Senior Life - Elko Edition - April 2023

Warsaw Parks and Recreation has activities for everyone

ter for Lakes and Streams and the Warsaw Community Public Library,” she said.

Warsaw Parks and Recreation has a calendar filled with family-friendly events planned for the community throughout the year. A lot goes into planning those events and ensuring there is something for everyone to do and enjoy.

“There are 19 parks in Warsaw,” said Recreation Director Stephanie Schaefer. “We don’t use all of those. There are some that we use more often — Municipal Park, Central Park, Kelly Park — we use Lucerne Park a lot, too. We have beautiful parks here in Warsaw. I’m very proud of them. I think that comes back to Larry (Plummer) and Shaun (Gardner). They work really hard maintaining those parks and making them beautiful. That way when I make an event or have a program

in one of those parks, they look great.”

Schaefer oversees all of the programs, events and concerts that take place in the parks. She plans events for children, teens, adults and seniors and loves communicating with each of those groups to ensure everyone is having a great time at whatever event is going on.

“Some of our new programs for 2023 that I’m very excited about are the Mommy

and Son dance,” said Schaefer. “We’ve always had a daddydaughter dance and have had a lot of people asking for one for moms and sons. We are going to be having one of those in May. We are going to be having some pickleball clinics for adults and children. I’ve added a painting class for seniors that will be held in October. We’ve added some new forms of art in our “Art in the Park” classes to give people some experiences

with new forms of art, such as jewelry-making, macrame, water color paintings, canvas paintings — just looking at new ways to add art to those programs.”

She said a big goal is making those fit inside her budget and making use of partners and outside resources, adding “organization is huge in this job.”

“I have formed some great partnerships in the community like the Lilly Cen-

“I think these partnerships have been a successful addition to our programming and I’m very thankful for everyone who’s been involved in that. I like people to be happy and to have something to do in our community. I try to keep all programs low cost or free. That really drives me to look for different resources here, and that’s why those partnerships are important, too.”

Schaefer said she enjoys creating new programs and events that engage the community. She believes that every individual should have an opportunity to enjoy and participate in recreational activities here through the parks department.

“When I travel or visit parks or I’m out in nature, its just very relaxing,” she said.

“Giving Continued on page 3

Community Active Aging and Wellness Resource Fair April 20

Aging Connections of Michiana will host an Active Aging and Wellness Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Elkhart Health and Aquatics Center, 200 E. Jackson Blvd., Elkhart. Admission, parking, mammograms, and COVID-19 vaccines will be free.

There will be free, multi-topic educational presentations from area aging experts, followed by a chance to participate in a live Q&A session.

The feature presentation and panel discussion will be led by Kim Williams, director, Indiana Parkinson Foundation titled, “Parkinson’s Disease and Resources to Improve the Journey.” Joining Williams will be Jessie Hillock, M.A., CCC-SLP,

CDP, a dementia care specialist, certified dementia practitioner, and speech-language pathologist.

Also joining her is John M. Templeton, who has a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering, a master of science in biomedical engineering, and a degree in biomedical engineering.

Peggy L. Prieshoff, R.N., will also be present. She is an Athletics and Fitness Association of America group fitness instructor, a balanced body pilates reformer trainer, a cardiac rehab instructor, a CLIMB trainer, spinning instructor, and a water in motion and YogaFit instructor.

People will have the opportunity to speak with 60-plus

local resources on-site to help transition seamlessly through the best phase of life. This is a one-stop-shopping event for community members looking to connect with valuable local resources.

“We love events like these because they are at the heart of our mission,” said Malana Maher, president and founder of ACOM. “Aging Connections provides professional and community education, and our members provide the continuum of aging resources. ACOM is a resourcing organization and connects individuals with the services and providers that best meet their current needs. So, we encourage everyone to attend this free event to discover ways we may be able to help.”

Founded in 2020, Aging Connections is a nonprofit, grassroots cooperative of individuals and organizations working together in partnership to catalyze and promote their program of work.

The programs include educational offerings, promoting business, building community and relationships, and serv-

ing the aging population for the benefit of each other, other professionals, and the community at large. Aging Connections is continuing to grow and now has four chapters serving eight counties in Indiana and a new chapter serving southwestern Michigan.

For additional information, visit www.agingconnections.org.

Tea: Nature’s healthy tonic

We’ve heard a lot about the health and hazards of drinking coffee but little has been promulgated about the benefits of that healthy worldwide tonic — tea.

So easy to make. A cup of hot water and a tea bag. It can be quaffed hot, cold or iced. This simple brew made from black, white, oolong or green tea leaves contains more than 2,000 beneficial chemicals.

More than 2 million cupfuls of this natural health food are sipped every day around the globe.

The natural compounds boost metabolic systems ranging from burning body fat to reducing the risk of such chronic diseases as diabetes and dementia.

According to Bottom Line Health, a decade-long National Institutes of Health study revealed people who drink two to three cups of tea a day have a 13% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who do not drink tea. The tea drinkers also face a lower risk of dying from heart disease and stroke.

Researchers found data from more than 350,000 seniors between the ages of 50 and 74 that indicated those who drank three to five cups of tea a day had a 28% lower risk of becoming victims of dementia.

Tea also helps lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in several ways. Besides lowering your blood pressure, it also protects your heart and brain by improving your blood flow. The brew also lowers LDL cholesterol and helps repair the lining of blood vessels.

Research has also revealed green tea helps kill cancer cells. A Harvard Medical School report indicates tea reduces the risk of oral cancer by almost 40% as well as reducing the risk of other cancers, including that of the breast and liver.

Besides being a quality beverage to enjoy socially or all by yourself, what else can it do?

It can also lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than 15%, according to a European report.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Key Positions

Leslie Rigsby develops understanding of the elderly

“I’ve been a recreation therapist for 25 years,” stated Leslie Rigsby. “For the past seven-anda-half years I’ve been working at Heritage House in Nappanee as the life enrichment director. The older I get, the more I can relate to the residents in our assisted living facility. I’m starting to feel some aches and pains like they have. And they are able to relate to me. They remember the time when they had jobs to go to each day. The women had to also come home and fix supper, same as me.”

Rigsby has always been drawn to the elderly. “I spent a lot of time with my grandparents when I was growing up. They were very special people. I view our residents as extended family members. I used to view them as grandparents. Now they’re more the age of parents. They mentor and instruct me.”

She did not start out as an activity director. “I began my career as a CNA (certified nursing assistant) when I lived in Marion. The administrator asked me if I’d like to take some extra training and become an activity director.” Rigsby received her training in Indianapolis.

A typical day for her at the assisted living facility starts with exercise class. “Then we move on to coffee chat. After lunch and resident naps, we begin structured activities at 2 p.m. We might do soda shop. We have a Wii bowling tournament in late fall that extends to spring. The teams in the tournament have a yearly banquet where winners receive trophies. We play games such as dominoes, cards, Bingo. We have cornhole competitions. We have Bible studies twice a month and church services on Sunday.”

The fun activities are not restricted to inside. When weather permits, the residents are entertained with van rides for ice cream. Residents are also driven out to breakfast.

“I love my job. If I had to pick a favorite part of my work, I’d say it’s interacting with the seniors. I love listening to their stories. They, in turn, love showing me pictures of their families

and talking about their children and grandchildren.”

Through the years, Rigsby has found that each senior is unique in his/her own way. “I remember giving seniors their own work space and a recipe for banana bread. Although they had the same recipe, each batch turned out differently. Some put more bananas in the mix. Some put less. Others may have forgotten the flour or baking soda. Each loaf of bread was unique and made with loving hands.”

In her younger years, Rigsby worked at a nursing home. “It’s a whole different ball game at an assisted living facility. I work for the residents. They choose what they want to do.

Warsaw Parks

One of my biggest challenges is accommodating all their activity suggestions.”

Rigsby’s heart goes out to seniors whose families are not engaged in their lives. “Seniors need their loved ones to visit and show they care. I think so many families don’t understand memory loss or dementia. We need to educate ourselves about some of the realities the elderly face.”

She and her husband Joe have three grown boys, seven grandchildren, two dogs and a cat. “I love being a grandma. I have the liberty to spoil the kids more than I ever did my own.” She enjoys flower gardening and spending time outside.

Continued from page 1

other people those opportunities makes me really happy. Every one of the events I plan is special in its own way.

“I think that programs should be updated often to ensure they remain engaging and fun for all participants. When determining how often to update a program, I look at current trends, participant feedback and available resources. I love changing some different programs. I think you have change things up to keep people involved. I like to start small to make sure my staff and I can handle that event or program, and then if it’s successful we add an additional

night or let more participants come to that program or event.

A good example of that is Santa’s workshop that we had in December. We started small with that program and we had lots of emails and phone calls and comments telling us it was great and that we needed to open it up for more people. This year we will. We’re going to have a Friday night and a Saturday night to allow more people to come in.”

A listing of Warsaw Parks and Recreation events can be found online at warsaw. in.gov/192/Parks-Recreation. You also can follow them on Facebook to keep updated on the latest programs.

Dry mouth more than annoyance

are medication, radiation treatments, mouth breathing, dehydration and anxiety.

What Seniors Think ‘Do you have travel plans this spring or summer?’

Dry mouth shouldn’t be ignored because research has revealed it has many perils.

The lack of sufficient saliva can be the result of an autoimmune disorder that damages the glands that produce saliva and can cause swelling and joint pain. Among its causes

Chewing on sugarless gum or sucking on ice cubes or sugarfree hard candy can help keep your mouth from going dry.

As with any medical or physical problem, discuss your dry mouth issues with your primary care physician.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Make last-minute checklist

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After you’ve crammed all your needs into your luggage, but before you rush off to the airport, there’s a vital lastminute checklist you must perform.

Make sure you have enough of all your prescription medica-

tions to last for the trip. You should have a copy of your prescription to carry with you in case your luggage gets lost or your return is delayed.

Double check your itinerary and boarding passes. Tuck your passport in a handy but safe place after you’ve made copies of it and your driver’s license, credit cards and other travel

documents. Leave a packet of these copies with someone back home, place a packet in a safety deposit box, carry a package with you and put one in each piece of luggage. Now you should be ready to go visit the grandkids, board the cruise ship or catch your flight around the world.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Here’s

MARK HARDEN OSCEOLA

MARK MCNALLY ELKHART CHARLOTTE O’DELL WARSAW

EDNA KITTREDGE WINONA LAKE

LAURA LYTER GOSHEN TOM WEATHERFORD WARSAW

See the world from a living-room window

“Why don’t you trade houses for vacations,” a colleague suggested at our regular weekly brunch gathering.

After a brief look at the bane and benefits of swapping homes with someone in the region we’d like to visit with someone who’d like to spent some time in our area, the conversation moved toward house-sitting.

Why not see the world from the living room window of a house, or apartment, of folks who want to travel but worry about leaving their home and valuables and pets unattended?

Seniors with time to spare can learn the rudiments right around their neighborhood. Post notices on a few nearby supermarket bulletin boards, and perhaps an online note with Craig’s list, that you’re available to house sit for a fee.

You may not have to move into the home. Just make sure you take in the mail, water the plants, feed the cat, see to it that electrically-time lighting works on schedule, and check to make sure there are no water leaks, signs of break-ins or attempted break-ins.

You and the homeowner can negotiate how many hours a day or a week you will devote to these chores and set a price. Your rates can easily climb to $25, $50 or more a day.

Not only will this expand your experience and expertise in housesitting, it’ll also provide you with a list of references for prospective clients. When you start out without a reference pool you can offer character references provided by neighbors, your clergyman, or former employer.

You’ll have to decide what limits you wish to put in place.

Do you want to include caring

for pets in your service? Will you do the house cleaning or do you want the homeowner to pay for a cleaning person?

Then you can search online for people who’d like someone to babysit a mansion by the Mediterranean, cottage in Canberra, bungalow in Bologna, or cabin in Canada. You can begin by typing “house sitting” in your favorite online search engine. One website, www.housecarers.com, charges an annual membership fee for information leading to assignments worldwide that allow you to “live rent free” as a house sitter.

There’ll be time between chores — keep in mind that you have to care for the residence and the resident’s property as you would your own — to immerse yourself in local living. And there’s no problem these days keeping in touch via cell phone and computer.

Buy T-bills directly

You can avoid paying commissions to a broker or financial services agent by establishing your own account to buy U.S. Treasury bonds and bills.

Start online by going to treasurydirect.gov and follow the instructions on how to open an account. You’ll need your Social Security and bank-account routing numbers. The latter is on your checks.

You’ll get e-mail confirma-

tion from Treasury your account has been registered with them. An access card should be delivered by the postal service a few days later so you can start buying Treasury securities.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

If the to-do list to tasks is extensive — draining and maintaining a swimming pool, trimming shrubs and mowing grass, notifying the homeowner of any “important’ mail, for example — you might add a charge for these services. That’ll help pay for your vacation. It might even allow you to tack on some additional days to be completely on your own.

As in any contract, write down in detail the services you will provide, how long you will

provide them, and what you will be paid for those services. Also write down the length of time you will be permitted to be away from the premises. Write down how utility bills will be paid while you’re living in the house, and who will pay them.

You also should check on your medical and liability insurance coverage while your house sitting, especially in a foreign country.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Fishburn has a heart for volunteer work

Kellie Fishburn sold her advertising agency in 2014 and retired. She has a heart for volunteer work and got involved with Reason Enough To Act in 2015, helping raise money for their annual fundraiser dinner. She heard about the organization through her church.

Reason Enough To Act is a faith-based pregnancy and family resource center that offers those dealing with pregnancy and parenting challenges the tools, resources, coaching and support they need to succeed.

RETA offers everything from nonjudgmental pregnancy support for both wanted and unwanted pregnancies to abortion recovery support.

Fishburn was living in Nappanee at the time, so she was in close enough proximity to Elkhart to actively volunteer with the resource center. When she started with RETA, they typically would have about 250 people attend their annual fundraiser dinner. At that time, the dinner was raising about $50,000.

Fishburn and her husband, Brad, moved to Syracuse in 2020, which made the commute

to Elkhart more challenging. By 2020, close to 250 people were regularly attending the fundraiser dinner, raising close to $200,000. She discontinued her volunteer work at RETA in 2020.

In 2021, RETA had retired neurosurgeon and politician Ben Carson speak at the dinner event. This year, former professional football and baseball player Tim Tebow spoke at the dinner. In 2023, the dinner was attended by nearly 1,000 people and raised nearly $500,000 for the organization.

After moving to Syracuse, Fishburn started volunteering with Rose Garden Recovery Community and was recently installed as a board member.

“I was very impressed with the organization and wanted to help them out with their fundraiser,” she said.

The organization’s vision is “to see women remain in recovery as they successfully reunite with family, return to their community, and establish healthy relationships.”

Rose Garden provides women fighting addiction with a safe place to work on their recovery.

Women enter a faith-based program with rules and stipulations they must follow for a

nine-month period. The goal is to gradually help these women recover from their trauma and addictions while giving them tools and teaching them life skills to succeed when they have completed the program.

Once they’ve completed the initial nine-month program, if they feel they’re not quite ready to be on their own they can live in a graduate house, which continues to provide support for up to one year.

Fishburn stated, “They have to sign a contract and have rules to follow. The first couple weeks they don’t work and don’t have their cell phones. They cannot have their kids with them. That’s very tough for women.”

She mentioned that they do have visitation hours on Sundays.

Eventually, the women are required to get a job. People at the recovery home help them find employment. Once employed, volunteers transport them to and from their job. They do pay rent money back to Rose Garden.

Fishburn said, “Women in recovery are required to participate in several different programs, whether that’s a program like Alcoholics Anonymous or otherwise. They are also required to participate in a Bible study. They don’t have to believe in Jesus, but they need to participate.”

She mentioned the program has different levels where women gain more responsibility as they continue to progress in their recovery journey.

“In that nine-month period they work to gain more responsibility to prove themselves.

They teach the women different hobbies. They learn how to deal with life without drugs. People come in and teach them cooking and sewing.”

She said some of the judges in Elkhart and Kosciusko counties will recommend Rose Garden to drug offenders.

“I’m amazed they run on such a tight budget. It’s a nonprofit

organization. The only way they make it is through donations. It’s a big deal to raise awareness of what they do for these women to drum up support. I was really impressed with how efficient they are at using their funds,” said Fishburn.

“I think especially for a woman, hearing their stories, they get involved with drugs and alcohol and some lose their children. Nobody wants to live like this. The majority of them have kids. I just really have a heart for these women,” she said.

Fishburn will be helping with Rose Garden’s annual fundraiser.

“I’m just starting to meet and talk with people about what we’re going to do this year,” she said.

Sports Lechlitner still loves to coach

Phil Lechlitner loves the game of basketball.

Lechlitner graduated from NorthWood High School in 1972. He is currently an assistant coach for the Class 3A No.1 NorthWood Panthers. His son, Zac, is the junior varsity head coach at NorthWood.

Lechlitner grew up on a farm. He had an older brother who played college basketball at Anderson. After his high school basketball career was over, Lechlitner walked on for a year at Ball State. After college, he coached at Greensburg and Fairfield and was the freshman coach at NorthWood. In 1983, he took over as the varsity head coach at NorthWood.

“Dick Campbell, who played for John Wooden at Indiana State, was an influence. At NorthWood, we really had some great kids. I coached against Jim Hahn at Concord. When I was relieved from coaching in 1989, he asked me to come coach at Concord,” said Lechlitner.

Lechlitner spoke fondly about his time at Concord.

“In 1990, we played against Bedford North Lawrence and Damon Bailey in the state cham-

pionship game. At semistate, it was so loud, you had a hard time even hearing the kids in the huddle,” he said.

The 1990 state championship game was held in the old Hoosier Dome and was the largest crowd ever for a high school basketball game with 41,046 fans. “You could often hear a huge roar coming from the distance. I’m probably one of the few people who think Bailey shouldn’t have won a state championship,” he said, laughing.

Lechlitner reminisced in amazement about the atmosphere at that game.

“I’ve shared with our kids now what that’s like. You’ll never have another feeling like it. Indiana single-class basketball was so tough back then.”

Lechlitner still keeps in touch with Jeff Massey, who played on that state runner-up Concord team and is currently the associate head coach at The University of Toledo.

“Hahn left coaching in 1995. I was enjoying teaching shop and thought I had a good run. NorthWood girls basketball coach Steve Neff asked if I wanted to help with the girls program. Aaron Wolfe also helped with the girls program at that time. The next year [1999] our girls won

state,” he said.

After helping coach the girls team, Lechlitner became an assistant coach on the NorthWood boys team under coach Dan Gunn.

“We had great kids. We were able to have some good success. My son was coming up at that time. I stuck around until 2006. Coach Gunn wanted me to stick around at least one more year and we went to semistate in 2007.

“I was on my way to spring break and I get a call. Wolfe asked if I would help him out if he got the NorthWood job. He came over and was standing at my garage door and asked if I would stick around for just one year. So we’ve had one-year contracts since 2009,” he said, laughing.

He spoke about the blessing of being a coach. “It’s the kids who always draw you back. The magic is in the players. The magic is also in the community. All of those things make it what it is.”

Speaking about some of the coaches he’s had the pleasure of working with over the years, he said, “I was also blessed in that —they always say in teaching, it’s the company that keeps you there. It’s the same in coaching.

“Wolfe’s communication and

organization is second to none. Hahn was charismatic. Hahn was a guy who could talk to a kid and that kid would go through a wall to accomplish it.

“When I coached with Gunn, we were aggressive, physical and he was really demanding.

“Larry Thompson [former mayor of Nappanee] and I played for Dick Campbell. We had these gloves we would use in practice for ball handling. Those were some great memories we had through the years. Campbell was a fundamental guy and very

detail oriented. I’ve been very fortunate with the coaches I’ve been around. They’ve all probably been better people than coaches.

“After we [NorthWood] played Ben Davis this year, we were doing a great job against them. They beat us by shooting threes and holding the ball. It was really nice hearing all the compliments from their coaching staff after the game as well. It really helped give our kids even more confidence. I’m still on a oneyear contract,” said Lechlitner, laughing.

Jeff ‘JJ’ Shaw, Attorney at Law

It was 50 years ago —

‘The Cisco Kid’ based on TV show

War

Inspirations for a hit song can sometimes spring from a most unusual source.

Members of the California septet War hailed from different neighborhoods in and around Long Beach and Compton, both burgs part of the Los Angeles suburban sprawl.

Of disparate backgrounds and different ages, the musicians found a common thread of interest in creating tunes together. “We mixed and mingled everything, even mariachi music,” War’s keyboardist Lonnie Jordan recalled. “We played blues constantly. We were trying to imitate what we heard, but it came out being something else.”

Blues and mariachi weren’t their only musical genres. Influenced by the young musicians’ racial diversity, elements of soul, jazz, reggae and mainstream rock ‘n’ roll were also combined to create an aural stew that defined War’s distinctive sound.

They went by a series of names — the Creators, the Romeos, Nightshift. In 1969, while playing a small Hollywood club, a record producer caught their act and soon introduced them to British superstar Eric Burdon, who had recently split from his hit-making Animals group. The result was Nightshift becoming War and backing Eric on the 1970 reverie-inducing, millionselling MGM Records single “Spill the Wine.”

Burdon left the band and

never had another hit. War, though, was just beginning a seven-year run on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts. Switching to United Artists Records, the group saw 11 hit 45s keep the War name burning hot.

Their biggest winner — Number Two on Billboard’s chart — was “The Cisco Kid,” which was based on a favorite children’s TV show of theirs called — surprise! — “The Cisco Kid.”

“Up until that point, the cowboy heroes were people like John Wayne,” Jordan explained. “When the TV series came around, the band discovered their first non-white hero — a Mexican cowboy.”

The Cisco Kid was a popular half-hour Western that ran from 1950 to 1956, with Cisco (Duncan Renaldo) and his partner Pancho (Leo Carillo) spending 156 episodes chasing down lawbreakers.

Children were the target viewing audience, so gun violence was always downplayed.

Cisco often shot a pistol from a villain’s hand, while Pancho’s bullwhip frequently disarmed the bad guy.

Every show ended with a corny joke about the adventure they had just endured. Then both would laugh, Cisco would say, “Oh, Pancho!,” Pancho would say, “Oh, Cisco,” and the two would ride off as the credits rolled.

Each War member contributed to “The Cisco Kid,” which featured an irresistible, chugging instrumental engine that drove a story line that defied analysis — or logic:

“The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine/He drink whiskey, Pancho drink the wine

“We met down on the fort of Rio Grande/Eat the salted

peanuts out of can

“The outlaws had us pinned down at the fort/Cisco came in blastin’, drinkin’ port.”

The musicians met Duncan

Renaldo, TV’s Cisco Kid. War’s guitarist Howard Scott said, “It was an honor to meet that guy. He was this old, elegant Spanish gentleman with white

hair, lighthearted and very likable.”

As to their best-selling single ever? “He thought our song was funny.”

Budgeting drives saving

Spending is so much easier than saving.

It’s never too early to start saving and it doesn’t necessarily come to an abrupt end when you retire. It’s not all that complicated. It’s simply managing your money.

There are a handful of ways you can manage your money wisely, while still enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

You can establish a mental four-legged stool to manage your money.

Start by making sure you have the right kind of insurance that isn’t too costly but covers what could turn out to be expensive emergencies. Auto insurance is a high priority, as are property, health and renters’ insurance.

Keep track of all interest rates on your savings accounts and all loans and mortgages you have. Third, use your credit card judiciously.

Then you create an emergency fund and make low-risk investments.

Taking and maintaining control of your finances calls for a simple discipline called budgeting.

The foremost issue to attack in this manner is paying off debts. If you have several chunks of credit out there that require regular payments, you might consider consolidating them into one loan at a comfortable interest rate. Another approach is to pay off the highest-interest loans quickly by doubling up on those payments.

There’s a 50/30/20 budgeting rule many folks use as a guide. This applies 50% of your income to essentials like housing, food, utilities and automobile; 30% to wants, such as travel and entertainment; and 20% to savings and debt payments. As you can see, you might be wise to divert some of the 30% money into the 20% category.

The key to money manage-

ment is the development of money-saving habits. Some folks open savings accounts in several financial institutions and deposit small amounts regularly in each account. It adds up rather quickly.

Investing can come next because you’ve learned an important lesson by now: Keep an eye on all of your money. Funneling some into a tax-advantaged 401(k) or IRA is a good start. You can discuss other investment opportunities with your financial advisor.

But don’t forget that emergency fund.

This is designed to take care of all or part of the cost of replacing the furnace that cuts out on you, medical bills arising out of a traffic accident as well as repairing or replacing the family flivver, and any other unexpected events that can be financially draining.

This rainy day fund should be built up to match six months or more of your daily living costs.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Elder Law

Q. Don’t I make too much money to qualify for Medicaid?

A. Paying for long term care is nearly impossible without Medicaid assistance. Even individuals drawing both Social Security and a pension often fall short of affording a $10,000 per month nursing home bill. In fact, even when other assets are exhausted, many high-income individuals still have “too much income” to qualify for Medicaid.

Medicaid’s income limit for 2023 is $2,742 per month. Social Security benefits alone can exceed this limit. How would a person with $3,500 in income pay the high cost of nursing home care? Easy, by forming a Qualified Income Trust (“QIT” or “Miller Trust”).

A Miller Trust is a special trust which holds excess income. Medicaid allows an applicant to place excess income into this trust and use the trust to pay for qualified medical expenses, like nursing home care. As long as the excess income is placed in the Miller Trust

each month, the applicant will qualify for assistance. However, any funds remaining in a Miller trust at the recipient’s death are often payable to the State of Indiana.

Practically speaking, Medicaid’s income test is not a barrier to receiving benefits. If the costs of long term care concern you, I recommend calling an experienced elder law attorney right away.

Professional Forum . . .

Your exclusive opportunity to present common questions or concerns “Adults 50 Years And Better” may have relating to your product(s) or service.

Advertising with us is a Breeze Advertising with us is a Breeze

Q. What is the likelihood I will get a response if placing an ad in Senior Life?

A. If your product or service is geared to adults over the age of 50, Senior Life is the newspaper for you!

According to audit statistics, our readers are 45 years of age and older and frequently purchase products or services from the ads they see in Senior Life (74.8%). Call or send me an email today to discuss adding Senior Life into your marketing strategy.

Professional Services

Q. What are the different types of special needs trusts?

A. First-Party Special Needs Trusts

A first-party special needs trust is typically created when a person with special needs has assets—or expects to receive assets through an inheritance, divorce, or legal settlement— that would prevent eligibility for government benefits. The beneficiary’s own assets fund the irrevocable trust, and the trust language must require that the account balance will reimburse the state Medicaid agency upon the person’s death.

Third-Party Special Needs Trusts

A third-party special needs trust is created with the assets of family or friends to provide financial assistance to an individual with special needs and preserve the beneficiary’s access to SSI and Medicaid. There is no reimbursement requirement for a third-party special needs trust.

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator

Third-party special needs trusts can also benefit additional beneficiaries. For example, the trustee has the power to authorize payments for family and friends to encourage travel, activities, and relationship building with the beneficiary. Contact TCU Trust Services for more information.

Hahn Trust Administrator

Ext. 2319

William J. Stockdale Attorney at Law

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

Sixties Flashback —

When Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ became real

It was a scene of pure pandemonium, a flock of birds crashing into houses in a quiet California beach town, the crazed creatures smashing windows and attacking the residents whose frantic screams matched the agonizing shrieks of the interlopers themselves.

A scene from the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock horror movie “The Birds,” right? Actually, no. This event occurred for real two years before the great director’s now-classic release.

Following the 1960 success of “Psycho,” Hitchcock set about making a film meant to outdo what many critics

have dubbed Hollywood’s first true horrorfest. “The Birds” would be loosely based on a 1952 story of the same name by English writer Daphne du Maurier. In her novella, a British farmhand comes under an unexplained kamikaze-style attack by seagulls.

Hitchcock’s project was well underway when he heard about a bizarre phenomenon in the central California coastal town of Capitola. An article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel described hordes of disoriented birds dive-bombing the town in the early morning hours of Aug. 18, 1961, crashing into homes and cars and spewing

Cirque International at the Lerner Theatre

SRO Promotions has announced Cirque International is coming to The Lerner Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27.

Tickets for this event are now on sale.

Featuring performers from around the world comes a new generation of Cirque style show, the electrifying and mesmerizing Cirque International. Created by an award-winning production team, this wonderful show features an international line-up of some of the world’s finest acrobats, gym-

nasts and aerial artists in an enchanting and mesmerizing spectacle of entertainment.

Cirque International is perfect for the entire family as it brings to the stage breathtaking excitement in a magnificent extravaganza that will leave you spellbound.

The Lerner Theatre is located at 410 S. Main St. Elkhart. Tickets range from $29-$59, plus applicable fees. Visit thelerner.com or call the Lerner Box Office at (574) 293-4469 to purchase tickets or for further information.

half-digested fish onto lawns and streets.

During the melee, some residents had stepped outside, flashlights in hand, only to find the birds rushing toward the light. One woman said half a dozen birds had tried to infiltrate her home. Eight residents reported being bitten. When dawn broke, the dead and dying creatures littered the town.

Understandably, the question nobody could answer at the time was “Why did this happen?”

Hitchcock phoned the Sentinel’s editor and asked for a copy of the front page story. The Hollywood icon would later utilize portions of that account when he had his scriptwriter alter some scenes for the upcoming feature.

Nobody understood the reason for that night’s attack in Capitola until three decades later, when it was decided that brown pelicans and cormorants along the central California coast were falling ill due to being poisoned from domonic acid, the result of a toxin produced by a sporadically recurring red algae.

It appears this toxin had also been the culprit behind the 1961 disaster. In that situation, the avian victims were sooty shearwaters, large brown and gray seagull-like birds that annually migrate from the Southern Hemisphere. The

tainted food chain along the shore had moved from algae to fish to birds, the tragic results for the sooty shearwaters being brain damage, disorientation, seizures and, eventually, death.

The hapless birds in Capitola hadn’t been evil or angry or murderous that morning, they had simply been sick and confused.

Alfred Hitchcock once said, “‘The Birds’ could be the most terrifying motion picture I

have ever made.” His 1963 apocalyptic movie focused on sudden and unexplained vicious bird attacks on the people of the small coastal town of Bodega Bay, Calif. (Capitola lies 145 miles to the south).

An urban legend once claimed that the Capitola incident had been the basis for Hitchcock’s classic. That was untrue; in a textbook case of art imitating life, it had all been a matter of coincidence.

Stay grounded when flying

If it’s a long layover, visit the airport lounge.

Don’t get discouraged over a canceled flight, but don’t wait around the gate desk either.

The best way to handle a canceled flight is to call the airline as you wait in line at the ticket desk. There’s a good chance you’ll reach a phone agent first.

Equally as important, you won’t have to negotiate with the same frazzled gate agent who’s been dealing with dozens of disgruntled fliers.

It’s difficult for infrequent flyers to justify the severalhundred-dollar annual fees associated with airline lounges. But if you’ve got a long layover, it might be worth it to buy a one-day pass that’s available for Admirals Club, Sky Club, and United Club for $60 or less.

Amenities include everything from complimentary snacks and drinks to Wi-Fi and shower suites.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

IIt’s easy! Simply find the raindrop 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.

I Spy March winner is James Stone. The chick was located on page 12 in Senior Elko, page 1 in Senior St. Joseph, page 8 in Senior Allen and page 13 in Senior Northwest.

Civil War’s impact on the funeral industry

The American Civil War brought great change, but there were differences between the North and South when it came to embalming and funeral services. Little if any embalming was available to Southerners. Virtually all embalming was done by Northerners. Washington, D.C., was the capital city of the North and became the center for troop concentration.

It is documented that surgeons, who were also trained as embalmers, gathered there to help with the war effort. They began to embalm during the

Marshall finds friendship with Jesus and belonging in church

“I was always a quiet, shy boy when growing up,” stated Eden Marshall, Goshen.

“Many of my peers didn’t understand me, so they picked on me. I often felt unwanted and unimportant. But when I made a total commitment of my life to Jesus Christ when I was 17, I immediately knew I was loved by Him and that I was an important part of His kingdom.

“My whole personality changed. Jesus tells us in John 15:15, ‘I do not call you servants any longer … but I have called you friends.’ Jesus came into my life when I needed a real friend and then I was able to be a friend to others.”

Marshall was not a stranger to the church when he was growing up. “When we traveled to visit family in Saltville, Va., I attended my grandmother’s Freewill Baptist church. I dedicated my life to Jesus when I was just 14 years old. Knowing I didn’t have a home church back in Indiana, I prayed for God to provide one for me.”

Roughly three years later, the Lord did provide that fellowship and He started from scratch. God led him to Living Waters Assembly of God Church in Bristol. “It was a church plant. And when the pastor was sharing his testimony about starting the church, the Lord spoke to my heart: ‘This is the church I prepared for you … the church you prayed for.’”

Thinking he’d one day be a minister, Marshall graduated from Free Gospel Bible Institute in Export, Pa. “Through the years, I’ve spent time teaching and preaching. I was

a Sunday school administrator and helped in children’s ministry. I also worked in kids crusades and vacation Bible school. But I did it in a lay capacity.” He also helped kids with their Pinewood Derby cars.

Serving the Lord in media ministry has been a constant for Marshall. “In the early ‘90s I began running the sound system for Living Waters. When our family attended Calvary Assembly of God in Elkhart, I was in media ministry.”

Now he and his wife, Tammy, attend Radiant Life Church in Elkhart. “I’m still working on the sound system, seeing that it mixes well for the music, worship service and sermon.”

Marshall still has a heart for teaching the word of God, though. “Every Tuesday night, my cousin and I rotate teaching the basics of the Christian faith via Facebook Messenger. The teachings are live with participants sharing questions and ideas, similar to a Zoom session.”

He and Tammy have a son, Aaron. Marshall also has a stepson, Dennis, and stepdaughter, Jessica.

“I want my family members to know that whatever we go through in life, God is always there. Sometimes it may look like there’s no way out. But God always provides a way for those who love and follow Him.

“The church is so important to me. The people of Radiant Life are my friends and extended family members. I remember when I was that little boy praying for understanding friends and quality relationships. Thanks to Jesus, now I have that in my relationship with Him and those in my home church.”

Civil War so the men who died in battle could be returned home to their loved ones.

At the beginning of the Civil War, as in all previous wars fought by the United States, there was no provision made to return the dead to their homes. Military dead were simply buried in the field near where they fell.

Things changed dramatically during the Civil War in this regard. For the very first time in American history, it was possible for relatives to have the remains returned to their home for local burial if certain conditions were met.

The family had to make the request in writing. If the mili-

tary could determine the burial location, the family would send a coffin capable of being hermetically sealed to the place of death where a team would disinter and prepare the body to be shipped back via train. Over 600,000 were killed in the Civil War, and of those 40,000 were embalmed. It was at this time the war department was forced to issue General Order 39 to ensure only properly licensed embalmers could offer their services. This led to the first establishment for funeral services. Dr. Thomas Holmes opened the doors in Washington, D.C., in 1861.

St. Joseph Funeral Home and Cemetery may be reached at (574) 288-4685 or visit sjfh.net.

Greencroft Goshen is your top choice for rehabilitation

• 24-hour skilled nursing care;

• Outpatient therapy open to the public;

may include physical, occupational or speech therapy, or a combination of these services.

At Greencroft Goshen, we restore function and renew independence!

Greencroft Goshen has a large, dedicated rehabilitation team consisting of licensed physical, occupational and speech therapists who are fully committed to restoring and improving your quality of life. We offer short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay as well as outpatient rehabilitation for our residents and the greater community. Greencroft Goshen offers:

• Private short-term rehabilitation suites;

• Specialized programs for balance, back pain, mobility, flexibility;

• State-of-the-art therapy technology for faster results;

• Therapy available seven days a week;

• Experts in senior rehabilitation.

Custom Therapy Program

Designed For You

Our therapists work with you one-on-one up to seven days a week. After a thorough evaluation, your doctor and the skilled Greencroft therapists will design a program that will help you achieve your highest level of recovery and independence. This

Out of shape? Exercise

A widespread excuse for not exercising is you are so far out of shape, nothing you can do will help you get fit and healthy again.

The bad news is you probably won’t get your athletic 20-yearold body back again. The good news is any bit of exercise you can work up will make you feel better, sleep better, eat better and make some of your clothes fit better.

Exercise doesn’t require hours every day in a gym or running through expensive sneakers every three months by pounding your way daily over several miles of planet earth.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator if you live in an apartment building. Walk around the block and visit neighbors. Take a bike ride or a dip in the pool.

Go dancing. Vacuum the living room. Wash the car. Do the laundry. Gardening is good, too. Any activity that keeps you moving offers the same benefits as “exercise.”

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Better Balance Starts

At Greencroft Goshen

Greencroft Goshen is proud to offer the best in balance technology. Our Biodex Balance System assesses the four major components of balance. This technology can accurately test balance and provide an array of interventions and exercises to restore balance. The Biodex is considered an excellent tool for preventing falls in older adults.

Getting Started With Outpatient Therapy

Talk with your primary care physician about any conditions that may be causing you pain or restricting activities. Once you receive a prescription for outpatient therapy, you can contact us to schedule your first appointment. Therapy services are covered by Medicare and most major insurance providers.

We are your top choice for short-term rehabilitation and outpatient therapy. Call outpatient therapy to schedule an appointment at (574) 537-4022.

• Flexible Schedule2 Hrs. to 24-Hr. Live-in Assignments

• Caregiver Awards

• Caregiver Referral Program

• Weekly Pay Date

• Education Opportunities

• Serving: St.

&

The amazing cucumber

referred to as burpless, 12-14” long.

Pickling — thicker and has bumpy skin, 3-7” long.

Nutritional value of a medium cucumber:

Calories: 30

Total fat: 0 grams

Carbs: 6 grams

Protein: 3 grams

Fiber: 2 grams

Vitamin C: 10% of the recommended daily value

Vitamin K: 57% of the DV

etable wash before consuming.

Cucumbers are a nonstarchy vegetable, which is one of the best categories of food for managing diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association recommends three to five servings of non-starchy vegetables per day, but that’s just a minimum.

Cucumbers are popular long, lean and green garden vegetables. Technically, they’re fruits from the same family as watermelons and pumpkins, but most people consider them veggies.

The three most used varieties of cucumbers are:

Common slicing — smooth skin, 8-12” long.

English — seedless and

Magnesium: 9% of the DV

Potassium: 12% of the DV

Manganese: 9% of the DV

Being 95% water, cucumber are a good source of hydration and replacing of electrolytes, especially for people who have trouble drinking enough water.

Producers put synthetic wax on cucumbers, and though it is harmless, it is best to peel the skin, buy organic or use a veg-

When hunger strikes, having more non-starchy vegetables can help satisfy appetite without raising blood sugar levels. The fiber and water content of fresh cucumbers makes them an ideal choice for glycemic control.

Cucumbers are a refreshing, nutritious and incredibly versatile addition to any diet. They are low in calories but contain many important vitamins and minerals, as well as a high water content. Dare I say they are crunchy — like a cookie, only oh so much better for you.

Cucumbers are always soothing to place slices on your eyes to reduce puffiness and delicious to add to water for a cool flavor.

Simple Cucumber Salad www.acouplebooks.com

Ingredients:

2 large, thin cucumbers (English if possible)

1 small yellow or white onion

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill (optional)

½ cup white vinegar

1 to 2 tablespoons granu-

lated sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Fresh ground pepper

Instructions:

1. Slice the cucumbers as thin as possible, using a mandoline if desired. Peel, cut in half top to bottom and thinly slice the onion. Layer the cucumbers and onions in a large shallow bowl; add the dill (if using).

2. In a small bowl, mix the white vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the cucumbers and onions, mixing everything together to ensure even coverage. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

3. Stir again to evenly mix the dressing. Then serve with a slotted spoon. Store refrigerated for up to seven days.

Password paranoia

Hacking has become a cyberspace cottage industry, so nothing out there is really safe.

Hence the emphasis on complicated passwords to protect your computerized property.

Secure software managers have emerged that store all your passwords in a virtual vault guarded by one ultrasecure password.

This eliminates the need for copying every one of your passwords in a little black book and then erasing and recopying each password when you change it, as recommended by password police.

You can search online for these password managers, whose charges vary.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

then

HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY

AGING & WELLNESS RESOURCES

AGING CONNECTIONS

Serving Northern IN & Southwest MI

A free online directory for aging & wellness resources. Our members offer a wide variety of services and information for your specific needs. www.agingconnections.org

Hover over Chapters on the navigation bar, then select your area and click directory.

Aging Connections is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

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Scams spell disaster for seniors

Old fashioned fishing is a relaxing pastime that rewards you with tasty tidbits for dinner.

Current phishing is an attractive lure designed to pick your pocket and bank account as well as any and all finances you might have stashed away.

Despite all the cautions, warnings and exposes of phishing

Elkhart Place

results, it’s still a well-used and effective method used by crooks and scammers to remain lucrative.

Many of you already are prepared to trash the daily promotional messages, reader letters, PR content, and obvious phishing attempts in your inbox. But you might become alarmed if you receive a warning that hackers were threatening your cyberworld but not to worry

because the sender is offering antivirus software in exchange for a review.

That antivirus usually is, in fact, malware designed to steal passwords and browser cookies that can also hold login credentials.

Identifying legitimate contact is difficult in the age of frequent phishing attempts. If you want to verify that an email came from someone you know and contains safe links, the Federal Trade Commission offers a few steps you can take to stay safe.

If you don’t recognize the sender of the address, think twice about opening any links contained in the email.

A generic greeting is also a giveaway. A business email normally won’t begin with a casual greeting such as, “Hi Dear.” And an email from a friend won’t spell your name wrong or address you with an honorific like “Mr., Mrs., or Miss.”

Be suspicious of any emails that invite you to click on a link to update your payment details,

update your account information, receive a coupon for free stuff, or include an invoice you aren’t expecting.

Even the most vigilant email user can be caught unaware by a malicious link in an email. Adding extra layers of protection to your online life can mitigate the damage done by scammers.

A simple and easy way is to back up your data, then copy all important documents and information regularly and store that on an external hard drive or thumb drive.

Be aware that there are different types of phishing attacks.

The most common form is an email from senders masquerading as a colleague or co-worker or a large account provider such as Microsoft or Google.

Malware phishing involves planting malware disguised as a trustworthy attachment, such as a resume or bank statement, in an email. Opening such an attachment can paralyze entire IT systems.

Spear phishing targets specific individuals by exploiting information gathered through research into their jobs and social lives. These attacks are highly customized, making them particularly effective at bypassing basic cybersecurity.

Whaling is when bad actors target a “big fish” like a business executive or celebrity. If you have a lot to lose, whaling attackers have a lot to gain.

Smishing involves sending text messages disguised as trustworthy communications from businesses like Amazon or FedEx. People are particularly vulnerable as text messages are delivered in plain text and come across as more personal.

In vishing campaigns, attackers in fraudulent call centers try to trick people into providing sensitive information over the phone. In many cases, these scamsters try to dupe victims into installing malware onto their devices in the form of an app.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

1201 East Beardsley Avenue, Elkhart, IN 46514 (574) 206-0086 • www.GreenleafHS.com

27833 County Road 24, Elkhart, IN 46517 (574) 295-9058 • www.enlivant.com

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Long ago and then into Grandma’s kitchen

Grandma wasn’t a professional chef or baker, but when holidays and special family events came around she certainly filled the role.

New Year’s Day was the first day of the year that she rejoiced in her youth in the 1910s in Argos and Bremen. I first journey back to the 1910s and Grandma’s precious cards from her now over 110-day postcard album she passed on to me before she died in May 1974.

My grandma, her maiden name Eva Zentz, and her sisters, Grace, Chloe, Della, Dora, Ada and Hazel sent dozens of beautiful holiday, birthday and other event postcards to each other during the 1910 years and into the 1920s. Grandma was born in August 1897, so would have been about 12 years old in 1910 when she started saving her beautiful postcards.

Fast forward to Grandma’s adult years, specifically to the 1950s so fondly recalled in my youth. It was during this decade when she burst forth with her talents as a baker, chef, decorator and family host of wonderful holiday dinners, which remain with me today in vivid memories.

Grandma made delightful birthday cakes for me and my two younger sisters, such as a train cake, doll cakes, circus cakes and so forth, but a most special cake was the lamb cake in celebration of that most special day of the year — Eas-

ter Sunday. Happy Easter, everyone! Any information welcome to: Dr. Greg Lawson, 1801 E. 3rd St., Mishawaka, IN 46544. Lawson is a long-time writer laureate of area history and human interest stories.

Travel Enjoy fabulous tulip time without leaving the country

Does your bucket list include traveling to Holland to see the tulips at their peak, watch windmill sails turn slowly in the breeze and be entertained by cloggers in wooden shoes?

You can see all that without leaving the country.

Really. No expensive airline tickets, no getting to the airport two hours before flight time, no hanging around for the flight to depart, no nine-hour flight crammed into a small seat next to someone you don’t know and no long bus ride to your destination.

Greencroft Community Center Tours

It’s all right here in southwestern Michigan at Holland. The tulips are just as colorful as those in the Netherlands, and they’ve got windmills, dancers and wooden shoes. You can get there in your own car, stay as long as you want and leave when you want.

But, if you want to see tulips, the time to be there is between late April and midMay. That’s when Holland’s only tulip farm, Velderheer Tulip Garden, will be ablaze with color. There are acres and acres of tulips with winding paths that take you up close to the many varieties. They’re all marked so you can jot down the number of the ones you’d like to purchase for your garden back home.

It all began in 1950 as a hobby farm with 400 tulips. Now, it’s an awe-inspiring display of more than a million tulips of all colors for visitors to enjoy. In addition, thousands and thousands of daffodils, crocus and hyacinths add to the colorful springtime landscape.

Of course, if you went to the Netherlands, you’d want to see a windmill. So, the place to go is Windmill Island Gardens. Granted, they only have one, but it is authentic.

Continued on page 19

Upcoming Tours

May 4 – Sauder Village & Quilt Show, Archbold, OH

June 23 – Biblical Gardens and Warsaw Glass Co., Warsaw, IN

Aug. 20-25 – Biltmore Estate & Ashville, NC

Nov. 13-18 – Branson, MO

Nov. 27 – Daniel

O’Donnell

Christmas, Blue Gate, Shipshewana, IN

Dec. 15 – Christmas

Candy Caper, Blue Gate, Shipshewana, IN

For full information on any of these tours, or to make a reservation, please call 574-537-4090

Memphis, TN

September 11-16, 2023

• 5 nights, 8 meals

• Admission to GRACELAND - Home of Elvis Presley, including AIRPLANES & CAR MUSEUM

• GUIDED TOUR of MEMPHIS

• Free time on BEALE STREET in Memphis

• Admission to SUN STUDIO, one of Memphis’ Top Rated Attractions

• Admission to MEMPHIS ROCK ‘N’ SOUL MUSEUM

• GAMING at a MEMPHIS AREA CASINO

Branson Holiday Show Extravaganza 2023

November 13-18, 2023

• 5 nights, 8 meals, 6 fabulous shows

• Three Morning Shows: DUBLIN’S IRISH TENORS with special guests THE CELTIC LADIES, DOUG GABRIEL MORNING SHOW & A NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE SHOW

• Three Evening Shows: THE HAYGOODS CHRISTMAS SHOW, QUEEN ESTHER Show at the Sight & Sound® Theatre & PRESLEYS’ COUNTRY JUBILEE

Show Trip — June — 4 Nights Boston, Salem & Cape Ann — Sept. 25-Oct. 2 Branson Show Trip — Nov. 18-23

1820 Greencroft Blvd. Goshen, IN 46526 www.greencroft.org

Enjoy fabulous

Continued from page

In fact, the 200-year-old, De Zwaan (Swan) windmill arrived in Holland in pieces and was reconstructed on site.

The view of the surrounding tulip fields from the fourth-story deck is awesome. Be sure to check out the 10-foot-tall grove of wooden tulips.

Take a step back in time at Nellis’ Dutch Village. Wander along canals to old-world Dutch shops to watch artisans at work making wooden shoes and traditional cheese.

Costumed dancers in wooden shoes will “welkom” visitors into their “klompen” folkdance. Sample old-world culinary specialties like saudijebroodjes (homemade sausage rolls), banket (Dutch almond pastry), the village’s famous pea soup and 20 varieties of cheese. You can even find Grolsch lager at the Thirsty Dutchman Pub.

For a double-Dutch treat, visit the Deklompen Shoe and Delftware Factory; imported machines from the Netherlands carve the shoes. View craftsmen paint them. Inside the Delft facility, the only one in the United States, you’ll see liquid clay pouring into molds and fired at 2,000 degrees. When they’re cool, artists apply the authentic blue designs on white backgrounds. More than 400 varieties of Delft pieces are produced here.

Holland also has a mill where hardwood bowls are turned the way they were more than 150 years ago.

Standing at the head of the channel connecting Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan stands the most photographed lighthouse in Michigan. The history of the tower, affectionately known as Big Red, dates back to 1870. The first lighthouse on the site was built of wood. A number of evolutions over the years included a steel structure, a fog signal building and today’s bright red electric lighthouse.

Help Wanted