Senior Life - Allen County - August 2023

Girl Scout alums…

their…supportbeloved organization

Lois Hess may celebrate her 90th birthday in August, but her heart remains with the Girl Scouts, an organization she has supported for decades. In July, three alums met at the Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana office to reminisce.

Later, they shared how their Girl Scout experiences have impacted their lives over the years.

“I started working with the Girl Scouts when my daughter got the age for it,” Hess said. “I’ve always enjoyed it and my daughters, and my granddaughter do, too. It’s a family affair. At one time, over Labor Day weekend and Memorial Day weekend, the whole family, including my late husband, Robert, and my son, would go up to Camp Logan to work and make sure the camp was ready to go for whatever was to come.”

One of Hess’s daughters, Carol Winters, headed to Camp Logan in July. She

volunteered as the camp nurse, although she’s actively working as an emergency room nurse for 29 years. Winters remembers her beginning with the Girl Scouts, and her passion hasn’t waned.

“I started as a Brownie in 1969. Girl Scouts started in second grade back then. I went all the way through to 12th grade, and earned my Gold Award, formerly called First Class,” Winters said. She added, “I participated in what is now called “Destinations.”

Mine was to National Center West in Wyoming. We lived with the horses for two weeks and Girl Scouts came from all over the U.S. My favorite activities at Girl Scout camp in the summer were the horses, canoeing and sailing.”

After graduating high school, Winters worked summers as a counselor and later taught waterfront in swimming, sailing, canoeing, and rowing. When her oldest daughter was in

kindergarten, she started a Daisy troop, among many other experiences.

Juliet Gordon Low started the Girl Scouts, and there is a JGL society, which is a group of donors who support the Girl Scout mission. Lifetime members show supporting Girl Scouts and the mission and passing on that same love and knowledge to girls.

“Girl scouting has played a big role in my life,” Winters said. “I have made many lifelong friends through Girl Scouts. I enjoy camping and hiking with my friends.

Several are former Girl Scout leaders, affectionately called the “GS Mafia.”

Another Girl Scout alum, Pam Hughes Garrison, is retired from Summit Middle School as a para-educator supporting eighth grade students. She started in the second grade, in 1956, and was a leader for her daughters’ troops and her granddaughter is currently involved.

Continued on page 4

Key Positions

William Andreas new director of development for Fort Wayne Trails

After a long, storied and varied career, William C. Andreas, MBA, CFRE, was recently hired as the new director of development for Fort Wayne Trails. And he hit the ground running (figuratively speaking).

“Well, I’ve been reviewing all the processes here at Fort Wayne Trails, and the history of donations, and I am just so honored to be part of this. The one thing I might bring to the table? I go out of my way to meet with all people, everywhere, corporate or what have you, to get that relationship going,” Andreas explained.

As for the trails, he said, “You can walk, run, stroll, bike; you can do whatever you would like to do. Certain rules exist, you kind of have to respect everyone else on the trails. And yes, dogs are okay, if you have them on a leash and you clean up after them.”

Andreas said, “If you really get to thinking, diabetes, lung cancer, disabilities, seniors,

and spiritual needs, well, we can pretty much help all these different people in some way. It’s how they want to take the trails. Just having safe, off-street trails is important for people, who have lung issues, or walk with pets, or doing physical rehab. We have horse trails, prenatal health, babies — it really encompasses everything. I created this list because if I’m going out to a foundation or corporation, they have hot button issues and they look at it and there will be something there they can get behind.”

Andreas definitely has a heart for his work.

“I started fundraising in 1989. I took eight courses in Indianapolis, and then I became the development director at Whitley Memorial Hospital, which eventually merged with Parkview. I went onto Easter Seals for a time. See, what I get excited about is determining the needs for facilities, equipment, whatever, and finding the right donors to fill those needs at the right time. Then I headed down to West Virginia

and later the Carolinas where I served at Habitat For Humanity.”

He has been raising funds and trying to make things better for everyone who needs it.

“This community loves Fort Wayne trails. I’ll call and say I’m there, and I’d like to talk to you and they’ll say, ‘Great. Come on out.’ I want to help as much as I can and I love to learn,” he said.

Andreas is very much a family man, too, which will surprise no one. He has two sons, who live in Indianapolis. Josh is a chemical engineer married to a chemical engineer, and they have two children. Austin is an attorney, married to a nurse, who is expecting their first child. His third son, Tyler, passed away due to sudden and unexpected heart disease when he was only 17.

“The one thing my boys, and I did was create a football scholarship in Tyler’s name. He was going to be the captain of the football team. We wanted to be sure he’d always be remembered,” Andreas said.

Andreas has no plans to

retire any time soon, if ever.

“One of the things I told Megan (McClellan) when I was interviewing was any good development officer should stay at least 10 years, because

you’re building good relationships and you don’t want to walk away and harm those. I’m not looking to retire. I’m continuing to learn. I still have a lot to do,” he said.

Jeff ‘JJ’ Shaw, Attorney at Law

Kris Scherer races through life on her skis

dating Tim, her husband of 27 years, she issued a warning.

Kris Scherer of Roanoke was put on snow skis as a 3-yearold, and by age 7 she was skiing in races. At the time, she lived in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area and enjoyed her pastime at the Perfect North Slopes, located in Lawrenceburg. Both of her parents were ski patrollers. Scherer is so serious about skiing that when she began

“You have two choices,” she said to him. “You can either learn to ski or you’re okay with me being gone every weekend.”

Her husband learned to ski although he had never been on skis. With sheer effort and determination, he even became a competitive racer like she is, because he couldn’t stand to have her so far ahead of him.

In April, Scherer went to the

largest recreational ski racing event in the world, in Colorado, sponsored by National Standard Race.

“They bring in Olympians or members of the U.S. ski team to establish the handicap,” she said. “In order to compete, skiers must qualify in their state and be invited.”

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Given she lives in the Midwest, weather made it tough to get into enough competitions to even qualify; however, she put many miles on her car to Lawrenceburg’s slopes. In Colorado, she won as the number one ski racer in her age group.

Scherer, 51, may have competed her entire life, except when she was sidelined with a knee injury, but her perspective has shifted.

“Being 50 and older, I find I tend to look at this more insightfully, versus when I was younger,” she said.

Some of her philosophy has evolved since losing her stepfather, Doug Lueke, in 2015. Before he passed due to an illness, the two of them discussed ways to help young skiers in his memory. She now runs Lucky Racer, a junior ski racing scholarship program that works with one to three champions per year, ages 7 to 18, and adults with exceptional needs.

“We sat together under a butterfly tree and butterflies fluttered around us,” she said

of the memory. “The goal was to build champions on and off the slope, for them to get involved in their community.”

Butterflies are part of the Lucky Racer brand, and individuals that they help train are chosen for character traits as much — or more than — their skills. Scherer sees competitive skiing and the challenges that must be overcome as a metaphor for life. It isn’t always the one with the most ability who truly wins in the end.

“They may have all the right elements, but they don’t have the core values,” she said of what she looks for as she evaluates candidates.

Girl Scout

Continued from page 1

“My mother was one of the leaders. I stayed in through Senior Scouts,” Garrison said. “I, along with 15 others from Limberlost Council, attended the 1965 International Roundup in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, with 10,000 Scouts from around the world. I was also involved with the senior planning board that strived to join the senior troops of our council, for events and activities.

“Being a lifetime member since 1993, I have committed myself to staying involved and supporting the Girl Scouting program for the rest of my life,” Garrison said. “Other groups I have been involved with have come and gone, but Girl Scouting is in my blood forever.”

For giving online, visit girlscoutsnorthernindianamichiana.org/en/support-us/ donate-locally. To become involved or share

“Are they displaying good sportsmanship on the hill? A good loser is a good leader,” she said. “We want to reward those who are doing more for others and see it being more than just being on snow skis and racing. They also need to have passion.”

Scherer has even taken Lucky Racer as her platform on the captivating pageant circuit and won as Mrs. Midwest Captivating. Next, she competes for the national title.

Among her mantras: Find the possible in the impossible. Live in the moment, not for the moment.

To help, donate to PayPal at krisscherer1@gmail.com.

Recumbent bike riding comfortable, less stressful

For 49 of his 53 years, Michael Rusher has been riding anything with two wheels. At age 4, he was zooming around his Marion neighborhood on a kid’s two-wheeler. At age 7, he graduated to motorcycles and over the years went through numerous bicycles.

For the last 20, however, he’s settled on recumbent bikes and is one of a small number of Fort Wayne area bikers who practically lay down when they ride. According to Rusher, the reasons for riding a recumbent bike far outnumber the negatives.

“For one reason,” he said, “they’re much easier to mount; the seat is more comfortable and it has a back, which was important to me because of a couple of back surgeries I’ve had. In

addition, there’s less wind resistance because of the low profile and the low center of gravity makes it easier to power through corners. And riding in this position is less strenuous on my heart, easier on my knees; it’s more comfortable and you get both push and pull because you’re clipped in.”

There are a few drawbacks, but not severe enough to make him go back to an upright bike.

“I’m six-foot-three so visibility for me is not a big problem. Recumbent trikes, however, that sit low to the ground do have visibility issues. A slow-moving car gave me a glancing blow once. Neither I nor my bike was damaged. It could have been a lot worse,” he said.

Here’s the big one.

“When you’re riding a recumbent bike, you’re part of the bike. You’re clipped onto the pedals. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it is if you find yourself needing to jump off. It’s important to be clipped in because if a foot were to slip off the pedals, your foot could hit the ground and twist your knee,” Rusher said.

The last one is that because

recumbents are a specialty bike, and there aren’t a lot of them, the cost is a little salty.

“They can run from $650 to more than $5,000. I’ve got three of them for when my two sons are home from college. People give us the eye when we ride by. Each is a different style. Two have a short-wheel base and the one I ride has a long-wheel base with 26-inch wheels front and back. One has a 20-inch wheel in front and a 26-inch wheel in back, and the other has 26-inch wheels front and back,” he stated.

He said he’d never heard of or seen a recumbent bike until 2003. A friend suggested riding an outdoor recumbent, so he searched for a recumbent rally and found one in Michigan.

“It was like a big festival with food trucks and bike companies displaying their wares,” he said. “I tested several styles. It felt natural, and I’ve been riding them ever since.”

The Parkview Hospital respiratory therapist hasn’t given up riding upright bikes. He has one with fat tires for trail riding and a narrow-tire upright for road riding. “I’m still a little shaken by my ac-

cident. The driver just didn’t see me. So, when I’m riding in city traffic, I take the upright.

I really prefer riding the recumbent on country roads

away from traffic. I can get there via the River Greenway and other trails with only a short distance on city streets,” Rusher said.

Science Central unveils new version of exhibit ‘Catenary Arch’

Science Central unveiled a new version of an existing exhibit, “Catenary Arch,” Thursday, June 22.

Catenary Arch consists of 20 large, numbered blocks. When carefully stacked in adjacent towers, the blocks meet in the middle to form a catenary arch, which is among the strongest

architectural forms. Such arches are so strong because they redistribute the vertical force of gravity into compression forces that press along the arch’s curve, which keeps the blocks in place.

Science Central’s new “Catenary Arch” blocks replace a previous set, which had reached

its end of life.

Martin S. Fisher, Science Central’s executive director, said “Catenary Arch” has long been one of the center’s most popular exhibits.

“Every day we’re open, families and groups come through and attempt to complete the ‘Catenary Arch’ challenge,” says

Fisher. “It’s such a fun, teambuilding test. And when completed, it showcases one of the most unique structural forms.”

Catenary Arch is located on Science Central’s top level. The center unveiled the exhibit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. For more information, visit sciencecentral.org.

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President: 260-414-9489

Flea Market: 260-341-4805

Trading Post: 260-460-0569

Exhibitors: 260-580-5416

Camping: 260-341-4805

Tractor Pull: 260-223-3879

Model Show: 419-439-2994

Quilt Show: 260-580-5285

All other exhibitors are welcome. A fun show for the whole family

Garden Tractors & Gas Engines 419-769-9635 or 260-705-8226

Free Parking

International Scout More information to come www.maumeevalley.org

Ten ways to protect your personal information

real names of officials. If they threaten you or make you feel uneasy, hang up.

matically locks.

public Wi-Fi networks.

Identity theft affects millions of people each year and can cause serious harm. Protect yourself by securing your personal information, understanding the threat of identity theft, and exercising caution.

Here are 10 things you can start doing now to protect yourself and your loved ones from identity theft:

1. Protect your Social Security number by keeping your Social Security card in a safe place at home. Don’t carry it with you or provide your number unnecessarily.

2. Be careful when you speak with unknown callers. Scammers may mislead you by using legitimate phone numbers or the

3. Create strong, unique passwords so others can’t easily access your accounts. Use different passwords for different accounts so if a hacker compromises one account, they can’t access other accounts.

4. Never give your personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited call or message, and never post it on social media.

5. Shred paper documents that contain personal information, like your name, birth date, and Social Security number.

6. Protect your mobile device from unauthorized access by securing it with a PIN, adding a fingerprinting feature, or using facial recognition. You can also add a password and adjust the time before your screen auto-

7. Regularly check your financial accounts for suspicious transactions.

8. Avoid internet threats by installing and maintaining strong anti-virus software on all your devices — including your mobile device and personal computer. Use a virtual private network to stay safe on public Wi-Fi. Do not perform certain activities that involve sensitive data, like online shopping and banking, on

9. Protect yourself on social media by customizing your security settings and deleting accounts you no longer use. Also, double-check suspicious messages from your contacts, as hackers may create fake accounts of people you know.

10. Never click on any link sent via unsolicited email or text message — type in the web address yourself. Only provide information on secure websites.

We encourage you to create your own personal my Social Security account to track your earnings record. For more information, read our publication, Protecting Personal Information, at oig.ssa.gov/files/21-540_Protecting_Personal_Information.pdf. Contact us if you see suspicious work activity on your record–you could be a victim of identity theft. Share this information with your family and friends.

Heirloom sewing takes center stage Aug. 17

Fort Wayne Chapter of the American Sewing Guild will present the program “Heirloom Sewing: It’s Not Just for Kids’ Clothes” at its monthly public meeting from 1-4 p.m., Aug. 17, at the UAW Local 2209 Union Hall, 5820 E. CR 900N, Roanoke (near the GM plant).

Heirloom Sewing, also known as French-hand sewing, is traditionally sewn with fine fabrics and delicate laces to create special occasion garments and accessories. Members Darlene Hoover and Barbara Kramer will demonstrate how you can elevate your everyday sewing using these beautiful techniques with your favorite fabrics from cottons to linens and more.

Techniques the group will teach include joining lace-tolace, lace insertion, single-needle tucks and French seams, as well as a little about making heirloom’s delicate smocking.

There is no admission charge. The guild always have a free table of sewing-related goodies and invite everyone to bring one or two items for show and tell.

American Sewing Guild is a national organization made up of 130 chapters and over 1,000 neighborhood groups, creating a network of sewing friends with all levels of sewing experience. The Fort Wayne chapter boasts several neighborhood groups each with a different focus, including quilting, gar-

ment sewing/fitting, machine embroidery, community service and more. It serves northeast Indiana and the Van Wert, Ohio, area. To find out more, visit www.asg.org and www. asgfortwayne.org. Find its Facebook page at American Sewing Guild, Fort Wayne IN chapter or contact them at asgfortwayne3@gmail.com.

Elder Law

Q. How do I ensure my children use their inheritance wisely?

A. To ensure your children use their inheritance properly, you can employ a carefully crafted last will and testament. First, appoint a responsible executor who will oversee the distribution of assets and ensure adherence to your wishes. Consider setting up a trust in your last will and testament, enabling controlled disbursements based on predetermined benchmarks, such as age. This structure prevents excessive spending and encourages prudent financial decisions.

If you decide to use a trust, consider a trustee that would handle the trust according to your wishes.

Incorporate clear and specific instructions within the will, highlighting the importance of responsible financial management and the long-term benefits of thoughtful spending. Instructions commonly found

Bryan San Jose Attorney

may direct an inheritance to be used for a child’s health, education, maintenance, and support until the child reaches a certain age.

It is important to regularly review and update your will to reflect any changes in family dynamics or financial circumstances. Please talk to an estate planning attorney to properly convey your wishes and estate.

80%

our

are under

age of 75. 65% of our readers have a

income of over $50,000 per

Nearly 40% of these readers earn more than $75,000 per year. Are households with an income larger than $50,000 your target market? If so, consider advertising in Senior Life! Call or send me an e-mail today!

Senior Saints concerts begin in August

The Senior Saints are starting their 2023 concert season with 74 singers and instrumentalists, age 58 to 91, from 29 area churches. The Saints will be presenting 14 concerts from August through September. Seven of the concerts are open to the public. The program this year is “The Music of Our Hearts.”

Songs about music include: “Put Another Nickle In,” “The Sound of Music,” “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” and “In My Heart There Rings a Melody.”

The Saints will sing several packages of songs from their childhood, their teen years, and their time of dating. They will honor the country with a

package of patriotic songs and will end with songs that express faith in Jesus Christ. The audience is encouraged to sing along. Between packages individual

saints share stories about the different seasons of their lives.

The Saints’ goal is to be entertaining and bring smiles, but also to bring a message of hope

found in Jesus Christ.

The program each year is written and directed by Marsha Wright. The group is sponsored by Grabill Missionary Church.

Grief keeps on rolling

Grief has been compared to the waves in the ocean. When you’ve just lost your loved one, the waves are stormy and severe as they crash without end on the shore of your world. As time passes, the waves subside in size and frequency and, over time, may even wash quietly in and out of your consciousness.

Like the waves in the ocean, grief never goes away.

Its effect on mourners differs.

Some folks wail loudly and carry plenty of tissue with them to soak the tears that wash the memories of their loved one that passed away. Others stoically swallow any emotional displays and make people around them wonder if they really miss the deceased.

Whatever the effect on an individual, grief is real and usually involves one’s family and friends.

When a spouse dies, for example, the role of family members normally is to help the surviving partner plan details for handling the remains and memorial services as well as facing immediately the bureaucratic government regulations as well as any financial loose ends.

And help each other through their grief.

Recognizing how to help

can be a problem.

Those who have trouble controlling their emotional outbursts usually feel overwhelmed by their grief and see no end to their devastation, making people around them feel unsure about what to do to assuage those feelings.

At the same time, the stoic sufferer many times is seen as cold and uncaring.

Everyone experiences life and living — and death and dying — differently.

If a grief-stricken person has problems leaning on other members of the family for help, grief-support groups are growing in number and can usually be found through one’s church or civic center.

There’s no way to avoid grief when it strikes. The key is to face it head on and let it all out.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

Maumee Valley Steam, Gas Engine Show Aug. 17-20

The 46th Annual Maumee Valley Antique Steam and Gas Engine Show will be held Aug. 17-20, in Jefferson Township Park, 1720 S. Webster Road, New Haven. Admission charge is only $5 a day or $10 for all four days.

This year will feature International Harvester tractors, gas engines and garden tractors with a special feature of the Scout built in Fort Wayne.

New this year is a cruise-in of pre-1974 cars and trucks Friday and Saturday. Also, there will be other brands of gas engines and tractors. All

exhibitors are free, but must register at the office to receive a button and plaque.

See the 125 HP, 15-ton Buckeye oil engine with a 19-inch piston from Grabill, one of two in existence still running. A stationary Chews steam engine will also be in operation. Visit the trading post, flea market, quilt show and blacksmith shop. Plowing, sawing lumber and threshing wheat with tractors and steam engines will be demonstrated. Children will enjoy a sand box, barrel train rides, and tractor driving lessons. Special activi-

ties Saturday are a kiddie tractor pull at 2 p.m. and an exotic animal show at 3 p.m. with a magic show after the parade. A show favorite, steamed sweet corn will be sold. Fish and chicken dinners will be served Friday and chicken dinners Saturday. Other food vendors and homemade ice cream are available.

Dekalb County Horsemen will give free hayrides Friday and Saturday with horses and mules.

Tractor pulls will be held at 5 p.m. Friday and at 3 p.m. Saturday. Friday evening enter-

Train excursions for family fun

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, located in North Judson, is running diesel and/ or steam train excursions every Saturday, and some select Sundays, until the end of September.

Passengers have their choice of riding in open-air sightseeing cars or a vintage coach, while rolling down the tracks through the Northwest Indiana countryside. Train excursions are round-trip from the depot and travel about five miles to the Kankakee River at English Lake, before returning to North Judson. The total length of each trip is approximately 45 minutes.

Ticket prices begin at $10. Groups of six or more get $2 off each ticket. Purchasing tickets athoosiervalley.org is recommended, as seating is limited.

Be sure to tour the museum grounds, where admission is always free. HVRM has one of the largest museum collections of working railroad signals and a restored World War II Pullman Troop Car. Stroll around the grounds to see all types of rolling stock, engines, and memorabilia of a by-gone era.

An exciting schedule of events is planned for this season. Autumn brings Pumpkin and Halloween trains and Santa Trains run in late November and December. Times and prices for special events vary from regular train excursions. Remember that seating is limited and it is recommended to purchase tickets, Continued on page 10

tainment will be country music at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, a square dance begins at 6 p.m. A spark show (steam engine fireworks) will be after the entertainment at about 9:30 p.m.

Golf carts are welcome with proof of insurance. The cost for all four days is $10. Memberships are available. For more information, visit Maumeevalley.org.

IIt’s easy! Simply find the beach chair on another page in this edition. Go online to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers. com and enter your information, the edition, date and page number you found it on. This will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25.

(Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, August 12, 2023.

The winner of the I Spy Contest for July is Judith Meyer of Fort Wayne. The bicycle was located on page 16 in Senior Life Allen; page 12 in Senior Life Northwest; page 13 in Senior Life Elko and page 1 in Senior Life St. Joseph.

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 Aug. 20 at pmuthart@the-papers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number.

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Woodlands Senior Activity Center

The center is located at 710 N. Opportunity Drive, Columbia City. For more information or to make reservations, call (260) 248-8944 or visit whitleycountycouncilonaging. com/senior-citizens-center.

Euchre — 9-10 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday

Dominoes — Noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday

Pixie Bingo — 9:30-10:30 a.m. every other Wednesday

Line Dancing — 9-10 a.m. every Wednesday and Friday

Afternoon Euchre —

1-2 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday

Bible Study w/Cheryl —

9-10 a.m. Thursday

Exercise w/Brittney —

10-11 a.m. Wednesday

Nutrition Class w/Stacy

— 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday

Alzheimer’s Discussion

— 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday

Karaoke w/ DJ Shane —

5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday

Card Crafting — 12:30-

1:30 p.m. Monday

The Waters Craft Class

— Noon to 1 p.m. Monday

Blood Pressure Check —

10:45-11:45 a.m. Monday

Tech Savvy — 1-3 p.m.

Tuesday

Miller’s Bingo — Noon to 1 p.m. Thursday

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Local Food Week will be through Sunday, Aug. 6. This 10-day celebration of local food features tours and

Churubusco & Columbia City

Blue Apartments

events is hosted by 30 different farms, markets, artisan food producers, and organizations. This region-wide event provides an opportunity for the public to visit and connect with those who grow, sell, serve, and support local food. Come learn where local food comes from, meet the folks who produce it, and taste the bounty that comes from the land to tables. Over 30 farms and businesses throughout the region will take place. Visit neifood.org/news/localfood-week-2023.

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All-you-can-eat fish fry and pork tenderloin meal, sponsored by Fort Wayne Maennerchor/Damenchor, will be from 4:30-7 p.m. Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13 and Nov. 3 at Park Edelweiss, 3355 Elmhurst Drive, Fort Wayne. Cost is $12 adults, and $6 children. The meal includes scalloped

potatoes, coleslaw, dessert and coffee. Full-service bar is available with German and domestic beer, wine and other beverages and soft drinks. Carry-out is available.

—o—

“Four Potters from Ohio” and “Bird Blast: Mixed Media on Fabric” by Dawn Gerardot, a mixed-media series featuring pieces on fabric, accented with specialty papers, wood fibers and hand-painted birds will be Aug. 2-31. “Four

Potters from Ohio” shows off the diversity of ceramic work currently being created today. Much of the work is hand built with a wide variety of surface design. Also featuring Ann Vreeland, Mary Ellen Taylor, Marti Osnowitz and Mary Weiss, it is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, at The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art, 6312-A Covington Road, Fort Wayne.

Train excursions

Continued from page 9

in advance, before excursions sell out.

HVRM is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and education of railroading history. Special group events (including school groups) can be arranged by contacting

the depot.

Visit the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum at hoosiervalley.org for a complete schedule of events.

Order tickets at hoosiervalley.org or call the depot (574)-896-3950 on Saturdays or days when train excursions are scheduled.

Apartment Living

Fort Wayne Southwest

Fort Wayne Northeast

Fort Wayne Southwest Fort Wayne Northeast

Sixties Flashback —

Exploding ducks, enormous knives

When World War II began, Julia McWilliams tried to join the American military but was rejected because of her height. (She stood 6 feet, 2 inches.) The patriotic lady thus became a typist/researcher in the Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner of the CIA. Her position took her to China, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and India.

While in Asia, she met fellow American Paul Child, a government worker and gourmand who was unaware that McWilliams had zero cooking skills or any experience whatsoever in a kitchen. McWilliams later recalled trying to impress Paul Child by fixing a meal, only to have her oven catch fire when a duck she was baking exploded.

In spite of this potential dealbreaker to romance, the two married in 1946 and moved to Paris.

Undaunted by her ineptitude,

Julia Child set a goal of becoming a master cook. She enrolled in the famed Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, the only female student there. After finishing the rigorous course, she and two friends ran a cooking school out of various Paris apartment kitchens.

Turbocharged in her passion, Julia Child spent nine years researching her 726-page “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” book. It became a best-seller, and Americans took to the idea of preparing exotic meals from scratch rather than heating insipid TV dinners.

When the Childs returned to America, they settled in Cambridge, Mass.

Her television career began in 1961 when she appeared on a book review show on Boston’s WGBH-TV, a part of National Educational Television (now PBS). The show’s host was somewhat taken aback when Julia Child whipped up an omelet while discussing her tome. It didn’t take long before dozens of people wrote to WGBH and demanded more of this refreshingly exuberant lady.

She became a culinary queen after “The French Chef” pro-

gram debuted in January 1963, and Julia Child spent up to 19 hours of preparation for each half-hour lesson. Her awardwinning program ran nationally for a decade.

Viewers were charmed by her cheery enthusiasm, her bellowing, warbly voice, and her ability to laugh at herself when she goofed up. (The programs were broadcast live.) “Doing television, you want amusing things,” she explained. “Something fun and unusual. I think also on television you want to do things loud; people love the ‘whamming’ noises.” Viewers loved the way she ended each episode with a hearty “Bon appétit!”

Julia Child had her detractors, though. Some viewers were put off by her not washing her hands during demonstrations. Others complained that Julia Child was careless when she waved her oversize knives about. One person grumbled, “You are quite a revolting chef, the way you snap bones and play with raw meats!” Julia Child remarked later, “I can’t stand those over-sanitary people.”

Her home number was listed in the Cambridge phone book,

and fans often called to ask advice or simply chat.

Julia Child, who called herself a “home cook” rather than a

chef, declared, “We should enjoy food and have fun. It is one of the simplest and nicest pleasures in life.”

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It’s refrigerator pickle time

there would be some left when I was able to get out there. Luckily, I had to replenish an item and grabbed a couple off the platter.

Oh, my, the freshness and crunch of these delicious nuggets. I pray that people never stop having gardens and making fresh food for their friends and families because you cannot buy these in a store.

as Kirby, pickling, or mini cukes) quartered or chunks

20 dill sprigs

2 onions, any type, cut in rounds or diced

4 garlic cloves (or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder for each clove)

1 quart white vinegar

½ cup canning salt

egar (5% acidity)

3 tablespoons kosher salt

2 tablespoons sugar

2 cups cold water

1¾ to 2 pounds Kirby cucumbers (about 6), cut into halves or spears

2 tablespoons coriander seeds

water and chill in fridge.

Last fall, I was at a local fundraising dinner event and saw a huge platter of what had to be homemade pickles surrounded by fresh dill sprigs and onions. Since I was helping in the kitchen and couldn’t get to it directly, I was just hoping

They were made by my friend, Anita, who doesn’t need to measure the recipe anymore, but put one together for us. She and her husband, John, have a large garden each year, so the cucumbers and dill came fresh from the yard.

Anita’s Refrigerator Pickles

15 small cucumbers (known

Layer in a large bowl — cover with water — cover bowl and place in fridge for 24 hours. Or if you like pickles with a bit more seasoning, I found this recipe which makes only 2 quarts

Quick & Easy Refrigerator Pickles

By Jennifer Segal Ingredients

1¼ cups distilled white vin-

6 large garlic cloves, peeled and halved

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

¼ teaspoon red pepper

flakes

16 dill sprigs

Instructions

1. Combine the vinegar, salt and sugar in pan over high heat. Whisk until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Transfer the liquid into a bowl and whisk in the cold

2. Stuff the cucumbers into two clean 1-quart jars. Add the coriander seeds, garlic cloves, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, dill sprigs, and chilled brine into jars, dividing evenly. If necessary, add a bit of cold water until the brine covers the cucumbers. Cover and refrigerate about 24 hours, then serve. The pickles will keep in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Cat Wilson lives in South Bend and transitioned from a vegetarian diet to eating a plant-based diet over two years ago. She may be contacted at cwilson@the-papers. com.

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A hard floor night

It was our 43rd anniversary, and I decided to take Mary Ellen to a local art show and stay downtown in a bed and breakfast. My wife loves B&Bs, so I was sure she would enjoy the evening.

The owner offered to take us on a short tour of the historic building. We hauled luggage up the stairs and were led down the hall to our room. It

was quaint and rustic with a porch that looked out on the downtown area. We were within walking distance to where we planned to have our anniversary dinner. All was perfect … until we saw the bed. It was not a king size bed; it was not a queen size bed. It was a double bed. The kind of bed many people sleep in … alone.

“Do you like the room?” asked the proprietor.

“I love it,” said my wife, “but where is my husband going to sleep?”

The woman winked at me.

“This is your romantic anniversary. I’m sure you will make it work.”

“Even on our honeymoon, this wouldn’t have worked,” said

my wife.

Here’s why. I have a few sleep issues. Most notably, I snore. I move around constantly, tossing and turning, flipping and flopping. Sometimes even screaming. People tell my wife she looks incredible for a woman in her early 70s. I then tell them she’s only 40, but this is what happens when you’ve been sleep deprived your entire marriage.

That night after a lovely dinner, we headed back to the B&B and prepared to turn in.

“Which side of the bed should I take?” I asked my Mary Ellen.

“Underneath would probably be the best option.”

We pulled down the covers and that’s when the excitement began, but not the excitement

you might be thinking. At about 2 am, I was having a very scary dream and next thing I knew I had fallen out of bed. This awakened Mary Ellen who saw me all sprawled out on the floor and in a bit of pain.

“That’s so sweet of you to sleep there. Now you won’t be kicking me.”

“I am not sleeping here. I fell out of bed.”

“That’s terrible; maybe you should sleep in the middle.”

“It’s a double bed. There is no middle when there are two people. Let’s go back to sleep.”

At 4 a.m. I fell out again. This time I had pulled the pillow off with me. Seeing me on the floor, Mary Ellen got out of bed and lovingly placed a blanket over

me. And there I slept: tossing, turning, snoring.

In the morning, the lady at the desk was curious. “Some of the folks staying at the inn heard loud noises at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Are you okay? I hope you guys didn’t have a falling out.”

“I’m fine,” said Mary Ellen. “It was only my husband who fell out.”

We shared our adventure at the B&B with one of our friends. We told Cathy we enjoyed our stay and that next year we would return, but we were going to make different arrangements.

“Are you going to ask for two separate beds?” asked Cathy. “No,” said Mary Ellen. “Two separate rooms.”

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Take a step back in time at Ford’s Greenfield Village

There aren’t many places where you can be a passenger on a train pulled by an authentic smokebelching steam locomotive, take a ride in a shiny vintage 1900s Model T Ford, watch a turn-of-the-century saw mill in action and step inside the birthplaces of the captains of industry in the early 1900s.

That place is Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Mich. It’s where you can step back in time, have fun and get a history lesson without even realizing it.

Upon entering the Village the first thing you encounter is the train with four open cars waiting for you to board for a trip around the perimeter of the 80acre property with stops along the way. It’s a get-on and get-off ride that is included in your ticket. The station staff is quick to advise passengers to shake their clothes to remove the coal particles that are belching out of the locomotive’s smoke stack rather than brushing.

A highlight for many visitors is taking a ride in a 1900s vintage Model T Ford convertible. These vehicles are originals that were produced just up the road at the Ford Rouge Plant. They’ve been carefully restored

and maintained and can carry a total of four passengers. The $10 ride fee is well worth it because you get a tour that includes some historical snippets from the driver about the auto you’re riding in, Henry Ford and the various buildings you’re passing.

After the Model T tour, walk over to the 1913 carousel and choose one of the colorful animals to ride. Just a block away is the building that originally housed the Wright Brothers bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. Learn how they made the big step from making and repairing bikes to constructing an airplane and making the world’s first sustained flight of a heavier-than-air craft in Kitty Hawk, N.C., in December 1903.

Edison’s Menlo Park (New Jersey) laboratory, where he invented the incandescent light bulb, is open for visitors to see the equipment and visualize how he used it in his experiments. The building right across the street is where his employees lived and was the first structure ever to be electrified.

Greenfield Village has been around a long time. Ford opened it in 1929 when he started the Edison Institute School System with 32 grade school students. At the school’s peak in the 1940s it had more than 300. His philosophy of education was to “learn by doing,” so the children spent time doing hands-on learning in the buildings he was adding on the grounds.

Continued on page 15

October 11, 2023........... “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, Beef & Boards, Indy

Nov. 9-11, 2023 ............................... Timeless Holiday Treasures

3 Big Shows and More ... Check This Out!

March 25-27, 2024 .............................................Come Sail Away No Boat ... No Water ... No Problem ... A Cruise on Land!

April 6-9, 2024 ............. An Eclipse of the Heart, Moon & Sun!

Experience the Eclipse in a Very Special Way

April 22-26, 2024 ........................ Springtime in New York City

May 15-22, 2024 ...............................................Southern Charm Charleston and Savannah ... Waitlisted

June 7-14, 2024 ..................................Black Hills, South Dakota Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial and More

June 24-27, 2024 .......................... Mississippi Riverboat Cruise

August 20-24, 2023 .... Mountain Rails and Appalachian Trails

3 Trains, Shows, Green Bank Observatory and More ... Waitlisted

Sept. 9, 2024 ......................... Memories of Elvis, 3-Hour Cruise

Sept. 30-Oct. 7, 2024 ........... Best of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine

Steve and Sheila Magsamen, Tour Managers

Decatur & Fort Wayne Departures 260-432-8488

www.memoriesinmotion.net

Take a step

Continued from page 14

In the late 1920s, Ford was the primary collector of Americana in the world. He was also gathering technological things for the museum, which is next

door to the Village. An academy for 25 gifted students is still operating.

Among the famous buildings are the birthplace of William Homes McGuffey who published

the McGuffey Reader for children and the McGuffey School, George Washington Carver’s cabin, the home of Robert Frost, the Noah Webster home, Hermitage slave quarters and

Healthy feet a step ahead in weight loss

a result.

henryford.org/visit/greenfieldvillage for more information.

&

S TRAVEL

The first step toward weight loss could be making sure you have healthy feet.

Instead of diving head-first into a diet or weight-loss program, you might want to look at your feet first.

Obesity aggravates foot problems that make it difficult to exercise when you’re trying to lose weight, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Bad feet impede one of the simplest and easiest forms of exercise: walking.

The lack of exercise also assists the progress of heart disease, diabetes and other health threats.

Fat folks get caught up in the vicious cycle of avoiding physical activity due to foot or ankle pain, thereby permitting cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening conditions to worsen as

Many seniors suffer foot pain, which usually is caused by treatable foot conditions that may have resulted from years of stress and pounding. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, foot and ankle pain can be eliminated from the debilitating health issues associated with aging.

A common misconception is growing older means having to cope with sore feet all the time. Foot and ankle surgeons believe seniors should not be resigned to accepting foot pain as a consequence of aging. Pain from common foot and ankle conditions can be treated successfully.

In many cases, chronic heel pain occurs from carrying too much weight. Left untreated, it becomes an impediment to physical activity and meaningful weight loss.

Medical advances have led to up-to-the-minute tech-

niques employed to correct foot disorders and alleviate activity-limiting discomfort. Non-surgical and surgical treatments can help seniors stay active, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Many causes of foot pain and discomfort can be alleviated non-surgically with stretching exercises, orthotics, and/or athletic shoes with solid support and shock absorption.

When heel pain, a bunion, or other condition requires surgery, the patient can exercise during recovery by riding a stationary bicycle, swimming, or weight training.

A physical examination is mandatory before initiating any exercise program. After being cleared by your primary care physician and having your feet checked, don’t try to do too much too soon.

Many people with diabetes

feel they shouldn’t exercise when they experience foot ulcerations. Everyone with diabetes needs regular foot exams to check for possible sore spots and assess nerve sensation. With proper foot care and the right footwear, most diabetic patients can develop and maintain an exercise regimen that is safe and appropriate for them.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Cost based on double .......$3,299 vers Bucket List Tours

May 19-24, 2024

Crone 260-224-2339

Pam

It was 50 years ago —

‘Monster Mash’ a Halloween novelty tune

Bobby “Boris” Pickett

In summer 1973, Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s original “Monster Mash” (released this time on Parrot Records) reached the Top 10 for a second time. Its first success had come about 11 years earlier, when Pickett’s platter shot all the way to Number One.

Pickett sang lead with a Hollywood band called the Cordials. One evening, while

performing the old Diamonds’ hit “Little Darlin,’ Bobby delivered the song’s monologue in the low-pitched voice of horror movie icon Boris Karloff. The audience loved the spoof, and fellow Cordial Lenny Capizzi encouraged Pickett to keep up the fun. Eventually the two musicians (both horror movie fans) decided that such goofiness could be developed into a Halloween novelty tune.

And were they ever right!

Their original title was “Monster Twist,” but at the time Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” was fading and being replaced by DeeDee Sharp’s dance disc “Mashed Potato Time.” The duo altered the lyrics accordingly:

“I was working in the lab late one night

“When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

Senior Relocation Program

“For my monster from his slab began to rise

“And suddenly to my surprise

“(He did the Mash)

“He did the Monster Mash

“(He did the Mash) It was a graveyard smash

“(He did the Mash) It caught on in a flash

“He did the Monster Mash.”

The lyrics are, of course, based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel “Frankenstein.” In Pickett’s rendition, a benevolent monster throws a dance party that features other horrorbased creatures of lore (Dracula, the Wolfman, etc.).

Pickett and Capizzi’s taped demo came to the attention of Gary S. Paxton, a Los Angeles record producer whose initial success had been the 1960 million-selling “Alley-Oop” by the Hollywood Argyles. For the Pickett-Capizzi ditty in 1962 (which would also top the Billboard chart), Paxton created his own label, Garpax Records.

The background women’s voices heard came via the Darlene Love-led studio outfit the Blossoms. (When you hear the Crystals singing “He’s a Rebel,” you are hearing the same group.) Leon Russell played piano on that eventful day.

Paxton devised the sound effects for the one-hour recording session. A coffin lid creaking open was created by pulling a nail out of a 2x4. Bubbles from a cauldron came by blowing through a straw in a glass of water. Dropping chains onto the studio floor provided the clatter of clanking shackles.

A hastily assembled Garpax album — “The Original Monster Mash” — made the LP Top 20 and included such blessedly-now-forgotten tracks as “Blood Bank Blues,” “Graveyard Shift,” “Transylvania Twist,” and “Me and

My Mummy.”

Pickett’s novelty became a runaway hit. His follow-up of “Monster’s Holiday” — the creatures were now enjoying a Christmas party — hit the Top 30. For years after that, Pickett tried to wring one more success from his one-hit wonder. He released “Monster Swim,” “Monster Man Jam,” “Monster Concert” and, perhaps inevitably, “Monster Rap.” Each sank without a trace.

Pickett claimed that his “Monster Mash” sold 4 million copies. “I’ve been paid,” he once said, “so I’m gonna believe it.”

Create a plan and educate yourself

ficult decisions.

When downsizing you should have a plan set in place as soon as possible so the process runs much smoother and quicker. Creating a plan for the future is not at the top of the mind for most people due to the fact that the future is unpredictable, or most may not want to think about having to make those dif-

Thinking of downsizing can be stressful when thinking of or considering leaving a home that you’ve made memories in; however, making a move doesn’t end those memories. Moving forward you can make even more memories in your new home and have your physical and mental health at the top of your mind.

Educate yourself by visiting our website, nessbros.com, where you will find resources on our Senior Location Pro-

gram and services that involve downsizing and how to determine if you are in a place or stage of your life to do so. Knowing the steps you’ll need to take will make the downsizing process simple.

Create your plan now, make downsizing easy for you, immediate and extended family members, too.

Call our office at (260) 4593911 to speak to one of our knowledgeable downsizing specialists with any questions you have; we are happy to help.