Senior Life - Elko Edition - May 2023

You’ve likely seen the Lions Club’s buckets around town, whether at the grocery store, optometrist or other retail location. The white, five-gallon pails invite people to deposit their unneeded prescription eyeglasses for recycling. But what happens to those glasses once they are donated to the cause?

Marty Juel, a member of the Elkhart Lions Club and leader of Lions District 25-G’s eyeglass missions project, explained the process that eventually delivers thousands of used eyeglasses from northern Indiana to rural communities in Mexico for reuse by people who otherwise might not have access to vision correction.

“District 25-G includes all the Lions Clubs in Elkhart, Kosciusko, St. Joseph, Marshall, Miami, Fulton and Wabash counties,” said Juel. “We collect the glasses in buckets, boxes, at funeral homes, optometrist offices — from lots of places. The glasses come to my house where we presort them to get rid of broken ones and others that we obviously aren’t going to use but do have value to us (via metal recycling).”

The glasses are then taken to Fairview Grange in Goshen where they are cleaned and sanitized using an ultrasonic machine the Lions purchased several years ago that takes most of the difficult manual labor out of this part of the process. Volunteers then dry the glasses before placing them

in boxes to be sent to one of three individuals who have a lensometer, a machine that reads each lens. The glasses are then individually bagged with a sticker noting the prescription, then placed into boxes with similar classifications, of which there are approximately 75.

Larger boxes containing approximately 400 pairs of glasses are then shipped to Texas, from which they are trucked into Mexico, specifically to the city hosting the year’s mission. In total, approximately 14,500 pairs are sent annually. The boxes are waiting for the 20-plus Lions members when they arrive at the end of September. Each Lion pays a majority of their own costs to be part of the mission.

“Years ago, when I did this with a different group, we took a school bus to the airport in Chicago and each checked a box of glasses as our second bag,” said Juel. “Our group has never done that. It’s a yearlong process. The glasses we’re cleaning today are for our 2024 mission. We’re always working ahead.”

Not only does the group take its own optometrist on the mission, they also are met by Mexican optometrists. They use autorefractors to measure eyes and determine prescriptions. Juel said the odds of providing a perfectly matched prescription are very low.

“However, we’re going to get very close,” he said. “You would not know the difference. We will get very close. There are very few people who we can’t

Continued

Key Positions

It’s never too late to be artistically creative

“We’re never too old to enjoy creating artwork,” stated Donald Wilka, Warsaw. “In 2010 I was 60 years old when I took up pen and ink drawing. I have since become a ‘Certified Zentangle Teacher.’”

This art form uses a 3.5 x 3.5-inch paper tile, pencil and black pen, creating abstract art. The smaller size helps it not be overwhelming.

“I’m a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in Warsaw. My sister introduced me to this art form. I actually started learning ‘Zentangle’ so that I could pass on the technique to clients. Creating these patterns relaxes a person and is calming.”

He not only passed on this technique as a tool for clients, but Wilka taught classes to others when he was living in the Kokomo area. “I’ve lived in the Warsaw area for a couple years and would like to teach classes through the Lakeland Art Association, of which I am a member.”

Zentangle uses five basic strokes to create patterns. “The great thing about Zentangle is

there’s really not a lot of planning that goes into it. It’s not like a realistic sketch that has to look a certain way. I may demonstrate a pattern for students and their patterns might look a bit different and unique, which is great.”

Using different colored ink, these creations can be very dynamic. “Artists can also create a color backwash and do the abstract shapes over the top.”

Sometimes people who are using Zentangle art do it as part of their bedtime ritual. “Thirty minutes before bedtime helps a person relax and gives them a sense of accomplishment at the same time. There have been numerous studies indicating how creating art can be helpful to overall mental health and help maintain cognitive functioning.”

When asked what he considers a good abstract, Wilka remarked, “This kind of art is non-representational. It can be inspired by a particular place or situation, but it can also be quite random. Abstract artists look forward to the process and not just the finished product. There’s not a lot of evaluation involved.”

Wilka also does some pyrography, or woodburning art. “I make numerous items such as key chains, pendants, gift tags, stationery and coasters using my Zentangle art.” He sells his products at the Kosciusko County Farmers and Artisans Market in Warsaw.

As a Zentangle artist, Wilka is more aware of shapes and patterns. “I might spot a pattern and try to deconstruct it.” He has had some of his deconstructions published in Zentanglethemed books and materials.

As a member of the Lakeland Art Association, Wilka is a docent at the Lakeland Art Center and Gallery in Warsaw. “Docents visit with guests and answer questions about the art exhibits. We have a small gift shop there as well. We’re open Wednesday through Saturday.”

He loves meeting people. “Some of them come in and point to an art piece and remark, ‘I could never do that.’ Often, I’ll give them a pad and pen and introduce them to Zentangle art. If they can hold a pen, they can create a pattern.” He also encourages accomplished artists to continue their craft.

Wilka has been married to his wife Lori for 51 years. They have three adult children and seven

grandchildren. Wilka also plays bass guitar on the church worship team.

Senior Life says goodbye to longtime freelance writer

Gregg K. Lawson, a longtime freelance writer for Senior Life, passed away Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Mishawaka after an illness.

with a masters degree of ministries.

Lake City Place offers support for seniors who need help caring for themselves or their homes. We can provide personal care, like assistance with bathing, grooming, or dressing, and medication reminders. Lake City Place also provides services like meal preparation, housekeeping, and home maintenance. We also offer short-term respite care. Take a tour today!

He was born Oct. 27, 1947, in Elkhart, the son of Herbert Jr. “Bernie” and Irmalee “Susie” (Bowers) Lawson. Formerly of Edwardsburg-Adamsville, Mich., he graduated from Edwardsburg High School. He had been a police officer with the Ontwa Township-Edwardsburg Police and, at one time, had been a park ranger for Oxbow Park. He was a freelance writer for Senior Life, starting with the Elko edition in the late 1980s. He wrote many articles about area history and human interest stories. In May of 1994, he graduated from Bethel University

Surviving Gregg are his children, Christopher Lawson and twins, Tracy Lawson and Terese Lawson; granddaughters, Gracie and Julie Lawson-White; and a son-in-law, Robert “Bobby” White. He also has two sisters, Debra Lawson-Fischer and Gloria Lawson-Bradfield.

Family and friends gathered for a memorial service Monday, April 17, at the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 W. Main St., Edwardsburg, Mich. The service was conducted by Pastor Douglas Cripe of First Christian Church, Mishawaka.

Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in Adamsville Cemetery on the Lawson family lot.

Lions Club mission

Continued from page 1

provide glasses for. The people we see have not had glasses for a long time, if ever. They’re going to think they’re perfect because they are so much better than what they had. (The doctors) also help us out with a lot of difficult cases, diagnosing eye diseases and things we cannot do.”

Juel said the Lions Club’s involvement with eye care dates back to 1925, when at the international convention in Ohio, Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become “knights of the blind.” Since that time, they have championed the cause of vision, including screening in schools. Lions Clubs, including those in District 25-G, have been collecting eyeglasses for reuse since the 1980s.

“We are one of the very few fully, vertically integrated eyeglass recycling programs,” said Juel. “We collect them, clean them, sort them, read them, package them, box them, ship them and provide for our own mission to distribute them.”

During the weeklong mission, they will give out around 3,000 eyeglasses. Glasses that are left over remain for the local Lions Club to distribute through local optometrists throughout the year.

The Dunlap Lions Club will be collecting glasses during the “Green Day” event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 21, at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. For those who donate during that time, there will be a drawing for fair tickets and Clover Cash that can be used at food booths.

Rice & Rice — Protect your family and avoid potential headaches

Historically, wealth is squandered within three generations because families deal with real-life issues such as lawsuits, divorce, bankruptcy, nursing home expenses and family disputes.

Any one of these occurrences can hit home and wipe out an entire inheritance in just one generation. Plan now for both the financial and nonfinancial components of passing your legacy to the next generation.

You and your surviving family members will have a number of burdens and fears put to rest if your legacy can be planned with some of these potential stumbling blocks in mind:

• If your surviving spouse gets remarried, your children’s inheritance can be lost and other common mistakes made with blended families. In the event your surviving spouse remarries, a new set of pitfalls can arise that could have your hard-earned assets going to the new spouse instead of your children and future beneficiaries.

• How your beneficiaries can fall victim to divorces (“ex” in-laws), lawsuits or inexperienced financial decisions. Most people give their assets outright to their heirs when they and their spouse are gone. This is a huge mistake! This type of planning almost always fails to protect your loved ones from these real-life occurrences.

• How your family can be torn apart over something as seemingly minor as “who gets grandmother’s quilt.” The biggest fights in families aren’t

about money, stocks or real estate. They are about the little things that hold memories and most traditional estate plans fail to protect and pass on these valuable items.

Most families also find it important to preserve the wisdom, life lessons and history of the family. Traditional estate planning does not address these non-financial assets. Having a proper estate plan will help you to avoid your own potential hidden headaches by helping you protect your family and your legacy.

Our goal is to make sure you have all the information you need to ensure that none of these life-wrenching events

happen to you or your family. Since our practice focuses exclusively on elder law and estate planning, it is our priority to be on top of the continuous changes in the law and techniques we can make available to you.

Learn more about the benefits and protections of an estate plan by attending our estate planning/Medicaid planning seminar at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 902 E. University Drive, Granger, at 6 p.m. Monday, May 22, or Tuesday, May 30. Reservations are required as seating is limited. Call now at (800) 303-7423 or visit www. riceandrice.com to register of for further information.

Mediterranean diet promotes healthy living

cognitive impairment and memory loss.

One way to live a long and healthy life is to adopt the Mediterranean diet, report Harvard researchers.

Tables that focus on fruit, vegetables, olive oil, fish and nuts add healthy years to life, according to the report. Those who followed this type of diet also had 35% less chance of developing

Even now-and-then feasts on this diet helps protect the body from cell damage and disease.

Results of another sixyear study of adults 50 years and older revealed that vegetarians and subjects who eat fish occasionally logged the lowest mortality rate.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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“What is your fondest memory of your parents from when you were a child?”

BART MILLER WARSAW

AMY LIGHT PIERCETON

PHILIP GARZA GOSHEN

BETTY ANDERSON ELKHART

TINA YODER GOSHEN

CHARLES STUTZMAN WARSAW

Pepple has the heart of a homemaker

Deb Pepple is a selfless contributor to her community, having served as an Extension Homemaker for 39 years.

As the current president of the Elkhart County Extension Homemakers, she is dedicated to promoting education, leadership development and community involvement.

Pepple was born in California but moved to Elkhart when she was a toddler after her father got out of the Navy. She has since made a significant impact on her community.

Besides serving as president of Extension Homemakers this year, she will continue as a member of the board next year as their advisor. She first became involved with the homemakers in 1984 when some friends asked her to help start a new club in Jimtown, where she served as a teacher for 40 years.

“I used to have on my Facebook page that I was a teacher at Baugo Community Schools. When I retired, I started thinking about how I was much busier than when I was working full time and I changed that to say ‘professional volunteer,’” said Pepple.

Extension Homemakers offers eight educational lessons per year, taught by an extension educator. These are open not only to extension homemakers but also to the community.

Pepple has been director of the Home and Family Arts open class building during the county fair several times in the past and is a member of the Home and Family Arts Committee, which consists of ladies from the 15 clubs in Elkhart County. The organization is also involved with volunteer community support and have sewing days each month for homemakers and community members to come together to make comforters, pillowcases and other items, which are then distributed to organizations within the community like Bashor Children’s Home and the hospitals.

A most recent activity that sticks out as impactful to Pepple is the Scatter Kindness initiative from the current state president, who challenged each county to make 1,000 hearts with tags attached that included a kindness poem and leave them in random places like on a shelf in the grocery store or a seat in the doctor’s office.

They have exceeded the challenge by making over 2,000 hearts now and the impact has been significant, as the state president shared several stories of people who received them and spoke of the Kindness Boomerang this has created.

Aside from her work with

the Extension Homemakers, Pepple serves as a member of the Health and Human Sciences Advisory Board. She volunteers each Tuesday at Hubbard Hill in the general store, and volunteers on the day care committee and in the day care at her church. She also serves as secretary of the missions committee and takes a weeklong mission trip each fall to Henderson Settlement in southern Kentucky.

For the Baugo Community Schools, she runs a needs and resources Facebook page where teachers and staff can

post their needs and the community is able to step up and help them out.

At Hubbard Hill Village , she serves as a village advisor and on the trip planning committee. Pepple is a 24-year leader for the Jamestown 4-H Club.

Pepple’s dedication to her community and to the Extension Homemakers has made a significant impact on the lives of those around her. She is a true example of the importance of giving back and making a positive difference in the world.

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

Extra help to pay for your prescription drug plan.

Medicare Saving Program to help pay for your Part A and B deductibles and co-pays.

For help call Council on Aging of Elkhart County, Inc. (574) 295-1820

IIt’s easy! Simply find the butterfly 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.

Find us on Facebook!

SHIP, State Health Insurance Assistance Program Help for people with Medicare.

(Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, May 15, 2023.

I Spy April winner is Marcia McCartney. The raindrop was located on page 17 in Senior Elko, page 17 in Senior St. Joseph, page 15 in Senior Allen and page 4 in Senior Northwest.

Identity thieves steal more than numbers

for anyone wishing to make off with your assets.

Burglar alarms, motion detector lights, open space, fences and iron-barred windows are among the shields placed around your home to discourage burglars and break-ins.

Most of today’s automobiles are equipped with alarms to fend off theft.

Wallets, however, don’t come with such tools to foil identity thieves.

Most people carry a couple of numbers that make crooks salivate: the numbers on their Social Security card and driver’s license.

Add credit cards and checkbooks that may be in their purse or briefcase or car’s glove compartment and you’re a walking candy store

Chances are you know someone who’s been victimized by identity thieves. Most of them don’t talk about it willingly because they feel violated iwith all that personal information taken from them, stupid because a few simple steps could have protected them and frustrated because it takes some determination and detail work to repair the damage.

Almost $45 billion was ripped off from some 1.5 million folks in this country in 2021.

Identity theft has become so rampant there’s even a special insurance policy available for it.

Such insurance does not cover financial loss resulting from the theft. It offers cover-

age for the cost of recovering your financial identity. This includes such expenditures as phone calls, making copies, mailing documents and attorney’s fees.

And there are deductibles. Some homeowner insurance policies include identity-theft coverage.

One of the first things lawenforcement personnel will tell you to do to guard yourself against identity thieves is to leave your Social Security card at home.

Another protective step is to shred all credit card offers and statements before disposing of them.

Officials also urge you not to put outgoing mail in your home mailbox but to place it in a U.S. Postal Service mailbox. This prevents crooks from stealing your mail to

obtain all those numbers you use to obtain and maintain credit.

Don’t let your credit or store card out of your sight when using it. Employees of the shop or salon can make a copy of the card or run it through the embossing machine twice. While they may not use the copy themselves, they can sell it to others. It’s wise to swipe the card through the machine yourself when possible, such as in most grocery and department stores.

Make sure no one is hovering nearby to catch your personal identity number or your signature.

There’s a way to protect your checks, too. Write the dollar amounts and recipient’s name in capital letters. They’re more difficult to

alter. And when you write the amount for which the check is made out, fill in that entire section. Start writing at the left-hand edge of the check and make sure you add a strong wavy line to the righthand end so no one can add anything.

Using credit cards online is peppered with pitfalls. Think of it as being akin to flashing your credit card around in a crowded bar or restaurant.

You’re never quite sure if anyone’s seen and remembered or written down the numbers. A wise move is to use one particular card for online purchases rather than spread these transactions over more than one card.

Make photocopies of all your credit cards and credit contact numbers and store them in a safe place that is easily accessed.

Check your credit report regularly and report any unusual activity immediately. The three major credit bureaus are Equifax (equifax. com), Experian (experian.com) and TransUnion (transunion. com). You can check online for their phone numbers.

If you suspect someone has stolen your financial identity, call one of them immediately and ask that a 90-day fraud alert be placed on your credit report. One call will cover all credit reports by all three bureaus.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Chia Seeds

— Packed with nutritional benefits

• 140 calories.

• 5 grams of protein.

• 10 grams of fiber. Remember, your goal is 25-38 grams a day.

• 12 grams of carbohydrates.

• 9 grams of fat, of which 8 grams are heart healthy Omega 3 fats.

erate and eat like a dessert.

Overnight Chocolate

Chia Seed Pudding

Serves 4

1-1/2 cups almond milk

1/3 cup chia seeds

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

4 tablespoons maple syrup

Closely related to the chia plant made popular by chia pets (how could we forget?), but not the same seed, the tiny seeds we speak of are packed with a punch of nutrition including:

• Fiber, which improves heart health, reduces cholesterol and promotes intestinal health.

• Omega 3 fatty acids, important for both body and heart. Harder to obtain than Omega 6.

• High quality protein.

• Improvement of digestive health.

• All nine essential amino acids.

One serving is about 2.5 tablespoons and contains:

Chia seeds are very small, but will expand into a soft gel when mixed with any liquid. Typically, they are used to make chia pudding; added to oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt and baked goods; or soaked to soften and use as a thickener. Just don’t eat them off a spoon unless you follow with plenty of water to chase them down — in fact, just don’t eat them off the spoon, but do consider incorporating them into your eating plan.

Quick And Easy

Chia Berry Compote

2 cups of berries (I use blueberries) fresh or frozen

2 tablespoons chia seeds

Cook berries in small pan over medium low heat, mashing them as they heat up. Frozen takes about 5 minutes. Add chia seeds and simmer until thickened. Eat warm on their own or over pancakes. Refrig-

Professional Services

Q. What is Estate Planning?

A. Did you know that “estate” is a Middle English word derived from the Latin term for status? Since the 13th Century, this archaic word has been used to describe a person’s social standing. Another definition for the word estate is a large house situated on an extensive area of land in the countryside.

Maybe it’s these exclusive definitions for the term “estate” that misled people into believing that estate planning doesn’t apply to regular people. The truth is that there is also a legal definition for the term “estate” and it simply refers to all the property you own. An estate plan defines who you want to manage or receive your assets in the event of incapacity or death.

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add all ingredients except chia seeds to a mixing bowl and whisk vigorously to combine. Mix in chia seeds until well combined. Let rest covered in the refrigerator overnight. The pudding can be stored covered in the refrigerator for two to three days. Serve chilled with desired toppings, such as fruit or a dollop of whipped topping.

Carrot Cake

Overnight Oats

Serves 1

This oatmeal is loaded with calcium, protein, fiber and vitamin A. The amount of carrot in this recipe provides 100% of your vitamin A for the day, which is good for your eyes and immune system.

1/2 cup rolled oats

2/3 cup skim milk

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator

Contact TCU Trust Services, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your estate and what plan is best to protect you and your loved ones.

Contact TCU Trust Services for more information.

of principle. MEMBERS Trust Company is a federal thrift regulated by the Office of the Comptroller or the Currency.

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator

1/3 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt

1/4 cup finely grated carrot

1-1/2 teaspoons chia seeds

2 teaspoons maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon pecans, chopped

1 tablespoon shredded coconut, unsweetened

Mix all ingredients, except

Elder Law

Q. Specific gifts in your Last Will & Testament

A. In your Last Will & Testament (“Will”), you have an option to leave specific gifts to specific people. This is typically called a specific bequest.

You might have some special family heirloom like jewelry or an antique vehicle that you want to make sure goes to a specific child, grandchild or friend of the family. This can be achieved with either listing each item in your Will with enough detail to make it clear, such as “To my daughter, Jane A. Doe, I bequest my wedding ring.” You should also make it clear what happens if that person predeceases you.

Another available option is to state in your Will that there is a list with items and names located in a certain place such as your home or a safety deposit box. The

for the pecans and coconut, in a bowl or Mason jar. Top with pecans and coconuts, and cover with lid. Refrigerate overnight and eat chilled.

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

Tony B. Manns Attorney at Law

danger with this option is that if the list is not found, all of the items you wanted to go to specific people will pass pursuant to the remaining terms of your Will.

You should consult your elder law attorney to ensure that your preferences for your specific Will are valid and tailored to your requests.

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

My class (reunion) behavior

As of a month ago, Mary Ellen and I planned to attend her reunion in Ohio where she would celebrate the 50th anniversary of her graduation from college. We had talked extensively about the event, especially since Mary Ellen was one of the organizers.

The truth is, we were both hiding how we really felt about the arrangements. I’ve put in parentheses what we were silently thinking when we discussed the trip.

“Mary Ellen, your reunion is getting close. Sounds like fun.”

(Sounds like fun for you. For me, this is about the last thing in the world I want to do.)

“Yes, Dick, I am looking forward to the evening. I sure hope you’ll enjoy it.” (I beg you: Please drop me off at the front door and go find something else to do until midnight.)

“It will be great to meet your old classmates and friends, Mary Ellen.” (This will be unbearable, viewing endless photos of the grandchildren of people I don’t know.)

“Dick, I’ll be proud to introduce you as my husband.” (But, if I could just tell everyone about you in your absence, I

could make you sound even better.)

“I can’t wait to hear all the stories from your friends about your campus activities, Mary Ellen.” (I need to find a bar nearby with a big screen TV.)

“Yes, and I think you’ll get a kick out of chatting with other spouses.” (Maybe all the spouses can get together and find a bar nearby with a big screen TV.)

While it was true I was dreading this event, I was also sensing that Mary Ellen preferred that I not accompany her. Finally, last week, we started getting honest with each other.

“Okay, let’s think about this, Dick,” said my wife. “If you

go with me and simply hang around, no one will know you, you won’t know where to put yourself, and people will wonder why you look so bored and uncomfortable.”

“In all fairness, Mary Ellen, that’s exactly how I felt at my own 50th reunion. Look, I attended your last high school reunion, and you told me that friends were all asking about me.”

“Yes, they asked me if I knew the guy asleep at the bar.”

Mary Ellen then offered a compromise, suggesting I make a brief appearance, then excuse myself and go back to the hotel. I reminded her that once when I did that very thing at another

get together, she was annoyed.

“I was angry because that was no way to behave at our engagement party,” she said.

She also mentioned that at her 25th college reunion I said things she didn’t find funny. An old boyfriend told me jokingly that when they broke up three decades earlier, he started drinking. After he downed his third cocktail that evening, I told him it looked like he was still celebrating.

Now, it appears I’ll be staying home for the upcoming event in Ohio. I’ll spend my time alone, drinking beer and falling asleep in a chair.

Exactly what I would have done at Mary Ellen’s reunion.

Retirement myths persist

A lingering myth that is fast coming to an end is that seniors will enjoy aging peacefully in place in their family homestead. While a majority of older Americans surveyed indicated a preference for aging in place, the reality is there are sets of circumstances that predict more will be moving than they expected to.

There’s the phalanx that wishes to live close to family members while there’s a sizeable group moving to betterweather climates as well as cheaper, lower-tax sections of the world.

Changing or unattained financial positions dictate decisions on whether or not to age in place.

Most immediate is facing the cost of renovating their home as well as adding accommodations, such as ramps, wider halls, extra lighting and other aids to facilitate getting around.

Then there’s the need to review one’s financial position by figuring out if the planned retirement plan and withdrawal is adequate and sustainable in their current position.

Changes caused by illness, taxes, inflation and investment returns require constant review of their plans. Drastic change could force drastic changes in lifestyle.

One legend you can discount is the recurring cries Social Security won’t last. If you’re retired or close to it, you won’t be affected by any changes that may be in the making. But also keep in mind Social Security income isn’t enough to support most of us.

Nor is Medicare designed to cover all medical contingencies. Hearing, vision and dental conditions are not covered. Deductibles and copayments on what it does cover can be sizeable. Longer-term care and nursing home coverage also are limited. Some form of supplemental insurance, which

is an extra expense, is usually necessary.

Another misconception is you’ll spend less in retirement. But you’ve probably planned to do a bit of travel, visit the grandkids or pick up on that hobby you’ve dithered with all your life after you leave the labor force and have all that leisure time.

Even if you don’t indulge yourself in these expenses, inflation can chew up whatever you think you’re going to save by spending less.

And as long as there are politicians, there’s no assurance your taxes won’t go up.

You might think you can hold onto your job longer or pick up part-time employment to bolster your income because our life spans are lengthening.

However, the uncertainties and infirmities of aging preclude the promise of such possibilities. For example, half of all early retirements are caused by illness or disability.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Empowering lives through jiujitsu

martial art. Barrick has been a mainstay in the area, offering classes to students of all ages.

Goshen is home to Barrick Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a gym run by Bryan Barrick, a thirddegree black belt who has dedicated his life to teaching this

Barrick’s interest in Brazilian jiujitsu began during the prime of the legendary Royce Gracie, who inspired him to practice martial arts. However,

Home is where the hazard is

in the kitchen or living room? Is there a fire extinguisher handy?

he noticed there were very few schools in northern Indiana. To further his education, Barrick traveled to places like Hammond, where he attained his blue belt, and even traveled as far as New York to train with experts.

As more and more multi-unit senior living facilities are being built, more and more seniors are moving into these apartment buildings.

They no longer have to worry about cleaning furnaces and flues, keeping sidewalks and driveways clear and clearing pathways of children’s toys.

But there still are plenty of chores to be done to make sure they’re prepared for an emergency.

To start with, they need a list of emergency numbers — 911, doctor, family members — right by their phone.

And a flashlight. Better still, they should have night lights plugged all through the residence so they don’t have to fumble and stumble — and fall — in the dark.

They’ve probably been instructed to stay in their apartment if the alarm goes off because the apartment is fireproof, but what about a fire that starts

They should get rid of those scatter rugs that can trip them up and see to it the floor is not slippery. There should be a handrail to hold themselves up when they step out of the bathtub or shower onto a tiled bathroom floor. Do the bathtub and shower have non-skid surfaces?

They should move their toaster away from the coffee maker and keep all appliances away from each other to avoid disastrous sparks and spills. Unplug them when they’re not in use.

They might get some handy electrical outlet covers to shield those outlets when they aren’t being used.

They should always be looking around for possible hazards. Perils are always lurking.

When they light candles for a quiet anniversary dinner, for example, they should make sure there are no curtains nearby to catch fire.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Mortal medical mistakes

When we’re sick, injured or close to dying, we look for aid and assistance from the medical community — doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical technicians.

Yet more than 250,000 people are killed every year by these same people, not on purpose, but because of errors in judgement and treatment. That’s more than six times the number who die in traffic accidents.

While medical and health

care personnel are dedicated to keeping their patients alive and well, errors occur simply because they’re human, and humans make mistakes.

Death due to medical error is defined as one caused by inadequately skilled staff, error in judgment or care, a system defect or a preventable adverse effect. This includes computer breakdowns, mixups with the doses or types of medications administered to patients and surgical complications that go undiagnosed.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Recognizing the need for a BJJ gym in the area, Barrick started teaching the martial art as early as 1996. He later held the first Brazilian JiuJitsu tournament in northern Indiana in 1998, attracting competitors from five states.

In BJJ, a black belt can be deemed a teacher or “professor,” as they are called in Barrick’s gym. Barrick earned his thirddegree black belt under Ricardo “Rey” Diogo of the renowned Carlson Gracie lineage.

Most of Barrick’s students are around 30 years old, but he also instructs kids and a few older individuals. He emphasizes the importance of adapting the training to each person’s abilities and preferences, especially for older students. “The older guys, I realize we got to be a little more careful. So you do what you feel like. And I’ll push you a little bit. That’s my job. We want to make it enjoyable,” Barrick said.

One older student had been a truck driver for 25 years and initially struggled to get up off the ground. Through careful practice, Barrick assisted in his conditioning and ability to get up and down with ease, ulti-

mately benefiting the student’s overall health.

Barrick appreciates the personal connections and growth he witnesses in his students, many of whom find relief from anxiety, depression or other life challenges through their practice of BJJ. “The nice thing is the relationships and seeing people grow and learn and develop. And for a lot of people, it helps if they have anxiety or depression or they went through a really rough lifealtering situation. And to see it helped them a lot. To me, that’s the most rewarding thing,” he said.

One of the unique aspects of BJJ is its adaptability to different body types and styles. Unlike other martial arts, such

as taekwondo, which requires everyone to perform the same movements, BJJ allows individuals to find their own style that works best for them.

Under Barrick’s guidance, students at Barrick Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can discover the many benefits of this martial art, regardless of their age or prior experience.

For seniors, there are numerous health benefits, including improved strength, flexibility and balance. Its low-impact nature reduces the risk of injury, while the mental challenge enhances cognitive abilities.

Practicing jiujitsu can improve overall wellbeing, as it fosters social connections and creates a community where people of all ages can thrive.

INDEPENDENCE | DIGNITY | STRENGTH

The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)/InConnect can help with decisions big and small for older and disabled individuals in need of assistance.

Although focused on older adults, everyone is welcome! Come and learn while you enjoy a healthy lunch. There is no cost for this program.

1 Roof Southeast Neighborhood Center 405 E. Dubail Ave. South Bend, IN 46613

May 26—Healthy Behaviors

June 23—Elder Law Topics 11:30am

Call (574) 393-8809 to reserve

Elkhart County

Bristol: United Methodist Church 2021

Divison St. Lore a, (574) 848-7182

Elkhart: Fun mers, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 405 W. Beardsley Mary (574) 320-5863

Riverside Terrace, 181 N Elkhart Ave, Delbert (574) 320-5995

Stra ord Commons, 2601 Oakland Ave. Connie (574) 320 -5996

You may be a caregiver seeking advice on what to do when a loved one is no longer able to live alone without assistance; an older adult simply seeking some ideas of where you might go for socialization; or a young person with a physical disability finding it hard to manage your life without additional assistance. Whatever your circumstance, the ADRC/InConnect has the information and resources to help you make the best choices for you and your well-being. The ADRC/InConnect can screen you for a variety of local, state, or national programs and services; listen to and understand the complexities of your situation; and offer valid referrals and informative counsel to support you in your decisions.

Call us: (574) 233-8205 Monday—Friday 8:30am—4:30pm

Goshen: Greencro , 1801 Greencro Blvd, Tonda 574) 971 -6016

Maple Leaf Commons 2926 Elkhart Rd., Goshen, (574) 238-8760

Kosciusko County

Mentone: Community Room, 201 Main St, Linda (574) 353 -7555

North Webster: Community Center, 301 N Main Suite D, Merita (574) 834-1193

Pierceton: 205 N First St, Tammy Jefferson (574) 526-1060

Silver Lake: Lions’ Building, SR 14E Jenny Hoagland (260) 450-2416

Syracuse: Syracuse Community Center, 1013 N Long Dr, Carolyn (574) 457-2631

Warsaw: Re red Tigers , 320 W Main St, Cathy (574) 267-0037

Warsaw SAC, 800 N Park Ave, Nancy Zinz (574) 267-0026

Marshall County

Argos: B & R Community Bldg 152 S Michigan St Becky (574) 8929669

Bourbon: Senior Center on North Harris, Jan (574) 342-7031

Bremen: Oakhaven Apartments 500 S Montgomery St Gary (574) 993-2944

Plymouth: Garden Court West 400 W. Washington St

Your

All

REAL Services, believing in the dignity of all people, will provide services without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, gender iden ty, disability, na onal origin, ancestry, poli cal affilia on or belief, familial status or status as a veteran.

A breaking board, a witch cackle, stardom

“Surf music is one of those things that makes people happy when they hear it,” declared Bob Berryhill, at age 75 the lone surviving member of the group responsible for the best-known surf instrumental in history.

Jim Fuller, Pat Connelly and Berryhill were three 15-year-old guitarists who attended Glendora High School, located in a middle-class suburb east of Los Angeles. Their drummer, Ron Wilson, was the “grand old man” of their band at the advanced age of 17. They called themselves the Surfaris.

Dale Smallin, Berryhill’s former scoutmaster, was a cartoon voice-over actor who also owned a photography studio in nearby Azusa. With no experience in band management, he took on the

Surfaris’ affairs and lined up gigs for the guys.

One night, when Ron Wilson came to practice with his bandmates, he told the others about a dream he had about a surfer who joined the Marines. That dream had inspired Wilson to create an ingenious spoken-word storysong he called “Surfer Joe.”

Smallin felt “Surfer Joe” was good enough to record as a novelty single — something they could sell at their concerts — and scheduled a recording date. As none of the boys had a driver’s license, Berryhill’s father offered to drive the band members to the studio that day.

The soon-to-be-immortal session took place in nearby Cucamonga, at a cramped former shoe store now dubbed the PAL Recording Studios, which was owned and operated by Paul Buff, a self-taught electronics genius who had built the recording studio by himself.

After the Surfaris finished “Surfer Joe,” Buff announced, “Boys, you need a second side for your 45.” A second side? Uh-oh. They hadn’t thought about that.

Ron Wilson spontaneously began a furious drum riff called a paradiddle, a quick succession of drumbeats with alternating left- and righthand strokes. Lead guitarist Fuller joined in with some basic rock guitar chords, with bassist Connelly and rhythm guitarist Berryhill soon adding to the effort. Within 10 minutes, “Wipeout” had been created.

For the third and final “take,” Berryhill’s father suggested adding the sound of a surfboard breaking as a novel way of announcing the introduction. In the alley behind the studio, Berryhill’s father found a sun-dried plywood board to break near the

microphone.

Smallin, who had named the future classic instrumental, later recalled, “I came up with the idea for a laugh. That laugh was based on a witch’s cackle that I did for a cartoon voice-over for a series called Fractured Fairy Tales. … I pictured a little wannabe surfer sitting on the rocks, laughing at some surfer who’s wiped out.” (In surfing lingo, a “wipeout” means being thrown off one’s surfboard and has nothing to do with a board breaking.)

Issued on Dot Records, “Wipeout” — not “Surfer Joe” — raced to Number Two on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart by mid-summer 1963, the peak

of surf music’s popularity. It has since been recorded over 700 times and is frequently used by rock drummers and guitarists as the first tune they learn to play.

Jumbo jets disappearing

It looks like the two most familiar jumbo jets — the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 — are going the way of earth’s ancient jumbo critters, the dinosaurs. The massive cutback in

travel resulting from the COVID-19 global shutdown has hastened their demise and allowed the airline industry to further inspect their rationale for dumping these iconic aircraft.

While both will be seen in airports for a few years yet, their replacement boils down

to a simple matter of finances. Boeing’s new 787 requires only 300 passengers to be full, about 100 fewer than the 747 capacity. The Airbus 350, with a capacity topping out at 400, takes over from the A380 that had to sell 550 tickets to be full.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Here’s How It Works:

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column or box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Faith

Apeland has passion for international missions

“I’ve always been drawn to the mission field,” stated Dorothy Apeland, Warsaw. “I met my husband when I was a student at Christian Heritage College earning a double major in counseling and home economics. I’d decided that I’d never date anyone who didn’t have a heart for the mission field. My husband Michael has the same passion to reach out internationally as I do.”

Dorothy and Michael were married in 1984 in San Diego.

“When I was 8 years old, I heard a missionary speak about Ireland,” she said. “My heart was in Western Europe. However, Michael had a heart for the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe.”

Since Michael had plans to get his master’s degree at Grace College, he and Dorothy moved to Kosciusko County. After arriving, they decided instead to connect with a mission board in the area.

“We got in touch with Greater Europe Mission outside of Wheaton, Illinois. Their emphasis was on parachurch and inner-city ministry. Instead, we wanted to help plant a church.”

In 1993, the Apelands were involved in a car accident that took the lives of their son, Daniel, and daughter, Anna. “Our middle boy, Nathan, survived as did Michael and me. Still, we were injured and devastated.”

Dorothy was pregnant with her daughter, Hope, at that time.

“When I was going through some of my darkest days, Donna Angle, the children’s librarian at Milford Public Library, became my dear friend,” said Apeland. “She knew the kids through their participation at the library. She has become one of my dearest friends and a grandmother to our children.”

Everything was put on hold for five years. But in 1998, the Apelands connected with World Mission to Children in Oregon.

“In less than six months we were on our way to Ireland.”

Along with Nathan and Hope, they were sent to Ireland to live and work at a children’s camp near Kell, and to help a Bible study in the area to eventually became a church. “I was pregnant with my daughter, Michelle, at the time. She was born in Ireland.”

The camp was set at a Georgia mansion on 67 acres of land.

“It had been an orphanage after World War II. Then it was a

little school. When we came it was a children’s camp, complete with horse stables.”

Michael helped with the maintenance while they both cooked for the campers. “Our summers were full. We had church kids as well as other groups schedule time at the camp.”

The Apeland kids loved their time living there. “They were free to run and play. But it was also hard work. They helped with the camp. And I homeschooled them.”

When the Apelands were planning to become Irish citizens, their time in the country came to an end. “Our mission board had folded. We were supported by a church in Warsaw for 6.5 years, but after eight years of service, our time was up.”

Moving back to the States was very hard for the family. “Our children grew up there. The people of Ireland are very slow to build friendships, but once they open up, we become friends forever.”

Now the Apelands attend St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Goshen, where Dorothy has taught Sunday school in the past. The Apelands have one other daughter, their youngest, Abigail.

Electric cars plug along

Electric vehicles, or EVs, has become an umbrella term for any type of battery-powered electric vehicle. They’re also labeled BEVs — battery electric vehicles.

Some run only on battery power, while others combine battery and gasoline power. They can be broken down into three categories.

• EV, a fully battery-powered vehicle.

• HEV, hybrid electric vehicle. It combines an internal combustion engine with an electric-powered motor, switching between the two to improve fuel economy.

• PHEV, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. This is simply a plug-in HEV.

Each varies in cost, fuel efficiency and driving experience.

EVs came on the scene as an option for climate-conscious motorists and account for 5% of new car sales. This adoption of new technology spurred advances in other areas, such as the internet and mobile phones.

You fuel up an EV by plugging a charging nozzle, much like a gasoline pump nozzle, into a port hidden by a flap where the gasoline gas cap is on a gas-driven auto.

While there are public charging stations around the country, they are sparsely spaced, so most manufacturers include a home charger

with the purchase of an EV. One end fits into a standard household outlet and the other end plugs into the EV. There are a variety of charging devices available, depending on your budget, that can cut down on the time required to charge the EV.

A full charge gives the vehicle from 200 to 400 miles, so longer trips have to be planned around the location of public charging stations. These stops will take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the level of charge provided at these stations.

HEVs were the major entrant in the EV market in

the early 2000s by perfecting the art of linking an electricpowered motor with the internal combustion engine. When an HEV stops, it most likely idles on the electricity of the battery and kicks back to gasoline when it starts up again.

Hybrids typically claim to get 40 to 60 mpg, as much as twice that of a gas-powered vehicle.

Instead of charging through an external port like EVs or PHEVs, HEVs replenish their batteries from the gas engine.

They eliminate the hassle of finding charging stations and spending the extra time powering up. While they typi-

cally cost a few thousand dollars more than gas-powered cars, they sell for less than plug-in EVs.

For example, the 2022 gaspowered Toyota Rav 4 started at just short of $27,000. The hybrid version was about $3,000 more and the plug-in electric hybrid version topped $40,000.

A PHEV is built to run on both gas and battery power. The key difference is that the

power comes from plug-in chargers, making them more like an EV. When the battery power runs out, PHEVs switch to gas like a hybrid. But PHEVs go longer on battery power than hybrids do.

Continuing the Toyota Rav 4 example, the gas-powered version has a 27 mpg city rating, while the hybrid version comes in at 41 mpg, and the PHEV logs 94 mpg.

Disabled need assistance, not avoidance

when someone with a disfigurement or disability came into the room?

The disconcerted feeling of discomfort and disorientation,

whether prompted by your parents’ admonitions or not, runs rampant when someone in a wheelchair rolls through a doorway near you. Plenty of people seem to mentally file folks with any sort of handicap somewhere between murderous intent and a highly contagious disease.

The most common response received over the years in an unofficial survey of those discomfited by the appearance of anyone with a permanent disability is the “normal” people didn’t want to embarrass the “poor victims.”

That’s a pretty tough sell to someone who’s lost an arm in a traffic accident. Or had their sight blown away in Iraq. Or to a senior who’s finally lost the ability to maneuver through life without the use of a wheelchair.

These individuals are quite aware of their “difference.” So, instead of turning your back, physically or mentally, greet them just as you would someone who’s taller or shorter than you are. Don’t yell at them to make yourself understood. And don’t patronize them.

They’re people, just like you.

A colleague makes a point of opening the conversation with any person with a dis-

ability at social gatherings by asking if there’s anything he or she needs at the moment. It could simply be directions to the bathroom or assistance to a spot out of the sun.

While terms like “handicapped” and “crippled” are outdated, individuals with disabilities are also put off by clumsy euphemisms like “physically challenged” and “differently abled.”

A rule that leaps out of “Disability Etiquette,” a booklet produced by the United Spinal Association and accessible online, is to be honest and straightforward.

Don’t grab the handles of a person’s wheelchair and push him or her to where you think they ought to be. You’re invading their space. It’s comparable to someone grabbing your arm and shoving or pulling you somewhere.

That is what you don’t do when you encounter someone who’s blind. If you see somebody who’s sightless at a busy street corner, approach them and ask if there’s something you can for them. And offer them your arm, don’t grab theirs.

There are still folks out there who have to hide a grin or chuckle when someone lisps

but they don’t know how to handle communication with someone having difficulty speaking after a stroke.

To ease the frustration experienced by the speaker, work on what you do understand and help him or her get the message across. For example, if you make out the word “need,” ask what it is they need. It simplifies the conversation.

Do the same with those who are aging and losing their hearing.

You don’t have to yell at them. But stand where they can see you and don’t hide your mouth when you’re speaking to them. Many read lips, facial expressions and body language to help them get your message. If they have a problem understanding, change your sentence.

As hearing diminishes, so does sound recognition, especially of short one-syllable words like “bus” and “car.”

Before speaking to a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, make sure you get their attention. You can do this by waving your hand or arm or tapping them on the shoulder.

The key in all these encounters is to be polite. Simple courtesy will keep everyone comfortable.

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

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Positive attitude negates arthritis pain

There seems to be as many ways of coping with arthritis as there are the different types of this often painful and occasionally debilitating degenerative joint disorder.

Millions of Americans live with arthritis, which occurs in more than 100 forms and at varying levels of severity, say experts.

But not everyone copes in the same way, even among those with similar signs and symptoms.

People with a positive, proactive attitude are likely to experience less pain and fewer limitations from their arthritis than those who are more negative.

When people feel in control, they’re more likely to use medical treatment options effectively.

The following are some healthy lifestyle measures that can help people cope with arthritis. Reduce stress. Stress increases muscle tension, which can worsen arthritis pain. This can set off a cycle of increased pain, decreased ability to func-

Elkhart Place

tion and more stress. Take time to relax. Meditation, prayer and guided imagery are some ways people calm their minds. Massage, slow and deep breathing, or simply tightening and releasing different muscle groups may help relax muscles. Certain forms of exercise, such as yoga or tai chi, often enhance relaxation.

Understand your pain. Learn the difference between pain associated with general joint discomfort and that caused by joint overuse. When pain with a particular activity is excessive, or comes on quickly and lasts for more than an hour or two afterward, chances are you’re overdoing it or doing an inappropriate activity.

Know when to rest. The feeling of fatigued joints may be a signal to back off or change activities.

Painful, inflamed joints may require total rest temporarily or even an immobilizing splint. Whole body rest also is important. If you have trouble getting a good night’s sleep, talk to your doctor about strategies to

improve sleep. During the day, rest before you become too tired. Plan 10 minutes of rest for every hour of physical exertion.

Use “assistive” devices. Many products, such as jar openers, specially designed kitchen knives, devices to extend your

reach, and aids to help you dress can make common daily tasks less harmful to your joints.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Diet more than a four-letter word

“If we are what we eat, why do doctors spend so little time making sure we eat right?” That is a question posed by many nutritionists and dieticians.

The simple response is because physicians are too busy zeroing in on specific problems, such as backaches, headaches and arthritis, with little time left to probe one’s pantry preferences.

They will direct you to an eating expert in some cases, after a diagnosis of diabetes, for example, to discuss suggested changes in your diet.

A nourishing diet, a major tool that can protect one’s health and defend against disabilities, is considered by some medical gurus to be more important than genetics in helping older folks

fend off the decline that accompanies aging, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Seniors with poor diet had fewer good days and lower overall satisfaction with their lives than those who ate well, according to a study.

Relatives, neighbors and caregivers dealing with seniors have learned to check the older person’s refrigerator to make sure they not only are eating well but eating at all.

Older adults living alone tend to drop meals. In some cases, such as after losing a spouse, they find it painful to sit at the table viewing their loved one’s empty chair. Many just get too lazy to “make something to eat.”

Difficulty in swallowing, poor dental health, and stomach complaints all abet one’s lack of

desire to eat.

In many cases, the individual doesn’t eat right because he or she can’t get to the store. It may be due to lack of transportation, distance, disability or daunting traffic.

And some medications can blunt appetite and impair digestion in old folks.

People 50 and older may be battling obesity and still be undernourished because they’re not eating the right foods. By contrast, those over 75 have a greater risk of being under-nourished and not getting enough calories.

Increasing social contact boosts the chances of maintaining a healthy diet, according to a Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging study. A lot of people don’t like eating alone.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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The banker who saved America

One of the important financial entrepreneurs of the 19th century who was key to building America was John Pierpont Morgan.

The New York financier not only orchestrated the federal government’s vast financial system, he created several huge corporations that became the center of the U.S. manufacturing world.

In the light of today’s financial muddle exacerbated by government meddling, it’s worth a look at some of his solutions way back then.

John Pierpont Morgan Sr. was born April 17, 1837, and became a banker who dominated corporate and industrial consolidation in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

When the nation’s banking system was in a chaotic condition, Morgan played a key role in America’s financial reorganization and the formation of such well-known giants as General Electric, U.S. Steel, International Harvester and communications conglomerates like American Telephone & Telegraph.

At the height of his career, Morgan and his partners had financial investments

in many large corporations and had significant influence over the nation’s high finance, U.S. presidents and members of Congress. He directed the banking coalitions that stopped the national financial “Panic of 1907,” was the leading financier of the socalled “Progressive Era,” and his dedication to efficiency and modernization helped transform much of today’s American business. Yet, he was dubbed a “robber baron” because he profited from the collapse of earlier businesses such as Westinghouse.

Morgan learned at an early age how to make money. At 26, during the American Civil War, in an incident known as the “Hall Carbine Affair,” Morgan financed the purchase of 5,000 rifles from a U.S. Army arsenal at $3.50 each, which he then resold to an Army field general for $22 apiece.

Morgan’s process of taking over troubled businesses to reorganize them became known as “Morganizations.” He reorganized businesses to return them to profitability. His reputation as a banker and financier also helped bring interest from investors to the many businesses he had taken over. By 1985, after going through the depths of

the Panic of 1893, the Federal Treasury was nearly out of gold. Morgan had put forward a plan for the federal government to buy gold from his European banks. He came up with a plan to use an old Civil War law allowing him to sell 3.5 million ounces of gold directly to the U.S. Treasury, restoring the nation’s financial surplus in exchange for a 30year bond issue.

The episode saved the U.S. and, to maintain the status quo in business, Morgan, along with steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, railroad mogul John D. Rockefeller and some Wall Street bankers, donated heavily to Republican candidate William McKinley, who was elected in 1896 and

reelected again in 1900.

By 1900, Morgan’s financial firm was one of the most powerful banking houses in the world, focused especially on reorganizations and consolidations. After financing the creation of the Federal Steel Co., Morgan merged it in 1901 with the Carnegie Steel Co. and several other steel and iron businesses to form the giant United States Steel Corp.

The Panic of 1907 was another financial crisis that almost crippled the country’s economy. Major New York banks were on the verge of bankruptcy and there was no mechanism to rescue them, until Morgan stepped in to help resolve the crisis. Treasury Secretary George B. Cortelyou earmarked $35 million of federal money to deposit in New York banks.

Morgan then met with the nation’s leading financiers in his New York mansion and devised a plan to meet the crisis. He organized a team of bank and trust executives that redirected money between banks, secured further international lines of credit, and bought up the plummeting stocks of healthy corporations.

In 1913, realizing in a future national crisis there would unlikely to be another

J.P. Morgan for a rescue, banking and political leaders set the stage for the creation of today’s Federal Reserve System.

But then a similar crisis occurred 100 years later. The J.P. Morgan-Chase bank had become one of the world’s largest banks, but the financial catastrophe of 2008, which saw the downfall of Lehman Brothers investment group, proved no bank is “too large to fail.”

On March 31, 1913, J.P. Morgan died in Rome at the age of 75. He left his fortune to his namesake, John Pierpont Morgan Jr. The fortune was estimated at “only” $80 million, which prompted fellow so-called “Robber Baron” John D. Rockefeller to say, “and to think, he wasn’t even a rich man.”

Those 19th century robber barons included Morgan, oil giant Rockefeller, auto builder Henry Ford, steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, and railroad mogul Cornelius (the Commodore) Vanderbilt.

These men built America financially and industrially, with Morgan providing the necessary financial and organizational glue that held many of the nation’s key conglomerates together.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Travel Niagara Falls —

Still a great wonder of the world

Niagara Falls is literally being eaten away by the forces of erosion. But don’t panic. You needn’t rush off to see the falls before they disappear, because it’s going to take a long time. So, the falls will still be around for spectacular views and an exciting experience whether you visit this summer or 10 years from now.

The falls straddle the U.S. and Canadian border where the Niagara River plunges over

Greencroft Community Center Tours

a 170-foot-tall cliff, smashing into the rocks below and creating an enormous mist cloud. The best view of the tremendous power of the cascading water is right at the bottom, up close and personal, where it hits the rocks.

People can do that by purchasing a ticket and walking down or taking the elevator to the bottom of the gorge where double-deck boats are moored. Depending on whether a boat sails from the Canadian side (“Voyage to the Falls”) or the American side (“Maid of the Mist”) determines the color of the plastic rain poncho that comes with the price of a ticket. Red is Canadian and blue is American. You’ll need it. The mist totally envelops the boat, which edges within 50 yards. The noise of 600,000 gallons of water per second coming over the falls and crashing on the rocks is deafening.

Continued on page 19

DD RESALES PRESENTS

Chicago

August 22-24, 2023

2 nights. More information to come, but we know it will include the Museum of Science & Industry, Handcock Building, Navy Pier, Skyline Cruise and more. Stay tuned.

$355 pp dbl occ

Upcoming Tours

May 4 – Sauder

Village & Quilt Show, Archbold, OH

May 8 – Greenhouse

Tour, Elkhart, IN

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

Aug. 20-25 – Biltmore

Estate & Ashville, NC

Nov. 13-18 – Branson, MO

Nov. 27 – Daniel

O’Donnell

Christmas, Blue Gate, Shipshewana, IN

Dec. 15 – Christmas

Candy Caper, Blue Gate, Shipshewana, IN

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

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

Branson Holiday Show Extravaganza 2023

November 13-18, 2023

5 nights, 8 meals,

6 fabulous shows

$725 pp dbl occ

BOOK

Memphis, TN

September 11-16, 2023

5 nights, 8 meals. Graceland, Memphis Tour, Beale Street, Sun Studio, Memphis Rock ‘N’ Soul Museum, Gaming at Memphis Area Casino & More

$640 pp dbl occ

NEW FOR 2024

Washington DC - May 16-22

Nashville Show Trip

June 2024 - 4 nights

Boston, Salem & Cape Ann

Sept. 25-Oct. 2

Branson Show Trip - Nov. 18-23

For flyers and more information call Dennis Donathen @ 574.220.8032

• A second-place award in 2023 Resident and Family Satisfaction

• A second-place Top Clinical award for 2023

Still a great wonder

If you decide to stay dry and view the falls from afar, the best views are from Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian side. In fact, the Horseshoe, Bridal Veil and American Falls can be seen from the visitor’s center and park. The Horseshoe Falls are by far the most spectacular. Water going

over the falls is extremely clean because there’s no sediment, which contributes to its overall beauty. From the American side, visitors can get up close and personal to the falls by crossing a bridge to Goat Island, which separates Horseshoe Falls from Bridal Veil and American Falls. The Hur-

ricane observation deck is perched between the Bridal and American Falls and affords a great view. Another way to experience them is the Cave of the Winds at the bottom of American Falls. The volume of water passing over the two smaller falls is 150,000 gallons per second.

Travel insurance sometimes isn’t

Among the many lessons a lot of folks learned during the coronavirus shutdown is that travel insurance doesn’t always cover everything.

Many would-be travelers found out that they didn’t have the trip cancellation coverage they thought they had Everyone learned a worldwide pandemic changed all the coverage rules.

Some airline and cruise customers were fortunate enough to receive refunds for their fares. Most of these ticket holders, however, have been given vouchers that precluded them from making insurance claims to recoup their loss.

The real lesson here is to ask questions and more questions when you buy the coverage.

Continued from page 18 For

Help Wanted

Some insurers do not provide coverage for mishaps suffered during such activities as skiing or scuba diving. You also have to determine if your policy covers you for any misadventure or cancellations caused by any act of terrorism.

Before putting together a travel insurance plan, check with your health and medical insurance agent to see what coverage travels with you.

Then be aware that trip cancellation insurance pretty well

settles around injury, sickness or death of you, members of your family or a travel companion. You also have to make sure you define any and all coverage you want, ranging from emergency medical evacuation to lost luggage.

Mature

Niagara Falls is not the highest in the world by a long shot. At 170 feet tall, it’s not even in the top 500. Angel Falls in Venezuela is the highest at 3,212 feet.

During the past 560 years, the rate of recession was estimated at 1 to 1 1/2 meters per year. The current rate is about 1 foot per year, and utilizing flow control it may be reduced to 1 foot in 10 years. Upriver from the falls are four huge tunnels that divert water to power plants downstream. This has greatly reduced the amount of the erosion at the falls. During tourist hours in the summer months, however, the flow is maintained at a high level so visitors can enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of

this physical phenomenon. The force of the water will mean the eventual demise of the American Falls in approximately 2,000 years. Horseshoe Falls, on the other hand, will recede about 4 miles in the next 15,000 years and could end up being a series of rapids.

ANSWERS:

As a caregiver, you manage multiple responsibilities for your loved one in addition to your own. When you need help, The Thelma A. Schrock Adult Day Services program is here for you – a few hours a day or a few days per week. You get time to do the things you need to do while your loved one stays in a safe environment while enjoying themselves.

We are now available five days a week, MondayFriday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call 574-537-4181.

‘Stuck in the Middle with You’

Stealers Wheel

Even before he became a successful and respected musician, Gerry Rafferty had developed a loathing for the often underhanded machinations of the pop music industry.

He was born in 1947 in Paisley, Scotland, a town that borders Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Rafferty came from a working-class family, where his mother taught him Scottish and Irish folk songs. As he grew into his teens, he became influenced by the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan.

His father was a hottempered alcoholic who died

in 1963, when Gerry was 16. That year, young Rafferty left school to work in a butcher store and a shoe shop, although deep down he wanted only to earn a living by making music. On weekends, he and best pal, Joe Egan, played in a local rock band called the Maverix, primarily offering up covers of Beatles and Stones hits.

Rafferty later joined a folk pop group called the Humblebums, which included future comic star Billy Connolly. The Humblebums cut a pair of albums for Transatlantic Records, which received critical appreciation but sold poorly.

When the Humblebums disbanded in 1971, Rafferty continued with Transatlantic as a solo performer and recorded his first album, “Can I Have My Money Back?” His creation received enthusiastic praise but was ignored by the record-buying public.

In 1972, he and Egan reunited, this time to form a soft rock outfit called Stealers Wheel. They promptly struck gold with “Stuck in the Middle with You,” which became a Top 10 single in America, the UK and Canada. That hit 45 gave Rafferty a chance to vent his spleen against the negative forces that controlled the music business. In

a voice that mimicked his idol Bob Dylan, Rafferty set the scene for his tune at a record company party that made him uncomfortable being in the midst of the power people he always preferred to avoid:

“Well, I don’t know why I came here tonight.

“I got the feeling that something ain’t right.” Rafferty just wanted to make music, revel in the satisfaction of its creation and ignore that part of the picture that included insensitive bean counters and friends

who were supposedly furthering his career:

“Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right.

“Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.”

He found his frustrations maddening:

“Trying to make some sense of it all.

“But I can see that it makes no sense at all.

“Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor?

“‘Cause I don’t think that I can take anymore.”

Stealers Wheel cut a trio of

albums, but by the time the first one was issued, Rafferty had already left the outfit. Stealers Wheel officially disbanded in 1975, and for three years Rafferty’s creative hands were tied by legal hassles that prevented him from releasing new material.

In 1978, his 6 million-selling LP “City to City” featured his signature song, the worldwide hit, “Baker Street.” As a result, his success brought Rafferty financial independence — thanks, ironically, to the industry that he despised.