Sharon Tucker was sworn in as the new mayor of Fort Wayne last month.
Tucker was sworn in by Karl Bandemer, who is returning to the position of deputy mayor.
Tucker, 52, is the first black female mayor in Fort Wayne’s history. Most recently, she served as executive director of Vincent House Inc., in addition to being the city councilwoman for Fort Wayne’s sixth district, a position she
held from 2020-2024 as the first black female to hold that position.
Tucker was also elected as first district councilwoman on the Allen County Council in 2014 and was re-elected to a second term in 2018.
Tucker’s community engagement is extensive. She’s a proud member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Advancing Voices of Women, and the NAACP.
Tucker has also volunteered on the board of directors for the Allen County Public Library, Alliance Health Clinic, and SEED.
In 2021, Tucker founded and launched Project Activate SouthEast Fort Wayne. P.A.S.E. is an entrepreneurial training and pitch competition designed to help entrepreneurs start their businesses and spur economic development in southeast Fort Wayne.
In 2012, Tucker formed the Women in Politics Forum, an annual forum focusing on empowering, engaging, and educating women on the importance of being involved in the
political process.
“I’m honored and humbled to be mayor of the city of Fort Wayne. It’s a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. I’m committed to doing all I can to be the best mayor possible to meet the needs of our wonderful community,” said Tucker. “I look forward to meeting with city employees over the coming days and weeks to get updated on the projects and initiatives that are being worked on to help move Fort Wayne forward. I’m excited to be in the position that I’m in to make a positive and lasting difference for our residents, neighborhoods, and businesses.”
A graduate of Indiana Tech, Tucker has two Bachelors of Science degrees in management and human resources. Bandemer, who had served as acting mayor since the passing of the late Mayor Tom Henry, was sworn in to serve as deputy mayor again. Bandemer held the position of deputy mayor from October 2013 to March 2024 before becoming acting mayor.
The 2024 season for Trek the Trails and Tread the Trails has started. Tread the Trails will take place every other Thursday, as in 2023, in Fort Wayne.
Date and locations for the next Trek the Trails bicycle rides are:
May 7, Fellowship Missionary Church, 2536 E. Tillman Road.
May 14, Buckner Park, 6114 Bass Road.
May 21, Kreager Park, 7225 N. River Road. Meet near the tennis courts.
May 28, Shoaff Park, 6401 St. Joe Road, Conklin Pavilion. Turn left at the entrance.
June 4, Covington Elementary School, 2430 W. Hamilton Road South.
Locations for the next Tread the Trails for walkers, runners and wheelchairs are:
May 16, Buckner Park, 6114 Bass Road.
May 30, Shoaff Park, 6401 St. Joe Road, Conklin Pavilion. Turn left at the entrance.
June 13, Cookie Cottage, 620 W. Washington Center Road. Park behind the building.
June 27, Indian Trails Park, 10313 Aboite Center Road. Meet south of the playground.
July 11, Engle Road Towpath Trailhead, 7171 Engle Road. Additional parking available east of the trailhead and along the gravel service road.
For a full schedule of Trek the Trail bike rides, visit fortwayneparks.org/ trails/news-events.html.
Trek the Trails is sponsored by UAW Local No. 2209, Three Rivers Velo Sport and Bike Fort Wayne, and is presented by the city of Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne Trails.
Tread the Trails is presented by the city of Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Running Club, Fort Wayne Trails and the city of New Haven.
The Fort Wayne Area Trails Network consists of 142 miles of trails, with 101 miles inside city limits. Most of the trails in city limits are planned, designed, constructed and maintained by the city of Fort Wayne, under the leadership of the new Mayor Sharon Tucker.
When Mary Moore and her husband, Cameron, say they support veterans, they really mean it.
The couple began volunteering with Honor Flight of Northeast Indiana about 10 years ago. The organization flies military veterans on a one-day trip to Washington, D.C., to see the monuments that honor their military service.
The Moores and dozens of other volunteers working alongside them not only assist with the flights, but carry out many lesser-known duties. The most unique may be the virtual flights.
“When the veteran can’t go on a real flight, we go to them,” Mary said. “We have a headset they get to use. It’s like they’re there.”
The couple, whom are in
has gone on the road to Peru, Muncie, Marion, and more. They’ve been to nursing homes for as many as 30 veterans, who are recognized one at a time. There are eight headsets and usually there are a handful or fewer, or a veteran may be in hospice.
Another activity Mary enjoys is on a day before a flight leaves, when volunteers spend three or four hours putting together the lanyards, goodie bags, and other items for an upcoming flight. It’s done in the afternoon and pizza is normally ordered in, so Mary supplies homemade cookies.
“We do this specifically to honor our fathers,” said Cameron, known to friends as Cam. “The veterans tell us the trip was one of the most important days in their life. It’s a sign that it’s a meaningful day for them.”
His father was a medic
and the Korean War. Mary’s father served in WWII on the Air Corps, traveling around Europe, and ended up as a cook where he once unexpectedly created a meal for actor Clark Gable.
“He was an excellent cook,” Mary said, remembering holiday meals her dad would cook for the family.
Cameron didn’t serve in the military since he drew a high draft number and was getting his education and raising a family.
“It makes me feel good to serve on the Honor Flight,” he said.
He is a retired pharmacist, and his wife has retired from nursing, although she volunteers her medical training in service at a local clinic.
The couple will fly on their 10th Honor Flight as volunteers in May, leaving from Fort Wayne as usual. A oneof-a-kind trip happened Aug.
all veterans who had been awarded one or more Purple Hearts. Special attention was given to them and dignitaries and extra ceremonies were arranged.
The Moores are helping on the ground when they don’t go on the trips. On an April trip, they awoke at 2 a.m. from their home in Auburn to get to the base in time to help cook breakfast, hand out T-shirts and lanyards, and assist as needed.
Mary’s other project associated with the organization is to make pillows for the veterans. She makes 360, 12” by 18” pillows yearly in addition to giving smaller pillows made of the scraps to school children.
“We want them to grow up loving our country and respecting the people who keep it free,” Mary said.
For more information, visit hfnei.org or call (260) 633-
I saw my father cry only twice. One time was at his mother’s funeral. The other was on the day I left for Vietnam.
Dad accepted both situations with resolute understanding. This was the way life was. Old people died. Good men fought against evil. Neither was a
preferable circumstance, but both were necessary if the world was to continue with balance. You could cry about it...
He hadn’t. At his mother’s funeral, he personally saw to it every detail was attended to with dignity. Dad was 51. When he was 17, he joined the Navy in 1944. He was told he was too young. His father tried that day. But he signed the form. Fathers had no right
STAFF
to restrain him. His hadn’t. Twenty-one years later, mine hadn’t either.
It was Jan. 2, 1971. I was a PFC on leave from duty at Fort Knox, Ken. Today was my mother’s birthday and I was en route to my new duty station in south Vietnam.
As I rechecked my orders, I wasn’t sure I was pronouncing the name of my new duty station correctly.
As PFC, my military code was 71M20, chaplain’s assistant.
“It’s my job to find out something about you, your personality, and then suggest some job assignments.”
I nodded.
“Tell me, Private Hensley, how much social drinking do you do?”
“Abstainer since birth,” I replied.
I took a moment to collect my thoughts. The psychologist turned off a tape recorder.
“Just tell me if you have qualms...of fighting Communists.”
“No. That’s why I enlisted.”
At the end of basic training, I was given orders to remain at Fort Knox. I reported to the chaplain August 1970.
It was a matter of life and death... my own and the chaplain’s I would be protecting.
Like medics, chaplains were excused from having to bear arms. They had one direct source of protection, besides prayer: chaplain’s assistant.
it. He understood. A good man did what he had to do.
After I was sent home in 1972, I saw innocent people killed in cold blood and helpless boat people sink and drown... and I said we were right to have helped those people. They needed us. Why did we stop helping?
While at Fort Knox, I was part of the Armor Corps. When my orders for Vietnam came, I was reassigned to the military police.
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My father said, “Keep your Bible and rifle ready.” I promised I would.
The flights to Vietnam were long. I had a chance to slowly, carefully replay the memory of my life.
In Sunday school, my teacher gave me a New Testament as a reward. It was always with me, that same New testament, as I flew toward Vietnam.
I really didn’t worry about making a difference in Viet-
nam. I just accepted the assignment. God would provide the opportunities. It was time for good men to come forward. According to Army records, I did make a difference during my year in Vietnam. Perhaps. I flew in helicopters and protected chaplains. It was rough at times but they gave me the Bronze Star and two Vietnamese service medals. I accepted the medals and wrote home to my father about
And the unspoken answer became obvious: because good men quit coming forward to fight against evil.
Now that spring has sprung, it’s time to buy winter clothing, as well as other snow-time gear and equipment, such as skis and snowmobiles.
Wait until summer is over to stock up on t-shirts, shorts and swim suits.
Post-season shopping can save you money and still keep your closet comfortably stocked with new clothing.
A simple example of this method of saving is the annual trip to the shopping mall the day after Christmas to stock up on wrapping paper for next year.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
If Les Kroemer were a rock star, he’d give lots of credit to his band members. But since Kroemer is a soccer referee, he simply compliments others in his field every chance he gets.
“There are a lot of great referees out there,” he said.
Recently retired from being a referee for 25 years at the college level, Kroemer continues to referee at the lower levels, including club level with younger kids.
“I’m more like a grandpa for club games,” he said. “I don’t blow the whistle too loud. I encourage them with ‘try that again.’ Once a 9-year-old girl asked me to tie her shoe. She was so precious.”
He’s unique in that he can morph into whatever the situation calls for when he referees. On the college level, he was always aware of keeping the players as well as the coaches staying level headed.
He’s developed a fan or two as he went along, among parents.
“A woman stopped me in the grocery store and asked if I’m a referee. She said she always hoped I was assigned to her kids’ games,” he recalled.
But Kroemer is a fan of his fellow referees and they help one another out. Lately, he offered some suggestions to a referee with “only” five years in the career. Another time, a play happened that he’d never seen before. He needed to navigate how to call it. Afterward, he shared the experience with several other referees so they could all be aware of what to do if that game situation ever occurred while they were refereeing.
Being a referee requires a lot of running. He will sometimes run five to seven miles as he works the games. The physical demands are the reason he scaled back from working at the college level.
“My legs are getting older, and I’m getting slower and the 18-year-olds keep coming in with their young legs,” he said with a laugh.
He said that thinking through all of the duties of the job really stretched him. He would sometimes come home late at night and have trouble “unwinding” mentally. Going to bed and falling asleep immediately upon his return was near impossible.
Until a couple of years ago, Kroemer worked full time for Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion. For that reason, he showed about an hour or so radius he was willing to go
It probably hasn’t occurred to you, but going to church may be likened to group therapy — especially for senior citizens.
Studies and surveys are coming up with findings that indicate regular attendance at church services is not only good for your soul, but also soothes your health and spirits. The results cover all faiths and denominations from every corner of the globe.
There seems one small drawback. Religious folks have a tendency to be overweight, according to reports.
However, the benefits of attendance at and participation in religious services far outweigh that seeming flaw in the outcomes. And the more often, the better.
One report indicates regular church attendance over one’s lifetime can add six or seven years to one’s life.
Older adults are more likely than most people to pray, attend services and feel religion is important to them, according to a report from the Pew Research Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.
Part of the reason religious participation boosts one’s health is attributed to the social aspects of attending services with other folks. This gives one a sense of belonging to a group and lessens the feeling of being alone.
Prayer also is believed to bolster one’s sense of security and
sense of purpose because they feel connected to a higher power that is helping and supporting them through this life.
As part of your health maintenance program, you might discuss your religious views and values with your primary care physician. Let them know how church attendance helps and that you want a cleric at your side should you tumble near
It was early 1971, and 24-year-old Universal Studios employee Steven Spielberg found himself champing at the bit.
By RANDAL C. HILL
So far, he had directed a few TV episodes, but he was eager to make his mark in the movies and felt that all he needed to launch his career was the right vehicle for him.
“Vehicle” becomes the operative word here.
That April, Steven’s secretary showed him a Playboy short story called “Duel.” The riveting tale had been written by sci-fi author Richard Matheson, whom Spielberg
admired for his scripts for Rod Serling’s now-classic “The Twilight Zone.”
Matheson based “Duel” on an actual incident from 1963, when an aggressive truck driver had tailgated him for miles on a freeway and left him terrified and exhausted.
(Matheson would later write the screenplay that helped to rocket Spielberg into the Big Time.)
Steven saw “Duel” as being just what he wanted. “I thought it was a complete exercise in a cat-and-mouse game of classic suspense,” he said of Richard’s tale of milquetoast salesman David Mann in a vulnerable little sedan being chased — inexplicably — along desolate California desert roads by a psychotic tanker-truck driver, his machine belching smoke and his full-throttle diesel en-
as one of
gine growling like an enraged animal.
The story, assigned to Spielberg as a low-budget
ABC-TV “Movie of the Week” project, reminded him of a suspenseful Alfred Hitchcock work, sort of a “The Birds” on wheels.
For the crucial lead role, he chose Dennis Weaver, best known as Chester from the TV series “Gunsmoke.” Steven used dialogue sparingly, as he did with the screechy, “Psycho”-like soundtrack.
The young director “auditioned” several tanker trucks before settling on a 1957 Peterbilt, which he chose because of its seeming “face” — the split windshield became the eyes; the huge, protruding snout seemed menacing, the grille and bumper a sneering mouth. Grease covered the windows, and the truck’s body was streaked with oil and dirt.
The truck was driven by Cory Loftin, Hollywood’s finest-ever stunt driver. It was imperative to Steven that the driver’s face never be shown. (“The unseen is always more frightening,” he reminds us.)
At all times, the viewer is drawn into the grip of the looming threat of danger — or death — from Loftin’s steel monster in full road rage, a rolling time bomb ready to explode at any moment, an aggressor in high pursuit and often close to bringing down its frightened, hapless prey.
Universal gave Spielberg a mere 10 days for the shoot (he went three days over) and had wanted filming to be done at their Hollywood sound stage; Speilberg, though, was adamant that everything be shot on desert roads in order to effectively capture the growing suspense and urgency necessary for the story to become a true nail-biter.
Today, “Duel” is regarded as one of the best — if not the best — TV movies ever aired. All of Spielberg’s greatest strengths are on display here, years before the many classic blockbuster films that made him the most successful movie director in Tinseltown history.
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
Tim McCulloch, Owner
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
Wayne or (260)
Huntington and clean out your junk!
A:
Elder abuse affects some of our most vulnerable citizens—our seniors. It’s crucial to recognize the signs of elder abuse and understand the steps to take if suspected. Elder abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, financial, or neglect. Physical abuse may be shown as unexplained injuries, while emotional abuse could involve threats or intimidation. Financial abuse might include unusual bank activities or changes in estate documents. Neglect is often evident when an elder appears poorly cared for or malnourished.
Recognition of the abuse is the first step in getting the abused person help. Watch for changes in behavior or appearance that might indicate abuse, such as withdrawal, unexplained injuries, or sudden financial issues. These signs could point to mistreatment and warrant further investigation.
Once discovered, Indiana law mandates that you report the suspected elder abuse. You can anonymously report your concerns to Adult Protective Services at 1-800-992-6978. For immediate dangers, contact the Fort Wayne Police Department or call 911. Indiana Law provides a “safe haven” for those who report elder abuse in good faith. Under Indiana Code 35-46-1-12, elder abuse is a
criminal offense, subjecting perpetrators to fines and
Q. What can I do to prepare and ensure my end-of-life
Q. I need help with my aging parents but I don't know where to start. How can you help?
A. Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process by which you determine your wishes in regard to medical care and treatment. This process is a series of conversations you have with your loved ones about those wishes so that someone can speak for you when you cannot speak for yourself.
A. Aging & In-Home Services is the Area III Area Agency on Aging (AAA) designated by the State of Indiana and the federal government to serve older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers in northeast Indiana.
It is important that during your ACP conversations, you appoint someone you trust to speak on your behalf and that person is called a Health Care Representative.
The first step to receive help from us is to call our Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC), which provides streamlined access to information, care options, short-term case management and benefits enrollment across a spectrum of long-term services and supports.
There are no “rules” or eligibility requirements regarding age or health status to begin your own Advance Care Planning. ACP is always evolving, both personally and legislatively. It is encouraged to update your wishes as your personal and health situations change. For example, if your marital status changes or if your health declines or improves you may want to adjust accordingly.
From there, you may be referred to another program, such as the Family Caregiver Center, which offers support to caregivers with the goal of reducing caregiver stress and supporting the care recipient’s ability to remain at home rather than be institutionalized.
Abbey Graves Director, ADRC 260-745-1200
Katie Hougham Vice President, PACE Operations 260-745-1200 Ext. 450
Sometimes we receive calls with specific requests and other times we talk through situations to help identify what is needed.
At AIHS we incorporate ACP into all of our programs. We have resources available to help you walk through this conversation with your loved ones. We also have trained staff available to help facilitate these conversations.
We know these conversations aren’t always easy to have, but they are essential for maintaining the integrity of your wishes. Just Call Us if you need help starting your own ACP conversation.
Whether you are looking for a specific service in the community or you just need some direction, we are here to help. There is no cost to call the ADRC and ask for information, so if you or someone you know is in need of assistance, Just Call Us!
said, Medicare Advantage plans are administered by private insurance companies that are in business to make a profit. With the definition of INSURANCE being “transfer of risk”, it only makes sense that these private insurance companies will want to manage risk and reduce costs. Considering a good number of the Medicare Advantage plans offered in our area are $0 premium to the enrollee – isn’t it reasonable to agree that is a fair trade?
Prior Authorization (PA) isn’t new. The majority of health insurance plans require certain procedures and prescription drugs be qualified for medical necessity – rather than issuing blank checks. Medicare Advantage
plans must implement fraud, misuse, and abuse prevention programs that are strictly enforced by Medicare. PA is just one of the ways they can detect and correct this type of activity.
Have questions? Give our office a call at (260) 484-7010 to learn more about what your Medicare Advantage plan includes
Two
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.
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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, May 1, pixie bingo
9-10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, line dancing
9-10 a.m. Tuesday and Friday, euchre
1 p.m. every Tuesday, Bible
study with Bob 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, chair exercise
Noon Tuesday, dominoes 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, hand and foot card game
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, pizza
—o—
McMillian Park Community Center
For 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
Adult/open gym/volleyball, 6-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday
Or
Or
Or
The
Essential steps, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday and 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday
—o—
“Lucky Monster: Works by Jiha Moon” at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, on display through May 19. Moon, a contemporary Korean-American artist, focuses on painting, printmaking, and sculptural ceramic objects. The public is invited.
—o—
New Haven United Women in Faith will be holding its annual spring rummage sale to support its local and global mission works. The church is located at 630 Lincoln Highway East, New Haven.
The sale is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, with a $2 bag sale from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
—o—
The Historic Swinney Homestead will be open free to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 3, at 1424 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. The Annual Herb and Perennial Sale will be in the basement and on the back lawn. Parking is by the tennis courts. Proceeds from the plant sale support the Homestead. Call (260) 637-8622 or visit settlersinc.org.
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Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation announces that
Foellinger Theatre will host Lee Brice Thursday, Aug. 8. For all general and in-person ticket sales, visit the Parks and Recreation Department, 705 East State Blvd. or FoellingerTheatre.org.
—o—
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 1819 Reservation Drive, Fort Wayne (Waynedale), will host a huge rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 24, and a bag sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25. Bake sale included. Church furnishings, banquet ware and more will be sold.
—o—
A spring rummage sale will be at Martini Lutheran Church, 333 Moeller Road, New Haven. It is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 26. From 8 a.m. to noon Friday, May 27, is $2 bag sale day.
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The 15th Annual Outdoor Flea Market and Bazaar, hosted by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 241, is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at 7605 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne.
Cost: spaces $15, tables $5 if needed.
For reservations call (260) 431-7183 or (260) 751-8021. Proceeds from selling spaces and food will benefit veterans and families and local chari-
ties. Public is welcome.
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“Dani Kiefer: Wild and Free,” until June 22, during public hours, at Foellinger Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne. Kiefer is a teacher, graphic designer, illustrator and fine artist.
—o—
Color in Motion: Live Butterfly Exhibit, until June 23, during public hours, at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne.
—o—
16th Annual Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at Walb Student Union, Purdue University-Fort Wayne, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne. Opening ceremony is at noon. Admission is free. Visit cherryblossomfw.com.
—o—
Hurshtown Reservoir opens for the season Wednesday, May 1. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Located at 16000 Roth Road, Grabill, Hurshtown offers fishing, a 2.75-mile walking path, area for picnics, kayak and rowboat rentals. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday seasonally May to mid-October. Admission is $5 per car or $1 to walk or bike in. Season passes are available to purchase at the reservoir. For more information, call (260) 427-6000 or (260) 627-3390 during hours of operation.
“Ooga-chaka ooga ooga
“Ooga-chaka ooga ooga
“Ooga-chaka ooga ooga
“Ooga-chaka ooga ooga”
These nonsense syllables kicked off Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling.”
Romeo and Juliet!) Preston’s million-seller started with “ugga-ugga ugga-ugga ugga-ugga ugga-ugga,” a chant provided by both uncredited country superstar George Jones and the session’s recording engineer.
Let’s jump nearly a decade, to 1968. Songwriter Mark James has composed “Hooked on a Feeling,” a tune he wrote for his friend, singer B. J. Thomas. (James wrote the song about the thrills of being in love with his childhood sweetheart.)
This brings us (finally) to 1974. In Stockholm, Sweden, the seven-member band Blue Swede, fronted by Bjorn Skifs, recorded the most popular version ever of “Hooked on a Feeling.” Released on EMI Records, it reached Number One in several countries, including ours.
As absurd as the “words” are, this opening chant proved to be a goldmine gimmick for grabbing music-listeners’ attention worldwide.
It’s a meandering path that leads to the “ooga-chaka” we heard so often in 1974, so let’s do a little time-traveling.
In 1959, singer Johnny Preston topped the charts with “Running Bear,” a Big Boppercomposed tale of two Native Americans who love each other but are kept apart by their warring tribes. (Shades of
Thomas took James’s work to Number Five on Billboard’s Hot 100.
We come now to 1971 and to Jonathan King, a UK music star who had scored a Top 20 American hit in 1965 with the quirky “Everyone’s Gone to the Moon.” King, who realized the power of a “grabber” introduction on a record, took inspiration from the opening of “Running Bear” to create his own nonsense syllables — “oohachagga ooga ooga” — to open his cover version of “Hooked on a Feeling.” His recording did well on the English charts but went unnoticed in the United States.
James’s lyrics had claimed that love is like a drug, that one can be “high on believin’” and that he wants to “stay addicted” to the girl who can turn him on. Pretty innocent stuff, really, but Blue Swede wanted to avoid any possible drug references, so they changed a few words:
B. J. Thomas had claimed
“I got it bad for you, girl
“But I don’t need a cure
“I’ll just stay addicted
“If I can endure.”
But Blue Swede offered “Got a bug from you, girl
“But I don’t need no cure
“I just stay a victim
“If I can for sure.”
That awkward change — which never made sense — didn’t hinder the song from becoming a worldwide winner.
P. S., Blue Swede is often dismissed as another “one-hit
Eyesight can fade because of aging or an eye disease.
There are several simple steps outlined in the Mayo Clinic Health Letter to help compensate for eroding eyesight.
Equalize interior and exterior light sources around the house by leaving some indoor house lights on during bright sunny days. Cover shiny sur-
faces, such as a polished table, with a cloth to reduce glare. Dark-colored place mats can help at mealtime, and choose furnishings with a flat or matte finish.
Light up dark spots by installing lights in dark areas, such as inside closets. Keep flashlights handy for dark areas.
For better close-up vision, use bright, direct lighting. Position an adjustable lamp about four to eight inches from
reading material or a close-up task. Keep the lamp slightly to one side to reduce glare. If possible, position the light over the shoulder on the side of the better-seeing eye.
To take advantage of natural light, position yourself so that windows are to the side or behind you.
When reading, reduce glare by using a piece of dark construction paper to cover areas of text you’re not reading at that moment.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
wonder,” having a lone highcharting disc but no successful follow-ups. Actually, Blue Swede did release a second Top 10 single here, a cover of the Association’s 1967 work “Never My Love.” Peppy though it was,
Blue Swede’s rendition lacked “legs,” as their version didn’t have the catchiness of the smash single that had made the Swedish guys a brief headliner in the world of popular music.
When Ginny Vogel retired from her career as an educator with Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan Schools, she didn’t know what would come next. She opted to set aside some time and thought into figuring out the best place to put her efforts.
“I journaled, prayed, and talked with others,” she said. She ended up making notes and mulling over a few possibilities.
“One day I had my notebook open to a page and stepped away for a minute. When I came back, a praying mantis had landed and was sitting on the page,” she said.
Vogel had been leaning
through the court system.”
Most Indiana counties have CASA programs and through Vogel’s efforts, and those who came alongside her, Wells County is now among them.
At the time she decided to take on her new task, she was freshly enrolled in a university program to get another degree, but she discontinued her studies. Instead, she spent hours for weeks learning everything about CASA and getting trained on the national and state level. While working in the school system, she had been a school counselor, and she brought that experience into working with children in difficult circumstances that have brought them into the court system.
Vogel and her husband,
Some became CASA volunteers. She continues to be inspired and uplifted as she attends services weekly, and the CASA program is a topic of conversation.
She’s employed part time as the director by the courts and her family is on board for her mission with CASA.
“My husband has supported me in everything I do,” she said.
Working with dozens of children in situations that are so difficult is not easy. The program began with a handful of volunteers and is currently up to 19. Those who have joined have stayed until their schedules and locations required them to step aside. She attributes that to the importance of the work they do.
waterways. Anything polluting that goes down storm drains can harm streams, creeks and rivers. The Clean Drain’s motto is “Only Rain in the Drain.”
Selected artists will receive all necessary guidance, materials and paint for the mural painting. Drain artists will also
receive a small monetary gift as a thank-you for participating in the award-winning Clean Drains Fort Wayne messageoriented storm drain art mural initiative.
Interested artists can apply online and submit their designs at utilities.cityoffortwayne.org/ clean-drains-artists. The submission deadline is May 12.
The Fort Wayne Public Art Commission will review the designs. Selected artists will be notified by June 6.
The first group of murals will be painted at the selected sites from July 20-28. The second group of artists will be in the field from Aug. 17-25.
Clean Drains Fort Wayne: Be River SmART began as a three-year innovative partnership campaign between Friends of the Rivers and City Utilities. Over those transformative years, the program placed nearly 100 community murals, marked over 8,000 storm drains with the medallion stating, “Only Rain in the Drain,” and kept almost 10,000 pounds of trash from rivers. The need continues, however, so the program is back in year four, guided by city utilities in partnership with Art This Way.
One Saturday, something happened that made me very proud of my family and I want to share it with you.
It was about three in the afternoon and my adult son had just stopped by after a boxing workout. My wife had returned from a long morning of shopping and running errands. I had just played two hours of pickleball. What was I proud of?
Everyone took a nap. Right smack in the middle of the day.
People in the neighborhood were not only tossing around a football with the kids, gassing up the lawn mowers, or taking a walk in the nearby woods.
But the Wolfsies were all asleep. Brett sacked out on the couch, Mary Ellen in our king-sized bed, and I was tucked into my La-Z-Boy chair. Do I know how to pick a family or what?
I just wish I could have been awake to fully enjoy it. If I had not been napping myself, I would have run around the neighborhood bragging, “My whole family is taking a nap. My whole family is taking a nap.” But bellowing, “Two out of three people in my family are taking a nap” would have taken a bit of the shine off my bravado.
Of course, my son and wife are not experienced nappers. They have not spent the years I have perfecting the art of the timely snooze.
Unlike me, my wife has never slept through Paris on a bus or dozed through an entire baseball game. Unlike me, my son has never fallen asleep at his own surprise birthday party or while tutoring a student after class. They are novice nappers. But I was thrilled that there was hope.
Here it was Saturday afternoon, a gorgeous, crisp winter afternoon enticing every family in the neighborhood to go outside and enjoy the weather. But all the Wolfsies were napping.
Of course, there are some drawbacks to amateur napping. When my wife awakens, she apologizes for her lapse
and then spends the next three hours worrying she is coming down with something. I’m no medical expert, but I don’t think you need to give yourself a COVID test if you doze off for 20 minutes in the middle of the afternoon. When I doze off for an hour or so, I awaken with a renewed sense of purpose. Men and women place different values on a good daytime snooze. Women don’t like naps
because they are afraid they will miss something, like a sale or a sunset or the plot of a movie. But that’s exactly the reason I do nap. To miss things.
I do worry about my son, though. As a toddler, he showed great potential, often rivaling me. He’d fall asleep after a good meal and often snuck in a nap before going to bed. I had great expectations for him, but my hopes dimmed
as he grew up. He once sat through an entire “Harry Potter” movie without snoring. And more recently, he watched three and a half hours of “Oppenheimer” without digging his nails into his thigh. You may think we wasted the afternoon. That we squandered valuable time and frittered it away by dozing off at three in the afternoon. You are entitled to your opinion. But I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.
If you are my age or older, you might think that this article is going to be talking about those three little guys that would dance around your cereal bowl in the morning, but it’s not.
The snap, crackle and pop that I am referring to is the sounds that our knees, ankles, fingers and other joints make as we get older. The “A” word — Arthritis.
Arthritis comes in many shapes and sizes: degenerative, osteo, rheumatoid, psoriatic. Believe it or not, there are over 100 different types of “arthritis” that have been diagnosed, each having their very own characteristics, yet all having the same thing in common. It’s name gives it away. If you studied Latin, like me, it can be easily broken down: “arthro” equals joint, “itis” equals inflammation. Arthritis equals inflammation of the joints and inflammation equals pain. What causes arthritis?
Though reports are not conclusive for all types of arthri-
tis, aside from the wear and tear that takes its toll on our bodies, research suggests that inflammation that develops in our bodies could be the direct result of what we eat and drink. More specifically sugar, corn syrup, baked goods, and all that deliciousness that tempts even the strictest of dieters.
If you need help sorting out how your Medicare plan covers pain management and arthritis medications, me and my staff would be more than happy to go through your plan with you. Give us a call at (260) 484-7010.
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It’s a no-brainer to be told you have to take care of your eyes.
They enable you to drive, pick out the right fruit in the supermarket, play silly games with your grandkids, soak in the grandeur of the sites when you travel, and watch your favorite movies made from the favorite books you read.
But you’ll probably be taken aback when you’re told your eyes don’t see.
They do the looking so your brain sees.
Your brain directs everything in your body. It tells you when to lift your little finger when drinking tea and when to duck when someone throws a roundhouse punch at you. It also translates the images registered on your retina as you go about your daily living.
Since your eyes are vital tools for you to be able to function and
flourish, you have to take good care of them.
Your eyes can help you take care of them by helping you pick out your food. What you eat, it turns out, can affect your eyes. Researchers have found that what is known as the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes eating fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts, can lower the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of irreversible loss of vision and blindness after age 50.
These experts also recommend lowering your sugar intake, which increases the risk of glaucoma and cataracts as well as macular degeneration.
A healthy body will help sustain healthy vision so an exercise regimen — just 20 to 30 minutes a day — will help pump healthy oxygen through all the cells that make up every part of your body, including your eyes.
There are eye exercises you
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can do to keep both the muscles and lenses flexible as they react to light and shadow. You can do these anywhere, anytime. A simple one is to stretch your eyes to one side and then the other as you try to see your ears, then look up and try to see your forehead and look down and try to see you chin. You can check with your eye doctor for more help.
Which brings us to the newest and latest technological tools — mobile phones and computers and high-definition television
sets, among others. Take a break from staring into these tools. When you’re sitting at your computer, get up every 20 minutes or so and look out the window. It stretches your eyes while you stretch your legs.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
For many women, it’s tough to get a good night’s sleep. Studies show that women may be 20 to 50% more likely to have insomnia than men.
One culprit behind women’s sleep difficulties is fluctuating hormone levels, which can occur for several reasons.
If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, simple changes in your daily and nightly habits may result in better sleep. Here are a few simple steps.
Caffeine
Limit it. In addition to the
usual sources — coffee, tea and soda — be aware of caffeine in chocolate and medications used to treat headaches, colds and sinus congestion.
Nicotine
Nicotine impairs the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Alcohol
Even though drinking alcohol may make it easier to fall asleep, as few as one or two drinks within two hours of bedtime tend to disrupt your sleep and lead to more frequent awakening in the latter half of the night.
Inactivity
Lack of physical activity during the day is associated with
increased sleep problems. However, exercise close to bedtime can make it more difficult to fall asleep.
Large meals
Eating too much close to bedtime may make falling asleep and staying asleep more difficult.
Naps
Naps during the day can make it harder to fall asleep at night. If you can’t get by without one, limit it to less than 30 minutes.
If self-treatment strategies don’t help, ask your doctor for help. Sleep difficulties can be related to a number of medical conditions.
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HOOSIER PHYSICAL THERAPY
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Will Rogers was an American humorist and social commentator beloved by an entire nation.
He was born William Penn Adair Rogers on Nov. 4, 1879, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation in the Indian Territory that is now part of Oklahoma, and became known as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son.”
He travelled around the world three times, made 71 films (50 silent and 21 talkies) and wrote more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns. By the mid-1930s, Rogers was known throughout the country for his leading political wit and was the highest paid of Hollywood film stars.
Rogers began his career as a performer on the vaudeville stage. His rope act led to success in the Ziegfeld Follies, which led to the first of his many movie and radio contracts. His earthy anecdotes and folksy style allowed him to poke fun at gangsters, prohibition, politicians, government programs, and a host of other controversial topics in a way that found general acclaim from a national audience with no one offended.
“I am not a member of an organized political party,” he pro-
To a senior community in a quiet northeast residential setting
claimed, “I am a Democrat.” One of his most famous sayings was: “I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn’t like.”
Rogers was born on his parents’ Dog Iron Ranch near present day Oologah, Oklahoma, now in Rogers County named in honor of his father, Clement V. Rogers.
He claimed his ancestors did not come over on the Mayflower, but they “met the boat.” He was an avid reader, but dropped out of school after the 10th grade. He said he was a poor student who “studied the Fourth Reader for 10 years.”
He was much more interested in cowboys and horses, and learned to use a lariat to launch his show business career as a trick roper in “Texas Jack’s Wild West Circus” touring South Africa
On April 27, 1905, during a trip to New York City, Rogers was at Madison Square Garden when a wild steer broke out of the arena and began to climb into the viewing stands. Rogers roped the steer to the delight of the crowd. The feat got front page attention from the newspapers, giving him valuable publicity and an audience eager to see more.
Willie Hammerstein saw his roping vaudeville act and signed
Rogers to appear on the Victoria Roof, which was literally on a rooftop, with his pony. In the fall of 1915, Rogers began to appear in Florenz Ziegfeld’s Midnight Frolic. The variety revue began at midnight in the top floor night club of Ziegfeld’s New Amsterdam Theatre that drew many influential customers.
Rogers’ monologues on the news of the day followed a similar routine every night. He appeared on stage in Western clothes, nonchalantly twirling his lasso, saying, “Well, what shall I talk about? I ain’t got anything funny to say. All I know is what I read in the papers.”
Rogers had made 48 silent movies when sound arrived in
1929, and he became a top star in that medium. His first talkie, “They Had to See Paris” (1929), gave him the chance to reveal his verbal wit.
From 1922 to 1935, The New York Times syndicated his weekly newspaper column. His short column “Will Rogers Says” reached 40 million readers. The humorist advised Americans to embrace the frontier values of neighborliness and democracy on the domestic front, while remaining clear of foreign entanglements. He took a strong, highly popular stand in favor of aviation, including a military air force of the sort his flying buddy General Billy Mitchell advocated. He wrote from a non-partisan point of view and became a friend of presidents. Loved for his cool mind and warm heart, he was often considered the successor to humorist Mark Twain. Rogers became a star on the radio by broadcasting his newspaper pieces. His weekly radio show ranked among the top national programs.
In 1908, Rogers married Betty Blake (1879–1944), and the couple had four children: Will Rogers Jr., Mary, James, and Fred. Junior became a World War II hero, played his father in two films, and later was elected to Congress. Mary became a
Broadway actress, and James a newspaperman and rancher. Fred died of diphtheria at age two.
From about 1925 to 1928, Rogers travelled the length and breadth of the United States in a “lecture tour.” He began his lectures by pointing out that, “A humorist entertains, and a lecturer annoys.” He became the first civilian to fly from coast to coast with early air mail pilots.
In 1932, Rogers supported Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt for president. While he supported Roosevelt’s New Deal, he joked about it just as easily. “Lord, the money we do spend on Government and it’s not one bit better than the government we got for one-third the money 20 ago.”
Asked what issues would motivate 1932 voters, Rogers quipped: “Prohibition. What’s on your hip is bound to be on your mind.” Asked if there should be presidential debates? “Yes: Joint debate in any joint you name.”
When asked, “What does the farmer need?” Rogers replied, “Obviously, he needs a punch in the jaw if he believes either of the parties cares a damn about him after the election.” He downplayed academic credentials, noting, “Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.”
Will Rogers became an advo-
Continued on page 16
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It is almost the favorite time of year . . . time for Senior Games. The coordinators, volunteers and staff have been preparing for the 45th Senior Games since last July. Everyone has been discussing what worked, what didn’t and how to make this year even better. Senior Games is a great way to keep your brain and your body active.
There will be events that will challenge you mentally and physically.
There is an event for everyone.
One of the best parts about Senior Games is that everyone can afford it. The entry fee is only $1 per event until June 1. After that, the fee will
events, they will get a Senior Games T-shirt for free. Any participant of Senior Games is invited to attend the Opening Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. June 3. At this event, a free continental breakfast is provided. There is also an official proclamation, torch lighting ceremony and a friendly game against the parks and recreation director and overall winners from 2023. A Health and Wellness Fair will also take place at the Community Center during the Opening Ceremony from 8:30-11:30 a.m. At the fair meet sponsors and speak with different vendors about a variety of topics. There are over 40 different mentally and/or physically
nior Games. There are events that do not require any athletic ability or talent whatsoever. All you need is a brain and competitive spirit. You can even go for a boat ride on the parks pontoon boat. A variety of events from paper airplane flying, timed jigsaw puzzle and checkers to axe throwing, cornhole and pickleball will be available. If you don’t know how to play pickleball, come to the intro to pickleball event where kids, adults and older adults can learn how to play from members of the Fort Wayne Pickleball Club. That will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18 at Lions Park.
The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Community
physically and mentally, and to encourage adults over the age of 50 to adapt a healthy lifestyle. That is what Senior Games is all about. That and learning a new game, creating friendships, having fun and of course winning. For a complete list and schedule of events, as well as a registration form, visit fortwayneparks.org, come to the Community Center at 233 W. Main St. or call 260-427-6460 to have a brochure mailed to you. Over 500 people participated in 2023. Help reach the goal this year of over 550 participants. The organizers love seeing friends from previous years but can’t wait to make new ones!
It’s more widely known as Pacific Coast Highway, but the old US 101 is as storied as it’s more renowned neighbor, Route 66.
We took our motor home, Marvin the Magnificent, along some of the remaining sections — much of it has been obliterated in the metropolitan Los Angeles region — to recall fond memories and build new ones along this scenic coastal route that links Canada with Mexico.
After tracing its original route — currently called Highway 1 — along the Pacific from Dana Point an hour north of downtown San Diego and on through Malibu, we rolled into Oxnard about 60 miles north of Hollywood and, voila! there was US 101.
Our first stop was in nearby Simi Valley, which houses the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
My mom served him breakfast every morning when he was the play-by-play voice of the Chicago Cubs on WHO radio in Des
Moines, IA, and passed on her reactions, all favorable, to me through the years.
These recollections made it even more poignant to hear the former sportscaster-actor-California governor-U.S. President, whose memory was erased by Alzheimer’s disease after he left office, close the 22-minute opening film in his library with, “I’ll take away so many great memories when I leave office.”
Our next stop was at Solvang to drop into Mission Santa Ynez, the 19th of 21 Spanish missions initiated more than two centuries ago by Franciscan friars along El Camino Real, which forms the founding backbone of California and is the original route of Highway 101. The Santa Ynez Valley is California’s wine country, locals will tell you. Other areas that claim otherwise are just pretenders, they say.
The Hans Christian Anderson-looking Scandinavian village neighboring the mission has many attractions, but we just took time to soak in the Museum of Gasoline Pumps, since
this was an automotive odyssey Pismo Beach was next stop on this 1,500-mile ribbon of pavement. It’s just south of the first motel in the world that was opened to highway travelers in 1925 at nearby San Luis Obispo. It began as the Milestone MoTel and is currently called the Motel Inn.
About 10 miles north of San Luis Obispo is Morro Bay, called the Gibraltar of the Pacific because of Morro Rock punching out of the ocean just off the coast. It’s one of nine extinct volcanic peaks that punctuate the coastline.
Another couple of dozen miles north, we detoured into San Simeon, the fabled castle built over three decades by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst.
Hearst couldn’t stop collecting “stuff” and his collection of priceless art from around the world attracts more than 1 million visitors a year, making the Hearst Castle State Historical Monument the only state park that makes a profit year in and year out.
There aren’t many cities that have played such an important part of California history as Monterey, up the road a piece. It was the capital of both Spanish and Mexican California and, for a time, the headquarters of territorial Gov. John C. Fremont during its transition to the
United States.
Besides being the site of the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium and Maritime Museum of Monterey, it’s also the home of John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, which once was touted as the sardine capital of the world.
Inland about 30 minutes is Steinbeck’s home town, Salinas, and his memorial – the National Steinbeck Center with its scenes recreated from such books as East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath, clips of movie versions of his works, and his notes and references. A few minutes away is the 1898 Victorian structure that was the Pulitzer Prize-winner’s boyhood home. Next door to Monterey is Carmel, home of Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmel, the second mission to be established in California. Buried under its altar is the body of Junipera Serra, the founder of the first missions to open up the California Coast to European settlers.
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Continued from page 14
cate for the aviation industry after noticing advancements in Europe and befriended Charles Lindbergh, the most famous American aviator of the era. Rogers’ newspaper columns frequently emphasized the safety record, speed, and convenience of aviation and he helped shape public opinion on the subject.
In 1935, famed aviator Wiley Post, a fellow Oklahoman, became interested in surveying a mail-and-passenger air route from the West Coast to Russia. Rogers asked Post to fly him across Alaska.
On Aug. 15, they left Fairbanks for Point Barrow. About 20 miles southwest of Point Barrow they landed to ask directions. On takeoff, the engine failed and the aircraft plunged into the lagoon, shearing off the right wing. Both men died instantly.
Rogers was buried Aug. 21, 1935, in Forest Lawn Park in Glendale, CA. It was a temporary interment. He was reinterred at the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, OK.
Mature
When baseball greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig went on tour in 1934 in baseballcrazy Japan, some in the U.S. sporting world wondered why Moe Berg, a third-rate catcher, was included on the team. Although he played with five major-league teams from 1923 to 1939, Berg was considered mediocre, but he was regarded as the brainiest ballplayer of all time.
New York Yankee’ manager Casey Stengel once said, “He (Berg) is the strangest man ever to play baseball.”
Morris Berg was a U.S. spy working undercover with the Office of Strategic Services, forerunner of the CIA. He spoke 15 languages, including Japanese. He had two loves: baseball and spying.
In Tokyo, garbed in a kimono, Berg took flowers to the daughter of an American diplomat being treated in St. Luke’s Hospital … the tallest building in the Japanese capital.
He never delivered those flowers. Instead, Berg ascended to the hospital roof and filmed key features of the harbor in Tokyo Bay, military installations, and railway yards. Eight years later, U.S. Army Air Corps Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle studied Berg’s films in planning his spectacular raid over Tokyo in 1942.
During his youth, Berg’s father disapproved of his baseball career and never once watched his son play. In high school, Berg learned Latin, Greek and French. As an adult, he read at least 10 newspapers every day.
Berg was undoubtedly the most educated ballplayer ever to don a major league uniform. To describe Berg as being smart would be an understatement. He graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, having added Spanish, Italian, German and Sanskrit to his linguistic quiver. During further studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, and later Columbia Law School, he picked up Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Arabic, Portuguese and Hungarian … 15 languages in all, plus some regional dialects.
While playing baseball for Princeton, he would describe plays in Latin or the ancient language of Sanskrit to fellow
players sitting on the bench.
The OSS quickly determined Berg to be the best of candidates for being a spy. During World War II, the ballplayer was parachuted into Yugoslavia to assess the value to the war effort of the two groups of partisans there.
He reported back that Marshall Tito’s forces were widely supported by the people and Winston Churchill ordered all-out support for the Yugoslav underground fighters. At the age of 41, the parachute jump undoubtedly was a challenge, but there would be more to come in that same year of 1942.
Berg penetrated Germanheld Norway, met with members of the underground and located a secret heavy water plant, which was part of the Nazis’ effort to build an atomic bomb. His information guided the Royal Air Force in a bombing raid over Norway, which destroyed that heavy water plant.
There still remained the question of how far had the Nazis progressed in the race to build the first atomic bomb. The problem was “…if the Nazis were successful at building the bomb, they would win the war.” Berg (under the code name “Remus”) was sent to Switzerland to attend a conference where leading German physicist and Nobel Laureate Werner Heisenberg was lecturing. Berg was to determine if the Nazis were close to building an A-bomb.
He managed to slip past the SS guards at the auditorium by posing as a Swiss graduate student.
In his pocket, Berg carried a pistol and a cyanide pill. If the German scientist indicated the Nazis were close to building an atomic weapon, Berg was ordered to shoot him and then swallow the cyanide pill.
Berg sat in the front row of the assembled scientists and quickly determined the Germans were nowhere near their goal. So, after complimenting Heisenberg on his speech, Berg walked with the German back to his hotel as they talked casually about the lecture. After the War it was determined by the OSS that Heisenberg, a Jew, had somehow blocked the Nazis from developing an atomic weapon. Most of Germany’s leading physicists had been Jewish and had fled the Nazis,
mainly to Britain and the United States.
Berg’s report was distributed to President Franklin Roosevelt, Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill and key figures in the “Manhattan Project” who working to develop the American A-bomb. Roosevelt told OSS director Gen.
“Wild Bill” Donovan, “Give my regards to the catcher.”
After the war, Berg was awarded the Medal of Freedom, America’s highest honor for a civilian during wartime, but he refused to accept it because he couldn’t tell people about his exploits. After his death on May 29, 1972, Berg’s sister ac-
cepted the medal, which now is displayed in the Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, NY.
This little-known World War II story has been made into a movie, “The Catcher Was a Spy,” starring Paul Rudd, which is available on Amazon Prime streaming service.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
If they haven’t already been included in the list of endangered species, round barns should be. Their numbers are getting smaller and smaller because of decay, weather, maintenance expenses and rising taxes. Back in the middle of the 20th Century, there were more than 440 round and/or polygonal barns throughout the United States. Today, there are less than 100.
By ROD KINGFulton County had more of them (17) than any other county. In fact, it was known as the “Round Barn Capital of the World” until 1971, when it was discovered that a Wisconsin county had 20. They deferred to Fulton County, so it still holds the title and is still the place to see these magnificent structures. There are only eight left.
The best place is the Round Barn Museum, run by the Fulton County Historical Society, located on U.S. 31, just four miles north of Rochester.
The museum’s barn, which was originally on a dairy farm, has a diameter of 60 feet and is 65 feet tall. The main floor served as storage for hay, straw and grain and now houses a variety of 1900s farm implements. Light filtering through
the cupola windows gives the structural members a sort of artsy, geometrical appearance.
Cows were fed and milked in the lower level. All the stalls face inward, making feeding more efficient, saving farmers lots of steps. Purdue University declared in the early 1900s that round barns were economical.
First, their capacity is larger than rectangular barns. They’re faster, easier and cheaper to construct than a post-and-beam barn because they utilize oneinch lumber instead of one-footthick beams, and nails could be used instead of pegs.
This particular barn was built in 1924, with the last owner, Mr. Paxton, donating it to the Historical Society after a tornado ripped most of the roof off. It was moved to its present site and restored in 1990-91 for $65,000.
Some theories give the
Continued on page 19
Light filtering through the cupola windows on top of the round barn gives the structural members an artsy geometrical look. These barns were considered easier, cheaper and faster to build than rectangular barns because they utilize one-inch lumber instead of one-foot-thick beams. In addition, nails could be used instead of wood pegs.
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Continued from page 18
English credit for developing round/polygonal barns to protect horses walking in a circle to produce power to operate mills. The earliest one in this country belonged to our first president, George Washington. He had a 16-sided barn built in 1792 on his farm near Mount Vernon. It was torn down in 1870. A replica was erected in 1995-1996.
Shakers built the first true round barn in this country in Massachusetts in 1824. They preferred round barns because there were no corners for evil spirits to hide in. The height of the round-barn building boom was in 1910.
The first round barn to be built in the Hoosier state was in 1874 and the last one went
up in 1936.
In addition to the round barn, the Historical Society has a large collection of historical memorabilia from the early 1900s and a living history village called Loyal, which existed a few miles away. It was originally known as Germany, but the name was changed to Loyal during World War I. It features structures built between 1900 and 1925.
There is no admission fee to visit the Round Barn Museum, 37 E. CR 375N, Rochester. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The museum is just four miles north of Rochester on U.S. 31.
For more information, visit fultoncountyhistory.org or call (574) 223-4436.
Many pre-pandemic rules and regimens have been replaced or revised. It seems like an exception has been made for airports. They’re still a hassle to get through, thanks in part to security measures imposed after the 9/11 Twin Tower attack that are still in play.
There are ways you can make your trip more enjoyable.
First off, get to the airport early.
This will ease the strain on your patience because you won’t be fighting the clock as well as the crowd to get to your departure gate.
Airports can be daunting because of their size.
Sky Harbor International Airport sprawls over 300 acres just three miles from downtown Phoenix, AZ.
It’s more than a mile-and-ahalf from the ticket counter to some gates in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
There is help available. Simply ask for a wheelchair.
Federal law requires all airlines operating in the U.S to pro-
Paying bills by automatic withdrawals from your bank account can save you from late payments as well as cut back on your postage and mailing costs.
Some folks prefer to have the monthly payments withdrawn from a credit card, which is paid off with a single monthly payment from the bank account.
In either case, you should make a list of such payments that can be reviewed by survivors after your death to make sure all payments are made and scammers have not added charges to your accounts.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
vide a wheelchair or motorized cart with an attendant to anyone making a request. No proof of any disability is required. Just ask for it at check-in.
Better yet, call the airline at least 48 hours before check-in and make your request. If you plan on taking a carry on, make sure it’s small and manageable enough to ride in the wheelchair with you.
If you’re trip involves making connections, keep in mind that wheelchair users debark the airplane last so you have to allow for that time between flights.
Wheelchair attendants are not required to make stops at restaurants or food stands so you may want to prepare your own airport lunch before leaving home. You’ll also have to take that into account if you plan to use wheelchair service for connecting flights.
And don’t forget to tip the attendant. If he or she does stop so you can pick up a bite, make the tip larger.
• Private apartment with full, private
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• Emergency call devices in
• Mini-blinds
Auburn Road Fort Wayne, IN evergreenvillage-fortwayne.com
• 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
On Memorial Day, our nation honors military service members who have given their lives to preserve our freedoms. Families, friends, and communities come together to remember the great sacrifices of military members and ensure their legacies live on.
The benefits we provide can help the families of deceased military service members.
For example, surviving spouses and dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. You can learn more about those benefits at ssa.gov/benefits/ survivors.
We also offer support to wounded warriors. Social Security benefits protect veterans when injuries prevent them
from returning to active duty or performing other work. Both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Social Security have disability programs. You may qualify for disability benefits through one or both programs. Read our fact sheet, “Social Security Disability and Veterans Affairs Disability — How Do They Compare?” at ssa.gov/pubs/EN-64-125.pdf.
Depending on your situation, some members of your family, including your dependent children or spouse, may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits.
Wounded military service members can receive quicker processing of their Social Security disability claims. If you are a veteran with a 100% Permanent & Total compensation rating from Veterans Affairs, we’ll expedite your disability claim.
Thinking about retirement
or know a veteran who is?
Military service members can receive Social Security benefits in addition to their military retirement benefits. For details, visit our webpage for veterans, available at ssa.gov/people/ veterans.
Please share this information with the military families you know. We honor and thank the veterans who bravely served and died for our country and the military service members who serve today.
OFFERING SUPPORT TO MILITARY HEROES The Social Security Administration provides benefits, and support to military members and their families through a variety of benefits. Photo provided by Social Security Administration.
When creating a personal downsizing plan, it may be important to consider certain aspects of an individual’s life, including their physical limitations, financial information, support system and timelines.
Here is why these factors
can be relevant.
1. Understanding an individual’s physical limitations is crucial because it helps determine their specific needs and accommodations.
2. Obtaining an individual’s financial information is necessary to assess their financial resources, obligations and limitations. Downsizing often involves financial adjustments, such as selling a home,
downsizing living expenses or managing retirement funds.
3. The support system of an individual includes their family, friends or community resources. In a downsizing plan, it is important to identify the available support network and consider how it can assist during their transitions.
4. Understanding the individual’s time frame for downsizing is crucial for effective
planning. Some individuals may have a specific deadline or urgency due to various reasons, such as financial constraints, upcoming relocation or retirement.
By considering all this information, the downsizing plan can be customized to meet their unique needs and circumstances. This approach enhances the person’s overall experience and minimized
potential challenges. It will also promote a successful downsizing transition. It is important, however, to respect privacy, obtain the person’s consent and handle personal information securely and confidentially in compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.
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
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If you or a loved one is or will be downsizing and transitioning to a different lifestyle, contact us as we are here to help you or a family member. You can reach out to one of our relocation specialists at (260) 459-3911 in Fort Wayne or call (260) 356-3911 in Huntington. You can also contact us through our website at NessBros.com or stop in our offices, located at 3344 Mallard Cove Lane, Fort Wayne, and in Huntington at 519 N. Jefferson St.
