
Train excursions for all ages & all seasons By LORETTA KOSLOSKE Ridership Specialist Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Experience the sights and sounds of a bygone era while visiting the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, located in North Judson. Regular train excursions run every Saturday, May – September, and for special holiday events. Passengers have a choice of riding in openair sightseeing cars or vintage coaches while rolling down the tracks through the Northwest Indiana countryside. Train excursions are round-trip from the depot and travel about five miles to the Kankakee River at English Lake, before returning to North Judson. The total length of each trip is approximately 45 minutes. The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has an exciting sched-
ule of special events planned for the remainder of 2026. Ice Cream Trains combine two old-fashioned favorites – homemade ice cream and trains. Autumn brings Pumpkin Trains, stopping at a pumpkin patch, while Santa Trains run in late November & December. Times and prices may vary for different events, so be sure to check the website at hoosiervalley.org. Remember that seating is limited, and it is recommended to purchase tickets, in advance, before excursions sell out. Before or after a train excursion, be sure to visit the museum and grounds where admission is always free. The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has one of the largest museum collections of working railroad signals and a restored WWII Pullman Troop Car. Stroll around the grounds to see all
elkhartsymphony.org
2026-2027
SEASON TICKETS GET FIVE CONCERTS FOR THE PRICE OF FOUR! CALL THE LERNER BOX OFFICE AT 574-293-4469
STORIES IN SOUND
SOO HAN, CONN-SELMER ENDOWED MUSIC CONDUCTOR
¡RITMO BOTANICO!
IN CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026, 2026, 4PM WELLFIELD BOTANIC GARDENS, ELKHART, IN
DUEL VI2LITY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2026, 4 PM LERNER THEATER, ELKHART, IN
VERDI REQUIEM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2027, 4 PM SAUDER CONCERT HALL, GOSHEN COLLEGE MUSIC CENTER, GOSHEN, IN
CINEMATIC SYMPHONY
TAKE A TRIP TO YESTERYEAR — Th Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, located in North Judson, offer regular train excurions every Saturday May through September. Shown is one of the trains going over the Kankakee River. Photo provided by Hoosier Valley Railroad. types of rolling stock, engines, and railroading memorabilia. HVRM is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and education of railroading
history. Special group events (including school groups) can be arranged by contacting the depot. Visit the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum website (hoo-
siervalley.org) for a complete schedule of events. Order tickets at hoosiervalley.org or call the depot (574) 896-3950 on Saturdays or days when train excursions are scheduled.
Bristol Corndog Festival returns Sept. 12 Visitors have traveled from as far away as Pennsylvania — including one family that made a six-hour drive — to experience the Bristol Corndog Festival. On Saturday, Sept. 12, the festival returns to Congdon Park, once again inviting visitors to discover everything that makes Bristol worth the trip. With free admission, free parking, free shuttle service and free entertainment throughout the day, the festival offers an affordable day of family fun built around great food, live music, local makers and hometown hospitality. Visitors can explore the well-crafted artisan village, featuring more than 50 carefully curated makers and artists with no duplicate vendors, before heading to Corndog Alley, where this year’s expanded food lineup means more choices and shorter waits. Enjoy classic corndogs, unique corndog-inspired specialties, and a delicious variety
of BBQ, seafood, Mexican, Asian cuisine, island favorites, sweet treats and more from 21 food trucks and three official corndog stations. Whether you’re a lifelong corndog fan — or just along for the ride — there’s something for every appetite. “People come for the corndogs, but they leave talking about everything else they discovered,” said Ron Norman, Bristol On The River president. “Our goal has always been to showcase Bristol. The food gets people here, but it’s our musicians, makers, nonprofits, volunteers, local businesses and welcoming community that make them want to come back.” Festival favorites return this year, including: • Live music and entertainment on the Main Stage throughout the day • Corndog eating contest • The well-crafted artisan village
RIDE the RAILS I N
N O R T H
J U D S O N ,
I N D I A N A
TAKE A RELAXING COUNTRYSIDE EXCURSION!
SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2027, 4 PM LERNER THEATER, ELKHART, IN
PLANETARY FINALE SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2027, 4 PM LERNER THEATER, ELKHART, IN Sponsored by:
GREAT FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE SCHEDULES:
www.hoosiervalley.org
574-896-3950 OPEN SATURDAYS ONLY 9 AM - 4 PM CDT
• Vintage hometown games Whether you’re shopping for one-of-a-kind handmade goods, cheering on a young performer, discovering your next favorite musician, or enjoying a famous $4 corndog, the Bristol Corndog Festival offers a full day of experiences that are easy on the family budget and big on hometown charm. The Bristol Corndog Festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 12, at Congdon Park in Bristol. For event schedules, competition registration, volunteer opportunities, and more information, visit BristolCorndogFest.com.
IUSB celebrates 60 years with return of Winnie-the-Pooh This fall, Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre returns to the Hundred Acre Wood to celebrate its 60th anniversary with the same story that launched the university’s children’s theatre program in 1966. Many former audience members now return as parents, teachers, volunteers and grandparents, accompanying a new generation of children on the same field trip they once experienced themselves. Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre is one of Indiana University South Bend’s longest-running community engagement initiatives, introducing generations of children from Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan to the magic of live theatre. The 2025 production of Charlotte’s Web welcomed 5,600 audience members from 62 schools, representing 25 school districts across nine counties in Indiana and Michigan. More than 40% of attendees traveled from outside St. Joseph County, Indiana, underscoring the program’s role as a regional educational and cultural Continued on page 21
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 21
Dining/Leisure/Entertainment
Giant Straw Bale Art Trail returns to Amish Country through Oct. 24 The award-winning Giant Straw Bale Art Trail will return to Shipshewana and the surrounding Amish Country communities from now through Oct. 24. Now in its third year, the free, self-guided trail will include 33 sites across four communities. Visitors will find 22 displays in Shipshewana, seven in Middlebury, three in LaGrange and one in Howe. This year’s displays will use a grand total of 139 locally grown straw bales in all shapes and sizes, including 63 large round bales, eight large rectangular bales, 21 small round bales, 45 regular rectangular bales and two mini rectangular bales. Local artists work alongside participating businesses to transform the bales into colorful characters, animals and imaginative scenes. This year’s designs include Raggedy Ann and Andy, Old Glory, a firecracker, an all-American burger, bingo balls, characters from The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, Mini Minions, Highland cows, Louise the Grilled Cheese and Poppy the Popcorn, and plenty of other surprises. Creating the displays involves much more than painting. One large, five-foot round bale typically takes two to three hours to paint, depending on the number of colors
WAITING TO BE TRANSFORMED — Visitors to Shipshewana, Middlebury, LaGrange and Howe will see straw bales like these transformed into works of art for the Great Straw Bale Art Trail. This year, 139 straw bales will be used. Photo provided LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau. and the intricacy of the design. Many displays also include smaller round and rectangular bales to help complete the story. Artists begin preparing long before the bales arrive. Hats, candles, flippers, facial features and other pieces are often built from plywood or additional materials and secured to the bales with rebar. Each display is designed specifically for its location. The Straw Bale Art Trail received the 2025 Arts United Award for Outstanding Artistic Endeavor. The award recognized the trail’s creativity, community impact and collaboration among local artists, farmers and businesses. “You never know what you’ll find around the next corner,” said Sonya Nash, CEO of the LaGrange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “One min-
IUSB celebrates Continued from page 20
resource. Community contributions helped provide admission and transportation assistance for 14 Elkhart County schools to attend regardless of financial circumstances. Beyond serving young audiences, Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre provides hands-on learning opportunities for IU South Bend theatre students in all aspects of theatre production, while admission revenue supports theatre student scholarships.
ute you’re traveling past cornfields and buggies, and the next you’re face-to-face with a larger-than-life character made from straw. The trail is creative, surprising and something you can only experience here in Amish Country.” Visitors can pick up a free map at the Shipshewana Visitors Center, located at 350 S. Van Buren St., and explore the trail during daylight hours. The trail is free and open to all ages. Visitors are encouraged to take photos, explore the locally owned shops and restaurants along the way and share their adventures by tagging @ VisitShipshewana and using #AutumnAdventure26. For maps, artist biographies and additional information, visit https://visitshipshewana. org/events/autumn-adventures/ straw-bale-art/.
Auditions to be held for Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra The Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra will be holding auditions for substitute and extra musicians — brass, woodwind, strings and percussion — from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at Concord Junior High School, 59397 C.R. 11, in Elkhart. These auditions are not for replacing regular orchestra members but, rather, to add depth to the ECSO’s list of substitutes and extra musicians. Auditionees will be asked to play two brief, contrasting works. These should be excerpts of standard solo or orchestral repertoire of the performer’s choice. “The Elkhart County Symphony truly embodies the sense of a community symphony, and not just because so many local folks come to our concerts and programs,” said Glenn Northern, the decorated, longtime music educator and Penn High School band leader, who began his role as ECSO executive director at the beginning of the summer. “More than that, the spirit and the sound of the Elkhart County Symphony — to a great degree — comes from within. We are always interested in bringing in more musicians from our community to add to our overall depth
and increase our amazing talent pool. These auditions are important for us, and they are also quite beneficial to established and rising musicians throughout the area who aspire to be a part of a high-quality orchestral group.” All those with friends or family members who are classical musicians are asked to pass on the audition details. Applicants must register by completing the Google application form by Sept. 4 to secure an ECSO audition time. Anyone with questions can contact Debra Inglefield by email at inglefi@gmail. com or call or text her at (574) 343-9539. The Elkhart County Symphony’s 79th season begins Sept. 13 at Wellfield Botanic Gardens with ¡Ritmo Botánico!, a high-energy celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month featuring guest soloist Heidi Eash, ECSO’s principal oboist. Season tickets for Season 79 are now on sale and may be purchased by visiting the Lerner Theatre Box Office, 410 S. Main St., or by calling the Lerner Box Office at (574) 293-4469. Single-concert tickets can be purchased through the Lerner Theatre website.
FREE Community Aging Presentations! Performances of Winniethe-Pooh will be presented Sept. 30-Oct. 9, in the Campus Auditorium of Northside Hall at Indiana University South Bend. Weekday performances are reserved for public, private and homeschool groups. Public performances will be at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, and will provide families with the opportunity to share this milestone celebration, with activities following each performance.
You’re invited to join Aging Connections for our complimentary health and wellness workshops!
Elkhart County
Sept. 23rd 3:30-4:45 pm
Speaker: Amy Strycker, Voter Assistance Topic: Importance of Voting and Different Ways to Vote Location: Waterford Crossing 1332 Waterford Circle, Goshen, IN 46526
Join us September 10th for our 4th Annual St. Joseph Co. Aging Resource Fair! 10 am-3 pm Four Winds Event Center, 3000 Prairie Ave., South Bend, IN 46614
Sept. 2nd 3:30-4:45 pm
Speaker: Dr. Jarod Franklin, Legacy Chiropractic Topic: Neurologically-based chiropractic care, helping your body function at its best. Location: Kosciusko Community Senior Services 800 Park Avenue, Warsaw, IN 46580 We’re here to support older adults and their caregivers in living life to the fullest. Come and discover how our resources can enhance your well-being!
www.agingconnections.org
Aging Connections is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
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22 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Health & Fitness
7 tips on how to stop constant worrying in your life Editor’s Note: Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear” which covers 200 plus techniques STAN that can POPOVICH drastically improve your mental health. By STAN POPOVICH Guest Columnist Do you find yourself worrying about everything that is going on around you? It can be very tiring and depressing to constantly worry about your family, your job, your health, and everything else that is happening. Having things out of your control is very scary. As a result, here are seven tips on how to overcome the cycle of worry and fear in your life. 1. Focus on the facts of your situation; not your thoughts: When people are stressed out, they rely on their fearful and depressing thoughts. Your fearful thoughts are exaggerated and are not based on reality. When you are anxious, focus on the facts of your current situation and not on what you think. 2. You can’t predict the future: Remember that no
one can predict the future with one hundred percent certainty. Even if the thing that you are afraid of does happen, there are circumstances and factors that you can’t predict which can be used to your advantage. For example, you miss the deadline for a project you have been working on. Everything you feared is coming true. Suddenly, your boss tells you that the deadline is extended and that he forgot to tell you the day before. This unknown factor changes everything. 3. Take a break: Take a deep breath and try to find something to do to get your mind off of your anxieties and stresses. A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper, watch TV, play on the computer, or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. This will distract you from your current worries. 4. Take it one day at a time: Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week or month, focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. 5. Learn how to manage your thoughts: Challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make you fearful, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself
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questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. 6. Things change over time: Regardless of your circumstances, your current situation will not stay the same. Everything changes over time. Knowing that your situation
Here are the events coming up for September 2026 at the LaGrange County Public Library and its branches in Shipshewana and Topeka. For more information and the latest updates, go to lagrange. lib.in.us. All library locations will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day. LaGrange Makerspace Wednesdays, 2:30-7 p.m. No Makerspace on Sept. 9, 10, 16 and 17. Drop in any time during those hours and stay as long as you want. Makerspace is a collaborative space where people can use a variety of tools and materials to create, learn and share. We will have different building materials and crafting supplies available for use. We will have new special projects every week. Lego Play Thursdays, 2:30-7 p.m. No Lego Play on Sept. 10 and 17. Drop in any time during those hours and stay as long as you want. We will have all of our Legos out to build what you want or complete the monthly challenge. Creative Writing Open Readings Tuesday, Sept. 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Do you write prose, poetry, short stories or enjoy being the first to hear original works read aloud? Everyone’s work will be recited in an open format that promotes uplifting encouragement for those reading and better understanding of the work for those listening.
independently owned operated independently owned and and operated Each Home Instead® office is anis an (574) 256-1479 (574) 256-1479 Each Home Instead® office franchise of Home Instead, Inc., anHonor Honor franchise of Home Instead, Inc., an independently owned and operated Each Home Instead® office is an independently owned and operated company. © 2024 Home Instead, Inc. HomeInstead.com/343 company. © 2024 Home Instead, Inc. HomeInstead.com/343 franchise of Home Instead, Inc., an Honor independently owned and operated franchise of Home Instead, Inc., an Honor 574) 256-1479company. © 2024 Home Instead, Inc. franchise of Home Instead, Inc., an Honor company. © 2024 Home Instead, Inc. License #24-011717-1 License #24-011717-1 eInstead.com/343 company. © 2024 Home Instead, Inc.
cense #24-011717-1 Home Instead® office EachEach Home Instead® office is anis an
independently owned operated independently owned andand operated franchise of Home Instead, Inc., an Honor franchise of Home Instead, Inc., an Honor Home Instead® office is an company. © 2024 Home Instead, Inc. company. © 2024 Home Instead, Inc. dently owned and operated of Home Instead, Inc., an Honor y. © 2024 Home Instead, Inc.
can give you additional advice and insights on how to deal with the fear of the unknown. Remember that there is nothing wrong in asking for assistance. For more information,visit managingfear.com.
September 2026 events at the LaGrange County Public Library System
(574) 256-1479 (574) 256-1479 (574) 256-1479 HomeInstead.com/343 (574) 256-1479 HomeInstead.com/343 HomeInstead.com/343 (574) 256-1479 HomeInstead.com/343 License #24-011717-1 HomeInstead.com/343 License #24-011717-1
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will improve will help give you the confidence that things will get better. 7. Get some help: Sometimes, it helps to be able to talk to someone about your stressful situations. Talking to a trusted friend, counselor, or clergyman
CA7L4 L 5 30 295-22 5 M-F 12-
All ages are welcome. (Discretion is encouraged for those reading their work.) Darrick Brown, facilitator. Free! No registration required. Culinary Adventure: New York-Style Pizza Friday, Sept. 11. Meet at The Fold at noon. The Fold: 219 S. Main St., Goshen Fables Books: 215 S. Main St., Goshen Enjoy New York-style pizza by the slice, followed by a stop at Goshen’s downtown independent bookstore. Register at the Main Library or by calling (260) 463-2841 ext. 1030 so staff will know how many to expect. Food and drink are at your own expense. Ages 12+. Second Saturday Book Club Saturday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m. This month the book club will discuss Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in, and she wants her old friend Lillian to be their nanny. However, there’s a catch: The twins burst into flame when they get upset. Literally. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other and stay cool while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Copies are available at the LaGrange Library Adult Information Desk. Ages 16+. Patchwork Trails: Mike Metz Fen Tuesday, Sept. 15, 6 p.m. Pine Knob Park, 2825 E. SR 120, Howe Explore local landscapes, landmarks and history with
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knowledgeable guides. Park at the Pine Knob Clubhouse. No registration. Free. Make & Take with Deb: Book Vase and Arrangement Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m. We will use a book to craft a unique “vase” and fill it with a striking flower arrangement. Cost is $20 per person. Register with a nonrefundable deposit of $10 at the LaGrange Main Library by Sept. 18. Ages 12+. Archi-Trek: Marshall, Mich. Thursday, Sept. 24. Depart at 8:30 a.m.; return at 5 p.m. Depart from and return to LaGrange County Public Library. Marshall has the largest National Historic Landmark District in its category. That means loads of buildings and styles to appreciate. This trip will include a tour of Honolulu House, a tour of the Governor’s Mansion and a lunch stop at iconic Shuler’s Restaurant (food purchase not included). Cost is $25 per person. Registration is required, as space is very limited. Register by cash or check at the library, pay online through Eventbrite or mail a check to Green Bus Tours. Ages 12+. Cookbook Club Saturday, Sept. 25, 11 a.m. This month’s theme is apples! Choose a recipe that features apples. Make it and bring it to the Cookbook Club carry-in! Plates, silverware, coffee and tea will be provided. Cookbook Club meets the fourth Saturday of each month. Families welcome! Topeka Coming in October! Explore the nation’s capital in our 250th year on a six-day motor coach trip to Washington, D.C., and Gettysburg! Oct. 26 through Oct. 31. Register with S&S Travel by Sept. 26. Registration forms are available at all library branches and at s-stravel.com. Full itinerary and complete information are available at any LaGrange County Library location or on the website at lagrange.lib.in.us.
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 23
Assisted Living, nursing And rehAbiLitAtion guide Brentwood at Elkhart Assisted Living
3109 E. Bristol Street, Elkhart, IN 46514 (574) 266-4508 https://brentwoodatelkhartassistedliving.com
Hubbard Hill Retirement Community
28070 CR 24 ., Elkhart, IN 46517 (574) 295-6260 • www.hubbardhill.org
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Green Oaks of Goshen
Mason Health Care
900 Provident Drive, Warsaw, IN 46580 (574) 371-2500 • www.masonhealthandrehab.com
282 Johnston Street, Goshen, IN 46528 (574) 501-5342 marketing@greenoaks-goshen.com
Rehabilitation Unit, 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, Medicare and/or Medicaid
Green Oaks of Goshen provides affordable assisted living, with personalized support, and a safe engaging enviornment promotingindependence and dignity for seniors.
Greencroft Goshen
Orchard Pointe Health Campus
702 Sawyer Rd., Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-3333 • www.orchardpointehc.com
1225 Greencroft Blvd., Goshen, IN 46526 (574) 537-4000 Greencroft.org/GreencroftGoshen
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.
Comprehensive Care With Assisted Living, Rehabilitation, Skilled Nursing, Memory Care, Respite Care, And On-Site/Outpatient Therapy; Medicare/Medicaid Accepted.
Greencroft Middlebury
701 Windridge Drive, Middlebury, IN 46540 (574) 825-6785 Greencroft.org/GreencroftMiddlebury
Signature HealthCARE of Bremen
316 Woodies Lane, Bremen, IN 46506 (574) 546-3494 • SHCofBremen.com liaison2.bremen@signaturehealthcarellc.com
Our Gated Community is a smaller, dedicated unit for comfort and safety for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Residents. We offer Enhanced Quality of Life Programming which includes cognitive strengths, life skills, daily movement, power of music, artistic expression, creativity and socialization.
Assisted Living With Studio And One-Bedroom Apartments, Meals, Housekeeping, Laundry, Daily Assistance, And Priority Access To Greencroft Goshen Healthcare.
Greenleaf Health Campus
1201 East Beardsley Avenue, Elkhart, IN 46514 (574) 206-0086 • www.GreenleafHS.com
Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing or Intermediate Care, Therapies: SpeechOccupational-Respiratory-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Pharmacy On Premises, Medicare and/or Medicaid
1332 Waterford Crossing Circle, Goshen, IN 46526 (574) 534-3920 • www.trilogyhs.com
A Trilogy Senior Living Community
Rehabilitation Unit, 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, Pharmacy On Premises, Medicare and/or Medicaid
Woodland Manor
Hellenic Senior Living
2528 Bypass Road, Elkhart, IN 46514 (574) 389-1776 https://elkhart.ahepaseniorliving.org/
Waterford Crossing (Healthcare)
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24 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
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HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY FOR LISTING CALL MARLA AT 1-866-580-1138 EXT. 2319
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26 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ September 2026
Travel
Blue Ridge Mountains: Moonshine capital of the world By FYLLIS HOCKMAN Guest Writer The Blue Ridge Mountains, and the infamous parkway that runs through them, are famous for many things: scenic drives, nature tours, hiking trails, fall foliage, farmers markets, historical sites and so much more. And yet none of that covers the most interesting attribute of this Roanoke region in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the city known as the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and its Franklin County neighbor. It’s the “Moonshine Capital of the World.” Before, during and after Pro-
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hibition, bootlegging reigned supreme. And it’s no slouch in today’s world either. First, a little background. During the late 1800s, distilleries in the area were abundant. The mountain geography provided secluded protection for hidden stills. Corn was plentiful and easily turned into whiskey - and making moonshine was profitable. And then Prohibition hit! Consensus thinking at the time was that it would inhibit drinking and the making of it. But, of course, that was nonsense. Binge drinking probably got its start during Prohibition. The demand for illegal alcohol skyrocketed - and the Franklin County bootleggers were more than happy to oblige, developing sophisticated transportation routes to move
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GETTING A TASTE — Fyllis imbibing moonshine at Twin Creeks September 12, 2026Distillery. - Brookfield ZooBlock. Photo by Victor November 21, 2026 - Frankenmuth, MI liquor up and down the East Coast. It famously claimed to produce more illicit liquor November 21, 2026 - Made in OHIO than anywhere else in the U.S. December 11, 2026 - Christmas Market during Prohibition, entitling the area to the moniker “Moonshine Capital of the World,” a December 11-12, 2026 - Ohio Fun label it remains proud of to this day. June 22-24, 2027 -Ark Encounter & Creation gust 31- September 4, 2026 - Mackinac Island My recent visit to the area reinforced that impression. Museum Contact us: ptember 12-19, 2026 - Montreal, Quebec City, Canada After all, there’s a museum 4, 2026 - Mackinac Island devoted to the very idea - albeit 260-768-7549 pital with a slightly different orienC oss oa us.com - Montreal, Quebec City, Canada tation. tober 1-12, 2026 - Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and 1070 675 , s wana, 46565 The Moonshine Explosion Contact us: BOOK NOW FOR ONLY $75 pp TO HOLD YOUR SEAT
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September 2026 ■ SENIOR LIFE — ELKO Edition ■ 27
Blue Ridge Continued from page 26
was built in 1912, but they weren’t discovered until 2017 during basement renovations although the story proliferated well before and after. But despite the museum’s singular name, it also paints a much more complete picture of the still-celebrated history of moonshine, which kept many an Appalachian family able to survive. The museum highlights the connection between “white lightning” (AKA firewater, hooch) and the community, fostering a sense of resilience and ingenuity - and, oh yes, a massive evasion of the law. Franklin County became known for its high-quality moonshine and the persistence of its moonshiners in resisting authorities. And apparently, ramifications of that questionable ability exist today. Because many moonshiners modified cars to outrun law enforcement, the culture influenced early stock-car racing, and that tradition helped contribute to the origins of NASCAR. Not entirely sure how I feel about that particular legacy. ... But back to bootlegging - and the notorious Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935, the second-longest trial in Virginia history. It involved a high-profile legal case involving 23 defendants accused of multiple large-scale moonshine operations. Many were convicted, but the illegal operations continued to thrive. A visit to Twin Creeks Distillery underscores the appeal of the original moonshine. For starters, Twin Creeks owner and master distiller Chris Prillman is the grandson of Peg Hatcher, one of the kingpins convicted in the Great Moonshine Conspiracy of 1935. That’s quite a family legacy! As much as it sounds like an oxymoron, they serve legal moonshine - slightly less high-octane than the mountain variety and government-regulated. It’s the only establishment in the area to do so. And Prillman continues to pay tribute to his grandfather by crafting spirits just as he did. So when I say master distiller, I mean Prillman is still making his “bathtub gin” - the colloquial term for stills that are large enough to be utilitarian and small enough to easily hide - at home. Whether he’s still using a bathtub, I don’t know. Back at the distillery, I sampled - OK, guzzled - a coffee moonshine made by a local coffee shop owner who still refuses to divulge his recipe that
far and away surpasses any espresso martini I’ve ever had. Flights of “cocktails” adorn the menu. Apparently, fancy cocktails were the norm during Prohibition, as bartenders had to get creative in order to mask the taste of poor-quality liquor. Of course, Franklin County probably didn’t have any poor-quality hooch. ... More family legacy is carried on by Twin Creeks’ manager, Kathy, whose father owns three of the original moonshine cars that led to NASCAR, with enhanced power and extra-large trunks designed to transport the profitable product. According to Steven Ray Tickle, another proud moonshining legacy and star of the surprisingly popular TV show “Moonshiners,” “People mistakenly think moonshiners just want to break the law, but that’s not true. They just want to carry on a tradition that’s part of the American heritage. They helped found and fund the Declaration of Independence .... If you really love your country, you’re gonna have to love moonshine.” So if you’re thinking that pretty much brings the story of moonshine to the current day, keep reading. On yet another modern-day front, Franklin County’s moonshine era may seem like a relic of Prohibition, but the legal arguments surrounding home distilling are still alive. More than a century after moonshiners in Virginia’s Blue Ridge battled federal liquor laws, the question of who can legally make whiskey - and under what authority the government can stop them - remains unsettled. In an unexpected twist, a
debate that once played out on the ridges and hollows of Virginia’s moonshine country very much still “The Moonshine
Capital of the World” - may soon be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. I’ll drink to that!
For more information, visit Visit Roanoke, the Moonshine Explosion Museum and Twin Creeks Distillery.
THE STORY — Shown is the story of the 1935 Great Conspiracy Trial. Photo by Fyllis Hockman.
2026/2027 Florida Florida 2026/2027 Florida 2026/2027 Florida 2026/2027 Florida 2026/2027
Florida 2026/2027 Florida 2026/2027
THE MENU — Shown is the menu at Twin Creeks Distillery. Photo by Victor Block.
Flori da 2026/2027 Florida 2026/2027
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