Marlanea McGraw Owner/Publisher
from the publisher
Ahhh… my favorite time of year, FALL! It is such a beautiful season in Michigan! The orange shades of autumn are my favorite colors, and I love spending crisp evenings by a bonfire. And as always, I have high hopes for those LIONS!! Lastly, you know I am still soaking up being a grandparent and loving every bit of it!
In this issue we are introducing you to Dr. Syed Alam, a vascular surgeon with Hillsdale Hospital. We are also getting to know Zack Harding with dyAGnostic Service & Solutions as well as Lucas McGraw with Farm Bureau Insurance. We hope you enjoy.
Thank you, as always, for your support! You have no idea how much we value our readers. Please let us know if you have suggestions for articles, we’re always interested to know what interests you! And we give our sincere thanks to our advertisers who make Simply Senior possible. Our desire is to support local businesses by making them visible in our pages and by encouraging everyone to use local services providers and retailers whenever you can.
Until next time,
SENIORSS imply
Simply Seniors is published by and is the property of MCGRAW PUBLISHING
For information on how to submit story ideas, concerns, or information on how to advertise, please contact Marlanea McGraw
517-320-9235 • sales@simplyhers.net
www.simplyhers.net
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Dakota Harding
PHOTOGRAPHY
Synergy In Motion Studios
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Elyse Apel
Melissa McCance
Lori Miller
Laura Loveberry
Willie Smith
Shar Ann Smith
Deb Petticrew
Thanksgiving Memories By Debbi Petticrew
Lucas McGrawFarm Bureau Insurance
Accessibility in Michigan State Parks
The History of Jigsaw Puzzles
Nutritional Needs as Seniors Age
Recipes
Chicken Pot Pie Soup Easy Taco Soup
Puzzle Fun! Sudoku Crossword Word Search
History & Trivia in 1945
Without their continued commitment & support, this publication would not be possible.
AAA Insurance - 26
Belson Asphalt - 27
Brown & Sons Roofing - 48
Cambrian Senior Living & Memory Care - 26
Coldwell Banker Groves Real
Estate James & Marlanea - 7
Copeland Furniture - 13
Drews Place - 41
Eagle Funeral Homes - 42
Edward Jones - 27
El Cerrito Mexican Restaurant - 27
Fackler Monument - 13
Farm Bureau McGraw Agency - 25
Green Energy LP - 26
Griffiths Mechanical - 21
Hillsdale County Community Foundation - 17
Hillsdale Hospital - 2
Hospice of Hillsdale - 21
Hospice of Lenawee - 17
Karim HealthCare - 5
Lenawee Dept on Aging - 31
Lenawee Medical Care Facility - 21
Lifeways - 13
Lorrie Miller, Attorney at Law - 11
Martin’s Home Center -26
Perennial Park - 42
Professional Hearing Services - 15
Ryan & Bradshaw - 17
Scotty's Body Shop - 26
Shoemaker Heating & Plumbing - 43
Tecumseh Place - 43
The Sauk - 42
Balance is Key DR. SYED ALAM
Hillsdale Hospital Vascular Care
by Elyse Apel
Dr. Syed Alam, a vascular surgeon, says that excellent patient care will always be a priority for him.
“Excellence in surgery outcomes and treating patients like they were my family will always be my priority,” he says.
A surgeon in private practice with Vascular Health Center in Battle Creek, Syed also provides vascular care and surgery at Hillsdale Hospital. He said that the balance between time spent in the clinic and time spent in surgery is a perfect balance.
“My coverage area includes Hillsdale, Battle Creek, Sturgis, Coldwater,” he says. “I love the balance of my practice. I love that I am able to give time to the patient, sit down, and talk to them. Then, the days that I'm doing surgery, I am able to concentrate on that.”
Syed earned his medical degree from Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. He completed General Surgery residency at St. Mary’s Hospital at Yale University School of Medicine in Waterbury and New Haven, Connecticut. He went on to complete his Vascular Surgery fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
“This is the only thing I ever wanted to do,” Syed says. “I’ve always wanted to be a surgeon.”
A board-certified surgeon, he has been practicing in western Michigan since 2012. “I have a lot of family that lives in Toronto, and I have a lot of family and friends that live in Chicago, so Michigan was a great middle ground,” he explains.
Syed says it was important to him to have his own practice, where he can take the lead in the decisions made about patient care.
“I like my practice because it is my own, and I can develop and build it the way I want,” he says. “Because I'm in private practice, it also gives me a lot of flexibility to cover the community that most needs vascular care.”
He says that is why he decided to expand his expertise to serve the Hillsdale community through partnering with Hillsdale Hospital. There, he provides comprehensive vascular surgical care including surgical procedures, patient evaluations and emergency room consultations.
“We do all types of vascular care,” Syed says. “This includes peripheral arterial disease management, aneurysm surgeries, and stroke prevention. Those are the primary focuses of our practice.”
Wound healing, medical and surgical management of all venous problems, and full spectrum of care for hemodialysis access are also priorities. By having multiple offices throughout the surrounding communities, Syed says they are able to provide specialized care.
“All of my work is within a 75 mile radius, even though it's multiple different towns. That allows us to provide care to all these people in their own environment, community, close to their home, and close to their family,” he says. “Patients are very appreciative of us being able to see them close to where they live. That appreciation we get on a daily basis.”
Syed says that having a specialist in Hillsdale is also very important for the patients who might have to otherwise travel outside of the community for medical care.
“In rural communities, vascular surgery is often not easily available,” he explains. “In those communities, sometimes people have to travel a lot to get vascular care.” Traveling can be especially hard for elderly patients.
“Many vascular problems are with older folk. When you are younger, you can drive 100 miles, but when you get older, sometimes that is not easy,” Syed says. “This is why providing
“I am most passionate about trying to avoid amputations. Vascular surgery, unfortunately, primarily deals with limb and life threatening problems. So saving limbs and lives is the primary focus of our practice” he explains. “To do this, we must provide high-quality care to patients in a timely fashion, so they don’t develop major life threatening issues.”
In his free time, Syed says he enjoys reading, driving and spending time with his family.
“I met my wife in medical school. She is a psychiatrist and we have been married for about 20 years now.”
He also has three sons, and he loves spending all of his free time with them. “I’m very involved in their lives, sports and educational activities.”
Dr. Alam is a wonderful addition to the Hillsdale healthcare community, bringing a highlyspecialized service that our community needs,” Chief Communications Officer Rachel Lott said. “By creating a supportive, enjoyable surgical environment for specialty surgeons to perform their procedures in our hospital, we are able to attract independent physicians like Dr. Alam, who now provides care in his Hillsdale-based clinic and surgery at our hospital. Patients can conveniently access the vascular care they need without traveling outside of the community, from simple in-office visits to complex surgical interventions.
For questions or to schedule an appointment in Hillsdale, call (269) 979-6310 and request the Hillsdale location. For more information on vascular care at Hillsdale Hospital, visit www. hillsdalehospital.com/vascular.
DIY ESTATE PLANNING— DOES IT SAVE MONEY?!
Lorrie A.S. Miller Attorney at Law
Lorrie Miller Law, PLC
517.278.2505
lmiller@HillsdaleLaw.com
With the advent of the internet, Courts are full of the loved ones of individuals who thought they could do their documents—often estate planning documents. Other families may not end up in court, but may be paying more in taxes, to creditors, or repaying Medicaid unnecessarily. While estate planning may seem costly in the moment, it is often the less-expensive route when one considers the cost of court and/or taxes/creditors that may come after one passes away.
Do It Yourself History
Before the Internet, there were forms, books, and kits one could purchase to “do it yourself” for estate planning. Some people simply retyped a friend’s will or trust, inserting their own name. Now, with the invention and expansion of the internet, there are even more attempts at creating and executing estate planning documents without professional help. These attempts, however, can often be far more costly than had the client sought professional help in the first place!
The Internet Do It Your Self Trust – Not Do It Your Self?
There are varying types of internet “estate plans.” Some walk a person through a questionnaire and then provide a “fill in the blank” form. These forms vary, as well. Other sites may refer the client to an attorney for counsel and attempt to match him or her to one.
These are concerning for many reasons:
• Internet sites are often not current on statute changes or requirements for wills, trusts, powers of attorney, deeds, etc. The requirements for these documents can change frequently and require careful updating. Attorneys generally participate in continuing legal education for the purpose of keeping current on the changes, among other reasons. I have seen numerous “DIY” documents that are missing critical elements required by our Michigan statutes, over the years. Some missing elements are critical enough to make the document invalid.
• The “questionnaires” provided may or may not address issues that are essential to providing the most appropriate estate plan for a family based on their family, their assets, and their desires. For example, not every questionnaire may take into account a blended-family situation in which stepchildren are involved and may leave the children of one spouse cut out should a spouse pass away and the survivor remarry. These online kits are usually not customized but rely on a “one-size fits all” mentality, when in reality, every family is different and has different needs.
• Some online companies may neglect to consider Medicaid recovery avoidance, should one spouse or the other need nursing home care via Medicaid in the future.
• Additionally, some sites may simply leave blanks in documents for clients to write-in their answer appointing distribution of assets or who will be the personal representative (formerly executor). This may render a document invalid or, as I’ve frequently seen, with completely inappropriate responses the client does not fully understand what is needed and has no human, only a computer, to seek understanding from. Find and Employ an Estate Planning Attorney to Potentially Save Money!
There are many options with an estate plan, and quality estate planning attorneys spend years in law school, many hours annually doing continuing legal education, and hundreds of hours
Attorney Lorrie Miller
reading to track of all the options available to clients and legal ramifications of each option. These are the qualities one pays an attorney for—the time she/he spends learning about the intricacies of the law, as well as the costs he/she has in order to run an office open to the public. While paying an attorney for an estate plan may seem costly now, consider the cost to your family should a client make errors in his/her DIY documents from the internet—this could be
LOCAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS
Call the Office of Veterans Affairs (517) 437-3630 to speak with someone concerning the services that are available to you as a veteran. We can assist veterans in filing for all Federal, State and County Veterans benefits. Each VA benefit has its own eligibility requirements.
Transportation- Hillsdale County offers transportation to Ann Arbor Monday through Thursday by appointment only and for VA Clinic or hospital only. Call (517) 437-3630 for availability.
OTHER VETERANS SERVICES MAY INCLUDE:
Disability Compensation - You may be compensated if you are at least 10% disabled as a result of your military service.
Disability Pension – You may be paid a pension if you are a wartime veteran with limited income and are no longer able to work or are age 65 or older.
Educational & Training Benefits - The VA pays benefits to eligible veterans, dependents, reservists and service members while they are in approved training programs.
VETERANS TREATMENT COURT:
Home Loans - The VA offers a number of home loan services to eligible veterans, some military personnel and certain spouses. We can assist you in obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility.
Burial Benefits - The VA offers certain benefits and services to honor our Nation's deceased veterans.
Dependents' & Survivors' Benefits - Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is payable to survivors of services members who died on active duty, veterans who died from service-related disabilities, and certain veterans who were being paid 100% VA disability compensation at the time of death.
Health Care - VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPAVA) shares the cost of medical services for eligible dependents and survivors of certain veterans.
Sierra Savage & Paul Roerig Jr.
Thanksgiving Memories
By: Deb Petticrew
I really miss having three distinct holidays this time of the year. When I was young, all of October was spent preparing for Halloween, all of November was saved for Thanksgiving and of course Christmas owned December!
Thanksgiving was always one of my favorite holidays for a lot of reasons, mostly the food. But it was also a time when families got together for the entire day and caught up on what was going on in everyone else’s lives. Every year it seemed like we celebrated with a different group of our family. Mom would be up by 4 to start putting the dressing together and stuffing the huge turkey to get it into the oven. Some years, we even had to make two!
While she worked in the kitchen, Dad kept us kids entertained watching the Thanksgiving Day parade. It was the highlight of the morning! And the best part was at the very end of the parade, when Santa himself would make an
appearance. From that moment on, we had to be on our best behavior. Off and on, we kids would run to the kitchen to see how soon we’d eat and Mom would shoo us away. The boys would head outside to play football and we girls would start going through the Sears catalog and putting our names on the items we were hoping Santa would bring us.
There was always a full house for Thanksgiving. Grandma and Grandpa, aunts and uncles, cousins. It was super! I have no idea now how on earth my mom handled all of the chaos. Finally, when we thought we couldn’t wait another minute, it was time to eat. The table never seemed to be big enough for everyone, so Mom would set up a tv tray for me to eat at. I remember her saying, “There just isn’t enough room for everyone. You won’t mind using the tv tray, will you?” Well, of course not. I mean, it was Mom asking after all!
After a few years of not being able to sit at the main table, I remember that I started to feel a little left out. Pretty soon I’d be 12 years old, way too old to be sitting off to the side like a little kid!! So, I started grumbling about it. Ok, I guess it’s more like I was whining. It just didn’t seem fair to me. Why me?? I wasn’t the youngest, after all! Finally, Dad heard me whining and of course one stern lecture from him had me crying and off to my room I went.
I decided I’d show them! I just wouldn’t eat! And just when I’d made that decision, Grandma came in. She was always my champion and I was sure she was going to say that she’d talked to my parents and got them to relent. But instead she said, “Now honey, I know you feel left out sitting at that tv tray by yourself. But,
By Laura Loveberry Elementary School Assembly
Author/Speaker, Inspirational Speaker
Women’s Retreats/ Conferences, Caricature Artist
Simply Sensible Senior
My hubster plans on meeting me at the cottage after a week of being apart. My heart races as I put on an extra cute outfit. I tilt my head to the side, debating on what shoes complete my outfit best. Should I choose the practical flats . . . or dare I wear my new 4” platform wedges?
I grin, slipping into my tall shoes. Whoa! The view up here rocks. These styling shoes lift me a head above most folks in the church service. I see over everybody. It’s been flip-flops all summer. Raising my eyebrows, I walk a bit unsteadily in the dining hall after church.
But I can’t wait for Mark to see me looking stylish. He’ll love my outfit. It’s been t-shirts, shorts, and flat comfy shoes. Not today. I balance my dessert plate and coffee mug, walking back to my table. The place packs with church folks at the Sunday brunch, so I take a shortcut back to my spot. I go out the door, planning to slip inside through a back entrance, avoiding the crowds. I push on the door with my backside, balancing my plate and coffee cup.
Kersplat!
My coffee goes flying. The dessert plate smashes against the curb. My leg wobbles as my ankle crushes sideways and my knee twists the total wrong direction. Blinking my eyes, I stare at the sky, flat on my back in a dress with feet in the air. The 4” wedges— nowhere to be found. They went flying.
Blinking my eyes, I breathe deep. Tilting my head, I hear the voice of a kid standing above me. “Hey Lady, are you okay?” Sigh.
I recalled the conversion with Samuel and the Lord when choosing the next king. “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,’ (1 Sam. 16:7b AMP).
Attempting to look stylish and tall did not work for me, either. It led to my disastrous fall. Instead of seeing me elevated and sleek, my hubster walks in . . . and his eyes widen. I’m sprawled on the couch, knee propped up on one pillow and ankle on the
It Is Canning Season… Again!
Oh My
WBy Shar Ann Packard
hen someone asks me what I have done these last few months, it doesn't take me long to answer, “I have canned and put things in the freezer all summer”. I just can’t seem to say “no thanks”, when I am offered a bag of zucchini or a bushel of tomatoes (even if I have already canned one bushel). I just can’t let it go to waste. I share my canning with our whole family… ”You need jelly? Well, go pick out a jar or two from the 6 different kinds we made”. It is an open door when it comes to that, the only stipulation is you must bring back my jars!
With the help of our granddaughter Lexi, we canned 40 quarts of corn, 20 pounds of blueberries, and two bushels of peaches in the freezer. The relish and bread and butter pickles are my favorite thing to make, with that being said I have 20 quarts of relish and 13 quarts of pickles in the pantry. Forty pounds of cherries were the hardest things to get into the freezer this year because John was harvesting wheat when they were ready. It took me 8 hours to wash and pit them, and another hour to get them in the bags to freeze. My hands were purple for days! We ended up with 42 quarts of green beans and 40 quarts of canned stewed tomatoes. When I need spaghetti, pizza, or enchilada sauce, I just put a jar in the blender with a can of tomato paste and what seasoning is needed, it’s just so easy to use. My pantry is bursting at the seams, shelves are full, the mess is cleaned up, and now waiting for the apples to ripen so we can get a few bushels and end with applesauce.
I can’t tell you how many hours this all took, but what I can tell you is how enjoyable it is to sit at the table, snap beans, laugh, tell a few stories, and listen to Lexi talk about college and her life. The hours standing at the sink skinning tomatoes, wondering just how many tomatoes are really in a bushel, and all of us swearing they must have given us 3 bushels not 2! Backs hurting, tomatoes everywhere, boiling water, dropping into ice water, and peeling and dicing. Lexi was at one sink, John at the other. Lexi got silly and splashed water all over Papa, soaking the front of his shirt. He was looking at her and we were all laughing. Luke (9 yrs. old) came running and looked between Papa and Lexi, and just was wondering who was brave enough to throw water on his Papa! He also wondered why she didn’t get in trouble. Oh. the things you do to make time go faster…and the smiles on everyone's faces are priceless!
Nothing goes to waste, all the peals, seed, bad fruit, husks, corncobs and such all get taken out to the chickens. After this season they are waddling like ducks from all the buckets taken out to them.
I told Lexi about how hard it was for me to do all this canning years ago with two little kids and no one to help. The satisfaction when it was all done and knowing that all your hard work helped feed your family is priceless. We talked about recipes from grandparents that have left this world, and told her about John’s Grandma Morse giving me canning jars out of the basement that were stored in a big galvanized bucket, bringing them home, scrubbing
for hours to get them clean (before dishwashers). All lined on the corner draining on dish towels shining like new. I had asked for canning jars for Christmas one year and also on my wish list was a pressure cooker. Santa came through with them and a few recipe books. I was so happy! We bought jars at auctions and rummage sales, wherever we saw them. I smile when I see a certain jar that I know came from someone special or get out the old recipes that were handwritten by a loved one not with us anymore. The best words of encouragement I was given was by our sweet old neighbor Monna, “When you can you know what is in it, and you know if the hands that prepared it were clean; My Home Ec teacher Mrs. T, “Always start and finish with a clean kitchen!” Oh, and “Never make a double batch of jelly, you will be disappointed…remember one batch at a time, you will always have success!”
I treasure the time Lexi spends with us. She is so busy working and now returning to college as a senior to finish her last year getting her degree in early education, she will make a great teacher! I just hope she has time to help in the kitchen next canning season!
In my heart, I hope these times spent “working” and making memories with her carries on in her heart to share with her children and grandchildren someday. Preserving the fruits of the earth is a privilege and an art… not everyone is willing to take the challenge. But if you do, it is an amazing feeling when the pantry is full, and OH MY! So delicious!
Senior Moments
By Willie Smith
Senior moments - we all have them, some of us more than others. I had been having issues with my foot recently. Nothing so bad that I thought I needed to see a doctor, but bad enough that I tried a few “home remedies” myself. The remedies didn’t work though.
I did an internet search to see what the best approach would be to alleviate the pain in my foot. I found every solution known to mankind, but nothing seems to help. With all the educated people in the world posting on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and all the other social medias, you would think that someone could help with this issue. One person posted that you should soak your foot in Epsom Salt for an hour. I can tell you that did nothing except shrivel my toes down to nothin’. Another person posted that if you put vaseline on your foot overnight it would work wonders. My foot may have been softer than it’s ever been, but it still hurt to walk on it.
There was also a suggestion to apply Vicks Vapor Rub on the sore area and leave it. The article didn’t say how long to leave the rub on so I did the overnight thing again just to be sure my foot had time to absorb the Vicks so it could work its magic. I’ve never breathed better overnight in my life, but it did nothing for my foot. I tried five to six other “home remedies” all with the same results - nothing worked. Maybe my feet were softer or my breathing better, but it still hurt to walk.
This went on for about six months and it finally got so bad I decided I was going to have to
spend the money and go see a podiatrist. Man, I hated to do that. I’d never been to one before, but I figured with everything else going skyhigh on price, a podiatrist would follow suit and charge me a small fortune. When the doc checked my foot he told me he’d never felt such a soft foot before. He then scraped some skin from the sore area, put some antibiotic cream on it, wrapped it up and sent me home. He said the bill would be in the mail and I did not doubt him one bit.
I’m telling you the next few days were touch and go, but by the fifth day I could walk without any pain at all. I was as happy as could be. I couldn’t believe I’d tried all those remedies on the internet and waited to go to the podiatrist until I couldn’t stand it any longer just so I wouldn’t have to pay a huge bill. My foot felt so good I promised myself I would not complain one bit when I got the bill, I’d just pay it and be happy. I meant it when I said, but when I got the bill it was another story.
In one of my many senior moments, I forgot that promise to myself and kicked a chair in anger when I saw the $566 bill. Now my foot was killing me all over again, but this time it was because I’d just broken several of my toes with that swift kick. How in the world was I going to explain that to the young whippersnapper podiatrist who’d probably never heard of a senior moment? I’m hoping to have one of those moments real soon so I can forget to pay that bill!
Ya gotta love some of these Senior Moments.
dyAGnostic Service & Solutions
Story by Melissa McCance
ZACK HARDING KEEPS THINGS RUNNING
Agriculture. We’re all aware of it and, if we’re smart, we’re grateful for it. Agriculture provides products that touch our lives in many ways, including the food we eat; the clothing we wear; kitchen, bath, and bed linens . . . even fine stationery. But, unless you’re part of the agricultural world, it’s possible that you don’t know very much about what’s involved in running a farm or ranch. And, you probably don’t think about the specialized support services that are necessary to keep farms going. Zack Harding, owner/operator of dyAGnostic Service & Solutions, is one of the people who fill that important niche of making sure things stay on track for area agriculture.
Zack’s whole life has been connected to farms, starting with the one where he grew up. A graduate of Springport schools, he began his electrical apprenticeship while still a senior in high school, obtaining his journeyman’s license in 2012. He worked at an ethanol plant for nine and a half years in plant maintenance, heading up a nine-man crew. Those years not only gave him the work experience but taught him a great deal about how to work with and manage people. After leaving the plant,
he went to work for another electrical contractor and got him involved in industrial and agricultural work.
But Zack knew it was time for him to do his own thing—to be able to decide for himself where he’d be working and what he’d do. He continued to pursue added certification in his field and will be a master electrician very soon. In January 2024, Zack began the paperwork to create his own business, and dyAGnostic Service & Solutions was launched in February.
As an agricultural electrician, Zack deals with any electrical problem or need that might arise on a farm. Farming today involves a significant amount of expensive technology, and he helps the process go smoothly and efficiently by implementing and maintaining electrical systems specifically designed for agriculture. These may include complex systems for grain handling and storage, irrigation, and feeding, as well as other vital functions. He also provides preventative maintenance and will handle millwright work.
Being both experienced in his field and a problemsolver, Zack isn’t hesitant to tackle anything that comes his way.
“I’m the type of guy that if you’ve got an electrical issue, I’m going to tell you I can fix it because I can do it. One way or another, I’ll figure it out. If it’s something I haven’t ever done before . . . I’m still going to figure it out and it’ll be done the right way.”
That approach is summed up in the slogan on Zack’s business cards which reads: “Your challenge is our motivation—our experience and knowledge is your solution.”
When asked what he’s discovered about the challenges and the joys of running his own business, Zack replied,
“Everybody told me it’d be more stressful, but to be honest, I don’t think it could be more stressful than what I was doing before. The plant ran 24/7, 365 days a year and I was getting calls all the time. As for the joys—it’s the freedom. You’re working for yourself; you wake up in the morning and you feel you have a purpose. I’d say the challenge is just getting everything set up and keeping things in line.”
Zack is based in Albion and works throughout midMichigan but is available for jobs in Indiana and Ohio as well. If your farm has an electrical issue, reach out to dyAGnostic Service & Solutions by calling 517-812-5179 or emailing him at Zharding@dyAGnostic. com. His website address is dyAGnostic.com.
LUCAS MCGRAW, FARM BUREAU INSURANCE: PUTTING THE RELATIONSHIP FIRST!
By Melissa McCance
Insurance. We all need it, but most of us don’t want to think about it or talk about it. We have to be covered, but it can be confusing— and expensive. Lucas McGraw is a licensed, multi-line insurance agent with Farm Bureau Insurance, and he understands how people feel about this part of life.
“The biggest thing for me is creating and fostering relationships with people,” McGraw explains. “It’s not so much about selling the product. Everyone has to have insurance so if you’re going to have it, you might as well have it with me because it’s more relationship-based. If I can help you financially by saving you money, that’s great, but I want to be the person you can rely on when something bad happens. For example, if you have life insurance through me and you lose a loved one, I want you to be able to grieve that loss and not be worrying about how you’re going to pay the mortgage.”
Lucas graduated from Pittsford High School in 2019 and then graduated from Kalamazoo College in 2023 with a major in business. During his junior and senior years, he did an internship with
Northwestern Mutual focusing on life insurance. He contracted with Farm Bureau in January 2024, completed two months of training, and opened his office in March.
Property and casualty insurance is intended to protect us from loss when we face situations like damage to or loss of a house from things like storms or fire as well as dealing with car accidents that may require repairs to or replacement of the vehicle. This is where dealing with an agent like McGraw can make the difference. Because he will sit down with a prospective client and take as much time as necessary to get a clear picture of how much and what kind of coverage is needed, you can feel assured that your insurance will meet your requirements.
“I want to be confident that I’ve done my due diligence and know that you’re covered properly and protected if the need arises,” says McGraw. “If you aren’t in the business, you can’t even imagine how many details go into insurance and how much most people don’t know. That’s why I feel it’s essential to build the relationship first and establish trust between the client and myself.”
Although McGraw is currently living and working in the suburbs north of Detroit, he is planning to return to this area down the road. “I’m where I am because of a mix of family and business. My brother lives there with his wife and two children, and there are more business opportunities for what I do where it’s more populated. But I love the country and this is where I’d eventually like to be,” he says.
McGraw’s main office is located in Troy, but his commitment to personalized service means his availability isn’t limited to that area. Contact him for an in-person insurance consultation at your home where you can get all your questions answered in a comfortable setting. McGraw is open to meeting with anyone who would like to see if it’s possible to have solid coverage at a lower premium or just to ensure that the individual is fully protected.
For those who might be hesitant to work with someone of McGraw’s age for something as important as insurance, he offers this consideration: “I’ll be around for a long time. I’m someone you can get to know, work with, and be confident that the same person will be handling your insurance needs for many years. It’ll be a person you know, a voice you know on the phone. I think that has real value.”
Lucas McGraw’s office is located at 1301 W. Long Lake Rd., Ste 100, Troy, MI 48098-6348. You can reach him at the office number (248) 816-2065 or on his cell (517) 610-0409.
Accessibility IN
MICHIGAN STATE PARKS
The Mitten State is going above and beyond in inclusive outdoor exploration.
Whether you envision cruising along sandy shores or winding through forest trails, Michigan’s famous outdoor spaces are becoming more inclusive to visitors with disabilities thanks to the efforts from Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its Accessibility Advisory Council.
Hit the Trails with a Track Chair
In 2023, the DNR reached its fundraising goal of over $400,000 to expand access to track chairs at state parks, beaches and trails. Track chairs are all-terrain, electric wheelchairs that can handle rugged terrain and up to 8 inches of water. These are an integral resource for visitors navigating the diverse landscapes of state parks, and Michigan now proudly boasts the most track chairs for public use in any state park system. For example, at Ludington State Park guests can cruise along the beach near the Big Sable River in a track chair. At Maybury State Park, outdoor enthusiasts can use the chairs along 26 miles of trails crossing through winding meadows and scenic forests.
“It has been wonderful to see the track chair program grow from five to 25 locations in just a few short years. The support we have received from donors and users speaks for itself,” said Michelle O’Kelly, Track Chair
Program Coordinator with the Michigan DNR. “Having the ability for visitors to access beaches and trails with their friends and families has been incredibly rewarding. We hear stories about how this is the first time visitors have been able to enjoy the sun, sand, picnics and hiking as a family.”
Relax Along Michigan’s Beaches
Not to be overlooked, Michigan’s pristine freshwater coastline is also becoming increasingly more accessible to visitors with mobility disabilities. To experience a day on the lakeside, guests can ask about specially crafted beach wheelchairs at several publicly managed shorelines – light, all-terrain chairs designed to easily navigate sandy and wet terrain. Plus, many parks offer accessible walkways, boardwalks or beach mats to make the journey even smoother. Head over to Otsego Lake State Park for a universally accessible beach and swim area featuring a boardwalk and beach wheelchair. Seven Lakes State Park also offers a stab-mat that provides wheelchair access to the water.
Accessible recreation opportunities don’t just allow visitors to take in the scenery; they allow them to be a part of the action. Rifle River Recreation Area is home to an accessible hunting blind. It is insulated and offers six feet of space to maneuver. The blind is solar-powered and can be raised 20 feet in the air. In the off-season, it is used for wildlife observation and photography.
Splash Around in a Waterfall
Michigan has rightfully earned the title of “Water-Winter Wonderland.'' But the Great Lakes aren’t the only breathtaking bodies of water. The Lower Peninsula is home to Ocqueoc Falls – the only universally accessible waterfall in the United States, meaning it exceeds the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). It features an accessible ramp leading to the water with a transfer station, allowing wheelchair users to enter the water, and an accessible picnic and seating area. Everyone can enjoy the beauty of Ocqueoc Falls.
“I have been to Ocqueoc Falls. It's 45 minutes from where I grew up in Cheboygan. I have experienced getting down to the falls and right next to the falls with my nieces and nephews. It was great! I have kids of my own and hope to bring them there to show them as well. Heck, I might even go in the water,” shared Bryan Wilkinson, Accessibility Advisor Co-Chair and owner of Michigan Track Chair. “It is imperative to continue and create new initiatives for accessibility across Michigan.”
The DNR’s commitment to inclusivity across its parks and recreation areas allows everyone to enjoy a quintessential part of the Great Lakes State.
About the Author: Charlotte Bachelor is a Detroit-based writer and disability advocate. She is the founder of the Detroit Accessibility Project and has contributed to both Visit Detroit and Pure Michigan.
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From an invention by a London cartographer to competitive puzzling championships Jigsaw puzzles have been a beloved toy for centuries, captivating both young and old across the globe. This blog looks at the history of jigsaw puzzles, from their origins in the 18th century until today.
Why were the first jigsaw puzzles invented?
The origins of the jigsaw puzzle can be traced back to the 18th century.
European mapmakers mounted their maps onto wood and cut them into small pieces to create educational tools for teaching geography. These were used to familiarize children with the world's geography in a fun and interactive way.
London cartographer John Spilsbury is often credited with making the first commercial jigsaw puzzle. In the 1760s, he sold puzzles with world maps cut into wooden pieces along country boundaries. At the time, these were known as 'dissected maps'.
How did jigsaw puzzles develop?
Over time, jigsaw puzzles expanded from featuring maps to including paintings, scenes from the Bible, landscapes and various other scenes.
Initially, as they were crafted by hand in wood, they were considered to be both luxury and educational items. Puzzles on cardboard first appeared in the early 1800s but were not popular initially, as both producers and customers perceived them as being of lower quality.
During the 19th century, industrial advancements led to jigsaw puzzles becoming more mass produced.
The jigsaw - a vertical saw moving up and down and capable of cutting out intricate shapes - was invented in 1855. It was also known as a fretsaw or scrollsaw.
It's hard to say exactly when but around 1880, the name 'jigsaw' began being associated with the puzzle, named after this tool for cutting the shapes. The term 'jigsaw puzzle' is generally believed to date to the early 1900s.
How did jigsaws become more popular?
By the beginning of the 20th century, jigsaw puzzles were being produced both on wood and on cardboard.
Over the next few decades, cardboard became the major material for jigsaw puzzles, making them more popular and accessible. Jigsaw puzzles also developed new features such as more intricate interlocking pieces.
In the 1880s, two companies were founded which would become the market leaders in jigsaw puzzles.
The American company Parker Brothers - who gave the world the game Monopoly - was founded in Massachusetts in 1883. They marketed their first jigsaw puzzle in 1887.
German game company Ravensburger was also founded in 1883, but did not start to produce jigsaw puzzles until the 1960s. They are now the leading makers of jigsaw puzzles in Europe.
By the 1930s, companies were using jigsaw puzzles as advertisements, giving them away to customers with products.
In particular, during the economic hardships in the 1930s, jigsaw puzzles surged in popularity as an affordable form of entertainment.
Over the years since, jigsaw puzzles have remained a popular toy. In particular, during the Coronavirus pandemic, jigsaw puzzles became a perfect past-time while staying indoors.
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LENAWEE SENIOR CENTERS
Addison Senior Center 517-547-5777
117 N. Steer St., Addison, MI 49220 addison@lenaweeseniors.org
Director: Inesa Gillin
Cook: Sharon Smith
Adrian Senior Center
517-263-3885
327 Erie St., Adrian, MI 49221
Director: Dillon Donaghy ddonaghy@lenaweeseniors.org
Asst. Director: Jamar Bonney jbonney@lenaweeseniors.org
Kitchen 517-263-4529
Head Cook: Toni Reinke treinke@lenaweeseniors.org
Home Delivered Meals Coord.: Kira Dickerson routecoord@lenaweeseniors.org
Bliss-Liewert Senior Center
517-486-2397
206 S. Lane St., Blissfield, MI 49228 blissfield@lenaweeseniors.org
Director: Sandy Buhrer Cook: Eric Wilkins
Hudson Senior Center 517-448-4605
323 W. Main St., Hudson, MI 49247 hudson@lenaweeseniors.org
Director: Turi Meining
Head Cook: Tammy Hodos thodos@lenaweeseniors.org
Morenci Senior Center 517-260-4912
800 W. Chestnut St. morenci@lenaweeseniors.org
Morenci, MI 49256
Director: Jimmie Garland Cook: Cecil Schoonover
Onsted Senior Center 517-467-6917
333 Conner St., Onsted, MI 49265 onsted@lenaweeseniors.org
Mailing Address: MI 49265
Director: Julie Kulka Cook: Shirley Metternick
Tecumseh Senior Center 517-423-5939
703 E. Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, MI 49228
Tecumseh@lenaweeseniors.org
Mailing Address: Adrian, MI
Director: N/A Cook: Kathy Chicowsky
Nutritional Needs
CHANGE AS THEY AGE HOW
Our nutritional needs change as we age. As they become older, senior citizens, including those in assisted living homes, need more minerals, supplements, and vitamins compared to younger adults, as with their bodies naturally beginning to break down. Human beings are mortal, and they were created to age at some point, and there is nothing we can do to curb the aging process. However, we can avoid complications, disease risks, pains, and losing muscle mass by eating healthy.
Changing Of Body Needs as Seniors Age
As they grow older, senior citizens slowly start realizing that their bodies are no longer capable of functioning well compared to when they were younger adults. Seniors may need less physical exertion, more sleep, and meals that are more nutritious but with fewer calories that would enable seniors to manage their health and chronic conditions.
Fewer Calories versus More Nutrients
One’s daily needs for calories typically depend on weight, height, activity level, muscle mass, among other factors. In regard to senior citizens, they need fewer calories to enable them to maintain their weight. This is attributed to the fact that they exercise and move less and thus have less muscle carriage.
Older adults can’t continue eating the same number of calories as they used to eat when they were younger, as they are more susceptible to healthcare concerns.
However, it’s important to note that although seniors require fewer calories than younger adults, they need foods with higher nutritional value. That makes it essential for them to eat various kinds of whole foods, such as lean meats, fish, vegetables, and fruits. These are healthy staples that greatly help them in fighting against nutrient deficiencies without having to expand their waistlines. Some of the nutrients that older adults need in large quantities include calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and protein. In other words, seniors need to eat whole foods that are rich in nutrients for them to remain strong and healthy.
The Relevance of More Protein for Seniors
Older adults lose muscle mass and strength as they continue to age. The amount of muscle mass lost by seniors ranges between 3-8% for each decade for those over 30 years. The loss of strength and muscle mass is commonly known as sarcopenia.
Sarcopenia causes fractures, poor health, and general weaknesses among senior citizens. The condition can be prevented by a high intake of protein to strengthen the bones and increase muscle mass to supplement the weight lost through the aging effects.
Also, seniors need to combine resistance exercise with a protein-rich diet for effective control of sarcopenia.
Seniors Benefit More from Fiber
Elderly adults are more prone to constipation than when they were younger. This is a health problem facing senior citizens who are over 65, and the case is about two times more common
among women than men. This can be best explained by the fact that seniors at this age have fewer movements, with most of them taking medications with constipation being the side effect. It’s, therefore, essential to include a high amount of fiber in their diets for constipation relief. The fibers pass through the esophagus undigested, which helps them form stool promoting regular movements of the bowels.
Besides eating food rich in fiber, fiber helps older adults prevent diverticular diseases. This is a condition where tiny pouches form along the large intestinal wall and become inflamed or infected. This condition is mainly prevalent among senior
Body Changes with Age
Various changes occur as we age. Some of the conditions that contribute to the diet-age relationship include perception, physiology, and general age. All these conditions have a significant influence on the performance of one’s body in general, which in turn leaves an impact on nutritional intake, eating, and general health status.
Perceptual Changes
The perceptual changes that occur later in life influence our nutrition. Such perceptual changes include taste, smell, and hearing.
Hearing loss may make it difficult for us to proper nutrition. In restaurants and during social functions, it may become difficult for us to hold conversations with our eating partners, thus limiting our food experiences.
Taste is the primary determinant of how we perceive our foods. Seniors have the tendencies of diminishing taste. Generally, a decrease in taste buds leads to a reduction of sweet and salty tastes. This often makes the food taste more sour or bitter. This, in turn, makes people eat fewer vegetables and fruits.
Smells have a significant impact on the kind of food we choose. In older adults, loss of smell makes them dissatisfied with the food they eat. This, in turn, leads to poor meal selections.
Changes in Physiological Aspects
Physiological change is one of the key reasons why older adults change their nutritional needs as they age.
• Reduced energy- Energy expenditure generally reduces as we get older due to decreased physical activities and basal metabolic rate. This reduces the need for calories.
•
Decreased body functioning- As we age, our bodies start experiencing changes in nervous systems, redistribution of body compositions, and decrease in kidney function.
Overall Aging-Related Changes
Other than physiological and perceptual changes, there are other changes in our body, which may have significant impacts on our nutritional intakes.
The beauty of this Chicken Pot Pie Soup is that you get all the same flavors and texture of a classic chicken pot pie without the added effort of making and assembling an enclosed pie crust or having to add baking time to the recipe.
Chicken Pot Pie Soup Ingredients
5 Tablespoons butter
1 medium onion diced
1 Tablespoon minced garlic 3-4 cloves
3 celery stalks diced
⅓ cup all purpose flour
5 cups chicken broth
½ cup dry white wine
3 carrots peeled and sliced
4 medium potatoes cubed
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1 cup corn fresh, frozen or canned
1 cup peas fresh, frozen or canned
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 bay leaves
2 Tablespoons parsley dried or fresh minced
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning or bouillon
1 cup heavy cream
Biscuit homemade or canned for serving
Directions
1. Add the flour and stir until well combined.
In a large saute pan, melt the butter and cook the onions, garlic and celery until the onions are translucent.
2. Whisk in the broth and wine.
4.
3. Add the carrots and potatoes and cook until the potatoes are fork tender.
5. Add the heavy cream and heat.
Add the chicken, corn, peas, salt, pepper, bay leaves, parsley and poultry seasoning. Cook an additional 10 minutes.
6. Remove the bay leaves before serving.
8.
7. Serve each bowl of soup with a biscuit.
Make dinner a breeze with this delicious and easy taco soup recipe. You won't find an easier recipe for a hearty, flavorful dinner.
Easy Taco Soup Ingredients
1 Pound Ground Beef
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Packet Taco Seasoning
1 Packet Dry Ranch Mix
1 Clove Garlic, minced
2 Cans Rotel Tomatoes
2 Cans Pinto Beans
2 Cans Kidney Beans
1 (16 Ounce) Bag Frozen Corn
2 Bean Cans Full of Water
Directions
1. Stir in the packet of taco seasoning and the packet of ranch seasoning until well combined.
Heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat on the stove top and add the ground beef. Cook until completely brown.
2. Add in the bag of frozen corn and two cans of Rotel, including any juice. Stir to combine.
3. Stir in the beans to mix completely. Include the juice from the cans of beans.
5.
4. Fill 2 of the empty cans of beans with water and add to the mixture.
6.
Cook over medium heat for 30 minutes to combine all of the flavors.
7.
You may top with sour cream, cheese, and cilantro and serve with chips or cornbread.
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