Senior Life NorthWest Edition January 2022

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Vol. 25, No. 10

January uary 20222

(219) 462-0809

Cliff Rice

Elder Law Attorney

Northwest Edition R Reaching Seniors In Illiana: Cook, Lake & Porter Counties

Bonner Center keeps bodies, minds active

7H[W DQG 3KRWRV %\ 67(9( (89,12 )HDWXUH :ULWHU You can’t keep a good facility down, not even during a pandemic. The Bonner Senior Center in Portage reopened in July, and since then attendance is approaching pre-COVID-19 numbers, said Robin Wilkening, the center’s director. “We’re in a different world,” said Wilkening, after her first year in charge. “It’s been challenging but rewarding.” Completed in 1980, Bonner is open to all seniors aged 55 and older. A nutrition site, the facility offers lunches five days a week to those 60-plus. It is named for Eunice Bonner, president of the Senior Citizens Club of Portage in the 1970s. The center also offers socialization, fitness and transportation. Bus rides are available to the center, medical or pharmaceutical appoint-

ments and grocery shopping. Besides medical screenings and vaccinations, Bonner offers tax and legal assistance, along with computer and Smartphone classes. Recently completed is a quarter-mile fitness trail west of the center. The trail will officially open in the spring, Wilkening said, although patrons had already been using the trail, which is designed for two or four users at a time. The trail also has stations for strength training, with two of the stations handicap accessible. Inside the center, Sandra Roedel and Susan Regnier lead an arts and crafts session, using leftover materials from paper ornaments. ‘We’re getting rid of our stash,” said Regnier, a retired art teacher. “These are nice people who might just be at home, sitting around.” “I love working and sharing with people,” Roedel added. “This place keeps you young and busy.” Regnier plans to introduce Valentines for Veterans, a program she did successfully in schools. Seniors will be able to make a craft item for a veteran. Regnier added that knitting and crocheting are also in the works. Continued on page 2

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2 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2022

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Key Positions

Whiting woman gives back to community by volunteering %\ &$55,( 67(,1:(* )HDWXUH :ULWHU As a big fan of the arts, Jean Wilkening got involved in Arts Alive three-and-a-half years ago. Now she is the organization’s president. “Arts Alive is a nonprofit organization. We basically raise money to give away money,” she said. “We support a variety of local art programs throughout the city. We donate to school and library arts and music programs. We host craft projects for children and adults at Studio 659, located at 1413 119th St. in Whiting.” In the summer, with the help of other local organizations, Arts Alive also hosts live music at Sheridan Plaza. Every two months, they also host a themed art show at Studio 659 with artwork submitted from all over the country. Once a month, the group also hosts an open mic night at Studio 659. “I am definitely no artist, but I love art and music,” said Wilkening. “A friend invited my daughter and me to a meeting and asked us to join. It seemed like a good fit.” Besides her involvement with Arts Alive, something that keeps her busy and that she is very proud of is a coat drive she leads in Whiting.

“The coat drive was initially located at city hall. Kathleen Ulm of the Junkyard asked if the Whiting Baptist Church would be willing to take it over because of limited space at city hall,” she said. That’s when Wilkening got involved. “With the help of my daughter, Patricia Herbst, and the many generous people of Whiting, it has been a great success for the past five years,” she said. “I appreciate the opportunity to give back to my community. I love the interaction with the children. Since school funding is constantly being cut, it is imperative that we support these programs. There is nothing more rewarding than having the opportunity to provide families with coats, hats and scarves.” Wilkening is retired and her position as president of Arts Alive is a volunteer role. Her community involvement goes beyond the coat drive at Arts Alive. She is also on the board of directors of the Whiting Chamber of Commerce and gives even more of her time in that capacity. Among her hobbies are cooking and baking. She enjoys spending time with her family and is a proud mother of two, grandmother of seven and

great-grandmother of six. There’s nothing she’d rather be doing in her retirement than serving the people of the city she loves so much. “I love Whiting and I consider it a privilege to be able to give back to our community,” Wilkening said.

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plan has become more difficult as you deal with the costs and schedules prepared by tour and travel agencies, cruise companies, resorts and airlines. When you think about visit the grandkids, take a few moments to see what’s near them. If they live in or close to New York City, you have all the attractions of the Big Apple at hand — Manhattan museums,

Soho shopping, Little Italy restaurants, endless tours. How about the folks in Arizona? You can hop to the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas, or even drive over to California for a few days. Should your relatives be tucked away in small town somewhere, check on stops you can make along the way if you drive there. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

Bonner Center Continued from page 1 Phyllis Simko, a member of the craft class, commented, “I love all the activities here. You meet new families, plus there’s food and games.” Nearby is the dining area, where seniors can enjoy coffee, a newspaper and chatting with friends. At the piano is Bonnie Fox, a regular volunteer and member since 2016. “I’ve loved music all my life,” Fox said. “At the center, most of the people are very, very nice and helpful.” Mike Sarkkinen, playing pool in a side room, said he appreciates “the company, being around other people. Otherwise, you’re at home alone.” Other center programs include tai chi, dancing, singing and bingo. For those more on the spiritual side, there’s

Gathering with Friends, a discussion group. Paula Hall, who leads the group, said talks are designed to encourage members to live better. “These people need to keep their minds and senses occupied,” Hall said. “The center helps members not feel isolated.” Peggy and Ron Smith came for the fitness class led by Gail Holliman. “I come for the yoga and exercise,” Peggy said. “This is an easy place to come to.” Holliman added, “The people here are great. They inspire me. This is my second home.” The Bonner Senior Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and is located at 5800 Lexington Ave., Portage. For more information, visit www. portagetrustee.org or call (219) 762-3591 or (219) 762-1522.

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 3

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Spotlight

Director cited as state’s top youth worker %\ 67(9( (89,12 )HDWXUH :ULWHU The Indiana Youth Institute has named Donna Golob, executive director of A Positive Approach to Teen Health, recipient of the 2021 D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year Award. Golob, executive director of P.A.T.H. since 2010, considers the award an honor, more about the organization than herself.

“It means we’re making a difference in the lives of youth in a very positive way,” she said. Founded in 1993, P.A.T.H. is a nonprofit organization producing healthy lifestyle curricula for educators in nine states, including nine counties in Indiana. Over the years, P.A.T.H. has sought to educate and empower 200,000 teens to make healthy choices regarding drugs, sex, alcohol and relationship violence.

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Senior Life newspapers are monthly publications dedicated to inform, serve and entertain the senior citizens in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Each of the four editions focus on local information for each area. Senior Life is privately owned and published by The Papers Incorporated. STAFF Ron Baumgartner, Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rbaumgartner@the-papers.com Carrie Goralczyk, Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cgoralczyk@the-papers.com Steve Meadows, Director Of Marketing . . . . . . . . smeadows@the-papers.com Bill Hays, Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bhays@the-papers.com Account Executive Rebecca Berggren . . . . . .slwest@the-papers.com • 1-866-580-1138 Ext. 2430 Commercial Printing Sales Representative Rodger Salinas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rsalinas@the-papers.com Commercial Printing Customer Service Tina Carson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tcarson@the-papers.com Rich Krygowski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rkrygowski@the-papers.com Deb Patterson, Editor-In-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dpatterson@the-papers.com Phoebe Banks, Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pmuthart@the-papers.com Jerry Long, Circulation Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jlong@the-papers.com EDITORIAL DEADLINES Elkhart/Kosciusko Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15th Month Prior St. Joseph Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15th Month Prior Allen Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th Month Prior Northwest Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20th Month Prior SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed subscriptions are available, prepaid with order at $34 for one year; and $58 for two years. (Select one edition.) Your cancelled check will serve as your receipt. ADVERTISING For advertising deadlines call your sales representative. The existence of advertising in Senior Life is not meant as an endorsement of any product, services or individuals by anyone except the advertisers. Signed letters or columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. PRODUCTION Senior Life is digitally composed on Macintosh Computers using Digital Technology’s Newspaper Publishing Suite software and Photoshop software. Submit ads as .tif, .eps or .pdf files. ASCII (generic text) may be submitted via email or on CD/DVD. Check our website at www.the-papers.com for guidelines on preparing ads electronically. Graphics for ads can be emailed as PDF files to adcomp@the-papers. com. If you have any questions, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it. REPRINT RIGHTS Reprinting in part or whole of any article in Senior Life is not allowed without express written permission from Senior Life.

We help youth recognize their potential, value and purpose,” Golob, a Valparaiso resident, said. “It helps them to make healthy choices to build a successful future.” The Portage-based P.A.T.H. goes into schools and provides programs for middle and high school students. This past summer, P.A.T.H. worked with Hammond middle schoolers in preparation for the closing and consolidation of some schools and the opening of the new Hammond Central High School. Sandra Hillan, operations director for P.A.T.H., nominated Golob for the IYI award, noting, “She embodies the desire to equip, empower and encourage teens to make healthy choices through life skills, relationships and character building.” The Youth Worker of the Year Award recognizes service and commitment to help improve the futures of Hoosier children. It is named for the retired director of evaluation at Lilly Endowment Inc., who oversaw the development of numerous youth service-related programs. Tami Silverman, president and CEO of IYI, praised Golob as “one of those exceptional youth workers who demonstrates what great courage and humility it takes to work in this field. This award … also supports her continued growth and success.” The award includes a $2,000 professional education grant.

+2125(' <287+ :25.(5 ³ 'RQQD *RORE H[HFXWLYH GLUHF WRU RI $ 3DWKZD\ WR 7HHQ +HDOWK KDV EHHQ QDPHG \RXWK ZRUNHU RI WKH \HDU E\ WKH ,QGLDQD <RXWK ,QVWLWXWH *RORE D 9DOSDUDLVR UHVLGHQW KDV EHHQ H[HFXWLYH GLUHFWRU RI 3 $ 7 + VLQFH 3KRWR E\ 6WHYH (XYLQR P.A.T.H. serves in 13 northwest Indiana school districts. Golob reported new programming, including Relentless. This peer-to-peer mentoring program for high school students will be piloted in Hammond schools this coming semester. Looking over the past two years, Golob said COVID-19 has resulted in more anxiety and stress for teens, as evidenced by the 26% increase in teen suicide rates. Teens are naturally social,

Golob said, adding that the pandemic’s resulting social inactivity has left adolescents secluded from their peer groups who, under normal circumstances, would provide support. Other current teen issues include vaping and increased use of marijuana. Golob sees her role in P.A.T.H. as the team quarterback and cheerleader, “keeping this organized and supporting the people on the front line who are doing the hard work.” The executive director related the story of a mentor who feared a mentee was contemplating suicide. The mentor contacted his coach, who relayed the information to police who successfully confronted the youth. That incident, Golob said, “says we’re making a difference. People trust us with confidential information. They trust us to be there and provide information and resources.”

Memory Care

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 5

Have you made your will?

Then your children will end up in probate

%\ &/,))25' - 5,&( (OGHU /DZ $WWRUQH\ 9DOSDUDLVR It’s a whole new year. Like many Americans, you may have made some New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps a resolution you should include, if you haven’t already done so, is to get your personal affairs in order. According to the American Bar Association, 60% of all Americans have done no endof-life planning whatsoever, not even a will. You could do a will, but most wills end up in probate. Do you really want your children to end up in probate court when you pass away? If you’re like most Americans nowadays, you may be consid-

ering a living trust rather than simply doing a will. The assets that are in the living trust at the time you pass away can totally avoid probate. There are a number of other documents that would also be present in a good estate plan, including: • A living will to make sure you’re not forever hooked up to machines if there’s no hope for recovery. • HIPAA waiver so it’s not a felony for the doctors to communicate with your spouse or your adult children in the event you become disabled. • Advance directive so the doctors and family will know what persons you want to be in charge to make long-term medical decisions in the event you become unable to make your own medical decisions. • In-home health care instructions. Nursing homes cost $7,500 a month. If you have a good living trust that contains in-home health care instructions, there’s a good chance it can keep you or your spouse out of a nursing home, saving most of that $7,500 each month, meanwhile maintaining own privacy and dignity and allowing you to remain in your own home. We can include a funeral

planning declaration, personal effects distribution memorandums and build in remarriage protection so that if your surviving spouse gets remarried after you die, they don’t lose half of everything you own to a new spouse.

Because we are an Elder Law firm, we can even help save you or your life savings from nursing home spenddown. Want to learn more? Come to a seminar at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, at Pestos Italian Restaurant, 3123

Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, or 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Kelsey’s Steakhouse, 2300 East Morthland Drive, Valparaiso. Reservations are required, as seating is limited. Call (800) 303-7423 or visit www.riceandrice.com.

S. O. S. — Speaking of Seniors

I challenged a bill for Lowell client %\ :22'52: :,/&2; I reviewed a bill for a client from Lowell Nov. 30. Then I wrote a letter to the medical firm and challenged the accuracy of the bill to our client from Lowell. I challenged the calculations of the medical firm. It billed our client for a balance of $17.66. That may seem like a small amount. But a medical firm that makes mistakes on balances of small amounts will make the same mistakes that result in big amount balances. The point is to cite the miscalculation and get the firm to correct whatever is causing the false balances, so no patient is hurt with a false balance bill. In this case, I cited what

the insurance company told me. First, Medicare approved only $29.05 (of the original $142 charge). Second, Medicare paid 80% of that, or $23.24. Third, the insurance company paid the balance of $5.81, which is the remaining 20%. That leaves a balance of zero. I told the medical firm it needed to explain how it arrived at a balance owed of $17.66. If it could not explain the balance of $17.66, then it should just agree with the insurance company records about the claim and reduce the $17.66 bill to zero. Whether the false bill is $17.66 or more than $4,000 as in another recent case, all the help we give clients with such Medicare-related medical bills is free of charge.

This insurance agency “goes the extra mile” for our clients. It proves that we care about our senior citizen clients. If your insurance agent or agency doesn’t give this high level of customer service, why not switch to an agency that does? (Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services, Merrillville. He has saved clients of that firm over $2 million dollars by fighting mistakes and fraud in the Medicare system.)

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6 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2022

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Finance

Get your Social Security benefit statement %\ '$1,(/ 6800(5 3XEOLF $IIDLUV 6SHFLDOLVW We’ve made getting your annual benefit statement even easier. The benefit statement, also known as the SSA-1099 or the SSA-1042S, is a tax form we mail each year in January to people who receive Social Security benefits. It shows the total amount of benefits you received

from us in the previous year. You can use this information when you file your tax return, as it shows how much Social Security income to report to the Internal Revenue Service. If you live in the United States and you need a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S, go online to get your instant, printable replacement form using your personal “my Social

Security account” at www.ssa. gov/myaccount. Look for your replacement SSA-1099 or SSA1042S for the previous tax year in your personal account after Feb. 1. If you don’t have access to a printer, you can save the document to your computer or email it to yourself. If you don’t have a my Social Security account, creating one is very easy to do

Slowing down is part of mature motorists’ manual %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV The “get ‘em off the road” gang is after aging drivers again. This happens every time anyone behind the wheel 75 or older gets into an accident. The more major the mishap, the more media coverage, and the louder the argument about yanking all silver-haired vehicle operators off the road. Take away their licenses. Test them every year. Let them walk. It’s safer. They point to such examples as the octogenarian behind the wheel of an automobile that plowed into an open-air market in Santa Monica a while ago. They bring out the statistics that senior drivers are the second-most accident-prone segment of American’s motoring public. The single-most road-risky group are teenaged drivers. But no one suggests taking away their licenses when a group of teens are killed or maimed when their overloaded vehicle rolls

over or smashes into another. Detractors of senior drivers suggest taking driving licenses away at a certain age. How about holding back drivers’ licenses to young people until they reach a certain age? Neither of these suggestions make sense. Age is not the problem. The problem is common sense and competence behind the wheel. It is estimated that one out of every five of the nation’s drivers will be older than 65 by 2030. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology study indicates that most older drivers limit or stop driving on their own as they perceive their capabilities diminishing. About 70% of more than 3,800 50-years-and-older drivers queried said they restricted their driving under a variety of conditions. These included bad weather, heavy traffic, rush hour, nighttime, long distances and freeways. Older drivers apparently develop strategies to compensate

for failing vision, slower reflexes, stiffer joints and medication, according to researchers. The transportation needs of some 70% of the people who live in the suburbs or rural areas are a major hurdle to such simple solutions as forcing seniors out of their cars and forcing them into buses, subways, trolleys and trains. It’s been proved that the cost of car payments, auto insurance, fuel, upkeep and maintenance can buy a lot of taxicab rides. But that alternative is not always available. Pundits, politicians and protestors are finding some common ground on mandating regular testing for drivers past a certain age. Older drivers can help their cause by supporting physical improvements such as signs that are larger and less complex, improved lighting and enhanced visibility at intersections, and remedial driving programs. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

and usually takes less than 10 minutes. And that’s not all you can do with a personal account. If you receive benefits or have Medicare, your personal my Social Security account is also the best way to: • Request a replacement Social Security number card (in most states and the District of Columbia). • Get your benefit verification letter. • Check your benefit and payment information. • Change your address and phone number. • Change your direct deposit information.

Crooks thrive on seniors %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Retirees are sitting targets for scammers and schemers. Seniors lose more than $3 billion each year to crooks, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2020 the Better Business Bureau reported a 25% increase in scams reported by consumers because the pandemic gave fraudsters new ways to prey on people. Almost half of the reports — an all-time high — involved financial loss. While seniors are pretty savvy about scams, they’re among the most vulnerable victims because so many of them live alone. They also lose the most money because schemers target them with high-ticket scams involving romance, online purchases, travel, job offers and investments, and whatever the schemers adjust according to what’s in the news. No sooner do people catch on to a scam, such as callers claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service, the crooked tactics change. But the aim remains the same — getting your money. A common approach is a claim that someone has overpaid you for something and they’d like you to return that amount they claim they overpaid. They may sound apologetic or frantic about making the error, but just hang up.

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• Request a replacement Medicare card. • Report your wages if you work and receive Social Security disability insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits. If you’re a noncitizen who lives outside of the United States and you received or repaid Social Security benefits last year, we will send you form SSA-1042S in the mail. The forms SSA-1099 and SSA-1042S are not available for people who receive Supplemental Security Income benefits. If you don’t have a personal my Social Security account, you can create one today at www.ssa. gov/myaccount.

Proudly serving residents of Northwest Indiana since 1906

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Even if you see a check deposited in your account, don’t try to cash it. It’ll more than likely bounce. Most folks are unaware that the banking system may not recognize a counterfeit check for several days after it’s been cleared in our account. Don’t refund any overpayments if you’re paid by check. If you receive an overpayment, don’t deposit the check and ask for one in the correct amount. Another sign that you’re being conned is a request for payment — or repayment — through some such form as PayPal, gift card, money order, wire transfer or bitcoin. If you must send money, pay with a credit card. Federal law protects credit card users from fraudulent charges and limits your liability. Credit cards can also protect you when you’re shopping online, where you can pay for products or services that never get delivered or are of much poorer quality than you were led to believe. You can protect yourself while you’re online by writing the name of the company in your search engine and then adding the words “scam” or “complaints” to check its level of quality. The pandemic quarantines and shutdowns have made a lot of people lonely and dating scammers have been taking advantage of this phenomenon. Talking or texting by phone or computer is usually how schemers lure the lonely, but a reluctance to meet in person is usually a red flag that the contact is a scam. Increasing talk of the need to pay bills for back rent or medical issues is how they begin to extract cash from their victims. They may work the theft into the overpayment scheme by saying they’d like to send you a gift or asking you to receive some money for them. Keep in mind, this is someone you’ve never even met, no matter how friendly or genuine they sound over the phone or online. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 7

Is there a secret to what helps with acid reflux?

Occasional acid reflux (heartburn) isn’t unusual, but according to John Hopkin’s, 20% of the population suffers from chronic heartburn, discomfort and belching after every meal. The diagnosis by a doctor may be gastroesophageal reflux disease. You may not feel a reflux of acid, but may have a chronic inflammation of the esophagus, called esophagitis, which is irritated with food and causes pain. Foods commonly known to be triggers include foods high in fat, salt and spices such as: • Fried foods • Fast foods • Processed foods • Fatty meats • Cheese • Tomato based sauces • Citrus fruits • Chocolate/peppermint • Carbonated beverages There are plenty of foods

you can eat that help prevent the irritation or reflux and the number one category is the answer to the secret: fiber. (Fiber deserves entire article) • Whole grains • Root vegetables • Green vegetables The second beneficial category is alkaline foods. Foods higher on the PH scale are alkaline and calming to the digestive system, offsetting stomach acid. • Bananas • Melons • Cauliflower • Fennel • Nuts The third category is watery foods. Water can dilute and weaken stomach acid. • Celery • Cucumber • Lettuce • Watermelon • Broth-based soups • Herbal tea Let’s hear a cheer for whole foods. Some people have success with drinking milk to coat the stomach, but go for nonfat milk or nonfat yogurt, as adding fat to the situation may cancel out the good. Another aid is ginger because of its medicinal properties of being an anti-inflammatory and alkaline in nature. Ginger tea may be a good option or just warm lemon water with a lit-

tle honey. Lastly, apple cider vinegar – diluted, never full strength. I can only stomach

it with really cold water, very quickly and through a straw. I take it because it’s alkaline.

If you suffer from acid reflux or digestive issues check with your doctor.

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Smaller bulk buys also save %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Even if you’re living alone, you can save money by buying the family-sized packages of such meats as beef, pork

and poultry, which are usually cheaper per pound than the smaller packages. At home, you can divide the pieces into meal-sized portions and keep them in the freezer.

The same, of course, applies to large packages of frozen fruit and vegetables that are much more economical than smaller individual packets. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

At Valparaiso Senior Village, we treat residents as respected members of our family. With our onsite care staff 24/7, 3 delicious meals a day, and exciting social events and activities, you can spend your retirement years without worrying about house maintenance and doing laundry. Have peace of mind when you live at Valparaiso Senior Village. Rooms are limited, schedule your visit!

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8 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2022

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Sports

MHS basketball coach enjoys competition, camaraderie %\ &$55,( 67(,1:(* )HDWXUH :ULWHU Mike Hackett is now in his 22nd year as the varsity boys basketball coach in Munster. Before coaching in Munster, he was assistant varsity coach at Merrillville High School for 10 years. He was the junior varsity coach at Kankakee Valley High School for three years. He has been coaching at the high school level for 35 years. “Basketball has always been a part of my life,” said Hackett. “Growing up in Michigan City, my family were huge high school basketball fans. I had an older brother, who played high school and college basketball. While growing up, some of the people I looked up to the most were basketball coaches.” Besides having coaches as mentors, he said both his parents were big influences on him, along with his two older brothers and older sister. “The late Jim East, Hall of Fame basketball coach, was a big coaching influence on me during my 10 years as an assistant coach under him at

Merrillville High School,” he added. Hackett, 56, played basketball at Elston High School in Michigan City and then at Franklin College in Franklin, which is just outside Indianapolis. He is now also a health and physical education teacher at Munster High School in addition to his coaching role. “I love the competition and the camaraderie among our coaching staff and with the players. I love the competition of the game of basketball. I love the teamwork aspect of the game. It is very rewarding to take a group of individuals and bring them together as a team to accomplish great things,” said Hackett. Hackett said the most rewarding part of coaching is watching the players mature and grow as students and players and then watching them go on to live successful productive lives as adults. “I hope my players learn from me that hard work, dedication and commitment pay off in the long run,” he said. Coaching is a job that is very rewarding, but also very demanding.

+,*+ 6&+22/ &2$&+ ³ 0LNH +DFNHWW KDV EHHQ WKH YDUVLW\ ER\V EDVNHWEDOO FRDFK DW 0XQVWHU +LJK 6FKRRO IRU \HDUV 3KRWR SURYLGHG E\ 0LNH +DFNHWW “The hardest part of coaching is the grind. It is pretty much an all year long, fulltime job. It can become very consuming if you let it,” he said. Hackett has two sons — Drew and Luke — who played for their father at Munster High School. Drew, 25, gradu-

ated in 2015. He is Munster High School’s career leading scorer. He played college basketball for a year at the University Illinois-Chicago. He graduated from Purdue University in 2019 and currently lives and works in Alabama. Luke, 23, graduated in 2016 and was academic all-state his

senior year. He played a year of basketball at Saint Xavier University in Chicago and graduated from Purdue University in 2020. He currently lives in Munster. An avid sports fan, Hackett enjoys watching sports and playing golf when he’s not teaching or coaching.

Professional Forum EXPANDING — Interested Businesses Call Becky Berggren At 1-866-580-1138, Ext. 2430 A Monthly Question And Answer Advertorial Column

Dermatology

Professional Services

Q: Will changing my diet improve my psoriasis?

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

A:

• When it comes to treating psoriasis, no one treatment plan works for everyone. New research suggests that this may also apply to what you eat.

Meg M. Loitz, JD Vice President & Trust Officer 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.

Meg M. Loitz, J.D. Vice President & Trust Officer Wealth Management Center 110 South Main Street South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 245-4735, ext. 5153

A. David Soleymani

Weight loss diet can help if you’re overweight. If you have psoriasis and are overweight, losing weight can: • Lead to less psoriasis on your skin. • Decrease the severity of your psoriasis. • Make psoriasis medication more effective. Weight loss can help because both psoriasis and being overweight increase inflammation in your body. When you reduce inflammation, it can lead to less psoriasis on your skin.

a gluten-free diet may help reduce psoriasis flare-ups. People who have a gluten sensitivity have one of the following: • Celiac disease: Symptoms include frequent diarrhea, belly pain, passing gas often, and feeling tired most of the time. • Gluten sensitivity: You test positive for celiac antibodies, but you don’t have celiac disease.

Gluten-free diet may help if you’re sensitive to gluten. Small studies suggest that if you have psoriasis and a gluten sensitivity, following

Takeaway for people living with psoriasis: If testing reveals that you’re sensitive to gluten, following a gluten-free diet may reduce the amount of psoriasis on your skin.

M.D., F.A.A.D. Board-Certified Dermatologist

Call 219.228.4200 to schedule your appointment. www.dermiodermatology.com We Have Convenient Hours From 7 A.M. To 7 P.M. To Accommodate You

Offices in Munster, Dyer, Valparaiso and DeMotte

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 9

Crown Point —

83'$7(6 +$33(1,1*6 ,1 7+( $5($ Send listings of events, hosted by nonprofit organizations, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542 by Jan. 31 for February events. With listing, include contact person and a phone number. Editor’s Note: The calendar is listing regularly scheduled events. Due to COVID-19, events may be canceled or postponed. Please reach out to the sponsoring agencies to verify whether the events are still being held. Maria Reiner Center • Monday — Pickleball intermediate, 8:30 a.m.; stretching class level 1, 9 a.m.; ukulele, 9 a.m.; bocce ball open play, 10 a.m.; walking club, 10 a.m.; pickleball advanced, 10:30 a.m.; pickleball open play, 12:30 p.m.; oil painting, 12:30 p.m.; tech class (Zoom), 2 p.m. • Tuesday — Pickleball beginner, 8:30 a.m.; cardio with Janice, 9 a.m.; walking club, 10 a.m.; bocce ball open play, 10 a.m.; dominos, 10 a.m.; pool tournament, 10 a.m.; jam session, 11 a.m.; senior cha cha cha, 11 a.m.; pickleball open play, 11:30 a.m. • Wednesday — Pickleball intermediate, 8:30 a.m.; experienced art class, 9 a.m.; stretch plus level 2, 9 a.m.; bocce ball open play, 10 a.m.; hand and foot, 10 a.m.; Zumba gold, 10 a.m.; walking club, 10 a.m.; pickleball advanced, 10:30 a.m.; movie, noon; beginner’s art class, 12:30 p.m.; pickleball open play, 12:30 p.m. • Thursday — Pickleball beginners, 8:30 a.m.; cardio with Janice, 9 a.m.; pool tournament, 10 a.m.; bocce ball, 10 a.m.; dominos, 10 a.m.; pickleball open play, 11:30 a.m.; the Bible as literature, 12:45 p.m.; Happy Hookers and Naughty Knitters, 1 p.m. • Friday — Pickleball intermediate, 8:30 a.m.; yoga, 8:30 a.m. (see website calendar for specific dates); senior cha cha cha, 9:30 a.m.; bocce ball, 10

a.m.; pickleball advanced, 10:30 a.m.; bingo (every second and fourth Friday), 12:30 p.m. Plus many special classes and presentations. $3 daily visitation fee for non-members. Interested in a membership? Call (219) 9471864 or visit 705 E. Fourth St., Hobart. For more information, visit www.hobartseniors.com. St. John Lions Club Seeking donations of old eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids. Drop-off sites: Community Outpatient Clinic, 9660 Wicker Ave. (Route 41); St. John Library, 9450 Wicker Ave.; Boric Religious Supply Store, 10951 Thiel St.; St. John Town Hall, 10955 W. 93rd Ave.; VFW Post 717, 10400 W. 93rd Ave.; Clear Vue Eyecare, 9270 Wicker Ave.; Dr. Weisman Ophthalmology, 10220 Wicker Ave. # 3; Kolling School, 8801 Wicker Ave.; Metropolitan Eye Care, 9488 Wicker Ave.; Moses Eye Care, 7974 Wicker Ave.; Strack & Van Til, 9825 Wicker Ave.; Vision Boutique, 8319 Wicker Ave.; Welch’s Stop and Shop, 11333 W. 95th Ave. Monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month (September to June) at Roma Grill, 9543 Wicker Ave., St. John. Questions, contact Lion Al at (219) 201-9103. Whiting Lions Club Seeking donations of old eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids. Drop off in yellow collection box on 119th Street, Whiting. Highland Lions Club Seeking donations of old eyeglasses. Drop off sites are: Town Hall, 3333 Ridge Road; Lincoln Center, 2450 Lincoln St.; Centier Bank, 9701 Indianapolis Blvd.; McColly Realty, 2002 45th St.; Dr. Ligget, 2940 Highway Ave.; Family Eye Care, 8417 Kennedy Ave.; and Johnson Opticians, 8128 Kennedy Ave., Highland. If interested in becoming a Lion, contact Tim Tintor at (219) 8388756.

World War II and the orphan baby Editor’s Note: This is the first part of a two-part series. %\ 3$6725 *5(* /$:621 0 0LQ 06: *XHVW :ULWHU Writer’s Note: Thanks to the Lake County Public Library for contributing greatly to this story. Any cemetery throughout America contains a hidden, if not forgotten, story and history of the persons buried beneath the sacred grounds. One of the many persons buried in Maplewood Memorial Cemetery in Crown Point who piqued my interest is 1st Lt. William F. Carroll, Army Air Corps, World War II. Carroll passed away at St. Anthony Medical Center on March 7, 2002. He was married to Dr. Mary Davis, M.D. for several decades prior to his death; Mary being an orphaned baby who became one of Crown Point’s prominent doctors as Dr. Mary Davis Carroll, M.D. Now “Bill” Carroll was indeed a WWII veteran and it is his military service that most interested this writer and historian. Many readers may not know that the United States trained dozens of young Chinese men as fighter or bomber pilots back in WWII. I learned this fact from the 1940s Hollywood movie, “Hollywood Canteen.” During WWII, the Japanese enemy attacked mainland China and the United States saved this country (noncommunist then) from the horrible experience of a full Japanese invasion. From his obituary, we learn that Bill, while in the Army, was a “member of the 14th Army Air Corps, the

*5$9(6721( ³ 6KRZQ LV WKH JUDYHVWRQH RI VW /W :LOOLDP &DUUROO 3KRWR E\ *UHJ /DZVRQ Chinese American Composite Wing.” From the internet we learn further that the “ChineseAmerican Composite Wing was a combined United States Army Air Forces and a Republic of China Air Force organization.” The organization was “jointly commanded by American and Chinese Air Force officers.” Fast forward to Crown Point after the war. Again from his obituary we learn that Bill became a “longtime Crown Point attorney and current partner in the firm of Carroll and Donaldson.” As an attorney in the mid1960s, Bill was instrumental

in the founding of St. Anthony Hospital; the very hospital in which he died. First Lt. William Carroll, and many other WWII veterans, must never be forgotten. Perhaps the American Legion Post Fred Schmidt #20 and VFW Crown Point Memorial Post #6446, if they still exist, have not forgotten Bill Carroll at his passing and thereafter. May God bless all Crown Point veterans both past and present. Any information welcome to: Pastor/Dr. Greg Lawson, 1801 E. 3rd St., Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Solo travel multiplying %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Solo travel was gaining in popularity before the pandemic wrapped itself around the globe and it appears to be picking up speed as the world gets used to carrying vaccine passports and wearing masks. Statistics vary, but tour operators generally indicate around half of their sign-ups are by single travelers and as many as

80% of these soloists are women. Still a thorn in the side of single travelers are the singlesupplement fees charged by cruise ships, hotels and tour operators. You can avoid these fees by negotiating the price before booking or working with a travel provider that can tailor tours by, among other things, providing shared accommodations with a fellow traveler with similar interests. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR tŝƐŚŝŶŐ zŽƵ ,ĂƉƉLJ EĞǁ zĞĂƌ͊

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Have A Happy, Healthy 2022!

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10 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2022

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Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

‘American Pie’ was an epic poem in musical form Don McLean

In the early morning hours of Feb. 3, 1959, a small private plane slammed into a cornfield in north cen$ %RRPHU %ODVW tral Iowa. 7R 7KH 3DVW The accident %\ 5$1'$/ took the life & +,// of pop music superstar Charles Hardin “Buddy” Holly, age 22. Fellow touring stars Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper and the pilot, Roger Peterson, also died in the

still unexplained catastrophe. While millions of teenage rock fans were undoubtedly devastated by the news, few probably felt more pain than 13-year-old Don McLean, who learned of Holly’s demise from headlines in the newspapers he delivered. “Buddy Holly was the first and last person I ever really idolized as a kid,” McLean has said. The loss he felt would inspire his multimillion-selling touchstone that, to him, lamented “the day the music died.” (Of course, it didn’t really die. What died was the innocence of the times; the music, as always, continued to evolve). McLean, born in New York

in 1945, dropped out of Villanova University to follow his muse as a folk singer/songwriter. Mentored by pal Pete Seeger, McLean drifted around the East Coast club circuit for years, but never became a headliner. He spent two years creating “Tapestry,” a 1969 album of original tunes. A small label — Mediarts — released it to good reviews but few sales. Mediarts was eventually absorbed by United Artists Records, a major company that had the clout to aggressively promote McLean’s second LP, the 1971 multi-platinum-selling “American Pie.” “American Pie” wasn’t just another nostalgia-fueled 45; in reality, it was an 800-word epic poem in musical form. McLean would later explain, “I wanted to write a song that summed up everything I felt about America and music.” As with many complex poems, deeper meanings lay beneath the surface of “American Pie.” Its dense, often confusing lyrics grow increasingly more somber as McLean’s tune unfolds amid religious references and enigmatic characters that begged several questions: Was Bob Dylan the jester? Did the crown once belong to Elvis Presley? Was the marching band

the Beatles? Was Mick Jagger the Devil incarnate? McLean has always divulged little about “American Pie,” but it’s easy to see he bemoans the loss of the carefree times of his, the first rock ‘n’ roll generation. While his sing-along single may appear to be rollicking, even carefree, there’s actually little to cheer about here. To McLean, America was moving inexorably toward adverse times, due in part to inner-city riots, Vietnam war protests and political assassinations. “In ‘American Pie,’ things are headed in the wrong direction

… becoming less idyllic …,” he once confessed. “It is a morality song, in a sense.” On April 7, 2015, in Christie’s auction room in New York, McLean’s 16-page working manuscript for “American Pie” sold for an astounding $1.2 million. It became the thirdhighest price ever paid for an American literary item. The normally closed-mouthed McLean has often used a wry retort when people press him too hard about his song’s meaning: “It means,” he would answer, “I don’t ever have to work again if I don’t want to.”

Residences Senior Living — choose peace, independence, plus more %\ 0$5&,$ =(//(5 A major plus at Residences Senior Living is peace of mind — knowing that if you’re suddenly not feeling well or you need assistance and it’s 3 a.m. on a Saturday night, right down the hall there’s a nurse ready to take the necessary steps to take on whatever your need might be. Whether you choose assisted living in Residences at Deer Creek, 401 E. U.S. Highway 30, Schererville, or Residences at Coffee Creek, 2300 Village Point, Chesterton, you’ll be as independent as you choose — with always available assistance. Your standard lease affords many comforts. Nurse professionals you can always talk with 24/7 and pendant call system, daily chef-prepared, restaurant-style dining menu, help with your household needs — all are additional pluses to your independent living. You’ll choose the lifestyle you’re used to, plus you’ll find new ac-

tivities to enrich your life, new places to go and you won’t have to drive when you choose to go on our group outings. You’ll invite your friends to visit, plus you’ll introduce them to your new friends. You’ll finally have the time to do, and to go, because you’re not worried about cooking or cleaning; as a plus, your flat linens are laundered for you each week. Find peace of mind every day with an inclusive daily check-in and tidy-up service to remove trash and wipe your kitchenette counters. Likewise, home maintenance, shoveling snow, even driving to your physician’s office will no longer be a worry. As a plus, we have a transport vehicle to take you to appointments on certain weekdays — all part of the monthly lease. The lease is truly month-to-month — for your convenience, should a change become necessary. Schedule a personal tour today online at www.residencesseniorliving.com or call (800) 557-9176.

I It’s easy! Simply find the gold snowflake 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 Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, January 17. %URXJKW 7R <RX %\\

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I Spy December winner is Deborah Shafer. The red christmas bulb was located on page 1 in Senior St. Joseph; page 1 in Senior Elko; page 1 in Senior Allen and on page 1 in Senior Northwest.

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 11

For Information On How To Advertise Call 219-254-2345

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8 servings; Active Time: 20 mins; Total: 45 mins INGREDIENTS: 6 quarts water 4 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning 1 tablespoon mustard seeds 1 tablespoon coriander seeds 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon dill seed 1 teaspoon allspice berries 2 bay leaves 1 pound baby red potatoes 8 ounces kielbasa sausage, cut crosswise into 8 pieces 24 unpeeled raw shrimp (21-25 count) 1 pound green beans, trimmed 4 ears corn, husked and cut in half 2 cups frozen pearl onions 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter or ghee DIRECTIONS: Step 1 Combine water, Old Bay, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, cayenne, dill seed, allspice and bay leaves in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil. Add potatoes and sausage and boil until the potatoes are almost tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Step 2 Add shrimp, green beans, corn and onions and boil until the shrimp are pink and the vegetables are tender-crisp, 5 to 6 minutes more. Drain and serve with butter (or ghee) for dipping. NUTRITION FACTS: Serving Size: 3 shrimp, 1 oz. sausage, 1/2 ear of corn, 1 cup vegetables & 1 Tbsp. butter Per Serving: 353 calories; protein 18.7g; carbohydrates 26.3g; dietary fiber 3.7g; sugars 6.5g; fat 20.1g; saturated fat 11.3g; cholesterol 144.7mg; vitamin a iu 986.6IU; vitamin c 22.4mg; folate 48mcg; calcium 57.3mg; iron 2.1mg; magnesium 54mg; potassium 515mg; sodium 300.9mg; thiamin 0.1mg.

ACROSS 1. *Sports analyst, ex-wide receiver Randy 5. Dashboard acronym 8. *Depth of an end zone, in yards 11. Fencing blade 12. Weight not charged for 13. Young hog 15. Witnessed 16. Aroma 17. Nary a soul 18. *Line of ____ 20. Spanish earthen pot 21. Pinocchio and the like 22. Bean house 23. Antonym of descent 26. Cycle taxi 30. Greek “t” 31. 50-50 34. Not happening 35. Newbies 37. Bert Bobbsey’s twin 38. Like a neon sign 39. “Clueless” catch phrase 40. Not a desktop 42. Metal-bearing mineral 43. “Chim Chim Cher-ee” setting 45. Relating to nose 47. Actors’ group 48. Sink hole 50. Golf club handle 52. *3-point score 56. Make a canyon, e.g. 57. Not written

Exchanges: 3 fat, 1 1/2 lean protein, 1 1/2 starch, 1 1/2 vegetable, 1/2 high-fat protein

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32. *Start of a football play 33. Goo on a trunk 36. *Scrimmagerelated penalty 38. Plant louse 40. Yule firewood 41. By word of mouth

44. Candle shape 46. English in Spanish 48. Mourner’s song 49. Camelot, to Arthur 50. Tennis great Steffi 51. College officertraining prog.

52. *Number of downs to get a first down 53. Anis-flavored aperitif 54. Site of Taj Mahal 55. *Lambeau Field jump 56. Poetic “even”

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58. Racing sled 59. *”Purple People ____” song, inspiration for Vikings defensive line name 60. Like H. C. Andersen’s duckling 61. Poet Pound 62. *AFC counterpart 63. Dreaming stage of sleep 64. Daytime entertainment DOWN 1. Hodgepodge 2. Oil cartel 3. Palm reader, e.g. 4. Old and mentally infirm 5. Weather-related Doppler tool 6. Programs, for short 7. Insignificant 8. Hammer or sickle 9. Europe’s highest volcano 10. Born, in bio 12. Marinara fruit 13. Ornamental hair net 14. *Grabbing penalty 19. Breath freshener 22. *Pre-game encouragement 23. Rose oil 24. One’s assertion 25. Collectible in a cabinet 26. *Fourth down option 27. Colonoscopy tract 28. Ancient assembly area 29. B in IBS

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12 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2022

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Faith

East Chicago woman serves her church faithfully %\ &$55,( 67(,1:(* )HDWXUH :ULWHU MaryEtta Johnson of East Chicago recently celebrated her 100th birthday with a celebration at her church that was attended by family members from as far away as Louisiana. Johnson spent her childhood living with her mother on her grandparent’s large farm in Magnolia, Ark. She remembers attending school at places where her aunt was a teacher, driving to work in the 1929 Chevrolet her father had bought her. She went to school through eighth grade in the country and then went to live in the city with her uncle. “He was my mother’s brother and he was married. I stayed with them and would go back out into the country on week-

ends. I graduated valedictorian of my class,” she said. “Back in those days, you just didn’t hear of scholarships for black kids. But a woman who was head of home economics for the state delivered our graduation address. She announced she was giving me a full tuitionpaid scholarship and everyone applauded.” The scholarship was for her to attend Agricultural Mechanical and Normal College (known as AM & N College) in Pine Bluff, Ark., where she studied home economics and then became a home economics teacher. Her first teaching job was at the high school she had graduated from. She also attended Purdue University. After teaching for a few years in Arkansas, she moved to what was then known as Argo, Ill., on the western bor-

der of Chicago. “I had an uncle working in the post office in downtown Chicago. He thought I was so smart. He wanted me to come and work at the post office.” She worked there for a while until the G.I.s started returning home from the war and were given jobs back at that post office. After that, she went to work at Standard Oil in Whiting as a candle maker. She enjoyed the job, but she had married secretly while she was there because the company had a policy of employing only single women. “Someone called in and told on me. My boss called me in her office one morning and was crying and asked if I was married. I told her I was. She said she hated to lose me because I was such a good worker, but that according to the company’s

)$,7+)8/ :20$1 ³ 0DU\(WWD -RKQVRQ DWWHQGV +DPPRQG 6HYHQWK GD\ $GYHQWLVW &KXUFK 6KH LV SLFWXUHG ZLWK KHU SDVWRU 2YLG 5DGXOHVFX 3KRWR SURYLGHG E\ 'RUDQLWD 7\OHU rules, they had to let me go,” Johnson recalled. “She got up from her desk and hugged me, and we cried together.” Soon, she moved to East Chicago and had three children — one girl and two boys — all of whom Johnson has outlived. She has several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She later returned to teaching first at Roosevelt High School and then Block Junior High, where she retired from. “MaryEtta is nestled into a special place in my heart and that of my family,” said fellow church member Doranita Tyler. “I met her over 20 years ago when we began attending the Hammond church. At the time, I was a mom with two young children. She took a special interest in my children then and even now that they are adults. She has served our church faithfully as a Bible teacher, speaker and elder. She also has served faithfully as a teacher in the northwest Indiana school system.”

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A Seventh-day Adventist who is an elder and has been a Sabbath school leader, Johnson attends the Hammond Seventhday Adventist Church. “I grew up studying the Bible and went home one day and told my grandmother we were worshiping on the wrong day. She asked where I got that from. I told her it was in the Bible,” she explained. Her grandmother didn’t disagree, but told her, “When in Rome, you do as the Romans.” She had been baptized in the Baptist church, but in early adulthood changed to Seventhday Adventist, where a big belief is in attending church on Saturday rather than Sunday. There is also an emphasis on good health and nutrition. Johnson credits her diet of mostly fresh vegetables and fruits for her longevity. She also noted she still drinks a glass of milk with each meal and believes it has contributed to her still having all her natural teeth. Her advice for living a long, prosperous life is simple, “Drink you milk, eat clean and lay off the meat.”

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 13

American College of Radiology designates St. Catherine Hospital as Breast Imaging Center of Excellence Continuing to provide the highest quality, safest treatment experience for women in need of cancer care, the Women’s Diagnostic Center of St. Catherine Hospital has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. This distinction from the American College of Radiology recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. “Accreditation by the American College of Radiology serves as an acknowledgement that our care measures up to the nation’s top quality standards,” said Leo Correa, CEO of St. Catherine Hospital. “For our patients, it helps foster peace of mind and trust in their treatment.” St. Catherine Hospital’s Women’s Diagnostic Center offers same-day results of highquality screening and diagnostic services to help detect breast cancer at its earliest stages. Staff members include a team of highly trained, licensed technologists, certified breast health navigators and dedicated breast radiologists, who perform the highest standards of diagnostic breast care and treatment. “We care deeply about the patients who entrust themselves to us for care,” said Janushi Dalal, MD, fellowship-trained breast radiologist at Community Healthcare System. “We could not do that without the vision and drive to make this happen by every member of our team from St. Catherine Hospital’s physicians, nurses and technologists to all of those behind the scenes working to bring this program to the next level. I wanted to extend a special thank you to Tammy, Valerie, Donna and especially Lupe, who did a great job.” In order to earn accreditation, peer-review evaluations are conducted in each cancer care area by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Areas that the ACR takes into consideration for high practice standards include image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs. “We are proud and excited to announce that St. Catherine Hospital has been granted the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation,” said Roberto Gonzalez, director of Imaging Services, St. Catherine Hospital. “This is a huge achievement for our hospital based program. It’s been a challenge, but with our

extraordinary people we got it accomplished. It was truly a team effort.” The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 36,000 diagnostic/ interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive healthcare services. For more information about specialized women’s care and the programs and services offered by the hospitals of Community Healthcare System: St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago, Community Hospital, Munster, St. Mary Medical Center, Hobart, and Community Stroke and Rehabilitation Center, Crown Point, visit COMHS.org.

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14 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2022

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

Plastic surgeon’s donation aims to help women in need of breast cancer care Schererville board certified plastic surgeon Gus Galante, M.D., has made a $1,300 donation to Community Hospital’s Women’s Diagnostic Center. The contribution to the Breast Cancer Awareness Fund will help local women — those without insurance and those who otherwise couldn’t afford it — receive diagnostic breast care. The donation was generated from a percentage of the proceeds from Galante’s breast patient cases during the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Raising breast cancer awareness has been an important ongoing cause for Galante. “If we can help just one individual get the care they need, then it will be very much worth the effort,” Galante said. “I hope this proactive stance will inspire others to do the same and spark other donations.” Breast cancer can be diagnosed through routine

mammography. The Women’s Diagnostic Center of Community Hospital offers 3D mammography and soon to have an Automated Breast Ultrasound System (ABUS), with same-day appointments and, in most cases, same-day results. With these technological advances, together with coordination among area physicians, women can generally begin treatment for breast cancer at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System within 10 days of diagnosis. “Until we can prevent breast cancer, our strongest weapon against it remains the detection of it at the earliest time we can,” said Mary Nicholson, M.D., medical director of the women’s center in Munster. “This funding will enable us to serve many more with the care they need.” To learn more about the Women’s Diagnostic Center and advances in women’s care, visit www.comhs.org.

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Avoid no-plan death trap %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LH )HDWXUHV You can put off making plans for your final days on earth but you can’t put off dying. The point is, if you haven’t made plans for handling your estate and remains, it’s time to begin. The same with instructions on managing your matters when your mind is no longer reliable. There’s more to end-of-life planning than making a will. Although that’s a good beginning. Yet, according to a recent report, more than 75% of millennials — the segment of population born between 1981 and 1996 — don’t even have that. To begin, you can quickly write down a simple statement of who should get what of whatever you’re leaving when you die. Or you can have a family sit down and talk about your plans. This should open the door to

how you’re going to cope with your final days and who will be delegated to take charge if you become physically or mentally handicapped. Now that you’re in the planning mode, it’s time to talk with an attorney. A chat with your tax preparer will help, too. In meeting with you lawyer, you should be thoroughly candid on what you want to do. How should your estate be divided, who should have power of attorney — oh, wait, what’s that? This is the individual or individuals who will manage your physical and financial affairs when you no longer are capable. This takes you into another area: instructions on healthcare and final-days medical treatment and the preparation of a living will. We seem to be hard-wired with the this-can’t-happen-tome gene, but about half of the folks in their 80s suffer from some form of cognitive impairment, according to medical research. All through the process, you should be talking with members of your family, especially those who will become surrogates with power of attorney to handle your affairs. If you designate non-family members as executor or other official handler, bring them into the conversation, too. There are countless cruel tales of greed making monsters out of family members when someone approaches death and after they die. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 15

Winter reading program at Hammond Public Library “Read for a Better World” is among the programs being offered at the Hammond Public Library. This year’s program is highlighting books that will help individuals grow as readers and as people. It’s time for Winter Reading and this year’s theme, Read for a Better World is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. Winter Reading is completely virtual and can be logged on at hammond.beanstack.org or on the Beanstack Tracker app to log in or register to participate. Sign up for a challenge and log all books and activities completed during January. Earn badges for entries to win prizes. Among the books available are: “The Gift of Our Wounds: A Sikh and a former White Supremacist find forgiveness After Hate” by Arno Michaelis. The powerful story of a friendship between two men — on Sikh and one skinhead — that resulted in

an outpouring of love and a mission to fight against hate. “Drawdown The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” by Paul Hawken. In Drawdown, renowned environmentalist Paul Hawken has assembled a team of over 200 scholars, scientists, policy makers, business leaders and activists to illustrate the hundred most substantive solutions to combat climate change that together will not only slow down the growth of carbon emissions, but reverse them altogether. Put into action together, these solutions will mobilize society into taking the climate change conversation from problem definition to problem solving, from fear to apathy to collaboration and regeneration. “A Passion For Leadership Lessons On Change And Reform From Fifty Years Of Public Service,” by Robert M. Gates. From the former secretary of defense and author of the acclaimed

Sitting room only Mary Ellen and I have a standing argument — literally, a standing argument. She claims the first thing I do ,1 $ when I en1876+(// ter a room %\ ',&. is sit down. :2/)6,( “That makes you seem old,” she said, “and I know you are concerned about not portraying that image.” Which surprised me, because I always thought it was my wrinkly skin and balding pate that led to that assessment. “For example,” she said, “when we went to Bob and Cathy’s for Thanksgiving, you sat down as soon as we walked in the house, while everyone else was chatting in the front hall.” “I wasn’t feeling well and I don’t think it’s fair to count the bathroom.” Then recently, we were shopping on Mass Avenue in Indy. As soon as we walked in a quaint little boutique, I sat down. Mary Ellen noticed. After we left, she said she was worried. “When I saw you do that, I thought, oh dear, frail and 100 years old.” “Well, that’s pretty mean, Mary Ellen.” “No, Dick. Not you. The chair was 100 years old. We were in an antique store.” The irony of all this is that sometimes I stand when I should sit. I never sit when I eat lunch; I stand over the kitchen sink and snarf down a sandwich. Who has time to walk all the way to the table? Sometimes I don’t even make it to the counter; I just nibble my way from shelf to shelf in the fridge. I only do this when Mary Ellen is away from

home, but when she gets back it’s hard to explain mustard and ketchup droppings in the vegetable bin. I became very obsessive about this standing/sitting thing. I didn’t want Mary Ellen to see me as the “older” man she married, so I checked with her everywhere we went. “Can I sit here?” I asked one evening. “Yes, Dick, you can sit there. We’re in a restaurant.” That weekend I was still on alert. Maybe overly so. “Are you going to stand all evening?” Mary Ellen asked me. “I don’t want you to think I look elderly if I sit down too soon.” “Dick, no one will recognize you. It’s dark in this theater.” To make me even more paranoid, I was constantly reminded that my Apple Watch tracks my movements. And I was not doing very well. Every once in a while, the dial lights up to report how much time I’ve spent standing versus sitting. Apparently, to pass Apple standards, you need to “stand and move at least one minute 12 different hours in the day for a week.” I had to read that directive several times to understand it. Like when my pill jar says: Take two tablets three times a day with or without food. Huh? What? By the way, you can find all kinds of advice online about how to cheat the watch. Yes, people actually do this. One guy admitted flapping his arms like a bird before he went to bed because he discovered it fools the watch when it registers your standing time. I tried that one night so I could show Mary Ellen on my watch that I had made some improvement. She caught me flapping. Now she no longer tells me not to sit: she tells me not to roost.

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petence, efficiency and effective service are essential; yet Americans know these institutions are often anything but and many despair that they are too big and too hard to reform. Robert Gates disagrees. Having led change successfully at three monumental organizations — the CIA, Texas A & M University and the

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Can I get a refund for these NFL tickets from Ticketmaster? %\ &+5,6723+(5 (//,277 *XHVW :ULWHU Lynne Larkin wants a refund or credit for tickets to an NFL game she purchased through Ticketmaster. The reason: The stadium changed its health protocols. But is that a valid reason? I’m trying to get a refund or credit for NFL tickets I had to cancel. Earlier this year, I purchased tickets to the New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers game in Jacksonville, Fla. The Ticketmaster site said to check each venue website for what safety measures will be in place for each event. The TIAA Stadium site said pod-distanced seating, distanced parking, full masking required, and other extensive safety measures. So on that basis, I purchased my tickets. I have screenshots of the TIAA Stadium site. Someone who works at

the stadium told me on Facebook that this is incorrect. All seats are available. There’s no distancing and no masking. I don’t feel safe attending a game under those circumstances. I decided to cancel my tickets and request a refund. I asked for a refund once, but Ticketmaster didn’t respond. Please help me get my $402 back. -- Lynne Larkin, Vero Beach, Fla. I think you should get a refund for those tickets. It’s an unusual football season in several ways. The New Orleans Saints played their home opening game in Jacksonville after being displaced by hurricane Ida. But COVID was also a factor. The Ticketmaster site has a refund policy on its site, but it’s not entirely clear. Full refunds, it says, will be available if the NFL or the team cancels a game and it can’t be rescheduled. You can also get your money back if the

&+5,6723+(5 (//,277 game happens “under conditions that prohibit fans from attending.” The Ticketmaster site also notes that the season will be played “with stadiums at full capacity whenever possible.” Yes, that’s confusing. How do you define “prohibit fans Continued on page 17

16 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2022

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Health & Fitness

Local coalition encourages use of free resources to quit nicotine January is here, and it’s a great time for fresh starts. If you’re a tobacco user, the best thing you can do this year is to make a quit plan. Quitting tobacco is hard, but you can do it. Smoking is still the number one cause of preventable death in Indiana. More than one in five Indiana adults smoke cigarettes (21.5%), one of the highest rates in the nation, while the number of youths using vaping products remains a concern for anti-smoking ad-

vocates. Making the decision to quit in 2022 can dramatically reduce the risk for life-threatening diseases and even make meals taste better. Quit plans can: • Combine quit smoking strategies to keep you focused, confident, and motivated to quit. • Help identify challenges you will face as you quit and ways to overcome them. • Can improve chances of quitting smoking for good. A trained quit coach at (800)

Quit-Now can help with a quit plan. Quit Now Indiana offers free nicotine patches, gum and lozenges (while supplies last) even if you don’t enroll in coaching services. Carrie Higgins, program director of the Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter County, stated, “Combining Nicotine Replacement Therapy with counseling, such as that received by the highly-trained coaches provided by the Indiana Tobacco Quitline, is one of the most effective methods leading

to successful quit attempts.” People can also receive nicotine replacement medications without a prescription in Indiana. Simply stop by any Indiana pharmacy to talk to a pharmacist. SmokeFree.gov includes the following steps for having a successful quit plan: • Pick a quit date. • Let loved ones know you are quitting. • Remove reminders of smoking. • Identify reasons to quit smoking.

• Identify smoking triggers. • Develop coping strategies. • Have places to turn to for immediate help. • Set up rewards for quit milestones. Free, confidential help is available at (800) Quit-Now or QuitNowIndiana.com. Make 2022 the best year yet by making the decision to quit. If texting is preferred, text READY to 200-400 to get started. For additional resources, visit valpo.edu/ tepc.

Breaking rules shouldn’t harm your health %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Making rules is pretty easy. Following them is the difficult part. The easiest of this whole exercise is breaking them. Eat right, sleep tight and ex-

ercise daily are among mantras that have been built into our brains over the years. Skip one of these and you feel guilty. It’s come to light this obsession with regimens we’ve developed to keep us healthy may be overplayed. Take the time-honored tenet

Heart attacks give warning %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV You’re driving to the mall, watching television or making a sandwich and you suddenly feel “off.” If it’s a heart attack, look for these signs. Most attacks involve discomfort in the middle of the chest that can last a few minutes or go away and come back. They feel like you’re being squeezed

and can be painful. This usually is accompanied by a shortness of breath, although this can occur without any chest discomfort. Other symptoms can be pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw and stomach. Also signaling a heart attack are breaking out in a cold sweat, lightheadedness and nausea. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

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that you should get eight hours sleep every night. If your job doesn’t require any heavy lifting or if you no longer have to get up and get to work, a little as six hours a night is all you need. Naps during the day will whittle away any tired feelings you get. Now how about those houra-day exercise sessions. There are those with buff bodies who spend that much time or more each day in a nearby gym hefting weights to build abs and pecs and calves. Others run miles and miles every day to stay in top condition. Some swim dozens of laps to tend to their conditioning. If you’re not one of these,

you’ve probably learned that a simple walk around the neighborhood regularly keeps you healthy and flexible with less stress and pain than those who build their lives around exercise sessions. Regardless of what your exercise plan is, skipping a day now and then gives your body and mind a bit of relaxation. It feels good to break the rule. Your eating habits don’t have to take enjoyment out of food. Feasting on a wedge of birthday cake or basking in the coolness of an ice cream cone or enjoying a few french fries in your shrimp bucket shouldn’t ruin your day. You can carry a

couple of overweight pounds without ruining your health. In fact, you might even tell yourself you take that walk around the park every day so you can enjoy breaking the rules and munching on those goodies. So eat sensibly, things you like and in small portions. Some science says snacking several times a day is as healthy as sitting down to three square meals daily. A daily dip in your backyard pool, or a bike ride around the neighborhood, a short hike around the back 40 — or all three — all contribute to health maintenance. And feel free to skip them now and then. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

Coffee is a healthy break %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Coffee might be considered the WD-40 of the food system. It’s been cited as a defensive mechanism against health risks ranging from sunburn to diabetes. Scientific, medical and diet gurus around the globe claim drinking three to five cups a day is a healthy regimen. Though not the source of nutrients found in diets of the health-conscious, an eight-

ounce cup of coffee, regular or decaffeinated, contains more disease-fighting antioxidants than a typical serving of blueberries or oranges. The anti-coffee culture points out that coffee also can cause nervousness, keep you awake at night and boost your blood pressure. To counter these overstimulating effects of coffee, nutritionist suggest spacing out one’s intake, drinking a cup of coffee every few hours during the day. A European study also re-

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sŝƐŝƚ ǁǁǁ͘ŚŽƵƐĞĐĂůůĚŽĐ͘ŽƌŐ Kƌ Ăůů dŽůů &ƌĞĞ͗ ϴϬϬͲϵϰϱͲϰϲϱϰ

vealed coffee retards the cognitive decline in the elderly. Caffeine also reduces the risk of cirrhosis of the liver as well as lowering the odds of death by heart disease among the elderly. Studies have also revealed coffee drinkers are less likely to develop basal-cell carcinoma — skin cancer — than non-coffee drinkers. Coffee has also been found to reduce pain, protect against strokes, fight depression and a variety of cancers and protect the liver. While the consensus is that coffee can be good for you, it shouldn’t be considered a cureall. If coffee gives you the jitters, try decaf. If that doesn’t work, talk with your doctor. Go easy on milk, cream, sugar and other coffee shop add-ons, because they add calories to an otherwise low-calorie beverage. When brewing your own coffee, use paper filters that trap the oils in coffee that can increase your levels of cholesterol. As with anything that involves your health and wellbeing, discuss your coffee habits with your primary care physician. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 17

Health & Fitness

Methodist Hospitals CEO urges community to get COVID-19 vaccine %\ 0$77 '2</( 3UHVLGHQW DQG &(2 0HWKRGLVW +RVSLWDOV Over the past two years, our community has come together to support our health care providers and each other dur-

ing the unprecedented crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that people want to move on from the pandemic and return to normal life. Unfortunately, the health care community cannot move on. Since the Thanksgiving

holiday, Indiana, and Lake County in particular, have experienced a worrisome surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. In Lake County, the positivity rate has reached 15%, even higher than Indiana as

Headaches are a real pain %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV We’re surrounded by headaches. Bustling traffic, noisy neighbors, relentless relatives, busybody bosses and you’ll think of a few more. Those aren’t really headaches, although they may be causes. Most of us will suffer at least one headache this year. More than 70 million people in this country suffer from intermittent headaches, according to a national survey. While everyone has heard of migraines, only about one in 10 individuals suffer their blinding pain and the accompanying complaints, such as sensitivity to light, noise and smells, nau-

sea and upset stomach among others. Sinus headaches usually are the result of infected sinuses and hover around the front of your face — forehead, nose and cheeks. Cluster headaches hit about 1% of the population. They’re usually short but extremely painful and tend to occur in clusters — several times a day or at the same of time of day for several days. Tension is the most common cause of the most common headaches. These can be triggered by anxiety, allergies, eye strain and loss of sleep. You can also suffer such a headache after too much carousing the night before. These types of headaches usually are a steady ache

rather than a throbbing that’s a hallmark of many migraines. And, fortunately, they are the easiest to treat because they respond favorably to most overthe-counter pain relievers. Erasing these attacks calls for learning how to relax mentally as well as physically. Getting enough sleep is a good start. So is some form of regular exercise. Swimming, biking, walking and gardening are simple means to keep you moving enough to assure you of a good night’s sleep. If you’re experiencing headaches more than once a week for any reason, make an appointment with your primary care physician to discuss their source and suggested solutions to the problem. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

Healthy foods are all around you %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Mangoes are the most eaten fruit in the world for good reason: they’re among the superstar health foods, providing us with decent doses of vitamins A

and C along with blood pressure lowering potassium and fiber. Other plant products listed among this galaxy of health boosters by some nutritionists include sweet potatoes, broccoli, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), watermelon, butternut

squash and leafy greens, such as kale, spinach and Swiss chard. Along with this array of food in your larder, you might want to add plain yogurt, wild salmon and oatmeal.

highly unusual. Typically, companies send an automated response when you file a complaint through their site. It looks like your first request didn’t go through. I recommended that you try one of the executive customer service contacts for Ticketmaster that I publish on my consumer advocacy site, Elliott. org. (www.elliott.org/companycontacts/ticketmaster/”) That way, you can be sure that someone received your request.

And someone did. Ticketmaster promptly responded to you. It turns out that changing the health protocols at a stadium is grounds for a full refund. You received your money back for the tickets, minus the cost of insurance, and watched the game on TV instead. Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer for Elliott Advocacy. Email him at chris@elliott. org or get help with any consumer problem by contacting him at http://www.elliott.org/help

it’s alarming that only 50.6% of Indiana residents are fully vaccinated – the 11th lowest rate in the U.S. According to the Indiana Hospital Association, 95% of Hoosiers hospitalized for COVID in November were unvaccinated. Methodist Hospitals has been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. I am proud of our entire organization: doctors, nurses and staff, who have courageously served the community through two very difficult years. We owe them our gratitude and our support. We ask you to come together once again for the greater good and support our health care heroes. You can support them by practicing safe behaviors during gatherings — masking, hand washing and social distancing. You can support them by considering a career in health care; hospital staffing needs are real and growing. And you can support them by giving the most important gift you can give to yourself, your family and your community. Get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, and encourage those you love to do the same. Visit www.methodisthospitals.org for a list of convenient locations to get vaccinated.

Dennis van Waardenburg, CSCM ACSAR Certified Senior Care Manager

219.386.5781 dennis@AtHomeByChoice.net www.AtHomeByChoice.net

Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

Can I get a Continued from page 15 from attending”? If the stadium goes from full social distancing to “anything goes,” does that count? I imagine others are in your situation — caught between their health concerns and the ambiguities of cancellation rules. There’s only one way to get the answer: You have to ask. I reviewed your paper trail with Ticketmaster. It looks as if it didn’t even acknowledge your first refund request. That’s

a whole, and higher than that of surrounding states. Indiana hospitals had 2,000 COVID patients admitted as of Dec. 13, an 82% increase over the prior three weeks, according to the Indiana State Health Department. As of December, the pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 17,000 Hoosiers and nearly 700 of our fellow Lake County community members. Our region’s hospitals are struggling to both care for all these new COVID-19 patients and to provide needed care for other patients. The increasing numbers of COVID patients are impacting the availability of elective services. Emergency rooms across northwest Indiana are overcrowded. And health care workers — our friends, relatives and neighbors who have dedicated their lives and careers to helping others — are overworked and exhausted. At Methodist, our COVID-19 cases have surged to 45-60 cases on an average day, up from single digits early in the fall. The vast majority of our COVID patients are unvaccinated. The way out of the pandemic is clear: vaccination. It’s a documented fact that the vaccines are safe and are extremely effective in preventing severe disease and death. So

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 19

Marine general thwarted plot to overthrow FDR %\ 720 02552: 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV The current craze over the Jan. 6 raid on the capitol in Washington doesn’t appear to be as well financed as to the attempt to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration almost 100 years ago. In 1934 the American news media discovered there had been a year-old plot to replace FDR with a fascist government. The claims of the conspiracy came from Marine Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, one the most decorated war heroes of his time. Even more unbelievable were his claims of who was involved in the attempted coup — respected finance and business names such as Robert Sterling Clark, Grayson M.P. Murphy and Prescott Bush, father of the late President George H.W. Bush and grandfather of former President George W. Bush. Much like today’s news media, many major newspapers

of the day pooh-poohed the reports when details were leaked by government officials. Born in 1881, Butler came from a line of civil servants. His father, Thomas Butler, was a representative from Pennsylvania in Congress, and his maternal grandfather, Smedley Darlington, was also a Republican congressman. He was the most decorated Marine up to that time, having been awarded two Medals of Honor, an Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Marine Corps Brevet Medal, a Navy Distinguished Service Medal and a host of other honors during his 34 years in the Corps. His battle record covered duty in the Boxer Rebellion, Mexican-American War and World War I. In 1933 Gerald C. MacGuire, a bond salesman, and Bob Doyle, an executive with the American Legion, asked the general to speak at a Legion convention in Chicago. Butler

0$5,1( 0$- *(1 60('/(< %87/(5 agreed but began to suspect something was amiss during their second meeting. The general was told there was more than $100,000 (about $2 million today) available to bring veteran supporters to the convention. The general was stunned because there was little chance a group of veterans was able to gather such a large amount of money.

Never leave home without it — travel insurance %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV

A few years ago, neighbors took a quick weekend getaway to visit family and friends in Canada. It was a spur-ofthe-moment lark, so they just booked their airline tickets online while packing a couple of overnight carry-on bags. Right after landing, the husband fell ill. He called his doctor, who suggested he get a

blood test and have the results wired to him. It was Friday and the Canadian medical system just wasn’t up to it. They had to find a Canadian doctor to prescribe the blood test, locate a lab and get the test done; the soonest the results could be obtained was 10 business days. His wife called the airline and, despite her pleas, they refused to change the date of their return ticket, so she just booked one-way tickets on the

MacGuire also asked Butler to deliver a speech that was highly critical of FDR’s recent move away from the gold standard, which was a major sticking point for high-ranking financiers. Many bankers feared their gold-backed loans would not be repaid in full by the new policy. There were concerns about the President’s socialist leanings and some business leaders even suspected he was a communist. Butler was told he’d be the ideal leader of veterans, promising him an army of 500,000 men and financial backing from an assortment of rich businessmen, so long as he would be willing to lead a peaceful march on the White House to displace FDR. Butler refused to deliver the speech and he heard little about the matter until MacGuire began travelling through Europe on a trip funded by Robert Sterling Clark, an heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune. MacGuire believed the only way to save the country from FDR’s policies was to create a military state run by former servicemen, with Roosevelt serving as a

mere figurehead. Butler knew he would need to corroborate any plan he drew up to stop the intended coup. He contacted Philadelphia Record writer Paul Comly French, who agreed to meet with MacGuire. The businessman openly described the fascist state he foresaw to replace FDR and believed General Smedley was the “ideal leader.” In November 1934, Butler and French appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee and revealed the plot, which quickly became known as the “White House Coup” and “Wall Street Putsch.” Many major newspapers derided Butler’s claims when some of the committee’s report leaked out. The full report was not officially made public until recently. No one was ever prosecuted in connection to the plot. The general’s account was published in his 1935 book, “War is a Racket.” There’s no telling how far the plot to overthrow FDR may have gone without Butler’s intervention. Its failure was the work of one patriotic Marine general. Butler died in 1940 at the age of 58. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

first available flight back home. As it turned out, it was the first trip anywhere for them without travel insurance, so the cost of the return ticket was not covered. Nor were any medical expenses they might have acquired while they were away. The lesson learned was to never take a trip anywhere away from home without getting travel insurance to cover all contingencies. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

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Why flying is no longer fun %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Air travel during this coronavirus era has become quite safe. It’s what happens to you when you land that can be harrowing. Some countries won’t let you in. Others slam you into quarantine, or require you to quarantine yourself, for times ranging from a weekend to two weeks. Some folks are waiting until this is over, but many don’t think this will ever end. Rules that made flying thorny in the past have been expanded to make flying thornier from now on. There is some good news. Airplanes are sprayed with disinfectant between flights to sanitize the interior and are given thorough cleansing overnight.

Unless someone sitting beside or behind you is coughing all over you, you’re pretty safe aboard the jetliner, because the entire interior air is purified every few minutes by the aircraft’s circulation system. Many airlines have cut back on food and drink service to reduce interaction between passengers and crew. Board-

ing many aircraft is now being done from back to front to diminish passenger contact. Masks are required and rules get more complicated for international travel, both for landing in the country of your destination and for returning home. The entire industry is in a state of flux as it staggers back

from losing more than 90% of its business in the spring of 2020. It has not recouped the robust business travel that kept it bustling in the past. As a result, it has to make up the difference by boosting leisure travel and increasing its prices in this sector. Some airlines have closed down firstclass and filled the space with

business-class and premiumeconomy seats. Most forecasters predict ticket prices will continue to rise for the next few years, the assortment of fees will expand and some — think of baggage fees — will spike, and seats will get smaller and closer together. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

Cancelled flights call for flexibility %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Get used to the fact airlines can cancel your flight without reimbursing you and you can cancel a flight and not get any reimbursement at all. Frustration with the flying business is mounting and the

only way airlines seem to be coping with dissatisfaction is by adding to it. With more than 5,000 commercial airliners in the air at any given moment, the average 3% of flights disruptions means there are 150 fewer aircraft in the mix. That’s a blip for the airline industry

but a massive mix-up for the passengers on the ground. The 100s of flights cancelled recently by Southwest and American were outward signs of how simply these companies can disrupt a traveler’s life. And as passenger numbers dwindle, airline companies are prone to cancel

flights that are not full and debark passengers to other airplanes that may or may not be going directly to the customer’s desired destination. Survival while flying the friendly skies requires staying flexible. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 21

Burglary effects linger after occurance %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV More than 2 million homes are burglarized each year, which means about three homes are broken into and ransacked every minute. More than 60% of burglaries occur during the day. Few last longer than 10 minutes. In two-thirds of these incidents, the burglar knows and is known by the occupants of the residence. In many cases the burglar is a relative. Many times the thieves were part of a home remodeling crew or returned uninvited after being called to the home to repair an appliance. Statistics reveal a burglarized home is likely to be broken into again within six months. Despite this high rate of residential break-ins, fewer than

20% of residents have home security systems. Anyone who’s been the victim of a burglary knows the result is more than just the loss of personal possessions. There’s the residual feeling of exposure and vulnerability — that someone could violate your private space. And the fear that you could have been home when it happened. If you return from a shopping trip or a several-week vacation and see your dwelling has been broken into, don’t go inside. The perpetrators might still be inside, so call the police and wait until they come and secure your residence. After you’ve entered, take inventory. Walk through every room and write down what’s missing — computer, jewelry, television set, silverware, fur coats, anything and everything

that’s not there. Give that list to the police. If you discover something else missing later, give that update to them. There is little likelihood your

stuff will ever be retrieved, but a copy of that list can be used to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance. Make sure no credit cards

are missing and you might consider changing bank account numbers if you can’t account for all your checkbooks. Mature Lie Features Copyright 2021

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22 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2022

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Travel

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Since Cuba’s basically closed, consider visiting Little Havana Going to Cuba to satisfy one of the items on your bucket list has become increasingly difficult. The U.S. govern*5($7 ment not (6&$3(6 only forbids 7H[W DQG 3KRWRV American %\ 52' .,1* cruise lines to dock there and has limited American airlines to flights only to Havana, but has eliminated the popular People-to-People program that allowed Americans to travel throughout Cuba, meet its people and learn about its culture. It’s still possible to go to Cuba on one of several other programs (medical, religious, scientific, etc.) but if you do, stick strictly to the itinerary and don’t attempt to work in a day at the beach, because you

may be audited when you get home and possibly fined. There is an alternative that eliminates just about all the hassles of traveling, you don’t need a visa and won’t even need your passport. Instead, head to Miami and visit Little Havana where you can enjoy a big helping of Cuban history and culture. In 2000 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 2017 the National Trust for Historic Preservation declared this social, cultural and political center a national treasure. The area near downtown known as Little Havana is where Cuban refugees began settling after Fidel Castro came to power in the 1960s, turned the country into a Communist state and began governmentalizing everything from businesses and industries to private holdings. Now it’s inhabited by around 50,000 people, most of whom are of Cuban descent. It has a lively street life, and

is loaded with mom-and-pop enterprises, colorful murals and unique restaurants. The great warmth of its residents is obvious to visitors. In the center of it all is Domino Park (also known as Maximo Gomez Park) where locals have been going for 35 years to participate in friendly games of dominoes, drink coffee and debate politics. Benches are arranged around the edges of the pavilion for spectating. Even the sidewalk is decorated with dominoes. Just a short distance up Eighth Street is the Paseo de los Estrellas, which is Little Havana’s own Walk of Fame that includes Latin American actors, writers, artists and musicians such as Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz and Willy Chirino, whose stars are embedded in the sidewalk. This area, (Eighth Street between 14th and 17th avenues) is the headquarters for the free Calle Ocho Festival which has been held on the last Friday of

every month for the past four decades. It features outdoor music on 30 stages, street musicians, art exhibits, hundreds of vendors, educational programs at historic Tower Theater and free walking tours led by Miami historian Dr. Paul George at 7 p.m. On Friday, March 13, 1988, the festival went into the Guinness Book of World Records by forming the world’s longest conga line that included 119,986 people. Before taking a stroll through some of the neighborhoods that feature a variety of architecture ranging from bungalow and mission style to Miami modern and Mediterranean revival, drop into the visitor’s center at 1442 S.W. Eighth St. for information on the history and culture of the area. Even if Cuba isn’t open to American tourists, consider this colorful alternative. And be sure to be there on the last Friday of the month.

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January 2022 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 23

Travel

The Naples, Italy nobody knows %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV “Did you get to Pompeii?” That’s the first question everyone asks when they hear we’ve been to Naples. Our answer is “No.” Nor did we head for tourist-trampled Positano on the affluent Amalfi Coast. Ditto for commercialized Capri. But we did stroll around 2,800-year-old Cuma, the first Greek colony established on the Italian peninsula some 350 years before the founding of Naples. It’s the images of these fortress-like ruins and nearby Pozzuoli, Sofia Loren’s birthplace, that appear when we think of Naples. As do memories of whisking through the crammed and crowded cobblestone streets of this cosmopolitan complex built at the base of Mount Vesuvius. The volcano on the southeastern edge of Naples is responsible for a couple of the world’s better-known ruins — Pompeii and Herculaneum. However, about 20 miles west of downtown Naples is Cuma, a sight that can satisfy both the avid and amateur archeologist. They can amble over and around the remains of temples to Apollo and Jove high on the acropolis that overlooks one of the most enthralling expanses of beach along the Mediterranean shore. It was these soft waves rolling up against the gently curved shoreline and the natural hot springs that drew the Greeks here. It’s also the land of myth and magic that Virgil etched into legend. Both avid and amateur will get a kick out of walking through the 145-yard trapezoid tunnel hollowed out of the massive rock to the grotto of the Sybil, Apollo’s prophetic priestess who foretold Aeneas’s future. On the drive to Cuma, you can stop at a roadside overlook to peer down into Lake Avernus, which contemporaries of Homer and Virgil believed to be the entrance to Hades. Before embarking on any of these jaunts, you have to sample the original modern pizza — the margherita. It’s available everywhere in Naples. While this type of flatbread dates back several centuries, it was in June 1889 that Neapolitan chef Raffaele Esposito created the Pizza Margherita in honor of Italy’s Queen consort, Margherita of Savoy, who was visiting the city. He garnished it with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, to represent the red, white and green Italian flag. He was the first to add cheese. After washing down this palate pleaser with wine and beer, it was time to dive into side dishes of fresh seafood, also available everywhere in this seaside city. Then it’s chased

down with a toddy of the local favorite – the citrus-flavored liqueur limoncello, which is sipped as widely here as Starbucks coffee is in Seattle. There are sites aplenty to see between snacks in this, the third-largest city in Italy. We stopped at the Il Vero Bar del Professore on the edge of the massive Piazza Plebiscito, the largest square in Naples. It was given that name after the plebiscite of 1870 that made Naples part of the Kingdom of Italy under the House of Savoy. On one flank are the municipal palace and Real Teatro San Carlo, the opera house that has been operating continuously since 1737. After sampling two specialties of Il Vero Bar — a coffee with nut cream and a sfogliatelle (roll) — we headed to San Severo Chapel to view The Veiled Christ, completed in 1753 by Giuseppe Sanmartino, reposed among more than two dozen other intriguing works of art. Then we headed for the central metro station, dodging anything on wheels as we danced through the Piazza de Gesu, one of the city’s prettiest piazzas decorated with churches and statues. The station

/$5*(67 648$5( ³ 3LD]]D 3OHELVFLWR LV WKH ODUJHVW VTXDUH LQ 1DSOHV 3KRWR E\ &HFLO 6FDJOLRQH 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV is tucked firmly in a section locals call Calcutta because of the constant commotion created by vendors and vagrants, booths and bicycles, walkers and watchers. Our train took us to a stop within minutes of

our bed-and-breakfast in Pozzuoli, a commune on Naples’s western border that was once the busiest seaport on this section of the Italian peninsula. It was here that St. Paul landed about A.D. 60 to establish a

Christian community. A recently built waterfront park and walkway makes this one of the more pleasant promenades alongside the Mediterranean. Mature Life Features Copyright 2021

Odette Fobe of Mishawaka and her daughter Karla adventured on the highways and byways and through the interesting towns and cities on their way to Niagara Falls. “Covered bridges have always been our thing,” Odette writes. This photo of Odette, shown holding a St. Joseph Senior Life, was taken near the Everett Covered Bridge in Cuyohoga Valley National Park in Ohio on their way home. Cuyohoga Valley National Park located in northeast Ohio between Cleveland and Akron covers about 50 square miles and is the only national park in the state. The Cuyohoga River runs through the park. Native Americans named the river Cuyohoga, meaning “crooked river.” About 100 waterfalls are located in Cuyahoga Valley, with the most popular being 65’ tall Brandywine Falls. Easy to reach, sightseers can reach the waterfall on a wooden boardwalk hooked to a large parking area. Of course a trail is also accessible to the falls, thanks to the many nature routes abundant in the park. Visitors can hike the 20-mile Towpath trail which follows a former stretch of the Ohio and Erie canal. The Everett Covered Bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in Summit County. It was built sometime in the 1800s when the Ohio and Erie canal was used to ship products to bigger cities and bridges were needed to cross the canals. Ohio led the nation in covered bridge construction. Thank you Odette Fobe for “taking us along” to one of the midwest’s most picturesque locations.

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24 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ January 2022

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And the winning bid is ... original Batmobile finds new home On Jan. 13, 2013, Lot 5037 rolled smoothly onto center stage at the prestigious Barrett-Jackson car auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. The sleek, low-slung vehicle, owned by California auto customizer George Barris, glistened like a black diamond under the lights. Moments later, furious bidding erupted among the well-heeled. After 13 minutes, it was all over, the buyer elated, the audience stunned. TV’s original Batmobile had found a new home. — During the 1950s, American car companies held annual auto shows, where attendees were often enthralled by what the factory folks called “concept cars.” Such boldly designed vehicles were constructed to showcase new styling and technology, but were never offered for sale. A decade before the Batmobile appeared on TV’s “Batman” show, the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company had proudly displayed its Lincoln Futura concept car at the 1955 Chicago Auto Show. Bill Schmidt, the company’s chief stylist, had been inspired to come up with the design for the Futura one day after he had scrutinized a shark while scuba diving. Schmidt later designed what would amount to a “labo-

ratory on wheels,” an experimental machine loaded with advanced — really advanced — engineering and design features. Measuring nearly 19 feet in length, the Futura was 7 feet wide but stood less than 4½ feet high. It sported rakish tail fins, Plexiglas bubble canopies, a pushbutton gearshift and space for a telephone behind the center console. Most concept cars, expensive as they were to design and build, were eventually scrapped. In this case, though, the Futura was later bought by George Barris. Never titled and therefore uninsurable, the auto sat idle for years, slowly deteriorating behind Barris Kustom City shop in North Hollywood. In August 1965, two producers from the forthcoming TV show “Batman” approached another California car customizer, Dean Jeffries, about building a Batmobile for the program. Jeffries soon began working on the body of a 1959 Cadillac before realizing he wouldn’t have time to finish the project before the three-week deadline. He was paid off, and the producers turned to Barris. “They said, ‘You’ve got 15 days and $15,000,’” Barris recalled later. “But the challenge was worth it. I

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the Batmobile debuted on national TV on Jan. 12, 1966. That’s when the Caped Crusader and Robin first roared out of the Batcave in a gadgetloaded vehicle meant to instill fear in the hearts of Gotham’s lawbreaking louts. — In Scottsdale, the new Bat-

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mobile owner set an auction record by paying $4.2 million (plus another $420,000 for the 10% buyer’s premium) to acquire the iconic collectible. That was quite a markup for George Barris as, decades earlier, Ford had sold him their $250,000 Futura for the princely sum of $1.

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