Senior Life - NorthWest Edition - October 2022

Church offers

free vegetable stand to community

Gardeners in northwest Indiana often get to a point in the season when they have too much harvest. This year, three ladies at Liberty Bible Church in Valparaiso joined to create a free vegetable stand outside their church to share some of their bounty with the community.

“One of my coworkers who knew that our church likes to do outreach suggested our church might be able to share our garden produce with the community by setting it out front. Her church in Westville did something similar,” said church member Ruth Fortney, who was one of the coordinators of the project.

“So we started preparing in the spring by telling our people who garden to plant a little extra this year and then bring their surplus to the church on Saturday mornings to give out to anyone who stopped by. God has blessed us with an abundance and we want to share our abundance with others. It gives us great joy to help the people in our surrounding community.”

Another church volunteer built a wooden stand to display the pro-

(219) 548-0980

(219) 548-0993

Key Positions

Bank CEO marks 50 years with Centier Bank

When you hear about Michael E. Schrage’s career path, it might remind you of a classic movie about a young man who reluctantly followed the path of his father into the family banking business.

Just like George Bailey, Schrage had other plans initially.

“My great-grandfather, Henry Schrage, was one of the founders of the town of Whiting and opened the first general store, followed by the town’s first bank, Bank of Whiting, in 1895,” said Schrage.

“My grandfather, Walter Sr., joined the business, and then my father, Wally, took over. When I was born, it was assumed I was going to be the next president of the bank, but that wasn’t the path I always wanted to take.

“I was passionate about athletic coaching, and worked a variety of summer jobs as a

young man — including camp counselor, construction worker and, of course, bank teller. But my education was in finance and economics. I spent two summers working at the bank (then called First Bank of Whiting) and after a year in graduate school I told my dad I would try working at the bank for five years.

“We entered in to a verbal contract that I would commit to five years under one condition — that I could open new branches and grow the bank. He agreed, thankfully, and I’ve been here

ever since.”

Schrage’s tenure with the bank extended well beyond that five-year mark. In fact, last month Schrage, now CEO and chairman of the board of Centier Bank, celebrated 50 years with the bank.

Under his leadership the bank grew from a handful of locations in Lake County to more than 60 locations across Indiana with assets over $4.5 billion.

“I’m most proud of preserving Centier Bank as a private, family-owned-and-operated community bank. Growing the bank so it would be here for future generations is what led the charge for me all these years, and that’s what I’ve done,” said Schrage, who mentioned he’s also proud of “Centier Bank’s award-winning company culture, our ‘Servant Heart Culture’ which is a legacy that will also last for generations to come.”

A fifth generation — Schrage’s three daughters and son-in-law — have worked with the bank for several years, carrying on the family tradition.

“Centier is very much a family business — not just on a bio-

logical level, but on a corporate level. Our entire Centier family of over 900 associates are so passionately involved in Centier’s mission and purpose,” he said.

Schrage was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash in 1995. He was instrumental in the leadership of the Northwest Indiana Symphony, St. Jude House, American Red Cross, YMCA and the Calumet Council Boy Scouts.

He was corporate sponsorship chair of the American Heart Association Heart of Gold Ball in 2011 and 2012 and has continued to support their efforts as a member of their executive leadership team.

Outside of work, Schrage enjoys traveling and reading.

“I enjoy traveling with my wife, Jill, and experiencing other cultures around the world, as well as fishing in Montana, which I try to do annually, and I am a big fan of reading — anything from leadership books about company cultures and other progressive organizations,” he said.

“I like to absorb the best of what I experience, and inculcate the best of what I learn into Centier.”

Backyard turns into canvas for retired teacher

“My backyard has become my canvas,” said Mayner, 77, a Portage Township resident.

And what a canvas it is.

After 45 years in the classroom and eight years of retirement, Ken Mayner has found a new way to stay busy and utilize his creative skills.

Mayner, who taught art and kindergarten in Gary schools, dabbles in pencil, colored pencils, India ink and watercolors. For subject matter, he need not go too far.

Depending on the season, Mayner grows mums, tulips, daffodils, pansies, roses, zinnias, petunias and dianthus, a spring ground cover flower.

“I just feel I’ve created something of a monster, of sorts, and I feel comfortable in my garden,” he said.

Mayner has also discovered a cheaper means of reproduc-

ing his works. He makes copies using Coroplast, a plastic material. First, the original picture is scanned, after which it is scanned onto a thin vinyl material. It is then adhered to Coroplast, which is waterproof, and can be made into whatever size desired. Coroplast is a brand name for a corrugated plastic sheet manufacturer. The material can be used for graphics, industrial purposes and other applications.

Instead of framing, Mayner glues an image to a mat board, which then can go on a wall.

Although he studied art in school, Mayner considers himself a newcomer to being an artist, having started in the past decade. Specializing in watercolors and colored pencils, Mayner finds watercolor more challenging.

“With watercolor,” he said, “the images don’t pop. Pencils work. I enjoy doing pencil.”

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Mayner started in pencils, then “graduated” to India ink. The retiree is also into photography, and with his garden he has plenty to capture. Those images are then converted to greeting cards, which he gives as gifts to friends.

All this activity, Mayner said, helped especially during the pandemic.

“I enjoy my yard and never get bored,” he said. “I can use my talents during the year.”

Mayner taught at Pittman Square Elementary and the Glen Park Academy for Excellence, starting in art and moving to kindergarten.

A member of the initial graduating class at Andrean High School in Merrillville in

1963, Mayner said his artistic skills “really blossomed” through his art teacher, the Rev. Robert McKinnon.

“He really saw the potential in me,” said Mayner, who received the school’s art award at graduaContinued on page 5

S.O.S. - Speaking of Seniors — Helped client with complaint against medical firm

my insurance company and learned that (the medical firm) sent a bill to the insurance company on April 29, 2021, and Aug. 30, 2021.

ICN number.

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 $3 million by fighting mistakes and fraud in the Medicare system. Also, Wilcox wrote the book “Solving Medicare Problem$,” which is available through book stores and online.

On Sept. 19, I met with a client from Crown Point. A medical billing firm was harassing him with a “bad” bill. So, I helped the client file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Office of the Indiana Attorney General.

With some editing to protect the privacy of our client, here is the overview page of the complaint against the medical firm:

“I received a bill from (the medical firm). I took the bill to my insurance agency for advice and help. The agency administrator helped me. We contacted

“But, each time, the biller omitted the ICN number. The ICN number distinguishes a claim bill from others that are similar. The ICN number is vital to getting payment. The ICN number prevents a biller from intentionally or accidentally getting paid more than once for a claim.

“The agency administrator wrote a letter to the billing parties to get them to send a claim to the insurance company with the ICN number so that the bill could be paid. The billing parties did nothing.

“On Sept. 19, I got another bill from the billers and took it to the insurance agency that I use. The administrator phoned the insurance company about it. The billers never sent any bill with the ICN number. Now that the filing deadline of 15 months has passed, the insurance company will not pay the bill even if the billers sent a bill now with the

“The bill was caused by the bad and unethical business practices of one or both billing parties. People at those firms made the mistake and now they want me to pay for their mistake. Those are bad and unethical business practices that harm consumers.

“Please, help me and prevent these firms from doing the same to others.

“Accompanying this cover letter are copies of items verifying items in this letter.”

When I help a client file a complaint like this, I always include an overview page to help the people at the Indiana Attorney General’s office to clearly understand the wrong being done to our client by the firm wronging our client.

All the help I gave this client was free of charge. This firm helps clients with such Medicarerelated medical bill problems without charging anything to the client. If the insurance agent or agency you use will not give this high level of customer service, why not switch to Senior Care Insurance Services?

Estate planning myth: Only the rich need an estate plan

When we hear about estate planning in the news or read about it on the internet, it is usually regarding a wealthy businessperson or celebrity who had no estate plan, made an error in their estate plan, or has family members who are angry about the plan.

The topic catches people’s attention. Rich people have so much that, surely, they need an estate plan and can afford to

have it done correctly. By comparison, when the average person thinks about their own planning needs, they assume their possessions are not worth enough to necessitate an estate plan.

This thinking could not be further from the truth.

Estate planning is about more than just money. While proper planning allows you to determine who gets your money and property upon your death, the planning process also addresses what happens if you become incapacitated (unable to manage your own affairs) and someone must make decisions on your behalf—a far more likely scenario.

If you do not have an estate plan, the court will have to appoint someone to make your medical and financial decisions for you. The process can be very

Church offers

Continued from page 1

duce. Throughout the summer the stand was open on Saturday mornings, and anyone who wanted a few tomatoes, some handfuls of green beans, several ears of corn or a variety of other items could help themselves.

A sign along Sturdy Road invited anyone to stop for free vegetables. Church members were on hand to welcome people.

“It started this year with a few ladies who decided to take

the overflow from their gardens and give it away. We plan to keep it going as long as we have veggies,” said Nick Fiore, who was volunteering at the stand in mid-September.

“They’re grown by church members who donate them and we have a lot of farmers in the church. It’s been a big hit and we get to meet people in the community. God’s gifts to us are free, so we just want to return that and be here for

time-consuming, expensive and public and can wreak havoc on a family if they disagree about who should be appointed and how decisions should be made.

Even if your means are modest, you should consider who gets your hard-earned assets when you die. If you have no plan, state law will decide who gets what, and many times the government’s best guess as to what you would have wanted is contrary to your own desires. If you did not take the opportunity to formalize your wishes in an estate plan, the state must step in.

At Rice & Rice Attorneys, we can help. We are elder law attorneys, having joined the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in 1993. Now, we are members of Elder Counsel as well.

We have been in business

for 50 years and have helped thousands of families in designing an estate plan for their specific needs. If you would like to learn more, call (800) 303-7423 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation, or to attend one of our dinner workshops: 6

p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Avalon Manor, 3550 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville; or 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Teibel’s, 1775 US 41, Schererville. Reservations are required, seating is limited.

Call (800) 303-7423 or visit riceandrice.com.

Backyard turns

October 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 5www.seniorlifenewspapers.com Continued from page 4

tion. “He sparked me.”

Mayner attended Indiana University, majoring in elementary education, with a minor in art and Spanish. He earned his master’s degree from Valparaiso University.

Over the years, Mayner said, his art has evolved. While in the classroom, he was sought for developing bulletin boards and

designing program covers.

Also during his retirement, Mayner has been a San Diego Zoo volunteer. Although COVID had prevented him from serving there in recent years, he plans to return soon.

Having worked 21 years in his garden, Mayner noted, “I created this monster and now I have to deal with it. A lot of changes have happened over 21 years.”

the community.”

“Every Saturday you could tell it was God ordained. Of the days I was there, there seemed to always be at least one person who it was clearly for that day,” added Liz Paarlberg, another coordinator. “I loved getting to see God move and bring people to us. It’s such a unique way to share Christ’s love with our community.”

Paarlberg even shared fresh eggs from her chickens and put

together little bouquets from her flower garden.

Vicki Arrasmith was the third coordinator. “It was difficult for some people to accept a free gift of veggies,” she said. “It reminded me it is also difficult for some to accept the free gift God gives us through the gift of his son, Jesus. Every Saturday it provided a way to share what God had provided with others and more importantly a time to pray over those who stopped by.”

It was an endeavor that involved many in the church who were able to share their bounty and see it directly go to help someone else. Those who weren’t gardeners were also contributing by being there on Saturday mornings to staff the booth.

The project was successful and plans are to continue it next season.

For more information on Liberty Bible Church, call (219) 477-6706 or visit findliberty.net.

A Healthy Lifestyle as You Age

Healthy Reminders for Adults over 50!

1. Take Your Medication as Directed

All medications, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, include directions for safe use. Be sure to follow all printed guidelines and the advice of your doctor to ensure that the medicine works safely and effectively.

2. Don’t Overdo It

Using alcohol and medications unintentionally or to cope with big life changes is called substance misuse. Help can begin with diagnosis, addressing chronic health issues, rebuilding support systems and starting treatment.

3. Check in with Your Mood

Feeling persistently sad or that you don’t have value can indicate depression, especially when these feelings affect your daily routine. Depression can be treated with talk therapy and/or medication. You can also lower the risk of depression when you prepare for major life changes, stay physically active, and share how you are feeling with family or friends.

4. Find Purpose Each Day

Feeling that your life has purpose is a key to fulfillment. It can impact your health positively, and may also slow down aging and increase longevity. Make choices and plan activities based on what is enjoyable, interesting, and important to you.

Learn More When You...

• Talk with your healthcare provider. Bring your questions about healthy aging.

• Book your adult group for a WISE class series about living a healthy lifestyle!

This 6-week series takes a fun, interactive and educational look at aging. To learn more or schedule your group, visit www.porterstarke.org/lifeonpurpose

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

Probing the past: the park bench salesman

He was a close economic advisor to two wartime presidents. He was an influential financier, stock investor, philanthropist, statesman, and political consultant.

His was a name nearly every American heard during his lifetime, but few knew who he was or what he did.

Bernard Mannes Baruch was born Aug. 19, 1870, the second of four sons to a Jewish family in Camden, S.C. When he was 11, the family moved to New York City, where he graduated from the City College of New York.

He became a broker and then a partner in A.A. Housman & Co. brokerage firm that was the forerunner of Merrill Lynch.

With his earnings and commissions, he bought his own seat on the New York Stock Exchange where he amassed a fortune before the age of 30.

By 1903, Baruch had gained the reputation of “The Lone Wolf of Wall Street” because of his refusal to join any financial house.

Baruch left Wall Street in 1916 to advise President Woodrow Wilson on national defense and terms for peace and, in 1918, became the chairman of the new U.S. War Industries Board. Under his leadership, this body successfully managed America’s economic mobilization during World War I.

In 1919, Wilson asked Baruch to serve as a staff member at the Paris Peace Conference.

Baruch did not approve of the reparations France and Britain demanded of Germany, and supported Wilson’s view that there needed to be new forms of cooperation and supported the creation of the League of Nations.

In the 1920s and ‘30s, Baruch expressed his concern the United States needed to be prepared for the possibility of another world war. He wanted a more powerful version of the War Industries Board, which he saw as the only way to assure maximum coordination between civilian business and military needs.

Baruch remained a prominent government adviser during this time, and supported Franklin D. Roosevelt’s domestic and foreign policy initiatives after his election.

During President Roosevelt’s New Deal program, Baruch was a member of the Brain Trust and helped form the National Recovery Administration. He was also a major contributor to Eleanor Roosevelt’s controversial initiative to build a resettlement community for unemployed mining families in Arthurdale, W.V.

When the United States entered World War II, President Roosevelt appointed Baruch a special adviser to the director of the Office of War Mobilization. Baruch supported what was known as a “work or fight” bill. He advocated the creation of a permanent super agency similar to his old War Industries Board. His theory enhanced the role of civilian businessmen and industrialists in determining

Annual community scarecrow contest seeks entries

Fall is here, and that means it’s time for the annual Residences Senior Living scarecrow contests, with displays set up in both Schererville and Chesterton. It is one of the ways of fostering community and a small pleasure to bring smiles to residents and neighbors in the communities we serve.

Every year we not only salute schools, nonprofit/community organizations, youth groups, clubs and businesses that make our communities great, but we also want to provide an opportunity to reward their efforts through participation in our fun contest.

The first prize of $500 can mean so much to a club or nonprofit organization. Would winners split the proceeds or perhaps donate to an organization? Fund an upcoming trip or utilize as a team-building effort and compete for pride? There’s a $250 prize for second place and a trophy for third place finishers.

Entry forms are available at our front desks or residencesseniorliving.com. Entries must be received by Friday, Oct. 14.

Scarecrow setup is Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22; a real team-building effort rewarded by cookies and warm cider from our communities. Most scarecrows have reflected the nature of the businesses or organizations entering the contest. This is a great way for businesses, schools, organizations to take pride, boost morale and advertise to communities.

We don’t select the winners, the communities do the voting. Voters from the public are encouraged to drive by and cast their votes either in person or via our Meta (formerly Facebook) pages Oct. 23-30. Winners will be announced Nov. 1.

Our annual scarecrow contest is just one way we contribute to the quality of life in our local communities. We participate in fundraisers such as with the Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana, Schererville Parks Department senior breakfasts, Duneland Seniors and more.

We consider connections to be the hallmark of everything we do, within in our senior living communities as well as out in our communities.

what was needed and who would produce it.

Baruch remained a trusted adviser and confidant of President Roosevelt, who spent a month in 1944 as a guest at Baruch’s South Carolina winter estate.

In 1946, President Harry S. Truman appointed Baruch as the United States representative to the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission). On June 14, 1946, Baruch presented his Baruch Plan, which proposed international control of then-new atomic energy. The Soviet Union rejected Baruch’s proposal as unfair given the fact the U.S. already had nuclear weapons; it proposed the U.S. eliminate its nuclear weapons before a system of controls and inspections was implemented. A stalemate ensued.

Baruch resigned from the commission in 1947 and his influence began to diminish, as he grew further out of step with the views of the Truman administration.

Baruch often walked or sat in Washington’s Lafayette Park and New York City’s Central Park and became noted for discussing persuading government affairs while sitting on a park bench. As this became his most famous characteristic, he was called “The Park Bench Salesman.”

In 1960, on his 90th birthday, a commemorative park bench

in Lafayette Park across from the White House was dedicated to him by the Boy Scouts of America.

He continued to advise on international affairs until his

death on June 20, 1965, in New York City at the age of 94. He was buried in Flushing, Queens, New York City, and his funeral was attended by 700 people.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Finance

Protecting our loved ones

including older adults, who face high rates of elder abuse, fraud and nursing homes deaths.

Are you concerned about protecting your older relatives and friends from elder abuse? The pandemic highlighted the disproportionate impact of tragedy on under-served communities,

It’s important to remember that elder abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or financial status. We are committed to helping and preventing further

victimization — especially in under-served communities.

Fraud

A recent Federal Bureau of Investigation report showed that elder fraud has increased. Older adults in the United States reported over $1.6 billion in losses in

2021. This includes victims of COVID-related scams. Older adults in the U.S. also lose nearly 25 times more money to scammers than other groups — an estimated $113.7 billion a year.

Reporting fraud can be difficult and older adults tend to

Blue Collar Antiques seeking new clients

Check your decorations for old Halloween postcards, candles, die cuts and papier mâché.

My company, Blue Collar Antiques, buys and sells a variety of antiques and collectibles. We also purchase entire estates.

This time of year vintage Halloween items sell very well.

Some Halloween postcards sell for hundreds of dollars. This year, the old blow molds seem to be popular.

Check your attics and basements for anything weird or unusual. Comic books are sell-

ing very well right now. Sports cards are also doing very well.

I am always looking for military items, old toys, advertising items, coins and jewelry.

I have always enjoyed antiques and have a deep appreciation for history. I go to several auctions each week, which helps me stay current

Mature money matters

credit limit.

Rent Out Your Home When Real Estate Sales Slump

Moving May Damage

Your Credit

There other ways than missing or making late payments to damage your credit rating.

Moving can result in a lower credit score because bills may get lost in the mail or may be forwarded but arrive too late to pay on time. The delayed payments, or lack of payment, become blots on your credit history.

Another bit of misinformation is that canceling unused credit cards will improve your credit score. It can do the opposite because you dump a chunk of available credit, lowering the amount of credit available to you while increasing the percentage of available credit that you’re using.

If you do close down a credit card, do it to one with a low

If you’re facing, or anticipate, problems selling your home as a result of a real estate sales slowdown in our region, you might consider renting it out.

Rents normally increase as home prices and mortgage interest rise. This makes the arithmetic more attractive when you consider becoming a landlord.

When looking at your home as a rental, make sure you tally the mortgage payment along with all the costs involved with the rental, such as management fees, utilities and insurance, which will include an extension of your homeowners liability insurance as well as fire insurance to cover the building and tenants’ contents.

Avoid Auto Repair Lapses

A little bump in the rear at a traffic light or sideswipe in the

parking lot at a nearby mall may result in what you think is minor damage but could cost hundreds of dollars.

There are simple steps to take to protect yourself, regardless of which driver is at fault.

Get the name, address, phone number, and insurance company and policy number of the other driver. Also write down the license plate and make, model and year of the other vehicle and the extent of the damage to both vehicles. If you have a camera with you, take pictures of the damage and positions of the vehicles.

Corral any witnesses nearby and get their names, addresses and phone numbers.

Take your vehicle to a repair shop of your choice, not one recommended by the other driver.

Then report the mishap to the police and get a copy of the report.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

with what people are buying and how much items are selling for. I also subscribe to many research sites. I am able to find the market value for almost any item you may have.

I have been in business for over 15 years. I believe in treating people fairly. Because of this, a big part of my business comes from referrals or repeat clients. Often when people call me to look at their collections or estates, they are pleasantly surprised to learn that items they considered worthless are actually very valuable.

I would recommend to anyone that before items are discarded or given away, please give me the opportunity or have someone with experience in antiques take a look at it for valuation.

Since I have been in business for so long, I have established many contacts in the industry. Even if you have something I do not buy, many times I can at least give you a value for it, put you in contact with someone who would buy it or tell you the best way to go about selling it.

You can contact me, Matt Danbury, at (219) 794-6500.

under-report; especially when money is lost. Many older Americans are unsure about the reporting process or feel too embarrassed to report. Understaffed adult protective services offices can also cause long processing times and under-reporting.

We work hard to protect beneficiaries from Social Security and government imposter scams. With the right anti-fraud information, you can help protect those you love. Here are the five most important resources about Social Security scams that you should know about:

• Find out how to spot fake calls and emails and what to do if you get one on our Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams page at ssa. gov/scam.

• Learn about phone scams and how to report them on our Office of the Inspector General’s Scam Awareness page at oig.ssa.gov/scam.

• Read about protecting your Social Security number from identity theft at blog.ssa. gov/protecting-your-social-security-number-from-identitytheft.

• Create your personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount to help you keep track of your records and identify any suspicious activity.

• Visit our Fraud Prevention and Reporting page at ssa.gov/ fraud to understand how we combat fraud.

Share these important resources with your friends and family — and help us spread the word on social media.

Consider liability insurance

A skateboarder clatters by the front of your house, flips on a crack in your driveway, piles up a hefty amount of medical bills and sues you for damages and payment. What do you do?

You can’t ignore it. You’re going to have to defend yourself.

If you don’t have any liability insurance, you’re going to have to fight for your life to keep your assets — your home, car, bank account, retirement benefits, heirlooms, anything of value that can be turned into cash to pay the injured skateboarder’s claims if the law supports his or her position.

Check with your insurance agent to see if you have an umbrella policy on your homeowner’s or automobile insurance. If you do, find out how much coverage you have and for what. And it’s not just errant skateboarders to worry about.

Do you do a lot of entertaining and have people in and around your house a lot? Do you operate a business out of your home? Do you have children, or grandchildren, who drive your automobile regularly? All of the above increase your risk and place you in jeopardy of possible lawsuits.

Honey, the pipes are frozen

It’s cold outside, honey. Snow and ice 12 inches thick on the driveway. The front door won’t close tight anymore. The water pipes have frozen. The fan on the furnace is not working.

The plumber can’t be here until Tuesday. The furnace man is so busy this time of the year, he wont be here until Friday.

We could turn on the oven, but that doesn’t seem to work. Regardless of the cold, three little mice have found a home in the attic. They came in through the hole in the roof.

Utility bills are sky high because the windows are single paned and insulation was never put in the walls. The cold winds blowing through the broken glass panes don’t seem to help either.

This could be a good time to move into a nice apartment, in a nice community, with a nice maintenance man who will take care of any problems that come along, and it will be warm.

Fountain View Apartments is that wonderful community — nice, affordable and safe. It

is an inexpensive apartment community for active senior adults. It is being remodeled with new plank flooring, stainless kitchen appliances, mosaic back splashes, newer carpets, strong roofs and no mice. We plow the snow and salt the walks.

Our apartments are nice and warm. We take care of maintenance issues, from pipes to furnaces to air conditioners to stray cats. Just call the office and the situation is taken care of as soon as possible.

Fountain View Apartments is located in Crown Point. Our location offers proximity to grocery stores, churches and banks, all within walking distance. Every apartment has a balcony or patio.

Our rent is very reasonable, starting at $1,020 for a onebedroom to $1,180 for a twobedroom. Call (219) 663-8228 to schedule an appointment.

We are located off Merrillville Road and 96th Avenue. The address of our model and office is 9614 Dona Court, Apt. 35, Crown Point.

We love to meet new people. Visit fountainviewrentals.com for more details.

Salvation Army holds successful golf outing

The Salvation Army of Northwest Indiana is celebrating the success of the 2022 ‘Chip In’ Golf Outing at White Hawk Country Club. The outing brought together 113 golfers and additional attendees from northwest Indiana and the greater Chicago area to have fun and raise money for The Salvation Army. The $58,000 raised will be used to help individuals and families in need in Lake County.

“We are so grateful to the men and women who have joined us today, the sponsors and auction donors who have given so generously to show their support for the hurting adults and children in Lake County communities,” said Captain Bersabe Vera, commander of The Salvation Army of Northwest Indiana. “There are many parents who must often choose between paying rent and purchasing food and clothing for their children. The money raised from the golf outing will help many who have emergency needs.”

The ‘Chip In’ Golf Outing continues to grow in popularity each year with both golfers and sponsors. These supporters understand that the need is great and the funds they raise will stay in the community to do good work. Special thanks to General William booth sponsors Strack & Van Til Food Markets, American Precision Services, Peoples Bank and Hard Rock Casino of Northern Indiana.

“Golfers from around the area love this event and return

every year,” said Kevin Feldman, director of development for The Salvation Army of Northwest Indiana. “Golfers tell me it’s the most fun and that White Hawk Country Club is a favorite for golf.”

The ‘Chip In’ Golf Outing featured 18 holes of golf appealing to all skill levels, followed by a delicious dinner buffet, golfer awards, silent auction and the presentation of the annual ‘Doing the Most Good Award.’ This award is presented to an exceptional person or company that is making positive differences in communities in Lake County.

This year’s ‘Doing the Most Good Award’ went to Mr. Robert Migliorini, president and co-founder of American Precision Services in Gary. After receiving the award, Migliorini shared with the audience that his love for The Salvation Army began decades ago when he volunteered to ring the bell at a red kettle during the Christmas season.

The Salvation Army of Northwest Indiana serves Lake and Porter counties from four community centers in Munster, East Chicago, Gary and Valparaiso by providing emergency food assistance, homelessness prevention services, after-school and music education programs for children and youth and more. Visit SANorthwestIndiana.org to discover more about The Salvation Army and its work — and how you can participate in helping your neighbors in need.

Seniors deliver knockout punch to Parkinson’s disease

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but you don’t have to sit back and let the disease take over. You can stretch your muscles and take a punch at it.

Since 2018, the Valparaiso Family YMCA has offered Rock Steady Boxing, a program specifically designed for Parkinson’s patients that utilizes muscles and focuses on strength, balance and coordination.

“This keeps you moving,” said Brian Hoener, a physical therapy and class instructor. Using classic rock music and his sense of humor, Hoener keeps seniors in motion, utilizing boxing techniques.

Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance or coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen over time.

Rock Steady Boxing was founded in 2006 by former Marion County Prosecutor Scott C. Newman, who is living with Parkinson’s, and Vince Perez, a former Golden Gloves boxer. Its mission is to empower those with Parkinson’s disease to “fight back.” It uses a wide array

of non-contact, boxing-based workouts designed to help people with Parkinson’s manage their symptoms and help them live more independent lives.

For those dealing with Parkinson’s, Rock Steady Boxing has been shown to improve function, posture and endurance, while also helping to control pain. The hour-long class begins with warm-ups, followed by a series of stretches impacting nearly every part of the body. That leads into various boxing stations, where class members in boxing gloves take aim at dummies.

Walter Mueller of Valparaiso was taking particular aim in his boxing gloves. “This is a chance to meet other people and talk about

our problems,” he said. “Plus, the exercise feels good.”

Socializing is another aspect of the class. Class members are on a first-name basis. They take time near the end of the period to offer health updates and sign get-well cards for absent classmates.

“You have to stay active with Parkinson’s,” said Don Stitz of Valparaiso. “This gets me out and exercising, and I’m around other people. It’s no fun working by myself.”

Dannie Lewis of Valparaiso added, “This helps me with my stability and all-around coordination.”

The program is designed to improve quality of life for participants, who sometimes work in

pairs, going to different stations in the fitness room. They all have one thing in common — Parkinson’s.

“I love the fact that I’m doing this with a group of adults who are going through a similar battle,” said Becky Wagner of Valparaiso. “It’s a comfort to know we’re all in the fight. I’d be devastated without this class.”

Trudy Csanyi of Valparaiso also plays YMCA pickleball. Rock Steady Boxing, she said, “has given me my golf game back. I love the camaraderie of the people. We have to keep moving,

keep active.”

Hoener said the intention of the class is to challenge participants. Parkinson’s, he noted, is a movement disorder.

“This is challenging people with balance and stability,” the class instructor said. “We want to get people moving instead of being sedentary.”

The Valpo YMCA class is offered Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in partnership with St. Mary Medical Center and is open to the community.

To register or for more information, call (219) 286-3890.

Professional

Q. Do I need a

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

Kathy Misukanis Trust Administrator

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

tax advice. You

Kathy Misukanis

Trust Administrator Wealth Management Center 110 S. Main St. South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 245-4735, ext. 5878

Professional Forum . . .

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

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

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

Becky Berggren, Account Executive

Lake & Porter Counties (219) 254-2345 slwest@the-papers.com

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Becky Berggren

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

Faith Life challenges led Giannini to volunteer role

Sometimes difficult life experiences guide us to do extraordinary things. For Kathy Giannini of Munster, facing some tough challenges inspired her to help others. She is currently the Lake County Area Coordinator for SAWs (Servants at Work, Inc.), a Christian-based volunteer-run non-profit organization that builds ramps for low-income, permanently disabled individuals. The group originated in Indianapolis and is now in multiple states.

In the 1990s her father was wheelchair-bound for about six years. Then in 2013, her husband unexpectedly became temporarily wheelchair bound. It was the snowiest winter in years and she had to get him out five or six days a week for medical appointments.

“I have life experience with having family members in a wheelchair,” said Giannini. “I understand the challenge of getting a person around when they have lost mobility.”

Her husband’s situation gave her a crash course in how limited a person’s world is when mobility issues arise.

“I really had to learn about it because my husband could not walk,” she said. “I had to hire an ambulance crew to carry him into the house. My house had just three steps, but it might as well have been a cliff.”

Giannini said she started frantically calling companies to find a way to resolve the issue.

“I only have a 24-inch drop. Luckily I had the resources to

Delay travel delays

buy a portable, temporary ramp off Amazon for $800,” she said. “That’s a lot of money for a lot of people, especially those facing medical bills.”

Giannini’s church, Ridge United Methodist in Munster, is a big supporter of the program. Giannini first learned about SAWs (which she refers to as “SAWs Ramps”) after the youth group at her church did a week-long summer camp trip to Indianapolis where they built five ramps in five days. Although she didn’t go on the trip, she taught Sunday school to the group and they enthusiastically told her about the experience and their desire to build more ramps.

It was a couple years later, in 2018, that Giannini connected with SAWs and was asked to be an area coordinator. Knowing the great need for the service and how life changing it can be to have the accessibility a ramp provides, she agreed. She now works with volunteers to build ramps in the area — about one every other week. While the Indianapolis area where the group was founded is able to build three to five ramps in a weekend, the Lake County area is more limited.

Right now she said there are three barriers to getting more ramps built: funding, the lack of a storage and building facility and the need for volunteer leadership. Fulfilling those three needs will enable volunteers to build more ramps.

A big need is a donated space where they can pre-fabricate pieces and store materials, which helps them to build more quickly on site and prevent theft of materials.

“We can build these inside to put on a trailer and then we’re not at the mercy of the weather and not dragging out all the tools,” she said.

There also is an ongoing need for funding and more volunteers who are willing to take the lead on projects (since the all-volunteer project runs entirely on donations).

“It’s been a learning experience and a struggle to build it up,” said Giannini. “This county has 475,000 people. It’s in essence building a business with 475,000 potential customers without funding.”

Giannini has been active in doing volunteer and charitable work for much of her life. She’s been involved in providing and coordinating meals at a Hammond rescue mission as well as other church mission work, taught Sunday school, runs the church’s pickle ball club and is wardrobe coordinator for Mun-

Residential Opportunities

ster High School choirs. But, she said, her main focus right now is SAWs.

“This is where I put my greatest energy,” she said. “There’s no allocation in any government agency for this. There’s no provision for getting you in and out of your home when you can’t.”

Giannini, a mother of two adult children, is a retired engineer from Inland Steel who also enjoys gardening. To volunteer or donate, visit the “SAWs - Servants at Work Lake County” Facebook page or email kkg10123@gmail.com.

If you’re thinking of traveling these days, rethink your plans and destinations.

Airports are spilling over, airlines are cancelling and delaying flights by the thousands and airfares are soaring. They climbed 20% in one month earlier this year.

Should that strike trans-ocean travel off your list, a motor trip might be given consideration. A visit to the relatives, or the shore, or some to-do sights such as Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls. How far they are matters because you’ll have to afford the gasoline that’s doubled in price since last year and is still rising in cost.

Look around your city or community for sites tourists pay good money to visit. If you live in a coastal town like Seattle, San Diego, Miami or Myrtle Beach, you already have a major lure — the seashore. Look around for other nearby attractions — Nashville and Las Vegas, for example. Or look to a ski vacation this winter in Colorado or Utah.

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

It was 50 years ago —

‘Garden Party’ was Nelson’s final Top Ten hit

Rick Nelson

“I went to a garden party

“To reminisce with my old friends

“A chance to share old memories

“And play my songs again.”

That’s what Rick Nelson expected when he signed on as a “special added attraction” at a New York oldies concert at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 15, 1971. But a tactical error by Martin led to

his storming offstage, his set cut short by several tunes.

A year later, via “Garden Party,” his 19th — and final — Top 10 hit, he told the world his story behind that long-ago Friday night.

Chuck Berry was the show’s headliner, with supporting acts that included Bobby Rydell, Bo Diddley, the Shirelles, the Coasters and Gary U. S. Bonds.

Each of the performers — Nelson included — had been hitless since 1964, the year that a Liverpool, England, quartet swept Americans off the charts overnight.

“When I got to the garden party

“They all knew my name “No one recognized me “I didn’t look the same.”

That evening, Nelson strolled onstage with ultra-long hair, bell-bottom jeans, a velvet shirt and cowboy boots. His longtime fans were aghast. Nelson would later recount to Rolling Stone, “They kept looking at me and my long hair as if they couldn’t believe I was the same person. But I couldn’t have done it any differently, except by getting my hair cut and putting braces on my teeth.”

He opened with “Be-Bop Baby,” one of his early hits, and for a while Nelson’s classics brought screams of recognition and appreciation. But later in his set he offered a cover version of Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs to Me,” and the mood of the audience instantly dampened. To make matters worse, Nelson set down his guitar, seated himself at an onstage piano and launched into the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women.” What followed was a tsunami of boos.

Concert promoter Richard Nader later explained, “The people that were in Madison Square Garden were not there to hear contemporary music; they were there to escape it.”

“When I sang a song about a honky tonk

“It was time to leave.”

Nelson played one more number before exiting the stage to seek refuge in a dressing room that night.

He soon renewed performing as he had since his return to the concert stage in 1969, mixing his oldies with some newer material. Outside of the New York debacle, he never encountered any problems; on a 1972 UK tour, for example, Nelson played London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall. His song set was essentially the same as the one at the Garden, only with more newer offerings. The exuberant crowd that night

demanded four encores.

Nelson would eventually create his story song about that disastrous 1971 night. In doing so, Nelson’s “Garden Party” served notice to the world that he would never again be part of

any strictly “oldies” gig.

“If you gotta play at garden parties

“I wish you a lotta luck

“But if memories were all I sang

“I’d rather drive a truck.”

Swindlers enjoy the best of times, worst of times

When the going gets tough in the stock market or your investment portfolio, crooks make it tougher. When things are going good, they get fatter.

Whether you’re contacted by mail, email, or telephone and asked how you’d like to boost your economic expectations, the first thing you do is pull out a list of your own questions.

Your first question is, “How did you get my name?” If the response begins like this, “Your name was picked from a select

list of prudent/longtime/knowledgeable investors,” hang up. You really should hang up on any of these calls and junk the mail or email immediately, rather than making your own follow-up call to inquire further.

If you persist, then ask for the degree of risk in the investment being offered. There are no riskfree investments and the greater the profit expected, the greater the risk.

Ask for a written copy of the investment and proposal being made and ask if the person at the other end of the line would mind explaining the offer to your attorney, tax preparer or accountant.

Ask for references and for the names of the firm’s principals and officers. And get a call-back number.

You then should ask for documents such as a prospectus or risk-disclosure statement if the offering is traded on a regulated stock exchange, and what government or industry agency regulates the firm for whom the caller works.

The person at the other end of the line may have hung up by now.

If not, ask how long the investment firm has been in business and what is its track record. Suggest a meeting in his or her office to discuss the investment opportunity in more detail.

These are turnoffs suggested to protect you from poachers seeking to take advantage of your wishes and wants to sweeten your economic future.

You can save yourself a lot of time and money if you just hang up.

This easy carrot soup recipe is a great way to use up a bag of carrots that were forgotten in your produce drawer. The carrots cook together with aromatics like onions, garlic and fresh herbs before being puréed into a silky smooth soup that’s delicious for dinner or packed up for lunch.

8 servings; Total: 50 mins

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or parsley

5 cups chopped carrots

2 cups water

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, “no-chicken” broth (see Note) or vegetable broth

1/2 cup half-and-half (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1 Heat butter and oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until the butter melts. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and thyme (or parsley); cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 10 seconds.

Step 2 Stir in carrots. Add water and broth; bring to a lively simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a lively simmer and cook until very tender, about 25 minutes.

Step 3 Puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Stir in half-and-half (if using), salt and pepper.

Health & Fitness

Meditation repudiation

Mary Ellen and I just got back from a trip to visit my sister and brother.

In my sister’s lovely condominium in Great Neck, N. Y., she has a little windowed room off her kitchen that’s no more than 6 by 8 feet. In that room she meditates every day, and she claims she has achieved some degree of calmness and peace in her life.

I am jealous of Linda — I want what she has. No, not serenity and peace, but a little room like hers where I can go every day, down a few beers,

vent my anger and frustration with the world and kick over a bookcase. Very relaxing!

My sister thinks I should meditate like she does. This point of view has been echoed by one of my physicians, my wife and several people at our Unitarian church. They all tell me it would help. Help me with what, I wonder? What’s wrong with me? When I ask this question, my doctor says it will help address my insomnia. When I ask my sister, she always says, “Sorry, I have another call coming in.” It’s odd: whenever I ask her why I need help, that same person keeps calling her.

All the folks advocating this approach have sent me to a website with detailed instructions for achieving “one with everything,” which, by the way, is exactly how I order a hot dog at a nearby deli. I’m going to

try some of these methods, but as you will see, I’m a skeptic.

They begin the lesson by asking the reader to assume a comfortable position. (I decided I wanted to be a restaurant critic for the New York Times.)

We are also told to “learn” these exercises. Why is that word in quotes? I won’t eat “crab” salad or chopped “meat,” so I’m a little wary of digesting what this program is feeding me.

One section of the directions is labeled “Thinking About Body Parts.” When I hit 75, I tried to stop obsessing about my aging back, limbs and butt. Several of my parts are just not working the way they used to and the last thing I want to do is think about that. The list includes: “Think About Your Throat.” Really, my throat? I’ve never thought much about my throat, but thanks for giving

me something else to worry about.

Later in the guidelines, they assign the number 3, which is to be the personal symbol for complete body relaxation, a mantra I will need to repeat continually until I achieve serenity. I think I should be able to pick my own number. First of all, 3 is way too easy to guess. I don’t want strangers hacking into my meditation session. My mantra should have capital and lowercase letters and at least one symbol. I want my relaxation code to be F3&b@. Yeah, try to guess that! Of course, I’ll never remember it, which will also stress me out.

Finally, there is a section titled “Scheduled Worry.” Here the authors advise you to think about a problem at bedtime that needs to be resolved and then ponder possible solutions.

If you can’t come up with an answer, they direct you to not think about it until tomorrow. Well, that worked for Scarlett O’Hara ...

Mary Ellen asked me to assure her I would give meditation a try. I told her I would, and to consider that a “promise.”

Stellar support for Portage LIVE’s summer music series

The Portage Summer Music Series has been a tradition in Portage at Woodland Park for 22 years, providing exciting live performances by local artists inside Oakwood Grand Hall every Tuesday evening throughout the summer months. The success of the 13-concert series is largely attributable to the committed partnership between the Portage Department of Parks and Recreation, which provides the venue, Portage LIVE! which arranges the concerts, and the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce, which recruits the sponsors for the series from within its membership.

An entire summer of music and fun for hundreds of concertgoers culminated with a full-to-capacity crowd on Aug. 30 when the popular Rick Lindy & Wild Ones entertained 500 enthusiastic listeners. Featuring music of virtually every era and genre from rock & roll, swing, blues, contemporary, to original tunes, all performers on the series were drawn from our own substantial NW Indiana/ Chicagoland talent pool.

The 2022 Summer Music Series was made possible through the generous donations from many businesses and individuals. Community spirit moved many others to make donations of $710 in cash and assorted non-perishable goods to Gabriel’s Horn Shelter and Portage Food Pantry all of which were collected at the concerts each week.

Additional donations to support Portage LIVE!’s mission to make live musical entertainment and cultural events available in Portage Township may be made anytime simply by texting the keyword PORTAGE to 44321. Portage LIVE! (formerly the Portage Township Live Entertainment Association) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax-deductible as permitted by law.

For more information about Portage LIVE!, its Tuesday Night Summer Music Series, Founder’s Square Summer Sunday Series, or its acclaimed Subscription Series of nationally touring musical artists, call Linda Hardin at (219) 762-5025.

St. Mary Medical Center to host stroke symposium

Symposium from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, Oct. 13, at St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S. Lake Park Ave., Hobart.

Are you or someone you love at risk for having a stroke? Do you want to learn more about the disease and how to prevent it? Community Healthcare System will host the “Time is Brain” Stroke

Free health screenings, vendor booths and continental breakfast will be offered at 8 a.m. Emergency medicine physician Lauren Rutili, D.O.; neurologist Mark Simaga, M.D.; and cardiolo-

gist Kais Yehyawi, M.D., will lead engaging, informative and life-saving presentations on varying topics starting at 8:30 a.m.

At 11:15 a.m., stroke patients will share their personal stories of conquering the disease, which is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the

Senior Health and Wellness Fair in Hobart

United States.

About 80% of strokes may be prevented by controlling risk factors and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through five critical steps, according to the American Heart Association.

• Quit smoking. If you or someone you care for smokes or vapes, please seek help. St. Mary Medical Center offers cessation classes, and quitnowindiana.com has free tools to help you be successful.

• Move more. Active adults are 25-30% less likely to suffer a stroke.

• Eat healthy. Although this helps with weight, eating healthy, regardless of weight, may be even more important. The DASH or Mediterranean diets have been proven to help.

• Early monitoring About 10% of strokes are suffered by those younger than 50. Monitoring your weight, blood pressure and lifestyle through every stage in life is crucial to prevention.

The Maria Reiner Center is hosting a Senior Health and Wellness Fair from 8:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 16. The

fair will be held at 705 E. 4th St., Hobart, and is sponsored by the Maria Reiner Center and St. Mary Medical Center. Enter in the Senior Activity And Multi-Purpose Center, door 5.

The Health Fair will feature 40-plus healthcare education

Meals on Wheels seeks volunteer drivers

Join Meals on Wheels as a volunteer meal delivery driver this fall and deliver nutrition to those in need in local communities. Harvest a wealth of personal satisfaction as you enrich your life and make a difference in someone else’s life with each delivery.

Help continue the mission of delivering nutritious meals to those in need with the support of community volunteers. Be a part of something bigger than yourself and discover how you can become great by serving others — with only an hour and a half of your time as little as once or twice per month. Corporate volunteer teams are welcome to join the Meals on Wheels team. Give back to the community and volunteer today.

The increased number of clients and meals we are serving means Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana urgently needs volunteer meal delivery drivers throughout Lake and Porter counties, with the most urgent need in Crown Point, Griffith, Hammond, Highland, Hobart, Merrillville, Miller and Whiting. Other routes are also available. Volunteers pick up meals at lunchtime at a meeting spot in their community and deliver to local people in need.

A new app saves time and is remarkably convenient.

Additionally, volunteer van drivers are immediately needed to deliver food containers to designated locations. All van routes originate at their Merrillville facility. Bag packers and bag stampers are also needed.

Various two-hour daytime shifts are available.

Volunteers are the heart of Meals on Wheels. They establish a relationship with each client. Volunteers are trained to deliver a personal connection and wellness check with every single meal. Turn your compassion into action and become part of the Meals on Wheels team of volunteers and make a difference in your community.

Register now for the volunteer driver/app training scheduled at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at their Merrillville facility, 8446 Virginia St. Contact Charlie Misovye, volunteer manager at (219) 756-3663, or charlie@ mownwi.org.

Founded in 1977, Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana delivers 1,700 nutritious meals each day with a wellness check and friendly visit to people in Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties, with the support of community volunteers.

and vendors, senior living resources, flu shots by Walgreens and free health screenings, including pulmonary function testing and osteoporosis screenings, blood pressure checks, ask the pharmacist, community and social services, hospice and home health care vendors, door prizes, refreshments and more. The fair is free and open to the public.

St. Mary Medical Center will offer to seniors, age 55 and above, an A1C and lipid panel blood test starting at 8:30 a.m. An 8-10 hour fasting period is required. You must RSVP to (219) 947-1637 by Nov. 9, on a first come, first served basis for the blood test.

For more information on the Senior Health and Wellness Fair, call Aimee Schallenkamp, Maria Reiner Center director, at (219) 947-1864.

• Keep blood pressure in control. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the leading cause of strokes.

Be sure to visit the vendor booths at the stroke symposium for a variety of screenings and interactive education on stroke detection and treatment.

To register for this free event, call (219) 836-3477.

Food can be the curse or the cure

In his book, “Eat to Live,” he points out that “longevity and disease protection should be the ultimate goals for dietary advice…We have an unprecedented opportunity in human history to live longer and better than ever before.” The most consistent findings show that as fruit and vegetable consumption increases, chronic diseases decrease.

arteries clog right back up again within six months. Why? Because they didn’t change their way of eating.

What would happen if all Americans ate the list above? Their belly’s would be too full for the cheeseburger and fries for one thing. Healthcare costs would go down along with obesity, cancer and diabetes.

Joel Fuhrman, M.D. asks “What if all Americans:”

Ate a large bowl of green salad daily.

Had a large serving of steamed greens daily.

Ate a cup of beans daily.

Had an ounce of raw seeds and nuts daily.

Ate at least three fresh fruits daily.

Had some tomatoes, peppers, onions, mushrooms, herbs and garlic daily.

Food truly can be the curse or the cure for so much that is aging us and adding chronic disease instead of health to the aging society. We know ordering the salad is the right thing, but oh boy, does the cheeseburger and fries order roll off the tongue nicely.

Twenty-five percent — that’s the percentage of females that die of their first heart attack because they didn’t know they had heart disease and it is also the percentage of patients that undergo angioplasty who’s

Every day, every meal, is a choice, sometimes a hard choice, but always the right choice when you choose to eat for health.

The salad below was delicious, and I suppose you could change out the dressing if you didn’t have all the ingredients, but I had everything and truly enjoyed the freshness of the dressing.

Sesame Cabbage Crunch Salad Go_govegan Serves 4 4 cups Napa cabbage, finely

Gabis Arboretum hosts inaugural ‘Hallo-Weekend’

Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest is getting into the Halloween spirit with its first ever Hallo-Weekend Oct. 1415. The festivities include two nights of outdoor movies; one for adults ages 21+ and one night for families.

Friday, Oct. 14, is for adults, age 21+ only, and will feature a showing of “The Conjuring.” Happy Hour starts at 6 p.m. for guests to show off their costume, set up a good movie spot and grab a beverage. Music will be playing to set the vibe and model trains will be running in the Railway Garden. The movie starts at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 15, is familyfriendly and will feature a showing of Hocus Pocus.

Trick-or-treating and activities start at 5 p.m., and the movie starts at 7 p.m. Guests are encouraged to dress in costume and bring a bag for trick-or-treating.

All film screenings take place at Gabis Arboretum at PNW, 450 W. 100N, Valparaiso.

“We wanted to create a safe environment for kids to trick-or-treat and what better place than the arboretum,” said Yvonne Lopez, events coordinator for Gabis Arboretum at PNW. “We’re especially excited for the showing of ‘The Conjuring.’ People who love spooky movies will appreciate the experience of watching outdoors in the dark. We’ve also decorated the Railway Garden for the occasion. It

couldn’t be a better experience!”

Snacks, beer and wine will be available for purchase with cash only from local vendors on both nights. No outside food or beverages are permitted. No dogs, except service animals, are permitted.

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for the outdoor film screenings.

Tickets are $8 per person for arboretum members and $10 for non-members. Children 3 and under are free but require a ticket. Tickets can be purchased in advance at pnw. edu/gabis, or at the gate until the event sells out. Parking is always free at the arboretum.

Follow updates at the arboretum’s Facebook page.

chopped

2 cups broccoli, finely chopped

2-4 green onions, chopped

1 large carrot, shredded

14 ounce can chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and dried

½ cup sliced almonds, toasted Sesame Dressing

¼ cup toasted white sesame seeds

¼ cup maple syrup

¼ cup rice vinegar

¼ cup tamari or coconut aminos

2 tablespoons tahini

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon ground ginger pinch of salt

Add all the salad ingredients to a bowl. Whisk together the dressing in a jar and drizzle over salad. Toss to combine.

Enjoy within 48 hours.

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

Longevity costs money

That’s but one of a multitude of health issues.

Everyone wants to get to heaven but no one wants to die.

Old age has its problems, but the alternative is worse.

No one wants to live to be 101 more badly than the person who’s 100.

And the cliches go marching on.

Longevity on this earth is the goal and grail of all living things.

But living a long life has problems besides failing health and eroding motor skills.

The longer you live, the more money you need.

Medical advances indicate the human body is built to last about 120 years.

If you want to live that long and plan to retire, or have retired, at 65, you will have to find some way to support yourself for 55 years after leaving the workforce. That’s longer than most people spend in the labor force, since most start their careers around age 20, giving them a working life of about 45 years.

Life expectancy currently is 77 years in this country.

By 2050, the elderly population is expected to double to 80 million. This means 20% of the population will be over 65.

With more than 70 million baby boomers approaching retirement age, increasing numbers of people will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, since 50% of people over 85 are stricken. There are more than 6 million that old now and the number is rising.

The looming medical treatment crisis involves more than difficulties in delivering and providing the necessary treatment and services. It relies a lot on the individual’s ability to pay for them.

And the average monthly rate for assisted living is $4,300.

Suppose you’re healthy and hale and plan to enjoy life. Do you have a retirement fund large enough to last you for as long as you’d like to live?

Will you be able to play golf, take vacations, visit family, maintain your residence, go fishing, keep up your hobby or do whatever in the manner in which you’d like?

The plus side of this equation is that more than 90% of Americans feel they should be able to work as long as they are able. Less than a quarter of respondents see retirement as a time for relaxation.

The baby boomer phalanx is also bringing some good news. Since the population is aging and there are more people in middle age than ever before, people are not considered old until much later in life; 60% of Americans believe 71 and over is old age.

Attitudes are changing as more older people continue to work, start their own businesses or join with younger generations to help meet community needs.

Social pressure to “hang it up” at a certain age has eased as more seniors become able to enjoy financial security in their old age.

Memory Care

A big Hair ‘do’ became Broadway hit

“Hair” was a pop-culture phenomenon that rocked and shocked over 30 million theatergoers during the late 1960s. So, what was all the fuss about?

Well, actually, a number of things. “Hair” rejected every Broadway convention when onstage hippies promoted peace, love and understanding, as well as plentiful doses of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

And — briefly — naked flesh.

The “Hair” history began in 1964 when two off-Broadway actor pals — James Rado and Gerome Ragni — decided to create a rock musical about Manhattan’s East Village longhairs. Dubbed “The Tribe,” these young counter-culturists spent their days hanging out, getting high and avoiding the draft. (At the time, hippies nationwide were protesting the Vietnam war, racism and sexual politics.)

Rado once described the inspiration for his would-be participants as “a combination of some characters we met in the streets, people we knew and our own imaginations … There was so much excitement in the streets and the parks and the hippie areas, and we thought if we could transmit this excitement to the stage, it would be wonderful.”

While Rado and Ragni focused on dialogue, they assigned songwriting chores to a straight-laced, non-counterculture Canadian named Galt MacDermot, who explained years later, “I never even heard of a hippie when I met Rado and Ragni.” McDermot did, however, share their enthusiasm about creating a radical rock ‘n’ roll drama.

The show’s title was inspired by a museum stroll that Rado and Ragni took one afternoon, when they spied a painting of a tuft of hair (not surprisingly labeled “Hair”) by pop artist Jim Dine, who had been associated with numerous art movements over the years.

In 1967, the first production of “Hair” opened 40 blocks away from the Great White Way in an East Village off-Broadway venue called the Public. The presentation featured 20 songs and fully clothed performers. Broadway investors had soberly turned thumbs down on the controversial offering; “Hair,” however, quickly became the hot ticket for hip, younger Big Apple theatergoers.

On April 29, 1968 — six months after making its debut — a revised “Hair” opened at Broadway’s Biltmore Theater and included some major changes. Thirteen additional songs had been added. The stage cast had become multi-ethnic. And, because a city ordinance allowed nudity if the actors remained motionless, the end of Act One featured a dimly lit tableau of the unclothed.

Four years later, Broadway’s first rock musical closed after a record-breaking 1,750 performances. When the original stage cast recording sold three million albums, New York Times critic Charles Isherwood advised, “For an escapist dose of the sweet sound of youth brimming with hope that the world is going to change tomorrow, listen to ‘Hair’ and let the sunshine in.”

During its remarkable run, “Hair” had generated million-selling singles for the Fifth Dimension (“Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In’), the Cowsills (“Hair”), Three Dog Night (“Easy to Be Hard”) and Oliver (“Good Morning Starshine”).

A dazzling light at the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, “Hair” would eventually inspire Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease and Dreamgirls.

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St. Nicholas Apostolate will host October Fest 2022 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct 16, at St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church Social Center, 557 W. 57th Ave., Merrillville.

The adult menu features stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread and butter and dessert. Takeout orders will be available. The cost for adult meals is $15.

Children’s meals are available, which include a hot dog, chips, beverage and dessert for $6, or a half order of stuffed cabbage for $7.

Entertainment will be provided by John Pruzin Jr.

and his Band, featuring Tamburitzan and ethnic music. Additionally, there will be a cash bar, 50-50 raffle and tip boards. Proceeds will benefit the needy.

—o—

Nature journaling can be done in any place where you can listen to your thoughts, feelings and ideas while taking in the sights and sounds around you. It builds creativity, critical thinking and calmness. This activity can be done outdoors or indoors, in your own back yard, neighborhood park or even online. Cancer Resource Centre invites you to learn the practice at its June

Hawk-Franklin Garden of Meditation and Healing. A pencil and paper are all that are necessary. The program is open to cancer patients and their caregivers. Masks are required while indoors.

There will be a session — from 10:30 a.m. to noon — for each season: fall – Friday, Oct. 14; winter – Friday, Jan. 13, 2023; spring – Friday, April 14, 2023; summer –Friday, July 14, 2023. Cancer Resource Centre’s June Hawk-Franklin Garden of Meditation and Healing is located at 926 Ridge Road, Munster. For details about classes, programs and wellness activities at the Cancer

Resource Centre for cancer patients and their loved ones, call (219) 836-3349 or visit cancerresourcecentre. com.

—o—

The Bonner Senior Center has a variety of activities for area seniors. Regularly scheduled activities include Bingo at 12:30 p.m. every Friday, as well as at 1 p.m. the first Sunday of each month. Additionally, Pinochle players are invited to come at 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Bunco, a dice game played by 12 or more players, is played at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

—o—

Live On Stage, Inc. and Lakeshore Community Concerts have announced a nostalgic rock-‘n’-roll vocal quartet as part of their 2022-23 concert season. World-class vocal quartet and powerhouse tribute band the Atlantic City Boys are bringing the biggest hits of the 50s and 60s to Munster High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17.

Single tickets available on the day of the performance for $30. For more information, contact Carolyn Borchardt at (219) 614-8410 or cborc86914@aol.com; or Jim Rajchel (219) 789-3851, jimsupt122@aol.com.

‘Tis always the season to protect your identity

other valuable data to use to make a purchases and loans in your name.

Identity theft, which is easier to commit successfully than credit card fraud because the criminal only has to steal your name and not your card, accounts for almost half of the thousands of consumer fraud complaints made to the Federal Trade Commission each year.

Almost 10% of the population becomes victims of identity thieves each year. These are just the ones we know of because they are reported to the FTC. You can lose your identity in an instant — the time it takes for a crook to memorize your birth date or Social Security number as you give it to a shop clerk, for example.

The hurly-burly of holiday weekends and the Santa season are the identity thief’s playground. You can take a few simple steps to foil these vultures.

Old-fashioned thieves steal your identity by pilfering through your wallet or purse. Modern internet hackers can get your most personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, address and

Many steal identities from mailboxes — more than 100,000 residential mailboxes are raided every day in this country — or they fish bank and credit card statements from trash.

You face more than a financial loss when any of this happens to you. Since you’re the person who is named on the debt, you’ll have to pay bills you never incurred.

An identity thief may use your name but another address so you won’t be aware of the debt made in your name because statements will be sent to that other address and your credit will be trampled.

It’s a long and frustrating road to reclaim your rightful identity and credit rating. A bad credit rating is like an old-fashioned hangover — only time is a cure.

One self-defense weapon you might acquire is a paper shredder to shred all documents and statements with your name, address and ID numbers. This includes bank and credit card statements, offers by credit

card companies for pre-approved cards, any statements from book clubs or magazine subscriptions and personal numbers that come with catalogs and merchant mailings.

The prime rule in selfprotection is never give anyone your Social Security number.

And don’t carry your card with you. Only government agencies, credit reporting firms, banks and the Internal Revenue Service can use your Social Security number. Anyone else who wants it can be told it isn’t required.

Put the entire contents of your wallet on a copy machine and make a copy.

Turn over every item and make a copy of the back side. You will now have a list of everything in your wallet, and the account numbers, and emergency phone numbers. Put those sheets of paper in a safe, easily accessible place.

Be aware that, when unexpected bills start pouring in, the police and other regulatory agencies will not do anything to help you.

The police consider the department stores and charge card companies the victim, not

you, even though your credit rating will be ruined unless you take quick action. The people who are sending you the bills will not believe you have been victimized. You must prove it to them.

To limit the damage to your economic and emotional wellbeing, cancel all your credit cards immediately and have them reissued with different numbers. Use your photocopied sheets to make the necessary quick phone calls.

File a police report immediately, even if you don’t have a suspect. Tell them you are reporting an identity theft. Write the report yourself. Fill it out completely. Include the date and time and list the names of all the stores where charges have been made in your name. Get a copy of the report from the police when you have finished, and make about 25 photocopies as proof for everyone that you were diligent in reporting the crime.

Call all three credit reporting agencies. This is probably the most important of all. The phone numbers of the three credit reporting agencies are: Equifax, (888) 548-7878; Trans Union, (800) 916-8800; and

Experian, (800) 493-1058.

These are the firms that track your credit and approve it for companies you do business with. Tell these credit reporting companies you want to put a fraud alert on your file, that you are the victim of identity theft. They will want all the identifying data you can give them, including your Social Security number and a copy of the police report.

This fraud alert on your file requires you to be personally telephoned for your OK before any future applications for credit are approved. This halts the thieves’ buying spree in your name. It also alerts all merchants who have issued credit in your name that you are aware of the identity theft and are diligently attempting to correct the problem. You can no longer get instant credit, but neither can the thief get credit using your name.

It’s a good idea to order a copy of your credit report from these companies to check it over to see that nothing is amiss. Call the Social Security Administration’s fraud line and tell them your number is being improperly used by a thief.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Robert Conrad —

‘The Wild Wild West’

One of my favorite actors has to be Robert Conrad as Secret Service Agent James T. West in the TV show “The Wild Wild West.” But before this, he co-starred with Cricket (Connie Stevens) in the TV show “Hawaiian Eye, a private detective theme. Later, in the TV show “Black Sheep Squadron,” he played World War II fighter pilot ace, Pappy Boyington.

Conrad was born in Chicago on March 1, 1935, to Leonard Henry Falk and Alice Jacqueline Hartman while his parents were still 17 and 15 years old respectively. His birth name was actually Conrad Robert Falk.

What many readers may not know is that in addition to films and TV acting, Conrad was also a singer in the 1950s and early 1960s as well as a stuntman. His singing recordings included pop/rock songs.

We must go back to 1957

to learn how Conrad became interested in acting. While visiting the grave of actor James Dean in Fairmount, he met actor Nick Adams who was also there. They became friends and Adams suggested Conrad move to California to pursue acting.

Soon after moving to California, Conrad was signed to a

contract by Warner Brothers and as they say, the rest is history.

Sadly, Conrad passed away

Phone 219.254.2345

on Feb. 8, 2020, in Malibu, Calif. Records reveal he was cremated and the ashes scattered over the Pacific Ocean.

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Why collect in the first place?

So you’re well on your way to completing the set of 50 state quarters you began on a whim, decided to put them together for your grandkids, and then decided to do one for yourself.

What’s going to happen to the collection, whether it’s one or several sets, when you’re done? And will it (or they) sell for the profit you had in your head when you began? If you spend each set, you can buy $12.50 worth of something. That’s all they’re worth.

Collectibles just don’t cut it a lot of the time if profit is the motive.

A recently deceased relative left behind cartons of comic books and baseball cards. The

recipient heirs haven’t found it worth their while to catalog the collection and have it appraised and offered in eBay. It’s still just sitting there.

During family visits back to northern Canada, resolves were made to pick up collectibles and antiques and rent a vehicle to transport them to California to be sold to provide for a comfortable retirement.

After getting over the wishing, a cold calculating look at the costs involved usually dampened the emotional ardor and gave way to common business sense.

The point is collectibles are not only in the eye of the beholder, they’re also in the heart of the collector. They usually offer more thrill in the hunt and satisfaction in the acquisition than profit in

the purse.

They give the collector a circle of like-minded colleagues to discuss likes and dislikes, as well as to brag about the latest addition to one’s collection. But you can conduct the same spirited exchanges over your favorite sports teams without having to spend the time and money tracking down another cloisonne piece for your collectible closet.

If you enjoy the hunt and your chest swells with pride when you add to your hoard, then you have the core of a collector. And there are always new “hot” items to boost you up the ladder of collecting society.

For example, it seems almost anything from an old gas station — those roadside facilities that began

appearing some 90 years ago — has become popular, despite activists’ aversions to gasoline-gulping sports utility vehicles. As items, such as the solid glass gasoline-pump globes, become more scarce, their prices rise — as do the number of reproductions that appear at flea markets and in collector catalogs.

As electronic slot machines become the norm in the everexpanding gambling industry coast to coast, the vintage one-armed bandits with those old-fashioned spinning reels have taken on new value because some collectors began coveting them.

Jukeboxes have been a favorite among collectors for several decades now, especially since compact disks all but eliminated the old black

plastic records.

The best way to find out if what you’re collecting, whether it’s little red wagons or ceramic salt and pepper shakers, can make you any money is to check catalogs, flea markets and internet sites on that particular item. If you already have a collection built up, you should have some idea of what the items are worth and how prices have behaved since you began collecting.

You might even test the waters by taking a couple of articles to a swap meet to try to sell, or offer them on the internet, to check how much interest there is and what prices they will bring.

And you may find some extra state quarters to add to your collection.

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Travel Step back in time at Adams Mill near Cutler

Visiting Adams Mill near Cutler, is like taking a step back in time.

The 1845 grist mill, which ground wheat and corn into assorted grades of flour for more than 100 years, is available to tour.

It’s not just a mill, however. It’s also the site of the Museum of Americana and is chock full of mill machinery and related equipment from Conestoga and Prairie Schooner wagons, a McCormick reaper, a buggy and a sleigh to antique hand tools, harnesses and yokes, a butter churn and more.

The story behind the mill starts when John Adams (not the president) moved his family from Pennsylvania to Carroll County in 1831. He walked the Wildcat Creek from Lafayette toward what is today Kokomo in search of a suitable site to build a mill. He chose a spot where the creek makes a big bend, built a dam, dug a millrace and constructed a mill.

In 1835 he began work on a two-story 26-by-34-foot grist mill. It began operating a year later with a single run of buhrs (grinding wheels). Business was good. In fact, the place sometimes operated around the clock to meet the demand for flour. Adams, a consummate entrepreneur, quickly saw the need to expand. In 1841 he started building a bigger four-story mill with four runs of buhrs and two turbine wheels that could produce 40 barrels of

flour a day.

Adams Mill is a prime example of post and beam construction. The hand-hewn timber framework is held together with wooden pegs. Posts, beams and joists are walnut, oak and poplar harvested locally and shaped on site. The steep stairs are removable to allow large equipment to be hoisted from floor to floor.

Continued on page 23

Travel

Step back in time

Continued from page 22

In addition to grinding grain into flour, Adams Mill at one time was headquarters for the local Masonic Lodge, served as a U.S. Post Office and in 1913 the mill’s turbines powered a generator to provide electricity to surrounding communities. Cutler’s first street lights were powered by the mill. An 11-minute video details its history.

Mark and Jill Scharer purchased it in 1993 and opened it to visitors. They’re now active in Adams Mill, Inc., the present not-for-profit owner. Mark is proud of the fact that his grandfather worked at the mill in the early 1930s.

Even today it’s more than just a mill. Three cabins on the property are available to rent and tent camping is also encouraged. Campers come to tube, kayak and canoe down Wildcat Creek and under historic Adams Mill Covered Bridge that dates back to 1872. By 1974 the 144-footlong bridge was deteriorating badly and was closed. Vandals had torn off sections and dropped them in the creek; it

had been set on fire and was covered with graffiti.

Before it could be demolished and replaced with a steel structure, Friends of Adams Mill Valley, Inc. came to

Annual ‘Turkey Trot’ in Portage

The Portage Township YMCA will host its 22nd Annual Turkey Trot Nov. 24. The Turkey Trot is a competitive and professionally timed 5K walk or run with a free kids 1K Fun Run. The Turkey Trot is a staple in the Portage community with racers coming from all over the region to participate for one cause.

Races begin at 8 a.m. Thanksgiving morning and typically wrap-up with race awards by 11 a.m. Registration for the race can be found online only at www. runsignup.com. Race registrations through Nov. 1 will be guaranteed a long-sleeve commemorative shirt and custom finisher medal. As an added bonus, Turkey Trot race participants ages 6 and up can add-on the couch-to-course 5K training group. The group will meet weekly on Saturday mornings from 8-9 a.m. beginning Oct. 1.

Proceeds from the race typically support the Portage Township YMCA’s annual support campaign that is used to scholarship families of all

types and make membership and programming affordable for all. However, this year’s Turkey Trot comes with a twist, if you choose. Making the most out of their capital campaign, #POOLFORPORTAGE, this year the Y is offering both an individual and team fundraising option which will not only earn the campaigner a free race registration after $100 in raised donations, but proceeds from this option will support the pool campaign, putting the Portage Township YMCA one step closer to their $6.3 million goal.

Aside from being a “gym,” the Portage Township Y also offers before and after school child care, preschool, free food program year-round, cooking classes, a blood pressure selfmonitoring class in addition to swim lessons and other programming.

For sponsorship opportunities or questions, contact BMendoza@ymcaofportage. org. To learn more about the Portage Township YMCA visit www.ymcaofportage.org.

the rescue, raised money and secured grants to bring it back to its historic glory. It’s located less than a mile from the mill. It’s presently on the National Register of Historic Places.

Adams Mill and the covered bridge are located near Cutler, on CR S 75 E. Signs in Cutler will direct you to the mill. For more information, visit adamsmill.org.

Bask in Florida timelessness anytime

Thomas More, the 16th century “Man for All Seasons,” would be suited for this part of the world because it’s a land for all seasons.

No need to wait for snow to fall in your backyard before heading here because the sun’s rays bounce off the glistening white beaches of the Emerald Coast that link Pensacola to Panama City keeping them barefoot friendly year-round.

Headquarters for hedonists heading here is the area anchored by Okaloosa Island plunked in the middle of upper Florida’s panhandle.

Storms rarely tumble over Destin and the other communities on the island because of what locals describe as “an Indian phenomenon.”

As far back as anyone can recall, storms go north around the bay. That bay is Choc-

tawatchee Bay, a mixture of fresh and gulf water in the natural recreational reservoir formed between the island and mainland.

While Okaloosa is a Native American word for “black water” to describe the brackish look of the bay, anyone coming here can translate it to mean “laid back.”

It all began as the last Ice Age came to a close when glaciers retreating to the Appalachian Mountains scraped open massive deposits of quartz that were eventually ground into eye-boggling porcelain colored beaches that encase the tropical emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Signs proclaim it to be “God’s Little Acreage — 189 acres that’s cleaned every day.”

Local officials and residents pick out 15 to 20 tons of trash a month. They take out everything larger than a dime and protect the dune system with

sea grass. Sea turtles still come up to lay eggs.

There’s more to lolling around here than basking on the beach.

The sport fishing fleet claims to be the largest in Florida. The choice of boats to clamber aboard and head to sea for rodand-reel recreation or seashell safaris is endless. There are more than 1,000 holes of golf brushed daily by gulf gusts. And there are no Florida flies.

Anything you catch can be taken into the kitchen of several local eateries, where it will be cleaned, filleted and cooked to your taste — fried, grilled, baked or bronzed. But you don’t have to work for your dinner. Menus feature a grand array of fresh seafood daily.

There are some local treats to try, including several variations of grits and deep-fried dill pickles. “Heck, you can deep-fry anything,” pointed out a table mate from New Orleans.

The Florida Gulfarium nearby claims to offer the World’s Oldest Marine Show — it opened in 1958 with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022