Senior Life - NorthWest Edition - January 2023

Happy New Year!

Dinner Workshops: Learn How To Avoid Probate and Spending Down See page 5

Call Now: (219) 462-0809

If you find yourself driving along State Road 49 toward Lake Michigan, you’re headed for Indiana Dunes National Park. Your first stop may well be the park’s Visitor Center.

Opened in 2006, the Visitor Center serves several purposes. Porter County Tourism operates the facility and Indiana Dunes is a tenant. The center provides information about the national and state parks, along with happenings around Porter County.

Founded in 1966 as Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, the area spanning 20 miles along the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan and covering 15,349 acres received a promotion of sorts in 2019, becoming this country’s 61st National Park.

According to William J. Smith, an interpretive park guide with the National Park Service, the biggest difference since the change has been attendance.

“Visitors have almost doubled,” said Smith, 66, a retired science teacher of 38 years. “More people put national parks on their bucket lists.”

The NPS reports that Indiana Dunes is the state’s most visited site, garnering 3.5 million visitors annually, mostly from Northwest Indiana.

Smith noted that the area almost became a national park

a century earlier The NPS plannedtochristenthe

planned to christen the area the Indiana Sand Dunes National Park in 1916, but World War I quashed those plans. Eventually, the Women’s Clubs of Indiana pushed for the creation of Indiana Dunes State Park in 1926.

Today the national park is ranked seventh among national parks in native plant diversity, including 369 species of flowering plants. Studies of the area have revealed 1,200-1,300 species of plant and animal life. Those animals include whitetail deer, foxes, coyotes, raccoons and possibly bobcats, the park guide noted.

“Even with all the industry here, this is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet,” Smith said.

Going back to 1913, the area was voted the fourth-most desired place to visit by European scientists.

Turning to winter, Smith reported the park is popular for hiking, with nearly 70 miles of hiking trails. Visitors also use the dunes for cross-country skiing.

During warmer times, visitors can hit any of nine beaches, eight of them in the National Park.

Visitors to the center drop to 100 daily in the winter, Smith said, with numbers rising to 2,000-3,000 daily by mid-summer.

The Visitor Center features include a 100-vehicle parking

lot, artistic exhibits, activity room, bookstore and plenty of brochures. A mural depicts the succession of life from water and sand dunes to forests. An auditorium shows a 29-minute video on the dunes every hour.

Also displayed are the remains and pelts of animals of

the region. These include foxes, coyotes, muskrats, minks and a snowy owl.

Smith, who has been with NPS since 1984, said his favorite part of the center is the information desk near the entrance.

“I get to see the excitement on their faces as they enter the

dunes area,” he said.

The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is located at 1215 N. SR 49, Porter. Admission is free. Current hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Call (219) 3951882 for more information.

Northwest Edition Reaching Seniors In Illiana: Cook, Lake & Porter Counties

Key Positions

Higbie helps people share their generosity

Bill Higbie loves everything about his job as president/CEO of the Porter County Community Foundation.

“I get to know and work with people who love this community and want to fund ways to improve the community,” Higbie, 56, said. “I can share opportunities for them to give and know their generosity will last.”

Since 1996, the Porter County Community Foundation has been helping people do more for their favorite causes by creating and managing permanent endowment funds. Thanks to an estimated 8,600 donors, the foundation today manages more than $83 million in philanthropic capital for the good of the community.

Higbie’s role as the top person at the foundation is to build a team of professionals who can carry out the duties of the foundation and share their knowledge of the different types of charitable giving. He also works with a board of directors who can communicate the mission of the foundation and introduce the public to the PCCF’s services.

The foundation’s guiding principle is “to strengthen our community through lasting generosity and leadership.” Key values include the power of generosity, collaboration, creativity and stewardship.

The PCCF gathers generosity from people around Porter County and grows it in permanent endowment funds, then gives that growth away every year, forever.

People and groups can give to the foundation in various ways. These include cash or stocks, life insurance, real estate or other property, retirement benefits and charitable gifts. Farmers can also donate the gift of grain.

These invested funds, Higbie explained, support a variety of interests in Porter County, including youth, scholarships, education, environment, social service organizations, health-related programs and recreation and parks.

“We have a long track record of successfully investing philanthropic donations for the good of the community, and we can show them this track record,” said Higbie, who worked 23 years as a funeral director.

The foundation manages more than 500 funds. A new area of interest is early childhood development, with the start of its initiative, “First Things First Porter County.”

“We’re working to increase collaboration among all the organizations involved in early childhood development,” Higbie said. “We’re a ‘convener’ of about 30 organizations, making sure everyone is doing as much as they can, that there’s no duplication of programs and helping them to do more.”

A Kouts resident, Higbie said the foundation has partnered on many Porter County programs and projects, from Boys & Girls Clubs to the YMCA.

“We do a lot of small things,” Higbie noted. “In some cases, we’re up-front in involvement. In other cases, we’re more quiet partners.”

Jeri Patricia Gabbert, recently hired as the foundation’s vice president and chief philanthropic officer, cited the importance of how PCCF partners with both donors and the causes their funds benefit.

“I want people to think about what they love about this community,” Higbie noted. “We want them to know we can help them support what they love, forever.”

For more information on the Porter County Community Foundation, visit pccf.gives or call (219) 462-0294.

VNA Hospice NWI —

Palliative care service ready to provide support

I have family members who spend the winter in the Fort Myers area, so when Hurricane Ian devastated that part of Florida I was sick with sadness and sympathy for the lives and property lost. It may take a few years for it to fully recover. But I then think about the pandemic and what has occurred with it. In many ways it too was a like a destructive hurricane that just parked overhead for three years and instead of moving on in a matter of hours, we’re still in its outer bands (hopefully) experiencing the effects.

With Ian, we saw the destruction and had some measure of it almost immediately after the storm moved away. Boots on the ground and drones in the air gave us a quick accounting of what happened.

We still don’t have that after-the-fact accounting of the pandemic — the winds are still whipping outside of our doors. It will be years before we get that bird’s eye view of the destruction and after-effects.

There is one area I already know where a crater exists — where an explosion of sorts has occurred — and only if you’ve been in it will you understand. That area exists between where the benefits of primary care

diminish and where hospice care starts, where chronic disease and comorbidities take over more of someone’s life and rob them of quality and happiness, yet they’re not “sick” enough for a nursing home, or refuse to even consider it. It’s that “in between” where we search for options and answers and direction; where one specialist recommends this, while another that. People may languish there for months or years.

VNA Hospice’s palliative care service can provide support during this confusing time. Our team of nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and chaplains can lend a helping hand. Call for more information at (219) 4625195.

Aetna fails to reach contract agreement with Community Healthcare System

Effective Jan. 15, Aetna Inc. insurance will no longer be an innetwork provider for Community Healthcare System if an agreement cannot be reached.

This would affect all Community Healthcare System entities,

including Community Hospital in Munster; St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago; St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart; Community Stroke & Rehabilitation Center in Crown Point; Community Care Network Inc.; Hartsfield Village;

Leave ear wax alone; it protects your ears

and infection.

The next time you reach for a cotton swab to clean your ears you might want to think twice. The ears are self-cleaning so you shouldn’t do anything to them.

Wax has antibiotic properties and keeps the ear moist, medics point out. Swabs increase the risk of eardrum perforation

A few drops of hydrogen peroxide can relieve severe wax buildup and loosen it so that it comes out easily and can be wiped away. If your ears itch on the inside, try using baby or mineral oil, administered with a medicine dropper. This is not recommended for anyone with eardrum perforations or ear infections.

Community Home Care; and St. Mary Home Care.

“Community Healthcare System is currently in negotiations with Aetna to resolve our differences, but have not come to agreement,” said Kevin Mybeck, vice president of Managed Care for Community Healthcare System. “If we are unable to come to agreement, Aetna patients will be out of network as of Jan. 15, 2023.”

Patients already in the midst of care prior to the termination date will likely be provided an opportunity to complete care for a period of time after the termination.

Patients with questions about continuing care should contact Aetna at the number on the back of their ID card.

The contract termination affects Aetna commercial plans and Aetna Medicare Advantage plan patients.

Maravilla is passionate about small businesses and community involvement

neighborhood garage sales and city celebrations to serving on several nonprofit boards.

Karen Maravilla grew up with parents who set a good example in the importance of volunteering and giving back. It led her on a path of serving her community in many ways, from fundraising to coordinating

Originally from Lansing, Ill., she finished high school in Waco, Texas, and later resided in Hammond for 30 years, where she opened a shop in 2009 called “It’s Just Serendipity.” With a love of everything

vintage, antique, repurposed and handcrafted by local artists, she describes the shop as a “treasure trove of accidental discoveries.”

“I love meeting people and helping them find what brings them joy and make them smile,” she said of operating the store. “One of my passions in decorating and staging. I take pride in creating vignettes that will inspire our customers. I absolve history. It is important that we preserve antiquities and show how we can repurpose items so that they do not end up in the landfill.”

Maravilla also believes in the positive impact of the arts and is a big supporter. She has been on the board of the South Shore Arts & Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra from 2006-11 and from 2013 to the present. She currently serves as vice president of regional arts council/partnership.

“The arts are not a nicety, it’s a necessity,” Maravilla said. “When the arts thrive in a community, the communities thrive. Statistics show students engaged in arts education and exposure have higher GPAs and lower dropout rates. The arts have been linked to widespread economic development in nearly every metropolitan region across the country and the arts add beauty and culture to everything in life.”

As Downtown Hammond council president and event coordinator from 2007-21, she organized a number of events in downtown Hammond, including beautification projects, Haunting in Hammond and Eat, Shop, Rock: A Celebration of the 60s, 70s and the Beatles. She has also been part of the Mental Health America of Lake County fundraising committee; Books, Brushes and Bands for Educa-

tion vice president; a former member of the Girl Scouts board of directors; and a member of the Hammond Development Corporation board of directors as some of her other volunteer endeavors.

During 19 years on the Munster Chamber of Commerce board of directors she served as a chairperson of several committees and in several other roles, including chairman of the board, treasurer and secretary.

Her contributions have been recognized and earned her several awards. She won the Ambassador of the Year Award from the Munster Chamber of Commerce three times, has been named Professional of the Year by the South Shore Arts Convention and Visitors Author-

ity and been given the Key to the City from Mayor Thomas McDermott in 2009 among her many accolades.

Her interests include reading, photography, music, watching Turner Class Movies, eating (at small and local restaurants) and walking with her dog, Isabella, a German Shepherd-husky mix.

Spreading positivity is something for which she constantly strives. “I believe very strongly that women should celebrate each other and our successes. I proudly tell customers about other mom and pop/brick and mortar/small and local businesses and encourage people to visit them,” she said. “If everyone was kind and respectful to each other, our world would be a much more wonderful place.”

S.O.S. — Speaking of Seniors A Medicare Advantage appeal

Services in Merrillville. He has saved clients of that firm over $3 million by fighting mistakes and fraud in the Medicare system.

Editor’s note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance

Also, Wilcox wrote the book “Solving Medicare Problem$,” which is available from book stores and online.

On Dec. 6, I helped the husband of one of our clients from Lowell. He drove her to a hospital for treatment. After a few days, the hospital wanted to move her to a rehab facility.

She has a Medicare Advantage plan. That is a differ-

ent animal from a Medicare supplement plan and it works differently, too. I am more experienced helping people to resolve problems with Medicare supplement plans, but I tried to help the husband get answers. We called the hospital case

Hartsfield Village is named a ‘Best Nursing Home’ in Indiana

Hartsfield Village has been recognized as a “Best Nursing Home for Short-Term Rehabilitation” for 2022-23 by U.S. News & World Report.

The annual Best Nursing Homes report, now in its 13th year, assists prospective residents and their families in making informed decisions in consultation with their medical professionals about where to receive short- or long-term nursing home care. Only 16% of U.S. skilled-nursing facilities earned the “Best Nursing Home” designation this year.

Hartsfield Village is a continuing care retirement community that celebrates the full continuum of life and promotes successful aging. A service of Community Healthcare System, Hartsfield Village offers

independent living, assisted living, rehabilitation and nursing care conveniently located on a 38-acre campus in northwest Indiana, just 22 miles from Chicago.

“We are thrilled to receive this exceptional designation naming Hartsfield among the best nursing homes in Indiana,” said Leslie Darrow, executive director of Hartsfield Village and vice president of Post Acute Services at Community Healthcare System. “It reflects our team’s dedication to providing a high-quality environment of healing for our patients.”

For 2022-23, U.S. News rated more than 15,000 nursing homes on care, safety, infection rates, staffing and health inspections. For the first time, the Best Nursing Homes ratings

feature new measures on weekend staffing and infection rates that led to hospitalizations.

“Choosing the right nursing home based on care needs and comfort is a critical decision for prospective residents and their families,” said Zach Adams, health data engineer at U.S. News. “The Best Nursing Homes ratings highlight nursing homes that excel in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care needs.”

The Best Nursing Homes methodology factors data such as resident care, safety and outcomes. To calculate the Best Nursing Homes ratings, U.S. News evaluated each nursing home’s performance using a variety of data obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Both

short- and long-term ratings include data on consistency of registered nurse staffing, use of antipsychotic drugs and success in preventing ER and hospital visits. The long-term care rating also includes measures of whether a home changed ownership and how well it was staffed on weekends. The shortterm rehabilitation rating also includes measures of a home’s success in preventing falls and serious infections, and making sure residents are able to return home.

For the full list of recipients, visit health.usnews.com/bestnursing-homes.

Hartsfield Village is located at 10000 Columbia Ave., Munster. Call (219) 934-0590 for a tour or visit HartsfieldVillage.com for more information.

worker. She explained that when she asked to move the patient to an acute rehab center, the Medicare Advantage company denied the request. The hospital worker appealed. It was an expedited appeal that will take 72 hours. Non-expedited appeals normally take 30 days.

The issue in the appeal was what level of treatment was necessary for the patient? She could not move her right arm or leg. How intense should her treatment be?

I wanted to help the husband more, so we phoned the insurance company to check on the appeal. It was a 30 minute wait to talk to someone. Then, the person who spoke to us told us that no appeal was on file, so we phoned the hospital case worker and reported that. We gave her a name and phone number to call about this.

I did not resolve anything that day, but I did help the husband get more information so he could talk directly with the case worker in the future.

All the help that I gave the client and her husband was free of charge. This insurance agency “goes the extra mile” to help our clients with such problems. Does your insurance agent give such good customer service?

This New Year, learn about Social Security online

personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount.

Social Security programs touch the lives of more than 70 million people. We work hard to ensure critical benefits and other services are accessible to you.

Consider the start of the new year as an opportunity for you to engage with Social Security online. This begins with creating your free and secure

Once you create an account, you can:

• Apply for retirement, spouses, or disability benefits.

• Apply for Medicare.

• Check your application status.

• Request a replacement Social Security number card.

If you do not receive Social Security benefits, you can use your personal my Social Secu-

rity account to:

• Get personalized retirement benefit estimates.

• Get your Social Security statement.

• Get estimates for spouse’s benefits.

• Get instant proof that you do not receive benefits.

If you receive benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

• Change your address (Social Security benefits only).

• Set up or change your direct deposit information (Social Security benefits only).

• Instantly get proof of benefits.

• Print your SSA-1099.

Your personal my Social Security account has a secure Message Center. You can choose to receive the annual cost-of-living adjustments and the income-related monthly adjustment amount online. Unless you opt out of receiving

notices by mail that are available online, you will receive both mailed and online notices.

Your personal my Social Security account offers easy access to features that save you time when you do business with us online. Check out our other resources available at ssa.gov/onlineservices for your convenience.

Please share this information with your friends and loved ones who may need it.

Maintenance costs mount for independence

Remember when you were in your early teens and you vowed you were going to move into your own apartment and drive your own car and buy your own clothes and get your own money as soon as you could?

While getting out from under parental control may have been responsible for a portion of the impetus, the main driving force was to get out on your own, to become independent.

That urge is still significant when you reach the other end

of your life, when age begins to diminish your abilities and the possibility looms of losing that independence for which you worked so hard.

Keep this in mind, whether you’re the individual facing such a moment, or the person responsible for making decisions for an oldster in such a state. Most folks, young or old, want to live in their own homes. They don’t want to be “institutionalized” or farmed out to a senior community or old folks’ home or whatever you wish to name it.

While the state of one’s finances is prominent in this decision-making process, there

are allied factors.

To maintain the style of living most have worked all their lives to acquire requires some attention be paid to one’s abilities to perform daily activities. For example, are there stairs in the house? Are their railings to help climb them, and support you when you descend? What about those leading out the back to the garage or out front to the family car?

Stairs become steeper and higher as you grow older. Do you, or the person you’re responsible for, have problems going up or down steps? If problems surface, is it because you can’t move your feet or

legs properly or are your eyes giving you problems focusing on where to place your feet? Make sure telephones ring loudly enough and are easy to reach throughout the house. Use phones with large, easyto-read buttons and displays. Get clocks and watches with similar features. Today’s cellular phones are a boon to most people, but they can be sources of frustration to anyone whose eyesight is dimming, has lost finger flexibility, or both. The same holds true with televi-

sion remote control devices.

If you find there’s a physical problem — you don’t have the strength or stamina to do simple chores around the house, for example — discuss this with your doctor to see if there is some treatment or therapy to solve the problem.

Don’t take these issues and infirmities personally. As your automobile ages, it requires more attention to remain in good running order. So does your body.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Be a good scout at income tax time

Be prepared.

This maxim emblazoned in Boy Scout lore also applies to the thorny annual chore known as “doing my taxes.” It’s never too early to prepare for filing your income tax return.

The simple system of keeping receipts and monthly statements can save you a lot of aspirin at filing time. It can also cut down on your cost of tax preparation, because the less time your tax preparer has to spend on your return, the lower the bill.

Three basic items will help establish a workable record keeping system:

• Your checkbook register.

• A clutch of file folders for financial statements and receipts.

• A workbook to log any business-related expenses, such as mileage, subscriptions and entertainment.

If you’re self-employed, keep a daily log of activities — phone calls, appointments and lunches, for example. It needn’t be complicated, just a simple list to corroborate your checkbook register entries and credit card statements.

Your tax preparer can advise you on how to make this basic program work best for you. They might suggest you update your files monthly.

It’s always wise to call your tax accountant early because the rules keep changing. By starting early, you’ll be aware of what you’ll need to wrap up your current year’s tax filing.

Remember that banks, bosses and brokerage houses — almost anyone paying you an income of any sort — reports these transactions to the Internal Revenue Service. The agency gets all these notices and its computers try to match up the information from these sources with the information you prepare and file.

Besides staying ahead of the game by being prepared, keep in mind the IRS makes mistakes. It’s easy to foul up a Social Security number, for example, and you might get an IRS notice based on garbled data.

One tax preparer often recounts an incident in which a bank’s report to the IRS of a customer’s mortgage interest payment was read as interest income. The taxpayer was then notified by the IRS of a disparity in tax owed to the government because of this “additional income.”

If you receive any notification from a taxing agency, check all the items listed and turn the matter over to your tax preparer. If a simple reply letter can solve the matter, send the letter yourself to save tax preparer fees.

Riding horses a big part of life for Henning

Although she had been interested in horses from a young age, it wasn’t until she was in her later 40s that Beth Henning of Beverly Shores and Batavia, Ill., first started riding. When her daughters started horseback riding, Henning decided to try it out herself.

“It was recommended for them as they were preemie babies as a form of OT/PT,” said Henning. “They were riding and it looked fun and it was something I always wanted to do, so I started taking lessons as well. I always wanted to ride horses. I was able to ride with the Girl Scouts at Glenwood Stables and saw the horse shows at the Lake County Fair in Crown Point, but never really rode in lessons until my adult life. My grandparents and parents took me and my sister to the fair annually and that really piqued my interest in horses.”

Her girls are now in college and are on the University of

Illinois riding team, and Henning continues to enjoy the sport. “I ride an 18 year old Paint Gelding named Simon,” she said. “Simon was a barrel racer when he was younger and he then became a lesson horse at a hunter/jumper barn. I bought Simon from them because his personality was a good fit for an adult rider. We nicknamed him ‘safety Simon’ because he was never reckless going over jumps and was always the right amount of spunk for me.”

Right now Simon is recovering from an injury and only being lightly worked at a walk and trot, according to Henning.

The majesty of horses and the exercise component have been things that have drawn her to riding more than competition. “I have won ribbons with my horses but no big awards — just some champion or reserve champion ribbons for certain classes that I entered. I like riding because it is a good athletic activity that makes you not think about any problems. You must concen-

trate on what you are doing. It is much harder than people think it is. It does take quite a bit of muscle strength and cardio fitness, especially in cold weather.”

Henning has also learned how to vault on horses at a camp where her daughters work in Michigan. “I attended the camp with them on the mother-daughter weekends. They went to the camp as campers since kindergarten and now work there as counselors.”

When she’s not riding her horse, Henning likes to spend time riding a bicycle. She has completed the Apple Cider Century in Michigan and also enjoys running 5Ks. Her schedule allows her to enjoy all three of these interests.

“I worked as an attorney for the government and then taught at various law schools in the Chicagoland area including Valparaiso University, teaching environmental law, natural resources law, animal law, legal writing and research,” said Henning. “Right now I am not teaching or working, but I volunteer

as a board member of the ‘Illini Moms’ at University of Illinois. I also help take care of my daughters’ horses while they are away at college studying animal science.”

She’s enjoyed her years of being involved in her daugh-

ters’ educations. She served as a volunteer parent ambassador while her daughters were in high school, and in grade school and middle school she helped coach their cross country and track teams.

Professional Forum

Professional Services

Q. Do I need a Will?

A.If you don’t have a will, your assets will be distributed based on the provisions provided by the state of Indiana. For some, this may be fine. But for most, leaving your own instructions for distribution is more appealing. If you don’t currently have a will, you are not alone, almost 50% of Americans die without having a will.

A will should reflect your desires regarding the distribution

of assets after your death. When creating a will, a stumbling block for many is considering how their heirs will handle the assets. If a potential heir is irresponsible, should you include provisions that provide management of the funds? The best advice is to work with a trusted professional to create a will that reflects your wishes, protects your loved ones and your assets. As the New Year is upon us, if you have not already done so, write a will.

Contact TCU Trust Services, we are here to help you through the process with professional competent guidance.

This information is not designed, meant, nor does it constitute the rendering of legal or tax advice. You

Professional Forum . . . Your exclusive opportunity to present common questions or concerns “Adults 50 Years And Better” may have relating to your product(s) or service.

Advertising with us is a Breeze Advertising with us is a Breeze

Q. Isn’t your paper only read by older senior citizens on limited incomes?

A. According to audit statistics, 80% of our readers are under the age of 75. 65% of our readers have a household income of over $50,000 per year. Nearly 40% of these readers earn more than $75,000 per year. Are households with an income larger than $50,000 your target market? If so, consider advertising in Senior Life! Call or send me an e-mail today!

TCU Trust Services 110 S. Main St. South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 245-4735, ext. 5164

DISCLOSURE:

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.

Becky Berggren, Account Executive

Beckstrom promoting Lutheran mission on college campus

mission, church and ministry.

With a doctorate and a book on the Lutheran faith in his resume, you’d think this son of a pastor was a natural for the ministry. It took some time, but after twice leaving the seminary, the Rev. Dr. Brian A.F. Beckstrom was ordained into the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

His journey toward ordination is reflected, he said, in this passage from Galatians 5:1-2: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage.”

“That verse is a good reminder,” Beckstrom said, “that by being a follower of Jesus, we are called to do things, but also to be free.”

The Valparaiso resident, who has lived in seven states, now has an office in the Helge Center at Valparaiso University, where since January 2022 he has been VU’s assistant vice president for

Beckstrom came from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, where he was dean of spiritual life and campus pastor. At VU, he is responsible for promoting, supporting and advancing the university’s Lutheran mission.

That mission, Beckstrom explained, is rooted in vocations or calling. While some equate vocations with religious life, Beckstrom defined the term as “using the gifts that God has given us in every area of our lives.”

Boasting a diverse student body, VU has 3,000 students from 50 different countries. The school is also experiencing an increase in minority students. Beckstrom estimates students reflect 75-100 different faith traditions, with more coming from Muslim or Hindu backgrounds.

With all that diversity, Beckstrom noted, “It’s really important to think about the vocational aspect of faith.

Everyone is trying to figure out what they’re called to do.

Students are thinking about jobs and other things, especially life after college and having a family.”

VU, Beckstrom said, is committed to “helping students through the big picture, grounded in Lutheran theology and other faith traditions.”

Noting that VU students vary in their faith experiences, Beckstrom said the school can assist students in their faith journeys. These include the Chapel of the Resurrection, with eight worship services weekly, open to all. The university also partners with other organizations, including the nearby St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center. There are also student-led organizations and interfaith opportunities in the community, along with university programs in ministry, vocations, liturgical studies and peer ministry.

Ordained to the ministry in 2006, Beckstrom is originally from Kenosha, Wis. He has also lived in Iowa, Arizona

and Minnesota. The former admissions counselor and swim coach and his wife have one daughter.

In 2020 Beckstrom penned “Leading Lutheran Higher Education in a Secular Age.” The author provides an overview of Lutheran higher education, its history and identity, in light of the Lutheran “rooted and open” approach to education.

Beckstrom is using his theological and educational background as VU undergoes a campus-wide strategic planning process to shape its future.

“What is God calling us to do as a university? My role is to think about the theological aspects of that,” Beckstrom said, noting that this area’s demographic shifts “change us, transform us as well.”

Some prostate cancer risks identified

America than it is among those from Central and South America and Africa.

Age, diet, race and nationality all play a role in prostate cancer risk, according to the American Cancer Society. So does family history.

While the causes of this disease no one likes to talk about are still unknown, statistics reveal 60% of the cases are diagnosed in men older than 60 years.

Asian men are the least likely to contract this disease while African-American are 70% more at risk than white males. It’s also more common in ethnic groups from northwestern Europe and North

A sibling or parent with prostate cancer doubles your chances of contracting the disease. Men with a female relative who has contracted or has a high risk of contracting breast cancer also have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. So do men who have undergone vasectomies.

Reducing the consumption of red meat and high-fat dairy products reportedly reduces the risk, as does eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, such as tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

‘Let’s Pull the Job!’

Las Vegas takes our money, sure, but what if the tables were suddenly turned and we took their money? Who wouldn’t enjoy that?

In 1958, actor Peter Lawford paid $10,000 for a story idea that a movie-director pal claimed to have heard from a gas station attendant. Lawford then approached his fellow members of the celebrated Rat Pack (the men preferred the more dignified nickname of The Summit), which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Joey Bishop.

Lawford shared a proposal about using the idea for a heist-caper film set in Sin City. When he heard the concept, Sinatra joked, “Forget the movie, let’s pull the job!”

The Ocean’s 11 plot line

became a setup for the five hard-drinking, chain-smoking, dame-chasing headliners to make whoopee on-screen, which they did with ease and aplomb as they adlibbed many of their lines.

The premise of the gatherthe-guys yarn stars Ol’ Blue Eyes as leader Danny Ocean.

He has assembled a squad of Army-veteran paratrooper pals for a civilian commando raid in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve. Each participant exudes a different level of passion and each has a personal reason to be involved. One hopes to help his wife stop stripping for a living. Another is terminally ill and wants to

Individual investing may threaten pensions

Only half of 1,500 Americans 45 and older could correctly answer such financial questions as whether or not diversifying investments decreases risk, according to an American Association of Retired Persons survey.

And at least a quarter of those surveyed answered, “I don’t know” to every question.

This relative lack of investment know-how is troublesome, especially as employers are increasingly shifting the burden of pension investment onto their employees.

Almost half of those polled said they get their fiscal advice from friends and family members instead of such business practitioners as financial planners and accountants.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

provide for his kid’s college tuition. Yet another sees a chance to buy his way out of a mundane life that includes driving a truck.

The plan was to simultaneously cut off the electricity at midnight at five major casinos—the Sahara, the Riviera, the Desert Inn, the Sands and the Flamingo. The thieves would then break into casino cages, stuff $5 million in cash into trash cans, and have one of the raiders drive a treasureladen garbage truck out of town and into hiding. But, to prove that (Hollywood) crime never pays, one of the 11 scofflaws unexpectedly dies and a

monkey wrench is tossed into the mechanism of the “perfect” plan.

Sinatra and Martin earn the lion’s share of screen time together, with Frank once saying, “You know, sometimes I think the only reason I got into this caper was to see you again.”

Cameo appearances weave through the story and include such icons as Shirley MacLaine, Red Skelton, Angie Dickinson and George Raft.

Filming often took place in Las Vegas in short bursts during the daytime before the superstars appeared on stage to perform for the likes of JFK and other celebrities of

the time.

The original Ocean’s 11 became one of Warner Brothers’ most profitable pictures upon its August 1960 release. And while some movie critics harrumphed that the tale was immoral, most reviewers declared it a romp – and quite a clever scheme.

The original Ocean’s 11 is now a low-tech time capsule that delights to this day and it allows us to appreciate largerthan-life fellows with oversize personalities who try to live life by their own rules.

Check out this classic; it’s one of the reasons we once loved going to the cinema.

Replace missing manuals

you need your manual to help rectify the problem. Do you know where it is?

It’s time to repair your ailing air conditioning unit or your fridge is on the fritz and

Besides being a link to the world of information and research, the internet also

allows you to check with the manufacturer’s website to seek out a manual for the proper model of your particular product.

2022

Mature Life Features Copyright

A special Chicago celebration —

The Frances Glessner House

It was quite by accident that I came across this story as I searched for an appropriate New Year’s Day event.

Frances Glessner was born in Urbana, Ohio, on Jan. 1, 1850, to John Jacob Glessner. Why and when the family moved to Chicago is currently unknown. In spite of what I do not know at this time, I hereby present to you, my dear readers, an upcoming event that will take place on New Year’s Day 2023.

The late Frances Glessner would be 175 years old on her birthday, Jan. 1, 2023. Chicago will celebrate her birthday, by reservation, at the Glessner house, 1800 S. Prairie Ave. in Chicago, on New Year’s Day from 3-5 p.m. (a Sunday).

It’s interesting to learn that in the 19th Century (1800s),

New Year’s Day was given preference over Christmas Day insofar as visiting friends or hosting people in one’s own home.

At the Glessner home on New Year’s Day, one will enjoy traditional beverages and refreshments in the parlor, dining room and main hall.

Further, personal items of

It was 50 years ago today —

Frances will be available for view: her Steinway piano, miniature figures of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra she gave her mother back in 1913.

Most interesting is a journal Frances kept over the years in which she recorded the callers to the home as well as the gifts she received from them for her birthday: books,

flowers and more.

We must not forget that Frances loved the opera, theater and Chicago Symphony. Further, it has become known that “members of the Chicago Symphony snuck into her home on at least two occasions to serenade her.”

Born Sarah Frances MacBeth Glessner, she passed

away on Oct. 19, 1932, age 82, at home in Chicago. She is buried in Chicago’s Graceland Cemetery alongside her father.

Any information welcome to: Dr. Greg Lawson, 1801 E. 3rd St., Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Lawson is a long-time writer laureate of area history and human interest stories.

‘Crocodile Rock’ was Elton John’s first Number One hit single

Elton John

“Crocodile Rock” became Elton John’s first Number One hit single on MCA Records. (In time, eight more would follow.) But rather than appreciate his rare good fortune, John apparently grew weary of the song and later grumbled, “The last time I have to sing ‘Crocodile Rock,’

I will probably throw a party … It became a big hit, and people love to sing along with it. …

I play to amuse people and to entertain people, but I have to say, when the last show is done at the end of the last tour, I will never sing that song again.”

“I remember when rock was young.

“Me and Susie had so much fun.

“Holdin’ hands and skimmin’ stones.

“Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own.”

“Crocodile Rock” is a microcosm of the past. A retrospective fueled by longing for bygone days with a girlfriend.

Priceless moments impossible to retrieve. Yet Elton’s lyricist Bernie Taupin has admitted, “I don’t mind having created it, but it’s not something I would listen to … I don’t want people to remember me for ‘Crocodile Rock.’ I’d much rather they remember me for songs like ‘Candle in the Wind,’ songs that convey a message, a feeling. Things like ‘Crocodile Rock,’ which was fun at the time, was just pop fluff.”

Johns’ hit song was based on two Bill Haley oldies — “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” and “See You Later, Alligator” (“After ’while, crocodile”).

“But the biggest kick I ever got.

“Was doin’ a thing called the Crocodile Rock.

“While the other kids were rockin’ ‘round the clock.

“We were hoppin’ and bop-

pin’ to the Crocodile Rock.”

John told rock historian Fred Bronson, “I wanted it to be a record all about the things I grew up with, all the great ‘50s and ‘60s records that we used to love. I always wanted to write one song, a nostalgia song, a rock and roll song which captured the right sounds. ‘Crocodile Rock’ is

just a combination of so many songs, really — ‘Little Darlin’,’ ‘Oh, Carol,’ some Beach Boys, they’re in there as well, I suppose. Eddie Cochran, too. It’s just a combination of songs.’

John (who was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947) was 10 when his parents divorced. By then the chubby, soft-spoken lad had six years of piano playing under his belt. With his rock-music-hating father out of the picture, John received encouragement from his mother when she handed him a copy of Elvis Presley’s breakout hit “Heartbreak Hotel.” “I went on from there,” he says. “Pop was my whole life.” He began using his pocket money to buy records and then pick out their melodies by ear on the family piano.

In “Crocodile Rock,” Elton John manages to create an enduring music masterpiece that roars along with highoctane gusto, pounding piano lines and whirling synthesizer riffs adding to the retro-rock feel, as do the growling guitar lines, pulsating bass notes and throbbing drumbeats.

It is, one might say, a justabout-perfect pop disc.

Sriracha-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

This recipe for spicy Buffalo cauliflower bites is a great vegetarian alternative to Buffalo wings. Roasted cauliflower stands in for chicken and provides more fiber and fewer calories. Serve this easy appetizer with carrot sticks, celery and your favorite ranch or blue cheese dressing.

6 servings; Active 10 minutes; Total 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups 1 1/2-inch cauliflower florets

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot 1-2 tablespoons Sriracha

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 tablespoon lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1

Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

Step 2 Toss cauliflower, oil and salt in a large bowl. Spread on the prepared baking sheet; reserve the bowl. Roast the cauliflower until it’s starting to soften and brown on the bottom, about 15 minutes.

Step 3

Meanwhile, combine hot sauce, Sriracha to taste, butter and lemon juice in the large bowl. Add the roasted cauliflower and toss to coat. Return the cauliflower to the baking sheet and continue roasting until hot, about 5 minutes more. NUTRITION INFORMATION:

Serving Size: 3/4 cup

Per Serving: 99 calories; protein 3g; carbohydrates 8g; dietary fiber 3g; sugars 3g; fat 7g; saturated fat 2g; cholesterol 5mg; vitamin a iu 169IU; vitamin c 69.9mg; calcium 32.8mg; iron 0.6mg; potassium 439mg; sodium 288mg. Exchanges: 1 1/2 vegetable, 1 1/2 fat

Affirmations may help keep you on track

Affirmations are exactly that – affirming your action.

Many people use daily affir-

mations to keep on track each day like a nudge, a reminder, a bit of encouragement. Spending just a few minutes at the start of your day can set the pace. The idea being that when temptation to quit arises that you will remember one of your affirmations and realize that this is a fleeting moment that you should not give in to. Every time we try to eat healthily, along comes Christmas, Easter, Summer, Friday, or Tuesday and ruins it for us. Perhaps this would be a good affirmation as we

enter into 2023: Reset…Restart…Refocus…

As many times as you need to. Just don’t quit.

Losing weight is the most common resolution set each New Years Eve. Ideally the resolution should be to get healthy, which means a whole lot of little steps to ensure that

you are eating nutritiously each day which will lead to be healthier.

If you don’t like where you are, move. You’re not a tree.

Decide what it is you want, write it down and work on it.

Every single day.

“Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.”

Medical handoff should not be kiss-off

If you’ve never had to visit a doctor during your lifetime, consider yourself extremely lucky.

But not off the hook, because the likelihood of everybody becoming a patient at some time in their lives is 100%, according to a medical school dean as quoted in The Prepared Patient Newsletter. Which means everyone can use some guidance in “good patienthood.”

While most patients do not prepare well for medical visits, our current health care system almost demands patients be ready to make good use of the limited time they’ll have with the doctor.

Preparation is simple. State

your problem when you make the appointment. Be ready to relate diseases that run in the family, and current and past medial problems and treatments.

Write down that information before you go, if necessary. Don’t leave home without a list of all prescribed and overthe-counter medications and supplements you take and in what frequencies and dosages.

While you’re there, tell the doctor about your emotional health. Tell him or her if you’re depressed for whatever reason, overly nervous about a visit by relatives, stressed by preparation for an upcoming trip or excited about the approach of a new grandchild.

Don’t leave before you get all the information you need,

such as if and when you should return, what warning signals to watch for and when’s the best time to contact your doctor. Make sure you understand clearly the instructions about what you’re supposed to do as part of your treatment.

These same rules apply if you’re referred to another doctor. In most cases, this will be a specialist in whatever area your primary care physician feels the need for a second opinion or diagnosis.

You might want to check with your health and hospital insurance carrier to see if that doctor is included in your coverage. If he or she is not, ask your primary care physician for a doctor included in your coverage list. Don’t be afraid to shop around yourself.

Make sure no one drops the ball in the handoff from your primary care physician to the referral doctor(s).

Besides making all the doctor visit preparations listed above, make sure your medic is going

to send your medical records and history to any doctor(s) you’re referred to. If necessary, ask for a copy of your records and carry them to the referral visit.

Your referring doctor should tell you exactly why he or she is referring you to a new doctor and what to expect, including the possibility of new tests or treatment.

You should also ask about the new doctor’s personality. For example, ask if this specialist has the patience to explain things to patients.

You also should tell all your doctors how you learn best. If you’d rather read instructions than receiving them verbally, say so. If being shown works best, have them walk you through how things work, how many pills to take and how to give yourself medication.

It’s your health and doctors can use all the help they can get to keep you hearty and hale.

— Kevin David.

Think ahead to what’s coming up in 2023; maybe it’s a reunion, or wedding. Being healthier when that event rolls around is a goal – write it down, post it on the refrigerator where you will see it everyday. Put it right next to your list of GBOMBS from

Dr. Fuhrman: Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries & Seeds which you should strive to eat each day.

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” — Steve Prefontaine.

Keep track to see your progress and to keep yourself accountable to yourself. I use a 100-day calendar, but you can use whatever works for you. I weigh in every Monday, but for the other days I check if I eat completely clean & if I got at least 5,000 steps. As we know, 10,000 steps is the goal, but that doesn’t always happen, at least for me. What I’m looking for is to see if I am actually complying with the way that will lead to a healthier me and taking away the cop-out of ‘this just doesn’t work for me’. It does work, if you work it. Don’t give yourself that out – be addicted to bettering yourself.

Don’t let others derail you. Whether they mean to or not, when people see you making all the good clean food choices, they will tempt you with ‘oh, come one, just one’, or ‘reward yourself with a treat’. What kind of sense does it make to reward clean eating with a bad food choice. Right, none.

You become what you surround yourself with. Energies are contagious. Choose carefully. Your environment will become you.

Guess what? January 2nd is a Monday, so all the people that start programs on Monday’s can start January 2nd, 2023. What a year it will be.

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

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Brentwood at Hobart

1420 St. Mary Circle, Hobart, IN 46342 (219) 945-1968

www.BrentwoodHobartSeniorLiving.com

Assisted Living, Alzheimer’s Unit, Therapies: Speech-OccupationalPhysical, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pets Allowed, Private Dining Room, Enclosed Courtyard, 14 Passenger Van

Dyer Nursing & Rehab Center

601 Sheffield Avenue, Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 322-2273 • www.dyernursingandrehab.com

Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-RespiratoryPhysical, Long Term Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Hammond-Whiting Care Center

1000-114th Street, Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 659-2770 www.hammondwhitingconvalescentcenter.com

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Respite Care, Hospice Care, JCAHO Accredited, Private/SemiPrivate Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Lake County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

5025 McCook Ave., East Chicago, IN 46312 (219) 397-0380 • www.lakecountynursingandrehab.com

Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation Unit; Therapies: Speech, Occupational and Physical; Long Term Care, Respite/Temporary Care, Hospice Care, Trach/Respiratory Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Certified Medicare and Medicaid Provider

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

8380 Virginia St., Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 769-9009 • www.lincolnshirehrc.com

7935 Calumet Ave., Munster, IN 46321 (219) 836-8300 • www.munstermed-inn.com

Life Care Center of The Willows

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

®

The

Willows

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

®

221 W. Division Road, Demotte, IN 46310 (219) 987-7005 • www.oakgrovecrv.org

Saint Anthony

E

Experience Our Unique Approach

To Senior Living & Memory Support 2300 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 921-5200 • www.ResidencesAtCoffeeCreek.com

Experience Our Unique Approach

To Senior Living & Memory Support 401 E. U.S. 30, Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 864-0700 • www.ResidencesAtDeerCreek.com

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.

601 Sheffield, Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 865-5200 • www.assistedlivingdyer.com

606 Wall Street, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 464-4976

Send listings of events, hosted by nonprofit organizations, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542 by Jan. 30 for February events. With listing, include contact person and a phone number.

Maria Reiner Center

• Monday Stretching class level 1, 9 a.m.; ukulele, 10 a.m.; bocce ball open play, 10 a.m.; walking club, 10 a.m.; smart phone class Androids, 10:30 a.m.; smart phone class I-phone, 11:30 a.m.; oil painting, 12:30 p.m. 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 $3. Walking club, 10 a.m.; dominos, 10 a.m.; pool tournament, 10 a.m.; senior cha cha cha, 11 a.m. Pickleball: beginner drills,

8:30-10:30 a.m., beginner and low intermediate, 10:30-11:30 a.m., open play, 11:30 a.m. to close.

• Wednesday Experienced art class, 9 a.m.; stretch plus level 2, 9 a.m.; bocce ball open play, 10 a.m.; hand and foot, 10 a.m.; cardio strength with Janice, 10 a.m.; walking club, 10 a.m.; movie, noon; beginner’s art class, noon; 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 $3. Bridge, 10 a.m.; pool tournament, 10 a.m.; dominos, 10 a.m.; Zumba gold, 10 a.m.; choir, 11 a.m.; Bible as literature, 12:45 p.m.; Happy Hookers and Naughty Knitters, 1 p.m.; Scrabble, 1 p.m.

Pickleball: beginner and low intermediate, 8:30-11:30 a.m., open play, 11:30 a.m. to close. • Friday — Yoga, 8:30 a.m. (dates vary; see website calendar for specific dates); cardio strength with Janice, 10 a.m.; bocce ball open play, 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 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 nonmembers. Call (219) 947-1864 or visit 705 E. Fourth St., Hobart. For more information, visit hobartseniors.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.

Working from home still a job

The writer of this article works from home. So do thousands of other freelance writers around the globe, as have sales folks, designers, seamstresses and a slew of other people for decades.

The COVID-19 pandemic recruited thousands more home workers as the global shutdown forced companies around the world to send their office staff home for the duration. Now that the dura-

tion seems to have dissipated, these armies of workers have grown to like the idea of not having to don business office attire and fight traffic to perform their workaday chores.

Some corporate honchos also like the idea they no longer have to pay for quarters in high-rent metropolitan high-rises but can move their downsized headquarters staff to more economical pastures.

But who sets your hours when you work from home? How does your employer get the eight hours he’s paying you for? Focus by both employee and employer have to be adjusted to key in on production, not the process.

Work-at-home fanciers can meet their quotas and deadlines by developing a routine

that fits their lifestyle. Early birds can get their work done between 5-9 a.m. Others can dedicate a 2-6 p.m. to producing if they don’t feel like going along with traditionalists who still like a 9-to-5 workday.

But a routine is necessary. A longtime colleague locks his office door every day at 5 p.m. He never goes back and it’s shut all day Saturday and Sunday — and Monday on holiday weekends — as well as the two weeks he takes off for vacation. He even takes sick days when needed.

Maintaining regular hours is your first step to a successful work-at-home program. You don’t have to be as strict as the colleague cited earlier. Putting in some extra time today to complete a project will

make tomorrow less stressful. You can still start your day with a soothing cup of coffee as well as take a regular coffee break or two later in the day. And don’t forget to have lunch.

Get up and stretch your legs and back every 60 minutes or so. If you’re not on an eighthour-a-day routine, your lunch break might a be a 15-minute walk around the block to relax both your mind and body.

If you’re still working for a company, they can provide you with necessary equipment and supplies, including ink for the printer they provided and gasoline for your car when it’s used for work.

While it’s important to dedicate a room or space for your office, it’s also wise to main-

tain a separate phone number for your job. Today’s computerized world simplifies much of the communication needs that help you stay in contact with your company, co-workers, clients and customers.

Make sure you get into the corporate office for meetings on a regular basis. You can easily be forgotten or overlooked for promotions and pay raises if you aren’t around.

Take time to socialize with contacts and co-workers. This helps keep you abreast of the latest developments in the world around you.

Pick a little routine to end your day. A longtime friend turns her television set on at closing time to end the workday.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

FUNERAL HOMES

HOSPICE CARE

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VISITING ANGELS HOME CARE

2340 Cline Ave., Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 322-6100

www.visitingangels.com

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UNITY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

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Family owned & operated hospice Offering premier end-of-life care For over 25 years at no cost to you, Because we care.

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501 Marquette St. Valparaiso, IN 46385

Additional Office In: Crown Point, IN (219) 462-5195 (219) 531-8181 Fax www.vnanwi.org

A not-for-profit organization for over 50 years. Accepts all hospice eligible patients, regardless of ability to pay. Veteran specialty hospice program. Serving Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton and Starke Counties. Making Best Days Possible

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A not-for-profit organization for over 50 years. Providing nutritional meals for individuals in Porter County delivered to your home. Meals are available both on a long-term basis and temporarily, meals are available for ages 3 years and up.

Making Best Days Possible

South Beach art deco — A national treasure

of the art deco style, though not in Florida, is the iconic Chrysler Building in New York City.

The demise of art deco has been greatly exaggerated. It’s alive and well and headquartered in Miami on South Beach. Examples of this style of architecture proliferate in a host of hotels along the main streets of Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue. In fact, of the 1,200 buildings in the area, 850 are in the art deco style.

Art deco’s roots can be traced to the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale de Arts Decoratifs et Industreis Modernes and was the hottest topic there. It was sure to completely change the architectural world and did become popular in Europe and the USA. One of the signature structures

The premise was actually quite simple. The design of the exterior of the front was based on a triad. Both sides were symmetrical and the center section soared from the entrance to, in many cases, above the roofline and generally encompassed a decorative element, like zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts, fluting or banding. It was all to be accomplished in a streamlined style that would create a sleek, antitraditional elegance symbolizing wealth and sophistication.

South Beach was destroyed by a hurricane the year after the Paris Exposition. The reconstruction was done in the art deco style. The hotels were indeed elegant and the tourists flocked

to Miami to enjoy the beach.

Another calamity struck South Beach and the entire country in 1929. This is when the bottom fell out of the stock market and fortunes immediately disappeared. Tourists no longer had funds for Florida vacations and many of the hotels failed from lack of occupancy.

Then along came World War II and the country’s focus was on other things. Art deco was considered to be too gaudy and ostentatious for wartime austerity. After the war, promoters attempted to secure loans to spruce up the hotels, but banks weren’t taking the bait and rich financiers were few and far between. Surprisingly, the money to rebuild South Beach to its earlier elegance came from the mob.

The art deco period ended up spanning the Roaring 1920s, the Great Depression of the early 1930s, through the war years and into the early 1950s. South Beach today is considered a national architectural treasure. The buildings have been carefully restored as close to the original look as possible.

When visiting South Beach, you will be able to tell art deco buildings from newer structures by their distinctive triad-style facade and some of the other little touches that distinguish them. Their pastel colors give the neighborhood a stately, bright, clean appearance. Be sure to step inside some of the hotels where you’ll find art deco designs incorporated in the marble lobby floors, their wall decorations and even the registration desk.

Two-hour walking tours of the historic district get you up close and personal with art deco, which was sometimes referred to as the “style moderne.” You’ll also learn that the style also extended into fashion, furniture, fine arts and decorative arts. Be sure to see the neighborhood at night when they’re beautifully lit. Unfortunately, the ocean can’t be seen from Ocean Drive because of a tall protective dune.