Senior Life - St. Joseph Edition - March 2026 by The Papers Inc.

REMEMBERS 50 YEARS OF CRAFT AND COMPANIONSHIP

Text and Photos

By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer

Having celebrated their group’s 50th anniversary, members of the South Bend/Michiana Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America are reflecting proudly on years of stitching

side by side. Founding member Carol Collins started a chapter while teaching YMCA classes in 1975.

“When we started, nobody knew much about anything,” Collins said with a chuckle. “We took a different technique every month and did a little sample. And after two years of that,

everybody said they had had enough of sampling.”

The guild now has about 25 members and meetings remain the same: get together, chat and work on current stitching projects.

“Other times we have a class to learn something new or work on a new project,” said Katy Burke

Anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of age or skill leveleven complete beginners.

The guild encourages new stitchers to get involved, including youths. In the past, members have stitched bookmarks and left them out for free in the St. Francis Branch of the St. Joseph County

Public Library, where morning meetings are held, to drum up interest. The EGA even offers a discounted membership for youth.

Members cite utilizing their creativity and learning new techniques as benefits of stitching with the guild. Continued on page 3

MASTERWORK Louise Fessenden proudly displays her hand-stitched vest.

LEARNING AND SHARING Julie Burcham, left, explains the pattern for the intricate needlework she’s doing. Also pictured are Louise Fessenden, Patti Crowley and Carol Collins.

Lifelong learning part of Daigel’s airport management strategy

By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer

When Michael Daigel travels with his wife, Marcia, he can’t help but scope out the features of every airport they enter. As executive director and CEO of the South Bend International Airport, he is always looking for ways to improve the facilities.

A Maine native, Daigel grew up on a farm and had never set foot on an airplane until age 18, when he joined the military. He became an airplane mechanic, then later a helicopter pilot and a certified flight instructor. His career encompassed everything from flying medical rescue helicopters in Alaska to working as an airfield commander in Colorado.

“It was amazing. I was blessed in so many ways to have all the experiences that I did,” he said.

After retiring from the military in 1997, Daigel thought he would become an airline pilot, but decided he wasn’t interested in being away from home

100-plus nights out of the year anymore. Instead, he pivoted to airport management and became the director of his first civilian airport in Lacrosse, Wis. He also directed airports in Glacier Park, Mont. and Lansing, Mich. before coming to South Bend International 14 years ago.

The year he retired, he also completed a master’s degree in organizational management. His first civilian airport was another learning experience for him, differing from what he’d done in the military.

“Learning is lifelong. I think that’s one of the things we all have to understand, is to keep learning consistently and constantly,” he said. “I still have to do it today. Everything changes all the time.”

Aviation regulations are updated constantly, so as director, Daigel has to keep up on all the changes that happen.

“Everything we do begins with safety and security,” he said. Knowledge of those key elements, as well as airspace, air traffic control and behind the scenes operations is vital to success as an airport director.

An airport is also a business, Daigel pointed out, and has to be able to pay salaries and keep the lights on. South Bend International does that through deals with its airlines and the businesses that serve the public inside the airport.

In the past year, Daigel and his staff have been focused on making the airport more accessible and easier to use.

Improvements have included new floors, a pet relief area for service animals, and new heating and air conditioning units, just to name a few. There are also plans for a new front drive this summer.

In 2025, South Bend International Airport set a new record of 1.1 million passengers. The staff is already looking at ways to break that record in 2026, Daigel said.

“I think the biggest thing is

to learn about the strengths of your people, learn where they can do the very best to achieve that success, to serve the community,” he went on.

“We’re constantly working to improve the team, whether that’s through education or professional development.”

In both the military and in his current position, the people are what makes the work

enjoyable for Daigel.

“The most challenging thing is making sure that I’m doing my part for the team, making sure they can succeed and they can grow and they can do their job very, very well,” he said.

“It’s also the most rewarding part of the job when I see them succeed, and do their best for the community and the traveling public.”

Never too early or late to claim Social Security

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

There’s a growing consensus that says you take your Social Security benefits as early as possible and invest that money in faster-growing financial vehicles.

While there’s long been a

solid school behind taking Social Security benefits as soon as you qualify, you don’t have to take your benefits as soon as you qualify at age 62.

To sway you into thinking you might delay claiming these benefits until age 70, the federal government offers an incentive that sounds pretty attractive: it will increase your payments 8% for each year you wait.

For example, if you wait until age 68 to claim Social Security, your checks would be 19.5% higher than they would be if you took your benefits at 65. By waiting until age 70, your monthly income will be more than 30% higher.

However, proponents of claiming benefits as soon as you qualify argue that you can make more by investing your Social Security checks in the stock-and-bond markets. More than half of Social Security recipients claim their benefits at 62, the earliest possible age, despite the fact that this slices 20% off the total lifetime benefits they will get.

About 8% of recipients wait until they’re 70.

Mature Life Features

LIFELONG LEARNER Michael Daigel, director and CEO of South Bend International Airport, is pictured in his office. His goal is for him and his staff to constantly be learning and improving in their service to the traveling public. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

Mediterranean diet a way of life

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

The tongue-and-tummy-pleasing Mediterranean diet has climbed high on the list of ways to improve your heart health.

Visions of Italian pasta and pizza and Greek goodies dance through our minds when most of us consider our choices of Mediterranean menus.

But there are 22 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa encircling that sea, so just where does this diet originate?

And what foods are we talking about?

While the term “Mediterranean diet” is rather loose, it refers to meals rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and olive oil that are low in saturated fats and high in lean sources of protein, like fish. Red wine in moderation is a bonus inclusion.

The diets of Mediterranean countries differ in the amount of total fat, olive oil, type of meat and wine intake, milk vs. cheese, and fruits and vegeta

bles, and the rates of coronary heart disease and cancer.

It’s generally accepted that the first scientific probe of this food regimen was launched shortly after World War II in Greece by the Rockefeller Foundation in an attempt to improve the population’s health.

Researchers learned quickly that plant-based food made up almost 75% of the Greek diet. Archaeological evidence re

Embroiderers’ Guild

“Different people have different expertise,” said Chris Sikorski. “If you want to delve into something more, even if the group isn’t doing it, you can talk somebody into an extra hour or half hour here or there.”

Continued from page 1 The guild has also stitched itself and its history into the fabric of the community. Members’ work can be seen in the handmade ornaments on the Christmas tree at the History Museum’s Joseph D. Oliver mansion each year, some of which are artifacts made by members who have since died.

The mental stimulation of needlework is accompanied by a social benefit, as well.

“I was recovering from a hip surgery I had to have redone a couple times, and in a lot of pain,” said Becky Fessenden. “I had just started here. ... It was my therapy, it totally took my mind off my troubles. It was a real ordeal that I was going through, and I credit that and my husband with being able to walk again.”

The guild also has a collection of about 80 needlework books held at the History Museum, 808 W. Washington St., South Bend, available to view by appointment.

“I’m just delighted,” Collins said of the guild’s longevity. “We have a good group. There’s been a couple times where it’s almost blown off the grid ... but friendship has kept it together.

10,000 years ago.

More recently, Arabic peoples introduced new foods into the European diet, bringing eggplant, rice and some spices from India.

The key elements of the Mediterranean diet - bread, olive oil and wine - were spread throughout continental Europe by monastic orders that migrated there to evangelize those peoples. Bread, oil and wine

The Mediterranean diet encompasses more than food. It also embraces a lifestyle that includes physical activity and gatherings of family and friends to enjoy such foods as garlic, olive oil and tomatoes that promote good health.

Think of life and living in Spain, Italy or Greece, and the music and menus in each of these countries. That will get

Our beautiful campus surrounded by nature offers a peaceful setting to enjoy each day. With support for meals, housekeeping, and daily routines, you can focus on what matters most spending time outdoors, connecting with friends, or relaxing in your space

Cal l t oday t o l earn about our assi st ed l i vi ng apart ment s .

Becky Savage finds the courage to speak

By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer

In 2015, Becky Savage’s life changed forever. Her teenage sons, Nick and Jack, both died of opioid overdoses on the same night.

Savage, a South Bend native and registered nurse, never foresaw herself becoming a public figure or sharing her story on a wide scale. But in the wake of the tragedy,

life began to push her in an unexpected direction.

“A good year had gone by, we hadn’t really spoken publicly about what had happened to our family,” Savage said. She was approached to speak at a community town hall about underage substance abuse and expected to address maybe 10 or 15 people - in the end, there were over 200.

“Schools started calling

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me and said, ‘Can you please come and talk to our students about your sons’ story?’” she said.

Savage and her husband, Michael, co-founded the 525 Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing drug overdoses through education. Nick and Jack Savage were avid hockey players, and the name 525 comes from their jersey numbers.

One of 525’s main programs is Wise-Up, which is focused on addressing knowledge gaps about opioids for both parents and kids.

“What we try to do is focus on topics, using our story as a gateway and opening from there to talk about things like fentanyl - that’s a problem plaguing a lot of communities in our country,” Savage explained.

The program encourages parents to become knowledgeable about different topics and have frequent but quick conversations over time with their kids, rather than long lectures.

“The number one question I get from kids is, ‘If I’m in a situation, how do I get out of a situation and still look cool?’” Savage said. “So we talk a lot about getting ahead of that, practicing refusal skills, saying no ... having an exit strategy where you text a trusted friend, or parent or adult a certain word, and they call saying, ‘I have to pick you up.’”

“We’ve had local sports teams that have signed up, like hockey teams, that will take a location and get volunteer hours. ... It’s really getting that community involved and letting them know that they’re part of the solution.” Savage was “terrified” before giving her first talk, but now speaks at least once a month at schools all around the country.

“It’s such a personal story, and it’s hard to talk about. But I prayed so much, I said, ‘Give me the words to say,

help me say the right words that will be the most impactful,’” she recalled. “ ... It got easier the more I shared their story to students. I kept thinking, ‘There’s a Nick and Jack in this audience, and I’m going to reach them.’”

When she’s not on the road, Savage loves to travel and go camping with Michael and their two youngest sons, Justin and Matthew.

To learn more about the 525 Foundation or find a list of Drop2Stop locations, visit 525foundation.org.

Fair flying fares

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The 525 Foundation also operates Drop2Stop, a program that has installed permanent medication drop boxes around St. Joseph and the surrounding counties. 525 also participates in the DEA’s national Take Back Day events.

“It’s been fantastic. Every day should be a safe disposal day, but those two days we really promote it,” said Savage

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Airline fares are jumping all over but the wily wanderer still thinks Sunday is the best day to shop airline flights to book the best deal.

Flying from and to hubs is also cheapest. If you don’t live near one, it might be cheaper to drive to one to catch your flight. The same applies to your destination. If you’re going to rent a car anyhow, flying to a hub makes good bargain sense.

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BECKY SAVAGE

Blast to the Past —

‘Let Your Love Flow’ was best selling record of the year

Bellamy Brothers

Attention, music trivia fans! What do rocker Del Shannon, pop princess Lesley Gore, the made-forTV Monkees, and iconic country kings the Bellamy Brothers have in common?

By RANDAL C. HILL

“Absolutely nothing,” you might say. However, these disparate music-makers do indeed share one fact: Each hit Number One on the Billboard chart with their very first single release.

Howard and David Bellamy would sometimes be awakened by the sounds of a Merle Haggard or Buck Owens record being spun by their music-loving father. The future superstar siblings were frequently exposed to such country-music icons, as well as hearing the likes of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, and, later, music of the mid-1960s British Invasion.

Home was a cattle ranch in west central Florida, and the boys went to high school in nearby tiny Darby. Once graduated (Howard in 1964, David four years later),

they launched their music career by performing gratis with their fiddle-playing father at a jamboree of sorts called the Rattlesnake Roundup in nearby San Antonio, Florida.

The twosome, who mastered seven instruments between them, gigged at frat parties and backed touring “oldies” artists before moving to Atlanta to form a short-lived outfit that the Bellamys dubbed Jericho.

The duo also tried their hands at writing, and David’s co-authorship with Jim Stafford’s “Spiders and Snakes” became a novelty home run. Sales of three million singles gave the brothers the cash needed to move to Los Angeles, their goal being to connect with the music scene there.

They befriended Neil Diamond’s backup band. One day, Diamond’s drummer brought a demo (demonstration record) to the singing siblings and enthused, “Hey, this sounds like something you guys would do.”

It was a song called “Let Your Love Flow” and had been written by Larry Williams, Neil’s roadie (road manager).

Diamond had previously passed on the tune, as had fellow hitmaker Johnny Rivers. The Bellamys, though, loved it. Howard later recalled, “When we heard it, we had an idea of how we wanted to record it. It kind of fit our style

- acoustic bass with a groove.”

They signed with Warner/Curb Records, cut the song in a couple of takes, and watched in amazement as it became the best-selling record of the year.

Riding the tsunami of their success, the pair began touring the world. “We’ve always been known as a live act,” Howard maintains. “We’ve gone with the idea that we’re going to have fun and the audience is too. Performing is not something we got into for the money. We got into it for the love of it. It’s a lifestyle with us. That’s how we’ve managed to

stay on the road for so long.”

Long, indeed. Their 2026 tour marks the 50th anniversary of the Bellamy Brothers offering their talents to appreciative fans worldwide.

Larry Williams never wrote another hit. Don’t feel bad for him, though. Howard Bellamy grins broadly when he says, “I would say the guy who wrote this song is the wealthiest roadie now that ever was.”

Bibliography Book: Bronson, Fred. “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (Third Edition).” (P. 433)

New York: Billboard Publications, Inc., 1992.

Internet: “The Bellamy Brothers.” (No author or date listed) thecountrystage.com. The third quote is from here. Breihan, Tom. “’The Number Ones: The Bellamy Brothers’ “Let Your Love Flow.’” Aug. 30, 2019. stereogum.com. James, Gary. “Interview with Howard Bellamy of the Bellamy Brothers.” (No date listed) classicbands.com. “’Let Your Love Flow’ by the Bellamy Brothers.” (No author or date listed) songfacts. com. The first, second and fourth quotes are from here.

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A Boomer Blast To The Past

Senior Relocation

Scheerer McCulloch: Your trusted partner in auction, real estate and moving: Introducing Relocation Services

Several years ago, some friends whom had Moving can be a stressful experience for a wide range of people, not just seniors. Whether you’re downsizing, relocating for work, or handling life changes such as divorce or inheritance, the process can feel overwhelming. A few years ago, I spoke with friends who had recently moved from their family home to a retirement community. They shared how the coordination, delays, and stress made the experience challenging. This inspired me to expand our services beyond seniors to help anyone facing a move.

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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.

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Hospice Care

Q. When leadership understands the heart of hospice care firsthand, how does that change the experience for families and staff?

A. We are excited to welcome William Winston, RN, BSN, as our new Chief Operating Officer. With over 15 years of nursing experience, including more than 9 years dedicated specifically to hospice care, William brings not only a strong clinical foundation but also a heartfelt commitment to compassionate, patient-centered service. His extensive background in end-of-life care allows him to truly understand the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of families during some of life’s most delicate and meaningful moments. William is known for his calm presence, thoughtful leadership, and ability to connect with both patients and staff on a personal

Your Journey

He is passionate about creating an environment where caregivers feel supported,

and empowered to provide exceptional care. William has made a positive impact through his guidance, collaboration, and handson involvement. We look forward to the continued growth, stability, and compassionate leadership he brings to our team and the community we proudly serve.

County Council

Q. What are you doing to help seniors?

A. A few years ago, I spearheaded the 55 and older tax cut, which limits property tax increases to no more than 2 percent over the previous year. It saved individual households hundreds annually, sometimes more than $1,000. In its first year, it saved our taxpayers $2.7 million.

I’m also working with several others on the council to help seniors stay in their homes by allowing them to delay some of their property tax payments until after they sell their homes. This can help seniors who may be on fixed incomes and having a hard time making ends meet.

Amy Drake

St. Joseph County Council (Clay Township Seat)

Finally, I’ve been working with State Sen. Linda Rogers to extend our 55 and older tax cut. Currently, the program is limited to three years, and this year is the last year you can apply with the auditor’s office. If Linda gets her bill passed and made law, we would be able to extend that program into perpetuity.

Contact info: Email Amy Drake at electamydrake@protonmail.com Web Site: voteamydrake.com

County Council

Q. Who are you and why are you running for County Council?

A. My name is Jamie O’Brien – I am an Attorney, CPA and Accounting Professor. I plan to become the county councilman for Granger. Like just about everyone in Granger, I worry about – ridiculously high property taxes, poorly maintained and plowed roads, lack of affordability, and keeping our neighborhoods free from data centers and massive solar fields to ensure a good quality of life. I will help lead the County: by supplementing its plowing with contractors for subdivisions; dialing way back on tax

Jamie O’Brien for St. Joseph County Council (Granger District)

abatements (corporate welfare) and TIFs so we capture the property taxes from projects for everyones use. And of course, I will just say NO to any additional Granger Data centers and massive solar projects.

Votejamie.com

Jamie O’Brien Committee

Care Giving

Q. How can the new GUIDE Medicare benefit help families?

A. The GUIDE Model (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) is a new Medicare benefit designed to support people living with dementia and the family members who care for them. GUIDE is a complementary initiative that works alongside existing medical care, focusing on coordination, education, and caregiver support.

Through GUIDE, individuals with dementia who are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B can receive help navigating care, planning for changing needs, and connecting to local services. A key feature of this new benefit is up to $2,569 per year for respite support, helping caregivers take much-needed breaks while ensuring their loved one

Karla (KJ) Mapes, CEO REAL Services

remains safe and supported.

The goal of the GUIDE benefit is to help people with dementia stay in their homes longer, improve quality of life, and reduce caregiver stress.

In Northern Indiana, families can turn to Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Northern Indiana (ALZNI) — a trusted local organization with deep experience in dementia care. To learn more, call 574-232-4121 or visit alzni.org. See ALZNI’s page in Senior Life.

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Hearing Healthcare

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A. The best is the one that fits your hearing loss, lifestyle and comfort with technology, while providing a comfortable fit and being affordable for you.

Phonak Premium I 90 Infinio Ultra Sphere is the hottest hearing aid right now, powered by advanced AI to boost your speech understanding in noisy situations. Across the country they sell for $7-$10 thousand per pair, but our price is just $3,990 per pair. Just one step down, the I 70 Sphere is only $3,290 per pair. Both have a 3-year warranty, Loss & Damage Insurance and a local service plan.

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You can try a pair at home, for a week, for free. No deposit- just agree to bring them back. See for yourself if this is the best hearing aid for you. If not, we have many other choices.

How do we have the lowest hearing aid prices available to the public?

Our mission is to make hearing aids affordable while providing excellent service. Eleven “Best Hearing Center” awards tell us we’re doing it right.

Elkhart - Mishawaka - Laporte - St. Joseph Call 574-387-4215

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Q. What’s up for Senior Talk Michiana in March?

A. March’s episodes include Kristin Edson from the Elkhart Public Library to discuss the multitude of opportunities offered for seniors. Crystal Hallwood from the nutrition arm of Real Services, Tracey Ford from Wawasee-Syracuse Trails, and Andy Fitzerider from Relay Indiana will be featured in episodes this month.

As we have announced, Senior Talk Michiana is now designated as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, allowing us to apply for grants and solicit tax-deductible donations. Please consider contributing and sharing this with your friends to help us reach more of the 260,000 seniors in Michiana and provide them

Tom Rose

Author & Speaker Balloon in a Box

Coping with Grief Grief Group Facilitator

with information about available services, organizations, and events.

Sponsored by Aging Connections of Michiana, Senior Life Newspapers, and Goshen Home Medical, Senior Talk Michiana is tailored for seniors and offers valuable information on services and organizations in Michiana. Listeners can access the podcast through free subscriptions available on Spotify and www.seniortalkmichiana.org. Episodes are also available at www.thomaslrose.com/ senior-talk.

Rose and Rose Associates

Senior Talk Michiana 574-596-6256

www.thomaslrose.com www.cookingtogether.com roseandrose@comcast.net

Advertising with us is a Breeze

Q. Where are Senior Life Newspapers distributed?

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

• Elko — including Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble and Wabash counties in IN and

Marla Schroeder, Publication Manager/ Advertising Sales

St. Joseph county in MI

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

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

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

Serving South Bend and Surrounding Counties

800-733-4111 Ext. 2319

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Tom Rose

Finding friendship at Hamilton Grove

By MICHELLE GENSLINGER Area Marketing Liaison Hamilton Grove

For Rose, Hamilton Grove felt like home before she ever unpacked a box. During her tour of the community, she met residents whose kindness and genuine joy left a lasting impression. Their warmth helped her imagine herself at Hamilton Grove and gave her the confidence to begin her next chapter.

Nearly a year later, Rose said the friendships she has formed are one of her favorite parts of life at Hamilton Grove. Two of those friendships are especially close. Her nearest neighborsand closest friends - Maydean and Pat live right across the hall.

Pat has been part of the Hamilton Grove community for

I14 years and knows firsthand how meaningful those connections can be. Friendship, she believes, is what gives each day its purpose.

For Maydean, relationships have always been something to treasure. At Hamilton Grove, those connections continue to grow through shared meals, daily conversations and a simple commitment to being there for one another. Friends look out for each other and step in whenever help is needed.

Laughter is a constant at their table, where friendships naturally expand. Alongside Rose, Maydean and Pat are friends like Gary and Marion - devoted Michigan fans who enjoy playful banter with table mates, who proudly cheer for Notre Dame. The friendly rivalry keeps

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conversations lively and spirits high, a reminder that joy often comes from shared differences as much as shared interests.

That same welcoming spirit extends to newcomers. Gwen, who joined the community just over a month ago, felt that sense of belonging right away. The residents at her table greeted her with warmth and encouragement, making her transition to Hamilton Grove easier than she ever expected.

All six friends agree the relationships they have built are an important part of their lives.

“It’s like choosing your own family,” Gary said. “They al-

ways make you feel better.”

Their advice for anyone considering Hamilton Grove is simple: Get involved. Join activities. Be part of the community. That’s where friendships grow.

“Life here is fun when you have friends,” Rose said.

Around their table, laughter and connection are part of everyday life, spreading smiles to everyone who passes by. At Hamilton Grove, friendship isn’t just part of the experience - it’s a reflection of a community built on faith, compassion and the belief that life is richer when it’s shared.

Take time out from sitting

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Whiling away the hours in a comfortable chair is the image of leisurely living as we grow old. But it could be slowly killing us. Sitting for long periods can open the way for diabetes and heart disease and even bring on earlier death.

When you’re watching television, get up off the chair for two or three commercials every hour and walk around the room.

A couple of minutes of activity every hour won’t make up for a good walk in the park or laps in the pool or a bike ride around the neighborhood, but it will lower the risks cited above.

You can also get some chores done while you’re up. Put the wet laundry into the dryer, empty the dishwasher, vacuum the living room.

While you’re up, you’ll probably find other things you can or need to do that’ll keep you active.

History Museum presents ‘Knute Rockne and a Century of Champions’

On the date that marks the 138th birthday of Knute Rockne, WNDU news anchor and reporter, Tricia Sloma, will present “Knute Rockne and a Century of Champions” at The History Museum’s “Insights in History,” taking place at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 4. A tour of the museum’s exhibit “Rockne: Life and Legacy” will be offered. Admission is $3 or $1 for members. Reservations are required by March 2 and can be made by calling (574) 2359664, ext. 6256.

“Insights in History” is sponsored by THK Law, LLP.

In her presentation, Sloma will show a portion of “Knute Rockne and a Century of Champions,” which she produced for WNDU and for which she was honored with the coveted Edward R. Murrow Award as well as the 2025 Rockne Distinguished Service Award.

The documentary explores the University of Notre Dame’s 100 years of national championships, including its first in 1925, when Rockne’s Fighting Irish achieved the title.

Sloma is an Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of 16 Morning News Now with over 30 years of experience in broadcasting. She was named the 2020 Journalist of the Year from the Indiana Society of Professional Journalists for “Never Again: Preventing Bus Stop Tragedies.” Her report also earned the Edward R. Murrow Award as well as the National Association of Broadcasters Service to America Award.

The exhibit “Rockne: Life and Legacy” explores the extraordinary life of Rockne, an icon of college football and the coach who catapulted Notre Dame into the national spotlight. Featuring the most extensive collection of Rockne artifacts ever assembled for public view, “Rockne: Life and Legacy” tells the comprehensive story of the Notre Dame coach’s life.

Now in its 21st year, “Insights in History” is a monthly lecture series featuring a lecture in conjunction with an exhibit or area of The History Museum.

206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542

The winner of the I Spy Contest for February is Darlene Hill from Nappanee. The ‘Groundhog’ was located on page 12 in Senior Life Allen; page 4 in Senior Life Northwest; page 21 in Senior Life Elko and page 15 in Senior Life St. Joseph.

For information, call The History Museum at (574) 235-9664, ext. 6256 or visit historymuseumSB.org.

LOTS OF LAUGHS Six friends. One table. Lots of laughter. At Hamilton Grove, shared meals - and the friendships that grow around

them - make everyday life richer. Photo provided by Hamilton Grove.

Where Seniors Thrive and Lives Shine

UPDATES & HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA

Editor’s note: Send listings of events, for nonprofit organizations only, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, or email Editor Phoebe Muthart by the 15th of every month at pmuthart@the-papers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number.

—o—

Joe Agostino and colleagues discuss the history, heritage and contributions of local Italian Americans at The History Museum’s Insights in History, taking place at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5. Agostino is one of several members of local Italian American clubs who provided substantial assistance to The History Museum’s exhibit Traditions and Progress: Italian Americans in Northern Indiana. Admission is $3 or $1 for members. Reservations are required by March 3. Insights in History is sponsored by THK Law, LLP. For information, call The History Museum at (574) 235-9664, ext. 6256 or visit historymuseumSB.org.

—o—

The South Bend Symphony Orchestra invites audiences to experience the creative voices of the community with Celebrate Local Returns, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. This

program honors the artistry of South Bend–based composers John Liberatore, Jorge Muñiz and Marjorie Rusche, featuring guest pianist Clare Longendyke and South Bend Symphony Principal Flute Leslie Short. The South Bend Symphony Orchestra is grateful to its season sponsor Jack M. Champaigne for his support for the June H. Edwards Mosaic Series. Tickets are available online at southbendsymphony.org or by calling the Morris Performing Arts Center Box Office at (574) 235-9190.

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The South Bend Area Genealogical Society will kick off their 2026 season with speaker Matthew Baumgartner. Baumgartner will discuss Nathanael Green. Green served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He was reputed to be one of George Washington’s most talented and dependable officers. This program will be held Monday, March 30, at Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 53720 N. Ironwood Drive, South Bend. Coffee and Cake Mixer is set for 6 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. This program is free and open to the public.

—o—

Granger Paths 5K Run and 1 Mile Family Fun Walk - Join Saturday, May 2, in support of

Friends of Granger Paths. This year’s race will start and end at Northpoint Elementary School, 50800 Cherry Road, Granger. Start time for 5K is 9:30 a.m. and 1 mile start time is 9:35 a.m. Sign up online at runsignup.com/Race/IN/Granger/ GrangerPaths. Online registration ends at 10 p.m. Thursday, April 30. 5K shirts are guaranteed only to those who register online at least 15 days before the event. If you register online with fewer than 15 days remaining, you may choose from the available shirt inventory and sizes while supplies last. Late registrants can check for any remaining shirts after the race and select from what is left in stock.

—o—

RiverBend Cancer Services, 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, offers the following events each month: 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, seated strength; 1 p.m. Mondays, a craft; 5:30 p.m. Mondays, gentle yoga; 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, chair yoga; 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Melt; 10 a.m. Wednesdays, Support Squad and Knitting Krew; 2 p.m. Wednesdays, dominoes; 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Support Group; 3 p.m. Thursdays, Zumba. Visit riverbendcancerservices.org or call (574) 287-4197.

By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer

I turn the clock back over 50 years.

To when I was young and knew it all.

Changing jobs, drinking and girls.

I was headed for one big fall.

A time of war, troops were needed.

It was definitely a major life change.

Another soldier headed for ‘Nam.

They had me practice my aim.

I was a clerk with the engineers.

Which included some street-smart men.

Some were drop outs and some

But some things can’t be forgotten.

I have many blessings in my life.

But I have memories of war that are rotten.

All vets have unique stories. Many vets still carry psychological scars.

Apartment Living

INVENTORY Lantric puts away some soup in the Broadway Christian Parish food pantry. He is a regular volunteer and served as director for several months.

Lantric believes to give is a blessing

Text and Photos

By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer

“It’s a good thing to give, because you never know. But for the grace of God, you could be on the other side,” said Franklin Lantric, South Bend.

Originally from El Paso, Texas,

Lantric was raised in the Christian faith. His mother was an avid helper in their community, and that example demonstrated to him the restorative power of giving back. During his time in Texas, he was actively involved with Victory Outreach. Now, he is a regular volunteer at Broadway Christian Parish.

At first, he said, he began volunteering to kill time, but quickly found the work was fulfilling to him. He helps out whenever and wherever he’s needed, stocking shelves, serving in the soup kitchen or helping people find new clothing. He estimates over 100 people come through the soup kitchen each day it’s open, and 30 to 40 through the food pantry.

Having been through homelessness himself, he knows how difficult it can be for some of Broadway’s clients to ask for help.

“People are hard because of the streets,” he said. “Even myself, it’s hard to ask. Some people, life has treated them so bad that it’s hard to think they deserve anything. When they do ask, people say ‘no.’ When you say ‘yes,’ it’s a

blessing. Some people just want to take. But to give is a blessing.”

Lantric himself served as food pantry director for several months, and noted one of his biggest challenges was finding new volunteers.

“You have to make your time,” he said of participating in volunteer activities. “Pride gets in the way sometimes, you’ve got to swallow that pride.”

Still, he has witnessed moments that gave him hope. He fondly recalls the day some pantry clients were waiting for a delivery of food and when it arrived, decided to help unload.

“There’s a big truck that comes every month. ... There were people sitting there, waiting for their food to come and then the other half were like, ‘let’s help,’” Lantric recounted.

“I said, ‘Don’t y’all realize? It takes a village.’ It was so beautiful seeing them helping. They’re helping, they feel good about themselves. That lets us know we’re doing it for a reason.”

His personal motivation for helping others is simple and straightforward: “If you can be a blessing,” he said, “why not?”

Along with volunteering, Lantric also loves to draw and paint. He customizes clothes and fabric masks, but his main focus is portraits. He carries a portrait of rapper Tupac and another of his daughter, Zyia, in his backpack.

Broadway Christian Parish’s food pantry is open 8:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday. To learn more, visit broadwaychristianparish.org.

Never too early or late

to claim Social Security

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

There’s a growing consensus that says you take your Social Security benefits as early as possible and invest that money in faster-growing financial vehicles.

While there’s long been a solid school behind taking Social

Security benefits as soon as you qualify, you don’t have to take your benefits as soon as you qualify at age 62. To sway you into thinking you might delay claiming these benefits until age 70, the federal government offers an incentive that sounds pretty attractive: it will increase your payments 8% for each year you wait. For example, if you wait until age 68 to claim Social Security, your checks would be 19.5% higher than they would be if you took your benefits at 65. By waiting until age 70, your monthly income will be more than 30% higher.

However, proponents of claiming benefits as soon as you qualify argue that you can make more by investing your Social Security checks in the stock-andbond markets. More than half of Social Security recipients claim their benefits at 62, the earliest possible age, despite the fact that this slices 20% off the total lifetime benefits they will get.

About 8% of recipients wait until they’re 70.

THE ARTIST AND HIS WORK Franklin Lantric is pictured at Broadway Christian Parish with one of his many portraits. Along with volunteering, drawing and painting are some of the things that bring him joy.

The thing just stopped working

At the dawn of the 1970s, video games existed primarily as coffee break time-wasters for computer nerds.

By RANDAL C. HILL

That’s when two such techies - Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney - left the Ampex electronics company to form Atari in Sunnyvale, a town in the heart of California’s booming Silicon Valley. The pair had envisioned a future gold mine in the growing world of quarter-gobbling arcade games.

Bushnell and Dabney soon brought in a third Ampex worker, Allan Alcorn. To see what the newbie could do, Bushnell assigned him a single task: create a table-tennis-type video apparatus that the public would embrace - and pay to play.

Alcorn, who had no gaming experience, dove into the project and ended up with Pong, a name derived from ping pong, the nickname for table tennis. On sheets of graph paper, Alcorn had

sketched out a vertical dotted line down the center of a TV screen, then added a small square (the ball) and a paddle on each side of the “net.”

Two players would control their paddles by moving them vertically on the left or right side of the screen, competing against each other by knocking the ball back and forth, just as in the real game. Points were earned when the opposing player failed to return the ball, and the first gamer to reach 11 points won the game.

Alcorn designed the game to offer about four minutes of playing time.

To cobble together a prototype, he bought a $75 Magnavox TV set, bolted it inside a wooden cabinet, and soldered wires onto boards to create the circuitry needed to power Pong.

Then came time to give the machine a test. “Andy Capp’s Tavern was one of our favorite places,” Alcorn explained. “We knew the owner, Bill Gaddis, and we trusted him. If something went wrong, we knew he would call us.”

In September 1972, Alcorn and Bushnell trucked the awkward contraption to the nearby tavern - named

after Andy Capp, a British comic strip character created in 1957 by cartoonist Reg Smythe. Pong made its public debut there after Alcorn installed a coin box made of a sawed-off plastic milk jug, then shoved the game into a corner behind the bar. Alcon’s brainchild was set on a table among pinball machines and a jukebox.

The Atari trio crossed their fingers and hoped for the best.

A few days later, Gaddis phoned Alcorn with some bad news - Pong was having “technical issues” and had stopped working. Alcon drove to Andy Capp’s, fearing the worst. But a heavy sigh of relief relieved Alcorn of any stress he had when he saw that there was no mechanical problem, and that the Pong game had malfunctioned because of a logjam of quarters shoved in by enthusiastic players.

Games in Gaddis’s bar had typically brought in about $10 a day; with Pong, that amount quickly quadrupled. Later, when Pong was scaled down and offered for in-home usage, the fun machine sold more than 30 million units before being

discontinued in 1992. Bibliography Internet: History.com Editors. “This Day in History: Pong Released.” Nov. 29, 2024. history.com. Miss Cellania. “The Inside Story of Pong.” Dec. 1, 2012. neatorama.com. Modany, Angela. “Pong, Atari, and the Origins of the Home Video Game.” April 17, 2012. americanhistory.si.edu. Ochami, Frederick. “Pong: 10 Fascinating

Facts About the World’s First Video Game.” Nov. 23, 2019. thegamer.com. O’Driscoll, Julia. “Pong at 50: The Video Game That Changed the World.” Nov. 29, 2022. theweek.com. Pong. (No author or date listed) en.wikipedia. org. The final quote is from here. Shea, Cam. “Al Alcorn Interview.” March 10, 2008. ign.com. Spicer, Dag. “50 Years of Fun with Pong.” Nov. 30, 2022. computerhistory.org.

Hamburger Stroganoff w/ Mushrooms Over Pasta California Blend Veg. Dinner Roll/Marg. Clementine

Turkey Manhattan over Bread Mashed Potatoes & Gravy Green Beans Strawberry Applesauce

Turkey Manhattan over Bread

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy Green Beans Strawberry Applesauce

Blend Dinner Roll/Marg. Warm Spiced Apples

Sausage, Green Bean & Red Potato Casserole Tomato & Zucchini Blend Dinner Roll/Marg. Warm Spiced Apples

Beef Stew Rice Broccoli Bread/Marg. Pineapple Cup

Bruschetta Chicken Roasted Root Vegetables Green Beans Bread/Marg. Peach Cup

Lemon Herb Chicken Red Skinned Potatoes Asparagus Bread/Marg. Nutty Buddy

Lemon Herb Chicken Red Skinned Potatoes

Asparagus Bread/Marg. Nutty Buddy

Joe On a Bun Baked Beans Garden Salad Banana

Sloppy Joe On a Bun Baked Beans Garden Salad Banana

BBQ Riblette Sweet Potatoes Cooked Cabbage Cornbread Peach Dump Cake

Casserole Peas Carrots Dinner Roll/ Marg. Pudding Cup

Tuna Casserole Peas Carrots

Dinner Roll/ Marg. Pudding Cup

Chicken Chipotle Bowl Spanish Rice Corn & Black Beans Tortilla Chips Pear Cup

Ziti w/ Italian Sausage Italian Blend Vegetable Texas Toast Warm Spiced Peaches

Chicken, Broccoli & Cheese Casserole Carrots

Special Holiday Meal

Polish Sausage on a Bun Mashed Potatoes Sauerkraut Warm Spiced Apples

Polish Sausage on a Bun Mashed Potatoes

Sauerkraut Warm Spiced Apples

Stuffed Pepper Soup Cauliflower

Dinner Roll/Marg. Peaches

Stuffed Pepper Soup Cauliflower Dinner Roll/Marg. Peaches

Country Fried Steak w/Gravy Mashed Potatoes Green Beans, Bread/Marg. Jello Cup

Country Fried

Steak w/Gravy

Mashed Potatoes Green Beans, Bread/Marg. Jello Cup

Chicken, Broccoli & Cheese Casserole Carrots Dinner Roll/Marg. Oreos

Hamburger on a Bun Red Skinned Potatoes

Dinner Roll/Marg. Oreos

Stewed Tomatoes Jello w/Fruit

Hamburger on a Bun Red Skinned Potatoes Stewed Tomatoes Jello w/Fruit

Fish Sandwich Tarter Sauce Creamed Corn Side Salad Cinnamon Applesauce

Chicken Un-Kabob with Peppers, Onions & Tomatoes Rice

Dinner Roll/Marg. Pudding Cup

Chicken Un-Kabob with Peppers, Onions & Tomatoes Rice Dinner Roll/Marg. Pudding Cup

Chili w/Beans Baby Bakers Broccoli Crackers Mandarin Orange Cup

Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce Italian Blend Vegetable Texas Toast Tropical Fruit

Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce Italian Blend Vegetable

Texas Toast Tropical Fruit

Maple Must. Glazed Pork Sweet Potatoes Brussels Sprouts Bread/Marg. Fruit Compote

Maple Must. Glazed Pork Sweet Potatoes Brussels Sprouts

Bread/Marg. Fruit Compote

Your donation counts. Every donation makes a difference. We serve over 160,000 meals each year to seniors!

All donations directly support this program. Please donate what you can comfortably afford. Thank you!

AN INSTANT SUCCESS Pong, created by Allan Alcorn for Atari, was an instant success as a video game. It was later scaled down and offered for in-home use. Over 30 million units were sold before being discontinued in 1992. Photo by Mystic lighting from Shutterstock.

Sloppy

Tuna

Independence | Dignity | Strength

1151 S. Michigan St, South Bend IN 46601 | (574) 233-8205 realservices.org Real Services, Inc.

info@ info@realservices.org

REAL Solutions: Helping You Navigate with Care with Confidence

A sudden health change — yours or someone you love — can bring urgent decisions at a time when emotions are already running high. Trying to balance caregiving, work, and family can quickly feel overwhelming.

You don’t have to navigate it alone.

REAL Solutions, a program of REAL Services, offers trusted, affordable private care management for older adults and their families. Our experienced Care Consultants walk alongside you — listening first, then helping you understand your options so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

We provide:

• Personalized guidance based on your goals and values

• Care coordination and medical advocacy

• Support after hospital stays or rehab

• Help navigating Medicare, Medicaid, and other benefits

• Ongoing check-ins and peace of mind

Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to a crisis, we help you avoid costly missteps and make informed decisions that honor your loved one’s dignity and independence.

Join Us for REAL Talk

Free presentations and community connections. Topics target those 60 and older, but everyone is welcome to attend.

Eating for Healthy Aging

Mar. 11 | 11 AM | Portage Commons (574) 284-7189

How Good Nutrition Can Help Prevent Chronic Disease

Mar. 19 | 11 AM | OWLS (574) 336-2652

Mar. 27 | 11:30 AM | 1ROOF (Lunch) (574) 284-7189

Reserve your spot by visiting realservices.org/get-involved/real-talk/

Since 1966, REAL Services has been local and trusted — in the community and for the community. When you work with us, you gain a partner in care committed to helping you age confidently and live independently.

Call a Care Consultant today at (574) 367-6549 Visit: www.realservices.org

REAL Services — Local. Trusted. Helping you find REAL Solutions.

Community & Conversations

A New Monthly Gathering Come Hungry. Leave Connected.

Portage Township and REAL Services invite you to the launch of Community & Conversations, a new monthly evening event centered on food, connection, and community.

Join neighbors, families, and local leaders for a free meal and relaxed conversation in a welcoming, informal setting. No speeches—just good food, friendly faces, and meaningful connection, especially during the winter months.

Thursday | March 12, 2026 | 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM Portage Commons Senior Enrichment Center

Held the 2nd Thursday of each month FREE and open to all! Donations accepted.

133 N. William St. South Bend, Indiana 46601 | (574) 284-7159 | Mon. - Fri. 10AM - 3PM

March Highlights at Portage Commons

Tue. Mar. 10 & Tue. Mar. 24 | 10:00 AM | Trivia Tuesdays

Put your thinking cap on and enjoy friendly competition, laughter, and lively conversation.

Wed. Mar. 11 & Wed. Mar. 25 | 2:00 PM | Line Dancing

Tue. Mar. 3, 17, & 31 | 10:00 AM | Joyful Journey: Brain Strengthening Engaging activities designed to support memory, focus, and overall cognitive wellness.

Wed. Mar. 11 | 11:00 AM | REAL Talk: Eating for Healthy Aging

Our nutritional needs change as we age - Let’s discuss some key areas of nutrition to focus on to fuel our bodies well for years to come!

Thu. Mar. 19 | 1:00 PM | Let’s Talk About It: Hearing Loss

Fri. Mar. 13 | 12:30 PM | WNIT Presents: The American Revolution Part 4.

History buffs, assemble! Settle in for an engaging look at the turning points that shaped our nation.

Mon. Mar. 16 | 1:00 PM | Intro to Watercolors

Ready, set, paint! Explore beginner-friendly watercolor techniques and unleash your creativity.

Fri. Mar. 20 | 1:00 PM | Sound Therapy

Float into the weekend with calming tones designed to reset your mind and melt away winter stress.

March

Thur. Mar. 5, 12, 19 & 26 | 10:00 AM | Knitting & Crocheting

Wed. Mar. 4 & 18 | 4:30 PM | Photography Club

Fri. Mar. 6, 13, 20 & 27 | 11:00 AM | Dominos and Puzzlers

Mon. Mar. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 | 1:00 PM | Monday Memories Share & Tell realservices.org/portage-commons/ Portage Commons portagecommons@realservices.org

Caregiving, love and letting others in

By KARLA (KJ) MAPES, CEO REAL Services

March will always make me think of my dad. It’s when we celebrated his birthday, and now it’s when I reflect most on the seasons of care that shaped our family.

For nine years, my dad cared for my mom at home after her stroke. He never called himself a caregiver. He was a husband doing what needed to be done - quietly, faithfully, without fanfare. My kids and I stepped in when he needed another set of hands or reassurance. Watching him taught us that love often looks like routine, patience and steady presence. It looks like medications organized on the counter, meals prepared just the way she liked

them, and the same gentle encouragement offered again and again.

One year after my mom died, my dad got sick. The shift was fast and disorienting. The caregiver became the one who needed care.

Over the next two years, we navigated treatments, decisions and realities none of us had planned for. Eventually, I had to enact my power of attorney to place him in a safe environment - one of the hardest acts of love I’ve ever known. Doing the right thing doesn’t make it easy. Love does not erase the ache of watching someone decline. Sometimes love asks us to carry responsibility that feels impossibly heavy. What surprised me most during that time was how

hard it was for me to accept help. I’m used to being the one others call - the professional, the guide, the person who knows the system. I believed I should be able to manage it all. I couldn’t. And I shouldn’t have had to.

Before my dad entered the hospice house, friends went ahead of us and decorated his room in Detroit Tigers regalia. My dad never walked into that room - he was already beyond that - but what they created brought deep comfort to me and my kids, who knew their grandpa’s lifelong passion for baseball. The Tigers were in the postseason that year, and those banners and colors felt like familiarity, pride and joy in the middle of heartbreak. It was love translated into action.

Caregiving also taught me that planning is not pessimism - it is kindness. Talking about wishes early, naming who you trust, and allowing others to help before exhaustion or crisis sets in can spare families so much pain. Care does not begin at the moment of emergency; it begins in the quiet conversations we’re often tempted to postpone.

I’m grateful we had those talks before he became sick. We knew his wishes. We understood his priorities. Those conversations were a gift to ourselves and to the people who love us.

For seniors especially, accepting help can feel like surrender. Roles reverse. Independence feels fragile. But caregiving, on either side, requires communi-

cation, trust and preparation before panic takes over. Saying what you need and setting boundaries allows care to arrive with respect rather than urgency. It allows caregiving to preserve dignity, honor identity and let others help carry what may become too heavy.

We all need our people. Caregiving teaches us that love does not disappear when we need help - it deepens. It stretches to make room for vulnerability. It invites others into sacred spaces of grief, hope and memory.

Sometimes, the most meaningful act of care is letting others show up for us.

Happy birthday, Dad. Thank you for showing me what steady love looks like. And thank you for letting me care for you.

March MPHPL programs for adults

Below is the Mishawaka Penn Harris Public Library March calendar of events for adults. Registration can be secured at (574) 259-5277; check mphpl.org for the most up-todate information regarding events or to register.

Mishawaka Library

Events

Saturday Morning Book Club, 10:15-11:15 a.m. Saturday, March 7. “Same Kind of

Different As Me” by Ron Hall, can be picked up in advance at the front desk. Registration required. Decades Trivia Night, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, March 6. Test your knowledge on a variety of popular topics from every decade since the 1960s. Donations of non-perishable food items for the Mishawaka Food Pantry will be collected. Participants who donate will

March 2026

be entered for a chance to win a small prize. Teams must have two to six members. Registration required.

American Heritage Spotlight “Mad Anthony Wayne and the Revolution,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10. Matthew Baumgartner, local historian, will present on Anthony Wayne of Pennsylvania, one of the fiercest of Washington’s fighting generals and a key

influence on the formation of an American way of war. Navigating Community-Based Aging Resources, 3:30-4:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in the Eisen Room. Aging Connections of Michiana will present “I Want to Stay in My Home as Long as Possible ... How Can I Age-in-Place?” Whether you’re planning for yourself or helping a loved one, you’ll walk away with knowl-

edge, resources and confidence; recommended for seniors and caregivers.

Harris Branch Events Paint with Us, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, March 20. Embrace your artistic side by using paint and hot glue on glass to create a faux-stained glass creation. Use one of the library’s templates or create your own design. Registration required.

Mishawaka senior softball league enjoying rebrand

By NATHAN PACE Staff Writer

A Michiana senior softball league that has served the area for over 30 years had a recent rebrand and the president of the league says he is enjoying the results. Rich Gosbin serves as board president for the Mid-America Senior Softball League.

“Been there 16 years,” Gosbin said. “President for three years. We give back to the community. We provide scholarships for seniors going off to college.”

The league was rebranded to the Mid-America name in 2023. Since then Gosbin and the league has created a Hall of Fame to recognize players from the past. The Hall of Fame inducts a new class each season and is up to 37 players with even one squirrel inducted as the league mascot.

In addition to providing a scholarship each year to a local student, the Mid-American Senior Softball League has provided a $1,000 donation to the St. Joseph County Special Olympics.

While another senior softball league in South Bend plays their games mainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Mid-America league plays on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sunday afternoons. Players can

participate in the senior league if they are 52 or older. A super senior league is available for those 68 and older. Some of the super seniors take part in both leagues and end up playing six games a week.

Play begins in early May and runs through the end of August. In September, the league starts a different competition for the fall.

“It’s a completely new season and basically a lot of guys from the South Bend league join in with us,” Gosbin said.

Gosbin says he aims for about 10 teams with seven in the senior league and three for the super seniors for close to 100 players total. To try to keep the competition fair, Gosbin and the league try to keep teams close to even.

“We scramble the teams every two years and we try to equalize the talent as much as possible,” Gosbin said.

The league has called Normain Park its home but a remodel has moved the 2026 season to Henry Frank Park. Normain will be unavailable until July as Gosbin felt it best to play the whole season in one location.

As a senior league, games do not a have a typical home plate. To prevent collisions at home plate, baserunners just have to cross a line beside home plate before the catcher receives the ball.

“We substitute home plate for safety. They used to have a movable base but people were sliding on those. We decided to make a chalk line. It’s a whole lot safer,” Gosbin said.

Players in the league are not just from Mishawaka and South Bend but also from the surrounding counties.

“We have guys from Walkerton, some people from Goshen which is not too far. A lot of Elkhart guys, people from Niles, Michigan,” Gosbin said. Players can sign up for the league at their website michianaseniorsoftball.org or by calling Gosbin at 574-286-0474. There is a league fee that covers the cost of the uniform, hat and end of season banquet.

Avoid potential headaches with a proper estate plan

Historically, wealth is squandered within three generations because families deal with real-life issues such as these:

• Lawsuits

• Divorce

• Bankruptcy

• Nursing home expense

• Family disputes

Any one of these occurrences can hit home and wipe out an entire inheritance in just one generation! Plan now for both the financial and non-financial components of passing your legacy to the next generation.

You and your surviving family members, will have a number of burdens and fears put to rest if your legacy can be planned with some of these potential stumbling blocks in mind:

If your surviving spouse gets remarried, your children’s inheritance can be lost and other common mistakes made with blended families. In the event your surviving spouse remarries, a new set of pitfalls can arise that could have your hard-earned assets going to the new spouse instead of your children and future beneficiaries.

How your beneficiaries can fall victim to divorces (“ex” in-laws), lawsuits or inexperienced financial decisions. Most people give their assets outright to their heirs when they and their spouse are gone … this is a huge mistake! This type of planning almost always fails to protect your loved ones from these real-life occurrences.

How your family can be

torn apart over something as seemingly minor as “Who gets grandmother’s quilt.”

The biggest fights in families aren’t about money, stocks, or real estate. They are about the little things that hold memories and most traditional estate plans fail to protect and pass on these valuable items. Most families also find it important to preserve the wisdom, life lessons and history of the family.

Traditional estate planning does not address these non-financial assets. Having a proper estate plan will help you to avoid your own potential hidden headaches by helping you protect your family and your legacy.

Our goal is to make sure you have all the information you need to ensure that none of these life-wrenching events happen to you or your family. Since

Clifford J. Rice Elder Law

our practice focuses exclusively on elder law and estate planning, it is our priority to be on top of the continuous changes in the law and techniques we can make available to you. Learn more about the benefits and

protections of an estate plan by attending our Estate Planning/ Medicaid Planning seminar at:6 p.m. Monday, March 2, or March 9, at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse,

902 E. University Drive, Granger. Reservations required, seating is limited! Call now: (800) 3037423, or visit riceandrice.com.

Beware sweaty sweats

By JAMES GAFFNEY Mature Life Features

A sweaty athletic jersey is a favorite hangout for some pretty unathletic and unfriendly bacteria and viruses that can grow quickly and possibly become a source of illness.

Family doctors recommend senior athletes change and

shower immediately after a game or workout.

The moist, warm clothes worn after a workout are a prime breeding ground for germs, say doctors. Exercise and working out are definitely part of a healthful lifestyle, so continue to exercise - and change clothes when you’re done.

GIVING BACK— The Mid-America Senior Softball League presented a $1,000 scholarship to Jadyn Handley, a Holy Cross College student, in 2023. Richard Gosbin, left, and Kirby Whitacre presented the scholarship. Photo provided by Richard Gosbin.

Attorney Granger

Are smartphones a very smart idea?

More than 98% of teenagers own a cell phone. Most teens admit the first thing they do in the morning is check their mobile phones. It must be nice to have a strong bladder.

By DICK WOLFSIE

Cell phone companies are now targeting the older demographic, a group in which a few people are still resistant to this technology. Here’s a sales call that might take place between an account representative (AR) and somebody’s grandmother (SG), who remains a little skeptical of the whole idea.

AR: Hello, Mrs. Smith, my name is Joe. I’m calling to see if we can interest you in a new mobile phone. How has your present phone been working out for you?

SG: For 80 years, I’ve dialed and someone answered. If my phone rang, I answered it. Can you improve on that?

AR: We’d like to introduce you to something different. It’s called a smartphone.

SG: Are you there? You keep cutting out. What’s so smart about your phone?

AR: You can carry it with you wherever you go.

SG: It must have a very long cord. What if I go shopping?

AR: That’s the beauty of it; you don’t need a cord.

SG: No cord? You could lose a phone that way.

AR: If you misplace it at home, you can call your cell phone with your landline and hear it ring.

SG: Wait a second - you want me to buy your phone, but still keep my phone so I can use it to find your phone? This is not a great marketing plan. Where does the power to run the phone come from?

AR: The phone has a battery, and you plug it into the wall to recharge it.

SG: Wait, I thought you didn’t need a cord. Hello, are you there? I keep losing you.

AR: Sorry … the phone’s battery has to be charged or the device won’t work.

SG: I have a flashlight like that. Your phone should be smarter than my flashlight. What else can it do?

AR: You can pick up the phone and say something like, “Siri, call my grandson.”

SG: My grandson has one of your phones. Haven’t heard from him in a week.

AR: Look, here’s the big advantage. Anywhere you are, your friends can call you.

SG: How do they know where I am? That sounds creepy.

AR: Here’s another advantage. In the car, the smartphone can give directions.

SG: You don’t have a wife to do this? I have a lovely single granddaughter …

AR: Madam, would you be willing to try the new phone?

SG: Well, let me think about it. What brand is your phone?

AR: We call it an iPhone.

SG: What does the “i” stand for?

AR: Uh, I’m not sure. No one has ever asked me that before. I feel like an idiot.

SG: Now we know what the “i” stands for.

Financial planning less painful than root canal

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

If you think preparing and maintaining a financial plan is akin to visiting your dentist, you’re in a big club.

Some 80% of Americans hate or only do financial planning because they have to - like cleaning the garage or the toilet bowlaccording to a nationwide survey of 1,000 adults.

More than half said they don’t feel confident about making good decisions, don’t understand numbers, or are afraid of what they might find if they examine their financial picture too closely.

However, rather than shut down your economic engine, financial experts suggest you prepare for your financial future in the same way you would get set for a cross-country trip. Just as you wouldn’t leave on such a trip without a road map, you should prepare and maintain a household budget to track daily

spending, saving and investingand a financial plan to map out long-term financial goals.

About half of Americans maintain a household budget and only slightly more balance their checkbooks monthly. Two-thirds have never worked with a financial planner.

We hire plumbers, electricians and auto mechanics to handle complicated repair problems - yet Americans avoid seeking financial professionals to help with their finances.

Survey results revealed almost 20% percent of respondents never learned how to do financial planning. Less than 5% took a course or seminar on the subject. The remainder said they learned about financial planning on their own by watching their parents or television, reading books and magazine articles, or from a friend or sibling.

It often takes a serious life-altering event - such as a job loss, having a baby, winning a lottery, or sending the children to college

- to make people focus on their finances.

While many Americans try to save money, they sabotage their efforts with too much debt and not investing in the best financial vehicles.

Almost a quarter of the survey respondents admitted they had too much credit-card debt, and about 10% are not putting anything away for retirement despite the fact that more than half admitted they’ll need at least $1 million for retirement.

About a third of households save money, whether it’s in coins or dollars or in a cookie jar at home - about the same amount that invest in stocks.

To curb the amount spent, nine out of 10 respondents said they cut coupons, and 60% buy items only when they’re on sale.

What do they spend their money on? The number-one financial pleasure is eating out, followed by purchasing holiday gifts and splurging on clothes.

Always Best offers Age Friendly Care

By MIA ALBERT

here is a nationwide initiative in health care that is designed to meet the unique needs of adults as they age aptly called Age Friendly

Age Friendly Care is an evidence-based approach to the care of older adults and aims to improve quality of life, reduce harm, and align

treatments with individual preferences. When implemented in hospitals, clinics, physician practices, home cares, long- term care facilities, and hospices, it places the patient at the center of their care instead of centering a disease process thus improving outcomes and quality of life.

The Age Friendly Care model is designed around the 4Ms; mentation (mind), medication, mobility, what matters and this is how they

are addressed in care:

Mentation (mind): As we age we are at an increased risk for dementia, depression, and delirium. Age Friendly Care seeks to prevent, identify, treat and manage these changes in mentation.

Medication: Aging adults are at an increased risk for poly-pharmacy, more medications often means more side effects. Age Friendly Care seeks to decrease side effects and pill burden by ensuring all medications a person takes supports the other M’s: mentation, mobility, and what matters.

Mobility: Aging can increase our risk for falling. Age Friendly Care seeks to ensure older adults can move safely to maintain function and participate in activities they value.

What Matters: Age friendly care seeks to align a person’s health care with their individual goals and preferences, including end-of-life wishes.

At Always Best Care Michiana-Home, we believe deeply in the Age Friendly Care initiative and are proud to be the first home health in Michiana to achieve this accreditation.

To learn more about our organization, call (574) 2328487 or visit alwaysbestcare. com/mishawaka.

NUTSHELL

Assisted Living, nursing And rehAbiLitAtion guide

Aperion Care - Arbors Michigan City

1101 E. Coolspring Avenue, Michigan City, IN 46360 (219) 874-5211 • 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

2560 West Lake Avenue, Plymouth, IN 46563 (574) 540-2089

kris.henry@autumntracecommunities.com

Elevated Senior Living: a place for enriched, carefree golden years. tailored living spaces for independent and assisted living options with respite stays available.

Brickyard Fountainview Health Center

609 W. Tanglewood Lane, Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 277-2500 • brickyardhc.com

Rehabilitation, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy. Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Long-Term, Respite Care, Pet Visitation Allowed. Non-Smoking Facility. Chronic Heart Failure & Wound Care Programs Offered. Medicare And/Or Medicaid Accepted. Autumn Trace

Hamilton Grove

31869 Chicago Trail, New Carlisle, IN 46552 (574) 654-2200 • Greencroft.org/HamiltonGrove

Comprehensive Care With Assisted Living, Rehabilitation, Skilled Nursing, Respite Care, And On-Site/Outpatient Therapy; Medicare/Medicaid accepted.

Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame

54515 933 N., P.O. Box 706, Notre Dame, IN 46556 (574) 287-1838 • www.holycrossvillage.com

Dujarie House, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Respite Care, Rehabilitation Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Residential Apartments

Hubbard Hill Retirement Community

28070 CR 24 ., Elkhart, IN 46517 (574) 295-6260 • www.hubbardhill.org

Rehabilitation, Healthcare, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Maintenance Free Homes, Licensed, Locally Owned, Non-Profit, Faith Based, Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapies, Memory Care Support Group, Pet Friendly, There’s No Place Like Hubbard Hill

Majestic Care of South Bend

52654 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend, IN 46635 (574) 277-8710 • www.Majesticcare.com

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

Morning View Assisted Living

475 North Niles Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617 (574) 246-4123 • www.morningview-alf.com

Compassionate and trained caregivers on staff 24-hours per day. Accepting Medicaid waiver. Secure units. Assistance with activities of daily living. Daily life enrichment activities. Nutritional and dietary support.

Primrose Retirement Community of Mishawaka

820 Fulmer Road, Mishawaka, IN 46544 (574) 259-3211 • primroseretirement.com

Our spacious independent and assisted living apartments offer something to retire to not just something to retire from. Residents at Primrose enjoy a healthy and active living environment.

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.

Southfield Village

6450 Miami Circle, South Bend, IN 46614 (574) 231-1000 • Greencroft.org/SouthfieldVillage Comprehensive Care With Assisted Living, Rehabilitation, Skilled Nursing, Respite Care, And On-Site/Outpatient Therapy; Medicare/Medicaid accepted.

Tanglewood Trace Senior Living

530 Tanglewood Lane, Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 277-4310

www.tanglewoodtraceseniorliving.com

Offering Retirement Villas, Independent and Licensed Assisted Living, Therapy Services, Respite Care, Social and Recreational Activities, Pets Welcome, Transportation, Beauty Shop and Spa Services Available.

303 N. Washington Street, Wakarusa IN 46573 (574) 862-1918

admissions@watersofwakarusaALF.com

Independent/Assisted Living. Private studio/1bed/2bed apartments. Home-like family-oriented environment. Family-style dining. Daily activities. Transportation available. 24-hour care-givers. Pet friendly. Out-patient therapy available. Come for tour today.

HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY

AGING & WELLNESS RESOURCES

AGING CONNECTIONS

Serving Northern IN & Southwest MI www.agingconnections.org

Trusted Resource Directory: Visit our searchable website to find vetted professionals providing services in your area for aging resources, education, and information. For more details, check our Community Calendar for events and FREE educational meetings. Aging Connections is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

REAL SERVICES, INC.

1151 South Michigan Street

South Bend, IN 46601

Phone (574) 233-8205

www.realservices.org

Helping seniors and caregivers access meals, transportation, in-home and aging-in-place services, senior programs, healthy aging, guardianship and other aging services.

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ALZHEIMERS/DEMENTIA SERVICES

ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA SERVICES OF NORTHERN INDIANA, INC. (ALZNI) 111 Sunnybrook Ct. South Bend, IN 46637 (574) 232-4121

https://alzni.org/

Providing specialized education, support, and resources for caregivers and those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias including screenings, support groups and programming.

ALZHEIMERS/MEMORY CARE

BELLA LARGO SENIOR LIVING 1800 West Hi-Point Drive LaPorte, IN 46350 (219) 878-1141

www.laporteassistedliving.com

*NEW* High-Tech Upscale Affordable One Story Assisted Living and Memory Care Community. OPENING IN FEBRUARY! Locally Owned, Licensed Resort-Style Safe Haven. Offering Farm-to-Fork Dining, Enclosed Courtyard, Nature Trails, Spa Center and Outpatient Rehab with a Seasoned Team and Memory Care Experts. Conveniently located!

ALZHEIMERS/MEMORY CARE

NORTH WOODS VILLAGE AT EDISON LAKES

1409 E. Day Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 247-1866

www.northwoodsmemorycare.com

Memory Care isn’t what we do, it’s ALL we do!

SIGNATURE HealthCARE OF BREMEN

316 Woodies Lane, Bremen, IN 46506 (574) 546-3494

SHCofBremen.com

liaison2.bremen@signaturehealthcarellc.com

VIVA SENIOR LIVING AT SOUTH BEND 955 N. Hickory Road Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 314-5369

www.vivaseniorliving.com/southbend A Distinctive Approach to senior living, with personalized care and services Tailored to each resident. Offering Age-In-Place from assisted living to Memory and Respite Care in a secured, safe community requiring individual access codes for guest entry. We honor long-term insurance and veteran discounts.

CONTINUING CARE COMMUNITY

THE ORCHARDS OF NILES 1333 Wells Street, Niles, MI 49120 (269) 684-1111

theorchardsmi.com/niles

Licensed Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation and Memory Care. Services include physical, respiratory and speech therapy, along with Specialized Care in post-surgery, in-patient hospice and behavioral health solutions. Cardiac, diabetic and wound care provided. Memory Care-Trained staff help residents lead a life with purpose — in a safe, secure community. Most Insurance Accepted!

SAINT JOSEPH PACE

250 East Day Rd. Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 247-8700

saintjosephPACE@trinity-health.org

Helping seniors live safely at home. PACE’s main objective is to keep seniors out of nursing homes.

FOOT CARE

FOOT SOLUTIONS

323 Florence Avenue Granger, IN 46530 (574) 272-3668

granger@footsolutions.com

Better Health Through Your Feet! Solutions for Plantar Facitis Morton’s Neuroma, bunions, morton’s neuroma, sore knees, sore ankles and more. Call for your FREE foot analysis.

HEALTHCARE

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 CARE SERVICES

COMFORT KEEPERS

6910 N. Main St., Ste. 3, Unit 47 Granger, IN 46530 (574) 277-4121, (574) 327-6123

www.southbendin.comfortkeepers.com

Providing Compassionate Senior Home Care & Home Assistance In Northern Indiana Region. Includes personal care, respite care, transitioning home care and more. Indiana Medicaid, VA Provider, long term insurance and private pay.

HOME INSTEAD

3025 Grape Rd. Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 256-1479

www.homeinstead.com/343

Care they deserve in the home they love.

HOME HEALTHCARE AGENCY

NORACARE

1251 N. Eddy Street, Suite 200 South Bend, IN 46617 (574) 222-5992

info@noracare.us

www.noracare.us

Access experienced health professionals to support your home healthcare needs at affordable rates. We accept long-term care insurance.

CARING COVE HOSPICE

3120 N. Home St. Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 855-3017

www.caringcovehospice.com/ We’re here to help by providing personalized exceptional hospice care. Serving St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall and Laporte counties.

SENIORS

HELPING SENIORS

Serving St. Joseph, Elkhart and LaGrange counties (574) 385-3900

info@shsnorthernin.com

We provide in-home care services that brighten the lives of seniors. Our mature caregivers, many are seniors themselves, make life easier through compassionate, caring support. VA Provider, Long-Term Care Insurance and Private Pay.

VILLAGE CAREGIVING

2515 N. Bendix Dr., Ste. 201 South Bend, IN 46628 (574) 931-0712

villagecaregiving.com

Nations Largest Privately Owned And Operated Home Care Agency. VA Provider. We Accept A Variety Of Payment Options. Call Today!

VISITING ANGELS OF MICHIANA

3840 Edison Lakes Parkway Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 323-6756

jfinnessy@visitingangels.com

Nonmedical services include: Customized Memory Care Program, Housekeeping, Transportation, Bathing, Dressing, Transferring, Companionship, Meals, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care. We are a VA Provider.“We’re Here for You — Always!”

Comfort 1 Hospice

118 W. Edison Rd., Suite 200 Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 387-4117

www.Comfort1Hospice.com

Our homegrown team of local health care providers offer comfort and compassion to those with life-limiting illnesses in our community. We Can Help!

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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.

HEART TO HEART HOSPICE

620 Edison Rd., Suite 122 Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 855-4475

hearttohearthospice.com

Compassionate care from our heart to

Volunteers needed. CHAP Accredited

PARADIGM HEALTH

3625 Park Place West, Suite 200

Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 332-8320

MyParadigmHealth.com

Honoring life’s journey with expert hospice and pallative care services. Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for our patients and their families. Exceptional end-of-life care is provided by our valued and empowered team. Hoosiers Caring for Hoosiers.

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INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

AUTUMN TRACE

2560 West Lake Ave. Plymouth, IN 46563 (574) 540-2089

kris.henry@autumntracecommunities.com

Elevated Senior Living: a place for enriched, carefree golden years. discover a vibrant community where every aspect of senior life is thoughtfully addressed, promoting independence, wellness, and joy.

www.villageatarborwood.com

HOSPICE CARE

It’s a matter of time in various ways

By TOM MORROW Mature Life Features

About the only occasion most of us take notice of time is when we have to keep an appointment or find out when our favorite TV program is aired.

The definition of a time zone is a longitudinal geographic area that observes a uniform time for legal, commercial and social purposes. There are 24 time zones circling the globe. Each zone extends 15 degrees longitudinally and often follows the boundaries between states, countries and their subdivisions instead of strictly following lines of longitude because it is convenient for areas and operations in frequent communication to keep the same time - like railroads, airlines, and communications networks.

The position of the sun in the sky, known as solar time, varies by location because the Earth is round. This variation corresponds to four minutes of time for every degree of longitude. For example, when it is solar noon in London, it is about 10 minutes before

solar noon in Bristol, which is about 2.5 degrees to the west.

The British Royal Observatory in Greenwich was founded in 1675 and established Greenwich Mean Time, the solar time at that location. Astronomers of that era developed GMT as an aid to mariners to determine their longitudal position at sea. Today’s U.S. military units refer to GMT as “Zulu Time.”

As transportation and telecommunications improved in the 19th century, it became increasingly inconvenient for each location to observe its own solar time. In November, 1840, the Great Western Railway started using GMT on portable chronometers. This practice was soon followed by other railway companies in Great Britain, and around August of 1852, time signals were transmitted by telegraph from the Royal Observatory.

By 1855, Great Britain’s public clocks were using GMT, but that didn’t become England’s legal time until 1880.

In 19th century North America, each railroad used its own of time, usually based

on the local time at its headquarters or, more importantly, its terminus. Each railroad’s schedules were published using its own time. Some junctions served by several railroads had a clock for each railroad, each showing a different time.

In 1863, Charles F. Dowd proposed a system of hourly standard time zones but railroad officials weren’t consulted on the matter until 1869.

A year later, Dowd proposed four time zones for the United States having north-south borders with the first centered on Washington, D.C.

However, his system was never accepted by North American railroads. Instead, U.S. and Canadian railroads implemented a version proposed by the Traveler’s Official Railway Guide. The borders of its time zones ran through major cities’ railroad

stations. By 1872 the first time zone was centered on the meridian 75 degrees west of Greenwich.

Canadian-born Sanford Fleming proposed a worldwide system of time zones. His proposal divided the world into 24 time zones. All clocks within each zone would be set to the same time a and differing by one hour from those in the neighboring zones.

Fleming advocated his system at several international conferences, including the International Meridian Conference, where it received some consideration. While his system was never directly adopted, some maps divide the world into 24 time zones.

By 1900, almost all inhabited places had adopted a standard time zone but only used an hourly offset from GMT. Many applied the time at a

local astronomical observatory to an entire country, without any reference to GMT. It took many decades before all time zones were based on some standard offset from GMT, also known as Coordinated Universal Time. (UTC). By 1929, the majority of countries had adopted hourly time zones, except Iran, India and parts of Australia, which have time zones with a 30-minute offset to UTC.

Several countries and subdivisions use half-hour or quarter-hour deviations. China and India use a single time zone for the whole country even though their territory far exceeds the ideal 15 degrees of longitude for one hour.

In Russia, which has 11 time zones, two zones were removed in 2010 but were reinstated in 2014.

Science battles health disparities

By JAMES GAFFNEY Mature Life Features

Science is working to eliminate socioeconomic disparities in health, which could have far-reaching effects on the nation’s graying population.

Research has revealed an association between a patient’s level of education and adherence to complex treatment regimens. Income, age, race and gender are not as important as education in influencing one’s level of health, but the differences associated with less education can be overcome, resulting in improved compliance and better health outcomes.

Lower socioeconomic status - less education and lower income and wealth - has long been strongly linked with poorer health, and research has led to the development of programs to address this.

Experts have examined several explanations for health disparities associated with socioeconomic status, such as differences in access to health care and insurance or in

smoking and drinking patterns among affluent and poor groups.

Education is an important contributor to health and life expectancy. The ability to adhere to a treatment regimen, while influenced by education, is the bottom line for better health. Not all patients are alike in their ability to follow and maintain complicated medical regimens.

Lakeside 55 plus Community: A place to own, connect and feel at home

Lakeside in Rensselaer, is a 55-plus community designed for those who value the security, pride and independence that come with owning their own home. Unlike many communities that rely on rental models, Lakeside offers residents homeownership — providing long-term stability and control while enjoying a welcoming, neighbor-focused environment.

Homes at Lakeside are designed with comfort and ease of living in mind. Prices begin at an attainable $129,000 and range up to $199,900 for homes featuring high-end finishes and an attached 24-foot- by-24foot garage. Lakeside also offers the opportunity to custom order a home. From layout to finishes, residents can choose options that fit their needs perfectly, creating a space that truly feels like home.

Beyond the homes themselves, Lakeside enhances everyday living with beautiful surroundings and shared amenities that add value without sacrificing independence. The community is built around three scenic ponds, offering

peaceful views and opportunities to enjoy nature right outside their door. A beach near the clubhouse is available for residents and their guests, adding a unique recreational feature rarely found in communities of this kind.

The clubhouse serves as both a social and practical extension of homeownership. It hosts planned activities such as card games and potluck dinners, encouraging connection among neighbors and is also available for private gatherings hosted by residents.

By combining affordable homeownership, customizable living options and a safe, socially connected setting, Lakeside stands out as a smart and fulfilling choice for active adults looking to invest in both their home and their lifestyle.

Ready to explore Lakeside Community? Call (219) 866-5165, email lakeside@ turnkeycommunities.com, or visitenjoylakeside.com to see available listings or request more information. Come see why so many people call Lakeside Community home.

Peering into the past: leaders who made a difference

By TOM MORROW Mature Life Features

There are a handful of presidents students of history and civics should get to know in understanding what made America the dominant global nation it is today.

Most folks under 40 take for granted America’s position in the world. It was no accident how we got here and understanding how our republic works.

While President Donald Trump was an easy target for his bombastic style, his presidential personality wasn’t much different from that of President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, who found himself in the Oval Office early in the 20th century due to the assassination of President William McKinley.

Republican Roosevelt became

known as “T.R.” and believed in a strong Navy. He had the U.S. Navy’s pre-World War I battleships of the Great White Fleet circle the globe showing off our growing power. It was part of his Big Stick policy, as in “walk softly but carry a big stick.”

Teddy oversaw the momentous building of the Panama Canal, which linked the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific and cut in half the time needed to go from ocean to ocean by not having to travel around the southern tip of South America.

The Republicans originally ran T.R. for vice president in 1900 to get rid of him. As governor of New York, he had been an irritating maverick to old-guard politicians. Their plan backfired when McKinley was assassinated. As president, T.R. created havoc in both government and business with a vast variety of reforms.

Herbert Hoover was a pop-

ular post-World War I humanitarian, but he’s best remembered for being an ineffective president and gets the brunt of the blame for the Great Depression of the 1930s.

While he failed as a president, Hoover’s greatest accomplishment was being that of humanitarian. After World War I, he had organized the feeding of Europe and followed up after World War II when President Harry Truman asked him to organize the feeding of millions of Europeans left homeless and starving after that war.

Franklin D. Roosevelt has been ranked by many among America’s greatest presidents. He served more than 12 years, guiding the nation through the dark years of the 1930s Depression and World War II, but his vice president became one of the nation’s leading leaders.

Harry Truman became known among detractors as

“His Accidency” when he moved into the Oval Office after Roosevelt died a few weeks into his fourth term. The Democrat from Missouri became the only high-school graduate of the century to become president.

Ironically, FDR had never told Vice-President Truman about the development of the atom bomb. Truman was informed about the highly-secret $2 billion World War II project after assuming office. He made the historic decision to drop the two bombs on Japan that ended the war and launched the nuclear age. It was one of the most important decisions any head of state ever made.

An estimated half-million U.S. troops and as many as 1.5 million Japanese were saved from death that, if the war continued, would have resulted in assaulting the mainland of Japan.

Presidents Dwight D. Eisen-

hower and John F. Kennedy led us through the turbulent 1950s and into the 1960s.

Ike was the architect of our interstate highway system and JFK launched us to the moon. Kennedy and his vice president, Lyndon Johnson, changed America with their quest for meaningful civil rights.

President Ronald Reagan was one of the nation’s most charismatic chief executives. He was staunchly anti-communist and dedicated himself to defeating the Soviet Union and end the Cold War that began some four decades before his presidency.

His building up the U.S. military resulted in out-spending the Soviets, which caused their collapse. And history recalls his challenge to Russian leaders to tear down the Berlin Wall that was a concrete symbol of the rift between East and West.

Summertime heat can be dangerous

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

To put a twist on an ancient adage, if you can’t handle the heat, you might want to stay in the kitchen.

At least it’s probably air conditioned.

While monsoon rains, hurricanes, tornadoes and thunderstorms punctuate the heated hibernation season that stretches from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the elderly still find coping with triple-digit temperatures an unending battle.

While climate-conscious observers claim the planet

is getting hotter, reports continue of infants and family pets dying of heat stroke after being left in parked cars.

As youngsters, most of us looked forward to the summer season to splash around in the nearest pool, pond, lake, river or beach.

With age, we’ve come to make sure the air conditioner and television set work to get us through the high-temperature times.

Besides staying cool, it’s important to stay hydrated

to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Drink plenty of water and don’t wait until you’re thirsty before taking a drink.

Pay attention to the televised weather forecasts so you can arrange trips to the doctor, supermarket, church and anywhere else when the mercury is not at its peak.

The elderly can lose some of their ability to respond to temperature changes to protect themselves. Some diseases and medications can

intensify the effects of hot weather.

Slowing your pace helps protect yourself against heat. Don’t do anything fast or that requires sweat-and-strain efforts.

Exercise sessions - running, swimming, biking, tai chi, gym visits, aerobics -should be pared down and scheduled for the cooler times of day.

Watch for signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and those around you. They include a fast weak pulse,

heavy sweating, fainting, nausea, vomiting and a cold, clammy skin.

Heat stroke indicators range from a rapid strong pulse to skin that is hot, red and dry or moist along with a body temperature that has climbed above 104 degrees. It might also include unconsciousness.

Any of these signs call for medical treatment immediately because they mean the heat has made you sick.

FREE Community Aging Presentations! FREE Community Aging Presentations!

You’re invited to join Aging Connections for our complimentary health and wellness workshops! 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!

March 3rd

3:30-4:45 pm EST March 17th 3:30-4:45 pm EST

Speaker: Linda Loftus, Hearing Loss Association of America

Topic: How Hearing Loss Impacts Relationships

Speaker: Malana Maher, President, Founder, ACOM

Topic: “How Can I Age-in-Place?”

Location: The Salvation Army Kroc Center 900 W. Western Avenue, South Bend 46601

Location: MPH Public Library 209 LWE, Mishawaka 46544

Speaker: Silja Jaquay, REAL SERVICES Topic: Fall Prevention

Location: Marshall County, Community Resource Center, 510 W. Adams Street, Plymouth 46563

March 10th 3:30-4:45 pm EST March 24th 3:30-4:45 pm EST LaPorte County

Speaker: Melissa Gunter, Certified Yoga Instructor

Topic: Yoga for Every Chair: A Gentle Exploration

Location: SJPL Downtown Location, Community Learning Center - Beutter Kernan Hall, 304 S. Main St., South Bend

Speaker: Jen Wozniak, REAL Services

Topic: Why Area Agencies on Aging Matter

Location: Milton Village 111 Sunnybrook Ct., South Bend 46637

March 26th 3-4:30 pm EST March 19th 3-4:30 pm CST

Speaker: Krystyna Watson, Clinical Liaison, Rehabilitation Hosp of NI Topic: Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana Services

Location: LaPorte Main Library 904 Indiana Ave., La Porte 46350

An exploration of the Cayman Islands

By VICTOR BLOCK Guest Columnist

In 1503, Christopher Columbus came upon a group of islands in what today is known as the Caribbean Sea. The people who lived there called the atolls caiman, their word for crocodile.

I recently followed Chris in exploring those points of land and discovered that they have much to offer today’s travelers. From the typical sun, sand and surf attractions and a lengthy list of activities to intriguing history, the Caymans present a choice of things to see and do usually

CITY Tourists walk among the stingrays in the clear water. Photo by PictureMakersLic from Dreamstime.com.

found in much larger destinations.

Mention Caribbean and “beaches” come to mind. Those on the Cayman Islands are varied and inviting, and most consist of picture-postcard-perfect soft white sand.

Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman, which erosion has shrunk to 5.5 miles long, has been named one of the Caribbean’s “Ultimate Beaches” by Caribbean Travel & Life magazine.

Nestled at the end of Seven Mile Beach is Cemetery Beach, named for its location adjacent to a burial ground. Wandering among the weathered headstones, I found that they relate pages from the islands’ past.

That antiquity is worth exploring and recalling. Over time, those who found their way to this archipelago included shipwrecked

sailors, pirates and deserters from British troops in Jamaica.

Grand Cayman, largest of the three islands (22 miles long, eight miles wide), is home to Stingray City, the name given to shallow sandbars which are home to a gathering of those unusual creatures. After receiving assurances that I could walk among and even pet the strange-looking animals, I got up close and personal with several of them.

Little Cayman lives up - or, rather, down - to its name. It’s one of the last undeveloped islands of any size in the Caribbean and is a place of unspoiled natural beauty and relaxation.

On Cayman Brac, I encountered rugged terrain and hidden caves, some of which were used by pirates as safe havens to stash their treasure. This is a bird-watchers paradise, where

more than 200 species of residents and migrators have been recorded.

The Cayman Islands National Museum brings alive the islands’ seafaring history. Intricate ship models are displayed near relics recovered from shipwrecks which dot the surrounding reefs.

Visitors to the Central Caribbean Marine Institute learn about the life, and death, of coral; reef restoration, and other solutions to declining ocean health.

A typical Caymanian house over a century old greeted me at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. It’s surrounded by wetlands, forested areas and manicured gardens and serves as home for blue iguanas, an endangered animal which is endemic to Grand Cayman.

A different scene greets visitors to Georgetown, the capital city of the Cayman Islands, with a population of about 40,000. Despite that relatively small size, the metropolis plays a big role in the local tourism scene.

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Up to four cruise ships at a time may dock in the harbor, disgorging passengers eager to take advantage of tax-free shopping opportunities and experience a quick taste of what the islands have to offer. Some check out a smattering of historic buildings and landmarks which bring to life the town’s and islands’ colorful past.

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May 17-23, 2026 - Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard

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March 10, 2026 - Grand Victoria Casino

March 21, 2026- Indy Flower & Patio Show

March 10, 2026 - Grand Victoria Casino

May 17-23, 2026 - Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard

May 18 - 23, 2026 - Branson show Extravaganza

May 17-23, 2026 - Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard

April 27-28, 2026 - Antiquing in Elizabeth, IL

March 21, 2026- Indy Flower & Patio Show

J une 8-13,2026 - Lancaster Show Trip

May 18 - 23, 2026 - Branson show Extravaganza

July 23-29, 2026 - New York City & Statue of Liberty

April 27-28, 2026 - Antiquing in Elizabeth, IL

April 2026 - Wine Tour

April 27-28, 2026 - Antiquing in Elizabeth, IL

J une 8-13,2026 - Lancaster Show Trip

June 8-13,2026 - Lancaster Show Trip

May 2026 - Tulip Festival

April 2026 - Wine Tour

That story, combined with a wide choice of present-day things to see and do, make the Cayman Islands an inviting destination. So do the facts that you may use U.S. money, inviting public beaches seem to be everywhere and, for snorkelers, colorful reefs and equally colorful marine life are just offshore.

August 31- September 4, 2026 - Mackinac Island

July 23-29, 2026 - New York City & Statue of Liberty

August 31- September 4, 2026 - Mackinac Island

September 12-19, 2026 - Montreal, Quebec City, Canada Capital

August 31- September 4, 2026 - Mackinac Island

September 12-19, 2026 - Montreal, Quebec City, Canada Capital

October 1-12, 2026 - Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Hoover Dam

September 12-19, 2026 - Montreal, Quebec City, Canada Capital

October 1-12, 2026 - Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Hoover Dam

November 7-15, 2026 - Amelia Island, St. Augustin , FL

November 30 - December 5, 2026 - Pigeon Forge & Smokey Mountains

May 2026 - Fort Wayne Zoo

May 2026 - Tulip Festival

For more information, log on to visitcaymanislands.com.

May 2026 - Fort Wayne Zoo

June 2026 - Indy Zoo

May 2026 - Fort Wayne Zoo

June 2026 - Indy Zoo

June 13, 2026 - Dayton Air Show

June 2026 - Indy Zoo

July 3, 2026 - The Wilds

June 13, 2026 - Dayton Air Show

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July 3, 2026 - The Wilds

July 2026 - Peru Circus

July 3, 2026 - The Wilds

August 2026 - Chicago Air Show

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August 2026 - Chicago Air Show

August 2026 - Columbus Zoo

July 2026 - Peru Circus

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August 2026 - Columbus Zoo

September 2026 - Fair Oaks Farms

August 2026 - Chicago Air Show

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September 2026 - Fair Oaks Farms

September 2026 - Brookfield Zoo

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August 2026 - Columbus Zoo

September 2026 - Brookfield Zoo

September 2026 - Wine Tour

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September 2026 - Fair Oaks Farms

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September 2026 - Wine Tour

September 2026 - Brookfield Zoo

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September 2026 - Wine Tour

GEORGETOWN WATERFRONT The contrasting blues of water against sky frame the historic buildings of the Georgetown waterfront. Photo by Jo Ann Snover from Dreamstime.com.

SEVEN MILE BEACH The beach has a long stretch of white sand and green palm trees. Photo by Sorin Cola from Dreamstime.com.

STINGRAY

Fighting only adds fear to flying

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

It’s bad enough to know that eight out of 10 people in the jetliner cabin has some version of flight phobia, but the added strain of airport searching and air-fare and luggage pricing and fees for a pillow and blanket has upgraded the number of unruly, impolite, rude and downright ornery passengers on your flight.

Piling on the stress of

sitting in the middle seat are seatmates with cute little pets and oversize bags packed under foot.

And almost every air-travel trip recap and recollection is dominated by complaints rather than contentment.

• “The guy in front of me who puts his seat all the way back so I can’t even move my knees.”

• “When I get an aisle seat, everybody - even the flight attendant - bumps me when

they go up and down the aisle.”

• “The blind on the window seat rarely works - it either won’t stay up or stay down.”

• “The cool air blower blows right down my neck.”

Sound familiar.

Yet people keep flying, despite the fact that ticket prices are climbing at jet speed and airlines are shaving flights from their schedules so their planes will be crammed full.

It’s important to remember

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald 50th anniversary marked

By DENNIS DONATHEN Owner DD Resales

This year marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most tragic maritime disasters in Great Lakes history - the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.

On Nov. 10, 1975, during a violent storm on Lake Superior, the 729-foot freighter sank without sending a distress call. All 29 crew members aboard were lost.

When launched June 7, 1958, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship on North America’s Great Lakes. The vessel hauled taconite iron ore from Minnesota to steel mills in Detroit and Toledo and was considered a workhorse of Great Lakes shipping. At the time of its sinking, it remained one of the most advanced and sizable freighters operating on the lakes.

The wreck was located later in November 1975 in more than 500 feet of water near Whitefish Point. It rests in two pieces on the lake bed and is designated as a protected grave site. Over the years, investigators and researchers have studied the wreck, but the exact cause of the sinking has never been definitively determined. Leading theories include massive waves, flooding of cargo holds and structural failure.

The tragedy was memorialized in 1976 by Gordon Lightfoot in his ballad, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which brought international attention to the disaster. The song’s lyrics helped cement the ship’s legacy in popular culture and ensured the crew would not be forgotten.

In the years following the sinking, changes were made to Great Lakes shipping regulations and safety practices. Those changes included requirements for survival suits, improved depth-finding equipment, enhanced navigation and positioning systems, increased freeboard and more frequent vessel inspections.

The ship and its crew were commemorated this past

November at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, where the ship’s bell is on display. The bell, recovered in 1995, serves as a memorial to the 29 men who died. Each year, a ceremony includes the ringing of the bell once for each crew member.

DD Resales has scheduled a trip to Mackinac Island from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. On the fourth day of the trip, participants will have the opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the Shipwreck Museum

campus, which features a permanent exhibit dedicated to the Edmund Fitzgerald, as well as the 1923 U.S. Coast Guard Surfboat House and the 1861 U.S. Life-Saving Service Lighthouse Keeper’s Quarters. Fifty years after the sinking, the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains a solemn chapter in Great Lakes history and a reminder of the risks faced by those who work on the water.

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the majority of fellow passengers aboard your plane are emotionally brittle because of their flying phobias, which range from anxiety to claustrophobia to pure panic.

Almost 20% of the adult population cannot fly.

John Madden, legendary coach of the Oakland Raiders, never set foot in an airplane after his panic attack in 1979.

He continued his sports-commentator career by traveling coast to coast in a motor home.

The fact that the U.S. National Safety Council Statistics has proved over and over that flying is much safer than traveling in traffic has not diminished the number of fearful flyers. An average of some 20,000 people die on the road in the U.S. in a six-month period. This is about the same

total of all commercial air travel fatalities worldwide in 40 years.

While flying may be safe, it appears each flight has become less safe.

The internet is packed as tightly as a jet plane with videos of confrontations in airports and on airlines over who should get on first or get off first.

Noting a “disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behavior,” the Federal Aviation Administration adopted a zero-tolerance policy for those who “interfere with, physically assault, or threaten to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft” and increased fines.

50TH ANNIVERSARY This year marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. DD Resales has scheduled a trip to Mackinac Island from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, including a tour of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. Photo provided by Dennis Donathen.