Senior Life - NorthWest Edition - December 2025

Porter County Public Library System

‘That cozy feeling going’ for seniors during holidays

Text and Photos

By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

There’s more to the holiday season than holly and mistletoe. The Porter County Public Library System is offering seniors and others an opportunity to enjoy the season while connecting with their community.

Willow Cataldo, community engagement coordinator for PCPLS, reports a number of programs at the system’s branches in Valparaiso, Portage, South Haven, Hebron and Kouts.

“A lot of the themes are connected to winter and the holidays,” Cataldo said. “We want to get that cozy feeling going.”

To do that, the library has

formed partnerships with Purdue University Extension Service, Porter County Health Department and Valparaiso Family YMCA to bring programs to the community at no charge.

The health department does regular screenings at several branches, while Purdue Extension staff present programs on gardening tips and becoming tech-savvy.

The partnership has also secured grant funds for Silver Sneakers classes at south county branches in Hebron and Kouts.

For craft enthusiasts, the library system offers the following during December: felt Christmas sweater ornament Dec. 3 at South Heven; wooden ornaments Dec. 5 at Portage; diamond art orna-

ment Dec. 6 at Hebron; craft quilling Dec. 9 at Valparaiso; watercolor art Dec. 10 at Valparaiso; K-pop lightstick ornament Dec. 16 at Portage; and fabric ornaments Dec. 19 at South Haven.

These and other holiday programs, Cataldo said, are a “great opportunity to get out and build community, for all ages.”

Also coming up is the Winter Wonderfest, Dec. 12 at the Portage branch. Running from 4-6 p.m. this event features crafts, games, food and more winter fun for all ages.

GARDENING TIPS Nikky Witkowski, an educator in agriculture and natural resources for Purdue University Extension offers gardening tips during a November workshop at th Portage branch of the Porter County Library System. The library partners with community organizations to provide educational and self-help programs at no cost.

With Porter County libraries since 2006, Cataldo said many seniors still come to the library for traditional reasons, such as books. “Another portion is looking to enjoy crafts with other community members,” she added.

Many seniors, Cataldo continued, are connecting with the library’s digital resources, including Hoopla, Libby and Roku, a digital device that can be connected to one’s television to stream additional programming.

Through these programs and partnerships, Cataldo said, “we’re expanding what the community has to offer. People Continued on page 2

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 146 million tons of municipal waste end up in landfills each year. One local man is working to make a change by diverting items destined for the garbage dump and getting them into the hands of those can use them.

Bob Wojcik started Junkluggers of Greater NW Indiana in 2021 after serving in leadership roles in engineering and operations fields. In helping individuals empty their homes of items they no longer need, he is also able to donate, recycle and upcycle many of those items that are removed.

“I wear many hats from sales to marketing to operations, “ he said. One minute he’s handling finance, the next human resources, then some truck repair may get throw in the mix.

“I have a great team to service our customers who need junk removal,” he said. “We serve NW Indiana from South Bend to the Southeast suburbs of Chicago as far South as Wheatfield and into Southwest Michigan around Lake Michigan. Being eco-friendly, we donate or recycle all reusable items to keep them out of the landfill. We also have a resale shop at our warehouse in Chesterton called Remix Market where we sell items. A percentage of our proceeds goes to Gabriel’s Horn, women’s shelter. We support them through our sales.”

Wojcik earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Loyola University Chicago. After retiring from a 30-year career, he was drawn to the concept of removing items people no longer need and finding a new home of them. “My previous positions focused on sustainability and

landfill diversion,” he said. Now he helps people by removing all types of items, from large furniture to appliances to clothing and household items. “Then we help other people by donating reusable items that they can use,” he said. “I enjoy giving back as much as possible.”

In his role leading the business, he is responsible for hiring and building teams, overall operations, finance, human resources, sales, marketing and training. “I enjoy working in each of these areas and continue to build the business,” he said.

What he finds most rewarding about his role is “helping other people with donating items to local charities and donation centers,” he said. “It is also very rewarding in developing people in our organization to learn new skills and drive positive results for the business.” A big challenge he encounters is

learning marketing techniques to educate consumers about the work they do and benefits of donating and recycling items they remove.

Wojcik is a proud father of two adults sons. “My oldest son, Brandon, is a general surgeon in St. Louis. He is married to Kimberly, an orthopedic surgeon and they have a daughter named Natalia. Natalia is my first granddaughter,” he said. “My younger son, Tyler, lives in the Indianapolis area and is in cyber security. He has a fiance, Kylie, who is an attorney. I am very proud of them.” Wojcik himself comes from a family of six with three brothers and two sisters who live in various parts of the country.

Outside of work, Wojcik enjoys biking, golfing, traveling, flying drones and spending time at the beach. He has enjoyed holding beach clean-up events with his team. He also belongs to the Rotary Club of Valparaiso and is a member of St. Stanislaus Church in Michigan City.

‘That cozy

Continued from page 1

are using the library as a meeting place.”

During the holidays, Cataldo went on, seniors may be searching for such services as photocopying of documents. Later in the winter, the library offers help with filing taxes.

“A lot are coming to our classes,” she said. “They want to learn something new and connect with others.”

Tom Drake, a Valparaiso resident visiting the Portage branch, said he appreciates the programs the library offers for all ages. Plus, he noted, “I get to read the papers for free.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Cataldo said while nothing is definite, the library system wants to offer more technology classes and promote its digital library.

Of course, libraries are known for books, and the Porter County libraries are again offering their Winter Flurries Reading Challenge. Open to all ages, the challenge runs Dec. 1 through Jan. 31. The goal is to compile up to 20, 20-minute reading sessions. Once those sessions are reported, the person is entered in a sweepstakes for various prizes, all donated.

More information on schedules of Porter County Public Library System activities is available by calling (219) 4620524, ext. 35136 or 35140 or going online at pcpls.org.

Importance for seniors to stay connected, active

By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer

Aging is inevitable. How we age, however, is a choice. Porter-Starke Services and Porter County Aging & Community Services want people to make the WISE choice.

WISE stands for Wellness Initiative for Senior Education, a free six-week program celebrating this stage of life, is offered throughout the year. WISE addresses the aging

process and making healthy life choices; discusses risk factors and behaviors to avoid; and examines the impact of alcohol and medications on older adults.

Angela Wehner, older adult grant project director for Porter-Starke, leads the WISE sessions. Porter-Starke Services offers programs supporting the community’s mental, emotional, behavioral and physical health needs..

A national program started

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in New Jersey in 1996, WISE has reached more than 40,000 older adults.

Wehner has taught the program for six years. She said seniors enjoy the “shared areas of aging” with others, including natural changes to older bodies.

Wehner really stresses the importance of seniors staying connected and active. Connected refers to keeping in contact with others, whether it’s on the phone or sharing a meal. Active means staying in motion, even if it’s exercises at home.

“We need to be aware of possible physical changes, and how we deal with those changes,” Wehner said, citing balance of mind, body and spirit.

Wehner described maintaining a healthy lifestyle as “priceless.” Some seniors, she said, do it for themselves, while others do it for grandchildren and others close.

While seniors are changing, Wehner said, they also have shared experiences and memories, from the JFK assassination to the Challenger explosion. Seniors have also witnessed massive changes in technology.

Another area affecting seniors is alcohol use. As Wehner explained, older adults break down alcohol more slowly than younger generations, staying in seniors’ bodies longer. In addition, the amount of water in the body drops with age. This means, Wehner explained, older adults will have a higher percentage of alcohol in their blood than younger people after drinking the same amount of alcohol.

used by their age group.

Wehner cited these two statistics about seniors and their medications:

• Ninety percent of adults ages 65+ regularly take at least one prescription medication.

• Forty-two percent of those ages 65 and older take five or more medications daily.

may not have the support system as in the past and they may not like to drive at night. Still, she said, people can still do things, even if it involves baking smaller batches of Christmas cookies.

“It’s important to keep connected, even if it’s phone calls,” Wehner said. “Don’t hesitate to reach out.”

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Wehner also addresses medication use, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, among older adults. She wants seniors to be able to identify behaviors leading to medication misuse and to manage medication use. She also wants seniors to have more familiarity with drugs commonly

Wehner noted prescription drugs are usually more powerful and have more side effects than OTC products. She cautioned, however, today’s OTCs are much stronger and when taken in large quantities could equal a dose normally available by prescription.

Then there’s the holidays. Wehner acknowledged seniors

Even in these uncertain times, Wehner said seniors can find sanity. Some have hobbies; others have their social groups; and others find solace in religion. One key, she said, is to find purpose in life.

“The more we can find purpose,” she said, “the less easy it is to get down to the ‘blah’ spot.”

Helping client file an appeal

By WOODROW WILCOX Senior Problem Resolution Officer Senior Care Insurance Services

On Dec.9, 2024, an 89-year-old client phoned me about a medical bill from a local hospital. The client lives in Crown Point, Indiana. We made an appointment to meet the next day.

The client brought me papers to review. A local hospital was charging her a balance of over $319 for a visit to the hospital in July 2024. I checked the papers the client brought. I believed the hospital was overcharging the senior in violation of Medicare rules. So, together,

we phoned the hospital to have a chat.

The person representing the hospital was polite. She disagreed with my reading of the billing and Medicare rules. So, I helped the client file an appeal with Medicare.

With some editing to protect privacy, here is the cover letter introducing the appeal to Medicare.

This is an appeal for help against a hospital in Indiana which chose to ignore Medicare rulings as stated in the Medicare Summary Notice that I received.

Copies of the bill from the hospital and the Medicare Summary Notice accompany this letter.

The hospital insists on charging me $319.13 when the MSN and its footnotes state the hospital cannot do that. The information on the MSN should match the information on the Medicare Explanation of Benefits the hospital received.

Today, I phoned the hospital with the assistance of the agency administrator at the insurance agency that I use. Since the hospital did not drop the charges, the administrator helped me file this appeal.

The date of service for all services listed is July 12, 2024.

Please, review this matter and these papers and advise me.

The help that I am giving this client is Free of Charge. This insurance agency helps all our clients with similar

medical bill problems. If your insurance agency does not give this high level of customer service, why don’t you switch to another insurance agency that does? Our agency does.

Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville, Indiana. He has saved clients of that firm over three million dollars by fighting mistakes and fraud in medical billing. Also, Wilcox wrote the book “Solving Medicare Problem$” which can be ordered through book stores and online.

Rod King passes away

Former Senior Life writer Rod King passed away last month.

He died Nov. 5, at Georgetown Place, Fort Wayne. He was 88. He was born on May 2, 1937, in Bowling Green, Ohio. Earned a journalism degree from Ohio University, married his high-school sweetheart, Natalie Koppenhofer, June 26, 1959. They were married for 65 years. She died May 25.

He began his career as associate editor of the General Electric News, worked at Bennington Associates and

the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel before embarking on a 32-year career in the public affairs department of Indiana Michigan Power. Following retirement, he became a full-time freelance writer for various publications, including Senior Life, for which he wrote for over 20 years. He is best known for his Great Escapes travel columns.

A celebration of life will be celebrated at a later date. For online condolences, visit harperfuneralhome. com.

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Teibel’s 1775 US-41 Schererville or

Financial plan buys comfortable retirement comfort

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Retirement has become a never-never land for many workers as a shifting society is embracing longer working years and remote work from home offices.

But if you’re among the folks who look forward to lolling at an ocean beach, gamboling with grandkids, or developing a second career, retirement is still the time to do all that.

Financial research indicates less than 20% of grownups have devoted time to develop a financial framework for when they grow old.

The current COVID-19 experience is a peek into what you need to enjoy retiring. If all of the mandated shutdowns, work stoppages and erratic stock market weren’t a major shock to your financial position, you can thank your lucky stars or yourself for having the foresight to prepare for such exigencies.

In fact, if you’re pretty well content with your life, you’ll probably fare well if and when you decide to retire because the first major step necessary for life after work is to balance your income and outgo. This regimen requires foresight, which calls for planning.

If you have your income, spending and savings in tow during your working life, they

will keep you comfortable when you leave the workforce.

A never-ending concern is whether or not your money will run out before you die. A crutch by many investors is to maintain a rainy-day fund. That is a cache of cash separate from their main portfolio that can be used in an emergency, such as a medical problem or natu-

ral disaster, without bruising their main source of financial support.

An indication of how stable you and your financial planning are is to ask yourself what you would do with a sizable windfall.

For example, what did you do with the stimulus check your received during the pandemic?

Or you last tax refund check? Did that money go to pay down credit-card debt or to make additions to your investment portfolio? Or did you go out and buy a new car?

A sign of good planning for both the present and the future is the old familiar phrase: Pay Yourself.

Whenever you receive pay-

ment or income of any sort, pay yourself 10% right off the top. That money is funneled immediately and directly into you your investment plan. Watching that account grow will also add inventive to paying more money and attention to your financial future and make retirement a comfortable reality for you.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Avoid the no-plan death trap

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

You can put off making plans for your final days on earth, but you can’t put off dying.

The point is, if you haven’t made plans for handling your estate and remains, it’s time to begin. The same with instructions on managing your matters when your mind is no longer reliable.

There’s more to end-of-life planning than making a will.

Although that’s a good beginning.

Yet, according to a recent report, more than 75% of millennials - the segment of population born between 1981 and 1996don’t even have that.

To begin, you can quickly write down a simple statement of who should get what of whatever you’re leaving when you die. Or you can have a family sit down and talk about your plans. This should open the door to

how you’re going to cope with your final days and who will be delegated to take charge if you become physically or mentally handicapped.

Now that you’re in the planning mode, it’s time to talk with an attorney. A chat with your tax preparer will help, too.

In meeting with you lawyer, you should be thoroughly candid on what you want to do. How should your estate be divided, who should have power of attorney - oh, wait, what’s that?

This is the individual or individuals who will manage your physical and financial affairs when you no longer are capable. This takes you into another area: instructions on health-care and final-days medical treatment and the preparation of a living will.

We seem to be hard-wired with the this-can’t-happen-to-me gene, but about half of the folks in their

Picture a home inventory

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Having a handy reference

should fire, water or burglar disrupt or destroy your home will make it much easier to deal with any agencies involved in recouping damaged or lost property.

Any camera, including your cell phone, can produce a visual record of what you have that you can show police or insurance company

what you’ve lost. Start by shooting your yard and the exterior of your home, garage, patio, and all the plants and yardwork equipment, swimming pool, vehicles, tools and “stuff” you have. Everything, including your pets. Then do the same inside the house with every room and every piece of furniture with the drawers closed and opened to show their contents. Don’t forget your liquor cabinet. And all that’s hanging

and stuffed into your closets. If you have some special pieces, you can set them in the middle of the living room floor and shoot them separately.

Whether you’ve shot video or still photos, copy the contents in your computer and onto two or three thumb drives. Store those drives off premises, such as a safety deposit box and with a member of your family.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

80s suffer from some form of cognitive impairment, according to medical research.

All through the process, you should be talking with members of your family, especially those who will become surrogates with power of attorney to handle your affairs. If you designate non-fam-

ily members as executor or other official handler, bring them into the conversation, too.

There are countless cruel tales of greed making monsters out of family members when someone approaches death and after they die.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Home work lengthens careers

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Working from home not only saves time by eliminating the commute from home to office and back, it also saves money by eliminating the need to dress up for the office.

And one-third of hiring managers said productivity has increased since their employees began working from home when the pandemic closed things down.

Some companies already are paying for their employee’s equipment and furniture being used at home. At the same time, a quarter of home workers surveyed said they’d take a 10% pay cut to keep on working out of their home.

While the majority of workers like this practice and its prospects, three-quarters of supervisors and managers want their workers back on site.

Human resources officials report management’s push to have workers get back to the office is simply control. An August survey of 200 executives revealed that

they didn’t have faith in much of their staff to be productive workers at home.

Managers said they aren’t able to tutor their employees when they aren’t in the office.

While the work-at-home and work-in-the-office factions are still rather shapeless, there are signs that the workers are becoming more flexible and, as a result, independent. Growing numbers of people are starting jobs and then leaving them without ever meeting their colleagues.

This remote approach to work eliminates the emotional attachment to the workplace, where people devote their time to being productive surrounded by colleagues devoted to similar goals. The traditional teamwork approach disappears.

The upside for many workers who flourish by working at home is that they can extend their careers past the traditional retirement age. Employers benefit by retaining these workers’ experience and expertise much longer. Mature Life Features

I believe in Santa Claus

Yes, I believe in Santa Claus. Why? Because I believe in God, he gave us Santa Claus to help celebrate the birth of his son, our savior. So, if you don’t believe in Santa, you must not believe in God. We believe in God because of the wonders of our world and the universe. The sun, moon, stars above us, the mountains, forests, and wonders of nature around us, and he gave us the joy of Christmas and the magic of Santa Claus.

Santa Claus is both illusion and magic: Illusion by the image of the “jolly old elf” in his red suit and white beard, and when he laughs, his belly shakes like

UWNI welcomes Thompson as VP of finance

United Way Northwest Indiana recently announced Shalana Thompson has joined the organization as vice president of finance. She started Nov. 5.

Thompson brings extensive experience in financial leadership, strategic planning and operational management. In her new role, she will oversee all aspects of financial strategy, planning, reporting, and compliance to ensure United Way Northwest Indiana continues to operate with fiscal responsibility and transparency.

“Shalana’s expertise and passion for mission-driven finance make her an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” said Chris White, president and CEO of United Way Northwest Indiana. “Her insight will help strengthen our financial foundation and position us to make an even greater impact for hardworking families across Northwest Indiana.”

Throughout her career, Thompson has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing organizational excellence and empowering teams through collaboration and data-driven decision making. She is known for her ability to translate complex financial information into actionable strategy and for aligning resources with mission priorities.

At United Way Northwest Indiana, Thompson will partner closely with senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and community stakeholders to manage budgets, ensure compliance, and support the organization’s continued growth and community investment.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Thompson is deeply committed to community service and mentorship, reflecting the spirit of United Way’s mission - neighbors helping neighbors.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Shalana to the team,” said White. “Her leadership will be instrumental as we continue building a more equitable, financially resilient Northwest Indiana.”

For more information about United Way Northwest Indiana and its mission to create a region where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, visit unitedwaynwi.org.

Coping with Grief

By TOM ROSE

a bowl of jelly. Check Google, and you will find thousands of pictures of Santa Claus again, adding credence to the illusion. Magic is delivered through gifts and the spreading of joy around the world. It has been calculated that to visit the over 1.9 billion children worldwide, Santa would need to travel 3,000 times

the speed of sound while carrying 400,000 tons of presents. Well, at one time, we all thought sending pictures through the air (television), traveling to the moon, and cell phones were magic. Santa’s magic (technology) is just a little ahead of our time.

While researching, I asked Google Assistant if Santa Claus was honest. The response, “I believe he’s up to some pretty cool things up at the North Pole this year,” was the reply. This proves he is real because Google has never lied to me. And if you don’t believe Google, check out the book “The Autobiography of Santa Claus” as told to Jeff Guinn, Penguin Books, 1994. So how can you not believe in Santa Claus when you see the smiles on the children’s faces as they open their gifts on Christmas morning, and the joy on the grandparents’ faces as they watch? Yes, Santa is more than just an illusion. He is magic and I believe.

Anatomy of a poem

By JIM CARPENTER Guest Writer

It may be born from a mindless thought. Or perhaps in hearing some random word. Which might then start a release, of nouns, adjectives and verbs. But most new things need tending. Still delicate with the beginning of life. Yet with some work and tender care, Those words might turn into rhyme. A rhyme that is fed with syllables of weight. As it might struggle to survive. To grow and become what it must be, to finally become fully alive.

Physical matter has a birth and a death. But thoughts and feeling might live on. So indeed, perhaps it is, I look for eternity in my poem.

To entertain in some way, shape or form, Perhaps to write of roads not taken. I’ll tell the tale as real as can be. It may be stirred, but it won’t be shaken.

Still dancing and double-dutching at 91

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

When someone makes it into their 10th decade on earth, you naturally expect for them to slow down and for their physical capacity and energy-level to dwindle. That doesn’t apply to Joyce Patlak, who has found her calendar filling more than ever in recent years.

In fact, one of her biggest passions these days is being a member of the 40+ Double Dutch Club - something that didn’t become part of her life until she took it up just before her 88th birthday.

The 40+ Double Dutch Club has “sub clubs” all around the country. The group is made up of women over the age of 40 who get together to take a break from adulting by jumping Double Dutch, hula hooping, playing hopscotch and Chinese jump rope, according to its website, 40plusdoubledutchclub.org.

The club has a mission of being a unified sisterhood that exists to empower women in mental health and physical fitness, all while inspiring them in friendship, fitness, fun and fellowship. “We envision a world where aging is celebrated through prioritizing health, serving communities and empowering women,” the website states.

Patlak is the oldest member in the four sub clubs that she meets up with in Country Club Hills, Calumet City and South Holland, as well as the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago. She also travels outside the area to participate in various double dutch events and her two daughters, Leanne and Pam are also members of the club, joining her at meet-ups.

Although she has cut back a little bit on her weekly meetups with the clubs, it’s only because she’s found a new

hobby that she’s enjoying - line dancing - and there aren’t enough hours in the day to fit it all in.

“I ride my indoor bike, walk, line dance two to three times a week and take care of two dogs every day,” said Patlak. “I used to go to four meet-ups a week and now have cut back since I started line dancing.”

Patlak has been athletic and active all her life, playing tennis, bike riding, swimming, bowling, playing badminton and playing the violin. “At age 52, I also became a competitive dancer for six years,” she said.

As for double dutch, she loves meeting new people and making new friends from all over the country when jumping at various functions. “One of my favorites is jumping at the Moody Bible Institute and also one of the grade schools in Chicago,” she said. “I hula hoop, too.”

It wasn’t until 80 that Patlak officially retired after working a variety of jobs throughout her life. The University of Illinois grad worked over the years as a waitress, teacher at the University of Chicago Lab School, school bus driver, postal

delivery worker. “I worked at the University of Chicago Hospitals for 16 years and my last job was at Fitness Pointe for 13 years and that is where I retired from,” she said. “I was also a member there and worked at the front desk.”

When she’s not jumping and dancing, she loves to knit, crochet, play violin, work jigsaw puzzles, read and go shopping. She is a mother of three daughters and has three grandsons.

Her advice to others to help them be as active as she is: “I tell seniors if you are able to wiggle your toes, get up and move. Walking is probably the best thing you can do for yourself,” she said. “Try to eat healthy and stay away from sweets and try to have a little fun and laugh every day - and a glass of wine won’t hurt.”

STAYING YOUNG —

Joyuc

Patiack remains active by jumping Doubl Dutch, line dancing and walking. She recently had to cut back on her Double Dutch, where she attended four “dub-groups” since she took up line dancing.

I am missing information

My wife has run off with my sister. They were only supposed to vacation together for a little over a week, but when Linda asked Mary Ellen if I could manage alright being alone for so long,

NUTSHELL

By DICK WOLFSIE

Mary Ellen said, “He’ll be fine. I’ll only be gone 10 years.” I assume she meant 10 days. I’d like Dr. Freud to examine that verbal slip.

The truth is that we both have habits that annoy each other after 45 years. But after about a week, I started to miss all the things Mary Ellen does that irk me.

Here are some examples: It bugs me when we go somewhere where we’ve been hundreds of times, like our Unitarian Church, and right

before the exit Mary Ellen says, “This is your exit coming up.”

Well, I know this. I’ve driven here every week for 12 years. Well, at least I wasn’t going to have to hear that directive for two weeks. While she was gone, I missed the exit twice.

I hate it when Mary Ellen lectures me about putting things back on the right shelves in the fridge. She says that if I don’t do that, I won’t be able to find anything next time. I knew once she left that I had full control of storage in our Samsung appliance. That first night, I just threw things back in randomly. I mean, what’s the difference? Yesterday, I ate a hot dog with mayonnaise on it. I know the mustard is in the fridge. But I have no clue where.

Something that really drives me crazy is when she walks into my home office, she always ends up fiddling with something. She straightens the photos on the wall and adjusts the lamp shades. But

what really drives me nuts is how she always fixes the slats on my blinds, which are always askew because I often open one just to check the weather. While she was away, I sent her a selfie from my office with the blinds behind me. Yes, she texted back and told me two slats were open. I looked carefully at the photo. I never knew we had a peeping Tom in our neighborhood.

It also irritates me when she corrects me for using the wrong kitchen towel to wipe something. She’ll say, “That’s for the counter, not to dry dishes,” or “Don’t use that towel to clean the spill on the floor; it’s for pots and pans.” I was relieved when she left, thinking I could use towels however I pleased. But now I miss her sage advice because I realized I shouldn’t use the same towel to dry a dinner plate that I used to check the oil dipstick under the car’s hood.

When Mary Ellen was gone, I watched about 12 baseball games. I was finally free of her persistent question during every sporting event. “Is it over, yet? Dinner is on the table.” Now, I could finally watch the playoff games in peace. But I truly missed her when one playoff game went 15 innings, lasting until 1 a.m.

I knew if Mary Ellen was home, she would have waited up until the final inning, kept the food hot for me, and waited to eat so we could sit together for dinner.

Did you actually believe that for one second?

Faith Finding comfort through Christian Connections

By CARRIE STEINWEG Feature Writer

As a recent college graduate in 1970, Ruth Rinker attended her first gathering of the Christian Women’s Connection. “My church at the time jumped into CWC with both feet and I did, too,” she said. “I was just one of many women of all ages from my church who embraced the mission of CWC.”

The Christian Women’s Connection is part of of Stonecraft, a ministry that “exists to see women reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.” The non-denominational non-profit was founded about 90 years ago “to equip and encourage women to impact their communities with the Gospel of Jesus

Christ.” It offers women training, mentorship, Bible studies, outreach and communities to help them find their purpose and engage in their calling.

Fifty-five years later, Rinker is still active with the Christian Women’s Connection of Valparaiso, a group that meets monthly for fellowship, food and inspiration. “There are so many good things about CWC that I like, but especially the friendly sharing among women who love the Lord,” said Rinker. “Also, it has given me the privilege of hearing Godly women share their life story.”

Rinker is currently the chair for the group, a position she has held for the past eight years. “Among other things, I have a list of women I call

Year-end giving to benefit you and the community

By KELLY ANOE President and CEO Legacy Foundation

Starting in 2026, changes to federal charitable tax law will impact how deductions are calculated. Only charitable contributions that exceed 0.5% of your adjusted gross income will be deductible. This change could reduce the tax benefit of smaller annual gifts—but there are smart ways to plan ahead.

One effective strategy is “bunching”, combining several years’ worth of charitable giving into one tax year to exceed the new threshold and maximize your deduction. For example, instead of giving the same amount annually, donors can make a larger, one-time contribution in 2025, then recommend grants to charities over the next few years. Establishing a Donor Advised Fund at Legacy Foundation makes this approach simple and flexible.

As you plan your year-end giving, consider these opportunities to give wisely and effectively:

• Donating non-cash assets: Contribute appreciated stock or securities directly to Legacy Foundation for potentially greater tax savings than cash gifts.

• Making qualified charitable distributions: If you’re 70½ or older, give directly from your IRA to reduce taxable income while supporting Lake County nonprofits or scholarships.

If you’d like to give back but aren’t sure where to start, consider the Lake County Forever Fund, which supports the greatest needs in our community—and your gift may qualify for a 2-to-1 match!

Please consult your tax advisor to determine how these strategies best fit your goals. For more details visit legacyfdn.org or call (219) 7361880.

each month to remind them of the upcoming lunch, I moderate the meeting, contact and confirm speakers for the year, contact and schedule some of the special features, conduct the planning meeting,” she said. “And, Stonecroft Ministries, under which we operate, has quite a number of ZOOM meetings that I try to attend. As a planning team member, I provide two door prizes to give away at one of the meetings.”

In addition to the monthly CWC luncheons, Rinker attends a weekly small Bible study she recently became the facilitator of. “I accepted Christ into my life as a teenager and immediately got involved in youth group at church, Youth for Christ, choir, helping with the mid-week teen girls’s ministry, served on church committees, was the wedding coordinator for several years,” she said. “All that helped me grow in my faith, especially watching the older women working at church and seeing how they lived their lives. I had some wonderful Godly role models.”

In addition to helping women establish a closer relationship with Christ, the CWC takes donations of items and funds to distribute that benefit women and children and those in need. “In the past, we’ve collected dozens of gloves, mittens, scarves and hats for children that were taken to one of the area schools,” said Rinker. “We donated personal hygiene items to a program that focuses on women who struggle with addiction and collected non-perishable food and paper products for a local food pantry.”

Rinker has lived a life of faith and continues to make it the center of her existence. “My personal faith is what gets me through each day, whether it be giving thanks for all that’s been given me, or asking for strength, peace, comfort to get

ACTIVE IN CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S

involved with

for 55

to impact their

me through the times of testing nor sorrow,” Rinker explained. She invites women of all ages to attend a luncheon of CWC and learn more about it. The group meets at 11 a.m. the day after the first Tuesday of the month from March through December at Pines Village in Valparaiso. Cost is $20, which includes a noon lunch buffet. To

RSVP to attend the luncheon, call (219) 929-8031 by the Sunday before the luncheon.

“Our greatest desire is that a woman at a lunch realizes her need for someone greater than herself to guide her through life,” said Rinker. “That she will pray a simple prayer to ask for pardon for her sins, then turn her life over to God.”

Giving is more than a financial decision—it’s a reflection of our values and the legacy we want to build. As the community foundation for Lake County, Indiana, Legacy Foundation is proud to help donors give strategically while making a meaningful impact close to home.

Together with our fundholders and donors, Legacy Foundation awarded over $6.4 million in grants last year to strengthen local nonprofits and support students pursuing higher education.

70s Flashback -

The Rocky Road to the hit ‘Rocky’

By RANDAL C. HILL

On the day Sylvester Stallone was born in 1946, the doctor on duty clamped forceps on the baby’s emerging head. The result was a severed facial nerve above the infant’s jaw, which gave the left side of his face a permanent droop. Later, young Stallone was taunted by schoolyard bullies who called him “Slant Mouth” and “Mr. Potato Head.”

In 1959, Sly’s life changed when he saw the movie “Hercules Unchained” and was markedly impressed by massive star Steve Reeves, a former Mr. Universe. Stallone then fashioned barbells from a broomstick and two cinder blocks to build himself up. After a while, the schoolyard bullies fell silent.

Sly earned a D average in high school but after graduation found a college in Switzerland desperate for new students. While there, he acted in a production of “Death of a Salesman” and later said, “I knew then that this is what I was made to do.”

The year 1969 found Stallone back in America. Determined to have a career in the movies, he earned $200 for his first film appearance - a soft-core porn release. After a few minor movie roles, he turned to writing. To support himself and his wife, Sasha, Sly took jobs that included theatre usher, nightclub bouncer and fish-head cutter. He also created movie scripts, but nobody showed interest in them.

He developed the Rocky Balboa character after watching a TV match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner. Ali won, of course, but Stallone was more impressed by Wepner’s dogged determination to last 15 rounds. In time, Sly would channel what he witnessed into the Balboa boxer.

The Stallones moved to Los Angeles, and there Sly fleshed out a movie script called “Rocky.” With Sasha typing for him, the couple stayed up three days straight as the script gradually took form.

Sly offered his brainchild to United Artists, who saw it as a chance to make a film on the cheap but with a handsome Big Name Star - possibly Burt Reynolds or Ryan O’Neal. Stallone, though, was insistent that he play Rocky. When he finally wore

the studio honchos down, they signed Sylvester for a paltry $23,000.

In December 1975, he and Sasha took a train to Philadelphia for the shoot. There a van served as both a production office and a changing room for Stallone. The cast and crew stayed in a cheap motel and lived primarily on pasta as they

filmed miles of footage.

United Artists held out little hope for “Rocky” to become a box-office winner. They considered dumping it as a TV movie, especially when some film critics dismissed it at pre-release screenings. (One writer labeled it “a sentimental little slum movie.”)

But ticket-buying audiences

embraced “Rocky” with open arms when it was released in November 1976. In America alone, the blockbuster took in $117 million - about $700 million now. It became the highest grossing film of the year and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards. “Rocky” won three, including as the year’s Best Picture.

Veterans Memorial Trail opens in Crown Point

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the city of Crown Point celebrated the completion of the Veterans Memorial Trail recently.

The 1.7-mile asphalt multiuse trail was constructed by the city of Crown Point in two phases, with help from a $2,984,252 grant administered by the DNR.

“Trails are all about making

connections between people, communities, and Indiana’s great outdoors,” said Allen Hurst, DNR trails manager. “DNR is proud to support the completion of the Veterans Memorial Trail in Crown Point just days after Veterans Day. It adds to the increasing number of trails we now have across Indiana.”

Crown Point broke ground on

the project’s northern section in April earlier this year. The 1-mile expansion follows the old Pennsylvania Railroad in Crown Point going through the Bridgeport neighborhood, connecting to the Erie Lackawanna Trail on Summit Street. Together with the southern section that was finished in 2022, nearly 2 miles of paved trail is now open to the public.

“We know everyone is excited

the beginning of further connectivity in our region.”

In addition to the expanded trail, Crown Point, in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Transportation, also completed intersection improvements at Main and Summit streets and at Indiana and North streets, which included pedestrian signals at new crosswalks. The city also constructed a 26-stall parking lot near the new trail.

“When I started working with the city, the team was working on bringing the Erie Lackawanna Trail to Crown Point. It is exciting to see all the connectiv-

ity we have been able to provide to our residents and visitors. We look forward to continued bike trail connectivity in Crown Point,” said Jennie Burgess, the city’s parks director.

DNR has led the largest infusion of trails funding in state history, with $180 million in dedicated trail funding administered through DNR that facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. A total of 57 of the 89 projects are complete, with another 14 under construction. With this opening, more than 165 miles of trail have been built since the program’s inception.

THINGS WITH WHEELS

ACROSS

1. Unfledged hawk

5. The ____ Gala, haute couture fundraiser

8. Ballet step

11. Sasquatch’s cousin

12. Prefix in levorotary

13. DVD player button

15. What Tylenol and xylenol have in common

16. Seaport in Yemen

17. With ample space

18. *Rumpelstiltskin’s ____ wheel

20. Viking writing symbol

21. Musical finales

22. In favor of

23. Source of tapioca

26. Smith, e.g.

30. “Stand and Deliver” singer

31. Live-in helper (2 words)

34. Et alii, abbr.

35. Nephew’s sister

37. Tire depression

38. Turkey’s southern neighbor

39. Same as ayah

40. Engage in a pursuit (2 words)

42. Bed-andbreakfast, e.g.

43. Tibetan Buddhism

45. Pinched

47. Sing like Public Enemy

48. Mother-of-pearl

50. Cripple

52. *Wheel in

Vegas

55. Chocolate substitute

56. Egg on 57. Capri or Catalina

59. Olden days violin maker

60. Croaks

61. “Run Away to Mars” singer

62. Jump key

63. Corncob 64. Gaelic

DOWN

1. *London ____, tourist attraction

2. Hankerings

3. At the summit of 4. Glass ingredient

5. TV and radio

6. Not odds

7. Chinatown gang

8. Low-ranking worker

9. Pinnacle

10. Pig’s digs

12. *Royal procession carriage

13. E in baseball box score

14. *”Wheel in the Sky” band

19. Star bursts 22. “____ Elise” 23. Suez or Panama

24. Carl Jung’s inner self

25. *Type of locomotive

26. Surfer’s stop

27. Like anchor aweigh

28. Easternmost state

29. Serengeti grazer

32. *Perambulator,

Brain Boosters

for short

33. Black and white sea bird

36. *Ancient Greek ride

38. Top of a steeple

40. Kitchen meas.

41. Reunion attendees

44. Poets’ feet

46. Smaller size than small

48. *a.k.a. water wheel

49. Hole-borer

50. Baby’s first word?

51. Speedy steed

52. Boorish

53. Russian autocrat

54. 90-degree

a little more on this pizza, it’d be delicious with a few slices of prosciutto. Chef tip: let your dough come up to room temperature before you stretch it--it’ll make it much easier to work with.

6 servings; Active 15 min.; Total Time 25 min.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound fresh prepared whole-wheat pizza dough

1 tablespoon olive oil

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced 2 cups baby heirloom tomatoes, halved or quartered 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves

2 tablespoons balsamic glaze

DIRECTIONS:

Place a 17- x 12-inch baking sheet in oven; preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Stretch pizza dough into a 15- x 10-inch rectangle on a large sheet of parchment paper. Brush dough evenly with oil; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Transfer to hot baking sheet in preheated oven. Bake until crust starts to brown, about 10 minutes.

Remove from oven; top evenly with cheese and tomatoes. Return to oven; bake at 450 degrees F until cheese just melts, about 2 minutes.

55. “Peace Train” singer-songwriter

58. Increase

Remove from oven. Sprinkle with basil and remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; drizzle with glaze. Slice into 6 pieces.

In celebration of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, held Nov. 20, Hoosiers across Indiana are encouraged to “make the commitment and quit smoking today.”

“With the holidays just around the corner, it’s a great time for people to give the ‘gift’ of healthy living to themselves and to their family and friends by quitting. Due to the tobacco tax increase effective July 1, stretching finances thinner and thinner, now is the perfect time to quit,” said Carrie Higgins, program director of The Tobacco Education and Prevention Coalition for Porter County.

Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of early death and disease in the United States and leads to over 11,000 deaths annually in Indiana. Indiana’s adult smoking rate and use of e-cigarettes remain higher than the national average. For any smokers in Indi-

ana who want to quit, including those who vape e-cigarettes or use other forms of nicotine, help is available, and there’s no better time to quit than now, according to Higgins.

The free Indiana Tobacco Quitline – 1-800-QUIT-NOW –is available seven days a week, 365 days a year, to provide tips and counseling on quitting for any Indiana resident.

“The Quitline is staffed with professional ‘quit’ coaches, who are trained on helping people to quit using tobacco, as well as free nicotine replacement therapy for many adults. It’s a free resource and it’s a great first step in treating what we know is a difficult addiction to overcome,” added Higgins.

Giving up smoking is a journey, and it can be hard, but you can increase your chances of success with a good plan and support. Success may look different for different people. There are many ways to quit smoking, and some work

better than others. Getting help through counseling and medications doubles or even triples your chances of quitting successfully.

“It may be surprising to most people that the effects of stopping smoking are almost immediate; a person’s heart

rate and blood pressure drop just 20 minutes after quitting,” explained Higgins.

According to Higgins, quitting smoking is critical to improving one’s life at a time when tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world.

Free resources are available by calling 1-800-784-8669, texting “READY” to 34191, or by visiting QuitNowIndiana. com. Visit the local coalition webpage for additional information and resources at valpo. edu/tepc.

Clean up your room

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

If you still get miffed thinking about your mom telling to clean up your room, you may want to quit reading right now.

Because it’s never too soon to look around your bedroom for ways to make it more comfortable, as age and disabilities creep into your life.

Dresser drawers can grow stubborn over the years, so you need to grease those skids or get new furniture. High shelves may become unreachable as you grow older - and older.

Getting around your bed, dresser, chair and whatever else you keep there without stubbing your toe is important because much of your life is spent shoe less in that room.

As you grow into your senior years, you might need space to get around it with a walker, wheelchair or some other walking aids such as canes and crutches. And you need space to store these devices without clogging up the area.

It’s also important the bedroom and closet doors are wide enough to enter comfortably with any of the mobility aids mentioned earlier. Check your bathroom door at the same time.

Thresholds should be level so you can cross them easily without tripping and not be barriers for walkers, wheelchairs and scooters.

The bedroom door should open outward so you won’t block it should you fall.

What’s covering our floor is also important. Slippery material should be replaced. Rugs are both decorative and comfortable but can be haz-

ardous if not fastened to the floor. Even if they are, they can be tripped over as age reduces walking to a shuffle.

Remove unnecessary furniture to make maneuvering much easier and remove furniture corners that can be hazardous if you fall.

Make sure television, lamp, telephone, electrical and any other cords are not stuffed under a carpet or cluttering your pathways.

Lighting is important in any room. A switch should be im-

mediately inside the door and be accessible if standing up or seated in a wheelchair.

Contrasting colors for the light switch, bedspreads and furniture will help you identify what’s what and help avoid confusion when you’re in your room.

This exercise can apply to the rest of your home as well, but making our bedroom comfortable is a priority because that’s where you start and end your day.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Fight off ageism

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

There’s a tendency for health-care professionals to pass off complaints by old folks as just that - complaints. Medicines and medical treatments and procedures that might be prescribed for younger patients aren’t considered for older patients by many doctors.

There’s the vintage joke about the doctor telling his nonagenarian patient that he should expect his left knee to hurt because it’s 90 years old. The patient then reminds the

doc that his right knee is the same age and feels fine.

Seniors who feel their condition is being ignored should tell whoever their dealing to sit down and listen to how they feel.

It might help to schedule an appointment and bring another person with you. They can help you articulate your condition and questions, as well as observe if you’re being treated like a child by your medical team.

If you still feel like you’re being shrugged off, start looking for another doctor.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Keep friends close

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Posting photos of family and friends on the refrigerator is a grand reminder of the folks we love.

All it takes to lower your level of loneliness is to make a short call to these folks regularly, probably once a week.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Research indicates that sticking a handful of names of people we want to remain connected with on the fridge or near the telephone can also help us feel less alone.

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Ignite Medical Resort of Chesterton

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Ignite Medical Resort of Crown Point

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Lake Park Residential Care

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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

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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

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

Residences at Deer Creek

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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

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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.

Holiday nostalgia returns to Indiana Welcome Center

‘A Christmas Story’ exhibit returns for 18th year

The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority has opened its doors for the 18th year of the “A Christmas Story” Comes Home Exhibit, at the Indiana Welcome Center. The exhibit will run through Dec. 30. The exhibit is free and open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with special hours for events.

The exhibit will showcase six animated window displays, each depicting a classic scene from the holiday classic, “A Christmas Story.” Visitors are welcome to relive their own childhood memories of Santa and that long-sought-after Christmas present while strolling through the exhibit, admiring the decorated Christmas trees or visiting with Santa. Be sure to vote for your favorite tree at the front desk!

“Bringing the iconic ‘A Christmas Story’ window displays to Hammond is our way of celebrating the film’s heritage that calls Northwest Indiana home,” said Phil Tallion, CEO of the South Shore CVA. “We want families to walk through the exhibit, smile, and feel the same holiday joy that generations of visitors have felt. This exhibit is more than just scenes from a beloved movie—it’s a gift back to our community. We’re proud to shine a spotlight on Hammond’s special connection to the story and welcome visitors from near and far to experience it together.”

Families are welcome to schedule a visit with Santa on select dates leading up to Christmas; now through Dec. 23. Each session is 5 minutes and includes a printed photo with Santa. The cost is $10 per photo and $6 for each additional.

Schedule your photo with Santa at AChristmasStoryComesHome.com. Walk-ins are welcome, but we strongly suggest making an appointment.

All Is Calm

Santa invites families who may benefit from a sensory-friendly environment to visit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Dec. 2. This special session is designed to make everyone feel comfortable, with accommodations for guests who need extra support.

Wag Your Tail Wednesdays Bring your leashed pets for photos with Santa from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. CVA staff will also be accepting donations for local shelters.

Holiday For Heroes

First responders (police, fire, EMT), Hoosier Helpers, veterans and active military are invited to experience the exhibit with their family and visit with Santa from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 4.

Other special events include: Paint & Sip, Dec 9; cookie decorating ,Dec 13-14; viewing of the movie “A Christmas Story” all day in the theater, Dec 23; and local musical performances on select weekends. Follow “A Christmas Story” Comes Home on Facebook for updates!

Visit AChristmasStoryComesHome.com for additional details. The Indiana Welcome Center is located at 7770 Corinne Drive in Hammond. The Welcome Center Gift Shop offers a variety of movie memorabilia including the infamous leg lamp!

CHRISTMAS AT THE WELCOME CENTER — Visitors enjoy the exhibits while a little girl writes a letter to Santa. Photos provided by the South Shore Convention and Visitor’s Authority.

Fish fight arthritis

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

The omega-3 fatty acids in fish bolster your body’s ability to battle inflammation that autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis causes to its victims’ joints, heart and lungs.

A couple of fish servings a week can alleviate the pain and discomfort as can a daily dose of fish supplement.

Vitamin C-rich foods, such as

citrus fruit, also can help.

Two CCs - celery and cherries - can help alleviate the pain caused by gout, a form of arthritis that flares up without warning to attack joints. Cherry juice also can help.

If you’re prone to gout attacks, you should avoid carbohydrates, such as white bread, and commercially prepared baked goods as well as processed foods.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

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MEDICAL CLINIC

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IGNITE MEDICAL RESORTS

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MEMORY CARE

Lerner and Rowe Gives Back presents $2,500 gift to UWNI Day Of Caring

United Way Northwest Indiana recently received a gift of $2,500 to support Day of Caring from Lerner and Rowe Gives Back. The donation underscores Lerner and Rowe’s commitment to supporting community-wide volunteerism and the region’s largest single-day service event.

The 2025 United Way Day of Caring, hosted on Aug. 1 by United Way Northwest Indiana, brought over 650 volunteers to complete more than 80 service projects that strengthened local nonprofits and improved communities. Sponsorships like Lerner and Rowe’s not only made this

day possible but will also help United Way expand volunteerism throughout the year. A new volunteer portal will soon make it easier than ever for community members to find and sign up for opportunities to give back year-round.

“Day of Caring is about more than one day - it’s about inspiring ongoing service and collaboration across Northwest Indiana,” said Kristina Fry, vice president of development at United Way Northwest Indiana. “Support from partners like Lerner and Rowe Gives Back ensures we can unite nonprofits and volunteers not only for this event, but

UWNI with its Day of Caring event.

provided by the United Way of Northwest Indiana.

through year-round opportunities that strengthen the entire region.”

Lerner and Rowe Gives Back, the charitable arm of Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys, is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people and organizations in the communities where their team members live and work.

“We are honored to support

Day of Caring and the mission behind it,” said Arianna Baiz, outreach director for Lerner and Rowe Gives Back. “United Way’s leadership in bringing nonprofits and volunteers together creates real change. We’re excited to know our sponsorship will also help fuel long-term volunteer efforts through the new portal.”

The $2,500 sponsorship

reflects Lerner and Rowe’s commitment to empowering community action and ensuring nonprofits have the volunteers and resources needed to carry out their missions.

For more information about United Way Northwest Indiana’s Day of Caring or to explore year-round volunteer opportunities, visit unitedwaynwi.org.

What’s happening at your local library

Below are all the adult programs, events and classes for the month of December at the Lake County Public Library. Cedar Lake 10010 W. 133rd Ave.

Crochet @ Your Library, 4:306:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 10, 17.

Book Discussion, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17

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

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

Crafters Gathering, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4.

All Ability: DIY Ornaments, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. Mahjong Open Play, 1-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, 26. Between the Lines Book Discussion, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18. Morning Mix, 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec. 19.

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

Griffith-Calumet

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

Highland 2841 Jewett St.

Craft Your Own Holiday Gift!, 6-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1.

Craft Your Own Holiday Gift!, 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2. Zero Waste Gift Wrapping, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Once Upon a Crime Mystery Book Club, 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4.

All Ability: Snowman Scenery, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Fact or Fiction Book Club, 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Registration required for all programs: visit 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, Dec. 6.

Adults Get Crafty: DIY Ornaments, 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, December 8.

Paint’n Time, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, 23.

day, Dec. 4

Mahjong Instruction at the Library, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.

LEGO Night for Adults, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Arts & Crafts for Adults: Build Your Own Bullet Journal, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. Reading Hour, 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18. Mahjong Meet Up, 1-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Knitting & Crochet Club, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 20. Craft and Chat, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20.

Tuesday Time Out, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23. Bingo at the Library!, 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27. Registration required for all programs: visit lcplin.org/ branches/lsnc.htm or call (219) 962-2409.

Merrillville

1919 W. 81st Ave. (US 30)

Trends in Elder Fraud & Scams, 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Caregivers and Coffee Hour, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dec. 2, 10, 16.

1215 E. 45th Ave.

Thursday Threaders, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 11, 18.

Mystery Loves Company Book Discussion, 1-2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8.

All Ability: Snowman Ornament, 6-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15.

All Ability: Winter Bingo, 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 30. Registration required for

Exploring World Foods: Cornmeal Cookies, 6-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15.

Hobart Book Chat, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16. Whodunit? Adult Mystery Club, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22.

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

Lake Station

2007 Central Ave. Hobby Hour, 2-4 p.m. Thurs-

Laugh for Your Health, 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.

Positive Parenting Classes with Safe CHR, 12-1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Writing Wednesday, 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Writing Wednesday, 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. Dungeons and Dragons for Adults, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Continued on page 17

Having breakfast with a film legend

By TOM MORROW Mature Life Features

Most everyone at one time or another has visions or dreams of noshing with someone considered great or a genius. Someone like Churchill, Eisenhower, or even Einstein.

My chance came with an invitation to have breakfast with one of the world’s great film makers - Billy Wilder.

Wilder’s film accomplishments are rivaled by no one. His list five-decade Hollywood career began when he escaped the Nazis in 1933 and began earning acclaim and Academy Awards as a writer-director for, among others, Greta Garbo’s “Ninotchka,” and “Sunset Boulevard,” “Stalag 17,” “The Lost Weekend,” “Double Indemnity,” “The Apartment,” “The Seven Year Itch,” “Witness for the Prosecution,” “The Spirit of St. Louis,” “Sabrina,” “The Front Page,” and “Some Like it Hot.”

As an executive at the famed Hotel del Coronado where portions of the film were shot across the bay from San Diego, I put together a 25th anniver-

sary celebration of “Some Like It Hot” starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and the late Marilyn Monroe. It is considered by many to be the greatest comedy put on film.

Everyone connected with that film was invited for a fabulous weekend of fun. Lemmon, Curtis, Wilder and several of the supporting cast showed up.

On the Sunday morning after an evening celebration, I received word that \Wilder wanted to have breakfast with me. I had a brief phone conversation with Lemmon, asking if the invitation was real or simply a polite gesture by Wilder.

“My boy, never pass up a chance to sit at the feet of greatness,” was Lemmon’s response.

We met out on the Promenade Deck on a bright Sunday morning. Wilder was sitting at a table sipping a cup of coffee and smoking a cigar. I had placed a box of expensive cigars in his suite before his arrival Friday evening. That morning I arrived at the same time as Lemmon, who Wilder also had invited.

A FILM LEGEND Billy Wilder visiting the Poll Gallery at Lützowplatz, Berlin, 1989. Wilder was an Academy-Award winning screenwriter and director known for his sharp dialogue and work across a variety of genres, including the films “Some Like It Hot,” “Stalag 17” and “Sunset Boulevard.” Photo from the Poll Gallery Archives, Mature Life Features.

We had breakfast and listened to Wilder talking on a number of subjects, including being back at the hotel after 25 years. He recalled how difficult Marilyn had been to work with

UWNI launches a new volunteer resource center

United Way Northwest Indiana recently announced the relaunch of its Volunteer Resource Center - a centralized digital hub that makes it easier than ever for community members, corporate partners and local nonprofits to connect through service.

This new platform allows volunteers to browse and register for opportunities, track service hours and engage with causes across the region - all from one convenient location.

“Our community is filled with people who want to make a difference but often don’t know where to start,” said Evelyn Harris, director of volunteer services at United Way Northwest Indiana.

“The Resource Center breaks down barriers to engagement by giving volunteers and nonprofits a streamlined, accessible way to come together. Whether you have one hour or one day to give, there’s a place for you to make an impact.”

Features of the Volunteer Resource Center

• Browse volunteer opportunities across Northwest Indiana.

• Sign up for events and recurring service projects.

• Corporate and group volunteer coordination tools.

• Nonprofit partner access to post needs and recruit volunteers.

The Volunteer Resource

What’s happening

Friends of LCPL Meeting, 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. Circle of Readers Book Discussion, 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Continued from page 16 769-3541. Munster 8701 Calumet Ave., Monday Night Adult D&D, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. That’s Pretty Clever Tournament!, 2-5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3.

Positive Parenting Classes with Safe CHR, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Keep Me In Stitches, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 13. All Ability: Mini Winter Hat Ornaments, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15. Monthly Resume Workshop, 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.17. Video Game and Hang!, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. Board Meeting, 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30.

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

Adult Dungeons and Dragons, 6-8 p.m. Dec. 4, 11. Yoga & Breathing, 10-11 a.m. Dec. 6, 20.

Senior Planet - Intro to Chatting with AI, 1-2:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8. Genealogy 101 - Show & Tell and Q&A, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. Munster Book Discussion, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18.

Adult Craft Night: Terracotta Snowman, 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18.

- how she held up the filming while her two co-stars patiently stood by in high-heels and drag waiting for their next scene with her.

He also talked about art.

Earlier, Lemmon had told me of a night many years earlier when he accompanied Wilder to a private showing at a Beverly Hills art gallery.

“Billy told me to buy a particular painting. I didn’t like it, but he said it would be a good investment, so, I bought it, paying $1,000. I stuck it in a closet when I got home and forgot it. Some years later, the gallery owner called me, asking if I would consider selling it. I smelled a profit.

“Painfully telling the gallery owner how hard I would find in parting with the painting, he offered me $10,000. I continued to lament the thought of parting it with, but told him I would do so.”

Lemmon shook his head. “Now how in the hell did Billy

Center supports United Way NWI’s mission to strengthen the region through community collaboration and hands-on service - ensuring individuals, families and organizations have the resources and connections needed to contribute to a stronger, more resilient Northwest Indiana.

“This is a milestone for volunteerism in our region,” added Harris. “We’re excited to welcome every person and organization ready to roll up their sleeves and help build a better tomorrow.”

Start Volunteering Today Community members, companies, and nonprofit partners can sign up now at UnitedWayNWI.org/Volunteer.

know that painting would be such a good investment?”

The money we raised that Saturday night in the hotel’s ballroom went to the San Diego State University’s new film-editing facility. Years later I received a call from a university official to ask if I would get in touch with Wilder and invite him to attend a function at the editing facility.

I still had his home phone number, so I dialed the number and a heavy German accent answered. When I identified myself, asking if he remembered me, the reply was:

“Of course, Tom. Say, do you have any more of those great cigars?”

Billy Wilder died March 27, 2002, at the age of 95. Taking his sense of humor to the grave, the epitaph on his tombstone is the final line from “Some Like It Hot.” The stone is engraved: “Billy Wilder, I’m a writer, but then nobody’s perfect.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Monday Night Adult D&D, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29.

Registration required for all programs: visit lcplin.org/ branches/mu.htm or call (219) 836-8450. St. John 450 Wicker Ave. (US 41) Mama Just Wants to Read, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1. Off the Hook, 1-3 p.m. Dec. 3, 10, 17, 31.

Brain Benders, 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec.5. Book Discussion, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Senior Planet: Understanding Tech Fraud & Scams, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16.

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

Scottsdale, where old west meets modern chic

Text and Photos By VICTOR BLOCK Guest Writer

Bejeweled women dressed in the latest fashions stroll into Gucci, Neiman Marcus and Tiffany, intent on adding to their wardrobe and adornments. My wife Fyllis is learning to rope cattle and clean horses’ hooves.

The first impression Fyllis and I had during our visit to Scottsdale, Ariz., was the diversity of attractions. Shopping alone provides an introduction to the something-for-everyone variety.

World-famous stores are neighbors to specialty shops and boutiques. In the self-proclaimed “West’s Most Western Town,” it’s no surprise to pass places selling cowboy hats, boots and everything worn between them.

Where there were cowboys there usually were Native Ameri-

October 7th-16th, 2027

cans, and their influence remains strong. One shop sells Native American art and artifacts created by members of more than 70 tribal nations.

The cowboy flavor also remains, as Fyllis learned while playing the role of a working cowgirl. Part of her experience included a horseback ride in the Sonoran Desert. That vast wilderness stretches through Arizona, California and northern Mexico, covering an expanse about the size of Colorado.

This is a cactus heaven. The majestic saguaro (pronounced suh-WAHR-oh) can reach 50 feet in height and live as long as 200 years. That plant grows wild only in the Sonoran Desert.

Other cactus species also find the Sonoran’s conditions inviting. Colorful names like purple prickly pear and teddy-bear cholla add to their appeal.

or travelbybridgetllc@gmail.com.

What appears to be an uninhabitable wasteland in reality is home to some 60 mammals and 350 types of birds. Their survival techniques are among Mother Nature’s intriguing stories.

Many animals sleep in shade during hot days and venture out on cooler nights. Some survive on water they get from their food. The western banded gecko stashes away sustenance and water in its tail for use when needed.

Some of the desert’s magnificence is captured in sanctuaries and museums. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a mini-wilderness which is home to hundreds of types of plants and animals, and 225 miles of hiking trails.

Five paths meander through the Desert Botanical Garden past its collection of plants from barrens around the world. Each path focuses upon one topic, such as plants of the Sonoran, desert wildflowers and conservation.

Exhibits about how people have lived in the hostile environment include ways in which Native Americans used plants for food and medicine. Fyllis and I checked out the kind of roundhouse they once built, and paused at a grinding stone to pound mesquite beans into flour as they did.

The Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park sits atop remains of a village of the Hohokam people, who inhabited the area from about 450 to 1450 AD. They were the first to cultivate the Sonoran Desert, using a system of irrigation ditches. Some of those trenches, and a ball court, still are visible.

Along with museums, Scottsdale’s neighborhoods combine interesting historical tidbits with shopping and recreational

opportunities. The center of much action is the Old Town neighborhood.

Located on the original site from which the community expanded, it’s a hub of museums, historic structures, dining and shopping. From cowboy wares to Native American jewelry to brand-name items, any shopper who can’t find ways to spend money there isn’t really trying.

Old Town also is crammed with many of the city’s more than 100 art galleries. Even the streets serve as an outdoor museum, with dozens of works including a giant lizard, a metal rider astride a bucking horse and a number of less identifiable abstract sculptures on display.

Very different in atmosphere and appeal are tiny enclaves on the outskirts of Scottsdale. Cave Creek (population about 6,000) was settled in 1870 by miners and ranchers, and served as a stopping point for U.S. Cavalry troops. The town hosts western stores that sell cowboy gear, colorful saloons and periodic rodeos.

While Cave Creek keeps alive vestiges of the Old West, the

adjacent village named Carefree represents the present. It was built as a planned community of homes, some now valued at millions of dollars, which line streets with names like Easy, Tranquil, Ho and Hum.

Locals describe this juxtaposition of Old and New West as the “home of cowboys and caviar.” That same comfortable marriage of old with new, casual with chic is experienced everywhere. It’s common in and around Scottsdale to see men and women wearing jeans and western hats strolling out of shops that would feel comfortable on New York’s Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, laden down with high-end purchases.

Fyllis and I came upon a gourmet hamburger restaurant, where the parking lot often is packed with top-of-the-line automobiles, which locals call “Burgers and Bentleys.” This combination of upscale life with a laid-back attitude adds to the charm and appeal of Scottsdale.

For more information about Scottsdale, log onto experiencescottsdale.com.

Phoenix embraces desert sprawl

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Unlike its legendary-bird namesake, this sprawling metropolis ranked among the fastest-growing areas in the nation did not reenergize itself by rising out of its own ashes in the burning desert.

More like that pink rabbit in the battery commercial, it just grows and grows and keeps on growing, stretching its shopping centers and sub-divisions over and around every cactus and crevice in the Valley of the Sun.

To get our arms around this urbanized sprawl that has positioned attractions and accommodations as much as two hours apart, we traveled by car, bicycle, horse, light-rail and balloon.

We launched our local exploration by visiting the Arizona Challenger Space Center. Visitors flow seamlessly through scenarios that include space missions complete with emergencies.

Still in up-in-the-air mode, we headed to Deer Valley Airport on the northeastern edge of town for a mile-high 90-minute balloon ride to enhance our perspective of the local growth. If such a diversion doesn’t sound appealing, you can take a quick drive to South Mountain Park where several viewpoints offer panoramic views of this vibrant valley. The best time to head there is the first two weeks of April when rain-fed blooms carpet the mountainside.

For a closer look at those, we took advantage of a mountain-bike tour - others took a more leisurely hike - of Usery Park east of the city. That’s

where we were told that one reason the giant saguaro cactus, which grows only in the Sonoran Desert that stretches from Arizona into Mexico, develops “arms” not to denote its age but to balance itself against the relentless wind.

To pick up more easy knowledge, about an hour away is a hands-on complex designed to keep anyone from 8 to 80 entertained for hours on end. While the Challenger facility transports you into learning mode without you realizing it, the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix caters to the touch-and-feel gene in all of us.

Visitors are encouraged to learn first-hand how to build a house, watch heart surgery, test their piloting skills. Its mantra is “If you break it, we’ll fix it.”

There’s much more to this town than desert, of course, and prominent among the valley’s notable resorts is the Phoenician, which is tucked into a fold of local icon Saddleback Mountain with its eye-candy nighttime vistas of the twinkling town lights to the south.

About an hour south in the Gila River Indian Community is the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Resort on the grounds of a casino - the largest of the more than half-dozen casinos in this metro areabuilt by the Pima and Maricopa tribes of Native Americans. A small parasol-protected riverboat putt-putts gamblers on a man-made creek between the hotel lobby and casino lobby.

You can tour the facilities via horse-drawn wagon or range farther by heading out from the horseback riding stables.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Travel should include some fun

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

Mature Life Features

Controlling your travel plan has become more difficult as you deal with the costs and schedules prepared by tour and travel agencies, cruise companies, resorts and airlines.

When you think about visiting the grandkids, take a few moments to see what’s near them. If they live in or close to New York City, you have all the

attractions of the Big Apple at hand – Manhattan museums, Soho shopping, Little Italy restaurants, endless tours.

How about the folks in Arizona? You can hop to the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas, or even drive over to California for a few days.

Should your relatives be tucked away in small town somewhere, check on stops you can make along the way if you drive there.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

SUNSET SONORA SILHOUETTE  Saguaro cactus is silhouetted against setting sun in Sonora Desert that surrounds Phoenix. Photo by Cecil Scaglione, Mature Life Features.

Blast to the Past! -

‘My Little Town,’ where was this

Simon and Garfunkel

It’s humorous to see where “experts” in the music world thought was the location of Simon and Garfunkel’s “My Little Town,” the duo’s final Top 10 Columbia Records single.

Both born in October 1941, Paul and Art began performing during their adolescence as an Everly Brothers-based duo called Tom and Jerry. As juniors at Forest Hills High School in the sprawling New York borough of Queens, they cut a minor chart single called “Hey, Schoolgirl!”

Late in 1965, and using their real names, they scored a winner on Columbia Records with “The Sounds of Silence,” a Number One single that introduced five years of nonstop success before their breakup in 1970.

On Oct. 18, 1975, Paul Simon hosted the second broadcast of

“Saturday Night Live.” In doing so, he brought on his former partner. They sang three songs together, including a new Simon composition called “My Little Town.”

The lyrics conveyed Paul’s often downbeat reflection on things past.

“In my little town I grew up believing

“God keeps his eye on us all

“And He used to lean upon me

“As I pledged allegiance to the wall

“In my little town I never meant nothin’

“I was just my father’s son

“Saving my money, dreaming of glory

“Twitchin’ like a finger on the trigger of a gun

“Really nothing but the dead and dying back in my little town

“Nothing but the dead and dying back in my little town.”

Pretty dreary stuff, huh? But the fun began when people began to opine exactly where they thought that “little town” was.

In his book “Paul Simon: A Life,” writer Marc Eliot proclaims, “’My Little Town’ is clearly Queens, and all the references to schoolbooks, saluting the flag, and so on appear to be symbols of nostalgia for the days of Tom and Jerry as much

as for the years of Simon and Garfunkel.”

Not so, counters music critic Dave Marsh, the author of “The Heart of Rock and Soul.” “’My Little Town’ is a portrait of the middle-class Forest Hills, N.Y., neighborhood where Paul and Art grew up.”

Hold on. Art Garfunkel had his own take on the subject. In a Wikipedia article, he insisted the tune was about his childhood, how he grew up where music was not seen as either desirable or exciting, and that his parents insisted that Art acquire an education unrelated to singing. (He earned a BA degree in art history in 1965 and, two years later, an MA in mathematics.)

So where was this “mysterious” burg? Nobody knew until the mid-1980s. In an interview with Bill Flanagan for his book “Written in My Soul: Conversations with Great Songwriters,” Simon admitted, “I was picturing a town. I was thinking about Gloucester, Mass. A friend of mine comes from Gloucester, and he used to talk about what it was like to grow up there … That song was entirely an act of imagination … There’s no element of me in there at all.”

Well, now we all know.

location?

Keep those credit cards

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Your credit score can be lowered if you cancel any of your unused credit cards.

When you close a card, the amount of unused credit you have drops, which means you’re using a bigger percentage of

your unused credit because that limit has been lowered. Lenders use that ratio to determine the credit standing of borrowers.

It’s smarter to use those “unused” cards ever few months or so to keep the issuer from canceling them.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2025

Residences Senior Living — Supporting caregivers during the holidays

By NATALIE REISEN Marketing and Sales Director

We’re here for you during this upcoming special season—that’s our message for the families taking care of loved ones with cognitive conditions and Parkinson’s. We understand the challenges holidays bring. It’s an emotional tug of war when everyone else seems to be excited for the get-togethers, but you have anxiety over how to cope with company and caregiving.

Mark your calendars right now. Arrange for someone to step in for a precious hour or two so you can attend an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20,. at Residences at Deer Creek Senior Living, 401 E. US 30, Schererville. You’ll find tips on how to cope with your stress as well as tips for managing the days of celebration simply and wisely.

Residences at Coffee Creek Senior Living, 2300 Village Point, Chesterton, offers Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support

Group 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec.16. The Parkinson’s Support Group and Exercise Program meets at 10 a.m. every Wednesday. Support Groups are free of charge and open to all. It’s important to know you’re not alone when you are a caregiver. Sharing your concerns and hearing others describe how they manage difficult days offer relief and valuable information you can put to use any day, but especially during the holidays. From meals preparations, to traveling, to finding quiet spaces and times for loved ones who also struggle with having interrupted routines, the conversations will be a balm you will want to continue.

Our support groups meet every month. • Residences at Deer Creek offers Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Groups at 10 a.m. every third Saturday and every fourth Thursday.

• Residences at Coffee Creek’s Group meets at 10 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday and Parkinson’s meets at 10 a.m. every Wednesday. ResidencesSeniorLiving.com/events.