Senior Life - Allen County Edition - January 2024

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Living Life After 50

January 2024 Jim And Cheryl Brockmann Volunteer With Changing Footprints See Page 10

Allen County edition ReAChing FoRt WAyne And SuRRounding CountieS Vol. 36, No. 9

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ROLLING INTO ROANOKE — Jennifer Lucht, president of the Fort Wayne Corvette Club, and husband, Alan, pose with their Corvette at the Rolling into Roanoke event, which the group attends every year. Photo provided by FWCC.

See Story on Page 3

Fort Wayne Corvette Club members…

enjoy activities, helping others CHANGING TIRES — Shown are Dan Figgins and wife, Karen, members of the Fort Wayne Corvette Club, changing tires at an autocross convention in Bowling Green, Ky.

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January 2024

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Key Positions

New director takes the lead of The Lighthouse thrift stores

By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer Kirk Stewart may be the new director of The Lighthouse Family Thrift Stores, but he pitches in as needed, which occasionally places him running a cash register.

In September, he took on his new position, and manages stores at two locations, one on Lima Road and the other on Parnell Avenue.

Previously, he was player services director for four years at the Fort Wayne Country Club.

“I’m more of a big picture person,” Stewart said. “So I’m involved in making sure the general work is flowing.

Donations come in, we sort them, find out what’s good to sell, price, tag the price, and sell from the floor. If any part of that system breaks down, we have problems. If we get behind in sorting, we’re going to have a mountain to sort through.”

He was born and raised in Fort Wayne and then jobs took

Jeff ‘JJ’ Shaw, Attorney at Law

him out of the city for about 30 years.

“My daughter and her husband started having kids so the grandkids brought us back to Fort Wayne,” Stewart said.

Daughter, Olivia Schwiebert, and her husband, Rob, have three sons. It was through his wife, Stephanie, that Stewart’s new work came about.

“My wife was on the board of directors, and she’s left since I was hired,” he said.

“She does social media for a bakery in Michigan. We do plenty of social media. She donates her time to do social media for the stores.”

Stewart figures out ways to be more efficient whenever possible.

“We use signs above racks for something like the men’s shirts,” he said. “If they’re all $3.49, we don’t have to tag all that. We use Mad Money coupons to help customers, and we have a boutique that is more upscale and has higher prices, such as for a Ralph Lauren item.”

A priority is keeping the

stores clean, as well as the clothing, so people enjoy a nice experience while shopping.

“We were voted the ‘Best Thrift Store’ for 2023 by an online vote,” Stewart said.

“We’re here to fund the ministry, The Lighthouse Biblical Recovery Center. I oversee about 12 to 14 employees and volunteers.”

His hours aren’t too long, except when they need to be. The best laid plans can get murky, such as when an employee needed an extended time off recently.

“It depends. If everything is running smoothly, and the team is all here, I have normal hours. Sometimes, I have to fill in. You do what you have to do,” Stewart said.

He said managing the stores goes much deeper than running a retail operation, since it’s for a Christian-based organization seeking to serve to the glory of “our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

“We’re not bottom-line focused,” Stewart said. “We want to offer customers compassion

HARD AT WORK — Kirk Stewart, left, is shown working in The Lighthouse Thrift Store, Fort Wayne, where he is director of stores.

Rebecca Davis, a store employee, is also pictured. Photo provided. and a space where they are respected and given dignity as they shop.”

To that end, he keeps in mind that one of many objectives is to provide clean, nice clothes at an affordable price to outfit an entire family.

Yet, another aspect of his

mission is that some of the workers came through the program and have overcome addictions.

“If they graduate through the program and they want to stay connected, we have opportunities for them to come and help,” Stewart said.

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■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 3

Fort Wayne Corvette Club members enjoy activities, helping others

BY CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer Holding the presidency of an organization isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, but Jennifer Lucht may be president of one of the cooler clubs around.

Lucht, along with her husband, Alan, is an active member of the Fort Wayne Corvette Club and could currently be referred to as “madam president.”

The club has a variety of activities, from social gatherings to competitions to helping out numerous charity organizations. One such event they participate in is an autocross, where they compete and are timed to run through a course.

Safety and participation are emphasized. After all, their cars are like their babies, and managed with as much care.

“My husband, Alan, and I joined FWCC in 2006 after purchasing our 2005 Corvette we named Ruby,” Lucht said.

“We had another car that we do autocrosses with, a 1994 car we named Jade.”

The Corvette Club has a long history in the area, and it isn’t unusual for members to be active locally and nationally.

“Our club was formed in 1970, and we still have three original members in our club,” she said. “We are part of the national organization, National Council of Corvette Clubs or NCCC. Many of our members attend the annual convention, and we have some who serve as officials for the NCCC.” The club’s name doesn’t tell the whole story. Not limited to Fort Wayne, there are members from a large area of Indiana; the territory includes those

from other states as well.

Lucht is from Warsaw. Another very active member, Gary Grant, is from Huntington. The club members become close as they enjoy activities together over the years. When Grant’s wife, Marjorie, passed away last month, Lucht shared that she and others deeply felt the loss of a friend. There are many of them, and they revel in the relationships built.

“We continue to grow to about 270 members,” Lucht said. “Gary is the public relations director. We come from many counties from northeast Indiana as well as western Ohio.”

They have three car shows annually: New Haven; DeHaven Chevy; the club’s sponsor;

and Huntington Corvettes.

The group raises money for the following local charities: Honor Flights, Renos for Summit City Heroes, and Children’s Cancer Center at Parkview. In addition to those, they have an annual banquet where they present awards and install new officers.

Since the club is literally devoted to being on wheels, they will go places together to celebrate their beloved Corvettes.

“We often take trips to the Corvette Museum, which will include tours of the factory,” Lucht said. “In fact, FWCC has a plaque installed in one of the entrances (of the factory) to commemorate our 50 years as a club.”

“We enjoy our cars and

READY TO RIDE — The Fort Wayne Corvette Club participated in the annual Veterans Day parade in Huntington. “We are very proud to recognize our veterans in all communities,” said Jennifer Lucht, club president. Photo provided by FWCC. most all are stored during the winter,” she said. “We participated in many parades and are especially proud of being in the Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades.”

Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at DeHaven Chevrolet, Fort Wayne.

Visit fwcc.clubexpress.com for more information.

4 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■

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January 2024

Spotlight

Artist loves teaching as much as he loves painting

By BETHANNE BRINK-COX Feature Writer

pet portraits.

“I’ve been told they’re a big help when it comes to grief therapy,” he said.

Painting, said the Churubusco artist, always came really easy to him.

“I like to help people get

Carl Mosher remembers the day he figured out that pets were “more than just fur, fins and feathers.”

Now, he does a lot of

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started. Especially 10 to 12-year-olds, who don’t even know they have the talent. But they do, and when they know that, if they enjoy what they created, they will probably do this for the rest of their lives.

It’s almost magical. People love watching you paint, and it’s so good to realize, hey, I might just be a little special,” he said.

He thought for a minute and continued. “I believe it’s one of those things that almost everyone has a buried artist in them somewhere, and when I see the light in someone’s eyes when they realize. Well, it’s easier to paint what I saw than to describe it,” he said.

Mosher, 73, is retired and busier than ever. He’s always been busy, though.

“My folks gave us a lot of freedom. I could camp alone by the age of 12. I’d saddle up with all my overnight stuff and fishing tackle and my dad would say, ‘okay, what day might we expect you back?’ I’d fill a whole sketch pad full of stuff I saw. I sold my first oil painting when I was in seventh grade. It’s nice when people like and buy what I paint, but I think it’s even nicer to teach,” he said.

Mosher has seen his work everywhere. Artwork all around in different countries and the states, too.

“I was in Tennessee and saw this painting somewhere and thought, ‘hmmm,’ and it was mine. I don’t know how it got there,” he recalled.

People can see his work in 30 galleries throughout northeast

HOOSIER ARTIST — Carl Mosher of Churubusco enjoys painting scenes like this one. He also does a lot of pet portraits. Photo provided by Carl Mosher.

Indiana; Michigan, including Mackinac Island; and Wisconsin. Mosher said his style is best described as “peaceful,” often compared to Bob Ross, Terry Redlin, or Thomas Kincade, and rightfully so.

“I wanted to see if I could duplicate a Kincade, and I tried to paint a similar thing. When you put it next to one of his, mine looked almost identical. I also really like the work of Norman Rockwell; I always have a Rockwell calendar somewhere in my studio every year. He was so Americana,” Mosher said.

But he got quite the feather

in his cap when he was asked to design a commemorative Christmas ornament for Whitley County.

“I don’t know who recommended me. I got a call from a gentleman in Indy who said, ‘you’ve been recommended as a contact for a design,’ and I put a rough sketch together and it just took off from there,” Mosher said.

Mosher did a lot of research for historical accuracy. After all, if you combine the talent of an artist with the wisdom of a teacher, you’ll get something wonderful every time.

Too much of a good thing can be bad for you

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features As long as a tan is perceived as cool, the risk of contracting skin cancer will continue.

This may sound like the wrong time to talk about this practice, with winter blowing in, but there are thousands of snowbirds from the frigid zones of Canada and the northern U.S. flocking to the sunburn sections for the season or quick getaways.

Just short of 100,000 new cases of sun-related skin cancer will be diagnosed this year.

Social acceptance of tanning is at fault, according the American Cancer Society.

More than half of teens and adults believe people look better with a tan.

A century or so ago, it was unfashionable, identifying you as the type of person who had to work for a living, usually out in the field under the sun. People who owned those farms and big plantations could spend the day inside.

Industrialization changed all that. Workers moved inside large manufacturing plants and the wealthy began lolling along tropical beaches.

So, tans became a fashionable sign of leisure.

That’s the image that needs changing, according to cancer researchers.

There are signs of a pendulum swing as the use of sunscreen spreads. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t use it correctly.

One finding of a not-toolong-ago survey is that many of the folks go to the beach, play a couple of games of volleyball and, when they see their skin turning red, figure it’s time to put on some sunscreen.

That’s too late. Most of the damage has already been done.

Added problems are that too little sunscreen is used, it may be washed off by sweat or swimming, or its sun protection factor may be too low. The cancer society recommends an SPF of 30 or greater.

Researchers explain that it’s not the tan that’s the problem; it’s the ultraviolet radiation used to get a tan.

The ultraviolet rays from the sun trigger a reaction in pigment-producing skin cells to produce a browner color in the skin. This same radiation causes damage in the DNA of skin cells as well as other types of damage to the skin, and that is what has been related to the risk of skin cancer as well as premature aging of the skin.

There are two reasons tanning salons are not safe, even though they may advertise that they use innocuous UVA radiation and not the UVB that causes sunburn. First of all, UVA is not totally harmless.

An artificial tanner — tan in a bottle — gives you a tan in color only. It doesn’t protect you from the sun’s ultraviolet light.

The cancer society’s old slogan still works: Slip, Slop, Slap: slip on a shirt, slop on sun screen, slap on a hat.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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January 2024

■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 5

Sports

Avid pickleball player starts his own company, instructs others

By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer Mark Cunningham doesn’t do things half way, at least not when it comes to the sport of pickleball. The activity has become more and more popular.

He entered into the sport with great enthusiasm before many people had heard of it at all.

About seven years ago, he went all in as a player, and ended up creating a side business associated with pickleball, which he runs with his family.

In his school days, he played baseball. As he grew older, he wanted ways to be involved in sports, since he’d been an athlete from a young age. This might explain how he tackled entering a sport that was new to him with such zest.

“Pickleball is a sport that was invented in 1965 that combines the elements of pingpong, tennis, and badminton,” Cunningham said. “Transitioning from a dynamic and athletic background, I ventured into the world of pickleball and began playing in 2016 at Lifehouse Church, located in Huntertown, and YMCA of DeKalb County, located in Auburn. I competed in my first pickleball tournament in January 2017 in Indianapolis. My wife, Kysa, and I placed third in the mixed doubles 3.0 division.”

In November 2017, he had the opportunity to play in the Casa Grande, Ariz., National Pickleball Championship.

“I was awarded the gold

medal in 19+ mixed D=doubles 4.0, 3.5, and 3.0 combined skill level with my partner, Gina Dirk, and the silver medal in men’s 35+ singles 4.0, 3.5 skill level,” he said.

By getting in on the pickleball ground floor, so to speak, and at a high skill level, he’s had the opportunity to get noticed. He ended up working with a pickleball paddle manufacturer. He’s also made many

new friends along the way.

“Amber Illingworth is one of the many individuals with whom I have formed connections,” Cunningham said.

“Playing alongside Amber in both recreational play and tournaments has opened doors for me to connect with Armour Pickleball.”

Founded in 2019, Armour Pickleball is a company located in Surprise, Ariz. In the same

year, he was fortunate enough to become a sponsored player for Armour Pickleball, a role that he continues to hold to this day.

“My role as a sponsored pickleball player is to promote and grow the sport of pickleball, both in person and on social media,” he said.

He formed his company, Scorpion Pickleball by Mark Cunningham, in 2018 and established it as an LLC this year.

“Within my company, my goal is to increase player enthusiasm and passion for the game as well as improve fundamental skills and abilities to enhance overall performance,” Cunningham said. “This is achieved through personalized instruction, both in private and semi-private settings, as well as conducting drill sessions for my clients. It has been a great

privilege to join forces with my son, Logan, daughter, Makayla, and wife, Kysa, in establishing a company that is not only rooted in family values but also driven by our collective skills.”

Depending on the weather, Cunningham plays in numerous locations around the state and beyond.

“Overall, pickleball has brought positive changes to my life and will continue to do so as the game grows and evolves,” Cunningham said.

“My son, Logan, has been instrumental in designing my logo for Scorpion Pickleball and creating various promotional videos. Similarly, my daughter, Makayla, has embraced the sport and is now teaching alongside me. I eagerly anticipate participating in numerous tournaments with her, forming the ultimate father-daughter duo.”

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PASSION FOR PICKLEBALL — Mark Cunningham is an avid pickleball player. He started playing in 2016 and competed in his first tournament in 2017. Photo provided by Mark Cunningham.

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50 Years Ago, Blast To The Past —

‘You’re Sixteen’ ended up on a best-selling soundtrack Ringo Starr Since you are reading this in a senior publication, there’s a good chance you not only remember Ringo Starr’s “You’re SixA Boomer Blast teen” from To The Past 50 years

By RANDAL ago, but the C. HILL original 1960 version by Johnny Burnette, as well.

Burnette was born in 1935 and lived with his parents and

brother Dorsey in a Memphis housing project that included equally poor neighbors Vernon, Gladys and Elvis Presley.

After school days ended, music lovers Johnny, Dorsey and a mutual friend formed the hard-driving Johnny Burnette Trio. They toured constantly and recorded some high-octane 45s that went nowhere. Rockabilly collectors now lust after those obscure plastic discs.

Later, Johnny and Dorsey moved to Los Angeles to become songwriters for Ricky Nelson (“Believe What You Say,” “It’s Late”). As a solo artist, Johnny signed with Los Angeles’ Liberty Records and proceeded to cut some minor hit singles.

Burnette’s only Top Ten career tune was the bouncy, violinsaturated “You’re Sixteen,” which ended up on the best-selling soundtrack of George Lucas’s 1973 nostalgia movie “American Graffiti.” In 1964, Johnny died in a California boating accident.

The Oldest Beatle Ringo, the oldest Beatle, was born Richard Starkey in 1940 in the Dingle, Liverpool’s most depressed inner-city district.

Housing there usually meant cramped quarters, poor ventilation and a rear door that opened onto an outhouse.

Young Starkey was often in and out of hospitals with various illnesses. At age 13, he began a two-year stay in a sanitarium

RINGO STARR after he contracted tuberculosis.

As with many other long-term patients, he was encouraged to join the institution’s musical group (He was often heard beating upon the cabinets next to his bed with a mallet that he fash-

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ioned from a cotton bobbin). “I was in the hospital band,” he has explained. “That’s where I really started playing. I never wanted anything else from then on.”

At 15, barely literate and uninterested in school, he took menial Liverpool jobs until he found employment as a rock ‘n’ roll drummer and soon became well-known as a member of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, one of the premier rock groups in the city.

As he wore two rings on each hand, he adopted the stage name Rings (later Ringo) Starr. In 1962, he was hired by the Beatles to replace their dour original drummer Pete Best, who hadn’t meshed well with fun-loving John, Paul and George.

Ringo’s version of “You’re Sixteen” featured a “chugging” lope and a lot of help from his friends (get it?) on his million-selling Apple Records single. Among the many musicians who offered background support that day in the recording studio were — no surprise here — John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney.

During the bridge of Ringo’s “You’re Sixteen,” Paul McCartney made a sound like a kazoo with his mouth, although his quirky contribution was credited as a “vocal sax solo” on Starr’s “Ringo” album. Go figure.

Sometimes thought of as the neglected Beatle who dwelt in the Lennon-McCartney-Harrison shadow, Sir Richard Starkey is said to have a net worth of $350 million today.

Take a walk

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Walking beats taking pills when it comes to maintaining your health as you age.

A daily 10-minute walk around the block, down in the park or around your apartment building may not add years to your life, but it will keep you much healthier while you are alive. Add five or 10 minutes to that walk every other day or so to make you even healthier.

Now speed it up.

While strolls can be satisfying, a brisk pace while swinging your arms will not only make you healthier, it should make you feel younger.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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January 2024

Elder Law

Medicare Insurance

Selecting the Right Nursing Home A: Choosing the right nursing home for a

Q. Do I have to enroll in Medicare when I turn 65?

A. Technically “no”, but many

should, to ensure that their healthcare needs are covered, and to avoid potential penalties laters.

Individuals who continue working past age 65 often have the option of continuing coverage under their Group Health Plan (GHP). If the employer has more than 20 employees on payroll and the plan offered is “creditable”, then the GHP would pay primary to Medicare. In this scenario, enrolling in Medicare could do more harm than good.

Working with a knowledgeable Medicare Insurance professional will uncover the do’s and don’ts associated with Medicare enrollment. At Health Insurance Shop, our staff will go through your personal scenario and help you decide what

■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 7

Michelle Walters

Executive Vice President steps you need to take to ensure you are enrolled in the most affordable and comprehensive coverage.

Join us for an upcoming Medicare Education session to learn more and get answers to your Medicare Insurance questions. Call us today to RSVP. Our consultation and education services are FREE!

Fort Wayne’s Medicare Enrollment and Education Center

3609 Lake Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 484-7010 www.buyhealthinsurancehere.com

loved one is a significant decision. The goal is to find a facility that ensures the safety, comfort, and well-being of the resident.

Firstly, consider the location. A nursing home close to family members allows for more frequent visits, which is vital for the emotional health of your loved one. Regular visits also enable you to monitor the care being provided.

Secondly, assess the quality of care.

Research each facility’s reputation and track record. Check state health department records for any violations. During visits, observe the interaction between staff and residents and ask about staff-to-resident ratios.

Thirdly, evaluate the amenities and activities offered. Tour the facility to inspect the cleanliness and maintenance and ask about dietary accommodations.

Lastly, consider the financial aspect.

Understand the cost and what is included in the fee. If your loved one has long-term care insurance or qualifies for Medicaid, verify

Troy C. Kiefer

Attorney at Law tkiefer@beersmallers.com whether the facility accepts these payment methods.

Selecting the right nursing home involves thorough research and consideration of location, quality of care, amenities, activities, and financial aspects. It’s essential to choose a place where your loved one will feel safe, cared for, and happy.

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

DISCLAIMER: Troy C. Kiefer 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. Troy C. Kiefer 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. Troy C. Kiefer 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.

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It is important that during your ACP conversations, appoint someone you While spendingyou time with your aging trust to speak on your behalf and that If your aging loved one is in need loved oneis called be onathe lookout person Health Carefor changes of long-term assistance, theyallmay At AIHS we incorporate ACP into of in memory, balance, safety or hygiene.

Representative. ourbe programs. resources & eligibleWe for have our Geriatric These are among the first signs of available to help youManagement walk through this Disability Case declining andormay suggest a There arehealth no “rules” eligibility conversation with your loved ones.

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A.

According to audit statistics, 80% of our readers are under the age of 75. 65% of our readers have a household income of over $50,000 per year. Nearly 40% of these readers earn more than $75,000 per year.

Are households with an income larger than $50,000 your target market? If so, consider advertising in Senior Life! Call or send me an e-mail today!

Betty Foster, Account Executive Serving Fort Wayne and Surrounding Counties 260-494-9321 slallen@the-papers.com

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8 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■

January 2024

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UPDATES & HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA

Fort Wayne Northeast

ages 6 to 10. Children aged 6 and under eat for free.

The delectable fish dinner includes an ample amount of fish, baked or scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, applesauce with roll and butter and choice of homemade dessert.

For questions, call (260) 4326011.

—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 Ki-

Health care, Medicare, and a fixed income

By MICHELLE M. WALTERS, PHR, CHRS, CCWS, CSIS Executive Vice President Health Insurance Shop The golden years shouldn’t be a time of life worrying about medical bills and having to choose between paying a doctor or paying the electric bill. Choosing the type of Medicare Health Insurance coverage is often the first step to avoiding this type of dilemma. I recommend looking at the big picture.

Many Medicare Beneficiaries migrate to Medicare Advantage plans, because some have $0 premium (not including Medicare Part B premium). As they use health care, they pay copays for

most services. Unlike Original Medicare, MA plans provide a maximum out-of-pocket cost so you know what you might have to pay if you have a lot of expenses in a given year.

On the flip side, some beneficiaries choose to pay a monthly premium and enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan along with a stand-alone prescription drug plan to cover their medicines.

Original Medicare qualifies and reprices the claims, then pays its portion. The balance is sent to the MS plan for further payment.

Depending upon the plan, some MS plans require very little payment for health care services in the calendar year.

When trying to decide which

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wanis Club of the John Chapman Foundation. This event also includes a silent auction and Al Parr’s Creole Candy Band. RSVP to Jim Cherry

by Friday, Jan. 5 by calling (260) 637-8184 or jcherryai@ hotmail.com.

Fort Wayne Southwest

makes more sense, I often recommend annualizing the premium and adding in the “worst case” out-of-pocket costs or exposure.

I’m not a fan of gambling, so I would choose the option that presents the least amount of risk to my budget. Either way, there is no wrong answer.

Aging into Medicare or simply want to learn more about the options? Attend one of our Medicare education sessions. Give us a call for dates and to reserve a spot at (260) 484-7010.

LIVING

movie (No title is listed).

1-2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, Mah Jongg.

10:45-11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, blood pressure check.

Noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, Miller’s bingo.

1-2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, ice cream.

6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, Grieving Friends Group.

1-2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, Art with Amanda.

1-2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, euchre tournament ($5 fee).

10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, Exercise with Brittany.

12-1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, Michael Hockaday.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 30, bingo sponsored by Stillwater Hospice.

5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, Garry Jones.

12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, Miller’s craft, games and treats.

—o— The Fort Wayne Sport Club, 3102 Ardmore Ave., will have a fish fry from 4:30-7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 26. Cost is $13 for adults and $7 for children

Apartmement

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/senior-citizens-center.

9-10 a.m. Tuesday and Friday, euchre.

9-10 a.m. Tuesdays, Bible Study with Cheryl.

1-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Bible Study with Bob. 9-10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, line dancing.

9:30-10:30 a.m. every other Wednesday, pixie bingo.

10-11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, chair exercise.

12 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5,

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www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

January 2024

■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 9

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

The Lincoln Highway —

Historic road runs across northern Indiana

By JEFF BLAIR President Indiana Lincoln Highway Association In northern Indiana we have a lot of roads named Lincolnway or Lincoln Way. Ever wonder why? Basically, it dates back to the early 20th century when the first “coast-to-coast rock highway” was named — The Lincoln Highway. This highway actually had its foundation 20+ years earlier, arising from bicycle clubs around the country demanding better roads.

Hoosier Carl Fisher was the idea man who got the concept growing. He brought a dozen of his fellow auto industrialists to Indianapolis in 1912, and together they determined to raise a million dollars and pave a highway from Times Square in New York City all the way to Lincoln Park in San Francisco. Thus was formed an organization called the Lincoln Highway Association.

The first LHA President was Packard Motor Company President Henry Joy, and Carl Fisher served as vice president.

They named the highway the Lincoln Highway in honor of our 16th President and set about to actually name the route, since this was 10-15 years before the federal government’s involvement in road improvement and numbering routes.

On Halloween in 1913, the great Lincoln Highway was formally dedicated by parades, bonfires, fireworks and huge celebrations in virtually every town the route passed through.

If you know your geography or want to follow along on a U.S. map, allow me to outline that original route for you. Starting in Times Square in New York City, a driver was ferried across the Hudson River to New Jersey, then headed southwest a little to Trenton, New Jersey, and across Pennsylvania through Pittsburgh, across the panhandle of West Virginia into Ohio near Canton and across the northern part of the state, entering Indiana east of New Haven. From New Haven the Lincoln Highway route followed old, established indigenous Potawatomi and Miami Indian trails from Fort Wayne to South Bend, and the old Sauk Trail southwest to Valparaiso and on into Illinois.

It crossed through northern Illinois south of Chicago and on to Ames, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska, as it continued west on into Wyoming. Then across the Rockies to Salt Lake City, Utah, on into Nevada, west to Reno, then across the Sierra Nevada range to Sacramento, Calif., and ultimately San Francisco. Over 3,200 miles, through parts of 13 states and over 700 towns. Only about 15% of the route was then paved.

Over the next 15 years, as roads began to get paved and automobile travel became more and more prevalent everywhere, it is easy to point to the foresight of the leadership at the Lincoln Highway Association and the impact they have had on travel, tourism, the auto and RV industries and much more.

Other named routes like the

HISTORIC ROUTE — The Lincoln Highway that traverses northern Indiana can trace its roots back to 1912, when the original Lincoln Highway Association was founded. Photo provided by the Indiana Lincoln Highway Foundation.

Dixie Highway, the Yellowstone Trail, the National Road, the Jefferson Highway and more sprang up and ultimately led the federal government to get involved in paving and numbering our highways. Yet many of our towns still have the Lincolnway designation here in Indiana.

In the next installment of this series, hear more about the Lincoln Highway through Indiana and some of the interesting vistas and venues that one can see along the route. Plus, learn about the second alignment of the route in Indiana!

Charity should make economic sense

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features The gifting season is packaged around the Thanksgivingto-Christmas period but the spirit of giving wraps itself around the whole year.

It’s been reported that more than $500 billion is donated to charity each year. Yet many donors don’t adequately screen the organizations they support.

They should make their charitable choices as carefully as other personal and financial decisions so they’ll get the best bang for their buck. In other words, so the money they donate will be put to the best use and not swallowed by the organization’s administrators.

It’s also the giver’s responsibility to learn how their gifts and bequests will best benefit everyone — the donors, their heirs, the nonprofit community, and those who benefit from the nonprofits’ activities. This takes care and planning that many are unwilling to make.

It’s up to you, before fashioning any donation or legacy, to find out how the transaction and transfer of assets will be handled and who will get them.

Giving as much as you feel

comfortable with is only the beginning. Sidestepping the crowds of crooks constantly circling the unwary is your next step.

Scam and rip-off artists have found a new avenue, the Internet, in addition to regular mail, telephone, and knocking on doors to thrust an open hand at the open-hearted.

Before considering any donation, know your charity. Ask for an annual report and check with your nearest Better Business Bureau. You can also visit with groups listed as recipients of the charitable largesse.

Don’t be fooled by the name or gulled by a sob story, and don’t be pressured into giving.

Make all donations by check, in the name of the charity, not the fund-raiser.

Whenever you’re solicited by phone or in person, call the local police department or chamber of commerce, as well as the proclaimed benefiting organization, to verify the information.

One scheme never ends: after every flood, fire, hurricane, earthquake or other disaster, impostors bombard cyberspace and telephones with requests for aid and assistance.

If you wish, you can discuss

with your tax preparer and attorney how to establish charitable bequests, coordinate charity with lifetime gifts to family members, and keep records to satisfy tax-code requirements as well as structuring charitable life annuities, pooled life income funds, and private foundations.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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

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10 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2024

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Faith

The Brockmanns walk the path of service in Kenya

By BETHANNE BRINK-COX Feature Writer

“We got involved in this because of Kenya. We were asked ‘do you need shoes?’ and we said, ‘of course, we do.’ We need tennis shoes and flip flops, because injuries and infections can be picked up from bare feet on the ground,” Cheryl explained.

As it turned out, she said, “We couldn’t take used shoes to them because of restrictions, even though there is so much need, but we learned how much need there is right here in Indiana. You can get kinda blindsided to that and 80% of what we collect stays right here in our area.”

As of June, they had collected 17,000 pairs of shoes, and give away as much as they get. One day, they delivered 2,367 pairs of shoes in Warsaw — boots, casual shoes and tennis shoes.

It’s not just shoes for school children, though that is always the biggest need, as children outgrow or wear out their shoes continually.

“Older people need shoes, too.

We have 30 different agencies where we take things. I never knew there were so many places that had things they were willing to give when it was

Married 43 years, Jim and Cheryl Brockmann have a relationship that is rooted in their faith and their deep desire to serve others.

“I have been going to Kenya since 2009, and we’ve gone together since 2016 after retirement,” Cheryl said. “When everyone else is going someplace south, where it’s warm, we go to Kenya for two or three months instead.”

Jim always went to Honduras with the Lions Club, though he is not a Lion.

“We had a building and they needed space to store things, so we gave them that and got to be good friends with them.

He liked joining his friends to assist with their eye-care program,” she added. “I went to Kenya, because we had a business and didn’t think we should both be gone at the same time. But once we retired and sold that, we travel together. He fell in love with the people in Kenya just as I had.”

Serving others these days means a serious involvement in Changing Footprints.

Leave Your Legacy with the residents of Saint Anne Communities!

needed,” said Cheryl.

Both retired, the Brockmanns are always busy.

“We’re on the board of the Kenya mission, of course, and we love to garden and work around the house. We are active in our church, Emmanuel Lutheran in New Haven,” Cheryl said.

They have two children and two grown grandchildren.

Sounds like they’ll be able to chase great-grandchildren and fit them with shoes, whenever they arrive.

FAITHFUL SERVANTS — Jim and Cheryl Brockmann are active in their church, Emmanuel Lutheran in New Haven. They also volunteer with Changing Footprints, a nonprofit organization.

Photo provided.

Common sense helps keep you healthy

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features Sniffle season is here, that time of year when we try to defend ourselves from the colds, coughing and running noses that surround us.

It’s become necessary to ponder and plan our day-to-day programs: when and how to get

shopping done, make doctor’s appointments, visit the grandchildren, attend church service, and everything else.

The mantra — wear a mask, wash your hands, maintain distance, stay home if you’re sick — has been accepted as a basis for protecting yourself and your loved ones.

But reports of opening and

The ONLY senior living community in Fort Wayne that offers daily Mass and Sacraments while providing the highest quality of health care.

Invest in honoring the lives of our seniors.

If you would like to give a monetary donation in honor of a loved one or if your business would like to donate, please contact our Fund Development Department at (260) 399-3232 or email miranda.haupert@sacfw.org for our list of needs.

Saint Anne Communities 1900 Randallia Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46805

260-484-5555 • www.sacfw.org

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Come explore how living at Golden Years can free you from the headaches of home maintenance. Your time is valuable and better spent doing all the fun things you’ve always wanted to do!

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JOIN US FOR ONE OF OUR OPEN HOUSES Thursdays, January 11, 18 & 25 • 2-4 p.m.

An affiliate of Greencroft Communities

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(Entrance Off Parent Road)

260-749-6725| www.greencroft.org/golden | www.greencroft.org/golden years | 8300 Maysville Wayne, IN 46815 260-749-6725 years | 8300 Maysville Rd.,Rd., FortFort Wayne, IN 46815

closing businesses, recurring COVID-19 attacks, and conflicting analyses and announcements by an array of politicians, medical experts and television talking heads have only added to the confusion that feeds indecision on what to do.

Oldsters are under a larger shadow because, just for starters, they are more vulnerable to the array of viruses than the younger population.

Add to that the disabilities that grow as one ages: arthritis, joint and organ inflammation, emphysema, and autoimmune diseases that attack any and all parts of the body.

Amidst all this chatter is the ongoing resistance to medical defenses on offer. Rightly or wrongly, only 30 percent of the population gets a flu shot each year.

All this clamor makes it difficult to hear what you’ve told yourself to do to stay healthy.

Start with the basics.

Get enough sleep. Eight hours of sleep has long been recognized and recommended as the requisite length of time you should log daily.

Eat right. Plenty of fruit and vegetables, as fresh as possible, should be part of your diet.

Stay active. A 10 or 15 minute daily walk works wonders.

Just walk around the block. It’s not only healthy, you’ll get you to know your neighbors. You might get to enjoy it and decide to do it twice a day — before and after noon.

Snow birds flock to climatecomfortable southern states stretching from Florida to California and even farther south into Mexico and the Caribbean to escape the frigid winter.

As with anything involving your health and well-being, always discuss your problems and plans with your family doctor.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

January 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 11

‘70s Flashback —

‘Love Story’ ruined Erich Segal “Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.” — Aesop’s Fables In 1958, Erich Segal graduated from Harvard University as both the class poet and a Latin salutatoBy RANDAL rian. He C. HILL earned a doctorate in comparative literature from Harvard and began lecturing at Yale as a classics professor.

He wrote scholarly works on Plato and Plautus, and lecture halls were always packed for his talks. One of his students, future Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau, once pronounced Segal’s presentations “electrifying.”

But Erich also nurtured an obvious desire to be considered a hip guy as well as an erudite scholar. Through some contacts on Broadway, he became a co-writer of the animated Beatles feature “Yellow Sub-

marine.” (And what could be hipper than being involved with the Fab Four?)

Thus, Segal was able to enjoy being both a respected university professor and a pop-culture icon. “Sometimes I amaze even myself,” he boasted to film critic Roger Ebert. “I blow the minds of these freshmen who come to take a Greek tragedy class, and the professor is the same guy who wrote “Yellow Submarine”!

Segal then turned to writing screenplays on the side and came up with “Love Story,” which was released as a bestselling 131-page novella on Valentine’s Day 1970 before it became a box-office smash film at Christmastime.

The primary “Love Story” characters— two star-crossed lovers — were wealthy pre-law Harvard student Oliver (Ryan O’Neal) and Jenny (Ali McGraw), a baker’s daughter who studies music at Radcliffe and calls herself “a social zero.”

Eventually they fall in love and marry, only to have Jenny fall ill with leukemia.

There’s a key line in the story that is now iconic in our

culture: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Ali McGraw later admitted she didn’t know what that line meant at the time but now has her own definition: “Saying sorry isn’t what it’s about. It’s about really feeling badly for the hurt … and then absolutely trying never to do it again.”

For a while, Erich Segal was riding high. “I lucked out, that’s what happened,” he explained to Ebert. “My book came out just as the world was turning from cynicism to romance.”

But Segal eventually acknowledged his incredible, head-spinning success unleashed “egotism bordering on megalomania,” and for that he would pay a hefty price. Also, despite the overwhelming popularity of Segal’s creation, critics often dismissed “Love Story” as a sentimental tearjerker —shallow, melodramatic and ultimately disposable.

He later claimed the book — a phenomenon among the hoi polloi— “totally ruined me.” In 1972, he was denied tenure at Yale, meaning he would not be guaranteed

ERICH SEGAL a full-time professorship until retirement. Segal was devastated at the rejection, although Yale never cited his mainstream popularity as the reason they denied him becoming a permanent campus fixture.

Perhaps Garry Trudeau explained it best: “You can’t dress up in tight leather pants to chat with starlets on ‘Johnny Carson’ Friday night and expect to be taken seriously in a classroom Monday morning.”

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12 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2024

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Dissing the discount coupons Where should we eat? That’s the question American families debate every weekend. Do you feel like Chinese?

How long IN A will the wait NUTSHELL be? And, can

By DICK Uncle Bob fit WOLFSIE into a booth?

This week, I didn’t care about any of this. I just wanted to go someplace where we could use one of those restaurant coupons we get in the mail—or in zoo books, entertainment books or phone books.

Not because I am cheap. Okay,

that’s part of it, but mainly because for the first time I wanted to feel like I actually saved money using one of these offers. Most of the coupons just sit in the kitchen drawer. I either forget them when we leave, or they’re for a restaurant 15 miles from the house and it hardly seems worth the effort for a free Bloomin’ Onion.

Typically, coupons give you several options, requiring some crafty figuring in order to know how to most efficiently use them, which is why we brought along our son who has a year of college calculus under his belt.

“It looks to me,” began my wife, eyeing at the coupons, “that we can get a free tavern burger as long as someone else also orders a burger.”

“Great,” I said. “Brett and I will each have a burger.”

“Hold it, Dad. I don’t want a burger. I eat them every day at school. I thought you didn’t want me to eat so much red meat?”

“Look, we just have to work together as a family. Okay, Mary Ellen, how about this? If one of us gets an Asian salad, the other gets a free salad, as long the second salad is the same or a lesser value. Which salad do you want?”

“I don’t like the salads here. I want the fish dinner.”

“You can’t have a fish dinner.

There’s no coupon for a fish dinner.”

“Why are we eating out if we can’t get something we like?”

“Because once, just once, I want to show these restaurants that I am not a fool. They are not

going to snare me into their trap.

We will save money. I don’t care if we hate every morsel.”

“Hey, Dad, if mom gets the $14.95 fish dinner, this coupon says we get one to die for brownie. Let’s do that.”

“No, that’s exactly what they want us to do. That won’t save us a penny, because we never order dessert.”

“Okay, Dad. Here’s a coupon for a fried shrimp appetizer.

But you have to order the John Wayne sirloin for $19.95.”

“Hey, that’s a great idea.

Whattya think, Mary Ellen?”

I sensed growing dissension around the table.

“Here, Dick. This part of the coupon says we can get $10 off the check if we spend at least $50. Then we can order what we

want. And what a concept — you know, enjoying what you eat.”

“No, that would make the final bill $40, and I want to keep dinner under 30.”

“Why?” “I have no idea. It’s just a goal I set for myself, okay?”

Twenty minutes later, the waitress finally dared approach.

“We’ll have two spinach salads, of which one is free. And a black and blue burger for my son, who was a consultant on this project.”

“You know, Dick,” said Mary Ellen. “I changed my mind. I think I’ll have the ribs.”

The bill was $42. I didn’t speak to Mary Ellen the rest of the evening. But I can’t blame the expensive dinner on her. The coupons had all expired.

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January 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 13

Make 2024 an epic year for your health From My Table To Yours

By Cat Wilson Are you getting through the holidays by saying to yourself that “on Jan. 2 I’m going to start taking control of my health and get back on track with what I’m eating?”

Good, glad to hear it; we all need to take control after

the holidays.

Let’s not get crazy and think you can do it all on day one because as we know New Year resolutions tend to go by the wayside in February and that is not what we want.

When I say “‘look for small sustainable changes” you must understand that it does not mean french fries, cokes and hot fudge sundaes are okay for now as long as you give up cake.

Whether you are 45 or 85 right now, eating healthfully will make a positive change to your body. Even if you feel well, it doesn’t mean things are going well inside.

A cheeseburger and tater

tots can make you feel good, but you know darn well they aren’t the healthiest choices you can make and in order to be healthy, you need the healthy choices 95% of the time.

Ultra-processed food are 50% of dietary intake in the U.S. which means 50% of food intake is junk.

Let’s start right there — get rid of the ultra-processed foods. No drive-through meals or lunch meat for starters.

If you make chicken, use a moist cooking method instead of frying or broiling.

Sauté it in water or broth or bake it. Don’t gasp when I say reduce meat intake to

one meal a day. It’s bad on the arteries, it’s inflammatory, and it’s not raised as it once was, but the majority comes from concentrated animal feeding operations.

Reducing or eliminating meat should be replaced with whole-foods, not junk foods.

Plan it out: eating well takes planning. Stock up on items that you can use in multiple ways. Look to fill your meals with • Greens Beans.

• Fruit.

• Vegetables.

• Whole grains.

Your taste buds change when you continue to eat healthfully, seriously, they do. You will crave the fresh

tastes and it will be fun to concoct meals. If it’s a whole food, eat it. A goal would be to eat 200 different foods a week. That sounds difficult but think about a salad or home-made vegetable soup; I throw everything into those.

Make your plan to get rid of animal foods, eggs and dairy in 2024 and replace them with nutritious foods that reduce the cycle of symptoms, doctors, pills so you can enjoy the years ahead.

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

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

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14 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2024

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Unveiling a new hope: The power of digital dentures over traditional methods At Dupont Family Dentistry in Fort Wayne, a groundbreaking advancement is unfolding, and it’s not just about teeth.

It’s about transforming lives through digital dentures. This revolutionary approach is not merely a technical leap but a community service initiative, aiming to educate AND bring new hope to denture-wearers.

Traditionally, the road to obtaining dentures has been paved with multiple appointments, trial fittings, and a sense of uncertainty with the final result. By utilizing digital impressions and 3-D printing technology, digital dentures ensure a superior level of precision for the denture fit and function.

Digital dentures are not only comfortable, but they have an unparalleled natural aesthetic, which the patient can custom pick. The combination of digital precision and human touch sets digital dentures apart in creating life-like smiles.

The technology utilized allows the process to be stream-

lined to two to six appointments, saving the patient’s time, which can be particularly impactful for those with mobility constraints. This means patients can receive their new dentures within one to six weeks.

At the heart of digital dentures lies Dupont Family Dentistry’s mission for new hope for smiles, with a belief that everyone deserves a smile they are proud of. The initiative aims to empower individuals with knowledge about a totally new denture result and experience.

Dupont Family Dentistry will be hosting an upcoming community seminar Saturday, Feb. 10. This is an open invitation to join this education movement, providing a new hope for smiles and embarking on a journey toward improved oral health and well being. Community members are encouraged to call (260) 489-1100 and secure their spot by Jan. 31, 2024. The event will be RSVP only.

NEW TECHNOLOGY — Dupont Family Dentistry is using new technology by providing digital dentures. Shown is Tierni Brenner, Laboratory Technician at Dupont Family Dentistry, utilizing in-office technology to design a custom made digital denture. Photo provided by Dupont Family Dentistry.

Dashing through the snow – no, no

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features “Wintertime, and the driving gets queasy,” to give new lyrics to a long-time favorite and focus attention on what’s just down the road.

While the next few months embrace such enjoyable activities as the holiday season and tropical getaways, they also harbor the annual hazardous

driving season.

It even affects no-snow portions of the land as snowbirds clog the highways and byways in their scramble for a place under the warm sun. Stay-athome recreation seekers add to their odds of motor mishaps after commuting to work all week and picking up their weekend groceries by heading to the slopes to ski, snowboard and snowmobile over the

latest snowfall.

So it’s time to sit back and go over your wintertime road rules as you sip your morning coffee.

Wherever you live, always check the weather forecast before getting behind the wheel of your car. Sandstorms and monsoons can make driving in warm climates just as treacherous as blizzards and black ice in snow country.

If you haven’t already, take your auto in for its annual checkup. Have all belts and fluids topped off. Install winter tires and make sure their air pressure and tread are up to par.

Toss a blanket and warm hat or cap in the back seat and check your disaster kit to make sure it has a flashlight and batteries, first-aid kit, candle and matches, gloves and

snacks. Tuck a windshield ice scraper and snow brush under the front seat. Check the trunk to see if you have battery jumper cables and road flares.

A pair of tire chains might also be handy along with a short shovel.

During the winter, don’t let your fuel level drop below half a tankful. And don’t venture out when the weather’s bad.

When you do head for a drive, brush and scrape off all ice and snow from the windshield, windows, mirrors, hood, bumpers, cameras and any other sensors on the vehicle.

Let the engine run a few moments before backing out of the driveway.

Take it easy. Avoid quick stops and sudden turns that can slip/slide you into trouble.

Keep social distancing in mind and give traffic around

you plenty of room.

If you’ve grown up in this type of weather, remind yourself how to relax during a skid on icy roads – take your foot off the gas and don’t slam on the brakes. Remember that, if the back end fishtails, steer into the direction of the skid. Then, after some slowing down, you pump the brakes gently to gain control.

Staying home is the healthiest way to avoid a driving disaster during winter cold, but using your head can help make a trip through the snow a more pleasant experience.

Those of you in the tropical climes, check your battery life, air conditioner, windshield wipers, tire pressure and all other rubber surfaces because these all suffer the most under the baking sun.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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January 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 15

High flyers pay high flying fares

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features Covering the airline industry as a business writer for a daily newspaper and then working for an airline company before opening my own company taught me one thing: Flying is not and never has been considered fun by the airline folk. All you are is an empty seat if you aren’t in their airplane.

Flying is not their full-time job. Getting you to fill one of their seats — marketing — is their full-time job.

Pricing is their major tool.

They’ve gone all out to make it as attractive as possible.

This is nothing new. A seat is a commodity and prices rise and fall with demand. Demand tightens up as boarding time approaches. A seat selling for $300 when booked on the internet book a couple of weeks ahead of time can be bumped up to $600 or $700 at boarding time after having dropped to $89 just 24 hours before the plane’s scheduled departure.

Decades ago, a writer for a major national magazine spoke to every passenger aboard a household name airline and discovered there were more than 100 different fares paid by his fellow flyers.

Today’s airlines boast about being more than economical than ever. That’s because they can advertise an attractive fare that fills the seat but doesn’t include all the ancillary fees – service charges, luggage charges, carry-on charges, seat-selection charges and on-and-on charges.

Self-described “discount” airlines proclaim dirt cheap fares to deliver you to faraway places. Your dreams-

cape crumbles to reality when you learn how much it costs to take a bag with you. The charge you see is usually what your seat costs when you sit in it without anything with you — no bags, no pets, no food and in a seat they give you, not one you picked.

A British website that listed several examples of fares and final price differences showed a flight advertising a fare of slightly more than $20 was loaded with hidden costs of just over $160.

An airline may offer a cheap fare but, to get it, you have to join their travelers club, which has an annual fee and probably an up-front enrollment charge.

There’s an item called carrier-interface fee. This reportedly covers all the technology and interface connection used to book your flight online. You can avoid this by buying your ticket at the airport, they report.

Have we mentioned the hidden airport fee? And taxes and security charges? Don’t think working with airline personnel will save you money because there’ll be an agent fee slipped into the total.

Airline marketers sales-talk their way through complaints by proclaiming the flying public likes to see those lower fares. And that competitive juices force airlines to keep their fares low. But they say nothing about keeping their fees low, such as escalating charges for seat selection and carry-on luggage and on and on. Those fees skyrocket if you book an overseas trip.

Be aware that the final cost of a flight offered by the airplane company can be a much as 300% higher than the lowballed fare listed.

Lynn Allegret

Retired Senior Life Sales Representative Lynn Allegret, 74, Syracuse, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, at Ascension Borgess in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Lynn was born on July 12, 1949, to Charles and Doris Hackley. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, honesty and a vibrant spirit that will be cherished by all who knew her.

On Sept. 25, 1993, Lynn married James W. Allegret. The pair had been high school sweethearts but re-connected 22 years later, sharing 30 years together before her passing. Jim, as most know him, survives at home.

Lynn dedicated her life to helping others through her various roles in the Syracuse community. For 20 years, she worked as a dental hygienist. Her gentle touch and warm demeanor brought comfort to those under her care.

Following her tenure as a dental hygienist, Lynn took on the responsibility of running the BMV in Syracuse until its closure. Lynn’s dedication to community continued as she joined The Papers Inc., where she was a sales representative for Senior Life for more than 25 years. She

LYNN ALLEGRET loved her position there and built many lasting relationships with her customers and coworkers.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Lynn had a deep love for gardening and flowers. She spent countless hours tending to her garden, creating an oasis of beauty that never failed to impress visitors. Her green thumb was admired by all who saw her flourishing blooms.

But perhaps what defined Lynn most was her ever-present smile. Her infectious joy brightened the lives of everyone she encountered. Even in challenging times, Lynn’s optimistic spirit prevailed, inspiring hope in those around her. She had an uncanny ability to lift spirits with just a kind word or gesture.

Lynn was known for being trustworthy, kindhearted, jovial, loyal, honest and straightforward. She never hesitated to tell it like

it is, yet she did so with grace and consideration.

Her genuine nature made her a confidante and a source of wisdom for many. No one knew this better than her beloved grandchildren with whom she shared a special bond; she was ever-present in their lives and rarely missed a school program or sporting event.

Lynn is survived by her husband, James Allegret; children, Erin (Amondo) Hopkins and James A. Allegret; grandchildren, Jordan Hopkins, Olivia Hopkins, Skylar Hopkins, James H. Allegret, Otto Allegret and Wesley Allegret. In addition, she is survived by a nephew, James (Becky) Lash; and three great-nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Denise Lash; and nephew, David Lash.

Titus Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, is entrusted with the care of Lynn and the family. Visitation was held from 3-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at the funeral home. A life celebration funeral took place the following day beginning at 11 a.m.

Visitors gathered for one hour prior at the funeral home.

Memorial gifts in honor of Lynn may be given to New Hope Pet Rescue and Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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16 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2024

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Travel

Crawfordsville Rotary Jail never had an escape Crawfordsville has a rotary jail.

No, it’s not a place for delinquent Rotary Club members.

It actually housed prisoners from GREAT 1882 to 1973 ESCAPES and has the Text and Photos distinction

By ROD KING of never allowing an escape.

It’s unique to say the least. It

was the first of only 18 constructed by Haugh Ketchum Company of Indianapolis and is the only one still operable. The jail, which was basically a kit, was hauled in and assembled on site. It is a two-story, 32-ton steel structure built within the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office with eight pie-shaped cells on each level around a single shaft that can be turned by a hand crank. When turning, the cells rotate to a single opening where a prisoner can enter or leave.

Prisoners were marched right Continued on page 17

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CRIMES —Shown are poster lists of crimes which brought prisoners into the rotary jail. Most were for drunk and disorderly and only involved a day or two stay.

OPENED IN 1882 — Haugh Ketchum Company of Indianapolis began construction of the rotary jail in the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in 1881, and it was open for business the following year. It was closed in 1973, converted to a museum in 1975, and placed on the National Register of Historic Places at the same time.

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ROTARY JAIL — Prisoners were brought into the rotary jail through the main entrance to the Montgomery County Sherriff’s Office and home. The jail, which was basically a kit that was assembled on site, required only one officer to supervise the cell block and therefore saved the county money.

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MEAL TIME — The sheriff’s wife not only fed her family, but the prisoners as well. She’s shown here sliding food into the cell block.

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January 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 17

Travel

Crawfordsville Rotary Continued from page 16

through the main house where the sheriff and his family lived and into the rotating jail. The sheriff’s wife was in charge of providing meals for the prisoners. Most of the prisoners were there for being drunk and disorderly; the average stay was generally just a day or two. The longest was a year.

With the county hurting for funds in the early 1800s, it was determined that this particular design could not only hold prisoners securely, but save money. The savings came from only having to employ one jailer to watch the entire cell block.

In the early 1930s, investigators for the Indiana State Board of Charities noted the natural light and ventilation were poor and the cells were unsanitary. In addition, the jail had a habit of trapping prisoner’s limbs when turning, causing numerous broken arms because the jailer operating the crank could not see all the cells. Some modifications were made to satisfy the changing codes over the next few decades.

The structure was finally condemned and ordered closed in 1967, with final closure happening in 1973. The rotary jail served Montgomery County for 91 years.

The jail and sheriff’s office/ living quarters were converted into a museum in 1975 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places the same year. Two executions were carried out behind

the jail in 1885 and 1886, respectively. Both men were convicted of murder and were hanged.

For information about hours of operation and admission fees, check out the website at rotaryjailmuseum.org or call

(765) 362-5222.

U.S. 231 runs right into Crawfordsville and turns into Washington Street. The destination, the Rotary Jail Museum, is located on the west side of the street at 125 N. Washington St.

CENTRAL HUB — A large steel post supports the twolevel rotary jail.

Prisoners sometimes suffered broken arms when trapped as the jail was being rotated to the main entrance door. Unfortunately, the officer could not see all he cells from his post at the crank.

CATWALK — A catwalk was added in the 1930s for safety reasons after the State Board of Charities declared the facility below standard.

Passports and other needs for travel

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features Another layer has just been added to the documentation needed to travel to Europe.

With the arrival of 2024, U.S. passport holders traveling to the Continent must apply for authorization through the European Travel Information and Authorization System before heading off to the airport.

This procedure is similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization that applies to foreign visitors planning to travel here under the Visa Waiver Program.

The VSP is administered by the Department of Homeland Security and enables eligible citizens or nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

The European process is an electronic travel authorization linked to a traveler’s passport. It grants short-term entry to European countries and is valid for up to three years or until your passport expires.

There are many reasons

why someone may need a new passport. Whether it’s because your last one was damaged or it was expired, you’ll want to have a valid passport before you travel. And you’ll need one if you you’re traveling out of the country.

Applying for a passport can feel a little heavy on the bureaucracy thanks to all the documents and forms you need. And once you’ve applied, the wait time to get it may be longer than expected.

According to the U.S. Department of State, you should apply in person if you are applying for your first passport, applying for your child who is under 16, your previous passport was issued when you were under 16, your previous passport was lost, stolen or damaged, or your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago.

If none of the above apply, you may be able to get a new passport by mail. You are eligible to renew by mail if your most recent passport is not damaged and can submitted with your application, if it was never reported lost or stolen, was issued in the last 15 years when you were 16 or older and in your

DOUBLE DECKER — The 32-ton, steel rotary jail has eight, piecurrent name, although you shaped cells on two levels. An officer could turn the cell block to the can present a document such single door opening to bring in or remove a prisoner. No one ever as a marriage certificate or escaped in its 91 years of operation. divorce papers as evidence of a legal name change.

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Including Visit to Historic Lambeau Field Feb. 15-23, 2025 ......... Manatees, Mermaids & Marine Life Expedited processing time is seven to nine weeks for Crystal River and St. Augustine, FL 10 Seats Left June passport applications applied27-30, 2022………..Mississippi Riverboat Cruise July 10-17, 2025 ............ Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal & on or after March 24. The pro1000 Islands cessing time does not include 10, 2022…….….Nova Scotia, Canada mailing time. It can July take up29 – August Steve and Sheila Magsamen, Tour Managers to two weeks from your apDecatur & Fort Wayne Departures plication day for your passport 260-432-8488 Sept.

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Sept. 26 – Oct. 3, 2022……….

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18 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2024

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The Clipper and its Pacific stepping stones

By TOM MORROW Mature Life Features During the 1930s and into the 1940s, Pan American Airways operated a luxury seaplane flight service across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay’s Treasure Island to Hong Kong and other Asian destinations.

To accomplish this farreaching feat, refueling stops were paramount. The solution was the establishment of four “Stepping Stones” in the middle of the ocean: Hawaii, the tiny atolls of Midway and Wake, and the island of Guam.

Each of these refueling stops was more than 1,000 miles apart.

The “stones” route began at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay aboard Pan American Clippers’ luxurious fourengine seaplanes. The huge aircraft would fly to Honolulu, then on to Midway and then Wake, and finally to Guam before reaching such Far East destinations as Manila, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The stretches from Honolulu to Midway and to Wake were critical because navigation had to be precise to find those specks of coral in the middle of the Pacific.

Both Midway and Wake are little more than a mile long, a half-mile wide and just barely above sea level — just enough for a runway and a small harbor where the Clippers landed.

For its first flights, Pan American used the Martin M-130 flying boat that was equipped with state-of-the-art navigation systems and had a range of 3,200 miles as it flew along the eastern coasts

of Central and South America.

The interior was furnished like a hotel, with broad armchairs and full meal service. It could carry as many as 52 passengers.

On Nov. 22, 1935, the airline began mail service across the Pacific. Airline founder Juan Trippe dubbed the first Pacific Pan Am aircraft the China Clipper but had landing rights only in the British colony of Hong Kong.

As many fliers and mariners have discovered, the Pacific can be a lonely and deadly stretch of water if you don’t know what you’re doing navigation-wise. Today’s modern jetliners make dozens of computer-guided flights from the West coasts of North and South America traveling 12- to 17-hour non-stop flights to Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and China — all without landing to refuel.

Pan Am founder Trippe was the major driving force behind the development of the Clipper service in both the Pacific and Atlantic. In need of a modern amphibious plane, Trippe turned to aviation designer Igor Sikorsky. The Russian genius produced two planes for Pan American, the S-40 and the S-42, the first four-engine seaplanes. The former could carry 50 passengers in relative comfort and had a range of nearly 1,000 miles. The S-42 had a range three times the S-40, and was the world’s first big luxury airliner. In 1931, after taking delivery of his first seaplane, Trippe named the aircraft American Clipper in tribute to the tea trade clipper

BOEING 314 — The grandest of the successful flying boats was the Boeing 314, nicknamed the Yankee Clipper. Pan Am used them between 1941 and ‘46. It had nearly the wingspan of a modern-day Boeing 747, and it could carry 70 people more than 4,000 miles. Photo provided by Tom Morrow. ships of the 1860s, the fastest sailing ships of their day.

Diplomatic problems with both the Soviet Union and Japan forced Trippe to consider alternative routes across the Pacific. The most obvious way was to go straight across from California to Hawaii, and then to Midway and Wake atolls.

From those coral outcroppings the huge seaplanes could fly to Guam and on to the Philippines and various destinations along the Chinese coast. Despite only lukewarm interest from the U.S. Postal Service, Trippe pressed ahead with his trans-Pacific plans. In 1935, Pan American built airfields and anchorages on Midway, Wake, and Guam, running test flights across the Pacific using the planned island-hopping route.

In October 1936, it inaugurated its first Pacific passenger flights by carrying nine travelers across the world’s largest ocean. Each passenger paid more than $1,400, an astronomical sum at that time for the round trip from San Francisco to Manila. Compare

that price to the cost for today’s adventure travelers, who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for going into space or to the depths of the ocean.

Clipper flights became a dependable and elegant service.

On regular trips across the Pacific, most of the cargo was mail, leaving room for usually eight to 10 passengers who could stretch out in three large compartments, including a lounge/dining salon. During the 18-to-20-hour trip from San Francisco to Hawaii, passengers could enjoy cocktails in the lounge and formal evening meals. Although uncomfortable compared to currentday standards, passengers of the 30s and 40s didn’t seem bothered by the loud engine noise during the total flight time of some 60 hours spread over five days. So popular were the Pan Am Clipper flying boats that even Hollywood gave praise with a movie titled China Clipper starring Humphrey Bogart.

Along the Atlantic and Caribbean coasts, Pan Am flew the Martin M-130, which had a 3,000-mile range and could carry 40 people. The grandest of the successful flying boats

was the Boeing 314, nicknamed the Yankee Clipper.

Pan Am used them between 1941 and ‘46. It had nearly the wingspan of a modern day Boeing 747, and it could carry 70 people more than 4,000 miles.

After a vicious battle in the opening days of World War II, Wake Island fell to the Japanese, who took prisoners of a surviving detachment of U.S. Marines and a small crew of civilian construction workers. The Americans remained prisoners until the end of the war. That Japanese invasion canceled the Clipper flights beyond Hawaii.

Through World War II, Pan American operated scaled-down Clipper services over both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, but the end of the war signaled the beginning of a new flying era. Seaplanes were being replaced by new four-engine land planes that could fly into a multitude of new modern airstrips. The great seaplanes faded away. To this day, Hawaii and Guam continue as popular Pacific destinations. Midway and Wake serve as nature preserves as well as emergency airstrips.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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January 2024 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 19

Finance

Save your place in line with mobile check-in express

By MONA HARTER District Manager, South Bend Social Security Office Our Mobile Check-In Express feature makes it easier to check in if you must visit a Social Security office.

To use Mobile Check-In Ex-

press, scan the QR code located at your local Social Security office. This will allow you to check in for: • Scheduled and non-scheduled appointments.

• Services — including requesting a replacement Social Security card, a benefit verification letter, proof of income,

and more.

For Mobile Check-In Express to work, you must be at the Social Security office and have location services on. You should also make sure you’re using the latest version of your internet browser. The service is most compatible with Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and

Firefox. You’ll also want to: • Ensure you are in the office when your ticket number is called.

• Enable your mobile notifications. This will: Allow you to receive your electronic ticket — so you know your place in line.

Alert you when we’re ready

to help you.

Provide you with your interview location information.

Invite you to participate in our feedback survey.

We encourage you to use Mobile Check-In Express for all office visits. Please share this information with those who may need it.

AI joins the scammers to bilk citizens

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features Most everyone has heard about AI by now but, like the weather, very few people are doing anything about it.

Artificial intelligence is a boon to our universe, we’re told, because it will take over many of the onerous chores that chew up much of our waking hours.

It’s a threat to civilization, we’re also told, because it will grow more intelligent than us and then wipe us out.

Whatever view becomes the future, AI is a welcome gift to scammers who bilk Americans out of billions of dollars every year. Figures range from $6 billion to $10 billion to whoknows-how-many-gazillion dollars ripped off from victims of a bushelful of telephone and online schemes.

AI adds a weapon to the dark cloud of criminals hovering over us. Hackers can break into our phone and internet connections to glean personal profile information and voice samples.

This harvest is then turned

against us.

It can take a small voice sample and simulate a real person, such as the grandchild calling a grandparent asking for help that may be bail money to get him out of jail or money for a lost plane ticket to get her back home. AI not only replicates the voice but has collected enough information to answer all the questions it may be asked to verify the caller’s identity.

AI can also generate realistic images that the caller can produce in a face-to-face call.

This calls for extra precaution — maybe even a bit of paranoia and bad manners — to protect yourself. Recipients of such calls should be highly suspicious of any callers asking for money quickly. It might be from someone you’ve met recently in an online dating service, a friend with a can’t-lose investment opportunity or any of the above. Slow down the pace, tell them you’re in the middle of something and have to call them back. Ask them where they are and get their number.

Don’t use that number. But if,

for example,the caller claims to be stranded, or in jail in Singapore, call the Singapore police, explain the situation and ask them to check out that number.

If it’s a scam, that should be the end of the story.

The important thing to do is not be stampeded into action.

And if the caller asks you to keep things a secret, that’s also a signal that it’s a scam.

Don’t let the sound of the voice fool you. AI is an excellent — and knowledgeable — mime.

were still mobile and in relatively good health.

After much discussion and deliberation, they agreed that the wife would take her money in a lump sum and her husband would leave his, which would total much more — she’d been out of the work force for a couple of decades raising children — and offered a more substantial monthly income.

The couple then contacted a financial advisor to see what opportunities were available for investing her pension check while still having it available for travel or medical expenses. They had set aside a sizable kitty over the years in bank certificates of deposit to cover day-to-day expenses until they could draw Social Secu-

rity benefits. The pension check was invested and grew into a sturdy leg of their fiscal plan.

Every facet of their financial lives had been probed and programmed.

Except for one drastic occurrence.

Shortly after the husband quit working, a couple of deaths in the families that owned the controlling interest in his former company suddenly made it easy prey for a takeover. This resulted in a split in ownership/management philosophy. After a rapid series of internal battles, the company was sold.

The new owners divvied it up into a handful of several divisions and sold each piece by piece.

And through all this, the

original company pension was shredded, defunded and disappeared.

The golden years planned by the couple were turned to trash. Fortunately, family members moved in quickly to help the couple until they could sell their home and reorganize their lives, which no longer allowed for many of the comforts anticipated during their working years.

In hindsight, they would have been much better off, even if his monthly pension checks remained reality, by taking his payment in a lump sum and investing it along with his wife’s.

This story is not to be taken as an endorsement of taking out retirement income in lump

sum. It does shine light on one of the perils of walking off the job with such an enticing check.

A MetLife study revealed that one out of every five retirees who did leave the job with a lump sum retirement payment spent it all in less than six years. More than one-third of retirees who took a lump sum worried that the money might run out.

It might make sense to take your retirement pay with you if your company is facing stiff competition, experiencing financial problems or has unstable management.

Or if you don’t need the money.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Don’t choke on pension lump sum

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features A neighborhood couple lived through a lesson for all of us when the topic of pensions arises.

The question focused on whether they — or anyone else — should take their pension cash with them when they retire or leave it with the company so they can receive monthly payments during their senior years.

First of all, they worked for different companies but had long planned to retire well before the traditional 65-yearsof-age so they could travel and enjoy life and living while they

Everything changes, sometimes too fast

By KURT NESS Broker/Co-Owner, Auctioneer Ness Bros. Realtors and Auctioneers

Unpleasant situations in life can either make you better or work against you. Being a company that has been in business for three generations, we have experienced a lot of challenges and opportunities.

When working in our senior relocation department, what we envisioned and what we have now is considerably different.

Ness Bros. Senior Relocation Services now offers a one-stop shop where we literally do all the work. Clients can sit in their easy chair and just answer key questions; we do all the rest.

This includes the following with client’s personal property: determining what to take, give away, purge or sell, packing items for moving, creating a calendar of events and a timeline for their journey in downsizing.

Moving a client into their new home and making sure their list of to-do’s get completed. Not just the big things but also the little things, such as change of address, re-keying the new home, help with getting utilities transferred, internet and Wi-Fi set up, re-setting garage door opener code, even down to finding out when trash pick-up days are and also notifying their friends and family of their new address.

Until a person walks down

this path, very few know all the steps in the process. Just buying and selling their home, there are over 100 steps a Realtor does. It seems like every few months, we’re revising and adding something new to this list for our clients. What was normal five or 10 years ago may not apply today. Who would have thought you could order an item online Saturday morning and have it delivered to your door step Sunday?

Thinking of moving or downsizing? Give us a call at (260) 459-3911 or visit our office, located at 3344 Mallard Cove Lane in Fort Wayne; In Huntington, call (260) 359-3911 or stop in at 519 N. Jefferson St. Our senior relocation department is here to help you.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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

20 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2024

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