Senior Life - Elko Edition - July 2023

Popular Rotorcraft Association international convention RETURNS TO MENTONE

The Popular Rotorcraft Association international convention will take place, Aug. 2-6, at Mentone Airport.

Brent Drake, vice-president of the Popular Rotorcraft Association, said the association was incorporated in 1995, but really started with the Igor Bensen, which used to be in all the Popular Mechanics magazines during the late-1960s and early-1970s.

The association owns the airport where they host the annual convention. The airport is open for other uses, including a drag racing club and tractor association. People come to the airport to camp.

Most of the Popular Rotorcraft Association members are in their 60s. Drake was the president of the association for about 10 years and has been involved since the late 1990s. When he was in junior high, he loved seeing the Bensen gyros in the magazine.

“I started flying in 1974. I was flying a champ/cub. It’s a single engine one-personbehind-the-other airplane with cloth-covered wings. It was not a gyro. I always wanted a

gyro, but you couldn’t find anyone around who had one. When I finally saw one, it was still in the box and had never been put together. I traded a furnace for it. This was 1992,” he said.

Drake assembled the gyro. Afraid he would hurt himself because they fly differently than airplanes, he went to Greencastle for training.

“I had about 15-20 hours of training before I could fly it by myself,” he recalled. “I went ahead and got my private pilot rating, commercial rating and instructor rating for gyros. It took me about four-to-five years to complete all the training.

“They don’t stall like an airplane. They chop up the turbulence so you don’t get a rough ride like you do in an airplane. We usually fly them between 500-to-1,000 feet above the ground. We get kits, put them together and get them licensed with the FAA.”

Drake said he still has his first gyro and it’s a blast to fly.

“They have different rotax engines in them. They are very dependable and the best well-built gasoline engine that they Continued on page 3

Key Positions

55 years of dog grooming experience for Bonewitz

“I’ve had 55 years of experience grooming dogs,” stated Anne Bonewitz, Warsaw. “I got my first poodle when I was 13 years old. I took him to the groomer a couple times, but it was about six weeks between grooms. I wanted to make him look beautiful all the time. So, I began grooming him myself at home. The groomers at True Pal Pet Shop were so impressed when they saw him that they offered me a job.”

Bonewitz fell in love with the poodle breed. “They are so smart you can train them easily. I also noticed that when they look rather odd and unkept, that’s usually the sign of a poor groomer. Poodles were meant to be very beautiful animals. They are as graceful in their gait as horses.”

Of course, the shop groomed other breeds. “We had cocker spaniels and schnauzers. Eventually we had shih tzus, when they became so popular in the U.S. But our skill levels were stretched to the max when we spent 3-1/2 hours on a poodle. That’s where our time and talents were allowed to shine.”

Eventually Bonewitz’s dad fixed up the basement as a grooming facility. “I had an old milk tub from Winona Dairy to bathe the dogs. Dad fixed

me up a tool workbench as a grooming table.”

Things would not always be so primitive for Bonewitz, though.

“When my husband Dave and I moved to West Center Street with our family, we fixed up the basement for my business, The Pets’ Parade LLC. Then I had professional hydraulic tubs and modern grooming facilities. Eventually, I moved into my own building on our property.”

Bonewitz believes that grooming pets is an art form.

“Dave and I were trained in oil painting by Freddy Clark of North Webster. Grooming a dog is similar to painting a picture. You get an image in your mind of how the finished product should look and begin creating.”

Of course, there are some human clients who have vastly different tastes than Bonewitz.

“We had an owner who wanted me to do a mohawk on their dog. I felt terrible making the animal look so odd. However, the owner loved it. My rule is that whoever brings in a dog can tell me how they want it groomed.”

Bonewitz also breeds and sells both poodles and Yorkies.

“Dogs make a great deal of difference in a person’s life. I’ve seen the results and it never ceases to amaze me.”

For example, a retired police officer from Chicago purchased a dog for his granddaughter who he and his wife were raising. “She had been abused and the first time I saw her in the family car she was in a fetal position. I was hoping the Yorkie they adopted would not scare her.”

Several years later the family came to thank Bonewitz. “This time the little girl walked in smiling, wanting to pet the dogs I had.”

During the COVID lockdown an elderly lady came to adopt a Yorkie. “Her family was concerned that she was isolated. Now she had something to love. She was out twice a day walking the dog. She met people. Her life was turned around.” Bonewitz concluded, “I get to meet so many people I wouldn’t otherwise have the privilege to know through my work with dogs.”

From caregiver to giving care to others

At Always Best Care, we find that caregivers have different “whys” as to how they discovered their desire to help others in the in-home care role. I’ve been with Always Best Care for four years and here is my “why.”

I started caregiving after my mother was diagnosed with dementia. That’s how I learned to care for someone with memory loss. I learned how to operate a Hoyer lift, give breathing treatments, use feeding machines and tubes, along with administering medications.

While living in Valparaiso, a neighbor told me that she

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worked in home health care and her company was looking to hire a direct support professional. Having experience in helping others with disabilities and applying, I was hired at Opportunity Enterprise in 2000. I was trained on medication, administering medications, working with individuals with special needs, high behavioral clients, as well as group homes. I became a caregiver because I like to help each client with their daily routine, reminding them that I care about their well-being. I enjoy communicating and being a companion in their time of loneliness. I enjoy putting a smile on their faces and listening to different stories

they don’t mind sharing. I feel that caregiving is an act of love more than it is a job. You must have compassion and want to do it.

The advice I would give current and future caregivers is this: Enjoy providing in-home care and support services to your clients. Keep them safe and independent in the comfort of their own home as long as possible. Also, give each family member a break in their daily routine. Just remember, each smile you put on your clients’ faces makes a big difference in their lives.

Always Best Care offers nonmedical, in-home care. For more information, call (574) 232-8487 or visit abc-michiana.com.

Rice & Rice —

Planning for Medicaid coverage

Statistics show that onethird of us will live in a nursing home at some point in our lives. That number is increasing as we live longer and longer. So, we need to plan for how those nursing home expenses will be paid.

With a ratio of one out of three people spending an average stay of over 2 1/2 years in a nursing home, when should you start planning? Since none of us know when our health might take a turn for the worse, it’s important to start planning now. Here are several ways to plan now that can help to save you and your family tens of thousands of dollars when the time comes that nurs-

ing home care is needed: Power of attorney — you should have a comprehensive durable power of attorney in place that will continue to be effective even if you become incapacitated. This is a time that you will need it most and it must include the specific authority for self-dealing and making gifts for Medicaid planning purposes, so that selfdealing and gifting can be done according to state law. Selfdealing language is required under Indiana law in order for the person acting as power of attorney to transfer assets out of the name of the person in the nursing home into the name of the spouse, or others. You can

Popular Rotorcraft

Continued from page 1

build for aviation today. They have dual-ignition systems, two distributors/magnetos and two sparkplugs per cylinder. It’s for redundancy in case one ignition system quits, the other will still work. They have heated seats and heated cabins. They have a modern ADS-B radar where you can download it on your phone and see it flying.”

Drake has been training

people how to fly since the early 2000s and said the gyros are very safe.

Drake said they will have quite a few different instructors and gyros at the convention. People can go on an introductory flight to see if they enjoy the experience.

“There will probably be a couple hundred people there. I wanted to fly ever since I was 2 years old. When I was 14, my mom took me to the airport

and gave me a flying lesson. She said, ‘I’ll give you one flying lesson a month if you do all your chores and don’t give me any hassle.’ That was 1974. In 2024, I will have been flying for 50 years.”

Drake, who has over 3,000 flying time in gyros, said he is the only instructor in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin currently training people to fly.

“I just had a gentleman come

give the power to your spouse (if competent) or to one or more of your children to act as your “agent” (on your behalf) with the POA.

Gifting program — there are Medicaid planning techniques that require you to transfer assets into a trust or outright to children. Under the current rules, any such transfers or gifts made within five years of the date that you apply for Medicaid can cause a period of ineligibility or a so-called “penalty period.” You can protect your transferred assets by making the transfers sooner than later in order to help meet the five-year period requirement.

in from Quebec and brought his gyro for training,” Drake said. “Everybody likes different instructors. I get people coming in from all over the U.S. and Canada. At the convention this year, we will have instructors coming in from Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and possibly other states.”

He has flown all different kinds of models of airplanes and gyros. People will build them and bring them to him

Legal consultation — it is best for you to sit down with an experienced Elder Law attorney and look at all your options when you or your spouse are facing possible nursing home care due to a health issue such as stroke, early dementia or the beginning of Alzheimer’s. Because we are an elder law firm, we can help to save you or your life savings from nursing home spend-down. Want to learn more? Come to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 902 E. University Drive, Granger, at 6 p.m. Monday, July 17, or Monday, July 24. Reservations are required as seating is limited. Call now, (800) 303-7423 or visit riceandrice.com.

to test fly.

“I’ve had quite a few wild stories. I’ve had three engine outs and had to make emergency landings. Everyone thinks if they lose an engine it’s over with, but you land it and try to get some help and go from there. The blade on the top is always on auto rotation, so you pick out a spot and land there. You only need about 30 feet to land, so it’s not so much of a big deal.”

That’s the ticket!

I just got a call from my wife who is vacationing with my sister in North Carolina. This trip worries me. If my name comes up, no one in that car will take my side.

Mary Ellen was just pulled over by the local police for a minor infraction. Mary Ellen never breaks the rules. She believes rules were made to be followed. This kind of harebrained notion caused a rift in the way we raised our son. To Mary Ellen’s credit, in

over 35 years, Brett has not spent a single night in jail.

Getting pulled over has crushed her, ruined her clean record and put a damper on her vacation. My wife’s life has been exemplary. She never had detention, never cheated on a test, never told a lie, never even hot-wired a car. The woman was a saint. Until today.

When you have a perfect record — not just in driving, but in your entire life

— being followed by a police officer is a perplexing and nerveracking experience.

I have studied the best way to deal with the po-po when getting pulled over for speeding. For example, I know that saying, “Officer, I was running out of gas, so I had to get home quicker,” just doesn’t work.

cense and registration?”

“Oh, there must be some mistake, officer. I’ve never done anything wrong in my entire saintly life. You must have me confused with my husband.”

“Look, lady, I’m going back to the patrol car to check your record.”

“While you’re checking, you might take notice of the fact that I have never cheated on a test, from kindergarten through my MBA. And this is especially noteworthy: I never let anyone look at my paper, either.”

“Ma’am, your license plates are expired.”

from Mary Ellen right after she was stopped.

“Dick, I was just pulled over by the police.”

“Why didn’t you let my sister drive the get-away car?”

“Look, this is not a joke. Up until 20 minutes ago, I had a perfect record. I had never done anything wrong in my life. Do you know what this stain on my reputation means?”

“A big celebration at the convent. You’ve moved a lot of the sisters into first place.”

This event apparently created some soul searching on Mary Ellen’s part.

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“How could you possibly know that?”

“There’s a little sticker on the plate. It says 2022.”

“Well, how can you expect me to see that from the driver’s seat?”

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Mary Ellen, on the other hand, has no experience in this area. When she noticed the lights flashing behind her, she waved the policeman around her. In fact, she waved him around her for about 23 blocks. Then it dawned on her that he was after her.

“When you stop crying, ma’am, may I see your li-

I actually tried that line myself once, hoping to get a laugh from a cop. I got a sobriety test instead.

Now, back to the phone call

What Seniors Think

“You know, Dick, this brush with the law has given me a new perspective. I’ve led too sheltered an existence. In fact, marrying you is really the only questionable thing I’ve done in my life until today.”

“Mary Ellen, marrying me was not exactly committing a crime.”

“No, but it’s probably the closest I’ll ever come.”

What is one of your favorite memories of summer?

ANDREW CHARLES WARSAW

REBECCA WHITWORTH GOSHEN

JEFF BANKS WARSAW

MARGARET RINGLER ELKHART

TOM FISHER NAPPANEE

ELIZABETH DANIELS WINONA LAKE

Purcell celebrating 104 years this month

Employees at assisted living centers probably aren’t supposed to have favorite residents. At Grace Village Assisted Living, however, it’s easy to see why Jean Purcell is definitely on the top of many of their lists.

“She has a great sense of humor,” said Resident Services Manager Sheila Baker. “She likes to have her ‘bacon and eggs’ every morning, although her bacon and eggs are really Mandarin oranges and graham crackers.”

Amazingly, Purcell is turning 104 years old this month. She still gets around Grace Village on her own, aided only by a walker. Purcell enjoys playing Bingo and other games with her fellow assisted living residents. While her hearing and vision are faltering, her mind is still sharp, and she has a lifetime’s worth of stories to prove it.

A native of Chicago, Purcell came to Kosciusko County in 1957 when Da-Lite moved its business from the Windy City to Warsaw. Not only did she

make the move with her husband, Lester, who also was an employee of the company, but also with several other family members who followed the company to its new northern Indiana home. She held jobs with Da-Lite in both the office and on the factory floor right up until the birth of her son, Randy.

Lester died in 1974, leaving Purcell as a widow for the past 49 years. She’s been far from alone, however, during those intervening years. Not only is Purcell surrounded by her many friends at Grace Village, but Randy visits her often. That’s no small task on his part, as he and his wife are longtime missionaries serving in Guatemala.

Purcell had another son who died at birth. She also has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren as part of her family tree.

Randy will be with his mother on July 8 when she celebrates her birthday. Two of her grandchildren also will be in Winona Lake for the milestone occasion.

Quick moves to credit card savings

over-limit fee. Call also if you think your payment may arrive late.

She has many fond memories of her life, including playing Hawaiian guitar in a band that performed each Sunday in a Chicago hotel. She also shared how she and Lester would go ballroom dancing together every Saturday night at the famous Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.

The couple also enjoyed ice skating together at their home on Dewart Lake during the winter months. Purcell pointed out that her husband, a World War II veteran who served in Iceland and Germany during the war, didn’t know how to dance nor ice skate before they were married, which they became shortly before his deployment in 1941.

Purcell noted the many technological advancements she has seen in her 104 years. She recalled using a telephone that included holding an earpiece while speaking into the microphone embedded on the base. She also told of riding Chicago streetcars with her sister to get to school.

“I don’t know what God had planned but he didn’t make me sick,” said Purcell. “My health, I think it’s all okay as far as I know. I don’t have to go to the doctor. I don’t know how many people in my family have lived this long. My grandfather came from Canada and I don’t know how long they lived up there. I can’t believe I’ve lived this long. God has been really good to me.”

There are several simple chores you can perform if your credit card payments schedule has become unwieldy.

For starters, contact the card issuer and ask if you can change your payment date to one that works better for you. Ask if there is a toll-free 800 number to call to get an update on the status and total of your account.

If you think you’re going to exceed your limit, call the card issuer. They may be able to raise the credit limit and avoid an

To avoid a late payment fee, send your payment by overnight delivery if time permits. The delivery cost is usually lower than the late payment fee. You might phone it in with your account number and checking account information handy or make payment online.

Call your card issuer and ask about these and other steps you might take to make life easier for yourself.

Defend against scammers who target your Social Security benefits

instructions. Here are three things you should do:

• Hang up right away or do not reply to the email.

There are a few ways you can identify a scam call or email. Remember that we will never:

• Require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card.

Scammers are always finding new ways to steal your money and personal information by exploiting your fears. The most effective way to defeat scammers is to know how to identify scams and to ignore suspicious calls and emails.

One common tactic scammers use is posing as federal agents or other law enforcement. They may claim your Social Security number is linked to a crime. They may even threaten to arrest you if you do not comply with their

• Never give personal information or payment of any kind.

• Report the scam at oig. ssa.gov to immediately notify the law enforcement team in our Office of the Inspector General.

You should continue to remain vigilant if you receive a phone call from someone who claims there’s a problem with your SSN or your benefits. If you owe money to us, we will mail you a letter explaining your rights, payment options, and information about appealing.

• Threaten you with benefit suspension, arrest, or other legal action unless you pay a fine or fee.

• Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.

• Demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Securityrelated problem.

• Send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.

If you do not have ongoing business with our agency, it is unlikely we will contact you. Again, if you get a suspicious call claiming to be from us or law enforcement about Social Security, you should hang up and report it right away to our Office of the Inspector General at oig. ssa.gov.

Gray divorce has financial pitfalls

It’s financially smarter to stay married if you’re splitting up than to end your relationship with a divorce. Breaking up is a major upheaval, emotionally as well as socially, that blurs the financial picture during this critical period.

The need for seniors to be aware of the pitfalls in a partnership split is growing as the gray divorce rate is expanding rapidly. In fact, it has doubled since 1990. One out of four divorces is among couples 50 years or older.

There are several reasons for this phenomenon. High on the list is the fact that culturally, divorce — at any age — has become more acceptable.

And people are living longer. Men’s average longevity is 73 years. For women, it’s 79. This results in new relationships and careers becoming more common for folks past 50. It has also become a lot easier to walk out of a marriage and home when white-collar jobs can be worked remotely from anywhere with an internet connection.

But splitting up is more difficult the longer the partnership has lasted. Just as

an elderly couple’s lives have been intertwined longer than most, so have their assets. And, because of their time of life, there is less time to recoup any financial losses caused by a divorce. If there is a nonworking spouse, he or she may be too old to get back into the workforce.

Understanding your money situation is the first big step in divorce proceedings. States typically require a financial affidavit or statement of net worth.

California requires both parties to fill out several forms and include tax returns, pay stubs, documents showing what’s owned and what’s owed and other records. New York provides a document that must be filled out to explore all spending from big-ticket items such as mortgages or rent and utilities to monthly clothing costs.

Submitting these completed documents can unearth facts unknown to one of the spouses. Do you know the balance on your family credit card or the monthly cost of your spouse’s phone bill?

Couples have to be aware of their total financial picture, not only in case of divorce but to avoid problems and pitfalls when their partner passes away.

Lessons learned by observers of divorces over the years can help prepare seniors for the unexpected — a divorce late in their lives.

If you don’t already, be sure you fully understand your finances, including all investments, savings and debts. That includes credit card points and frequent flier miles.

Make sure you check with your divorce lawyer and that she is looking out for your best interests. Beware of any lawyer who says you can win without pausing to understand your circumstances or motivations.

Put together a team of lawyers, financial planners, and accountants and keep in mind they are not your friends or therapists. If you need emotional support, look for psychological professionals or support groups.

Don’t get fixated on holding onto your family house. Figure out the full costs of staying there, including taxes and upkeep and if you will still be able to make it financially if your property value drops.

And don’t forget about health insurance if you are divorcing before Medicare kicks in at age 65.

Andrews loves coaching young people

Jon Andrews grew up in Nappanee. Coaching has always been in Andrews’ blood. As a young kid in the mid-1970s, he vividly remembers laying in bed on a Friday night listening to the late Bryan Carter announce NorthWood football home games.

He recalled hearing NorthWood stars Pat Parks and Todd Sheets make plays. Andrews lived so close to the NorthWood football field he could open his bedroom window and hear Carter announce the action.

Andrews’ uncle, the legendary late Jim Andrews was the head NorthWood football coach during that time period and Rich Dodson was one of his assistants.

Andrews said, “I called him Coach Andrews in fourth grade. I didn’t want to slip and call him Uncle Jim because I knew I was going to play for him someday.”

Andrews talked about his excitement when Coach Andrews would let him set up sideline markers and hang out with the players in the locker room before games.

When Andrews turned 14, he aged out of little league baseball and Bill Leeper asked if he wanted to help coach. He enthusiasti-

cally accepted the offer. When he was in high school, the late Chuck Grimm asked if he would help coach the travel league allstars. Of course, he said, “yes.”

After many years of coaching little league baseball, Grimm figured out Andrews had won over 500 little league games.

Andrews helped coach his cousins Trevor and Nate Andrews and their classmates when they were in junior high. Andrews talked about how much joy he had telling those players about what it was like to play football at tradition-rich NorthWood High School.

Coach Jim Andrews, Trevor and Nate’s father, tragically died in an automobile accident in 1992. Reminiscing about that time period, Andrews emotionally said, “After Coach Andrews passed, I helped Coach Dodson. There was a lot of healing in that for me. I think we all used football to help us heal as individuals, family members and as a community. Trevor was a junior and Nate was in eighth grade.”

Over the years, Andrews has had the privilege of coaching multiple generations of youth. He mentioned coaching the children of former NorthWood athletes Willy Will, Nick Abel and Andy Roeder.

Professional Services

Q. Can a trust help with a beneficiary that can’t manage money?

A. We have all heard the story of the lottery winner who quickly squanders their winnings. Unfortunately, individuals that come into wealth unexpectedly, often make poor financial decisions. If you are concerned that your beneficiaries may struggle with responsibly managing their inheritance, a trust might be the solution.

A trust can be crafted with language that gives the Trustee discretion to distribute income and/or principal for the benefit of the beneficiary. In doing this, it is the Trustee who will make the determination if the distribution is in line with the purpose of the trust. This can avoid the problem of a beneficiary quickly spending their inheritance on “wants” instead of preserving funds for “needs”.

Andrews will never forget the late Kevin “Killer” Miller. Andrews played football with Miller in junior high. When Miller was in junior high, he suddenly started having a hard time walking. He was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease that would slowly take over his body. There was no cure. Andrews emotionally recalled how Miller’s mother said they just returned from a medical appointment and the doctor could not believe how well Miller was doing. She attributed his better than expected health to football and the support of his teammates. He was walking and not in a wheelchair because of football.

Eventually the disease caught up with Miller and by the time he was a sophomore, he would bear crawl during practice. Andrews remembers Miller intercepting a pass in practice while he was bear crawling and his teammates went wild. Andrews talks about that moment like it was yesterday. Miller had an indelible impact on Andrews’ life. Andrews said, “I look at young people like piggy banks. You have to put something in to get something out. I think coaching is more transformational than transactional. You invest in

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator

In addition, a spendthrift provision can safeguard assets from creditors and bankruptcy. If a beneficiary got into financial trouble, their creditors cannot come after any of the inheritance that is held in trust. This works because assets held in trust legally belong to the trust and not the beneficiary.

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.

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator Wealth Management

the person. It’s really all about loving the kids and making sure they know how much you care about them.”

He said, “Jesus gave two commandments, “Love God and love people.”

Andrews now has three children of his own; Preston, Presley and Palyn. He is currently the director of youth basketball operations for Wa-Nee Community Schools and is responsible for first through eighth grade.

He said, “The youth of today

Elder Law

Q. Who pays the taxes on a gift?

A. The Federal Gift and Estate Taxes weigh heavily on the minds of many clients who want to shift assets to children and grandchildren without paying more taxes than necessary.

If you share those concerns, I have good news. Every year, an individual can give a gift of up to $17,000 to as many people as they want under what is called an Annual Exclusion. Gifts over that amount are deducted from a lifetime credit which is currently set at $12.92 million dollars per person. If you give away more than $17,000 to a single person, the IRS requires that you report that gift on a Form 709. The amount of the gift that exceeds the annual exclusion will be deducted from your lifetime credit. Although the donor is said to pay the tax, in almost all cases

are amazing and they really need us. I work for a boss and a board that understand how important coaching is for me and give me the flexibility to do these things.” Andrews is director of programming at The Center (formerly Family Christian Development Center) in Nappanee. Andrews finished by saying, “I have been on five continents and have traveled to 22 countries. There is no place like NorthWood.”

William J. Stockdale Attorney at Law

there are no gift and estate tax implications.

However, tax rules change often, and certain public programs like Medicaid have other rules altogether. Making lifetime gifts without having a plan can have serious implications, so seeking the advice of an experienced elder law attorney is highly recommended.

Center

110 S. Main St. South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 284-6210, ext. 6232

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum —

Train excursions for family fun

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum train excursions run on Saturdays, May through October and for special events. Take a relaxing, round-trip on an approximately 45-minute train excursion through the countryside on an open-air car or a vintage coach between North Judson and English Lake.

Ticket prices begin at $10. Groups of six or more get $2 off each ticket. Purchasing tickets online is recommended.

Before or after the train excursion, be sure to visit the museum and grounds, where the admission is always free.

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has one of the largest museum collections of working railroad signals, a restored World War II Pullman troop car and switching tower. Stroll around the grounds to see all types of rolling stock, engines and memorabilia of a by-gone era.

Guest engineers can operate a diesel locomotive with

supervision at HVRM. Anyone over the age of 18 who holds a valid driver’s license can “be an engineer” for 30 minutes or one hour for a nominal fee. Contact the museum for scheduling.

HVRM has an exciting schedule of events planned for this season. Regular Saturday train rides continue through the end of September. HVRM will run pumpkin trains, Halloween trains and Santa trains later this year. Prices for these special events may vary. Most of these special events sell out in advance, so please purchase online.

HVRM is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and education of railroading history. Special group events (including school groups) can be arranged during the week by contacting the depot.

Visit the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum website, hoosiervalley.org, for a complete schedule of events. Order tickets online or call the depot at (574) 896-3950 on Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT.

‘Hairball’ at the Lerner Theatre

Coming to the historic Lerner Theatre at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 — Hairball! Tickets for the show are now on sale.

Welcome to Las Vegas meets arena rock. Over the past 20 years, Hairball has evolved into an explosive national touring act that brings the glory of the 80s to hundreds of thousands of fans throughout the country, with a two-plus hour drop-dead accurate homage to the biggest

arena acts in the world. You’ll see all of your favorite legendary hits — from Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, Aerosmith and more — recreated time and time again in front of your very eyes. The bombastic, action-packed, rock ‘n’ roll party is chock-full of surprises guaranteed to thrill with an arena-sized light show, smoke, fire and pyrotechnics. We bring a rock ‘n’ roll arsenal

to your event that will hit you so hard, you’ll forget it’s not the original.

A band puts on a concert — Hairball puts on an event. Hairball is a rock ‘n’ roll experience you won’t soon forget. The lights, sound, smoke, fire, bombs and screaming hoards of avid fans … to merely call it a concert would be like calling Mount Rushmore a roadside attraction.

2023 finds Hairball celebrat-

Dixie Day Festival set for July

Editor’s Note: Incorrect details regarding the Dixie Day Festival was included in our Summer publication distributed June 7. Below is the correct information on activities for Dixie Day. We apologize for the error

The 15th annual Dixie Day Festival will be Saturday, July 29. Join in for a fun-filled day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in beautiful North Webster.

Start the day at the “Sailors and Mermaids” 5K at the North Webster Community Center, then shop artisan and craft booths, eat some delicious food, check out the car and truck show, explore what unique local merchants have to offer and take a ride on the Dixie Boat, Indiana’s oldest sternwheeler.

Join a fun crowd of walkers and runners in the “Sailors and Mermaids” 5K race along beautiful Webster Lake. Preregister online or register the day of starting at 6:45 a.m. Wear your favorite sailor or mermaid digs for prizes. Competitive athletes, this race is professionally timed.

Information and registration can be found at runsignup. com. Artisan and crafters will be set-up along Main Street on the lawn of Pilcher’s Shoes. Find unique and artistic gifts, as well as household staples.

You won’t find a better selection of festival food than down Washington Street where various food trucks and vendors will be ready to serve you all the festival must-haves.

The annual car and truck show has been growing over the years and this year we anticipate more for the enthusiast to enjoy. This judged show has a variety of entries with their owners ready to talk shop. You don’t have to know anything about cars or trucks to be impressed. To register for this event, email nwdixieday@gmail. com.

New this year will be a boat show on the Mermaid Festival Grounds. Take a look at the newest models of boats for 2023.

Local merchants join in on the fun with specials and sales you don’t want to miss out on.

Look for other fun events happening throughout town like the scavenger hunt, corn hole tournament and at Tangibles Resale and Consignment.

The Dixie Boat will be running and you don’t want to miss this boat. A guided of Webster Lake is fun for the whole family, or just enjoy the scenery as you listen to the paddle churning water.

The Chamber is looking forward to seeing you at Dixie Day. Watch their Facebook page for updates as more exciting happenings may occur.

ing its 23rd year of rocking hundreds of thousands of people across the country. Constantly adding more characters, more pyrotechnics, more lights, more sound, more props, more surprises … more everything. While many bands claim to have the best fans in the world, Hairball actually has! Whether they are 10 years old or 100, Hairball fans bring an unparalleled enthusiasm and energy to the show that enhances the arena experience. Hairball knows it wouldn’t exist without its fans and takes every opportunity to

let them know that. Whether it’s a pre-show meet and greet, hanging out at the merch booth or chatting online, Hairball has a lot in common with its fans and it’s always a good time when they get together. Don’t confuse Hairball with the countless “80s tribute” bands across the country. Hairball is an experience, an attitude and expression of music that isn’t simply a retro flashback, it’s a way of life! For tickets or more information, visit thelerner.com or call (574) 293-4469.

IIt’s easy! Simply find the bicycle on another page in this edition. Go online to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com and enter your information, the edition, date and page number you found it on. This will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25.

(Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, July 17, 2023.

I Spy June winner is Pat Wilmore of Hobart. The grill was located on page 5 in Senior Life Elko, page 18 in Senior Life St. Joseph, page 4 in Senior Life Allen and page 12 in Senior Life Northwest.

Faith Baumann serves Jesus by serving others

our church and am involved in various areas.”

“As we follow Jesus, I believe we should try to live as He lived,” stated Amy Eberly Baumann, Warsaw. “God’s world view is different than our culture’s world view. We serve Him out of our own giftings. I see myself as an empathetic person. I’m also organized and detail oriented. I have some leadership ability thrown in there and love hosting people in our home when we have the time. To me, following Jesus is using our gifts and abilities to serve Him by serving others.

“My dad is a retired Church of the Brethren pastor, so I am a ‘PK’ (preacher’s kid). He and my mom live at Timbercrest in North Manchester. Even though they are retired, they are both still actively involved in ministry.”

When she was a sophomore in high school, Baumann committed her life to Jesus. “I was baptized in Waubee Lake, just two miles southeast of Milford.”

She attended Manchester College, where she majored in accounting and minored in psychology. “I worked in the accounting department at Bowen Center for 20 years. I now work part time in accounting at Joe’s Kids in Warsaw.”

After she and her husband, Jeff, were married, they began attending Warsaw Community Church. “I love volunteering at

Baumann has been a Stephen Minister for the past five years. “We are not professional counselors but have had 50+ hours of training. We’re paired with a care receiver who is going through a crisis period, whether that be a divorce, loss of a significant someone, grief or trauma. We’re not there to fix anyone. We simply walk alongside them, listening, supporting and helping direct them. We are the caregivers. Only Jesus is the cure-giver.”

She’s also part of a couple pit crews that serve the church’s mission partners. “We’re there to support and encourage the missionaries on and off the field so they can reach people for Christ better.”

“I also disciple women at the homeless shelter in Warsaw,” she remarked. “Right now I’m working with a woman who has some health issues. We are studying ‘Vertical Marriage’ by Ann and Dave Wilson together.”

Baumann and her husband work together at marriage mentoring using FOCCUS materials. “The program provides premarital sessions for couples to participate in. They answer a battery of questions individually. Then we help them talk about areas where they disagree or are uncertain about with one another. There are different categories such as friends and interest, finances,

problem solving and sexuality. We stress how important communication is in a marriage and they learn it firsthand as they talk things through in our sessions. We love being a part of helping people develop a strong marriage.”

Through volunteering, Baumann is able to reach out to others. “I enjoy being able to pour myself into people and letting them know how much Jesus loves them.”

While pouring herself into others, Baumann continues to learn how to set boundaries and keep herself balanced. “Currently the verses of Matthew 11:28-29 have been speaking to me, where Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…you will find rest for your souls…For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’”

Healthy feet a step ahead in weight loss

look at your feet first.

The first step toward weight loss could be making sure you have healthy feet. Instead of diving head-first into a diet or weight-loss program, you might want to

Obesity aggravates foot problems that make it difficult to exercise when you’re trying to lose weight, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Bad feet impede one of the simplest and easiest forms of exercise: walking.

The lack of exercise also assists the progress of heart disease, diabetes and other health threats.

Fat folks get caught up in the vicious cycle of avoiding physical activity due to foot or ankle pain, thereby permitting cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening conditions to worsen as a result.

Many seniors suffer foot pain, which usually is caused by treatable foot conditions that may have resulted from years of stress and pounding. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, foot and ankle pain can be eliminated from the debilitating health issues associated with aging.

A common misconception is growing older means having to cope with sore feet all the time. Foot and ankle surgeons believe seniors should not be resigned to accepting foot pain as a consequence of aging. Pain from common foot and ankle conditions can be treated successfully.

In many cases, chronic heel pain occurs from carrying too much weight. Left untreated, it becomes an impediment to

physical activity and meaningful weight loss.

Medical advances have led to up-to-the-minute techniques employed to correct foot disorders and alleviate activity-limiting discomfort. Non-surgical and surgical treatments can help seniors stay active, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Many causes of foot pain and discomfort can be alleviated non-surgically with stretching exercises, orthotics, and/or athletic shoes with solid support and shock absorption.

When heel pain, a bunion, or other condition requires surgery, the patient can exercise during recovery by riding a stationary bicycle, swimming, or weight training.

A physical examination is mandatory before initiating any exercise program. After being cleared by your primary care physician and having your feet checked, don’t try to do too much too soon.

Many people with diabetes feel they shouldn’t exercise when they experience foot ulcerations. Everyone with diabetes needs regular foot exams to check for possible sore spots and assess nerve sensation. With proper foot care and the right footwear, most diabetic patients can develop and maintain an exercise regimen that is safe and appropriate for them.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Sixties Flashback —

The coolest dive in town

In 1960, Chubby Checker’s multi-million-selling “The Twist” spent four months dominating the Top 40 airwaves. But, as with any hit tune, it eventually faded from favor and ended up on the voluminous heap of Golden Oldies.

Nearly two years later, though, Checker’s dance disc began earning radio spins again. For the second time, “The Twist” rocketed to Number One on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles list — but only briefly; the Chubster was soon knocked off the top spot by newcomers Joey Dee and the Starliters with their “Peppermint Twist.”

The New York City-based ditty was ear candy with a heavy dance beat and lyrics that probably didn’t cause Bob Dylan any sleepless nights:

“Well, they’ve got a new dance and it goes like this

“(Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op)

“Yeah, the name of the dance is the Peppermint Twist

“(Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op)

“And where may we do such a dance, Mr. Dee?

“Meet me baby down on 45th Street

“Where the Peppermint Twisters meet “And you’ll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist”

The difference in the dances? While Chubby’s uncomplicated moves were akin to shuffling one’s feet to extinguish a dropped cigarette butt, the short-lived Peppermint Twist dance involved pointing toes, crossing feet and employing elements of the Charleston.

The Peppermint Lounge was located at 128 W. 45th St. in the Times Square area and featured an interior that reeked of spilled beer and stale cigarette smoke. Entering patrons had to walk the length of a battered, 40-foot-long mahogany bar and traverse a mirrored hallway that opened to an absurdly small rectangular dance floor at the back. That’s where, on a

raised platform, Joey and company rocked each night.

Then a sea change transformed the little-noticed locale.

Middle-aged jet-setters became tantalized by recent newspaper puff pieces from New York society columnist Cholly Knickerbocker (actually the nom de plume of fashion meister Igor Cassini). He had spread the word that the watering hole had suddenly become the social epicenter for Gotham movers and shakers.

Eventually seen gyrating among the hoi polloi were such A-listers as Marilyn Monroe, Truman Capote, Greta Garbo, Norman Mailer, Judy Garland and Tennessee Williams. (But not, as was sometimes reported, First Lady Jackie Kennedy, although she occasionally did groove with Checker’s iconic

dance at some private gatherings.)

Every weekend, the famous, the infamous and the anonymous arrived. The back of a Joey Dee album proclaimed, “For every motorcycle that pulls up to the front door, there is a Rolls Royce right behind it.”

The raucous joint wasn’t for everyone, though. Drama critic John McLean claimed it “possessed the charm, noise, odor and disorder of an overcrowded zoo.” Overcrowded, for sure; the legal number of partiers allowed in was 178, but each night many more than that sardined into the back room. Like any fad-fueled hot spot though, the Peppermint Lounge became unhip when the hipsters moved to other venues. When the club closed its doors in 1965, few people cared — or even noticed.

It was 50 years ago —

‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’

Bette Midler

The onceubiquitous Andrews sisters — Patty, Maxine and Laverne — premiered “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in the 1941 Abbott and Costello comedy film “Buck Privates.” For the beloved Minnesota trio, that perky ditty became their 24th consecutive Decca Records winner.

Written by Don Ray and Huey Prince, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” has always been associated with World War II, even though the song was actually recorded in January 1941 — nearly one year before the Pearl Harbor attack, and soon after the establishment of a peacetime military draft imposed by Franklin Roosevelt’s administration.

The original cheerful tune featured a storyline — good for laughs but an obvious fantasy — about a hip Chicago street musician/army draftee.

Apparently, without his bandmates, the cat couldn’t do justice to blowing a buoyant rendition of “Reveille” when he was ordered to play it to announce the dawning. But his good-natured company leader (“the Cap”) saved the day by assembling a barracksbased band for the frustrated musician, who could then handily offer a spirited wake-up call for the snoozing soldiers.

In 1973, it would take a rising young star to bring the song to a contemporary audience.

Bette Midler, born in Honolulu in 1945, earned a bit part as an extra during the 1966 filming of James Michener’s novel “Hawaii.” Flushed with confidence, she moved to New York to try her luck in the entertainment world. She rose to Big Apple prominence in 1970 when she began singing in the Continental Baths, a Gotham gay bathhouse. There she built a loyal following, along the way growing close to her pianist, the then-unknown Barry Manilow. (Reflecting on her bathhouse times later, Midler professed, “I’m still proud of those days. I feel like I was at

Foil identity theft during vacation travel

Summer months are ripe pickings for identity thieves. They go after travelers who make travel plans online, use credit and debit cards for purchases away from home, get money from unfamiliar automated teller machines, and let mail stack up in their mailbox back home.

A few simple steps to reduce their risk of becoming such a victim.

• Use a credit card, not a debit card, for online pur-

chases. With a credit-card transaction, you can have a transaction reversed. A debit card takes the money automatically from your checking account.

• If you draw cash from automated teller machines, make sure no one can see the numbers you type into the screen. And do your transaction only at major banks or financial institutions.

• Never give out any personal or financial information unless you know who you’re talking to.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

the forefront of the gay liberation movement, and I hope I did my part to help it move forward.”)

Manilow produced Bette’s future classic debut Atlantic Records offering, “The Divine Miss M,” which spent 76 weeks on Billboard’s album chart and featured the track that first brought her to national prominence. When Midler made “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” a summertime Top 10 single, a new generation of music fans came to embrace an iconic tune that had all but faded into the mists of history. Most music historians credit the story’s inspiration to Chicago musician Clarence Zylman (who actually hailed from Muskegon, Mich.) for the “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” lyrics. It is ironic that Clarence had enlisted in the Army — he wasn’t drafted — on June 9, 1942, long after the snappy hit had come and gone. It is said that Zylman got his fellow soldiers jitterbugging to his unique style of “Reveille.” In 2018, he was honored with a statue erected at the veteran’s museum in Muskegon.

Recording hit songs new and old wasn’t the only pursuit for the versatile Midler. During her five-decade career, she earned a head-spinning three Grammy awards, three Emmy awards, two Tony awards, four Golden Globe awards, and a Kennedy Center honor, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards.

Wow!

Facelift can be a happy face

Nanette Fabray, the late Emmy-winning actress, singer and dancer, said one of life’s most chilling moments is getting that first letter addressed to “Dear Senior Citizen.”

So she took the advice of

her friend, Phyllis Diller, and had plastic surgery after she started developing “turkey wattles” on her neck.

“Sometimes you need to be told it’s OK to make some changes in your physical appearance if that makes you happier,” she said.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Driving hints help older adults

Mature adults can continue driving safely if they adapt some habits and avoid some medications, according to the American Optometric Association.

Suggested driving practices include:

• Don’t focus only on the

road ahead. Instead, keep your eyes moving, scanning the road, glancing frequently at the side and rear-view mirrors and the instrument panel.

• Don’t wear sunglasses or tinted lenses for night driving. During daylight driving, wear good-quality sunglasses. Keep the glasses clean.

• Choose a car with a clear, not tinted, windshield.

• Be wary of prescription and non-prescription drugs if you intend to drive. Cold and sinus remedies, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain killers and some prescription drugs can induce drowsiness and affect your vision. Know the side effects of any drug you take before getting behind the steering wheel.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

North Woods

EDISON LAKES

Cash in on millennium memories

The collectible craze picked up new impetus with the passage of the millennium mark and accelerates as we settle into the 21st century.

It is time to look at the junk in your attic or garage with a bit of greed in your gaze.

You’re going to have to clean out that space sooner or later, so you may as well glean the good from the trash. And the good will be divided into “Want to Keep” and “For Sale.” You may want to give some of the trash a for-sale try before junking it.

The first group includes those private and personal items that bring back memories you don’t want to toss out or articles you know you’ll use someday —

clamps for the garden hose, a basketball hoop you’ll put up for the grandchildren, an old sports uniform you might be able to wear to a costume party. How about that old telephone you didn’t throw out.

The most interesting category is the Junque, which can be sold. Those old tail lights from your 1960s Mustang might find a buyer at a nearby auto-parts supplier. Better still, track down a Mustang collectors’ club. The internet is a handy tool for this work.

It’s been written that an antique is anything older than you are. That’s still true, but collectibles broaden the range immeasurably.

The centerfolds from every issue of Playboy or the annual edition of the magazine can bring in a pleasing bit of cash.

Covers of Life, and Saturday Evening Post also are coveted in some circles.

Levis from the ‘50s — the kind you roll up at the cuff — are marketable. So are 78-rpm records, World War II uniforms, old bicycles, coins, fedoras, wooden skis, iceboxes, autographs, straight razors and anything else that isn’t being made anymore.

As smokers near extinction, cigarette lighters and ashtrays are rising in collectible value. Those handy Zippo flip-lid lighters have developed a faithful following. So have souvenirs of Pan Am and Eastern and other airline companies that no longer exist.

The better the condition of any of these items, the better the price you can get for it. Stories about the trading

Timing travel is troublesome

The couple skidded up to the departure gate just as the ramp was being pulled away from the aircraft after they rushed out of their flight that had been delayed and raced through several airport buildings to complete their airline connection to their destination.

They made eye contact with a flight attendant who was securing the aircraft’s door, but the plane slid out of its parking spot and went on to its prepare-for-takeoff position on the runway.

Then they had to scramble to find a gate agent and find out when they could complete their trip.

There was, they were told, a scheduled flight in about four hours, but it had been cancelled because the airplane was grounded in another city. Their next flight was early evening — more than eight hours away. Or they could find another airline to book — and pay — for an earlier flight.

With hundreds of flights being cancelled daily, they discussed the air-travelers’ familiar what-else-can-we-do feeling and decided to take their chances and wait for the evening flight. Their flight finally arrived — and spent an extra two hours on the ground with a “maintenance problem.” Their sole consolation was this was the last flight they had to take to complete their trip.

The constant glitches and hiccups and delays that disrupt the national aviation network are not all the result of airline twists and tangles.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s ancient technology is as much to blame, according to several self-styled travel experts.

With some 25,000 flights a day, some things are bound to go wrong. But not as many as keep recurring these days.

Records reveal at least

one out of four major airlines’ flights will be delayed or cancelled. The reasons given range from mechanical malfunction to crew shortage to computer meltdown to unpredictable weather.

Yet passenger volume and air travel demand keep rising, as does the incidence of physical encounters in the air. Politeness seems to be left on the ground, along with plenty of luggage. It’s become a 5050 feeling your luggage will arrive at the same place and same time as you do.

Carry-ons have become the norm, which leads to disruptions at the gate as travelers try to tote oversized and overweight bags to their seats, which have become smaller with shorter leg space, making for less comfort even if your plane runs on time.

Exacerbating the problems is the lack of assistance from the airline industry. More and more it seems that when a

of sports memorabilia have moved from the sports pages to the business sections as prices have spiraled stratospherically. So much so that fakes have been sprayed into the market and made small fortunes for the copycat crooks.

Check your book pile for first editions before bundling them up as a donation for the nearest library. Posters, old jewelry, out-of-production cameras, ancient typewriters, old picture frames, hub caps, fountain pens, book ends — they’re all possible collectibles.

Barbie Dolls in their original wrap, vintage games that have never been taken out of the box, and never-before played Beatle albums can make it

worth your while to seek out buyers.

Swap meets, flea markets and yard sales are not your only venue to turn attic trash into cash.

If you have a pretty good idea of the worth of your antique or collectible, place an ad in a newsletter published by an organization interested in those items.

While everyone else is thinking about collecting the last whatever of the century or the first thingamajig of the new millennium, you can be thinking about how to make money from selling what you’ve collected to everyone else who’s thinking of collecting.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

flight is delayed or canceled, you’re on your own. Don’t expect a rebate on your ticket or any help in making arrangements to get you to your destination on time for a connecting flight, even if it’s with the same airline.

By federal law, airlines have to offer refunds if a flight is canceled for any reason. But it’s always a good idea to check your airline’s policy because factors vary, such as rebooking time frames.

As for delayed flights, it is up to the airline’s discretion because they aren’t required to offer reimbursement for delays outside their control, like bad weather. Some airlines will give free meal vouchers for delays longer than three hours and free hotel accommodations if a flight isn’t available until the next day.

In simple terms, getting there no longer is anywhere near half the fun.

Quick and easy salad dressing recipes

that you can use what you have and develop a dressing that suits your taste.

The below are all oil-free (get your oil from the whole food — avocado, olives, etc.)

• 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon agave/Maple syrup and 2 tablespoon water.

• 2 tablespoon balsamic/apple cider vinegar, 1-2 teaspoon any fruit preserves and 2 tablespoon water.

• 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon mustard, ½ tablespoon agave/maple syrup, dried Italian herbs of choice and 2 tablespoon water.

• 1 tablespoon hummus, 1 tablespoon lemon/lime juice, ½-1 tablespoon agave/maple syrup and 2 tablespoon water.

• 1 tablespoon tahini, 1 tablespoon lemon/lime juice, ½ tablespoon agave/maple syrup, 2 tablespoon water.

• 2-3 tablespoon of your favor-

ite salsa added directly to your salad.

• ¼-½ ripe avocado, massaged into the greens of your salad before adding other vegetables. Top completed salad with a squeeze of lemon.

• 2 tablespoon hummus massaged into the greens of your salad before adding other vegetables. Top completed salad with a squeeze of lemon.

• A generous squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice all over your

salad right before serving.

Other flavor filled ingredients to experiment with are:

Flavored wine vinegars

Hearty Mustards

Fresh herbs

Dates or Figs

Nut butters

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.

When you eat a healthy salad filled with greens, beans and lots of cruciferous vegetables you really don’t want to drown it in a bottle of heavy dressing. Let your dressing enhance your food and let the flavor pop.

What these recipes tell you is

• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon agave syrup, dash of turmeric, dash of ground ginger , 1 tablespoon chopped fresh scallions (green onion), 2 tablespoon water and light Asian-inspired vinaigrette.

Follow the birds in spring and fall

Twice a year, bird-watchers can

Can’t take the heat? Stay in the kitchen

verify their physical well-being and appearance.

Look for the following signs:

Things to check when visiting a senior include:

observe more than 350 species of the migrating avians traverse the Pacific Flyway between Alaska’s Bering Strait and South America. Traveling north as early as March and south beginning in August, many species make food stops, or even lengthy stays, in California’s many state parks.

Recreation Area, Silverwood Lake State Recreation Areas, Humbolt Redwoods State Park, and Benbow Lake State Recreation Area.

Summer means fun in the sun to many people.

To seniors, however, the heat can bring serious health risks — even death.

It could be healthier to eat in your air-conditioned kitchen rather than beside a sunsplashed pool.

As the body ages, it is less able to adjust to temperature extremes. And, because they may not feel the heat, older people may not take the proper precautions.

To help ensure the safety and well-being of elderly relatives or neighbors who often find it difficult to get out and about during the sizzling season, you should periodically check in on them in person, not just by telephone, to

• Heat fatigue is a feeling of weakness brought on by high outdoor temperatures. Symptoms include cool, moist skin, a weakened pulse, and feelings of faintness.

• Heat exhaustion serves as a warning the body is getting too hot. The person may appear giddy, thirsty, weak, or uncoordinated. Heat exhaustion is usually caused by the loss of water and salt.

• Heat stroke can be lifethreatening. Immediate medical attention is necessary. A person with heat stroke has a body temperature near or over 104 degrees. Other symptoms include dizziness, combativeness, strange behavior, staggering, lack of sweating, or confusion.

Food Surplus — Make sure they have enough food and beverages stocked in the refrigerator and the pantry in case a heat wave prevents them from getting to the grocery store. Offer to pick up some groceries for them or prepare a few days of meals and place them in their freezer so they’ll have emergency food on hand. Be sure that non-perishable canned and boxed goods are well stocked. Medications — If it’s not possible for the senior to keep extra medications in the house, help them to arrange for a pharmacy that will deliver medication refills.

Cool Air — Make sure the temperature in the home or apartment is comfortable. Have them keep emergency telephone numbers handy in the event their air conditioner or fans quit working. A spike in the temperature can be devastating for a senior who lives alone.

Companionship — Fresh air is good for everyone. But if a senior doesn’t have someone to enjoy it, he or she may become less interested in going outside. Consider inviting an elderly neighbor to your family gathering if you know their family is on vacation or lives a long distance away and doesn’t visit too often.

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Particular species have selected certain locations to return to each year.

For example, bald eagles winter at Millerton Lake State Recreation area, Folsom Lake State

Herons and egrets favor the Eel River area in Humbolt and Medocino counties, as well as along the Colorado River, while night herons and Canada geese hang out at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area.

For information about the California State Parks, visit parks. ca.gov.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Longterm care coverage has pitfalls

The cost of longterm care insurance policies vary greatly with no clear reasons why, according to industry research.

Consumers seeking such coverage or who have it already should shop around to compare coverage, prices and fees, benefits and deductibles and the many other facets of longterm care coverage and costs.

Companies that have recently begun selling longterm care

insurance coverage may not have the proper experience to price their policies accurately and may have to increase rates sharply down the road after giving big breaks on initial coverage.

Experts suggest you favor firms that have been selling longterm care insurance for at least a decade.

Take your time and list your needs and circumstances to review when you shop for longterm care insurance coverage.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Groups assist Alzheimer patients

the illness.

Patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may find support groups can help them to cope with the disorder, according to a study by University of California researchers.

They explored how patients with early dementia respond to a support group focused on understanding and coping with

The study revealed patients enjoyed the support group and that their caregivers appreciated it. Patients were very willing and able to express feelings and concerns related to memory loss.

In fact, having the opportunity to do this with others having similar experiences reduced the sense of stigma, fear and isolation that, for most, accompanied the symptoms.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY

AGING & WELLNESS RESOURCES

AGING CONNECTIONS

Serving Northern IN & Southwest MI

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

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

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

ALZHEIMERS/MEMORY

GREENLEAF LIVING CENTER 1201 E. Beardsley Ave. Elkhart, IN 46514 (574) 206-0086

HOME CARE SERVICES

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Six rungs fashion sturdy fiscal ladder

Anytime is a good time to review your financial situation.

Whether it’s before or after tax time, the end of the year or the beginning of the year, your birthday or your wedding anniversary, before you go on a vacation or after you’ve gone on a holiday spending spree.

If you don’t know where you are, you can’t know how far you still have to go to achieve your goals.

The first step toward achieving fiscal stability is to review your financial situation and your economic targets. Are you where you set out to be when you last reviewed your plan? Where do you want to be in another year? In another five years?

The 22,000-member Financial Planning Association points out that this doesn’t have to be a rigid formalized survey of your stocks and bonds, income property, retirement programs, bank and creditunion accounts or whatever else you list as assets. A pad and pencil will do. And include your spouse or other family members — aging parents, for example — who have a stake in your financial future.

Elkhart Place

Brainstorm your wishes and wants. Write them down. Don’t make any judgements. The idea is to focus on the future.

The next step is to spend less than you earn. This is a foolproof way to build wealth. Establishing a monthly budget does not require actuarial acumen. It does demand some attention, however.

Your first act here is to cut expenses: one less gallon of ice cream a month or seeking out generic brands when shopping.

Then look for ways to regularly invest these savings. Forget the market’s machinations. Start small, perhaps with a mutual fund, and keep on saving and investing. Create and maintain the habit.

Step No. 4 is to make certain you establish some sort of retirement fund, even if you’re already retired. If you’re retired and you’ve established such a fund, you’re way ahead of the game and the steps cited here should bolster your resolve to continue reinforcing the rungs of your financial ladder.

Now write a will. Update it, if you already have one. Despite the simplicity of this most-basic foundation for estate planning, less than half of the population has a will.

Finally, go over your insurance coverage. And not just life insurance but all policies that can help you weather a financial disaster — health, disability, homeowner’s, renter’s, liability, auto and long-

term-care insurance.

After you’ve established these rungs on your step-ladder to financial stability, you’ll see the sense of each and look forward to your next review. Through all this, you might

also consider building a strong team to support that ladder. You should already have an insurance agent you trust so add a financial planner and tax preparer.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Investing is like brushing your teeth

ing at all.

“Save” seems to embody a scolding tone similar to “brush your teeth,” “clean your room” and “take out the trash.”

“Invest” sounds even more admonishing.

Yet most people want to be rich. Or, at the very least, free from financial pain or worry, especially in their retirement years.

If you’re burdened with economic unease about the second half of your life, you better begin right now to do something about it.

While a penny saved may not seem like enough, tucked away regularly it can grow over the years into a handy cache that will serve you better than noth-

If you are setting aside funds for the future and you’re still fretting financially about missing goals, then force yourself to tuck away a little more. A little dollar discomfort now can mean much more money mitigation down the road.

Now it’s time to move from saving to investing, according to the American Association of Individual Investors, which believes there is no valid reason anyone should be barren of investments.

The two preceding steps are among a handful of helpful hints prepared by the association for reaching retirement goals. The next is to establish realistic goals based on the historic rate of return on investments you’re considering — blue ribbon stocks,

annuities, real estate or whatever.

Having learned now that the higher returns rely on higher risks, you then manage this risk according to your means and motivation. If you want to make a lot of money fast, you’re going to have to divert your funds into high-risk ventures.

The sixth rung on your climb toward security is to accommodate your long-term perspective: over time, patient investors are rewarded.

This means avoiding the current “hot” tips and timing that keep financial forecasters in the chips and leave investors in the dust. So just keep investing regularly and quit worrying about trying to catch the market that

Continued on page 19

1201

Simple steps can lead to financial security

ing and disseminating information, not an expert on sound financial matters.

Recent studies indicate the majority of Americans think their chances of financial security lay in winning a lottery.

Their chances of doing that, everyone agrees, are not as good as getting hit by lightning, which really isn’t an attractive alternative.

There is only one way to attain financial security in your future. You have to work at it. You have to get your money working at it, too. There are three easy ways to do that.

One, get yourself a financial adviser. And don’t pick your brother-in-law or favorite hotshot nephew unless he happens to be a proven professional financial consultant.

With thousands of mutual funds and thousands of stocks and thousands of solicitations from get-rich-quick schemers, you need to work with someone who understands your needs and interests.

There are no licensing requirements prohibiting anyone from proclaiming to be a financial adviser.

As the writer of this column, I can proclaim myself to be a financial adviser. I do not feel qualified, however, to make such a claim. I am a reporter and writer. I am an expert at collect-

There are, however, some people who write about and go on television to talk about financial matters who bill themselves as professionallyable investment counselors and consultants.

Keep in mind that most of the people you would identify as financial advisors — your stock broker or insurance agent, to mention a couple — make their living from sales commissions. They earn money when they sell something.

These salespeople don’t lose money when your investments take a dip. In fact, stockbrokers usually make money when the market sinks because stock holders tend to become stock sellers when their investments depreciate. Stockbrokers earn commissions on those transactions. That does not mean there are no stockbrokers who will not deal with you honestly and fairly after you and he, or she, discuss your goals and comfort levels.

Two, diversify. This is probably the safest route toward hedging your investment bets.

Said simply, don’t put all your nest eggs in one basket. Not only should you spread your investment dollars among various companies, you should also

invest in different industries. So, if your airline stocks take a dive, your retail-industry holdings may appreciate.

If you think there’s a sound fiscal future in the computer industry, by all means invest in the stock of a couple of companies involved in that sector of the economy. Then look for a different industry in which to invest, such as the utilities business or tourism.

A facile method for diversifying your money and taking advantage of expert money managers at the same time is to invest in mutual funds. You can take diversification a step further and spread your investment dollar over different types of funds in a variety of businesses.

Three, institute and stick with asset allocation.

This is another simple wealth-building tool. In its least-complex form, you invest a fixed amount of money — $100, $500, $1,000, whatever — on a regular basis (usually monthly) in your portfolio, which you’ve already made certain is well diversified.

This gives you the opportunity to ride the tips and troughs of economic waves that flow through each industry and business in which you’ve invested. When stock prices are low, your investment buys more shares

of stock than when prices are high. When stock-market prices rise, you still acquire a success-

ful stock that’s already making money for you in your portfolio.

Investing is like

Continued from page 18

gurus say is prepared to rocket off the charts. This will also protect you from chewing up your earnings with commissions, financial advice and other fees. Keep in mind, if you pay a 3% fee, for example, to purchase a stock, it has to climb at least 3% before

you make any money.

As you can see, there’s nothing complicated about saving and investing money to make life more palatable in your declining years. But, like brushing your teeth, cleaning your room and taking out the trash, you have to do it regularly and all by yourself.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Florida beach towns nurture nature

Walking along the Fort Myers Yacht Basin in the center of the city, there was no indication that it was littered with boats heaved there by Hurricane Ian in the early fall of 2022. The feeling of calm felt almost eerie as I recalled the chaotic television images still circling in my head.

Lee County’s Fort Myers and Bonita Springs are beach towns, bastions of sun and surf for snowbirds and tourists alike. But with beaches still closed for the foreseeable future, I found myself seeking other entertainment options.

There are museums, island cruises that have started up again, canoeing, flea markets, historic sites and hiking, of

course, but I’m going to focus on three unusual attractions that don’t aren’t usually listed in my must-see itinerary.

Shangri-La Springs Resort, where the springs that were discovered by the Calusa Indians, became the first mineral-springs spa in North America. The hotel oozes history and healing inside and out.

Architecture, landscape and

gardens at the Harvest and Wisdom Restaurant provide extensive farm-to-table offerings. With only regenerative farming practices used, the 100% organic, sustainable products preserve the natural state of the plants.

It’s a boutique hotel impersonating an Asian art gallery. Even the lobby aquarium has tiny Asian sculptures.

The springs themselves resemble a small river floating under a canopy of trees. The large fountain erupting in the center was probably not there when first discovered.

As a long-time travel writer, I tend to avoid tours of forts, butterfly gardens and shell factories. But the world’s largest Shell Factory and Nature Park in Fort Myers beckoned despite my internal protestations.

They apparently left off “amusement park” in the site’s name because these are the activities I first noticed: a carousel, mini-golf, zip-line, climbing wall, gem mining, paddle and bumper boats, arcade games, a performance arts center and two restaurants.

The World’s Largest Shell Factory, which does have a space that sells shell necklaces, is big enough to warrant its own zip code and, no surprise, they have their own post office to accommodate it.

Along with those afore-mentioned shop selling shells, there’s a fudge factory, a Christmas

store, ice cream bar, T-shirts galore, more greeting cards than in a Hallmark warehouse, and miles and miles of quirky items you never knew you wanted until you tripped over them.

They have everything abundance, attested to by a sign that states: “If you can’t find something in this store, they just don’t make it!” That includes the kitsch-en sink.

And did I mention the Nature Park? It’s home to 450 critters ranging from the familiar alligators, tortoises, peacocks, lemurs, camels and reptiles to the exotic tayras, caracels and a huge Eurasian Eagle-Owl. It’s petting zoo crowd includes goats, alpacas and an ox.

But the Everglades Wonder Garden in Bonita Springs left all thoughts of its Nature Park behind,

This roadside attraction evokes a totally different mindset.

Parrots Scarlett, Calypso, Rudy and Murphy are a very loud and very colorful welcoming committee. Compared to the Shell Factory, these parrots are in luxury outdoor accommodations.

Visiting the rescued animals, ranging from alligators and tortoises to flamingos and lorikeets, over bridges and walkways alongside streams and splashing waterfalls amid an avalanche of tropical plants alongside streams and splashing waterfalls, amid an avalanche of tropical plants leaves one with the feeling of being immersed in nature. There’s something to gawk at around every turn. My favorite was a giant orange-and-black iguana straddling a tree.

Squawks, shrieks, yelps and tweets reinforce the jungle atmosphere.

So while the first thoughts of Bonita Springs and Fort Myers bring to mind sunbathing beaches, my lingering thoughts are wrapped around the wonderful world of nature.

From riches to rags to world leadership

worst hit.

(Editor’s Note: As dire as you think things are today, our inflation-ridden life could be worse … and they were throughout the 1930s. Hopefully we won’t repeat those days.)

The Great Depression that plagued the entire third decade of the 20th century took less than a decade to create. Stockmarket speculation frenzy during the “Roaring 1920s” caused vast numbers of Americans to borrow money feverishly to buy stocks and get rich quick. The stock market of that day did not have the stringent federal safeguards like today.

By 1928, stockbrokers had lent investors some $800 million. By October 1929, this tremendous debt caused the market to crash. Investors lost confidence and loans were called, resulting in a selling frenzy that caused a complete financial collapse. Those who sold their shares lost everything. Ironically, the few investors who held their stocks eventually regained their losses. The government’s “hands-off” approach toward American business resulted in unchecked investing and borrowing.

By 1930, the United States truly was a “have” and “havenot” nation. Inflation roared in, causing prices to rise to the point where most Americans could not afford to buy necessities. Farmers and blue-collar workers were among the

Herbert Hoover assumed the presidency in 1929 and would enjoy a few months of prosperity. Americans couldn’t have been more confident about their new president. After all, he’d served as secretary of commerce. America was booming with a vibrant stock market and a bustling industry. What could go wrong?

But Europe was plunging into crisis and chaos by 1931. Hoover presented a program for aiding American businesses and farmers, many of whom were facing foreclosures. He also proposed banking reforms as well as federal loans to individual states so they could feed their unemployed.

Hoover also demanded the federal government cut its own spending drastically wherever possible. He felt no one should go hungry but feeding the poor was the responsibility of individual states, local governments, and private volunteer organizations, not the federal government. This policy would be his political ruin.

Hoover’s failure erupted with the mass demonstration of World War I veterans’ march on Washington, D.C., creating the “Bonus Army.” It was election year of 1932. The demonstration in the nation’s capital climaxed on July 28 when the U.S. Army was called out by Hoover to put down the veterans’ demonstration.

The Bonus Army, comprised of 17,000 World War I veterans along with their families and

Longevity costs money

Everyone wants to get to heaven but no one wants to die.

Longevity on this earth is the goal and grail of all living things. But living a long life has problems besides failing health and eroding motor skills.

The longer you live, the more money you need.

Medical advances indicate the human body is built to last about 120 years.

If you want to live that long and plan to retire — or have retired — at 65, you will have to find some way to support yourself for 55 years after leaving the work force. That’s longer than most people spend in the labor force, since most start their careers around age 20, giving them a working life of about 45 years.

A man’s life expectancy is currently 77 years in this country. For women, it’s 79.

At the turn of the previous century, only one out of every 25 people was older than 65. At the end of that same century, one out of eight was over 65.

By 2050, the elderly population is expected to double to 80 million. This means 20% of the population will be over 65.

With more than 70 million baby boomers rolling over re-

affiliated groups, totaled some 43,000 people. They camped out on the Capitol Mall to demand early cash-redemption of the service-bonus certificates promised to them by Congress.

Hoover ordered the U.S. Army to clear the marchers’ campsite. Gen. Douglas MacArthur commanded a contingent of infantry and cavalry supported by six armored tanks that drove out Bonus Army and burned their shelters.

Unless one lived through the Great Depression, there’s no way to fully explain what life was like for the average citizen. Americans living in rural areas had plenty to eat because they grew most of what they needed. Money — lack of it — was the problem. In the cities, families starved as unemployment reached 40%. In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president promoting a “New Deal.” Ironically, much of Roosevelt’s “New Deal” was based on programs designed by Hoover. Historians still argue whether FDR’s economic programs ended the depression. It’s a moot point because it was World War II that put the nation and the world back to work.

FDR met with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in May 1940 while the president continued to maintain U.S. neutrality. He placed an oil embargo against Japan cutting off their critical petroleum supply. They retaliated Dec. 7, 1941, by bombing Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt did something no other president had done.

During the ‘30s he began his “Fireside Chats” on the radio, circumventing the rest of the news media. In 1940, he explained his “Lend-Lease” plan.

“My fellow Americans … England stands alone. … We cannot and will not tell them they have to surrender simply because we will not give them the weapons they need. If Great Britain goes down, all of us will be living at the point of a Nazi gun. … I understand what England’s needs are and I understand what the dangers are.”

The build-up toward the second World War had one redeeming aspect: war production, effectively ended the Great Depression.

Roosevelt told listeners: “America must become the “great arsenal of democracy.” … “Let no man say it can’t be

done … it must be done!”

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, factories across America retooled, turning out war planes, tanks and guns. By 1943, the number of aircraft rose to 125,000. By 1945, the U.S. was producing a bomber every 30 minutes, and one troop-carrying liberty ship every 30 days. Some 16 million Americans were in uniform. FDR did not live to see the end of hostilities. He died April 12, 1945, less than one month before Germany’s surrender and five months before Japan surrendered.

While some may view this story in a negative way, the Great Depression and World War II were America’s entrance into world leadership. The War saved America from the Great Depression.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

tirement age, increasing numbers of people will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, since 50% of people over 85 are stricken.

And that’s but one of a multitude of health issues.

Now, suppose health is not an issue. Suppose you’re healthy and hale and plan to enjoy life.

Do you have a retirement fund large enough to last you for as long as you’d like to live?

Will you be able to play golf, take vacations, visit family, maintain your residence, go fishing, or keep up your hobby or whatever in the manner in which you’d like?

On the plus side of this equation is that more than 90% of Americans feel they should be able to work as long as they are able. About 25% see “retirement” as a time for relaxation.

The baby boomer phalanx is also bringing some good news. Since the population is aging and there are more people in middle age, 60% of Americans believe 71 and over is old age.

Changing attitudes will result in increased numbers of older people who will continue to work or start their own businesses. No longer will there be social pressure to “hang it up” at a certain age.

And more seniors will be able to enjoy financial security in their old age.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

National Air Force Museum —

Celebrating 100th anniversary

What started in Dayton, Ohio, in 1923 as a small engineering study collection of technical artifacts is now the largest military aviation museum in the world.

And this year, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

It’s more than a place to see airplanes and missiles. It’s the history of flight from the Wright brothers’ initial flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., and the use of planes in transportation and military combat to exploration of space. It’s all here in four enormous air-conditioned buildings.

The museum is divided into galleries covering broad historic trends in military aviation. They run the gamut from the Early Years, World

War II, Korean War and Southeast Asia galleries to the Cold War, Missile, Presidential, Space and Research and Development galleries.

There’s also a Holocaust exhibit with a detailed timeline of the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party to power in Germany to their calculated extermination of Jews and other people they deemed undesirable to their eventual defeat at the close of World War II.

As one docent commented “it could take several days to take in everything.” That’s because there are 22 acres under roof, housing more than 300 planes. The museum’s total collection is 2,900 planes. Some are on display outside and some are at other museums around the country.

Some of the most notable planes on display include a replica of the 1909 Wright Military Flyer, the World War II B-29 Superfortress that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan, the B-52 Stratotofortress, the Cold War era B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the Continued on page 23

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Celebrating

Continued from page 22

U-2A spy plane, the Space Shuttle Trainer and seven presidential planes which are open for viewing. One is the plane that took President and Mrs. Kennedy to Dallas Nov. 22, 1963, when he was assassinated. Vice President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as president aboard the plane and it carried Kennedy’s body back to Washington, D.C.

The Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle is a main attraction. It became a symbol of the heavy bomber crews and support personnel who helped defeat Nazi Germany in World War II. It was one of the first heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions, after which it and its crew returned to the United States to boost the sale of war bonds.

Memphis Belle was featured in a 1944 documentary, two motion pictures and a 1990 Hollywood feature film.

Along the way there are lifelike vignettes with uniformed mannequins attending to planes, loading ammunition, climbing into the cockpit and doing pre-flight inspections. One is of a young pilot getting chewed out royally for running his fighter plane into a fence, upending it and damaging the propellers.

Visitors can get the feeling of flying in one of the flight simulators located in the Korean War Gallery. There’s a charge to find out what it’s like in the air. A huge C124-C cargo plane is open for viewing, as is a B-29 fuselage. Guests can view aviation and space-oriented films (for a fee) in a large-format theater with surround sound.

Visiting the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is a fun way to get an effortless and painless history lesson. And get this. It’s free and so is the parking.

For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

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Airport lounge usage a toss up

But you have to make sure you’re getting what you pay for.

ing that perk.

long layovers.

A lot of the fun has been taken out of travel, especially if you have to pass through airports.

And it’s even more tiring and frustrating if your flight requires a connection that calls for deplaning and boarding another aircraft. That increases your airport time, especially since one out of every four flights does not arrive on time, which may make you late to the gate for your connecting flight. And you have to spend more time in an airport.

More than 45,000 flights were cancelled last summer and half of all flights in Europe were delayed.

These are just some of the shortcomings that has resulted in a boosted of the use of lounges in airports as rattled passengers try to find some comfort while awaiting flights. If you’re a frequent flier, you can purchase an annual pass for a few hundred dollars a year. One- or two-times-a-year passengers can add a lounge price to their ticket or buy a day pass at the airport when they land for about $30 to $50. Lounge passes usually are included in the price of first-class and business-class air-flight tickets.

Some airports shut down their lounges at night. Dress codes apply at most and many have become so overcrowded there’s no guarantee you’ll get a seat.

Most aren’t kid friendly, which some adults might see as a plus.

And some credit cards that have been offering Priority Passes for lounge entry no longer are offer-

The major plus is that a lounge is a much more comfortable location than the airport concourse to await your boarding call. Free food and beverages are included in the entry fee along with wi-fi service.

Some of the more high-end lounges include showers, spa treatment rooms and even movie theaters for especially

More than half of today’s air travelers say they use lounges, so crowding becomes an issue during busy travel times. Summer is a busy travel time.

Airport lounges become more worthwhile if your airport layover is lengthy. They’re also worth it if you plan to eat in the airport, which can cost close to the price of a lounge pass.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, ask your airline if they will give you a lounge pass where you can sit while awaiting your re-scheduled flight. For travelers who only visit airports a couple of times a year, you can try a lounge on your next trip to see for yourself if you’ll book one before your next flight.

Paranoia helps curb fraud

You don’t have to be paranoid to feel like everybody’s after your money — because they are. And some of them are crooks. But paranoia can lead to panic, whereas inquiry leads to information. Constant inquiry is necessary to ward off the confidence men and women.

The following should be branded in your brain by now, but it still bears repeating: Never buy an investment solicited by telephone.

We’re not talking about calls to or from your stock broker to conduct and confirm buy or sell transactions. It means you do not do business with someone who calls you out of the blue and of-

fers you a deal that can’t miss, is too good to be true, or both, if you act quickly.

To begin with, most of those are robocalls — four billion a month according to a recent count. The calls can disrupt your day anytime. They never stop. The best defense against these phone phonies is to hang up. Don’t think verbally telling them to quit calling your number will be effective. You’ll probably be talking to a computer.

The swindles subjects include time shares, land sales, precious metals, oil and gas leases, financial planning services, gems and jewelry, stocks and bonds, franchise and art. These are above and beyond the retail fraud that includes “free” vacations” and “free” gifts and “free”

credit repair for a “nominal” fee up front.

The U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs warns that, while everyone is fair game for these thieves, the elderly are especially vulnerable because they are usually home to answer these calls. And many try to be polite. A neighbor’s mother-in-law thinks these callers are friendly and doing her a service because they know her name. She has been victimized by hucksters of telephone services and magazine subscriptions that family members have had to cancel on several occasions.

The government agency offers the following tips to avoid being stripped of your savings.

• Be suspicious of any unsolicited calls about investments.

• Avoid businesses about which

you know nothing.

• Don’t allow yourself to be pressured.

• Beware of testimonials, check them out.

• Check out financial planners thoroughly.

Several sources provide information in these cases. The nearest office of the Better Business Bureau is a good source.

Each state has its own agency overseeing stock-and-bond brokers. Some states have their own fraud divisions.

You also can find sources in the Internet to validate claims made by someone who has just painted a yellow brick road into your financial future. That is, if you refused to follow the best piece of advice in the first place: Hang Up.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Jeff ‘JJ’ Shaw, Attorney at Law