Free Living Life After 50
Ride the only steamboat for hire in Indiana on Cedar Lake
AWAY — Steamboat Dewey is a replica of the steamboats that were prevalent on Cedar Lake a century ago. It currently is operated on Wednesdays from June through September by the Cedar Lake Historical Association and departs from The Museum at Lassen’s Resort. Cedar Lake Historical Association.
By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer
A century ago, if you visited the community of Cedar Lake you’d have found a bustling resort town full of travelers from Chicago and elsewhere who arrived via the Monon Railroad for some summer fun.
More than 50 resorts once lined the shores of the lake where there were saloons, ballrooms and restaurants. One of those was Lassen’s Resort. The building still stands, the only remaining resort from that era.
The former Lassen’s Resort is now operated by the Cedar Lake Historical Association and is called The Museum at Lassen’s Resort. It’s full of various exhibits on the history of the area. This year, they’ve added a new feature — weekly steamboat tours.
In its heyday, Lassen’s Resort ran a line of steamboats that was used to ferry guests from the train depot across the lake to the resort, called the Dewey Line. Today you can ride on the Steamboat Dewey, a replica of one of the Lassen brothers’ early ferry boats.
In the last two years, steamboat rides were introduced during the Steam Through History Day event and were wildly popular. This year the steamboat is back, but rather than being there for just one event, it’s now operating several tours each Wednesday. The tours began in early June and will continue through Sept. 25. The boat is operated Continued on page 2
— Meg Jehle pilots Steamer Dewey, a converted 1915 lifeboat from the SS Alabama, a steamship that cruised the Great Lakes during the first half of the 20th century.
Photo by Carrie Steinweg.
PICTURESQUE VIEW Shown is the scene from the porch of The Museum at Lassen’s Resort, where you can relax in a rocking chair overlooking Cedar Lake. Photo by Carrie Steinweg.
STEAMING
Higgins working to ‘clear the air’ about tobacco
By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer
Carolyn Higgins has spent her professional life in wellness. Even after retiring, she wanted to remain busy. The Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition seemed like a natural fit.
The Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter County is a community-based coalition of diverse partners dedicated to saving lives and improving quality of life. Its mission is to promote tobacco control initiatives to prevent and reduce tobacco use by citizens through education.
The coalition aspires to reduce tobacco use and eliminate health disparities related to tobacco use by protecting residents from secondhand smoke; preventing and reducing youth tobacco use and access to tobacco products; and improving cessation services to assist smokers in quitting.
As Higgins explained, TEPC, in affiliation with the Valparaiso University College of Nursing and Health Professions, serves Porter County solely with grant funds shared from the Master Settlement Agreement of 1998, which recovered billions of dollars in healthcare costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses from this country’s four largest tobacco companies. Porter County is among 39 Hoosier counties to receive these funds.
“I’ve always loved public health, because there is such great potential to positively impact someone’s life so they live a healthier lifestyle,” Higgins said. “It’s great to find someone with health issues and give them resources to redirect them to a healthier life.”
At a recent volunteer appreciation event, TEPC recognized community groups and individuals for their efforts in combating tobacco and related diseases.
Ride the only
Continued from page 1
with volunteers from both the Hesston Steam Museum and Cedar Lake Historical Association. Tickets for narrated rides on the Steamboat Dewey are available online. The Monon Route is a 20-minute ride that takes you to the site of the former Monon Railroad Depot from Lassen’s Resort while you learn the science of steam power and how Cedar Lake became a resort destination. Tickets are $15.
The Premium Route includes hotel and restaurant stories from Cedar Lake’s resort heyday. Tickets are $35 for the 45-minute tour and $30 for children under 13.
Steamer Dewey is a converted 1915 lifeboat off the SS Alabama, a steamship which cruised the Great Lakes from 1909 to 1946. A
second boat, the Baby Dewey, is an electric boat now available for sunset dinner charters on Cedar Lake.
Guests board the boats from the pier in front of the Museum at Lassen’s Resort, where a wooden pier once extended out 300-feet into the water with a huge ballroom at the end that held up to 1,000 people. It also had a buffet restaurant, tavern and barber shop.
The museum and steamboat tours are run entirely by volunteers. Before or after your ride, be sure to take time to explore the museum. You can make a day of your time in Cedar Lake with lunch at the nearby Sandbar Grill and/or dinner at The Lighthouse, as well as other activities. A farmers market also takes place on the town grounds
“These members went above and beyond this past year,” Higgins said. “Without every coalition member, we would not be able to provide resources and education to improve the health of Porter County citizens.”
Higgins’ experience in public health includes Lake County Health Department, Valparaiso University and Valparaiso Community Schools.
The 61-year-old Valparaiso resident is the mother of two and grandmother of four.
TEPC works to promote a smoke-free environment by reducing smoking and vaping among adults and youth. The coalition is planning a community convention Sept. 27 at VU to discuss such issues as tobacco, vaping, alcohol, gaming and screen time.
Currently focusing on the city of Portage, the coalition promotes smoking cessation resources. Through statistics provided by the state, Higgins
said, reduced numbers show programs are working.
TEPC also works with schools, parents, healthcare providers and multi-unit
housing facilities to spread the word.
“We do a lot,” said Higgins, noting that vaping, or electric
Continued on page 4
behind the museum every other Wednesday. There’s also a free public sand beach next to the
for steamboat rides at lassensresort.
org. To view an interactive map of the lake and former resorts, visit cedarlakehistory.org.
HISTORY RESTORED The former Lassen’s Resort on Cedar Lake is now The Museum at Lassen’s Resort, operated by the Cedar Lake Historical Association. Photo by Carrie Steinweg.
CLEARING THE AIR Carolyn Higgins is director of the Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter County. The coalition works with community groups and schools to promote healthier, smoke-free lifestyles. Photo by Steve Euvino.
pier outside the museum to enjoy. You can purchase tickets
CASA volunteers ‘cultivate relationships’ with youth
By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer
What does one volunteer do to help young people suspected of being neglected or abused?
According to one source, it takes “passion, compassion and dedication – anyone who has a heart for children.”
That source is Joann Price, director of the Lake County Court Appointed Special Advocates program, or CASA. Lake County CASA provides advocacy
for abused or neglected children in need of services. These young people range in age from newborns to 21 years.
Trained CASA staff and volunteers investigate, facilitate and monitor different aspects of children in need of services cases.
Lake County Superior Court Juvenile Division implemented CASA in 1987 and regularly appoints CASA personnel to child abuse and neglect cases.
Lake County CASA recruits, trains and supports volunteers as
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CORPORATE OFFICE
court-appointed special advocates to adequately represent abused or neglected children during juvenile court proceedings.
Price works with Keith Burke, CASA volunteer recruitment coordinator, to provide volunteers. The program requires training, background check and additional training once volunteers are sworn into the program.
Volunteers, who must be at least 21, reflect all age groups and demographics. They represent the child’s best interests in court cases. They meet with the child(ren), gather relevant information, report their finding to CASA staff, attend court hearings and monitor the case to ensure the child receives courtordered services, according to Price.
A CASA volunteer may remain with the program as long as he/ she wishes. The volunteer’s case is officially closed once the court has ruled on the child.
“We prefer not a one-and-done deal,” said Burke, who is working to expand CASA training. The pandemic, Price said, took a bite on volunteer numbers.
Burke noted volunteer training includes 30 hours of classwork, covering eight weeks. Training includes meeting with CASA staff.
For Price, the biggest thing with volunteers is “having contact with the child and cultivating a meaningful relationship. They are the child’s voice in court and we want them to create a connection with the child, to share what their needs are.”
S. O.
Depending on the case, CASA clients may be suffering from education neglect, such as missing school. Other problems include parents having addiction or domestic violence issues.
CASA volunteers meet with the child at least once a month. They also go to the child’s home, foster home or other residential facility.
Currently the program has 55 volunteers, including 20 “very active” volunteers. Many of them, Price noted, are “of age.”
The director added these older volunteers’ backgrounds include industry, commerce, education and homemakers. Some are retirees who offer their available time.
Mature volunteers, Price said, boast a “world of experience,” citing their ability to “read between the lines” when it comes to young people. Some volunteers have adult children and are “able to make a meaningful connection,” the program director said.
The program does require ongoing continuing education. CASA also provides affected children with support and positive encouragement to help them lead healthier lives.
Applications for volunteers are taken year-round. For more information on becoming a Lake County CASA volunteer, visit lakecountycasa.com or call Burke directly at (219) 660-6846.
S. - Speaking Of Seniors — Helping widow fight medical bills totaling over $200,000
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Editor’s note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville. He has saved clients of that firm over three million dollars by fighting mistakes and fraud in the Medicare billing system.
On July 2, I helped a client from Highland file a complaint with the Indiana Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection against an insurance company and two hospital companies. The combination of medical bills totaled over $200,000. All the claims were for care to her late husband during his last weeks of life.
In this case, I found evidence that she was being billed by two different hospital billing firms for the same services on
Continued from page 2
cigarettes,
Higgins traces vaping
“They
By WOODROW WILCOX Senior Problem Resolution Officer Senior Care Insurance Services
the same dates of service. Medicare denied almost everything in the claims. If a claim is filed
younger clientele.
Noting that one vape is equivalent to 50 cigarettes, Higgins said young people “underestimate the levels of harm and addictive properties” from vaping.
“Ultimately,” Higgins said, “I would like our coalition to be so
incorrectly, Medicare will deny the claims until they are filed correctly and in a timely manner.
The insurance company was refusing to pay because it did not receive any of the claims within the 15 months allowed for filing a claim. I highlighted the statements on the Medicare claims reports that showed the filings had been made within the 15-month period. I believed the original filings with Medicare had been filed timely but not correctly by Medicare rules. If the billing companies had filed the claims correctly and timely, then the insurance company should pay on the claims. If the billing companies did not file in a correct and timely way, Continued on page 5
successful that I work my way out of a job because everyone and everywhere in Porter County is smoke-free.”
Anyone with an interest in helping with education and prevention may contact Higgins at (219) 464-5357 or email carolyn.higgins@valpo.edu.
CASA CONNECTION – Joann Price, seated, is director and Keith Burke is volunteer recruitment coordinator for Lake County Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA. This state and national program connects adult staff and volunteers with young people found to be experiencing abuse or neglect. Photo by Steve Euvino.
AVIVA Merrillville for memory care
By CARROLL FINLAY AVIVA Merrillville
Millions of Americans experience memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. And millions more friends and families suffer as they helplessly watch the disease progress. When memory loss affects one’s daily life, it’s important to find support and a safe place to live. AVIVA Merrillville is such a place.
AVIVA Merrillville exclusively offers memory care. It’s a small and inviting community where its residents can feel at home. Its staff are experienced and trained to care for the residents at every stage of cognitive decline from early to late stage dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
With an open floor plan, AVIVA Merrillville encourages residents to feel part of a community, free to explore, to socialize with other residents and participate in the many activities designed uniquely for them. The community stresses that memory-care
residents are still capable adults, so a lot of effort goes into working with their individual capabilities and interests.
Activities are designed to include families. Families are encouraged to participate in programs and educational opportunities to learn more about memory loss and how they can support their loved ones on this journey.
AVIVA Merrillville is the only senior-living community in the region that focuses exclusively on memory care. Every apartment at AVIVA Merrillville has a private bath, high-tech monitoring and keyless door systems. Families and friends appreciate the community’s easy-to-visit location just off the intersection of I-65 and US 30.
Nearly seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and another 10% of older people suffer from some kind of dementia; maybe someone you know. It’s comforting to know there is a special, local community where they can enjoy an attentive, happy lifestyle that celebrates their capabilities.
AVIVA Merrillville is located at 7900 Rhode Island St. Call (219) 525-4123 or visit avivamerrillville.com for further information.
from page 4
should “eat the bills.”
There were multiple issues in the widow’s case. The Indiana Attorney General has more leverage to force the insurance company and the two billing companies to answer questions honestly than I have. I
wanted our client, the widow, to be treated honestly and well by all parties. Helping her file the complaint against three companies was what I believed would help her the most. All the help that I gave this client was free of charge. This insurance agency helps all our clients with such medical
bill problems at no charge to demonstrate to our clients that we really do care for them. If your insurance agent or agency does not give this high level of customer service to clients, why don’t you switch to an insurance agency that does give a high level of customer service – like this one?
WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AVIVA Merrillville is the area’s only senior-living community focusing exclusively on memory care. Photo by VHT Studios.
Defending against scammers who target your Social Security benefits
By DANIEL SUMMER, MA Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration
Scammers are always finding new ways to steal your money and personal information. The best way to defeat scammers is to know how to identify scams and to ignore suspicious calls and emails.
One common tactic scammers use is posing as federal agents or other law enforcement officials. They may claim your Social Security number is linked to a crime. They may even threaten to arrest you if you do not follow their instructions. Here are three things you should do:
1. Hang up right away or do not reply to the email.
2. Never give personal information or payment of any kind.
3. Report the scam at oig.ssa. gov to immediately notify the law enforcement team in our Office of the Inspector General.
You should continue to remain vigilant if you receive a phone call from someone who claims there’s a problem with your SSN or your benefits. If you owe money to us, we will mail you a letter explaining your rights, payment options, and information about appealing.
When trying to identify if a call or email is a scam, remember we will never:
Legacy Foundation, Inc. —
• Threaten you with benefit suspension, arrest, or other legal action.
• Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.
• Require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card.
• Demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Securityrelated problem.
• Send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.
For more information on scams visit ssa.gov/scam. Share this information with anyone who may need it.
Qualified charitable distributions
By VERNE P. SEEHAUSEN Retired CPA
Owners of individual retirement accounts who are age 73 in 2024, must plan to take required minimum distributions annually. The RMD is calculated using an age-based
factor and the balance of the IRA as of the prior year-end. The RMD for the first few years amounts to less than 4% of the IRA balance. After age 80, the RMD amounts to over 5% of the IRA balance. The RMDs are taxable income on your federal income tax return and on many state income tax returns.
To minimize the income tax effect of an RMD, you might consider making a qualified charitable distribution to a favorite charity. Up to $105,000 can be gifted in a year as a QCD where the amount is excluded from gross income. Since you will not be reporting income with the QCD, you also will not be taking a charitable deduction. For those using the standard deduction, it reduces taxable income.
To complete a QCD from an IRA to a charity, the IRA owner must:
• Be age 70½ on the date of distribution;
• Submit a distribution form to the IRA custodian requesting that the check be made payable directly to the charity;
• Ensure that no tax withholding is being taken from the QCD;
• Send the check payable to the charity; directly to the charity or to the IRA owner to be forwarded to the charity;
• Have the check clear the IRA by year-end.
The process of completing the QCD to a charity is fairly straightforward. The key requirement is that the QCD check must be made payable directly to the charity.
Legacy Foundation Inc.,
Lake County’s community foundation, can accept your gifts of a QCD. If you have general questions, contact the staff at Legacy Foundation at
(219) 736-1880 or legacy@legacyfdn.org, or your tax advisor. Legacy Foundation is located at 370 E. 84th Drive, Suite 100, Merrillville.
Reverse mortgage movers still hustling
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Among the newest reverse mortgage wrinkles promoted by lenders in the business is the fact that any unused balance grows at the same interest rate as the rate being charged on the line of credit. That means, if you borrow $100,000 at 5% interest
rate and plan to use it only as a line of credit, that loan against your mortgage grows to $105,000 in a year. If you pull $25,000 out of that loan, the remainder will grow by 5% a year.
And it keeps on growing by 5% a year.
While reverse mortgages sound enticing when considering its main selling point — borrow on the equity of your house and never have to pay anything back as long as you live in it — the devilish details include, among other things, exorbitant fees and an annual review to make sure you’ve paid the taxes, maintained the property and kept it insured.
Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay off the loan if you and your spouse are forced to move into a nursing home after a mishap or because of age-related infirmities.
As a lawyer acquaintance strongly advised years go, “If you don’t need the money, don’t even think about a reverse mortgage.” Mature Life Features
KNOW HOW TO IDENTIFY SCAMS Visit ssa.gov to find out ways to defeat scammers and identify scams. Phot provided by Social Security Administration.
50 Years Ago —
‘Waterloo’ was ABBA’s international smash hit
ABBA
From 1974 to 1982, Sweden’s ABBA quartet sold a reported 400 million discs while leaving behind a legacy of now-classic creations.
By RANDAL C. HILL
And, along the way, ABBA heard no complaints from the owner of a Swedish fish-canning factory. (More about that later.)
ABBA consisted of two married couples from Stockholm: Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Faltskog, and Benny Anderson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Ulvaeus and Anderson had worked together for years in various groups. In 1971, they released a Top 5 Swedish single — “Hello, Old Man” —which, for the first time, featured their wives accompanying them on the recording. Later Bjorn and Benny 45s didn’t do as well, though, and for the next three years the musicians struggled to keep their names alive on the music scene.
Enter Stig Anderson. An ex-teacher who had written hundreds of songs during the 1960s, he had started Polar Records in the early 1970s. Now he needed to find the right artists to send him on a rocket ride to success and, hopefully, wealth. Anderson met his goal with Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson and their fetching wives. He named the quartet ABBA, using the first initial of each of their names.
Now he needed to get them noticed in a big way.
The Eurovision Song Contest had been held annually since 1956 and was often a highlight of the European TV year. Up to 600 million viewers watched each event, with hopeful participants representing their home countries, performing original three-minute songs. The prize handed to the winner seemed absurd: a 1950sstyle glass radio microphone.
Lacare Art League meets monthly
Are you interested in arts and crafts? If so, you should check out the Lacare Art League.
The group meets the fourth Monday of each month, with the exception of December, at Gloria Dei Church, 3711 Ridge Road, Highland.
Each month, the doors open noon. A light lunch is served at 12:30 p.m. with the meeting beginning at 1 p.m.
For further information, contact Ann Barr at (219) 689-0737, or ambarr67@aol. com.
The wide-ranging — and allimportant — exposure, though, was priceless.
ABBA entered the contest in 1974 with the Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson-created “Waterloo,” which lyrically compared a young woman’s surrender to her suitor’s advances to Napoleon’s being vanquished at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815:
“Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war
“Waterloo, promise to love you forevermore”
(History buffs will delight in pointing out that, while Napoleon was beaten at that battle, he didn’t actually surrender until six weeks later.)
That Eurovision night, Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson were visible and providing onstage instrumentation (Ulvaeus played guitar, Benny Anderson keyboards), but the
spotlight mainly fell on their gorgeous wives, resplendent in flashy outfits and frolicking in well-choreographed steps. The ladies blew more than a few million minds that night, as ABBA swept away the evening’s competition.
Starting with the international smash hit of “Waterloo,” ABBA eventually released hit after hit worldwide. In America, 14 of their Atlantic Records reached Billboard’s Top 40 singles charts, with one— “Dancing Queen” — streaking to Number One in 1977. In 2010, the group was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
A little-known fact is that before Stig Anderson could register the name ABBA, he had to obtain permission to use that name, as a Swedish fish-canning company named Abba Seafood had been around
since 1838. Agnetha Faltskog later recalled that the company owner had initially grumbled,
“Okay, as long as you don’t make us feel ashamed for what you’re doing.”
ABBA LEAVES BEHIND A LEGACY OF CLASSIC CREATIONS
A Boomer Blast To The Past
Jesso encourages seniors to try inexpensive sport of disc golf
By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer
During the pandemic, outdoor recreation and activities took off. People were looking for ways to get outside and be active safely. Disc golf is a sport that saw a surge in popularity during that time with scores of people discovering how fun this inexpensive and not well-known game could be.
Michael Jesso of Munster was ahead of the game. He had started playing a year before COVID and is pleased to see this sport he had become fond of gain interest.
“I started playing almost 5 years ago, pre-COVID,” said Jesso. “And I say that because the sport had an enormous growth spurt during the pandemic for the obvious reasons.”
Jesso had heard of the sport and grew curious as he spotted the baskets while biking past a couple courses, but it wasn’t until he traveled to Texas that he first played.
“I was on my way to visit a friend in Texas and she asked me if I had ever played disc golf,” he said. “I never had, so I bought some discs when I
went out to visit her and the rest is history.”
He’s now an active league player as a member of the The Red ROC Disc Club of Northwest Indiana and he plays in organized tournaments, as well. His favorite courses in the region include ones in Valparaiso and Portage, as well as his league’s home course, Rivers Edge in Munster. “I have a second home in Arizona so that goes without saying. There’s plenty of courses out there I love to play at,” said Jesso.
“What I love mostly about this sport is the exercise, the camaraderie with fellow players and how it is a very inexpensive sport to get into. It has gotten popular — as I mentioned before due to the fact of the COVID restrictions and people just wanted to get outside and do something — but also as a new sport. There’s a whole new generation of youngsters that have gotten into it and have become incredible players on the circuit,” he said. “The expense to get involved is so little. Basically a $10 disk and you’re good to go. At most courses there are no green fees like ball golf.”
Disc Golf is a sport Jesso considers as ideal for seniors. “I definitely recommend it to seniors because most courses are fairly flat. It doesn’t take a lot to walk around and if you could toss a Frisbee you can play disc golf, although there is obviously a lot more to it than that,” he said.
He noted that one of the game’s oldest players was a 100-year-old California man who started playing disc golf when he was in his 80s.
Besides playing disc golf, Jesso keeps active by hiking, biking and doing regular gym workouts. He also plays bass guitar in a band and is owner of Cafe Borgia in Munster.
LET IT FLY
Mike Jesso of Munster has been playing disc golf for about 5 years. He believes it to be a great sport for seniors because of its low impact and inexpensive cost to get started. Photo provided by Mike Jesso.
Probate Pitfalls: Effects on Taxes and Creditor Claims
One of the major pitfalls of probate is its potential impact on estate taxes. Probate assets are subject to estate taxes, which can significantly reduce the size of the inheritance left to beneficiaries. This is especially true if the estate is large, as the tax rate increases proportionally with the value of the estate. Furthermore, probate can also lead to double taxation; the assets may be subject to estate taxes, and the income from these assets may also be subject to income taxes. In addition to taxes, probate can also subject the estate to creditor claims. When an estate goes through probate, creditors are notified and given a chance to make claims against the estate for any unpaid debts.
Before any assets are distributed to the beneficiaries, the debts must first be settled. This process can reduce the value of the estate and delay asset distribution. Moreover, the public nature of probate can expose the estate to fraudulent claims, adding another layer of complexity and potential loss.
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Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
— Diesel, steam and twilight train excursions for family fun
By LORETTA KOSLOSKE Ridership Specialist Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, located in North Judson, runs regular diesel and/ or steam train excursions every Saturday, and some select Sundays from May to September, and for special holiday events. Passengers have their choice of riding in open-air sightseeing cars or a vintage coach and/or caboose, while rolling down the tracks through the northwest Indiana countryside.
Regular train excursions are round-trip from the depot and travel about five miles to the Kankakee River at English Lake, before returning to North Judson. The total length of each trip is approximately 45
minutes. Ticket prices begin at $10. Purchasing tickets online is recommended, as seating is limited.
Be sure to visit the museum and grounds, where admission is always free. The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has one of the largest museum collections of working railroad signals and a restored World War II Pullman Troop Car. Stroll around the grounds to see all types of rolling stock, engines, and memorabilia of a bygone era.
The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum has an exciting schedule of events planned for this season. The fall brings Pumpkin, Twilight and Halloween Trains, while Santa Trains run in late November and December. Times, prices and excursion length for these special events may vary from regular train excur-
sions. Remember that seating is limited, and it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance before excursions sell out.
HVRM is an all volunteer, nonprofit organization dedi-
cated to the preservation and education of railroading history. Special group events, including school groups, can be arranged by contacting the depot.
Visit the Hoosier Valley Rail-
road Museum website for a complete schedule of events. Order tickets at hoosiervalley.org, or call the depot at (574) 896-3950 on Saturdays or days when train excursions are scheduled.
Meals on Wheels Of NWI unveils vibrant new van wrap
By MELISSA HUFFMAN Director of Business Development Meals on Wheels of NWI
Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana is ecstatic to announce the unveiling of a vibrant new van wrap, installed by the TradeWinds Sign Shop and their amazing team. The bright bold design was courtesy of Simko Signs in Valparaiso.
This van will enhance visibility as Meals on Wheels of NWI is currently expanding our frozen meal program to rural communities in Porter, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski counties. The refrigerated van purchase was made possible by a generous grant through The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation to further these programs.
This collaboration with TradeWinds highlights their mission to serve people with special needs, particularly through their pre-vocational services, as well as their commitment to supporting local initiatives and making a positive impact throughout the NWI community,
“We are thrilled with the new van wrap and incredibly grateful to TradeWinds for their meticulous installation work, Simko Signs for the beautiful design and The ClevelandCliffs Foundation for the grant to purchase of the vehicle,”said Sandra Noe, CEO Meals on Wheels of NWI. “This partnership is a true illustration of how our community pulls together to serve those in need.”
TradeWinds is known not
only for their work to provide services for children of all abilities and adults with physical and developmental disabilities, but also prides itself on providing training and job opportunities for people with disabilities. It is a leading provider of custom signage solutions in Merrillville.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Meals on Wheels of NWI and support their work in our community,” said Jon Gold, CEO of TradeWinds.
Meals on Wheels currently prepares and delivers more than 10,000 meals per week. We see a great need for access to nutrition in our rural counties, and with support from The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation, we can expand our frozen meal program to help fill this need.
206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542
The winner of the I Spy Contest for July is JoAnn Kijewski of Lansing, Ill. The poolside items were located on page 1 in Senior Life Allen; page 6 in Senior Life Northwest; page 19 in Senior Life Elko and page 9 in Senior Life St. Joseph.
STEAMING AHEAD The Bock Lumber No. 1 Steam Engine is shown departing the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Depot with passengers. Photo provided by the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum.
Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
To achieve flavor quickly in this sun-dried tomato pasta recipe, we use the oil from sun-dried tomatoes to create the base of the cream sauce. Meanwhile, the residual heat of the pasta wilts the spinach in record time for a fast weeknight dinner.
4 servings; Active 20 minutes; Total Time 20 minutes.
INGREDIENTS:
5 ounces baby spinach, coarsely chopped
8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
1/2 cup slivered oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, plus 1 tablespoon oil from the jar
1/2 cup halved and thinly sliced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1 cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
DIRECTIONS:
Place spinach in a large colander in the sink. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add spaghetti and cook according to package directions. Drain the pasta over the spinach; toss to wilt the spinach.
Meanwhile, heat sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sun-dried tomatoes; cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Increase heat to mediumhigh and add broth; cook, stirring, until reduced by about half, about 2 minutes. Stir in sour cream, Parmesan and butter. Add the spaghetti and spinach; toss to coat well.
NURSERY RHYMES
ACROSS 1. Ground grain 6. *Black sheep answer: “Yes ____, three bags full.” 9. Estimator’s phrase (2 words) 13. Washer cycle 14. Australian bird 15. Plants and animals 16. Chipped in 17. Dashboard acronym 18. Not over 19. *Rhymes with Porgie 21. *Container in nursery rhyme and Ella Fitzgerald’s song 23. Ray shooter 24. Gloomy 25. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
28. The Wise Men
30. Type of mold 35. Civil Rights icon
37. Front of ship
39. Marilyn’s real name 40. Distinctive elegance
41. Meal in a shell, pl. 43. Plant anchor 44. Strong and sharp 46. *”Three Little Kittens” cry 47. Shower with affection 48. Bungle (2 words)
50. Snow ride 52. P in mpg
53. Debilitating spray 55. *”How I wonder what you ____” 57. *Bed on the tree top 60. *____ John, or FrËre Jacques
64. Formerly known as Pleasant Island 65. Commotion or fuss 67. One of journalism’s Ws 68. Vinyl collectible 69. *”Tom, Tom, the Piper’s ____” 70. Israel’s neighbor 71. Big Bang’s original matter 72. Deviled one 73. One deserving of respect?
DOWN
1. Hand grenade 2. Pick-up expression 3. On top of 4. Website visitors 5. Wrigley’s Big ____
6. Bone-dry
7. Elf on the Shelf, e.g. 8. Cuban dance
9. *Old MacDonald’s farm sound
10. Traveled on 11. Proofreader’s mark 12. Sail alternative 15. Boot that reaches halfway or more to knee
20. Unsuitable
22. Pitcher’s pride 24. Bishop’s jurisdiction
25. *Life is but this 26. Marcello Mastroianni’s “La ____ Vita”
27. Some Romanovs 29. SI unit of mass
31. *”Here goes my ____ a trot, a trot...”
32. Sag
33. Portray emotion
Brain Boosters
34. *Jack and Jill’s quest
36. Black tropical cuckoos
38. *Sheep’s
bagfull
Curse
Lollipop brand
Bud or chum
Snooze
____ and desist
C2H5
Pay a visit 58. Bumpkin
Famous boxing promoter Bob
60. Smoker’s water pipe
61. Group of cows
62. Great Lake
63. Back seat, e.g.
64. Negative vote
66. *Mother Hubbard’s pet
Vander Woude leads church group that creates knit caps
By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer
In 2012, Nancy Vander Woude of Schererville acquired a huge supply of yarn that had been donated by the family of Helen Jenninga, a member of her church, Munster Christian Reformed Church, after she died. Jenninga had been avid knitter and the amount of yarn was more than Vander Woude could store in her house. She wasn’t a knitter herself and she wasn’t sure what to do with it all.
Her sister-in-law introduced her to a way of creating a knit cap on a loom called a “knifty knitter.” It’s unlike traditional knitting and those without experience can pick it up easily.
“It’s very easy to learn and the finished product looks just like something purchased from the store,” said Vander Woude. “I began making them at home and when I had 60 made, I was working on one while waiting at my opthamologist’s office. She was asked if they would be going to charity and said she could take them next time she want on her mission trip to Africa.”
With encouragement and support from the church secretary at the time, Cindy Durnilc, the Knifty Knitters group was formed at the church. “We had 13 ladies at the first session and with the help of my friend, Joanne Cairo, we helped ladies get started on making their first
hat. Lunch was served and the ladies seemed to enjoy not only making hats, but the Christian fellowship.”
“Currently we have just shy of 30 ladies attending and we’re still growing,” said Vander Woude. The members range from age 35 up to 90. The group creates caps with donated yarn for a number of organizations — among them Phil’s Friends (a cancer support group), the Salvation Army, Roseland Christian Ministries and several hospital neonatal units. They’ve made over 16,000 hats to date.
Originally from Chicago, Vander Woude has been member of Munster CRC for 41 years. “We were pleasantly surprised at just how friendly the people who greeted us were when we first went. We formed lifelong friends, as did all of our five children. We were blessed by all four of the pastors that we had at Munster CRC.”
Over the years, Vander Woude was involved with Calvinettes/GEMS and is involved in a weekly coffee break bible study. She loves to sew and sewed most of her children’s clothes and her own. She now makes personalized quilt blankets for many of the new babies in her church. She also loves to make and send homemade greeting cards to church family and her own very large family. She also loves to make soup. She and her husband organize the
coffee fellowship after Sunday service. She is a retired hair stylist who worked at Resthaven Nursing Home in Palos Heights and Holland Home in South Holland.
“Jesus Christ is my strength for each day. He is the reason I live and can face each tomorrow. He was there every step of the way when our daughter, Kari Kort, became sick with ovarian cancer. She lived with it for six years before she passed away at age 48. Without my faith, I don’t know how we could have gotten through it. Our family is all close and we put our trust in him,” said Vander Woude. “I feel that every day is a gift from God. It doesn’t matter if it’s a gloomy day or a sunny day, I just enjoy whatever it is God has for me to do.”
Knifty Knitters welcomes anyone who would like to join in making hats. They’re also always looking for yarn donations. For more information, call the church at (219) 836-1400.
Grief keeps on rolling
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Grief has been compared to the waves in the ocean.
When you’ve just lost your loved one, the waves are stormy and severe as they crash without end on the shore of your world.
As time passes, the waves subside in size and frequency and, over time, may even wash quietly in and out of your consciousness.
Like the waves in the ocean, grief never goes away. Its effect on mourners differs.
Some folks wail loudly and carry plenty of tissue with them to soak the tears that wash the memories of their loved one that passed away. Others stoically swallow any emotional displays
and make people around them wonder if they really miss the deceased.
Whatever the effect on an individual, grief is real and usually involves one’s family and friends.
When a spouse dies, for example, the role of family members normally is to help the surviving partner plan details for handling the remains and memorial services as well as facing immediately the bureaucratic government regulations as well as any financial loose ends.
And help each other through their grief.
Recognizing how to help can be a problem.
Those who have trouble controlling their emotional outbursts usually feel overwhelmed by
their grief and see no end to their devastation, making people around them feel unsure about what to do to assuage those feelings.
At the same time, the stoic sufferer many times is seen as cold and uncaring.
Everyone experiences life and living — and death and dying — differently.
If a grief-stricken person has problems leaning on other members of the family for help, grief support groups are growing in number and can usually be found through one’s church or civic center.
There’s no way to avoid grief when it strikes. The key is to face it head on and let it all out.
KNIFTY KNITTER — Nancy Vander Woude leads a group of about 30 at Munster Christian Reformed Church. The Knifty Knitters make knit caps that are donated to neo-natal units, cancer charities and other organizations. They’ve made over 16,000 to date. Photo provided by Nancy Vander Woude.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2023
AVIVA Valparaiso —
Baby boomers, take heed
By CARROLL FINLAY AVIVA Valparaiso
Abby’s dad is a big man. He’s a big, 67-year-old man. And he fell in the shower. Her mom called 9-1-1.
But he was upstairs. Up a steep staircase and at the end of a narrow hallway which the EMTs had a hard time negotiating with their gurney. They made it, and he’s back home now, recovering. But he is confined to a recliner in the living room.
He can’t go to his beloved “man cave” in the basement. His wheelchair takes him to the kitchen, but he can’t reach the cupboard where the cookies are hidden. He can’t even reach the light switches without a struggle. He’s not a happy man.
Abby has started thinking: What if this is not temporary? He can’t live at home, even with her mom’s help. The stairs are steep; there are no grab bars in the shower. A wheelchair won’t fit through the bedroom door.
These are things everybody must consider at some point. As we age, stairs become more difficult to climb, doorknobs become harder to turn, and showers become slippery. Even for the fittest, home and yard maintenance can become overwhelming and even dangerous.
After some research, Abby discovered that there is a lifestyle for every stage of the senior journey, options that every baby boomer and family will eventually want to consider.
Besides housing, there are other issues to contemplate.
What happens when you can no longer drive safely? Or if one spouse dies, and the other is alone? Socialization is one of the most important benefits of senior housing.
Abby’s dad recovered, but the family has started to look at housing options. That 9-1-1 call was a “wake-up call.” All baby boomers should take heed.
To learn more about senior housing and how to navigate the process, contact AVIVA Valparaiso, your local senior community, by calling (219) 531-2484. They can help you through the difficult decisions. You also can visit avivavalparaiso.com.
AVIVA Valparaiso, A SeniorLiving Community, is located at 1300 Vale Park Road, Valparaiso.
COMFORTABLE SURROUNDINGS AVIVA Valparaiso offers beautiful areas for its residents to enjoy. Photo by VHT Studios.
When does life begin?
By PATRICIA J. EVANKO Principal Manager
View Apartments
We are getting tired out on all that
What should we do ... these are really big considerations. There is a solution. Sell that
house, get rid of all that work and move into a safe, inexpensive apartment community — an adult community. One in a nice community, with nice people, Fountain View Apartments offers a very inexpensive, active adult community — very quiet, very safe. Our location in “nostalgic” Crown Point offers proxim-
ity to grocery stores, churches and banks, all within walking distance. Every apartment has a balcony or patio. Our people enjoy sitting out and chatting with each other, planting flowers or strolling the sidewalks.
The Fountain View Apartments are exceptionally maintained, and extensively remodeled. Each apartment has central air conditioning and individual gas heats. Each apartment is being remodeled with plank flooring, new bathrooms and
stainless-steel appliances. Our rents are very reasonable, ranging from $1,200 to $1,350 per month. Our office hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are located off Merrillville Road and 96th Ave., and our telephone number is (219) 663-8228. The address of our model and office is 9614 Dona Court, Apt. 35, Crown Point. It is best to call and schedule an appointment.
Fountain View Apartments are beautiful! See for yourself at fountainviewrentals.com.
WAITING FOR YOU Fountain View Apartments caters to adults 55 and older. call (219) 663-8228 for further information. Photo provided by Pat Evanko.
70s Flashback —
For Peet’s Sake! The man behind Starbucks
“I came to the richest country in the world, so why are they drinking the lousiest coffee?” —
Alfred Peet
Alfred Peet was born in 1920 in the Netherlands. His father ran a small coffee roasting shop, where Mr. Peet utilized only the finest beans for his brews. Alfred Peet learned the business, and in 1955 he emigrated to San Francisco to work for a coffee-and-tea importer.
By RANDAL C. HILL
Once established in the USA, Peet found himself dismayed at the poor quality of American coffee and compared its bland taste to World War II-rationed java. (Back then, our everyday joe was traditionally brewed from freeze-dried beans.)
Determined to teach people
Residences Senior
to appreciate the richness of a top-notch product, Peet opened a gourmet coffee-and-tea shop in 1966 in Berkeley, Calif. Buying only top-quality beans from high-altitude areas of Costa Rica and Guatemala, Peet roasted everything by hand in the back of his store. He was often gruff with his customers, getting along well with most men but having little patience with women and children. He was also illat-ease with the urban Berkeley hipsters, although he did appreciate that such consumers who frequented his shop sometimes called themselves “Peetniks.”
Eventually Peet was visited by three young guys from Seattle. Writer Gordon Bowker, English teacher Jerry Baldwin, and history teacher Zev Siegl were all roommates, but it was Bowker who lit the fire for what would become Starbucks when he serendipitously discovered a tasty espresso cappuccino drink at a café in Rome.
Back in Seattle, Bowker frequently drove to Vancouver, B.C., to buy high-quality coffee
Living
— Back-to-school memories: Fun and powerful recollections for older adults
By NATALIE REISEN Director of Marketing Residences Senior Living
It’s an exciting time. Photos will be posed and it’s almost inconceivable how, many decades from now, they will be the older adults using those photos while reminiscing about their school days.
Reminiscing is powerful! People recall past events and experiences even when memory is compromised by dementia and Alzheimer’s.
“We encourage families to use those past memories for better communications and ways to connect with loved ones,” said Karen Ayresman, executive director, Residences at Deer Creek Senior Living, Schererville. Recall is a boost for selfesteem, confidence and relief from anxieties — even lowering blood pressure!
While sharing memories about pleasant times is the goal, it’s not easy to control all recollections. Unpleasant memories are best worked through with counselors and therapists who understand when a person needs closure to old conflicts.
Residences Senior Living at Coffee Creek offers unique support for residents and families: Lindsey Sherron is the master’s-prepared director of social services, specializing in counseling for older adults and their
beans from a specialty shop. His roommates quickly came to appreciate the superior taste of what Bowker bought and, following one of those trips, Bowker proposed the idea of opening a coffee-bean store at Seattle’s touristy Pike Place Market.
However, a pair of problems tossed a metaphorical wet blanket over the scheme: None of the 28-year-olds had any business experience, and nobody knew anything about coffee beyond drinking it.
They approached Alfred Peet for guidance. Surprisingly, he welcomed them with open arms for training. At Peet’s shop, the Seattle trio proved to be quick learners under the stern Dutchman’s mentoring.
(Siegl later declared, “He had a depth of knowledge of coffee that was unparalleled in this country. There was nobody in his league.”) Peet even allowed the Seattle threesome to copy his store’s layout. He later called them the sons he never had.
Back home, the trio chose Starbucks as their business name, after the first mate on the Pequod, Captain Ahab’s whaling ship in “Moby-Dick.” For $137.50 a month, the men rented a storefront in Pike Place Market in 1971 and sold
layout.
Peet’s coffee beans, tea and spices.
Two years later, Peet convinced them to start their own roasting operation. They followed his advice and began offering high-quality drinks and food. Later, marketing whiz Howard Schultz convinced Starbucks to grow their successful operation to more than 35,000 stores in 80 countries. And, all the while, saying goodbye to “lousy” java!
families. She is a conduit to the broader mental health community should the need arise.
Kaitlynn Redmon, executive director of Residences at Coffee Creek Senior Living, Chesterton agrees. “It’s good to know there is a trusted professional advocate available to help navigate additional resources,” she said.
Tips And Techniques For The Best Reminiscing Ever—Start With School Days!
• High school yearbooks! Old face photos will bring out new stories every time.
• Websites that spin tunes according to decades. Music is magic for memories —surprise! Dad knows all the words!
• Familiar smells and tastes associated with school — that new box of crayons, pencils, Twinkies or other after-school snacks — senses stimulate memories.
• Generational sharing is gold for everyone and school days are a great time for the mining!
For further information about Residences Senior Living visit ResidencesSeniorLiving.com. You can also call (800) 864-0700. Residences at Deer Creek is located at 401 E US 30, Schererville, while Residences at Coffee Creek is located at 2300 Village Point, Chesterton.
GOURMET COFFEE SHOP Alfred Peet opened a gourmet coffee and tea shop in Berkeley, Calif., in 1966. He trained three roommates from Seattle who started Starbucks and copied Peet’s store
Five things to know about asthma, summer heat
(StatePoint) Nearly 25 million people of all ages in the United States are living with asthma, a lifelong chronic disease that makes it harder to move air in and out of the lungs.
Here’s what the American Lung Association wants everyone to know during summer, when extreme heat can make asthma harder to manage.
1. New challenges are emerging.
Beyond traditional asthma triggers like respiratory infections, secondhand smoke and pets, new challenges are emerging. The effects of climate change include extreme heat, poor air quality, increased allergens, extreme weather events, and more frequent and intense wildfires, all of which are making asthma more difficult to manage.
Excessive heat and humidity increase the risk of asthma exacerbation, asthma-related hospitalization and asthmarelated death, especially for children and women. Patients should limit time outdoors during heat waves, seek access to air conditioning and take steps to improve indoor
air quality, as humidity allows dust mites and mold to thrive.
2. City dwellers are particularly vulnerable.
Two-thirds of the average U.S. city is made up of roads, parking spaces, sidewalks and roofs. Since these surfaces are typically dark and non-porous, they contribute to flooding, increased air pollution, poor health and what is known as “urban heat,” a phenomenon in which cities experience warmer temperatures than surrounding areas.
Urban heat, combined with pollutants from power plants, motor vehicles and other pollution sources, creates ozone pollution, also known as smog. Those with asthma can experience symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing from both groundlevel ozone and particle pollution, as well as from the impacts of extreme weather and airborne allergens.
Sadly, these issues disproportionately impact certain communities. Due to a history of discriminatory practices like systematic denial of mortgages, insurance loans, and other financial services on the basis of race and eth-
Flu, Shingles, Pneumonia, RSV, Tdap, Covid, Hep B, Hep A
HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 10 am-5 pm Sat. 10 am-1 pm
nicity, Black and Indigenous people, and other people of color, are more likely to be living in areas impacted by urban heat and poor air quality.
3. Flooding can harm lung health.
Increased severe storms due to climate change results in more flooding, which can harm lung health. Chemicals, sewage, oil, gas and other dangerous substances found in floodwaters can pose health risks, and mold, associated with asthma attacks, can grow anywhere there is water or dampness.
4. Advocacy efforts are underway.
The Smart Surfaces Coalition is made up of 40 national and international organizations committed to making Smart Surfaces the global urban design standard. Smart Surfaces encompass a suite of cutting-edge technologies, including reflective (cool) roofs and pavements, green roofs, trees, solar panels and rain gardens. Designed to miti-
gate urban heat, enhance air quality and improve health, these transformative urban features can cool cities by 5 degrees F, reduce flooding, provide economic benefits and potentially advance environmental justice.
The American Lung Association, an active member of the Smart Surfaces Coalition, encourages cities to take these actions:
• Install light-colored roads, parking lots and driveways to reflect sunlight and reduce heat.
• Install solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity and provide shade for roofs.
• Plant trees to increase shade.
• Select porous surfaces to collect polluted stormwater, soak it into the ground, and filter out pollution.
Other strategies to reduce urban heat, air pollution and ozone levels include using public transportation, carpooling, increasing green
spaces and installing cooling centers in extreme conditions. 5. Resources are available. Educational programming can help people better manage the disease in summer and year-round. Patients can check out the self-management education programs, information and tools available at Lung.org/asthma or call the American Lung Association’s Lung Helpline at (800) LUNG-USA. Living with an illness, or being the caretaker to someone who is, can take a physical and emotional toll. Patients can get support and knowledge, and connect with others by joining the Lung Association’s Patient and Caregiver Network.
For the 24.8 million Americans living with asthma, extreme summer temperatures and emerging environmental threats can make life more difficult. Fortunately, new educational resources and expanded programming can help patients navigate new and old challenges alike.
Help is all around you
By CECIL SCAGLIONE
Mature Life Features
Helping each other is part of our genes, whether we know it or not, or like it or not.
We help our aging parents, neighbors and friends as they become frail and their abilities to cope with the world around them fade.
Our children learn how to walk and cope with the world around them with our help.
But, whether it’s because of macho or manners, there seems to be resistance to ask for help.
Just think about the cliché couple in a car looking for an address. They waste much time driving around, proclaiming it should be just around the corner when all they would have to do is stop and ask directions from a passer-by or shop owner who’s familiar with the neighborhood.
They claim they don’t want to look stupid, so they act stupidly.
As we age, many of us think
we’ll look like we’re losing it if we ask for help. You read of seniors dying of heart attacks shovelling snow from their driveway. And you hear oldsters complain about their aching back as they heft heavy grocery bags into and out of the trunk of their car.
They should be asking someone for help with these chores. For example, shopping trips can be coordinated with a family member, friend or neighbor who can help with the loading and unloading.
This means you should quit caring about whether or not you look self-reliant or lazy.
While “please” and “thank you” should be atop your list of vocabulary used on a daily basis, you can slip “I need your help” right behind them.
Get used to this phrase. Use it when you walk up to a cashier in the supermarket. Instead of just dumping our purchases on the moving belt, tell them, “I might need your help with some of this stuff.”
You’ll find the cashier’s attitude friendlier and a bit less
businesslike because you’re asking for their help — because studies reveal people actually do want to help each other. All they need is to be asked.
Asking for help most likely will start with members of you family — brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and in-laws — and expand to friends, colleagues, co-workers and neighbors.
You might be looking for someone to help with your taxes or get you to medical appointments or find the right kinds of plants to make your yard easier to maintain. Be very clear on what you need and when you need it.
Let the person you’re asking know right off that they can say no if they can’t help you. You don’t need or want an explanation.
Thank them for listening and ask if there’s someone they know who might be able help you. Then ask if there’s anything you can do to help them.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2023
A Healthy Lifestyle as You Age
Healthy R Reminders for A Adults o over
5 50!
1. Take Your Medication as Directed
All medications, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, include directions for safe use. Be sure to follow all printed guidelines and the advice of your doctor to ensure that the medicine works safely and effectively.
2. Don’t Overdo It
Using alcohol and medications unintentionally or to cope with big life changes is called substance misuse. Help can begin with diagnosis, addressing chronic health issues, rebuilding support systems and starting treatment.
3. Check in with Your Mood
Feeling persistently sad or that you don’t have value can indicate depression, especially when these feelings affect your daily routine. Depression can be treated with talk therapy and/or medication. You can also lower the risk of depression when you prepare for major life changes, stay physically active, and share how you are feeling with family or friends.
4. Find Purpose Each Day
Feeling that your life has purpose is a key to fulfillment. It can impact your health positively, and may also slow down aging and increase longevity. Make choices and plan activities based on what is enjoyable, interesting, and important to you.
Learn More When You...
•
•
• Visit www.porterstarke.org
Why veterans make great hires
(StatePoint) Honoring members of the military means not only reflecting on their exemplary service, but also appreciating the talents and skills of veterans in the civilian workplace.
Shining a light on how military skills transfer to corporate America is Brian Armstrong, a Marine Corps veteran who now serves as Wells Fargo’s head of military recruitment.
Having led the safe transport of equipment and security protection forces, on top of serving as a small unit leader overseeing the well-being of fellow Marines, Armstrong acquired skills that easily transfer to everyday business during his military career. And his experience is not unique to him, but shared amongst the hundreds of thousands who transition out of the military to civilian careers each year.
“In the military, you have to be able to think on your feet,” Armstrong said. “We (veterans) span the breadth of the United States, and we can leverage our unique, diverse perspectives to react and deliver under pressure. Add this to the soft skills we gain during
service, and I think veterans are an extremely attractive demographic for employers.”
In fact, many companies in recent years are catching onto the value veterans bring to the workplace, with veteran employment rates trending upward over the past 10 years, according to Department of Labor Statistics. Nevertheless, veterans do face unique workplace challenges, particularly during the hiring process, from employer bias to dealing with the culture shift of post-military life.
Where military recruitment is concerned, Wells Fargo is a good example of a corporation aligning its actions with its words.
For more than 170 years, the company has supported military service members and veterans. In addition to initiatives like home and car donations, grants, and supporting veteran-owned businesses, its dedicated Military Talent Sourcing Team is committed to helping veterans effectively navigate the transition to civilian life. The company’s Military Talent Liaisons are committed to recruiting, counseling, and advo-
cating for military job seekers. According to Armstrong, other companies can benefit from similar initiatives. The team’s programming includes military-specific hiring events, corporate fellowships, apprenticeships through the Department of Labor, and intensive training programs.
“It’s not just about supporting veterans, it’s also about how veterans can help a company. Their ability to thrive in differing environments and circumstances makes them agile and serious-minded in their endeavors,” Armstrong said. “Obviously, we’re not in a military situation in our typical workplace, but I suspect many veterans, like I do, take their corporate roles seriously, the same way they’d get prepared for a mission.”
To learn more about Wells Fargo’s military recruitment initiatives, and its more than 170 years of supporting military veterans and their families, visit wellsfargojobs.com. To learn more about why veterans make great leaders, visit stories. wf.com/why-veterans-make-
great-leaders. Employers can reflect on how making their workplaces more
inclusive to veterans can help both their community and their bottom line.
I am home alone with the cat
By DICK WOLFSIE
This is the longest time I have ever been home alone. My wife is in Boston with my sister, Linda. Before Mary Ellen left, she gave me precise directions on what to do and what not to do. My wife hopes that when she returns from her trip, she will walk into a house that looks somewhat like the one she left.
Mary Ellen’s plane gets in this Saturday at 3:45 p.m. She
should walk in the door at about 4:30 p.m. Our housekeeper is scheduled to leave that day at 4:15, just before Mary Ellen arrives. After Nettie leaves, I am not allowed to cook anything or open the fridge. I can’t walk out the front door and then come back in the house unless I take off my shoes. And if I go outside barefoot, then I’m not allowed to come back in the house at all.
Mary Ellen is particularly concerned with our cat, Angel. This cat hates me. Every time she sees me she snarls and her hair stands up on her back. She tries to bite me when I come near Mary Ellen. That’s why I haven’t kissed my wife good night in 14 years.
But Mary Ellen wants me to play with Angel because she doesn’t want Angel to miss her too much, get bored, or wish she had someone to snuggle with. Hey, what about me? That’s in the rules, as well. I’m not allowed to have anyone to snuggle with.
After Mary Ellen had been gone about a week, I sent her this note:
Hi Mary Ellen,
I just wanted to update you on what’s going on here at home.
Angel is fine. She did get out once, but she seems very content to be on the roof. I’m sure she’ll be okay, even if we have that expected tornado.
I borrowed your Prius one day
to save on gas.
Bad news: I hit a guy in the rear.
Good News: No damage to your car. He was a pedestrian. When I came home the other day, I heard this dinging noise in the house. I thought maybe Angel was playing with her toys. But no, it was the fridge signaling me the freezer door had been left open. But only for 12 hours. Don’t worry, I refroze everything that had melted. Then someone told me this wasn’t a safe thing to do. You might want to Google every item on the list attached to see which foods are deadly to refreeze.
I am proud that I ran the dishwasher all by myself. I couldn’t
find the dishwasher soap you said to use so I just put in some liquid hand soap. Did you know bubbles can stick to the ceiling? The house is so festive now. We should do this next Christmas. The lawn has not been cut in two weeks. Not my fault. We have no mower. I left the garage door open one night. All my beer is gone, too. I hope whoever took all my winter coats off the garage rack will donate a few to kids who need them. Spring is here, so I’m sure the crook will find good use for all your gardening tools.
Finally, our son is doing great. He just pulled into the driveway. He’s going up on the roof to chase Angel.
ST. AGNES
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See Our Ad In This Issue
Improve your backyard, deck or patio by hanging string lights
(StatePoint) Outdoor lighting can extend the time you can spend enjoying your backyard with your friends and family. While there are a host of involved and expensive outdoor lighting solutions, there’s one easy DIY alternative that offers a lot of charm.
“String lights are a beautiful, inexpensive and fun way to add personality and ambience to your yard and patio,” said expert landscape designer, Doug Scott.
In a recent Exmark DoneIn-A-Weekend Projects video, Scott demonstrates how to hang simple, cost-effective backyard lighting. With the best part of the summer still on tap, he is offering his steps for this two-day project for improving your outdoor living space:
1. Determine where you’ll hang your lights. You can hang them from fence posts, on trees, off porch railings, or even purchase light stakes
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2. Research the style of backyard lights that you want to use.
3. Sketch an outline or design of how you want the lights to look. You may want to crisscross the lights or string them just around the perimeter of the patio. Knowing your design will help you determine how many strands of lights you need. Just be sure your design represents you and how you want to live outside.
4. Determine what installa-
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Travelling with or moving in and out of a crowd may make you feel safe, but packs of people also hide the cunning who can make off with your wallet or purse.
Aperion Care - Demotte
tion equipment you need. You may need extra equipment, such as an extension cord or hardware, to hang the lights. Make sure that all hardware is weatherproof and outdoor grade.
5. Measure the area where you’ll hang your lights, being sure to leave room for slack and
to reach the outlet.
6. When you begin hanging the lights, try to have the light strand connections be as discrete as possible.
7. Install light hooks.
8. Hang outdoor string lights. To avoid breakage, remove all of the bulbs from the light strings before hanging them. Once the strings are hung, install one bulb in each strand and test it to make sure it works. Then add the remaining bulbs.
9. Reveal your space. Now it’s time to light up your backyard
living space and kick back and enjoy.
To view the tutorial and get inspired, visit Exmark’s Backyard Life, a multimedia destination that provides everything from lawn care tips to gardening and outdoor hosting advice, at exmark.com/backyard. String or strand outdoor lighting will add after-dark pizzazz to your outdoor living space. Though this improvement makes a big atmospheric impact, it’s one that won’t break the bank.
Pickpockets feast on travelers
Oddly enough, Vatican City is reportedly high on the list of most dangerous place for visitors as pickpockets mingle freely with the more than 6 million pilgrims that visit each year.
In any crowd, women should carry their purse in front of
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them and men keep their wallet in a side or front trouser pocket.
Being aware of your surroundings is step number one to protect yourself from these vultures. Don’t look lost or bewildered and don’t stop passersby to ask for directions. Step into a building — a store,
restaurant or museum — and ask a staff member for the information you seek. Stay on the edges of the crowd as you tour the Prado or leave the Louvre. Thieves are more likely to work the muddled middle of the mob.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2023
Hammond-Whiting Care Center
1000-114th Street, Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 659-2770
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Ignite Medical Resort of Chesterton
2775 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 304-6700
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Ignite Medical Resort of Crown Point
1555 S. Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 323-8700
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Don’t forget nostalgia, it’s important
By TOM MORROW Mature Life Features
When you reach 85 years of life it’s okay to recall the good old days.
Do you remember when it took at least two to three loooong minutes for the radio set to warm up? I remember watching the television station’s test pattern before the day’s programming began. Or we watched the Air Force fly-bys as the “Star Spangled Banner” was played to end each day’s programming, usually around midnight.
As hard as that might be to believe, small town folks in the 1950’s trusted each other. That lasted until 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Nothing in America has ever been that trusting since.
A quarter was a decent allowance for a small child. And, up until 1964, that coin was minted with real silver. We’d reach into a muddy gutter for a dropped coin, checking to see if it was a highly collectable “1943” penny.
Your mom wore nylons stockings that came in two pieces. At the service station your dad
got his car’s windshield cleaned and its oil checked while gas was being pumped at less than 30 cents a gallon … all for free every time you filled up. If you bought premium gasoline (also known as “Ethel”) you got your floorboards swept out with a small whisk broom. If your tires needed a check, you didn’t pay for any pumped air. And sometimes you got trading stamps, if Dad remembered to collect them for Mom.
At the grocery store, a box of laundry detergent included free dishes. For us kids a box of Cracker Jacks always had a prize, and a pack of bubble gum included a small comic strip.
In the 1940s and ‘50s it was considered a great privilege to be taken out for lunch or dinner at a cafe with your parents, but it was hard on Dad’s wallet. In 1958, hamburgers were 15 cents each, tenderloin sandwiches were a quarter, and a hot roast beef open-face sandwich cost between 50 to 75 depending upon accompanying vegetable and mashed potatoes and gravy.
To drink? Coffee was a nickel and a bottle of pop in Iowa was six cents … if you didn’t keep
the glass bottle. That was 2 cents extra.
It was about this time that Bill Haley and the Comets burst open the rock ‘n roll era.
To put 1950’s finances into perspective, my weekly allowance up until I graduated from high school in 1958 was $2 and a tank of gas for my car. Going to the drive-in movies with a date was special. Your girlfriend sometimes rode through the admission gate in the car trunk so you could afford two bags of popcorn and an extra candy bar.
In the Midwest you always knew the changes of seasons. Spring had fresh air and the croaking of frogs. Summer was hot and sticky. Fall brought the turning of leaves and the special smell they made as Dad raked and burned them. And winter came along with the first frost. You knew the ground would be frozen soon after.
Most of us kids were in fear for our lives, but it wasn’t because of drive-by shootings, drugs or gangs. It was for fear of getting polio or the Russians dropping “the bomb.” We learned how to survive if it was dropped. We kids were taught to dive
under our school desk and cover our heads to stay safe.
Consumables from the drug store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger. Female products were discreetly placed on the store shelf in plain brown wrapping paper.
Home milk delivery was in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers, newsreels were shown in theaters before the movie, and telephone numbers in the city had a word prefix. Us country folks remember when we had just three or four numbers with no word prefix and nearly
everyone was on a party line. My folks’ home number was 3-39. My dad’s business number was 1-1-3. If you didn’t know the number, you just told the operator who or what you wanted and she’d connect you, often listening in to make sure you weren’t passing any government secrets.
But with all our progress, don’t you wish now and then you could slip back in time and savor life’s slower pace and share it with the children of today with no personal phone to text someone sitting 10 feet away?
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
Assisted Living, nursing And rehAbiLitAtion guide
Lake Park Residential Care
2075 Ripley Street, Lake Station, IN 46405 (219) 962-9437 • www.assistedlivingfacilities.org
Assisted Living, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Residential Care, Mental Health Services, Activities, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid
Life Care Center of The Willows
The Willows ®
1000 Elizabeth Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 464-4858 • www.lcca.com
Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing 24/7, Ready Set Go Program for Rehab to Home; Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies; Exceptional Wound Care; Respite Care; Pallitative and Hospice Care; Long-term Care; Private/Semi-Private Rooms; Pet Visitation Allowed; Medicare, Medicaid, Most Insurances, Private Pay Accepted
Life Care Center of Valparaiso
3405 N. Campbell, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 462-1023 • www.lcca.com/Valparaiso
Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Ready Set Go Rehab Program, Inpatient/Outpatient Physical, Occupational, Speech, Respiratory, Therapy, Wound Care, Respite And Hospice Care, Private/SemiPrivate Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Facility Van, JCAHO Accredited, Medicare, Insurance, Medicaid Accepted
Oak Grove Christian Retirement Village/Demotte
221 W. Division Road, Demotte, IN 46310 (219) 987-7005 • www.oakgrovecrv.org
Assisted Living, Independent Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary/Respite Care, Dementia Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet-Friendly, Pastoral Care, Medicare and/or Medicaid
Residences at Coffee Creek
Experience Our Unique Approach To Senior Living & Memory Support 2300 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 921-5200 • www.ResidencesAtCoffeeCreek.com
Retirement Living, Assisted Living, Dedicated Memory Support, Respite Care, Therapy Available, Pet Friendly and VA Benefits Accepted
Residences at Deer Creek
Saint Anthony
Experience Our Unique Approach To Senior Living & Memory Support 401 E. U.S. 30, Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 864-0700 • www.ResidencesAtDeerCreek.com
Retirement Living, Assisted Living, Dedicated Memory Support, Respite Care, Therapy Available, Pet Friendly and VA Benefits Accepted
203 Franciscan Drive. Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 661-5100
MajesticCare.com
Assisted Living, Private Rooms, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Rehabilitation Services (including Physical, Occupational, Speech and Respiratory Therapy), Pet Visitation, Accepts Most Payer Sources. *Saint Anthony is no longer affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, the Diocese of Gary or the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago.
606 Wall Street, Valparaiso,
BILL HALEY AND THE COMETS
the
STOOP Hunched over, intently staring at the array of
position looking for that perfect shell for their collections.
COMPARING FINDS A group of shellers crowd around to see if anyone has stumbled upon the
the most valuable shell on the beach. One who finds it usually gets his or her photo taken for the local newspaper.
Sanibel Island still a top shelling spot
In spite of category four Hurricane Ian nearly blasting Sanibel Island off the map Sept. 28, 2022, with 150-mileper-hour winds and an 8- to 15-foot storm surge, the nine-mile-long barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico just 45 minutes southwest of Fort Myers, Fla., has retained its world No. one ranking as the top place to find shells.
Shellers from all over the world come to look for trea-
sures that have been washed up on the sandy beaches by the waves or uncovered by the receding tides.
Shellers are immediately noticeable because they’re all doing the “Sanibel Stoop.”
They amble slowly along the sand with their heads down like a blue heron waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim by. When they spot a special shell, they assume the position, pick it up and carefully examine it. If it’s cracked, chipped or imperfect in any way, it’s immediately dropped.
Then there are the crafters, who are on hands and knees sifting through the shell
debris for tiny bits to make flowers and other sculptures.
GREAT ESCAPES Text and Photos
By ROD KING
The quality and variety of seashells that wash up daily is due primarily to the fact that the island, which juts into the gulf on an east-west orientation, traps shells that are stirred up by the tides and then
deposited in abundance on Sanibel’s white sandy beaches by the waves.
Also contributing to the abundance is the fact that the angle of the land into the water is more like a ramp than the steep drop-off characteristic of Atlantic beaches. Shells found near the lighthouse on the eastern end of the island tend to be smaller, while the middle area gets mostly normal-size shells. Larger ones turn up on the beaches of Captiva Island, which is tethered to Sanibel by a 100-yard-long bridge.
All of the shells were once the homes of living mollusks. It’s important to make sure the critter is no longer in residence. It’s unlawful to remove a living mollusk and its shell from the beach. If you take one by mistake, your nose will soon let you know.
Some shells are considered very valuable because of their scarcity. If you find a scaph-
Continued on page 23
Schapella Junonia,
SANIBEL
shells on the beach are shellers in
“Sanibel Stoop”
THE PRIZE — This beauty is every sheller’s dream of finding. It’s the Shapella Junonia, the most difficult and most valuable shell to find.
Sanibel Island
Continued from page 22
ella junonia you’ll actually get your name and photo in the local newspaper.
In 1969, Florida named the horse conch (triplosus giganteus) its official state shell.
It’s only proper that the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is located here. It’s a natural history museum and the only one in the country primarily focused on shells and mollusks. On display are 550,000 colorful shells. In addition, there are nine aquariums with more than 50 species of marine life and two touch pools.
More than 65% of Sanibel is maintained as “foreverwild” lands. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation protects the island from over-development. A large part of the protected property is occupied by the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. It provides sanctuary to many species of wild animals, birds and native trees and undergrowth. Self-guided walking tours and boat rides take visitors to view the local flora and fauna.
All in all, the island has established a manageable balance between natural habitat and civilization — residences, commercial and condos — which seems to be working nicely and providing benefits for all parties.
Airports working for your leisure
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
While the airport-airplane experience grows more excruciating, airports around the country are working on some of those rough edges.
Several have introduced therapy dogs to pad around the terminal to soothe irritated travellers. Others have brought in restaurants that offer relaxed dining. Some even offer day passes so locals can get through the security check point to eat and shop as jetliners swoop by their windows. Some of the amenities tucked into airports around the
Disaster kit might save the day
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Emergencies spring at us from all sides at any time and appear all sizes.
If it isn’t a springtime flood, summertime tornado, fall forest fire or winter hurricane, it might be a strange virus scrambling around the globe or power lines slashed by some construction crew.
They’re unexpected and can be costly.
That’s why we call them disasters. We’re excluding personal tragedies at this point. We’re talking about events that may leave you isolated and immobile for days or even weeks.
We’re talking about being prepared for extended periods when your electricity goes out and your refrigerator, lights, television set and internet connections aren’t working. We’re talking about when your cell phone runs out of juice and you have no way to recharge it. And your car doesn’t have enough gas to get you out of the stricken area.
A bit of planning and preparation can carry you a long way through the aftermath of a fire or flood or a terrorist attack on our region’s infrastructure.
What will you do if your movement requires a powered wheelchair? If you’re connected to oxygen tanks? Or if you run out of medication?
A simple first step is to put together an emergency kit.
It will require regular maintenance because you’re going to stash a week or two’s worth of medication in the package. You’ll have to use up and replace that supply regularly so the medication doesn’t get old and useless.
Next on your list of priorities is water. Emergency experts recommend you start with a three-day supply of water — a gallon a day for each adult. A three-day ration of non-perishable food, usually canned, comes next. And don’t forget a can opener.
Tuck in a flashlight with extra batteries and get batteries for a small batteryoperated radio you’re going to add to your kit. This will allow you to get information on disaster developments.
Toss in a first aid kit and add a whistle you can use to call for help.
Pick up some wet wipes and towelettes, trash bags and plastic ties to serve your needs if your toilet is destroyed or not working. A pair of pliers or wrench is a handy tool in any emergency and is small enough to carry around.
Pick up some maps of the locality if you’re not familiar with the area.
This kit may be too heavy to tote so make a smaller one you can grab and haul away with you.
You might also visit with your neighbors to discuss your and their needs and how you can help each other should the lights go out.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2023
Be picky about economy class airplane seats
By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features
Legroom — the distance from the point of one seat to the same point on the seat in front of it — has become a common currency among flyers seeking the most comfort in the crowded cabin in the sky. Known as seat pitch, it ranges from 28 to 34 inches on U.S. carriers.
Seat width, which ranges from 17 to 18 inches, is also a comfort consideration. Widebodied aircraft that are squeezing in more rows of seats are most likely to have the narrowest economy class seating.
world include movie theaters, ice skating rinks, wedding reception areas and swimming pools. When planning your next trip, you might check to see what airports along the way offer the best pastimes while you’re waiting for take off.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2024
While window seats offer a bit more privacy than an aisle seat and more comfort than a middle seat, it may not have a window at all because not all
seating rows line up with the aircraft’s windows.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2023
CLEANING UP Washing stands are provided for shellers to clean up their finds.
SHELLER’S PARADISE Shells galore await shell collectors from around the world on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva Islands, barrier reefs southeast of Fort Myers, Fla.
SHELL MUSEUM — More than 550,000 shells of every shape and color are displayed at the Bailey Mathews National Shell Museum.
Not all presidents were lovable
By TOM MORROW Mature Life Features
There are several Presidents history students should study to understand what made the United States of America the dominant global nation. Today’s young people, for the most part, take for granted their country’s position in the world.
It was no accident how we got here. There was a lot of kicking, screaming, name-calling and even threats of impeachment along the way. The nation’s White House has been occupied by some rather controversial figures.
While the 45th White House occupant, President Donald Trump, was an easy “love him or hate him” subject, he isn’t much different than President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, the controversial turn-of-the-20thcentury president who found himself in the Oval Office due to the assassination of President William McKinley.
Roosevelt was placed in the vice presidency by the Republicans to get rid of him. As governor of New York, he had been such a thorn to old guard GOP politicians. They wanted to put him where they thought he couldn’t do any harm. It backfired. Once in the presidency, “T.R.” created havoc in both government and business with a
vast variety of reforms. Among other monikers, he became known as the “Trust Buster.”
His foreign policy became known as the “Big Stick” foreign policy — “Walk softly but carry a big stick.” He believed in a strong Navy and had its “Great White Fleet” circle the globe to demonstrate our nation’s growing power.
He also oversaw the historic, but controversial, building of the Panama Canal that opened the Atlantic to the Pacific and cut east-west maritime travel time in half.
The other Roosevelt, Franklin D., often has been called America’s greatest president. He served more than 12 years, guiding the nation through the dark years of the 1930’s Great Depression into five years of World War II. Many of his policies and actions were challenged in the courts and remain a subject of controversy, such as Social Security. But to date, no one has returned their monthly checks.
Arguably, one of our best chief executives was Harry S. Truman. During the 20th century, he was the only high school graduate to become president. Known among detractors as “His Accidency,” Truman became president in 1945 when Roosevelt died a few weeks into his fourth term.
As vice president, Truman
wasn’t told about the $2 billion atom-bomb project until he took over the presidency. Five months later, he made the historic decision to drop two bombs on Japan. It remains one of history’s most important yet controversial decisions.
The Cold War began with Truman and lasted for more than 40 years until President Ronald Reagan caused the Soviet Union to collapse trying to keep up militarily.
Richard Nixon was great on foreign affairs, but dishonest domestically, ending his tenure with a resignation in the wake of Watergate.
If you supported and defended or were upset, confused, baffled and dismayed with former President Trump, you might try spending a few hours studying our most controversial of presidents, Andrew Jackson.
During the War of 1812, Jackson led a force of inexperienced volunteers against overwhelming British forces to win the Battle of New Orleans. He had at least two duels during his tumultuous life, and was the only president to serve in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson, (a title he gave himself), was committed to representing and protecting the “Common Man,” a
HOME TO THE PRESIDENTS
The White House has been home to 46 presidents. Some Americans look back on some presidencies with great pride, but not all presidents were lovable. Photo by Getty Images.
banner to be carried by several future chief executives. As president between 1829 and 1837, Jackson might have been the closest we’ve had to a dictator.
Some presidents have seemed beyond controversial because of instantaneous worldwide mass media, whereas Jackson was more explosive, but only limited media kept the nation informed of that.
Jackson forever changed history in setting the executive branch on an equal footing with Congress by assuming the ability to shape law and government policies.
He believed the presidency should have broad authority and was widely criticized for expanding its power. Like others, he was
known for rewarding his supporters with government jobs.
During his watch both the economy and the Native American population suffered. He was responsible for moving the indigenous peoples from their traditional home lands in the East to the Oklahoma territory. The movement was known as the “Trail of Tears.”
The placement of Jackson on the $20 bill is ironic. He vehemently opposed paper money while attempting the destruction of the National Bank. He even cautioned about paper money in his farewell address.
Students of history should enjoy comparing Andy Jackson to Donald Trump.
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