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Living Life After 50

February 2024 Gary Hambel Has Attended 40 Jimmy Buffet Concerts See Page 4

Allen County edition ReAChing FoRt WAyne And SuRRounding CountieS Vol. 36, No. 10

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Love is still in the air,

By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer

Sandi and Denny Baron’s wedding day went anything but smoothly. But their marriage has thrived since they tied the knot the afternoon of June 17, 1967. “Our wedding day was unimaginable,” Sandi said. “When our cake was delivered to the reception hall, the elderly man in charge got confused and had booked it for another couple. The other couple had already decorated it, and their cake was in place. My mother told the baker to take the cake back, and she would call them later. She returned to tell me what had happened and had a meltdown asking, where would the 300 guests go? I picked up a telephone book . . .

Finally, at 2 p.m. I found a place near Cincinnati, Ohio, that had a cancellation because of death, and it could hold 300 guests but we would have to provide our own piano.” The Barons’ big day started in chaos. They even stepped out the door of the church to thunder, a clap of lightning, and pouring rain after taking their vows. But their sweet union is still going strong. Denny was 24 and Sandi was 22 when they took the plunge. They’re ages 81 and 78 now, and to top it off, both of them began new careers in education — in another state, more than 1,000 miles from home. “I was an English teacher for 33 years and now an author of ‘Bridging the Mississippi,’ which is a story about us as newlyweds and first-time teachers in New Orleans. We were the token integrators for NOLA assigned in an inner-city,

all-black school.” The Barons have travelled extensively, and went back to New Orleans to research for the book and to celebrate its release in 2022. “We have been tour guides to the British Isles and most of Europe,” Sandi said. “We taught teaching strategies in Kazakhstan and English as a second language in Thailand. I’m an oil painter, and I loved visiting art museums throughout Europe and America.” Their faith is important to them. In 1996, they renewed their marriage vows during a visit to Israel. “Faith in Jesus has been our cornerstone, and he has held our marriage together because we have devoted our lives to following Jesus. I was raised in the church and even preached sometimes on Sundays when I was a teen. ... At age 33, Denny decided to give his life to Christ and our relationship

grew much closer to God and each other.” Denny said, “I chose someone I could laugh with. Humor is how I embrace life. We met on our only blind date. I think I knew she was ‘the one’ when she asked to borrow my new convertible to visit her parents in Ohio, and I said yes.” The Fort Wayne couple’s son, John Foster Baron, and his wife and their two daughters live a mile away. They visit Washington state regularly to visit their son, Adam Baron, and his wife and two children. They withstood a health scare in 2020 when Denny went into cardiac arrest, which led to quintuple bypass surgery. Sandi has had surgeries and is sometimes in pain. “We both intend to be active and enjoy our social groups despite unexpected bumps in the road,” Sandi said.

more than half a century later

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February 2024

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Key Positions

Thrift shop manager loves her work By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer Going thrifting is a pastime for many, but managing a thrift store is Judy Brown’s happy place. Brown manages the Bargain Hut in Bluffton, and the profits stay in the community to help those in need. “This is a very fulfilling job for me,” Brown said. “We all work very hard and are very proud to be a part of an organization that gives so much back to our community. For me, it’s the little things that we do for people who just need a kind word or warm smile to let them know we care and we are here to help in any way we can.” All the workers are volunteers. Some of their support has gone toward scholarships in the medical field, car seat programs, and the Boys and Girls Club, among many others. Brown began volunteering in the workroom, sorting and hanging clothes, about four years ago. She gradually learned more and was asked to become the manager. On a Friday morning in January, Brown helped in the store during a busy time, as

Jeff ‘JJ’ Shaw, Attorney at Law

she often does. She keeps a schedule, yet is flexible. “A typical day might be arriving early to work the morning shift in the shop,” she said. “The afternoon would be spent answering questions and phone calls and assisting volunteers where needed. Restocking the shop is an ongoing task and everyone pitches in to make sure their assigned area is stocked and in order.” When Brown isn’t managing the store, she and her husband spend as much time with their three children and five grandchildren as possible. The store’s shoppers are almost like her extended family, since she and her co-workers interact and visit with those who come in. “A good day has the shop bustling with lots of customers visiting with each other and talking with our workers about their vacation or new grandchild, as others are singing to the oldies music we have playing,” Brown said. “It’s always fun when someone brings some little obscure item to the counter and says, ‘I’ve been looking everywhere for this,’ or ‘I had this storybook growing up and it is my favorite,’ or ‘My grandma had

HELPING CUSTOMERS — Judy Brown and Sandra Arizmendi are shown with other volunteers helping a customer at the Bargain Hut in Bluffton, where Brown is store manager. Photo provided by Judy Brown. this hanging in the bedroom for years,’ or maybe ‘I just broke my crockpot lid and I can’t believe you have one.’ “I love it when the students come in wanting information on scholarships and you just know that kid is going to do great things one day and we helped them in a small way.” Sometimes, she seems like part store manager, part

cheerleader for the store, as she promotes its mission. She’s confident the place that makes her feel good will do the same for others. “We would like our community to know that we appreciate our donations and our shoppers and that our little thrift store is a great place to find those hidden treasures,” she said. “We have a large variety of nice gently-used

clothing, house wares, home decor, linens, toys, crafts, books, puzzles, music, holiday, pictures and frames, jewelry and so much more. If you haven’t been, you don’t know what you are missing.” Bargain Hut is located at 120 W. Spring St., Bluffton. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

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February 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 3

50 Years Ago Blast To The Past —

‘The Way We Were’ Barbra Streisand Marvin Hamlisch, who was responsible for writing the music to Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were,” used to utter A Boomer Blast To The Past an unusual By RANDAL prayer. C. HILL Starting in 1964, when he was 20 years of age, he would privately plead, “Please, God, let Barbra Streisand sing one of my songs.” A piano-playing prodigy from age 5, Hamlisch graduated from New York’s Queens College in 1967. The first job he landed soon afterward was as a rehearsal pianist for “Funny Girl,” with — of all people— Barbra Streisand. One day years later, Hamlisch got a phone call from a friend about possibly writing a song for a film that would star Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand. Thrilled by the possibility of his prayer actually paying off, Hamlisch resolved to capture the movie script in a single song. “I wanted to reflect all of the sorrow and despondency and pain of their relationship, the star-crossed nature of it,” he explained later. But knowing that his tune would be custom-created for Streisand gave Marvin pause. “No matter what I was doing, I could hear Barbra’s voice in my head and recall how wonderful she sounds when she holds certain notes. I wanted to let her soar. I was determined not to write something drippingly sentimental.” Hamlisch eventually came up with what was, to him, a perfect composition: “I’d been trying minor key melodies but thought they might have told you too much in advance that Streisand and Redford were never going to get together. So, I wrote a major key melody that was sad but also had a great deal of hope in it.” Enter the lyric-writing cou-

ple Alan and Marilyn Bergman, who a few years earlier had garnered an Academy Award for penning the words to “The Windmills of Your Mind” from the film “The Thomas Crown Affair.” As a fitting complement to Hamlisch’s work, the duo created poignant word images that succinctly captured the essence of the Redford-Streisand tale: “Memories light the corners of my mind “Misty watercolor memories of the way we were “Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind “Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were” Hamlisch and the Bergmans performed the song for Barbra at her home. Although she was reluctant at first — she initially proclaimed it too sentimental — Streisand finally agreed

to record what would become the Academy Award-winning classic for Columbia Records. But all of Hamlisch’s hard work almost didn’t matter, as Streisand’s song was omitted from the original film version of the “The Way We Were.” The determined Hamlisch, however, convinced Columbia’s studio moguls to hold two test screenings. The first audience sat unmoved by the final scene (with no song), where Streisand and Redford realize they have no future together. The next screening included Barbra’s tune. Hamlisch recalled, “I heard a woman start to cry. And then another. And within minutes, there wasn’t a dry eye left. I knew I was right.” One assumes that Marvin Hamlisch probably soon became a proponent for prayer.

WRITER FOR ‘THE WAY WE WERE’ — Marvin Hamlish was responsible for writing the music to Barbra Steisand’s “The Way We Were.” In 1964, at the age of 20, he would pray to let Streisand sing one of his songs, which came true years later. Photo from Marvin Hamlish’s official website.

4 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ February 2024

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Spotlight

Hambel is a proud ‘parrot head’ By ROD KING Feature Writer

Apparently nobody knew he had been struggling with an insidious form of skin cancer for a couple years, he said. “I can’t believe he’s gone. I’m not saying that I was his most fanatic fan, but I did attend 40 of his concerts around the country, one in Dublin, Ireland, and two in Paris,” Hambel said. He has Buffett memorabilia, such as CDs, T-shirts, mugs, glasses, hats, sweatshirts, and a book full of laminated

Local “Parrot Head,” Gary Hambel is still trying to wrap his head around the fact that his favorite musical icon, Jimmy Buffett, is dead. “I saw him perform twice in 2021. He was energetic, his voice was strong, and his songs blew me away just like they did when I first heard him live back in the late 1990s,” he said.

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www.seniorlifenewspapers.com Senior Life newspapers are monthly publications dedicated to inform, serve and entertain the adults over 50 in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Each of the four editions focus on local news, features, photos and profiles for each area. Senior Life is privately owned and published by The Papers Incorporated. STAFF Ron Baumgartner, Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rbaumgartner@the-papers .com Annette Weaver, Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . aweaver@the-papers .com Steve Meadows, Director Of Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . smeadows@the-papers .com Account Executive Betty Foster . . . . . . . . . . slallen@the-papers .com • 1-866-580-1138 Ext . 2403 Commercial Printing Sales Representative Rodger Salinas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rsalinas@the-papers .com Commercial Printing Customer Service Tina Kaplan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tkaplan@the-papers .com Rich Krygowski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rkrygowski@the-papers .com Deb Patterson, Editor-In-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dpatterson@the-papers .com Phoebe Muthart, Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pmuthart@the-papers .com Jerry Long, Circulation Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jlong@the-papers .com EDITORIAL DEADLINES Elkhart/Kosciusko Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15th Month Prior St . Joseph Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15th Month Prior Allen Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th Month Prior Northwest Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th Month Prior SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $37 for one year; and $64 for two years . (Select one edition .) Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt . ADVERTISING For advertising deadlines call your sales representative . The existence of advertising in Senior Life is not meant as an endorsement of any product, services or individuals by anyone except the advertisers . Signed letters or columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers . To advertise contact Betty Foster at 260-494-9321 or slallen@the-papers.com. PRODUCTION Senior Life is digitally composed on Macintosh Computers using Digital Technology’s Newspaper Publishing Suite software and Photoshop software . Submit ads as .tif, .eps or .pdf files . ASCII (generic text) may be submitted via email or on CD/DVD . Check our website at www .the-papers .com for guidelines on preparing ads electronically . Graphics for ads can be emailed as PDF files to adcomp@the-papers .com . If you have any questions, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it . REPRINT RIGHTS Reprinting in part or whole of any article in Senior Life is not allowed without express written permission from Senior Life .

concert tickets. “In addition, people who call me are entertained for a few seconds by his classic ‘Margaritaville’ song,” he said. “You always bump into a few crazies, but once in a while you meet up with some real genuine people. Behind us, at our first Paris concert, was a nice American couple with some connection with the Buffett organization. He took a photo of Jimmy leaning on the stage before the performance, sent it to Buffett, they added the title of his ‘He Went to Paris’ song, signed it and mailed to me,” he recalled. He and his late wife, Kathy, would turn a chance to see a Buffett concert into a road trip whenever they could. “I don’t think she was into the scene as much as me. With a Buffett concert, the music was only half of it. The tailgating was as intense as any big sporting event. We always set up a tent and had our lawn chairs and coolers. But we were rank amateurs compared to those who brought their own beach in the back of their pick-up truck or those with the truck bed full of an inflatable wading pool.” The only Buffett autograph he got, except for the photo hanging on his wall, turned out to be rather short lived. “We were waiting behind the barriers in Dublin when he and his band, The Coral Reefers, were working their way to the stage. I didn’t really have anything for him to sign so I stuck out my arm in hopes he would autograph my jacket. Instead, he signed my arm with a Sharpie. After a few days, it finally wore off. I attribute him to getting me playing the guitar again after many

JIMMY BUFFET FAN — Sporting a pink flamingo head dress is Gary Hambel at one of the 40 Jimmy Buffet concerts he and his wife, Kathy, attended. Photo provided by Gary Hambel. years away from it. I signed up for online Zoom lessons with a professional guitarist/instructor in New Zealand,” he said. After talking with him for a couple years, he invited Hambel and two of his other students to come to New Zealand and perform with him at a club where he plays regularly.

Love is in the ear

NIBA hosting beekeeping school March 30

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What part of “I love you” don’t you want to hear? What of “Itolove don’tthese you want hear? You can’tpart afford missyou” hearing threeto words? What part of “I love you” don’t you want tolittle hear? You can’t afford to miss hearing these three little words? On Valentine’s any one of our Fort Wayne or You can’t afford toDay, missvisit hearing these three little words? On Valentine’s Day, offices visit any of our Fort Wayne Columbia City forone demonstrations of the or On Valentine’s Day, visit any one of our Fort Wayne or Columbia City offices for demonstrations the latest in hearing technology. of Columbia City offices for demonstrations of the latest in hearing technology. latest in hearing technology.

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“What a great experience. I not only got to perform with my guitar publicly and I was pleased to see that nobody got up and walked out when we were playing,” he said. “I got to tour a unique and interesting country that I had never been to before.” The Illinois native and retired cardiologist studied medicine at the University of Illinois, did his internship at Kalamazoo, and completed his cardiology fellowship in Detroit. Hambel came to Fort Wayne in 1986 to work at Lutheran Medical Group.

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The Northeastern Indiana Beekeepers Association is hosting a beekeeping school from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at Classic Cafe, 4832 Hillegas Rd., Fort Wayne. The cost is $145. The price includes instructions, hive box, bottom board, inner lid, outer lid, frames, foundation hive tool, bee brush, beginner’s book, lunch, catalogs, and a one-year membership to NIBA. The class is taught by experienced beekeepers. Assembly and use of beekeeping equipment and how to keep honey bees will be explained. A claw hammer, tack hammer, and square are needed for the class. There will be door prizes and a raffle of bee equipment. Call (260) 615-1863 to register. Payment is due by Wednesday, March 15; class size is limited.

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February 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 5

Sports

Taking up golf can be fun at any age By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer When discussing golf with Doreen Davie, one thing is clear. She doesn’t take herself too seriously. In fact, she downplays her achievements in a sport that many find demanding. For one thing, unlike some other athletes, Davie took up her sport when she was well into adulthood. Her family had never played golf so she was not exposed to the environment at an early age. She’s proof that picking up a challenging sport can be within reach, if the circumstances align well. “I started golfing in my mid40s after I moved here from Chicago,” Davie said. “Although somewhat athletic, golf was in a league of its own. I was not a natural.” Rather than sorting out her golf swing on her own, and everything else the sport requires, she routinely joined other golf enthusiasts who brought her along. “I started playing when I joined what was then the EWG — now the LPGA Amateurs. As I grew with the game I started participating in various competitions within our group, first

on scramble teams, and moved on to individual tournaments within our league. The last four years I have also participated in the Women’s Senior Division City Tournament. I play probably three times a week. On Mondays, I play in a competitive match play league and most everything else is just for the love of the game,” said Davie. One factor in taking up golf was the ease in which she could join the golf community in the area. Having grown up in Chicago and living there until moving to Fort Wayne, she said, “it wasn’t easy to play in Chicago.” Davie golfs with others in her league as well as with her wife, who is a skilled, tournamentwinning golfer. These efforts have paid off, as she now has a sport that she is comfortable with, and that helps her to stay active. “I’m 59 now and have been only playing for 13 years or so,” she said. “I knew after the first couple of times golfing that I was not going to go pro. I enjoy getting better at the game and it does have a competitive draw that keeps you coming back, but for me it’s more about fun, sun and friends. I do golf a lot.

When you can no longer live in your own home By MICHELLE M. WALTERS, PHR, CHRS, CCWS, CSIS Executive Vice President Health Insurance Shop No one really knows when, or even if, the time will come in our lives when the comfort of living in our own home ceases to be an option. No matter, it is terrifying to wonder: Where will I go if I cannot take care of myself? Who will take care of me? Will I be able to afford to stay in a nice, safe place? Brrr. Sends chills down my spine to think about the answer to each of these questions. But it doesn’t have to be so scary. Planning for the “what if” is something that some are good at, while others are comfortable throwing caution to the wind. Either way, knowing what the options are is something that we should all keep in the back of our mind: • Make a list. • Speak to an elder care attorney. • Discuss options with your adult children. • Make a plan. I regularly have older clients ask me if I sell long-term care insurance. My response is generally, “Yes, but not to you.” Sounds a bit harsh, but the reality is that the closer we get to the possibility of needing long-term care, the cost is often prohibitive. Absent any insurance or having large sums of money available to “afford” to live out the balance of their lives in a nursing home, many people are forced to liquidate their assets and be ren-

dered a ward of the state through Medicaid. Not an ideal scenario in my book. Having the ability to stay in the comfort of my own home, or living with an adult child, would be my preference. Home health care benefits through Medicare insurance plans, as well as individual indemnity plans, can cover much of the professional care we may need. I would recommend including this option in your planning process.

GOLF OUTING — Doreen Davie is pictured with Amy Stock, Beth Bergeron, and Ellen Grieser at the Blue Ball Open at Chestnut Hills Golf Club, Fort Wayne. Photo provided by Doreen Davie. Any chance I get. I absolutely love it.” Davie minimized her abilities, and said, “I have more love for the game then great skill... For me, focus is important for my game, especially when playing competitively. I tend to have golf superstition tendencies. Certain tees, balls, clothes, taping the flag for a close putt. Whatever worked last time.” Davie has mixed travel with her golfing. “We went to Spain in September for the Solheim Cup,” she said. “Although we didn’t actually meet any of the women golfers, we were able to watch them up close. It was an amazing experience.” She also bowls regularly and said, “pickleball may be in my future.”

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When asked if she’d ever made a hole in one, or if she had “horrendous shots” she wished to share, Davie said, “I

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February 2024

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The height of insult

SENIOR INFORMATION FAIR — Senior Information Fair extended its appreciation to Turnstone Center for Adults and Children with Disabilities for providing an amazing venue each year to host the annual senior fair, which is easily accessible to SIF vendors and attendees. The SIF Board of Directors voted to donate an additional amount to Turnstone for its generosity and hospitality. Pictured are Betty Foster, left, 2024 SIF president, presenting a check to Colin Lyman, director of facilities at Turnstone. Photo provided by Betty Foster.

I hate to bore you with the health complaints of a 76 year old, but I’m hopeful my experiences will help others. My IN A story begins NUTSHELL with a mediBy DICK cal scare and WOLFSIE a series of doctor appointments. So many, in fact, that the phlebotomist at my internist’s office started welcoming me with “Oh, no, not you again,” which is not the kind of greeting I want at a lipid lab. By the way, all is fine. In the course of the diagnostic process, they scanned my brain. Inside the MRI, I felt like a cigar in its tube. During the hour-long procedure, I had a flashback to a high school trigonometry class where I also stared at a blank

ceiling, listening to strange indecipherable sounds. At the hospital, they give you a little buzzer to press if the experience becomes unbearable, a courtesy never afforded me by Mr. Lowenstein, my 12th grade math teacher. A nurse called the next day to say that after examining my brain scan, they were pleased to report they didn’t find anything. Obviously, this was good news, but did the test results have to be phrased quite that way? I visited a few specialists, each exam requiring that I have my blood pressure, height and weight rechecked. I had never really paid any attention to my height. On my license, my passport and all medical questionnaires, I always listed myself as 5 feet, 10 inches— not as tall as my dad (a strapping 6-footer) but taller than my mom, a petite 5 feet, 3 inches. I knew I was 5 feet, 9 1/2 inches but I always rounded it

up. I mean, who was I hurting? “Okay,” said one nurse after measuring my vitals, “blood pressure 123 over 80, height 5 feet, 8 inches and weight 165. Very good, Mr. Wolfsie, now please step over here and…” “Whoa! How tall did you say I was?” “That would be 5 feet, 8 inches — in your socks, which adds a little, of course.” “Look, first of all, I’m 5 feet, 10 inches, maybe 5 feet, 9 1/2 inches and second of all, these are nylon dress socks, and very thin.” “Whatever you say, Mr. Wolfsie. Please grab one of the blue robes off that hook on the door… if you can reach it.” That afternoon, when I got home, I asked my wife how tall she thought I was. “Well, let’s see; when I’m in heels, I’m taller than you, and I’m 5 feet, 7 inches, so I guess I’d say you are 5 feet, 8 inches and you’re still about as cute and adorable as can be.” “But when we got married, I told you I was 5 feet, 10 inches.” “I figured you rounded it up from 5 feet, 7 inches.” And that’s the end of the story. No life-threatening illness, but I’m either a pathological liar (misrepresenting my height for almost 50 years) and need some psychological counseling— or I am (and this is tough to admit) shrinking. I haven’t decided which one it is. I guess it’s going to depend on which one is covered by my medical insurance.

It’s fall season year round at home By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

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Fifty percent of all falls occur at home, so that’s where you should start looking for hazards — and eliminate them. The annual death toll from fall-related injuries for people 65 years and older is 32,000, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention figures. About 36 million falls by seniors are reported each year. Fall-prevention should be high on seniors’ priority lists. Start by making sure your vision is not failing and that the interior and exterior of your home is well-lit night and day. Remove rugs from slippery floors and tack down carpet edges that may curl up. Don’t leave shoes, slippers, socks and clothing lying around on the floor. Install handrails alongside all stairs and steps and grab bars in showers and bathtubs. Check your medications to see if any of them interact in a way that might affect your vision or make you dizzy. Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

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February 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 7

Senior Relocation

Medicare Insurance Q. Will my Medicare Advantage Plan pay for fitness membership? A. Medicare Advantage plans are

health insurance policies offered by private insurance companies that are contracted with Medicare to provide the same covered services that Original Medicare Part A & Part B include. As Medicare Advantage plans continue to grow in popularity, the insurance companies continue to add “Extra” things to encourage more enrollment in their plans. This will often include programs that will provide access to fitness facilities at no additional cost to the Medicare Beneficiary. SilverSneakers, Silver&Fit, and Renew Active are a few of the more common programs that Medicare Advantage companies partner with here in Indiana. Each program is a little different and they will not necessarily include the same fitness

Q. What are “Senior Relocation” services? A.

Michelle Walters

Executive Vice President facilities. Suffice it to say, your Medicare Advantage plan will likely include a program that will pay for access to a participating fitness center. Have questions? Give our office a call at (260) 484-7010 to learn more about what your Medicare Advantage plan includes.

Fort Wayne’s Medicare Enrollment and Education Center

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Several years ago, some friends whom had moved from their home to a local retirement community had an interesting conversation with me regarding their experiences in making their transition. One of the things that stood out in my mind was the fact that very little of the things they needed done was completed on a schedule that fit their needs. Also, coordinating all of the things that they needed to do was a bit overwhelming. And then it struck me that nearly everything that they needed accomplished were exactly what I was doing or had training in. Having many years of experience in moving furniture in my younger years, a successful career in real estate, and a successful career in auctioneering and appraising, it didn’t take me long to see that all of my abilities were just what the doctor ordered for my friends. Hence the term “Senior Relocation” was born.

Tim McCulloch, Owner Our systems include professional and courteous moving services, real estate brokerage, real estate and antique appraisals, auctioneering services, floor planning assistance and climate controlled storage. These services are all geared to assist the mature adult market in helping make the transition to retirement living much easier. Whether you need all of our services or just a few, you can feel free to call us for a free analysis. We can show you how to sell your home in 30 days for your price, coordinate a professional and courteous move, along with any other services you may need to help your transition be as simple and as worry free as possible. Call (260) 441-8636 for a free consultation. Tim McCulloch, Owner Call Us For An Estimate Today

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Professional Forum Interested Businesses Call Betty Foster 1-866-580-1138, Ext. 2403 A Monthly Question And Answer Advertorial Column

Elder Law

H EART HCARE EAPLANNING LTH ADVANCE Q. lower Q.What Whatcan can II do to prepare

Q. At what age should I contact an elder law attorney?

my risk of heart disease? and ensure my end-of-life

are followed? A.wishes Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United accounting for A. Advance CareStates, Planning (ACP) is the more than 900,000 deaths in 2020 process by which you determine your

(American Heart Association). wishes in regard to medical care and

As you begin to approach retirement, a visit with an elder law attorney is a good idea. An elder law attorney is different than an estate planning attorney as an elder law attorney has more familiarity with long-term care options and ways to pay for it. Even though long-term care is likely many years away, it is a good time to make a preliminary plan as to how long-term care could be funded in the event it becomes necessary. It is also an opportunity to learn about care options and govern-

treatment. This process is a series of

Heidi B. Adair Attorney at Law

mental programs that could assist with payment. To prepare for such a meeting, it is helpful if you can compile a list of your income and financial assets. This information is probably close at hand during this planning time since you are contemplating leaving the work force.

Suite 1100 110 West Berry Street Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802 Telephone (260) 426-9706

DISCLAIMER: Heidi B. Adair and Beers Mallers, LLP Attorneys At Law, appreciate the opportunity to provide insight into legal topics of interest. The content of this article is designed to provide information of general interest to the public and is not intended to offer legal advice about specific situations or problems. Heidi B. Adair and Beers Mallers, LLP Attorneys At Law, do not intend to create an attorney-client relationship by offering this information, and anyone’s review of the information shall not be deemed to create such a relationship. You should consult a lawyer if you have a legal matter requiring attention. Heidi B. Adair and Beers Mallers, LLP Attorneys At Law, also advise that any information you send to this newsletter shall not be deemed secure or confidential. Please visit our office to ensure complete confidentiality.

Theconversations first thing you do your is talkloved to your youshould have with doctor. They those can help identify risk ones about wishes so thatyour someone factors and offer advice about howspeak to can speak for you when you cannot for yourself. reduce your risk of getting heart disease.

Kelsie Owen VP Network Training & Development Katie Hougham 260-745-1200 Vice President, PACE Operations • Low-fat dairy products, 260-745-1200 Ext. 450

It is important yourforACP There are manythat riskduring factors heart conversations, you appoint someone you disease, including things you can and trust to speak on your behalf and that cannot control. A few risk factors you can beans, fish and lean meats personare: is called a Health Care control • No than one At AIHS wemore incorporate ACPteaspoon into all of Representative. our programs. We day have resources of salt per • Eating too much salt available to help you foods walk through • Fewer snack such asthis There are nooverweight “rules” or eligibility • Being conversation with your loved ones. We requirements regarding age or health soda and candy • Being inactive also have trained staff available to help status to beginalcohol your own Advance Care • Drinking Aging &these In-Home Services offers facilitate conversations. Planning. ACP is always evolving, both • Smoking home-delivered and congregate personally and legislatively. It is • High blood pressure We know these conversations aren’t meals to older adults in northeast encouraged to update your(Hypertension) wishes as always easy to have, butmeet they are Indiana. These meals the your personal and health situations for maintaining integrity of Both weight bloodif your pressure arestatus essential change. Forand example, marital Recommended DietarytheAllowance your wishes. Just Call Us if you need help connected being or more changes ortoifyour your diet, healthsodeclines for nutrients for older adults. Just starting your own ACP conversation. improves about you may wantyou to adjust intentional what eat can Call Us to learn more! accordingly. significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. A heart-healthy diet includes: 8101 W. Jefferson Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804 www.agingihs.org | 260.745.1200

8 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■

February 2024

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

UPDATES & HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA Editor’s note: Send listings of events, for nonprofit organizations only, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, or email Editor Phoebe Muthart by the 20th of each month, pmuthart@the-papers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number. —o— 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/seniorcitizens-center. 9-10 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, euchre 9-10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, line dancing 9-10 a.m. Tuesdays, Bible study w/ Cheryl 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 and Feb. 21, pixie bingo —o— A fish fry will be from 4:307 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at the Fort Wayne Sport Club, 3102

Ardmore Ave. Cost is $13 for adults and $7 for children 7-10. Children aged 6 and under eat for free. The dinner includes fish, baked or scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, applesauce, roll and butter, and a choice of a homemade dessert. —o— Chocolate Fest 2024 will be from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, at Ceruti’s Diamond Room, 6601 Innovation Blvd., Fort Wayne. It is hosted by The Kiwanis Club of the John Chapman Foundation. This event also includes a silent auction and Al Parr’s Creole Candy Band. —o— All-you-can-eat fish and pork tenderloin dinner with scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, dessert and coffee will be 4:30-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. A full-service bar is available serving German and domestic beer and wine, mixed drinks and soft drinks and German music. Sponsored by Ft. Wayne Maennerchor/Damenchor, the dinner will be at Park Edelweiss, 3355 Elmhurst Drive. Cost: $13, adults, and $6, children.

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Anniversaries

Celebrating an anniversary?

40TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY — Mike and Patricia Garrett, Churubusco, were married Jan. 27, 1984 in Illinois. They met at her place of work. Mike retired from CSX Railroad after 39 years. Patricia retired from IPFW after 18 years. They are the parents of two daughters, Zabrina and Vivian, and three sons, Bobbie, James and Patrick. They have six granddaughters, one great-granddaughter and seven great-grandsons.

There are many people who will be celebrating special wedding anniversaries in the coming months. Senior Life would like to include pictures and information on those persons celebrating 40 years of marriage or more. In addition to including your names, address, date of marriage, children and date of celebration tell us something about you and your spouse. If you have a special or unique story of how you met and dated, share it with us and the rest of our readers. Send us your anniversary information and photo by the 20th of every month. Anniversary information should be e-mailed to dpatterson@the-papers.com, or mailed to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana, 46542-0188. If you include a self-stamped addressed envelope, we will be glad to return your photo.

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Call co ctniivoersseangie or5s5ag ed5 5 aenrd 497-9905 over A commAun itm ym fourniatcytifvoer a se an ov(260) Apartments For A community for active seniors age 55 and over Or visit us on the web at A c o m m u n i t y f o r a c t i v e s e n i o r s a g e 5 5 a n d o v e r i s t n c t i v e , m a i n t e n a n c e f r e e r e n t a l h o m e s w i t h a u n i q u e A comm uinsittiynfcA otD ricv a c i v e s e n i o r s g e 5 5 a d o v e r D e , m a n t e n a n c e f r e e r e n t a l h o m e s w i t h a u n i q u e m ts ye orinotara csltiv s sn People 55 And DistinActcivoem, m muanin arncoae rfn e h iatdgheoa5v5uenarniqduoever ittyenfo ctmifvurneie aeo gm eeen5is5orw a D a n c ffrrae a ll fh s w ith a un iqhu e tiv ine e reo em re n Diis sttiin nc cttiiv ve e,, m m aviiD nittlse etin nna acn n cvee e,-im e etfeyrrnp.e earnn nicttv an-a hq o m e stas wlq y O ieeaatettsiuusnw snngtiiitqq.n ruueaeeaeutnpsiqauirneklaikpeartazianproperties.com e tiihrttuoshhem skeltik tiengs.etting. lD eivsetlincotfivper,ivlm ac ieere to rc tsnO nl ac pum a.ire ktsln ik ay ie n.tO ennoalfqneucp -tlfvsra e eeere tia ho e we Over lle k le..vO eln slliiin e .setting. ev ve ell o off p prriiv va ac cy y O n oq qf u upiire eivttas scttyrr. e eOe entts squiiin neta astp prea aerrtk ke ea ps sae erttkttliiin nkg g onmqO u ittsbseb w tO hoerm ruo inv asa e ts rlrm naectueis etne sintttts n ettew d onktpo w.eitsahteprein vtartaenecThe netsrbest anincRental es Living! level ofOpnreivbaecdyr.oO unnn ie te rrie tpo se nb a ia k m upirn p Located Behind O eie d otd ita tehrink ia vw eh rin arngic.v O n e b e d r o o m u n t s w i h p r i v e t r n c e s One bedroom units with private entrances TwOonbeebdero un tnsbitew tohow ahotutpnabrictiesv hd e dietoh1o ctttaarrcauhg adiret1as er igtahraa do romo m uio sdeiT w itm a tn easn ntenh c sgctaw T w o r w g e r m t t a c h e d 1 c a r g a r a g e Georgetown Square T w b d r o o m u i t w i a t a c h e d 1 c a r g a r a g e Tw wo ob be ed drro oo om mu un niitts sw wiitth ha atttta ac ch he ed d1 1c ca arr g ga arrag ge e T Call For Appointment Call (260) 497-9905 Call (260) 497-9905 Two bedroom units with attached 1 car garage Call (260) 497-9905 Call (260) 497-9905 Call (260) 497-9905 $ Call 497-9905 Call (260) (260) 497-9905 • 1 Bedroom 260-466-5303 Or visit us on the web at

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www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

February 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 9

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

Three daily wins By Cat Wilson The holidays threw me completely off track as Christmas and New Year was upon us. With all good intentions, I baked kieflies, dark chocolate chip cookies, and lots of date nut & banana bread. Giving them away was a pleasure, but then I started keeping ‘just a few’ for home. That was a slippery slope that led to date nut bread for breakfast each day and chocolate chip cookies at night. I tried, I failed, but I’m back, baby! Paul Hilse, a YouTuber, grabbed my attention when he talked about needing three daily wins. 1. Physical win; walking, lifting, swimming, or stretching 2. Mental Win; reading, writing, creating, or learning 3. Spiritual Win; praying, meditating, studying or growing Daily, not occasionally. I was talking to a recent retiree, who

Best Lentil Soup Ingredients 1 cup yellow onion chopped 1 cup celery stalks chopped 1 cup carrots chopped 2 cups kale chopped 1 tablespoon rosemary chopped fresh herbs: thyme, basil... (whatever you like) 1 Clove garlic 2 cups Red Lentils 6 cups Vegetable Broth (add more if you desire a thinner soup) 3 tablespoons water to water sauté Instructions 1. Water sauté chopped veggies on

instead of processed foods. If you want to win in 2024 and live your best life, a bit of structure is needed. The real win is having control over your own life. Cheers to your health. 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@thepapers.com.

Smell the Arizona Desert Flowers in spring By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Tucson, and, closer to Phoenix, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Along trails in the 320acre Lost Dutchman State Park near the Superstition Mountains, the flowers seem to change with the elevation. Among those you’ll find are the chuparosa, filaree and papago lilies. For an update on what can be seen, and where, visit the website at pr.state.az.us. Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

I It’s easy! Simply find the doggy on another page in this edition. Go online to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com and enter your information, the edition, date and page number you found it on. Thiss will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25. (Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, February 12, 2024.

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206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542

The winner of the I Spy Contest for January is Sheila Holmes of South Bend. The sled was located on page 8 in Senior Life Allen; page 2 in Senior Life Northwest; page 1 in Senior Life Elko and page 2 in Senior Life St. Joseph.

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Far from the sparse landscape that the word “desert” conjures up, the lands around Phoenix and Tucson are awash in color after the spring rains in March and April. Here are some of the best spots in the state to view the displays: The Superstition Mountains, just east of Phoenix, where the ground can be covered with a bright yellow carpet of Mexican gold poppies. Near Yuma, in the Gila Mountains, the yellow brittlebush and blue-purple scorpion weed and lupine are in bloom, and not far away, in the Kofa Mountains, there are red

poppies. In the southeastern corner of the state, Mexican poppies and lupine provide a special glow amid the columns of volcanic rock in the Chiricahua Mountains and Chiricahua National Monument. Several Arizona State Parks are notable for their wildflower viewing. These include Picacho Peak State Park, halfway between Phoenix and Tucson; Oracle State Park, 40 miles north of

medium high heat for 3-5 minutes 2. Add chopped garlic, herbs, and kale and simmer for 3-5 more minutes 3. pour in lentils and vegetable stock 4. simmer for 25 minutes or more until lentils are tender

From My Table To Yours

commented that — while it’s only been four days, I haven’t done anything on the list yet. Coupling these things together made me think that while everyone will agree that kids need structure in their lives, perhaps seniors do as well. What if your first hour was filled with 15 minutes each of reading, stretching and meditating leaving only 15 minutes of scrolling endlessly through Facebook? What if you extended this structure with a hard NO on some food items such as desserts, burgers, pizza and ultra-processed foods? And, what’s with the fancy macaroni & cheese offers now? It already has no nutritional value and now they’ve added pulled pork, or lobster to it and made it an entrée? Add that to the hard NO list. What if your new structure was focusing on foods with no label? Fruit, vegetables, raw nuts & seeds, beans, greens and mushrooms? Make soup and have it available every day. Make one meal a salad every day. I know that’s hard in the winter, but if it becomes your structure, it becomes natural in your day, and I swear, you crave what you normally eat and you may not believe it, but you will crave soup and salad

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10 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ February 2024

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Faith

A life of service is his way of thanking God for everything By BETHANNE BRINK-COX Feature Writer Scott Trenary has always been a Lutheran. “All my life; baptized and everything,” he said. It’s important to find a church you’re really comfortable with and sometimes that means trying several different ones when searching for your perfect fit. Trenary didn’t have to do that. He found Mount Calvary Lutheran in Fort Wayne. “When I got out on my own, I started going here because we moved here after we left Austin. I was asked, ‘Would you want to play basketball with us sometime?’ We were looking for a church anyway. So I started attending for sports, but I just liked it from the word go. The pastor was so nice. It was a grow-

ing church at the time; that was during my working days. I would go to church and pray. I have retired from most everything, but I do a lot of volunteer work here,” Trenary said. There are churches everywhere, but Trenary said, “as long as you’re a Christian, that’s what matters most.” Trenary has worked for Rogers Markets. “We had 10 stores then. I started out as a carry-out, and kind of worked my way up, but I wasn’t even trying. I got as far as assistant manager, and that was as far as I wanted to go,” he said. “I didn’t want to be responsible for every single thing. Sometimes, I think I might go back. I can still do the work of three people.” Pretty impressive at 75. He lives simply. “I see people texting on their

phones. My daughter talked me into this one. I’m catching on. I can make calls and see calls. That’s enough.” And he stays busy. “We gather food for the food bank at the Methodist Church each week, and I take that over,” he said. “We also have donations of coats, winter gear, all that. Before COVID, we had a friendship class, ministering to special needs people. After the first one, I went to the pastor and he said, ‘What are you smiling about?’ I said I enjoyed it, it makes you feel good.” Having always believed that Easter was the most humbling for Christians and Christmas the most joyous, I asked Trenary what he enjoyed most: the holidays, or simply attending and serving every week? “Every week,” he said. “I

think Easter is the most special. Christmas is important, but if God wasn’t raised from the dead, we couldn’t be either,” he said. Patty Beyer said Trenary “has been the one and only one-man team doing everything around the church. He definitely does everything for the right reasons. He doesn’t like being in the spotlight, but he does everything for God.” That is apparent. “We invite the community to youth night; adults are welcome too. We have a gym here every Wednesday night. We provide food too, all year, except during the bad weather. We invite everyone, no donations or anything. No one can make anyone change their beliefs, and I try to talk to everyone. I’m just doing this as a way of thanking God for everything,” Trenary said.

SCOTT TRENARY Trenary said he has children and grandchildren in the area. Beyer summed up Trenary with a single sentence: “There’s a place in heaven with his name on it.”

Worship Anew’s care package program provides a tangible way to share God’s love Through Worship Anew’s care package ministry, love is being put into action. The care package program provides an opportunity to do something for aging adults who are hurting and those who are caring for them. By providing physical and spiritual resources, these care packages remind them they are loved and not suffering alone. “In keeping with our mission, care packages are for aging adults who are experiencing any number of life’s difficulties, like the loss of a loved one, illness, or loneliness and isolation,” said

Gina Teeple, Worship Anew’s director of development and ministry relations. “These care packages are also for the people who care for them because we know that they are also needing care in hard times.” The care packages are customized for each person by a team of volunteers. They include a comfort item (blanket or slippers), a coffee mug and a beverage (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or seasonal beverage), an activity (crossword puzzle, word search, Sudoku, coloring book, or journal), and spiritual resources, including the Hope-Full Living

devotional. They are assembled and prayed over before they are shipped out. “When we experience difficulty in our lives, our needs become very basic. Often, it is hard to sleep. Sometimes we forget to eat. From time to time it is nice to divert our thoughts to something other than what is happening to us or our loved one,” Teeple said. “Most importantly, we need to know we are loved and not alone. That is why we include a comfort item, a snack, an activity, and reminders of God’s love and the love of those around us in the care packages.”

The care package program was brought together from the Worship Anew staff’s own experiences. Through personal hardships and through observing their family’s struggles, the staff witnessed what brought comfort to them and replicated that with the boxes. “I often use the example of a blanket my daughter received from a friend one Christmas. Even though she already had more than one blanket, this one quickly became her favorite,” Teeple said. “She walked around wrapped in it for weeks. It is still her favorite blanket because it is more than a blanket to her. It is a physical reminder of the love and support of her friend.” Learn about the benefits of living in a Continuing Care The hope of the care minisRetirement Community like Golden Years. try program is to provide an opportunity for people to do something when they don’t know what to do. “God created us to be interdependent with others. We are not just social beings. We need one another. As a result, we have a deep need and desire to help one another, especially in times of suffering,” Teeple said. “Unfortunately, we don’t always know what to actually do to  help. The care package ministry  provides an opportunity for INDEPENDENT LIVING people to do something for their INDEPENDENT LIVING INDEPENDENT LIVING Entrance is off Parent Road THE ORCHARD loved ones who are hurting. between Landin and Long Road. Entrance is off Parent Road Golden Years | Duplex Cottage Site Plan THE ORCHARD INDEPENDENT LIVING between Landin and Long Road. They may not be able to take What if you had all the freedom and privacy away the diagnosis, but they of living in your own home with none of the can remind the person they 3208

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worry about repairing the roof, keeping the furnace running, shoveling snow, or cutting grass? All the joy of your own home with none of the hassle. If the dishwasher breaks, we’ll fix it. Just relax. We’ll take it from here. FEATURES ◆ Four floorplans to choose from ranging from 1289 to 1900 square feet ◆ 2BR, 2BA with a 2 car garage

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The Orchard, a New Independent Living Community at Golden Years Homestead

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

CARE PACKAGE — Worship Anew’s care package ministry offers items, such as these, for aging adults who are experiencing any number of life’s difficulties like the loss of a loved one, illness, or loneliness and isolation. Photo provided by Worship Anew. are loved in and through their illness.” The care package program is open to anyone to participate and who can send a care package. The program is heavily supported by donations, in order to continue to offer the care packages at no cost to the sender. “My hope is that those who receive a care package will know that God loves them, and they are not alone. He is with them regardless of their circumstances, working in and through those around them,” Teeple said. “For someone sending a care package, my hope is they will feel inspired to continue finding tangible ways to share God’s love with others.” To learn more about the care package program or to send a care package, visit WorshipAnew.org/care.

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February 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 11

Health & Fitness

Battling the ‘big C’ By ROD KING Feature Writer Prostate cancer cells began spreading through my body about a year and a half ago. I didn’t feel sick, there was no pain, I continued to play golf and tennis, my wife and I took a cruise up the St. Lawrence Seaway last summer and life was good. Then last November, some of those rogue cells glommed onto my spine, turned my legs to rubber and completely rendered

me immobile. I couldn’t stand or walk. A magnetic resonant imaging scan located the spot. I underwent 10 radiation treatments at Lutheran Hospital. Doctors administered a hormone blocking shot, and I’m now on chemotherapy drugs. Physical and occupational therapy experts are working hard to get me walking, and we’ve made some encouraging progress. Fortunately, I have them. We’ve established some reachable goals, and I have my writing to keep my mind off

Orchard Crossing 1335 Getz Road Medical Suites Fort Wayne, IN 46804

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what’s going on inside me. Speaking of that, I’ve got a batch of travel destination articles ready and a number yet to be written for the Great Escapes column. In fact, in 2024 I plan to take you to visit the Monon Connection Railroad Museum northeast of West Lafayette, Coffin Underground Railroad Museum in Fountain City, the Round Barn Museum at Rochester, and the Haan Museum in Lafayette, which is crammed full of work by Indiana artists. They’ve also got a unique sculpture garden. The house has a special history. I also plan to take you along on that cruise of the St. Lawrence Seaway from Halifax, Canada, to the most photographed lighthouse on the east coast at Peggy’s Cove. It will include a lot of off-the-beaten-path places of interest. For those Florida snow birds, I’m looking ahead to taking you inside the summer homes and museums of two captains of industry during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Those would be Thomas Edison and his good friend, Henry Ford, in Fort Meyers, Fla. Then there is the iconic lighthouse at St. Augustine. So, we’ve got a lot of really

interesting and unique venues to visit. I hope you’ll join me for more Great Escapes. Senior Life and I go way back. I began doing destination travel articles for a predecessor of Senior Life in Indianapolis called Senior Beacon in 1984. Senior Life bought Senior Beacon and Deb Patterson, Senior Life editor in chief, asked me to continue introducing people to interesting places around the state and the nation. I wrote for them until the Indianapolis edition was suspended in 2020. During that time, I was also writing feature articles on active seniors doing interesting things for the Allen County edition of Senior Life. When the managing editor/travel column writer for Senior Life, Jeri Seely, passed away, the magazine began using my articles in all of its editions. Being able to put the journalism degree I earned at Ohio University in 1959 to work for the past 64 years has been a real fun ride starting with a general reporting job at The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. Following that, I worked in the public relations department of Indiana and Michigan Power Company retiring in 1996 to become a full-

BATTLING CANCER — Rod King, Senior Life feature writer of Great Escapes, is in a fight with cancer that has rendered his legs useless. Progress is being made toward getting control of his legs. He’s planning to take Great Escapes readers on more unique and interesting destinations in the coming months. Photo provided by Rod King. time freelance writer. Meeting and interviewing active, interesting seniors has been great fun, but writing travel destination articles is my real passion.

Assisted Living, nursing And rehAbiLitAtion guide

Welcome Home

To a senior community in a quiet northeast residential setting

dM emory • Long Term Caree and Memory Care suites with bathrooms and showers ensuring privacy Homestead, Inc. quality care, Years staff • 5-starGolden 3136 Goeglein Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815 provide 24 hour services (260) 749-6725 • www.goldenyearshome.org

260-749-9655 www.goldenyearshome.org Like us on Facebook!

Heritage Park

2001 Hobson Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 484-9557 • www.ASCCare.com

Life Care Center of Fort Wayne

1649 Spy Run Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 422-8520 • www.lcca.com Rehabilitation Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled-Licensed Nursing Or Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Wound Care, Outpatient Therapy, Medical Transportation, Medicare/Medicaid, Pet Visitation Allowed

1350 West Main Street, Berne, IN 46711 (260) 589-3173 • www.swissvillage.org

Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing Or Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Respiratory-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid

14409 Sunrise Court, Leo, IN 46765 (260) 627-2191 • www.thecedarsrc.com

Assisted Living, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing Or Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-RespiratoryPhysical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Swiss Village

The Cedars

The Village at Anthony Boulevard

6701 S. Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46816 (260) 447-1591 • www.ABetterWayofLiving.org

of Fort Wayne

Assisted Living, Rehab Unit, Alzheimer’s Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Intermediate Care, Therapies: Speech, Occupational, Respiratory, Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid, Outpatient Therapy

The Village at Kendallville

351 North Allen Chapel Road, Kendallville, IN 46755-0429 (260) 347-2256 • www.ABetterWayofLiving.org

Rehab Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Therapies: Speech, Occupational, Respiratory, Physical, Outpatient Therapy, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare/Medicaid, 3 Years Deficiency Free Surveys

The Village at Pine Valley

9802 Coldwater Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 (260) 469-0600 • www.ABetterWayofLiving.org Rehab Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing Therapies: Speech, Occupational, Respiratory, Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/ Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Hospice Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid, Outpatient Therapy

Contact Betty For More Details! 260-494-9321 slallen@the-papers.com • www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

12 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ February 2024

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Shop around for financial advisor By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Choosing a financial advisor is a major life decision. It can determine your financial trajectory for years to come. A Northwestern Mutual study revealed that more than 60% of U.S. adults admit their financial planning needs improvement. However, only one third of Americans work with a financial advisor. While advisors are legally prohibited from promising returns, research suggests that people who work with a financial advisor feel more at ease about their finances and could end up with about 15% more money when they reach retirement. A 2019 Vanguard study

indicated that a hypothetical $500,000 investment would grow to more than $3.4 million over 25 years under the care of an advisor, whereas the expected value from self-management would be $1.69 million — or 50% less. An advisor-managed portfolio would average an 8% annualized growth over a 25year period, compared with 5% from a self-managed portfolio. In other words, hiring an advisor could double your return. The value of professional investment advice varies with each client’s circumstances and portfolio composition. In your search for a financial consultant, consider your investment objectives, risk factors, and perform your own due diligence. Then match this up with three

fiduciary financial advisors and choose the one you feel is best for you A good advisor can give you great peace of mind, but avoiding some of the following blunders could save you years of stress. Hiring an advisor who is not a fiduciary, which is an individual or firm ethically bound to act in another person’s best interest. Fiduciary financial advisors must avoid conflicts of interest and disclose any potential conflicts of interest to clients. Hiring an advisor who is not a fiduciary means they could recommend decisions that may not be in your best interest. Another pitfall is hiring the first advisor you meet. While it’s tempting to hire the advisor

closest to home or the first advisor in the yellow pages, take the time to interview a few advisors before picking the best match for you. A widespread mistake is choosing an advisor with the wrong speciality. Some financial advisors specialize in retirement planning, while others may be most helpful for business owners or those with a high net worth. Some may specialize in helping young professionals starting a family. Be sure to understand an advisor’s strengths and weaknesses before signing the dotted line. Avoid an advisor with an incompatible strategy. This gets tricky because each advisor has a unique strategy. Some advisors

may suggest aggressive investments, while others are more conservative. If you prefer to go all in on stocks, an advisor specialized in bonds is not a great match for your style. To give investment advice, financial advisors are required to pass a test, so ask to see their licenses, tests, and credentials. Some become a Certified Financial Planner. Find out how they will be paid for their service to you. Some advisors are “fee only” and charge you a flat rate no matter what. Others charge a percentage of your assets under management. Avoid advisors who are paid commissions by mutual funds, which is a serious conflict of interest. Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

Call Betty At 1-866-580-1138, Ext. 2403 To Join Our

HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY A COMPLETE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

GOLDEN YEARS HOMESTEAD, INC. A Christian Retirement Community 3136 Goeglein Road and 8300 Maysville Road Fort Wayne, IN 46815 Phone: (260) 749-6725, (260) 749-9655 www.goldenyearshome.org

* Independent Living * Licensed Assisted Living * Villas & Garden Apartments * New Duplexes, Two & Three Bedrooms With Two & Three Car Garages * Complete Healthcare Center, Including Medicaid & Medicare Certified * Memory Care Neighborhoods “A Christian Ministry Dedicated To Serving The Seniors”

HERITAGE PARK 2001 Hobson Road Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Phone: (260) 484-9557 www.asccare.com

Garden Homes, Assisted Living Apartments, Moving Forward Rehabilitation, Auguste’s Cottage Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, Long Term Care, Hospice, Respite

SWISS VILLAGE, INC. 1350 W. Main St. Berne, IN 46711 Phone: (260) 589-3173 www.swissvillage.org

Duplex Homes, Independent Living Apartments, Residential & Assisted Living, Short Term Private Rehab Suites, Healthcare & Dementia Care, State Of The Art Wellness Pavilion, And Intergenerational Programming

A COMPLETE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

THE CEDARS 14409 Sunrise Court Leo, IN 46765 Phone: (260) 627-2191 www.thecedarsrc.com

Complete Retirement Amenities: Skilled & Intermediate Long Term Nursing Care, Assisted & Residential Apartments, Total Rehab Unit, Villa Of The Cedars With Condominium Homes - “Come To The Country”

ATTENDANT AND COMPANION SERVICES

JENNI’S IN HOME CARE LLC Phone: (260) 760-1546 jennisinhomecare@gmail.com

We offer non-medical services to individuals in their homes, Alzheimers and Dementia, Companionship, Respite, Custom Services to fi t your needs.

AUDIOLOGY

ASSISTED, INDEPENDENT LIVING & NURSING CARE

LIFE CARE CENTER OF FORT WAYNE 1649 Spy Run Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Phone: (260) 422-8520 www.lifecarecenteroffortwaynein.com

Newly remodeled facility, top-of-the-line service for rehab patients. Rapid rehab program, separate wing with 30 rehab suites — private single bed for short-term patients. Medicare, Medicaid & insurances accepted.

CARTER HEARING CLINICS 1335 Getz Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46804 NORTHEAST: 3136 Goeglein Rd., Suite A Phone: (260) 436-6400 or (877) 436-6401 www.carterhearingclinics.com

• Creating A Higher Standard of Care • Board certified audiologists by the American Board of Audiology serving Fort Wayne since 1967. • Offices located in Fort Wayne, Auburn, Angola and Decatur. PROVIDING • Hearing Evaluations, Hearing Aids, Assistive Listening Devices and Auditory Training • FREE TRIAL HEARING AID PROGRAM

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February 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 13

Reverse mortgage movers still hustling By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features Among the newest reversemortgage wrinkles promoted by lenders in the business is the fact that any unused balance grows at the same interest rate as the rate being charged on the line of credit. That means, if you borrow $100,000 at a 5 percent interest rate and plan to use it only as a line of credit, that loan grows to $105,000 in a year. If you pull $25,000 out of that loan, the remainder will grow by 5 percent a year. And it keeps on growing by 5 percent a year every year. While reverse mortgages sound enticing when considering its main selling point — borrow

on the equity of your house and never have to pay anything back as long as you live in it — the devilish details include, among other things, exorbitant fees and

an annual review to make sure you’ve paid the taxes, maintained the property and kept it insured. Keep in mind that you’ll have

to pay off the loan if you and your spouse are forced to move into a nursing home after a mishap or because of age-related infirmities.

Sew and solve the mystery quilt Feb. 10 Fort Wayne Chapter of the American Sewing Guild will hold its annual mystery quilt sewalong Saturday, Feb. 10. It begins at 10 a.m. when the first clue/step will appear on the chapter’s YouTube channel and the next steps every hour thereafter until all the clues are revealed. The final video release later that day will show the finished quilt. The mystery quilt event is open to members and non-members. Find the fabric require-

ments list and cutting instructions on the chapter’s website at asgfortwayne.org; find the clues on the chapter’s YouTube channel at @asgftwayne398. After the event, complete PDF instructions for each step will be on its website along with pictures of this year’s “solved” mystery quilt. Get together with friends and make it a day of sewing fun. Fabric requirements and instructions are given for a wall hanging and for a quilt. During

the sewalong, you will finish one or a few of the blocks, but have all the information you need to complete the size you choose to make. Each year, at the chapter’s annual meeting held in the fall, members bring their finished — or maybe partly finished — mystery quilts for everyone to see. To find out more, email the chapter at ASGfortwayne@ gmail.com. 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, garment sewing/fitting, machine embroidery, community service and more. It serves northeast Indiana as well as the Van Wert, Ohio, area.

Call Betty At 1-866-580-1138, Ext. 2403 To Join Our

HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY HEALTH: PRIMARY CARE

OAK STREET HEALTH 436 E. Washington Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Phone: (260) 209-7117 cheyenne.tayler@oakstreethealth.com Oak Street Health specializes in primary care designed to help older adults live healthier lives. Schedule a visit today.

IN-HOME CARE

COMFORT KEEPERS 3182 Mallard Cove Lane Fort Wayne, IN 46804 Phone: (260) 484-5858 MollyTritch@comfortkeepers.com Comfort Keepers provides award winning in-home care for seniors and other adults in need of assistance with daily activities.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

HOOSIER PHYSICAL THERAPY Michael F. Barile, D.C., P.T. 3030 Lake Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Phone: (260) 420-4400 www.hoosierpt.com Medicare Assignment Accepted “Personalized Care”

MEMORY CARE HOME HEALTH CARE

A HIGHER STANDARD OF HOME CARE BRIGHTSTAR 333 E. Washington Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Phone: (260) 918-0933 www.brightstarcare.com/fort-wayne

Enthusiastic, kind personal level client care connection, 24/7 support enables clients to check on loved ones. Rigorous caregiver screen/background check ensures optimal security & family peace of mind.

HOME PET CARE

HUMANE FORT WAYNE IN-HOME SERVICES 4914 S. Hanna St. Fort Wayne, IN 46806 Phone: (260) 744-0454 www.humanefortwayne.org

This FREE program helps seniors care for their pets. Services include grooming, walking, waste clean-up, wellness checks, transportation and more.

PHYSICIAN’S OFFICE

LIFE CARE CENTER OF FORT WAYNE 1649 Spy Run Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Phone: (260) 422-8520 www.lcca.com

Denton Hall, Memory Care Unit We offer a premier special care unit for those with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders. We provide a safe, homelike environment to increase and/or maintain each resident’s level of function at its highest sustainable stage.

FAMILY PRACTICE CENTER 750 Broadway Suite 350 Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Phone: (260) 423-2675

• New Patients Welcome • Most Insurance Companies Accepted • Medicare & Medicaid Accepted • Staffed By Over 30 Family Medicine Residents • Supervised By Board Certified Faculty

TELEPHONE SERVICES

RELAY INDIANA - INTRAC 7702 Woodland Drive #130, Indianapolis, IN 46278 (877) 446-8722

Problems hearing on the telephone? We provide captioned telephones to assist you to read what the other person is saying. No more garbled or misunderstood conversations. Simply, READ what you’re hearing.

14 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ February 2024

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Travel

Coffin Interpretive Center focuses on the Underground Railroad Levi Coffin House in Fountain City, known in the mid1800s as the “Grand Central Station” of the Underground Railroad, is the place to learn how Levi and Catherine Coffin helped freedom seekers escape slavery. The state has constructed a hands-on interpretive center next door to the original brick house, which symbolizes and celebrates the spirit and courage of the freedom seekers and the 19th century anti-slavery activists. More than 2,000 fugitive slaves (freedom seekers) came to the two-story, red-brick house in Newport (now Fountain City) on their way north. They were concealed, fed, clothed and transported to the next stop on what the Coffins referred to as the “mysterious road.” The Quaker couple came to Indiana in 1826 because they opposed slavery. He jokingly called himself the “President of the Underground Railroad.” The house is not only a state historic site, but is also a registered National Historic Landmark. Indiana purchased it in 1967, and some restoration was done by the Wayne County Historical Society. It was operated on a shoe-string budget by the Levi Coffin House Association. Sisters, Sandra Jackson and Janice McGuire, literally kept it going and saved it from becoming a gas station. Construction of the $3.8 million interpretive center started in 2015. Visitors will be seated in a simulated Quaker Friends

S & S TRAVEL

INTERPRETIVE CENTER —The Interpretive Center is next door to the original Levi Coffin House, which was known as the “Grand Central Station” of the Underground Railroad. The displays do not sugar-coat the realities of slavery that included lashings and shackles.

ANTI-SLAVERY ACTIVISTS — Quakers Levi and Catherine Coffin came to Indiana from North Carolina because of their opposition to slavery. Their home in Newport (now Fountain City), which was built in 1883, was a sanctuary for “freedom seekers” for 20 years. Meeting House (church) for a 10-minute orientation film about the decisions made by freedom seekers and the Coffins. It provides an overview in preparation for touring the center and the Coffin House. Stories are told through dynamic

exhibits prompting visitors to consider how they would respond if they found themselves in similar situations. One of the stories focuses on a pair of hand-carved wooden shoes which belonged to fugitive slave William Bush who,

SECRET COMPARTMENT — Slaves heading north were transported in the false bottom of the wagon owned by Levi Coffin. This display in the Interpretive Center shows how it was utilized. The original wagon can be seen in the barn behind the Coffin House.

after reaching the Coffin’s, decided to stay in town. He 1404 E. Lake Bluff Dr. Kendallville, IN 46755 became a blacksmith and JOIN US for our helped other runaways. He won 45th the town’s gratitude during an Travel Season epidemic because he dared to April 27-May 5, 2024 bury the dead in nearby Willow Heart of San Antonio TX Grove Cemetery. His marker “Memories to Last a Lifetime” Lodging on the Riverwalk, is there and reads he assisted Dallas Southfork Ranch, slaves fleeing bondage. MAKE RESERVATIONS SOON. MANY OF OUR Wildseed Farm, Alamo, 2021 is Completely Sold Out His great-great-granddaugh2024 TRIPS ARE ALREADY SOLD OUT. Mission San Jose, San ter, Eileen Baker Wall, grew Fernando Cathedral, April 22-26, 2024 ................... Springtime in New York City up in Fountain City, taught Spanish Governor’s Palace school in Richmond, became an El Mercado, Magnolia August 8-9, 2024 ............................................... Mystery Trip Market Complex & More assistant high school principal, May 6, 2024 Tulips returned to the community and Sept. 9, 2024 ................... Memories of Elvis, 3-Hour Cruise Holland MI. A Tradition. now volunteers at the house Feb. 5, 2022……………………..……...‘HAMILTON” Sept. 17-19, 2024............“RUTH” — An Original Sight and June 14-24, 2024 conducting tours. She relates Schuster Center,AtDayton Trains Around Colorado Sound Theatres® Production the Ohio Star Theatre, how rare it was for a slave to

Motorcoach Tours

Memories in Motion

2022 Trips

Georgetown Scenic RR, Sugercreek, OH Silverton-Durango RR, Feb. 19-26, 2022…Manatees, Mermaids & Marine Life Bucket List Tours Cumbre’s & Toltec RR, Oct. 22-30, 2024 ...............................Great Plains Adventure Crystal River Plantation, Nature Coast of Florida with Pam Royal Gorge RR, Kansas & Oklahoma ... Including a visit to Pioneer Woman Pike Peak Cog RR, May 18, 2022………..”Cruising Through the Decades”Travel Presentation Dec. 3-6, 2024 ...................... Nashville’s Country Christmas Red Mountain Jeep Tour, Wednesday, March 13 Manitou Cliff Dwellings, Opryland Hotel 4 Seats Left 1:30 p.m. Flying W Ranch & More May 23 – 27, 2022…………..Wisconsin’s Door County

Feb. 15-23, 2025 ......... Manatees, Mermaids & Marine Life Huntington Historical July 18-26, 2024 Including Visit to Historic Lambeau Field Crystal River and St. Augustine, FL 8 Seats Left Museum Mt. Rainier & Olympic July 10-17, 2025 ............ Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal &Cruise National Parks, Fly June 27-30, 5:30 p.m. 2022………..Mississippi Riverboat Aug. 29-Sept. 7, 2024 1000 Islands Whitley County Shades Of Ireland, Fly Woodlands Senior Center Steve and Magsamen, Tour Managers July 29 – August 10,Sheila 2022…….….Nova Scotia, Canada Full Calendar in March 2024 Diamond Tours with Terry Almon Decatur & Fort Wayne Departures and Bucket List Tours with Pam Crone Details: www.s-stravel.com 260-432-8488 260-224-2339 or Tour Calendar: Call 888-262-4423 Sept. 13-16, 2022……………….Niagara Falls, Canada www.memoriesinmotion.net pamkaycrone@aol.com

Sept. 26 – Oct. 3, 2022………. Best of Vermont, New Hampshire & Maine

settle in a community, how he assisted the Coffins and how her great-aunt preserved his wooden shoes. Presentation of the dark side of slavery is not sugar-coated. Shackles are displayed, photos show the results of lashings and the subject of profit and loss in slavery is thoroughly covered. King Cotton, blacks in the military, slave ships, the free labor store and the false-bottom wagon used by the Coffins to transport freedom seekers are highlighted. Maps show the three Underground Railroad routes taken by slaves entering Indiana from Kentucky. Not surprisingly, they all went near free black communities. Fountain City and the Coffin Interpretive Center is located right on U.S. 27 just seven miles south of Lynn. There’s no big sign, so look for the red brick house. Park behind the white Interpretive Center. Admission is adults, $10; seniors, $8; and children, $5. For more information, visit indianamuseum.org/historicsites/levi-catharine-coffinhouse.

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February 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 15

‘70s Flash Back —

The Nike ‘Swoosh,’ original feeling was ‘maybe it will grow on me’ The Nike “Swoosh” symbol is so well recognized worldwide that it can stand alone without naming By RANDAL the Oregon C. HILL sportsapparel empire. The iconic logo was the brainchild of Carolyn Davidson, a now-comfortably-retired graphic designer—with the primary emphasis being on “comfortably.” In 1969, Davidson met future business kingpin Phil Knight when she was a graphics design student at Portland State University and he was a part-time accounting instructor there. As Knight passed Carolyn in a hallway one day, he overheard her telling some friends that she wanted to take an oil painting class but couldn’t afford the paints. The

next time Phil saw her, he said, “Excuse me, are you the one who can’t afford to take oil painting?” Knight told Davidson he needed a part-time graphics artist to create charts and graphs for his business meetings. (Since 1964, Phil and partner Bill Bowerman had had a side job running Blue Ribbon Sports, the West Coast distributor for Tiger shoes from Japan’s Onitsuka Company.) Knight offered to pay her two dollars an hour for her work, and she readily accepted. Carolyn completed all the projects Knight brought to her. Then, one day in 1971, Phil proposed something new—an assignment for a logo. Citing hassles from Onitsuka, he and Bowerman had decided to strike out on their own and offer a new line of cleated shoes. Their company would be called Nike, who in Greek mythology was the winged goddess of victory. A factory in Mexico was ready to begin shoe production,

and Knight and Bowerman wanted a logo that conveyed motion and speed for their fledgling footwear. Davidson figured she worked 17.5 hours on the project, so she submitted a bill for $35— equal to about $250 now—to Knight and showed him five potential designs, each drawn on tracing paper and laid over the side outline of a shoe. Phil didn’t really like any of the images, but he chose the wing-like Swoosh. “Well, I don’t love it,” he grumbled, “but maybe it will grow on me.” Blue Ribbon Sports became Nike later that year, and the Swoosh was on its way to becoming one of the best-known images in the world, eventually being displayed on everything Nike, including shoes, socks, pants, hats, T-shirts, jerseys and coats. Carolyn earned a PSU degree in graphic design and stayed with Nike through 1975, when she decided to freelance and do charity vol-

CREATOR OF ICONIC LOGO — The Nike “Swoosh” symbol is the brainchild of Carolyn Davidson who created the iconic logo in 1971 for Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, the owners of Blue Ribbon Sports. unteer work from home. In September 1983, Knight invited Davidson to have lunch at the Nike headquarters. That luncheon turned out to be a surprise party for her. After multibillionaire Knight told Carolyn that he was glad that his $35 check hadn’t bounced 12 years earlier, she was given a box of chocolate

Swooshes, a Swoosh-shaped gold ring and 500 shares of Nike stock. Over four decades and numerous stock splits later, Carolyn’s Nike holdings would now total about 32,000 shares and be worth around $4 million. Ms. Davidson has apparently never cashed in a single one of those shares.

New Allen County flag competition commences On Monday, Jan. 1, the Allen County Bicentennial Executive Board began to accept flag design submissions. Those designs will be included in the process of creating a new Allen County flag, one of the many bicentennial celebration initiatives which will occur throughout 2024. Allen County does not have an official flag. The old seal placed on a white background is being used in the council chambers courtroom in the basement of Citizens Square and was flown above the Rousseau Centre as a symbol of Allen County government. While the use of a seal on a flag has been a standard design for cities, counties, and states in the last century, flags are being reimagined. Today, communi-

ties are updating their ensign to embrace the idea of a civil flag vs. a government entity flag. Anyone can submit up to three flag designs for consideration. Submissions will be accepted from the first of January through Friday, March 29 (11:59 p.m. EST). Mailed submissions must be postmarked by March 29. When the submission window is closed, no additional designs will be considered. When the bicentennial executive board discussed the parameters and rules for the competition, they had to determine whether to limit the submission opportunity to current Allen County residents. However, they concluded that such a limitation would preclude people, such as college students living in other

parts of the state and country as well as people who commute into Allen County from surrounding communities, and even those who have roots in Allen County but no longer live here. Curt Witcher, director of special collections and manager of The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library, and bicentennial executive board member, explained it was important “for us to take off the guard rails of geography.” “There are many people who have made Allen County home at some point, but have moved on to a different state, or even a different country. We cannot know those whose lives have been touched by this community in some way. We will get a

better end product with more options from more people,” Witcher said. All submitted designs will be evaluated by a committee of panelists appointed by the bicentennial executive board. The group will help narrow and hone the designs, which will then be passed back to the board to select a top five. Those top-tier images will be shared with Allen County residents to collect a popular vote and for public comment. The findings from the crowdsourced information will help inform the Allen County Board of Commissioners in the selection of the final image. At any point in the process, the bicentennial executive board or their appointed selection committee

members may alter, combine, or edit the flag designs to help create the best representation of Allen County. “This is a great way to get people involved and excited about our county’s bicentennial, as well as to get students engaged,” shared Kate Dippold, the county’s legislative liaison. “We hope people no matter their age or artistic ability will consider participating in the competition.” Designs that range from professional digital designs to crayon drawing are acceptable and can be submitted via email, online portal, or mail. The competition rules and submission details can be found by visiting allencounty200. com.

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Downtown Parking Parking Cashier Downtown Cashier Downtown Parking Cashier is looking for help with our Downtown parking lot operations.

is Downtown is looking looking for for help help with with our our Downtown parking parking lot lot operations. operations. (Part-Time) (Part-Time) (Part-Time) Cashiers are responsible for providing excellent customer service, Cashiers responsible for providing excellent customer service, Cashiers are are responsible excellent customer maintaining a clean parking for lot, providing and accurately completing dailyservice, sales maintaining reports. a maintaining a clean clean parking parking lot, lot, and and accurately accurately completing completing daily daily sales sales reports. We offer flexible scheduling and competitive compensation. Hours reports. We offer flexible competitive compensation. vary with abilityand to work weekends. We from offer 7am-7pm flexible scheduling scheduling and competitive compensation. Hours Hours vary from 7am-7pm with ability to work weekends. Applicants must be able to provide a valid driver’s vary from 7am-7pm with ability to work weekends. license. Applicants be a license. Contact Tinamust at 260-422-6456 or tperry@lbpark.com more information. Applicants must be able able to to provide provide a valid valid driver’s driver’sfor license. Contact Contact Tina Tina at at 260-422-6456 260-422-6456 or or tperry@lbpark.com tperry@lbpark.com for for more more information. information.

PATIO APARTMENTS & DUPLEX HOMES RETIREMENT LIVING AT ITS FINEST! 260.589.3173 • BERNE, INDIANA • SWISSVILLAGE.ORG

16 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ February 2024

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Finance

Do you need a new or replacement Social Security card? We’re making it easier! By MONA HARTER District Manager, South Bend Social Security Office If you need a new or replacement Social Security card, we’ve got great news! You may be able to complete, or at least start, your application on our website — and, if necessary, use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment at a local office. Start your application Do you need to apply for a Social Security number and card? You can visit ssa.gov/ number-card to begin the process. You’ll answer a series of questions to determine whether you can: • Complete the application

process online. • Start the application process online, then bring any required documents to your local Social Security office to complete the application, typically in less time. • Complete the application process at your local office. If you can’t complete the application online, you must visit a Social Security office. To learn more, review our publication, Your Social Security Number and Card, at ssa. gov/pubs/EN-05-10002.pdf. Replace Your Social Security card Want to replace your card? The Card Replacement Screener on our Replace Social Security card webpage at ssa.gov/number-card/replace-

Senior Relocation Program

Our Services Include • Assisting in Organizing • Determining what to Sell, Keep or Donate • Pack for the Move • Inventory Appraising • Move Management • Overseeing Repairs, Painting, Cleaning and Staging Home for Sale • Selling Personal Property & Real Estate • Assisting Executors, Attorneys, Trustees Huntington 260.356.3911 | Fort Wayne 260.459.3911

www.SeniorRelocationServices.info

An Affordable Assisted Living Community for the Older Adult Managed by Gardant Management Solutions

AMENITIES • Private apartment with full, private bathroom • Kitchenette with sink, refrigerator and microwave • Individually controlled heating and air conditioning • Carpet in living and sleeping areas • Linoleum in kitchen and ceramic tile in bathroom • Emergency call devices in bathroom and bedroom • Mini-blinds provided

card helps you determine the best way to do so. Depending on your situation, you may be able to request a replacement card without visiting a local office. Choose “Answer a few questions” on the Replacement Card webpage at ssa.gov/ number-card/replace-card to get started. Even if you can’t complete the process online and must visit an office, you can still save yourself time by starting the application online. Were You Asked To Come Into An Office? Here’s What You Should Know If you start the application online and we determine you need to come into an office, you can use our new Online Self-Scheduling option. This option allows you to: • Select your language preference. • Select the most convenient office to receive service. • Choose to receive communications and appointment reminders through email or text. • Conveniently use your mobile device to check-in for your appointment. You can also reschedule, modify, or cancel your appointment online without having to call or visit the office.

MAKING IT EASIER — Those needing a new or replacement Social Security card may be able to complete or at least start the process on the Social Security website. Photo provided by the Social Security Office. Please note that this service is not available in Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa. We hope to make it available soon.

How we make it easy By KURT NESS Broker, Co-Owner, Auctioneer Ness Bros. Realtors and Auctioneers How do we make it easy? This is a question I have been asked many times. If

Concordia Cemetery & Cremation Gardens Burial Lots Mausoleum Crypts Cremation Options 5365 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne, IN DON REMENSCHNEIDER Superintendent

It’s never been easier to do business with us! Share this information with your friends and family — and post it on social media.

(260) 749-9836

www.concordiacemetery.com

TODD BUSICK Family Advisor

12523 Auburn Road Fort Wayne, IN evergreenvillage-fortwayne.com

SERVICES • Ongoing health monitoring and nursing assessments • Assistance with activities for daily living: bathing, dressing, walking, personal grooming and hygiene • Medication administration • Three restaurant-style meals daily plus snacks • 24-hour staffing and reception desk • Range of interesting and varied programs and events • Medicaid Waiver accepted

Call 260-637-2830 today to schedule a tour of our beautiful community!

anyone that has had to move from a 2,400 square foot, two story, four-bedroom home into a 950- square-foot villa or assisted living facility, it becomes apparent that there are a lot of things to be done. When I tell people that our job is to make it easy, I explain it this way: E - stands for Everything. Being a family real estate and auction company that has been around since 1961, we know the many steps that have to be done. As our marketing and advertising indicates, we help individuals, couples or a family do everything they need done to relocate. A – stands for Accountable. We put it all in writing before we get started so our clients have a clear understanding of what services we will do and all the costs associated with those services. S – stands for Systems. In order to deliver the highest quality service to our clients, it is important to have systems in place. We are constantly monitoring and analyzing our process with the goal of delivering high-quality service. Y – stands for You. It is all about you. By understanding your concerns, challenges and goals, we can create a custom plan that addresses your needs. We are here for you and your needs. Visit our website at nessbros.com. In Fort Wayne, speak to one of senior relocation specialist by calling (260) 459-3911 or stop at our office located at 3344 Mallard Cove Lane; for our Huntington office, call (260) 356-3911 or stop in at 519 N. Jefferson St.