Senior Life - St. Joseph Edition - April 2023

The goal of Habitat for Humanity’s Aging in Place program is to help seniors over the age of 60 in St. Joseph County continue to live in their own homes and community safely, independently and comfortably.

The Aging in Place program works in collaboration with several community partners, who focus on serving adults over the age of 60. Since 2017, the program has helped over 70 families with exterior and interior repairs.

In 2023, Habitat for Humanity will only be working on roof repairs and replacements. Projects will be completed based on available funding.

Ric Oswald of Habitat for Humanity said projects are accepted based on available funding and eligibility for initial qualification.

“Without the funding, we can’t do the roof repairs,” said Oswald. “We also have some grants.”

Some roofs are in such disrepair it creates water damage so it is very beneficial, he said.

“We help the families to live safely,” he noted.

All Aging in Place program clients must pay Habitat a $25 to $125 fee to cover the cost of recording the deed restriction with the St. Joseph County Recorder.

“There may or may not be a deed restriction,” he said.

In return, Habitat structures all project costs as a forgivable loan that will not have to be repaid unless the Aging in Place client sells or transfers ownership of their home within five years after the completion of their repair project. The forgivable loan amount is reduced by 20% each year and then completely dissolves after five years.

Homeowners are eligible for Habitat’s Aging in Place program based on need and income.

People may qualify for the Aging in Place program if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Own and live in your own home full time. Rental homes are not eligible.

• Are 60 years old or older, or someone who lives in your home is 60 or older.

• Live in St. Joseph County.

Habitat for Humanity’s Aging in Place

• City and property taxes are current.

• Mortgage is current.

• Homeowner’s insurance is in place and current.

• Plan to stay in your home.

• Annual income combined of those 18 years and older living in the home is less than the maximum allowable income.

To apply, visit www.hfhsjc.org/aging-in-place or call (574) 288-6967 and ask for Joanne Schloss at ext. 210.

Key Positions

Lions Club president serves the community

long after I got it,” he said.

Bernie Macias enjoys serving the community he grew up in. He is very active in the community, and Macias, 69, is president of the New Carlisle Lions Club.

He was born and raised in New Carlisle. When he was a 7-month-old baby, he got polio.

“The vaccine came out not

“My whole life has been like well this is what the good Lord gave me.”

Macias graduated from New Prairie High School in 1972. He has been a member of the Lions Club since 2012.

“I was invited to come to a meeting to see if I was interested,” he said. “I knew a few of the members. I really enjoy what they do for the community.”

QualityCare for Quality ofLife

He has been president for two years and was a past president a few years ago.

“I was also secretary, treasurer, and first vice president,” he said.

The Lions Club has two big fundraisers every year. One is a pancake and sausage breakfast for Sugar Camp Days at Bendix Woods Park. It was held last month.

“I am in charge of getting it coordinated and getting food ordered,” he said.

The second biggest fundraiser is during Hometown Days the last weekend in July.

“It’s a big community event, and we have a food booth there,” Macias said.

The Lions Club also awards two scholarships to New Prairie High School students.

“Our scholarship program is set up as an essay about community service. We don’t know the names of the students and so we pick a

winner based on that. Then we got to the high school to meet them. We feel that is the most fair,” Macias said.

The Lions Club also assists with the caring and sharing program for underprivileged children in the New Prairie school district at Christmas time.

“We also give to the Leader Dogs program and a cancer organization,” he added. “I have a box in my store for eyeglasses.”

He was also fortunate enough, he said, to be nominated and receive the Melvin Jones Award. He also was awarded the W.P. Woods Award from the state Lions organization.

“Each club can do that,” he said of the nominations.

The Lions Club has about 20 members of which 12 are active.

“We are always looking for new members,” Macias noted.

Macias said he gets great

satisfaction from helping those in need.

“This is the way I was brought up,” he stated.

A small business owner, he is married to Jan, his wife of 44 years, and they have four children and 12 grandchildren. He also is a board member of North Liberty Church of the Brethren. He also operates the church’s sound system.

He also helps New Prairie Little Leagues teams.

“We get the high school baseball team to work with us, and we make a donation to the team,” Macias said.

“In the summer, the high school girls basketball team helps us, and we make a donation to the them.”

He has been a 4-H leader for 20 years. He is a member of the St. Joseph County Ag Team.

“We teach people about ag and will have Ag Days March 31 to April 2 at the county fairgrounds,” he said.

Vote Jason Banicki for city clerk of South Bend

When I made the decision to run for South Bend’s city clerk, I saw the opportunity to help advance the city for the next generation. I am pictured with my nephew and want to make South Bend a place where he wants to stay for his whole life, instead of leaving the area like many of the people I grew up with did. While the city clerk is not a policy-making position, I can make process and technology changes leading to greater efficiency in administrative tasks benefitting all city offices.

According to the current clerk, it takes nine hours to generate the meeting minutes from a three-hour meeting. I would look to immediately upgrade the computer hardware and software used in the clerk’s office so we can use any of the high-quality transcription programs available to create meeting minutes in a matter of minutes instead of hours. This would free up time for activities, like improving the closed captioning and adding chapters to the meeting videos that are published on YouTube. We could also try and publish the council and committee meetings as podcasts to give people another option to keep up with what is going on in city government. When I talk about fresh ideas, modernizing technology is just the start of changes I want to

bring to get the clerk’s office moving forward. My goal is to increase transparency through creating a more efficient and user-friendly clerk’s office. I will also work to improve the effectiveness of communication between city governmental

offices. I genuinely believe I am the right person to give the South Bend clerk’s office the fresh start it needs and ask for your support and vote on or before May 2.

I may be reached at JasonBanickiForCityClerk@gmail.com.

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Joanne Schloss is the key to Habitat for Humanity in St. Joseph County

Joanne Schloss is a dedicated volunteer who has spent her life giving back to her community.

Originally from Chicago, she began volunteering early in her life. At the age of 12 she was volunteering at a senior home doing occupational therapy with arts and crafts.

Throughout her life, she has volunteered at various places, including literacy programs, education programs for adult education, nature centers and more.

In 2010, Schloss moved to South Bend. She began volunteering with St. Joseph’s Habitat for Humanity in 2018, helping with accounting and various other tasks.

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When COVID hit in March 2020, Habitat for Humanity had to shut down many of its programs, especially those involving repairs on the interior of homes. However, when they reopened in August 2020, Schloss came back to the organization, where she has played in integral role of their new Aging in Place Program.

Habitat for Humanity is known for its homeowner and housing programs, specifically providing new homes for families who make 80% or less of the area median

income. During the pandemic, Habitat for Humanity shifted its focus to repairing roofs of homes, and Schloss became an important primary communicator for the program.

“If you’re in an apartment, for sure, every year your rent grows, goes up. And so it’s really hard for seniors, especially to see them going through this, their basic necessity of living, going up and up and up.

“And that’s when they can’t do the repairs. And the home becomes dangerous, uncomfortable, whatever it may be, you know, and this is the home they wanted to stay in for the rest of their life. So we’re they’re coming to us in a vulnerable point,” said Schloss.

She plays a crucial role in the Aging in Place program, helping seniors who cannot afford home repairs to remain in their homes. She emphasizes how difficult it is for seniors to see their cost of living go up every year, making it hard for them to afford necessary repairs.

Ric Oswald, a mortgage specialist with Habitat for Humanity, explains how Schloss is the key to the program and deemed her the Aging in Place coordinator. She communicates with families who are brought into the program.

“The thing I love about this program is I’m a senior helping seniors, and that means a lot to me.

“What I want them to know is that through the initial inquires, I’m with them every step up of the way,” said Schloss.

She emphasized she is there for them with any questions or concerns. One can tell she is truly passionate about helping seniors in any way she can.

“You can hear it in her voice every day that she talks to our families she’s brought into the program. She comes in twice a week, and is ‘on call’ essentially, to help us get through the rough times,” said Roswald.

Schloss is a professional volunteer who has dedicated her life to giving back to her community. Her work with Habitat for Humanity’s Aging in Place program has been crucial after the pandemic, as she has helped over 47 seniors remain in their homes by ensuring they receive the necessary repairs. Her selflessness and passion for helping others is an inspiration to us all.

Those interested in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in St. Joseph County can contact the organization through hfhsjc.org or at (574) 288-6967.

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Community Active Aging and Wellness Resource Fair April 20

Aging Connections of Michiana will host an Active Aging and Wellness Resource

South Bend Symphony Orchestra announces season

The South Bend Symphony announces its 2023-2024 season, the eighth under the baton of Grammy-nominated music director Alastair Wills.

Between the Jack M. Champaigne Masterworks, the June H. Edwards Mosaic, the Indiana Trust Pops Series, the Shein Trust Community Series, and special concerts, the 91st season manages major world premiere, incredible community collaborations and fan-favorite pops shows, all performed by the powerhouse players of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.

For the first time in three years, the season opens in the beautiful Morris Performing Arts Center with the Jack M. Champaigne Masterworks Series concert “Silk Road + Strauss,” featuring Silkroad Ensemble alum Joseph Gramley in a stage-spanning percussion concerto.

A collaboration with the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association and the Euclid Quartet begins the June H. Edwards Mosaic Series and brings the world premiere of Anna Clyne’s concerto for string quartet and orchestra Quarter Days to the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

Bachtrack named Anna Clyne as one of the top 10 most performed living composers of 2022. This major commission and world premiere precedes her Metropolitan Opera debut in New York.

The Shein Trust Community Series features the annual family concert, designed for children and families, and the second celebration of Día de los Muertos.

The South Bend Symphony Orchestra season-long sponsors are Jack M. Champaigne and his support of the Masterworks Series and the June H. Edwards Mosaic Series; Indiana Trust Wealth Management for their support of the Indiana Trust Pops Series; the Shein Trust for the support of the Shein Trust Community Series; and Jordan Lexus of Mishawaka for the support of guest artists throughout the season. In addition, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra acknowledges additional operating support from the Indiana Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.

Season subscriptions are on sale now. For more information, visit southbendsymphony.org or call (574) 232-6343.

Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, April 20, at the Elkhart Health and Aquatics Center, 200 E. Jackson Blvd., Elkhart. Admission, parking, mammograms, and COVID-19 vaccines will be free.

There will be free, multitopic educational presentations from area aging experts, followed by a chance to participate in a live Q&A session.

The feature presentation and panel discussion will be led by Kim Williams, director, Indiana Parkinson Foundation titled, “Parkinson’s Disease and Resources to Improve the Journey.” Joining Williams will be Jessie Hillock, M.A., CCC-SLP, CDP, a dementia care specialist, certified dementia practi-

tioner, and speech-language pathologist.

Also joining her is John M. Templeton, who has a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering, a master of science in biomedical engineering, and a degree in biomedical engineering.

Peggy L. Prieshoff, R.N., will also be present. She is an Athletics and Fitness Association of America group fitness instructor, a balanced body pilates reformer trainer, a cardiac rehab instructor, a CLIMB trainer, spinning instructor, and a water in motion and YogaFit instructor.

People will have the opportunity to speak with 60-plus local resources on-site to help transition seamlessly through

the best phase of life. This is a one-stop-shopping event for community members looking to connect with valuable local resources.

“We love events like these because they are at the heart of our mission,” said Malana Maher, president and founder of ACOM. “Aging Connections provides professional and community education, and our members provide the continuum of aging resources. ACOM is a resourcing organization and connects individuals with the services and providers that best meet their current needs. So, we encourage everyone to attend this free event to discover ways we may be able to help.”

Founded in 2020, Aging

Connections is a nonprofit, grassroots cooperative of individuals and organizations working together in partnership to catalyze and promote their program of work.

The programs include educational offerings, promoting business, building community and relationships, and serving the aging population for the benefit of each other, other professionals, and the community at large. Aging Connections is continuing to grow and now has four chapters serving eight counties in Indiana and a new chapter serving southwestern Michigan.

For additional information, visit www.agingconnections. org.

The amazing cucumber

Carbs: 6 grams

Protein: 3 grams

Fiber: 2 grams

Vitamin C: 10% of the recommended daily value

Vitamin K: 57% of the DV

Magnesium: 9% of the DV

Potassium: 12% of the DV

Manganese: 9% of the DV

content of fresh cucumbers makes them an ideal choice for glycemic control.

Cucumbers are popular long, lean and green garden vegetables. Technically, they’re fruits from the same family as watermelons and pumpkins, but most people consider them veggies.

The three most used varieties of cucumbers are:

Common slicing — smooth skin, 8-12” long.

English — seedless and referred to as burpless, 12-14” long.

Pickling — thicker and has bumpy skin, 3-7” long.

Nutritional value of a medium cucumber:

Calories: 30

Total fat: 0 grams

Being 95% water, cucumber are a good source of hydration and replacing of electrolytes, especially for people who have trouble drinking enough water.

Producers put synthetic wax on cucumbers, and though it is harmless, it is best to peel the skin, buy organic or use a vegetable wash before consuming.

Cucumbers are a nonstarchy vegetable, which is one of the best categories of food for managing diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association recommends three to five servings of non-starchy vegetables per day, but that’s just a minimum.

When hunger strikes, having more non-starchy vegetables can help satisfy appetite without raising blood sugar levels. The fiber and water

Cucumbers are a refreshing, nutritious and incredibly versatile addition to any diet. They are low in calories but contain many important vitamins and minerals, as well as a high water content. Dare I say they are crunchy — like a cookie, only oh so much better for you.

Cucumbers are always soothing to place slices on your eyes to reduce puffiness and delicious to add to water for a cool flavor.

Simple Cucumber Salad www.acouplebooks.com

Ingredients:

2 large, thin cucumbers (English if possible)

1 small yellow or white onion

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill (optional)

½ cup white vinegar

1 to 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Fresh ground pepper

Instructions:

1. Slice the cucumbers

as thin as possible, using a mandoline if desired. Peel, cut in half top to bottom and thinly slice the onion. Layer the cucumbers and onions in a large shallow bowl; add the dill (if using).

2. In a small bowl, mix the white vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the cucumbers and onions, mixing everything together to ensure even coverage. Cover

and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

3. Stir again to evenly mix the dressing. Then serve with a slotted spoon. Store refrigerated for up to seven days.

The History Museum presents lecture on famous weddings

Deputy Executive Director Kristie Erickson will explore famous weddings through the years in her presentation, “Famous Weddings,” taking place at The History Museum’s “Insights in History” at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5.

Admission is $3. Reservations are required by Monday, April 3. “Insights in History” is sponsored by THK Law LLP.

Our team of caregivers works together to provide our patients and residents with the ability to reach their highest level of physical and social well-being in a home-like environment. To learn more about our short-term rehabilitation and extended care services, or taking a tour, call us at (269) 684-2810.

1211 Stateline Rd, Niles, MI 49120 www.peplinskigroup.com/west-woods-of-niles

A tour of “Unveiled: Wedding Traditions,” which showcases gowns, jewelry and more to provide an interesting glimpse of wedding traditions, will be offered.

“Insights in History” is a monthly series that features a lecture in conjunction with an exhibit at The History Museum.

For information, call The History Museum at (574) 235-9664 or visit historymuseumsb.org.

•

Editor’s note: Send listings of events, for nonprofit organizations only, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, or email Editor Phoebe Muthart by April 15 at pmuthart@thepapers.com. With the listing, include the contact person, area code and phone number.

RiverBend Cancer Services, 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, offers the following events this month: general cancer support group, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5; beginning yarn work, 10 a.m. every

Thursday; Debbie’s Wig Salon, 1 p.m. every Thursday; Empowered Movement, 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday; Kim’s Bra Boutique, 2 p.m. April 12; chair yoga, 10:30 and 11:45 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday; seated strength, 10 a.m. every Monday; and gentle yoga, 5:30 p.m. every Monday.

—o—

The South Bend Symphony Orchestra performance of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” featuring Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 paired with

innovative works by contemporary composers Mason Bates and Carter Pann, will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Morris Performing Arts Center.

—o—

Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City, will host its annual First Friday Poetry Slam from 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 7. Readings will begin at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, and all are welcome to cheer on the performers, explore LCA’s art exhibitions and enjoy the

cash bar and complimentary light refreshments. Admission is free year round. For more information, visit www.LubeznikCenter.org or call (219) 874-4900.

—o—

South Bend Civic Theatre presents “My Heart Says Go” April 14-23. Performances will take place at the Wilson Auditorium, located at the South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main St., South Bend. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. April 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22. Sunday

matinee show times are at 2 p.m. April 16 and 23. Tickets can be purchased for $27 to $32, through the South Bend Civic Theatre at sbct.org.

—o—

“Enchanted Tea,” presented by The History Museum is at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15. Tickets are $30/adults; $25/members; $15/youth 6-17; and $5/children 5 and under. Reservations are required by Sunday, April 9 and can be made online at historymuseumSB.org or by calling (574) 235-9664.

Apartment Living

It

was

50 years ago

— ‘The Cisco Kid’ based on kids’ TV show

War

Inspirations for a hit song can sometimes spring from a most unusual source.

Members of the California septet War hailed from different neighborhoods in and around Long Beach and Compton, both burgs part of the Los Angeles suburban sprawl.

Of disparate backgrounds and different ages, the musicians found a common thread of interest in creating tunes together. “We mixed and mingled everything, even mariachi music,” War’s keyboardist Lonnie Jordan recalled. “We played blues constantly. We were trying to imitate what we heard, but it came out being something else.”

Blues and mariachi weren’t their only musical genres. Influenced by the young musicians’ racial diversity, elements of soul, jazz, reggae and mainstream rock

‘n’ roll were also combined to create an aural stew that defined War’s distinctive sound.

They went by a series of names — the Creators, the Romeos, Nightshift. In 1969, while playing a small Hollywood club, a record producer caught their act and soon introduced them to British superstar Eric Burdon, who had recently split from his hit-making Animals group. The result was Nightshift becoming War and backing Eric on the 1970 reverieinducing, million-selling MGM Records single “Spill the Wine.”

Burdon left the band and never had another hit. War, though, was just beginning a seven-year run on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts.

Switching to United Artists Records, the group saw 11 hit 45s keep the War name burning hot.

Their biggest winner — Number Two on Billboard’s chart — was “The Cisco Kid,” which was based on a favorite children’s TV show of theirs called — surprise!

— “The Cisco Kid.”

“Up until that point, the cowboy heroes were people like John Wayne,” Jordan explained. “When the TV series came around, the band discovered their first nonwhite hero — a Mexican cowboy.”

The Cisco Kid was a popular half-hour Western that ran from 1950 to 1956, with Cisco (Duncan Renaldo) and his partner Pancho (Leo Carillo) spending 156 episodes chasing down lawbreakers.

Children were the target viewing audience, so gun violence was always downplayed. Cisco often shot a pistol from a villain’s hand, while Pancho’s bullwhip frequently disarmed the bad guy.

Every show ended with a corny joke about the adventure they had just endured. Then both

would laugh, Cisco would say, “Oh, Pancho!,” Pancho would say, “Oh, Cisco,” and the two would ride off as the credits rolled.

Each War member contributed to “The Cisco Kid,” which featured an irresistible, chugging instrumental engine that drove a story line that defied analysis — or logic:

“The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine/He drink whiskey, Pancho drink the wine

“We met down on the fort of

Rio Grande/Eat the salted peanuts out of can

“The outlaws had us pinned down at the fort/Cisco came in blastin’, drinkin’ port.”

The musicians met Duncan Renaldo, TV’s Cisco Kid. War’s guitarist Howard Scott said, “It was an honor to meet that guy. He was this old, elegant Spanish gentleman with white hair, lighthearted and very likable.”

As to their best-selling single ever? “He thought our song was funny.”

Professional Services

Q. What are the different types of special needs trusts?

A. First-Party Special Needs Trusts

A first-party special needs trust is typically created when a person with special needs has assets—or expects to receive assets through an inheritance, divorce, or legal settlement— that would prevent eligibility for government benefits. The beneficiary’s own assets fund the irrevocable trust, and the trust language must require that the account balance will reimburse the state Medicaid agency upon the person’s death.

Third-Party Special Needs Trusts

A third-party special needs trust is created with the assets of family or friends to provide financial assistance to an individual with special needs and preserve the beneficiary’s access to SSI and Medicaid. There is no reimbursement requirement for a third-party special needs trust.

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator

Third-party special needs trusts can also benefit additional beneficiaries. For example, the trustee has the power to authorize payments for family and friends to encourage travel, activities, and relationship building with the beneficiary. Contact TCU Trust Services for more information.

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

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator

Wealth Management Center

110 S. Main St. South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 284-6210, ext. 6232

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A. Each Senior Life Newspaper is distributed to over 300 locations each month and is free for public pickup and supported by advertisers. Locations for distribution are chosen with the 50+ aged person in mind and include Grocery Stores, Libraries, Senior Centers, Restaurants, Senior Communities, Banks, Apartment Complexes, Doctor Offices, Drug Stores, Farmer’s Market, Resale locations, Churches, Convenient Stores, and Retail Stores.

There are four distinct issues of Senior Life Newspaper including St. Joseph County (extending to LaPorte and Marshall in IN and Berrien & Cass in MI), Elkhart (extending to LaGrange, Noble, Kosciusko and Wabash in IN and St. Joseph MI, Allen (Ft. Wayne) County (extending into DeKalb, Noble, Whitley, Huntington, Wells and Adams Counties), and our Northwest issue covering Lake & Porter Counties. Total distribution each month is 84,150!

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The ageless game: Keeping Alzheimer’s in check

Some might scoff at the idea of claiming a game as sedentary as chess to be a sport. Others argue it requires some serious mental stamina.

In fact, chess was officially recognized as a sport in 1999 by the International Olympic Committee.

Chess is a game that has been played for centuries, and it is known for its benefits to players of all ages. For seniors, in particular, playing chess can have numerous advantages, promoting both physical and mental wellbeing.

According to studies, the average chess player burns 132 calories per hour. It isn’t astronomical, but when compared to other sedentary activities such as reading, which burns 84 calories per hour, or watching Netflix, which burns a measly 60 calories, it is the more salubrious option.

We live in an age where life expectancy is continuing to rise, but quality of life in later years is struggling.

Worldwide, nearly 10 million new cases of dementia are reported each year.

Studies have shown that playing chess regularly can help reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the primary benefits of chess for seniors is that it provides a mental workout. Chess requires concentration, strategy and problem-solving skills, which can help sharpen the mind and promote alert-

ness. It really checks off all the boxes.

In South Bend, the Lincolnway West Chess Club meets every Monday from 6:30-9 p.m. Most of the attendees are 50 or older, including Roger Blaine.

Blain has been a tournament director for over 50 years. In 2004, he was inducted into the Indiana State Chess Association Hall of Fame. He has directed tournaments with some very talented and well known chess masters.

Notable people include Grandmaster Ben Finegold, who has an active Twitch and YouTube channel, and the late International Master Emory Tate, who was a graduate of Concord High School in Elkhart.

Now Blaine, 74, is still active in the chess community around northern Indiana.

“You don’t have to be a strong player to enjoy the company, get out of the house for a while and try your skills.

My friend, organizer Joe Riegsecker, had a slogan, ‘You don’t have to be good to play in the chess club — playing in the chess club is how you get good!’” said Blaine.

In addition to the mental benefits, chess can also be a social activity.

One of Blaine’s longtime friends, Les Kistler is also a tournament director and strong player in the St. Joseph County area. Three of his former pupils at Penn High School have reached the expert rating of 2000 USCF.

In his 49 years of competitive play he has won several

Never too old for an allergy

seafood, dairy products, an array of vegetables, beef, latex, pet dander, you name it.

tournaments, including the Indiana State Speed Chess Championship in 1989.

“All of the chess clubs in Elkhart and St. Joseph County are looking for members of all ages; seniors would be welcome at all local clubs. To improve at chess, I think a player needs to face opponents of all different ages and skill levels, and I think attending any local club will assist in that effort,” said Kistler.

Kistler also added that chess would be a great opportunity for grandparents to spend time with their grandchildren.

memory in only four months.

Although more profound and rapid improvements are found in children, similar results have been observed in adults.

Although Blaine and Kistler are just a couple examples, their positive attitudes and guileless demeanor are infectious and their abilities over the chess board are a testament to chess’s prophylactic properties.

Playing chess can also help

seniors develop new skills and interests. Those who are still physically active should keep the thought of chess pinned in their minds.

Learning the game can be a fun and challenging experience, and seniors can benefit from the sense of accomplishment that comes from mastering a new skill. In addition, chess can be a lifelong pursuit, with opportunities for ongoing learning and improvement.

A neighbor who recently became an octogenarian just reported she’s allergic to peanuts. She broke out in hives one evening while munching her favorite snack.

There are several reasons for allergic breakouts among oldsters. Seniors are moving from colder climates to warmer and then back again. Everyone has become cleanliness conscious and rely on such external precautions as masks and hand sanitizers that some science indicates weakens our natural protection.

The sources of allergies seem to have multiplied —

Allergies can manifest themselves in several ways, the aforementioned hives, itching, difficulty breathing, sneezing, itching and tingling of the mouth and face, and red blotches, just to mention a few.

When any untoward feeling occurs, make of list of what you’ve eaten last, record the symptoms and make an appointment with your primary care physician. If your reaction is serious, such as an increasing shortness of breath, call 911 and get emergency treatment.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

In a study published in the Journal of Psychology, elementary aged students showed significant increases in IQ and in nonverbal reasoning, social intelligence, numerical reasoning, conceptual thinking, language and

Pilgrim spirit spans the Atlantic

added to the plaque on the tower.

voyage, and stayed with her to the bottom.

In a quiet stand of trees outside Southampton’s old city’s western wall is a testimonial to the heart and hardiness of America’s early settlers.

The Mayflower Memorial overlooks the site where lastminute repairs were made to a creaking wine ship before its two-month voyage from England to New England in the fall of 1620.

Since then, this waterfront community has been the last port of call for millions of emigres to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other parts of the world.

The Mayflower saga is memorialized by an unassuming limestone tower supporting a copper replica of the ship that eventually set sail with 104 Pilgrims and 30 crewmen to plant a colony that would grow into the most powerful democracy on the globe.

Anybody who can trace their ancestry back to those original dissidents can have their name

This bustling port of a quarter of a million people that has played a major role in much of British and U.S. history doesn’t appear on many travelers’ radars, despite being within an hour from the much-visited Stonehenge and its 5,000-yearold monoliths hunkered into the Salisbury Plain.

It’s a leisurely train ride from Gatwick Airport midway between London and Brighton. The tracks trundle through suburbanized southern England sprinkled with glimpses of cattle and castles, horses and hothouses, and sheep, small towns and school soccer practices.

Students from the researchdriven University of Southampton and other local campuses give the city an up-to-the-minute air as you wander through and around its historic sights.

Occupying a prominent position in downtown’s East Park is a tribute to those Southampton men who helped build the Titanic, which set sail from here on its disastrous 1912 maiden

One of the many memorials to this legendry liner is a large stone pedestal crowned by a bronze angel with wings outstretched as it stands on the prow of a ship, reminiscent of a scene made famous by actress Kate Winslet in the 1997 Hollywood epic centered around the celebrated ship.

The new city has been built around Old Town, which stretches south from the main business and shopping district.

Entry is through Bargate, Southampton’s most recognizable landmark, the city’s main entrance for much of its history that became busy shortly after the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Begun in the 12th century and completed in the 15th, the gate, which was built just wide enough for a horse-drawn coach to squeeze through, was not only a means of defense but also a symbol of political power.

Flanked by two lead lions said to protect the city, the gate was once the site of town council meetings, the local court and

toll road collections. Shields mounted over the entrance represent prominent families that governed Southampton. A life-sized statue of George III, the “Mad George” who “lost” the American colonies, stands over the entryway.

A stone memorial just inside the gate bears a plaque recalling the havoc hurled here by German aircraft during World War II. Southampton was blitzed badly because it housed a Spitfire factory besides being a major seaport that eventually was the debarkation point for more than 3 million Allied troops during the invasion of Hitler-held Europe.

Another reminder of how military and maritime matters mingle is the skeletal remains of Holyrood Church, where Crusaders worshiped on their way to the Holy Land. It was almost destroyed by enemy bombers in 1940 and serves as a memorial to Southampton sailors who lost their lives at sea.

Daily Walk the Walls tours take you over the roofs of sturdy merchants’ homes that formed the defensive barricade after a 14th-century French raid. It not only pulls visitors through history, it also offers them alluring panoramic views of the waterfront and draws them to the weekly market erected around the Bargate.

Before leaving Old Town, we

stopped at the Duke of Wellington, an Elizabethan-looking pub just inside the Westgate on the old walls, to sample fish and chips. A few years earlier, a guide at the Buckingham Palace stables in London advised us to sample this British staple in seaside towns because the fish is fresher. Her advice was sound.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Make last-minute checklist

After you’ve crammed all your needs into your luggage, but before you rush off to the airport, there’s a vital last-minute checklist you must perform.

Make sure you have enough of all your prescription medications to last for the trip. You should have a copy of your prescription to carry with you in case your luggage gets lost or your return is delayed.

Double check your itinerary and boarding passes. Tuck your passport in a handy but safe place after you’ve made copies of it and your driver’s license,

credit cards and other travel documents. Leave a packet of these copies with someone back home, place a packet in a safety deposit box, carry a package with you and put one in each piece of luggage.

Now you should be ready to go visit the grandkids, board the cruise ship or catch your flight around the world.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Local authors invited to participate in youth fair

The Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library is looking for Michiana authors to participate in the first Local Author Youth Fair to be held next month.

The event is designed to give youth writers and readers in the area an opportunity to connect. Local authors who have published a book for children or teens are welcome to promote their works and sell and sign copies at the three-hour event.

“At this point, we are recruiting Michiana authors who have published works for children,” said Judi Lykowski, communications manager for the library.

The free fair, open to the public, will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the downtown Mishawaka Library, 209 Lincolnway East. There is no cost for authors to participate, but advance registration

is required, as space is limited. Each participating author will be provided with an area to set up, including a table, two chairs and free public Wi-Fi service during the fair.

For author registration or more information, email Anne Britton at a.britton@ mphpl.org. To learn more about MPHPL’s vast array of programs and services, visit mphpl.org.

Home is where the hazard is

As more and more multi-unit senior living facilities are being built, more and more seniors are moving into these apartment buildings.

They no longer have to worry about cleaning furnaces and flues, keeping sidewalks and driveways clear and clearing pathways of children’s toys.

But there still are plenty of chores to be done to make sure they’re prepared for an emergency.

To start with, they need a list of emergency numbers — 911, doctor, family members — right by their phone.

And a flashlight. Better still, they should have night lights plugged all through the residence so they don’t have to fumble and stumble — and fall — in the dark.

They’ve probably been instructed to stay in their apartment if the alarm goes off because the apartment is fireproof, but what about a fire that starts in the kitchen or living room? Is there a fire extinguisher handy?

They should get rid of those scatter rugs that can trip them up and see to it the floor is not slippery. There should be a handrail to hold themselves up when they step out of the bathtub or shower onto a tiled bathroom floor. Do the bathtub and shower have non-skid surfaces?

They should move their toaster away from the coffee

Update cash beneficiaries

The individuals or institutions benefiting in your will might not benefit from your bank, mutual-fund and brokerage accounts if they aren’t named on them, too.

If the information on those is out of date, the wrong people may inherit the money if the beneficiaries and co-signers on those accounts differ.

Check all your accounts to make sure the proper beneficiaries are listed with their Social Security numbers, addresses and dates of birth. Make sure their contact information also is up to date.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

maker and keep all appliances away from each other to avoid disastrous sparks and spills. Unplug them when they’re not in use.

They might get some handy electrical outlet covers to shield those outlets when they aren’t being used.

They should always be looking around for possible hazards. Perils are always lurking.

When they light candles for a quiet anniversary dinner, for example, they should make sure there are no curtains nearby to catch fire.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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

I Spy March winner is James Stone. The chick was located on page 12 in Senior Elko, page 1 in Senior St. Joseph, page 8 in Senior Allen and page 13 in Senior Northwest.

Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library offers programs for adults

Below is the MPHPL April calendar of events for adults. All reservations for in-person or Zoom attendance may be secured by calling (574) 2595277 or visiting mphpl.org.

In The Community Events

“Chicory Cafe Book Club,” 10-11 a.m. Saturday, April 1. A monthly book club continues at the Chicory Café, Mishawaka. Adults are welcome to join the club and discuss the book of the month. The April book, “The Taste of Salt” by Martha Southgate, can be picked up in advance at the front desk of the Mishawaka Library.

Bittersweet Branch Events

“DIY at Dusk: Soap Making,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, April 10. Participants will be able to walk out of this event with the soap they make.

“Yak, Snack and Read: Hybrid Book Club,” 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, April 11. The April

book, “The Library Book” by Susan Orlean, can be picked up in advance at the front desk.

“Earth Day Clean Up at the Library,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 22. Lend a hand to the library and join MPHPL for a morning of light outdoor yard work and clean up the courtyard at the Bittersweet Branch. Volunteer hours will be provided upon request. Light refreshments will be served.

Harris Branch Events

The Harris Branch is undergoing construction. Currently, the Harris Branch is browseand-borrow-only until further notice and no events are scheduled due to construction. Hours of operation at the Harris Branch remain the same. Additional updates, if needed, will be provided online at mphpl.org.

Mishawaka Library Events

“American Heritage Spotlight,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11. Speaker David Eisen will present “Newspaper Stories Through the Years.” He is the former director of the library.

“Delectable Lit,” 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 13. This is a unique book and baking club. April’s book is “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.

“Puzzle Tournament,” 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15. Grab some friends to see just how fast you can put together a jigsaw puzzle. Each team of puzzlers will be given the same 500-piece puzzle to complete. The first team to finish their puzzle will win a small prize.

“Make with Us: Quiet Books,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, April 17.

“Mug ‘n’ Muffin Monthly

Hybrid Book Club,” 10:15-11 a.m. Thursday, April 20. This month’s title is “The Daughter of Time” by Josephine Tey.

“Cooking Classics: Five or Fewer Ingredients,” 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25.

“The People Next Door: Witnessing the Holocaust,” 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 27. Learn more at peoplenextdoor.org.

Zoom Only Events

“Take a Trip to South Africa on Zoom,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4.

“Virtual Jelly Bean Tasting,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6. Details on when and where to pick up program supplies will be emailed to registrants.

“Virtual National Parks Tour,” 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 18.

“Virtual Craft Hour: Origami Bookmarks,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, April 21. Details on when and where to pick

up program supplies will be emailed to registrants.

“Autism 101 with Lighthouse Autism Center,” 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 25. A master level board-certified behavior analyst from Lighthouse Autism Center will provide basic information about autism spectrum disorder, including early signs of ASD, advice for appropriate interactions and de-escalation techniques. Plenty of time will be allocated for answering questions.

“Snack Attack: Chips and Dip,” 10:30-11:15 a.m. Friday, April 28.

Registration is required for most programs.

On Friday, April 14, Mishawaka Library and the Harris Branch are closed all day for staff training. The Bittersweet Branch is always closed Friday.

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‘South Bend: The Next 100 Years’ poster design contest underway

The Studebaker National Museum and The History Museum are launching “South Bend: The Next 100 Years,” a poster design contest to celebrate the future of South Bend.

The winning poster will be forward looking, aspirational and inspirational to those who call the city home. There is a total of $28,500 in cash awards: $10,000, first prize; $5,000, second prize; $3,500, third prize; and $1,000 to each of 10 finalists.

The competition is open to all ages; there is no entry fee. Designs can be submitted at studebakermuseum.org/ south-bend-next-100-years;

the deadline to enter is June 25.

The idea for the “South Bend: The Next 100 Years” contest was sparked by the poster. It was first presented as the cover of a survey booklet designed in 1922 and since then has been a source of inspiration and civic pride to South Bend residents.

The booklet, “South Bend, World Famed,” was prepared to celebrate the centenary of the founding of South Bend. It illustrated the progress made in the 100 years since 1823, when the city’s founder, Alexis Coquillard, settled the area and opened his fur trading post.

In celebration of South Bend, the booklet mapped out what the city had become during its first century, including descriptions and histories of local businesses, business leaders, educational institutions, elected officials and governmental agencies. The cover image captured a sense of pride about how far South Bend had come as well as optimism of where it hoped to grow.

Today, in 2023, on the 200th anniversary of Coquillard’s settling in the area, The History Museum and Studebaker National Museum are holding a competition for the creation of a new poster — an

image that will encapsulate the DNA of South Bend and its potential to continue to be world famed.

The contest is sponsored in part by South Bend community leader Doug Hunt.

“South Bend will always have an open door to doers and dreamers. That’s how the city grew then and will grow into the future. There is nothing so powerful as civic pride, and with this poster design contest we are enlisting art and creativity into the ‘cause’ of South Bend’s future,” Hunt said.

Jurying of entries takes place from June 26 to July 14. On July 24, an exhibit of the

10 selected finalists will open at the museum campus, and the awarding of first-, second-, and third-place winners will take place Aug. 21.

The Studebaker National Museum and The History Museum are located eight blocks west of downtown South Bend. The museum campus is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to tour both museums is $16, with discounts for seniors and youth.

For more information, call The History Museum at (574) 235-9664 and Studebaker National Museum at (574) 235-9714.

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HOSPICE CARE

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Be healthy and stay happy

When you’re healthy, you can be happy. If you’re happy, you’re probably healthy.

So be happy. But you need energy to maintain a happy and healthy life and lifestyle.

The more you think about all

this, you’re wasting time and energy that should be devoted to staying happy and healthy that is maintained easily by developing a simple regimen.

You can start increasing your energy to live happier and healthier by eating properly.

A well-balanced diet is a start, and we don’t mean one designed

for weight loss. Eating a variety of fruit and vegetables, leanprotein, low-fat dairy and whole grains gives you an optimal level of energy to help you enjoy life and living as well as cope with unanticipated problems and activities over which you have no control.

Then get to sleep seven or eight hours every night. A good night’s sleep not only gives your body time to relax and recuperate, it also brightens your mood and lowers your risk of disease.

When you’re out and about, pick your friends. Hang around with people you enjoy rather than those you don’t relate to or who have negative outlooks, complain often, or make poor choices.

Time spent with enjoyable company will help you avoid news overdose, especially in these days of non-stop political acrimony, looming wars around the globe, and wild cultural theories taking over the telecasts.

It will also help you keep thinking good thoughts about the folks around you, even the ones you find trying. Compassion for your fellow humans helps maintain your peace of mind, which helps conserve your energy.

This might lead to another peaceful action — doing something you enjoy, such as building yourself a big salad or going roller skating. You can also bring order and peace to your life by straightening out the things

around you. Just don’t try to do it all at once.

If your kitchen is in disarray. Pick one cabinet to straighten out and get it done this week. Don’t tackle the next one until next week.

And finally, but not last, get yourself some regular exercise.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults complete at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.

Pick something you can enjoy. Swimming, hiking, biking, running, skipping rope, and tennis are just a few options. Contrary to what you might believe, this will add to your energy, not subtract from it.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Dry mouth more than annoyance

Dry mouth shouldn’t be ignored because research has revealed it has many perils. The lack of sufficient saliva can be the result of an autoim-

mune disorder that damages the glands that produce saliva and can cause swelling and joint pain. Among its causes are medication, radiation treatments, mouth breathing, dehydration and anxiety.

Chewing on sugarless gum or

sucking on ice cubes or sugarfree hard candy can help keep your mouth from going dry.

As with any medical or physical problem, discuss your dry mouth issues with your primary care physician.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

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He has risen —

Grandma’s childhood postcards: Eastertime 1910s

Other than her love of Christmas day, no other holiday was so loved by Grandma Zentz Lawson than that of Easter Sunday.

To me, this is quite evident through her collection of the 1910 decade of Easter postcards sent to her by her sisters while the Zentz girls lived in Argos and Bremen; postcards now over 110 years old.

During the 1910 years, Grandma Zentz’s sister sent her many beautiful Easter postcards: the sisters being Ada, Dora, Chloe, Grace and Hazel, along with brothers Claude and Harvey. Many descendants of these sisters and two brothers still live in Argos, Bremen and around Indiana.

What Grandma and her Zentz family did to celebrate Easter back in the 1910s may never be known except it is buried in the various families’ history. Perhaps they hid Easter eggs, went to special church services or had a family feast, etc.

Grandma gave me her pre-

cious childhood postcard album a couple of years before she passed away in May 1974, and only recently did I fully appreciate the childhood history buried between the pages of this album’s fragile 110-year-old book and its 300-

plus holiday cards and more.

The messages written on the backs of these postcards provided an interesting education into the social lives of the Zentz girls and the communities.

Anyone with an aging grand-

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parent should immediately begin a journal of their childhood history while it is still fresh in their memories. For me, it was too late.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Southfield Village

Any information welcome to: Dr. Greg Lawson, 1801 E. 3rd St., Mishawaka, IN 46544. Lawson is a longtime writer laureate of area history and human interest stories.

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Bremen

Part-time chaplain dedicates her life to the Lord

social and spiritual care to the people, she said.

teacher, who went to The University of Notre Dame.

Roberta Spencer has a passion to care for others as a social worker and pastoral counselor, both locally and internationally. She has been to India, Uganda and Virginia.

She worked at the Hospice of St. Joseph County from 1982 to 2010.

Spencer grew up on the south side of Chicago. A cradle Catholic, she lived in a convent for 24 years. She moved to Indiana 40 years ago and choose to leave the convent.

“I felt I needed to be more involved with the community,” said Spencer.

She got a job as a chaplain for the Center for Hospice.

“They hired me full time,” said Spencer. “So, I was still in religious life.”

Spencer said through the Center for Hospice, she has met people of a variety of faiths.

“So you respect their life and morals,” she explained. “I’ve learned a lot about other religions.”

She has made 16 visits to Uganda to further a partnership between hospices to establish the Road to Hope, an education support program for children without caregivers.

“I felt attracted to that program,” she said of The Palliative Care Association of Uganda.

The program helps bring palliative care to the people of Uganda. It helps bring holistic,

“I even met with spiritual leaders,” she said. “The people of Uganda are very spiritual. It’s joyful. The churches are usually packed. They really rely on their spirituality. They have a strong faith.”

Spencer said the visits to Uganda have deepened her spiritually.

She has also travelled to work at Mother Teresa’s Home for the Dying in Calcutta, India, having been there four times. The South Bend resident has worked with terminal patients there, spending two to three weeks at a time.

Spencer has also made annual visits to Appalachia to repair and rebuild homes in impoverished areas in Virginia.

“I did roofing, flooring, painting and anything that needed to be done,” she said. “There’s a lot of people from different denominations there that I met.”

Every Wednesday, she said, a small parish would do a potluck supper.

“They really renewed my faith, and I helped them and they helped me,” she said.

Spencer volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul Society, South Bend, and she is a volunteer with the Sisters of the Holy Cross and Unity Gardens.

Spencer, 81, is a part-time chaplain at St. Joe Regional Medical Center. She has been doing so for 40 years.

She is married to husband, Tom, a retired special education

“He’s been very supportive,” she said. “He even went to Uganda with me once and also Virginia.”

Spencer said her faith and God has helped her a lot.

“I feel blessed, and I feel fortunate,” Spencer said.

Civil War’s impact on the funeral industry

The American Civil War brought great change, but there were differences between the North and South when it came to embalming and funeral services.

Little if any embalming was available to Southerners. Virtually all embalming was done by Northerners. Washington, D.C., was the capital city of the North and became the center for troop concentration.

It is documented that surgeons, who were also trained as embalmers, gathered there to help with the war effort.

They began to embalm during the Civil War so the men who

died in battle could be returned home to their loved ones.

At the beginning of the Civil War, as in all previous wars fought by the United States, there was no provision made to return the dead to their homes.

Military dead were simply buried in the field near where they fell.

Things changed dramatically during the Civil War in this regard. For the very first time in American history, it was possible for relatives to have the remains returned to their home for local burial if certain conditions were met.

The family had to make the request in writing. If the military could determine the burial location, the family would

send a coffin capable of being hermetically sealed to the place of death where a team would disinter and prepare the body to be shipped back via train. Over 600,000 were killed in the Civil War, and of those 40,000 were embalmed.

It was at this time the war department was forced to issue General Order 39 to ensure only properly licensed embalmers could offer their services. This led to the first establishment for funeral services. Dr. Thomas Holmes opened the doors in Washington, D.C., in 1861.

St. Joseph Funeral Home and Cemetery may be reached at (574) 288-4685 or visit sjfh. net.

Buy T-bills directly

You can avoid paying commissions to a broker or financial services agent by establishing your own account to buy U.S. Treasury bonds and bills.

Start online by going to treasurydirect.gov and follow the instructions on how to open an account. You’ll need your Social Security and bank-account routing numbers. The latter is on your checks.

You’ll get e-mail confirma-

tion from Treasury your account has been registered with them. An access card should be delivered by the postal service a few days later so you can start buying Treasury securities.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Consider mall walking

Anyone looking for a safe place to exercise by walking may do so starting at 9:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday at University Park Mall, Mishawaka.

There are many reasons why the mall is a good place to take a healthy walk:

• Out of the weather. Inside a climate-controlled mall, walkers can dress comfortably and not worry about wind, rain, snow, ice or heat. If you can get to the mall, you can walk

in comfort.

• Safely away from traffic. Inside the mall, you don’t have to worry about dodging cars. There are no intersections to cross, no broken glass or bushes obstructing the path, no auto fumes or rush-hour traffic. It’s a safer walking workout location.

• Security. If you walk alone but don’t feel safe outdoors, the mall is a good option.

• Medical response. If you have an accident or medical

emergency, you will be seen by other walkers and mall staff and get medical assistance. This is an important advantage for those with chronic medical conditions or health risks.

• Restrooms and water. These essentials are always nearby in the mall.

• Cafes and snacks. One can enjoy beverages and snacks at mall cafes before or after a walk, still safely inside and out of the weather.

• Camaraderie. If you become a regular mall walker, you are likely to start making acquaintances or friends with the other mall walkers.

• Go your own pace. There is no pressure to go faster or slower when you are mall walking. Mall walking is welcoming for people of all abilities.

For more information, visit verywellfit.com/mall-walking-3435072.

Enjoy fabulous tulip time without leaving the country

Does your bucket list include traveling to Holland to see the tulips at their peak, watch windmill sails turn slowly in the breeze and be entertained by cloggers in wooden shoes?

You can see all that without leaving the country. Really. No expensive airline tickets, no getting to the airport two hours before flight time, no hanging around for the flight to depart, no nine-hour flight crammed into a small seat next to someone you don’t know and no long bus ride to your destination.

It’s all right here in southwestern Michigan at Holland. The tulips are just as colorful as those in the Netherlands, and they’ve got windmills, dancers and wooden shoes. You can get there in your own car, stay as long as you want and leave when you want.

But, if you want to see tulips, the time to be there is between late April and mid-May. That’s when Holland’s only tulip farm, Velderheer Tulip Garden, will be ablaze with color. There are acres and acres of tulips with winding paths that take you up close to the many varieties. They’re all marked so you can jot down the number of the ones you’d like to purchase for your garden back home.

It all began in 1950 as a hobby farm with 400 tulips. Now, it’s an awe-inspiring display of more

than a million tulips of all colors for visitors to enjoy. In addition, thousands and thousands of daffodils, crocus and hyacinths add to the colorful springtime landscape.

Of course, if you went to the Netherlands, you’d want to see a windmill. So, the place to go is Windmill Island Gardens. Granted, they only have one, but it is authentic. In fact, the 200-yearold, De Zwaan (Swan) windmill arrived in Holland in pieces and was reconstructed on site.

The view of the surrounding tulip fields from the fourth-story deck is awesome. Be sure to check out the 10-foot-tall grove of wooden tulips.

Take a step back in time at Nellis’ Dutch Village. Wander along canals to old-world Dutch shops to watch artisans at work making

wooden shoes and traditional cheese.

Costumed dancers in wooden shoes will “welkom” visitors into their “klompen” folkdance. Sample old-world culinary specialties like saudijebroodjes (homemade sausage rolls), banket (Dutch almond pastry), the village’s famous pea soup and 20 varieties of cheese. You can even find Grolsch lager at the Thirsty Dutchman Pub.

For a double-Dutch treat, visit the Deklompen Shoe and Delftware Factory; imported machines from the Netherlands carve the shoes. View craftsmen paint them.

Inside the Delft facility, the only one in the United States, you’ll see liquid clay pouring into molds and fired at 2,000 degrees. When they’re cool, artists apply the authentic blue designs on

Travel By Bridget, LLC

Group Travel by Motor Coach and Cruises

2023 TRIPS

A Bavarian Getaway!

Frankenmuth, MI

Wed., May 17th – Fri., May 19th 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners, boat ride, Bronners and so much more. $429 pp/dbl, $379 pp/tpl, $556 pp single Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field

Friday, July 21st

Cubs face off against the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:20 pm cst

Avoid the traffic and enjoy the ride.

Coolers Welcomed. $169 pp

The Ark & The National Air Force Museum – Williamstown, KY

Thurs., July 27th – Fri., July 28th

Overnight stay at The Drury Inn in Franklin, OH. Includes accommodations, admissions, 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner.

Seniors $291 pp/dbl, Adults $303 pp/ dbl, Kids 10-17 $275 and kids under 10 are $245

America’s North Coast –Sandusky, OH & Put-in-Bay

Tues., August 22nd –

Thurs., August 24th

A three-day nautical adventure with 3 boat rides and Put-In-Bay. $649 pp/dbl, $594 pp/tpl, $804 single Lighthouses, Legends & Lore –the Outer Banks of NC Sun., Sept. 10th – Sat., Sept. 16th

Experience beautiful seashore vistas from your oceanfront hotel room, search for wild horses in hummers and so much more. This itinerary is packed with fun and will be the trip of a lifetime!

$1,669 pp/dbl, $1,469 pp/tpl, $2,275 single

Christmas in Branson

Mon., Nov. 6 – Thurs., Nov. 9th

Three night stay in the Hotel Grand Victorian, Branson Showboat Belle, Shows, Shopping and tons of fun!. $966 pp/dbl, $912 pp/tpl, $882 pp/ quad, $1,182 single Woodfield Mall – Schaumburg, IL

Saturday, December 2nd

Save the date for a day of shopping, dinner and fun. $99 pp

Christmas in Amish Country –Shipshewana, IN

Thursday, December 7th

Enjoy 7 – 8 stops in the Amish Country, demonstrations, shopping and traditional Thresher’s Style Dinner. $110 pp

Discover Hawaii 2024 October 10-19, 2024 10 days, 9 nights. Two nights prestay in Honolulu followed by a 7 night cruise of the islands. 3 shores excursions, air, beverage pkg. & more. Pricing starts at $5,820 pp/dbl occ for interior cabin. 15 cabin minimum required. Deposit due by September 1, 2023. Call for details.

Get the latest information and itineraries at www.travelbybridgetllc.com, call 574.806.1799, or email us at TravelbyBridgetLLC@gmail.com

All Trips Depart From Plymouth, Knox & South Bend, IN

Follow us on Facebook at travelbybridgetllc Group

white backgrounds. More than 400 varieties of Delft pieces are produced here.

Holland also has a mill where hardwood bowls are turned the way they were more than 150 years ago.

Standing at the head of the channel connecting Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan stands

the most photographed lighthouse in Michigan. The history of the tower, affectionately known as Big Red, dates back to 1870. The first lighthouse on the site was built of wood. A number of evolutions over the years included a steel structure, a fog signal building and today’s bright red electric lighthouse.

DD RESALES Presents

New

$635 pp dbl occ

NO PASSPORT NEEDED

Chicago

August 22-24, 2023

• 2 nights lodging in the Chicago area

• 4 meals: 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners

• Michigan City pickup

• Visit to the MUSEUM of SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

$355 pp dbl occ

• Visit to the World Famous 360 CHICAGO, formerly the John Hancock Observatory

• SKYLINE CRUISE on Lake Michigan

• Visit to the historic NAVY PIER and FIELD MUSEUM of NATURAL HISTORY

• A Night of Dinner with Entertainment

Memphis, TN

September 11-16, 2023

• 5 nights, 8 meals

• Admission to GRACELAND - Home of Elvis Presley, including AIRPLANES & CAR MUSEUM

• GUIDED TOUR of MEMPHIS

• Free time on BEALE STREET in Memphis

• Admission to SUN STUDIO, one of Memphis’ Top Rated Attractions

• Admission to MEMPHIS ROCK ‘N’ SOUL MUSEUM

• GAMING at a MEMPHIS AREA CASINO

Branson Holiday Show Extravaganza 2023

November 13-18, 2023

• 5 nights, 8 meals, 6 fabulous shows

• Three Morning Shows: DUBLIN’S IRISH TENORS with special guests THE CELTIC LADIES, DOUG GABRIEL MORNING SHOW & A NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE SHOW

$640 pp dbl occ $725 pp dbl occ

• Three Evening Shows: THE HAYGOODS CHRISTMAS SHOW, QUEEN ESTHER Show at the Sight & Sound® Theatre & PRESLEYS’ COUNTRY

JUBILEE CHRISTMAS SHOW

NEW FOR

Nashville Show Trip — June — 4 Nights Boston, Salem & Cape Ann — Sept. 25-Oct. 2 Branson Show Trip — Nov. 18-23

Sixties Flashback —

When Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ became real

It was a scene of pure pandemonium, a flock of birds crashing into houses in a quiet California beach town, the crazed creatures smashing windows and attacking the residents whose frantic screams matched the agonizing shrieks of the interlopers themselves.

A scene from the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock horror movie “The Birds,” right? Actually, no. This event occurred for real two years before the great director’s now-classic release.

Following the 1960 success of “Psycho,” Hitchcock set about making a film meant to outdo

what many critics have dubbed Hollywood’s first true horrorfest. “The Birds” would be loosely based on a 1952 story of the same name by English writer Daphne du Maurier. In her novella, a British farmhand comes under an unexplained kamikaze-style attack by seagulls.

Hitchcock’s project was well underway when he heard about a bizarre phenomenon in the central California coastal town of Capitola. An article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel described hordes of disoriented birds dive-bombing the town in the early morning hours of Aug. 18, 1961, crashing into homes and cars and spewing half-digested fish onto lawns and streets.

During the melee, some residents had stepped outside, flashlights in hand, only to find the birds rushing toward the light. One woman said half a

dozen birds had tried to infiltrate her home. Eight residents reported being bitten. When dawn broke, the dead and dying creatures littered the town.

Understandably, the question nobody could answer at the time was “Why did this happen?”

Hitchcock phoned the Sentinel’s editor and asked for a copy of the front page story. The Hollywood icon would later utilize portions of that account when he had his scriptwriter alter some scenes for the upcoming feature.

Nobody understood the reason for that night’s attack in Capitola until three decades later, when it was decided that brown pelicans and cormorants along the central California coast were falling ill due to being poisoned from domonic acid, the result of a toxin produced by a sporadically recur-

ring red algae.

It appears this toxin had also been the culprit behind the 1961 disaster. In that situation, the avian victims were sooty shearwaters, large brown and gray seagull-like birds that annually migrate from the Southern Hemisphere. The tainted food chain along the shore had moved from algae to fish to birds, the tragic results for the sooty shearwaters being

brain damage, disorientation, seizures and, eventually, death.

The hapless birds in Capitola hadn’t been evil or angry or murderous that morning, they had simply been sick and confused.

Alfred Hitchcock once said, “‘The Birds’ could be the most terrifying motion picture I have ever made.” His 1963 apocalyptic movie focused on sudden and unexplained vicious bird attacks on the people of the small coastal town of Bodega Bay, Calif. (Capitola lies 145 miles to the south).

An urban legend once claimed that the Capitola incident had been the basis for Hitchcock’s classic. That was untrue; in a textbook case of art imitating life, it had all been a matter of coincidence.

Spring program series features nature’s revival

“Overhead and Underfoot: Life Springs into Action” continues an exciting new learnand-explore series offered by the St. Joseph County Parks. The series is from 8:3010:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1 and 29 and June 3. Meet a naturalist at a county park for an introduction to what’s going on with plants, animals and insects as they emerge from subtle winter to lively spring. Then head out for a naturalist-led hike to look and listen for nature in action.

The April 1 program will occur at Spicer Lake Nature Preserve where wetland and forest life abound. On April 29 Bendix Woods County Park will focus on the park’s famous palette of beautiful spring wildflowers and migrating birds. On June 3 the public may meet at St. Patrick’s County Park to experience spring life in full swing.

The program fee is $15 per person for the series. Registration and payment are required by Tuesday, March 28. For more information, call (574) 654-3155.

Addresses:

• St. Patrick’s County Park, 50651 Laurel Road, South Bend.

• Bendix Woods County Park, 56960 Timothy Road, New Carlisle.

Spicer Lake Nature Preserve, 50840 County Line Road, New Carlisle.