Senior Life - NorthWest - February 2026

Free Living Life After 50

Chair yoga – where sitting can lead to better health

Who says you can’t exercise while seated? Certainly not participants in chair yoga at the Portage Township YMCA.

Zelda Wiggins, from the Miller section of Gary, said, “It has given me strength, balance and helped with my breathing and stamina. It’s also helped me with sleeping.”

Margaret Fyffe of Portage added, “It’s done so much for me. It’s strengthened my muscles and relaxed me. It’s good for my mindset. I absolutely love it.”

Also from Portage, Carmen Batista noted, “I feel so renewed and strengthened, and I feel flexible. I’m able to do the things I want to get done.”

Jackie Wonso, another Portage resident, commented wryly, “It keeps me off the couch, sometimes.”

Wonso added, “Our instructor ‘Pach’ is exceptional – pleasant and very accommodating.”

Pach is Pachicha Zurvalec, who leads two sessions of chair yoga three days a week. She’s been teaching these classes for three years. Coming to this country from Thailand, where “yoga is my life,” Zurvalec was a YMCA member for several years when she responded to an opening for an instructor.

Chair yoga, the instructor said, “helps seniors with strength every day. They can do things on an everyday basis, and it helps with stiffness. Some of these people have had surgeries or have conditions like arthritis, and chair yoga helps them to move throughout the day.”

Among Zurvalec’s goals for the class is helping seniors with balance, as some, she said, are fearful about falling. She also wants participants to work on their breathing.

The class is open to all ages. Sessions run 30 minutes in a typically dimly lit room with soft music. Participants remain seated throughout the session, with Zur-

Continued on page 4

Realtor living her dream on horse farm

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Debbie Oborn of Crown Point is living a life she always dreamed. Through her work as a realtor, she found a farm for sale that she made her own and she has operated it as a therapeutic horse farm for several years.

When she was 20 years old, Oborn started working as a realtor in Crown Point. After working in data processing, she decided she’d much rather be working with people than at a desk. This year marks 40 years she has worked in real estate and she is currently the principal broker of American Dream Realty in Crown Point.

After showing a farm to a client about 10 years ago that they ended up not being interested in, she saw it as a place she could call home. “A lot of work had to be done to it so they declined and I felt like I would like to take on the challenge of this farm, so I put an offer in and it was accepted in seven days,” she said. “I put my house on the market and started the process to buy my dream farm, which is called Painted Picture Stables, and it had a therapeutic part that I ended up renaming Open Hearts Therapeutic Riding Center.”

Oborn spent her first few years of childhood living in Chicago Heights, Ill. before her family relocated to three acres on the state line in Dyer, next to where her uncle owned 10 acres. It was there her dad bought her a pony named Sun-

shine who changed her life. Having been in real estate for so long, she has most enjoyed finding homes and farms for families. “I have sold a lot of hobby farms to people in this area trying to keep them as hobby farms so people could enjoy their animals,” she said. She has also loved “sharing the love and the magic of having connections with these amazing animals.”

Her business style is offering old-fashioned service to help clients from the beginning of the transaction all the way to the end. Most of her work is done via referrals. In helping clients find farms to purchase, it has been hard seeing so many farms turn into subdivisions. “I think it is important for us to slow down and give different positions to farms so that we could teach families the importance of having animals - showing them the relationships and the connection you can have to these horses, dogs, cats whatever, but we need to make sure that our kids have the opportunity to be close to them one on one.”

Her non-profit, Open Heart Therapeutic Riding Center, began in 2017 and helped children with all kinds of disabilities, as well as visiting schools and nursing homes with the horses. This year, due to insurance limits, she is having to cease operating the nonprofit. Learn more about the nonprofit at www.opeanheartshorses.org. She plans to continue working with horses on the farm and teaching beginner riding lessons.

She has two children and two grandchildren. Oborn’s son and his significant other and her mother live with her on the farm. Her daughter lives in Tennessee. She is a longtime member of Suncrest Church in St. John and had volunteered with the women’s ministry there for many years. She is involved with Shine public ministries, a local women’s Bible study.

S. O. S. – Speaking Of Seniors Insurance company hurting its clients

I used to be able to help clients who used a certain big insurance company. But since it changed its system for

By WOODROW WILCOX

receiving problem complaints, I can’t get results for our clients any more.

I hope that the public will start complaining to Indiana officials at the Insurance department or the Indiana Attorney General’s office to get the insurance company to go back to the old way of checking on clients’ complaints. I tried working with the insurance company under its new system, but it doesn’t work. Here is an email that I sent to the insurance company to tell them that their new system does not work.

This email response to me is not practical or realistic. You should not be telling me to submit claim information. I can’t do that. You should know that. You should

Continued on page 5

Retiree finds plenty to do as Bonner volunteer

Text and Photos By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

If Laura McDonald was looking for a way to pass the time, she found that and more at Bonner Senior & Community Center in Portage. After joining the center three years ago, she has discovered plenty of ways to keep busy and help others.

She serves at meals. She is a caller and organizer at bingo. She’s on the center’s ways

and means committee. She’s a member of the Choraleers singers who perform at nursing homes. She sets up for an annual rummage sale. She also attends line dancing and Zumba classes. And, among her favorite things, she plays pool.

That’s pretty good for someone who, upon retiring, did not know her community even had a senior center.

“I was bored out of my mind, sitting at home,” McDonald, 69, confessed. “I found out about

BUSY AT BINGO Laura McDonald stands inside the bingo games at Bonner Senior & Community Center in Portage. The active volunteer is a caller at weekday bingo games and organizes the Sunday bingo games at the center.

[Bonner] on Facebook. It took me a year to come in here – I’m a big chicken. I had no idea about the place, but I knew I needed to get out of the house.”

McDonald, who is single, retired from quality control for Direct Buy. She previously worked for an insurance firm in Chicago. Her favorite thing at Bonner, she said, is helping other people

Chair yoga

Continued from page 1

valec leading the group in exercises involving various body parts and breathing.

“I want class members to be able to do everyday things with relative ease,” Zurvalec explained, “like lifting grocery bags and walking without pain in their hips or joints.”

by volunteering. Also, there’s pool, which she plays regularly.

“We have some decent pool players,” McDonald said, “and they’ve helped me a lot.”

On the ways and means committee, McDonald is involved in several annual Bonner benefits, including Halloween, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day parties and a “pie wheel” before Thanks-

giving in which, for 25 cents, someone can spin a wheel and take home a pie.

Again this year, McDonald will organize the center’s annual rummage sale. That, she admitted, has been a learning experience. Even after working in Chicago for 27 years with three departments under her, McDonContinued on page 5

CORPORATE OFFICE

According to yogawordvibes. com, chair yoga offers multiple physical and mental benefits to older adults.

The Papers Incorporated, 206 S. Main St., P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542, 574-658-4111 STAFF

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tions, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it.

Physically, these include improved mobility and flexibility, reduced pain, strength and balance and enhanced circulation. Mental benefits include increased independence, stress reduction, improved cognitive function and social interaction.

There is a social aspect to the class, as some members remain afterward to gather in the YMCA’s Nutrition Kitchen, where the Y serves fresh, heart-healthy foods. Located inside the Y, the Nutrition Kitchen is open to the public and offers senior discounts on heart-healthy items.

Zurvalec, the mother of two who operates a cookie decorating business, remains after class for additional time with participants.

As to overall health for seniors, “Chair yoga is a safe and adaptable practice that allows seniors to engage in physical activity without the fear of falling or straining joints,” according to News Medical Life Sciences. “It is an accessible form of exercise that can be easily integrated into daily routines, making it an excellent choice for older adults looking to improve their overall health.”

Regarding the use of a chair for class, Zurvalec explained, “It’s easier than being on the

Retiree finds

ald said the rummage sale takes work.

For one thing, there’s storage. Rummage items must be moved from the Bonner garage to the center. Then there’s getting people to help, which has not been too difficult.

“I get along with everybody here,” she said. “The key is just being nice to them and treating them as equals.”

As an approach to life, McDonald takes things one day at a time. “I’m a very laid-back person. I try not to scream or yell,” she said.

McDonald has not volunteered with other community groups or churches. From her three years at Bonner, she said she’s learned “you should treat everyone as equal. Even if they have a handicap, you don’t look down on them. Everyone has problems or issues that you may not know about, but you have to treat them kindly.”

Avery Edmonds, site manag-

Insurance

be telling the medical service provider. You should be contacting the provider to solve the problems for the clients.

er at Bonner, said McDonald is “helpful, compassionate and involved in many activities and clubs throughout the center.”

Edmonds described Bonner as a “place to socialize, meet new people, get out of the house and we serve hot lunches.”

Regarding McDonald, Edmonds added, “She is always willing to help, no matter what it is. It could be another club, it doesn’t matter. She just wants to get involved.”

Bonner Center offers wellness programs, trips and dining-out opportunities. The center had 521 members in 2025.

“You should not be home alone. Get out and try new things, meet new people,”

McDonald counsels. “Sitting at home is not a good thing.”

During the pandemic, babysitting her great-nephew gave McDonald something to do four days week.

“Thank God for that,” she said. “Then I found this place.” Continued from page 4

Continued from page 2 bly and treat fairly our client whom we referred to your firm. You did not answer regarding all the client problems that I sent to you in my first email. Why not?

I’m just helping the client to get your firm to act responsi-

It would be much easier to

talk with someone at your firm to pinpoint the problem and help you and our client to solve it. That is what I used to do with your firm. But your new system blocks me from doing that.

Not discussing the problem with our client or me is essentially a refusal to help the client solve a claims problem. That practice will harm both your firm and our agency by hurting our business reputations and income.

Let’s get practical about solving the claims problems of the clients.

Woodrow Wilcox helps clients at Senior Care Insurance Services.

UWNI offers free, online tax filing

United Way Northwest Indiana recently announced the launch of United Way’s free tax filing service through My Free Taxes for the new tax season.

My Free Taxes lets U.S. tax filers who earned less than $89,000 last year file their federal and state taxes online for free. Since 2009, My Free Taxes has helped people across America file more than 1.5 million returns, save $318 million in tax prep fees, and receive over $2.1 billion in refunds.

“Taxes can be a source of confusion and stress for all of us,” said Joe Justak director of marketing for United Way Northwest Indiana. “Taxes are complicated and can be intimidating. So, we spend an average of $200 to hire a

tax preparer. But with My Free Taxes, people have an easy, free option that will get them all their tax credits and deductions – with tax guides and IRS-trained phone support.”

Most filers complete their taxes in under one hour. You can file your taxes from your phone, tablet or computer. The platform guides you through the process to guarantee you get your maximum refund.

Through April 15, Northwest Indiana filers who need help can call (866) 698-9435 daily, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time From April 21 through Oct. 15, that support will be available 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday. The Help Line — in English and

BARBARA M. SHAVER

Spanish — is supported by 211 call specialists, trained by the IRS. 211 is the 24/7 go-to resource that connects people to locally available help. It’s supported by United Way and available in 99% of the U.S.

My Free Taxes also has tax guides for small business owners, gig economy workers, owners of home-based childcare centers and filers impacted by federally declared disasters. Find them at MyFreeTaxes.com.

My Free Taxes can reduce tax stress for Northwest Indiana filers. Its filing software uses best-in-class standards to safeguard taxpayer infor-

mation and is always up to date with the latest tax law changes. That guarantees that tax returns are accurate, and that you get your maximum refund The program screens for credit and deduction eligibility, like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

Tax situations covered for free in My Free Taxes include:

• W-2 income.

• Schedule C Self Employment.

• Limited interest and dividend income reported on a 1099-INT or 1099-DIV.

• Education expenses, credits or student loan interest.

• Unemployment income.

• Earned Income Tax Credit.

• Claiming the standard deduction.

• Child tax credits.

• Free access to a student debt management tool that will help employees easily lower payments or find loan forgiveness.

MyFreeTaxes is part of United Way’s efforts to help everyone in every community build financial security. Northwest Indiana residents can also contact United Way Northwest Indiana at unitedwaynwi.org to find additional resources, or to find ways to volunteer in the community.

Retiring abroad requires extra steps

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Some folks look forward to retiring to their lake shore cottage after resigning from the labor force. Others plan on moving closer to the grandkids when they sell the house as soon as they retire. And there are those who dream of sipping cooling refreshments by a tropical

beach or strolling into the village nestled into a hillside just below their Alpine villa.

While their dreams are more exotic than most soonto-be-retirees, their planning is a bit more involved because of the financial arrangements and conditions they face.

The costs of everything probably will change after they leave home. Appliances,

utilities, groceries, health care, automobile maintenance and everything else will be paid for in a foreign currency.

It’ll take a while for your brain to quickly translate and compare the local price for coffee or a cab to what it was back home. You may find dayto-day living is cheaper, which is probably one of the reason you chose to move in the first place - climate and cost.

Guardianships

Eichhorn & Eichhorn, LLP 2929 Carlson Dr. #100 Hammond, IN 46323 219-931-0560

Reliable Medicare plans with benefits built to be used

Reliable Medicare plans with benefits built to be used

If you are turning 65 or retiring, call us today to set up a time to learn more about Medicare Advantage plans.

If you are turning 65 or retiring, call us today to set up a time to learn more about Medicare Advantage plans.

With one-to-one support from an agent, you can get clear, helpful answers to all your Medicare questions, big and small. You’ll learn why so many people choose Medicare Advantage, as well as which plans best meet your specific health, budget and medication needs. And you can enroll with confidence, knowing that 4 out of 5 members recommend UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage coverage.

Before you move anywhere, you should visit and spend some time there. Not long ago, a move within this country served as a cautionary tale to anyone retiring to a new locale.

The individual sold their house and belongings in southern California and re-located in Oregon “because everything looked so green all the time.” Less than a year later, they returned to their California home town “because it rains up there all the time.” They had never set foot in Oregon before ripping out all their California roots.

Before tumbling holus-bolus into a Caribbean cabana, take a few trips there for a couple of weeks at time at different times of the year to find out if the climate is what you’ve dreamed it is.

With one-to-one support from an agent, you can get clear, helpful answers to all your Medicare questions, big and small. You’ll learn why so many people choose Medicare Advantage, as well as which plans best meet your specific health, budget and medication needs. And you can enroll with confidence, knowing that 4 out of 5 members recommend UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage coverage. Contact us today at 1-844-236-3281, TTY 711.

If you are turning 65 or retiring, call us today to set up a time to learn more about Medicare Advantage plans.

With one-to-one support from an agent, you can get clear, helpful answers to all your Medicare questions, big and small. You’ll learn why so many people choose Medicare Advantage, as well as which plans best meet your specific health, budget and medication needs. And you can enroll with confidence, knowing that 4 out of 5 members recommend UnitedHealthcare Medicare

coverage.

Contact us today at 1-844-236-3281, TTY 711.

Contact us today at 1-844-236-3281, TTY 711.

You might even establish a financial presence to make your transition easier. Open a bank account and use your credit cards to make purchases.

Get referrals for and set up relationships with an attorney, loan officer, insurance salesperson and real estate agent. You’ll need medical services so check out how medical insurance works there. Make an appointment with a doctor you plan to use and visit a local clinic to make a list of services it provides.

Go shopping in the locale so you’ll know where to go for the goods and services you’ll need when you live there.

Will language be a problem and will your television set, computer and cell phone work there?

‘Friede’s Folly’ takes a surprise flight

Eleanor Friede was discouraged.

By RANDAL C. HILL

As a senior editor at New York’s prestigious Macmillan publishing house, she seemed to be the only person there who believed in her latest project, a small hardcover book by aviation writer Richard Bach.

Its title was “Jonathan Livingston Seagull,” and it consisted of fewer than 9,000 words of text spread over 43 of its 93 pages, as well as copious (and often blurry) photos of seagulls.

Bach’s work was a simple, allegorical account of one gull’s goal. He had wanted to achieve perfection in flight, something that others in his flock had labeled impossible, or at least a silly waste of time.

Friede’s workplace peers had called Bach’s heartfelt creation “Friede’s Folly.” But Friede, undaunted, persisted until her publisher - with scant fanfare and minimal promotion - put “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” on the market in 1970.

Bach, who had been advanced a paltry $2,000, was as amazed as anyone -including Friedeabout what happened next.

Fueled primarily by word-ofmouth support, “Jonathan” flew off the bookshelf (pun intended) during the early 1970s. For 38 weeks, it held the Number One spot on the New York Times best-seller list. It eventually sold over 3 million hardback copies.

Some literary critics dismissed Bach’s work as lightweight hipsterism, although many book buyers proclaimed Bach’s Christian Science-influenced handiwork either a spiritual or a self-help guide that, doggone it, made people feel good - well, maybe more than just “good”when they read it.

The idea of piloting a plane had always intrigued Bach. By age 17, he was polishing small aircraft in exchange for flying lessons. He later became an Air Force captain and, after departing the military, penned three books and numerous articles about aviation. But times were often hard for the writer.

Sometimes, he delivered phone books or sold jewelry to put food on the table for his rapidly growing family. Once his car was repossessed by his bank.

However, an incident in 1959 in the Belmont Shores area of Long Beach, Calif., would change his fortunes - and his life.

Strolling alone by a fog-shrouded canal one night, he heard a crystal-clear voice behind him utter three words: “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” (Jonathan Livingston had been a great racing pilot in the 1930s.) When Bach turned around, nobody was there. He hurried home and dashed off a 3,000-word tale.

Richard then forgot about it for eight years.

In 1967, he awoke one morning from a dream about seagulls. So strong was the impression it made on him that he hurriedly rewrote “Jonathan Livingston Seagull,” the story gushing forth in a tsunami of words. When he had honed the brief book to a misty sort of perfection, Bach rushed it off to several publishers. They all turned thumbs down on the thin manuscript before it landed on Friede’s desk.

Some booksellers expressed frustration over just where to shelve the best-seller. Should it be filed under philosophy, nature, religion or children’s books?

Friede’s sage advice? “Put it next to the cash register.”

Bibliography

Book: Bach, Richard. “Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story.” New York: The Macmillan Company, 1970. Internet: Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston

Seagull. (No author or date listed) en.wikipedia.org. De Chardin, Teilhard. “It’s a Bird! It’s a Dream! It’s Supergull!” Nov. 13, 1972. time.com.Walters, Jr., Raymond. “Seven Ways Not to Make a Best Seller.” July 23, 1972. The Friede quote from nytimes.com.

Valparaiso man stays active with pickleball and golf

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Wayne Crosswy’s wife was the first to jump on the pickleball bandwagon as the sport increased in popularity across the country. “She introduced me to it and I’ve been playing on and off for about 10 years,” he said.

Having recently had knee surgery, the Valparaiso resident is slowly easing back into the sport he enjoyed playing indoors in the winter. He’s currently playing about once a week at the Valparaiso YMCA as he recovers. In the summer months, he spends a little

more time on the golf course than on the pickleball court, but he enjoys playing with other pickleball enthusiasts in Valparaiso, Chesterton and Hobart.

“It’s good competition for older people and you get to meet new people,” he said. “It’s good exercise and not real strenuous.”

He’s also an avid golfer, playing in two leagues, one of which is a traveling league where he plays in Indiana and Illinois and the other at Valpo Parks’ Forest Park Golf Course. “I do prefer golf because it’s you against yourself. You don’t rely on anybody but

Boomers living longer than succeeding generations

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

The current crop of elderly, labeled through the decades as baby boomers, reportedly are healthier and are living longer than the life-expectancy of their children and grandchildren.

Generation X, folks born between 1965 and 1980, and Generation Y, those Millennials born between 1981 and

1996, show signs of increased disabilities as they age during a shorter lifespan than their predecessors, according to a recent research report.

The cause?

More anxiety and depression as well as increased levels of bad-health behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol use, compared to the post-World War II generation.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

yourself,” he said.

Crosswy is a native of Oklahoma who also lived in Texas for 15 years before relocating to Northwest Indiana four-and-a-half years ago. He worked in the automotive field as a parts adviser for over 40 years, selling over a million dollars worth of parts every year. He currently works part time as a delivery driver and is a board member of his HOA. Before his more recent interest in pickleball and golf, he played basketball in college. He has also bowled in leagues for several years, averaging around 210 with eight 300 games. “I’m very competitive, so that’s probably why I like golf best because it’s on you to be good or not.”

His wife, Karen, is an avid pickleball player, who he described as “very good” and who helped get him involved in playing the sport. He has three kids and four grandkids and their mixed family includes Karen’s three children and three grandchildren.

Crosswy continues to work on both his pickleball and his golf game. “When I get into a sport, I work hard at trying to be very good at it - not just being out there, but trying to be one of the best,” he said.

Philanthropy

Q. How might the new tax law affect your charitable giving and deductions in 2026?

A. The new tax law in 2026 introduces an important benefit for donors who take the standard deduction. Donors who don’t itemize can deduct up to $1,000 (or $2,000 for married couples). This is particularly valuable for donors who give smaller amounts or donate sporadically throughout the year, allowing their generosity to translate into meaningful tax relief.

Based on increases in the standard deduction “bunching” charitable gifts using a donor advised fund (DAF) at Legacy Foundation may help donors maintain consistent support for charities while still reaping tax benefits. By contributing to a DAF, donors can bundle multiple years’ worth of donations into a single tax year, potentially making it advantageous to itemize and maximize their deduction in that year.

Additionally, Qualified Charitable

Kelly Anoe President & CEO,

Legacy

Foundation

Distributions (QCDs) enable individuals age 70 ½ or older to donate up to $111,000 per year (as of 2026) directly from an IRA to eligible charities like Legacy Foundation and reduce taxable income. Unrestricted donations to Legacy Foundation are eligible for a 2:1 match, tripling the impact of your donation!

As with any financial decision, we recommend consulting a tax advisor or financial planner. Contact us to learn more about your community foundation.

A. If your product or service is geared to adults over the age of 50, Senior Life is the newspaper for you! According to CVC, our readers average 45 years of age and older and frequently purchase products or services from the ads they see in Senior Life (74.8%). Call or send me an email today to discuss adding Senior Life into your marketing strategy.

All puckered out for Valentine’s

Valentine’s Day is special.

NUTSHELL

By DICK WOLFSIE

The average person spends 20,000 minutes in their lifetime kissing. Again, this is simply an average. Your smooching may vary depending on whether you attend a

lot of Greek weddings or have more than 15 grandchildren.

I’m not an overly competitive person, but I do believe in keeping up with the Joneses, who, by the way, are our newlywed neighbors down the street. The Fettermans next door have been married 40 years, so I’m thinking those folks may represent a more realistic role model for me.

I assume I’ve been rolling along at an acceptable rate up until now, but why not increase my output so my obit can read: Exceeded the stan-

Aging gracefully: Be kind and caring to yourself

By NATALIE REISEN Director of Sales & Marketing Residences at Coffee Creek

It’s so easy to say “Take care…” to others, but older adults may not heed their own advice. Call it self-care or selflove, there are many holistic models for this concept. It’s work, or at least mindfulness, until you reach that glorious feeling of accomplishment and actually enjoy life.

The holistic self-care approach includes a combination of physical, emotional, mental and social focus points.

Regular exercise ( 30 minutes of walking or movement daily), eating healthy, regular meals and being sure to stay hydrated.

Quality sleep along with relaxing and trying various activities.

Setting goals, either for projects or actions “put on the back burner.”

The spiritual component to self-love and care: the “attitude of gratitude” and positivity.

Staying connected to others — family, friends and new acquaintances.

“We consider all compo-

nents of the self-care, holistic approach in our senior living community. We understand how vital it is to support each resident’s individual needs along these ‘pillars’ of self-care,” explains Kaitlynn Redmon, executive director, Residences at Coffee Creek Senior Living.

Karen Ayresman, executive director at Deer Creek Senior Living, adds, “It can be frustrating to know you ‘should’ be exercising, eating nutritiously, interacting with others, but not always able to achieve these daily goals by yourself. We have a great option for regaining independence, it’s like ‘getting by with a little help from friends’ to take the worries away from daily life and help make self-care a part of your daily routine.”

Residents tell us they should have made the decision to move to senior living sooner. Plan a visit, experience one of our special events and talk with residents who decided to be kind to themselves. They’ll describe what it’s like living a vacation every day.”

Visit ResidentsSeniorLiving. com for more information.

dard kissing time by 2,000 minutes. Even my harshest critics would be forced to concede that when it came to lips, I was successful at putting two and two together.

When Mary Ellen came home the other night, I gave her the customary hello, but I realized that if I lingered a few seconds longer in the osculation and then multiplied that time by my predicted life span, I could increase my total production by 20%. Osculation, by the way, is the scientific name for kissing. Don’t use that word during romantic encounters. It’ll have a negative impact on your lifetime total.

After 30 years of marriage, my wife became instantly aware that I had breached the unwritten rule for time spent on the customary: “Hi, honey, I’m home from work” kiss.

“What was that all about?” she asked.

“Is something wrong?”

“Your kiss. There was this delay. You were loitering on my cheek. You do know it’s only Thursday.”

The question, of course, is how they ever came up with 20,000 minutes. I did a little math, and it looks like if your kissing career spans 75 years, you need to kiss about 47.4

seconds a day to reach this goal. I’m a happily married guy, but there are a couple of days a week that, to reach this number, I would have to count my relationship with the dog (we’re just best friends, I assure you) and my new Big Bertha driver, which gets a little extra lovin’ whenever I don’t hit a ball out of bounds.

Dentyne has a Facebook page where customers put their kissers right online, revealing true-life stories about kissing. About 12,000 individuals are seeking advice on how to inform loved ones about their halitosis. Actually, it’s only 11,258 people. The rest are beagles, cocker spaniels, St. Bernards and the like, put off by humans who insist on going nose to

snoot without first freshening their breath.

The Facebook site also notes: “You kiss 20,000 minutes in your lifetime. What about the other 40 million moments?” Huh? It’s bad enough I’m now obsessed with maintaining a respectable record in the puckering department, but apparently a slew of other situations exist where your breath should be pristine. There’s something to chew on.

In order for my wife and me to someday reach the national average, I’m really going to need her full cooperation. Last night, I told Mary Ellen how beautiful she is and how great dinner was. I think I have a chance of reaching that 20,000 mark - as long as kissing up counts.

Travel through time

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

As you motor around the country, visiting the grandkids or getting to see the sites on your to-do list or heading back for a class reunion, you can also travel back through time to trace your ancestry.

When you get to your home town, you can leaf through local

March 6 / 7:30pm

6:15pm - Pre-concert discussion

Living Hope Church 9000 Taft Street, Merrillville

Lost slippers and glowing feathers; fairytales will leap off the page! Prokofiev’s Cinderella enchants with its graceful melodies and playful twists on the classic fairytale with narration by Phil Potempa. Stravinsky’s Firebird ignites the stage with fiery rhythms and a thrilling battle between light and darkness. It will be a spellbinding journey full of wonder and excitement.

Tickets $49-$89 / Students $10

records to trace your forebears back as far as they lived in that location. Having pored through your lineage on line or through family files, you can stop on the way there or the way back home in towns and cities mentioned in your chronicles.

It’s a good way to see America as well as trace your ancestors. Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

Blast To The Past -

‘I Write the Songs’ was written by Bruce Johnston

Barry Manilow

Who is the “I” in this wellknown oldie?

“I write the songs that make the whole world sing

“I write the songs of love and special things

By RANDAL C. HILL

“I write the songs that make the young girls cry

“I write the songs, I write the songs.”

The answer may - no, willsurprise you.

These iconic lyrics are from the recording by Manhattanite Barry Manilow, a hit single that he didn’t write. Manilow also didn’t compose the second 45 of his to rocket to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 1970s.

Early in his Arista Records career, the former jingle writer for commercials had balked about recording “Brandy,” a song by American singer/songwriter Scott English that had been a success in Britain.

After signing with Arista, Manilow had reluctantly done English’s tune as “Mandy.” A wise choice, as it became Barry’s first number one single.

Later, Arista’s president, music veteran Clive Davis, felt strongly that “I Write the Songs” also had success written all over it if only Manilow would record the tune.

Again, Manilow hesitated. He hadn’t written the work, and he felt that the lyrics sounded “egotistical.” But the rising star wasn’t so stubborn that he didn’t listen to his business-savvy boss, and

Manilow was soon on his way to releasing his second Arista disc to grab the top Billboard spot.

Well, just who did compose “I Write the Songs”?

Here we need to swing the spotlight to Southern California and the land of the Beach Boys. Born in 1942, Bruce Johnston, the adopted son of the owner of the Rexall Drug chain, had grown up in the wealthy West Los Angeles suburb of Bel Air. Always enamored of music, Johnston mastered keyboards and the bass guitar.

He went to UCLA and later worked with record producer Terry Melcher (Doris Day’s son) before joining the Beach Boys in 1965 as a replacement for leader Brian Wilson, the pop-music genius who had recently trashed his brain with psychedelic drugs.

In the mid-1970s, Johnston temporarily stepped away from the popular band to go solo with an album called “Going Public.” His LP fizzled commercially, but it did contain his original composition of “I Write the Songs.”

Under Johnson’s guidance, that track featured a quiet, lightly orchestrated offering that would lack the near-bombastic dynamics of Manilow’s million-selling version.

Manilow’s rendition featured an introduction of a tinkling piano and the gradual build to a dynamic conclusion, with Manilow’s rich voice soaring above a studio orchestra in full-throttle mode.

Many people have opined that Johnston’s ballad was a tribute to Brian Wilson. Not true, Johnston testifies, and he cites the opening lines:

“I’ve been alive forever

“And I wrote the very first song

“I put the words and the melodies together

“I am music, and I write the songs.”

Had this song been about Brian?

Nope. The answer, which is hidden in plain sight, is that Johnston was talking about God. Later, Johnston even referred to his classic as a hymn. Bibliography

Book: Bronson, Fred. “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (Third Edition).” (P. 425) New York: Billboard Publications, Inc., 1992. Internet:

Breihan, Tom. “The Number Ones: Barry Manilow’s ‘I Write the Songs.’” Aug. 20, 2019. stereogum.com. “Bruce Johnston: From ‘Pet Sounds’ to Pink Floyd and Having Time to ‘Smile.’” (No author listed) Nov. 15, 2011. rockabillynblues.blogspot.com. “I Write the Songs, Bruce Johnston” en.wikipedia.org. “I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow. (No author or date listed) songfacts.com. By PhilipRomanoPhoto - Own work, CC BY 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/ index.php?curid=140854561.

South Shore Arts announces 2026 exhibition calendar

South Shore Arts in Munster has revealed its 2026 exhibition schedule. “In this year of national importance, we intend to celebrate the excellence of local artists and promote our region’s creative spirit,” said Executive Director Jonathan Canning. The year begins with the exhibition Mark Makers that focuses on regional artists with national reputations for elevating the status of drawing and expanding the medium’s impact through the precision of their execution, as in the work of Antony Adcock, the emotional power of their imagery, evident in Tim Lowly’s portraits of his daughter, and in the innovative conceptual

framework that underlies of the art of Mary Porterfield. The exhibition runs through March 14. Throughout the spring and summer, South Shore Arts will highlight the work of young, emerging, and established local artists through its annual Tri-County Jr/Sr High School Exhibition and Salon Show. Both juried exhibitions are noted for their rich prize pools, with financial awards and scholarships intended to support artists in pursuit of their educational and professional goals. For the first time in its 83-year history, the Salon Show will have a theme – My America – encouraging artists to reflect

Take time out from sitting

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Whiling away the hours in a comfortable chair is the image of leisurely living as we grow old. But it could be slowly killing us. Sitting for long periods can open the way for diabetes and heart disease and even bring on earlier death.

When you’re watching television, get up off the chair for two or three commercials every hour and walk around the room.

A couple of minutes of activity every hour won’t make up for a good walk in the park or laps in the pool or a bike ride around the neighborhood, but it will lower the risks cited above.

You can also get some chores done while you’re up. Put the wet laundry into the dryer, empty the dishwasher, vacuum the living room.

While you’re up, you’ll probably find other things you can or need to do that’ll keep you active.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

upon the country’s semi-quincentennial.

In the fall, the exhibition Still Crazy: 40 Years of the Crazy IN Style Artists will celebrate the legacy of the first Hispanic artists collaborative in the country. Inspired by the graffitied train cars that rolled through East Chicago, Calumet Township and Hammond in northwest Indiana, young Latino artists like Ish Muhammad and Felix Muldinado established a crew that has contributed to the region’s cultural scene for 40 years. Currently, the crew is involved in community mural programs across the region, especially in Gary, where their murals are helping to revive neighborhoods and rekindle local pride.

The year concludes with the return of the Evergreen Artisan Market that runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. This holiday tradition promotes the work of local artists and craft people, providing collectors and seasonal gift givers with unique works of art.

South Shore Arts is located at the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. Access to exhibitions is free to all. More information about the 2026 exhibition calendar can be found at www. SouthShoreArtsOnline.org.

FAMOUS BUILDINGS

ACROSS

1. Performer’s time to shine

5. Selfie, e.g.

8. One of five Ws

11. Trës ____, or very stylish

12. Mandolin’s cousin

13. Knitter’s unit

15. Aren’t, colloquially

16. Mimicked

17. *Like House with Oval Office

18. *The Hunchback’s home (2 words)

20. Listening devices

21. Flirtatious stares

22. Salt, in Spanish

23. *____ State Building

26. TV shows, e.g.

30. Will Ferrell’s “Funny or ____”

31. Steve McQueen’s “The Great ____” (1963)

34. Toss a coin

35. ____ & Young financial services company

37. Kimono tie

38. Sweating room

39. Short skirt

40. Batter (2 words)

42. Lake, in French

43. Anise seed (1 word)

45. *____ of Versailles or Buckingham ____

47. ____ of war

48. Sinbad the Sailor’s home

50. Not good

52. *St. Basil’s in Moscow or St.

Paul’s in London

56. *The Parthenon in Athens is made of this

57. Capital of Norway

58. Aeneas’ lover

59. More slippery

60. Animal protein

61. Independent chieftain

62. High degree 63. TV program interruptions

64. Retired, abbr. DOWN

1. CAT or PET, e.g.

2. *Key Tower, tallest building in this Buckeye state

3. Laundry room fire hazard

4. Type of local tax

5. Pupa, pl.

6. Things

7. Give up a state

8. Dam-like structure

9. Not misses

10. Football’s extra point

12. Soup scoopers

13. Make a solemn promise

14. *Burj ____, tallest building in the world

19. Wading bird

22. “Monkey ____, monkey do”

23. Bodily swelling

24. Rice wine

25. 1/100th of Finnish markka

26. Rotisserie skewer

27. Spurious wing

28. Cancer-treating machine, acr.

29. *____ Needle, Seattle

Brain Boosters

32. For boys and girls

33. Lawyers’ org.

36. *____ Chapel, Vatican City

38. Flat replacement 40. “____, borrow or steal”

41. Eventual outcome

44. Leonhard ____, Swiss mathematician (1707-1783)

46. Portable stairs

48. Headquartered

49. Road-tripping guide

50. Carve in stone

51. Emptiness

52. Vegetative state

53. Ice crystals

54. Passage in a

55. Voldemort’s title 56. Small amount of drink

4

INGREDIENTS:

1

2-1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup sliced shallots (from 4 shallots)

8 ounces sliced fresh cremini mushrooms

4 ounces sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms

1/3 cup dry Marsala wine

2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1-1/2 lbs.)

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

8 ounces uncooked whole-wheat linguine

2 tablespoons whole fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

DIRECTIONS:

Whisk together the stock and flour in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker until blended. Place the shallots, mushrooms, Marsala, and rosemary in the slow cooker. Sprinkle the chicken with the salt and pepper; arrange the chicken in the slow cooker, nestling it among the vegetables and liquid. Cover and cook on LOW until the chicken is tender and the sauce has thickened, about 4 hours. Transfer the chicken from the slow cooker to a serving platter, reserving the cooking liquid and vegetables in the slow cooker. Transfer the cooking liquid and vegetables to a 2-quart saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high. Boil, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced to 2 cups, about 5 minutes. Cook the linguine according to the package directions, omitting the salt and fat; drain. Divide the linguine among 4 bowls; serve the chicken over the pasta. Top with the sauce. Sprinkle evenly with the parsley.

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

Ruth Iwaniec of Schererville grew up in a household where God was at the center, for which she is very grateful for. “I was fortunate to have wonderful Catholic parents who helped instill my faith in me,” she said. “I attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School in South Chicago.”

Iwanec continued living in South Chicago until she married Harry Iwaniec at the age of 30 in 1976. “He was a widower and words cannot describe this amazing man. I was blessed to gain three teenagers - Gary, Gail and Ginny. I was rough and tough on them, but they put up with me,” she said. “We lost my Harry, their dad, to cancer in 1992. I realize every day how much God loves me because Gary, Gail and Ginny and now my five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren are at my side. They are my caregivers, my everything on this earth and they do for me as I tried to do for them. Did Jesus bring out something in me? Why are they so good to me?”

Having made many good friends during her time in Catholic school, she still has a group of 20 school classmates from St. Francis de Sales High School in Chicago with whom she remains close friends with. “We still lunch and party together,” she said. “That’s 66

years of friendship.”

Iwaniec said she has been a “churchgoer” her entire life, attending Mass every Sunday and on holidays. Her family attended St. Columba Church in Chicago’s Hegewisch neighborhood and then Our Lady of Knock in Calumet City. She currently attends Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Merrillville, which is a consolidation of several different area parishes.

“I look forward to going to mass, listening to the homily by our newly ordained priest, Father Steven. It’s exciting to me and not boring,” she said.

“I am a Eucharistic minister. I feel honored to serve my parish and the homebound where I am able.”

After working for 27 years for an ophthalmologist in a Chicago office as an office manager and medical assistant, she then retired from Lansing Public Works in 2011.

“The one thing I feel good about in my life was when I volunteered with hospice at the Riley House in Munster and the appreciation the patients and families showed,” she said. “I had to stop because of spine surgeries. If you ever want to give back, consider volunteering at hospice. Yes, you watch them fade away, but they are grateful you are there with them for their journey.”

Her hobbies include bingo and occasional casino trips. “I wish I could travel more

and hopefully my health will improve and that will be possible. My girls and I are planning on going on a cruise in March and I better be ready to limbo.”

DEVOUT

CATHOLIC —

Ruth Iwaniec of Schererville grew up in a Catholic household. Today, she attends Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish were she serves as a Eucharistic minister and visits the homebound.

Photo by Carrie Steinweg.

Decluttering? Vintage Christmas Decorations are selling very well

By MATT DUNBURY Owner Blue Collar Antiques

My company Blue Collar Antiques buys and sells a variety of antiques and collectibles. We also purchase entire estates.

This time of year vintage Christmas items are selling very well. Check your decorations for old ornaments, lights and especially aluminum Christmas trees. A rare aluminum tree sold a few weeks ago for over $14,000 dollars. Old blow molds seem to be popular this year. Check your attics and basements for anything weird or unusual.

Comic books and sports cards are selling very well

right now. I am always looking for military items, old toys, advertising items, coins and jewelry.

I have always enjoyed antiques and have a deep appreciation for history. I go to several auctions each week which helps me stay current with what people are buying and how much items are selling for. I also subscribe to many research sites. I am able to find the market value for almost any item you may have.

I have been in business for over 15 years. I believe in treating people fairly. Because of this, a big part of my business comes from referrals or repeat clients. Often when people call me to look at their collections

or estates, they are pleasantly surprised to learn that items they considered worthless are actually very valuable. I would recommend that before items are discarded or given away, you give me the opportunity - or someone with experience in antiques - to take a look at them for valuation. Since I have been in business for so long, I have established many contacts in the industry. Even if you have something that I do not buy, many times I can at least give you a value for it, put you in contact with someone who would buy it or tell you the best way to go about selling it. You can contact me at (219) 794-6500. Ask for Matt Danbury.

Northwest Indiana Symphony offering a serious wow factor this season

By TAMMIE MILLER Marking and Box Office Manager Northwest Indiana Symphony

The second half of the Northwest Indiana Symphony’s 84th season - also marking Maestro Kirk Muspratt’s 25th anniversary - is filled with storytelling, imagination and serious wow-factor. From cozy matinees to big nights

out, this lineup offers something for every kind of music lover. Make your 2026 plans now!

The season continues with “Stories with Maestro” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, at Theatre at the Center. In this relaxed matinee, Muspratt trades the baton for storytelling, sharing his journey from a small Canadian coal mining town to world travels

Check your cruise requirements, then check again

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Seasoned travelers are aware of the multi-leveled airline fees to take into account when making travel plans but the fine print in cruise clauses can also be costly.

Stories abound of hefty cancellation fees, especially by first-timers who take the word of their travel agent or cruise customer-service representative that there will be a full refund if the buyers have to cancel their voyage.

The fine print in many cases will clarify that there is a 75% cancellation fee so the refund is but 25% of the total cost.

Cruise lines have been raking in easy money from folks who don’t read their contracts carefully.

Wannabe cruisers also are making all kinds of mistakes, from not remembering to check their testing requirements to overlooking their passport expiration.

Representatives of the cruise lines may be able to assure people with health conditions or impairments that they can be accommodated comfortably aboard ship, but there’s no mention of the problems they might have boarding the airliner that will fly them to and from the vessel.

A major mistake many make is ignoring international travel requirements. Entry requirements vary by country. Even if you’ve sailed on a cruise lines’ ships before, rules and regulations have changed.

If you have a voucher for future cruise credits, check the expiration date on the voucher. What happens if you get sick on the voyage? Get sufficient travel insurance to cover you should you be quarantined in a foreign port for a couple of weeks and the cost to get you home.

After you’ve done all this, confirm and re-confirm your travel requirements before your cruise because requirements change.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

It kinda balances out

By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer

Looking back these past few years, I think it’s very plain to see. I didn’t know then but now I do. I am changing but I am still me. There comes a time to face the facts, in terms of being old in age. It’s not the end but it’s getting there. You have reached a final stage. You can adjust and try to like it. You can fight it or let it be.

But I think it’s best to just accept. Every one goes eventually. There is a loss but still and then, I think perhaps there is a gain. The eyes of age might bring new life. Searching out the good in change. Life is but a metamorphosis. The very best is yet to come. So I will write my poems about it. Until this day is finally done.

and unforgettable collaborations. He reflects on the moments, mentors and music that shaped his path, weaving in personal anecdotes and musical moments. It’s casual, engaging and the perfect Sunday afternoon experience.

Drama takes center stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Living Hope Church with “Spellbound,” featuring the bold, cinematic music of Prokofiev and Stravinsky, narrated by Phil Potempa. Beloved tales “Cinderella” and “The Firebird” come viv-

idly to life through sweeping melodies, sharp rhythms and powerful storytelling. Muspratt will host a free pre-concert discussion at 6:15 p.m. for all ticket holders.

The Symphony Chorus shines in Dan Forrest’s “Requiem for the Living” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 29, at Theatre at the Center. Featuring mezzo-soprano Susan Nelson, this modern choral work is deeply moving yet uplifting, offering moments of reflection, hope and triumph in a beautiful and unforgetta-

ble afternoon.

The season closes in spectacular fashion at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, at Hard Rock Live with “The Music of Tina Turner.” Featuring powerhouse vocalists LaKisha Jones, Nova Y. Payton and Armando Imagines, this high-energy tribute celebrates the legendary hits and unstoppable spirit of a true icon.

Tickets are available at nisorchestra.org or by calling the Box Office at (219) 8360525 ext. 200.

Mediterranean diet a way of life

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature

The tongue-and-tummypleasing Mediterranean diet has climbed high on the list of ways to improve your heart health.

Visions of Italian pasta and pizza and Greek goodies dance through our minds when most of us consider our choices of Mediterranean menus.

But there are 22 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa encircling that sea, so just where does this diet originate? And what foods are we talking about?

While the term “Mediterranean diet” is rather loose, it refers to meals rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and olive oil that are low in saturated fats and high in lean sources of protein, like fish. Red wine in moderation is a bonus inclusion.

The diets of Mediterranean countries differ in the amount of total fat, olive oil, type of

meat and wine intake, milk vs. cheese, and fruits and vegetables, and the rates of coronary heart disease and cancer.

It’s generally accepted that the first scientific probe of this food regimen was launched shortly after World War II in Greece by the Rockefeller Foundation in an attempt to improve the population’s health.

Researchers learned quickly that plant-based food made up almost 75% of the Greek diet. Archaeological evidence revealed that cereals and legumes were favored dietary items in the Middle East more than 10,000 years ago.

More recently, Arabic peoples introduced new foods into the European diet, bringing eggplant, rice and some spices from India.

The key elements of the Mediterranean diet - bread, olive oil and wine - were spread throughout continental Europe by monastic orders

that migrated there to evangelize those peoples. Bread, oil and wine were central elements of the Christian liturgy that was being spread throughout Europe.

The Mediterranean diet

encompasses more than food. It also embraces a lifestyle that includes physical activity and gatherings of family and friends to enjoy such foods as garlic, olive oil and tomatoes that promote good health.

Think of life and living in Spain, Italy or Greece, and the music and menus in each of these countries. That will get you started on the Mediterranean diet.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Coffee worth the break

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Coffee breaks are being recognized as more than just a brief respite from work.

Caffeine can be good for you.

Moderation matters in all corners of our lives but up to three cups a day can be healthy.

Critics warn that caffeine dehydrates your system, increases hypertension and the risk of heart attack, cuts down on your ability to sleep, is linked to gout attacks, raises blood pressure, and brings on anxiety, heartburn and stomach problems.

While coffee fans admit much of this may be true, there’s a growing list of benefits for those who drink coffee.

Surprisingly, it’s been discovered that an eight-ounce cup of java contains more disease-fighting antioxidants than a regular serving of oranges or blueberries.

Coffee drinkers reportedly have a lower risk of such chronic conditions as diabetes and heart disease as well as less cognitive decline as they age.

Researchers have found that seniors who have as many as four cups of coffee a day cut in half their risk of heart disease compared with those who take in less caffeine.

Medical experts point out caffeine interacts with many medications so go over your list of prescriptions and supplements with your primary

care physician to make sure coffee is compatible.

Among the benefits being attributed to coffee is the ability to relieve a headache, as well as protecting the liver and offering defense against strokes and cancer of the mouth and throat.

Coffee drinkers who get agitated or jittery after too many cups of coffee have found that drinking decaf soothes the nerves, while providing the same benefits.

Cutting back on the milk and sugar also limits your calorie intake. If coffee straight doesn’t suit your taste, try adding such flavor enhancers as cinnamon that not only improve the taste but adds healthy benefits of their own.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Dementia by any other name is still debilitating

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Everybody wants to live forever but few folks look forward to the aches of aging.

A lot of time and talent have been devoted to eliminating or finding cures for disease, developing drugs that diminish debilitation, and producing prosthesis that help coping more comfortable with our lengthening lives.

Despite all the intelligence applied to the science of longevity, little has been done to enhance our brain’s power, particularly as it ages.

Dementia - its causes and cures - are still a mystery to the best medical minds.

Experienced experts even disagree on the best ways to avoid or alleviate the ravages

of such neurological disorders as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Play mental agility games, such as crossword puzzles, some say. Learn a language to foster the brain’s flexibility. Travel. Join social groups. Stay active. Exercise to maintain a healthy blood flow to the brain. Eat foods containing chemicals that stimulate brain activity and cells.

All of these are safe and sane advice for anyone wishing to stay healthy.

But there’s still no cure for such degenerative brain diseases as Alzheimer’s. The inevitable result is loss of memory, identity and mobility if death does not intervene.

Alzheimer’s disease ambushes one-third of everyone older than 85. No one is safe.

It caught up to late President Ronald Reagan, actors Jimmy Stewart and Charlton Heston, boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Anecdotes and stories by friends, families and caregivers dealing with victims of this and other debilitating neurological diseases hurt the heart. With frustration, they watch the fading away of their loved one, all the while trying to rationalize what is happening.

The recurring theme is that these caregivers cannot realize, accept, come to grips with, or face the fact that the person they once knew is disappearing. The once-witty wife becomes a slug. The once-creative dad gathers dust in the corner.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Aperion Care - Demotte 10352 N. 600 E., Demotte, IN 46310

(219) 345-5211 • www.aperioncare.com

Short Term Rehab, Long Term Care, On-Site Therapy 7 Days A Week, Orthopedic Rehab, Post-Stroke Rehab, Nurse Practitioner Oversight, Wound Care, Respiratory Care, IV Therapy, Cardiac Rehab, Newly Remodeled Communities, Memory Care

Aperion Care - Tolleston Park

2350 Taft Street, Gary, IN 46404 (219) 977-2600 • www.aperioncare.com

Short Term Rehab, Long Term Care, On-Site Therapy 7 Days A Week, Orthopedic Rehab, Post-Stroke Rehab, Nurse Practitioner Oversight, Wound Care, Respiratory Care, IV Therapy, Cardiac Rehab, Newly Remodeled Communities, Memory Care

- Merrillville | Memory Care

7900 Rhode Island St., Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 525-4123 • www.avivamerrillville.com

Memory Care only. It’s our sole focus. Alzheimer care. From initial to end-state dementia. Comfortable, caring enviornment. Peace of mind for families.

AVIVA - Valparaiso | Senior Living

1300 Vale Park Road, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 531-2484 • www.avivavalparaiso.com

Assisted Living & Memory Care in beautifully renovated community. Parkinson’s Disease Certification. Studios to two-bedroom apartments available.

Hammond-Whiting Care Center

1000-114th Street, Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 659-2770

www.hammondwhitingconvalescentcenter.com

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Respite Care, Hospice Care, JCAHO Accredited, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Ignite Medical Resort of Chesterton

2775 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 304-6700

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Post Hospital Rehabilitation & Care, Physical, Occupational, Speech, Stroke Recovery, Cardiac Care, Pulmonary Rehab, Wound Care, Infection Management, Renal Management, Resort-Style Senior Living, New & Impeccably Designed Facility

Ignite Medical Resort of Crown Point

1555 S. Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 323-8700

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Post Hospital Rehabilitation & Care, Physical, Occupational, Speech, Stroke Recovery, Cardiac Care, Pulmonary Rehab, Wound Care, Infection Management, Renal Management, Resort-Style Senior Living, New & Impeccably Designed Facility

Ignite Medical Resort of Dyer 1532 Calumet Avenue, Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 515-4700

www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Post Hospital Rehabilitation & Care, Physical, Occupational, Speech, Stroke Recovery, Cardiac Care, Pulmonary Rehab, Wound Care, Infection Management, Renal Management, Resort-Style Senior Living, New & Impeccably Designed Facility

Lake Park Residential Care

2075 Ripley Street, Lake Station, IN 46405 (219) 962-9437 • www.assistedlivingfacilities.org

Assisted Living, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Residential Care, Mental Health Services, Activities, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Life Care Center

of The Willows

1000 Elizabeth Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 464-4858 • www.lcca.com

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing 24/7, Ready Set Go Program for Rehab to Home; Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies; Exceptional Wound Care; Respite Care; Pallitative and Hospice Care; Long-term Care; Private/Semi-Private Rooms; Pet Visitation Allowed; Medicare, Medicaid, Most Insurances, Private Pay Accepted

Life Care Center of Valparaiso

3405 N. Campbell, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 462-1023 • www.lcca.com/Valparaiso

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Ready Set Go Rehab Program, Inpatient/Outpatient Physical, Occupational, Speech, Respiratory, Therapy, Wound Care, Respite And Hospice Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Facility Van, JCAHO Accredited, Medicare, Insurance, Medicaid Accepted

Residences at Coffee Creek

Experience Our Unique Approach To Senior Living & Memory Support 2300 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 921-5200 • ResidencesSeniorLiving.com

Retirement Living, Assisted Living, Dedicated Memory Support, Respite Care, Therapy Available, Pet Friendly and VA Benefits Accepted

Residences at Deer Creek

Experience Our Unique Approach To Senior Living & Memory Support 401 E. U.S. 30, Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 864-0700 • ResidencesSeniorLiving.com

Retirement Living, Assisted Living, Dedicated Memory Support, Respite Care, Therapy Available, Pet Friendly and VA Benefits Accepted

Anthony 203 Franciscan Drive. Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 661-5100

MajesticCare.com

Assisted Living, Private Rooms, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Rehabilitation Services (including Physical, Occupational, Speech and Respiratory Therapy), Pet Visitation, Accepts Most Payer Sources. *Saint Anthony is no longer affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, the Diocese of Gary or the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago.

What’s happening at your local library

Below are all the adult programs, events and classes for the month of November at the Lake County Public Library

Cedar Lake 10010 W. 133rd Ave.

Crochet @ Your Library, 4:305:30 p.m. Feb. 4, 11, 25

Book Discussion, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/cl.htm or call (219) 374-7121.

Dyer-Schererville 1001 W. Lincoln Highway (US 30)

New Parent & Caregiver Meet Up, 11-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3

Crafters Gathering, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 5, 19

All Ability: Yarn-wrapped Heart Hanging, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10

Knitting Basics for Adults, 10 a.m. to noon. Feb. 11, 25

Mahjong Open Play session, 1-4 p.m. Feb. 13, 27

Morning Mix: Ages 18 and Over, 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 20

New Parent & Caregiver Meet Up, 11-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24

Puzzle Challenge: Ages 16 and Over, 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24

Book Discussion, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26

Save the Dunes officially transfers land to Shirley Heinze Land Trust

Save the Dunes has officially transferred ownership of several conservation properties to Shirley Heinze Land Trust, including Sebert Forks Preserve and Trail Creek Fen Preserve in Michigan City, Stockwell Woods and adjacent land in Long Beach, and other smaller properties in Gary and Lake Station. This strategic transfer allows Save the Dunes to focus its resources on supporting Indiana Dunes National Park and advancing its advocacy and community outreach work, while SHLT utilizes its expertise and experience to continue the stewardship and preservation of these significant natural areas.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to continue our conservation efforts at additional locations, and to have the trust given by Save the Dunes to do so,” said Kris Krouse, executive director of Shirley Heinze Land Trust. “Our organizations are committed to preserving the land in northwestern Indiana, and this partnership will allow both organizations to unite efforts in

beneficial and impactful ways.”

With this collaboration, SHLT is able to expand its reach into new communities like Long Beach. Invasive species management is often a monumental task for conservationists to undertake, and this development allows SHLT staff and volunteers to aid Save the Dunes with invasive species management among other critical tasks for land and native species preservation.

“Shirley Heinze Land Trust has long been a trusted conservation partner, and we couldn’t be more excited to see these five properties placed in their care,” said Betsy Maher, executive director of Save the Dunes.

“This partnership ensures these landscapes will be permanently protected and thoughtfully stewarded for generations to come.”

These locations will join several others in northwestern Indiana preserved by SHLT, such as Lydick Bog in South Bend, Ambler Flatwoods in Michigan City, Meadowbrook in Valparaiso, and Cressmoor Prairie in Hobart.

ST. AGNES ADULT

Specializing in Alzheimer’s

1859 Harrison Blvd.

Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 477-5433

www.stagnesvalpo.org

Email: barbkubiszak@gmail.com

Monday-Friday 8-5 p.m.

Structured Activities, Safe & Secure Surroundings, Health Monitoring

“Help make their Golden Years shine a little brighter.”

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/ds.htm or call (219) 322-4731.

Griffith-Calumet

1215 E. 45th Ave.

Thursday Threaders, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26

Book Discussion, 1-2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9

All Ability: Oil Pastel Heart Art, 6-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16

Book Discussion, 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23

All Ability: Winter Bingo, 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Feb. 24

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/gr.htm or call (219) 838-2825.

Highland

2841 Jewett St.

All Ability: Book Buddies, 10:30-11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3

Once Upon a Crime Book Discussion, 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5

All Ability: Painted Flower Canvases, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11

Bridgerton Tea Party, 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21

Fact or Fiction Book Club Discussion, 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/hi.htm or call (219) 838-2394.

Hobart

100 Main St.

Stitch’n Time, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7

Adults Get Crafty: Soldering Hearts, 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9

Paint’n Time, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 24

Blåbärssoppa (Blueberry Soup) from Sweden, 6-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16

Book Discussion, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17

Adult Mystery Club: Whodunit?, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/ho.htm or call (219) 942-2243.

Lake Station

2007 Central Ave.

LEGO Night for Adults, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11

Hobby Hour, 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12

Tuesday Time Out, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17

Mahjong Open Play, 1-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

Knitting & Crochet Club, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 21

Craft and Chat, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21

Book Discussion, 6-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23

Grown Up Game Night, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25

Reading Hour, 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26

Bingo at the Library!, 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/lsnc.htm or call (219) 962-2409. Merrillville

1919 W. 81st Ave. (US 30)

Citizenship Class, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25

English as a Second Language, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26

Caregivers & Coffee Hour, 11 a.m. to noon Feb.3, 17

Positive Parenting Classes with Safe CHR, noon-1 p.m. Feb. 4, 11

Kickstart Your Creative Writing Heart, 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4

Dungeons & Dragons for Adults, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4

Friends of LCPL Meeting, 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10

Book Discussion, 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10

Caregivers and Coffee Hour, 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 11, 25

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13

Monthly Resume Workshop: Resume Creation and Guidance, 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18

Kickstart Your Creative Writing Heart, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18

All Ability: Macrame Heart, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19

ESL Conversation Club, 1011:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21

Keep Me in Stitches, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 21

Video Game and Hang, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 24, 25

Genealogy Class: Black Life in America Database, 1:30-3 p.m. Thursday, February 26

Board Meeting, 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26

AI and Disinformation, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/cnl.htm or call (219) 769-3541.

Munster

8701 Calumet Avenue, Monday Night Adult D&D, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 2, 23

That’s Pretty Clever Tournament!, 2-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4

Adult Dungeons and Dragons, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 5, 12

Genealogy: Intermediate Genealogy and DNA, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25

Book Discussion, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26

Registration required for all programs: visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/mu.htm or call (219) 836-8450.

St. John

450 Wicker Avenue (US 41)

Just One More Chapter: A Silent Book Club, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2

Off the Hook, 1-3 p.m. Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25

Brain Benders, 10-11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6

Book Discussion, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11

Craft Saturday: Paper Purse & Card Sets, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 14

Senior Planet: Passwords, Passkeys, and More, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday, February 26

Registration required for all programs; visit www.lcplin.org/ branches/sj.htm or call (219) 365-5379.

HEALTH CARE

HealthLinc

Multiple locations throughout Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke and St. Joe Counties (888) 580-1060

healthlincchc.org

Providing quality medical, dental, optical, behavioral health, pharmacy, podiatry, chiropractic and much more.

HEARING AID SVCS.

CLEAR EAR HEARING AID CENTER

827 W. 45th Avenue Griffin, IN 46319

(219) 934-9747

www.clearhearingaid.com

FREE Hearing Evaluations

FREE 3 Year Warranty & More

Many Insurance Plans Accepted Call For Details

(Nursing Home & In-Home Appointments Available)

See Our Ad In This Issue

HOME HEALTH CARE

VISITING ANGELS HOME CARE

2340 Cline Ave., Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 322-6100

www.visitingangels.com

Nationally respected, non medical, home care service. Providing CNA’s, HHA’s & Companion Care.

* Assist w/Hygiene

* Meal Preparation

* Medication Reminders

* Light Housekeeping

* Transportation

* Hourly, 24-hour Care & Overnight Alzheimer’s / Dementia Care / Palliative Care

LICENSED * BONDED * INSURED

HOSPICE CARE

DUNES HOSPICE

(888) 602-9004

4711 Evans Avenue

Valparaiso, IN 46383 1417 N. Michigan Street Plymouth, IN 46563

duneshospicellc.com

A 5 Star hospice. Dunes Hospice has the highest visit frequencies in the area for nurses, CNAs, Social Workers, and Spiritual Counselors. We serve with dignity, honor, and above all, compassion.

HOSPICE CARE

FRANCISCAN HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

101 W. 61st Avenue, Hobart, IN 46342 (219) 945-8020

FranciscanHealth.org/Hospice

• Hospice services available in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski counties

• CHAP accredited

• Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurance accepted

• Offering medical palliative care in the home for those still seeking treatment

As a non-profi t, we commit ourselves to practicing the words of our mission by serving your family & loved ones with dignity and compassionate care.

HEART TO HEART HOSPICE OF NORTHERN INDIANA

402 Wall Street, Suite 22

Valparaiso, IN 46383

Phone: (219) 462-6529

Fax: (219) 462-9017

www.HTOHH.com

Compassionate care from our heart to yours. Volunteers needed.

CHAP Accredited

HOSPICE OF THE CALUMET AREA MUNSTER

www.hospicecalumet.org (219) 922-2732 / (219) 736-2422

• Serving Lake, Porter and Bordering Illinois Communities Since 1981

• Hospice Services Are Covered 100% For Patients Who Are Medicare Eligible

• Not-for-profit

• Care Provided In Your Home Or In Our Hospice House

UNITY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

Serving Porter, Jasper & Newton Counties in Indiana. (219) 769-8648

Greater Illinois area (312) 427-6000

www.unityhospice.com

Family owned & operated hospice

Offering premier end-of-life care

For over 25 years at no cost to you, Because we care.

MEALS ON WHEELS OF NORTHWEST INDIANA

8446 Virginia St., Merrillville, IN (219) 756-3663 www.mownwi.org

A non-profit nutrition provider offering Chef Prepared Hot Lunches delivered daily (M-F). All meals are heart healthy & low sodium. Specialized diets are also available, as well as 5 or 7 packs of frozen meals.

Serving Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke & Pulaski counties.

MEDICAL CLINIC

NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS

Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesteron, Merrillville, Hammond, LaPorte & DeMotte

By appt. or walk-ins welcome. (219) 763-8112 or (888) 459-2349

www.northshorehealth.org

Affordable medical and urgent care regardless of ability to pay. Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance accepted. Discounted self-pay option.

MEDICAL RESORTS

IGNITE MEDICAL RESORTS

2775 Village Point Chesterton, IN (219) 304-6700 1555 S. Main Street Crown Point, IN (219) 323-8700 1532 Calumet Avenue Dyer, IN (219) 515-4700 www.ignitemedicalresorts.com

Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Stroke Recovery, Cardiac Care, Pulmonary Rehab, Wound Care, Infection Management, Renal Management

MEMORY CARE

AVIVA SENIOR LIVING 7900 Rhode Island St. Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 525-4123

avivamerrillville.com

• Free standing Memory Care

• Wearable Pendant System

• Care for Early to End Stage Alzheimer’s and Dementia

A voyage on the Intracoastal Waterway

By VICTOR BLOCK Guest Columnist

While taking a recent journey through several southeastern states, I knocked on an unmarked wood door, uttered a secret password and was admitted into a throwback Prohibition-era speakeasy in Savannah, Ga.

Later, I took a horse-drawn carriage ride through Beaufort, S.C., a picturesque town that has served as backdrop for more than 100 movies and TV shows.

I was traveling aboard the American Eagle, one of American Cruise Lines ships that ply U.S. waters. The voyage went from Florida’s Amelia Island to Charleston, S.C. via the Intracoastal Waterway.

Along the way, the ship docked at some of the south’s most charming cities and towns, and the outings at each port appealed to many interests. For starters, I checked out the American Prohibition Museum in Savannah, where displays bring the “Roaring Twenties” back to life in a colorful way.

A beer truck is parked amid a mob of sign-carrying mannequin protesters. A soundtrack broadcasts evangelist Billy Sunday railing against “king alcohol.”

A portrait of August Anheuser Busch Sr., the brewing magnate, comes alive and engages

October 7th-16th, 2027

in a debate with the picture of a female member of the Temperence League hanging nearby. After viewing the exhibits, guests enter a nondescript door and are immersed in the realistic setting of a 1920s speakeasy.

Passengers who went ashore at Hilton Head Island, S. C. could visit alligators at a wildlife preserve or take a dolphin-watching cruise. In Brunswick, Ga., they could check out a 19th-century rice plantation or take a ride on a shrimping boat.

Beaufort (pronounced BYOO-fert), S. C. has a smalltown atmosphere, streets lined by graceful antebellum homes and overhead canopies of Spanish moss-festooned oak trees. Hollywood’s love affair with the town began in 1914 when scenes for the film ”The Americans” were shot there. Viewing it all from a wagon pulled by a straw hat-wearing horse named Bandit added to the ambiance.

On the last day of the cruise, I took a tour of Charleston’s cobblestone streets and squares. Founded in 1670, the city’s architectural style is the unique “single house,” with a narrow, one-room-width side facing the street. That design was necessary during the Colonial era, when a wall enclosed the miniscule, 62-acre town, and space was limited.

Continued on page 19

A voyage

Continued from page 18

A long list of other tours also was available to passengers. In Charleston, they included a visit to the magnificent Magnolia Gardens and Plantation, founded in 1676, and Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.

During time between ports, passengers could choose from almost around-the-clock activities available on the ship. Lecturers described the next day’s shore excursions and delved into topics like the Music of the Civil War, the Civil War at Sea and Early American Religion.

Fun and games included bingo, trivia and arts and crafts. A Veterans Appreciation Ceremony honored passengers who had served in the military, and those traveling on their own could attend a solo travelers meetup.

Evening entertainment was equally varied, including live music, a talented ventriloquist and an equally gifted Gullah woman. She described and demonstrated the unique culture, customs and cuisine of that African American ethnic group which is centered in the area.

Of course, cruises are known for their abundant food options. Fresh-baked cookies were served twice a day; nibbles and beverages were available 24/7 and a snack bar offered light breakfasts and lunches on the deck. The evening feast included a pre-dinner cocktail hour with morethan-ample hors d’oeuvres and ended in the white-tablecloth dining room. The menus often reflected the culture and tastes

Check out all of our publications online: inkfreenews.com thepapersonline.com themailjournal.com shoppingguidenews.com autorv.com themunicipal.com glo-mag.com lakelifemagazine.com homelivingplacesandspaces.com seniorlifenewspapers.com

of the region through which we were traveling: crabcakes, barbecued pork chops and shrimp and grits.

American Cruise Lines’ small ships (90 to 180 passen-

gers) are specifically designed to navigate this country’s waterways and coastlines. They’re known for offering spacious staterooms many of which have floor-to-ceiling

sliding glass doors that lead to an outside private balcony.

You may choose from dozens of itineraries and opt to travel in a modern river boat or classic paddle wheeler. The

ships frequently skip touristy ports in favor of smaller, often overlooked destinations. For more information, visit americancruiselines.com or call (800) 814-6880.

Fighting adds fear to flying

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

It’s bad enough to know that eight out of 10 people in the jetliner cabin has some version of flight phobia, but the added strain of airport searching and air-fare and luggage pricing and fees for a pillow and blanket has upgraded the number of unruly, impolite, rude and downright ornery passengers on your flight.

Piling on the stress of sitting in the middle seat are seatmates with cute little pets and oversize bags packed under foot.

And almost every air-travel trip recap and recollection is dominated by complaints rather than contentment.

• “The guy in front of me who puts his seat all the way back so I can’t even move my knees.”

• “When I get an aisle seat, everybody - even the flight attendant - bumps me when they go up and down the aisle.”

• “The blind on the window seat rarely works - it either won’t stay up or stay down.”

• “The cool air blower blows right down my neck.”

Sound familiar.

Yet people keep flying, despite the fact that ticket prices are climbing at jet speed and airlines are shaving flights from their schedules so their planes will be crammed full.

It’s important to remember the majority of fellow passengers aboard your plane are emotionally brittle because

of their flying phobias, which range from anxiety to claustrophobia to pure panic.

Almost 20% of the adult population cannot fly.

John Madden, legendary coach of the Oakland Raiders, never set foot in an airplane after his panic attack in 1979. He continued his sports-commentator career by traveling coast to coast in a motor home.

The fact that the U.S. National Safety Council Statistics has proved over and over that flying is much safer than traveling in traffic has not diminished the number of fearful flyers. An average of some 20,000 people die on the road in the U.S. in a six-month period. This is about the same total of all commercial air

travel fatalities worldwide in 40 years.

While flying may be safe, it appears each flight has become less safe.

The internet is packed as tightly as a jet plane with videos of confrontations in airports and on airlines over who should get on first or get off first.

Noting a “disturbing increase in incidents where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or violent behavior,” the Federal Aviation Administration adopted a zero-tolerance policy for those who “interfere with, physically assault, or threaten to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft” and increased fines.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

6,000 years of history survive in Egypt

By FYLLIS HOCKMAN

Mature Life Features

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

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

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

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

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

The Valley of the Kings out-

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

Our guide, Hussien, spoke fluent hieroglyphics and could read the walls like a storybook. Thus, we learned of the royal lives of the kings and the everyday lives of the villagers from 5,000 years ago.

Sort of ironic that our country celebrates the historic lives of the colonists who lived 250 years ago in Williamsburg.

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

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

you look back on the trip.

The Great Pyramid, at 480 feet tall and built more than 4,500 years ago, is the last of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World to still stand. Looking at the 2 million to 3 million massive boulders hauled around the clock from limestone quarries 20 miles away over a 20-year span, I could imagine the 10,000 workers sweating and straining to create this eternal edifice in honor of the pharaoh Khufu.

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

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

I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be impressed by the size of anything else anytime soon. And then we came to the Sphinx - the inscruta-

ble and mysterious Sphinx, equally as old and carved from almost one piece of limestone. The head of a man and the body of a lion represent the combination of intelligence and strength attributed to the pharaohs.

While our OAT tour took a deeper dive into other ancient temple complexes as well as a taste of Egyptian lifestyle and

culture, archaeologists have announced that they have uncovered yet another trove of ancient artifacts at the necropolis of Sakkara, including mummies and bronze statues dating back 2,500 years. I suspect that will continue to be true for quite some time. After all, it’s been going on for 6,000 years.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

21st annual South Shore Legends Induction

The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority recently announced Deniece Williams and Nick Popovich as the 2025 inductees to the South Shore Legends. The induction ceremony took place on Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond.

The South Shore Legends program is sponsored by BP and the Legacy Foundation and recognizes individuals whose

achievements embody the values of courage, exploration, creativity, and innovation. Honorees are selected by a panel of judges representing colleges and universities throughout Northwest Indiana. Past inductees include Octave Chanute, Jean Shepherd, Orville Redenbacher, The Jackson 5, and Dean White.

This year’s ceremony also honored the 2025 Legends Scholar, Marisa Winslow of

Indiana University Northwest, who was selected for her outstanding academic achievement and commitment to community excellence.

About the 2025 Inductees

Gary native Deniece Williams is one of the most influential voices in contemporary music.

A four-time Grammy Award winner and 15-time nominee, Williams rose from singing part-time while working as a

nurse and telephone operator to performing with Stevie Wonder’s Wonderlove. She went on to achieve global success with Columbia Records, releasing timeless hits such as “Free,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” and “Black Butterfly.” Her career spans R&B, Pop, and Gospel, marked by her signature four-octave range and uplifting artistic vision. Williams remains deeply connected to her roots, crediting Gary for inspiring her early dreams.

A global leader in aviation, Popovich founded Sage-Popovich, Inc. in 1979 and built it into a premier aviation con-

Stay

sulting and asset management firm headquartered in Gary. The company’s services include aircraft inspections, appraisals, repossessions and liquidation. Popovich’s accomplishments have earned him induction into the Living Legends of Aviation (2017), recognition from the U.S. Army Golden Knights, entry into the Indiana Business Hall of Fame, and the Circle of Corydon from the State of Indiana. A strong advocate for veterans and first responders, Popovich and his team received the Hero Flight Zero Award for their work with the Veteran’s Airlift Command.

Join the MidAtlantic Men as they settle an age-old debate: who has the superior tunes, the US or the UK? This high-energy, one-of-a-kind concert will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at Highland High School, 9135 Erie St., Highland. Single tickets available on the day of the performance for $30. For more informationcontact Carolyn Borchardt at (219) 932-9795 or cborc86914@aol. com. The MidAtlantic Men are an exciting vocal trio who have dazzled audiences across the country — and across the ocean — with their captivat-

ing harmonies and magnetic charm. Comprised of two endearing Americans and one witty Brit, they’ve set out on a musical quest to settle the timeless debate: which side of the pond, Great Britain or the United States, truly has the superior tunes? Featuring iconic hits by superstars like Elvis, Madonna and Billy Joel, as well as The Beatles, Queen, Elton John, and more, this concert provides fun, family-friendly entertainment for everyone. The MidAtlantic Men finally settle the score … who does it better? That’s for you to decide!