Senior Life - NorthWest Edition - May 2024

Free Living Life After 50

STRETCH THOSE LIMBS Using a strap, Barb Wheele stretches a leg during a chair yoga class at Banta Activity Center in Valparaiso.

STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

Chairyoga offers time for relaxing and centering

The lighting is dimmed. Gentle music adds to the atmosphere. Participants are placed in a setting where people of all abilities can feel relaxed and centered, away from the noises and outside events of the day.

Another class of chair yoga has begun at Banta Activity Center in Valparaiso. Led by Jan Green and Mary Lebio, yoga instructors from Ohm Studio in the city, the 45-minute class has been meeting Thursdays since January.

A school bus driver, Green said chair yoga is about “strength, power and medita-

tion, for all ages and all abilities.” Although the class currently meets once a week, Green has a vision of expanding the program.

While parts of the class are physical, there is a mental side as well, Lebio pointed out.

“Our aim is for people to become centered and find energy from the group and the community,” she said, “and coming to a thought for the day.”

Although chair yoga did not originate in India, the instructors incorporate some Indian mysticism in the class.

STRAPPED UP — Chair yoga participants at Banta Activity Center use straps during exercises. Props, including blocks, are part of the class.

NATURAL SOUNDS Class instructor Jan Green strikes crystal containers for meditative sounds during chair yoga at Banta Activity Center in Valparaiso.

Depending on class size, participants meet in a circle.

“We like to use meditation,” Green said, “so they can stay in the circle.”

According to “Medical News Today,” chair yoga has medical benefits, especially for seniors. This form of yoga can benefit seniors who have difficulty with balance or who want to improve their strength while minimizing the risk of a fall.

Other benefits include improved strength and balance, help for those with arthritis, reduced joint pain and re-

duced fear of falls.

In addition, evidence has shown that chair yoga improves quality of life in older adults. Additional pluses, similar to those from regular yoga, include improved circulation, pain management, mental well-being and stress reduction.

The two instructors like to incorporate props in class. These include straps, blocks, and crystal bowls for sounds. “Crystal comes from nature,” Green explained, “and we’re creating natural sounds from nature.”

Yanqun One, attending her first class, enjoyed the experience. “I liked the sounds, as I was made to feel very relaxed,” she said. “The teachers are very professional and they taught us well. I feel very comfortable now.”

As classes begin, instructors work to encourage participants to relax, offering time to meditate, occasionally using excerpts from a book or quotations. Stretching exercises commence, as class members warm up their ankles and toes. Straps are used in stretching leg muscles. Breathing exercises are also included.

Class member Sandy Hart noted, “The class is relaxing

Continued on page 2

Text and Photos By

Key Positions

Shultz works to make home-buying/selling process go smoothly

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

While purchasing or selling a home can be a complex process, Kathy Shultz of Crown Point aims to do what she can in her role to make it a good experience for all involved. As president of Community Title Company, she currently oversees 18 employees, manages the accounting, meets and entertains new business clients and maintains current events.

Shultz has been with Community Title Company for 29 years. Unsure what career path she wanted to pursue, she began attending Purdue University Calumet, majoring in accounting.

“A bookkeeper position opened at Community Title and I was hired in May 1995. At the time, I had no idea I would love what I do. I

did not have any family or influences in real estate or finance,” said Shultz. “To be honest, I was clueless. What I do know is that I always wanted to learn more, and why we did what we did. I was inquisitive and wanted to understand the legal and ethical facets to the business.”

In her role, she’s able to meet new people each day. “I enjoy customer interaction at the office,” she said. “I am always trying to solve an issue to help get buyers and sellers to the closing table.”

In nearly three decades in the field, combating fraud has become a big concern. One of the biggest challenges of the job is “teaching the public, real estate professionals and attorneys about all of the different fraud schemes. In my business, we have to do our due diligence to protect our customers from being victims

of wire fraud and seller fraud schemes,” she said. “We try to make it as easy as possible, but to some, going through extra steps is an inconvenience. Most people don’t understand fraud makes a huge impact in the real estate and title industry.”

The Merrillville native earned her real estate license in 1999. She also has her Indiana title insurance producers license and is a notary public in Indiana.

Shultz has a daughter, Mara, who recently graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a degree in theater. “I have been blessed and cannot describe how proud I am of her,” she said. “I am also extremely lucky to still have both of my parents living and well in Merrillville. I am grateful I am able to see them often.”

She also has a black cat

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named Eddie and a German Shepherd/Basenji mix, Daisy, that she takes daily walks with. She is looking forward to summer when she enjoys spending time outdoors by the pool or planting vegetables and flowers. She enjoys volunteering for various charity functions, as well.

“At the end of the day, I am grateful I get to see an excited buyer purchase a new home, a happy seller move on to their next home, and real estate professionals finalize their transactions with their clients. It is extremely satisfying to help make this real estate transaction a pleasant experience.”

Chair

Continued from page 1

and I like to stretch. I also like the community of it, and the instructors are really good.”

Mary Powell, another Valparaiso resident, also cited the relaxation. “I like socializing with everyone,” she added.

Bruce Pattee, also in the class, said, “It’s very relaxing, which is good because my balance is not so strong. I hate to leave.”

More information on chair yoga and other Banta programs is available by calling (219) 462-1301 or visiting valpoparks.org.

KATHY SHULTZ

Galante is living a well-rounded retirement

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Medical director. Swimmer. Guitar player. Gardener. Bicyclist. Traveler. Member of the South Shore Arts board of directors. Gus Galante’s active life is a prime example of how to thrive in retirement. The Munster native retired last year from his plastic surgery private practice of 30 years, and is living his best life with a second part-time medical career

and a number of hobbies and interests.

After attending Wabash College, he went on to Indiana University School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree. There he met his wife, Becca, who is retired from an internal medicine practice. He later attended Loyola University Medical Center, where he did training in general surgery and plastic surgery. He went on for additional fellowship training in reconstructive breast

surgery and cosmetic surgery at the Institute for Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery in Nashville, Tenn.

“I always enjoyed the sciences and humanities in school. I thought medicine was one of the careers that combined both of those,” said Galante.

He specialized in plastic surgery at his solo private practice, first in Munster and then in Schererville. “I did everything from burns to hand surgery to breast cancer reconstruction to skin cancer, and then transitioned to elective cosmetic surgery,” said Galante.

Opting to continue working in the medical field after closing his practice, he became medical director of JEM MedSpa in Munster. Because it has the medical association with it, rather than acting as a day spa, there is a need for it to be overseen by a physician.

“We want to make sure everything we do it safe and compliant,” he said.

Among the variety of services offered at the facility are Botox, fillers, laser procedures, hair removal, resurfacing of the facial skin, non-surgical fat removal (cool sculpting), weight loss management and bio-identical hormone therapy.

“It’s a very popular and growing industry, and it’s in my space — the cosmetic surgery space. I’m familiar with the procedures, and I want make sure that patients are taken care of properly and safely,” he said. “We have a great staff and a great culture in the facility. It’s a wonderful place to work and spend some

days in retirement.”

Galante keeps physically active by bicycling and swimming, and he’s recently taken up golf. A member of the board of directors of South Shore Arts for over two decades, he’s always supported the arts and began taking drawing classes last year.

“I am interested in the arts and thought it would be nice to participate in some of the decision making and funding to help improve the culture in our local community,” he said. Galante is also involved in the Munster Chamber of Commerce.

You might even catch him performing in a local bar with the “unPROFESSIONALS,” a band made up of local lawyers, doctors, dentists and businessmen. After playing piano, violin and trumpet in his youth, he decided to take up a new instrument and took guitar lessons about seven years ago. Shortly after, some friends asked if he’d like to join the band. He and his wife are also enjoying traveling, especially to visit their three adult children in Florida, Colorado and Georgia — and three granddogs.

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Meet the ‘napsters’

By DICK WOLFSIE

One Saturday, something happened that made me very proud of my family and I want to share it with you. It was about three in the afternoon and my adult son had just stopped by after a boxing workout. My wife had returned from a long morning of shopping and running errands. I had just played two hours of pickleball. What was I proud of? Everyone took a nap. Right smack in the middle of the day.

People in the neighborhood were not only tossing around a football with the kids, gassing up the lawn mowers, or taking a walk in the nearby woods.

But the Wolfsies were all asleep. Brett sacked out on the couch, Mary Ellen in our kingsized bed, and I was tucked into my La-Z-Boy chair. Do I know how to pick a family or what? I just wish I could have been awake to fully enjoy it. If I

had not been napping myself, I would have run around the neighborhood bragging, “My whole family is taking a nap. My whole family is taking a nap.”

But bellowing, “Two out of three people in my family are taking a nap” would have taken a bit of the shine off my bravado.

Of course, my son and wife are not experienced nappers. They have not spent the years I have perfecting the art of the timely snooze.

Unlike me, my wife has never slept through Paris on a bus or dozed through an entire baseball game. Unlike me, my son has never fallen asleep at his own surprise birthday party or while tutoring a student after class. They are novice nappers. But I was thrilled that there was hope.

Here it was Saturday afternoon, a gorgeous, crisp winter afternoon enticing every family in the neighborhood to go outside and enjoy the weather. But all the Wolfsies were napping.

Of course, there are some drawbacks to amateur napping. When my wife awakens, she apologizes for her lapse and then spends the next three hours worrying she is coming down with something. I’m

no medical expert, but I don’t think you need to give yourself a COVID test if you doze off for 20 minutes in the middle of the afternoon.

When I doze off for an hour or so, I awaken with a renewed sense of purpose. Men and women place different values on a good daytime snooze. Women don’t like naps because they are afraid they will miss something, like a sale or a sunset or the plot of a movie. But that’s exactly the reason I do nap. To miss things.

I do worry about my son, though. As a toddler, he showed great potential, often rivaling me. He’d fall asleep after a good meal and often snuck in a nap before going to bed. I had great expectations for him, but my hopes dimmed as he grew up. He once sat through an entire “Harry Potter” movie without snoring. And more recently, he watched three and a half hours of “Oppenheimer” without digging his nails into his thigh. You may think we wasted the afternoon. That we squandered valuable time and frittered it away by dozing off at three in the afternoon. You are entitled to your opinion. But I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.

GUS GALANTE

NUTSHELL

What is probate — and how

Few things are as traumatic as dealing with the death of a loved one. Just as we’re experiencing pain, legal issues hit us.

Insurance companies, reading the will, investments — suddenly it’s overwhelming. And perhaps the most difficult issue is probate.

Probate? It’s crucial in tying up the deceased’s affairs. Preparing now for the possibility of probate early can lessen the emotional stress and strain on you and your family.

Probate is the process a court takes to conclude legal and financial matters after death. The court will distribute your estate. If there’s a will, the court will go by what the will says.

But it’s often not that

simple. For one thing, there may not be a will. So, the court appoints an administrator and the State of Indiana who decides how your estate will be distributed. You can’t assume that your spouse and children will automatically get everything or even an equal share.

Probate is lengthy and complex for folks not prepared for it.

No will? Many assets? You don’t have to be rich to encounter problems, but being wealthy adds complications.

Here’s a list of problems and the ways to avoid them:

Time — Probate can take a long time. If heirs need their inheritance to pay for college or for medical bills, they may have a problem. The problem of time can add steeply to the

By CLIFFORD J. RICE Elder Law Attorney Valparaiso

costs. Expect probate to take from nine months to a year in court. Complex or contested estates can take even longer.

Cost — Even with a valid will, there will be court costs

and fees. If there’s no will or it’s being contested, costs can be higher. Costs can consume thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.

Lack of privacy — Probate court proceedings are public record.

Family squabbles — If a will is contested, heirs will have to go to court and retain lawyers. The probate judge appoints an administrator who meets with lawyers to see who has a valid claim. Problems cost time and money and may even go public.

How can you avoid this?

At Rice & Rice we focus on living trust-based estate planning because:

• Trusts afford the family privacy and control.

• Trusts allow individuals

to put a solid disability plan in place effective during their lifetime.

• Trusts can avoid probate. If you set up a trust, all assets in the trust can pass to your loved ones probate-free. Trusts can include real estate and investment and bank accounts, as well as vehicles. A living trust can be an effective alternative to a will.

To find out more about how you can avoid probate and get your affairs in order, register to attend our Estate Planning/ Medicaid Planning seminar at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Teibel’s, 1775 US 41, Schererville.

Reservations are required; seating is limited. Call now: (800) 303-7423 or visit our website at riceandrice.com.

Lake County Master Gardeners plan annual plant sale

The 23rd annual Lake County Master Gardeners Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11, in the Fine Arts Building at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point.

A wide variety of plants are offered for sale to the public as a means of fundraising to support the scholarship and grant funds. Some plants

are purchased from commercial growers to satisfy home gardening needs and even more plants are grown and offered by the Lake County Master Gardeners.

Plants include annuals, perennials, herbs, houseplants, bulbs, shrubs and even some trees. All plants are labeled. Master gardeners will be available in abundance to

answer any question. The sale also includes mini presentations on gardening topics and a “Trash to Treasures” area where gently-used gardening items of all kinds can be purchased.

There will be gardening demonstrations at 11 a.m.

The plant sale is one of three fundraisers the Lake County Master Gardeners

hold each year. In their commitment to “Helping Others Grow” the proceeds of the Plant Sale help fund the Lake County Master Gardener scholarship and grant programs. For more information, go to the Lake County Master Gardeners Association website, lakecountymastergardeners.org, or visit their Facebook page by searching

for “Lake County Master Gardeners.”

If you have questions about the plant sale contact Dolly Foster and Veronica Williams at lakecountymastergardeners@gmail.com, or call the Purdue Extension-Lake County office at (219) 755-3240. Lake County Master Gardeners Association, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation.

Social Security honors our military heroes

By DANIEL SUMMER, MA Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration

On Memorial Day, our nation honors military service members who have given their lives to preserve our freedoms. Families, friends, and communities come together to remember

the great sacrifices of military members and ensure their legacies live on.

The benefits we provide can help the families of deceased military service members.

For example, surviving spouses and dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits.

Reverse mortgage movers still hustling

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature

That

and plan to use it only as a line of credit, that loan grows to $105,000 in a year. If you pull $25,000 out of that loan, the

will grow by 5% a

And it keeps on growing by 5% a year.

While reverse mortgages sound enticing when considering its main selling point — borrow on the equity of your house and never have to pay anything back as long as you live in it — the devilish details include, among other things, exorbitant fees and an annual review to make sure you’ve paid the taxes, maintained the property and kept it insured. Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay off the loan if you and your spouse are forced to move into a nursing home after a mishap or because of agerelated infirmities.

As a lawyer acquaintance strongly advised years go, “If you don’t need the money, don’t even think about a reverse mortgage.”

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

You can learn more about those benefits at ssa.gov/benefits/ survivors.

We also offer support to wounded warriors. Social Security benefits protect veterans when injuries prevent them from returning to active duty or performing other work. Both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Social Security have disability programs. You may qualify for disability benefits through one or both programs. Read our fact sheet, “Social Security Disability and Veterans Affairs Disability — How Do They Compare?” at ssa.gov/pubs/EN-64-125.pdf. Depending on your situation, some members of your family, including your dependent children or spouse, may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits.

Wounded military service members can receive quicker processing of their Social Security disability claims. If you are a veteran with a 100% Permanent & Total compensation rating from Veterans Affairs, we’ll expedite your disability claim.

Thinking about retirement or know a veteran who is?

Military service members can receive Social Security benefits in addition to their military retirement benefits. For details, visit our webpage for veterans, available at ssa.gov/people/ veterans.

Share this information with the military families you know. We honor and thank the veterans who bravely served and died for our country and the military service members who serve today.

S.

O. S. - Speaking of Seniors — Pain from Medicare Advantage

Editor’s note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville,. He has saved clients of that firm over three million dollars by correcting medical bill problems.

On March 28, I got a phone call from a client who complained about her Medicare Advantage plan. She needs shots or patches to reduce pain that she experiences. She was not getting either currently under her Medicare Advantage plan. One local hospital stopped accepting payment arrangements from two insurance companies and their Medicare Advantage plans.

This client had a Medicare Advantage plan from one of those insurance companies that the hospital no longer accepted. Medicare plus Medicare supplement plans are accepted by over 97% of medical service firms like doctors, laboratories and hospitals. But to use a Medicare Advantage plan, a patient must stay in network or pay higher amounts on co-pays, deductibles and other fees.

A few years ago, a client switched from using Medicare plus a Medicare supplement to using a Medicare Advantage plan. Then, he went into a local hospital. He got a hospital bill of over $6,000 with the Medicare Advantage plan. He asked me to check the bill and help

By WOODROW WILCOX Senior Problem Resolution Officer

him. I had helped him earlier when he was on Medicare and a Medicare supplement plan. After I checked the bill and the rules of his Medicare Advantage plan, I informed him that I could not help this time and that he did owe the bill under the terms of his Medicare Advantage plan.

This is another reason why seniors should explore options with a local insurance agent or agency and not connect with an insurance agent over the phone. If you’re sitting in an office with someone, it is easier to communicate and the local agent or agency cares about their business reputation in the community so that it is easier to get help if or when you need it.

OFFERING SUPPORT TO MILITARY HEROES The Social Security Administration provides benefits, and support to military members and their families through a variety of benefits. Photo provided by Social Security Administration.

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Neale cites competitive, fun nature of ping pong

By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

For Jack Neale and a handful of other men and women, Monday morning means heading to Banta Activity Center for friendly but competitive games of ping pong.

“I like being with people, plus the competition,” said Neale, 86, a Jackson Township resident. “It’s a game you can play as you get older.”

Neale, a retired accountant and lithographer, plays ping pong three times a week. He also heads to Valparaiso Family YMCA for three days a week of pickleball.

As an exercise, Neale said of ping pong, “All exercises help you. I used to run. I ran track and played basketball in high school in Nebraska.”

An Army brat, Neale got into ping pong as a boy, as his father and brother played table tennis at their California home. When he and his late wife, Kathy, took cruises, he’d get into ping pong tourneys aboard ship.

When Kathy died in 2018, Neale wanted to stay active. While attending a grief support meeting at VNA Hospice

NWI, he learned about ping pong at Banta. He joined the group, which pre-pandemic reached as many as 15 players.

“I hold my own for my age,” Neale confessed.

Age is neither an issue nor an excuse at ping pong, the senior player noted. People are still sociable, he said, but they don’t back down, either. That includes female players, who hold their own against male opponents.

“I like being with people,” Neale said. “Every other contest is a lot more exercise. The secret to staying alive is keeping busy, doing things.”

Neale recalled that for the last five years of her life, Kathy was an avid cyclist. He biked with her, but she’d pedal farther, especially along the Prairie Duneland Trail. He did a few 40-mile routes, usually going 12-15 miles, in addition to kayaking.

The couple did plenty of traveling, visiting 60 countries.

According to sportsowls.com, ping pong attracts players due to its fast pace, accessibility, and universal appeal. It’s a sport anyone can play, regardless of age or skill level.

A sport that can be played almost anywhere, ping pong has become a source of national pride in many countries, including Japan, China, South Korea and Hong Kong. This global appeal fosters healthy competition and promotes cultural exchange and cooperation.

Participation by women has helped the sport become more diverse and inclusive.

As to physicality, sportsowls.com reports, the fastpaced nature of ping pong provides an excellent workout, enhancing agility, reflexes and cardiovascular health.

Appealing to all ages, this sport also demands intense mental concentration, sharpening focus and strategic thinking.

With ping pong at Banta, Neale said, “We’ve got a great bunch of guys and girls here. It takes great hand-eye coordination, like any other sport.”

As to pickleball, Neale said, “There’s more action and it’s more physical. We’ve got some really good players who hit the ball hard.”

Neale and his wife were married 59 years. The couple had five children, and he now

has seven grandchildren and is awaiting his third greatgrandchild. Neale had worked in ac-

counting for Union Pacific Railroad. He later worked as a lithographer for Continental Can, later U.S. Can.

Q. What is Estate Planning?

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

Maybe it’s these exclusive definitions for the term “estate” that misled people into believing that estate planning doesn’t apply to regular people. The truth is that there is also a legal definition for the term “estate” and it simply refers to all the property you own. An estate plan defines who you want to manage or receive your assets in the event of incapacity or death. Contact TCU Trust Services, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your estate and what plan is best to protect you and your loved ones. Contact TCU Trust Services for more information.

Ryan Hahn

Administrator

TABLE MANNERS Jack Neale of Jackson Township plays ping pong, or table tennis, at Banta Activity Center in Valparaiso. Active in sports for much of his 86 years, Neale, seen in the foreground, also plays pickleball at the Valparaiso Family YMCA. Photo by Steve Euvino.

Blue Swede

“Ooga-chaka ooga ooga

“Ooga-chaka ooga ooga

“Ooga-chaka ooga ooga

“Ooga-chaka ooga ooga”

These nonsense syllables kicked off Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling.”

As absurd as the “words” are, this opening chant proved to be a goldmine gimmick for grabbing music-listeners’ attention worldwide.

It’s a meandering path that leads to the “ooga-chaka” we heard so often in 1974, so let’s do a little time-traveling.

In 1959, singer Johnny Preston topped the charts with “Running Bear,” a Big Boppercomposed tale of two Native Americans who love each other but are kept apart by their warring tribes. (Shades of Romeo and Juliet!) Preston’s millionseller started with “ugga-ugga ugga-ugga ugga-ugga uggaugga,” a chant provided by both uncredited country superstar George Jones and the session’s recording engineer.

Let’s jump nearly a decade, to 1968. Songwriter Mark James has composed “Hooked on a Feeling,” a tune he wrote for his friend, singer B. J. Thomas. (James wrote the song about the thrills of being in love with his childhood sweetheart.)

Thomas took James’s work to Number Five on Billboard’s Hot 100.

We come now to 1971 and to Jonathan King, a UK music star who had scored a Top 20 American hit in 1965 with the quirky “Everyone’s Gone to the Moon.” King, who realized the power of a “grabber” introduction on a record, took inspiration from

the opening of “Running Bear” to create his own nonsense syllables — “ooha-chagga ooga ooga” — to open his cover version of “Hooked on a Feeling.” His recording did well on the English charts but went unnoticed in the United States.

This brings us (finally) to 1974. In Stockholm, Sweden, the seven-member band Blue Swede, fronted by Bjorn Skifs, recorded the most popular version ever of “Hooked on a Feeling.” Released on EMI Records, it reached Number One in several countries, including ours.

James’s lyrics had claimed that love is like a drug, that one can be “high on believin’” and that he wants to “stay addicted” to the girl who can turn him on. Pretty innocent stuff, really, but Blue Swede wanted to avoid any possible drug references, so they changed a few words:

B. J. Thomas had claimed “I got it bad for you, girl

“But I don’t need a cure

“I’ll just stay addicted

“If I can endure.”

But Blue Swede offered “Got a bug from you, girl

“But I don’t need no cure

“I just stay a victim “If I can for sure.”

That awkward change — which never made sense — didn’t hinder the song from becoming a worldwide winner.

P. S., Blue Swede is often dismissed as another “one-hit wonder,” having a lone highcharting disc but no successful follow-ups. Actually, Blue Swede did release a second Top 10 single here, a cover of the Association’s 1967 work “Never My Love.” Peppy though it was, Blue Swede’s rendition lacked “legs,” as their version didn’t have the catchiness of the smash single that had made the Swedish guys a brief headliner in the world of popular music.

WORLDWIDE WINNER Blue Swede took Mark James tune he wrote for BJ Thomas to No 1 in several countries, including the United States.

A Boomer Blast To The Past By RANDAL C. HILL

READY TO SING — The Noteables Chorus was formed in 1938 and has been singing for 86 years. The current chorus will be performing in Crown Point on Saturday, June 15.

Pictured in the front row, from left, are Mary Ann Huwig; Ramona Czaja; Joanne Haley-Borodine, director; Rita Crary, vice president; Peg Manda; Mary Mathews; and Claudette Neri, treasurer.

Second row: Kathy Shapiro; Roberta Gadomski; Mary LaBuda; Jennifer Schreiner; Mary Ann Barkalow; Pat Donaldson; and Anna Rominger, president.

Third row: Liz Lugo, Carol Builta, Anna Shaginaw, Shelley Haas, Sue O’Donnell and Liz Neri.

Fourth row: Katie Taylor, Jenny Potter, Sharon Vail, Donna Zemen and Tracee Harding.

Not pictured are Barbara Boyd; Kathy Applegate; Carla Hoyles; Marion Hoyda; Jennifer Ferrara; Karen Justak; Dorothea Rukes; Venessa Zapchenk; and David Herr, accompanist. Photo provided.

‘The Noteables Chorus’ to perform June 15

The Noteables Chorus was formed in 1938 and has been singing for 86 years. The chorus is a member of the Lake County Extension Homemakers and the Melody Makers of Indiana.

They will perform their spring concert. “Don’t Stop the Music,” at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at First United Methodist Church, 352 South Main St, Crown Point

The doors open at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, in advance, and $3 for children under 12. Tickets can be

purchased by calling (219) 769-0304 or (219) 227-9507.

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 for their concert seasons.

It’s easy! Simply find the spring flowers on another page in this edition. Go online to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers. com and enter your information, the edition, date and page number you found it on. This will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25.

Women are eligible to join at these times. There is no audition, but applicants are

expected to be able to sing and come with choir or chorus singing experience.

For further information, email Anna Rominger, president, at arominge@iu.edu.

Senior Health and Wellness Expo in Valparaiso

The Valparaiso Parks Department is hosting Porter County Triad’s annual Senior Health and Wellness Expo. The event will take place from 9

a.m. to noon Wednesday, June 5, at Central Park Plaza, 68 Lafayette St., Valparaiso. Join them for free screenings, health and wellness resources,

raffle prizes and giveaways.. Senior citizens will be given a free lunch to go. For more information, call Cathy Ellis at (219) 252-2178.

Seasonal savings

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Now that spring has sprung, it’s time to buy winter clothing, as well as other snow-time gear and equipment, such as skis

and snowmobiles.

Wait until summer is over to stock up on t-shirts, shorts and swim suits.

Post-season shopping can save you money and still keep your closet comfortably stocked with new clothing. A simple example of this method of saving is the annual trip to the shopping mall the day after Christmas to stock up on wrapping paper for next year.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

Highland Arts Council to host small works fundraiser

(Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, May 13, 2024. Brought To You By

206 S. Main St. Milford, Indiana 46542

hind Handmade Highland, Featured Artist Friday, arts grants, literary events and the Highland Arts Walk, due to expand its schedule and scope this summer.

The winner of the I Spy Contest for April is Constance Hammond of Decatur. The umbrella was located on page 8 in Senior Life Allen; page 4 in Senior Life Northwest; page 20 in Senior Life Elko and page 22 in Senior Life St. Joseph.

Featuring nearly 100 original, 5-inch by 5-inch small works of art, generously created and donated by over 40 local artists, the Highland Arts Council will be hosting its first Small Works fundraiser from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 10, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Promise You Art House, 8830 Kennedy Ave., Highland. The sale is open to the public.

During Friday’s preview night, artwork will sell for $40. When the event continues on Saturday, remaining works will be priced at $25. One hundred percent of the

event’s proceeds will benefit the Highland Arts Council’s mission to promote and support the arts in the community, through such projects as the native plants mural that the organization is partnering with Highland Neighbors for Sustainability this summer to install on the side of the Edward Jones building, Fifth and Highway avenues, facing Main Square Park.

The Highland Arts Council is a subcommittee of the Highland Community Foundation. Established three years ago, the volunteer group has been the driving force be-

Recent initiatives have included monthly photo challenges on social media and plans for a writers meet up, storytelling event, film screenings and additional murals. The Highland Arts Council, also small yet bold, meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at Promise You Art House. Visual, literary and performance artists as well as art lovers are welcome to join.

AT THE AIRPORT

ACROSS

1. Foundation

6. Dashboard acronym

9. Bonny one

13. Pleasant smell

14. Metal-bearing mineral

15. Salk’s nemesis

16. Kidney-related

17. Christopher Lloyd’s ____ Brown

18. Investigative report

19. *Something to claim

21. *Declaration station

23. Argonaut’s propeller

24. C in TLC

25. Scot’s woolen

cap

28. Sushi restaurant soup

30. *Exclusive accommodation

35. Was in the hole

37. Highest volcano in Europe

39. Angry growl

40. Dry riverbed

41. “____ go!”

43. Adored one

44. *Jong of “Fear of Flying” fame

46. Lowly laborer

47. Cone-shaped quarters

48. Time between classes

50. Dirty air

52. Hi-____

53. Skiers’ ride

55. Scheduled to arrive

57. *”____ for takeoff”

61. *Frost removal

65. Luxurious sheet fabric

66. It would

68. Synagogue scroll

69. Barely sufficient

70. General Services Administration

71. Movie “Home ____”

72. Reason to cram

73. Negative vote

74. Washer setting DOWN

1. Prickle on a fence

2. Equal to pi times r squared

3. Cheap form of payment?

4. Insect in adult stage

5. Dar es ____, Tanzania

6. Traveled on a horse

7. Not amateur

8. Hajj destination

9. Like kittens’ mittens

10. “The Sun ____ Rises” by Hemingway

11. Thailand, once 12. Tofu bean, pl. 15. Walkways

20. “Peer Gynt” composer Edvard

22. Dot-com address

24. Wrestling match, e.g.

25. *Air traffic control feature

26. Fully informed

27. Army doctor

29. Traffic sign

31. ____ of measurement

32. Rock bottom

33. Search blindly

34. Island off Manhattan

36. Vegas cube

38. H or O in H2O, e.g.

42. Opposite of cathode

45. Obliquely

49. Knightly title

51. Slash’s instrument

54. Make believe

56. Cause for food recall

57. Attention-getting sound

58. Gym class test?

59. *Captain’s an-

nouncement, plural acronym 60. Porter order 61. June 6, 1944

summer’s best cherry or grape tomatoes and juicy cucumbers for a light dinner or lunch. Fresh basil elevates an easy vinaigrette recipe that dresses up this simple salad into something extraordinary. 4 servings; Active 10 min.; Total Time 25 min.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon honey

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

10 cups mixed salad greens

1 (15 ounce) can low-sodium cannellini beans, rinsed

1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes

1/2 cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced (1 cup)

DIRECTIONS:

Place basil, oil, vinegar, shallot, mustard, honey, salt and pepper in a mini food processor. Process until mostly smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Add greens, beans, tomatoes and cucumber. Toss to coat.

Serving Size: 2 1/4 cups

62. Type of #14 Across 63. Grannies, in UK

64. Clarified butter

67. *PreCheck org.

Calories 246; Carb 22g; Fiber 8g; Sugars 5g; Protein 8g; Fat 15g; Vitamin A 440IU; Vitamin C 30mg; Folate 190mcg; Sodium 271mg; Calcium 126mg; Iron 4mg; Magnesium 91mg; Potassium 793mg.

Grief and anger: Part of the healing process

Editor’s note: Tom Rose is the author of “Balloon in a Box, Coping with Grief.” The book is available on Amazon, Fables Books, Goshen, or at ThomasLRose.com. He is available for speaking engagements and as a grief group facilitator. He would love to hear your comments or questions, by phone (574) 596-6256, or email: roseandrose@comcast. net.

People generally associate grief with loneliness and sadness, but many may experience anger as a reaction to grief. It is not uncommon for someone who is grieving to experience anger and frustration. This anger and frustration can be difficult to process. It takes all of your strength and self-control to face this emotion. We have lost a loved one and are trying to adjust to the changes and are likely

experiencing extreme frustration and emotional discomfort. We are angry with the world, our circumstances, God and even our loved one who died. We are angry that grief is so complicated to manage. Our world is suddenly different; it feels empty and very lonely. It can be more difficult when the loss is unexpected. With so much to process, anger may provide us with an emotional outlet, allowing us temporary control of our environment by using aggression to avoid helpless feelings.

Your anger is natural. It’s like any other feeling and cannot be denied; it must be expressed. It may be as simple as saying,” I am angry,” and discussing your anger. Some of us may need to express it with some safe physical activity, like punching a pillow or, in my case, kicking a chair.

By TOM ROSE Guest Writer

One morning, about two months after Joyce’s death, I woke up one morning very angry. I didn’t understand it, but I was just so furious. I yelled at God for taking her from me and at her for leaving me. I wanted to hit someone or

something, so I kicked a chair, hurting my knee. I spent the rest of the day angry, frustrated and, I guess, embarrassed. That night, I had to apologize to God and Joyce. But my knee was sore for several days.

Many will question their anger; they will feel ashamed of blaming their loved one for dying and leaving them alone. We humans are not always comfortable with anger, but we must understand that anger is natural and an emotion, a feeling like any other. Many people have not learned to accept anger as a natural part of the grieving process. Not coping with the anger won’t make it disappear. Unresolved, it can lead to anxiety and depression. This anxiety and depression can even lead to mental and physical health problems.

As I said, our society is not always comfortable with anger, but people get angry often when they are grieving and are not “bad” people. This is just one of many varied and intense emotions in response to losing someone you love. Allowing yourself to experience these feelings, including anger, is essential to coping with grief.

Most of us are ashamed of our anger, especially as a part of grief, but it is not you. Anger is a condition of the mind, like any other emotion. It comes and goes, and anything that comes and goes is not you. But love doesn’t come and go. Our emotions can sometimes hide it, but it is always there, helping us along our life journey without our loved ones. Remember, it is not a journey of grief but a journey of love.

R.E.A.L. Services to withdraw from Indiana PathWays for Aging Program

R.E.A.L. Services, a cornerstone in supporting older adults in northern Indiana, has announced it will not participate in the newly restructured PathWays for Aging program. This decision was driven by a shift in funding that would not cover operational costs, forcing the nonprofit to make tough choices to uphold its financial stability.

Since 1966, R.E.A.L. Services has worked tirelessly to provide services that enrich the lives of older adults with a mission of helping them maintain their independence to the maximum degree possible.

As an area agency on aging, R.E.A.L. Services is the trusted local resource for aging Hoosiers in the community, providing in-

Additional gas tax increase coming in May

An increase of the gas tax is coming in May.

A memo from the Indiana Department of Revenue reports the state’s gas tax will be 20.4 cents per gallon in May, a 1.5 cent increase from April’s tax.

A formula is used each month by the department to define the gas tax rate. That formula is:

Statewide average retail price per gallon of gas without

taxes, multiplied by 7%, then rounded to the nearest $0.001. During a month period from March to April, it was determined the average retail price per gallon was $2.9202. The formula was then determined for May’s gas tax rate. It was in November 2023 the last time Indiana’s gas tax rate was above 20 cents. The tax reached 29 centers in July and August, 2022.

formation on services available to them and ensuring quality of care. However, starting July 2024, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration plans to transition these services to managed care health plans under the new PathWays for Aging program.

During months of preparation and negotiation with the managed health plans, it became clear that the prescribed rates for service coordination under PathWays would fall significantly short of the actual costs. Facing a substantial financial shortfall, the board of R.E.A.L. Services voted to opt out of the program to preserve the agency’s long-term sustainability.

This decision will lead to a reduction of 65 staff positions by July 5. R.E.A.L. Services is actively assisting affected employees with outplacement services and support during this transition.

Despite this setback, R.E.A.L. Services will maintain its

available, frozen meals in 5 or 7 Packs Get started in just 48 hours! (219) 756-3663 mownwi.org

robust portfolio of more than 25 programs, reaching over 30,000 individuals across northern Indiana. These initiatives range from meal delivery and transportation services to caregiver support and Alzheimer’s and dementia services, all designed to foster independence and

enhance the quality of life for older adults.

R.E.A.L. Services offers services in 12 counties across northern Indiana, including Elkhart, Fulton, Jasper, Kosciusko, Lake, LaPorte, Marshall, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, Starke and St. Joseph.

Earthquakes shake your fiscal foundation

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

While California gets most of the attention when kaffeeklatsch talk turns to earthquakes, no one is really exempt.

While the densely populated Southern California experiences some 10,000 quakes a year, most of them too minor to feel, Canada logs about 5,000 a year, half of which are of a magnitude sufficient to be felt by anyone living in temblor’s zone.

One of the most notorious earthquakes is the one that trampled San Francisco in 1906. But an 1811 earthquake in New Madrid, in what is now Missouri, shook a much larger area and changed the course of the Mississippi River.

The two states deemed to possess the least peril of earthquakes are North Dakota and Florida.

Quake-prone areas in Canada include the densely populated St. Lawrence River Valley and British Columbia.

It’s doubtful that many folks in Canada have earthquake insurance coverage on their homes. And, in California’s quake country, insurance premium costs are so high most homeowners pass on it.

Everyone should consider preparing for an earthquake just as thou would for any disaster, from

wildfires to war. Have a survival kit ready and available. Have a plan in place to keep in touch with family and friends.

And consider some simple steps to protect your home, which is probably your largest investment, from collapsing during a quake.

First of all, check for and repair all faulty electrical and gas lines.

Bolt down your furnace, hot water heater, refrigerator and other heavy appliances.

Fasten large pictures, mirrors and shelves to the walls.

Now take a look at what’s on your shelves.

Place heavier and breakable items at the bottom.

Store flammable liquids and chemicals away from heat sources, including electrical and gas lines, and where they are least likely to spill.

You could call in a building contractor to walk around the place to see what else might be necessary to make it sturdier. You might need, for example, to bolt the house to its foundation.

If you have a mobile home, leaving its wheels on will diminish its fall.

While such earthquake talk may not sound like the language of economics, a few such steps can wind up saving you a lot of money should disaster strike.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

Mann vs. Machine: A television classic

It was early 1971, and 24-year-old Universal Studios employee Steven Spielberg found himself champing at the bit.

By RANDAL C. HILL

So far, he had directed a few TV episodes, but he was eager to make his mark in the movies and felt that all he needed to launch his career was the right vehicle for him.

“Vehicle” becomes the operative word here.

That April, Steven’s secretary showed him a Playboy short story called “Duel.” The riveting tale had been written by sci-fi author Richard Matheson, whom Spielberg admired for his scripts for Rod Serling’s now-classic “The Twilight Zone.”

Matheson based “Duel” on an actual incident from 1963, when an aggressive truck driver had tailgated him for miles on a freeway and left him terrified and exhausted. (Matheson would later write the screenplay that helped to rocket Spielberg into the Big Time.)

Steven saw “Duel” as being just what he wanted. “I thought it was a complete exercise in a cat-and-mouse game of classic suspense,” he said of Richard’s tale of milquetoast salesman David Mann in a vulnerable little sedan being chased — inexplicably — along desolate California desert roads by a psychotic tanker-truck driver, his machine belching smoke and his full-throttle diesel engine growling like an enraged animal.

The story, assigned to

Spielberg as a low-budget ABC-TV “Movie of the Week” project, reminded him of a suspenseful Alfred Hitchcock work, sort of a “The Birds” on wheels.

For the crucial lead role, he chose Dennis Weaver, best known as Chester from the TV series “Gunsmoke.” Steven used dialogue sparingly, as he did with the screechy, “Psycho”-like soundtrack.

The young director “auditioned” several tanker trucks before settling on a 1957 Peterbilt, which he chose because of its seeming “face” — the split windshield became the eyes; the huge, protruding snout seemed menacing, the grille and bumper a sneering mouth. Grease covered the windows, and the truck’s body was streaked with oil and dirt.

The truck was driven by Cory Loftin, Hollywood’s finest-ever stunt driver. It was imperative to Steven that the driver’s face never be shown. (“The unseen is always more frightening,” he reminds us.)

At all times, the viewer is drawn into the grip of the looming threat of danger — or death — from Loftin’s steel monster in full road rage, a rolling time bomb ready to explode at any moment, an aggressor in high pursuit and often close to bringing down its frightened, hapless prey.

Universal gave Spielberg a mere 10 days for the shoot (he went three days over) and had wanted filming to be done at their Hollywood sound stage; Speilberg, though, was adamant that everything be shot on desert roads in order to effectively capture the growing suspense and urgency necessary for the story to become a true nail-biter.

Today, “Duel” is regarded

Travel through time

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

As you motor around the country, visiting the grandkids or getting to see the sites on your to-do list or heading back for a class reunion, you can also travel back through time to trace your ancestry. When you get to your home

town, you can leaf through local records to trace your forebears back as far as they lived in that location. Having pored through your lineage online or through family files, you can stop on the way there or the way back home in towns and cities mentioned in your chronicles.

It’s a good way to see Amer-

ica, or whatever country your forebears were from, as well as trace your ancestors.

On a grander scale, you can visit the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island Foundation to track some 65 million immigrants who were documented at the island from 1820 to 1957.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

JUST WHAT HE WANTED Richard Matheson’s tale was just what Steven Spielberg wanted for his first movie. Spielberg’s low-budget ABC-TV Movie of the Week, that is regarded as one of the best TV movies ever aired.

Spielberg’s great-

strengths

before the many classic blockbuster films that made him the most successful movie director in Tinseltown history.

The catcher was a spy

By TOM MORROW Mature Life Features

When baseball greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig went on tour in 1934 in baseball-crazy Japan, some in the U.S. sporting world wondered why Moe Berg, a third-rate catcher, was included on the team. Although he played with five major-league teams from 1923 to 1939, Berg was considered mediocre, but he was regarded as the brainiest ballplayer of all time.

New York Yankee’ manager Casey Stengel once said, “He (Berg) is the strangest man ever to play baseball.”

Morris Berg was a U.S. spy working undercover with the Office of Strategic Services, forerunner of the CIA. He spoke 15 languages, including Japanese. He had two loves: baseball and spying.

In Tokyo, garbed in a kimono, Berg took flowers to the daughter of an American diplomat being treated in St. Luke’s Hospital … the tallest building in the Japanese capital.

He never delivered those flowers. Instead, Berg ascended to the hospital roof and filmed key features of the harbor in Tokyo Bay, military installations, and railway yards. Eight years later, U.S. Army Air Corps Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle studied Berg’s films in planning his spectacular

raid over Tokyo in 1942.

During his youth, Berg’s father disapproved of his baseball career and never once watched his son play. In high school, Berg learned Latin, Greek and French. As an adult, he read at least 10 newspapers every day.

Berg was undoubtedly the most educated ballplayer ever to don a major league uniform.

To describe Berg as being smart would be an understatement.

He graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, having added Spanish, Italian, German and Sanskrit to his linguistic quiver. During further studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, and later Columbia Law School, he picked up Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Arabic, Portuguese and Hungarian … 15 languages in all, plus some regional dialects.

While playing baseball for Princeton, he would describe plays in Latin or the ancient language of Sanskrit to fellow players sitting on the bench.

The OSS quickly determined Berg to be the best of candidates for being a spy. During World War II, the ballplayer was parachuted into Yugoslavia to assess the value to the war effort of the two groups of partisans there.

He reported back that Marshall Tito’s forces were widely supported by the people and Winston Churchill ordered all-out

support for the Yugoslav underground fighters. At the age of 41, the parachute jump undoubtedly was a challenge, but there would be more to come in that same year of 1942.

Berg penetrated German-held Norway, met with members of the underground and located a secret heavy water plant, which was part of the Nazis’ effort to build an atomic bomb. His information guided the Royal Air Force in a bombing raid over Norway, which destroyed that heavy water plant.

There still remained the question of how far had the Nazis progressed in the race to build the first atomic bomb. The problem was “…if the Nazis were successful at building the bomb, they would win the war.” Berg (under the code name “Remus”) was sent to Switzerland to attend a conference where leading German physicist and Nobel Laureate Werner Heisenberg was lecturing. Berg was to determine if the Nazis were close to building an A-bomb.

He managed to slip past the SS guards at the auditorium by posing as a Swiss graduate student.

In his pocket, Berg carried a pistol and a cyanide pill. If the German scientist indicated the Nazis were close to building an atomic weapon, Berg was ordered to shoot him and then swallow

the cyanide pill.

Berg sat in the front row of the assembled scientists and quickly determined the Germans were nowhere near their goal. So, after complimenting Heisenberg on his speech, Berg walked with the German back to his hotel as they talked casually about the lecture. After the War it was determined by the OSS that Heisenberg, a Jew, had somehow blocked the Nazis from developing an atomic weapon. Most of Germany’s leading physicists had been Jewish and had fled the Nazis, mainly to Britain and the United States.

Berg’s report was distributed to President Franklin Roosevelt, Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill and key figures in the “Manhattan Project” who

working to develop the American A-bomb. Roosevelt told OSS director Gen. “Wild Bill” Donovan, “Give my regards to the catcher.”

After the war, Berg was awarded the Medal of Freedom, America’s highest honor for a civilian during wartime, but he refused to accept it because he couldn’t tell people about his exploits. After his death on May 29, 1972, Berg’s sister accepted the medal, which now is displayed in the Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, NY.

This little-known World War II story has been made into a movie, “The Catcher Was a Spy,” starring Paul Rudd, which is available on Amazon Prime streaming service.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

Embracing the local community enhances our quality senior living

“We are so excited to host the relocation of the Coffee Creek Farmers Market in Chesterton this spring,” says Kaitlynn Redmon, executive director at Residences at Coffee Creek Senior Living, 2300 Village Point, Chesterton. “It’s right outside our front door and our residents are thrilled at the new opportunities they will have every Wednesday from 3-7 p.m. until October 30. They will benefit not only from the products the local market vendors have to offer, but also from the opportunity to socialize in the fresh air with the greater community.

By NATALIE REISEN Director of Marketing Residences Senior Living

Seniors throughout the area will also be better accommodated by the enhanced parking availability and that it will now be much easier to use their assistive devices for walking through the market.

The market brings together those sharing the same vision for enhancing the quality of our communities, whether local producers taking pride in sharing their goods or shoppers like us who believe in supporting their efforts.

“The market was in need of an expanded area to accommodate their growth, so we heartily agreed with Natalie Reisen, our director of marketing, when she brought the opportunity to our attention. We felt this was the perfect demonstration of our commitment to be good neighbors in support of our Chesterton and surrounding communities. We knew, too, that there would be so many benefits for our residents and their families. The afternoon/early evening hours enable working families and friends to have enhanced visits with loved ones. They can stroll through the market together, pick up snacks from the food truck vendors, baked goods and enjoy a beautiful setting.”

Hosting the market contributes to our unique approach to senior living! Schedule your personalized tour to see all we have to offer by calling (800) 557-9176, or going to ResidencesSeniorLiving.com.

MOE BERG

Havin’ fun on California’s 101

Text and Photos

By TOM MORROW Mature Life Features

It’s more widely known as Pacific Coast Highway, but the old US 101 is as storied as it’s more renowned neighbor, Route 66.

We took our motor home, Marvin the Magnificent, along some of the remaining sections — much of it has been obliterated in the metropolitan Los Angeles region — to recall fond memories and build new ones along this scenic coastal route that links Canada with Mexico.

After tracing its original route — currently called Highway 1 — along the Pacific from Dana Point an hour north of downtown San Diego and on through Malibu, we rolled into Oxnard about 60 miles north of Hollywood and, voila! there was US 101.

Our first stop was in nearby Simi Valley, which houses the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

My mom served him breakfast every morning when he was the play-by-play voice of the Chicago Cubs on WHO radio in Des Moines, IA, and passed on her reactions, all favorable, to me through the years.

These recollections made it even more poignant to hear the former sportscaster-actor-Cali-

fornia governor-U.S. President, whose memory was erased by Alzheimer’s disease after he left office, close the 22-minute opening film in his library with, “I’ll take away so many great memories when I leave office.”

Our next stop was at Solvang to drop into Mission Santa Ynez, the 19th of 21 Spanish missions initiated more than two centuries ago by Franciscan friars along El Camino Real, which forms the founding backbone of California and is the original route of Highway 101.

The Santa Ynez Valley is Cali-

Camping sites harder to find

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

If you’re planning to camp this summer, especially if you’re heading to campgrounds in the popular state parks, you need to keep some things in mind to help you find a spot and have an enjoyable layover.

The following advice is offered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, but is probably applicable in most parts of the country.

• Decide where you want to camp, but stay flexible. Have an alternative park in mind in case your first choice is fully booked.

• If all the sites are full when you try to make a reservation, look for a first-come, firstserved campground and try to get there on a Tuesday or Wednesday, traditionally the quietest days of the week, to maximize your chances of finding a site.

• Consider less popular campgrounds. If campgrounds in one area draw large crowds, look for campgrounds a bit farther from major metropolitan areas, and perhaps somewhere where the weather is not quite as good.

• Avoid major holiday weekends, when crowds are guaranteed in many popular areas.

• Do your camping during the shoulder season, that time

between the most popular and least popular months. In many areas, that means parts of spring or fall.

• If you still can’t find an open space, check back at regular intervals for any cancellations.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

fornia’s wine country, locals will tell you. Other areas that claim otherwise are just pretenders, they say.

The Hans Christian Anderson-looking Scandinavian village neighboring the mission has many attractions, but we just took time to soak in the Museum of Gasoline Pumps, since this was an automotive odyssey

Pismo Beach was next stop on this 1,500-mile ribbon of pavement. It’s just south of the first motel in the world that was opened to highway travelers in 1925 at nearby San Luis Obispo. It began as the Milestone Mo-Tel and is currently called the Motel Inn.

About 10 miles north of San Luis Obispo is Morro Bay, called the Gibraltar of the Pacific because of Morro Rock punching out of the ocean just off the coast. It’s one of nine extinct volcanic peaks that punctuate the coastline.

Another couple of dozen miles north, we detoured into San Simeon, the fabled castle built over three decades by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst.

Hearst couldn’t stop collecting “stuff” and his collection of priceless art from around the world attracts more than 1 million visitors a year, making the Hearst Castle State Historical Monument the only state park that makes a profit year in and year out.

The great Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw said, after being a guest at what Hearst called The Ranch, “This is the way God probably would have done it if he had had the money.”

There aren’t many cities that have played such an important part of California history as Monterey, up the road a piece. It was the capital of both Spanish and Mexican California and, for a time, the headquarters of territorial Gov. John C. Fremont during its transition to the United States.

Besides being the site of the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium and Maritime Museum of Monterey, it’s also the home of John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, which once was touted as the sardine capital of the world.

Inland about 30 minutes is

Steinbeck’s home town, Salinas, and his memorial – the National Steinbeck Center with its scenes recreated from such books as East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath, clips of movie versions of his works, and his notes and references. A few minutes away is the 1898 Victorian structure that was the Pulitzer Prize-winner’s boyhood home. Next door to Monterey is Carmel, home of Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmel, the second mission to be established in California. Buried under its altar is the body of Junipera Serra, the founder of the first missions to open up the California Coast to European settlers.

Carmel garnered national attention some years ago when Clint Eastwood, the Oscarwinning movie star, long-time resident, and owner-operator of a popular bistro called the Hog’s Breath, was elected the town’s mayor.

It was time to turn back south, saving the other sections of this road up through Redwood Forests to the wild Oregon coast for another time.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

MISSION SANTA YNEZ Mission Santa Ynez at Solvang is the 19th of 21 Spanish missions founded more than two centuries ago by Franciscan friars along El Camino Real. It is the original route of Highway 101 and forms the backbone of California.

SAN SIMEON The baroque twin towers of San Simeon, the fabled castle built over three decades by the late newspaper baron, William Randolph Hearst, are perched on a high hill less than an hour north of San Luis Obispo.

Garden Angels share faith with green thumbs

By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

“I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.”

That passage from Ecclesiastes is among several biblical excerpts on gardening. The Garden Angel ministry at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Gary may not be planting fruit trees, but they are living their faith through green thumbs.

As posted on their parish website, Garden Angels “set the stage for liturgical and devotional celebrations by maintaining the gardens at the entrance of the church.”

The group’s activities including weeding, raking and pruning the existing plantings.

Karen Simon, a Miller resident and a master gardener, leads the Garden Angels, who in April worked on Mary’s Garden, which the parish developed at the request of its former pastor, the late Bishop Dale J. Melczek.

Simon explained Melczek wanted such a garden on the parish grounds, and with her background she got the job. After research and studying plant life from biblical times, Simon and others developed the garden three years ago. Today the garden includes an image of Mary at Lourdes, benches, a pathway and plant life.

Everything in the garden has a purpose, Simon noted, from colors to particular plants. Some colors, such as yellow or red, reflect the various mysteries of the Rosary. Others, such as white, stand for purity.

As with Simon’s home gar-

den, Mary’s Garden is a fourseason, all-year-long project that includes native plants.

Regarding faith and vegetation, Simon noted, “We’re thanking God for all the beautiful things in nature. This place is so serene. People can come here. They may not be gardeners, but they appreciate the beauty.”

Simon said people stop by the garden after Masses, while stopping by the parish food pantry or while going to the nearby rehab center.

“People come and see the setting here, and they see this is truly a community garden,” said Simon, a former parish council member.

The garden was selected as one of the stopping points on last year’s Miller Garden Club’s community garden walk.

The parish has also used Mary’s Garden for a May crowning and Corpus Christi observance, which this year is May 30. Founded in 1929, the parish will celebrate its 95th anniversary later this year.

St. Mary of the Lake has another garden at the other end of its property. This garden, operated by other parishioners, provides produce for the parish’s food pantry.

As to types of plant life, Simon noted the sweet alyssum, also known as flower of the cross, as well as the sweet drift rose, also called Our Lady’s Rose.

The red peony, which blooms around the feast of Pentecost, is called the Pentecost rose, Simon noted. On Pentecost it is a custom to release rose petals from the ceiling, representing

Manners make travel more enjoyable

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Listening to travelers complain about how they were treated in some foreign land is akin to hearing kids complain about their teachers.

First off, keep in mind that the travelers were guests where they were. Just because the locals didn’t understand English is no reason to harp about their rudeness. You might discover the travelers have no concept of what language was spoken in the country they visited. They didn’t try to learn a few vital words in that language, such as

“please” and “thank you.”

Ignorance of one’s surroundings is an all too common trait of travelers.

A small sample of such mindlessness occurred not long ago. A member of a small group ahead of us strolling along in the shadow of St. Peter’s in Vatican City proudly proclaimed loudly how thrilled she felt “walking in the footsteps of Jesus.”

Then she complained — loudly— to her tour guide that the Pope’s noon blessing from his high-up window was too far away to tell if it was really him.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

the Holy Spirit’s coming. Some of the plants come with legends. Near the garden is a

the tree would never again grow that tall.

Churchgoing boosts your health

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

It probably hasn’t occurred to you, but going to church may be likened to group therapy — especially for senior citizens.

Studies and surveys are coming up with findings that indicate regular attendance at church services is not only good for your soul, but also soothes your health and spirits. The results cover all faiths and denominations from every corner of the globe.

There seems one small drawback. Religious folks have a tendency to be overweight, according to reports.

However, the benefits of attendance at and participation in religious services far outweigh that seeming flaw in

the outcomes. And the more often, the better.

One report indicates regular church attendance over one’s lifetime can add six or seven years to one’s life.

Older adults are more likely than most people to pray, attend services and feel religion is important to them, according to a report from the Pew Research Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

Part of the reason religious participation boosts one’s health is attributed to the social aspects of attending services with other folks. This gives one a sense of belonging to a group and lessens the feeling of being alone.

Prayer also is believed to bolster one’s sense of security and sense of purpose because

they feel connected to a higher power that is helping and supporting them through this life.

As part of your health maintenance program, you might discuss your religious views and values with your primary care physician. Let them know how church attendance helps and that you want a cleric at your side should you tumble near death’s door.

You should also discuss what your wishes are, based on your religious beliefs, should you become incapacitated and life-or-death decisions have to be made regarding your condition.

Religion that plays such a prominent role in your life should also be a major factor when considering your death.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

Make summer safe

By JAMES GAFFNEY Mature Life Features

Summer brings sun, fun, and some health risks, if you aren’t careful. Here’s how to keep the “good” in the “good ol’ summertime,” say health experts.

Save Your Skin

• Avoid direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears. Protecting the scalp is especially important for people with fair or thinning hair.

• Seek shade or indoors

whenever possible.

• Apply SPF 30, UVA/UVB sunscreen about 15 to 30 minutes before going into the water. Reapply regularly, especially after swimming, perspiring heavily or drying off with a towel.

Keep Your Cool

To help prevent heat-related illness, drink plenty of fluids. When high temperatures combine with high humidity, be on the lookout for signs of heat exhaustion, including heavy sweating, muscle cramps, paleness, weakness, rapid heartbeat, headache, nausea and fainting.

Get Smart, Stay Alert

• Wear helmets and proper safety gear when biking, skating, or rock climbing.

• Supervise children around water, and learn CPR.

• Leave snakes alone, even if they appear not to be alive. If a bite should occur, call 911. If you can, snap a quick photo of the snake on your cell phone.

• Prevent mosquito- and tickborne diseases such as West Nile virus by avoiding outdoor activities between dusk and dawn and wearing long sleeves and pants.

• When grilling, use separate plates and utensils for raw and cooked meat. Wash your hands before preparing and eating food.

• Leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

GARDEN ANGEL Karen Simon, leader of the Garden Angel ministry at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Gary, spruces up Mary’s Garden on the church grounds. Members of this ministry tend to the grounds surrounding the Miller-area parish. Photo by Steve Euvino.

Lenten dogwood tree, the wood from which was used for Jesus’ cross. The tree was once as

large as an oak, but after the crucifixion

Apartments

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Attorney general sues over inflated insulin prices

Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a new lawsuit against drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers for inflating insulin prices.

Approximately 640,435 Indiana residents have been diagnosed with diabetes and over 1.7 million people are prediabetic. It is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and lower limb

amputations. It is the seventh leading cause of death in Indiana despite the availability of effective treatment, according to a news release.

“Diabetes is a public health crisis for Hoosiers,” Rokita said.

“This is a serious condition that requires insulin, putting patients in the impossible position of choosing between health and

financial security.”

The lawsuit filed by Rokita includes drug manufacturers Sanofi-Aventis and Novo Nordisk and pharmacy benefit managers CaremarkPCS Health, Express Scripts, CVS Health Corp. and Optum RX for allegedly conspiring to raise prices on insulin medications by more than 1000% in the last

You’re never too old to enjoy a good night’s sleep

By JAMES GAFFNEY Mature Life Features

As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, “To sleep, perchance to dream — ay, there’s the rub.”

Apparently, the Bard knew a thing or two about the lack of a good night’s sleep.

So do millions of Americans who are finding it no longer easy to sleep like a baby.

“As we age, sleep quality deteriorates dramatically,” says Dr. Brian Bohner, co-medical director of the Sleep Centers at Northwest Hospital in Randallstown, MD, and Good Samaritan Sleep Center in Baltimore.

“The biggest decline is in slowwave sleep, also called delta sleep. By the time we’re 70, delta sleep has become almost completely extinguished.”

This can be a problem because delta sleep, a form of non-REM sleep, is the deepest, most restful sleep a person can get.

REM sleep occurs at intervals during the night and is characterized by rapid eye movements, more dreaming and bodily movement, and faster pulse and breathing.

To put things in perspective, delta sleep makes up about 25% of a 25-year-old’s sleep but only about 3% of the sleep of someone who is 60.

Because a decline in sleep quality is so common with age, the average person doesn’t know that he or she has options to improve rest at night. Experts estimate that up to 95% of people with at least one sleep disorder go undiagnosed.

“Older patients may not actually need a sleep study,” says Bohner. “Sometimes we can find and solve the problem simply by having them come in for a consultation and going through their medical histories.”

The most common sleep problem in the elderly population is insomnia, which is often caused by arthritis pain, acid reflux, heart problems, or certain medications, like betablockers and steroids.

Caffeine, alcohol and tobacco all cause sleep disturbances, so patients may need to change some of their habits to get the sleep they need.

Sleep apnea, which is three times more prevalent in

younger men than in younger women, becomes more common among women as they age. Estrogen helps control breathing, so after menopause, a decline in this hormone leads to the same percentage of women and men with sleep apnea.

“About 10% of older patients also suffer from restless leg syndrome,” says Bohner.

“Sometimes a patient’s symptoms aren’t obvious, but they will tell me, ‘I can’t sleep because my legs feel weird.’ Well, that’s RLS, and there are medications that can effectively control it.”

Medication may also be prescribed for REM disorder and advanced sleep phase syndrome. REM disorder is when people act out their dreams, which can be dangerous for frail older adults, who have a greater potential for falls and experience dire consequences from a fall.

Advanced sleep-phase syndrome is when the body’s internal clock changes so that the older person wants to go to bed earlier and wake up at a much earlier time. “Not necessarily a bad thing,” says Bohner, “but some people may want to fix this so that they can be awake at the same time as the rest of society.”

If you or an elderly family member are experiencing increased disturbance of sleep, call a physician or sleep clinic for a consultation. Your insurance may require you to see your primary care physician first, so you may need to let your doctor know that you’re interested in seeing a sleep specialist.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

decade despite manufacturing costs decreasing.

“Too many Hoosiers have been forced to ration because drug manufacturers and PBMs have prioritized profits over patients,” said Rokita. “Hundreds of thousands of Indiana residents rely on these medications to stay alive and these prices discourage people to take care of their health.”

According to the complaint, every year, the direct medical expenses associated with diabetes care in Indiana are an estimated $5 billion. If everyone with diabetes could adhere to their medication protocol, more than $8.3 billion in direct medical costs would be saved annually.

“Our office hopes this case

will also set a strong precedent for other pharmaceutical companies who want to take advantage of everyday Hoosiers,” Rokita said. “Families are suffering enough already with the economic decline. Targeting and scheming against those who have a medical condition like diabetes is absolutely unethical.”

Since Rokita took office, he has obtained a $66.5 million settlement against Centene for its failure to disclose true costs, won a $573 million multi-state settlement against McKinsey & Company for its role in “turbocharging” the opioid epidemic with Purdue Pharma and secured nearly $7 million in an Indiana Medicaid fraud settlement against Mallinckrodt.

Caregivers face difficult decisions

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Being sick sucks. Any six-yearold knows that.

Taking care of someone who’s sick also sucks.

Some 40 million people in this country know that — that’s how many provide unpaid help and support to someone.

This includes the spouses who have faced terrible truths with their loved ones who were told they had a deadly disease.

While the ill individual is the one who’s facing a death sentence, his or her partner also undergoes excruciating pain. They have to make critical decisions under ponderous pressure, which makes it difficult to maintain their own health.

Both can ease the strain by talking about their situation, asking each other how to keep each other comfortable and what they would like to do.

The couple may decide to make one last visit to the grandchildren. Or they could agree to spend their last time together as quietly and activity-free as possible. The “patient” may emphasize that they are willing to remain medicated as long as possible but does not wish to suffer any pain at any point.

It’s during this period that details of their last wishes may

be viewed and reviewed.

Family conflicts can erupt at such times.

The couple might agree that extending the patient’s life isn’t worth it if any chance of recovery from the disease is meaningless. They may have the incurable Lou Gehrig’s disease that drugs can put off for a year and the couple decide not to take that route. Some children or siblings may create problems by trying to pressure the caregiver into providing the prescribed medication.

The most difficult situation most people face at times like this is to determine when life is no longer worth lingering on.

The caregiver can feel frightened and alone during such times, but there’s help and support available.

Hospitals have ethics committees that can help you and members of your family reach consensus on what should be done. Hospice organizations also offer experienced staffers to help navigate you through troublesome times. Many people lean on their church pastor for advice.

To avoid distractions throughout this process, keep focused on what the best fit is between your loved one’s wishes and wellbeing and the array of medical options available.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

Lights up for low vision

By JAMES GAFFNEY Mature Life Features

Eyesight can fade because of aging or an eye disease. There are several simple

steps outlined in the Mayo Clinic Health Letter to help compensate for eroding eyesight.

Equalize interior and exterior light sources around the

house by leaving some indoor house lights on during bright sunny days. Cover shiny surfaces, such as a polished table, with a cloth to reduce glare. Dark-colored place mats can

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Light up dark spots by installing lights in dark areas, such as inside closets. Keep

flashlights handy for dark areas.

For better close-up vision, use bright, direct lighting. Position an adjustable lamp

Continued on page 20

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Exercise with your dog to fight fat

By JAMES GAFFNEY

Mature Life Features

Unconditional love tops the list of reasons people dote on

their dogs so much.

Veterinarians have discovered another reason canines may be man’s, and woman’s, best friend: exercise.

Wheel your way through airports

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Many pre-pandemic rules and regimens have been replaced or revised. It seems like an exception has been made for airports.

They’re still a hassle to get through, thanks in part to security measures imposed after the 9/11 Twin Tower attack that are still in play.

There are ways you can make your trip more enjoyable.

First off, get to the airport early.

This will ease the strain on your patience because you won’t be fighting the clock as well as the crowd to get to your departure gate.

Airports can be daunting because of their size.

Sky Harbor International Airport sprawls over 300 acres just three miles from downtown Phoenix, AZ.

It’s more than a mile-and-ahalf from the ticket counter to some gates in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

There is help available. Simply ask for a wheelchair.

Lights up

Continued from page 19

about four to eight inches from reading material or a close-up task. Keep the lamp slightly to one side to reduce glare. If possible, position the light over the shoulder on the side of the better-seeing eye.

To take advantage of natu-

Federal law requires all airlines operating in the U.S to provide a wheelchair or motorized cart with an attendant to anyone making a request. No proof of any disability is required. Just ask for it at check-in.

Better yet, call the airline at least 48 hours before check-in and make your request. If you plan on taking a carry on, make sure it’s small and manageable enough to ride in the wheelchair with you.

If you’re trip involves making connections, keep in mind that wheelchair users debark the airplane last so you have to allow for that time between flights.

Wheelchair attendants are not required to make stops at restaurants or food stands so you may want to prepare your own airport lunch before leaving home. You’ll also have to take that into account if you plan to use wheelchair service for connecting flights.

And don’t forget to tip the attendant. If he or she does stop so you can pick up a bite, make the tip larger.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

ral light, position yourself so that windows are to the side or behind you. When reading, reduce glare by using a piece of dark construction paper to cover areas of text you’re not reading at that moment.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2024

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Both people and their dogs need physical activity to fight obesity and there are many exercises they can do together that can improve their health and their relationship.

“Obesity is a big problem in pets, just as it is with people, and exercising helps keep the dog’s weight down,” said Dr. Susan Nelson, Kansas State University veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical sciences. “Dogs also need an outlet to relieve their energy or else they may develop destructive behavior. Your dog is going to be happier and more content if it receives adequate exercise.”

Dogs differ in the amount and types of exercise they should be doing to maintain good health. A blanket recommendation cannot be given because exercise needs vary vastly between individual animals. Factors such as age, breed, weather and general health influence the amounts of exercise your dog will need.

Larger and working dogs have higher energy needs and smaller toy breeds need less.

Ideally, dogs should get out twice a day for exercise. Times may vary from 15 to 60 minutes, depending on your individual pet.

Nelson said there are many generalities when it comes to exercising with dogs.

For example, many small dogs prefer lighter activities. Exceptions are Jack Russell terriers, which are very highenergy pets.

Medium-sized and large dogs typically make better long distance running partners. If your dog can run longer than you are able, consider biking while having your dog run beside you on leash.

Smaller dogs are better suited for shorter distance running or walking.

While many dogs like catching flying discs, be careful to keep the throws low to avoid

injury to joints from higher leaps.

Herding breeds, such as border collies and Australian shepherds, perform well competitively, but there are many other pure and mixed breed dogs that perform equally as well.

Medium-sized dogs, especially herding breeds, are good at agility activities.

If you like playing fetch, a retrieving breed such as a Labrador or golden retriever may be your best candidate. While retrievers are usually best at this activity, many dogs enjoy playing fetch with tennis balls, racquetballs, toys or sticks.

Playing fetch indoors with your small breed dog is often a viable option.

Swimming is a non-joint stressing exercise for dogs, just as it is for people. It is a great option during the hot summer months when heat exhaustion is a concern. Retrievers lead the pack for this activity.

Dogs also need mental exercise. Breeds, such as border collies, need a lot of mental stimulation to keep them happy. Activities to consider are searching for hidden items, laser light chasing, or completing special tasks.

According to Nelson, health concerns to be aware of when exercising with your dog include:

• Make sure your dog is in shape before doing long or intense workouts. If you want to do a long-distance run, you need to build your dog up gradually to the longer mileage, and

• Dogs need to get acclimated to hard surfaces, whether they are going out to walk, run or go hunting with their owners.

“If they have been on soft grass in the yard for an extended period of time, and then run on gravel or cement, they may tear up their pads,” Nelson said. “Be mindful also in hot weather that your dog may suf-

fer from burns to the pads from hot cement or asphalt.”

All dogs are at risk for overheating. When it’s hot, the heat, especially combined with humidity, makes it easier for the dog to succumb to heat exhaustion. Be especially cautious with dogs with short noses, like bulldogs and Boston terriers, because they can’t cool themselves as effectively as other dogs due to the conformation of their noses.

Dark-haired and long-coated dogs also are at higher risk. If your dog starts acting woozy, or gets a dark red-colored tongue or thick ropy saliva, stop immediately and get it in a shaded area. Give it water and hose it down with cool water if necessary. For more severely effected dogs, wet them down with water and then take them to a veterinarian immediately.

Give your dog frequent water breaks while exercising, especially when it’s hot. Limit exercise to early morning and late evening, and be aware of daytime temperatures and humidity.

Cold weather also poses special risks to your pet. Frostbite to the feet, nose and ears is possible, along with irritation to the feet by ice melts. Do not allow your pet to drink from puddles in the street as they may be contaminated with antifreeze. Short-coated and smaller breed dogs may require a jacket for warmth.

Young dogs, particularly large-breed puppies, shouldn’t go on long runs until around 12 to 15 months of age. Up to that time, their bones are still growing and prolonged, pounding exercise on hard surfaces can damage their joints.

Don’t feed your dog within an hour before or after intense exercise. This may predispose the dog’s stomach to bloat or twist, especially for large breed or deep-chested dogs.

Mature Life Features

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VIEW A round-barn model in the Fulton County Historical Society Museum on site shows how it was constructed and used. Agricultural universities around the country claimed round barns were more economical, more efficient to use, and cheaper and easier to build than rectangular barns.

Round barns — an endangered species

If they haven’t already been included in the list of endangered species, round barns should be. Their numbers are getting smaller and smaller because of decay, weather, maintenance expenses and rising taxes.

By ROD KING

Back in the middle of the 20th Century, there were more than 440 round and/or po-

lygonal barns throughout the United States. Today, there are less than 100.

Fulton County had more of them (17) than any other county. In fact, it was known as the “Round Barn Capital of the World” until 1971, when it was discovered that a Wisconsin county had 20. They deferred to Fulton County, so it still holds the title and is still the place to see these magnificent structures. There are only eight left.

The best place is the Round Barn Museum, run by the Fulton County Historical Society, located on U.S. 31, just four miles north of Rochester.

The museum’s barn, which was originally on a dairy farm,

has a diameter of 60 feet and is 65 feet tall. The main floor served as storage for hay, straw and grain and now houses a variety of 1900s farm implements. Light filtering through the cupola windows gives the structural members a sort of artsy, geometrical appearance.

Cows were fed and milked in the lower level. All the stalls face inward, making feeding more efficient, saving farmers lots of steps. Purdue University declared in the early 1900s that round barns were economical.

First, their capacity is larger than rectangular barns. They’re faster, easier and cheaper to construct than a post-and-beam

barn because they utilize oneinch lumber instead of one-footthick beams, and nails could be used instead of pegs.

This particular barn was built in 1924, with the last owner, Mr. Paxton, donating it to the Historical Society after a tornado ripped most of the roof off. It was moved to its present

site and restored in 1990-91 for $65,000.

Some theories give the English credit for developing round/polygonal barns to protect horses walking in a circle to produce power to operate mills. The earliest one in this country belonged to our first Continued on page 23

CLASSIC TRUCK The museum features a variety of 1900s farm implements.

CUT-AWAY

FIRE DEPARTMENT WAGON Used by the Rochester firefighters between 1910 and 1917 was this horse-drawn wagon.

TABLE SET FOR DINNER In the Historical Society’s museum are numerous vignettes of life in the first half of the 20th century. This display shows typical tableware and dining room furniture of the period.

GREAT ESCAPES Text and Photos

Round barns

president, George Washington. He had a 16-sided barn built in 1792 on his farm near Mount Vernon. It was torn down in 1870. A replica was erected in 1995-1996.

Shakers built the first true round barn in this country in Massachusetts in 1824. They preferred round barns because there were no corners for evil spirits to hide in. The height of the round-barn building boom was in 1910.

The first round barn to be built in the Hoosier state was in 1874 and the last one went up in 1936.

In addition to the round barn, the Historical Society has a large collection of historical memorabilia from the early 1900s and a living history village called Loyal, which existed a few miles away. It was originally known as Germany, but the name was changed to Loyal during World War I. It features structures built between 1900 and 1925.

There is no admission fee to visit the Round Barn Museum, 37 E. CR 375N, Rochester. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The museum is just four miles north of Rochester on U.S. 31.

For more information, visit fultoncountyhistory.org or call (574) 223-4436. Continued from page 22

ARTSY APPEARANCE Light filtering through the cupola windows on top of the round barn gives the structural members an artsy geometrical look. These barns were considered easier, cheaper and faster to build than rectangular barns because they utilize one-inch lumber instead of one-foot-thick beams. In addition, nails could be used instead of wood pegs.

storage for

Barter can save bucks

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

You’ve probably done some bartering without realizing it.

Anyone who’s traded in a car has, by definition, done bartering: your old car and some cash for a new model.

True bartering, of course, usually precludes money, and in these stark economic times, bartering — the oldest form of commerce — has become more widespread.

Are you a retired accountant?

You can do the tax returns for someone who will, in return, provide gardening services for your property.

A relative recently traded his ability to make furniture to a dentist for two crowns and a bridge.

Bartering with neighbors can be simple. Offer to keep an eye on their pets when they’re away from home in exchange for free trips to the airport when you go on vacation. Or you might offer him that saxophone you no longer play for the electric lawnmower he no longer uses since he replaced his grass with a stone-and-concrete patio.

Economists have a saying: nothing happens until somebody buys something from somebody else.

Bartering requires a twist: nothing happens until somebody else wants what you have to offer.

You might want to take those old picture frames to a local flea market or swap meet or block

sale as an offering for something you might want.

Cyberspace has opened up a whole new universe for the exchange of goods for other goods, or services for other services, or goods for services and vice versa.

There are several websites to choose from, so shop selectively.

An acquaintance had an uninvited swarm of bees removed from his tree by a nearby resident who wanted the pollengatherers for his small backyard orchard. That was a barter: bees for their removal. Both parties were content with the outcome.

According to U.S. News and World Report, a New York attorney offered to prepare a simple will and healthcare proxy in exchange for the services of an experienced floor sander or painter. A San Francisco entry sought to trade two sets of luggage for beer or wine for her son’s baptism party.

When you plan a vacation, consider house-swapping if your budget is being bent. You can hunt for a villa around Venice or a cottage near Cork. Again, there are Internet sites you can roam for possibilities.

If the homeowner is interested in visiting your part of the world, you can talk business — or barter.

But barterer beware: most sites discussed here do not screen users, so you have to do be responsible for doing your own checking on the reliability of whoever you deal with.

ONLY EIGHT LEFT— Fulton County has just eight round barns left. At one time the county had 17. This barn, which was built in 1924, was donated to the Fulton County Historical Society and relocated to its present site in 1990.

ROUND BARN The museum’s barn, which was originally on a dairy farm, has a diameter of 60 feet and is 65 feet tall. The main floor served as

hay, straw and grain.

Having the time of my life all over again

By FYLLIS HOCKMAN Mature Life Features

Welcome to Mountain Lake Lodge, also known as Kellerman’s Resort, where “Dirty Dancing” is still very much alive after three decades and you can imagine joining Johnny and Baby in their loft.

This Pembroke, VA, retreat in the Catskills is where the classic comes back to life to anyone who’s seen it.

The lodge looms as large in real life as it does in the movie, and the resort itself promotes an immersive connection to the movie.

That includes the sound track that seems to embed in the ear — from “Hungry Eyes” to “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” to the indelible “Time of My Life.”

You can book a theme weekend and relive the movie from start to finish, including dance lessons, trivia contests, costume parties, scavenger hunts and multiple

viewings of the film.

Having viewed the film once again before arriving, we hunted down many of the film’s key locales and couldn’t help but feel an immediate attachment not usually associated with other hotel visits.

Signs everywhere designate important locations — the gazebo where Penny gave dance lessons; Baby’s cabin where the Houseman family resided; the lake where Johhny and Baby practiced “the lift.” Dirty Dancing permeates the grounds and once the guests arrive — seniors, couples, mothers, daughters, sisters, girlfriends on a weekend getaway — many in a variety of Dirty Dancing t-shirts, electricity abounds.

Apparently, no age group is immune to the long-term appeal of the film.

I’ve seen the movie a couple of times but was unfamiliar with all the references I saw to “I carried a watermelon.” This was the first

thing Baby said to Johnny to indicate she belonged and immediately berated herself for it. The meme was everywhere.

Want to rent Baby’s cabin?

No problem. Just start a year or more in advance. But try to leave everything in place. The hotel

manager told me that guests keep stealing the plaque denoting Room 232 in the main lodge, the one Patrick Swayze stayed in during filming. Other lodging options include cottages dating back to the 1920s.

Our first night was a costume and dance party. Lots of Babys, of course, a bunch of Pennys, a few Lisas (Baby’s sister), a couple of villain Vivians and, you guessed it, a number of watermelons (so they could belong, too). And a surprising number of Johnnys of all ages, several sporting some impressive dance moves.

Next day was built around a trivia contest in an auditorium packed with Dirty Dancing aficionados. There was a round of 50 detailed questions requiring an encyclopedic knowledge of the film (What was the license plate number of Johnny’s car as he drove off?) with the soundtrack playing in the background. I guessed at maybe five or six correctly. The winning couple correctly answered almost all.

Then a scavenger hunt lured the 200 devotees all around the resort, clicking pictures to prove their righteous reconnaissance. Then off to claim their prizes at the Kellerman Gift Shop, a store devoted to all things Baby-andJohnny-related, from clothing and posters to gifts and books, written by and about the protagonists. If it has anything to do with the movie, it’s there.

And as a change of pace after scavenging, we had the option of some salsa and meringue lessons from a modern day Penny.

Before I left, I slipped in for one more replay of the movie and practically shouted throughout: “There’s a trivia answer; there’s a trivia answer!” There was a noticeable gasp as everyone in the theater particularly noted Johnny’s license plate number. For those of you who don’t care if Baby is put into a corner, there are all kinds of activities that any normal resort might offer readily available to guests: miles of hiking trails, ropes course and zip lines, ATV tours, clay shooting, escape rooms, bubble balls, arts studio and more.

P.S. Dirty Dancing 2 is in the works, produced by and starring Jennifer Grey. To be filmed, of course, at Kellerman’s.

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