Senior Life - Elko Edition - October 2023

Across Kosciusko County, dozens of seniors are blessed each weekday by the home delivery of a hot lunch. The service is provided by the Mobile Meals program offered through Kosciusko Community Senior Services, which serves more than 35,000 meals each year.

As part of KCSS’s mission, the Mobile Meals program, as well as all programs it offers, is designed so clients are better able to remain in their home and not need to go to a health or medical facility.

Mobile Meals is available to adults over the age of 60 who live in Kosciusko County and provides a nutritional, diet-appropriate, hot noon meal Monday through Friday. To qualify, a physician must verify that the recipient is unable to reasonably prepare an appropriate meal for themselves.

Additionally, frozen meals are provided upon request for the weekend and emergencies. These meals also are used when the weather does not permit volunteers to deliver the daily hot lunch.

The program serves seniors throughout the county, including Etna Green, Warsaw, Pierceton, Winona, North Webster, Syracuse and Milford. Most of the meals are prepared at Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital in Warsaw. In the northern part of the county, they are created and distributed through Harvest Coffee, a nonprofit community organization based in Milford,

under the direction of Karena Wilkinson.

“When the nursing home in Milford was closing, Community Services was looking for a different place to make meals,” Wilkinson said. “(KCSS Executive Director) David Neff likes to tell the story that when he took me out on a route with him to deliver meals, that that’s what hooked me. And it honestly did because our seniors are generally an overlooked part of our population. This was a way for us to contribute to that age group in our community.

“We do it Monday through Friday, just for lunch. We do

our best to include fruits and vegetables that are fresh. Where we can we use our garden. This is stuff that I would be happy to serve to my grandparents. It is certified by a dietitian, so I have menus that I’ve gone through and they’re all vetted.”

The mission statement of Harvest Coffee is “Coffee with a purpose,” which meshes perfectly with the Mobile Meals program. Wilkinson said the program is part of that purpose, to care for the community.

“It is a great way for us to care for our community,” said Wilkinson. “Plus, it helps us to pay staff and keeps our doors open, which

sometimes as a nonprofit can be pretty tricky. It’s a great way for us to be able to serve, too.”

The Harvest Coffee kitchen serves between 20-25 meals each day in Milford and Syracuse. Meal preparation begins as early as 6 a.m. with Wilkinson and her staff. Cold items that go with the meals are prepped the day before and stored in a cooler for the next day’s delivery. Volunteer drivers pick up the insulated bags around 11 a.m. to begin

Key Positions

Senior fair queen Johnson gives back to community

“When I was a child growing up, I never dreamed I’d meet so many wonderful people,” stated Debbie Johnson, Goshen. “I quit school when I was 16. When I grew up, I was determined to make something of my life. I’ve been a volunteer for the Elkhart County Republican party for 16 years.”

Johnson is the 2023 Elkhart County 4-H Senior Fair Queen.

She realized how important an education is. She earned her GED and went on to attend Central Florida Community College, earning an AS degree in office system technology. She became a para at Northridge, working with IEP and at-risk students, retiring in 2019.

“Working at the fair booth for 16 years, I’d see the fair queens come into the commercial buildings in their crowns. ‘I could never do that!’ I’d say to myself.”

As the old adage goes, “Never say never.” This past May, Debbie filled out an application for senior fair queen. Her sponsor was JoJo’s Pretzels.

“Our 44th annual brunch was at the Greencroft Community Center. There were four of us running in the beginning. But one of the ladies later fell and had to drop out.”

The gala was held at the fairground’s ECCC building

on June 20. “That was a lot of fun. We were dispersed among the 33 fair queen contestants. We could dress up in attire that told something about ourselves. It was really nice seeing all the different outfits.”

Debbie’s attire was red, white and blue. She wrote her introduction that was read by the emcee:

“As you can see, Debbie loves living in the greatest country in the world. She is especially grateful to the men and women of the armed forces, and to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”

At the end, she distributed small flags to some in the audience.

“The pageant was held on July 21 on the Heritage Stage. That afternoon, we went individually before three judges. I was so nervous I prayed to God for strength and courage.”

When she met the judges, she immediately felt at ease.

“They asked me why I wanted to be queen. I said, ‘Thank heavens for the American dream and they do come true. We live them every day. I never thought I would meet a President of the United States or my favorite group The Monkees!’ I told them I love people and I want to give back to the community.” Then she handed the judges a small American flag.

Each of the contestants was a special lady, and all of them

placed within the queen’s court, but Johnson won the crown. “When my name was called, I was in shock.”

Johnson loves being senior queen. She had a lot of fun with junior queen Maya Narayan.

“I loved walking around and greeting people, and asking young and old alike if they were having a great day at the fair and seeing the smiles on their faces.”

On helicopter ride day, Johnson didn’t allow her motion sickness to get the best of her. “I wore my motion sickness wristbands and got on board.”

Johnson is married to Larry Johnson. They have four grown children, 10 grandchildren and 3 great granddaughters. Contact her at debndfan@frontier.com.

Greencroft offers adult day services at The Homestead

When his wife moved into a nursing home, Gene Nicolai sank into a deep depression. His doctor prescribed socialization and directed him to the adult day services program at The Thelma A. Schrock Homestead in Goshen.

The Homestead gave Gene a social outlet and assistance with his Parkinson’s disease. The unique program, designed especially for adults with memory loss and other challenges of aging, has been serving families in Elkhart County and surrounding communities for more than 30 years.

Located on the campus of Greencroft Goshen, The Homestead provides an intimate, homelike setting where members engage in a variety of activities including art, games, reminiscing, baking, music, Bible study, pet visits and trips to local attractions. While The Homestead serves a small group of no more than 15 participants a day, it is attached to Greencroft’s HealthCare Center which provides additional

health services and amenities, including a nutritious lunch, beauty shop services, concerts, outpatient therapy, medication administration and transportation services.

“I started coming here about 12 years ago, and I haven’t had any more problems with depression,” Nicolai said. “I love all the people here, and I just keep coming.”

Adult day health services provide care at a significantly lower cost than other long-term care services. The Homestead’s services are, on average, a third of the cost of home care services. The Greencroft Goshen Foundation offers financial assistance to those unable to pay the full cost.

The Homestead operates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The best way to learn more is to schedule a visit and see firsthand the difference spending the day in The Homestead makes in the lives of the participants.

Contact Cheryl Shreiner, director of community outreach services, at cheryl.shreiner@ greencroft.org or at (574) 5374204 for more information and to schedule a tour.

What Seniors Think

What was your highlight this year, so far?

Mobile Meals provides

Continued from page 1

their delivery routes. Drivers vary each day, although Wilkinson has a prearranged schedule so she knows who to expect.

“There’s a whole crew of them,” Wilkinson said of the volunteer drivers. “Some do it once a week, some do it once a month, some do it two or three times a month.”

‘#IMOMSOHARD Ladies Night’ coming to Lerner Theatre

The Lerner Theatre has announced “#IMOMSOHARD Ladies Night!” is coming to Elkhart at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. Tickets for the show are now on sale.

#IMOMSOHARD began as a popular web-series by real-life best friends, comedians and moms Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley, sparking an online community of two million followers. The videos have received over 300 million views and counting. The phenomenon created by Hensley and Smedley has since been nabbed for development by Warner Brothers television, reality TV and film. The comedians have sold out three

national tours, written a New York Times best selling autobiographical book and a children’s book with Harper Collins, host a top comedy podcast, landed branded deals with Fortune 100 companies and taped a standup comedy special for Amazon Prime Video, launching the network’s first stand-up comedy platform.

Raised in Nebraska, Hensley and Smedley are now based in Los Angeles, where they met, and can often be found selling pizza slices for the PTA or working as parking enforcement at school drop off.

For more information and tickets, visit thelerner.com/ event/imomsohard/.

IIt’s easy! Simply find the apple cider 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.

The cost of the meals varies, depending on the financial situation of each recipient, according to the program’s director, Jennifer Buzzard. She added the program could not exist without the volunteers who give their time. There are eight different delivery routes that must be staffed each weekday.

“Not only are our clients

getting a good, quality meal each day, but it also serves as a welfare check for them,” said Buzzard. “We have had to call 911 before because they have fallen or are hurt.”

Anyone who is interested in participating in the program, either as a meal recipient or as a volunteer driver, should call Buzzard at (574) 267-2012.

The winner of the I Spy Contest for September is Scott Stuck of South Bend. The backpack was located on page 8 in Senior Life Allen; page 7 in Senior Life Northwest; page 18 in Senior Life Elko and page 7 in Senior Life St. Joseph.

PETER VUKOVICH ELKHART

MARK ALVARADO GOSHEN

DOUG VINSON WARSAW

BECKY AMSTUTZ WARSAW BERTIE JONES OSCEOLA

MARY WILSON WINONA LAKE

Mayers is volunteer extraordinaire

to serve these areas, just in a different way.

Deborah Mayers volunteers her time in any way and anywhere she can. She has been volunteering since retiring from her and her husband’s furniture repair and reupholstery business that served Elkhart and surrounding counties for “many, many wonderful years.” She continues

“I was looking for a way to serve within my ability. I did not want to grow into one of those seniors that retire and fade away. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Besides, I have too much fun to want to give it up,” Mayers explained. “If I was not meant to do this, it would not feel as good as it does.”

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Her mother taught her many skills. She was taught how to cook and sew, and Mayers now uses those skills to help people.

“I volunteer at a couple consignment shops helping to do alterations. I will never forget this woman who bought a wedding dress. I did her alterations and once she saw herself in the mirror, her eyes welled up with tears. She said it was the first time she had felt beautiful. We all just hugged her, she left the shop feeling loved. That is what life is about,” she explained.

Mayers could not even give a guess how many hours she volunteers per week.

She has also volunteered in the costume department of numerous theatres and schools.

“My mom worked in multiple costume shops and departments, so I felt connected to her in that way,” Mayers mentioned.

Every volunteer opportunity has left a major impact on her but her heart lies in the soup kitchens.

“Every single person that comes in to eat has a story worth knowing. Everyone leaves full, loved and with a to-go bag.”

Mayers does whatever is needed to put a good meal on the table. Whether that means picking up donations, chopping veggies, setting the table or doing dishes. Mayers meets every challenge or request with grace and understanding. She lives her life abiding by the Golden Rule: do unto others as you want them to do unto you.

“We do have serving hours, but if they come late and I am still here, they are not leaving hungry and they are taking a bag of food, too. I don’t care if I was about to hit the lights and leave. I will heat something

up,” Mayers explained, “you just do not know what they had to do to get here. It’s hard to ask for help, so the asks should be rewarded.”

Since starting volunteering at the soup kitchen, the rotating recipe repertoire went from four to over 30, but chili is always served on Wednesdays.

“We could place a full Thanksgiving meal plate in front of them and they would ask for chili instead. It’s the funniest thing,” she explained, “we have to cook with what we got, so some days we have to be adventurous. The other day we had a bunch of apples so I chopped some up and tossed them in a soup and everyone loved it.”

Mayers turned 74 this year, but she no plan to retire from volunteering.

“I will still work on the day of my funeral,” Mayers joked.

Here’s

Sixties Flashback —

Remember those stamps of approval?

Want an appliance?

Some furniture? An elephant? At one time, all were available with enough small paper books filled with trading stamps.

The S & H stamp story began in 1896. Salesman Thomas Sperry noticed a store he visited was having significant success with a program in which certain customers were rewarded by being given coupons redeemable for goods in that store. Perry thought: why not dispense coupons that were not tied to merchandise from

any particular store but could be redeemed anywhere?

With business pal Shelley Hutchinson, the pair launched the Sperry and Hutchinson Company and began selling S & H Green Stamps.

Here’s how things worked: Retailers bought the stamps from S & H, then distributed them — 10 stamps for every dollar spent — to appreciative loyal customers as a bonus for making cash purchases rather than by using credit. Customers then pasted the tiny rectangles into booklets handed out by the company visited.

The first S & H Green Stamps redemption center — a “premium parlor” — opened its doors in 1897. Then, as they did later, people would bring in booklets filled with stamps and

stroll out later with a shiny new something, bolstered by the (incorrect) feeling that the item was somehow free.

S & H bought merchandise at wholesale costs and sold it at retail prices when stamps were redeemed. Retailers grumped that buying the stamps cost them about 2% of their sales, although they did hope that the expected increase in business the stamps could generate would offset the cost of the stamps.

The popularity of trading stamps spread like proverbial wildfire, becoming a part of everyday business at sundry supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores and numerous other outlets.

By the mid-1960s, 83% of America’s 58 million house-

Good drugs can be bad for you

As we age and acquire sundry types of aches, pains, disabilities and diseases, we build a medicine cabinet bulging with pills, potions and needles prescribed to lessen the pain and thwart the invasion of debilitating disorders.

As a result, we wind up with conflicting cures.

For example, dosages designed to support a diseased liver might cause our diabetes pills to turn against us. Or a prescription for a newly acquired affliction might cause severe skin rashes, painful stomach upsets, or dizziness and loss of balance.

Adding to the confusion is the intake of any supplements, such as vitamins, that may also tussle with whatever else you add to your system.

Many medications come with their own set of issues.

Some blood-pressure drugs and painkillers can cause depression. Confusion and instability caused by multiple medications can be diagnosed as dementia.

Coping with medications gets

worse as we age because our bodies lose their resiliency and ability to combat any ill effects. Compounding the problem is that most of us acquire more and more medications to fight off disease and disabilities that prey on the elderly.

If you haven’t done so yet, write down all the prescriptions and supplements you take, how often, and in what dosages. Make an appointment with your family doctor, now known as your primary care physician, and go over the list carefully.

Before agreeing to replace a current prescription with a new medication, discuss with your doctor how it will fit in. Do the same before deciding to toss out any on your list or to ingest a new health drink or booster bar.

If, when you do make any changes or additions, you experience any dizziness, blurred eyesight, upset stomach, memory lapses — anything — sit down and review the matter with your doctor.

Ask if there is any way you can drop a medication by doing more exercise, improving your diet, getting more rest or any other lifestyle changes. If your

doctor agrees you can stop taking a certain medication, ask if there will be any ill effects if you drop it too quickly.

If you’re given a new prescription after a hospital stay or consulting with a specialist, review the situation with your family doctor before ingesting the medication.

It’s also a good idea to use one pharmacy for all your prescriptions. The druggist can be another source of information on the interaction between different types of drugs.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

holds were saving S & H Green Stamps. (That’s three times more stamps than were issued by the U.S. Postal Service.)

Each year, S&H was printing 32 million copies of its merchandise catalog — dubbed the Ideabook — as well as 140 million blank savers books.

The most popular purchased item back then was a toaster. But, over time, changing values and, much to the customers’ delight, the limited list of available options mushroomed to include some, well, “unusual” things, to say the least.

Some companies began issuing their own trading stamps but were never able to overcome S & H’s dominance.

Then came the 1970s, and food and gasoline prices soared. It became more

prudent to seek lower prices: people began to value having extra money in hand more than owning another set of glass tumblers.

The last supermarket to dispense Green Stamps was a Tennessee Piggly Wiggly store in 1999.

Trading stamps have now been replaced by reward programs and discount coupons. In the Green Stamps heyday, though, such exotica as donkeys, gorillas and elephants were sometimes made available when zoo groups pooled enough filled books. Offered but probably never purchased: an eight- passenger Cessna airplane. Hmmn. One must wonder just how many Ideabooks were needed for that?

Five benefits you can apply for using ssa.gov

• Are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

We continue to make it easier for you to access our programs and benefits. Our website offers a convenient way to apply for benefits online.

Here are five ways you can apply for benefits using ssa.gov. Retirement or Spouse’s Benefits — You must be at least 61 years and 9 months and want your benefits to start in no more than month months. Apply at ssa.gov/retirement.

Disability Benefits — You can use our online application, available at ssa.gov/benefits/ disability to apply for disability benefits if you:

• Are age 18 or older.

• Are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record.

• Have not been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days. If your application was recently denied, our online appeal application is a starting point to request a review of the determination we made. Please visit ssa. gov/apply/appeal-decision-wemade.

Supplemental Security Income –— SSI provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness who have income and resources below specific financial limits. SSI payments are also made to people age 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial qualifications. If you meet certain requirements, you may begin the process online by letting us know you would like

to apply for SSI at ssa.gov/ssi. If you do not have access to the internet, you can call your local Social Security office to make an appointment to apply.

Medicare — Medicare is a federal health insurance program for:

• People age 65 or older.

• Some people younger than

65 who have disabilities.

• People with end-stage renal disease or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

If you are not already receiving Social Security benefits, you should apply for Medicare three months before turning age 65 at www.ssa.gov/medicare.

Extra Help with Medicare

Prescription Drug Costs — The Extra Help program helps with the cost of your prescription drugs, like deductibles and copays. People who need assistance with the cost of medications can apply for Extra Help atssa.gov/ medicare/part-d-extra-help. Share this information with those who need it.

Rogers running as Goshen GOP mayoral candidate

My name is Benjamin Rogers, and I am running as the Republican nominee for mayor of my hometown of Goshen.

I have long held an interest in the workings of local government. I believe that if one wants to make a difference, they are best advised to focus on their local community, rather than the swirling of national politics.

When I learned that formerMayor Stutsman had resigned and his party appointed his successor, this spurred me to further explore this position. I believe the city deserves a choice at the ballot box regarding its new chief executive.

There are a lot of issues facing us and housing affordability is affecting all, but especially our young people and our seniors. We must encourage development and restore housing affordability for all residents no matter their socioeconomic standing. Increasing the supply of housing allows for growth, affordability, and the reduction of property taxes through reduced tax as-

sessments. Clear communication about new projects is critical!

Goshen is a wonderful city with fantastic possibilities for future growth and improvement. This will only happen if we work together, build coalitions and restore our reputation as a people and business-friendly community. I understand that being a cheerleader for our community is a large part of the job as mayor, but I want to go beyond the ribbon cuttings. I want

to take concrete actions within my administration to improve the services provided to all city residents. We deserve a city government focused on serving all of our neighborhoods equally and fairly!

As your Mayor, I will work to bring energetic leadership, working with all, with a focus on the issues. I, Benjamin Rogers, ask for your support and vote as we head into the November 2023 election.

you make less than $2,268 per month (single) or $3,080 per month (married) and are on Medicare, then you might qualify for assistance with prescription drugs and expenses for your medical care.

‘Hour’ favorite TV show, ‘60 Minutes’

one would want to be you.”

I’m a big “60 Minutes” fan. I remember watching the premier show in 1968. The producer of that show was Don Hewitt, an alumnus of New Rochelle High School, where I graduated in 1965. The high school has a list of famous graduates. Don is listed along with 29 other people. I must have been number 31 because I couldn’t find my name.

This past week, “60 Minutes” did a show about artificial intelligence. The story focused on how some of these AI programs can mimic someone’s voice and be used to trick people into sending money or giving out personal information over the phone. This freaked out my wife, who is very concerned about having her identity stolen. She is not worried about my identity being stolen because to quote Mary Ellen, “I don’t think any-

She is very paranoid about this kind of stuff. She shreds everything, convinced that people will riffle through our garbage to find vital information.

“Mary Ellen, why are you shredding our junk mail?”

“Dick, I don’t want people to know our address.”

“Well, if unsavory people are going through our trash at the curb, they can figure out where we live, because we live right behind the trash.”

Now, as a result of the “60 Minutes” story, she has heightened concerns about privacy. I called her the other day to ask a question.

“Hi, Mary Ellen. It’s Dick. I need your social security number to fill out a form here at the bank.”

There was a pause on the phone… a long one.

“Hmm, when you call you never say, ‘It’s Dick.’ You always say ‘Hi, it’s me.’ Now, who is this?”

“It’s your husband. Now, can you give me the social security number, please?”

“I have a couple of questions before I give out this highly sensitive information. What is your brother’s name?”

“Peter, of course.”

“Where were you born?”

“New Rochelle, N.Y. Look, if this is some kind of an IQ or memory test, you need to make the questions a lot tougher.

“This is my way of checking if it’s really you. With all the new technology available, a crook could be calling me

and making his voice sound like yours.”

“Okay, Mary Ellen, you may ask one more question. Make it a good one.”

“Okay, Dick — or whoever you are — when we got married, we stayed in a magnificent vacation spot in Big Sur,

California. You said it was the most romantic, glorious hotel you had ever been in. It was a weekend you would never forget. What was the name of the hotel?”

“I don’t have a clue.”

“Oh, good; it’s definitely you. My number is 897-006-0000.”

Mature health matters

to determine proper treatment.

Look After Eye Strain

Many parts of your body don’t work as well after you’re 50 than they did before you strolled past the half-century mark.

A common but overlooked problem is dry eye, which results in itchy and burning eyes. The irritation is often caused by lowered tear production, which decreases with age and can be exacerbated among snowbirds who spend their winters in dry desert climates.

Long sessions at your computer, driving, and watching television are also among the causes.

Over-the-counter eye drops can alleviate the condition readily, but you should have your eyes medically examined

Another common complaint by the over-50 crowd is “floaters and flashes.” Floaters resemble black spots or cobwebs wandering through your eye and can be constant or episodic. Flashes, which are episodic, are brief blasts of light.

Both are normally harmless but should be checked because they can signal a detached retina, which can lead to blindness.

Look for the Spice of Life

When sorting through one’s catalog of places to eat, the choice narrows down to less exotic eateries as one gets older. One’s gastric system requires more protection from spicy foods as it ages, seems to be normal thinking.

However, an analysis a half dozen years ago of a two-decade study of some 16,000 adults re-

vealed that those who reported having hot peppers in their diet reduced their risk of death by more than 10 percent.

This means a bit of spice in your life can add years to your life.

Apparently, when you bite into a hot pepper, your brain produces endorphins to reduce the heat you’re taking in. At the same time, those endorphins coursing through your body also reduce any pain and inflammation from other sources.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Jeff ‘JJ’ Shaw, Attorney at Law

Tennis at 89: Clayton stays healthy on the court

three or four courts with 12 or 16 people out here, he is holding his own.”

80s,” Wedehase said.

The most consistent athletic performance at Wawasee High School might not come from a student, but rather from a man who is nearly 90-years-old. Dale Clayton, 89, has been playing tennis three days a week with a group of fellow adult athletes.

Cindi Camp is among the friends Clayton plays tennis with at the high school.

“He is here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday without fail,” Camp said. “He is very consistent. When we’ve have

Clayton says he has been playing the sport since the fourth grade for almost 80 years. When asked how he has been able to stay at it, Clayton had a simple answer. “The good Lord has made it possible.”

Clayton’s tennis group plays doubles together three days a week. Kelly Wedehase is one of the tennis players who is amazed by how well Clayton moves on the court at his age.

“We love Dale. We all want to be like Dale when we are in our

Myths mask base of social security benefits

There are a couple of persistent myths in circulation regarding how your Social Security benefits are based. Introduce the topic and you’re almost certain to hear that your benefits are based

on your income over your last three years in the work force, or on your five highest-earning years.

Both are wrong.

Social Security analysts review your income and base your benefits on your highest 35 years of earnings.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Elder Law

Q. Does my Will control all my assets when I die?

A. Contrary to popular belief, a Last Will and Testament does not necessarily have the final say about what happens to a person’s assets when they die. Setting aside the claims of creditors, the role of a Last Will and Testament is to control the distribution of Probate Assets. Probate Assets are property owned in the decedent’s name, which do not have a joint owner or designated beneficiary. The Last Will and Testament only controls the Probate Assets.

Any real estate, account, investment, or any other property held by a joint tenant with rights of survivorship will automatically pass by law to the surviving joint tenant. Example of rights of survivorship would be real estate or joint bank accounts held by spouses. Upon the death of one spouse, the asset automatically belongs to the survivor.

Clayton grew up in Hagerstown, 61 miles east of Indianapolis. He played one year of college tennis at Butler University. After stops in Florida, Clayton now resides in North Webster.

“I’ve been playing here four years and before that I’ve played here several times,” Clayton said about playing tennis at Wawasee. “It’s my favorite thing to do.”

Clayton says he does not have a particular favorite part of tennis but he does keep score.

“I like to win,” Clayton said.

In addition to tennis, Clayton also pursues interests in music as he enjoys the options for seniors in the area.

“There are things to do. I’m in a community band. We practice at the middle school,” Clayton said.

The tennis group meets the high school tennis courts three days a week from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. For those on the fence about trying the sport, Clayton has some advice.

“You are never too old to give it a try,” Clayton said. “Just keep trying.”

William J. Stockdale Attorney at Law

To avoid court administration of an estate, a/k/a probate, many people will use tools like Transfer on Death Deeds for Real Estate, Pay on Death or Transfer on Death designations, and beneficiary designations on assets like IRAs and life insurance. If you are concerned about the hassle and expense of probate, seek the advice of an experienced Elder Law Attorney.

Professional Services

Q. Do I need a Trust if I have a Will?

A. A comprehensive estate plan will typically include both a will and a trust. By creating both, you will keep control over your assets in the events of incapacity and death, avoid probate, maintain privacy, name a guardian for underage children, and ensure that family, friends, and charitable organizations receive distributions in accordance with your wishes.

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator

They are both an essential part of your long-term financial plan. It’s important to meet with a qualified estate planning attorney or trust officer about how to best protect your assets and beneficiaries.

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

It was 50 years ago —

‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ was Knight’s signature song

Gladys Knight and the Pips

For superstar Gladys Knight, recording “Midnight Train to Georgia” was probably like singing poignant lines from a diary. “I was going through the exact same thing that I was (singing) about when recording,” she once said, “which is probably why it sounds so personal.”

The story begins with singer-songwriter Jim Weatherly. An all-star quarterback for his Mississippi high school’s football team, he also formed a band as a teenager and began writing original songs. Upon graduation, he chose music over a possible athletic career.

Weatherly moved to Los Angeles to try his songwriting luck. One evening in 1970, he phoned Lee Majors, an actor friend who had just started dating model Farrah Fawcett. “Lee and I were in a flag football league together” Weatherly explained. “Farrah answered the phone. She said Lee wasn’t home and that she was packing to take a midnight plane to Houston to visit her folks. I thought, ‘What a great line for a song’.”

After Weatherly hung up the phone, he grabbed his guitar and wrote “Midnight Plane to Houston” in 45 minutes.

The next year, Weatherly recorded an album of original songs, including ‘Midnight Plane to Houston’.” When RCA Records released Weatherly’s LP in 1972, gospel icon Cissy Houston — Whitney’s mother — envisioned a pop-

country tune and wanted first crack at the track. “I loved it right away,” Cissy said. “But I wanted to change the title. My people are from Georgia, and they didn’t take planes to Houston or anywhere else. They took trains. We recorded ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ in Memphis in 1972, but my label didn’t do much to promote it.”

Weatherly’s tune was then offered to fellow Georgian Gladys Knight. She had been an R & B and Top 40 sensation since 1961, when, at 17, she scored her first hit single — “Every Beat of My Heart” — with the Pips, her familyoriented backup group. (One cousin was nicknamed “Pip.”)

Knight recalled, “I listened to Cissy’s version, and I loved it, but I wanted to do something moody — horns, keyboards and other instruments to create texture and to spark something in me.” Knight thus recorded her signature song, which told of a man relinquishing his dreams of Hollywood stardom to return home, with the love of his life choosing to follow him:

“L. A. proved too much for the man

“He’s leaving the life he’s come to know

“He said he’s going back to find what’s left of his world

“The world he left behind not so long ago

“He’s leaving on that midnight train to Georgia

“Said he’s going back to a simpler place and time.”

“While recording that single, I was thinking about my own situation” Knight admitted later when discussing her chart-topping, Grammy-winning smash release on Buddah Records.

“My husband at the time was unhappy that we didn’t have a more traditional marriage, because I was often on the road or recording. Ultimately, it all proved too much for him, like the song said, and we divorced later.”

Ugly toenails can make your face red

An injury, psoriasis, or poorfitting shoes can cause similar symptoms.

If you avoid sandals because of thick, yellow toenails, you aren’t alone.

According to a Mayo Clinic Health Letter, almost half of people over age 50 have a fungal nail infection that causes thick, crumbly, ragged nails.

If you have a toenail causing pain or embarrassment, talk with your doctor about treatment options.

Here are some tips for trimming toenails: soak your feet in warm water first to soften the nails; use an emery board

to thin the top of the nail; clip with long-handled clippers, which resemble small pliers and offer better grip and control; cut straight across to reduce the chance of ingrown nails, and wear roomy shoes. Giving your feet plenty of room prevents friction and wear that can cause toenails to thicken.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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 – at least five 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 available five days a week, MondayFriday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call 574-537-4181.

Ussery believes God never gives up on His people

“I’ve learned from the book of Jonah that God never gives up on His people, even when we mess up,” stated Donna Ussery, Elkhart. “Jonah preached his greatest revival after being in the belly of a big fish. My life has not been easy. I had the stress of a sick child and a divorce I didn’t want. But I have found that one prayer changes everything. My circumstances were still the same. However, my heart was changed, and that makes all the difference.”

Ussery is in the process of writing a book about the prophet Jonah.

“When I was growing up, my parents took me to church,” she said. “On the weekends I was staying with my grandmother, she took me to church. So, I grew up loving Jesus. I was also picked up by Calvary Assembly of God’s bus ministry.”

Ussery dedicated her life to Jesus Christ at church camp when she was 13. “I grew up in the Assemblies of God church. At camp we had a chapel service every night. I remember the speaker telling us that if we asked Jesus into our hearts

and believed He died for our sins and rose from the dead, we would be saved. We also had to publicly confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior.”

When she dedicated her life to the Lord, she had an overwhelming feeling. “I immediately felt light and clean. I also realized that I had this large support system of believers who would help me be a better Christian.”

She married her childhood sweetheart and for a while their life seemed idyllic. “We were foster parents, raising our own three children together. We fasted and prayed together when our daughter Michele spent 117 days at the children’s hospital, battling a disease that could have been fatal. We watched God heal her when the doctor had given up hope.”

Ussery, an early childhood development major, worked at Spirit Life Ministries’ school in Alabama. She and her husband supported the youth ministry there and taught Sunday school.

“We were married for 13 years before our divorce. I joined a divorce recovery group to begin my journey of forgiveness for my ex-husband and his new wife. I learned there’s

only one thing that keeps a believer out of Heaven, that’s unforgiveness. It was a hard battle, but now I pray for both of them and hope within my heart that God will be able to use them for His glory.”

Ussery has three grown children and ten grandchildren. “My children were all raised in church and gave their hearts to the Lord at an early age. Again, God was able to heal the hurt and help them become productive citizens.”

This teacher at heart enjoys instructing people of all ages.

“I did a weekly Bible study at Council on Aging and loved it. My method is similar to how I reach out to children. We’ll read the Bible story. I’ll paraphrase it, and we’ll apply it to our lives.”

Ussery published a Christian newspaper for five years titled “Christian Community News and Events,” that was published through The Papers Inc. “I enjoyed sharing news with the church community.”

She keeps busy writing her devotional book on Jonah. Ussery is available for guest speaking and Bible teaching. She attends Radiant Life Church, Elkhart, and can be reached by email at duliv4him@aol.com.

KCCVB rebranding as Clearly Kosciusko in 2024

The Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau, also known as KCCVB, is changing their brand to Clearly Kosciusko starting officially in February 2024.

On Sept. 13, KCCVB requested grant money from the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors

Commission, or KCCRVC, to change their current “Kosciusko County – Live Well in the Moment” brand to the Clearly Kosciusko brand. KCCRVC granted KCCVB $25,000 in total in order to acquire necessary assets to change brands, including brand font, update of all marketing materials, in-

Backpack helps control how much you take

Most travelers share a common problem. They pack too much.

They might take few tips from traveling business people, those office-bound middlemanagement employees who used to bounce from desk to airport to attend regional staff meetings or make sales presentations or soothe dissatisfied clients.

Many found a single briefcase was enough to contain an extra pair of socks for overnight stays. They wore a washable shirt and underwear. If they spilled something on their tie, they just bought another one.

Luggage makers offer an array of lightweight bags with straps and wheels and exterior pockets and zippered pouches designed to let you take all sorts of items from your closets and bathroom cabinets when you leave home. That may be fine if you’re hitting the highway or sea lanes, but it’s not conducive to comfortable flying.

Start by getting an easyto-carry backpack, tried and true travelers recommend. One that will hold your medications handily, then have enough room for an extra pair of socks, underwear, shorts, and T-shirt or two. Wear a comfortable pair of shoes,

slacks, jacket and tennis hat that don’t have to be packed. Always hang onto your pack so it doesn’t get ripped off. Keep your credit cards, passport, sunglasses, pocket knife, and cellphone in your pocket. Get a leash for your glasses so they’ll hang around your neck when you take them off.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

cluding print material like the visitor guide, supplementary brochures, T-shirts, postcards, other swag, and refresh of the website.

The Clearly Kosciusko brand was originally created in 2018 as a campaign for the local lakes by Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams. However, it grew into much more than this when later through a Kosciusko Leadership Academy white paper project, Clearly Kosciusko became the countywide brand, to be used as a unifying county identifier and voice. This was done through a partnership between KCCVB, the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams, Kosciusko Chamber and Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.

In spring 2023, Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams gave management of the Clearly Kosciusko brand to KCCVB and transferred the copyright

of the material to KCCVB. The mission of KCCVB and Clearly Kosciusko are identical, to be a countywide brand and firsttouch point for people new to the area. After many discussions with all four Clearly Kosciusko partners, KCCVB decided it would make the most sense and be most effective to take Clearly Kosciusko on as KCCVB’s official brand.

“This initiative is the logical next step for the Clearly Kosciusko brand. KCCVB has an excellent record of highlighting all the communities and organizations in our county and helping visitors and top talent have the best experience. As a partner organization, the Lilly Center is excited to support KCCVB as they take the Clearly Kosciusko brand to the next level,” said Dr. Nate Bosch, director of the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams.

Clearly Kosciusko will still

remain a partnership between all four organizations moving forward, and KCCVB plans on regularly seeking input from all four organizations involved during this transition. This brand change will allow the message of Clearly Kosciusko to reach farther and have more impact than before and reduce duplication in marketing efforts moving forward.

“We are excited to make this change and promote Kosciusko County even further, drawing more visitors to the area and helping attract and retain talent through quality of place. Our goal is to show that the place to live, work, learn, and play is Clearly Kosciusko,” said Cori Humes, KCCVB executive director.

The new brand will launch officially in February 2024 along with the release of the annual Kosciusko County Visitor Guide and new website.

Buyer beware applies to sugary drinks

fat, but the sugar is even higher.

380 calories

70 grams of sugar (17½ teaspoons)

8 grams of fat

Maybe just a cup of hot chocolate to warm your innards?

370 calories

37 grams of sugar (9¼ teaspoons)

16 grams of fat

Even a frappe coffee, which just means iced or slushy, has

large size is 45 grams, or 11¼ teaspoons of sugar.

Personally, I have never had any interest in trying an energy drink, but I’ve certainly seen massive amounts of younger adults consume way too many of these. A can of the ‘green one’ boasts having 160 milligrams of caffeine and 54 grams of sugar (13½” teaspoons).

We have entered the fall months of the crazy pumpkin this and pumpkin that including the very popular pumpkin spice drink at your local coffee shop. Did you realize that drink has:

420 calories

65 grams of sugar

15 grams of fat

Remember our calculation of grams of sugar divided by four equal a teaspoon of sugar? Sixty-five divided by four equals a whopping 16¼ teaspoons of sugar in that one drink.

Does a carmel apple spice sound like a better choice? Turns out it’s less calories and

11 teaspoons of sugar by the time it’s completed.

The offender is the ‘pumps’ they add to your drink, mocha sauce, pumpkin spice sauce and caramel. Then add the drizzles and assorted other ‘toppings.’

I know two people that allow themselves one of the above in October and one in November as special treats and I say kudos to them! I know many more that lose all control and join the craziness for two months and see no problem in doing so.

Do you prefer one of the frozen drinks from the machines in a convenience? The average

Our last example is a sports drink that has been around since 1965 that was designed to replenish the carbohydrates, water and electrolytes that were lost while playing sports. A 30-ounce bottle has 48 grams of sugar, or 12 teaspoons of sugar.

The pumpkin and apple drink has some natural sugar, but the rest is all added sugar. As we’ve talked about in previous columns, the American Heart Association recommendation for sugar intake per day is 26 grams (6½ teaspoons) for woman and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men. These drinks are a far cry from fitting into that recommendation; we can do better.

Let’s talk about death or not

about death. I thought that was normal. I’m finding it might not be.

Four years ago my mom, at 82, became ill, had sepsis, and almost died. That was the first time it really registered with me that my mom wasn’t immortal.

Fortunately, my mom is still kicking and just celebrated her 86th birthday. Once she was out of the hospital, we began talking about her inevitable death — whether a day or 10 years from now. We said things we needed to say and asked questions that had been ignored. We talked openly and honestly

I met a family who asked me to not say the word “hospice” in front of their loved one. Hospice, in their eyes, meant death. I met another family who could not talk about their loved one’s upcoming passing in front of him. So, we met outside. Death is a very weighted subject. Some families talk openly about death and use words like “died” instead of euphemisms. Some families never talk about it and say their loved ones “passed away.” Neither is right or wrong. There are many factors that play into how families handle death.

I’m curious about family dynamics and would like to learn more, but I need your help. Let me know your thoughts about talking about and preparing for death — your own or a loved one. Does your family talk about death? Why or why not? Email me at gkonanz@abc-seniors.com with the subject “let’s talk about death.”

Through your thoughts and experiences, I can be more sensitive to a family’s way of processing death. I will know better what to say and not say. I will share what I learn with you. Learning to communicate and understand one another, even when it comes to talking about death, can make relationships and living even better.

Learn to square dance in North Manchester

Want to learn how to square dance? The North Manchester Belles & Beaus Square Dance Club would like to teach you.

The club is offering square dance lessons this fall. The first lesson is free, and any following lessons would cost $3 per person.

The dancing will take place

from 4-6 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 at Scout Hall, Warvel Park, located at the corner of Seventh and Market streets in North Manchester.

The square dance instructor is Jerry Davidson. For questions, call Lexie Duesler at (260) 215-3694.

New ‘Park Bench Fitness’ program launched in area

Goshen Health has launched a collaborative project with grant funding from the Indiana Department of Health to increase physical activity in local parks. By scanning a QR code located on signs near benches, the Park Bench Fitness program gives community members access

to free exercise videos led by a Goshen Health exercise physiologist. The videos are available in English and Spanish and give participants an opportunity to get a full body workout using nothing more than a simple park bench.

“We’re excited about this collaborative effort to promote

new and creative ways to encourage community members to be more physically active, while also spending time outside,” said Randy Christophel, Goshen Health president and chief executive officer. “We look forward to expanding this program in the future with additional park partnerships and resources to help our community thrive.”

Project partners include:

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Three tax savings ideas for long-term care expenses

One huge expense awaiting a large percentage of Americans near the end of their lives is long-term care.

Coming up with the money to pay for a nursing home, an assisted living facility or other such care isn’t always easy. What many seniors and their families don’t realize, though, is that there are tax deductions they can take advantage of that would give

them extra money to help with long-term care expenses, says Chris Orestis, executive vice president of GWG Life and author of the books “Help on the Way” and “A Survival Guide to Aging.”

“There are also tax-advantaged ways they can exit out of a life insurance policy they don’t need any more, which would help them solve some of the financial challenges

they face,” he says. Some of those potential tax deductions or strategies for seniors include:

• Costs of senior living and long-term care. If you’re diagnosed as chronically ill, some long-term care expenses can be tax deductible. Those expenses need to be more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, though. So, what constitutes “chronically

Avoid the pain of kidney stones

Kidney stones are one of life’s more painful disorders and have been around for at least 7,000 years, as discovered in an Egyptian mummy.

Modern lifestyles can exacerbate kidney stones, which contain a variety of substances — most commonly, calcium and uric acid.

There are ways to prevent kidney stones from forming.

In general, drinking up to 12 full glasses of water daily will help to dilute or flush away substances that form stones.

Avoiding excessive protein intake can also reduce the risk.

It is estimated up to 20 percent of Americans at some point will have a kidney stone, which can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. Stones occur more frequently in men, but the number of women afflicted has been increasing. Kidney stones

strike most people between the ages of 20 and 40. Signs of a possible kidney stone include extreme pain in the back or side that will not go away, blood in the urine, fever and chills, vomiting, urine that smells bad or looks cloudy, and a burning feeling during urination.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see your primary care physician as soon as possible.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

ill?” You must be diagnosed and under a certified care plan issued by a doctor or nurse that addresses your inability to perform two or more activities of daily living. Or, you need to be suffering from cognitive impairments. Family members may also be entitled to tax deductions if they are financially contributing to the costs of care for a loved one and qualify as a dependent.

• Long-term care insurance premiums. Owners of longterm care insurance policies can take tax deductions on premiums they pay for qualified plans – as well as other reimbursed medical expenses such as Medicare premiums –as long as the premiums are greater than 7.5% of adjusted gross income.

• Estate tax changes and life insurance. Many large life insurance policies were purchased over the years as a wealth and legacy-preservation strategy to offset the impact of estate taxes.

Prior to tax reform, the first $5,490,000 of income was exempt from the estate tax. Now that has been nearly doubled to $10 million. That means policies currently in force to protect estates valued below the new level are no longer necessary, This presents a chance for the policy owner to sell the policy and recoup some or all of their premium payments under more advantageous tax conditions.

An accountant or financial professional could provide more details about whether you’re eligible to take advantage of any of these deductions or strategies.

“The important thing to remember is that if you’re facing long-term care or other retirement expenses that seem to be more than you can handle, you may have options you hadn’t thought about,” Orestis says. “Knowing the tax rules and how they apply to your personal situation can make a huge difference.”

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The automobile man and his dream

With electric vehicles already a reality, there once lived a man whose automotive concepts were years ahead of his time.

Preston Tucker, who was born Sept. 21, 1903, is most remembered for his 1948 Tucker sedan, initially nicknamed the “Tucker Torpedo.” The car was futuristic, introducing many features that have since become widely adapted for modern automobiles.

He grew up in the Detroit area and became obsessed with automobiles from an early age. His early career included stints with Cadillac and Studebaker, a time as a police officer and finally as the maker of race cars, tinkering with all sorts of allied products.

When World War II broke out, a gun turret he produced for a combat vehicle caught the eye of the military, so he created the Tucker Aviation Corp. This enterprise encountered financial troubles and was purchased by Andrew Jackson Higgins, who became known as “The Man Who Won The War” building Liberty ships, PT boats and landing craft. The acquisition was made with the condition that Tucker would remain vice president in charge of its operation.

After the war, the public was ready for new car designs, but the Big Three Detroit automakers (Ford, General Motors and Chrysler) had not developed any new models since 1941 and were in no hurry to change. That provided great opportunities for independent automakers.

Tucker’s first design appeared in Science Illustrated magazine in December 1946, showing a futuristic version of the car with a hydraulic drive system. The motoring public was now excited about the Tucker. His dream machines were produced in a former wartime production factory in Chicago that was shut down in 1949 in a

clutter of financial mishandling and accusations of fraud, ending Tucker’s dream and his dream car.

Tucker’s specifications for his revolutionary car included a rear engine, a low-RPM 589-cubicinch engine with hydraulic valves instead of a camshaft, fuel injection, direct-drive torque converters on each rear wheel instead of a transmission, disc brakes, the location of all instruments within the diameter and reach of the steering wheel, a padded dashboard, and self-sealing tubeless tires.

The design also included independent springless suspension, a chassis that protected occupants in a side impact, a roll bar within the roof, a laminated windshield designed to pop out during an accident, and a center “cyclops” headlight which would turn when steering at angles greater than 10 degrees to improve visibility around corners during night driving. All of these developments were years ahead of their time.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was embittered after small automaker Henry J. Kaiser was given millions of dollars in grants towards development of his new Kaiser and Frazer cars, but reportedly

squandered the money. While Tucker took no money from the federal government, SEC kept him under close scrutiny.

An SEC trial began on Oct. 4, 1949, and the factory was closed on the very same day. At that point, only 38 Tucker ‘48s had been built. A corps of 300 employees returned to the factory, some without pay, and finished assembling another 13 cars, making a total production of 51 cars.

The SEC contended that Tucker never intended to produce a car. Throughout the trial, the SEC report on Tucker was classified as “secret” and even though his attorneys were never allowed to view or read it, it was leaked to the press.

The prosecution and defense continued debating until the judge demanded the SEC prosecutors “get down to the meat of the case and start proving the conspiracy charge.”

Tucker’s defense attorneys surprised everyone by refusing to call any witnesses. Defense attorney Daniel Glasser told the court, “It is impossible to present a defense when there has been no offense.” Kirby invited the jury to take a ride in one of the eight Tucker ‘48s parked in front of the courthouse. The verdict came in “not guilty” on all counts.

Preston Tucker’s reputation rebounded after the acquittal. His optimism was remarkable; after the trial was over, he was quoted as saying, “Even Henry Ford failed the first time out.” Despite the outcome of the trial, speculation prevailed about whether Tucker genuinely intended to produce a new car and bring it to market, or whether the entire enterprise was a sham.

The Tucker Automobile Club of America has amassed more than 400,000 drawings/blueprints, corporate documents, and letters suggesting Tucker was, in fact, planning to mass-produce the Tucker ‘48. He had hired more than 1,900 employees.

But it was not to be. Tucker’s assets were auctioned off publicly, but two remaining Tucker ‘48 cars were given to Tucker, and his mother. He died of lung cancer on Dec. 26, 1956, at the age of 53, and is buried in Flat Rock, MI.

History indicates that the reason for the Tucker’s lack of success was primarily financial bungling.

Today, entrepreneur Elon Musk, builder of the electric-powered Tesla, no doubt understands much of the turmoil Preston Tucker endured.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

National Great Lakes Museum chronicles importance of the lakes

The Great Lakes are an extremely important factor in the health and welfare of the Midwest and the entire country for that matter. Eighty-four percent of North America’s fresh water comes from the Great Lakes and they hold about one-fifth of the world’s fresh water.

The last ice age formed them about 14,000 years ago. The surface area of the six lakes is bigger than the New England States combined. In 1940, approximately 40 percent of the U.S. population lived in and around the Great Lakes.

Tons more information about the lakes, shipping, vessels, photos and a huge assortment of memorabilia can be learned and seen up-close-

and-personal at the National Museum of the Great Lakes, located in Toledo, Ohio.

Though storms on the lakes may not be quite as vio-

DD RESALES Presents

lent as those on the oceans, over the years more than 8,000 ships have been sunk and more than 10,000 lives lost. One of the most curious disasters was the disappearance of the Edmund Fitzgerald in a storm with near hurricane force winds Nov. 10, 1975. As told in the museum’s exhibit, the freighter suddenly and mysteriously went to the bottom of Lake Superior, where it lies 503 feet below the surface. It had been communicating with another Continued on page 19

DD Resales is rolling into 2024 adventures

costs $830 per person, double occupancy.

It has been a busy 2023 at DD Resales. We have just returned from our Memphis, Tenn., trip and are preparing for our not one, but two trips to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, and, at the end the year, the Branson Holiday Extravaganza Show Trip. The trips this year have been great; so much fun and so many friendships formed. Look out 2024, we are ready to roll.

We are starting with a spring trip to Washington, D.C., for six nights. It will be May 16-22 and costs $955 per person, double occupancy. There will be guided tours of Washington, D.C., evening monuments and memorials, Arlington, Mount Vernon and more. A four-night Nashville, Tenn., trip is June 10-14 and

Nashville is, well, it’s Nashville; you never know who you’ll see there. We have two great shows lined up; one is at the Grand Ole Opry and the other at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater. We have packed a lot into this trip and it will not disappoint.

In September, we are heading to Boston, Salem and Cape Ann. This six-night trip is Sept. 25 to Oct. 1 for $985 per person, double occupancy. There will be guided tours of Boston Faneull Hall, Quincy Market, JFK Presidential Library, and a tour of Coastal Massachusetts.

Another new trip for us is Pigeon Forge and Smoky Mountains Show Trip. This four-night trip will depart Oct. 28 and return Nov. 2 for $885 per person, double occupancy. There will be two morning shows, one afternoon show and three evening shows, plus a guided tour of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and free time in downtown Gatlinburg; can you say shopping?

All trip transportation is on a deluxe motorcoach, leaving you to relax and enjoy. See our ad in this section for details and booking information. Join us in 2024.

National Great

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vessel, but no SOS was sent. It just vanished. Twentynine crewmen died. All that’s left are a couple oars and an inflatable life raft stamped with the ship’s name. Visitors can view a simulation of the wreck on an interactive computer screen.

Barely a year after the ship was lost, popular singersongwriter Gordon Lightfoot told the story of the disaster in a song that is still popular today, “The Wreck of the

Important documents should be copied, stored safely

Everyone should know that you must keep copies of your income tax returns. The length of time varies from four to seven years. But, since you’re keeping copies anyhow, why not keep them for seven to 10 years, to work for you in case questions arise in the corridors of the federal, state, or city income tax agencies that may be affected?

The copies you keep can spare you a lot of grief by documenting your tax trail over the years you retain your records.

Put into a safety deposit box or safe along with these tax returns should be copies of your home mortgage. And add a list of any renovations, additions, or improvements made to your residence.

You also should add copies or a list of all insurance policies.

Included in this pile should be copies of your Social Security card, birth and marriage certificates, divorce papers, military identity and discharge documents, and any other personal papers.

You might also make a list or copies on your computer of all these documents and their numbers with relevant phone numbers.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Edmund Fitzgerald.”

The Great Lakes became a major conduit for smuggling rum from Canada during Prohibition in the 1930s. Historic photos show Coast Guard officers stopping, boarding and searching ships for liquid contraband. Another section focuses on the 326 lighthouses (one every 33 miles) along the 10,900-mile Great Lakes coastline. There’s also an extensive exhibit on the American Indians who lived around the lakes and traveled on them between 1,000 BC and 700 AD.

In addition to ship stories, there’s a huge display of memorabilia ranging from hypothermia suits, lanterns, compasses and diving gear to pumps, horns, whistles and a lighthouse beacon.

And for an extra fee, visitors can board the Col. James M. Schoonmaker freighter moored just outside the en-

trance to the museum. Tours take visitors through the cargo hold, hatch cover, crane, engineer’s cabins, crew mess, officer’s dining room, engine room, owner’s cabin, pilot house and the plush passenger state rooms.

Built at Great Lakes Engineering Works in Ecorse, Mich., the Schoonmaker was launched July 1, 1911, and was dubbed the “Queen of the Lakes”. It was then the largest ship operating on the Great Lakes until 1914. It is 617 feet long, 64 feet wide, weighs 8,600 tons and carried 12,650 tons of coal on its maiden voyage from Toledo to Sheboygan, Wis.

Check out the National Museum of the Great Lakes at inlandseas.org/museum. The best way to get there is head east on U.S. 24, which goes right into Toledo. The museum is located at 1701 Front St.