Senior Life - Elko Edition - December 2022

Key Positions

Sheryl Noblitt has a heart for her clients

new career by working for the best interests of my clients.”

“I love senior citizens,” stated Sheryl Noblitt, Elkhart. “They’re amazing people with a lot of patience. They tell rich stories of life’s lessons. Many of my clients have become extended family members to me.” Noblitt has worked as a self-employed Health Market insurance agent since 2009.

“I didn’t set out to be an insurance agent. Because of the downsizing of the RV industry in the middle of the recession, I was out of work. I was searching for something that would provide me with a good income.”

Noblitt continued, “At that particular time, people weren’t excited about talking to an insurance agent. I was hoping I could change that by making a difference in people’s lives. I began my

Because she is self-employed, she has a flexible schedule. However, when enrollment period rolls around in October, she’s busy from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“Most clients come to meet with me at my office on County Road 6 in Elkhart, or I go to their homes, sit at their kitchen table and discuss their options,” she said.

Noblitt works hard to keep people from catastrophic financial danger. Many of her clients are Medicaid recipients. “I love helping low-income clients because they truly need me. Many of them don’t have computers or other resources to find out about their benefits.”

One man was paying a hefty monthly premium for group insurance. “He was eligible for Medicare and hadn’t checked

into it. He was also eligible for Medicaid. We applied for his benefits, and he was able to drop his group insurance and he also qualified for help with his weekly grocery bill. Before, he struggled from week to week.”

Being almost 100 percent referral based, Noblitt gets clients from many sources. “I have doctors referring people. Other clients send their friends to me. I think people are coming my way because they know they can trust me.”

Noblitt answers to a higher power when she deals with clients. “I believe I’m an instrument in the hands of God. He placed me in this position to help others. He continues to bless me in many ways for doing just that.”

Her client community sees her love for them in many ways. “It was COVID time, and we were on lockdown,” stated a client. “I was antsy and depressed. Sheryl showed up at my doorstep with a box of cookies. She made me smile even if she couldn’t come into my house. That’s just how she is.”

Noblitt has spent many years as a singer/entertainer in the Elkhart area and beyond. Before COVID, she went to Brentwood at Elkhart Assisted Living on East Bristol Street at Christmastime. The residents loved her.

“She sang all the old, popular Christmas carols with us. Afterwards she gave us Christmas candy,” remarked a resident. Noblitt also offered leadership to the church group that accompanied her.

Noblitt loves to travel. “I’ve seen 49 of our 50 states. I have it

on my bucket list to visit Alaska in the future,” she said. She has done some missions work in India. “I took my niece to Belize for her 21st birthday. This coming March I’m taking my two sons to St. Thomas in the Caribbean. I feel like I’m living a life full of God’s blessings.”

If you make less than $1,900 per month (single) and are on Medicare, then you might qualify for assistance with prescription drugs and expenses for your medical care.

Extra help to pay for your prescription drug plan.

Medicare Saving Program to help pay for your Part A and B deductibles and co-pays. For help call Council on Aging of Elkhart County, Inc. (574) 295-1820

The Big 3—for a Big Zero

With Humana Gold Plus H5619-051 (HMO-POS), your monthly premium is $0. Your primary care physician (PCP) copay is $0. And you pay $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescription drugs.* This plan delivers savings—and benefits designed to support your whole health and help you reach your goals, such as:

• Dental, hearing and vision coverage

• Tier 1 prescriptions: no copays, no deductibles

• Rides to your doctors—60 routine one-way trips

Call a licensed Humana sales agent

Ben Snyder 574-549-2028 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. bsnyder5@humana.com

A more human way to healthcare™

* For 90-day mail delivery. The $0 copay applies to Tier 1 and Tier 2 medications using a mail-delivery pharmacy with preferred cost sharing after any applicable deductible is met.

* Other pharmacies are available in our network.

† This benefit is not to exceed 50 miles per trip. Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus H5619-051 (HMO-POS).

Handmade Market to kick off the holiday season

The Handmade Holiday Market will be returning to Middlebury Public Library this year from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, kicking off the holiday season.

Numerous local vendors will be showcasing and selling their handmade creations that are perfect for the gift-giving season. A few vendors will have various seasonal items, such as cards and Christmas tree ornaments.

There will be craft demonstrations at vendors’ booths throughout the day. There will be a chain maille demonstration at 9 a.m.; felt baby booties at 9:30 a.m.; card making at 10 a.m.; print making at 10:30 a.m.; pearls at 11 a.m.; paper bead jewelry at 11:30 a.m.; wooden Christmas ornaments at noon; and crocheting at 12:30 p.m.

Just a few of the local vendors participating in the market are Crystal Dickson, Danielle Smith and the Kauffman family.

Dickson will be presenting her handmade ornaments and cards.

She has been making ornaments for more than 20 years but just recently began going to craft fairs and markets.

Her handmade cards are a new craft she picked up during the pandemic. Dickson referred to both crafts as forms of stress relief for her and she is happy to be able to share what she makes with everyone.

Smith, a Middlebury local, will be selling a wide variety of homemade baked goods. She stated she is known for her Reese’s peanut butter cupcakes, apple dumplings and pumpkin rolls.

Smith’s baking took off during the pandemic shutdown and she has since sold decorated sugar cookies from her home and other baked goods at the Middlebury farmers market all summer.

The mother-daughter group known as the Kool Handmade Krafty Mommas will be returning to the market this year as well.

Carol Kauffman and her three daughters, Cecilia, Sheila and Joni, have been doing craft shows for the past seven or eight years.

The group is from the Bristol and Shipshewana area, but they were all raised in Middlebury.

Carol makes bowl cozies, small zippered pouches, table runners and wallets; Cecilia makes seasonal earrings and memory wire bracelets; Sheila makes discovery bags, marble mazes, cloth memory games and sensory toys; and Joni makes greeting cards and gift card holders.

The holiday market is a great opportunity to get out of the house, get some Christmas shopping done and meet and support some of the local artists.

Additional holiday events in Elkhart County:

• Goshen First Fridays: “Hometown Holiday,” 5-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, downtown Goshen.

• Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration, 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Memorial Park, 111 N. Main St., Middlebury.

• Winterfest Kickoff and Light Parade, 6-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Civic Plaza, Central Park and NIBCO Water and Ice Park, 410 S. Main St., Elkhart.

As you plan for the holidays, consider a living trust

We are soon coming up on the Christmas holiday season. Will you be getting together with your loved ones and family? Will you be seeing your children and grandchildren? This is a wonderful holiday and it is a fun thing to be around the people that we love. Right now, you might want to give some thought to those people, and to your personal situation. Do you have an estate plan in place? A good estate plan should include a living trust, which will pass assets probate free to your children someday when you die. That same living trust, if properly prepared, could have language to help you stay in your own home and to avoid unnecessary placement in a

nursing home. You may not be aware that nursing home costs went up 20% last year alone, and are now averaging over $10,000 per month, in this area.

In addition to avoiding probate, and helping you remain in your own home as long as possible, a good estate plan can also include things like a Living Will, to make sure you’re not forever hooked up to machines when there’s no hope of recovery. It can include a HIPAA waiver, so that it’s not a felony for your doctor, nurse or a health care provider to share your medical information with your spouse or children. It should also include an advanced directive so that the children

Continued on page 7

• Christmas Shopping Event, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Elkhart Moose Lodge, 1500 CR 6 W., Elkhart.

• Ceramic Christmas Trees ,6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, for hand building and Monday, Dec. 12, for glazing, Elkhart High School East Campus Art Department, 1 Blazer Blvd., Elkhart. Free for all Elkhart Community School students, $20 for adults. Enter at Door 21.

• The Swingles: “Together for the Holidays Concert,” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, Sauder Concert Hall, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen. $30 to $40.

• “A Motown Christmas,” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, The Lerner Theatre, 410 S. Main St., Elkhart. $46 to $66.

• Free Movie: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, Goshen Theater, 216 S. Main St., Goshen.

• Holiday Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, The Barns at Nappanee, 1600 Market St., Nappanee.

• Ornament Day, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, The Mill, 402 E. Warren St., Middlebury.

• Essenhaus’s “Heart of Christmas Concert,” 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16-17, Das Dutch-

man Essenhaus, 240 US 20, Middlebury.

Holiday events in Kosciusko County:

• First Friday: “Christmas Celebration,” 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, downtown Warsaw.

• Christmas Tree Lighting, 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, Ruddell Pavilion, 1 mile south of Syracuse on SR 13.

• “Light Up The Night,” 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, Central Park, 225 E. Fort Wayne St., Warsaw. Light display will be on daily from dusk until midnight until Saturday, Dec. 31.

• Heritage Gathering Primitive Show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Pierceton Elementary School, 434 S. First St., Pierceton.

• Christmas Craft Show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Mentone Fire Department, 201 W. Main St., Mentone.

• Tippy Creek Winery Christmas Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1011, Tippy Creek Winery, 5920 N. 200E, Leesburg.

• “Christmas in the Village — Messiah Sing & More,” 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, Winona Heritage Room, Winona Lake. $7 to $10. Children 6 and younger are free.

Read car rental contract fine print

vehicle and see if you have a cushion, in writing, of an hour or so.

What Seniors Think

Often overlooked by people who rent vehicles is whether or not the customer has a grace period.

If you pick up your car, truck, van or camper at 7 a.m., it’s likely that you have to turn it in at that time on the return date. If you’re a few hours late, the cost could be expensive — an extra day’s rental. Have the rental agency make clear what time you have to return the

Also make sure your spouse, or anyone else going on the trip with you, will be allowed to drive the rental vehicle. If an accident occurs with an unauthorized driver behind the wheel, any collision damage waiver you purchased may be void.

And check to see if there are any mileage limits in the contract.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

com. If you have any questions, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it.

REPRINT RIGHTS

Reprinting in part or whole of any article in Senior Life is not allowed without express written permission from Senior Life.

Lottery scam is no winner

taxes and processing fees.

It’s been around for years, but the Canadian Lottery scam is still making money for the crooks that operate it.

It starts with a letter, phone call or email message congratulating you for winning a big prize in a national lottery. To receive this unexpected fortune, you have to send money to pay

Now, this should be the clue that this is an obvious scam, because the people notifying you should be able to deduct all charges and fees from the winnings, right?

Greed must be blinding, though, because victims continue to send thousands of dollars to qualify for the prize money. In fact, there is no prize.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Here’s How It Works:

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3

To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column or box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

“What is your fondest memory of Christmases past?”

CAROL SPEICHER MILFORD

DAN BUCHMAN SYRACUSE PATTI (MINEGAR) HAYDEN ELKHART

SHERRY WEAVER ELKHART

AMY LANT-WENGER WAKARUSA

DINA KOBLE NAPPANEE

Roesner starts ‘We Care’ program to assist area veterans during holidays

Sue Roesner has been part of the area’s senior care community for more than a decade. A native of Utah, Roesner originally moved to the area in 1999. Currently she serves as the community relations manager at Lake City Place Assisted Living in Warsaw, where she has been for the past several years

She also has a passion for serving veterans. In January 2021, Roesner began organizing “We Care,” an initiative in which she partnered with several other organizations and individuals to bring comfort and safety checks to homebound veterans throughout Kosciusko County. Both Roesner’s biological father and adoptive father were veterans, which helped inspire her in her endeavors.

“Kosciusko County has the highest number of veterans in Indiana,” said Roesner. “There are a lot of great programs that help our veterans. My job brings me to many of their homes to discuss assisted living. During COVID, there were a lot of vets who were homebound. Many had been affected by the virus, which had negatively impacted their regular care.”

Roesner said she reached out

to Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana and other partners, including Liberty Sewing Circle and the local American Legions to gather names of shut-in veterans. She soon had 25 names, with the majority from the Syracuse American Legion Post.

“In June, I met with the volunteers at the Kosciusko Senior Center in Warsaw to pack bags for the veterans, including reading materials other items from various organizations within Indiana,” Roesner said.

“In addition, safety checks were done by Rehabilitation of Northern Indiana. The list included a fall risk checklist, which covers medical conditions, medications, gait, strength and balance tests.

During COVID, our community worked together to care for those who once fought for our freedom, which is one of the highest honors.”

Fast forwarding to 2022, Roesner didn’t want to let the outreach stop. She reached out to the North Webster and Warsaw American Legion posts in February to discuss their veterans. It was decided they could offer a Thanksgiving meal they could prepare at home. This was to be made available not only to the shut-

ins but also those veterans who were alone or struggling financially. Both Legions committed to helping 25 veterans.

Not only is “We Care” now serving twice as many veterans in Kosciusko County this year, Roesner also has committed to providing the same opportunity for 25 veterans from the North Manchester American Legion.

“I contacted Nordmann’s Nook Bakery in North Manchester, which is a veteranowned business, to see if they would help get pies for the dinners,” she recalled. “They said they’d do one better and said that for every pie someone buys, they would donate one. The only caveat was that the veterans in North Manchester would be helped, too, a request to which Roesner readily agreed.”

Roesner and a team of volunteers gathered twice to pack the Thanksgiving dinner items collected into tote bags, which were then taken to the three American Legions for distribution to the veterans.

“We’ve had people and businesses from all over the community donating supplies and volunteering,” said Roesner. “We had an assembly line of people putting these bags together. We also provided

a care bag, filled with things like mittens and other things the veterans might need for winter.”

“This is very much a passion for me,” she concluded. “I feel it’s something I’ve been called to do.”

What else does an estate plan do?

You may want to consider creating an estate plan that includes a trust if one or more of the following circumstances or priorities apply to you and your family:

Preserve Family Harmony

By designating an objective third party trustee, you can relieve loved ones of the burden of dealing with legal complexity during a difficult time.

Benefit Loved One With Special Needs

A trust can provide an

inheritance to a loved one with special needs while preserving his or her eligibility for government benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income.

Support Children From A Former Relationship

If you’re married with children from a previous relationship, a trust can help you protect your biological children

from potential disinheritance.

Cater To Financially Inexperienced Beneficiaries

By setting up a trust, you can restrict trust distributions, reducing the likelihood that your loved ones will squander their inheritance.

Include Distant Children

If you live far from loved ones, it’s important to plan ahead to ensure a trustee is

designated to manage your financial affairs upon your incapacity or death.

This information is not designed as, meant for or constitute the rendering of legal or tax advice. People should consult with their attorney and/or tax advisor before implementing any strategy discussed here.

Trust services provided by

MEMBERS Trust Company are not federally insured, are not obligations of or guaranteed by the credit union or any affiliated entity, and may involve investment risks, including the possible loss of principal.

MEMBERS Trust Company is a federal thrift regulated by the office of the comptroller or currency.

New start dates for Medicare Part B coverage coming in 2023

• Begins three months before your 65th birthday.

• Includes the month of your 65th birthday.

Changes are coming next year for when Medicare Part B coverage starts.

What is not changing:

If you are eligible at age 65, your Initial Enrollment Period:

• Ends three months after your 65th birthday.

If you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B or if you sign up during the first three months of your IEP, your coverage will start the month

you’re first eligible. If you sign up the month you turn 65, your coverage will start the first day of the following month. This won’t change with the new rule.

What is changing:

• Starting Jan. 1, 2023, your Medicare Part B coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up if you sign up during the last three months of your IEP. Before this change, if you signed up during the last three months of your IEP, your Medicare Part B coverage started two to three months after you enrolled.

• If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B during your IEP, you have another chance each year during the General Enrollment Period (GEP). The GEP lasts from Jan. 1 through Mar. 31. Starting Jan. 1, 2023, your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.

You can learn more about these updates at ssa.gov/medicare and ssa.gov/pubs/EN-0510043.pdf.

Please pass this information along to someone who may need it. Please also share that Social Security imposter scams are widespread across the

United States. Scammers use targeted, sophisticated tactics to deceive you into providing sensitive information or money.

Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General has received reports of scammers creating fake versions of the identification badges most federal employees use to gain access to federal buildings. The scammers may text or email photos of the fake badges to convince potential victims of their legitimacy.

These badges use government symbols, words and even names and photos of real people that are available on government websites or through internet searches.

If you receive a suspicious letter, text, email or call, hang up or do not respond. If you owe money to us, we will mail you a letter with payment options and a notice of appeal rights.

We encourage you to report suspected Social Security imposter scams — and other Social Security fraud — to the OIG’s website at oig.ssa. gov/report. You may read our previous Social Security fraud advisories at oig.ssa.gov/newsreleases. Again, please share this information with your friends and family.

Secret shopper for the holiday season

It’s so exciting these final days before Christmas. You never know who is going to be at the door ringing your bell. Will it be UPS dropping off a package?

Maybe Federal Express with a holiday gift? Possibly the U.S. Mail with something for this past Mother’s or Father’s Day?

Sometimes it’s a grumpy neighbor telling you he’s tired of getting all your stuff by mistake.

’Tis the season.

This story begins about 2 p.m. last Tuesday. The UPS truck pulled up to the curb and we wondered what Brown was going to do for us. We saw the driver struggle with a huge carton the size of a big screen TV. He maneuvered it to the front porch and left it leaning against the door. I went outside to look at it.

“Who’s it for?” asked Mary Ellen.

I checked the label and it was addressed to me, but

sometimes that sticker is misleading. Some of our credit cards are in my name, some are in Mary Ellen’s, so when a delivery is made, we are not sure who ordered it and who the gift is ultimately for. If the wrong person opens it, well, there goes the surprise on Christmas morning.

“It says it’s for me,” I told her, “but I have absolutely no recollection of ordering anything so big. Maybe you ordered it, Mary Ellen.”

My wife thought for a moment and so began the weirdest conversation in our 42-year marriage.

“Dick, I know what it is. It’s that special item I mentioned two months ago that I wanted for Christmas. You said you found it in a catalog. Don’t you remember? I am so excited! Thank you.”

“I have absolutely no idea what it is. Can you give me a hint?”

“No, I can’t give you a hint. That would ruin the surprise.”

“Ruin the surprise? Ruin the surprise? The gift is for you! It’s supposed to be your surprise. But you already know what it is. I’m the one who doesn’t have a clue.”

“It doesn’t seem right to tell you. That’s not in keeping

with the spirit of giving, Dick.”

“Okay, how about if you whisper softly in my ear and I promise I won’t tell you what you said.” It scared me a little that for a brief moment this actually made sense. It was driving me crazy that I had no memory of what I bought her. “Is it a high tech item?” I asked.

“Not really,” said Mary Ellen.

“Do you plug it in?”

“No.”

“Is it artwork?”

“No, not even close. But I don’t want to play anymore. If you guess it, I’ll have nothing to look forward to on Christmas morning. I want to see the expression on your face when I open it.”

Later that morning when Mary Ellen went out grocery shopping, I opened the box.

As you plan

know, and the doctors know, who is to have the legal authority to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are someday incapacitated.

A good estate plan can also include a funeral planning declaration so that your spouse or children will know how to handle your final arrangements. This alone could save many thousands of dollars and a great deal of confusion and uncertainty in the future. If you work with an elder law attorney, it is very likely that you will receive a Medicaid agency agreement, which can enable your loved ones to help you qualify for Medicaid, and potentially

save your home, and your life savings, from being spent down for nursing home costs, in the event of a long-term catastrophic illness. Unless you have nursing home insurance, the right kind of elder law planning is critical, right now, so that you don’t lose everything you worked for your entire life simply because you someday have a stroke, break your hip or suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia.

The average person with Alzheimer’s is likely to be in a nursing home an average of five years, which would burn through nearly $600,000.

One of the wisest and kindest things you could possibly do would be to schedule an

Let me tell you, it was a really neat present. I don’t think I have ever been happier with something I bought my wife.

Before Mary Ellen got home, I resealed it, then gift-wrapped it and placed it under the tree.

Of course, now we both knew what was in the package. It will still be a surprise on Christmas morning, as long as we can both keep a secret.

appointment with an experienced professional who can help you get your personal and legal affairs in order. For your sake. For your spouse’s sake. For the sake of your children and the ones you love.

At Rice and Rice, estate planning and elder law is all we do. We have been doing it for over 50 years. Call today for a free consultation, or attend one of our dinner workshops at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 902 E. University Drive, Granger, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, or 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12. Reservations required and seating is limited. Call now, (800) 3037423, or visit riceandrice.com.

Jeff ‘JJ’ Shaw, Attorney at Law

Theresa Hochstetler: always active

Theresa Hochstetler, yoga instructor and certified health coach, grew up in the Elkhart/Goshen area. A graduate of Elkhart Central High School, she furthered her education at IU Bloomington and received a degree in business and sociology. She also took nutrition courses at IUPUI.

Hochstetler is currently National Academy of Sports Medicine personal trainer certified and American Council on Exercise health coach certified, but also holds various other certifications.

Health and fitness is something Hochstetler has always been passionate about in her life and in the lives of others. She values the benefits of being active, and being active is a way to keep not only your body healthy, but also your mind.

She began yoga when she was in a tense career with long hours and found a sense of peace in doing it. “I just found out so many physical, emotional, spiritual benefits.” She continues doing yoga as a form of stress relief and it allows her to have some time to herself.

When asked why she chose to get into coaching and instructing fitness classes, Hochstetler stated, “My main

mission is to make a difference in the lives of other people. Even after I retire I will probably still do some of this because it is so rewarding.

“I’ve worked with cancer patients, people coming out of surgeries for different joint replacements and have seen everyone getting stronger. It is so great to see people walking without their canes anymore and their quality of life improving,” she said.

One portion of coaching she is passionate about is known as activities of daily life. Hochstetler incorporates movements necessary to maintain the functions people use in everyday life so her clients can keep their mobility and abilities as long as possible.

While in the warmer months it may be easy for seniors to get out and get moving, the winter months make that a bit more challenging.

Doing workouts indoors, such as yoga, personal training or group fitness classes can help keep your mind and body healthy and able.

Hochstetler also uses her fitness platform to spread positivity and create a community for everyone to feel comfortable in. “Especially coming out of the pandemic, it has been so important to have that connection.”

She will often have mes-

sages or talking points for her clients during her classes to encourage them and help get them into a good headspace.

Hochstetler said people in her group fitness classes often check in with her and with others in the class, which really fosters a sense of friendship and togetherness.

Through her own physical activity and helping others stay active, Hochstetler plans to continue making a difference in the community.

Foods that fight for health

headaches and viruses.

No matter how often you say, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” it doesn’t diminish the importance of the message.

Nutritionists generally agree that the fruit that caused the downfall of Adam and Eve is not to be discarded, because it contains, among other beneficial ingredients, fiber and antioxidants. And eat them with the peel, where most of the antioxidants are concentrated.

The apple is among the weapons available to help in the body’s ongoing battle against certain types of cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis, as well as battling

No food does everything, but each is pretty good when combined with your daily diet.

Garlic gets a bad rap because of its aromatic behavior after being eaten, but it offers antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, as do onions.

Dark chocolate also is an antiinflammatory and helps lower blood pressure, as does olive oil, which also helps maintain your cardiovascular system.

Avocados boost the ability to absorb nutrients from other foods and are excellent sources of potassium, as are pomegranates, which lower blood pressure and promote good circulation.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Professional Services

Q. Do I need an estate plan?

A. An estate plan defines who you want to manage or receive your assets in the event of your incapacity or death. If you do not create an estate plan, the state has an estate plan for you. The law of intestate succession is your state’s default estate plan for those who fail to plan ahead. According to the laws of your state, a court will distribute your property after death. State laws vary, but generally, the property will be

Kathy Misukanis Trust Administrator

passed to a surviving spouse and/or other bloodline relatives. By failing to draft an estate plan, you may disinherit an unmarried partner, friends, and charities. Let me help you make sure your plan is in place.

Kathy Misukanis Trust Administrator

Wealth Management Center 110 S. Main St. South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 245-4735, ext. 5878

Professional Forum

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

A: Yes. Effective July 1, 2022 (regarding the estate of an individual who dies after June 30, 2022), any person indebted to the decedent or having possession of property belonging to the decedent that is presented an affidavit that complies with the new law shall make payment of the indebtedness or deliver the personal property to a distributee claiming to be entitled to payment or delivery of property of the decedent as alleged in the affidavit. The affidavit must generally state the following: (1) That the value of the gross probate estate (less liens, encumbrances, and reasonable funeral expenses) does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00); (2) That forty-five (45) days have elapsed since the death of the decedent; (3) That no application or petition for the appointment of a personal representative is pending or has been granted in any jurisdiction; (4) The name

and address of each distributee that is entitled to a share of the property and the part of the property to which each distributee is entitled; (5) That the affiant has notified each distributee identified in the affidavit of the affiant’s intention to present such an affidavit under this law; and (6) That the affiant is entitled to payment or delivery of the property on behalf of each distributee identified in the affidavit. This affidavit process avoids probate for estates of decedents dying after June 30, 2022, where the gross probate value is no more than $100,000.00.

DISCLOSURE: This information is not designed, meant, nor does it constitute the rendering of legal or tax advice. You should consult with your attorney and/or tax advisor before implementing any strategy discussed here. Trust services provided by MEMBERS Trust Company are not federally insured, are not obligations of or guaranteed by the credit union or any affiliated entity, involve investment risks, including the possible loss of principle. MEMBERS Trust Company is a federal thrift regulated by the Office of the Comptroller or the Currency.

Victoria Biddle, Account Executive

Kurt

R.

Bachman, Partner Member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. and a Veterans Affairs Accredited Attorney

Q: Did the law change recently increasing the dollar amount for smaller estates avoiding probate?

Lengachers dedicated to God’s work in Kenya

“Many of the babies were abandoned in fields, train stations, hospitals, etc. These were unwanted pregnancies. These babies probably would have died. I could not get these babies from Kenya out of my head. They stole my heart. I’m unqualified and unequipped. We’re willing to put the time in and make the trips and do whatever is necessary to make

sure this ministry comes to completion.

“The church has been incred ible getting behind it. I’m just thinking about the people who have given sacrificially to finish this building. Pastor Dave Engbrecht had preached about the message ‘How do you eat an elephant?’ The normal answer is ‘one bite at a time.’ Dave said, ‘no you invite a thousand friends to eat it with you,’”said Jamie.

“There was an outpouring of love in the form of gifts from the congregation to finish the building. Bill and Melody Dearmon and Staci Wells were

the World Gospel Mission missionaries at the time,” said Jolinda.

“I think God wants you to get involved in things that are bigger than you. Kenya has done more for me than I’ve ever done for Kenya. Now 16 years later, I realize that I need to keep going to keep what is important and not let the American dream get in the way of what God’s dream is for you,” said Jamie.

“This whole time we’re tak ing teams over and adding more babies. Since 2006, there are 500 babies that have now been adopted into families,”

said Jolinda.

“There is a great partner ship between the Africa Gospel Church, World Gospel Mission and the Nappanee Mission ary Church. Some of the first people that laid the ground work didn’t live to see the completion. People came in and continued the work that they started. There have been times where we wanted to quit. God told me to just get on the plane. I will take care of every thing else.

“The faithfulness of God is all over this ministry. It’s in credible. I don’t know where I’d be without it,” said Jamie.

Some prostate cancer risks identified

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

does family history. While the causes for this disease that no one likes to talk about are still unknown, statistics reveal that 60% of the cases are diagnosed in men over 60.

Asian men are the least likely to contract this disease, while African-Americans are 70% more at risk than white males. It’s also more common in ethnic groups from north western Europe and North America than it is among those from Central and South America and Africa.

A sibling or parent with prostate cancer doubles your chances of contracting the disease. Men with a female relative who has contracted or has a high risk of contract ing breast cancer also have an increased risk of develop ing prostate cancer.

It’s been revealed in some surveys that men who have undergone vasectomies face increased risk also.

Diet can lower the risk. Reducing consumption of red meat and high-fat dairy products is a good first step. And eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, such as tomatoes, watermelon and pink grape fruit, is also believed to lower the risk.

LENGACHERS DEDICATED TO GOD’S WORK IN KENYA — For the past 16 years, Jamie and Jolinda Lengacher have been involved with the Africa Gospel Church Baby Centre. The baby centre takes in abandoned babies and finds a family to adopt them. The Lengachers are pictured holding two Kenyan babies. Photo provided by Jolinda Lengacher.

It’s a matter of time

About the only occasion most of us take notice of time is when we have to keep an appointment, find out when our favorite TV program is aired or cuss out that confounding “daylight savings time.”

The definition of a time zone is a longitudinal geographic area that observes a uniform time for legal, commercial and social purposes.

There are 24 time zones circling the globe.

The British Royal Observatory in Greenwich was founded in 1675 and established Greenwich Mean Time, the solar time at that location. Astronomers of that era developed GMT as an aid to mariners to determine their longitudinal position at sea. Today, U.S. military units refer to GMT as “Zulu Time.”

In November, 1840, the Great Western Railway started using GMT kept by portable chronometers. This practice was soon followed by other railway companies in Great Britain and became known as Railway Time.

Around August of 1852, time signals were first transmitted by telegraph from the Royal Observatory. By 1855, Great Britain’s public clocks were using GMT, but that didn’t become England’s legal time until 1880.

Timekeeping on North American railroads in the 19th century was complex. Each railroad used its own standard of time, usually based on the local time at its headquarters or, more importantly, its terminus. Each railroad’s train schedules were published using its own time.

Some junctions served by several railroads had a clock for each railroad that showed a different time.

In 1863, Charles F. Dowd proposed a system of hourly standard time zones for North American railroads. He took this action without consulting the railroads. Rail officials weren’t consulted on the matter until 1869.

In 1870, Dowd proposed four ideal time zones for the United States having northsouth borders with the first centered on Washington, D.C. By 1872 the first time zone was centered on the meridian 75 degrees west of Greenwich.

Dowd’s system was never accepted by North American railroads. Instead, U.S. and

Canadian railroads implemented a version proposed by the Traveler’s Official Railway Guide. The borders of its time zones ran through major cities’ railroad stations.

Canadian-born Sanford Fleming proposed a worldwide system of time zones. His proposal divided the world into 24 time zones. All clocks within each zone would be set to the same time but differing by one hour from those in the neighboring zones.

He advocated his system at several international conferences, including the International Meridian Conference, where it received some consideration. Today, while his system has not been directly adopted, some maps divide the world into 24 time zones.

By 1900, almost all inhabited places on Earth had adopted a standard time zone,

but only some of them used an hourly offset from GMT.

By 1929, the majority of countries had adopted hourly time zones, except Iran, India and parts of Australia, which have time zones with a 30-minute offset to UTC.

Today, all nations currently use the UTC time zone system, but not all of them apply the concept as originally conceived. Several countries and subdivisions use half-hour or quarter-hour deviations.

China and India use a single time zone even though the extent of their territory far exceeds the ideal 15 degrees of longitude for one hour. Spain and Argentina use standard hour-based offsets, but not necessarily those determined by their geographical location.

The consequences affect the lives of local citizens and, in extreme cases, contribute to larger political issues, such

as in the western reaches of China. In Russia, which has 11 time zones, two zones were removed in 2010 but were reinstated in 2014.

When I was a boy, my grandfather could look up at

the sun and tell within 30 minutes what time it was. He’d check himself by looking at his pocket watch as the trains came through town.

Bygone days.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Thanks-Christmas is not a holiday — Tips to stay on track through the holidays

friends and family is good for your soul and you can make it good for your heart too by making it one meal, not meal after meal until all the pies are gone. If you say, “No, I shouldn’t,” then leave it there, don’t put that “but” after it. “No, I shouldn’t” is a complete sentence and it can keep you on your path.

Here are some tips from past columns that may be of help to you:

fruit, salad fixings and healthy leftovers.

• If you dine out — be the first one to order so you don’t change your mind. You know it happens.

• Watch the labels for added sugar. Females should have no

more than 25 grams of added sugar and males 36 grams.

• If you bake for the holiday, take it all with you to wherever you go, or if you are hosting, make sure you put it all out and package it up for your guests to

take with them. You will be so glad you did.

However you spend your holidays, keep your health goals in mind. It’s really about the holiday and sharing it with friends and family. Cheers!

Dementia by any name is still debilitating

The trifecta of holidays is upon us: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Three days, but, in reality we need to add on the entire Thanksgiving weekend because of the leftovers, plus, Christmas party upon Christmas party throughout December, and then New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day …

Don’t let it happen. You can enjoy the holidays without going completely off the healthy eating rails.

Eating for health starts as a mindset, day ... after day ... after day. Declare your plan, write it down and work on it every single day. If it helps you to write down what you eat each day, then do that. As you know, results happen over time — not overnight.

Eating a holiday meal with

• Go one day a week without an ingredient list. That means whole foods only; nothing prepared from a box or a frozen dinner.

• Reduce or stop eating cheese. Cheese is addictive and it’s 70% fat.

• At the most, eat meat at only one meal per day.

• Eat a pound of cooked vegetables per day.

• Eat a pound of raw cruciferous and greens per day.

• Eat more fruit, especially berries.

• If you dine out, choose wisely — salad, vegetable wrap, soup or vegetables and brown rice.

• Make healthy soup and always keep it on hand.

• Meal prep or at a minimum make sure when you open the refrigerator there are vegetables,

Everybody wants to live forever, but few folks look forward to getting old.

A lot of time and talent has been devoted to eliminating or finding cures for disease, developing drugs that diminish debilitation and producing prosthetics that help make coping comfortable.

Despite all the intelligence applied to the science of lengthy living, little is known about enhancing our brain’s power, particularly as it ages.

Dementia — its causes and cures — is still a mystery to the best medical minds. Experienced experts even disagree on the best ways to avoid or alleviate its ravages.

Play mental agility games, such as crossword puzzles, some say. Learn a language to foster

the brain’s flexibility. Travel. Join social groups. Stay active. Exercise to maintain a healthy blood flow to the brain. Eat foods containing chemicals that stimulate brain activity and cells.

All of these are safe and sane advice for anyone wishing to stay healthy.

But there’s still no cure for such degenerative brain diseases as Alzheimer’s. The inexorably inevitable result is loss of memory, identity and mobility if death does not intervene.

Alzheimer’s disease ambushes a new victim every minute.

More than 5 million people in this country reportedly suffer from it. That number is expected to triple over the next three decades as the population ages.

Anecdotes and stories by friends, families and caregivers dealing with victims of this and

other debilitating neurological diseases hurt the heart. Helplessly, they watch the frustration and falling away of their loved one, all the while trying to rationalize what is happening.

The recurring theme is that these caregivers cannot realize, accept, come to grips with or face the fact that the person they once knew is fading away. The once-witty wife becomes a slug. The once-creative dad gathers dust in the corner. This also victimizes the caregivers.

Much has been learned about brain functions and malfunctions over recent years from work with war veterans and athletes in such violent sports as hockey and football.

Researchers hope that, with pressure applied by the aging phalanx of some 75 million baby boomers, more attention will be devoted to exploring the brain.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

It was 50 years ago —

‘You’re So Vain’ refers to three famous, arrogant individuals

Carly Simon

“You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht.

“Your hat strategically dipped below one eye, your scarf it was apricot.

“You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte.

“And all the girls dreamed that they’d be your partner, they’d be your partner.

“And you’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you.

“Don’t you, don’t you?”

Some lyrics of Carly Simon’s No. 1 hit often left many music fans scratching their heads in wonder. Let’s start with the little-known word gavotte. “A gavotte is a French dance,” Simon explained. “I thought I would use a word that was slightly presumptuous … He’s gavotting because that’s what a pretentious, vain man would do.”

Then there is that mysterious line, “There were clouds in my coffee.” That statement came about during a flight Simon took with her piano player, Billy Merritt. She explained, “As I got my coffee, Billy said to me, ‘Look at the clouds in your coffee.’ There were clouds outside the window of the airplane, and you could see the reflection in a cup of coffee.” And we were supposed to figure this out?

But the question that most fans asked was: Who was Carly ridiculing in “You’re So Vain,” an Elektra Records tune that topped the Billboard singles chart for three weeks in the waning days of 1972? That hit, whose creation consumed nearly a year of Simon’s time, came from her third LP, “No Secrets,” a No. 1 Billboard album for more than a month.

Simon claims that “You’re So Vain” actually refers to a total of three famous, arrogant individuals. She has stated that ex-husband James Taylor and Rolling Stone Mick Jagger are definitely not the men she had in mind when she put pen to paper many years ago.

Other possible candidates — deep breath here — have

included David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, David Cassidy and Jack Nicholson.

“I was brought up by a mother who was adamant you didn’t even kiss a man until you were in love with him,” Simon has admitted. “So I was in love with a lot of men. I was besotted by the lads. I was definitely a romantic.”

Recently, Simon admitted the second verse was about actor Warren Beatty — but only the second verse.

“You had me several years ago, when I was still quite naïve.

“Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair and that you would never leave.

“But you gave away the things you loved, and one of them was me.

“I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee.”

In August 2003, she agreed to reveal the unknown names to the highest bidder of a Martha’s Vineyard charity auction. Dick Ebersole, the head of NBC Sports, won with a bid of $50,000, but he had to agree to never reveal what she told him.

And so, to this day, Carly Simon’s mystery men have remained a mystery.

‘Book Boogie’ encourages reading for Kosciusko students

Operation Read was recently granted funds from the TCU Foundation to support the launch of Book Boogie, a program to incentivize reading for children in a fun and engaging way.

Through the program, students in kindergarten through fifth grade track their recreational reading. Each month, two students from each grade who have read the most pages will receive prizes.

To encourage participation and involvement, one teacher each month will also receive prizes for reading. During the elementary school’s May awards program, grand prizes will go to the two overall top readers and one top teacher, with a total of 98 awards being presented for the school year.

All children who participate will have the opportunity to build up points, so even if they have not read the most pages, they are still encouraged to keep reading.

Operation Read is thankful

for the full funding support of the TCU Foundation who embraced the program from its inception.

Operation Read Board President Cheryl Avery stated, “We are excited about the partnership with the TCU Foundation, the schools, teachers, parents and students to help promote fun in reading for the children in the community.”

The program will be rolled out each year, with the current elementary school letting Operation Read know which school they want to challenge for the next year. The challenged school must be from a different school district in Kosciusko County (Warsaw, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley and Pierceton elementaries) so all schools will eventually have an opportunity to participate and encourage reading. The school selected to launch the program this year is North Webster Elementary School.

Executive Director DeeContinued on page 17

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Working from home still a job

The writer of this article works from home. So do thousands of other freelance writers around the globe, as have sales folks, designers, seamstresses and a slew of other people for decades.

The COVID-19 pandemic recruited thousands more home workers as the global shutdown forced companies around the world to send their office staff home for the duration. Now that the duration seems to have dissipated, these armies of workers have grown to like the idea of not having to don business office attire and fight traffic to perform their workaday chores.

Some corporate honchos also like the idea they no longer have to pay for quarters in high-rent metropolitan high-rises but can move their downsized headquarters staff to more economical pastures.

But who sets your hours when you work from home? How does your employer get the eight hours he’s paying you for? Focus by both employee and employer have to be adjusted to key in on production, not the process.

Work-at-home fanciers can meet their quotas and deadlines by developing a routine

that fits their lifestyle. Early birds can get their work done between 5-9 a.m. Others can dedicate a 2-6 p.m. to producing if they don’t feel like going along with traditionalists who still like a 9-to-5 workday.

But a routine is necessary. A longtime colleague locks his office door every day at 5 p.m. He never goes back and it’s shut all day Saturday and Sunday — and Monday on holiday weekends — as well as the two weeks he takes off for vacation. He even takes sick days when needed.

Maintaining regular hours is your first step to a successful work-at-home program. You don’t have to be as strict as the colleague cited earlier. Putting in some extra time today to complete a project will make tomorrow less stressful. You can still start your day with a soothing cup of coffee as well as take a regular coffee break or two

later in the day. And don’t forget to have lunch.

Get up and stretch your legs and back every 60 minutes or so. If you’re not on an eight-hour-a-day routine, your lunch break might a be a 15-minute walk around the block to relax both your mind and body.

If you’re still working for a company, they can provide you with necessary equipment and supplies, including ink for the printer they provided and gasoline for your car when it’s used for work.

While it’s important to dedicate a room or space for your office, it’s also wise to maintain a separate phone number for your job. Today’s computerized world simplifies much of the communication needs that help you stay in contact with your company, co-workers, clients and customers.

Make sure you get into the corporate office for meet-

‘Book Boogie’

Continued from page 16

Anna Muraski said, “[North Webster Elementary] is scalable for us as we beta test and we can be hands-on.”

The students readily embraced the reading challenge as evidenced by Muraski, who

passionately said, “I walked down the school hallway where students were waiting in line and saw four of them reading — it made my day!”

Operation Read’s mission is to “encourage the lifelong love of learning through reading.”

ings on a regular basis. You can easily be forgotten or overlooked for promotions and pay raises if you aren’t around.

Take time to socialize with contacts and co-workers. This helps keep you abreast of the

latest developments in the world around you.

Pick a little routine to end your day. A longtime friend turns her television set on at closing time to end the workday.

IIt’s easy! Simply find the bell 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.

Seiberling Mansion in Kokomo is worth visiting during the holidays

This holiday season, consider a road trip to Kokomo to visit the elegant Seiberling Mansion. The 11,000square-foot Neo-Jacobean/Romanesque Revival mansion, which is beautifully lit for the season, is a testament to the great Indiana Gas Boom of the late 1800s, which brought an era of prosperity to Hoosiers and

Greencroft Community Center Tours

laid the foundation for a new industrial economy.

Monroe Seiberling, lured to Kokomo with the offer of free land and free gas, was already a wealthy man in Akron, Ohio, before founding Diamond Plate Glass Company, Kokomo Strawboard and other firms in Jonesboro and Elwood.

Construction on the mansion began in late 1889.

It was completed in 1891 because a wooden structure was built over the site for year-round work. After completion, the cover was dismantled and the materials given to anyone who could haul them away.

The initial estimate to build was $40,000 (a lot at that time), but ended up costing $50,000. The local gentry weren’t necessarily concerned by that figure, but when they learned that Seiberling had spent another $6,000 to build a carriage house they were shocked. Both, of course, were heated by natural gas.

Upcoming Tours

Dec. 16 – “Sound of Music” at the Wagon Wheel Theatre, Warsaw, Ind.

Jan. 13 – RV Hall of Fame, Elkhart, Ind.

Feb. 6 – Jayco RV Factory Tour, Middlebury, Ind.

Feb. 27 – Studebaker Museum/SB Chocolate Factory, South Bend, Ind.

Mar. 22 – Fair Oaks Farm, Fair Oaks, Ind.

June 13-15 – Chicago Aug. 20-25 – Biltmore Mansion & Smoky Mountains

Nov. 11-13 – Branson, Missouri For full information on any of these tours, or to make a reservation, please call 574-537-4090

The Seiberlings lived in the mansion until mid-1895 when the gas fields dried up and the boom fizzled. They moved out — lock, stock and barrel —to Peoria, Ill., where he established new factories and continued to make tons of money. There were a couple of owners after Seiberling and before George Kingston, inventor of the carburetor used in Ford’s Model T automobiles, moved into it in 1914. He also founded Kingston Products, a major Kokomo manufacturer for years.

In 1946, Indiana University took over the property and established headquarters for IU Kokomo until 1965.

It must have been special to attend classes in such historic surroundings. After IU, the mansion was empty until 1972. During that time it was vandalized and suffered from weather and neglect.

It was close to feeling the power of the wrecking ball before the county stepped in and turned it over to the Howard County Historical Society, which carried out renovations and restored it to its original opulence.

Neither the furniture nor the light fixtures are original. They are, however, from the Victorian era. Brass door fixtures and window lifts are of Moorish design, while the woodwork is oak, walnut, maple, cherry, mahogany and tulip poplar. Seiberling Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The mansion includes a Miami Indian display, cooking ranges made by Globe America Company and a World War I exhibit of six-inch trench mortar shells produced in Kokomo. The company made

17,460 mortars, but none of them made it to the battlefield. The ballroom on the third floor features photos of Howard County war heroes, uniforms, paintings and photos of the city through the years.

Seiberling Mansion is located at 1200 Sycamore St. Drive past the mansion and turn right at the next

street. Go another block, turn right again and come into the parking lot from the rear. It’s open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, February through December. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students (K-12) and free for children under 5.

For more information, visit howardcountymuseum.org or call (765) 452-4314.

Give the gift of travel

There are thousands of items you could gift someone during this season of giving, but are they filled with memories? Think about the joy a gift of travel would bring to your loved one.

We currently have availability on four of our 2023 trips. As always, just a $75 deposit holds a seat on our luxury motor coach. There are two-, four- or five-night trips taking you to Niagara

Falls, Chicago, Memphis or Branson, with each location packed with fun and interesting local sights and activities unique to that destination.

People are never traveling alone when the host is Dennis Donathen. He has a way of making sure everyone on the coach enjoys the ride and activities, making the travel time fly by, and the details taken care of at each stop so you can sit back and enjoy.

The upcoming trips are:

• New York and Niagara Falls in May. Four nights and all the sights (no passport required).

• Chicago in August. Yes, we live close, but when was the last time you were a tourist in Chicago? No worries about driving in Chicago traffic. We’ve got it all planned out and you have all the fun.

• Memphis, Tenn., in September is unforgettable. Visit Graceland, Beale Street and so much more.

• Branson, Mo., in November for Holiday Show Extravaganza. Six fabulous shows plus area sights.

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

See our ad in this travel section for more details and visit grouptrips.com/ddresales for daily itineraries, videos and booking.

Give Dennis a call at (574) 220-8032 if you have any questions.

Christmas memories: 100 years ago

It has been over 100 years now since Grandma was a young girl in Bremen. Throughout the 1910s, it must have been the best way the Zentz girls communicated with each other: Via beautiful postcards of all seasons, holidays and many themes.

Before Grandma passed away in May of 1974, she gave me one of her prized items, Did you know that Woodlawn Hospital is one of 1,300 critical access hospitals in the country? Hospitals that are serving rural communities, so they have access to qualified healthcare professionals. Today is National Rural Health Day and we are so honored to be earning the right to care for our community Did you know that Woodlawn Hospital is one of 1,300 critical access hospitals in the country? Hospitals that are serving rural communities, so they have access to qualified healthcare professionals. Today is National Rural Health Day and we are so honored to be earning the right to care for our community an album of precious postcards from her youth. Her album contains some 300 beautiful and colorful postcards. The cards depict every holiday America celebrates from New Year’s Day to Christmas.

Grandma and all the Zentz girls are all gone now, but as I turn the pages of this old album, they all seem to come alive again. Any time I choose, I can enjoy the cards of Christmas that they all must have loved so long ago through these beautiful cards.

Christmas in the 21st Century is far different than it was in Grandma’s time. Christmas is now, on many occasions, a cold greeting via texting or emails that wish family and friends a Happy Holiday minus the pre-

Efficient operation means economic savings

cious name of Christmas. Perhaps someday we might send or receive a card as beautiful as the ones Grandma sent and received in her day — over

100 years ago. Any information welcome to: Dr. Greg Lawson, 1801 E. 3rd St., Mishawaka, IN 46544. Lawson is a long-time writerlaureate of area history and human interest stories.

One way to lower your heating costs is to set your thermostat at 74 degrees Fahrenheit (about 20 degrees Celsius) during the day and 55 F (about 12 C) at night.

If that’s too cool at night, lower it to a level you can handle.

Keep heat sources, such as lamps, away from the thermostat.

Clean or replace your furnace filters every three months, or more if necessary. Keep heating vents and chimneys clear of any blockage.

You can also cut your utility bills substantially by changing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting.

ANSWERS:

At Greencroft Goshen Healthcare, we will do our best to take the worry out of your worries. Our greatest hope is that you will feel free to enjoy your day by relaxing with a cup of coffee in the Terraces, taking a leisurely stroll in one of our beautiful courtyards, or even inviting your friends and family over for a delicious dinner at The Groves Café.

We have years of experience in healing the mind, body and soul. (Our chicken soup isn’t that bad either!) Getting older takes heart, guts and a team that never gives up. Feel free to lean on us. It’s the Greencroft way.

Whether you need a little bit of help getting back on your feet or a lot of help, please feel free to call on us at Greencroft Goshen.

Call Delia Waits at 574-537-4039. Like us on Facebook!

Live, here. For the Best of your life.

1904 S 15th St., Goshen, Ind. www.greencroft.org

‘No more mister nice guy’

In the early days of television, talk show hosts were always seen as being really, really nice folks. In a 2000 video, Regis Philbin said, “When you get right down to it, the personality of the person who is conducting that show is the chief selling factor in

making it a success.”

But what if he or she is not so pleasant? In fact, just the opposite?

Case in point: Joseph Edward Pyne. He was born in 1924 in Chester, Pa., the son of a bricklayer and a homemaker. As a child, he stuttered and was often mocked by his classmates. He finished high school in 1942 and immediately escaped Chester by enlisting in the Marine Corps.

After the service, Pyne enrolled in a drama school and successfully overcame his handicap.

Three diseases account for majority of diagnostic errors

opioids were not addictive.

He found work in radio, drifting through a series of announcing jobs. By 1949, he was in Kenosha, Wis., taking song requests from people who called in. Back then, listeners could hear only the announcer’s part of a conversation. One night, Joe held his phone receiver up to his microphone — and two-way call-in radio was born.

As a strongly opinionated loose cannon, the chain-smoking Pyne grew increasingly conservative and outspoken over the years. He began arguing with — and eventually insulting — callers who disagreed with him, sometimes ending a debate with, “Go gargle with razor blades!”

Regular use of painkilling medication can kill pain but also can lead to addiction and even death.

Such common over-the-counter brands as Advil and Motrin are among the roots of an opioid epidemic that has spread across the nation, resulting in thousands of deaths each year.

Doctors have been prescribing such pain relievers as ibuprofen for years under the belief, which prevailed until recently, that

As early as 2014, the Food and Drug Administration reported that regular use of OTC painkilling opioids could raise the risk of heart attack and stroke by as much as 10%. Using stronger prescription-strength painkillers could increase that risk by as much as 50%.

To avoid such peril, medical and health experts caution that these drugs should be used only for severe pain at the lowest possible dose for the shortest amount of time.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

As his ratings soared, Pyne moved inexorably from smaller radio markets to larger ones. When his show became syndicated, he was eventually heard on 254 stations around the country.

In time, Pyne landed a bigger venue — television. He was lured to Los Angeles to independent station KTLA, who offered him $1,000 a week — more than the Yankees paid Mickey Mantle.

“The Joe Pyne Show” then went into syndication, and he became a household name in 240 national markets.

The eternally skeptical Pyne invited guests from society’s

fringe — astrologers, psychics, faith healers, UFO witnesses, hippies, “pinkos,” women’s libbers, Manson followers, KKK members and American Nazis, sparring with them all through a fog of cigarette smoke as he sat at his desk. “The subject must be visceral,” Pyne said. “We want emotion, not mental involvement.”

Media historian Donna Halpin enthused, “Pyne was one of broadcasting’s truly unique figures — the original angry talker. He rose from the lowest ranks of radio and founded the modern TV shoutfest.”

The money flowed in like a tsunami. In 1965, the 40-year-old celebrity married a 21-year-old

Norwegian model. Together they shared a Hollywood Hills mansion complete with a swimming pool and high-end foreign cars in the driveway.

But the good times weren’t to last. In the late 1960s, Pyne was diagnosed with lung cancer, and he died at age 45 in 1970. He quickly disappeared from the public consciousness. Later TV producers often recorded over his videotapes.

However, Joe’s spirit lives on through such abrasive wouldbe Pynes as Howard Stern, Bill Maher and Bill O’Reilly.

Does he deserve our thanks, or do we blame him for what he has brought to our TV screens today?