FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM THE PAST
— Carol Adams shows off the celebrity photo wall of famous people from the past. Some of the pictures came from residents who had well-known family members, and written explanations were added to the exhibit.
A YOUNGER SELF
Karen Waite points to a photo of her 4-year-old self that is part of the Memory Lane display at Ryker Reserve apartments.
By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer
Residents of a local apartment building are getting a rare chance to walk down memory lane, literally. Staff of the facility have created an extensive exhibit called “Memory Lane.”
“Ryker Reserve is a senior apartment building managed by New Generation Management, owned by the Larry and Edward Keller families,” said Carol Schell, who worked on the project together with Carol Adams, also with Ryker. “The building is a secure/ locked building so not open to the public. Our residents, their friends and families have enjoyed the display. One resident’s granddaughter had
her graduation party in our community room recently, and the teens loved wandering through and discussing items in the display.”
A small, plastic children’s record player in pink is on display, inviting people to select a plastic disc, which are real 45s, and to “Enjoy playing the records.”
A wall of photos of people from the past, shows the clothing and hairstyles. A vintage Barbie doll is mounted on a stand, and a doll in a swirl skirt decorated with a poodle is wearing saddle shoes as she rides a toy rocking horse.
“Carol Adams worked and shopped with me to bring it all into being,” Schell said. “I was inspired by a puzzle, which is now part of the display. The
puzzle is of a party in a young preteen girl’s bedroom in the 1950s. I was born in 1950 so many of the items stirred up memories. First came the counter display, which replaced the Christmas display that was our first display in the 10 years Ryker has been open.” They finished in late March and will dismantle their work to set up their annual Christmas display.
“We hung the puzzles we had worked,” Schell continued.
“One is of former presidents playing cards and the third is an attic filled with vintage items. We have a tray of toys in the ‘boy’s bedroom’ that are available to play with. Other residents have added some items to the display from their Continued on page 2
By ROD KING Feature Writer
When Greg Bedford became commander of the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum in 2017, it couldn’t even be considered a “work in progress.”
“In fact,” he said, “there hadn’t been any progress here since I first saw it in 2006. It was basically 40 acres of knee-high grass and weeds. A Vietnam War Monument, which had been erected in 1990s, was overgrown, and there were a scattering of monuments representing other conflicts.”
There was also a small, woefully inadequate collection of artifacts that served as a museum. That was it.
“They did, however, have a mower and I started cutting the growth. The neighbor lady, Karen Goodwin, pitched in, a few volunteers showed up and things started to move,” Bedford said.
At the time, Bedford was head of the veterans’ committee at General Motors, where he has worked for the past 26 years.
“We were looking for a good community project to support and decided on the Veterans National Memorial,” he said.
“When the opportunity arose to get the travelling Vietnam Wall here permanently, we took
it. If someone would have told me back then that we could raise $1.25 million in donations, I would have said they were crazy.”
The wall, which is an 80% replica of the original one in Washington, D.C., was installed in 2021.
“It literally put us on the map. We got a tourism grant from Allen County, which got us a parking lot, lighting, city water and a lot of other infrastructure and jump-started the whole thing,” he said. “We went from a second rate Fort Wayne/Allen County/ northeast Indiana attraction to a national destination. We get bus tours in here every month and our guest book lists folks from all over the country and a few foreign countries, as well.”
But that’s just part of the expanding story. A new, 6,000-square-foot museum with interactive displays was opened in 2022. Benefactor on the project was W. Paul Wolf. He was also the benefactor for the Korean War Monument. It was dedicated Veterans Day last year.
“Our chapel will be ready for all kinds of events this month — the ‘40 and eight Box Car,’ which was donated to Indiana in 1949 as a thank you from the French government was just rededicated, and a Gold Star Families monument was unveiled late last month,” he said. “Things are
going well. Visitation is growing, and we’ve got a lot to offer the traveling public. Our dedicated volunteer corps of 40 is backed up by another 100, who are available to help out at a moment’s notice.”
He added, “I spend some time here every day and am extremely proud of the progress we’ve made. We’re raising money to add World War I, World War II monuments and one representing the veterans who served in the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict, which was the longest war the United States has been involved in.”
In addition, he said, it is planning on constructing a columbarium where veterans’ remains can be interred. It’s totally funded and ready to start when some “political drawbacks are untangled,” he said.
“Looking back,” said Bedford, “we’re trying to make sure we look the best we possibly can with what we can afford. Our main goal, of course, is to make sure that no veteran will ever be forgotten.”
The shrine is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. There is no admission charge.
The shrine is located at 2122 O’ Day Road, Fort Wayne. Visit honoringforever.org or call (260) 267-5022.
Commander Greg Bedford stands in front of the 80% replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. Installation of the wall put the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum on the map and established it as a national tourist destination. Photo provided by Greg Bedford.
A new monthly in-person workshop for genealogists of all skill levels has been started by the Allen County Genealogical Society, with afternoon meetings the third Wednesday of each month.
The 90-minute sessions begin with a presentation followed by a time for questions and discus-
sion of “brick walls” and new discoveries. Presentations will include using various methods of research and documentation. Attendees will learn the basics of creating documents, including family trees, pedigree charts using both paper and genealogy software. Those who use genealogy software are invited to bring
their laptops with them.
Sessions also include the best methods for researching both on-site and online. Included will be finding birth, marriage, and death certificates, land records, census records, and other documents. The topics of presentations will be directed by the interests of those attending.
The next session will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, in the Globe Room of the downtown Allen County Public Library. All sessions are free and open to anyone interested in being a part of a fun experience with genealogy and family history. Those attending are invited to bring their laptop and a beverage.
12523 Auburn Road Fort Wayne, IN evergreenvillage-fortwayne.com
• 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
• 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
Continued from page 2
childhoods. We hung three wooden airplanes and three flower strands above the display counter ... and two of our more nimble residents, Cara Wallace and Vivian Naylor, hung those items.”
“Carol Adams came up with the idea of hanging photos of celebrities of each decade in which our residents had grown up,” Schell said. “We realized that a few of our residents have ‘famous’ relatives. Those got a small area of their own with explanations of their relationships.”
The women say their work, from “arguing about placement” of the items, to shopping on eBay, has been a labor of love.
“My favorite thing about doing this project is the sense of camaraderie that has happened, as well as the stirring of memories for so many people,” Schell said. “That is what we seniors do best, ‘wander down memory lane.’ In this case, we have an actual Memory Lane.”
Carol Adams agreed: “Creating this display has been so much fun. We have been blessed by the encouragement of our fellow residents ... so many have enjoyed seeing the collections that make up this display. It’s fun seeing the folks’ expressions as they look for certain celebrities in photos and are able to spot them.”
Sometimes a promotional stunt can work too well.
By RANDAL C. HILL
On a July evening in 1979, a melee ensued at Chicago’s Cominskey Park that resulted in six people being injured and 39 being arrested for disorderly conduct. Why?
During a stunt called Disco Demolition Night, thousands of attendees stormed the diamond following the first game of a double-header between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. With many rioters amped-up on beer and drugs, rowdies tore up turf, set infield fires, climbed foul poles, upended the batting case, and (literally) stole the bases. Police in riot gear intervened, and the White Sox had to forfeit the second game.
The year before, irreverent Chicago radio DJ Steve Dahl had helmed the highly rated “Steve Dahl’s Rude Awakening” show on Top 40 powerhouse WDAI-FM. But near the end of 1978, WDAI switched formats from rock ‘n’ roll to disco music — and fired Dahl on Christmas Eve. He was devastated and immediately focused his anger on a music form he had always despised.
Disco, pioneered by gays, Blacks and Latinos, had risen from the 1970s underground into the mainstream following the success of such recording artists as Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, and KC and the Sunshine Band, as well as the commercial clout of the film and soundtrack of “Saturday Night Fever.”
In March 1979, still distraught about disco’s influence, Dhal landed a morning gig at Chicago album-rock outlet WLUP-FM. He and the overnight DJ there (a fellow disco-music hater) were soon loudly demolishing records during their on-air shifts.
With some other radio pals — and the son of the White Sox’s owner — Dahl created a promotion idea he thought could grant him heroic status: He would destroy disco music forever, while at the same time raising the often-pitiful attendance figures at Cominskey Park. (The 52,000-capacity stadium usually drew crowds of about 16,000 on any given
White Sox game day.) Set for July 12, the DJ’s scheme was labeled Disco Demolition Night. The admission charge that night was a disco record and 98 cents (WLUP-FM’s frequency was 98.0). Dahl’s scheme had called for the collecting of the records, piling them into a dumpster in center field, and blowing everything to smithereens. Dahl hoped the stunt might draw a few thousand extra folks to the park. Wrong.
On the night of July 12, Cominskey Park sold out, with 40,000 restless souls milling about outside.
With the first game over (the White Sox lost 4-1), Dahl, in military regalia, circled the playing field in a Jeep before whipping the crowd into a frenzy with chants of “Disco Sucks!” The “fun” began when a powerful explosive charge set
off in the dumpster rocketed thousands of discs into the sky.
Dahl’s escapade didn’t end disco’s reign, any more than
Buddy Holly’s death marked “the day the music died.” By the early 1980s, disco’s popularity had faded, but because
of changing musical trends and not one rock jock’s stunt gone awry one Chicago evening many years ago.
By BETHANNE BRINK-COX Feature Writer
What is the difference between a volunteer and a docent? Bonnie Kemp, director of communications at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, made it clear.
“The zoo has moved away from docent volunteers. Only trained zoo animal care staff or conservation educators can handle and train the ambassa-
dor animals,” she said.
An animal ambassador is an individual of a species that lives permanently at a zoo, and is used to educate the public about that species.
“Giving the ambassador animals choice and control in their environments is part of the animal’s well-being here that we practice and train for all animals,” she said.
Kemp had an interesting journey, which led her to
CORPORATE OFFICE
the zoo.
“I came to the nonprofit zoo world in 2017. Before that, I worked for Scott’s Foods, and my team was responsible for the events of Zoo Day. So I have a long history with the zoo, but the majority was as a sponsor and donor through Scott’s Foods,” she said.
Kemp grew up in the Fort Wayne area and raised her two children in Fort Wayne.
“They have each blessed me with a grandchild. I’m a proud Gigi to Elle and Theodore, who both recently turned 2,” she said.
Kemp said zoos have changed through the years.
“The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is a world class zoo and has been leading the way for many years,” she said. “Our zoo is a lovely park with animals, different from zoos, which may have more concrete and less green spaces in habitats.”
Attendance continues to grow nearly every year, she said, because “we are accessible, have great education programs,” and continue to have events for different groups, like the new Rock and Roar event added last year.
Rock and Roar is a 21 and older event in the evenings throughout the summer with live music, adult beverages, and a time to visit the zoo without little ones.
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is a self-supporting facility
and receives no tax dollars for operations, she added. The zoo’s operations are funded entirely by earned revenue and donations. This includes all new construction, reimagined areas, and any improvements made at the zoo.
So what can the public do to help keep the zoo thriving?
“Visit, become a zoo member, donate, sponsor, and bring your friends and family during visits,” Kemp said.
This busy lady does have a
life besides the zoo.
“Spending time with my two grands is absolutely my time outside the zoo,” she noted.
“Theodore lives in Fort Wayne, but Elle lives in Tampa, so I get plenty of air miles between Fort Wayne and Tampa. I bring them both to the zoo and it has been a highlight; they call it Gigi’s zoo. I love to travel and explore new places.” she said.
Something tells us there’s a big bucket list waiting with more check marks.
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
The Papers Incorporated, 206 S. Main St., P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, 574-658-4111 STAFF
Ron Baumgartner, Publisher rbaumgartner@the-papers.com
Annette Weaver, Business Manager aweaver@the-papers.com
Deb Patterson, Editor-In-Chief dpatterson@the-papers.com
Phoebe Muthart, Editor pmuthart@the-papers.com
Steve Meadows, Director Of Marketing smeadows@the-papers.com
Account Executive Betty Foster slallen@the-papers.com • 260-494-9321
Jerry Long, Circulation Manager jlong@the-papers.com
Elkhart/Kosciusko Edition
Joseph
EDITORIAL DEADLINES
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $37 for one year; and $64 for two years. (Select one edition.) Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt. To order a subscription, call 574-658-4111.
ADVERTISING
For advertising deadlines call your sales representative. The existence of advertising in Senior Life is not meant as an endorsement of any product, services or individuals by anyone except the advertisers. Signed letters or columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. To advertise contact Betty Foster at 260-494-9321 or slallen@the-papers.com.
PRODUCTION
Among the newest reverse mortgage 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 5% interest rate and plan to use it only as a line of credit, that loan against your mortgage grows to $105,000 in
a year. If you pull $25,000 out of that loan, the remainder will grow by 5% a year.
And it keeps on growing by 5% a 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 agerelated infirmities.
As a lawyer acquaintance strongly advised years go, “If you don’t need the money, don’t even think about a reverse mortgage.”
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer
Baseball and summer go together for Mike Nutter. When Nutter goes to a Fort Wayne TinCaps game, he is more than just an involved fan. He’s committed.
Nutter is president of the organization, spending the last 15 years with the TinCaps and nine years before that with the Fort Wayne Wizards. Yet, his enthusiasm for the job continues to shine.
In summer, his days at the ballpark are long, and he’s just fine with that. In June, during the beginning of a streak of nearly 13-hour days, he still took time for an emailed interview exchange.
“My job is like two totally
different jobs throughout the year,” Nutter said. “OctoberMarch is more of a regular schedule like 8 or 9 a.m. until 5 or so p.m. In season is totally different. Today we are on day two of a 12-game homestand that will have us here from 9 a.m. until 10 or 11 at night. It’s a labor of love. At 51 years old I love it as much as ever! My favorite part of the job sounds so cliché, but we get to work for people who spend their time and money to come out and have fun! That is a blessing.”
He pointed out that Parkview Field where the team plays is “a nationally acclaimed, awardwinning venue.” Parkview Field was named the No. 1 Ballpark Experience in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey, an award it’s
By MICHELLE M. WALTERS RSSA, PHR, CHRS, CCWS, CSIS Executive Vice President Health Insurance Shop
Like peas and honey, Medicare and Medicaid go together for some, but not for everyone. Each has its own unique qualities and sometimes when combined, they can help us stick to our own table knife of sorts.
All punning aside, Medicare and Medicaid are social programs developed by the federal government and managed on either the federal (Medicare) or the state (Medicaid) level. Medicare being health care for the aged, and Medicaid being assistance for low income. When individuals are entitled to Medicare and qualify for Medicaid, they are referred to as “dual eligible.”
Dual eligible status provides extra assistance in covering the costs associated with health insurance. The Medicare Part B premium ($174.70 in 2024) is typically paid for by the state Medicaid program. Payment of health care claims is shared between original Medicare and the state’s Medicaid program, and a stand-
alone prescription drug plan is added.
Dual eligibles may also qualify to enroll in special Medicare Advantage plans called a Dual Special Needs Plan. These plans take the place of original Medicare and share in the payment of claims with Medicaid.
Additionally, these plans will often provide extra benefits Medicare doesn’t typically cover (limitations apply), like dental, vision, hearing aids, transportation, meals, and even monetary assistance for healthy groceries and utility bills.
received from 2019-2023. Last year the organization hit the 5,000,000th fan at a TinCaps game. Plus, among the many special nights the team hosts, like Fort Wayne Daisies Throwback Night and Dad Rhythmic Gymnastics Night, its Celebration of Women in Sports Night was a national finalist for MiLB’s Best Promotion in 2023.
Nutter has received top accolades himself. In 2022, he was named Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year, and in 2019, he was inducted into the Northeast Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame.
His wife of more than 20 years, Beth, and their two kids who are Indiana University students, Carson and Katelynn,
This summer, Indiana is launching a program which is meant to align DSNP enrollees with a single administrator for both Medicaid and Medicare Advantage, to provide a streamlined claims payment process. Dual eligibles will be asked to select either Anthem BC/BS, United Health Care, or Humana as their administrator for Medicaid. If you already have a DSNP plan, you will want to select the same insurance company that is on your DSNP card.
If you need help sorting things out, give us a call at (260) 484-7010.
much or more than ever.”
When Nutter brings up his feelings for Fort Wayne, he sounds a bit like a cheerleader.
“This is home to all of us,” he said. “For the past 15 years, we have strived to improve the quality of life in our region and to make Fort Wayne and our region a better place to live, work,
Open House from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
and play. To see the downtown transformation since our opening in 2009 is so awesome and we are proud to be a part of the revitalization.”
To spread the sports love, he maintains accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram @Minorleaguenutt and on the TinCaps website, TinCaps.com.
What if you had all the freedom and privacy of living in your own home with none of the 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
By CATHY SHOUSE Feature Writer
For Denise Hunter, a clear expression of her faith has always been the style and content of writing in her novels. Now she’s adding a “Booked for the Summer” tour into the mix.
A Fort Wayne resident, Hunter has published 45 novels and recently signed a four-book contract with Christian publisher, Thomas Nelson. Three of her stories have been adapted into Hallmark movies.
A four-state book tour with writing friend, Colleen Coble, and Coble’s new co-author, Rick Acker, is scheduled for July 10-18. Destinations? Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina. Other authors will be added along the way, too.
“Colleen and Rick wanted to kick off the tour to launch the first book, ‘What We Hide,’ of their brand new, co-written Tupelo Grove series,” Hunter said. “They invited me along. Colleen and I are best friends and critique partners who are celebrating 25 years of friendship
this July! It is a rigorous tour schedule, but we wanted to meet as many readers as possible. We chose the south because most of our books are set there. From there we looked at potential bookstores. We ended up with a nice mix of Christian, indie, and chain bookstores.”
On July 20, a kick-off event that starts the tour will be in Franklin, Tenn. It requires registration and will involve attendees in solving a mystery. But other stops are book signings that are open to the public and have various others involved. They’ll go to Nashville, Tenn. and Black Mountain, N.C., among many other stops, thirteen total. Several days have two events scheduled.
“We’ve been gearing up for months! Our publisher (HarperCollins Christian) has teamed up with us in the planning and execution,” Hunter said. “Colleen has done a ton of legwork, and we have a fabulous tour director, helping us coordinate the stops. We have lots of great swag to give away. We’ll be squeezing into Colleen’s vehicle for the four-state tour. Details are on my website:
denisehunterbooks.com/appearances.html. It will be a blast. I plan on keeping readers up to date through my Facebook page.”
Hunter will be discussing a recent book, “Love Unscripted,” along the way. The book was recognized in Woman’s World as a must-read a few months ago, and recently made WW’s online list in an article, “10 Sweet Christian Romances —These Wholesome Novels Tug at the Heartstrings.” Another book,
“Wildflower Falls,” was just named a finalist in the sweet romance category of the Faith, Hope, and Love 2024 Reader’s Choice Awards.
“It’s a romcom (romantic comedy),” said Hunter, about “Love, Unscripted.” “It’s a heartfelt stand-alone, set on the North Carolina shore, and features a spunky author, a Hollywood bad boy, and a quid pro quo that soon has sparks flying!” Hunter and her husband of
35 years, Kevin, often travel together when she does research for her books. A particular scripture has inspired her.
“Kevin will be joining us for the first leg of the tour,” Hunter said. “He has been so supportive of my career. My favorite scripture at the moment is Jeremiah 29:11. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ”
When should I
A. Sooner than later is what I recommend…
2025 is expected to bring some dramatic changes to how prescription drugs will be covered under BOTH Medicare Advantage w/Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans as well as stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans (PDP). It is also expected that the average cost of prescription drug coverage will double and may even result in our now $0 or low premium Medicare Advantage plans to become a thing of the past.
AEP begins October 15th and ends December 7th. Given this limited period to review the options, appointments should be scheduled now because agent’s calendars will fill up fast. Window shopping begins October 1st and all Medicare Beneficia-
Michelle Walters Executive Vice President
ries will have an opportunity to look at the options by visiting www.Medicare.gov or calling Medicare directly. Enrollment applications cannot be accepted any earlier than October 15th.
Are you proactive? Give our office a call at (260) 484-7010 to schedule your 2025 AEP meeting today!
Medicare Enrollment and Education Center of Fort Wayne
3609 Lake Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46805 (260) 484-7010 www.buyhealthinsurancehere.com
A. This is a question elder law attorneys get asked frequently. However, this should not be done quickly and without careful consideration. Many parents want a child joint on their financial accounts so the child can help with their financial management if they are incapacitated. As a joint owner, the child can withdraw money from the account, write checks to pay bills or make deposits to the account. However, as a co-owner of the account, the child may withdraw all the funds at any time for themselves. Or you could be exposing your funds to your child’s creditors or possibly to the child’s divorcing spouse.
An alternative to co-ownership is a financial power of attorney. This allows the parent to designate the child as attorney-in-fact and confer upon the children the power to handle banking and other financial matters. When acting as attorney-in-fact, the child is only acting
as an agent for the parent and has no ownership in the account, and there is no exposure to the child’s creditors. The parent retains sole ownership of the account, and upon the death of the parent, the account will be divided as provided in the parent’s estate plan.
This is not to say that it is never appropriate to make a child a joint owner of an account with a parent, but you should carefully consider if this is appropriate for your family.
Q. Is there a service to help me with my downsizing move?
A. Wanting to downsize from your home to a retirement community can be an overwhelming experience. Many times people want to move, but end up not doing so because of the many things that must be done.
A few comments that I have heard over the years include:
1) I have to spend money to fix up my home before I sell it.
2) My attic and basement are full of stuff; I will have to have a garage sale.
3) I have to pack and move all of my belongings.
Looking at this list of concerns would cause anyone to just say “Forget It!”
This is where we can help!
Our services include selling your home
as-is in 30 days for your price, selling your unwanted items for fair market value, selling your antiques & collectible items, knowledgeable antique & real estate appraisal services, professional packing & moving services, climate controlled storage & more.
Our firm is highly recommended by many of the leading retirement communities in the Allen County area due to client satisfaction.
If you are thinking about making the transition to retirement living, call me at (260) 441-8636. My free analysis will give you the information you will need to make a better decision for yourself!
Sincerely, Timothy McCulloch
A. Indiana PathWays is a new program for Hoosiers age 60 and over who receive Medicaid or Medicaid and Medicare benefits. The program is designed to give beneficiaries more control over the services they need to continue living independently in their own homes. With PathWays, Hoosiers are able to choose between one of three health plans to coordinate their services: Anthem, Humana or UnitedHealthcare.
Individuals who previously received benefits through Medicaid (or Medicaid and Medicare) should have received letters from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration with instructions about how to enroll in the new PathWays program.
Aging & In-Home Services (AIHS) has contracted with UnitedHealthcare. If you previously had services managed by AIHS, you can continue to do so by selecting UnitedHealthcare as your managed care organization.
Tina
VP, Long-Term Services & Support 260-745-1200
The State of Indiana believes that the revised PathWays process will enable more Hoosiers who join the program to receive long-term care at home.
AIHS offers a number of supportive services to assist older adults and people with disabilities remain safe and independent for as long as possible at home.
For more information about PathWays, visit www.in.gov/ pathways/.
The Sixth Annual Allen County Family Health Fair will take place Thursday, July 11.
This event, hosted at Central Lutheran Gym in New Haven, will provide a comprehensive platform for the Allen County community to access various health resources, information, and services. It aims to promote health and wellness among families in the region, emphasizing preventive care and healthy living practices.
This year’s health fair will feature over 40 exhibitors, including all local hospitals, health care providers, wellness organizations, long-term care, Francine Friends, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile for children (school shots), massages, and fitness experts.
Attendees can expect to
receive free health screenings, such as blood pressure checks, glucose testing, and hearing assessments. Additionally, there will be opportunities for vision and dental resources, making it a one-stop destination for essential health evaluations, especially for uninsured members of the community.
The fair is designed to be family-friendly, with activities and entertainment for all ages.
Children can enjoy a dedicated kids’ zone area with a touch-atruck and other exciting pieces to keep them entertained and teach them about healthy habits in a fun and engaging way. Food will be available.
The Allen County Family Health Fair underscores the importance of community health initiatives. It aims to
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 to pmuthart@the-papers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number.
McKinnie Commons Connections, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, and 4-6 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at the corner of McKinnie Avenue and South Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation hosts The McKinnie Commons Connections events to welcome the community to
Allen County Public Library’s Library at Home provides free delivery of library materials to homebound patrons, and pop-up libraries at facilities throughout Allen County, where residents can sign up for a library card, check out materials, and more!
CONTACT US: LAH@ACPL.INFO | (260) 421-1237 Allen County Public Library
IIt’s easy! Simply find the poolside items on another page in this edition. Go online to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers. com and enter your information, the edition, date and page number you found it on. This will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25. (Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, July 15, 2024. Brought To You By
foster a supportive environment where families can learn, engage, and take proactive
steps toward better health.
The event is free and open to the public, making it an acces-
sible opportunity for everyone in the community to participate and benefit.
“Follow the Pipes,” presented by the Fort Wayne History Center and the Fort Wayne Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, will be presented in Fort Wayne from July 16-18. This free event is a self-guided tour with participants providing their own transportation. They can visit locations each day to hear the unique sounds of that church’s instrument. Concerts and/or demonstrations are scheduled at the top of each hour during the course of the daily events with 15 to 30 minutes travel time between locations, depending on the organist’s choice of music.
gather for entertainment, food and learning opportunities as well as to foster conversation. —o—
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and Foellinger Theatre will host Lee Brice Thursday, Aug. 8. For all general and in-person ticket sales, visit the Parks and Recreation Department, 705 E. State Blvd. or FoellingerTheatre.org.
—o—
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and Foellinger Theatre will host multi-genre artist, Gladys Knight, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. Pre-sale tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with code SUMMER at ticketmaster. com/event/050060AA3B4382E7. All general and in-person sales are also available at the Parks and Recreation Department, 705 E. State Blvd. For more information, visit foellingertheatre.org and click on purchase theatre tickets.
—o—
Collective Soul is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Foellinger Theatre, Fort Wayne. Most seats are $22.50, $32.50, and $52.50, with limited seating available for $62.50 and $82.50. The direct Ticketmaster link for this concert is ticketmaster.com/ event/050060AF364A7C1E or or in person at the parks and recreation department, located
People attending should consult a map for directions and perhaps the city’s website for road closures. Upon arriving at the church, attendees should enter through the door closest to the parking area or signs designated for the door to enter.
The 2024 schedule is:
• 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, at Concordia Theological Seminary, Kramer Chapel, 6600 N. Clinton St., Paul and Nathan Grime, father and son, organists. For those who have difficulty with steps, they can catch a ride on the golf cart at the flagpole.
• 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 17,
at 705 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne.
—o—
Woodlands Senior Activity Center
The center is located at 710 N. Opportunity Drive, Columbia City. For more information, call (260) 248-8944 or visit whitleycountycouncilonaging.org/woodlands-activity-center.
9:30 a.m. Wednesday, pixie bingo
9-10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, line dancing 9-10 a.m. Tuesday and Friday, euchre
9 a.m. every Tuesday, Bible study with Cheryl 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, chair exercise Noon, every Tuesday, dominoes
12:30 p.m. Wednesday, hand and foot card game
—o— McMillian Park Community Center
For more information, visit fortwayneparks.org or call (260) 427-6000. The center is located at 3901 Abbott St., Fort Wayne.
Pickleball, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday to Friday
Senior/adult yoga, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday and noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday
CardioFit, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday and noon to 1 p.m. Thursday
at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 E. Wayne St., Irene Ator, organist.
• 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St., Gabriel Ackerman, organist.
• 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 917 W. Jefferson Blvd., David Hendricksen, organist.
• 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1122 S. Clinton St., Michael Dulac, organist.
• 8 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd., Cletus Goens, organist
Adult/open gym/volleyball, 6-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday
Essential steps, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday.
—o—
City pools are open for the season from 12:30-5 p.m. daily, at Bob Arnold Northside Park Pool, East State Blvd. and Parnell Avenue; and McMillen Park Pool, Oxford Street, east of Anthony Blvd. Public swim hours will be 12:30-5:00 p.m. A free swim for youth with disabilities will be held weekly from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Sundays, at Northside Pool. For more information about special swim programs, lessons, punch cards, season passes and pool/pavilion rentals, visit FortWayneParks.org.
—o—
The Salomon Farmers’ Market is open 4-7 p.m. and continuing each Wednesday until Sept. 4, at Salomon Farm Park, 817 W. Dupont Road, Fort Wayne.
Find fresh produce, baked goods, honey and artisan crafts at this mid-week market as you take in the sounds of the New Horizons Band. Stop by and say hello to the herd members, Mickie and Frankie the Highland Coos, and goats, miniature horse and sheep.
—o—
206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542
The winner of the I Spy Contest for June is Mary L. Price of Elkhart. The Hat & Tie was located on page 8 in Senior Life Allen; page 4 in Senior Life Northwest; page 19 in Senior Life Elko and page 22 in Senior Life St. Joseph.
“Shop Waynedale” is a two-week-long event, running July 8-20, that boasts big discounts at local businesses, a scavenger hunt and passport stamp game. The grand prize drawing for a person or family who collects the most stamps and answers the scavenger hunt correctly takes home $500.
The event was organized by Volunteers 4 Waynedale to encourage people to explore Waynedale businesses. No purchase is necessary to play. To play, pick up a gamebook at any participating business or visit facebook.com/waynedaleevents.
By NICHOLE ANTONSSON Director of Operations
Cornerstone Caregiving of Fort Wayne understands the challenges that come with aging. We believe every senior deserves a choice in where and how they age. Cornerstone celebrates the life and experiences of our care recipients while allowing them to maintain maximum independence and comfort.
Palliative care —
We are experienced and able to support our clients with hands-on care, Alzheimer’s and dementia support, hospitalto-home and rehab-to-home recovery, and much more.
Our caregivers truly care. Through hiring compassionate caregivers, Cornerstone Caregiving ensures you are receiving premier care wherever you call home.
Our services are:
• Bathing and dressing.
By DAWN SELKE Chief Experience Officer
Paradigm Health
Palliative care is specialized medicine geared toward improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. Paradigm Health’s Palliative Care Program provides comprehensive support tailored to each patient’s needs, focusing on symptom management, emotional and psychological support, and goals of care decisions.
What Does Paradigm Health’s Palliative Care Provide?
• Emotional and Psychological Support: A team approach to meet the physical, cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of patients and families, helping to bridge the gap between curative treatment and end-of-life care.
hospice care at the appropriate time.
Eligibility And Payment Paradigm Health’s Palliative Care is designed for individuals with advanced life-limiting illnesses. Patients may receive curative treatment alongside palliative care. Palliative care is billed under Medicare Part B or through commercial insurance, similar to a physician’s visit. It does not replace primary care; nurse practitioners work with primary physicians to ensure consistent care.
Why Choose Paradigm Health?
Recognized for its excellence and compassionate approach, Paradigm Health has achieved national accreditation for both its palliative and hospice care program. Patients and families can trust Paradigm Health to provide comprehensive support,
• Incontinence care.
• Medication reminders.
• Meal preparation.
• Light housekeeping.
• Transportation.
• More.
What sets Cornerstone apart?
• Free in-home assessment.
• No minimum hours required.
• Around the clock care.
• 24/7 support.
• No wait times.
Cornerstone Caregiving of
Fort Wayne is a senior home care service provider, which focuses on providing in-home care for seniors and veterans. Cornerstone can accept longterm care insurance plans, Medicaid Waiver, veteran benefits, and we also have private pay options.
We are excited to be able to support our seniors and veterans in multiple counties, including:
• Adams.
• Allen.
• Dekalb.
• Huntington.
• Jay.
• Kosciusko.
• Lagrange.
• Noble.
• Steuben.
• Wells.
• Whitley.
Call today for your free in-home assessment, (260) 254-1571, or you are welcome to visit Cornerstonecaregiving. com/fortwayne and request your free, in-home assessment.
Continued on page 10
• Symptom Management: Comprehensive care, including symptom management (pain, nausea, fatigue, and other distressing symptoms).
• Support in Navigating Complex Health Care Decisions: Patient-driven help to facilitate discussions about treatment goals, preferences, future planning and informed decision making.
• Coordination of Care: Collaborative care with patient’s primary physician to ensure cohesive and personalized care plans and patient-driven decisions.
What Benefits Are Achieved With Palliative Care?
• Higher patient satisfaction.
• Enhanced comfort.
• Improved quality of life.
• Family and caregiver support.
• Better continuity and comprehensiveness of care.
• Avoidance of unwanted interventions and/or hospitalizations.
• Smooth transition to
By BRIAN PEAVLER Director of Community Engagement Guardian Care
We are a Medicaid-approved home care provider serving medically complex children and adults through Attendant Care and Structured Family Care, as well as through Home and Community Assistance Waiver programs in your service area, and all Indiana counties.
We would like to introduce ourselves and explore the possibility of working together. At Guardian Care, we are driven by a singular mission: to uplift and empower family caregivers. Our commitment to our clients and caregivers is a top priority. We exceed expectations by offering a wide range of benefits, such as uncapped overtime pay, health insurance, generous PTO with option to cash out, as well as caregiver bonuses.
Our commitment to our caregivers and their families is a top priority, benefiting both our employees and our clients. We work closely with families to articulate personalized service plan schedules, which meet their unique needs and preferences.
Our agency’s goal is to promote independence, enhance quality of life, and reduce the burden of care for our clients and their families.
If you are looking for compassionate care for your medically complex loved one, please give us a call. We would love to talk you through your options and help you find a program which best fits your family’s needs. You can reach us at (317) 360-0359 or email care@guardian.care. Visit our website anytime, myguardian.care.
BEST PLACE TO WORK
The Guardian Care team accepted an award for being one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana. Shown from left are Mary Jane Mitchell, Hailee Marshall, Tendra Duff, Brian Peavler, and Julie Reese. Photo provided.
I’m a little compulsive about credit cards, so I go to the appropriate website every morning to see what we owe and then check our bank balance. It’s a quick
3182 Mallard Cove Lane Fort Wayne, IN 46804
routine, made even easier by the facial recognition programs that eliminate the need for passwords.
like entering your password incorrectly. I couldn’t have entered the wrong face. Okay, I’ll try one more time.
Face still not recognized. Try again.
count and what we owe on our credit cards.”
Call us today for your FREE Assessment! Proud National VA Provider
• Companionship
• Housekeeping
• Hygiene
260-484-5858 IN HOME CARE:
• Errands
• Cooking • Laundry
• And More!
We will advocate on your behalf to get you approved and started in as little as 1 week!
Available for patients 18 and up under the upcoming Medicaid Health and Wellness Waiver. If you are already on an existing waiver program and wish to transition to another program, we can help!
But this morning, they didn’t know me.
Face not recognized. Try again.
By DICK WOLFSIE
Try what again? All I did was look at my smartphone. It’s not
At Guardian Care, we know that no one takes care of family like family.
Employ someone who truly knows and cares about your family member to take care of their physical, emotional and social needs.
• Get paid to take care of a loved one, relative or friend.
• Our caregivers earn an average of $2,000 - $4,500 a month!
* A TB test and CPR required for caregiver but will be reimbursed by Guardian Care*
Worried, I raced into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My hair was askew. I needed a shave, and I had huge bags under my eyes. Who is that, I wondered? I didn’t even recognize myself. But I needed to know my balance. I combed my hair, shaved, and applied a little of my wife’s foundation under my eyes. This had to work. But no.
Your face is really not recognized this time. Use password.
Mary Ellen was in the kitchen having coffee. I walked over to the table. “Who are you?” she asked. “You never look this good in the morning. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“That’s what the bank said.”
“You’ve been to the bank already?”
As you may recall, my wife is very security minded. She told me that using facial recognition on my smartphone is not safe. I wondered why.
“Because, Dick, if you are robbed, the thief may just ask you to look into the phone and then he can check our bank ac-
Continued from page 9
improve quality of life, and offer personalized care plans tailored to individual needs. For more details on how Paradigm Health’s Palliative Care Program can benefit you or your loved ones, call (317) 735-6001 or visit myparadigmhealth.com.
“Mary Ellen, he’s going to rob me whether we have an overdue balance or not. What will he think: I can’t rob this guy; he only has $122 in his checking account. He owes Comcast Cable $160.”
“Well, I don’t like the whole idea. And, by the way, it wouldn’t work for me, anyway. I’d have to wait every morning to check our balance until I had makeup on.”
I wasn’t getting anywhere with Mary Ellen, so I called my friend, Bob.
“Bob, it’s Dick. I have a problem. I’m not being recognized.”
“Of course, you haven’t been on TV in four years and you don’t have a famous dog anymore.”
“I don’t mean recognized on the street. I mean recognized by the bank. Do they recognize you at the bank?”
“Of course, they recognize me. I’m 6’4” and completely bald.”
“Bob, I’m going to try this one more time. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is check my balance…”
“At your age, good idea. Get out of bed slowly.”
That day I had an appointment with my barber. I brought an old photo of myself before all this trouble started. I showed it to Buddy and told him I wanted to look just like I do in this selfie.
“Dick, I can’t do that. First of all, your hair is all gray now and you have less of it, and I can’t give you sideburns.”
The next morning, I tried again, but still no luck. I tried again and again. There was only one solution.
I had to reset my face.
By KEVIN NEEBES
Owner Home Instead
The year was 1999. The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team won the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Tiger Woods won his first PGA championship, and everyone was worried about Y2K. Meanwhile, here
in Fort Wayne, Home Instead served its first client. Twenty-five years later, hundreds of families continue to trust Home Instead with the care of their loved ones. Home Instead provides oneon-one person-centered care for aging adults in their own homes. Home Instead is committed to providing gold-standard care and
Care Professional Kelley Ginther enjoying lunch together on a summer day. Photo provided by Home Instead.
is passionate about partnering with families to make life better at home.
Services offered include personal care (helping with bathing, dressing, mobility, and more), companionship, meal prep, light housekeeping, transportation, hospice support, and supervision. The Care Professionals are also skilled in supporting people living with illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.
As the baby boomer generation ages, more people are choosing to remain in their homes for the long term. Aging adults want independence, safety, health, companionship, and cleanliness. Home Instead is uniquely positioned to enable seniors to live their best lives in their own homes by providing these services.
The local Fort Wayne office is owned by Kevin Neebes and is run by a top notch team who considers it a privilege to serve the
aging population of Allen County. Operations Manager Chris Binkley said, “Our mission is to make life better for Fort Wayne’s aging adults and their families. We are persnickety about the details, and passionate about gold standard care. We employ and train only the best and most amazing Care Pros. We are excited to celebrate 25 years of best-in-class care in Fort Wayne.” For more information, visit homeinstead.com/296 or call (260) 485-2424.
• Cholesterol Check
• Blood Pressure
• Heart Failure Education • Stroke Education
• Chest Pain and Early Heart Attach Care
• Blood Glucose (finger stick)
• Allen County Dept. of Health Youth Immunications &Youth Check-Ups •and much more coming.
By TOM MORROW
Mature Life Features
When you reach 85 years of life it’s okay to recall the good old days.
Do you remember when it took at least two to three loooong minutes for the radio set to warm up? I remember watching the television station’s test pattern before the day’s programming began. Or we watched the Air Force fly-bys as the “Star Spangled Banner” was played to end each day’s programming, usually around midnight.
In Middle West America, our dads usually left the keys to the family car in the ignition. Car doors were never locked. Some family homes went unlocked around the clock.
As hard as that might be to believe, small town folks in the 1950’s trusted each other. That lasted until 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Nothing in America has ever been that trusting since.
Nobody owned a pure bred dog before that time. Owners hardly ever picked up after their mutt’s leavings.
A quarter was a decent allowance for a small child. And, up until 1964, that coin was minted with real silver. We’d reach into a
muddy gutter for a dropped coin, checking to see if it was a highly collectable “1943” penny. Your mom wore nylons stockings that came in two pieces. At the service station your dad got his car’s wind shield cleaned and its oil checked while gas was being pumped at less than 30 cents a gallon … all for free every time you filled up. If you bought premium gasoline (also known as “Ethel”) you got your floorboards swept out with a small whisk broom. If your tires needed a check, you didn’t pay for any pumped air. And sometimes you got trading stamps, if Dad remembered to collect them for Mom.
At the grocery store, a box of laundry detergent included free dishes. For us kids a box of Cracker Jacks always had a prize, and a pack of bubble gum included a small comic strip.
In the 1940s and ‘50s it was considered a great privilege to be taken out for lunch or dinner at a cafe with your parents, but it was hard on Dad’s wallet. In 1958, hamburgers were 15 cents each, tenderloin sandwiches were a quarter, and a hot roast beef open-face sandwich cost between 50 to 75 depending upon accompanying vegetable and mashed potatoes and gravy.
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”
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
To drink? Coffee was a nickel and a bottle of pop in Iowa was six cents … if you didn’t keep the glass bottle. That was 2 cents extra.
It was about this time that Bill Haley and the Comets burst open the rock ‘n roll era.
To put 1950’s finances into perspective, my weekly allowance up until I graduated from high school in 1958 was $2 and a tank of gas for my car. Going to the drive-in movies with a date was special. Your girlfriend sometimes rode through the admission gate in the car trunk so you could afford two bags of popcorn and an extra candy bar.
In the Midwest you always knew the changes of seasons. Spring had fresh air and the croaking of frogs. Summer was hot and sticky. Fall brought the turning of leaves and the special smell they made as Dad raked and burned them. And winter came along with the first frost. You knew the ground would be frozen soon after.
Most of us kids were in fear for our lives, but it wasn’t because of drive-by shootings, drugs or gangs. It was for fear of getting polio or the Russians dropping “the bomb.” We learned how to survive if it was dropped. We kids were taught to dive under our
school desk and cover our heads to stay safe.
Consumables from the drug store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger. Female products were discreetly placed on the store shelf in plain brown wrapping paper.
Home milk delivery was in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers, newsreels were shown in theaters before the movie, and telephone numbers in the city had a word prefix. Us country folks remember when we had just three or four numbers with no word prefix and nearly every-
one was on a party line. My folks’ home number was 3-3-9. My dad’s business number was 1-1-3. If you didn’t know the number, you just told the operator who or what you wanted and she’d connect you, often listening in to make sure you weren’t passing any government secrets.
U.S. postage “zip” codes and telephone area codes didn’t appear until the late 1950’s.
But with all our progress, don’t you wish now and then you could slip back in time and savor life’s slower pace and share it with the children of today with no personal phone to text someone sitting 10 feet away? Mature Life
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”
www.lifecarecenteroffortwaynein.com
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
•
• Offices located in Fort Wayne, Auburn, Angola and Decatur. PROVIDING • Hearing Evaluations, Hearing Aids, Assistive Listening Devices and Auditory Training • FREE TRIAL HEARING AID
Dave Loggins
Was “Please Come to Boston” a true story? Let’s find out.
David Allen Loggins was born in 1947 in Mountain City, Tenn.
A second cousin to musician Kenny Loggins (“Footloose”), after high school Loggins sold insurance before deciding to become a professional singer/ guitarist/songwriter.
In 1972, he contracted with Nashville’s Vanguard Records as a solo artist. His album “Personal Belongings” tanked, but Three Dog Night lifted one of Loggins’s LP’s tracks — “Pieces of April” — which became the group’s 14th Top 20 hit. (A YouTube comparison, though, shows that Loggins had the superior version.)
“Pieces of April,” however, did nothing to advance the brand name of Dave Loggins, so he pressed on. In 1974, Epic Records had him record the album “Apprentice (In a Musical Workshop).” “Please Come to Boston” became the
lead-off single, and that held the key to Loggin’s (fleeting) success.
In the ballad, a travelingmusician narrator pleads with the love of his life back home to join him on the tour road:
“Please come to Boston for the springtime
“I’m stayin’ here with some friends
And they’ve got lots of room”
Then
“Please come to Denver with the snowfall
”We’ll move up into the mountains so far
“That we can’t be found”
And finally
“Please come to L.A. to live forever
“A California life alone
“Is just too hard to bear”
The woman he misses may love the vagabond, but she always refuses to join him:
“And she said, Hey, ramblin’ boy
“Now won’t you settle down?
“There ain’t no gold and there ain’t nobody like me
“I’m the Number One fan of the man from Tennessee”
Near the tale’s end, the narrator comes clean about how conflicted he is about his situation:
“Now this drifter’s world goes ‘round and ‘round
“And I doubt it’s ever gonna stop
“But of all the dreams I’ve lost or found
“And all that I ain’t got
“I still need to lean to
“Somebody I can sing to”
His lone Top 5 hit explores the tension tug-of-war between a musician’s yearning for the tour road and the desire for a stable relationship; Loggins’s inspiration for the song followed a 1972 tour with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (“Mr. Bojangles”) that included stops in Boston, Denver and Los Angeles, all locales new to Loggins.
As with so many other storysongs—“Cat’s in the Cradle,” “Honey,” “The Boxer” — music fans often wonder if such tear-jerkers are based on truth or are created from scratch.
“The story is almost true,” the Grammy-nominated Loggins explains, “except that there wasn’t anyone waiting, so I made her up, in effect making the longing for someone stronger. It was a recap to my first trip to each of these cities and out of innocence. That was how I saw each one. The fact of having no one to come home to made the chorus easy to write.”
Were “Cat’s in the Cradle,” “Honey” and “The Boxer” true tales? Nope, each creation was also a well-crafted work of pure fiction.
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.
3182 Mallard Cove Lane Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: (260) 484-5858
MollyTritch@comfortkeepers.com
Comfort Keepers
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”
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Mature Life Features
It’s called gray divorce and it’s spreading.
One out of 10 people getting divorced is older than 65, and the number is growing. One third of all divorces involve individuals 50 years or older.
If you’re in either age category and still married, you might be OK for the rest of the year, because January has become known as Divorce Month among lawyers and advisors who deal with this matter.
A few major reasons for the rising divorce rate among aging adults have been listed by Las Vegas-based financial advisor Andrew Hatherly.
Topping the list is the increased acceptance of divorce in our society. Older adults will continue to be more accepting of divorce as the people around them experience divorce.
A growing share of older adults are in second or third marriages, which are more likely to end in divorce than first marriages. While about 45% of first marriages fail, that number rises to the mid-60% level for second marriages, and higher for third marriages.
The increased participation
To a senior community in a quiet northeast residential setting
of women in the workforce also contributes to the increase in gray divorce, according to Hatherly. Divorce is a more feasible option when women have the economic freedom to support themselves outside of marriage.
Increased life expectancy decreases the likelihood that marriages will end because of death and increases the exposure to the risk of divorce. If you’re in a marriage where your goals and dreams show little sign of developing or potentially flourishing, you might be encouraged to get out while you’ve still got time. If you’re 60 years old, in excellent health and have a reasonable expectation of living to at least 80, you’ve got at least a quarter of your life left and might want to make the most of it.
The nest is empty. For couples who’ve avoided getting divorced for the sake of the children, that reason diminishes when the kids go away to college.
A rise in the industry of personal development. Books, articles, educational programs all encourage people to live up to their potential, to follow their dreams and to reject those people, such as a spouse,
who may be stunting their personal growth.
The distinctive marriage patterns of Baby Boomers, who merged into the 65-and-older population in 2019, are marked by high levels of divorce and remarriage that continues as they age.
Meanwhile, middle-aged people nowadays are starting to be replaced by members of Generation X, born from 1965 to 1980, and they have come of age during an era of declining divorce and remarriage rates. This suggests the divorce rate for the middle-aged group may continue to stagnate, while gray divorce for older adults, who are now primarily Baby Boomers, continues to grow.
The economic implications indicate that couples are rebuilding their financial and personal lives late in the game. The financial nest egg they might have built while working is suddenly cut in half by divorce and there is little time to recover. This may mean suffering a reduced standard of living at a time when they are also dealing with the emotional issues resulting from the failure of the marriage.
Not only has gray divorce smashed the marriage bond,
the separated seniors pay a social penalty as well. Their adult children, other family members and friends are affected by the negativity.
Divorcees may wonder if they’ll ever find another
partner or fear that they’re destined to live the rest of their lives in a state of loneliness. Added to all that is the issue of declining health combined with the financial and emotional stress.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
As the aging population grows, so grows the need for facilities and workers to provide senior care.
Complicating matters is the fact that many folks intend to grow old at home.
Technology may have come to the rescue for folks who are still alert and physically unchallenged.
Camera and sensor systems can be installed that link
with the children, siblings or caregivers who monitor the household. There are devices available to dole out the proper medication at the proper time.
When seniors leave the house, they can use cellphones, wristwatches and global position systems to help monitors keep track of their moves.
Medical alert bracelets help seniors get help when they fall, sensors can be installed to automatically turn off stoves, and devices can be installed to prevent bathtub overflowing.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
• Long Term Care and Memory Care suites with bathrooms and showers ensuring privacy
Care e and d M Memory suites and showers ensuring privacy
• 5-star quality care, staff provide 24 hour services
• 5-star care, staff 24 hour services
3136 Goeglein Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815 (260) 749-6725 • www.goldenyearshome.org
260-749-9655 www.goldenyearshome.org Like us on Facebook!
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
300 East Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46802 (260) 422-5511 • jmull@tgmsi.com
Assisted Living; 50+ Community; Pets Allowed; Medicaid Waiver; Private Rooms; Weekly Events; RCAP Program; Conveniently Located; 24/7 Nursing Staff; On-site Therapy; Downtown Lifestyle; Concierge Service; Smoking Area; Restaurant Style Dining
Swiss Village
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
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
• www.ABetterWayofLiving.org
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 of Fort Wayne
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
By ROD KING
Towering over the Hillerich and Bradsby building at 800 W. Main St. in downtown Louisville is a 120foot tall baseball bat marking the home of Louisville Slugger bats. The enormous bat weighs 68,000 pounds, is constructed of carbon steel, and has a hollow interior, which can hold 30,000 gallons of water. The diameter at its base is 9 feet, the handle is 3 feet, 6 inches, and the knob is 6 feet, 6 inches — perfect for a guy like Paul Bunyan.
It’s leaning slightly as though it’s ready to be picked up and taken to the plate by the likes of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, George Brett, Ken Griffey Jr. or Derek Jeter.
These megastars are just a few of those who counted on Louisville Slugger and made it their bat of choice. Lifesize replicas of some of them are scattered throughout the museum along with a host of hands-on exhibits about the game and the bat that put Louisville on the baseball map.
After purchasing admis-
Motorcoach Tours 1404 E. Lake Bluff Dr. Kendallville, IN 46755
JULY 8-10 Three Day Mystery???
JULY 18 Travel Get Together, 1:00pm Kendallville. 2025 Tours - Iceland, French Canada, Call for location.
JULY 20 Let’s Ride in Saugatuck MI. Dune Buggy, Boat Cruise & Exploring Downtown
AUG 5-9 New York Finger Lakes: Strawberry Fields Farm, Belhurst Castle, Montour Falls, Sonnenburg Mansion, Two Lake Cruises, Lucille/Desi Museum, & More
AUG 8 BEAUTIFUL, The Carole King Musical, Warsaw Wagon Wheel, Lunch too.
AUG 21 One Day Mystery
AUG 23-25 Blue Moon
Over Kentucky: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, Bill Monroe Birthplace, Rosine General Store/Barn, KY BBQ w/Bluegrass concert, Bluegrass Gospel Brunch
SEPT 14-21 The COAST, LAKES, & The COG, Maine & New Hampshire
Details: www.s-stravel.com Tour Calendar: Call 888-262-4423
sion tickets, tour the factory to see bats being made. The first stop is a lathe operator making a bat like it was done in the late 1880s. It took him around 20 minutes to turn out a single bat.
Maple and white ash from 6,500 acres of timberland, owned by the company in Pennsylvania and New York, is used to make bats. Part of the tour shows how the logs are turned into bats and how the company reforests the property. As the tour progresses, see chunks of bat-size wood moving along a conveyor belt and into a machine, which turns out a bat in just 30 seconds.
Today, around 3,000 fullsize bats are made per day and approximately 1.8 million bats of all sizes are produced each year. That number includes the 18-inch souvenir bat each guest receives at the conclusion of the tour.
Back in the museum, stand behind home plate and see
a 90-mile per hour fast ball slam into a dummy catcher. In another exhibit, guests are invited to step to the mound and throw a strike. After putting on gloves, visitors are welcome to pick their favorite player’s bat from a rack for a photo opportunity. A short film called “Heart of the Game” glorifies America’s past time.
The story behind the Louisville Slugger baseball bat involves Bud Hillerich. He was a teenage apprentice in his father’s woodworking shop where they made butter churns. Hillerich, an avid baseball enthusiast and amateur player, skipped work one day to watch the Louisville Eclipse play. When Pete Browning broke his bat, Bud offered to make him a new one. According to the story, Browning got three hits in the next game with the bat made by Hillerich. By the way, Pete Browning’s nickname was “The Louisville Slugger.”
The Louisville Slugger became the company’s registered trademark in 1894 and Hillerich’s father made him a partner in 1897.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. To buy tickets online, visit sluggermuseum.com and get a dollar off the admission price. Tickets are: adults, $24; seniors 60 plus, $23; children 6-12, $16; and children 5 and under are free.
By MONA HARTER District Manager, South Bend Social Security Office
Every July 4, we celebrate our nation’s independence. For nearly 90 years, our programs have helped create financial independence for millions of hardworking people. We have useful online resources like the Social Security Statement and our benefits estimator tool that helps people not yet receiving benefits.
The statement shows the benefits that you and your family may be eligible for and provides personalized fact sheets tailored to your age and earnings situation. The benefits estimator tool allows you to get estimates based on different ages. These online tools can help you better prepare for your retirement.
If you’re not receiving benefits, you can get the most out of your online experience if
you have a personal my Social Security account. You can:
• Request a replacement Social Security card.
• Get estimates for spouse’s benefits.
• Get your Statement instantly.
• Get proof that you do not receive benefits.
• Check your application status.
If you’re receiving benefits
You can use your personal my Social Security account to:
• Request a replacement Social Security card.
• Get an instant benefit verification letter.
• Start or change your direct deposit. (Social Security beneficiaries only)
• Change your address. (Social Security beneficiaries only)
• Get a replacement SSA1099 or SSA-1042S instantly for tax season.
• Opt out of mailed notices for those available online.
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
You can create your personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
Our blog at blog.ssa.gov features news and information about our programs and services. You can subscribe and get notified each time we post a new blog so you can stay informed. From the blog, you can also connect with us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
With so many services and helpful information available online, we are here for you when you need us. Learn more at ssa.gov.
CELEBRATE INDEPEN-
DENCE Celebrate independence with Social Security’s online resources like the Social Security Statement and the benefits estimator tool that helps people not yet receiving benefits.
Photo provided by Social Security.
By KURT NESS Broker/Co-Owner, Auctioneer Ness Bros. Realtors & Auctioneers
Just thinking about moving can be overwhelming!
Where do you begin? What will you do with everything when you have less space than you do now? What new location is right for you?
Do yourself a favor, trust a senior relocation team who has helped individuals and families right-size and relocate for generations. At Ness Bros. we understand your worries and can provide solutions based on years of experience.
Life is a journey with many chapters.
Chapter 1 is birth to teen years.
Chapter 2 is young adulthood.
Chapter 3: midlife into the chapter where retirement or slowing down becomes more of a reality instead of a distant thought. Or it could be the reality of dealing with aging parents. If you’re a person who wants to make your life less complicated and stressful — we can help you.
Our Senior Relocation Program is a result of seeing people struggle with the decisions and challenges they face when entering the last chapters or that of a loved one. The last chapter of life is more than dealing with stuff, it’s an opportunity to “right-size” all sorts of things. Some are financial and important paperwork like wills, POA’s, medical directives, titles, insurances, doctor’s information; then the physical stuff, and lastly, the emotional aspect.
Our team doesn’t have all the answers, but our goal is to get you to start thinking about all the services we can touch on and help you through them. There is a saying that goes something like this: “the quality of your life is in direct proportion to the questions you ask.”
Contact our Senior Relocation team to get help and answers to your questions on right-sizing; we’re here to help you through every chapter of your life.
Reach out to our relocation specialists at (260) 459-3911 in Fort Wayne or (260) 359-3911 in Huntington. You can also contact us through our website NessBros.com, or stop in one of our offices located at 3344 Mallard Cove Lane, Fort Wayne and Huntington at 519 N. Jefferson St.
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Being sick sucks. Any sixyear-old knows that.
Taking care of someone who’s sick also sucks.
Some 40 million people in this country know that — that’s how many provide unpaid help and support to someone.
This includes the spouses who have faced terrible truths with their loved ones who were told they had a deadly disease. While the ill individual is the one who’s facing a death sentence, his or her partner also undergoes excruciating pain. They have to make critical decisions under ponderous pressure, which makes it difficult to maintain their own health.
Both can ease the strain by talking about their situation, asking each other how to keep
each other comfortable and what they would like to do.
The couple may decide to make one last visit to the grandchildren. Or they could agree to spend their last time together as quietly and activity-free as possible. The “patient” may emphasize that they are willing to remain medicated as long as possible but does not wish to suffer any pain at any point.
It’s during this period that details of their last wishes may be viewed and reviewed.
Family conflicts can erupt at such times.
The couple might agree that extending the patient’s life isn’t worth it if any chance of recovery from the disease is meaningless. They may have the incurable Lou Gehrig’s disease that drugs can put off for a year and the couple decide not to take that route. Some children or siblings may create problems by trying to pressure
the caregiver into providing the prescribed medication.
The most difficult situation most people face at times like this is to determine when life is no longer worth lingering on.
The caregiver can feel frightened and alone during such times, but there’s help and support available.
Hospitals have ethics committees that can help you and members of your family reach consensus on what should be done. Hospice organizations also offer experienced staffers to help navigate you through troublesome times. Many people lean on their church pastor for advice.
To avoid distractions throughout this process, keep focused on what the best fit is between your loved one’s wishes and well-being and the array of medical options available.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024