Senior Life - NorthWest Edition - October 2025 by The Papers Inc.

Resource fair connects seniors with community

Text and Photos by STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

Talk about one-stop shopping for seniors.

The Valparaiso Family YMCA’s third annual Senior Resource Fair brought nearly 50 agencies on health, wellness and aging service to one location to connect with seniors.

Alyse Kominakis, the Y’s wellness director, reported 45 vendor tables had been reserved for the Sept. 11 program.

“The idea,” Kominakis explained, “is that we have a large senior membership, and at the same time some of our local businesses want to connect with our seniors, so it was mutually beneficial to everyone.”

The fair also provided new information about existing agencies.

Valerie Martinez, marketing and resource director for Porter County Aging & Community Services, said the agency has added two new programs, a chair yoga class twice a week and a hygiene bank. Open Mondays and Wednesdays, the bank provides free essentials including deodorant, soap, shampoo and feminine hygiene products.

“There’s a need for that stuff, which can be pretty costly,” Martinez said.

PCACS continues to offer a medical loan closet, ramp program, energy assistance and low-cost transportation.

According to Martinez, PCACS serves 17,000 clients annually, 15,000 of whom are seniors and those with disabilities taking rides.

At Porter-Starke Services, Angela Wehner leads the Wellness Institute for Senior Education Program. The six-lesson program covers topics about

offered information on health, wellness and community services.

health and wellness for older adults.

“We want seniors to understand that as we age, there are risk factors,”

Wehner said. “We want seniors to build up proactive factors.”

When people retire, Wehner explained, they lose their routine and support system, as well as income.

“These changes can lead us to make decisions that are not the healthiest for us,” she said.

Wehner added, “We want to make sure people are

surrounded by their community and that we remove risky actions. Getting older can be hard and scary and we want seniors to find that positive connection.”

From Powers Health, registered nurse Shannon R. Hough works in pre-diabetic screening with Reducing Underdiagnosed Diabetes Initiative.

“We know making simple changes make a big difference, and education is an easy first step,” Hough said. Among the changes peoContinued on page 2

CONNECTING RESOURCES The Valparaiso Family YMCA hosted its third annual Senior Resource Fair in early September. The YMCA reserved 45 vendor tables for the fair. Vendors

RESOURCE FAIR The Valparaiso Family YMCA’s Senior Resource Fair September provided information on a variety of community services, from health and wellness to hospice to athletic footwear.

Key Positions

Former museum curator now leading South Shore Arts and NWI Symphony Orchestra

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Jonathan Canning was born and raised in England, where he attended the Kings School in Canterbury and experienced a well-rounded education that emphasized the arts.

“When I was at school, I benefited from a very broad-based arts and humanities education in England,” he said. “I went to a school that was very strong on academics, but also had a reputation for its music, its sports and for the cultural experience that it offered with plays and performances.”

That background is serving him well in his dual role as the executive director of South Shore Arts, located in Munster, and executive director of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. He also is partner for the Indiana Arts Commission and works as a liaison to promote the commission and help connect artists with opportunities.

“In this position I get to promote the arts, art making and the musical arts,” he said. “The arts are such an essential part of a child’s upbringing and education, but also of a community’s sense of identity and cohesion.”

Canning has over 30 years of museum experience, eighteen as

a curator, nine as a supervisor and member of a senior management team, and two as a director. He oversaw the successful AAM accreditation application by Loyola University Museum of Art, and the reaccreditation of the Curatorial and Educations divisions at The Hyde Collection. He later served as director and curator of the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University.

When the university closed the museum, he was contacted by individuals associated with South Shore Arts to see if he would be interested in filling the position that would be opened due to a retirement. He began the application process last fall and began his position in February.

One part of the job that he really enjoys is learning from others why the arts are important to them.

“I think its integral to who we are as a society. It’s how we’re able to express our most profound thoughts and deepest emotions,” he said.

He has recently worked on the 82nd Annual Salon Show where he has met a number of artists as they have deposited their works. The exhibit includes 95 artists who are displaying 115 pieces, out of 550 that were submitted. The juried show includes all ages “with some professional

artists and others exhibiting for the first time who are excited to be in their first juried show,” he said.

The most rewarding aspect of the job is “the response from the opportunities we’ve been able to give — to an artist opportunity, to a visitor seeing something new, to giving someone the chance to create with our instructors helping them to develop their skills,” he said. “On the symphony side — it’s the audience as they walk out at the end after a tremendous performance. People are so excited as they walk out, bouncing on air. Maybe they’d heard a favorite piece of John Williams music, but heard it live and saw an orchestra perform. It’s such a stirring sight — the power of music coming at you, but also watching as the bows and the strings all work together as the sound builds. I’ve always found that very thrilling to be at a live music performance.”

Serving seniors is something he is also is passionate about.

“It’s our goal at SSA to provide seniors with the opportunity to come out to make new friends and to explore new means of creativity and expression,” he said. “We’re trying to offer classes at different times of day that would attract seniors to help them get out and about.”

Hudson Lake public access reopens after channel dredging

Public access to Hudson Lake in LaPorte County has been restored after completion of the dredging of a navigation channel from the boat ramp to the lake. The ramp had been closed since mid-July.

The project, funded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake and River Enhancement program and Hudson Lake Conservation Association, is hydraulically-pumped sediment from the access channel to an upland area on the northwest end of the lake.

For more information on the LARE program and its current projects, visit lare.dnr. IN.gov. Find more information on public access sites at on.IN.gov/adopt-a-ramp.

Resource fair

Continued from page 1

“In order to be active, you have to be active,” Lucas said. “There’s always something you can be doing. If you can’t run a mile, maybe try a half-mile.”

ple can make, the RN said, are improving the quality of carbohydrates and increasing non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower and carrots; making at least half of one’s meal non-starchy vegetables; moving regularly; and choosing lean protein foods.

Anna Engel, community engagement coordinator with Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana, stressed, “We deliver more than meals. We come to your door, we check on you.”

Amanda Tinsley, representing Giving Tree Chiropractic, noted bones deteriorate over time, which can lead to nerve issues. Those nerves become the gateway, she said, to other health issues.

Another contributing factor, she said, is a sedentary lifestyle.

Brian Lucas, a personal trainer with the Valpo YMCA, is working to get people moving through fitness programs such as Rock Steady Boxing for Parkinson’s patients.

Meals on Wheels is in seven counties, providing 2,100 hot meals every weekday morning. The agency also offers frozen meals for later dining.

Amy Wulf, community liaison for VNA Hospice NWI, explained, “Our goal is to keep people at home independent, as long as possible.”

VNA Hospice provides hospice care, palliative care, medical guardians, Phoenix Center for Grief and veterans services.

PROVIDING MEALS — Anna Engel, community engagement coordinator with Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana talks with a visitor to the Senior Resource Fair at the Valparaiso Family YMCA. More than 40 vendors participated in the YMCA’s third annual fair.

SERVING THE ARTS IN TWO WAYS — Jonathan Canning serves as the executive director of both the South Shore Arts, located in Munster, and as executive director of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. He has over 30 years of museum experience, 18 as a curator. Photo by Carrie Steinweg.

Combining folk music with folklore to entertain

Text and Photos

By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

When you promote yourself as playing the “top hits from the past 500 years,” you have a wide range and you better deliver.

The Flashbacks musical group delivers.

Not only does this foursome play a variety of instruments, they also weave some homespun lore between selections.

Whether it’s international culture, foreign languages, plumbing woes or moonshining stills, this group can tell stories tied to the music they play. By instrument, The Flashbacks members are:

Marti Pizzini, 85, of Chesterton, autoharp, dulcimer and banjo.

Suzanne Keldsen, 86, of Valparaiso, fiddle, guitar and recorder.

Lynn Hedgemon, 81, of Michigan City, guitar and banjo.

Jim Nelson, 82, of Chesterton, accordion and sax, among other instruments.

The group may not always play before the largest crowds, but they do have loyal supporters.

“They’re a very energetic group,” said Jennifer Pfeiffer of Chesterton. “It’s like country music, remembering the past, and sharing life stories.”

“This brings back memories of bringing my son to hear folk music, and he loved it,” added Martina Drewes of Chesterton.

“This gives all of us exposure to other cultures.”

Another supporter is Serena Ard, curator of the Westchester Township History Museum, where the group plays regularly.

Ard recalled the group approaching her about playing at the museum, which is part of the Westchester Public Library system. Ard liked the group playing for free, but she also likes the musical selections.

“I like the folk music they play, and I recognize some of it,” Ard said. “Music brings people together, and they’re introducing people to a lot of music and instruments they did not know before.”

For Nelson, folk music represents a return to his Norwegian roots. A music teacher in Illinois and Wisconsin, Nelson continued his studies and taught in Norway for 17 years. He retired and moved back to Chesterton.

“Music is a very, very important part of your well-being,” Continued on page 5

CORPORATE OFFICE

clipping company almost clipped client’s purse

The Papers Incorporated, 206 S. Main St., P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, 574-658-4111 STAFF

Ron Baumgartner, Publisher rbaumgartner@the-papers.com

Annette Weaver, Business Manager aweaver@the-papers.com

Kristin DeVittorio, Director Of Marketing kdevittorio@the-papers.com

Deb Patterson, Editor-In-Chief dpatterson@the-papers.com

Account Executive

Rebecca Berggren slwest@the-papers.com • 219-241-5483

Lauren Zeugner, Editor lzeugner@the-papers.com

Jerry Long, Circulation Manager jlong@the-papers.com

EDITORIAL DEADLINES

Elkhart/Kosciusko Edition

Joseph Edition

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $37 for one year; and $64 for two years. (Select one edition.) Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt. To order a subscription, call 574-658-4111.

ADVERTISING

For advertising deadlines call your sales representative. The existence of advertising in Senior Life is not meant as an endorsement of any product, services or individuals by anyone except the advertisers. Signed letters or columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. To advertise contact Rebecca Berggren at 219-241-5483 or slwest@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

On March 18, the daughter of an elderly client delivered a medical bill that was sent to her mother that she questioned. She wanted us to check it for accuracy and tell her if it should be paid.

I read the bill and researched it. Then I phoned the daughter and told her not to pay the bill. Then, I typed a letter to the firm that sent the bill.

The firm was based in Chicago, sent an employee to a senior facility in Indiana to clip toenails on the elderly, then used a medical billing firm in Michigan to bill our client. Her alert daughter who questioned the bill and asked me to check it saved her purse from being clipped of some money that was not owed.

With some editing to protect privacy, here is the letter that I sent to the firm that sent the bill:

“Our client sent to our firm a bill from your firm for our review.

The bill seeks a balance of $70.64 on Account Number XXXXXXXXXX for services rendered on 06/14/24 and 08/29/24.

I phoned the client’s Medicare supplement insurance company to learn what it knew

By WOODROW WILCOX Senior Problem Resolution Officer Senior Care Insurance Services

of these claims. The secondary insurance company reported that your bill to our client was FALSE. Here is why. For the services rendered on 06/14/24, Medicare ruled that the Medicare allowed amount for the bill was $53.17; the Medicare paid amount was $42.53; that left a balance of $10.64 which the insurance company paid your firm on 12/19/24 by a virtual credit card payment with the trace number XXXXXXXXX. It seems your firm filed the claim late with Medicare because the

insurance company did not get the claim from Medicare until 12/02/24.

For the services rendered on 08/29/24, Medicare approved $53.17; Medicare paid $41.98; and the insurance company paid your firm the balance of $10.64 on 09/25/24 with paper check number XXXXXXXXX which your firm cashed on 11/15/24.

Your bill to our client seeking a balance of $70.64 has a statement date of 10/25/24. Your bill to our client upset her and her family. Please, send a statement showing this balance as ZERO. Thank you.”

All the help that I gave this client was free of charge. This insurance agency helps all our clients with medical bill problems similar to this. It is how we demonstrate that we care about our clients. If your insurance agent or agency does not give this high level of service, why not switch to our agency?

Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville. He has saved clients of that firm over t$3 million by fighting mistakes and fraud in the Medicare system. Also, Wilcox wrote the book “SOLVING MEDICARE PROBLEM$” which is available through book stores and online.

FLASHBACKS PERFORMING The Flashbacks performs in September at the Brown Mansion in Chesterton, home of the Westchester Township History Museum. The group specializes in folk music. From left are Lynn Edgemon, Marti Pizzini, Suzanne Keldsen and Jim Nelson.

Combining folk

Continued from page 4

Nelson said. “There’s a feeling that you’re part of something. If you have a tradition, it builds up. Music has been a very important part of my family.”

As the performance begins, Flashbacks members share stories about their pasts and the history of their instruments in Europe. Some members started their music careers when very young.

As Keldsen recalled, music was always a part of her life, largely through the radio, to which she sang along. At age 11, she received her first guitar. Later, at age 55, she found a violin in an attic.

“Somehow, I always did enjoy folk music,” she said.

Music was also part of Edgemon’s early years, growing up in east Tennessee. His father played the fiddle and guitar, while his grandfather played the banjo.

“I just like folk music,” Edgemon said. “It’s simple, nice and easy listening.”

Pizzini may be the real veteran in the group, going back 36 years. She has also helped establish other folk music groups.

“It’s simple, but there’s a lot more to it,” she said. “Folk songs offer another type of music.”

Plus, Pizzini noted, “I can play folk music without wearing spandex or sequins.”

Because of ongoing work at

the adjacent Duneland YMCA building project, The Flashbacks will be moving in 2026, Ard reported. The group will continue to play at the museum through December. After taking January off, The Flashbacks

will play at the Thomas branch of the Westchester Library in February and continue at the downtown Chesterton site throughout 2026.

More information is available online at wpl.lib.in.us.

GUITAR MAN — Lynn Edgemon, 81, of Michigan City plays the guitar with The Flashbacks. Edgemon, who grew up in Tennessee, also plays the banjo.

FIDDLING AWAY — Suzanne Keldsen, 86, of Valparaiso plays the fiddle with The Flashbacks. The group regularly performs at community functions.

PLAYING SAX Jim Nelson, 82, of Chesterton plays the alto sax with The Flashbacks. The retired music teacher plays a number of instruments.

Duneland Chamber welcomes Transcend Dance Collective with ribbon cutting

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce proudly celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Transcend Dance Collective, located at 314 Roberts Road in Chesterton on Monday, Aug. 18. Community members, chamber representatives, dancers and their families gathered to welcome this brand-new dance studio to the Duneland business community.

Studio Director Shannon Williams shared, “Transcend Dance Collective is a new, locally owned dance studio in Chesterton offering high-quality instruction in a supportive, creative environment. From preschool movement to advanced training, we’re committed to helping dancers of all ages grow in confidence,

technique and artistry. With a passionate team and inclusive approach, Transcend is more than a studio — it’s a community where every dancer

belongs. We’re proud to join the Duneland Chamber and contribute to the vibrant spirit of the region.” The Duneland Chamber is

thrilled to welcome Transcend Dance Collective as its newest member and looks forward to the positive impact they will bring to the community.

For more information about Transcend Dance Collective, visit transcenddance.com or stop by their new studio at 314 Roberts Road in Chesterton.

Accessing your personal My Social Security account

By DANIEL SUMMER, MA

Public Affairs Specialist

Social Security Administration

For over 10 years, my Social Security has helped many people access our programs and services online. We will changed the way you sign in to all our online services — including My Social Security. You will no longer be able to sign in to your personal My Social Security account using your username and password. Instead, you’ll need to use one of our credential service providers, Login.gov or ID.me.

If you already have a Login.gov or ID.me account, and can sign in to our online services, please continue using that account.

If you only have a Social Security username, our screens will guide you through the process to transition your account to Login.gov. Login.gov provides enhanced online security, helps protect you from identity theft,

and allows you to create an account that can be used across other agencies. It will only take a few minutes to create a new Login.gov account.

How to transition your Social Security username account to Login.gov.

To transition your account, please go to ssa.gov/myaccount and select ‘Sign In’. On the next page, select ‘Sign in with Social Security Username’. After you successfully sign in with your Social Security username and password you will receive a prompt to create an account with Login.gov. You will then be taken to the Login.gov website.

Once you successfully link your Social Security username with your new Login. gov account, you will see a confirmation screen. You can start using your new Login. gov account to access our online services immediately. You will no longer be able to sign in with

BARBARA M.

SHAVER

your personal my Social Security account using your Social Security username. Login.gov has 24/7 customer support through phone and chat at login.gov/help to help you set up an account, if needed.

If you’re not receiving benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

• Request a replacement Social Security card.

• Get estimates for future benefits.

• Get your Social Security Statement instantly.

• Get proof that you do not receive benefits.

• Check your application status.

If you’re receiving benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

• Request a replacement Social Security card.

• Get an instant benefit verification letter.

• Start or change your direct deposit. (Social Security beneficiaries only)

• Change your address. (Social Security beneficiaries only)

• Get a replacement SSA1099 or SSA-1042S instantly

for tax season.

• Opt out of mailed notices for those available online.

For more information, please read our publication my Social

Security: How to Create an Online Account at ssa.gov/pubs/ EN-05-10540.pdf. Please share this information with your loved ones.

United Way Northwest Indiana awards nearly

$20,000 to Starke County

United Way Northwest Indiana has awarded $19,902 in Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana to support local food pantries and reduce hunger in Starke County.

Food insecurity remains a critical issue for many families in Starke County. Rising food costs, limited access to fresh groceries and economic instability mean more households are relying on food pantries for support. This funding — made available through the federal EFSP program — will help the Food Bank of Northern Indiana strengthen its pantry partners

in Starke County, keeping shelves stocked with nutritious food and ensuring families have reliable access to meals through mobile food distributions.

This investment aligns directly with United Way Northwest Indiana’s mission to create lasting change through its focus on Healthy Communities, one of its four key pillars of impact.

“These EFSP dollars will directly impact families in Starke County who face food insecurity every day,” said Marijo Martinec, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. “Our partnership with United Way Northwest Indiana strengthens our ability to serve

local pantries, ensuring that nutritious food is available to those who need it most.”

United Way Northwest Indiana President and CEO Chris White added, “Food insecurity is one of the most basic barriers to economic stability and success. By directing nearly $20,000 to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana for use in Starke County, we’re not just filling shelves — we’re stabilizing families and improving health across the entire community. This partnership proves once again why we believe United is the Way.”

To learn more or support United Way’s work, visit unitedwaynwi.org.

YOUR PERSONAL ACCOUNT Social Security has helped people access its programs and services online

NEW CHAMBER MEMBER

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce welcomed Transcend Dance Collective as its newest member

with a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting on Aug. 18. Photo provided by the Duneland Chamber of Commerce.

‘Lyin Eyes’ resulted from an unexpected incident

The Eagles

storyteller. Just listen to the way he sings ‘Lyin’ Eyes.’”

This upbeat Eagles ballad tells of a woman entangled in webs of frustration, deceit and entrapment. She lies to everyone — her elderly husband, her younger lover, herself. The affair she has undertaken is, as with many such assignations, a bandage on a painful issue and not a step taken to eliminate the basic problem.

“We saw a lot of beautiful women around Hollywood who were married to wealthy, successful men,” Eagle Glenn Frey once said. “We wondered if they were unhappy.” He later recalled being out with some of the band members when an incident occurred that would unexpectedly benefit the country-rockers’ career: “One night, we were drinking at a bar when I spotted this stunning young woman with a much older, fat, rich guy. One of the guys commented, ‘Look at her. She can’t even hide those lyin’ eyes.’ Immediately, we all began grabbing for cocktail napkins to write down lyrics to go with that great observation.”

Creating tunes is never easy. In fact, much of the time spent is often a long and frustrating process that includes countless revisions. But when Frey and fellow Eagle Don Henley composed “Lyin’ Eyes,” Frey later admitted, “I don’t want to say it wrote itself, but once we started working it, there were no sticking points. Lyrics just kept coming out, and that’s not always the way songs get written.”

Within two nights, they had the music and the lyrics stitched together. Fellow Eagle Bernie Leadon later told Rolling Stone, “Glenn was a great

As the second Asylum Records single from the group’s million-selling “One of These Nights” album, the infectious 45 shot to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

(Elton John’s “Island Girl” kept it from the coveted top spot.)

The Eagles’ masterpiece earned the band a Grammy a year later, and country superstars

Dolly Parton, Buck Owens and Lynn Anderson all released cover versions. “Lyin’ Eyes” also appeared on the hit soundtrack of the 1980 movie “Urban Cowboy.”

“You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes

“And your smile is a thin disguise

“I thought by now you’d realize

“There ain’t no way to hide your lyin’ eyes”

In the story, a woman slips

away from her husband after telling him that she’s going out to visit a friend “who’s feeling down.”

“She drives on through the night, anticipating

“Because he makes her feel the way she used to feel

“The fleeting moments she enjoys with her lover include a promise that will never be kept.

“She swears that soon she’ll be coming back forever

“She goes away and leaves him with a smile.”

At the story’s end, she sadly realizes that her affair will never restore the life she once enjoyed.

“She wonders how it ever got this crazy

“She thinks about a boy she knew in school

“Did she get tired or did she just get lazy?

“She’s so far gone she feels just like a fool.”

SONG ALMOST WROTE ITSELF The Eagles hit “Lyin’ Eyes’ came about from from an unexpected incident and almost wrote itself. Photo from YouTube.

A Boomer Blast To The Past

By RANDAL C. HILL

Pickleball keeps Valparaiso man active and competitive

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Glenn Hummel of Valparaiso found pickleball about five years ago and he hasn’t stopped playing since. A former tennis player at the University of Illinois, Hummel found pickleball was something he could enjoy into his 70s and something that he can even stay competitive in.

It has been about four decades since Hummel has played tennis (and about three since he’s played basketball), but he’s now playing pickleball regularly with that same doubles partner that he played with in college.

Four or five times a week, Hummel travels to Crown Point to play with a group at the court of a friend who constructed indoor and outdoor courts at his business.

“I play for minimum of two hours each time and a max of three hours,” he said. “I’m 71 and everyone except my doubles partner is younger than me.”

The duo plays in tournaments together and they

won a national title this year at the U.S. Open in the 70-and-over division.

“We do play it competitively. There are big tournaments with age groups into their 80s,” he said. Although his partner won’t be able to accompany him, he will be competing this month in the World Senior Games in Utah.

“I’ve played the U.S. Open a couple times in Florida, but this will be my first time at the World Senior Games. I have friends that have done it and it is supposed to be a very scenic part of the country, so I decided to give it a try this time.”

He’s found that pickleball is a game where everyone is friendly and welcoming to newcomers.

“The important thing is to find your level of play and to have a good time. The great thing about the game is that no matter what level you play at — whether beginner, intermediate, advanced or tournament-level, everyone is having a good time,” he said. “It’s a fun sport no matter what your level is. It’s something I can compete in. It’s not so physically

strenuous. I’ve had both knees replaced. Nobody at 70 is very quick anymore, but I’m six-foot, six inches, so I can cover my half of the court pretty easily. It gives you the ability to play with much younger partners.”

He said that in his group of about a dozen players, everyone keeps striving to make each other better. “Pickleball certainly has changed my life from just walking a few days a week to getting a pretty good work out every day we play. It keeps me very active - a lot more active than I thought I’d be at my age,” he said.

Hummel, who is retired after a career as a commodites trader and then a junior high and high school science teacher, also enjoys golfing and plays occasionally with his two sons. He and his wife enjoy walking together year round — outside in warmer months and on the track of the YMCA when it’s colder outside. The family are big Purdue basketball fans since their son played basketball there, and they enjoy traveling to Purdue to watch games together.

Philanthropy

Q. How can a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) benefit you and causes you care about?

A. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a direct transfer of funds from an IRA to a qualified charity, like Legacy Foundation. A QCD is a powerful tool for individuals aged 70½ or older and offers numerous benefits:

• Reduces taxable income – Since IRA distributions are usually taxed as ordinary income, a QCD allows you to avoid that tax hit on the amount donated.

• Fulfils Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) requirements (starting at age 73).

• Supports charities tax-free without the need to itemize deductions.

QCDs allow you to support charities while lowering your tax burden. When giving to your community foundation you can use a QCD to:

Kelly Anoe President & CEO, Legacy Foundation

• Create a named fund that supports your community, or another cause you care about.

• Donate to one of over 400 funds at Legacy Foundation to support favorite charities or establish a new scholarship fund.

As with any financial decision, we recommend consulting a tax advisor or financial planner to see if a QCD is right for you. Visit legacyfdn.org or call 219-736-1880 for details.

A. Each Senior Life Newspaper is distributed to over 300 locations each month and is free for public pickup and supported by advertisers. Locations for distribution are chosen with the 50+ aged person in mind and include grocery stores, libraries, senior centers, restaurants, senior communities, banks, gas stations, apartment complexes, doctor offices, drug stores, farmer’s markets, resale locations, churches, convenient stores, and retail stores. There are four distinct issues of Senior Life Newspaper including:

• Allen — including Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, Noble, Wells and Whitley counties

Becky Berggren, Account Executive

• Elko — including Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble and Wabash counties in IN and St. Joseph county in MI

• Northwest — including Lake, Porter counties in IN and Cook county in IL

• St. Joseph — including LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties in IN and Berrien and Cass counties in MI

Call today for more information on how we can help your business reach the Senior Life loyal audience.

ON THE MEDAL STAND — Shown are Glen Hummel, left, and Webb Hayne, his doubles partner, on the medal stand at the U.S. Open pickleball tournament. The duo were the 2025 national champs in the 70-and-over men’s doubles. Photo provided by Glenn Hummel.

A Healthy Lifestyle as You Age

Healthy R Reminders for A Adults o over 5 50!

1. Take Your Medication as Directed

All medications, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, include directions for safe use. Be sure to follow all printed guidelines and the advice of your doctor to ensure that the medicine works safely and effectively.

2. Don’t Overdo It

Using alcohol and medications unintentionally or to cope with big life changes is called substance misuse. Help can begin with diagnosis, addressing chronic health issues, rebuilding support systems and starting treatment.

3. Check in with Your Mood

Feeling persistently sad or that you don’t have value can indicate depression, especially when these feelings affect your daily routine. Depression can be treated with talk therapy and/or medication. You can also lower the risk of depression when you prepare for major life changes, stay physically active, and share how you are feeling with family or friends.

4. Find Purpose Each Day

Feeling that your life has purpose is a key to fulfillment. It can impact your health positively, and may also slow down aging and increase longevity. Make choices and plan activities based on what is enjoyable, interesting, and important to you.

Learn More When You...

• Talk with your healthcare provider. Bring your questions about healthy aging.

•

Valpo woman enjoys her church that ‘feels

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Sherrie Tichenor of Valparaiso grew up in the church, first in Tennessee and then in Kentucky. She and her husband then moved to Northwest Indiana and eventually Valparaiso. They found a church they love and Tichenor said she will miss tremendously when the couple moves to Tennessee to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren.

“I love my church. I was raised in the church and with this one, God is all over the place. It’s family-oriented and I can’t say enough good about it,” she said. Liberty Bible Church in Valparaiso is close to home, has a small close-knit membership and is a place where she feels at home.

“The people are real. They are wonderful and godly. It’s a good bible-based church where you feel at home,” she said. “We have a care ministry that’s out of this world. If you’re sick, they are there. The pastor is on everybody’s level. I have a son with special needs and even he loves going to church and he can understand it.”

Tichenor suffers from scoliosis, which has affected her lungs and breathing to the point that she needs to carry

an oxygen tank around with her. It prevents her from doing something she has always loved doing in the church — working with young children.

“I can’t do all the activities with the kids. I go to classes and we’ll do a book, but I can’t pick the kids up anymore,” she said.

She does still find ways to be involved in her church despite her health limitations.

“They have a lot of good bible studies. I’m in three right now because they are that good,” she said. She’s also involved in a mentor program for young moms and she and her husband volunteer at the information desk at church. She also helps out in whatever other ways she can, such as at movie nights. She also enjoys being part of the care ministry (providing meals to members of the congregation) and card ministry (sending sympathy, get well and other occasion cards to church members).

She’s also an avid prayer warrior. “I’m very big on prayer. Five years ago I could not pray out loud, but I’m really big on prayer if you have a need.”

She prays when she meets someone who is struggling. A recent example is when she communicated with someone

on Facebook about something she was buying from them online. “When the lady told me she couldn’t meet me because she had a family crisis about her mother-in-law being in the hospital with COVID, I prayed right then and there on messenger and I didn’t even know this lady. I am trying to pray for people more.”

Outside of church she is a regular attendee of Christian Women’s Connection, a group of Christian women that get together monthly for a luncheon and speaker. She’s been part of the group since 2017, when a friend introduced her. “I love going there and hearing about different topics and meeting people and of course, good food. I love that it’s God-centered and it’s a nice event that is Christian-based.”

She very much misses her days of working in day care environments. She always worked with toddlers and preschool-aged children.

Tichenor and her husband, Mike, have been married for 46 years and they have two children — their son, who lives with them, and a daughter in Nashville who has three children.

“I have faith in God like you wouldn’t believe. I have a strong faith that God is there

in so many ways. My kids and I went through a hard time and it grew my faith because God is here,” she said. “If you are looking for a church, I highly recommend this one.”

Dementia and Dine ‘Lunch & Learn’ series continues at Residences Senior Living

Mark your calendar today for the next Dementia and Dine presentation focused on “Communicating Effectively” so you can lunch and learn how dementia affects communication, with community resource CoAction. Dementia Outreach Specialist Jenna Turner, BSW, QMCP, will present this informative topic on Friday, Oct. 10 at Residences at Deer Creek Senior Living, 401 E. US 30, Schererville.

“We offer this educational opportunity at noon to 1:30 p.m. in order to reach as many families as possible,” notes Karen Ayresman, executive director, Residences at Deer Creek. “Our intent is to provide working families convenience. Complimentary lunch is provided to all who attend, as everyone is invited, especially caregivers.”

Plan to RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Ayresman also notes the challenges of trying to communicate when you are diagnosed

By JIM BARRETT Director of Sales and Marketing Residences at Deer

with dementia or Alzheimer’s are frustrating and frightening.

“This includes the families who are also anxious when trying to determine what their loved one is trying to convey. They wonder if their loved one understands what they are trying to convey.

Communication is a two-way interaction and dementia

Continued on page 11

FOUND A CHURCH LIKE HOME Pictured is Sherrie Tichenor of Valparaiso, who has been an active member of Liberty Bible Church for several years. She will miss its family-like atmosphere when she moves back to Tennessee to be closer to family. Photo by Carrie Steinweg.

Creek

Latest “Just Around the Corner” South Shore poster unveiled: Pride In Service

The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is excited to announce the latest addition to the beloved “Just Around the Corner” South Shore poster series: “Pride In Service” by acclaimed artist Michael Chelich.

This vibrant poster captures a charming family-owned service station that began in East Chicago, alongside a picturesque row of homes in the Indiana Harbor community. The scene highlights cheerful neighbors and children

strolling the sidewalks, celebrating the warmth and pride of local life.

Previous South Shore posters by Chelich are the 2008 Valparaiso University, “Legacy of Leadership” and 2009 Indiana University School of Medicine, “Innovation.”

Sponsored by Complete Car Center and the Coric Family, “Pride In Service” is available in 12 x 18 and 24 x 36 sizes. Posters can be purchased at the Indiana

Welcome Center gift shop, 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond, or online at southshoreposters.com Started in 1997, this curated series promotes Northwest Indiana through artistic representations of the region’s attractions, recreation, history and culture. Businesses and organizations interested in commissioning a South Shore poster are encouraged to contact Andrea Rivera, SSCVA Art Director, at (219) 301-7754.

Lakeside living: Discover your next chapter in Rensselaer

By ADAM MCNEIL Manager of Lakeside Community

Looking for a peaceful, friendly place to enjoy retirement? Just 45 minutes south of the Chicagoland area, Lakeside Community offers a warm, welcoming 55-plus environment that feels like home from the moment you arrive. Family-owned and operated for generations, Lakeside is known for its genuine sense of community, caring neighbors and beautifully maintained surroundings.

Spanning over 50 acres of natural beauty, Lakeside offers wooded views, abundant wildlife and two sparkling lakes perfect for fishing or enjoying the scenery. Watch your grandkids play on the sandy beach or relax on the clubhouse porch with a good book and a fresh breeze.

The clubhouse is the social hub of the community, featuring a country-style kitchen for monthly potluck dinners, plus exercise equipment, a billiards table and a cozy library. Whether you’re staying active or simply enjoying the quiet charm of nature, there’s always something to do.

We offer spacious, modern homes for purchase — new custom-order options start at just $129,000, and pre-owned homes are periodically available. With varied floor plans,

Continued from page 10

interferes with the process as it progresses. That’s why this presentation is so important.”

Turner will present tips for communicating well with family, friends and health care professionals.

“When the diagnosis is dementia or Alzheimer’s there are interactions with others extending beyond the caregivers or immediate family. We all need to learn how to better communicate on all levels,” Ayresman adds.

Turner will present “Communicating Effectively” on Friday, Oct. 24 at Residences at Coffee Creek Senior Living, 2300 Village Point in Chesterton. RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 22.

For more information and to schedule a tour, visit ResidencesSeniorLiving.com/events.

low taxes and maintenance-free options, you’ll find a home that fits both your needs and your lifestyle.

Ready to explore Lakeside Community? Call us at (219) 866-5165, email lakeside@

turnkeycommunities.com, or visit enjoylakeside.com to see available listings or request more information. Come see why so many people are proud to call Lakeside Community home!

NOW AVAILABLE The latest “Just Around the Corner” South Shore poster is now available for purchase in a variety of sizes. Photo provided by the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

70s Flashback —

Lorne Michaels’s brash experiment results in ‘Saturday Night Live’

By RANDAL C. HILL

“Saturday Night Live” was Canadian comic genius/producer/director Lorne Michaels’s brash experiment, conceived in three weeks in 1975 as a refreshing NBC-TV alternative to Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” reruns.

The idea behind Michaels’s clever brainchild was to channel the counterculture, modernize the traditional variety show, and lure a generation of disaffected young people back to television.

The program was also imagined as a hip offering for baby boomers looking to stay up late. There would be a different host each week, best-selling musical acts, and a cast offering high-octane comedy skits (often about politics), with SNL advertisers targeting viewers who were 18 to 34 years old.

Rather than hire costly, established performers, Lorne tapped into unknown talent from a variety of comedy ensembles unfamiliar to mainstream TV watchers. The original troupe of players included then-unknowns Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, John

Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Chevy Chase — collectively labeled The Not Ready for Prime Time Players.

The show debuted on Oct. 11, 1975, with the always edgy George Carlin as host and Billy Preston and Janis Ian as musical guests.

Michaels had a winner right out of the gate. During the first season, the SNL cast members rose from obscurity to national prominence as the weekend broadcast promptly became a “must see” for its roiling stew of satirical humor and celebrity impressions.

The improvisational backgrounds of the ensemble allowed performers to experiment with different approaches to comedy. Iconic characters that sprang from the first season included Belushi’s samurai, the Coneheads and Radner’s Roseanne Roseannadanna.

Although some on the team dabbled in cocaine, drug usage was less of a problem than that caused by John Adam Belushi. Michaels had been reluctant to hire the versatile, multi-talented comic, since Lorne believed that, as good as John was, his often-outrageous behavior loomed large as a potential source of trouble for the show.

Michaels’s doubts were soon proven correct.

Getty Images.

Belushi’s conduct caused a tsunami of problems. He especially projected hostility to SNL’s female writers; Jane Curtin later said, “John felt as though it was his duty to sabotage pieces written by women. He believed women should not be there.” Belushi was sometimes told that a female-created sketch had been written by a team man.

“Saturday Night Live” has launched numerous careers and franchises. Dan Aykroyd

and John Belushi became the SNL soul/rock duo the Blues Brothers, later starring in the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers” and recording Atlantic Records discs under their popular stage name.

Beyond the original celebrities came such later alumni who have also had successful careers — Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Dana Carvey and Tina Fey. SNL has also

spun off a dozen movies and won nearly 100 Emmys.

Over the decades, the program has faced some tough criticism, such as the ongoing complaint that SNL has lost its relevance. Oh? Tell that to today’s viewer who still enjoys a dose of weekend laughs from a program that has shaped part of the American popular culture over the past half-century.

Nourish Your Body program series offered

Linda Curley, Health and Human Sciences Educator with Purdue Extension Lake County, is offering the Nourish Your Body program series to help adults gain valuable information and strategies for improving their nutrition and overall wellness. Participants will learn how to eat more nutritiously and be more physically active to promote health and well-being.

All classes will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Purdue Extension Lake County, 2291 N. Main St., Crown Point. Dates And Topics Thursday, Oct. 9: Know Your Medications and Nourish Your Skin.

Monday, Oct. 20: Nourish Your Brain and Nourish Your Heart.

Wednesday, Oct. 29: Nourish Your Bones and Joints; and Nourish Your Muscles.

Monday, Nov. 10: Nourish Your Digestive System and Nourish Your Immune System

Tuesday, Nov. 18: Diabetic Retinopathy — Prevention, Treatment, and Diet; and Nourish Your Eyes.

These classes are complimentary and open to the public. Register for one or all programs at tinyurl.com/Lake25Nourish.

For more information, contact Diana Cook, (219) 7553240 or dmcook@purdue.edu.

A BRASH EXPERIENCE “Saturday Night Life” was Lorne Michaels’s brash experiment as an alternative to the “Tonight Show” reruns. Photo by Rosalind O’Connor/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via

ACROSS

WORLD SERIES

1. End of WW2 conference location

6. No longer is 9. Cake with rum

13. *____ Asinoff, author of “Eight Men Out”

14. Invoice qty.

15. Fox crime drama, 2005-2017

16. *Baseball player’s representative

17. Pastrami’s partner

18. With irregular edge

19. *Last year’s World Series winners

21. *Brave contender

23. Certain tray content

24. Fail to mention

25. Nocturnal flyer

28. Team homophone

30. *Last year’s MVP Corey ____

35. Iranian monarch

37. Proactiv target

39. “Superman” star

40. Head of family

41. Button-up or button-down

43. Singles

44. Graduates

46. Symphony member

47. *Number in a baseball lineup

48. Say again

50. Brezhnev’s country

52. PST plus three

53. Mouth off

55. Brewed beverage

57. *Fall ____

61. *Two-time World

Series MVP winner in 1970s

65. Two under on one hole in golf

66. Brewed alcoholic beverage

68. Grind down

69. #72 Across, in the olden days

70. *2003 World Series winner or Marvel leader, Stan 71. Plural of #62 Down

72. Eject

73. ____ excellence

74. Noise of contempt

DOWN

1. 1984, e.g.

2. Pond plant

3. Right to a property

4. Polynesian kingdom

5. Affirm to be true

6. TV’s “Storage ____”

7. Comedian Schumer

8. Iron setting

9. Bora ____

10. Any day now, formerly 11. Superlative of better

12. Not in port

15. Loud singer

20. Actress ____ Perlman, pl.

22. ____ the season!

24. Double-decker

25. Wilde of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” fame

26. Blue or gray swimmer

27. Drink like a cat (2 words)

29. Reply from a

Brain Boosters

tunnel

31. Eon, alt. sp.

32. Robin Williams in “Aladdin”

33. 0 and 2, e.g.

34. Set to zero

36. *Touch to score

38. Son of Aphrodite

42. T in Ferrari TR

45. Uses #53 Across

49. ____ Chi

51. Break for Congress

54. Dandruff manufacturer

56. Ohio city

57. ____pit

58. Nordic native

59. Malaria symptom

60. A whole bunch

61. Crowd’s derision

62. Performer’s time

This variation of a classic sandwich uses mayonnaise, but not where you think! Mayo is brushed on the outside of the sandwich in place of butter to make the sandwich golden and crispy as it heats in a skillet. Plain Greek yogurt takes mayo’s place in the salad—along with crunchy celery, roasted red bell peppers and scallions—for a satisfying lunch with less saturated fat.

2 servings; Active 10 min.; Total Time 10 min.

INGREDIENTS:

1 5-ounce can no-salt-added water-packed tuna, drained

1 small celery stalk, chopped

2 tablespoons chopped jarred roasted red pepper

1 scallion, minced

3 tablespoons low-fat plain Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

4 teaspoons mayonnaise or softened butter

4 slices whole-grain bread

2 slices sharp Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Stir tuna, celery, roasted red pepper, scallion, yogurt, mustard and pepper together in a medium bowl until well blended.

Spread 1 teaspoon mayonnaise (or butter) on one side of each slice of bread. Flip 2 of the slices and top each with half of the tuna mixture, 1 slice cheese and another slice of bread, mayonnaise-side up.

Aroma 64. Egg holder 67. Grazing field

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Place the sandwiches in the pan and cook, turning once, until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Serve immediately.

Traipsing through space might keep us healthy

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Space exploration could be good for our health.

While it might be of faint benefit to you, the health and well-being of your great-great-great kids could depend on it. It has to do with the fate of planet Earth and its residents. Will climate change make it unlivable? Will the globe become overcrowded with people? Will viruses and other critters overpower humans?

A means of escape and a place to escape to already are being explored as the road to survival for the human race.

The media has been treating upper-space flights by Tesla’s

Elon Musk, Amazon founder and ex-CEO Jeff Bezos as fun-filled fillips of flabillionaires. But these gravity-beating sorties by far-seeing individuals may be giving us a peek into what will save mankind.

The United Arab Emirates’ Hope reached its Mars orbit in February and is man’s first mission to study the possibility of humans living on another planet.

Chinese and U.S. orbiters joined it shortly after that. Their collection of data to determine if it’s feasible to colonize the red planet is more than mere curiosity.

Extinctions have barraged the earth a handful of times, the last occurring some 65 million years ago after a giant asteroid smashed into the Gulf of Mex-

ico resulting in a catastrophic wipe-out of half of all marine organisms and a major chunk of land creatures, including the dinosaurs. There’s no certainty that a similar event can’t happen again.

Mr. Musk argues for making life multiplanetary to safeguard the existence of humanity in the event that something similar was to happen again.

“We need to get to Mars as quickly as possible,” he said, “to establish a base.” But he doesn’t expect us to stop there.

“One does not simply hopscotch to the stars on a whim,” he said. “It will take decades, if not centuries, to progress. We need to start now.”

The process actually began

APARTMENT LIVING

back in the 1950s when the Russians launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.

In the meantime, we enjoy a bundle of health benefits spawned by the space race. They include the development of memory foam mattresses and pillows that help us sleep better, more comfortable sneakers that ease pressure on legs and feet, and scratch-resistant lenses that keep our glasses clear so we can see better and avoid falling.

There’s more to losing weight than dieting

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

More than a third of people 65 and older are obese, and the number is growing. This condition affects both their physical and mental health.

Going on a diet may help but there are much simpler ways to combat carbs.

A first step is to downsize servings of whatever you eat. Then adopt the Mediterranean

By DICK WOLFSIE

gone so long. The class is way across the street. You’re not supposed to talk during the session, so a lot of neighborhood gossip builds up during the silent period.

The ladies have their own mats, but most have resisted going into full yoga dress mode. That’s a good thing. Here’s why.

A Canadian clothing company that manufactures yoga garb once had a quality control problem that alienated its fan base. Especially the part of the base that has a big fanny. Its hottest item was a pair of stretch yoga pants that sold for $100. This is the perfect garment for men and women seeking to transcend their material attachments. And the pants look really cool with a pair of $1,200 Louis Vuitton running shoes.

The company website had a disclaimer that read: “In some cases, you may experience extreme sheerness.” In other words, you can see through the pants. When your garment selection lists possible side effects, you may need to reconsider your wardrobe.

One consumer expert suggested that before you purchase the pants, you should try them on and bend over to see if there is a “see-through” issue. Of course, you are hardly in the best position to gather accurate information that way. You might say to your BFF, “I have a really, really big favor to ask of you.”

diet — fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, some fish, a little wine and some olive oil.

When snacking, instead of sitting down with the large family-size bag, pour some of the contents into a cup or small bowl and put the rest of the bag back on the shelf. Instead of noshing on chips or popcorn while watching TV, sit down with some crunchy produce like carrots, celery or apples.

A company spokesperson suggested you do a yoga maneuver called a “downward dog” to test the transparency of the fabric. I had no idea what this was, so I searched for it on YouTube. My wife came down to the basement when I was watching a video demonstration and now I’m forbidden to go online unless I have spousal supervision.

One yoga enthusiast, presently employed as an engineer, said she doesn’t mind that her butt shows, but she dislikes the fabric because of the excessive static cling. This is what happens when you ask an electrical engineer a question about tight translucent pants instead of asking a structural engineer.

A sales representative addressed the problem of defective inventory already in the stores. “The company will be pulling our pants down from the shelves.” When you utter a sentence that includes the phrase, “pulling our pants down,” you’re just asking for some tabloid journalist to take your quote out of context.

One clothing manufacturing analyst said that the company needs to deal with the problem and get some closure. Apparently, he forgot that with elastic-waist pants, closure is seldom an issue. Then he went on to say, “It is clear that they really have a good product.” He could have added, “They also have a product that is really clear.”

Another company official noted: “Investors have been plowing money into the stock, so we still have room to grow,” which is not only commentary on future potential but a nod to the biggest advantage of pants made of spandex. And finally, the chief financial officer added that analysts are taking a “wait and see attitude.”

Men parked in front of the fitness center are adopting a similar approach.

NUTSHELL

Aperion Care - Demotte 10352 N. 600 E., Demotte, IN 46310 (219) 345-5211 • www.aperioncare.com

Short Term Rehab, Long Term Care, On-Site Therapy 7 Days A Week, Orthopedic Rehab, Post-Stroke Rehab, Nurse Practitioner Oversight, Wound Care, Respiratory Care, IV Therapy, Cardiac Rehab, Newly Remodeled Communities, Memory Care

Aperion Care - Tolleston Park

2350 Taft Street, Gary, IN 46404 (219) 977-2600 • www.aperioncare.com

- Merrillville | Memory Care

7900 Rhode Island St., Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 525-4123 • www.avivamerrillville.com

Memory Care only. It’s our sole focus. Alzheimer care. From initial to end-state dementia. Comfortable, caring enviornment. Peace of mind for families.

AVIVA - Valparaiso | Senior Living

1300 Vale Park Road, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 531-2484 • www.avivavalparaiso.com

Assisted Living & Memory Care in beautifully renovated community. Parkinson’s Disease Certification. Studios to two-bedroom apartments available.

Hammond-Whiting Care Center

1000-114th Street, Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 659-2770

www.hammondwhitingconvalescentcenter.com

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Respite Care, Hospice Care, JCAHO Accredited, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Ignite Medical Resort of Chesterton

2775 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 304-6700

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Post Hospital Rehabilitation & Care, Physical, Occupational, Speech, Stroke Recovery, Cardiac Care, Pulmonary Rehab, Wound Care, Infection Management, Renal Management, Resort-Style Senior Living, New & Impeccably Designed Facility

Ignite Medical Resort of Crown Point

1555 S. Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 323-8700

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Ignite Medical Resort of Dyer 1532 Calumet Avenue, Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 515-4700

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Lake Park Residential Care

2075 Ripley Street, Lake Station, IN 46405 (219) 962-9437 • www.assistedlivingfacilities.org

Assisted Living, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Residential Care, Mental Health Services, Activities, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Life Care Center of The Willows

1000 Elizabeth Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 464-4858 • www.lcca.com

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing 24/7, Ready Set Go Program for Rehab to Home; Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies; Exceptional Wound Care; Respite Care; Pallitative and Hospice Care; Long-term Care; Private/Semi-Private Rooms; Pet Visitation Allowed; Medicare, Medicaid, Most Insurances, Private Pay Accepted

Life Care Center of Valparaiso

3405 N. Campbell, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 462-1023 • www.lcca.com/Valparaiso

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Ready Set Go Rehab Program, Inpatient/Outpatient Physical, Occupational, Speech, Respiratory, Therapy, Wound Care, Respite And Hospice Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Facility Van, JCAHO Accredited, Medicare, Insurance, Medicaid Accepted

Residences at Coffee Creek

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

Retirement Living, Assisted Living, Dedicated Memory Support, Respite Care, Therapy Available, Pet Friendly and VA Benefits Accepted

Residences at Deer Creek

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

Retirement Living, Assisted Living, Dedicated Memory Support, Respite Care, Therapy Available, Pet Friendly and VA Benefits Accepted

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

MajesticCare.com

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

Saint

Lauren Jelencovich to perform in Highland Oct. 4

Classically-trained and internationally-acclaimed soprano Lauren Jelencovich will be performing live at Highland High School, 9135 Erie St., Highland at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Single tickets are available on the day of the performance for $30. Jelencovich and her sparkling soprano voice impart her

love and passion for all genres of music to thrill and entertain audiences of all ages. Having made her off-Broadway debut in the world premiere of “The Music Teacher” and received critical acclaim for countless other roles that she has played, Jelencovich has also performed alongside music industry superstars like Renee Fleming,

and is the grand prize winner of Ed McMahon’s “Star Search” and Andrea Bocelli’s World Scholarship. Her program features a diverse repertoire of familiar songs, like “The Prayer,” “O Mio Babbino Caro,” “Over the Rainbow,” and so many more!

Lakeshore Community Concerts has been presenting

concerts to the community since 1947. LCC is committed “to offer to every man, woman and child the opportunity to experience the magic of live performance at an affordable cost.”

For more information, contact Carolyn Borchardt at (219) 932-9795 or cborc86914@ aol.com.

Killer heart attacks not always fatal

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Cardiovascular disease that affects the heart and blood vessels kills someone every half minute. It is the leading cause of death, accounting for one out of every three deaths. That’s about the same number as those caused by cancer, respiratory disease and accidents combined.

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. Most start slowly

with some sort of discomfort and can be survived if recognized for what they are.

Fortunately, 90% of the people who suffer a heart attack survive the event.

Recognizing the signs early is a major factor.

Most heart attacks start with a minor pain, discomfort or tightness in the center of the chest that just won’t go away. If it does dissipate, it returns shortly after.

What kind of fool am I?

By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer

The title seemed about as likely as any title I could find. Because at times I am a fool.

But most likely just the regular kind.

I tried to fight the foolishness, or at least keep it within reason.

But particularly when I was young, it seemed it was never out of season.

But really, adolescents acting foolish?

That seems to be par for the course.

But it always came so naturally.

It never had to be forced! Even a foolish boy just

might grow up, to become an unfoolish man.

Like the little steam engine that could, “I think I can, I think I can.”

And I suppose I mostly did.

Leaving the foolishness behind.

But it can be a funny world.

Foolish things are easy to find.

But I persevered and I tried, and I think I’ll pass the test.

My behavior may have been foolish, but I still tried my very best.

It can feel like your chest is being squeezed or is full, and it can be painful.

The discomfort can also spread to your stomach or back, into your neck, one or both arms, and your jaw.

You might also experience shortness of breath, with or without discomfort in your chest.

Other signs are dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea and breaking out in a cold sweat.

If you, or anyone near you, is experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 and get to a hospital immediately.

Heart attack survivors usually are advised to lose weight, develop an exercise program, main-

tain a healthy diet, and lower their blood pressure and level of stress.

Ask shop clerk where to eat

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Finding a good place to eat when you’re on the road, whether your just over the county line or in downtown Tokyo, is usually high on the list of things you want to achieve.

Most folks check with the concierge in their hotel or the desk clerk at their motel. A few ask the cab driver that hauled

them from the airport to their inn.

The best sources of information are the people who live and work there.

Pop into a shoe store or pharmacy or any shop and ask the workers where they eat lunch or where they take their dates for dinner. You’ll save a lot of time and money, and get blue-ribbon on-the-spot advice.

Falk PLI celebrates 30 years of precision

Falk PLI, a trusted leader in engineering, surveying and consulting services across the Midwest and beyond, proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary. For three decades, Falk has built a legacy of innovation and integrity, delivering solutions and exceptional client service across a wide range of industries.

The company made history as the first in the world to introduce advanced laser tracking and scanning technologies to the metals industry, setting a new standard for precision

and performance.

“In many ways, this milestone is a reflection of the incredible people who make Falk PLI what it is,” said Mike Falk, CEO and president. “We’ve built our reputation on responsiveness, integrity and an unwavering commitment to our clients’ success. As we look ahead, we’re eager to continue expanding our capabilities and pushing boundaries, while staying grounded in the values that have defined us from the beginning.”

It all began in a family basement, where a husband and wife, with a vision, a plan and a Lego phone, set out to revolutionize industrial measurement. The company remains focused on the future — investing in people, technology and partnerships that will shape the next generation of innovation. With 30 years behind them and limitless opportunity ahead, they are still driven by their mission: to measure with purpose and deliver with precision.

1859 Harrison Blvd.

Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 477-5433

www.stagnesvalpo.org

Email: barbkubiszak@gmail.com

Monday-Friday 8-5 p.m.

Structured Activities, Safe & Secure Surroundings, Health Monitoring

“Help make their Golden Years shine a little brighter.”

LAUREN JELENCOVICH

HEALTH CARE

HealthLinc

Multiple locations throughout Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke and St. Joe Counties (888) 580-1060

healthlincchc.org

Providing quality medical, dental, optical, behavioral health, pharmacy, podiatry, chiropractic and much more.

HOME HEALTH CARE

VISITING ANGELS HOME CARE

2340 Cline Ave., Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 322-6100

www.visitingangels.com

Nationally respected, non medical, home care service. Providing CNA’s, HHA’s & Companion Care.

* Assist w/Hygiene

* Meal Preparation

* Medication Reminders

* Light Housekeeping

* Transportation

* Hourly, 24-hour Care & Overnight Alzheimer’s / Dementia Care / Palliative Care LICENSED * BONDED * INSURED

HOSPICE CARE

DUNES HOSPICE

(888) 602-9004

4711 Evans Avenue

Valparaiso, IN 46383 1417 N. Michigan Street Plymouth, IN 46563

duneshospicellc.com

A 5 Star hospice. Dunes Hospice has the highest visit frequencies in the area for nurses, CNAs, Social Workers, and Spiritual Counselors. We serve with dignity, honor, and above all, compassion.

HOSPICE CARE

HOSPICE OF THE CALUMET AREA MUNSTER

www.hospicecalumet.org (219) 922-2732 / (219) 736-2422

• Serving Lake, Porter and Bordering Illinois Communities Since 1981

• Hospice Services Are Covered 100% For Patients Who Are Medicare Eligible

• Not-for-profit

• Care Provided In Your Home Or In Our Hospice House

UNITY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

Serving Porter, Jasper & Newton Counties in Indiana. (219) 769-8648

Greater Illinois area (312) 427-6000

www.unityhospice.com

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

VNA HOSPICE NWI

501 Marquette St. Valparaiso, IN 46385

Additional Office In: Crown Point, IN (219) 462-5195 (219) 531-8181 Fax www.vnanwi.org

A not-for-profit organization for over 50 years. Accepts all hospice eligible patients, regardless of ability to pay. Veteran specialty hospice program. Serving Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton and Starke Counties. Making Best Days Possible

MEALS ON WHEELS OF NORTHWEST INDIANA 8446 Virginia St., Merrillville, IN (219) 756-3663 www.mownwi.org

A non-profit nutrition provider offering Chef Prepared Hot Lunches delivered daily (M-F). All meals are heart healthy & low sodium. Specialized diets are also available, as well as 5 or 7 packs of frozen meals.

Serving Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke & Pulaski counties.

MEDICAL CLINIC

NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS

Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesteron, Merrillville, Hammond, LaPorte & DeMotte By appt. or walk-ins welcome. (219) 763-8112 or (888) 459-2349

www.northshorehealth.org

Affordable medical and urgent care regardless of ability to pay. Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance accepted. Discounted self-pay option. HEART TO HEART

402 Wall Street, Suite 22

Valparaiso, IN 46383

Phone: (219) 462-6529

Fax: (219) 462-9017

www.HTOHH.com

MEDICAL RESORTS

IGNITE MEDICAL RESORTS

2775 Village Point Chesterton, IN (219) 304-6700 1555 S. Main Street Crown Point, IN (219) 323-8700 1532 Calumet Avenue Dyer, IN (219) 515-4700 www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Stroke Recovery, Cardiac Care, Pulmonary Rehab, Wound Care, Infection Management, Renal Management

MEMORY CARE

7900 Rhode Island St. Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 525-4123 avivamerrillville.com

and

Steam power still rules at Hesston Steam Museum

Visiting Hesston Outdoor

Steam Museum near LaPorte is like taking a step back in history to the time when steam power ruled.

Three, smokebelching trains of varying sizes transport people over bridges, up inclines, through a forest around the 155-acre property just like they did around the turn of the century at the end of the 1800s and early 1900s.

By ROD KING

Steam power still rules here. Plumes of smoke rise from the stacks of a variety of locomotives and the air is full of the sounds of their whistles. A conductor punches each passenger’s ticket at the station before they board the coaches.

A classic Shay engine pulling four passenger cars, moves off slowly and chugs up an incline, across a bridge before disappearing into the trees. The powerful Shay locomotives were used to haul huge logs out of the forest to the saw mills in the valley.

A smaller, former amusement park train is full of enthusiastic visitors and a third, even smaller train with the engineer perched on top of the coal car, operates on another set of tracks.

Rides for adults are $9 and children under 13 years of age is $5.

Nearby a huge steam belching crane built for the U.S. Navy in 1940 lifts logs and places them on a platform at the steam-powered sawmill, where a huge radial blade fills the air with sawdust and quickly turns the log into lumber.

Built in Kalamazoo, Mich.,

it served as a lumber mill in nearby Michigan City before coming to Hesston in 1959. Custom sawing helps support the outdoor museum.

One unique machine is the generator that first brought electricity to the city of LaPorte to power the courthouse and the jail. When in operation, it lights up a big sign that reads “100 years of generating power.”

Hesston Steam Museum is actually the outgrowth of a threshing bee, hosted by the LaPorte County Threshermen, in 1957. It has been growing steadily since then and now includes a blacksmith shop, 1930s ice cream parlor/sandwich shop, gift shop and picnic area. The museum is open only on weekends starting at 11:30 a.m., with trains running at noon. It is operated solely by volunteers.

Get in the Halloween spirit by taking one of their ghost train rides in October. The rides, which take visitors through the forest in search of the “Mad Lumberjack,” will pass many scary vignettes of skeletons popping out of caskets and weird ghoulish creatures doing a lot of other strange things.

The three railroads operate Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month. Trains begin running at noon and haul screaming passengers through 5 p.m.

The museum is closed in November, but open the weekends of Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14 for Santa’s Candy Cane Express rides.

Hesston Steam Museum is located just minutes off I-94 and the Indiana Toll Road on the east edge of LaPorte. There’s no charge to park. Be sure to remember LaPorte is on Central Time.

For additional information and detailed directions to the museum, visit hesstonsteammuseum.com.

STEP BACK IN TIME Steam Power still rules at Hesston Steam Museum just east of LaPorte. The museum is open on weekends and trains start running at noon.

READY TO ROLL An engineer climbs into the Shay narrow gauge locomotive for a trip through the 155-acre property. Shay locomotives were formerly used to haul large logs from the forest to the sawmills because they could handle heavy loads up and down relatively steep grades.

BIG CRANE Built in 1940 for the U.S. Navy, this railroad steam crane lifts logs onto a platform at the museum’s steam-powered sawmill. The mill does custom sawing to help fund the museum.

STEAM GENERATOR— This steam generator formerly provided electric power to light the LaPorte County courthouse and jail. When running, it lights up the sign on the roof.

GREAT ESCAPES Text and Photos

What’s happening at your local library

Below are all the adult programs, events and classes for the month of October at the Lake County Public Library.

Cedar Lake 10010 W. 133rd Ave.

Crochet @ Your Library, 4:306:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.

Book Discussion, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Medicare 101, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Registration required for all programs: visit lcplin.org/branches/cl.htm or call (219) 374-7121. Dyer-Schererville

1001 W. Lincoln Highway (US 30)

Crafters Gathering, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 16.

Real Reads Nonfiction Book Discussion, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9.

Mahjong Open Play, 1-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10.

All Ability Glue Resist Art, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Morning Mix, 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 17.

Medicare 101, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20.

New Parent & Caregiver Meet Up, 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 28. Between the Lines Book Discussion, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.

Registration required for all programs: visit lcplin.org/branches/ds.htm or call (219) 322-4731.

Griffith-Calumet

1215 E. 45th Ave.

Thursday Threaders, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.

Mystery Loves Company Book Discussion, 1-2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20.

All Ability: Pumpkin Pointillism, 6-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20. Medicare and You, 2-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23.

Book Buddies, 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27.

All Ability: Bird Bingo, 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Registration required for all programs: visit lcplin.org/branches/gr.htm or call (219) 838-2825. Highland 2841 Jewett St.

Once Upon a Crime Mystery Book Club, 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2.

All Ability: Smoking Cauldron Art, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8. Fact or Fiction Book Club, 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Registration required for all programs: visit lcplin.org/branches/hi.htm or call (219) 838-2394. Hobart

100 Main St.

Stitch’n Time, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4.

Paint’n Time, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 28.

Adults Get Crafty: Crochet Bookmark, 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20.

Hobart Book Chat, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21. Whodunit? Adult Mystery Club, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27. Registration required for all programs: visit lcplin.org/branches/ho.htm or call (219) 942-2243. Merrillville

1919 W. 81st Ave. (US 30) Citizenship Class, 10:30-11:30

a.m. Oct. 1, 6, 8, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29.

Writing Wednesday, 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Dungeons and Dragons for Adults, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Beginning Crochet, 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2.

English as a Second Language, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 2, 6, 9, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30.

Keep Me In Stitches, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 4.

Nutrition Education Program, 11 a.m. to noon Monday, Oct. 6.

A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls, 2-4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, 20, 27.

Medicare 101 with Cliff Havens, 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Friends of LCPL Meeting, 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Circle of Readers Book Discussion, 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Monthly Resume Workshop, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Photo Scanning and Archiving for Beginners, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Medicare Workshop, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. Medicare Workshop, 5-7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 16.

ESL Conversation Club, 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.

Nutrition Education Program, 11 a.m. to noon. Monday, Oct. 20

All Ability: Beaded Pipe Cleaner Pumpkins, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20.

Board Meeting, 4:30-6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 23.

Medicare Open Enrollment Event with SHIP Counselors, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.

Haunted Indiana: Ghosts and Legends of the Region, 6-7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Smash Bros. Smack Down, 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Genealogy Class: All Free for the Finding, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30

Senior Planet: Online Tools for Contacting Your Lawmaker, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.

Registration required for all programs: visit lcplin.org/ branches/cnl.htm or call (219) 769-3541. Munster

8701 Calumet Ave.

Adult Dungeons and Dragons, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 9. Monday Night Adult D&D, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, 27. Munster Book Discussion, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. Calumet Astronomical Society, 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Genealogy 101, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Registration required for all programs: visit lcplin.org/branches/mu.htm or call (219) 836-8450. St. John

450 Wicker Ave. (US 41) Off the Hook, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. Brain Benders, 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 3.

Mama Just Wants to Read, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6. Book Discussion, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8. Registration required for all programs; visit lcplin.org/branches/sj.htm or call (219) 365-5379.

Barge through France with Bacchus

By FYLLIS HOCKMAN Mature Life Features

The 12 of us gathered for a sumptuous four-course gourmet dinner, each dish seasoned, served and savored with elan. The artistically folded napkins were rivaled only by the several glasses at each setting aligned to designer specification. The conversation flowed as freely as the wine, laughter bubbling up and over the table like a fine bottle of champagne.

It was hard to believe we had met for the first time just a few hours earlier when we boarded our luxury barge for a weeklong cruise on the waterways of France.

This is not a cruise as most of the world defines it. The boat is small; the body of water of is a canal, not the ocean; there are no swimming pools or discos on deck, and shipboard activities range from reading on the sundeck to reading in the parlor area.

We were aboard a barge named the Nenuphar. It was one of four operated by French Country Waterways Ltd. that lumber through the Loire Valley on canals dating as far back as 1604. They wind through tree-lined towpaths and past medieval

villages, stately chateaux, rolling fields, and endless vinyards.

All the senses are satiated, but taste and smell predominate, with wine and food the focus of the trip. The de rigueur Plat de Fromage, a selection of three different cheeses, is served with as much reverence as the wine.

The table is hushed as it learns of the wine’s vintage, heritage, blush, fruity nose, supple taste, sweet aroma, lightness, elegance, finesse, its children, hobbies, indiscretions — whatever.

Comparable homage is paid to the cheese. There’s always your basic cow, goat and blue varieties.

When I returned home, I found it difficult to look at a glass of wine or wedge of cheese without wanting to know its entire history.

The French take their wine and their cheese very seriously. If this barge were to sink, the crew would save the wine and cheese first. Fortunately, this is not a concern in four feet of water.

And it is this wine-and-cheese worshiping crew hailing from across Europe that sets the tone for the trip.

Case in point: I was sitting on deck reading and lusting after a refreshing glass of white wine. And voila! Alice, one of the hostesses, appeared with a glass

in hand. I raised a very skeptical eyebrow.

“Télépathique,” she explained in her irresistible French accent. The whole crew was “telepathique” — and magnifique.

Delightfully planned excursions to French chateaux, abbeys,villages, or to a well-known vineyard for a wine tasting take up most of the afternoons.

My husband and I chose to skip a tour of an artisan oak wine-barrel-making facility because it sounded boring. Each sliver of wood, we were told later, is handcrafted and the artistry throughout impressive. The other 10 passengers spoke about the outing with reverence for the next two days.

We didn’t make the same mistake at the pottery factory, where the totally hand-crafted creations, fashioned here since 1821, more resemble works of art than household furnishings.

Barge cruising is synonymous with slow. You could probably get to your destination faster by walking, but that’s not the point. Traveling by barge is about enjoying the process, reveling in the countryside, and mastering the fine art of relaxation. Oh yes, it’s also about the wine and the cheese.

BARGING Nenuphar on the river. Photo from Mature Life Features.

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Today’s humorless woke culture makes it almost impossible for anyone to poke fun at anyone in the political spectrum without being shouted down by some portion of the population. That is to say, it’s a good thing Will Rogers isn’t tossing off his incisive barbs these days when so many folks search for reasons to be offended.

He was born Nov. 4, 1879, in the Cherokee Nation of Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, and fashioned a life as a cowboy, vaudeville performer, stage and film actor, cowboy, humorist, newspaper columnist, and social commentator.

Rogers often quipped his ancestors did not come over on the Mayflower, but they “met the boat.”

As an entertainer and humorist, he traveled around the world three times, made 71

films — 50 silent films and 21 talkies — and wrote more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns. By the mid-1930s, Rogers was among the highest paid Hollywood film stars.

He poked fun at prohibition, politicians, gangsters, government programs, and a host of other controversial topics in a way that found general acclaim from a national audience. He often proclaimed, “I am not a member of an organized political party. I am a Democrat.”

In 1901, he and a friend went to work as gauchos, or cowboys, in Argentina for a spell before setting sail for South Africa, where he was hired at a ranch. It was there that he started his show business career as a trick lariat roper in the Texas Jack’s Wild West Circus.

That’s where Rogers, in his words, “learned the great secret of show business — knowing when to get off the stage. It’s

the fellow who knows when to quit that the audience wants more of.”

He took his roping act to Australia and returned to the United States in 1904, appearing at the St. Louis World’s Fair before joining the vaudeville circuit, which led him to New York’s Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway.

In 1918, Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn gave him a three-year contract at triple his Broadway salary. At the same time, Rogers was on his lecture circuit and wrote his New York Times syndicated column, “Will Rogers Says,” that reached 40 million readers daily.

His newspaper column expressed his traditional morality and belief that political problems were not as serious as they sounded. He urged isolationism for the U.S.

During his lectures, Rogers quipped, “A humorist entertains, and a lecturer annoys.”

From 1929 to 1935, Rogers’

radio broadcasts sponsored by the Gulf Oil Co. was ranked among the nation’s top programs.

He was an aviation enthusiast and promoted a military air force along with his friend, Army Gen. Bily Mitchell.

Although he supported President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, he easily joked about it, saying, “Lord, the money we do spend on government. It’s not one bit better than the government we got for one-third the money 20 years ago.”

Rogers increasingly expressed the views of the common man and downplayed academic credentials, noting, “Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.”

In 1935, Rogers asked his friend, famed aviator Wiley Post to fly him to Alaska searching for new material for his newspaper column. On Aug. 15, they left Fairbanks for Point Barrow. About 20 miles southwest of

their destination they landed to ask directions. Upon takeoff, the engine failed and they plunged into a lagoon. Both men died instantly.

Before his death, Oklahoma commissioned a statue of Rogers, representing the state in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol. Rogers insisted his image be placed facing the House Chamber so he could “keep an eye on Congress.” Capitol tour guides say each president traditionally rubs the statue’s left shoe for good luck before entering the House Chamber to give the annual State of the Union address.

Many landmarks are named in the humorist’s honor: Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, the Will Rogers Turnpike between Tulsa and Joplin, MO, and 13 Oklahoma public schools.

U.S. 66 is known as The Will Rogers Highway with a dedication plaque at the roadway’s western terminus in Santa Monica.

There have been two U.S. Postage stamps dedicated in his honor and the U.S. Navy’s Benjamin Franklin class submarine, USS Will Rogers was launched in 1966.

Among his more widely known sayings are, “All I know is what I read in the newspapers,” and “When I make a joke no one gets hurt; when Congress makes a joke it becomes law.”

Probably his most famous quote is the epitaph in his Clairmont, Okla., tombstone: “I never met a man I didn’t like.”

PRETIREMENT

A HUMORIST ENTERTAINS American humorist, columnist and cowboy Will Rogers. Photo from Mature Life Features.