Senior Life - St. Joseph Edition - January 2023

About 40 volunteers with the St. Joseph Valley Master Gardeners are dedicated to making a difference by focusing their passion for plants into action.

That passion is what drives these community members to sign up for this program of-

fered by Purdue Extension in St. Joseph County.

Emily Evers is the agriculture and natural resources educator for the extension office. One of the programs she oversees is the Master Gardener certification program.

Although Evers has only been on the job about six months, she said she is inspired by the Master Gardeners’ enthusi-

asm for growing things.

The volunteers’ ages are varied, as there is no age requirement to become a Master Gardener, she said. The majority, however, are senior citizens.

Once the certification process is complete, Master Gardeners commit to completing 12 hours of service to the community per year.

Some of the projects the St. Joseph County volunteers do is the Growing Together Garden at Unity Gardens in South Bend, work at the Potawatomi Zoo and Kate’s Garden in Mishawaka. St. Margaret’s House has also benefitted from the produce harvested at the Master Gardeners’ gardens.

Some volunteers host

trainings and teach others about plant care and selection and share other plant-based knowledge with the community, Evers said.

“These volunteer efforts to help others grow food are encouraging,” Evers said.

“It is important to me to teach other gardeners how to most effectively improve Continued on page 3

Key Positions

Health foundation president supports philanthropic efforts

to-dos King and her board take on every year.

One could say that the future of Beacon Health rests in the hands of Susan King and the board she chairs. Her task as president of the Beacon Health Foundation is to ensure that the community and the hospital have the resources they need to continue the foundation’s mission in Michiana.

The Beacon Health Foundation is responsible for the philanthropic efforts of the corporation and for raising money to support hospital programs and address the needs of patients and the community. There is a multi-layered and long list of

King, 52, took on the role in 2017, moving to South Bend from the Chicagoland region. She has extensive years of experience as a health care philanthropist for more than two decades with a national health care organization. Although not originally planning for a move from that long-held position, King was attracted to Beacon Health because of its community-focused care and outreach, she said.

“I liked that those with Beacon Health lived in the community, were invested in the community and had family in the community,” King said. “It

was the same with my 12-member board of directors. The team feels very strongly about the health and well-being of our community.”

Beacon’s charitable role in making St. Joseph County and all areas served by Beacon Health a better place encompasses four sectors, King explained. The first is raising money to benefit patients at Beacon’s Children’s Hospital and their families, including care not covered by insurance. This could be technology for treatments; the cost of providing art, pet and music therapy; or a food pantry for families to use.

The second area is outreach efforts to the most vulnerable people in the community. King called it “street medicine,” and described it as efforts to send trained medical staff out to serve those who are housing insecure. This care could include on-the-spot care or referrals to medical services for more serious issues.

Thirdly, the foundation’s fundraising efforts support nursing education for current nurses and Beacon Health staff as well as scholarships for students who are entering into a nursing program. These funds also cover continuing education costs for nurses on staff.

Lastly, the foundation board is tasked with working with the hospital on raising money and support for special programs, such as the two trauma centers housed in Beacon’s Memorial and Elkhart hospitals.

“You don’t think about where trauma centers are in your community (normally),” King said. “It’s important they are nearby when needed.”

King brings energy and experience to her role. Success, she said, is defined in two ways. One, success is measured is in metrics, such as how many patients are served, how much money is raised and how much outreach occurs, for

example. The second way is how effectively all the people components come together to make a difference.

When this occurs, King has a phrase for it. “It is the art and science of health care,” she said.

Got the blues? Hit the door

The first step toward combating loneliness could be just walking out your front door, according to mental health experts.

Feeling isolated and alone has become a growing problem in today’s society. One solution is simply to get involved in an activity that interests you. Outdoor activities can bring interaction with others who have

similar interests, whether that includes taking scuba diving or canoeing lessons, joining a bicycle or camping club, getting involved in community outreach or church groups, or any number of creative alternatives.

Whatever activity you pick, make sure it’s something you like. Make lifestyle changes that will stick, and new and better relationships will follow.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

I

December winner is Redgy Bellman.

Studebaker Museum presents ‘Built to Last: Buildings Past and Present’

As an international company, Studebaker operated production facilities, sales outlets, showrooms and dealerships in cities all over the world.

Many of these buildings have been torn down; those that remain have been repurposed.

However, these structures are a true testament to the company’s global reach and are often architecturally significant. Using historical and contemporary photographs of these iconic buildings, as well

Walk among the giants on California’s redwood coast

as select objects, the Studebaker Museum’s current exhibition, which will run through May 29, showcases the scope of Studebaker’s business a century ago.

The Studebaker National Museum is located at 201 Chapin St., just west of downtown South Bend. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $11 for adults, $9.50 for seniors over 60, and $7 for youth ages 6 to 18. For an additional cost, visitors can tour the exhibits and Oliver Mansion at The History Museum, which adjoins the Studebaker National Museum.

For more information, call the museum at (574) 2359714 or (888) 391-5600 or visit studebakermuseum.org.

Continued from page 1

their skills and improve their properties,” said David Coffman, a Master Gardener. “It is also extremely important to help others avoid mistakes that could be harmful to their gardens and to improve their communities.”

Becoming a Master Gardener is fairly easy, although it does require a commitment to a basic training course, Evers said. The 2023 course is scheduled to begin in February; registration is required before Feb. 1. Cost for the program is $200.

Shanta Berg took the course this year. “It is a fun and most informative course,” Berg said. “I am a more confident gardener now from knowledge gained.”

While some of these volun-

From Big Sur to the Oregon border, groves of towering redwoods stand in misty silence, pillars among fern-fringed aisles carpeted with moss. Those who walk among these trees often experience a peace and reverence befitting a natural cathedral.

Perhaps primary among the groves are those found in California’s Humbolt County, especially Redwood National and State Parks and Humbolt Redwoods State Park.

Some of these giants have been standing since before the birth of Christ. Those in the Redwoods National and State Parks help make up vast tracts of oldgrowth and second-growth forest, together with scenic rivers, open prairies, oak woodlands and 37 miles of pristine Pacific coastline.

Hiking, biking and camping are among the recreational activities along with ranger-led walks.

Amateur naturalists can register online to join seminars and field trips with a range of experts.

teers are new to the game, others, such as Patty Fowler, have been involved for decades.

“I was 42 in 1995 and looking for something interesting to learn. I perused the local paper to find that Purdue Extension St. Joseph County was offering their first Master Gardener class,” Fowler said. “Twentyseven years later, I am proudly still a Master Gardener, sharing horticultural information and helping gardens grow.

“It’s a great learning experience, a wonderful way to meet good friends, and a fantastic opportunity to share knowledge and improve our community.”

The basic training course occurs weekly for about 14 weeks, from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 15 through May 24, Evers explained. It is the first step toward receiving

the program certification. Participants learn soil science and plant science. They learn about insects and diseases affecting plants, and much more.

To find out more about the program, call the Purdue Extension office at (574) 2359605 or email Evers at everse@ purdue.edu.

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Carlisle,

written permission from Senior Life.

Stephen Merriman — 40 years of piano tuning

Percussionist Stephen Merriman was born and raised in the South Bend area, but he never intended on living here forever.

He traveled periodically to perform live music and has lived in many different places, which is exactly what brought him back.

During his trips, Merriman learned how to restore and tune pianos — it was his main form of income at the time. He and his fellow musicians would work on them in the back of their truck or in warehouses they would be staying at for a while.

When Merriman realized how many of these instruments were being senselessly discarded, he dedicated his life to the rescuing, restoring and rehoming of pianos. His choice to pursue this in his hometown can be attributed to the “three dimensional” perspectives his experiences on the road gave him.

“No matter where I went, there I was,” he said. “I got a sense of where I belong and where I’m most needed; it just happened to be in my own backyard.” Choosing to restore pianos rather than open a “buy-sell” shop seems to be a more difficult route, but it was the obvious choice for Merriman, as he operates out of a place of love for music and morality.

In addition to his piano service, Merriman also owns and operates a nonprofit venue for jazz artists from around the world. “Van Gogh never sold a painting,” he said. He makes it a point to offer a platform to local, small and new artists, adamant that all music

is worth appreciating, it is just a matter of gathering people to appreciate it.

A venue should be a place of self-expression and openmindedness, which is what Merriman has striven to create for the community.

One of his mantras is, “see the big picture but act in increments,” which can be applied to the journey toward success one can make as an artist. Success is not defined by any universal scale and it is subjective; two success-

ful musicians may not look the same. Merriman simply wants to help pave the avenue by which an artist makes it to their definition of success.

Merriman and his wife have been musically inclined their entire lives and describe the businesses they have as outgrowths from the pursuit of their own musical careers and interests. He wants to fulfill the needs of the music community, those who listen and those who create.

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

Elton John

“Crocodile Rock” became Elton John’s first Number One hit single on MCA Records. (In time, eight more would follow.) But rather than appreciate his rare good fortune, John apparently grew weary of the song and later grumbled, “The last time I have to sing ‘Crocodile Rock,’ I will probably throw a party … It became a big hit, and people love to sing along with it. … I play to amuse people and to entertain people, but I have to say, when the last show is done at the end of the last tour, I will never sing that song again.”

“I remember when rock was young.

“Me and Susie had so much fun.

“Holdin’ hands and skimmin’ stones.

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

“Crocodile Rock” is a mi-

crocosm of the past. A retrospective fueled by longing for bygone days with a girlfriend.

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

Things like ‘Crocodile Rock,’ which was fun at the time, was just pop fluff.”

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

“But the biggest kick I ever got.

“Was doin’ a thing called the Crocodile Rock.

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

“We were hoppin’ and boppin’ to the Crocodile Rock.”

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

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

John (who was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947) was 10 when his parents divorced. By then the chubby, soft-spoken lad had six years of piano playing under his belt. With his rock-music-hating father out

of the picture, John received encouragement from his mother when she handed him a copy of Elvis Presley’s breakout hit “Heartbreak Hotel.” “I went on from there,” he says. “Pop was my whole life.” He began using his pocket money to buy records and then pick out their melodies by ear on the family piano.

In “Crocodile Rock,” Elton John manages to create an enduring music masterpiece that roars along with high-octane gusto, pounding piano lines

MPHPL launches winter reading challenge

Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library has launched its annual winter reading challenge, which will take place from Jan. 3 through Feb. 28.

Participation is easy and everyone can take part.

Visit any MPHPL location to pick up a winter reading challenge card or download the card. On the back of the challenge card are 20 challenges; when a participant completes each challenge, they X out the challenge.

Participants can be creative and complete as many challenges as possible at the same time. For example, one could read a library book, on the weekend, for 10 minutes. This

example completes three of the 20 challenge card requests.

New this year, when a participant completes the five challenges tagged with a snowflake, they can bring their challenge card to the library for a small prize.

Once all challenges are met, participants return their winter reading challenge card to any MPHPL location and win a new book of their choice from a selected list of books.

All participants are automatically entered into a special winter reading challenge drawing that will take place when the challenge wraps up after Feb. 28. One drawing will be held for children 12 and under

and six winners will be chosen. A second drawing will take place where three teen winners will be chosen and a third drawing will determine three adult winners.

Limit one winter reading challenge card per participant. The first day for prize redemption is Monday, Jan. 9.

Jennifer Ludwig, MPHPL director of patron services, said, “Every year, hundreds of people participate in our seasonal reading challenges. After this summer’s challenge, we surveyed to gather feedback on what could improve the overall reading challenge experience. We listened to our patrons and made this year’s winter reading

Read car rental contract fine print

Often overlooked by people who rent vehicles is whether or not the customer has a grace period.

If you pick up your car, truck, van or camper at 7 a.m., it’s likely that you have to turn it in at that time on the return date. If you’re a few hours late, the cost could be expensive — an extra day’s rental. Have the rental agency make clear what time you have to return the vehicle and see if you have a cushion, in writing, of an hour or so.

challenge more engaging and exciting for readers of all ages.

Anne Britton, the MPHPL youth services coordinator, said, The winter reading challenge gives children, teens and adults something constructive to do during the cold weather.

“This is the third consecutive year that we have included an activity challenge card. We revamped some of our challenges so this year’s card will be fun for everyone and not too time-consuming or difficult. The whole idea of the challenge is centered around getting people reading and reinforcing the love of reading in our community,” said Britton.

and whirling synthesizer riffs adding to the retro-rock feel, as do the growling guitar lines, pulsating bass notes and throbbing drumbeats.

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

Editor’s note: Sending listings of events, for nonprofit organizations only, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, or email Editor Phoebe Muthart by Jan. 15 at pmuthart@the-papers.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:

Empowered Movement, 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday; chair yoga, 10:30 and 11:45 a.m.

every Tuesday and Thursday; seated strength, 10 a.m. every Wednesday; general cancer support group, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4; Debbie’s Wig Salon, 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 and 19; seated strength, 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30; gentle yoga, 5:30 p.m. every Monday; and men’s group, 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 24.

—o—

Crossroads of America combines Hoosier talent with immersive visuals by Camilla Tassi to create the symphony’s

inaugural composer competition. This second installment of the June H. Edwards Mosaic Series Crossroads of America: Composer Competition is 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center; audience members can vote for their favorite piece and select the composer, who will write a commission for the symphony.

To buy tickets online, visit performingarts.nd.edu/ event/14869/crossroads-ofamerica, call DeBartolo Performing Arts Center Box Office, (574) 631-2800 (noon to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday), or visit DeBartolo, 100 Performing Arts Center, Notre Dame, during the

times listed above or one hour before any performance. To view the 2023 season schedule, visit southbendsymphony.org.

—o—

South Bend Civic Theatre presents “Finnegan’s Farewell” Jan. 10-22. This is a fundraiser for the Civic Theatre and is an additional item to the FlexPass purchase of $50. If purchasing a ticket without a FlexPass, the cost will be $60 and includes dinner. The performances will take place at Fiddler’s Hearth, 127 N. Main St., South Bend. Show times are 7 p.m. Jan. 10, 12, 17, 19. Sunday matinee show times are 3 p.m. Jan. 15 and 22. Tickets can be purchased for $60 through the

South Bend Civic Theatre at sbct.org. —o—

The Kroc Center’s Healthy Aging program begins in March. The program includes fall prevention education, appropriate group workout sessions, gym orientations, fitness assessments, dietary education and small group personal training sessions. The program is grant funded and is completely free to participants. Participants do not need to be a member of the Kroc Center. Registration for the next session opens Jan. 30 and the session begins March 6. To register, visit mykroc.org or call (574) 233-9471.

This New Year, learn about Social Security online

spouses, or disability benefits.

• Apply for Medicare.

• Check your application status.

Social Security account to:

• Change your address (Social Security benefits only).

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

Consider the start of the new year as an opportunity for you to engage with Social Security online. This begins with creating your free and secure personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/ myaccount. Once you create an account, you can: • Apply for retirement,

• Request a replacement Social Security number card.

If you do not receive Social Security benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

• Get personalized retirement benefit estimates.

• Get your Social Security statement.

• Get estimates for spouse’s benefits.

• Get instant proof that you do not receive benefits. If you receive benefits, you can use your personal my

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

• Instantly get proof of benefits.

• Print your SSA-1099.

Your personal my Social Security account has a secure Message Center. You can choose to receive the annual cost-of-living adjustments and the incomerelated monthly adjustment amount online. Unless you opt out of receiving notices by mail that are available online, you will receive both mailed and online notices.

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

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

Leave ear wax alone; it protects your ears

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

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

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

Grandma and her childhood postcards —

1910s Argos, Bremen and New Year’s Day

Grandma Eva Zentz Lawson lived her last 30-plus years as a farm wife in Michigan, southeast of Edwardsburg. It was, however, in Argos and Bremen where she spent her childhood years.

It’s during the decade of the 1910s that we journey back for a look at the beautiful postcards Grandma saved in her childhood postcard album that is now owned and in the possession of this writer and only grandson; an album and postcards now more than 110 years old.

Grandma was born in 1898 and was about 10 years old when she saved her first colorful postcard. She and her sibling sisters sent and received hundreds of these postcards to each other. Her sisters included Grace, who later in her adult years would die while giving birth; Ada; Chloe; Della; Dora; and Hazel, who never married but helped raise me from birth to well into my preteen years.

What Grandma’s sisters did with their postcards may never be known, but before she passed away in May 1974, she passed her precious childhood album over to me and the more than 300 postcards it contained. As the only grandson, it is my duty to preserve and protect the album and its contents forever.

Grandma’s postcard album contains every holiday, birthday and miscellaneous greeting imaginable. She and her sisters loved Argos and Bremen and the postcards have drawn me back into those two towns with the many memories written on the back of many of the colorful postcards more than 110 years ago. Grandma and her siblings seem to come alive as I turn the fragile pages of the 1910s album.

Happy New Year, everyone!

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.

Efficient operation means economic daily savings

One way to lower your heating costs is to set your thermostat at 74 degrees Fahrenheit (about 20 degrees Celsius) during the day and 55 F (about 12 C) at night.

If that’s too cool at night, lower it to a level you can handle.

Keep heat sources, such as lamps, away from the thermostat.

Clean or replace your furnace filters every three months, or more if necessary. Keep heating vents and chimneys clear of any blockage.

You can also cut your utility bills substantially by changing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting.

Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library programs for adults

All reservations for in-person or Zoom attendance must be secured by calling (574) 259-5277 or visiting mphpl.org.

Bittersweet Branch

“Cooking Classics: No Bake Granola,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4. Make an easy culinary creation and experiment with assorted ingredients.

“Make with Us: Pots and Plants,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7. Spend an hour in this engaging class learning about planting. Each participant will leave with a potted plant.

“DIY at Dusk: Paper Jewelry,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. Learn how to create unique paper jewelry. All participants leave with a one-of-a-kind creation.

“Yak, Snack and Read: Hybrid Book Club,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10. “One Thousand White Women” by Jim Fergus can be picked up in advance at the front desk.

“Customize It! Glove Decorating,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11. Have some fun making customized gloves.

“Make with Us: Im-peck-able Bird Feeders,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. Melissa Gunter,

education chair for the South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society, will facilitate this hourlong, hands-on program. Participants will make a bird feeder.

“Make with Us: Board Game Coasters,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23. Bring board games or use some the library will provide and recycle into drink coasters.

Harris Branch

No events scheduled due to tentative maintenance projects.

Mishawaka Library

“New Year, New Book,” 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10. When thinking of New Year’s resolutions, don’t forget to include literary goals. A pre-selected variety of books will be available to explore.

“American Heritage Spotlight,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10. This month, speakers Dennis Engbrecht, Ph.D. and Brother Timothy Erdel will present “The Miracle on McKinley: What Mishawaka Should Know about Bethel University.” Erdel is a professor at Bethel University and school archivist. Engbrecht is the senior vice president emeritus and professor of history at Bethel University.

“Delectable Lit,” 5:30-7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 12. “The Sirens of Titan” by Kurt Vonnegut can be picked up a month in advance at the front desk.

“Customize It: Personalized Decals,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13. Create a unique and customized decal.

“Mental Well-Being with Mental Health Awareness of Michiana,” 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. Mental health experts with Mental Health Awareness of Michiana will present “Overcoming Mental Health Stigma.”

“Mug ‘n’ Muffin, a Monthly Hybrid Book Club,” 10:15-11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19. Enjoy coffee, conversation and muffins. “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand” by Helen Simonson can be picked up in advance at the front desk.

“Adult Game Night,” 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24. Enjoy the classics and modern designer board games. Bring your own or play any of the many games the library will have available.

“Achieve Financial Well-Being, Keep a Budget and Save Money,” 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24. Participants will learn the concept of financial well-being and how to achieve it. Learn how to set smart

goals, prepare to create a budget, and start saving as a strong financial foundation. This program will be presented by Luis Zapata, vice president and financial education administrator at 1st Source Bank.

“Sew Fun,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26. Make a creative and useful one-of-a-kind book cover while learning simple sewing techniques.

“Cooking Classics: Five or Fewer Ingredients,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26. Make easy culinary creations with five or fewer ingredients.

“eGaming Night,” 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. Various forms of gaming will be available, including Nintendo Switch and Wii consoles and virtual reality equipment.

“Customize It! Personalized Paint by Numbers,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28. Create a unique, customized project by painting by numbers.

Zoom Only

“Take a Trip to India on Zoom,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3. Join an entertaining and educational tour of India.

“Snack Attack: Going Nutty,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6.

During this monthly virtual session, participants learn how to create a new snack that will satisfy all the cravings in their households.

“Virtual Craft Hour: Macrame Keychain,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20. A library staff member will walk you through the creation of a craft project from beginning to end. Details on when and where to pick up program supplies will be sent via email to registrants.

“Virtual Movie Locations Tour,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. Tour some of the most iconic sights associated with film history, covering both classic films and modern favorites.

“Virtual World Treat Tasting,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31. This virtual program will feature snacks from different countries and teach participants culinary facts about the countries virtually visited. Details on when and where to pick up program supplies will be sent via email to registrants.

Holiday closures are Monday, Jan. 2, and Monday, Jan. 16.

Professional Services

Q. Do I need a Will?

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

A will should reflect your desires regarding the distribution

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

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

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.

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

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.

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! Call today for more information on how you can advertise in Senior Life.

Cathy Wilson, Account Executive

Serving South Bend and Surrounding Counties

(574) 298-8806 1-866-580-1138 Ext. 2402 cwilson@the-papers.com

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Ruby Jazayre — 38 years of fitness coaching

Ruby Jazayre was born and raised in Saint Joseph County, and although she has a love for travel and admires the places she has been, she continues to spend most of her time here. Jazayre is a professor at Indiana University of South Bend, she instructs Middle-Eastern dance classes and coaches senior fitness classes.

Jazayre has an international reputation for belly dancing — she actually took a trip to Egypt and studied under a dance mentor there. She and some of her unique costumes were even featured in The History Museum for over a year as a result of her talent and hand in women’s empowerment.

She was initially drawn to belly dancing when she was working in an office that was near a studio that taught it. She could hear the music from her office and she could see through the window that the group of women were all well-dressed and having a good time.

She decided then to give it a shot, and she absolutely fell in love with it. The same can be said about her experience with coaching senior fitness and aerobic classes.

Jazayre had started coaching senior fitness classes because she was looking for more lowimpact exercises for herself. She would now describe coaching as a mutually beneficial, as

she stated, “I always tell them (those who come to her classes) that I get just as much from them as I give to them.”

Jazayre has taken her cumulative fitness experience and applied it to her class, but she’s open to learning too. She stated that when she first started instructing these classes, she got a lot of helpful workout ideas to include in her programs from those who attended.

One element of her classes that many really appreciate is the virtual option. As she was a professor during the peak of COVID-19, Jazayre had to get comfortable using Zoom, an online video-chat application, to meet with her students.

Since Medicare does not always cover the costs of fitness classes or someone may be facing other restrictions that don’t allow them to come to her classes,

Jazayre decided that she would use Zoom for fitness too.

Jazayre teaches exercises that ensure everyone is as mobile and healthy as possible. One of her unique exercises is putting a rubber band along the bed of your fingernails and moving each finger individually. Don’t let that fool you, that exercise is harder than it seems and it helps keep mobility in your hands. The majority of her classes consist of stretches to release muscle tension and using resistance bands, balls and hand weights for exercises.

The benefits aren’t limited to physical health, though. “A lot of these people live alone, it’s good for them to get in here and make friends. You aren’t a stranger here for very long” Jazayre said. These classes offer a sense of community and social opportunities for

people who might not find that elsewhere.

“I could easily retire now, but if I wasn’t leading these classes, I would be in them. I just really like leading them,” she said. “When I was younger teaching these classes I used to look up music that seniors would enjoy, now it’s actually what I

listen to.”

Jazayre herself has experienced a sense of community and comfort in her classes as well, it feels right to her to be teaching these specific classes. She plans to continue her fitness journey, dancing and coaching senior courses for as long as she is able.

for a Dream’ to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The South Bend Symphony Orchestra is partnering with local churches to applaud and commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the cultural significance of AfricanAmerican music and the 60th anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in a series titled “Celebration for a Dream.”

The public is welcome to join the symphony’s woodwind and string quintets, host Dr. Marvin Curtis, symphony board members and church choirs for four events celebrating King’s life and legacy.

“These concerts bring the spirit of Dr. King and the music of the African-American composers together and celebrate both in a space, which was the black church, where it was nurtured,” said Curtis.

“This series is also a chance to provide the opportunity for local church choirs to partner with the South Bend Symphony. We hope these concerts help bring all the communities of South Bend together to experience and learn from each other.”

The concert series is free and open to the public, but registration is requested; secure a seat with the registration links listed at each location. The concerts will last for 75

minutes and will not include an intermission. Donations will be accepted.

Pastor Dr. Theo Williams and Covenant Community Church, St. Joe County Public Library, Pastor YPJ Miller and Faith Alive Ministries, Bishop Erskine Jones and Sweet Home Ministries will host the concert series. The series is supported by National Endowment for the Arts, African-American Fund at the Community Foundation of

St. Joseph County, and Jordan Lexus, Mishawaka.

Even times and locations:

• 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, Covenant Community Church, 3025 E. Edison Road, South Bend. Register on EventBrite.

• 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, St. Joe County Public Library (main branch) auditorium, 304 S. Main St., South Bend.

• 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, Faith Alive Ministries, 909 North Bendix Drive, South

Bend. Register on EventBrite.

• 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, Sweet Home Ministries, 410 S. Taylor St., South Bend. Register on EventBrite.

Tune into WUBS 89.7 FM to listen to the livestream at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12.

Embarking on its 90th season, South Bend Symphony Orchestra is the region’s only professional orchestra and is committed to engaging the

community in all it does.

In addition to being recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and other state and local arts funding organizations, South Bend Symphony Orchestra is the recipient of the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County’s 2019 Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence, which recognizes the best run nonprofit organization in St. Joseph County.

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‘Celebration

Affirmations may help keep you on track

realize that this is a fleeting moment that you should not give in to. Every time we try to eat healthily, along comes Christmas, Easter, Summer, Friday, or Tuesday and ruins it for us. Perhaps this would be a good affirmation as we enter into 2023:

Reset…Restart…Refocus… As many times as you need to. Just don’t quit.

in the exact same place next year as you are today.” — Kevin David.

Affirmations are exactly that – affirming your action. Many people use daily affirmations to keep on track each day like a nudge, a reminder, a bit of encouragement. Spending just a few minutes at the start of your day can set the pace. The idea being that when temptation to quit arises that you will remember one of your affirmations and

Losing weight is the most common resolution set each New Years Eve. Ideally the resolution should be to get healthy, which means a whole lot of little steps to ensure that you are eating nutritiously each day which will lead to be healthier.

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

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

Every single day.

“Don’t fear failure. Fear being

Think ahead to what’s coming up in 2023; maybe it’s a reunion, or wedding. Being healthier when that event rolls around is a goal – write it down, post it on the refrigerator where you will see it everyday. Put it right next to your list of GBOMBS from Dr. Fuhrman: Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries & Seeds which you should strive to eat each day.

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” — Steve Prefontaine. Keep track to see your progress and to keep yourself accountable to yourself. I use a 100-day calendar, but you can

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

Don’t let others derail you. Whether they mean to or not,

when people see you making all the good clean food choices, they will tempt you with ‘oh, come one, just one’, or ‘reward yourself with a treat’. What kind of sense does it make to reward clean eating with a bad food choice. Right, none.

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

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

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

Woman finds her faith comforts her

ing happy and children being treated with respect.”

Debbie Whitt believes her life’s journey — and even her everyday one — is never taken alone. Her faith strongly supports the belief that God is ever present in her life.

Whitt, 63, is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She has been a member of that church for most of her life. She continues to be inspired by the familycentered congregations and the welcoming nature she found on her first visit 46 years ago.

When Whitt was 14, a childhood friend began attending a LDS church while in foster care. Her friend had struggled with family-related issues, and Whitt saw a transformation after her friend began attending services regularly.

“My friend kept going, and I was really touched by her spirituality,” Whitt said. “I came from a broken home and saw families in the church be-

She joined the church when she was 17 years old.

For her, the reliance on Scripture — from the Bible and the Book of Mormon — create a foundation by which Whitt lives. Church members are encouraged to read Scripture because that is how God speaks to each of them.

Routine prayer and other acts of faith, such as volunteer service, help solidify each member’s relationship with God.

“Our Father (God) is very involved in our lives,” Whitt said.

Through her church, Whitt describes her volunteer service as “very involved.” She has been in charge of the local LDS meeting hall’s Relief Service committee and worked on a group that sought to help young women and the church’s children. She also served as an LDS missionary when she was 21.

Having a strong faith is

important to her.

“I know what it’s like to not have it,” Whitt said.

She remembers that even as a young child, she was inquisitive about issues of faith. Whitt remembers asking questions after a family member passed, questions such as, “Where did I come from? What is my purpose? What happens after you die?” she said.

The rituals of LDS beliefs, the tenets of faith and the daily practices have taught her to rely on intuition. That, she said, is how God guides the faithful. “It is an active part of what can guide the decisions we make. Faith has served to comfort me,” Whitt said.

Whitt has been married to her husband Jon for three years. It is her second marriage. She has five adult children ranging in age from 29 to 37 years and has 14 grandchildren.

In her church, motherhood is considered an honor. Whitt said men and women are

considered equal and each has a role to play in the family. Women are told to get an education, she explained, which is one of the misconceptions about her church she would like to see corrected.

Enduring the hardships in

The history of mummification

Churo” people of South America were mummifying their dead, including babies and fetuses.

Most people think Egyptians started mummification, but they were not the first people to engage in the practice. Nearly 2,000 years before them, the “Chin

Mummies are not skeletons. They still have some of their soft tissue, such as hair, muscle or skin. However, the most wellknown mummifications started

with the Egyptians. When we think about Egypt mummification what immediately comes to mind is King Tut, but Egyptians started mummification about 1,000 years before that.

They had a very simple culture: when someone died,

Medical handoff should not be kiss-off

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don’t leave before you get all the information you need, such as if and when you should return, what warning signals to watch for and when’s the best time to contact your doctor. Make sure you understand clearly the instructions about what you’re supposed to do as part of your treatment.

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

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

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

Besides making all the doctor visit preparations listed above, make sure your medic is going to send your medical records and history to any doctor(s) you’re referred to. If necessary, ask for a copy of your records and carry them to the referral visit.

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

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

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

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

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

the body was placed into a fetal position and wrapped in cloth or straw mats then placed into a shallow grave near the Nile River.

It’s important to note they didn’t embalm their dead at first. They simply scooped up some sand, placed the body into the hole and covered it up. Their climate was perfect for natural preservation. It’s very arid, with porous sand and not a lot of moisture.

Most of the cemeteries in Egypt were located along both sides of the Nile River.

They accidentally stumbled upon the reason why some bodies buried were perfectly preserved and others were not.

How did they figure this out? Well, once in a while the bodies

her life, such as the loss of her first marriage, were possible because of her faith, Whitt said.

“God is involved in our lives,” she said. “We are never alone. It was faith that got me through these hardships.”

would be exposed due to wind and the cemetery guards or family members would find their loved ones’ bodies exposed. They found that the ones who were buried on the west side of the Nile River were well preserved.

However, graves’ locations on the east side suffered from flooding and therefore decomposition became of great concern for them. Warm, moist environments accelerate decomposition. This concerned them, because the Egyptians believed that the mummified body housed one’s soul or spirit. If the body was destroyed, the spirit could be lost and not make its entrance into the afterlife.

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

Studebaker National Museum acquires midget race car

The Studebaker National Museum recently acquired the Bonnie Doon Special, a Studebaker-powered midget race car.

The car was built by W.C. “Barney” Barnum, Mishawaka, in 1948, and sponsored by the Bonnie Doon Ice Cream Company. It campaigned extensively in the AAA Midget racing series in the late 1940s and early 1950s, both locally and nationally.

It’s best finish was in 1953 when it carried driver Rex Easton to third place in the season-end rankings.

Midget racing traces its roots to the mid-1930s as an affordable and exciting motor sports series. Studebaker’s Champion

engine, which debuted in 1939, was a popular midget power plant due to its ruggedness, compact design and its high-rpm abilities.

The Studebaker National Museum, 201 Chapin St., South Bend, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $11 for adults, $9.50 for seniors over 60, and $7 for youth ages 6 to 18. For an additional cost, visitors can tour The History Museum, which adjoins the Studebaker National Museum.

For more information, call (574) 235-9714 or (888) 391-5600 or visit studebakermuseum.org.

Credit scoring scores points

The old saw about the rising young man who was a credit to his community because he owed money to everyone in town takes on a finer edge during these fiscally fatiguing times.

It’s not very fashionable to peek at your credit report right now. A recent survey reveals that almost half the population has no idea what their credit score is.

The biggest stumbling block in the way of understanding your credit situation is not checking your credit score. Second is not understanding what is considered bad credit.

To begin with, it’s been reported that 25% of credit reports have serious errors that can contribute to a lower credit score. So check your credit score.

Each of the three major credit reporting bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – is required to provide you with a free report once a year, so you can space your requests to get a free fresh report every four months.

You can do it online. Just type the name of the agency in your search engine. Review the report and correct any errors immediately.

The tipping point for good or bad credit has been wavering. A 100% score is 850, leading some folks to believe that scoring in the 400 range is pretty good. Not so. Even a score in the 600 range is not considered healthy.

The difference between a good and bad score is in the eyes of the lender.

Your payment history most likely has the biggest impact on your score. Second comes the amount you owe.

While the world of finance is not closed to those with bad credit, they pay more for interest, fees and the cost of services than borrowers with higher credit scores.

You can learn to live with bad credit. For example, if you have more than one card, keep your charges revolving so you don’t overload one card, which can damage your score.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Bursitis doesn’t have to become a pain in the neck

bricant to reduce friction. This cushioning and lubrication allow our joints to move easily.

You pick up your newborn grandchild and feel all the joy and love in your heart a proud grandparent is expected to experience ... when a throbbing pain in your shoulder ruins that special moment.

Bursitis happens.

It occurs when a bursa is inflamed. We each have about 160 bursae in our body.

These little, fluid-filled sacs cushion pressure and lubricate points between our bones, tendons and muscles near our joints. They’re lined with synovial cells that produce a lu-

When a person has bursitis — inflammation of the bursa — movement or pressure is painful.

Overuse, injury and an infection from gout or rheumatoid arthritis may cause bursitis. Any bursa can become affected, but the most common places are the shoulder, elbow, ankle, knee, buttocks, hip and thigh.

Many cases are mild, so lots of people with bursitis sit it out or self-treat and never see a doctor about it. Medical experts estimate one in every 200 patient visits are because

of bursitis.

Bursitis is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms: pain that increases with movement or pressure, tenderness even without movement, swelling and loss of movement.

Bursitis is caused by an infection and may include these additional symptoms: fever, the affected area is red and the affected area feels hot when touched.

Bursitis can be caused by an injury, infection or preexisting condition in which crystals can form in the bursa.

An injury can irritate the tissue inside the bursa and cause inflammation. Bursitis caused by an injury usually takes time to develop.

Instances of bursitis include:

• Tennis elbow. Common among tennis players and golfers; repetitive bending of the elbow can lead to injury and inflammation.

• Clergyman’s knee. Repeated kneeling can cause injury and swelling to the bursae in the knee.

• Shoulder. Caused by repeated overhead lifting or reaching upwards.

• Ankle. Can be caused by walking too much and with the wrong shoes. It’s also common among ice skaters and athletes;

• Buttocks. The bursae in that area can become inflamed after sitting on a hard surface, such as a bicycle, for a long time.

• Hips. Long-distance runners and middle-distance runners and sprinters who train a lot can develop hip bursitis.

• Thigh. This can be caused by stretching.

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When Mr. Dow met Mr. Jones

Nearly everyone has asked, “What is or was a Dow Jones Average? Is it a real person, place or just a business moniker?”

It’s all of the above.

It is a weekday reading of 30 key American stocks reflecting the nation’s business climate.

Charles Dow and Edward Jones met as writers at the Providence Evening Press. Jones could skillfully and quickly analyze a financial report. They were committed to reporting on Wall Street without bias.

Other reporters at the time could be bribed into reporting favorably on a company to drive up stock prices. Dow and Jones refused to do so.

They believed Wall Street needed a financial news bureau. So they started the business firm of Dow, Jones & Co. in 1882. They developed an intricate system of reporting business news that allowed investors and business leaders to keep track of daily stock pricing.

In 1883, the company started an afternoon two-page business summary called the Custom-

ers’ Afternoon Letter. Their daily stock report included nine railroads, one steamship line and Western Union.

By 1889, the partners realized it was time to transform their two-page news summary into a real newspaper. They founded the Wall Street Journal daily business newspaper.

The first issue of the WSJ appeared July 8, 1889. It cost 2 cents per issue or $5 for a oneyear subscription. Dow was the editor and Jones managed the desk work.

Although his name wasn’t on the Dow Jones Co.’s logo, Charles Bergstresser became an important founding partner.

The three journalists opened a wire service in 1882 that delivered news to investment houses along Wall Street. Their operation was in a basement of a building next door to the New York Stock Exchange.

Bergstresser chose to be a silent partner. His strength lay in his interviewing skills. Jones once remarked Bergstresser could make a wooden Indian talk and tell the truth.

The WSJ has become one of the most respected financial

publications in the world. It developed a series of principles for understanding and analyzing market behavior that later became the groundwork for technical analysis.

Charles Dow often warned his WSJ staff reporters about exchanging slanted stories for stock tips or free stock. Crusading for honesty in financial reporting, Dow published the names of companies that hesitated to give their information about profit and loss. Soon after, the newspaper gained power and respect from the reading public.

Vermont Royster, a later editor of the WSJ, said, “Dow always believed business information was not the ‘private province of brokers and tycoons.’”

Dow came up with a simple tracking system to monitor the nation’s daily business climate.

By tracking the closing stock price of 12 companies, adding up the stock prices, and dividing the total by 12, Dow came up with his “stock average.” In 1896, the first such average appeared in the WSJ.

Later, the Dow Jones Co. expanded the report to a “20 Active

Stock” index, which included 18 railroad and two non-rail stocks That has been expanded and is known as the “Dow Jones Industrial Average.”

By 1898, the WSJ was a morning daily newspaper covering more than just financial news. Unlike other newspapers, the WSJ reported on such events as war without added rhetoric. Dow also added editorial columns called “Review and Outlook” and “Answers to Inquirers” in which readers sent in investment questions.

Jones retired in 1899, but Dow and Bergstresser stayed on. Dow continued writing editorials, focusing on the government’s position regarding American business. The WSJ set a precedent in reporting during the election of 1900 by endorsing White House incumbent President William McKinley. He was reelected, with Theodore Roosevelt as vice president.

In 1893, many mergers began taking place, resulting in the formation of huge corporations. These corporations sought markets for their stock shares. The

Continued on page 18

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6,000 years of history survive in Egypt

I’m looking over the Nile River from a hotel balcony in Cairo, Egypt — a fantasy land I’ve heard about my whole life. I needed to revel in the moment.

I was about to begin a magical journey through 6,000 years of history. And then accept the hard truth. How do you recapture 60 centuries of history in words? All I can do is let you experience a little bit of Egypt the way I did.

Consider first a stop at the Egyptian Museum as an introduction to the many iconic sites across the country.

Amid the many monochromatic miles lies Sakkara, a sprawling complex of temples, pyramids and crypts. The largest of the many tombs is the Step Pyramid of King Zoser. It is the first pyramid ever to be built, dating back to 2650 B.C.E., and remains the oldest stone structure in the world.

The statue of Ramses II in Memphis that dates back 3,200 years is an intimidating size: about 36 feet tall, and that’s with his legs cut off. Ramses reigned 67 years, the longest of all the pharaohs, and was the most prolific builder of temples. His list of 55 wives and 115 children is pretty impressive, too.

The Valley of the Kings outside Luxor takes you deeper

into the tombs of the most famous of Egypt’s rulers. These pharaohs had their tombs chiseled deep into the sides of desolate cliffs. Because they had been sealed so long, the walls preserved colors to look as if they were just painted. Deeply etched carvings depicted in hieroglyphic symbols describing the journey to the afterlife appear as if they were recently crafted.

Our guide, Hussien, spoke fluent hieroglyphics and could read the walls like a storybook. Thus, we learned of the royal lives of the kings and everyday lives of the villagers from 5,000 years ago. Sort of ironic that our country celebrates the historic lives of the colonists who lived 250 years ago in Williamsburg.

Pyramids have always been a fanciful figment far away and so long ago, but nothing I could personally relate to — until now. Landscapes were reshaped to the ego of the pharaoh to ensure his safe journey into the next life along with all the accoutrements — jewelry, foodstuffs, furniture, chariots, weapons — he had acquired.

The Pyramids of Giza pretty much define Egypt. No matter what else you see, this probably will be where your mind’s eye returns whenever you look back on the trip.

The Great Pyramid, at 480 feet tall and built more than

4,500 years ago, is the last of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World to still stand. Looking at the 2 million to 3 million massive boulders hauled around the clock from limestone quarries 20 miles away over a 20-year span, I could imagine the 10,000 workers sweating and straining to create this eternal edifice in honor of the pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).

“Take some time to revel in the history embedded in every block of stone and the incomprehensible size of each structure standing tall in the desert sand,” intoned Hussien. From afar, the surface of the pyramid looks smooth. As

you get closer, you can see the enormity of each stone, several feet in diameter, carefully placed beside and atop the others. To look at the pyramids astride a camel added a whole new level of authenticity not usually associated with standard sightseeing options. As I climbed newly embedded stairs onto the pyramid itself, I wondered if Khufu would take offense.

I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be impressed by the size of anything else anytime soon. And then we came to the Sphinx — the inscrutable and mysterious Sphinx, equally as old and carved from almost one piece of limestone. The

head of a man and the body of a lion represent the combination of intelligence and strength attributed to the pharaohs.

While our OAT tour took a deeper dive into other ancient temple complexes as well as a taste of Egyptian lifestyle and culture, archaeologists announced they have uncovered yet another trove of ancient artifacts at the necropolis of Sakkara, including mummies and bronze statues dating back 2,500 years.

I suspect that will continue to be true for quite some time. After all, it’s been going on for 6,000 years.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Saint Joseph Health System - Holy Cross

17475 Dugdale Drive, South Bend, IN 46635 (574) 247-7500 • www.sjmed.com

Offering Rehabilitation and Nursing Care services for seniors, Sanctuary at Holy Cross focuses on wellness for the body, mind and spirit. Our therapies include: aqua, speech, occupational, physical, and therapeutic recreation. HOLY CROSS

316 Woodies Lane, Bremen, IN 46506 (574) 546-3494 • SHCofBremen.com Bremen

Southfield Village

St. Paul’s

3602 S. Ironwood Dr., South Bend, IN 46614 (574) 284-9000 • www.sjmed.com/st-pauls St. Paul’s, a Saint Joseph Health System Life Plan Community in South Bend, provides continuing care that is faith-based, hospitality-rich and wellness-focused. A variety of living options includes affordable Independent Living and Assisted Living apartments and secure Memory Care.

Tanglewood Trace Senior Living

530 Tanglewood Lane, Mishawaka, IN 46545 (574) 277-4310

www.tanglewoodtraceseniorliving.com

Offering Retirement Villas, Independent and Licensed Assisted Living, Therapy Services, Respite Care, Social and Recreational Activities, Pets Welcome, Transportation, Beauty Shop and Spa Services Available.

West Woods of Niles

1211 State Line Road, Niles, MI 49120 (269) 684-2810 • www.peplinskigroup.com

Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, 24-Hour Nursing Care, Outings, Social Activity, Short/Long Term Rehabilitation, Wi-Fi, Beauty Shop, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Medicare/Medicaid Certified

AL Lic. #: 14-013331-1

Follow the doctor’s orders now

Taking medications correctly at the right time and in the right way as prescribed by your doctor can help control any medical issues you may have.

While not doing so can have some grim consequences, not everyone sticks to those rules because they’re too busy, feel

good without the medications, have pills too big to swallow or have any number of other excuses.

About 30% of medication prescriptions are never filled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 50% of cases studied, patients don’t continue medication as prescribed.

This non-adherence to doc-

tor’s orders causes as much as 50% of chronic disease treatment failures and 125,000 deaths per year.

There are countless reasons medications aren’t being used as prescribed, and not all of them are intentional.

One of the two most common reasons is, “I’m feeling better. I can stop taking medication.” Sticking to medication

may seem like a chore, especially if you’re feeling better. But not taking medications as prescribed by your doctor can result in several negative outcomes.

If, for example, you’ve started on a new blood pressure medication but you’re not taking it regularly, it may not properly control your blood pressure. If your doctor thinks you’re taking the medication as prescribed, they may look at high blood-pressure readings as a sign that you need additional medication.

The other most common reason for not following the prescribed medical course is, “My medication is too expensive. Missing one dose or taking a half-dose here and there to save a little shouldn’t be a big deal.”

Your doctor may not notice you’ve missed a few doses here and there. But medications like those for your thyroid or blood thinners may have a huge impact if only one dose is missed.

Some medications, like those for depression, can have serious withdrawal symptoms when even a few doses are missed.

If cost is a hindrance to getting the proper treatment you need, tell your doctor and they can help you find

an alternative.

Taking your medication as prescribed is important for controlling chronic conditions, treating temporary ones and your overall health and wellbeing.

To help you stick to a required regimen, don’t skip doses or take half doses to save money. If money is a problem, tell your doctor so the problem can be addressed and solved.

However, don’t double up on a dose if you’ve missed a prescribed time or prescribed amount.

Keep taking the prescribed medicine until it’s completed or until your doctor tells you no longer need it. The reason you may be feeling good is because the medication is working, so keep on taking it.

Don’t take someone else’s medication because you think it can help you since you have similar aches, pains and ailments.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist how a new medication will interact with those you’re already taking or the foods you’re eating.

If you have questions about the medication you are taking, talk to your doctor and pharmacist.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Some prostate cancer risks identified

America and Africa.

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

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

Asian men are the least likely to contract this disease, while African-Americans are 70% more at risk than white males. It’s also more common in ethnic groups from northwestern Europe and North America than it is among those from Central and South

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

It’s been revealed in some surveys that men who have undergone vasectomies face increased risk also.

Diet can lower the risk. Reducing consumption of red meat and high-fat dairy products is a good first step. And eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, such as tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit, is also believed to lower the risk.

When Mr. Dow

Continued from page 16

wildly speculative market meant investors needed information about stock activity; hence the active stock listing became vital to investors.

Over the years many companies have been added or subtracted, depending upon their company’s financial position. For example, K-Mart was dropped a few years ago. General Electric and Western Union were the only companies that survived the ups and downs of the many DJIA listings, but they are no longer among today’s 30 Dow industrials.

The current DJIA consists of 30 stocks and remains one of the world’s oldest and most popular stock indices.

The stocks on the lists are

American Express, Amgen, Apple, Boeing, Caterpillar, Chevron, Cisco, Disney, Dow, Goldman Sachs, Home Depot, Honeywell, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan Chase, McDonalds, Merck, Microsoft, Nike, Procter & Gamble, Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing, Salesforce. com, Travelers, United Health, Verizon, Visa, Walgreens and Walmart.

To get the average, add up the daily stock prices in the listing and divide by 30. Whether you’re a small investor or a company CEO, or just interested, monitoring the daily DJIA is a reliable way of keeping tabs on the pulse of the nation’s business health and that’s certainly everyone’s business.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

South Beach art deco —

A national treasure to be seen

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

Art deco’s roots can be traced to the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale de Arts Decoratifs et Industreis Modernes and was the hottest topic there. It was sure to completely change the architectural world and did become popular in Europe and the USA. One of the signature structures of the art deco style, though not in Florida, is the iconic Chrysler Building in New York City.

The premise was actually quite simple. The design of the exterior of the front was based on a triad. Both sides

were symmetrical and the center section soared from the entrance to, in many cases, above the roofline and generally encompassed a decorative element, like zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts, fluting or banding. It was all to be accomplished in a streamlined style that would create a sleek, anti-traditional elegance symbolizing wealth and sophistication.

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

Another calamity struck South Beach and the entire country in 1929. This is when the bottom fell out of the stock market and fortunes immediately disappeared.

Tourists no longer had funds for Florida vacations and many of the hotels failed from lack of occupancy.

Then along came World War II and the country’s focus was on other things. Art deco was considered to be too gaudy and ostentatious for wartime austerity. After the war, promoters attempted to secure loans to spruce

up the hotels, but banks weren’t taking the bait and rich financiers were few and far between. Surprisingly, the money to rebuild South Beach to its earlier elegance came from the mob.

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

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

Two-hour walking tours of the historic district get you up close and personal with art deco, which was sometimes referred to as the “style

moderne.” You’ll also learn that the style also extended into fashion, furniture, fine arts and decorative arts. Be sure to see the neighbor-

hood at night when they’re beautifully lit. Unfortunately, the ocean can’t be seen from Ocean Drive because of a tall protective dune.

Niagara Falls — no passport needed

• Eight meals: four breakfasts and four dinners.

Join us for all the sites and sounds of Niagara Falls and the surrounding area — all in the United States, so no need for a passport. This deluxe motorcoach trip departs Monday, May 15, and returns Friday, May 19.

The cost for this four-day, four-night trip is $635 per person, based on double occupancy and includes:

• Motor coach transportation.

• Four nights lodging in the Niagara Falls, N.Y., area.

• Guided tour of Niagara Falls, N.Y.

• A journey to The Falls on “Maid of the Mist.”

• A cruise on the Erie Canal.

• A scenic drive through wine country.

• Guided tour of Buffalo.

• Visit to the Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum.

The host will be Dennis Donathen, who is known for taking care of every detail while bringing fun to your trip. A $75

deposit per person is required to hold a spot. Make 2023 a year for fun and travel.

Visit grouptrips.com/ddresales where you can see the daily itinerary along with videos. This is where to sign up for the trips. If you have any questions, call (574) 2208032.

Other 2023 trips are: Chicago, Aug. 22-24, $355; Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 11-16, $640; and Branson Holiday Show, Nov. 13-18, $725. All rates are based per person, double occupancy. Happy New Year.

‘Let’s Pull the Job!’

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

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

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

The Ocean’s 11 plot line became a setup for the five hard-drinking, chain-smoking, dame-chasing headliners to make whoopee on-screen,

which they did with ease and aplomb as they adlibbed many of their lines.

The premise of the gatherthe-guys yarn stars Ol’ Blue Eyes as leader Danny Ocean. He has assembled a squad of Army-veteran paratrooper pals for a civilian commando raid in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve. Each participant exudes a different level of passion and each has a personal reason to be involved. One hopes to help his wife stop stripping for a living. Another is terminally ill and wants to provide for his kid’s college tuition. Yet another sees a chance to buy his way out of a mundane life that includes driving a truck.

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

unexpectedly dies and a monkey wrench is tossed into the mechanism of the “perfect” plan.

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

Cameo appearances weave through the story and include such icons as Shirley Ma-

cLaine, Red Skelton, Angie Dickinson and George Raft.

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

The original Ocean’s 11 became one of Warner Brothers’ most profitable pictures upon its August 1960 release. And while some movie critics

harrumphed that the tale was immoral, most reviewers declared it a romp – and quite a clever scheme.

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

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

Working from home still a job

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

The COVID-19 pandemic recruited thousands more home workers as the global shutdown forced companies around the world to send their office staff home for the duration. Now that the duration seems to have dissipated, these armies of workers have grown to like the idea of not having to don business office attire and fight traffic to perform their workaday chores.

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

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

Work-at-home fanciers can meet their quotas and deadlines by developing a routine that fits their lifestyle. Early birds can get their work done between 5-9 a.m. Others can dedicate a 2-6 p.m. to producing if they don’t feel like

going along with traditionalists who still like a 9-to-5 workday.

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

Maintaining regular hours is your first step to a successful work-at-home program. You don’t have to be as strict as the colleague cited earlier. Putting in some extra time today to complete a project will make tomorrow less stressful. You can still start your day with a soothing cup of coffee as well as take a

regular coffee break or two later in the day. And don’t forget to have lunch.

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

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

While it’s important to dedicate a room or space for your office, it’s also wise to maintain a separate phone number for your

job. Today’s computerized world simplifies much of the communication needs that help you stay in contact with your company, coworkers, clients and customers.

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

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

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

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

North Woods

EDISON LAKES