Senior Life - NorthWest Edition - December 2023 by The Papers Inc.

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December 2023

Vol. 27, No. 9

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‘A Christmas Story Comes Home’ returns to to the region By CARRIE STEINWEG Staff Writer In 1983, a holiday movie was released that wasn’t exactly a high-grossing success at the box office. However, “A Christmas Story” won the hearts of so many viewers who could relate to those childhood experiences. It’s since become a classic that has been a part of holiday traditions for many families, especially in northwest Indiana, where the story is set. Heather Becerra, chief marketing officer for the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, said the movie is so appealing to those in the region because it is based on Hammond native Jean Shepherd’s experiences growing up in the area. “The story has something we can all relate to — cold winters, hoping for that special gift on Christmas morning, the anticipation of sitting on Santa’s lap so you can tell him what you want for Christmas, getting your mouth washed out with soap, helping dad change a tire. The list goes on,” she said. The South Shore CVA’s annual exhibit was inspired by the movie has been a big draw during the holiday season, where visitors can view six of the movie scenes in the form of animated window displays that were first showcased in 2003 in the windows of Macy’s in New York City. Of the 90,000 visitors that make their way to the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond each year, over a third of them come just for the exhibit. “Over the past 16 years we have developed an incredible partnership with Warner Bros. Entertainment, allowing us to host and provide a magical “A Christmas Story” experience to include a replica set of Santa’s Mountain, six animatronic scenes and movie related gift items sold at the Indiana Welcome Center Gift Shop,” said David Uran, president/ CEO of the South Shore CVA. “These elements have provided a holiday tradition for region families, as well as helping bring visitors to northwest Indiana to enjoy our winter wonderland.” This year is not only the 40th anniversary of the movie, but also the 40th year for the South

FAITHFULLY RECREATED — The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority partnered with Warner Bros. Entertainment to build six animatronic scenes from the popular holiday movie, “A Christmas Story,” including this one depicting the Parker family’s disastrous visit to visit Santa Claus. Photo provided by the South Shore CVA. FAMOUS SCENE — Visitors check out an animatronic recreation of the scene in “A Christmas Story” in which Flick, played in the movie by Scott Schwartz, takes a dare and sticks his tongue to a frozen flagpole. Photo provided by South Shore CVA.

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County 1st Office: Lake Plum County Office: 409Porter E. Lincolnway, Floor Creek Center Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 57 Street, Suite 203 409Franklin E. Lincolnway, 1st Floor Creek Center Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 222Plum Indianapolis Blvd., Suite 207 Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 222 Indianapolis Blvd., Suite 207 Phone: (219) 548-0980 Phone: (219) 548-0980 Schererville, Indiana 46375 Schererville, Indiana 46375 , LLC Phone: (219) 548-0980Fax: (219) 548-0993 Fax: (219) 548-0993 Phone/Fax: 227-4884 Fax: (219) 548-0993 Phone/Fax: (219)(219) 227-4884 *Certified as an Elder Law Attorney the National Elder Law Foundation *Certified as an Elder Lawby Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation

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Key Positions

Norma Duff creating memories as Mrs. Claus By CARRIE STEINWEG Staff Writer We all know Santa can’t be everywhere at the same time and has to rely on helpers to allow him to carryout his mission of visiting with good boys and girls, finding out what’s on their wish lists and getting those presents to the right place at the right time. That means beyond his hardworking elves at the North Pole, he has to rely on a team of fill-in Clauses to make appearances for all the magic happen. Norma Duff is one of those special people who helps Kris

Kringle make the holiday merry for many of the kids in Crown Point. She and her husband, Ron “Big Dog” Duff, worked together for many years as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, but Ron had to step down about three years ago due to health issues. The couple married 20 years ago and were avid motorcycle riders. Some of their earlier gigs as the Claus couple were at holidays parties at Crete Harley and Calumet Harley. The two continued working together in those roles for about 15 years. This will be Duff’s eight year working with the city of Crown

CHRISTMAS WONDER — As part of it’s “A Christmas Story Comes Home” celebration, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority offers visits with Santa to kids of all ages. Photo provided by South Shore CVA.

‘A Christmas Story Continued from page 1

Shore Convention & Visitors Authority. To commemorate the anniversaries, several of the actors from the original film will be on hand to meet visitors. “This year is especially exciting as we are reuniting and bringing home the actors who made this film so very special,” said Uran. “The partnership with the city of Hammond will bring a weekend of festivities to the region, providing a very special Christmas gift to our residents and visitors alike.”

Eight actors who were part of the movie are scheduled to be at the Indiana Welcome Center on Dec. 16 and 17, including Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie Parker. Aside from window displays, “A Christmas Story Comes Home” includes Santa’s Mountain, a collection of decorated trees, live entertainment on select dates and special events. The exhibit runs through Dec. 30. For more information, visit achristmasstorycomeshome.com.

Point, where she’ll greet young visitors in the courthouse. She’ll also be showing up at some other events — one being a church in Winfield and another being for a visit with children with special needs. She enjoys being part of the parade on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, where she was able to ride in a Victorian carriage pulled by a Clydesdale horse. “This is quite a passion. I love it. I wish I could still do it with my husband,” she said. “He was a great Santa.” The two saw so many children over the years and some of the conversations stuck with them. “Some of the stories they throw at you, it makes your head spin,” said Ron. He recalled a boy who loved to clean and wanted nothing more than to get a vacuum cleaner; a child that came to visit them each year who was deaf who he made efforts to communicate with; and a boy who would bring a bottle of Coca Cola every year. He said they also had a lot of encounters that were tearjerkers. “You have to think quick on your feet,” he said. “I like the ‘ho-ho-hoing,’” said Norma. “You meet very interesting people. Not everyone is pleasant, but most of the time they are great. It’s a happy time to be together.” Now retired from a career in customer service from a foodgrade warehouse, Norma said she’s a full-time caregiver and spends much of her time at home, except for during the holiday season (and a brief appearance as the Easter Bunny that she added this year.) She has a daughter who lives in Ohio and three four legged kids (two cats and one dog) that are all rescues. She has limited availability this season, but those interested in having her make an appearance can contact her at (219) 629-3584. She’ll also be present for three “Breakfast with Santa” dates in the courthouse’s second floor Maki Ballroom.

Christmas celebration in Nappanee Dec. 2 Mark your calendars and prepare to experience the magic of the season as Miracles at Main and Market Street committee hosts an unforgettable Christmas celebration at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. They invite the community to join in for a festive evening filled with a dazzling parade, a heartwarming Christmas tree lighting ceremony, live music and delightful treats, including hot chocolate and cookies.

The festivities begin with a downtown parade featuring floats, carolers, Santa Claus and much more. Then, gather around the city Christmas tree for a breathtaking lighting ceremony. Local school choirs will fill the air with holiday tunes, and don’t forget to savor complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. “Our Christmas celebration is a time-honored tradition that brings our community together in the spirit of love, joy, and

togetherness,” said Alison Stair, chairman of the Miracles at Main and Market Street committee. “We are excited to share this magical evening with everyone and create lasting memories that will carry us through the holiday season.” Don’t miss out on this festive evening of camaraderie. Come out to downtown Nappanee and be part of a cherished holiday tradition that will warm your heart and create lasting memories for you and your family. For more information about the Christmas celebration, visit MMMparade.com or contact Brooklyn Moore at bmoore@nappanee.org.

THERE SHE IS — Norma Duff, right, has been playing Mrs. Claus each Christmas season for the past 15 years. She is pictured waving to the kids at the courthouse in Crown Point. Photo provided by Norma Duff.

S. O. S. - Speaking Of Seniors —

Medicare ruled against the bill Editor’s note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville. He has helped clients of that firm save over $3 million by fighting mistakes and fraud in Medicare medical billing. Also, Wilcox wrote the book “SOLVING MEDICARE PROBLEM$” which is available through book stores and online. On Nov. 1, I wrote a letter to a medical firm and its biller to tell them to stop billing our client. I could insist on that because I had proof that Medicare ruled against the bill to our client. With some editing to protect people’s privacy, here is the letter that I sent to the medical firm and its medical billing service. “The family of our client finally got the correct Medicare Summary Notice with the report about the claim that you billed to our client for services on 08/05/2023. The MSN should have exactly the same information as what your firm got on the Medicare EOB form that was sent to you. Look at the claim and the footnote. Medicare ruled that your firm could not charge our client the $130 that you billed because “payment [for that service] is included in another service received on the same day.” By billing our client $130, I believe

By WOODROW WILCOX Senior Problem Resolution Officer Senior Care Insurance Services you are violating your legal obligation to abide by Medicare’s ruling. You could appeal the ruling. But, as it stands now, you must not bill our client $130. So, until you get a favorable ruling because of an appeal, stop billing our client $130.” All the help that I gave the client was free of charge. This insurance agency helps clients with such medical billing problems without any charge to demonstrate that we really do care about our clients. If your insurance agent or agency does not give this high level of customer service, why not switch to our insurance agency?

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Spotlight

Banas loves Christmas and sharing joy of the season By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer What can you say about Tom Banas? The guy simply loves Christmas, and he enjoys sharing that love with others. And, at age 78, even facing illness, he continues to do what he loves. There’s skiing, fishing, cycling, hang gliding and winning awards for holiday parades. And, oh yes, there’s his home. Where do you begin?

Is it the living room that’s now a collection of holiday scenes, statues and stuffed animals? Maybe it’s the front yard that has everything from a lighted canopy over the driveway to a Nativity scene to Santa and his elves to a holiday train to more critters, many of which Banas built. What began as a collection of three holiday houses now exceeds 325 pieces. “I started this many years ago,” Banas, the former owner

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MR. CHRISTMAS — Tom Banas of Highland stands in his living room that has been taken over by Christmas decorations. Banas, 78, has been decorating his home and his yard for the holidays for more than 50 years. Photo by Steve Euvino. of Pat’s Frame & Axle, recalled. “My mother-in-law gave us some pieces in the early 1970s, and I’ve been adding houses every year.”

Monitor automatic payment By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

REE F 0 5 84,1 Available At Over onthly ations Copies M onvenient Loc C 1,250

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Senior Life newspapers are monthly publications dedicated to inform, serve and entertain the senior citizens in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Each of the four editions focus on local information for each area. Senior Life is privately owned and published by The Papers Incorporated. STAFF Ron Baumgartner, Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rbaumgartner@the-papers .com Annette Weaver, Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . aweaver@the-papers .com Steve Meadows, Director Of Marketing . . . . . . . . smeadows@the-papers .com Account Executive Rebecca Berggren . . slwest@the-papers .com • 1-866-580-1138 Ext . 2430 Commercial Printing Sales Representative Rodger Salinas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rsalinas@the-papers .com Commercial Printing Customer Service Tina Kaplan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tkaplan@the-papers .com Rich Krygowski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rkrygowski@the-papers .com Deb Patterson, Editor-In-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dpatterson@the-papers .com Keith Knepp, Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kknepp@the-papers .com Jerry Long, Circulation Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jlong@the-papers .com EDITORIAL DEADLINES Elkhart/Kosciusko Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15th Month Prior St . Joseph Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15th Month Prior Allen Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th Month Prior Northwest Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th Month Prior SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $37 for one year; and $64 for two years . (Select one edition .) Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt . ADVERTISING For advertising deadlines call your sales representative . The existence of advertising in Senior Life is not meant as an endorsement of any product, services or individuals by anyone except the advertisers . Signed letters or columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers . PRODUCTION Senior Life is digitally composed on Macintosh Computers using Digital Technology’s Newspaper Publishing Suite software and Photoshop software . Submit ads as .tif, .eps or .pdf files . ASCII (generic text) may be submitted via email or on CD/DVD . Check our website at www .the-papers .com for guidelines on preparing ads electronically . Graphics for ads can be emailed as PDF files to adcomp@the-papers . com . If you have any questions, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it . REPRINT RIGHTS Reprinting in part or whole of any article in Senior Life is not allowed without express written permission from Senior Life .

Paying bills by automatic withdrawals from your bank account can save you from late payments as well as cut back on postage and mailing costs. Some folks prefer to have the monthly payments withdrawn from a credit card, which is paid off with a single monthly payment from the bank account. In either case, you should make a list of such payments that can be reviewed by survivors after your death to make sure all payments are made and scammers have not added charges to your accounts. Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Where does he get it all? You name it, Banas has probably made an offer. Once, while at a hardware store, he inquired about the shop’s Christmas display. He and someone else made an offer and they got it. “Christmas has always been a passion for me,” the widower and father of four said. “I just love to see people smile. I become very energized. This brings joy to me and someone else. I see the twinkle in their eyes and their imagination at work.” Passersby have become familiar with the house in the 3400 block of 41st Place in Highland, and Banas loves the attention and company. He even invites people in to see the living room display. The display began Oct. 1 and will stay up through late January. “Christmas is about Christ’s birth, but it also brings people together,” said Banas, who stores all his holiday stuff in an enlarged garage and basement. “There’s family and friends, and even people they never talk to.” Emily Banas, Tom’s daughterin-law, recalled how he dressed as Santa for the outdoor display

and Highland’s twilight parade, with some of his five grandchildren dressing as elves. “This has become one big family affair. All the kids know their jobs,” Emily said, noting how the grandkids pass out candy during the parade. “They look forward to it as much as I do,” her father-in-law confessed. “I let them do some of the organizing, then I go over it again.” After being a member of the first graduating class of Andrean High School in 1963, Banas was looking forward to automotive trade school. But in 1965 he was drafted and served two years in the Army. While stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado, he learned to ski, a sport he continues to this day. An avid cyclist, he has gone on 300- and 600-mile bike treks. Even with pancreatic cancer, Banas is not letting physical issues slow him down. To the contrary, he’s planning more sporting trips and adding lights and music to his Christmas display. “His attitude is let’s continue life,” Emily Banas said. “He’s taking a very positive approach.”

Janis Joplin: Revenge of the nerd Just weeks before her untimely death in 1970, singer Janis Joplin made one final journey back to her native Port By RANDAL Arthur, C. HILL Texas, this time for her 10-year reunion at Jefferson Davis High School. The 27-year-old superstar had fled small-town life as a social outcast but was returning as a counterculture icon. Weeks before the reunion, she had appeared on The Dick Cavett Show, where she claimed she had been “laughed out of class, out of town and out

of the state.” Moving to San Francisco, her career had skyrocketed after she began fronting the allmale band Big Brother and the Holding Company, her mezzosoprano voice blasting out such blues-based classics as “Ball and Chain” and “Piece of My Heart.” In high school, Joplin had been a whip-smart student — she belonged to the Future Teachers Club and graduated from Jefferson David a year early — but was never accepted by the peers who had always called the social shots. Often seen as a reclusive eccentric on campus, she once said, “I was a misfit. I read. I painted. I thought.” Joplin hung out with other teenagers on the school’s social periphery. One particular pal

Follow the right index By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features The Dow drops 400 points, the headlines scream, but that’s hardly worth notice when the index is hovering around 30,000. And, while the Dow-Jones Index may be the granddaddy of all indexes since it emerged in 1896, it is not the only measure of stock market performance.

JANIS JOPLIN ON APRIL 5, 1969. PHOTO FROM EVENING STANDARD/GETTY IMAGES welcomed by some, but she also felt the chill of those who stood apart, much as they had before, and made comments about her. One of them asked her “what she had been up to” for the past decade? At evening’s end, Joplin was given a car tire, a gag gift offered to the attendee who had traveled the furthest distance that day.

Two months later, Janis Joplin died from a heroin overdose, alone in a Los Angeles motel on a Saturday night. Four months later, she had the Number One single in America, the Kris Kristofferson-composed “Me and Bobby McGee.” In Port Arthur, some felt proud to have known her. Others probably couldn’t have cared less.

• Advantages and disadvantages of Wills and Trusts • Protecting your children’s inheritance from their future ex-spouses, lawsuits and other claims • Preserving your estate for your children if your surviving spouse gets remarried • How probate works and more importantly, how you can avoid Join Us! For Persons 65need or Older. probate altogether • Planning before you Long-Term Care Nursing Home Costs Now Average Over $108,000 per year! This book is a financial and legal guide to the ins and outs of the only government program that will pay for the long-term nursing home care of your family member: MEDICAID.

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There’s also the Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Russell 2000 to help you gain a perspective on the day-to-day market ups and downs. It’s up to investors to check these indexes and use simply as indicators of market machinations to be taken into account with other economic barometers, so many of which are available over the Internet.

was a collector of record albums by such blues artists as Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Big Mama Thornton. (In 1953, Thornton had cut the original “Hound Dog.”) At 17, while showering at home one night, something happened that changed Joplin’s life: “I discovered I had this incredibly loud voice!” Later, she said, “I started singing blues because that was always what I liked.” The head of the 1970 reunion committee who had mailed the get-together announcement had insisted to newspaper journalists, “This is NOT a reception for Janis Joplin.” Janis, though, made a regal entrance that night, surrounded by bodyguards, reporters and paparazzi. Many of her former classmates were no doubt shocked to see the girl they had once teased mercilessly hadn’t just overcome their tormenting, she had become everything they would never be. (Joplin had admitted that she was attending to see “all those kids who are still working in gas stations and driving dry-cleaning trucks while I’m making $50,000 a night.”) Janis had arrived with purple and pink feathers crowning her head, oversized rose-tinted glasses framing her acnescarred face, and bracelets jangling on both wrists. She was

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Finance

At home or on the go — Social Security is online By DANIEL SUMMER Social Security Public Affairs Specialist When you retire, if you become disabled, or if someone you depend on dies — we are there when you need us. With your personal and secure my Social Security account, you can access your information, benefits, and important services from just about anywhere. Having a personal my Social Security account allows you to:

• Compare future benefit estimates for different dates or ages when you may want to begin receiving benefits. • Check the status of your benefits application or appeal. • Review your earnings history. • Request a replacement Social Security card (in most states). If you already receive benefits, you can also: • Get a benefit verification or proof of income letter.

• Set up or change your direct deposit. • Change your address. • Get a Social Security 1099 form (SSA-1099). You can even use your personal my Social Security account to opt out of receiving certain notices by mail, including the annual cost-of-living adjustments notice and the income-related monthly adjustment amount notice. These notices are available in your Message Center when you sign into your account. We will email you when you have a new message, so you never miss an important update. It’s easy to sign up for a my Social Security account. Please let your friends and family know that they can create their own my Social Security account today at ssa.gov/myaccount. Social Security information is available at home or on the go.

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The prayers were answered for 300 low-income families in northwest Indiana on Friday, Nov. 10, when Strack & Van Til agreed to donate frozen turkeys to make their Thanksgiving brighter. “We thought our list for Thanksgiving turkeys and fixings for families was complete,” said Tina Gunnum, food pantry/ mobile food pantry manager for Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary. “However, we were suddenly overwhelmed with late requests from households across northwest Indiana. Most are lowincome families that were caught off guard by the high price of turkeys this year — many of them single-parent households.” Since Jan. 1, Catholic Charities’ food pantry/mobile food pantry has served more than 9,819 separate households in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke counties, providing children, the elderly, women and men with nutritious fresh, frozen and nonperishable foods and other necessary supplies. “Businesses like Strack & Van Til Food Markets and other donors are critical to Catholic Charities’ ability to meet the lifesustaining needs of those who struggle day-to-day to care for their families,” said Kevin Feldman, director of development for Catholic Charities. “Thousands of our neighbors in need will have a blessed Thanksgiving thanks to these businesses, churches and others.” Besides the food pantry, Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary provides homelessness prevention services, affordable housing assistance, women’s care services and parenting education, financial workshops and much more. The nonprofit provides its services at no cost and without discrimination to residents of Lake, Porter, La Porte and Starke counties. Visit Catholic-Charities.org to learn more about its programs and services, as well as to support the good work helping of neighbors in need in northwest Indiana.

December 2023 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 7

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life. on purpose. A Healthy Lifestyle as You Age

Healthy Reminders

for Adults over 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

Funding provided by the State of Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction

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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.

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• Visit www.porterstarke.org Discover even more healthy ways to live Life. On Purpose.

8 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ December 2023

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Sports

Running is a lifelong passion for Joe Betz By CARRIE STEINWEG Staff Writer Joe Betz of Valparaiso was in junior high when he started running and it became a lifelong passion. He ran on both the cross county and track teams at Wheeler High School and then at Oakland City University. After college he returned to his former junior high and high school, where he spent his entire 40 year career in education as a teacher and coach, from 1973 to 2013. “I was at Union Township Schools my entire career,” he said. “I started teaching at Wheeler High School and taught various subjects — government, economics, psychology, history — then the last few years of my career I moved to the middle school and taught seventh grade social studies.” He also served in various administration roles, including athletic director and dean of students. In his retirement, he still works on his farm every day and continues to be an avid runner.

In his time at WHS and Union Township Middle School, he coached high school track and cross country for 25 years and then middle school track and cross country for 15 years. He now has a son who coaches both sports at Wheeler Middle School in Crown Point. “My favorite part of coaching is having kids try something outside of their comfort zone. Trying it, seeing themselves do something they didn’t think they could do and being happy with their accomplishments, as well as seeing them developing as athletes, letting them discover a new sport, finding their strengths and watching their pride in themselves grow,” Betz said. “Some kids don’t know they’re runners until you show them and then you help them develop a love for a lifelong sport.” Running became a lifelong sport and passion for Betz and something he continues to enjoy for it’s many benefits, including “staying healthy, keeping your body in good shape and the mental benefits, sense of pride and friendship

with other runners.” Spending time running is something that keeps him active and he does throughout the different seasons. “I run in local races all year long,” he said. “I also travel to various locations, like Indianapolis, for some of the bigger races. If I’m not running in them, then I’m often there supporting my kids, friends, former students and race organizers.” He’s run way too many races to count but he does have an estimate on the number of marathons he has run — about 25, including running the Boston Marathon twice. “I absolutely recommend running to seniors if they are able to. It’s difficult but anything you can do to get out there is always a good idea,” said Betz. “I like knowing I’m doing something good for myself, staying healthy, keeping in shape. I’m a farmer so I’m active all day long, but I still like to start every day with an early morning run, sometimes with a group of friends or with a run club, and sometimes by myself.”

LIFELONG PASSION — Joe Betz has been an avid runner his entire life. A retired educator, he has participated in around 25 marathons during his lifetime. Photo provided by Joe Betz.

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Q. What are important goals for an estate plan? A. A comprehensive estate plan

is a key component of any successful wealth-building strategy and is an important contribution to the long-term financial well-being of an individual or family. Developing an effective estate plan requires great consideration for both current and future contingencies. Ideally, an effective estate plan should address four primary goals: minimizing estate taxes, ensuring that assets are transferred quickly and efficiently upon death, protecting beneficiaries from creditors or predators, and

Ryan Hahn

Trust Administrator providing for medical and financial decisions in the event of incapacity. These goals provide a strong foundation for your estate plan to withstand life’s events. Contact me to learn more about estate planning.

DISCLOSURE: This information is not designed, meant, nor does it constitute the rendering of legal or tax advice. You should consult with your attorney and/or tax advisor before implementing any strategy discussed here. Trust services provided by MEMBERS Trust Company are not federally insured, are not obligations of or guaranteed by the credit union or any affiliated entity, involve investment risks, including the possible loss of principle. MEMBERS Trust Company is a federal thrift regulated by the Office of the Comptroller or the Currency.

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator Wealth Management Center 110 S. Main St. South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 284-6210, ext. 6232

Q. What is the likelihood I will get a response if placing an ad in Senior Life? A.

If your product or service is geared to adults over the age of 50, Senior Life is the newspaper for you! According to CVC, our readers average 45 years of age and older and frequently purchase products or services from the ads they see in Senior Life (74.8%). Call or send me an email today to discuss adding Senior Life into your marketing strategy.

Becky Berggren, Account Executive Lake & Porter Counties (219) 254-2345 slwest@the-papers.com

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December 2023 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 9

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Should I create a trust and if so, what type of trust best suits my needs? By RYAN HAHN Trust Administrator Establishing a trust is an important part of financial planning

and will transfer your assets to loved ones according to your wishes. Trusts come in different types, so it is important to weigh the

pros and cons of each before deciding which might best suit your needs. For example, each type has different tax implications and legal requirements, as well

Brain trust trials I love to walk up and down the bookstore aisles, occasionally removing something from the shelves to sample, hoping it fits IN A my tastes. NUTSHELL The people By DICK at Barnes WOLFSIE & Noble are totally okay with this, but that habit has gotten me kicked out of Kroger about six times. Recently, I decided to search the shelves for a book that might help me address a problem I am facing. My memory is not what it used to be. I tried Prevagen, but that was a total waste of money. They tout the product as made from jellyfish, one of the few animals in the world with no brain. I did find one book, “Keep Your Brain Alive: 83 Neurobic Exercises.” For a fathead like me, this is the perfect read. The author contends that there is not enough unpredictability in our lives. We get into a rut because our brains take the easiest paths — the routes we are most accustomed to. Dr. Larry Katz throws in some cerebral references to axons, dendrites and synapses to make it all sound very scientific, but it was lost on me. On a biology exam in college, I labeled the parts of the inner ear but it turned out it was a picture of a woman’s reproductive system. I did get partial credit. This book encourages you to use each of your senses in new and innovative ways. One of the author’s suggestions is to brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand, thus creating new neural pathways. I tried it one night and found the experience instructive. I then used my other hand to clean the toothpaste out of my nose and inside my ear. In order to enhance your appreciation of good food, said Katz, stick plugs in your ears. This permits you to fully enjoy what is on your plate, focusing only on taste. I totally forgot to tell Mary Ellen I was doing this so I didn’t hear a word she said during dinner for almost a week. Fortunately, she didn’t notice the difference. The book also suggests that to fully experience the texture of food, you should hold your nose when you eat. My wife did notice this on that first night when she had prepared what I assume was a delicious dinner. She was not happy, but I got a nice note from Grub Hub thanking me for all my subsequent take-out orders 10 nights in a row.

There is also a chapter on sex. Katz encourages you to have a romantic dinner with your partner, and “to be sure to enjoy some flowers and candles.” I choked down a few rose petals, but the candles made me gag. For another novel experience, Katz suggests you switch cars with a nearby friend for a day so you can have a new tactile experience behind the wheel. Of course, remember to tell your neighbor before you do this, or you can then look forward to

really feeling something new: your hands cuffed behind your back. My favorite suggestion is to eliminate the traditional grocery list. Instead of jotting down the name of each item, write a description instead so you can fully appreciate its qualities. I tried that. On my shopping list I wrote: “It’s about the size and shape of a soccer ball, tannish, heavily veined and dimpled.” I was talking about a cantaloupe, but it sounded a lot like my rear end.

as details about who can become a trustee. It is also important to consider what type of assets will be placed into the trust, such as cash or real estate, along with any other investments that may need to be included. Lastly, make sure you review all the relevant laws for your jurisdiction prior to deciding on a particular type of trust. Taking all these factors into consideration will go a long way toward helping you decide if forming a trust is necessary and which specific type best suits your needs. There are a few different types of trusts that one might consider when forming an estate plan: • Revocable living trust. • Irrevocable living trust. • Special needs trust. • Charitable remainder trust. Contact us to learn more about which trust would be best for

you and your specific situation. Contact Ryan Hahn, trust administrator, Wealth Management Center, 110 S. Main St., South Bend, or call (574) 284-6210, Ext. 6232. Disclosure This information is not designed, meant, nor does it constitute the rendering of legal or tax advice. You should consult with your attorney and/or tax advisor before implementing any strategy discussed here. Trust services provided by MEMBERS Trust Company are not federally insured, are not obligations of or guaranteed by the credit union or any affiliated entity, involve investment risks, including the possible loss of principle. MEMBERS Trust Company is a federal thrift regulated by the Office of the Comptroller or the Currency.

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10 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ December 2023

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Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

The Noteables Chorus to perform in Crown Point The Noteables’ holiday concert, “Christmas Time is Here,” will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at First United Methodist Church, 352 South Main St., Crown Point. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, in advance, and $3 for children. Tickets can be purchased by calling (219) 769-0304 or (219) 227-9507. The Noteables Chorus was formed in 1938 and has been singing for 84 years. The chorus is a member of the Lake County Extension Homemakers and the Melody Makers of Indiana. The Chorus presents both a spring and fall concert for the local community and sings with the Melody Makers choruses from all over the state at the Festival Day Concert in the Indianapolis area for the Indiana Homemakers Annual Conference. The Noteables has also sung for Gospelfest in Crown Point and presents sing outs to local senior living facilities. The chorus accepts members in August and January

Pictured are members of the Notables Chorus. In the front row. from left, are Anna Rominger; Mary Ann Huwig; Rita Crary, vice-president; Joanne Haley-Borodine, director; Dorothea Rukes, Mary Matthews and Mary Ann Barkalow. Row 2: Liz Neri, Kathy Shapiro, Jen Schreiner, Kathy Applegate, Venessa Zapchenk, Sue O’Donnell, Claudette Neri, Treasurer. Row 3: Mary La Buda, Anni Shaginaw, Sherry Haas, Carol Builta for their concert seasons. Women are eligible to join at these times. There is no audition, but applicants are

and Karen Justak. Row 4: Barb Boyd, Jenny Potter, Donna Zemen Katie Taylor, Sharon Vail, Peg Manda and Tracee Harding. Missing are accompanist David Herr, Linda Kennedy, Pat Donaldson, Marion Hoyda, Helen Woods, Roberta Gadomski, Carla Voyles and Jennifer Ferrara. Photo provided by Notables Chorus. expected to be able to sing and come with choir or chorus singing experience. For further information,

contact President Anna Rominger, at (219) 769-0304 or by email to arominge@iun. edu.

Letter to the editor Help home-grown entertainment industry Dear Editor:

I It’s easy! Simply find the gift 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. Thiss will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25. (Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

Brought To You By

206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542

The winner of the I Spy Contest for November is Lewis Wise of Hammond. The corn was located on page 15 in Senior Life Allen; page 6 in Senior Life Northwest; page 6 in Senior Life Elko and page 9 in Senior Life St. Joseph.

Who is running Indiana’s efforts to attract film, TV, music and computer game productions? I don’t believe it is anyone with real experience in such things. Indiana now offers a break to any production company that rents motel rooms in Indiana for 30 days or more. Let’s see, when I was filmed for “Power Rangers,” that was a two-day shoot. When I was filmed as a blackjack dealer in an episode of the NBC TV show “Rags to Riches,” that was a three-day shoot. I don’t think that a little discount on a 30-day motel bill will motivate any production to come to Indiana. I don’t want to brag, but I do want to add credibility to my comments. I have been in films or TV shows with Jerry Lewis, Ben Vereen, Stacy Keach, Kirstie Alley, Dustin Hoffman,

Tom Cruise, Willard Scott and other stars. I have produced and directed TV shows, too. Indiana’s “incentives” and efforts to attract the entertainment industry are pathetic, badly reasoned and badly managed. If you check the website filmindiana.com, you will find a job board with postings for jobs that existed in 2019 and 2020, which are now useless. I asked a state legislator why Indiana makes no serious effort to attract the entertainment industry with movies, TV shows, music and computer games. He said that most Indiana politicians never saw how incentives could help Indiana’s economy. If that is so, then I suggest our state legislators should rethink that. The movie “A Christmas Story” was about a boy growing up in Hammond, but it was filmed in Ohio. Now, the house used in that film is a tourist attraction. Put scenes from Indiana

in a movie and some people will want to visit the scenes from the movie. The incentives should help and encourage people in Indiana working any size project — large or small. We should help home grown people and companies gain experience while attracting people and companies from outside the state, too. But to be effective, the people leading our efforts should know Indiana’s strengths and weaknesses. Right now, that is not happening with current Indiana officials. I don’t believe the public officials are bad people. I just believe they don’t know what they are doing because they don’t have the minimal knowledge and experience in the entertainment industry needed to do a good job to attract entertainment business. Woodrow Wilcox Dyer, Indiana

We welcome readers’ letters. Our requirements are as follows: Letters must be written to the editor, not the public. They must be signed with full name in ink. Signature will be printed on all letters. Letters must include an address and phone number, which will be used for verification, but will not be published. Emailed letters will be accepted but the above information must be included. We ask that letters be limited to 400 words. Letters longer than 400 words may be edited for brevity. Writers may be limited to one published letter per month. Readers with lengthy comments should contact an editor about possible guest columns. Send letters to: Senior Life, P. O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542 or dpatterson@the-papers.com.

December 2023 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 11

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Brain Boosters

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INGREDIENTS: 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped 2 cups whole-milk plain Greek yogurt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips 6 candy canes (about 3 ounces), crushed into small pieces 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt DIRECTIONS: Step 1 Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Step 2 Place chopped chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water; heat, stirring often, until melted. (To improvise a double boiler: Bring 1 inch of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl that sits above the simmering water.) Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment-lined pan, spreading it into an even layer about 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate until the chocolate just begins to set, about 10 minutes.

ACROSS 1. Result of too much pressure 6. Stir-fry pan 9. Steps to the river, in India 13. Hindu sage 14. Attorneys’ org. 15. *Christmas cookies emanation 16. The Brady Bunch, e.g. 17. Mourner’s wish 18. Mature, as in fruit 19. *Santa’s entryway 21. *Holiday plum treat 23. Foot the bill 24. Hot alcoholic beverage 25. Not transgender 28. *Frosty’s corn cob 30. Attract 35. Bad luck prediction 37. Indian cuisine staple 39. The whole amount 40. “Keep this information” button 41. *Coveted letter on a dreidel 43. Dry as dust 44. Opposite of digest 46. Inconclusive 47. Dirty air 48. Diplomat 50. Tallest volcano in Europe 52. Like a fox 53. Lion output 55. Beholder’s organ 57. *Breaking holiday news 61. *Not coal on Christmas 65. Courtroom excuse 66. Golf coach at a country club

Step 3 Meanwhile, combine yogurt and vanilla in a small bowl. Drizzle the yogurt mixture over the chocolate, and then lightly spread it in an even layer over the chocolate. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, candy cane pieces and salt. Freeze until the yogurt is completely set, about 2 hours. Break into 20 pieces; serve frozen.

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68. Very, in music 69. Make a logical connection (2 words) 70. Promissory letters 71. Pine or long 72. Chows down 73. Hundredweight, acr. 74. Ooze out DOWN 1. Nile denizen, for short 2. *Like Duke brothers in “Trading Places” 3. *New Year’s Eve option: ____ Spumante 4. Title-holder 5. Take for ransom 6. On one’s guard 7. ____-Wan of “Star Wars” 8. K, in Greek 9. *Rose Bowl field, e.g. 10. Kachina doll maker 11. Answer from the flock 12. Drink for John Glenn 15. Fervent 20. Giving the once-over 22. *”Mele Kalikimaka” strings 24. More sordid 25. Trig function 26. Insect in adult stage 27. *Number of candles in Kwanzaa’s kinara 29. Sacrifice for gain 31. Eighty-six 32. List components 33. *Holiday song offering 34. Lament for the dead 36. Scotland’s famous loch 38. Eagle’s aerie 42. Lid or lip embellishment

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Faith

Knights follow faith-filled lives of service Text and Photos By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer At age 69, Bill Parnell has but one regret about joining the Knights of Columbus. “I didn’t join when I was 18,” Parnell noted. A K of C member for 10 years, he has been grand knight for Our Lady of Sorrows Council 12149 in the South Haven community in Valparaiso. He is also a faith formation catechist for middle school grades. Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s fraternal benefit society. Its motto cites church, community and council. The OLS council of 55 members lives that motto through continued support of local and national programs. Among the charities sponsored are Boys & Girls Clubs, parish faith formation, women’s and homeless shelters, Disabled American Veterans. Right to Life, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, priestly vocations, two area food pantries, parish youth and The Answer Inc., a local crisis pregnancy center. The Knights are also “buggy pushers,” assisting a parish group with distribution of Thanksgiving meal supplies. Parnell’s group marked the holidays by again sponsoring a coat drive for Sts. Monica and Luke Soup Kitchen in Gary. The Knights have been doing

KNIGHTS WORKING DAYS — Victor Zielinski, chair of the coat drive for Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Sorrows Council 12149 in Valparaiso, loads clothes into a vehicle for holiday distribution at Sts. Monica and Luke Soup Kitchen in Gary. The Knights have been supporting this charity for nearly a dozen years.

CHARITABLE ACT — Bill Parnell, grand knight for Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Sorrows Council 12149 in Valparaiso, sits beside a mound of coats to be transported for distribution at Sts. Monica and Luke Soup Kitchen in Gary. This has become an annual charity for the Knights and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.

this for about 12 years, and this time their efforts filled the OLS chapel with bags of new or gently used winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves and blankets. Victor Zielinski, who chairs the drive, said the idea began with a former grand knight who collected for a Hammond charity. “When we saw the impact it made on the grand knight and the people, we knew we had to continue it,” Zielinski said. In addition, the council purchases coats through its national office, and those coats are divided between two neighboring elementary schools. Any leftover coats

added, “Their generosity goes beyond measure. The people are just wonderful.” Parnell said the Knights challenge parishioners for charity, and people respond. A “40 Cans for Lent” drive involves people putting aside one can of nonperishable food each day during Lent. That drive, the grand knight reported, netted two trucks with 1,000 pounds of food for the needy. For Parnell, living one’s faith means “you wear your faith on your sleeves. Its not just faith, but actions.” When it comes to Scripture

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from the food pantry drive also go to those schools. A Lake Station resident, Parnell said the Knights raise funds through trivia nights, a murder mystery dinner and Lenten fish and pierogi dinners. The group is also planning a “Not So Newlywed Game” benefit around Valentine’s Day. An OLS parishioner for 12 years, Parnell loves the church’s people and its building. “It’s quaint, not massive, so you don’t lose touch with people,” he said. And as to those people, he

passages, Parnell cites Matthew 25:40, in which Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” That quote hits home for Parnell as a Knight of Columbus. “If I’m helping someone, I’m in touch with Christ,” he said. “When I’m taking Holy Communion, I’m joining physically with my God. Whether it’s working with kids or raising money, if I do this in the name of Christ, that puts me in touch with Christ.”

Some simple steps can relieve ankle arthritis pain By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features The pain and debilitation caused by arthritic ankles can be treated several ways now, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Unlike hips or knees, where arthritis comes from normal wear and tear, arthritic ankles usually are precipitated by

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a previous injury, such as a fracture or sprain that has caused long-term ligament and cartilage damage. Pain in an arthritic joint that can limit movement occurs as cartilage deteriorates and gets thinner. The ankle bones lose their protective covering and may eventually rub together, causing pain and inflammation. Patients with mild arthritis can be treated with cortisone

shots to relieve inflammation and with ankle braces to support movement. Minimal arthroscopic surgery can remove motioninhibiting cartilage fragments and painful bone spurs. For severe cases, surgical options include a fusion procedure that locks the bones together or a total joint replacement. Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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December 2023 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 13

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‘Time in a Bottle’ Jim Croce’s signature single Jim Croce One night, Ingrid Croce sat her husband down at the kitchen table on their Pennsylvania A Boomer Blast farm. For To The Past five years, By RANDAL the two C. HILL had tried in vain to have a child. That night, though, Ingrid had good news: They were about to become parents. Jim Croce was so overcome with emotion that he composed “Time in a Bottle” on the table that night, telling how he wished that that fleeting moment of euphoria could last forever: “If I could save time in a bottle “The first thing that I’d like to do “Is to save every day till eternity passes away “Just to spend them with you.” Of course, as we all know, life doesn’t work that way and that we are given only a certain number of days together: “But there never seems to

be enough time “To do the things you want to do once you find them “I’ve looked around enough to know “That you’re the one I want to go through time with.” Their blessed event was a boy. The happy couple named him Adrian. Jim Croce was a struggling singer/songwriter who first performed with his wife. In 1966, the two recorded an album — “Facets” — and released it on their own Croce Records label. The disc went nowhere. Three years later, they signed with Capitol Records, but their “Jim and Ingrid Croce” LP met the same fate, and Capitol dropped them. Jim decided to try his luck as a solo artist, in the meantime driving trucks, working construction and teaching middle school to make ends meet while waiting to make music his full — time occupation. “Time in a Bottle” ended up on Croce’s first successful album, “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim.” The title track on ABC Records had been a rollicking Top Ten novelty hit, but “Time in a Bottle” ended up being buried on the second side of the LP.

Nobody at ABC Records ever thought of it becoming a 45 someday. Fast-forward a couple of years, and Jim Croce had become a musical superstar. In September 1973, he and his small backup band were headlining shows at various college campuses in the south. All were scheduled to fly from a venue in Louisiana to another in Texas, but their small chartered plane struck a tree on takeoff from a regional airport, and everyone on board perished. Adrian Croce had turned 2 years old just eight days earlier. Coincidentally, one week before the crash, ABC-TV had aired a now-forgotten Movie of the Week. It was called “She Lives!” and starred Desi Arnaz, Jr., in a story of a young woman stricken with cancer. The film’s producers had come across “Time in a Bottle” from Croce’s first hit album and had secured permission to add it to the movie’s soundtrack. APARTMENTS The following day, radio stations were bombarded with callers asking to hear the heartbreaking tune again. ABC Records quickly issued “Time in a Bottle,” which raced to the peak of the Billboard chart and became Croce’s signature single.

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14 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ December 2023

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Health & Fitness

The year in review —

Eating well is a form of self-care

By Cat Wilson We all need to put our healthcare in the forefront of our busy days, which is easy to say, yet some days are nearly impossible. Right? I am right there with you. It’s true that every bite improves or damages our health and our fight against disease in the long-term, so let’s recap a few items as we think about the holidays and 2024. • Constant eating is bad on the gut biome. Your body needs time to digest and use the energy you have consumed already. Fifty percent of Americans eat from 8 a.m. to 10:45 p.m., nearly 15 hours. • Reduce your eating window to no more than 12 hours by

"3, 3 1 &

four, it equals nearly 10 teaspoons of sugar in one can! Use that formula for every can, box or package you pick up. Women should get no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) a day and men 36 grams (9 teaspoons). • Table salt is composed primarily of sodium chloride. Daily recommendation is 2,300 mg per day, which is 1 teaspoon. Only 13 percent of the salt we consume comes from the shaker we use at home. The biggest culprits are restaurants, processed and packaged foods. Be aware. • Every bite counts — make it be a whole food. Add vegetables to everything. Eat raw & cooked. Fill up with fruit & vegetables and you won’t have room for the high calorie/ low nutrient foods. Make and eat soup all winter long. Make bread that has five ingredients instead of 25 ingredients. It’s so easy — whole unprocessed food, but the world makes it so hard. Hang in there and be your best self. Wishing you all good health, happiness, and God’s blessings in the new year. Editor’s Note: Cat Wilson

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either pushing breakfast to mid-morning or eating earlier in the evening and then being done — nothing else — done. Do not eat within two hours of going to bed. • Forget about KETO. Logic alone tells you consuming vast amounts of fat, animal meat and all the cheese you can consume will not make for a healthy body. It is not sustainable, does not give you the micro nutrients you need, it has a higher all-cause mortality rate, causes fatigue, hair loss, and a 30 percent higher rate of birth defects. • Don’t be afraid of the good, complex whole food carbs like the simple potato or beans; be afraid of simple trashy carbs like over-processed breads, desserts and sugary drinks. You already know this, but it’s hard and they are everywhere. • Speaking of fiber: per day women need 25 grams and men need 35 grams — minimum. Get it from food. Eat more plants. • Sugar — we could talk about it all day. Visualize it — a can of soda has 39 grams of added sugar, divide that by

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WHATEVER IS IN THE FRIDGE — This was our ‘whatever’s in the fridge is for dinner bowl’. Warm farro grain, warm broccoli, raspberries, walnuts, tomatoes, power greens, radishes, avocado, cucumbers and feta drizzled with balsamic vinegar. lives in South Bend and transitioned from a vegetarian diet to eating a plant-based diet over

two years ago. She may be contacted at cwilson@the-papers. com.

YMCA brings the magic of Santa to your home You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout, I’m telling you why. Santa Claus can come for a home visit in December. The Portage Township YMCA is offering three dates to choose from for its annual Santa Visits. Participants can choose from Dec. 9 or Dec. 16 for $25 per household or Dec. 23 for $50 per household. There is a maximum of 15 visits per date and the price covers gifts from Santa for up to two children. Additional children who will be present and receiving a gift are $2 each, paid at the time of registration. In 2020, the world was shaken with the COVID-19 pandemic, and like all businesses and organizations the Portage Township YMCA had to pivot, shift and change. Traditionally during the Christmas season, the Y had hosted “An Evening with Santa” which took place at

the Y, 3100 Willowcreek Road, Portage, but the large crowd the event would draw couldn’t align with the CDC guidance at that time. After a few brainstorming sessions, Santa Visits became the Y’s new Christmas event. You might be asking yourself, what’s the big deal with Santa visiting your home? Aside from the fact this guy flies around the world in a sleigh, pulled by reindeer, in one single night, most children believe in the magic of Christmas and there isn’t anything more magical than bringing it to life right before their eyes. For more information about Santa Visits at the Portage Y and to reserve your spot, contact the YMCA at (219) 762-9622, or sign-up online at bit.ly/47LkLFN. To learn more about the Portage Township YMCA visit ymcaofportage.org.

December 2023 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 15

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UPDATES & HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA Send listings of events, hosted by nonprofit organizations, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542 by Dec. 21 for January events. With listing, include contact person and a phone number. Maria Reiner Center Monday — Stretch class level 1, 9 a.m.; ukulele, 10 a.m.; cardio strength with Janice, 10 a.m.; bocce ball, 10 a.m.; smart phone class Androids, 10:30 a.m.; smart phone class I-phone, 11:30 a.m.; oil painting, noon. Pickleball: intermediate, 8-10:30 a.m., advanced, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., open play, 12:30 p.m. to close. Tuesday — Breakfast served from 9-11 a.m. for $5. Dominos, 10 a.m.; pool tournament, 10 a.m.; senior cha cha cha, 11 a.m. Pickleball: beginner drills, 8:30-9:30

a.m., beginner and low intermediate, 9:30-11:30 a.m., open play, 11:30 a.m. to close. Wednesday — Experienced art class, 8:30-11 a.m.; stretch plus level 2, 9 a.m.; bocce ball, 10 a.m.; hand and foot, 10 a.m.; beginner’s art class, 11:30 a.m.; euchre, 12:30 p.m. Pickleball: intermediate, 8:30-10:30 a.m., advanced, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., open play, 12:30 p.m. to close. Thursday — Lunch served from noon-1 p.m. for $5. Bridge, 10 a.m.; pool tournament, 10 a.m.; dominos, 10 a.m.; Bible as literature, 1:15 p.m.; Happy Hookers and Naughty Knitters, 1 p.m.; Scrabble, 1 p.m.; meditation, 1 p.m. Pickleball: beginner and low intermediate, 8:30-11:30 a.m., open play, 11:30 a.m. to close.

Friday — Yoga, 10 a.m.; bocce ball, 10 a.m.; bingo (every second and fourth Friday), 12:30 p.m.; bunco (every first and third Friday), 12:30 p.m. Pickleball: intermediate, 8:30-10:30 a.m., advanced, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., open play, 12:30 p.m. to close. Plus many special classes and presentations. Computer “Ask the Doc” technology Zoom classes on the first Thursday of each month from 2-4 p.m. Book Club on the third Thursday of every month. Call for more information. Membership $30/year for Hobart residents and $50/year for outside Hobart residents. $3 daily visitation fee for non-members. Call (219) 947-1864 or visit 705 E. Fourth St., Hobart. For more information, visit www.hobartse-

niors.com. St. John Lions Club Seeking donations of old eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids. Drop-off sites: Community Outpatient Clinic, 9660 Wicker Ave. (Route 41); St. John Library, 9450 Wicker Ave.; Boric Religious Supply Store, 10951 Thiel St.; St. John Town Hall, 10955 W. 93rd Ave.; VFW Post 717, 10400 W. 93rd Ave.; Clear Vue Eyecare, 9270 Wicker Ave.; Dr. Weisman Ophthalmology, 10220 Wicker Ave. # 3; Kolling School, 8801 Wicker Ave.; Metropolitan Eye Care, 9488 Wicker Ave.; Moses Eye Care, 7974 Wicker Ave.; Strack & Van Til, 9825 Wicker Ave.; Vision Boutique, 8319 Wicker Ave.; Welch’s Stop and Shop, 11333 W. 95th Ave.

Monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month (September to June) at Roma Grill, 9543 Wicker Ave., St. John. Questions, contact Lion Al at (219) 201-9103. Whiting Lions Club Seeking donations of old eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids. Drop off in yellow collection box on 119th Street, Whiting. Highland Lions Club Seeking donations of old eyeglasses. Drop off sites are: Town Hall, 3333 Ridge Road; Lincoln Center, 2450 Lincoln St.; Centier Bank, 9701 Indianapolis Blvd.; McColly Realty, 2002 45th St.; Dr. Ligget, 2940 Highway Ave.; Family Eye Care, 8417 Kennedy Ave.; and Johnson Opticians, 8128 Kennedy Ave., Highland.

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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

1000 Elizabeth Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 464-4858 • www.lcca.com

Willows

Saint Anthony

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, IN 46383 (219) 464-4976

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16 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ December 2023

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Kiwanis presents the Purdue University Varsity Glee Club

LOTS OF TOYS — The Northwest Indiana Woodworkers Association gathered together on Nov. 16 to distribute handmade wooden toys to various organizations in the area. Throughout the year, club members work in their home shops to make these heirloom quality toys for kids in need. Members personally donate their time and most of the materials for the toys and through fundraising efforts and some donations. Since its inception in 1990, each year the club averages making and donating around a thousand toys. Many nonprofit organizations in northwest Indiana request and receive toys this each year. Photo provided by Roy Snellgrove.

The Kiwanis Club of Valparaiso is proud to present a performance of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club in the Valparaiso High School auditorium on at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21. Tickets are available at Valparaiso 1st Source Bank locations, EventBrite and through Kiwanis members for $20. All tickets sold at the door will cost $25. Seniors living in a senior living/care facility can purchase tickets for $15. Tickets for students are $15 and children 5 and under are free. Founded in 1893, this select ensemble has entertained on behalf of Purdue University for campus, community, state, national and international events, averaging between 50-60 appearances each year. Embodying the spirit of service above self, the members of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club represent different backgrounds, majors and hometowns from across the country.

They consistently maintain a high level of academic excellence with majors ranging from engineering to education to management and biological sciences. This dynamic musical troupe employs a versatile repertoire including gospel, vocal jazz, swing, contemporary hits, romantic ballads, classical choral selections, barbershop, folk melodies, patriotic standards, familiar opera choruses, country and novelty tunes, and utilizes small groups and outstanding soloists to further enhance each show. The Kiwanis Club of Valparaiso uses the profits from this concert along with other fundraisers to donate annually to local charities that benefit kids and families, including Hilltop House, Special Olympics, Valpo Family YMCA, Gabriel’s Horn, The Caring Place, Riley Children’s Hospital and many more charities focused on children and families.

Community Healthcare System hospitals celebrate milestone Community Healthcare System hospitals have had at least 195 reasons to celebrate this year. Community Hospital, St. Catherine Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center hit major milestones in 2023 with a combined 195 years of service to communities throughout northwest Indiana. In April, the latter two hospitals marked 95 and 50 years, respectively, and Community Hospital celebrated 50 years in September.

“Community Healthcare System is proud of the deep roots our hospitals have established in northwest Indiana,” said Donald P. Fesko, CEO of Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana, Inc., parent company of Community Healthcare System. “However, we are even prouder of the investments we have made throughout the decades to bring advanced medical care and highly skilled and compassionate physicians and staff to our communities. Our goal as a healthcare system always has been to improve the health and quality of life for the patients who trust us with their care.” Community Hospital in Munster, which opened its

doors in September 1973, is northwest Indiana’s largest hospital with 454 beds. Most recently, Community Hospital earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. This selection makes Community Hospital the 14th center in the United States and the first hospital in the Midwest to receive this designation. St. Catherine Hospital, which broke ground on April 21, 1927, to open in April 1928, has been a steward of East Chicago and neighboring communities for nearly a century. The hospital con-

tinues to forge new ground with advanced technology. Since opening in April 1973, St. Mary Medical Center has evolved to become a nationally recognized healthcare institution. It is a Center of Excellence for Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, one of only a handful in the state. Community Healthcare System’s fourth and newest hospital, Community Stroke & Rehabilitation Center, will celebrate its five-year anniversary in 2024. After opening in 2019, the Crown Point hospital already has grown to be recognized among the country’s best for rehabilitation care from Newsweek and Statista, most recently earning the distinction as No. 2 in

the state. Also in 2023, Community Healthcare System earned the No. 1 spot on Forbes magazine’s list of America’s Best Employers for the state of Indiana. Fesko believes Community Healthcare System’s tireless commitment to staff and patients is what put the organization at the top in Indiana. “We believe in investing in our employees by providing educational opportunities and fostering career advancement,” Fesko said. “Our goal as an employer is to have a happy, successful team of workers who delivers the best care to our patients across northwest Indiana and beyond.”

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DENTAL

NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesterton, Merrillville & Hammond www.northshorehealth.org By appt. or walk-ins welcome. (219) 763-8112 or (888) 459-2349 Affordable dental care regardless of ability to pay. Medicare and Medicaid accepted. Discounted self-pay option.

December 2023 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 17

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Call Becky At 219.254.2345 To Join Our

HEALTH AND SERVICES DIRECTORY FUNERAL HOMES

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18 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ December 2023

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Travel

SUNKEN GARDENS —The Oliver property at 808 W. Washington Ave., South Bend, covers 2.5 acres and includes sunken gardens, a pergola, a tea house, tennis lawn and a fountain.

38-ROOM OLIVER MANSION — The Romanesque, Queen Ann-style Oliver mansion in South Bend was constructed of native Indiana granite field stones. It took 17 months to build between 1895 and 1896.

Elegant Oliver Mansion typical of wealthy industrialists in late 1800s To get an up-close and personal look at how rich people lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s, drive to South Bend and tour the GREAT Oliver ManESCAPES sion. While Text and Photos you’re in By ROD KING

the neighborhood, have lunch at Tippecanoe House, the former home of the Studebakers. In fact, why not just spend the day and tour the Studebaker Museum, too? J.D. Oliver made his money manufacturing plows, the kind pulled by horses. His were more durable than the iron ones made by competitors thanks to a chilling process developed by his father, James. The company became the largest plow manufacturer in

the world. The early versions cost $6. When Oliver died in 1932, he was the richest man in Indiana. Built in 17 months between 1895 and 1896, the Romanesque Queen Anne-style mansion is constructed of native Indiana granite field stones. It sits on 2.5 acres that include formal sunken gardens, a tea house, pergola, tennis lawn and fountain at 808 W. Washington St. They named the 38-room Continued on page 19

SET FOR A FEAST—The large, expandable dining table is set as it would have been for special dinners. All of the furnishings are original to the house. Much of the furniture was chosen by J.D. and his wife on a European trip in 1899.

Residences Senior Living —

Holiday gifts for seniors they can really use Residences Senior Living Seniors often say they have everything they need, “don’t buy a holiday gift for me.” Those who think they have everything aren’t aware of the new items to accommodate the growing numbers of seniors in support of their needs and independence. Even the most active seniors may have a problem buttoning a shirt or zipping a zipper. Listen to Dad describe getting dressed. Watch for clues as to what might make daily activities easier. Arthritis can make hands and fingers stiff hindering even the simplest of tasks. Does Mom drop utensils more frequently? Reaching for dropped items can also increase a fall risk. Does she need a grabber? Check these ideas to help families shop wisely, for clothing or support for activities of daily living. • Reminder alarm clocks —programmed to alert appointments, time to eat, take medicine or whatever, using the recorded voice of a loved one, which makes it personal. • Wireless TV listening systems —connected to TV,

earbuds or headset to enhance hearing. • Apple Watches — monitor wellness vitals: heart rate, steps , falls and can be worn in the shower. • Apple Tags — pings location anywhere from your phone. • Google Home device — calendar display with drop-in camera to see loved one from your phone. • Grocery delivery services — fresh food, “Fruit of the Month” and other delivered selections are fun as well as nutritional. • Recliners that convert into many positions, including into a bed. • Chairlifts that manually help lift a person into a standing position without pain or strain — use with chairs or sofas throughout the home. Gifts for seniors are now useful, comforting and stylish. More than ever, it’s the thought counts! For information about Residences Senior Living, with locations in both Schererville and Chesterton, go to ResidencesSeniorLiving.com, or call (800) 557-9176.

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Travel

Elegant Oliver Mansion Continued from page 18

home Copshaholm. Unlike many historic mansions around the country that display furnishings from a specific period, Copshaholm is full of furniture and accents owned by the family. That’s because members of the Oliver family resided in the house for 72 years. The house was never abandoned, suffered weather damage or vandalism. It was later given to the South Bend Historical Museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Oliver didn’t scrimp on the structure or its furnishings. The ceiling in the dining room, for instance, features five mahogany beams, the walls are covered with woven tapestries and the upper sashes of the bay windows are leaded glass. The 14 fireplaces were mainly for atmosphere because the building had central heat. Book cases, which are full of J.D.’s original books, match the curve of the exterior wall and the oak floors feature a parquet border. Much of the furniture in the house was chosen by the Olivers on a trip to Europe in 1899. The polished wood floor, high ceiling and plaster relief give Oliver’s personal study on the first floor a decidedly English feel. His original “partners”

desk dominates the room and the sterling silver plaque by Tiffany and Company on the back of the chair is engraved with his name. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the large kitchen is the 10-door refrigerator, which was originally the home’s icebox. During the 1930s, the kitchen was remodeled. Stainless-steel counter tops were installed along with Art Deco light fixtures. Mrs. Oliver met regularly here with the butler to discuss dinner menus and upcoming parties. They employed a staff of 15. Guests arriving for gatherings at Copshaholm entered the house from the covered portico and porch into a small reception area. Instead of walking directly into the main room, they took a short set of steps at the side of the room and entered half-way up the elegant staircase so they could be properly announced to party guests, while making a grand entrance down the stairs. The mansion is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets for an hour-and-a-half tour can be purchased in the Historical Museum behind the house. Adult tickets are $11, seniors are $9.50 and youth are $7.

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 travelers. 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 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 takeoff.

MAIN ENTRANCE HALL — An elegant mahogany entry leads to the staircase to the second-floor bedrooms. Unlike many mansions around the country, the Oliver mansion was occupied by members of the family a total of 72 years. It was never abandoned or subject to vandalism. It’s now owned by the South Bend Historical Museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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20 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ December 2023

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Travel through time in Cape May By PHYLLIS HOCKMAN Mature Life Features Look up! That’s my one bit of advice to visitors to Cape May, NJ. But first, a little history. Cape May is the nation’s oldest seashore resort. It has been catering to vacationers since pre-Revolutionary days. Its shady tree-lined streets and colorful homes became the playground of presidents. Ulysses S. Grant, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Chester Arthur and Benjamin Harrison all sought refuge there from the humidity of District of Columbia summers. Although the town grew beyond its colonial trappings, it became stuck in the late-19th century Victorian Era when it was rebuilt after being razed by fire for the third time. With more than 600 structures, most of which have been refurbished,

Cape May has been designated a National Landmark City, the only U.S city to be designated entirely as a national historic district. Street after street and house after house enchants, charms and captivates visitors intrigued by the intricate detail that distinguishes one from the other. Despite the similarity in architectural style, there is infinite variety in their presentation. Most of the homes, ablaze in multiple shades of browns, greens and mauves, sport some strange appendage on the roof alternately identified as a turret, cupola, gazebo, or belvedere. This is why you look up. So many of the interesting adornments — the extra little touches — are near the roof as well as everywhere else. Wraparound porches adorned with decorative balustrades and

whimsically designed gingerbreading give each structure its distinctive personality. Bay windows are surrounded by individualized brackets and barge boards that vary in size, detail and decor. The diversity of the slits, slices, slats and slots that contributes to the intricacy of design defining each structure is bound to fascinate even those who have never given a single thought to architectural motif. As one guide summed up the Victorian philosophy: “If a little is good, more is better, and too much is still not enough.” The Washington Street Mall, a pedestrian walkway in the center of town, is reminiscent of what a beach-town boardwalk might have been like in the 1890s. The outdoor benches, cafes and shops decked out in their Victorian finery reflect an earlier easier era. To personalize the trans-

ARCHITECTURE — Most of the architecture in Cape May is styled in shades of browns, greens and mauves. Photo by Victor Block. formation in time, walk down Hughes Street after dark. Its only illumination, provided by gas lamps — and occasionally, the moon — lets you picture yourself returning to a time when life was simpler, the pace was slower, the streets safer and all was well with the world, even if just for the moment. Cape May recently found some new history to celebrate. The Harriet Tubman Museum opened in 2021 in a neighborhood that was not only the center of the African-American community but played an outsize role in the abolitionist movement in the mid-19th century, spearheaded by Ms. Tubman herself. After attaining her freedom, she worked as a hotel maid here to earn money to finance her journeys farther south to help free more slaves. For bird-watching addicts, nearly 400 species of birds fly in during peak migration periods to be added to sightings lists. Cape May is listed as one of the top 10 birding hot spots in North America. Its singularity doesn’t end there. There’s also the Diamond Droop at Sunset Beach in Delaware Bay. Cape May diamonds are semi-precious quartz stones that resemble cubic zirconia diamonds. They’re found along the water’s edge. Dull and cloudy when dry, they become bright and translucent when wet. Jewelry made from the stones after they have been cut and polished has been featured on the QVC Television Shopping Network, but you don’t have to tune in to get some. You can take your shoreline stash to the Sunset Beach Gift Shop and they’ll tell you how you can have a brooch or pair of earrings made to order. And there’s always the reminder of why you came here — the beach. Several miles of rolling waves and white sand — very white sand. Mature Life Features Copyright 2023