Senior Life - Elko Edition - February 2023

If you haven’t been to the Warsaw Community Public Library in a while, you’re missing out.

This isn’t your parents’ library, or even yours from your youth. Gone are the stodgy days of a “shushing” librarian looking at you over the top of her eyeglasses secured to her neck by a silver chain while dressed in a drab gray skirt and black cardigan. Instead, you’re more likely to encounter a bright-eyed employee wearing comfortable, brightlycolored clothes who is eager to help you discover what the library has to offer in 2023.

While you’ll still be able to find and check out a wide

selection of books, magazines, movies, music and other traditional library materials, did you know you also can borrow a Wi-Fi hotspot, air fryer, bubble machine, button maker, metal detector and even a GoPro action camera?

These, and dozens of other non-traditional library items, are all part of WCPL’s “Library of Things” collection, also known as “LoTs.” They are available for lending to any Warsaw library cardholders in good standing. The best part? You can borrow them free for seven days, with one additional renewal if no one else has requested them, all as part of your library privileges.

“It allows people to try out different things without having to buy them,” said Sarah Neel,

who works as a reference assistant at the library. “We have a food dehydrator, a canner, things you need just a couple of times a year. Plus, some of the games we have cost $60, so you can try it out to see if you like it before you buy it.”

The LoTs program is a growing trend among cutting edge libraries across the country that are seeking ways to increase their patronage and circulation numbers, which are important as they compete for grants and state funding. At least one other area library, Nappanee Public Library in Elkhart County, has a similar program that has been met with outstanding reviews and support from that community.

Warsaw’s LoTs program began in late 2017, according

to Reference Librarian Dana Owen. The collection began with specialty cake pans and evolved further with games and puzzles. Owen said she has expanded the collection gradually during the last five years, adding things such as kitchen appliances, party equipment and outdoor tools.

Owen said the items in the collection are things patrons might not want to purchase for themselves, whether because of perceived usage, space or cost. In some instances, people borrow an item to try it out and see if it’s something they like or might want to purchase.

“A lot of times people will request something,” said Owen. “I will also go out and look at other libraries’ websites to see what they have added to theirs

and see if it’s something we’d like to try as well.”

Items can be placed on hold via the library’s website or by stopping by the reference desk and letting them know what you’d like to borrow. Patrons are limited to two checked-out items from the LoTs at any given time. Items must be returned clean to not be assessed an extra fee.

For a list of items WCPL has in its LoTs collection, visit warsawlibrary.org/explore/libraryof-things-(lots) or stop by and see the collection for yourself. The library is located at 310 E. Main St., Warsaw.

You can also call (574) 2676011 or email info@warsawlibrary.org with questions about the LoTs collection or anything else going on at the library.

Key Positions

Marshall sees her work as a ministry

“I enjoy helping people,” stated Tammy Marshall, Goshen. “I think that’s why I’m drawn to jobs that include serving people with disabilities. When I’m able to assist people, I believe I’m ministering for God. Ministry is not always easy. However, it’s always very rewarding.”

Marshall began her work with disabled people at Goldenrod after talking to a friend who worked there. Her friend enjoyed the opportunities she had to serve others. “My friend’s description of serving people drew my attention. I took a position working in an assisted living group home. My job consisted of administering medications that were scheduled for each resident, assisting with meals, helping with laundry and driving the ladies to places they needed to go.”

After taking a breather to

focus on her family, Marshall started working for Forte Residential in the fall of 2020. “I work out of the Goshen office. I have two clients who are high functioning. One of my ladies is in her mid-30s. The other lady is in her late50s. My senior client can drive but enjoys a companion.”

Marshall takes her clients to appointments, outings, volunteer work, the grocery store and recreational activities such as bowling, swimming and Bingo. “Before our family went out of town for a week this past holiday season, I made sure my younger lady had the groceries she needed and her laundry was caught up. We also did some fun things like Christmas shopping.”

Marshall is involved with everyday needs in the home as well. Her clients have daily and weekly goals. Marshall assists with cleaning, cooking and organization. She also assures the clients’ needs are met by visiting food pantries,

helping to secure food stamps and other day-to-day needs.

“My senior client and I volunteer at ‘All 4 Animals Rescue’ in Mishawaka. We feed and water the cats, scoop litter boxes, mop the floors and help the cats socialize by interacting with them.”

Working with people with disabilities is not for everyone. “We need to have a heart for helping people,” Marshall explained. “We also need to be loving and patient. And sometimes we need to listen with our hearts as well as our ears so we can understand what they are really communicating to us.”

The people with disabilities often have a network of friends and family members who are also in need. “In the years I’ve worked with disabled people, they’ll often ask for assistance for a friend or family member. That’s when my boundaries need to be firmly established. I must continually remind myself that I’ve got a family of my own. I’m not available ‘24/7’ for everybody.”

Marshall has two grown children, Jessica and Dennis. She also has Aaron, a senior in high school, who still lives at home. She and her husband Eden love having family movie nights. They also enjoy traveling to Virginia to see Eden’s family and then to Gatlinburg, Tenn., to experience the interesting sights and sounds.

She attends Radiant Life church in Elkhart, where she’s active in children’s ministry. Her husband and sons work in media ministry there.

“I see my work with disabled people as my own small ministry. I love serving Jesus in this way. And I really enjoy my clients, who are also my friends.”

Stock dollar-cost averaging pays off

You’re probably tempted to opt out of those low-performing stocks whenever Wall Street slumps. You may even have given in and funneled your money into a morepromising portfolio. But if you didn’t and if you continued

to make regular purchases — $100 a month or $500 a month or whatever — of shares of stock you’re probably sleeping better now.

This process of investing the same amount in the market at regular intervals is known as dollar-cost averaging. It and diversification are considered the two vital supports of a sturdy portfolio to survive the rises and falls, no matter how severe, of the stock prices.

By sticking to your plan of pouring a fixed amount of money in on a regular basis, you won’t be traumatized by television’s talking heads reporting on market slumps and surges like it was the weather.

When the XYZ stock you began buying in the 1980s began climbing from the $1 purchase price to a high of $3 you felt good. But when it slid to 30 cents a share as the market toppled, you most likely had a sinking feeling in your stomach. But look at what dollar cost averaging did for you.

At $1 a share, $100 bought you 100 shares. When it rose to $3, your regular $100 investment garnered about 33 shares. But when the price sank to 30 cents, your regular $100 input picked up more than 330 shares. And as the market struggled back up, so did the total value of your increased holdings.

How much do you REALLY love your family?

According to a 2021 survey conducted by caring.com, only 33% of adults in the United States have estate planning documents such as a will or trust.

Many respondents attributed their lack of estate planning to procrastination, but many others indicated a mistaken belief that estate planning is not necessary because they do not have many assets.

Don’t dump food and liquid for diarrhea

With all the different locations and exotic foods at our disposal, travelers can pick up a bout of diarrhea.

Fortunately, most people experience a mild form and respond well to regular fluid intake and anti-diarrhea medication. Those with underlying diseases and the very young or elderly are at greater risk and may require antibiotics or other medications.

As many as 60% of travelers to developing countries will come down with diarrhea, making it the No. 1 travel ailment. It can manifest itself up to two weeks after returning home.

Preventing travelers’ diarrhea begins with rehydration, putting liquid back into your body. Travelers should eat as normally as possible. There is no good evidence to support a restricted diet. High-risk patients or those with concerns about becoming ill and obtaining medical service and products while abroad should take a first aid kit.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Why Should You Have An Estate Plan?

An estate plan can provide significant peace of mind by ensuring that your money and property are protected, and plans are in place for the day when you become ill or die, and your accounts and property pass down according to your wishes. Did you know the biggest fights in families aren’t about money, stocks or real estate? They are about the little things that hold memories. Your family can be torn apart over something as seemingly minor as “Who gets Grandma’s car or Grandpa’s tools!”

What Key Elements Of An Estate Plan Should You Consider?

• Do you have a last will and testament or a trust? If you do not have these important documents, state law will

determine who will inherit your property — and it may not occur in the way you would have chosen.

In addition, someone appointed by the court instead

of a trusted person of your choosing will be in charge of caring for any children or pets and winding up your affairs. Spelling out your wishes in a will or trust will also prevent unnecessary confusion, anxiety and expense for your loved ones when you are gone.

• Are the proper powers of attorney in place? A financial power of attorney designates an individual to make financial and property decisions (e.g., opening a bank account, signing a deed, getting your mail) should you become unable to handle your own affairs. An advance directive designates a person you trust to make medical decisions for you when you are otherwise unable to speak for yourself.

• Ensure that you have a living will, which memorializes your wishes concerning your end-of-life care, such as

whether you want to receive life support if you are in a vegetative state or have a terminal condition.

• You should also have HIPAA authorizations in place with medical professionals to ensure that your loved ones can obtain needed information.

• Pass along your personal belongings according to your wishes with memorandums for distribution of personal property.

Learn more about the benefits and protections of an estate plan by attending our estate planning/Medicaid planning seminar at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 902 E. University Drive, Granger, at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27 or 6 p.m. Monday, March 6. Reservations required; seating is limited. Call (800) 303-7423 or visit riceandrice.com.

Schemers and scammers always in season

— even remotely connected to the Social Security Administration.

What Seniors Think ‘How did you meet your spouse/significant other?’

A Social Security scam linked to tax time can reach you any time of year via email, telephone or the postal service.

The thieves offer refunds of Social Security taxes you’ve paid over the years, an attractive lure during the economic slough in which everyone has been wallowing. This is not — repeat, not

The schemers usually offer to file a refund claim with the Internal Revenue Service in return for a percentage of the refund and an up-front fee of $100 or so for doing the paperwork.

The only sure thing that will happen is you will lose whatever money you send to these crooks.

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Surprise — not all all-inclusive vacations include everything

Several resorts have adopted a package-resort philosophy designed to include everything in one price. The idea is that, once you arrive, you can put away your traveler’s checks, credit cards, and cash. Your room, meals, drinks, and recreational activities are all pre-paid.

In some cases, you never need leave the grounds, unless you want to find out more about the area and its people.

All-inclusives have a lot of appeal for people who don’t want to worry about spending their holiday paying for the things they do.

But not all all-inclusives are the same.

Before you sign up for such a holiday, find out what really is included.

Ask if there are any additional charges, such as tips, you will need to pay. You should not have to tip on an all-inclusive vacation.

Are the meals served buffet style or a-la-carte by a waiter? Are there additional charges at the resort’s restaurants? Are cocktails and beer local or premium brands? What activities are included in the package? How extensive is the water-sports equipment — how many sail boats or sail boards are available? Are motorized water sports, such as jet skiing and water skiing included?

Are the rooms furnished with a refrigerator so you can store food or drinks? Is there a charge for food stocked in it? You’ll probably think of more questions as you pursue the matter.

STACI KETER WAKARUSA

KRISTA BURDEN ELKHART

KRISTI BAKER-OTT NAPPANEE

CHRIS KNIGHT WAKARUSA

CONNIE STAHLY-STOUDER NAPPANEE

SUSAN PLASTOW WARSAW

Haab volunteers with Milford Food Bank

the board.

Carol Haab is a lifelong Milford resident who regularly volunteers by helping the Milford Food Bank.

Haab and her husband Alvin have been volunteering with the food bank since it’s inception in 2010. Alvin currently serves on

“My husband is president of the board right now. I come in regularly. I’m here four days a week. I love that we have the opportunity to help people. It is good to help people who are food insecure. I really enjoy working with all the different volunteers. We certainly can always use more volunteers,” said Haab.

Environment affects exercise

Pleasant surroundings and convenience to sites for walking, running, and biking are positive influences on senior exercise.

“Public-health strategies to promote physical activities are now strongly emphasizing the role of environmental influences to create opportunities to remove barriers to people being more active,” according to a report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Among the factors that matter most to people considering outdoor activity are accessibility, opportunities for exercise, and pleasing surroundings. Ma-

jor ingredients mixed into the decision associated with exercising regularly are convenience and easy access to bikeways, footpaths, health clubs, and swimming pools. Safety also plays a role in the exercise equation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered Americans who perceive their neighborhood as unsafe are more likely to be inactive.

When urban women were compared with their rural counterparts, they were more likely to report lack of street lights, high crime rates, and lack of a safe place to exercise as barriers to physical activity.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

“We package food at least twice a week. I have my Sunday school group come and volunteer. I also have scout groups who volunteer. A group of kids from West Noble come every Tuesday morning throughout the school year. Many of the kids in the scout groups will volunteer after school.

“There is an Open Door through a church in South Bend, which has a drive-thru where people can pick up food. I’ve seen some of the pictures of people picking up their food. We’ve had trailers full of food we provided to disaster areas. We want to reach out to others in their time of need.

“We provide food to around 130 food pantries in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Each pantry can pick up food once per week. Monday and Friday are food pantry pick up days,” she said.

Haab briefly spoke about how her faith has led her to volunteer with the food bank. “God leads me to help others. This is the way I can help and touch people. I really feel like God has led me here to volunteer,” she said.

Haab wanted to emphasize that the food bank is always in need of more volunteers. The food bank is of vital importance to many food pantries through-

out the region. There are volunteers of all ages. Volunteering with the food bank has been a very rewarding experience, a way for people to give back to the community and have a larger impact on the region. There is also that fulfillment that comes from providing people with food and helping them take care

of their families. Many of the volunteers have also expressed a sense of comradery. Valuable friendships are often established this way.

If someone would like to learn more about volunteering with the food bank, please call or text Carol Haab at (574) 5184604.

Financial advisors worth their fees

Everybody has a lot of advice but very few people have solutions. Especially when it comes to what you should do with your money.

Do you listen to your stockbroker brother-in-law? Or your neighbor who can quote you the Dow Jones behavior for the past quarter? How about seeking a sit down with your daughter’s highly successful father-in-law?

A 2020 Northwestern Mutual study found that 71% of U.S. adults admit their financial planning needs improvement but only 29% work with a financial advisor.

The value of working with such a professional varies from individual to individual. While financial advisors are legally

prohibited from promising returns, research suggests people who work with a financial advisor feel more comfortable about their financial situation.

A recent study taken on behalf of financial managers found that, on average, a hypothetical $500K investment would grow to more than $3.4 million under the care of an advisor over 25 years while the expected value from selfmanagement would be $1.69 million, or 50% less.

This example reveals an advisor-managed portfolio would average 8% a year growth over a 25-year period, compared to 5% from a self-managed portfolio.

The hypothetical study discussed above assumes a 5% net return and a 3% net annual value added for professional financial advice.

The value of professional investment advice varies with each client’s individual circumstances and portfolio composition. Clients must carefully consider their investment objectives, risk factors, and perform their own due diligence before choosing an investment adviser.

Being aware of a few common blunders can help you in your search for a competent financial advisor.

Not all such advisors are fiduciaries — individuals ethically bound to act in your best interest. Fiduciary financial advisors must avoid conflicts of

interest when recommending investment opportunities to their clients.

In your search for a financial advisor, choose one that suits your needs best. Some devote their expertise to small-business owners. Others work with young up-and-coming professionals. And there are those who specialize in retirement planning.

Take your time shopping for a financial advisor because you’re going to spend a lot of time with them if you choose wisely. Don’t pick the first one you talk with or the one that’s

closest to home or the one that dresses the nicest. Ask all the prospects you meet for their credentials. You might also ask for the names of a couple of their clients so you can talk with them about their experience with the professional.

Make sure you know how the advisor is paid. Some charge a flat rate for their service. Others charge a percentage of the assets they manage.

In many cases, advisors are paid commissions by mutual funds, which is a conflict of interest.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Be a good scout at tax time

and entertainment.

Be prepared. This maxim emblazoned in Boy Scout lore also applies to the thorny annual chore known as “doing my taxes.” It’s never too early to prepare for filing your income tax return. The simple system of keeping receipts and monthly statements can save you a lot of aspirin at filing time. It can also cut down on your cost of tax preparation, because the less time your tax preparer has to spend on your return, the lower the bill.

Three basic items will help establish a workable record keeping system:

• Your checkbook register.

• A clutch of file folders for financial statements and receipts.

• A workbook to log any business-related expenses, such as mileage, subscriptions

If you’re self-employed, keep a daily log of activities — phone calls, appointments and lunches, for example. It needn’t be complicated, just a simple list to corroborate your checkbook register entries and credit card statements.

Your tax preparer can advise you on how to make this basic program work best for you. They might suggest you update your files monthly.

It’s always wise to call your tax accountant early because the rules keep changing. By starting early, you’ll be aware of what you’ll need to wrap up your current year’s tax filing.

Remember that banks, bosses and brokerage houses — almost anyone paying you an income of any sort — reports these transactions to the Internal Revenue Service. The agency gets all these notices and its computers try to match up the information from these

sources with the information you prepare and file.

Besides staying ahead of the game by being prepared, keep in mind the IRS makes mistakes. It’s easy to foul up a Social Security number, for example, and you might get an IRS notice based on garbled data.

One tax preparer often recounts an incident in which a bank’s report to the IRS of a customer’s mortgage interest payment was read as interest income. The taxpayer was then notified by the IRS of a disparity in tax owed to the government because of this “additional income.”

If you receive any notification from a taxing agency, check all the items listed and turn the matter over to your tax preparer. If a simple reply letter can solve the matter, send the letter yourself to save tax preparer fees.

then

Senior Assisted Living

Q. Do you know about the Enlivant approach to Assisted Living?

A. We are dedicated to partnering with you to provide quality care for your loved one, which is just one of the reasons Lake City Place is a preferred choice for assisted living.

Lake City Place offers compassionate care with support for activities of daily living (ADLs) in an intimate community setting.  We provide attentive, individualized care that enables residents to thrive in body, mind, and spirit. For every new resident, we complete a thorough health assessment, which provides the starting point for an individual care plan.  In every assisted living community, care is delivered by a full-time registered nurse and a team of Resident Care Partners. Our communities are staffed around the clock, and the registered nurse in each assisted living community is available 24 hours a day to provide clinical oversight and coordination of care.

Professional Services

Q. Is a Revocable Trust right for you?

Sue Roesner, MSOL Community Relations Manager

Our care includes:

• Assistance with activities of daily living, including dressing, bathing, and dining

• Meals and snacks every day, with a dietician supervised menu

• Nursing oversight

• Care for chronic conditions like diabetes

• Medication management

• Housekeeping and laundry

• Apartment maintenance and repairs

We also coordinate with physicians and other health professionals to provide onsite services. We assist residents with mild cognitive impairments and memory loss in their day-to-day activities and offer programming to meet their individual needs and interests.

425 Chinworth Court Warsaw, IN 46580 574-267-3873

www.enlivant.com

A. You’ve probably seen the advertisements touting the creation of a revocable trust as a good way to avoid probate. And for some people it is. However, having a revocable trust as part of your estate plan may not be appropriate for everyone.

Probate is a court-supervised proceeding which transfers the ownership of your assets after death. With a revocable trust, after your death your trustee, with-

out court supervision, follows the instructions in your trust for how your assets should be handled. One of the reasons a trust can be a practical strategy is if you own out-of-state property. Adding the property to a trust allows you to avoid the second probate that’s ordinarily needed to transfer outof-state property.

Having a revocable trust as part of your estate plan may or may not be the best decision for you. Only your specific financial and family circumstances can determine the answer. Please contact TCU Trust Services to discuss your individual situation. We are here to help.

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.

Elkhart & Kosciusko Counties vbiddle@the-papers.com 1-866-580-1138 Ext. 2319 www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Elder Law

Requirements of a valid Last Will & Testament

In order to create a valid Last Will & Testament (“Will”) in Indiana, the person executing the Will must follow specific rules. A Will must either be in writing or you may have an electronic Will under additional specific rules. Either option requires the signature or electronic signature of the person creating the Will along with corresponding signatures of at least two disinterested witnesses. To be disinterested, a witness must not inherit anything under the terms of the Will. For example, if you leave all of your assets to your three children, the Will may not be valid if it is only signed by one disinterested person and one of your children. In addition, the witnesses must be in the presence of each other and see the person signing their Will. It is good practice, but not required, to initial the bottom of

Tony B. Manns Attorney

each page to ensure no changes are made after you execute your Will. All parties involved must be legal adults and be of sound mind.

You should consult your elder law attorney to ensure that the execution of your Will is valid and as challenge-proof as possible.

Victoria Biddle, Account Executive

Ice fishing is in Walter’s blood

Kent Walter has been ice fishing in Kosciusko County since his teenage years. It’s in his blood. “It started with my dad buying poles in high school. We went to Mud Lake in Foraker. I was probably 14-15 years old. We didn’t catch anything and it was cold. I got the bug then. I really didn’t do it much until my senior year in high school. My uncle wanted me to meet up with him and my cousin to fish Wawasee. We caught some nice bluegill and crappie that night. From there on, I just bought more equipment. I go with my brother. Safety is very important. I wait until the ice is about 4 inches thick. Clear ice is the best. When the ice turns kind of a grey color, safety is a question mark. I fish for bluegill, crappie, perch, bass, northern pike and whatever else is willing to bite.

“I don’t use sonar or flashers. I’m old school. I know where to go. It’s just me and my wife Karen. We don’t keep all our fish. I like to leave fish for future stock. Every preseason when it starts getting cold, I get my equipment

out and check my lures and bobbers. A couple years ago, I bought a cordless drill that hooks onto an auger and it can drill 10-to-15 holes with one battery charge. I always take a spare battery. It’s much easier than a hand auger.

“We mainly go to Syracuse Lake. There are some nice weed beds we are familiar with there. We go to Wawasee on the west end by The Frog on ‘The Slip.’ There’s a deep hole there. Pike like to come there. My brother caught a 38-inch pike there and I caught a 34-inch pike in ‘The Slip’ area. They cruise around there looking for a meal.

For pan fish, we use a light 2-pound line on a short pole. I use mousies and spikes for bait. For northern pike and bass, we use tip ups. You put your minnow on a hook and let it drop. There’s a spool with a flag. Shiners are really good. We set the bait a few feet off the bottom. They set the flag up and then the line starts unreeling and you set your hook. I caught a large mouth bass out there that was over 7 pounds back in the 1990s before cell phones. I don’t have any pictures. I caught a 5-pounder on my

bluegill pole back in the late 1980s on Syracuse. I knew right away it was big. It was a 2-pound test line for a 5-pound fish. I reached down with both hands and flipped it out on the ice. I have that mounted at home.

“We use sleds to pull our stuff out there. We have a two-man shanty we use when it gets cold and windy. We use lanterns to keep warm. You can even see the fish down in the water sometimes if it’s shallow with a sandy bottom. Some guys have cameras they put in the water and you can see the fish come right up to the camera. The fish seem to bite a little better when it’s a little warmer and starting to thaw out a little bit. A south-to-southwest wind and temperature in the low 40s is good. The low pressure and high pressure fronts also have an impact on whether they’re biting. I caught a bunch of fish one evening with a northwest wind when it was snowing. I probably caught 40 fish that time, but I’ve also fished in those conditions and haven’t caught anything.

“Fish do taste better in the winter. The meat is fresh and cold,” said Walter.

3 bed, 2 bath homes from $116,995

Grandma and her 1910 Valentines

and general events.

Grandma Eva Zentz Lawson spent her final years as a farm wife in southeast Edwardsburg, Mich. It is not here where we dwell, but we journey back to her childhood during the decade of 1910 in Argos and Bremen.

Grandma married later to Herb Lawson, and her siblings, Grace, Chloe, Ada, Dora, Della and Hazel, as well as brothers, Claude and Harvey, would marry later as well and start their own families in Argos and Bremen.

During the 1910 decade, Grandma’s sisters sent her dozens of colorful postcards representing every holiday we celebrate, including birthdays

One of the favorite cards Grandma received was those that celebrated Valentine’s Day. I now, as the only grandson, own this precious album that is over 110 years old and will now share a sample of those cards.

The album itself contains over 300 cards and is in fragile condition. It’s not known what Grandma’s siblings did with their postcards and I may never know. What I do know is that my great aunts and uncles still have descendants living in Argos and Bremen’s area: Zentz, Koontz and by other names.

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.

Banjos’

a powerhouse instrumental duo

Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell

In the early months of 1973, Top 10 recording artists included such hipsters as Carly Simon, Elton John, War, Steely Dan and Roberta Flack.

In their midst, though, appeared the unlikely duo of Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell, a powerhouse instrumental duo behind the million-seller “Dueling Banjos,” which for four straight weeks locked in the No. 2 position on the Billboard singles chart.

Weissberg and Mandell supported themselves as session musicians, working with such leading lights as Bob Dylan, Judy Collins and John Denver — until a request arrived one day for the pair to record a track for the upcoming Burt Reynolds movie “Deliverance,” a horrific tale of four Atlanta businessmen who canoe down an isolated Georgia river (that’s about to become dammed and made into a lake), with dangerous, churning rapids and mayhem and murder awaiting downstream.

Five minutes into the film, at a dilapidated backwoods gas station, we experience a spontaneous jam session between city slicker Drew (former stage actor Ronny Cox) and a provincial lad — apparently mute — named Lonnie (local high-schooler Billy Redden).

“Dueling Banjos” unfolds between the pair as a musical conversation. Lonnie, initially reticent, slowly picks up the tune, tosses in a bit of “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” then, much to Drew’s delight, shifts into high

gear. The musical pace builds to a high-octane finish as a grinning local man dances an ad libbed jig.

Cox was a good guitarist but Redden couldn’t play a note. During the filming, Billy had to wear a customized shirt that allowed a local musician named Mike Addis to play the banjo while hiding his own arms in Redden’s sleeves.

Weissberg and Mandell didn’t write “Dueling Banjos.” That honor went to ace instrumentalist Arthur Smith in 1954 when he composed “Feudin’ Banjos,” which he recorded later with fellow banjoist Don Reno. Smith’s original work — a forerunner of the rapid-fire rock ‘n’ roll instrumental — was appropriately named because the track seemed to be just that: an argument of sorts between two banjos. The 1973 hit single, though, featured not two banjos but a banjo and a guitar.

“Dueling Banjos” on Warner Records rose next to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 5 on the country charts. Its placement in the latter might have been the impetus that helped Weissberg and Mandell garner a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance the following year.

But not everybody appreciated the success of “Dueling Banjos.” Arthur Smith had not given permission for the usage of his creation nor did he receive the credit for writing the hit. Eric Weissberg was listed as the sole creator.

Smith filed a lawsuit, which was settled two years later in his favor when he received the abundant royalties that were due him. Just how abundant? The first thing Arthur purchased was a 42-foot yacht.

Smith’s creation was parodied

•

•

•

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•

It was 50 years ago —

‘Dueling

was

when comedian Martin Mull released his own instrumental argument called “Dueling Tubas.” The silly single sold enough copies to send it soaring to No. 92 on the Hot 100 chart.

Bristol Community Church offers basketball outreach program

A hallmark of a healthy church can often be evidenced by its outreach to the community it serves.

Such is the case at Bristol Community Church, where Pastor Gary Lewis and others in the church’s leadership identified a void in its ministry and took action to fill that need.

This winter, the church embarked on its first season of Upward basketball, a faithbased organization dedicated to blending Christian teachings and the teaching of the game to boys and girls in the com-

munity, many of whom might otherwise not have the opportunity to learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“We’ve had an AWANA program on Wednesday nights,” said Pastor Gary Lewis, who has led the church since 2017.

“We began evaluating the types of families who were missing and decided we could offer a sports program to get them involved.”

Lewis and his team eventually settled on Upward basketball, as it would allow them to utilize the church’s existing gym to host the winter program. Upward is nothing new to families in area, as it

has previously been offered at other churches in other towns in Elkhart County. However, many of those programs have dissolved or morphed into non-branded youth basketball leagues.

The program in Bristol was made available to kids age 4 through second grade. Lewis said the initial registration was slow, but once word got out they had to put some who wanted to participate on a waiting list. Eventually, they compiled four teams with 10 kids on each roster. The children came not only from Bristol, but from Goshen, Elkhart, Middlebury and other nearby communities.

The registered players first came to an evaluation session, at which they were graded on their basketball abilities. They were then sorted by a computer program provided by Upward to evenly divide the teams. Beginning the first week of January, the teams practiced at the church Monday evenings, with games played each Saturday morning for eight weeks.

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At practices and during halftime of each game, which are divided into six, six-minute periods, a devotional is provided by Lewis or another program volunteer. Lewis said the devotionals are geared not only to the children, but also indirectly to the parents in attendance.

“I’ve been very impressed by the coaches and volunteers,” said Lewis. “Every child gets to play in a preset rotation. They are given a colored band to wear so they know who to guard on the other team. They only play ‘man-to-man.’ There aren’t any zone defenses.”

Lewis said that the score is not kept, only the time. He is responsible for running the

clock during the game.

While Lewis acknowledged the Upward program is a little more expensive to operate as opposed to creating a nonbranded league, he appreciates many details it offers that make its overall execution very smooth. For example, after the church submitted the rosters to Upward, they received in return sealed individual boxes with each player’s name attached that included a reversible jersey, T-shirt and other Upward branded material. Upward also provided a game schedule for the league.

The church did make scholar-

ships available to families who needed financial assistance to participate.

Lewis said the church plans to offer the program again next year, perhaps expanding to include more teams. The age range will remain basically the same, with the exception of possibly raising the minimum age to 5. He does not anticipate raising the upper end past second grade, however, since the church’s facilities are more suitable to the younger children and because other programs are available in the area for older kids to play the game. For further information about Bristol Community Church, visit bristolumc.org. To learn more about the Upward program, go to upward.org.

I Spy January winner is Mary Ehinger. The snowman was located on page 2 in Senior Elko, on page 12 in Senior St. Joseph, on page 6 in Senior Allen and on page 4 in Senior Northwest.

Sixties Flashback —

Monkee business held a two-year reign

In September 1965, both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter ran an attentiongrabbing advertisement: “Madness! Auditions.

Folk and Roll Musicians — Singers for acting roles in new TV series. Running parts for four insane boys, age 17 – 21.”

From the 437 hopeful applicants, coveted roles were assigned to Mike Nesmith, 22; Peter Tork, 23; Mickey Dolenz, 20; and Davy Jones, 19.

The Monkees were created to ride the slipstream of Beatlemania and were hired to mimic the Beatles’ zany antics in “A Hard Day’s Night,” their 1964 semidocumentary debut flick. “The Monkees”’ TV plotline involved a struggling rock quartet in search of their big break.

A well-received TV pilot was filmed in late 1965, and in early 1966 NBC-TV picked up “The Monkees” as a weekly prime time series. The four young men then embarked on a grueling schedule of improv classes, band rehearsals and filming. Early on, the Monkee members were limited to vocal work, with only professional session musicians providing the instrumental music.

“The Monkees” half-hour show hit big when it debuted in September 1966. Tunesmiths Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart wrote the band’s first 45 (a No. 1 winner). “Last Train to Clarksville” featured a chord structure, jangly guitar lines and vocal harmonies lifted directly from the Beatles’ “Paperback Writer.”

The Boyce-Hart team would eventually create three more winning singles. Other professional songwriters (including Neil Diamond and Carole King) were rushed in to keep the hits flowing. The Monkees’ eponymous debut album also skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard charts.

The Pre-Fab Four (as sneering cynics often labeled them) were off and running.

By that December, growing pressure led the Monkees to begin touring, with each member hurrying to master his instrument well enough to perform onstage. No problem, as it turned out, since, akin to the Beatles’ shows, much of the music played was lost to the eardrum-piercing screams that tsunamied in nightly from the vast teenybopper audiences.

Making music was better than faking music, and the Monkee men worked hard to improve. In January 1967, a mere four months after “Clarksville” introduced them to the world, the Monkees held their first recording session as a fully functioning, self-contained band.

“The Monkees” TV show, though, was another issue entirely. By the end of the second sea-

son, the quartet had tired of the filming grind and pronounced the third-season scripts monotonous and stale. When they suggested a format change to a one-hour variety show, their idea was quickly squelched and the series was axed, which undoubtedly crushed countless teenage hearts.

During their two-year reign, though, when the foursome often successfully challenged the almighty Beatles, the Monkees sold more than 75 million records around the world.

Had they been just a bubblegum fantasy quartet, one that was never quite real, undeserving of any real respect? Not to everybody. Vanity Fair writer Mark Rozzo once opined, “They were a pop culture force. … They created joy and wonderment and introduced the whole realm of pop music to a huge audience of young people.”

Focus on the step in front of you – not the whole staircase

take control.

I read on a lot of different subjects so it may be true to say I know a little about a lot, but I was floored to read the United States spends more money per capita on chronic lifestyle diseases than any other country in the world.

One of the biggest culprits is type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, 37.3 million people in the U.S. have diabetes (11.3% of the population). With rare exceptions, this is a food-related disease caused by eating the Standard American Diet. Americans eat way too much fat, sugar and processed foods and this can result in diabetes.

If you have diabetes and you haven’t researched and know just about everything about diabetes, I would suggest you read “Reversing Diabetes” by Dr. Neal Barnard, who also wrote “The Cheese Trap,” and then talk to your doctor and ask why they didn’t tell you all this. There is a mountain of good information to be gained by deep diving into what causes this food-related disease and what you can do to

For now, start writing down what you are eating each day and record the time you eat it. You may be eating better (or worse) than you thought. Are you seeing a lot of cheese, bread, meat, sugar and processed foods instead of whole foods? This may help you see what you are leaning on instead of a big salad, fruit, beans or any whole food. It is not about moderation of unhealthy food, but you already knew that.

You will find many groups and pages on different online platforms for support and meal suggestions, not anything you have to pay for, just a group of people who are trying their hardest to achieve better health. Search “plant based” on YouTube and you will have found your new best friend. You can’t hang at the Burger Barn and expect to find a lot of whole foods.

Wake up and say, “Today, I am going to eat for health.” At night ask yourself, “Did I eat for health today, and if I didn’t, what caused me to falter?” One day, after one

day, after one step, after one step. To your health.

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

Falls happen any time of year

ber one factor involved in these fatalities.

Half of the 32,000 deaths caused by falling happen to folks 75 years or older.

Falling is second only to heart disease as the major cause of deaths and aging is the num-

Three major causes of the more than 35 million falls reported annually are a step, slip or trip, all of which can be prevented, according to a consensus of health officials across the land.

Maintaining a healthful regimen is the initial process in the campaign to avoid falling.

Eat regularly and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Develop and a keep up a regular exercise program that includes stretching and balance exercises as well some stamina, such as walking or swimming or biking.

Get regular medical checkups as well as hearing and vision tests.

Talk with your doctor about

the effects and interaction of the medications you’re taking and ask if you should add vitamin D or calcium to the list.

Meet with them immediately if you’re having light-headed, dizzy or fainting spells.

Have all your prescriptions filled at one pharmacy and get your supplements there so you can discuss how everything interacts.

When you get home, remove all loose mats and rugs that make easy trip-over material. Check your furniture layout to ensure you have plenty of room to move around. Get rid of excess pieces that may look nice but are in the way.

Wear non-slip footwear around the house.

If it’s suggested that you might

need a walker or cane, get one, and use it. Consider getting a medical alert device, especially if you’re living alone.

To avoid slipping, install nonslip flooring in your tub/shower and install grab bars at critical spots in the bathroom. Add nightlights and handrails along the corridors that lead from your bedroom to bathroom. While you’re at it, install night lights and handrails along the stairs to your basement and bedroom. Keep all passages well lighted and clear of rugs and objects you can trip over.

Store everything — canned goods, tools, laundry soap — within easy reach without the need of a ladder or step stool.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Shop for a tax preparer

Most of us spend more time reading the labels on the cans and boxes of groceries we buy than we do checking out the qualifications of a prospective tax preparer. It maybe because

we don’t want to display our ignorance to another person. But if we were tax experts, we wouldn’t need tax preparers. There are some simple steps to take when hiring and reaching an agreement with someone to prepare your taxes.

First of all, make appointments with three or four to discuss your situation and their backgrounds. Find out if you’re comfortable with him or her. It’s your money you’re spending and there should be comfortable and open communication between the two

of you.

Check the person’s credentials, specialized courses, range of expertise and experience, and length of time in business. Find out how busy he or she is — is business so slow that the tax preparer just can’t cover enough ground in

the tax field or is business so brisk that there isn’t much room to squeeze you in.

Ask him or her about any professional affiliations and ongoing education. And, before you leave, ask how much your tax preparation will cost.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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Shirt happens: A buyer’s tale

Next month, Mary Ellen and I will take our first vacation out of the country since the start of COVID.

We’re very excited about this cruise. I’m already shopping, hoping to update my wardrobe — a word I just realized I have never used for my clothing. Mary Ellen has a wardrobe; I have two drawers and a closet.

I had to buy a dress shirt for one of the special dinners on the ship. I don’t like to wear a white shirt, preferring one with a bit of color, but Mary Ellen was adamant that I go traditional. I purchased an additional shirt for the more casual nights.

After a short stop at Kohl’s, I came home with the two shirts. I opened the package and tried the

first one on. It fit perfectly. My wife was in the room watching me. She had a smirk on her face.

“You have a stain on your shirt already,” she said.

“That’s impossible. I just put it on,” I said.

“They must really know their customers at Kohl’s,” she said.

“What do you mean?” I asked her.

“They pre-stained it for you,” she said to me.

Yes, right next to the third button were brown blotches, nothing I was familiar with, despite my extensive experience with the telltale signs left by every condiment I have ever slathered on a fast-food sandwich.

“I guess I can’t wear that to dinner,” I said, about to unpack my second option.

“Why not?” she asked. “It’s gonna look like that anyway, right after you finish your appetizer.”

I reached into the shopping bag and dug out the blue button down. I carefully removed all the pins from the folded shirt before

I put it on. I thought it looked great and said to Mary Ellen, “As long as I’ve got it on, let’s go out for a nice dinner.”

“You can’t wear that shirt, either,” said Mary Ellen.

“Why not?” I asked.

“It has a smudge under the second button,” she said.

Sure enough, once again I had purchased a brand new piece of apparel that had somehow anticipated its unavoidable destiny and went ahead and self-stained.

“Wait a second, Mary Ellen. I’ll wear a tie. That will cover it,” I said.

“Super idea. Too bad every tie in your closet has ketchup on it,” she said.

“Okay, I’ll button my sport coat. That will cover the mark on the tie,” I said.

Mary Ellen walked over to the closet and pulled out the one sport coat I still wear. She looked at it carefully and shook her head.

“This is not going to work. It has mustard on the lapel. Do you own a raincoat?” she asked.

After we returned home from dinner, I washed both shirts and successfully removed the original soiled areas, but the shirts were destined on the trip to be become a kaleidoscope of tasty tidbits from our buffets.

Recently, we were going over

final plans for the vacation. I asked Mary Ellen questions about the reputation of the cruise line we were using.

“Do you really think I will like the food, Mary Ellen?” I began.

“Oh, yes. For you, Dick, it will be spot on,” she said.

Strength training strengthens older bones

bone than was being lost.

Healthy seniors who can still exercise may also be able to lengthen the life of their bones with strengthening exercise, according to results of a six-month study conducted at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

The men and women aged 60 to 83 who participated in the resistance training showed signs of greater bone density in their hips as well as bone metabolism shifting toward generating more

Participants were divided into three groups, one that engaged in high-intensity resistance training, one that went through low-intensity training, and a control group that did not change lifestyle habits during the six-month study.

The high-intensity group showed the most significant bone-density gains. Leg presses, overhead presses and certain back exercises appeared to have the most impact on bone density.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

When Mr. Dow met Mr. Jones

real newspaper. They founded the Wall Street Journal daily business newspaper.

reading public.

Nearly everyone has asked, “What is or was a Dow Jones Average? Is it a real person, place or just a business moniker?”

It’s all of the above.

It is a weekday reading of 30 key American stocks reflecting the nation’s business climate.

Charles Dow and Edward Jones met as writers at the Providence Evening Press. Jones could skillfully and quickly analyze a financial report. They were committed to reporting on Wall Street without bias.

Other reporters at the time could be bribed into reporting favorably on a company to drive up stock prices. Dow and Jones refused to do so.

They believed Wall Street needed a financial news bureau. So they started the business firm of Dow, Jones & Co. in 1882. They developed an intricate system of reporting business news that allowed investors and business leaders to keep track of daily stock pricing.

In 1883, the company started an afternoon two-page business summary called the Customers’ Afternoon Letter. Their daily stock report included nine railroads, one steamship line and Western Union.

By 1889, the partners realized it was time to transform their two-page news summary into a

The first issue of the WSJ appeared July 8, 1889. It cost 2 cents per issue or $5 for a one-year subscription. Dow was the editor and Jones managed the desk work.

Although his name wasn’t on the Dow Jones Co.’s logo, Charles Bergstresser became an important founding partner.

The three journalists opened a wire service in 1882 that delivered news to investment houses along Wall Street. Their operation was in a basement of a building next door to the New York Stock Exchange. Bergstresser chose to be a silent partner. His strength lay in his interviewing skills. Jones once remarked Bergstresser could make a wooden Indian talk and tell the truth.

The WSJ has become one of the most respected financial publications in the world. It developed a series of principles for understanding and analyzing market behavior that later became the groundwork for technical analysis.

Charles Dow often warned his WSJ staff reporters about exchanging slanted stories for stock tips or free stock. Crusading for honesty in financial reporting, Dow published the names of companies that hesitated to give their information about profit and loss. Soon after, the newspaper gained power and respect from the

Vermont Royster, a later editor of the WSJ, said, “Dow always believed business information was not the ‘private province of brokers and tycoons.’”

Dow came up with a simple tracking system to monitor the nation’s daily business climate.

By tracking the closing stock price of 12 companies, adding up the stock prices, and dividing the total by 12, Dow came up with his “stock average.” In 1896, the first such average appeared in the WSJ.

Later, the Dow Jones Co. expanded the report to a “20 Active Stock” index, which included 18 railroad and two non-rail stocks That has been expanded and is known as the “Dow Jones Industrial Average.”

By 1898, the WSJ was a morning daily newspaper covering more than just financial news. Unlike other newspapers, the WSJ reported on such events as war without added rhetoric. Dow also added editorial columns called “Review and Outlook” and “Answers to Inquirers” in which readers sent in investment questions.

Jones retired in 1899, but Dow and Bergstresser stayed on. Dow continued writing editorials, focusing on the government’s position regarding American business. The WSJ set a precedent in reporting during the election of 1900 by endorsing White House incumbent

President William McKinley. He was reelected, with Theodore Roosevelt as vice president.

In 1893, many mergers began taking place, resulting in the formation of huge corporations. These corporations sought markets for their stock shares. The wildly speculative market meant investors needed information about stock activity; hence the active stock listing became vital to investors.

Over the years many companies have been added or subtracted, depending upon their company’s financial position. For example, K-Mart was dropped a few years ago. General Electric and Western Union were the only companies that survived the ups and downs of the many DJIA listings, but they are no longer among today’s 30 Dow industrials.

The current DJIA consists of

30 stocks and remains one of the world’s oldest and most popular stock indices.

The stocks on the lists are American Express, Amgen, Apple, Boeing, Caterpillar, Chevron, Cisco, Disney, Dow, Goldman Sachs, Home Depot, Honeywell, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan Chase, McDonalds, Merck, Microsoft, Nike, Procter & Gamble, Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing, Salesforce.com, Travelers, United Health, Verizon, Visa, Walgreens and Walmart.

To get the average, add up the daily stock prices in the listing and divide by 30. Whether you’re a small investor or a company CEO, or just interested, monitoring the daily DJIA is a reliable way of keeping tabs on the pulse of the nation’s business health and that’s certainly everyone’s business.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Abraham Lincoln’s hometown

He may have been born in Kentucky and grew up in Indiana, but there’s no doubt Abe Lincoln is Springfield’s best-known resident and revered icon.

More than a million people come

Greencroft Community Center Tours

every year to soak up Lincoln’s history before he went to Washington in 1861 and events occurring during his presidency.

Upcoming Tours

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RV Factory Tour, Middlebury, IN

Feb. 27 – Studebaker

Museum/SB Chocolate Factory, South Bend, IN

Mar. 6 – Shopping in Shipshewana, IN

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Farm, Fair Oaks, IN

Apr. 12 – Gerald Ford Museum & Chaffe Planetarium, Grand Rapids, MI

May 4 – Sauder

Village & Quilt Show, Archbold, OH

June 13-15 – Chicago

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

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

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

Everywhere people go in Springfield, Ill., they find the name of the 16th president of the United States. There are streets, hotels and apartment complexes named after him.

Downtown, one will find numerous Lincoln historic information panels, large replicas of Lincoln pennies on bicycle racks, murals on buildings featuring his face, and his image in bronze in parks. In addition, there’s the Lincoln Presidential Library and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

S & S TRAVEL

When visiting the Illinois capital, stop first at the Visit Springfield office across the street from the Old State Capitol where Lincoln served in the state legislature. It’s a great place to start because it’s the building in which he and his partner had their law offices. One can see a replica of his office there.

The helpful people at the Visitor’s Center can direct you to the presidential museum, which should be your next stop.

Before tracing Lincoln from his rustic boyhood home to the presidency, take time to snap photos of yourself with the president and his family in front of the White House.

Then go into the two outstanding theaters utilizing amazing state-of-the-art technology featuring holographic techniques combined with ghostly images and live action. This might even turn out to be the highlight of your trip.

Witness the 1860 presidential election as if it were happening today, complete with TV coverage and campaign commercials of the candidates.

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There’s a room full of editorial cartoons that were as crude and sometimes vicious as those seen during the 2020 election. The view of Lincoln’s law office shows him concentrating in a law book, while two sons play baseball with a broom and wadded paper. Another room offers a peek into a cabinet meeting, complete with some of the members dozing while Lincoln attempts to make a point.

It covers just about every aspect of Lincoln’s time in

Continued on page 19

Continued from page 18

Washington and ends at Ford’s Theater April 14, 1865, where he and his wife, Mary, were relaxing and celebrating the end of the Civil War before his assassination. His body was returned to Springfield by train along the same route he took to Washington four years earlier.

The train station where he departed for the nation’s capital is just a few blocks south. Before boarding the train, he’s quoted as saying, “I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested on Washington.”

A few more blocks south is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site featuring the only home he ever owned. The four-block area is full of period homes. During summer

ANSWERS:

months, reenactors add life to the neighborhood.

Lincoln’s tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery houses the body of the president, his wife and three of their four sons and a number of statues in various poses. Lincoln’s nose on a big bronze bust in front of the monument is shiny from rubbing by visitors from around the world.

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Goats tend gardens in ‘Gorges’ Ithaca

Ithaca is a city of gorges, with 150 waterfalls splashing within a 10-mile radius. In its municipal limits, a third-of-a-mile uphill hike — the Cascadilla Gorge Trail — offers exhilarating views of six different freeflowing waterfalls.

The entire town is enmeshed in tree-laden canopies and small fairy-tale-like cottages. The fact that there’s a top-rated college or two hidden among all the greenery is a surprising bonus.

Ithaca is so compact you can experience an unexpectedly large number of diverse activities within minutes of each other, from huge waterfalls to beautiful gardens to history museums and goat farms. Cayuga Lake is almost always at your side.

Since I don’t usually seek out bees, I wasn’t sure what to expect at the Honeybee Embassy. Fortunately, the emphasis is on the honey they harvest since much of Ithaca seems to encourage pollinators like bees to further the reproduction of flowers and plants. It’s an earthly winwin since the flowers produced attract said pollinators.

Honeybee Embassy produces raw honey. No additives, no heat and no pressure are used in the processing to come up

with a variety of tastes, textures and colors for the table. The goal, says owner Teresa, is “to educate people about the wild world of honey” that her Czech grandmother first started doing during Nazi occupation.

Who knew honey nectar smells range from sweaty socks to cat’s pee to fruity and floral varieties. Fortunately, none of that is evident at the tastings. The honey names resonate differently: Basswood, Goldenrod and Japanese Knotwood, for example.

Just as a diversion, since we hadn’t been to a waterfall in a while, there was the nearby Taughannock Falls Overlook which just happens to be the largest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. At 215 feet, that makes it three stories taller than Niagara Falls.

Unlike the Honeybee Embassy, a visit to the Cabin View Alpaca Farm had more to do with the residents than the products they produce. The farm was started in 2009 with three alpacas and now there are 50. Visitors can interact in with them by taking them for a walk or feeding them. We chose to amble among nine females and eight babies in all shades of brown, white, grey, fawn and black. My favorite was Patience who, at 5 years of age, sported

a beautiful sandy brown tuft of hair, perfectly coifed. She was her own version of Ithaca gorgeous. Alpacas do produce products, but not edible ones. The yarn made from their fur apparently is warmer, softer and more hyper-allergenic than sheep’s wool. It’s available at the gift shop in an array of scarves, socks, hats, mittens and adorable stuffed animals.

Although I don’t find goats as intrinsically appealing as alpacas, a visit to Lively Run Dairy had its own attractions — lots of cheese among them.

I learned goats apparently were among first animals to be tamed by humans some 9,000 years ago. Apparently, they haven’t learned all that much. If you have something in your hand — anything at all — they think it’s for them and will come running after you.

In addition to cheese-sampling, there was petting and feeding as well as goat shearing and spinning demonstrations.

What got my goat was the yoga classes they offer during the summer that five to seven baby goats attend with you. So you may be doing a downward

dog with a goat on your back. Time for some liquid refreshment finally arrived. While there are any number of wineries and breweries beckoning, Ithaca is better known for its cideries.

South Hill Cidery has its de rigueur tastings several times a week, plus a smorgasbord of delectables. Local bands play as a wood-fired oven radiates the smell of pizza. These outdoor concerts are only available six months a year.

The rest of the time all you have to do is drink cider.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Jeff ‘JJ’ Shaw, Attorney at Law