Senior Life - St. Joseph - September 2023

Local car enthusiast wins…

“We looked at the car and suddenly there was a ribbon on it! I was in shock, it was so incredible,” Michael Sikorski recounted about his win of Best in Class in the Corvette division. As Sikorski explained, the Concours d’Elegance is the Superbowl of car shows.

His love for cars started

in childhood. One day his uncle came home with a new red convertible and invited Sikorski to be the first person to passenger in the car. He recalled memories of watching his other uncle changing the oil in his 1951 Studebaker and helping his father take care of his car. When the Sikorski family gathers, cars are always a main topic of conversation, even at funerals.

“We were making small talk at the funeral, and before I knew it we were all in the parking lot looking and talking about our cars,” Sikorski explained. Instead of blood, his heart pumps motor oil. His love for cars intensified even further when his wife, Chris, gifted him a fourth generation 1985 Chevrolet Corvette for his 50th birthday.

d’Elegance

The Sikorskis took the Corvette to “cruise ins” at the K-Mart in Niles, Michigan. A “cruise in” is a social gathering of car hobbyists to gather and talk cars.

Sikorski put lots of elbow grease and hard work into cleaning up his Corvette to make it the best it can be. His Corvette was consistently winning award after award. He was invited to enter the Concours d’Elegance.

Normally, the Concours d’Elegance does not accept Corvettes; however, 2023 is Corvette’s 70th anniversary. In honor of that, Concours d’Elegance accepted one Corvette per generation. Sikorski’s Corvette was accepted, a dream for every car lover. Among the other accepted Corvettes was the Indianapolis 500 pace car and a 69-year-old Corvette. Other

Continued on page 8

Key Positions

Wargo directs MPHPL operations

Dena Wargo has worked her way up the ladder through dedication and education. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology from Indiana University and a Masters in Counseling and Human Services from Indiana University South Bend.

Wargo is the Director of Operations at the MishawakaPenn-Harris Public Library, but she worked hard to get there.

She spent the first 25 years of her career working in the financial services industry, serving in the Human Resources and Professional Development department. Her work commute for some of these years went from Granger to St. Joseph, Michigan. She started

job searching a little closer to home, when she stumbled across a fantastic opportunity.

“My job is full of variety and no two days are the same!”

Wargo exclaimed. Some of her duties include: recruiting, interviewing, hiring, benefits and payroll. She is also responsible for overseeing Information Technology, Maintenance, Security services and Capital Improvement projects.

She has been serving MPHPL for over 10 years.

“Life delivers challenges and stressors; however, maintaining a positive attitude and outlook are the key to successful leadership. Choose to be an excellent example to those around you, regardless of the circumstances or audience,”

Wargo explained with her advice to fellow leaders. Wargo finds professional and personal

success by committing to be the best version of herself she can be.

Wargo enjoys her current job, citing the “amazing” staff as one of the many reasons.

“I’m blessed to work with an amazing team and our Board of Trustees. Although my position doesn’t involve my working directly with patrons, I do enjoy exchanging with them when I’m out and about in the library and of course, I promote our outstanding library whenever I’m out and about in the community,” she explained.

career change.”

Being with MPHPL for nearly 11 years, Wargo found herself looking for a title change. Wargo is striving to serve as Library Director for the MPHPL, as she is currently working on her Masters in Library and Information Sciences from Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis. Acquiring this degree is her first step toward her goal. Her graduation date is on track for May 2024.

What is the difference between a will and a trust?

But of course, even dream jobs have their downsides, “as a Human Resources professional, the hardest part of my job involves involuntary terminations. I’m an avid believer that the day terminating someone gets easy, that’s the day that it’s time for a Many use the terms “will”

and “trust” interchangeably, but they are very different. In many cases, it’s wise to have a will and trust as components of an estate plan.

Both a will and trust allow you to make your wishes known, choose a person to settle affairs, and decide who receives assets.

The differences are:

A will does not take effect until death, whereas a trust takes effect immediately.

If you become incapacitated and have only a will, the court will appoint a guardian to manage your affairs.

Trusts allow you to serve as trustee during your lifetime. If you become incapacitated, your named successor manages assets.

Upon death, wills are submitted to the court for administration. Probate is the process that distributes assets to your named beneficiaries.

If you have a trust, your trustee will manage and distribute assets according to the terms of your trust.

It’s important to work with a professional to determine how best to protect your assets and beneficiaries.

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.

Free Community Active Aging, Wellness Resource Fair Sept. 7

Aging Connections of Michiana is hosting a free Community Active Aging and Wellness Resource Fair Thursday, Sept. 7. The event will be held on the second floor of The Ribbon Town Conference and Event Center in the new Four Winds Hotel, located beside Four Winds Casino, 3000 Prairie Ave., South Bend.

The opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. and the fair ends at 3 p.m.

Free parking and valet parking are available. There will also be health screenings and resources, information to stay active and healthy, veterans resources, entertainment and raffle prizes.

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with 70-plus

Mature money matters

care several thousands of dollars, which it normally rejects, and the person being screened is billed.

Save on Socializing

Partying into the wee hours of the morning is something of the long ago for most seniors as they become accustomed to bedtimes shortly after the evening news.

Hosting nighttime festivities for friends and family decreases as a result, so why not invite everyone over for Sunday – or Saturday – brunch. Or Tuesday – or Thursday –afternoon tea.

You’re likely to get better responses since everyone will be able to drive home in daylight.

You’ll also probably save money on the food and refreshments since your guests will likely down less wine with the array of less expensive finger food you prepare for them.

Another Senior Scam Crooks have been focusing on health fairs that are increasing in popularity among the growing seniors crowd.

Scammers offer free genetic screening. All they need, they say, is a cheek swab and your Medicare number to pay for the screening.

The crooks then bill Medi-

If you feel you could use or would benefit from genetic screening, take up the matter with your family doctor.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

local aging 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. For example, the St. Joseph County Department of Health will be administering the Tdap vaccine. It can protect adolescents and adults from tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. The PCV 20 (pneumonia vaccine) for those 65 and older will also be offered. If the new COVID booster is in by then, those will be available too.

There will be free entertainment for the entire event beginning with the opening ceremonies, which include The Miller’s Vets Color Guard and the national anthem, which

will be performed by Shalom Menora, CEO of Sterling Health Care. The fair also features St. Paul’s Bell Ringers, and Forever Learning Center’s Silver Tones. The headliner at noon will be Elvis Tribute Artist Curt Lechner, who will present “The Essence Of Elvis.”

“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. This means ACOM is a resourcing organization. We connect 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 its program of work. The programs include educational offerings, promoting business, building community and relationships, and serving an aging population for the benefit of one another, other professionals, and the community at large. Aging Connections currently serves northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan.

For additional information regarding Aging Connections, or to see updated event information, visit www.agingconnections.org.

Priebe publishes three books

Melinda Priebe has always had a way with words. In elementary school, she would write pages using that week’s spelling words instead of the assigned sentences.

“I was telling stories before I even learned how to read or write,” Priebe explained.

Priebe continues telling stories, publishing three children’s

books with two more books on the way. Priebe also illustrates her books.

Priebe’s authorial debut was with her book, “Johnny Loves the Library.” The children’s book recounts a close call she encountered with her own son. The book explains stranger danger, Code Adam and how “bad people” are not as easy to spot as the media portrays.

Priebe collaborated with her aunt, Joanna Starner, for the il-

84,150

lustrations in her second book, “The Dreamer that Could and the Secret of His Success.” The book follows R.T., a young slave that dreams of freedom and a better life. Priebe dedicated the book to all fellow dreamers.

Her third book, A Walk Through The Zoo, features her art and facts about each animal. This book is aimed at younger children, but Priebe does have plans to make a similar book geared toward older children. Some of the animals in the book were inspired by local zoo animals, including an otter from the South Bend Zoo.

In “A Walk Through the Zoo,” Priebe included a drawing that was done by her late daughter. Art was invaluably therapeutic to Priebe after the loss of her daughter.

Priebe reminisced about a pastel drawing she had done shortly after losing her daughter: a candle display.

“I didn’t really want to do it at all because it was the same candle that created the house fire that killed my daughter. I did not like the colors that I was inspired with for the drawing. I kept scraping it off,” Priebe explained, “through all the struggle and scraping of pastel there was a shape of an angel that is holding someone up. The biggest candle is on a candlestick, and a friend pointed out that the stick said ‘hope’ on it.”

Locations

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When she is not putting pen to paper, Priebe works a full time job at Walmart on their maintenance team. However, she does find herself writing while on her lunch break.

“I bring my laptop so if inspiration strikes I write while on my lunch break,” Priebe explained.

Once she turns 65, she plans on doing a partial retirement, so she can dedicate more time to her writing. She hopes to have her novel out by Christmas 2024. Priebe’s books, art prints and other merchandise can be purchased through her website, melindapriebe.com/home.

Water monitor training Sept. 9

Are you interested in being a watershed steward? Have you ever wondered about the health of streams, rivers, or ponds? How does one even begin to measure the health of water? If you are curious about the quality of water in the area and want to learn how to be a volunteer citizen scientist who collects chemical,

biological, and physical data on local waterways, people may sign up for this free workshop.

A Hoosier River Watch basic training workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at St. Patrick’s County Park.

This free event is open to all people ages 18 and older. Regis-

tration is limited to 15 people. Bring a bag lunch and either waterproof shoes or boots to go into the creek. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Call St. Joseph County Parks to enroll at (574) 654-3155. St. Patrick’s County Park is located at 50651 Laurel Road, South Bend.

Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $37 for one year; and $64 for two years. (Select one edition.) Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt.

ADVERTISING

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Reprinting in part or whole of any article in Senior Life is not allowed without express written permission from Senior Life.

adults 65+

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Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library programs for adults

Below is the MPHPL September calendar of events for adults. All reservations for in-person or Zoom attendance may be secured by calling (574) 259-5277; check mphpl.org for the most up-todate information regarding events. Registration is required for most programs.

In the Community Events

“Chicory Cafe Book Club,” 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. MPHPL continues to host a monthly book club at the Chicory Cafe in Mishawaka, 114 W. First St. Adults are welcome to join the club and discuss the book of the month. “The Plot” by Jean Hanff Korelitz can be picked up in advance at the front desk of the Mishawaka Library.

Bittersweet Branch Events

“Make with Us: Stepping Stones,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11. Spend an hour in this engaging class creating crafts. Each participant will leave with a unique stepping stone.

“Yak, Snack and Read Book Club,” 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12. “The Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Michele Richardson can be picked up in advance at the front desk.

“Bingo,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13. Winners will receive small prizes and raffle tickets for a chance to win a door prize.

“DIY at Dusk: Origami Fall Garland,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. Enjoy a fun night out while meeting new friends

and creating a seasonal garland. Participants can walk out of this event with their own garlands.

Mishawaka Library Events

“American Heritage Spotlight,”

6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.

12. This month’s speaker, Travis Childs, presents “The Fur Trade in St. Joseph County.” Childs, an archivist for The History Museum, South Bend, will discuss the French and French-descendant fur traders, who came to northern Indiana and created clothing for kings, queens and popes worldwide.

“Delectable Lit,” 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. In this unique book and food club, you get the chance to combine the two. “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman can be picked up in advance at the front desk; must have a MPHPL library card to register for this program.

“Tailgate Tastings: Salsa,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19. Learn a new spin on this tailgate favorite in the Friends Learning Lab Makerspace; must have a MPHPL library card to register for this program.

“Mug ‘n’ Muffin Monthly Book Club,” 10:15-11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. “A Streetcar Named

Desire” by Tennessee Williams can be picked up in advance at the front desk.

“Retro TV Trivia Night,” 6:308:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. Grab binge-watching buddies for an evening of TV-themed trivia. MPHPL will cover your favorite shows from the 1950s through the 1990s. Teams must have between two to six members. A small prize will be awarded to the winning team; limited to 15 teams.

“Cooking Classics: Fortune Cookies,” 4:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25. Try your hand at making fortune cookies; must have a MPHPL library card to register for this program.

“Overwhelmed by the Thought of Moving: Where to Start and What to Expect,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26. Learn where to start and what to expect from local realtor, Kirsten Sharpe, the Realtor for Seniors. In this program, participants will learn about the preparations needed in order to move and sell their houses.

“Copycat Cooking: Homemade Soda,” 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. This fun cooking program explores popular foods

and beverages, and learning to recreate the recipe; must have a MPHPL library card to register for this program.

Zoom Only Events

“Take a Trip to Brazil on Zoom,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5. Take an entertaining and educational tour of Brazil.

“Virtual Craft Hour: Yarn Pumpkins,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 15. A library staff member will walk you through the creation of this craft project from beginning to end. Details on when and where to pick up program supplies will be sent via email to registrants.

Give it your all as a caregiver

My name is Ella Ford. I have been a caregiver with Always Best Care for a little over a year. I became a caregiver because I love helping others. It makes me happy knowing that by being with them, I can help them feel better throughout their day.

I like being a caregiver because I can make a difference in their life. By being with someone, you can draw out the best in them and bring them back to life. I love building relationships with others and making them happy and getting them to laugh. My clients and I both really enjoy each other’s company. Even though I am there to help them, they bring me joy, too.

If you would like to become a caregiver, my advice would be to just be yourself. And then, give your all to the client. They will benefit and you will benefit, too.

Become a caregiver with Always Best Care. Our mission is to support our clients and their loved ones by providing the most reliable care services.

Always Best Care is located at 310 N. Ironwood Drive, South Bend. Call (574) 232-8487 for more information.

‘First mobile journalist’ loves covering Notre Dame sports

When asked about his heroes as an adult, Dr. Len Clark cites two legendary University of Notre Dame figures — former football coach Ara Parseghian and long-time president the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh.

Oh, and Clark loves covering Fighting Irish sports.

“It’s a different mindset,” said Clark, 59. “Other schools have their rituals, but it’s just not the same passion.”

A guy with a varied career, from the sports field to the classroom, Clark covers Notre Dame sports for Irish Illustrated, an online platform for ND athletics.

Clark is particularly excited about covering this year’s Fighting Irish football season opener Aug. 26 against Navy in Dublin, Ireland.

“You just can’t describe it,” said Clark, a Portage resident. “I love the way everyone connected with the game is so excited.”

Clark is no stranger to Ireland and has been trying to sell Notre Dame on a course he developed called “Irish Media and Culture.”

His travels have also taken him to Spain, where in 2022 he completed a four-day, 75-mile

Camino de Santiago de Compostela, a pilgrimage of the apostle James.

Clark, who earned a master’s degree at Notre Dame, received his doctorate from Illinois Institute of Technology. His professional life has taken him from the Colts to ESPN Game Day to WSBT, a South Bend television station.

Clark describes himself as an entrepreneurial communications professional specializing in emerging technologies, sales development and leadership training.

Having founded LTC Media, he works with global media companies as a brand ambassador, in addition to training the next generation of journalists.

Using the latest media tools for the smartphone, Clark covers Notre Dame football and men’s basketball, and has been dubbed “Indiana’s first mobile journalist.”

Irish Illustrated has 80,000 visitors to its site, and most of them are not ND grads. Many fans, Clark said, are interested in recruiting and Fighting Irish coaches, including new men’s hoops coach Micah Shrewsberry.

“They want football,” said Clark, who regrets that for business purposes Irish Illustrated only focuses on two sports.

Typical online sports stories

include promising recruits making return visits to South Bend, current player features, and Notre Dame’s chances of making the national college football playoffs.

In education, Clark’s research focuses on emerging media. His doctoral dissertation investigated the skills needed by global journalists in the mid-21st century and beyond.

Clark’s teaching resume includes stops at Kentucky Wesleyan, Virginia Tech and the University of Evansville. He taught a multimedia journalism course at Notre Dame in 2016-17.

Clark returned in mid-July to the ND campus to address an alumni club-sponsored student send-off. Standing on the 50-year line of Notre Dame Stadium, he shared with students and parents the same message he imparted to ND students on the first and final day of his journalism course.

Clark promotes five virtues to students – focus, passion, positive attitude, having a thick skin and an entrepreneurial spirit.

“With the tools out there, students can connect with anything they want to do,” Clark said. “I always ask students, ‘what did they do today to get closer to their goals?’”

Be picky about economy class airplane seats

ed cabin in the sky. Known as seat pitch, it ranges from 28 to 34 inches on U.S. carriers.

Legroom — the distance from the point of one seat to the same point on the seat in front of it — has become a common currency among flyers seeking the most comfort in the crowd-

Seat width, which ranges from 17 to 18 inches, also is a comfort consideration. Widebodied aircraft that are squeezing in more rows of seats are most likely to have the narrow-

est economy class seating. While window seats offer a bit more privacy than an aisle seat and more comfort than a middle seat, it may not have a window at all because not all seating rows line up with the aircraft’s windows. Mature

Local car enthusiast

Continued from page 1

notable cars displayed were cars owned by Amelia Earhart and Charlie Chaplin.

The day started with rain, but ended with a win.

“As the judges were approaching, I noticed two big blotches of bird poop on my

otherwise sparkling clean Corvette,” Sikorski said.

Luckily, the bird droppings were no match for Sikorski’s years of car cleaning and maintenance experience.

“I was thrilled to even have an opportunity to show my car. My car is one of a kind, prove

me wrong, no one ever has.”

Before Sikorski knew it, there was a ribbon on his car and a cut glass trophy in his hands.

“I like to stay busy because I think it keeps me young. I went to the doctor’s the other week and he couldn’t

find anything wrong with me. But one day, I won’t be able to get under the car to do work,” Sikorski explained, but he has plenty of other hobbies to fall back on when that day comes.

home improvement projects. The future of Sikorski’s car hobby is unclear, he has since decreased the amount of “cruise ins” he attends and he does not belong to a club. Maybe there is a second Concours d’Elegance win on the horizon.

Ten finalists selected in poster design contest

Ten finalists have been chosen in the “South Bend: The Next 100 Years” poster design contest, presented by the Studebaker National Museum and The History Museum. Judges made the selection from a total of 75 entries received from nine U.S. states and three countries.

The finalists are:

• Jesse Amstutz, South Bend.

• Stephen Barany, South Bend.

• Tyler Foley, South Bend.

• Bob Green, Scottsville, N.Y.

• James Jursinic, Mishawaka.

• Ben Murray, South Bend.

• Chad Rajski, Mishawaka.

• Lucie Rice, Carmel.

• Steven Sult, Niles, Mich.

• Bill Tourtillotte, South Bend.

Each finalist has been given a prize of $1,000. The top three winners will be announced, with cash prizes of $10,000 for

first prize, $5,000 for second prize, and $3,500 for third prize awarded.

The contest is co-sponsored in part by South Bend community leaders, John Phair and Doug Hunt, who said, “If the enthusiasm of the artists for the future of South Bend is any indication, the people of South Bend are ready to shape the next 100 years indeed.”

An intriguing array of colors and designs can be seen in the artwork. The theme of imagining South Bend in 2123 is visible in each poster, yet each is strikingly different from the others.

“There were so many fantastic entries,” said juror and project organizer, Mark Rospenda. “But the 10 images created by these artists and designers stand out as really encapsulating what we

Professional Services

Q. What is a Trust?

A. People set up trusts to help manage their assets during their lifetime and after death. In the event of death, trusts make sure that your beneficiaries receive your assets according to your wishes. They can assist you in caring for dependents that may struggle with financial inexperience, addiction, or illness. In the event of incapacity, they also ensure that you get the type of care you need.

A trust involves a grantor, a person or institution that has assets and creates a trust. A trustee is appointed by the grantor to manage the trust for a beneficiary or beneficiaries. The grantor can choose a corporate trustee, relative, or other person to manage the trust. If the trustee is a financial institution, a trust officer will be assigned to administer the trust account.

A beneficiary is a person or institution that receives distributions of trust assets. Beneficiaries can be children, spouses,

were hoping to see in this project. Each is aspirational, beautiful and represents the city and its future in extremely creative ways.”

The nine judges are community leaders and based their selections on how well each design met the contest’s expressed guidelines of being original, visually interesting, compositional, well crafted, and embodying the potential that exists in South Bend to flourish for the next 100 years.

Pat Slebonick, executive director of the Studebaker National Museum, said, “The jury was impressed by the amount of passion and effort that our artists put into their submission. The quality of submissions made the judging process difficult. The works of art that were entered in

Ryan Hahn Trust Administrator

other relatives, charities, or any other entity named by the grantor.

In preparing for the future, trusts can be an essential part of your long-term financial plan. It’s important to meet with a qualified estate planning attorney or trust officer about how to best protect your assets and beneficiaries. Contact me 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.

this competition are remarkable. We appreciate all the artists who entered.”

The 10 posters are on display at the campus shared by the Studebaker National Museum and The History Museum. The exhibit, “South Bend: The Next 100 Years” is open through Dec. 31.

According to Brian Harding, executive director of The History Museum, “We are thrilled to share this exhibit with the community, so that everyone can experience the remarkable entries we received and celebrate the importance these images have for our community.”

The first prize winning poster will be professionally printed and available for sale to the public. Proceeds from the sale of prints will be used to further the mis-

sions of both museums. The idea for the contest was sparked by a poster first presented as the cover of a survey booklet designed in 1922. Since then, it has been a source of inspiration and civic pride to South Bend residents. Its cover image — the poster — captured a sense of pride about how far South Bend had come, as well as optimism of where it hoped to grow. Today, on the 200th anniversary of Coquillard’s settling in the area, The History Museum and Studebaker National Museum are hosting this competition. For more information, contact Studebaker National Museum at (574) 235-9714 and The History Museum at (574) 235-9664, or www.studebakermuseum.org and www.historymusesumSB. org.

Professional Forum . . .

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Q. Where are Senior Life Newspapers distributed?

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!

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

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com Cathy Wilson, Account Executive Serving South Bend and Surrounding Counties (574) 298-8806 1-866-580-1138 Ext. 2402 cwilson@the-papers.com

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 the 15th of every month 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: Seated Strength, 10 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday; Gentle Yoga, 5:30 p.m. every Monday and every other Wednesday; Chair Yoga, 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday and 11:45 a.m. every Thursday; Empowered Movement, 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday; Kim’s Bra Boutique, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13; Beginning yarn work, 10 a.m. every Thurs-

day; Debbie’s Wig Salon, 1 p.m. every Thursday; and men’s group, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26.

—o—

The City of South Bend Ethnic Festival, now called the Fusion Fest, is a two-day festival held Sept. 9-10, at Howard Park. Visit www.sbvpa.org/festival for more information.

—o—

The Morris Performing Arts

Center announced the South Bend Symphony Orchestra will perform “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” Oct. 7-8, as part of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series. The concert will feature the South Bend Symphony Orchestra performing live, to picture, every note from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Audiences will be able to

relive the magic of the entire film in high-definition on a 40-foot screen, while hearing South Bend Symphony Orchestra perform John Williams’ unforgettable score live. Subscriptions to the Indiana Trust Pops Series are on sale and single tickets can purchased. Visit www. morriscenter.org or call (574) 235-9190.

Don’t lose your home to nursing home costs

There are unique opportunities for married couples when it comes to protecting assets from nursing home spend downs. If advance planning is done with an experienced attorney in the field of Medicaid law, the assets of the first spouse to die can be placed in a special type of trust, which has sometimes been referred to as a “safe harbor trust.”

The technical term is an irrevocable testamentary special needs trust. Assets passing to provide for the care of the surviving spouse in this way

can be fully protected from nursing home spend downs. They are available for care and needs during the lifetime of the surviving spouse. They may also be better protected from death taxes and probate fees when they pass to the children at the time the surviving spouse passes away.

Think about the implications of this. With proper advanced planning, a married couple can shelter forever hundreds of thousands of dollars of assets from the effects of longterm catastrophic illness.

Other techniques, notably the Medicaid Asset Protec-

tion Trust, can be available not only to married couples, but also to single people. This type of proactive planning is extremely valuable and offers an incredible return on investment. Do you have a longterm care policy? The average person age 65 will have to pay almost $2,940 per year for longterm nursing care coverage. For married couples, this is almost $6,000 per year. If each lives to life expectancy and there are no increases in premiums, the total payout could exceed $120,000 or more. Many clients either cannot afford such an invest-

ment, or they are not eligible at all because of medical conditions. For perhaps 1/10 or 1/20 of this amount, estate planning and Medicaid planning can give substantial protection not available through any other means.

Because we are an Elder Law firm, we can even help save you or your life savings from nursing home spend down. Want to learn more? Call (800) 303-7423, stop by our office at 1237 E. University Drive, Granger, or visit www.riceandrice.com for a free, no-obligation consultation or to attend one of our workshops.

Mature health matters after 50

Look After Eye Strain

Many parts of your body don’t work as well after you’re 50 than they did before you strolled past the half-century mark.

A common but overlooked problem is dry eye, which results in itchy and burning eyes. The irritation is often caused by lowered tear produc-

tion, which decreases with age and can be exacerbated among snowbirds who spend their winters in dry desert climates.

Long sessions at your computer, driving, and watching television are also among the causes.

Over-the-counter eye drops can alleviate the condition readily, but you should have your eyes medically examined to determine proper treatment.

Another common complaint by the over-50 crowd is “floaters and flashes.” Floaters resemble black spots or cobwebs wandering through your eye and can be constant or episodic. Flashes, which are episodic, are brief blasts of light.

Both are normally harmless but should be checked because they can signal a detached retina, which can lead to blindness.

Look For The Spice of Life

When sorting through one’s catalog of places to eat, the choice narrows down to less exotic eateries as one gets older. One’s gastric system requires more protection from spicy foods as it ages, seems to be normal thinking.

However, an analysis a half dozen years ago of a two-decade study of some 16,000 adults revealed that those who reported having hot peppers in their diet

reduced their risk of death by more than 10%.

This means a bit of spice in your life can add years to your life.

Apparently, when you bite into a hot pepper, your brain produces endorphins to reduce the heat you’re taking in. At the same time, those endorphins coursing through your body also reduce any pain and inflammation from other sources.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

South Bend woman is a living, miracle musician

“I started taking piano lessons when I was 8 years old,” stated Winona McGinnis, South Bend. “My father was a pastor and I started playing piano for the church when I was 12. I’ve always loved assisting people in worship with music. When I was told at age 30 that I’d never play piano again, I

was devastated. However, I’ve always been a determined and competitive person. I was bound and determined to prove the medical professionals wrong.” She is now a living miracle, accompanying the congregation on the piano at her home church, Elkhart Church of Christ.

“I came forward to receive Christ at 12 years of age when my father was preaching,”

McGinnis said. “My fondest memories of growing up in church are the fellowship and closeness we experienced as like-minded believers. Our bond was special.”

She married John McGinnis, a Bible college graduate.

“My husband majored in theology and loves the Lord. He’s a carpenter by trade. Now, he is assisting the pastor and leadership team at our church,” said McGinnis.

Her life became rocky and difficult when she was 30 years old.

“I was a breast-feeding counselor at the time. John was battling cancer, so I had the intention of becoming a lactation consultant, in case I needed to be the main financial provider,” she said.

John recovered from his battle with cancer. However, she was in for a fierce battle of her own.

“I was heading to a conference in Bloomington in the passenger seat. The driver was speeding at the time. When she reached for her coffee, she lost control of her van. We flipped end over end, front to back. No one was killed. But I got the brunt of the injuries since I was on the passenger side,” McGinnis said.

The doctors didn’t think McGinnis was going to make it.

“My arm was broken in seven places and my left lung was punctured. The orbit in my left eye was blown. My left cheek was gashed. I received a traumatic brain injury. I was in a coma for 17 days, and they had to remove part of the temporal lobe in my brain, which controls my music ability,” McGinnis said.

She did pull through. After three months in the hospital, she was finally able to go home.

“The accident caused me to be a 2-year-old in a 30-yearold body,” McGinnis said. “I had to relearn everything. I had to learn basic skills again, like brushing my hair. I also had to learn how to put words together to communicate. I’d had a tracheotomy, so I had to

learn to swallow again.”

The doctors still didn’t hold out hope that she would live much longer. Her right arm and hand were so damaged they assured her family that she’d never play piano again.

“People all over the world were praying for me. It wasn’t long until I began to take piano lessons again. My piano teacher started me out with a device that helped my right

arm to move and my fingers to hit the keys,” she said.

McGinnis spent 10 more years taking lessons.

With all that behind her, she’s now in charge of the choir at her church. Those in the congregation know her as a very accomplished pianist.

“I give all the glory to God,” she concluded. “Thanks to him, I’m a living, miracle musician.”

Technology helps keep you at home

As the aging population grows, so grows the need for facilities and workers to provide senior care.

Complicating matters is the fact that many folks intend to grow old at home.

Technology may have come to the rescue for folks who are still alert and physically unchallenged.

Camera and sensor systems can be installed that link with the children, siblings or caregivers who monitor the household. There are devices available to dole out the proper medication at the proper time.

When seniors leave the house, they can use cellphones, wristwatches and global positioning systems to help monitors keep track of their moves. Medical-alert bracelets help seniors get help when they fall, sensors can be installed to automatically turn off stoves, and devices can be installed to prevent bathtub overflowing.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

Oppenheimer: ‘The Destroyer of Worlds’

After more than a half century nearly forgotten in history books, the name of Julius Robert Oppenheimer, primarily responsible for the development of the atomic bomb, has been re-introduced to the public by way of a big-screen Hollywood film.

Oppenheimer, a nuclear physicist, is arguably one of history’s most controversial figures. Some historians list him as saving the world from armed conflicts, while others regard his work as that of the devil, forever plaguing the planet with instant destruction.

Born April 22, 1904, Oppenheimer was director of the highly secret Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico during World War II. He is credited as being the “father of the atomic bomb” for his leadership in creating the first nuclear weapons.

Not only was he controversial for his role in the development of atomic energy, Oppenheimer was also suspected of having communist leanings. Although he never openly joined the Communist Party, he did pass money to leftist causes by way of acquaintances who were alleged to be party members. Various associations Oppenheimer had with people and organizations affiliated with the Communist Party led to the revocation of his security clearance in 1954.

On October 9, 1941, two months before the United States entered World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved a crash program to develop an atomic bomb. In June 1942, the U.S. Army established the Manhattan Engineer District to handle its part in the atom bomb project.

Brig. Gen. Leslie Groves was appointed director of what became known as the Manhattan Project. He selected Oppenheimer to head the project’s secret weapons laboratory. This choice surprised many because of Oppenheimer’s

left-wing political views and the fact that he had no record of leading large projects. Groves was impressed by Oppenheimer’s singular grasp of the practical aspects of designing and constructing an atomic bomb.

As a military engineer, Groves knew this would be vital in an interdisciplinary project that would involve not just physics, but chemistry, metallurgy ordinance, and engineering. Groves also detected in Oppenheimer something many others did not: overwhelming ambition. Groves reckoned that quality would supply the drive necessary to push the project to a successful conclusion. Fellow scientist Isidor Rabi considered Oppenheimer’s appointment “a real stroke of genius on the part of General Groves, who was not generally considered to be an ‘intellect.’”

Oppenheimer and Groves decided that for security and cohesion they needed a centralized, secret research laboratory in a remote location. They selected a spot in northern New Mexico not far from the scientist’s ranch. The Los Alamos Laboratory was built on the site of a boys’ school, taking over some of its buildings. Many new buildings were quickly constructed.

Los Alamos was initially supposed to be a military laboratory, so Oppenheimer and other

researchers were to be commissioned into the Army, but some of the scientists balked at the idea. Groves and Oppenheimer compromised whereby the laboratory would be operated by the University of California under contract to the War Department. Oppenheimer had underestimated the magnitude of the project, as Los Alamos grew from a few hundred people in 1943 to more than 6,000 in 1945.

In 1943, there was anxiety among the U.S. scientists that Germany might be making better progress on an atomic weapon than they were. Oppenheimer discarded a proposal to use radioactive materials to poison German food supplies. He questioned whether enough strontium could be produced to poison enough food “to kill a half a million men.”

The scientists at Los Alamos produced the world’s first nuclear explosion, near Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July 16, 1945. Oppenheimer had given the site the code name “Trinity.” Years later he said a verse entered his head at that time that translated as “I have become death, the destroyer of worlds.”

Among those present with Oppenheimer in the control bunker at the Trinity site were his brother, Frank, and Brig. Gen. Thomas Farrell. When Frank Oppenheimer was asked what Robert’s first words after the test had been, the answer was, “I guess it worked.” A month later, atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which brought about the

end of World War II. The public was not aware of the top secret Manhattan Project until after the war. By 1946, the public was made aware of secret U.S. atomic bomb plans being passed by Russian spies, which resulted in the Soviet Union becoming a nuclear power.

In October 1945, Oppenheimer was granted an interview with President Harry S. Truman, who was not made aware of the Manhattan Project until he became president upon Roosevelt’s death in April 1945. Oppenheimer told Truman he felt as though he had “blood on my hands.” The remark infuriated Truman, who quickly ended their meeting. Truman later told Undersecretary of State Dean Acheson, “I don’t want to see that son of a bitch in

this office ever again.”

After the war, Oppenheimer became chairman of the newly created U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. He lobbied for international control of atomic power to avert a nuclear race with the Soviet Union.

At his 1954 security clearance hearings, he flatly denied being a member of the Communist Party but did identify himself as a “fellow traveler,” which he defined as “someone who agrees with many of communism’s goals but is not willing to blindly follow orders from any Communist Party apparatus,” for which he was stripped of his security clearance.

He died Feb. 18, 1967, at the age of 62.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

IIt’s easy! Simply find the backpack 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. (Online

The winner of the I Spy Contest for August is Betty Straub of Columbia City. The beach chair was located on page 14 in Senior Life Allen; page 6 in Senior Life Northwest; page 18 in Senior Life Elko and page 23 in Senior Life St. Joseph.

Elder abuse: combating injustice

• Staff at inpatient facilities.

• Hired or volunteer caregivers.

• Allowing someone new to access bank accounts.

Elder abuse is the intentional mistreatment or harming of an older person. An older person is defined by the Social Security Act as someone over age 60. This abuse takes many forms — including physical, emotional, and sexual harm, neglect, and financial exploitation.

More than 1 in 10 older adults experience some form of abuse each year. That number is likely much higher because elder abuse is often underreported — especially in underserved communities.

Abuse victims typically show emotional and behavioral red flags, such as depression, unusual fear or anxiety, or intentional isolation. Many victims are abused by someone they know or trust. It’s important to look for unusual changes in behavior around:

• Family members.

• People in positions of trust like doctors or financial advisors.

You can also help make a difference by checking in with older loved ones. Looking for warning signs of mistreatment is the first step to preventing abuse. Signs of physical abuse include bruises, burns, or other unexplained injuries.

There may also be signs of neglect like:

• Poor nutrition or hygiene.

• Lack of necessary medical aids like glasses or medications that a caretaker should be providing.

There may also be indications of financial abuse. These may include:

• Unpaid rent.

• Sudden changes to a will.

• Unusual changes in money management.

• Large, unexplained financial transactions.

• Mortgages despite sufficient financial resources.

If you suspect that someone is a victim of elder abuse, don’t ignore it! If you or someone you care about is in a lifethreatening situation, call 911. If you suspect that something isn’t right — but nobody seems to be in immediate danger — contact:

Your local Adult Protective Services at napsa-now.org/helpin-your-area.

The National Center on Elder Abuse at (855) 500-3537 (ELDR).

You can also find additional local resources by searching the Eldercare Locator for your community at eldercare.acl.gov/ Public/index.aspx. Take some time to call or visit with an older adult. Ask if they are okay and listen to what they tell you. Pay attention to signs of abuse or unusual behavior. Most of all, don’t be afraid to report instances of suspected abuse. Share this information with those who need it.

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Sixties Flashback

— Paul McCartney confessed ‘It wasn’t fun anymore’

On the chilly, foggy Tuesday of December 27, 1960, several hundred British teenagers sardined into the spacious Litherland Town Hall in north Liverpool. Promotional posters had promised a grand night of rock ‘n’ roll and dancing to three local outfits and included the “debut” of the Beatles (billed as being ‘Direct from Hamburg’).”

Concertgoers that night, who assumed the quartet came from Germany, would remark later how good the band’s English skills were when the musicians chatted with the audience between songs.

Actually, all four Beatles had grown up in Liverpool. For the previous several months, though, they had been honing their musical chops by playing long sets of American Top 40 hits in smoke-filled dives in Hamburg’s gritty Reeperbahm district. In doing so, they had morphed from a ragtag bunch of minimally talented music cats into a respectable “cover” band that drew increasingly larger crowds each week.

That night at Litherland,

as the Beatles waited behind a curtain drawn across the dance-hall stage, the emcee snapped the crowd to attention with, “And now, everybody, the band you’ve been waiting for! Direct from Hamburg —” But before he could utter the word “Beatles,” an adrenaline-fueled Paul McCartney burst through the curtain to begin shrieking his favorite Little Richard hit:

“I’m gonna tell Aunt Mary ‘bout Uncle John

“He said he had the mis’ry but he got a lot of fun.”

“Long Tall Sally” instantly stopped the dancing as the crowd rushed to the stage to revel in the Beatles’ half-hour set as the black-leather-jacketclad young artists staked their claim to music history.

“Beatlemania” was ushered in that night.

Within two years, the Fab Four became UK stars. Their fame spread throughout Europe in 1963, and by 1964 they ruled the international world of pop music.

Flash to Aug. 29, 1966. The Beatles are scheduled to play a concert at San Francisco’s vast Candlestick Park stadium, the home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. Fans at that performance don’t realize this will be the final live show of the quartet’s stellar career; the announcement will be kept

secret until the band members return home to England. Who could blame the Beatles for their decision? Worldwide fame had robbed them of everything enjoyable about performing before an audience. The quartet’s powerful Vox amplifiers had become all but ineffective against the screamfest that rolled over the band like a tsunamic tide dur-

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Saint Joseph Health System - Holy Cross

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

ing each show.

So pronounced was John Lennon’s malaise that he began calling the Beatles’ live act a “freak show.” Ringo Starr was equally negative. (“Nobody was listening at the shows.”) Even normally positive Paul McCartney confessed, “It wasn’t fun anymore.”

That night at Candlestick

Park, the Beatles played on an elevated platform erected over second base and were surrounded by a chain-link fence. Essentially, the world’s leading rockers, amid chilly swirls of fog, performed their final concert in a cage. Their show ran 32 minutes and included 11 tunes, the last featuring Paul McCartney doing “Long Tall Sally.”

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Southfield Village

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St. Paul’s

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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

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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.

Bremen

Made from Salicornia is half the sodium of table salt

Has a Doctor ever told you to lower your salt intake? Too much sodium can affect your blood pressure in a bad way and even if you’re not shaking it on your food, processed and restaurant foods are high in sodium to a fault.

Green Salt is green, not white, or pink. It is a salt alternative with 50% of the sodium

that table salt has. That is pretty amazing. Green salt is 100% dehydrated salicornia, a superfood with a salty taste, sometimes called sea asparagus. Salicornia absorbs minerals in sea water like magnesium, potassium, and niacin. Have you heard of the foody word umami? Umami is being called the fifth taste group after sweet, sour, salty and bitter. The taste is a savoriness, an independent taste unlike the other four taste groups.

Salicornia is used fresh in fine dining restaurants throughout the world and also dehydrated into green salt which has a shelve life of 2-3 years.

I decided to give green salt a try. I put it in a small saltshaker, and added it to my bowl of soup each day — delicious.

Then I added it to vegetables at the end of cooking — delicious. Watermelon — delicious. See where I’m going. It adds that little — what’s in this taste and it’s all good. Plus, there is half the sodium of salt.

If you have high blood pressure, check with your doctor.

If not, I recommend enjoying it now. I ordered it online at trygreensalt.com, but I don’t see it on Amazon.

It’s all about the small steps and I see this as a simple way of consuming less sodium. It’s up to you to get you where you want to be.

The your health!

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

FOR LISTING CALL CATHY AT

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EXT. 2402 HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY

AGING & WELLNESS RESOURCES

DAY CENTER

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ALZHEIMERS/MEMORY CARE

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Economic exercises for fiscal fitness

So how do they expect to win at any financial game, which is measured in dollars, when they don’t even know the score?

There’s a myth perpetuated in the saying, “If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.”

Nonsense.

Even the wealthiest nabobs want to know the price of a product or service they’re buying.

It does not mean they won’t spend the money. They want to know what value or return they’re getting for their money.

That’s one of the reasons they have money. They keep an eye on it.

Most people don’t know how much money they’re carrying on them in their pockets or purses. Even more have no idea how much credit they have on their cards. Those who know how much credit remains on their credit cards at any particular moment are pretty well nonexistent.

There are some simple economic exercises you can take to become fiscally fit.

For one thing, you can look at your credit cards to determine just how much credit they add up to. Then subtract the debt against them to find out how much credit you have left. Stay on top of this figure.

Then look at how much money you have in your checking account and in your savings account.

Did you know what the totals were before looking? You shouldn’t have had to check. You should have known before looking.

If you didn’t know any of the above figures, it’s like playing a game of baseball, football, hockey, golf, you name it, and never knowing the score. How can you

expect to be a winner?

All this is aimed at making you take account of every penny you spend. Do you leave the television set running while you take a shower? Or while you’re out cutting the lawn? Do you switch off the light when you leave a room? Why do you have two lights on in the same room?

All this costs money that you can save by simply flicking a switch.

It focuses attention on the money game.

Another exercise is the simple one your mother probably taught you – “gluing” the final small sliver of soap to a new bar. You can cut down the soap usage around the house if you wear those pair of casual jeans one day longer than you had planned. Same with that fleece vest. This cuts down on the amount – and cost – of laundry detergent you use.

Each morning you can use the

same spoon that’s been rinsed and wiped clean to stir your coffee and to eat your cereal. This doesn’t’ make you a miser. It makes you a money manager.

These moves of economy stretch out to other areas. Why spend big bucks on movies when you can rent them inexpensively

to watch at home and eat much less expensive popcorn?

These simple moves should leave you with a clearer picture of what the money game is all about and lead you to more powerful exercises to help boost your financial fortunes.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Pack up your troubles for a trip

some of the pain should anything happen.

The vacation of your dreams can turn into a nightmare just as your time on a tropical beach can turn terrible.

Hurricane, a fractured wrist, a traffic accident, lost luggage, a missed transportation connection — any of these or many other reasons can be the cause.

Being a bit paranoid when planning your trip can ease

Make sure someone in your family knows where you’re going, what you plan to do and how long you’ll be away. Have that person or someone else be aware that they’ll be called should anything happen to you.

And don’t forget to have someone keep an eye on your apartment, house and property while you’re away.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

FOR LISTING CALL CATHY AT 1-866-580-1138 EXT. 2402 HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTORY

HOME HEALTHCARE AGENCY

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It was 50 years ago —

‘Delta Dawn’ a gift to songwriter’s mother Helen

Reddy

When we hear certain songs, we may wonder what the event was that inspired a songsmith to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Sometimes, though, what we learn about that inspiration is so painful that we may find ourselves reaching for the Kleenex.

Songwriter Alex Harvey explained “Delta Dawn” was about his mother, a Mississippi Delta-born hairdresser in Alex’s hometown of Brownsville, Tenn. At 41, she had given herself over to drink when a man who had promised her the world disappeared from her own, leaving her to stumble along Brownsville streets, suitcase in hand, looking for a “mansion in the sky.”

When Harvey was 15 years old, he played in a band. “We had just won a contest, and we were going to be on a TV show in Jackson, Tenn.,” he recalled. “My mother said she wanted to go. I told her that I thought she would embarrass me. She drank and sometimes

would do things that would make me feel ashamed, so I asked her not to go that night.”

When Alex returned home later from the TV taping, his world crumbled when he learned that his mother had died in a car wreck after running her vehicle into a tree.

Harvey suspected her death wasn’t an accident but had been a suicide. Devastated, he turned deep inside his music as the only form of therapy that brought him any solace.

Several years later, Alex was at a fellow songwriter’s house. It was late, and everyone there had fallen asleep except Harvey, who had stayed up to noodle on his guitar. That’s when he experienced a life-altering vision: “I looked up, and I felt as if my mother was in the room. I saw her very clearly. She was in a rocking chair, and she was laughing.”

Instantly, two song-lyric lines wafted into Alex’s consciousness:

“She’s 41 and her daddy still calls her ‘Baby’

“All the folks around Brownsville say she’s crazy”

He woke his friend and fellow songwriter Larry Collins and breathlessly poured out his story. Together, the two composed “Delta Dawn” in 20 minutes.

Alex recorded the song first, followed by Tanya Tucker, Bette Midler and Australian-

born Helen Reddy, with Helen’s version catching the rocket ride to the peak of the Billboard chart and becoming her second No. 1 single after “I Am Woman.”

Much of the success of “Delta Dawn” resulted from a combination of Reddy’s muscular vocals and that of the uplifting gospel background, dynamic and thunderous and sounding straight out of a southern tentrevival meeting.

“Delta Dawn” brought Alex Harvey blessed relief from the guilt that had shrouded him concerning his mother’s demise: “I really believe that my mother came into the room that night, not to scare me, but to tell me that it’s okay, that she made her choices in life, and it had nothing to do with me. I always felt like that song was a gift to my mother—and an apology to her.”

The Sterling Health Care Way. A term we often hear, but what does it actually mean?

Sterling Health Care Management operates a full continuum of care in South Bend: Briarcliff, a skilled nursing and memory care facility; Morning View Assisted Living, with a dedicated memory care unit; and The Milton Home, offering both skilled nursing and assisted living.

Building community in each setting, we endeavor to know our residents and what is important to them. We place the residents’ needs and desires first, while considering their environments, abilities, and experiences.

All clinical decisions are made with empathy, a deep respect for patient values, preferences, and rights.

The Sterling staff embraces meeting with residents, addressing their concerns and interests. CEO Shalom Menora

participates in facility events with his musical forte and enthusiastic personal resident and family interaction.

The 4 “C’s” of patient-centered care are: care, culture, communication and collaboration.

• Care: We get to know the individuals’ needs and wants.

• Culture: It is important to take the residents’ cultures, values, and lifestyle preferences into consideration.

• Communication: Sterling Health Care Management takes pride in providing updates on

services, feedback about the care provided, and offering treatment options.

• Collaboration: Residents, with their loved ones, make informed decisions together. While resident-centered services can vary, they all share common themes of providing patients with a fulfilling lifestyle, power over their decisions, and recognizing their preferences.

Fully engrossed in the patient-centered mentality, Menora reflected, “30 years ago, I was a cancer patient on the

same floor with children in the same situation and witnessed their desires, including reading, game playing, music, simple mobility, etc. In efforts of engaging all, and not disturbing the medical team, I led a group of 10 kids in activities on a different floor (as arranged by a doctor), complete with an atrium, where we engaged with each other in a daily club.”

We welcome you to tour our facilities, meet with our staff, and experience this for yourself or loved ones.

Quality of care makes a difference in quality of life Experience, expertise worth $$$

The experience and expertise you picked up during all your years in the rat race don’t have to be wasted.

You can volunteer your time and talent, of course.

Much of volunteer time is devoted to chores — delivering meals to the hungry or driving the elderly and ailing to doctor’s appointments, for instance.

As vital as these are, your background may be put to much more valuable use. You could teach youngsters to read music and play an instrument, or you might develop, improve and maintain systems of accountability for a charitable organization.

These can also be turned into income producers for you. In other words, you can operate your own business by doing these same things that you would volunteer to do.

What’s wrong with charging for music lessons? Or for handling the books and ledgers for someone, either a small company or

somebody who operates a business on their own but doesn’t have the time to do their own accounting and tax preparation?

Operating your own business after you’ve retired gives you complete control, a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, and something to do. It also keeps your mind keen and more aware of what’s happening in your town, the state capital, Washington, and the rest of the world.

You can augment your income and salve your ego if you’ve worked in business at any level, whether in a global conglomerate or a corner drugstore. You can also build a comfortable niche for yourself if you have a talent for or have developed a craft, such as an auto mechanic, builder, plumber, appliance repairman, computer guru, writer, landscaper, or accountant.

First determine what it is you’d like to do. If you’ve been a reporter and editor all your life, consider preparing and publishing newsletters for organizations. If you were a carpenter and spent most of your career in the

construction business, you might help builders prepare bids or put together structural plans.

Once you’ve decided what you’d like to do, you have to spread the word so you can get customers. This is called marketing. There are two major mottos to follow:

1. The best source of business is existing customers, and

2. Don’t make your first sales call if you don’t intend to make a follow-up call.

Rule No. 1 is simple. You get your best business from satisfied customers who recommend you to their family, friends and colleagues. If you open a shoe store, for example, invite everyone you know to your opening and show them your shoes. Hold a drawing and give the winner a coupon worth a pair of shoes. Get them to come back into the store to buy shoes for themselves and their kids — and their grandkids.

This scenario applies to any business. If you open a consulting business to exploit your managerial know-how by holding seminars for small companies, you substitute the invitation to an

open house with a visit to their office.

If you decide to build and sell furniture, you do the same thing. Call on people you know and tell them what you’re doing.

Here’s where Rule No. 2 comes in. Whenever you make an initial call, always make a second call. That’s the call that impresses upon your prospect that you mean business.

During each visit, always ask for a referral to someone your prospect knows who might be able to use your product or service. Then make that call, and the follow-up. You will learn quickly how to develop these marketing contacts into a habit. You might

do them every Monday, every Friday afternoon, or every two weeks.

Develop a contact list from these visits. You can maintain contact by a special mailing a few times a year. If you prepare tax returns, you might offer an early bird special price for people you get into your office before March 1. If you make stuffed toys, you can offer a two-for-one price on birthday gifts for your customer’s children.

Now that you’ve developed a business that keeps you busy, it’s time to find someone like yourself to handle your billing and accounts receivable.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

History Museum offers tours, open house of Polish Worker’s Home

A change is coming to The History Museum’s Polish Worker’s Home.

After several years of being interpreted as the residence of a 1930s Polish family, the house will be closing after Sept. 5 as the museum begins preparations for its new iteration, which

will be launched in November.

Special guided tours of the 1930s Polish Worker’s Home (called “Dom Robotnika”) will be offered at 3 p.m. Aug. 28 to Sept. 1. The tours are free with a museum admission.

An open house will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday,

Sept. 4. On that day, self-guided tours of the house are complimentary. Regular admission will apply for visits to other areas of The History Museum. For information, call The History Museum at (574) 235-9664 or visit www.historymuseumSB. org.

Wine tasting at The History Museum’s

“Moonlight and Merlot at the Mansion” takes place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at The History Museum, featuring a wine tasting provided by Ironhand Wine Bar.

At the event, Curator of Copshaholm, Skylar Stasney, will give a short presentation

‘Moonlight and Merlot’

about the Oliver Mansion and Dave Sabato, co-owner of Ironhand, will talk about the history of wine making. Selfguided tours of the first floor of the Oliver Mansion will also be offered.

On Jan. 1, 1897, J.D. and Anna Oliver and their four

children moved into their new home at 808 W. Washington St. — or Copshaholm, as they would later name it. Home to the Oliver family for over 75 years, the historic house is now owned by The History Museum. The furnishings are original, showing the house just as it appeared when the family lived there. The Oliver Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cannas, clematis, lilies, peonies, roses, lilacs, daffodils, dogwood, and irises are some of the flowers and bushes that bloom in the 2.5 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens surrounding the Oliver Mansion. A teahouse, fountain, and formal Italianate garden are part of the area, along with a lovely grassy expanse where a tennis court was once situated.

One of the earliest pieces of garden architecture in the historic Oliver Gardens is the pergola, a walkway which extends from the Oliver Mansion, known as Copshaholm, to the sunken garden.

Tickets are $40 for general admission, $35 for The History Museum members, and $35 for Ironhand Wine Club members. Reservations are required by Sept. 7. Attendees must be 21 or over. To purchase tickets, visit historymuseumSB.org or call (574) 235-9664.

Part of the Hamilton Grove Community in New Carlisle, IN

Chicago

Trail Village Feel free to explore the continuing care living community at Chicago Trail Village! Alleviate the hassles of homeownership while having priority access to assisted living and healthcare. Here, you don’t have to worry about mowing the lawn, replacing broken appliances, or even snow removal. Maintenance-free living means we take care of it so you don’t have to! Best of all: rent is based on income. Your new home is waiting for you!

The History Museum presents lecture on Schuyler Colfax

Deputy Executive Director

Kristie Erickson explores the life of Schuyler Colfax, undoubtedly the most notable political figure in the history of the St. Joseph River Valley, at Insights in History, taking place at 1:30 p.m.

Rolling around England

You need wheels to travel through England’s heart and history.

We started with a rather sizeable one — the giant London Eye — a gondola-garlanded Ferris wheel overlooking this hub of history clinging to the Thames.

As you clamber aboard for a 30-minute flight, you’re carried slowly up a football field and a half with a view directly toward Cleopatra’s Needle and Charing Cross Station with Waterloo Bridge a bit farther upriver. And you soak in Piccadilly Circus, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and so many more venues you’ve read or heard about.

Your descent presents a clear view of Big Ben and the New Palace of Westminster, better known as the Houses of Parliament. A royal palace has existed on these grounds since Britain was in the hands of the Viking King Canute. But it was Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror who enlarged it in the 11th century to its currently dynamic proportions — 1,200 rooms covering eight acres.

After debarking, a short walk across Westminster Bridge got us to the renowned abbey of the same name enroute to Victoria Station to board our most-used wheels during our visit in Britain — the train.

It trundled us back to the George Hotel in Crawley, less than an hour’s ride south of The City. The train station is one stop from Gatwick Airport and a five-minute walk from the hotel, nestled among a sizeable shopping mall, pubs that date back to the mid1400s, and the 800-year-old Parish Church of St. John the Baptist that serves as a shortcut, parking lot and quiet stopover for those who wish to talk to God or listen to history whisper from the walls.

The George has been around since the 15th century. It became a major half-way house after the London-Brighton Road was built through Crawley in the late 1600s. Queen Victoria stayed there and Charles Dickens acted there.

It was a third set of wheels that got us out into the countryside. Grahame and Frauke Leon-Smith, who graciously served as both hosts and

guides, took us on a couple of quick jaunts we would never have tried to drive on our own. Besides having to drive on the “wrong” side of the thoroughfares, signs are difficult to see because many of the roads through this region — Sussex, Surrey and Kent — are paved-over country lanes winding through leafy forests.

At Windsor Castle we stood in front of the tower built in 1056 by William the Conqueror across from what is now a curving street burgeoned with Burger King, Pizza Hut, McDonald, Starbucks and Haagen-Dasz.

Minutes later, we crossed the Thames into Eton and strolled past the Cock Pit Restaurant, which was established on the site in 1420.

Then we slid by Ascot, the playground of royalty, and Runnymede, where King John signed the Magna Carta. “This is where democracy was born,” said Grahame.

“For the first time in history, people were ruled by law, not the whim of the king.”

On our last day, we visited Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s home in Kent.

“Churchill bought this house — it had 80 acres at the time and he added to it later — in 1922 for 5,000 pounds with proceeds from his first book” said our guide. “He earned his money from royalties as a writer. He used to say, ‘If your outgo outdoes your income, increase your income.’ ”

We also learned that Winston Spencer Churchill’s middle name was Leonard. But no one could explain why he dumped it in favor of Spencer, his mother’s family name.

“He used to sign some of his letters with the drawing of a pig,” Hatter said. “He said, ‘I like pigs; cats look down on human beings, dogs look up to them, but pigs just treat us as their equals.”

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Wednesday, Sept. 6. Admission is $3 for general and $1 for members. Reservations are required by Monday, Sept. 4. Insights in History is sponsored by THK Law, LLP.

An ardent abolitionist, Colfax is best known for his roles as Speaker of the House under Abraham Lincoln and Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant. He was instrumental in many political achievements, including the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States.

A tour of Colfax: Speaker for

Freedom 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.

No cars and fudge make Mackinac Island special

Mackinac Island is another one of those places where time stands still. Shanks horses (walking), horse and buggy/ wagon, horse and saddle or bicycle is still the only way to get around its 4.35 square miles. Since it’s totally surrounded by water, the best way to get there is by boat. There is an airport, but it’s for private planes.

Star Line and Shepler’s ferries from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace dock just a block from the center of town. That’s were all the action begins. The Tourism Bureau Information

Office/ticket booth is smack dab in the middle of it all. Pick up a map and set out to see just what makes this island so special. Hundreds of bicycles and lines of horse-drawn wagons wait to take visitors around the island.

Historic Market Street is where most of the delis, diners, coffee shops, bars and restaurants are located. Also, 13 fudge shops.

If exercise is your thing, a bike ride on the eight-milelong Lake Shore Boulevard circling the island provides an up-close-and-personal look at Lake Huron and the flora and fauna that covers most of Mackinac Island State Park. That’s right, 80 percent of the island is a state park. It’s also a Michigan State Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

A wide variety of architectural styles exist throughout the island and many of them have undergone preservation and restoration. The Victorian-style Grand Hotel with its iconic tall columns is the focal point. However, unless you’re a guest at the hotel, you’ll have to be satisfied with taking photos

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of its long porch and stately facade from outside the fence. Of course, you can pay $10 ($5 for children 5-17) to walk the porch and enjoy the vista that includes a good portion of the island, Historic Market Street and the Mackinac Bridge in the distance.

The island was originally settled by indigenous cultures centuries ago. When the Odawa Indians came, they named it Michilimacinac (Great Turtle) because its shape reminded them of an enormous turtle rising out of the water. The British later shortened the name to Mackinac Island. They gained control of the Straits of Mackinac shortly after the French and Indian War.

Prior to Mackinac Island becoming a popular tourist destination in the late 19th century, the island was a strategic center for fur trading. Fort Mackinac, which is open for touring, was built by the British in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. It was never attacked and was decommissioned in 1895. Wagon tours take visitors to the fort, and it’s all downhill from there

No cars and fudge Monitor automatic payments

to the center of town. Two battles were actually fought here during the War of 1812 before it became a U.S. territory. The Treaty of Ghent in 1815

returned the island and the surrounding mainland to the United States. During the Civil War, it hosted three prisoners who were Confederate States of

America sympathizers. Put Mackinac Island on your bucket list. For more information on how to get there, what it costs to get there, how to

get around, what to do, which places to see, where to eat and the location of the fudge shops, check it out at mackinacisland. org.

Paying bills by automatic withdrawals from your bank account can save you from late payments as well as cut back on your postage and mailing costs.

Some folks prefer to have the monthly payments withdrawn from a credit card, which is paid off with a single monthly payment from their bank account.

In either case, you should make a list of such payments that can be reviewed by survivors after your death to make sure all payments are made and scammers have not added charges to your accounts.