BOOMER

THE RIGHT AGE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY | FINANCIAL WISDOM | PAGE 21

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
FREE

A SPECIAL
OCCASION
Marty and Margie
Vaught pool creative
talents into business
Page 5

BRINGING BACK FITNESS

THE ASTRA IN THE
Jasper community works to revive
historic movie theatre
NEW YEAR
Page 10
Boomer Health
Page 23
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 editor’s
desk
I HAVE JUST one memory of the Blizzard Dad took the battery out of his 1973 Chevy
BOOMER
of ’78. pickup and set it on the living room floor to PUBLISHER
The day after the warm up for a few hours.
Melody Brunson
storm, I stepped out Then he mired through walls of banked
the back door to see snow to the nearest Pizza Hut and brought (812) 698-1626
just how deep the back what he remembered as the best pizza
snow was — really EDITOR
we’d ever had.
deep, my mother had The next day, my grandpa called. Natalie Reidford
said, because she’d His car was stuck in the snow about a (812) 568-8991
never seen a storm mile from their house.
like this. Across the “I sat in the car for six hours by myself,” he DESIGN EDITOR
patio and into the told Dad over the phone. “I thought I would Natalie Reidford
yard buried beneath me, I toddled my way die there. Then a beer rolled out from under (812) 568-8991
toward the woods. the seat.
I had just turned 7. The fresh powder “It saved my life,” he said. ADVERTISING SALES
reached almost to my shoulders, and I raised After that, Pa said, “Good things started Kelli Nidey
my arms to walk, staggering a bit as I cut a
happening. Some guy in a big truck came (812) 254-0480, Ext. 116
path with all the weight of my small body.
along and offered to take me home.
Then several yards from the house, I froze. GRAPHIC ARTIST
“Can you go get my car?”
I was used to the quiet of our sprawling
Like the good son he was, Dad got in his Alice Schwartz
property. But the thick muffler of snow
Chevy and picked up a friend. Together, they
silenced even the twigs snapping above me PHOTOGRAPHY
dug out Pa’s car and chained it to the truck,
as birds scattered in my wake. The muscles
towing it up a long, slick hill and around Melody Brunson
in my legs quivered, and I didn’t trust them
either to continue forward or to go back. I a few sharp curves back my grandparents’ Greg Eckerle
panicked. house. Joy Neighbors
Maybe I called out in fright; maybe I just “You left the keys in it,” Dad said.
stood there. I don’t know. But I remember “How was anybody going to steal it?” Pa WRITERS
someone taking me by the hand — probably asked. Melody Brunson
my mother — and leading me to the house as It’s fun to get out in the snow. But 40 years Joe Clark
relief washed over me. wiser now, I think Pa and I were both lucky
Greg Eckerle
My dad had plenty of blizzard memories we had a hand to help us.
Mike Gingerich
to share with me. He describes the storm
as “paralyzing.” People were stuck, wherever Todd Lancaster
they were. Joy Neighbors
Luckily, my family was stuck at home. Natalie Reidford Bernie Schmitt
Once it was possible to think about driving, Editor Tom Yoder

SUBSCRIPTIONS
Boomer is published six times a
year, serving the Dubois County
area. Copies are free around
town. The home subscription
price of $20 per year can
be mailed to P.O. Box 471,
Washington, IN 47501.

BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 3

contents JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | Vol. 4, Issue 5

3 EDITOR’S DESK 19 THE DIRT ON

Stuck in the snow after the GARDENING
Blizzard of ‘78 This season, remember the
By Natalie Reidford dangers of too much sun
By Tom Yoder
5 A SPECIAL OCCASION
Margie Vaught pulls creative 20 CALENDAR
and marketing skills into Overcoming Winter Blues,

10 custom business
By Greg Eckerle
“On Golden Pond” production,
Ireland St. Patrick’s celebration

21 FINANCIAL WISDOM
Photo provided
9 YEAH, I’M A BOOMER,
BUT ... When is the right age to collect
Students snowed in during Social Security?
Blizzard of ‘78 By Joe Clark
By Bernie Schmitt
22 BOOMER
CONNOISSEUR
10 BRINGING BACK THE
ASTRA Survive and thrive this winter
Jasper community unites By Joy Neighbors

19 resources to revive historic

theatre
23 BOOMER HEALTH
Fitness in the New Year
Photo provided By Melody Brunson
By Jane Fritch
15 DAY TRIPPER
An adventurous life exemplified
at the Grissom Memorial
Museum
By Joy Neighbors

16 THE SONIC BOOMER

A dose of honesty this New
5 Year
By Todd Lancaster
Photo by Greg Eckerle
17 BOOMER TOYS,
TRAPPINGS AND
TRIVIA
Easy Bake Ovens, ape makeup
By Todd Lancaster

18 TECH TALK
Protect your work with
PhotoMark
22 By Mike Gingerich
ON THE COVER
Photo by Joy Neighbors Marty and Margie Vaught, owners of
Occasions of Jasper. | Photo by Greg Eckerle
4 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 z BOOMER
 A special Margie Vaught

Occasion
pulls creative and
marketing skills
into custom work
Margie Vaught, owner of the Occasions of Jasper store. | Photos by Greg Eckerle

By Greg Eckerle

M argie Vaught, owner of the Occasions of Jasper party supplies store,

sifts through a drawer full of invitations she designed.
Her creativity shines through as she shows the images she drew up
for an invitation to an outdoor barbeque that served as a couple’s bridal shower.
There’s a beer mug, a margarita, a grill. “I got a kick out of that one,” she confides, smiling. 444

BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 5

 Then she picks up her solution
to a request that was a bit
challenging. A customer going
to a baby shower wanted to give
a gift of thank you cards. Margie
asked if the shower had a theme.
It did – ducks, trucks, and 8-point
bucks. So she drew a dump truck
dumping out the words Thank
You, with a duck floating in the
letter o and an 8-point buck
holding up the letter u. Margie
whispers, “That’s the stuff I love to
do. It gets me all excited.”
U
sually, when people come in, they
want someone to help them.
You can’t find that at the bigger
department stores. They’re not
going to ask how many guests you’re having or
what food you’re serving. Our goal is to help you
figure out what you really need.
— Margie Vaught
Custom design
Her custom designs get her
customers all excited, too, as
well as the wide variety of party
supplies available at her store at
533 Main St. on the Downtown
Square. Occasions’ tag line, “We
Make Yours Special,” has rung true
since the store opened in 2015
to serve area birthday parties,
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weddings, anniversaries, bridal
showers, baby showers, religious
events, engagements, dinner
parties, holidays, and graduations.
Included in its offerings are serving
trays, bowls, drinkware, plates,
napkins, cutlery, decorations,
skewers, picks, stirs, gift wrap,
bows, and candles. She has
prepared materials for the last four
Memorial Hospital galas.
Plus there’s the personal
attention given by Margie and
her husband, Marty, who has also
been helping at the store the past
several months. And Marty, who
has an art degree, can provide
his artistic skills for the more
challenging themes, like a French
vineyard or a medieval castle. His
annual drawings for the downtown
Chalkwalk have drawn raves from
visitors for years.
“Usually, when people come in,
they want someone to help them,”
says Margie. “You can’t find that
at the bigger department stores.
They’re not going to ask how
many guests you’re having or what
food you’re serving. Our goal is
to help you figure out what you
really need. I want customers to
feel good about their purchases.
I live on a budget, and I assume
everybody lives on a budget. And
one of my favorite things about the
job is dealing with people.”
It’s safe to say customers enjoy
the experience with the personable
and talkative Margie as well. Kelly
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Land, who has relied on Margie
to design invitations for a bridal
shower and baby shower, says,
“She’s such a joy to work with,
very pleasant, very thorough, and
very meticulous to detail in getting
what you want. She spends a lot
of time making sure I’m pleased.
She’s very talented and creative.
And Margie and Marty work so
well together as a team. They’re
very easy to work with, and also
very reasonable on the pricing.”
Starting a new career
Opening the store has been a
unique second act in the careers of
both Margie and Marty. Margie,
a 1980 graduate of Forest Park
High School, has a degree from
the University of Evansville and
a public relations degree from the
University of Southern Indiana.
She sang for weddings while in
school, was a bartender at an
Evansville restaurant, worked in
clothing stores, and became the
marketing assistant for Evansville’s
Eastland Mall. She then
worked for 16 years at Kimball
International, where she met
Marty while working with him in
marketing communications and
public relations. At Kimball, she
worked closely with graphic de-
signers preparing event invitations,
a great training ground for her
current business. After marrying
Marty, Margie decided to stay at
home to raise their daughter, Carly.
 Margie Vaught works on her computer drawing of a mermaid that will appear on an invitation for a girl’s 5th birthday party.
But she didn’t retire her creative
talents. She designed an invitation
for a birthday party for Marty,
a military historian, that had a
World War II theme. She followed
that with creations for Carly’s
birthday parties. It was such fun
for her, and received such positive
feedback, that she started a home-
based custom invitation business,
named Just For You Designs, that
ran for six years and morphed into
the Occasions store.
“We laugh about my career
path,” says Margie. “It probably led
me to this store without me ever
intending it to lead me here.”
Opening the store
The decision to open the store,
using only their savings, was not
easy. But Marty’s stint at Kimball
was finished, and they needed to
take the next step in their careers.
They knew Margie’s invitation
work was popular, and they, along
with others, missed a previous
party supply store in Jasper that
had closed. And Margie liked the
location of the vacant space on the
Square. Still, they were hesitant.
“I’m thinking about this, and
I’m praying,” says Margie. “I’m
saying, ‘All right, God, I just need
some kind of sign.’” Early one
morning, she’s driving past the
empty store and hears on the
radio about a Taylor Swift post
telling a fan that sometimes in
life you have to take chances, even
though it’s scary. The message was
so appropriate and so timely that
Margie decided right then to take
the leap.
The Vaughts weren’t afraid
to perform most of the work
themselves to transform the space
W
e laugh about my career path.
It probably led me to this store
without me ever intending it to
lead me here.
— Margie Vaught
into the boutique look-and-feel
they wanted. They ripped out the
carpeting, replaced the flooring,
and painted the walls. They
received valuable advice from other
downtown merchants and from
BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 7
 Margie Vaught positions New Year’s items for a photo she is going to post on Occasions’ Facebook page.
the Jasper Chamber of Commerce.
And they have a strong work
ethic. For the first year-and-a-half,
Margie operated the store by
herself. That meant opening six
days every week, and seven during
the holidays. And most Sundays
she is at the store, doing design
work, mopping the floors, or
cleaning.
T
he really great moment is when
(customers) come back a couple years
after their wedding and want baby
shower invitations. Because that’s the
full-circle moment that’s fun.
— Margie Vaught
But it’s as fun as ever for her,
particularly the collaborative
projects she completes with Marty.
“It’s a huge advantage because of
the years we worked together at
Kimball,” says Margie. “We know
8 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 z BOOMER
how to feed off of each other. He
has such a creative mind, and a
good eye for color. I also learned
from him that it’s not about what
I like in the design, but it’s about
what the customer likes.
“I just want to give people that
personal touch. That’s the benefit
of a small, locally-owned business,
because we care. I want you to
come back. I have a lot of loyal
customers. That’s a really good
feeling. The couples I work with
become family to me. The really
great moment is when they come
back a couple years after their
wedding and want baby shower
invitations. Because that’s the
full-circle moment that’s fun.”
The inspiration for her designs
can come from anywhere, or at
any time. She laughs that it’s not
uncommon for her to wake up
at 2 a.m. to make a note about
an idea. She keeps a notepad
by the bed to be ready for such
moments.
Besides the custom designs,
Occasions is different in other
ways. Like its broad line of
environmentally-friendly products.
Sturdy paper plates that look like
china. Products you can put in
your background compost when
you’re through with them. The
option to open some packages to
more closely examine the product.
There is even a test to see if plates
can support a hefty steak and a
baked potato. And by using email,
Margie can work with customers
across the country to custom
design invitations. She’s never even
met some clients.
Yet, despite the store’s early suc-
cess, Margie says, “I’m still scared,
because it’s a huge investment.
I’m never really totally confident,
because I think if I am, I might
slack off. I always want to be on
my toes. But there are a lot of days
when I close the door, I’ll turn
around and look, and just smile. I
cannot believe I opened this. What
a neat feeling. I have such a good
time with the customers.”
yeah, I’m a
boomer, but...
Students snowed in
during Blizzard of ‘78
Forty years ago this month one of the worst
winter storms in Indiana’s history roared
across the Midwest. By Bernie Schmitt
THE BLIZZARD OF 1978 brought raging
wind, frigid temperatures, and snow to
Jasper, too, putting a halt to nearly every-
thing. It is rare for Indiana to experience a
true blizzard, but for the night of Jan. 25,
1978, that’s exactly what happened.
The National Weather Service issued
its first-ever Blizzard Warning for Indiana
around 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
It had already issued a heavy snow warning
Indiana, but it was the howling winds that
night — up to 50 m.p.h. — that would
characterize this storm, along with tempera-
tures that plummeted to near zero.
My memory of this event is hazy, mostly
because the storm didn’t affect me as much
as it did many others. I was a student at
Vincennes University then, having only
returned from our Christmas break a
couple of weeks earlier. I was living in Clark
Residence Hall, though I spent much of my
time at the student newspaper office of The
Trailblazer, located at Stout Hall.
Elihu Stout Hall, named after the first
newspaper publisher in Vincennes, was
located along Third Street, right where the
parking lot is for today’s Beckes Student
Union. A former warehouse for the Hack
and Simon Brewery, Stout Hall housed
VU’s Printing Technology Department,
as well as offices and classroom space for
The Trailblazer and the University-owned
newspaper The Valley Advance.
Journalism majors did not get lab
credit for all the hours spent working on the
student newspaper, but we were expected
to be there when work needed to be done.
Most of us were so enthralled with journal-
ism and dedicated to our newspaper that
we were there even when we didn’t have to
be. We were young, idealistic, and had the
stamina to work into the wee hours.
In those days The Trailblazer was distrib-
uted to areas of campus and the community
on Fridays. So we had to put the paper “to
bed” on Thursday nights. Often those nights
were long. We sometimes didn’t finish until
1 or 2 a.m., and on a couple of occasions we
pulled all-nighters. It was great.
Wednesday, Jan. 25, was busy, as we
were in the midst of writing, editing, and
By the time we attempted
to venture outside, late that
next morning, snow had piled
up and we had a tough time
wading through the drifts. It
was cold, too. Real cold.
preparing our work for Thursday. When
weather reports indicated an approaching
winter storm, editors were instructed by
Prof. Fred Walker Jr. to set earlier deadlines.
The earlier, the better.
By 4 or 5 p.m. that day most of us were
at The Trailblazer, typing out our stories
on old manual Royal or Underwood
typewriters, and editors were trying to
exercise patience in taking their pens to our
work. I can’t remember exactly the weather
conditions, and it might have begun to snow
then, yet several of us made our way to the
dining hall.
But by 7 or 8 p.m., the weather warnings
seemed more dire. No one thought a thing
about it, though. After all, the residence
halls and apartments weren’t very far away.
It wasn’t until later — and I don’t remember
BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 9
when — that we were told we’d likely have
to spend the night at Stout Hall, as weather
conditions had turned dangerous.
Despite the order to stay inside, a couple
of guys from the staff decided to brave the
elements and walk over to Mike’s Place,
a small sandwich shop a couple of blocks
away. Mike’s was known for his “Belly
Buster” burgers and other things, bags of
which we devoured that night, thanks to our
intrepid adventurers.
Even Prof. Walker joined us, eating and
talking for an hour or more. Eventually we
had to get back to work. Some wrote and
edited newspaper materials, others caught
up on homework. Some students dozed
off in corners, but most of us stayed awake,
talking or listening to the radio. Some of us
read books and newspapers. By morning,
most of The Trailblazer for that week had
been put together.
By the time we attempted to venture out-
side, late that next morning, snow had piled
up and we had a tough time wading through
the drifts. It was cold, too. Real cold.
I remember my friend Robin Jerstad
trying to wiggle his old Oldsmobile out
from all the snow, and us sliding around on
snow-covered streets. I think I ended up
back at my dorm room, and except for going
to the dining hall, remained there for the
next couple of days.
Afterward I remember reading
newspaper headlines about the blizzard.
Prof. Walker made sure The Trailblazer
newsroom was well-stocked with local, state,
and national newspapers. I didn’t check
the archives, but I think we probably had
pictures from the event in the next week’s
issue. I’m not sure I realized, then, how
severe that storm really was.
A freelance writer and photographer,
Bernie Schmitt also is an assistant professor
of English at Vincennes University. He
lives with his wife, Nancy, and family in
Vincennes.
 BRINGING BACK THE ASTRA
Jasper community unites resources to revive historic theatre
By Melody Brunson
A DREAM ALMOST five years ago to bring
life back to the stage and screen of the Astra
Theatre is on the verge of becoming reality.
Its grand re-opening is set for April 14 —
close to the date when the Astra opened as a
vaudeville theater 82 years ago on April 17,
1936.
The entire community has joined together
to make it all possible, with several businesses
chipping in for the naming rights of certain
areas within the theatre.
Volunteer co-organizer Marc Steczyk
says working on the Astra project for the
non-profit group called Next Act Inc. has
been a “labor of love.” The community’s
10 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 z BOOMER
passion for arts and culture has been enough
to sustain the seemingly never-ending
necessary fundraising — $1.7 million in all
so far.
Historically significant, the Astra on the
city of Jasper square is the only extant historic
movie theater with the others, the Grand
and Tivoli, both no longer around. After the
Tivoli burned down in the 1970s, the Astra
had added a balcony to become a dual-screen
operation to compete with the Jasper Cinema
3 in the 1980s. But by the mid-1990s the
all-new Jasper 4 (eventually Jasper 8) became
the “death march” for the Astra, Steczyk said.
Eventually the once-beautiful auditorium and
stage, tucked away in the southwest corner of
the square, closed its doors in 2002.
Originally constructed to show motion
pictures, the old stage also hosted live shows
in its early history, and organizers are excited
to do both again. Steczyk said the space will
reopen as a multi-purpose arts venue, with
an abbreviated schedule for 2018 set to be
announced in mid-February.
All it took was interest
It all started in October 2014 when
then-Dubois County Community
Foundation Director Brad Ward gathered
five almost strangers. All had shown a passion
for arts and at one time or another had
mentioned renovating the Astra.
 Meetings were immediately
set up with the Foundation
Board of Directors and the
Jasper Arts Commission, and
fundraising soon began for an
endowment.
“Before we did anything
with the building, we set out
to raise money for an endow-
ment. In doing so, we raised
$300,000 that resides at the
Dubois County Community
Foundation. That gave us
strength to go forward with rais-
ing the money for the purchase
of the building,” Steczyk said.
Funds were raised for its
purchase from Gutzweiler
descendants, family of the
original owners, and a grant
from the Office of Community
and Rural Affairs for historic
preservation was secured for
$400,000. Another $170,000
was raised on top of that to help
complete phase II which funded
the construction now under
way.
Phase II has been a big
undertaking, since the theatre
had sat empty without heat
since 2010. Major renovations
were needed for the structure,
including its roof, foundation,
doors, windows, insulation,
heating, electric, plumbing, as
well as new sound and lighting.
A new modern-looking all-
glass front will open to the city
square, and the second movie
area upstairs was turned into
tiered-balcony seating and new
women’s and men’s restrooms.
Aesthetically appealing ex-
posed original brick walls adorn
the main auditorium, along with
a new tiered, curved bulkhead
made to match original design
work.
In just a few months the
Astra will have new life on its
stage with a completely reno-
vated handicapped-accessible
facility which will also feature
glimpses of history. The original
marquee is being restored, as is
the Astra ticket booth featuring
unique turquoise tile, some of
which was found stored in the
theatre basement.
A third phase down the
road will add a new and more
hospitable Green Room for
receptions with performers,
organizer Selena Vonderheide
said. The current Canine
Clipper will eventually become
the theatre’s new Green Room
off Newton Street.
“The Gutzweilers completed
the building in 1936 as a house
of entertainment, not just a
movie theatre. So, we are hoping
to run our performance series
and do an average of 12 to 15
events or movies a year, with
local and national or regional
touring music acts of diverse
backgrounds,” Steczyk added.
Next Act Inc. is working
closely and in stride with
the Jasper Community Arts
Commission, which hosts its
own events near the Vincennes
University Jasper campus. The
Jasper Arts Center has a seating
capacity of 675, while the
renovated Astra will seat 357.
JCAC had even taken steps
to revive the Astra before the
non-profit group Next Act was
formed.
“It’s important we are all on
the same page, in harmony and
not against each other,” Steczyk
said.
JCAC, which will oversee
booking for the Astra, plans to
use the Astra for eight to 10
events of its own this year.
Theatre history
When it opened in 1936,
the Astra, like many other
theaters built during the Great
Depression, filled a need for
cheap entertainment and a
way for Americans to take
their minds off their money
problems.
The first venue in Jasper to
show “moving” pictures was the
Opera House on Mill Street,
which showed “kinescopes,”
but the Opera House was a
multi-purpose facility that also
featured live performances and
was an early home court for Left, Astra Theatre, 517 Main St., Jasper, prior to current
Jasper High School basketball. renovations. Above, ticket booth and prices for the old
Although the motion picture movie theatre. The original ticket booth is being refurbished
business was new, it gained in the renovation project.
popularity and short 444
BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 11

one- and two-reel films were shown in what
became known as “nickelodeons.” Usually set
up on storefronts, these small theaters charged
a “nickel” for admission and flourished from
about 1905 to 1915. Early Jasper nickelode-
ons included the Electric Theater and the
Lyric, which later became the Star. Then in
the late 1910s and early 1920s, larger and
more comfortable theaters were built.
Jasper businessman Joseph Gutzweiler
opened the Tivoli Theater in the
newly-constructed Gutzweiler Building on
the northwest quadrant of the Public Square
in August 1924. This soon became the
premier venue for movies, eventually bringing
on the demise of earlier theaters such as the
Star, which closed the day the Tivoli opened.
In 1935, Gutzweiler learned that a theater
developer from Indianapolis named Don
Smith had bought a vacant piece of property
in the inside corner of the southwest quadrant
of the Public Square with plans to construct a
newer, more modern movie theater.
Smith and Gutzweiler began discussions
almost immediately about Gutzweiler
purchasing the theater to buy out the
competition. Talks lasted six months or so,
and in mid-October 1935, two weeks after
the start of construction, Gutzweiler drove to
Indianapolis to purchase the deed from Smith.
The Astra and Tivoli remained the primary
means of movie entertainment in Jasper for
decades. A drive-in movie theater that opened
in 1949 on the south side of the city did little
to dampen the success of the two downtown
theaters.
In November 1966, ownership of the
Astra and the Tivoli was transferred from
original owner Joseph Gutzweiler to his son
Bernard Gutzweiler, and grandson Jerry
Gutzweiler.
In February 1970, the Tivoli caught fire
and the damage was so great that it never
reopened, leaving the Astra as the only indoor
movie theater in Jasper.
Unfortunately the movie business began
to transform with the advent of multiplexes
in the 1970s. In the early- to mid-1980s
the multi-theater Jasper 4 (later Jasper 8)
Cinemas opened on newly-developed land
south of the Patoka River, and this created a
real challenge to the Astra and the Gutzweiler
family.

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Your savings federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. hoosierhills.com

12 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 z BOOMER

 — Taken from Pyramid Architecture and
Engineering report

Naming Rights
Businesses and individuals have donated
the renovations of specific areas within the
Astra. These include:
• Jim and Pat Thyen Performance Stage
• Kimball Electronics Sound & Light Booth
• Best Home Furnishings Balcony
• Circle A Concessions Area
• Bob Luegers Gathering Area
• Dubois County Tourism Commission
Green Room
• Seufert Construction Coming Attractions
Wall

How you can help Next Act

“We continue to be amazed and humbled
by the tremendous support of this commu-
nity and their belief in not only the Astra
Theatre, but in us, as well,” said Next Act’s
chairperson, Leslie Hamby.  “This annual
member campaign is a crucial part of our
ability to operate and, this year is even more
important as we are fighting hard to finish
raising dollars for necessary design and sound
and light elements in the theatre.”
This year, there are two options for
membership:  individual and business.  The
individual memberships are available for the
following levels: $100 (one scoop of ice cream
per month at Libby’s Gourmet Ice Cream),
$200 (one coffee per week at Brew), $300 (a
pair of season tickets to the 2018 Next Act
events at the Astra); $500 (your choice of one
growler and one free refill per month at St.
Benedict’s Brew Works or one theater seat in
your name); $1,000 (two theater seats in your
name); and $2,500 (all incentives).  There are
two levels of business memberships: one at
$500 and one at $1,000. Both come with a
variety of incentives including complimentary
event tickets, calendar year recognition in the
Astra acknowledging your support, on stage/
on screen business mentions, complimentary
popcorn, sodas, and more.  Additional,
custom business packages are available, as
well.
Memberships can be secured online via
Paypal at www.TheNextAct.org and/or
forms can be downloaded there, printed, and
mailed to The Next Act, P.O. Box 23, Jasper,
Indiana 47547.  Individual donor cards can Left, Jay Tanner of Weyer Electric is working on the Kimball Electronics Sound
also be picked up at several downtown Jasper & Light Booth. Above, Marc Steczyk, one of the organizers for the renovation,
locations, including Made With Grace, Jagged explains the phases of the renovation.
Edge, and Chocolate Bliss.
Questions can be sent to info@thenextact.
org or by calling 812-566-1935.
BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 13
Come on in

Winter Has Begun

and
So Has Our
96th Annual Winter
Clearance Sale

Siebert’s
Where Helping You Dress Well Has Been A Specialty Since 1922
On The Square, Jasper
Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri. 9-5:30; Wed. 9-8; Sat. 9-3
812-482-5514 www.siebertsclothing.com

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 day tripper
An adventurous life exemplified at
the Grissom Memorial Museum
Jan. 27, 1967, is a day many space buffs will always remember.
By Joy Neighbors
IT WAS ON that tragic evening three U.S.
astronauts died on a Florida launch pad —
one of them a “Hoosier boy.”
The story of Virgil “Gus” Grissom is one
of triumph and tragedy, and the Grissom
Memorial Museum in Mitchell, Indiana,
does it justice. Wending through the
museum, visitors discover that Grissom, a
Mitchell-born boy, developed an interest in
flying when he was a teen hanging out at the
Bedford Airport.
Then World War II came along and
Grissom was inducted into the U.S. Army Air
Forces. When the Korean War broke out, he
re-enlisted in the newly-formed United States
Air Force where he was later recognized for
his “superlative airmanship.”
Grissom’s desire to fly led him to Wright-
Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio,
where he took to the skies as a test pilot. From
there, his career skyrocketed.
Gus received a “Top Secret” invitation to
The Molly Brown space capsule.
test for Project Mercury in 1957, and a year
later, the longed-for official letter of acceptance
into the program arrived. Gus Grissom would
be one of the first astronauts to slip “the surly
bonds of earth” during the 1960s. The Space
Race had begun.
With chronological displays, visitors
discover that on July 21, 1961, Grissom
made the second American manned space
light piloting the Mercury capsule he named
Liberty Bell 7. The suborbital flight lasted just
over 15 minutes. But minutes after splash-
down, the hatch blew off the spacecraft, filling
it with seawater. Grissom was able to exit the
capsule, but nearly drowned in his waterlogged
space suit.
Grissom told officials he had not blown the
hatch door; there had been some type of mal-
function. But skepticism persisted. It would be
another 38 years before the Liberty Bell 7 was
recovered and Grissom’s story vindicated.
Regardless of the rumors, officials at
NASA believed Grissom and kept him in the
flight rotations.
From there, he went on to become the
command pilot for the Gemini 3, the first
manned mission in NASA’s Project Gemini
program. Grissom named his spaceship Molly
Brown after one of the survivors of the Titanic.
However, NASA officials didn’t appreciate
his wry sense of humor and demanded he
rename the craft. With true Grissom wit, he
submitted a new name: Titanic. Molly Brown
was allowed to stand. (After Molly Brown
returned from her mission, NASA announced
that commanders would no longer name their
spacecrafts.)
Standing next to the capsule, visitors get a
first-hand view of how cramped the interior
really is. Realizing that Grissom and John
Young made three revolutions around the
Earth in this tiny craft, a journey that lasted
4 hours and 52 minutes, builds appreciation
for these early astronauts, and what they
accomplished.
Then came the infamous Apollo Program.
Three astronauts were chosen to make the first
Apollo manned space flight: Roger Chafee,
BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 15
Hoosier native and U.S. astronaut
Gus Grissom. | Photos provided
Edward White and Gus Grissom. But the
Apollo spacecraft was plagued with problems
from the beginning. Crew commander
Grissom was so annoyed by the continuous
problems and headaches that he hung a lemon
off the Apollo simulator — one week before
tragedy struck.
On Jan. 27, 1967, the three men arrived
at Cape Canaveral’s Launch Pad 34 to take
part in pre-launch testing aboard the Apollo 1
command module. The day had been riddled
with problems and concerns.
Once again, the men were dealing with a
situation that was not getting any better. The
three talked and decided all they could do was
their best with what they had to fly. Then,
around 6:30 p.m., a flash fire broke out aboard
the Apollo 1. In the pure oxygen environment,
the fire burned quickly. Attempts to rescue the
men were futile. All three astronauts aboard
Apollo 1 died of asphyxiation.
The tragedy was investigated and the fire
was blamed on faulty electrical wiring. But
it was also discovered that pressure inside
the cabin had sealed the hatch door, making
it impossible to open from either side. The
capsule had become a deathtrap for the men
inside. At the time of his death, Grissom had
logged more than 4,600 hours in flight, and
had been given a tentative nod that he would
be the first man to walk on the moon.
Today, visitors experience the turbulent
beginnings of our early space-race history at
the Virgil “Gus” Grissom Memorial Museum.
Besides personal items belonging to Grissom,
his Gemini 3 spacesuit, Apollo gloves, and the
Molly Brown space capsule are all on display.
And the well-stocked gift shop is also an
interesting browse.
A visit to the museum puts in perspective
how a Hoosier boy dared to dream big, put
actions behind those dreams, and become one
of the first astronauts in the United States
— an abiding tribute to the remarkable life of
Virgil “Gus” Grissom.
 the sonic
boomer
A DOSE OF HONESTY THIS NEW YEAR
So the New Year is here and it is ready to be
filled with best intentions — and broken
promises. By Todd Lancaster
EVERY YEAR I prepare for a column where
I address all of the ugliness in my life and
pretend like I have a plan where in 365 days
I can make it disappear, leading to a world
filled with snowflakes and unicorns.
The truth is I like my ugliness; my
ugliness defines me.
The ugly side of people is the honest side,
which is why liquor is so important. A cold
brew helps bring
16 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 z BOOMER
ugly to the surface; it’s like booking passage
on the Ugly Express.
If we really wanted for things to change,
they would have long been changed and
there would be no need for anyone to
embarrass themselves on Dr. Phil.
Ugliness helps keep us separated.
It is not natural for people to live
together; however, since the beginning of
time people have lived under the illusion
that “together we are stronger.”
As my two college-age sons have found
out, it’s more like, “together your roommate
eats your leftover Chinese food, forgets to
pay the cable bill and has a girlfriend with
an annoying laugh who has staked out a
claim in your favorite Xbox chair.”   The ugly side of people is
Friends are much the same way. Your
best friend is never your neighbor, unless
you have a really big wall. If your neighbor is
your best friend, prepare for a life of people
rooting around in your shed, borrowing
your riding mower and being forced to
eat his wife’s soggy seven-layer dip
at every block party (where she
also sits in your lawn chair with
an annoying laugh).  Like when a drive-thru attendant com-
Your best friend has never
borrowed a tool, brings
his own beer and tells you
immediately when a woman
is out of your league. Your
best friend can sit in your garage
with you for hours at a time and never
say a word, but always has jumper cables.
They have never borrowed money or had
to stop for cigarettes, and most important-
ly, they always go home.  So come on, no silly promises this year.
I spend a lot time at youth sporting
events and that is one place where ugly real-
ly has a chance to shine. If you are looking
for a chance to release inner demons, there
is no better place than a junior high game.
This is the point where no one has
ruled out an NBA career yet, so every
bad call, double-dribble or illegal screen has
a direct effect on whether or not scouts from
Duke will be showing up at the South Knox
Shootout.
Let me answer a few questions right up
front. Yes, the coach does hate your child,
hates you, and does not understand the
game, so go ahead and scream at him.
If by some strange circumstance you do
get along with the coach, feel free to scream
at the officials. They normally get paid huge
amounts of money to spend all Saturday
in a cold junior high, and by the way, most
of them hate you, hate your child and don’t
understand the game.
One cannot fully experience all that is
youth sports, if one makes a New Year’s
resolution to change this behavior. If you do,
you’ll be missing the best part of being an
athlete’s parent.
the honest side, which is
why liquor is so important.
There are plenty of other places that
making radical personal behavior changes
would take the fun out of living.
pletely fouls up your order. Is there anything
more satisfying than reminding a 17-year-
old that you are the customer and they need
to learn the difference between “no mustard
and extra mustard and that they should
have pride in customer service ... ,” right
before they write down your license number,
look you up on the internet, steal your
identity, tap your bank account and move to
St. Barts on your retirement savings?
Just enjoy being the same terrible person
you are, have been and always will be.
As you can tell, Todd truly enjoys being ugly.
But he’s given up Twitter, where even he
found too much ugliness. You can write to
him at tlancaster@washtimesherald.com. 
Boomer Toys,
Trappings & Trivia By Todd Lancaster

If your mom kept

The queen of punk rock in the 1970s
finding an Easy
was Debbie Harry of Blondie. Howev-
Bake Oven in your
er, in the late 1960s, she was hopping
teenage brother’s
around the New York Playboy Club
closet, here’s why
as a bunny. FYI, it is rumored that
— it was the perfect
Blondie was named after Hitler’s dog
way to dry small
Blondi.
amounts of home-
grown weed. It was
truly EZ-BAKED.

One of the biggest stumbling

blocks preventing 20th Century
Fox from committing to “Planet
of the Apes” was its fear over
how the ape faces would appear
on screen. Eventually they
coughed up $5,000 for a test
scene to be shot with Charlton
Heston playing alongside the
made-up Edward G. Robinson as
Dr. Zaius, and James Brolin as a
character called Mr. Cornelius.
The studio was very excited
about the results of this test,
but still delayed green-lighting Most people need some
the film for six more months. It For years, people considered
cheap sunglasses and
was only after Fantastic Voyage Piston Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer a real
(1966) became a hit “Planet of monster on the court, However, as a beard for a disguise;
the Apes” was given the go- a 6-10 high schooler in Southern however, that’s the
ahead, but without Robinson, California, Laimbeer made extra only way anyone would
as he suffered from a weak money as a Sleestak on the Saturday recognize Billy Gibbons of
heart and didn’t think he could morning TV show Land of the Lost.
endure the day-to-day rigors of Future 1989-90 Piston teammate ZZ Top. So what does Billy
performing in the ape makeup. 6-9 David Greenwood of UCLA also look like unshaven? Just
performed as a Sleestak. like this.

BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 17

 tech talk
Protect your work with PhotoMark
It’s infuriating when your business photos are
reposted by someone else without giving you
proper credit. By Mike Gingerich
IT’S EVEN MORE so when they claim the
photos to be theirs. Not only do they profit
off your hard work and property, but they
also take away from your brand image.
Did you know it’s now possible to
upload customized, watermarked images
to social media networks like Instagram,
Twitter and Facebook quite easily? Even
while “on the go!” This comes in handy for
businesses today where there is a need to do
this quickly and easily to garner the crucial
attention they need on social media.
The PhotoMarks app is a go-to solution
for watermarking all types of photos quickly
on Apple devices. It is a lightweight photo
editing tool that can perform watermarking
and additional tasks including: rename,
resize, rotate, stroke, scaling, multiline text,
shadow, and more. PhotoMarks App comes
with a free trial version.
What does PhotoMarks do?
PhotoMarks is one of a kind watermark-
ing app. Despite being loaded with standard
features, it’s specially designed to make
watermarking easy.
• The tool makes it easy to export custom-
ized photos to social sites with no quality
loss and in full resolution.
18 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 z BOOMER
• The app allows the user to add images,
logos, and text to an image to customize
it.
• It allows you to upload photos straight
from the device to social networks while
on the go.
With its easy-to-navigate interface, you
can alter transparency and color among
other embellishments like outlining a
photo and several more. It comes with an
easy-to-navigate interface which gives you
many options for customizing logos and text
without losing quality. In every step, you get
a preview.
This convenient app works on the
iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Customize im-
ages any way you want by changing the font,
color, transparency, shadow, and outline.
You can also add a timestamp using
the Dates and Timestamps features. The
stamps mark the date and time the photo
was originally taken. This ensures that you
have proof of when your photos were shot,
so that no one else can say they were taken
sometime else.
After working on your images, you
can save them for later use, or share them
instantly on Facebook, Instagram, or email.
How to use the web version
PhotoMarks also has a desktop web
version. This tool comes with a link to a
tutorial where, as a new user, you’ll learn
more about the many options available for
the web interface. This online website inter-
face is loaded with a step by step wizard for
add, edit photos, process, and setup. Batch
photo editing is a time-saving feature most
businesses wouldn’t think about until they
have lots of images that need similar edits
done quickly.
A key with this web tool is the batch
photo edit option. You can choose a group
of photos, drag them, and paste into the
system. The interface allows you to crop the
photos by pixel, apply filters, among other
edits, and it then it processes them in a
batch. Although it can’t match the expensive
image editors such as Photoshop for one-off
professional editing, it does solve the issue
of watermarking that is often needed; and
it still beats most other tools for simplicity
and ease of use.
The setup
With its 30-day free trial, PhotoMarks
tool is quick to download. The installation
and setup are fast and easy. It works with
Mac OS X 10.6, Windows XP, and there is
the very handy iOS version for your mobile
device.
One of the best
There are many free photo apps on the
market today, but most don’t deliver top
quality results. PhotoMarks key is the
ability to layer images and add watermarks
on to images. It’s currently on version 2.5,
and costs only $4.99 on the App Store.
The best thing about PhotoMarks is that
you can easily and quickly perform tasks
on the app’s intuitive interface. You don’t
need to switch to a laptop or desktop; your
mobile iOS device is enough. This means
you can add watermarks right after you take
a photo and just before you post it online.
It can be especially helpful if you’re sharing
from an event as it happens.
Mike Gingerich is president of Digital Hill
Multimedia (www.DigitalHill.com), a
Goshen web design and marketing agency.
 the dirt on
gardening

This season, remember the good you feel about the look it gives you
(young or old sun-lovers) the danger exists

dangers of too much sun
Gardeners love to talk about flowers and
vegetables and how to achieve the best
results within their abilities. Well, that is an oxymoron, isn’t it?
By Tom Yoder
BUT IN THIS segment I’d like to delve into how the sun’s rays can damage your skin’s
what most people know, but don’t always cells. I always cherished a deep tan while
practice. growing up. I always had a deep-brown skin
tone because I spent a good share of my life
working or playing out in the sun’s rays. It
looked good on me and I was rather proud of
it. Now I’m paying dearly for my unforeseen
misfortune.
Skin cancer surgeries are becoming more
prevalent and not just for me. People just
don’t realize, or simply don’t care, about
the risks of continuous exposure to direct
sunlight, but they should. My surgeries are
numerous on my face and scalp and it is sim-
ply my own fault for not heeding the warning
signals. Much of the damage (as I’ve been
told) may have occurred not just recently but
many years ago, even when very young in my
teen years. These revelations are not my swan
song, but simply a warning to all my fellow
gardeners and sun-seekers — no matter how
for future damage and resulting surgeries in
the future. I can attest to it.
You have no doubt heard it before but I’ll
keep preaching it: “When you are about to be
in the sun, especially for an extended period
of time, always wear protective clothing and
skin protection.” This means long-sleeve
shirts or coverings and long pants. It is also
recommended that you wear a head covering
that covers your ears and shades your face.
I know many of you will “poo-poo” this and
disregard it, but as a regular practice, it is
good information.
If this is out of the question — and it is
for many, at the very minimum use a good
sun blocker or sunscreen with a high sun
protection factor. I would recommend a
60 SPF or higher. Personally, I now wear a
wide-brim hat when golfing and gardening
and also slather myself with a 100 SPF
skin protection on my face, arms and legs.
It’s rather after-the-fact for me, but it’s still
important.
Tom Yoder is a Master Gardener who resides in
Goshen. He can be reached by phone at 533-
0172 or by email at yoder.tom@gmail.com.

Sun protection is vital for fellow

While sunlight is important, it can also be our enemy.
gardeners — and golfers. | Photo provided
I’ve discovered, the hard way, how the sun’s rays can
damage your skin’s cells.
Sun is our helper, or usually so, because
it generally is what makes our gardens grow
and become what we expect. In fact, the
biggest share of seed or plant recommenda-
tions in publications on gardens or planting
will say that they require a minimum or six
to eight hours of sunlight each day. While
this is true the majority of the time, there are
still some plants that thrive in shade; some
full shade and some partial shade. Pay close
attention to the plant tags when purchasing
so that you know you’ll have the proper place
to let them thrive. Some may just need a light
source even though planted in shade.
While sunlight is important, it can also
be our enemy. I’ve discovered, the hard way,

BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 19

 calendar
JAN. 26
Julian Gargiulo, Piano
Jasper Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Julian’s
performances bring together a mix
of classical masterpieces, his own
tango transcriptions and his original
jazz-influenced compositions.
JAN. 27-28
22nd Annual Ferdinand Gun &
Knife Show
Ferdinand Community Center. Visit
the largest gun show in the area
with more than 100 tables.
JAN. 27
Dutch Oven Cooking
Zach and Amy Goldman home,
6924 S. State Road 145, Birdseye,
Indiana, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. If you’re the
beginning campfire cook or the
seasoned veteran chef, participants
will learn how to create a variety
of dishes. Zach Goldman will also
teach ways to “season” the cookware,
several methods of cooking, and
caring for cookware. All ages. Free.
Limit 20. To register, RSVP Zach at
812-631-0712 (text or call).
JAN. 30
Warming Winter Broths and
Tea by Phil Barth
Sultan’s Run Golf Club (19th Hole),
1490 N. Meridian Road., 6:30 p.m.
- 8 p.m. The class will include both
demonstrations and sampling
of broths and tea. Teens and
adults. Suggested donation $2 to
cover cost of ingredients. Limit
15. To register, please RSVP Phil
at 812-309-0033 (call or text) or
chefphilbarth@gmail.com.
FEB. 1 AND MARCH 1
Community Creativity
Challenge
Ferdinand Branch Library
Community Room, 6:30 p.m. - 8
p.m. This two-session class is
for everyone who would enjoy
the shared experience of being
challenged to create something,
and then reporting back one’s
progress to the circle of friends. All
ages. Hot chocolate and hot apple
cider will be served. Free. Limit 15.
To register, please RSVP Kris Lasher
at 812-631-2020 (text or call) or
stressawaylasher@gmail.com.
FEB. 2
Bethany Boeglin in Concert
Saint Benedict’s Brew Works Theatre,
8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Ferdinand native
singer-songwriter Bethany Boeglin
will entertain the audience with
20 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 z BOOMER
her powerful and stirring original
songs. All ages. Free; artist donation
encouraged. Limit 70. No reservation
required; admission and seating on
first-come, first-served basis.
FEB. 6
Overcoming Winter Blues by
Kacie Klem
Ferdinand Library Community
Room, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Discover ways
to be happy and thrive during the
winter months. Find practical ways
to combat feelings of sadness or
mild depression and turn negative
energy into joy and productivity.
Free. To register, RSVP Brooke
Daunhauer at 812-630-6627 (text or
call) or brookevwd@gmail.com.
FEB. 10
Patoka Lake “Wildlife Trail”
Hike by Dana Reckelhoff
Patoka Lake Nature Center, 1 p.m. -
3 p.m. Led by DNR Wildlife Biologist
Dana Reckelhoff, participants will
enjoy an informative 2-mile hike.
All ages. Free. Limit 20. Level of trail
difficulty: Moderate. Wear warm
clothes; bring water, hiking shoes/
boots and a camera. To register,
RSVP Rock at 812-631-2856 (text or
call) or rockemmert@gmail.com. A
caravan, if desired, will depart from
the Ferdinand Library at noon.
FEB. 13
The Women Who Started the
Civil Rights Movement
Ferdinand Library Community
Room, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. LaNeeca
R. Williams will recognize the
significant women who bolstered
the Civil Rights Movement. All ages.
Free. Limit 20. To register, RSVP Rock
Emmert at 812-631-2856 (text or
call) or rockemmert@gmail.com.
FEB. 17
Holland Kiwanis Annual Gun &
Knife Show
Huntingburg Event Center, 9 a.m.
- 3 p.m. Join Holland Kiwanis at
the Huntingburg Event Center to
raise funds to benfit Riley Children’s
Foundation and other community
projects. Admission $6 (children 12
& under free). For more information
or for tables, call John Daunhauer at
812-536-5252.
FEB. 18
Documentary Film Screening:
Te Ata and Look and See: A
Portrait of Wendell Berry
St. Benedict’s Brew Works Theatre.
1 p.m. Te Ata, 3 p.m. Look and See.
Experience an afternoon of one
or both inspirational films while
also enjoying some artisan beer,
root beer and delicious pizza. All
ages. Free, donations for public-
viewing-of-film fee accepted. Limit
35. To register, RSVP Rock Emmert
at 812-631-2856 (text or call) or
rockemmert@gmail.com.
FEB. 18
“On Golden Pond”
Jasper Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. -
9:30 p.m. Something deep and
profound resonates through the
events that unfold in this American
masterpiece penned by Ernest
Thompson.
FEB. 23
Whisky Ginger in Concert
featuring Tonya Buckler
St. Benedict’s Brew Works Theatre,
7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Whisky Ginger is a
Louisville-based fold band. All ages.
Free, artist donation encouraged.
Limit 70. No reservation required;
admission and seating on first-
come, first-served basis.
FEB. 25
Justin Roberts and the Not
Ready for Naptime Players
Jasper Arts Center, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30
p.m. For nearly 20 years, Roberts
has been creating the soundtrack
to families’ lives, crafting songs that
navigate the joys and sorrows of
growing up.
MARCH 3
Fabric Art Exhibit: “The
Sixties—Turn On, Tune In,
Drop Out!”
Carnegie Center for Art and History,
201 E. Spring St., New Albany,
Indiana, 10:30 a.m.
New art quilts exhibited by mixed-
media fiber artist, Penny Sisto. Field
trip caravan will depart from the
Ferdinand Library at 9 a.m., arrive at
the Carnegie Center at about 10:30,
eat lunch at a local restaurant,
and return at approximately 3:30
p.m. For details about the exhibit,
visit carnegiecenter.org/ exhibits/.
Exhibit runs from Feb. 16 – April
21, 2018. All ages. Free. Limit 15. To
register, please RSVP Rock Emmert
at 812-631-2856 (text or call) or
rockemmert@gmail.com.
MARCH 6
Art through the Lens: Witness
to Life’s Wonders
Ferdinand Library Community
Room, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Witness
firsthand some of the amazing
photographs of Don Schenk from
Evansville as he shares stories and
humor from his life as an amateur
photographer. All ages. Free. Limit
20. To register, RSVP Rock Emmert
at 812-631-2856 (text or call) or
rockemmert@gmail.com.
MARCH 9
The Good Lovelies
Jasper Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. -
9:30 p.m. The aptly named Good
Lovelies are Caroline Brooks, Kerri
Ough and Sue Passmore. All of
them best friends, the Ontario-
based trio relies on impeccable
vocals, winsome songwriting and
on-stage banter drawn from a
seemingly endless succession of
comedic adventures on the road
and at home.
MARCH 11
Bow Drill Fire-Making and
Storytelling
Ferdinand State Forest Upper
Campground, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Kacie
Klem will demonstrate how to build
a fire using a practical, primitive
technique—with only wood, stone,
a bow, and friction. Teens and adults.
Free. Limit 15. To register, please
RSVP to Kacie at kklem@evdio.org.
MARCH 13
Bees and Butterflies: Creating
a Pollinator Garden
Green Thumb Nursery, 702 Third
Ave., 6:30 p.m. Natalie Combs
will talk about native plants that
provide the best, most accessible
nectar and pollen to pollinators.
All ages. Free. Limit 15. To register,
RSVP Natalie at 812-482-3338 or
green3338@yahoo.com.
MARCH 16-18
Ireland St. Patrick’s
Celebration
Come and enjoy the celebration
of Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland,
Indiana. The whole town comes
alive with a wide variety of events.
Be sure to get your fix of green beer
at The Rock Restaurant & Pub.
MARCH 17
Rhythmic Circus
Jasper Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30
p.m. “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now!”
premiered in August 2008 at
the Ritz Theatre iin Minneapolis,
Minnesota, when the group’s
dancers and founders joined
forces with the seven Twin Cities’
heavyweight musicians.
 financial
wisdom
When is the right age to collect
Social Security?
From getting a driver's license to running
for elected office, age has always served as
a threshold for major life moments. Social Security is no
different. By Joe Clark
MORE BABY BOOMERS are reaching the
magical time when they can qualify for Social
Security. But what is the right age to stop
paying into the system and begin collecting
Social Security?
Determining the right age to begin
receiving Social Security payments is one
of the most crucial financial decisions many
families will ever make. It is also one of the
most misunderstood opportunities.
"Full retirement age" (FRA) varies. For
some people, the FRA is 66 and a few
months. For all of us born in 1960 or later,
the FRA is 67. Currently, we may all begin
collecting payments at age 62.
However, earlier payments mean reduced
payments. Every year you collect Social
Security before FRA, you lose 6 percent of
the payment. That reduction applies to
Social Security payments and cost-of-living
allowances (COLAs) received for the rest
of your life! This can add up to a substantial
reduction over a normal life expectancy.
We all have the option to delay receiving
Social Security payments until age 70.
Individuals who select this option actually
receive a benefit increase of 8 percent per
year, from their FRA to age 70.
As the benefit never increases after age
70 (with the exception of COLAs), it makes
sense to begin taking the benefit at age 70.
Considering two scenarios, we find that a
person who delays receiving Social Security
payments until age 70 would receive a 76
percent higher annual payout compared to a
person who started receiving benefits at 62.
That's a substantial difference!
Providing a
Our guidance: Know your numbers and
your needs. You can find this information
Century of
at socialsecurity.gov. When meeting with a
Quality
family who has not retired, we always request
two critical pieces of data: their 1040 and
Printing
their Social Security snapshot. This data
helps calculate an informed decision.
A few changes will trigger slight increases
and
in Social Security payments this year.
The 2 percent COLA is the largest
Service
increase since 2012. According to the Social
Security Administration, this increase
translates to $27 per month for the average
Social Security recipient. The average
monthly payout will increase from $1,377 in
2017, to $1,404 in 2018.
to our customers
Additionally, the maximum benefit in southern
in 2018 will increase $101 per month to
$2,788. Much of the difference comes Indiana and
from families who started collecting Social
Security at age 62.
beyond.
p
Another factor to consider: If you collect
Social Security before your FRA and earn
income above $17,040 in 2018, you will lose
$1 for every $2 earned. That's another reason 812-882-2415
to refrain from early enrollment. 516 Vigo Street • Vincennes
Things change the year you reach your www.ewingprinting.com
FRA. Upon reaching FRA, you can earn up
to $45,360 without penalty.
The key is to know your numbers. If you
haven't made a decision about when to collect
Social Security payments, please work with
a qualified professional to discuss tax and
long-term financial considerations.
Joseph "Big Joe" Clark is a certified financial
planner. He can be reached at bigjoe@
yourlifeafterwork.com or 765-640-1524.
BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 21
 boomer
connoisseur
Survive and thrive this
winter
The days are dark, which causes many of us to appear as
gloomy as the skies above. By Joy Neighbors
BUT THESE LONG, cold days of winter
also offer us a respite from the hectic days
that come with warmer weather. Survive
and thrive through the winter with a sizzling
strategy.
Surround yourself with sunny
images
Yes, photos of sunny vistas, sunny days
spent with loved ones, or the sunny summer
view from the kitchen window can brighten
your day. Keep these photos out for a sunny
recharge when you’re feeling cold and cranky.
Accomplish something
We all have things we’ve been “meaning
to get to…” and these drab days of winter are
perfect to light a fire under that ambition.
Decide what you’ve put off for too long and
get started. Need a few ideas?
Begin working (or continue) on your
family genealogy. Now’s the perfect time to
visit FamilySearch.com for an amazing array
of free information about your ancestors.
Take a genealogy course online or attend a
local or state genealogy meeting. Winter is
Revel in a photo depicting a slice of summer.
22 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 z BOOMER
the perfect time to “grow your roots.”
Organize those photos. Once you start,
you’ll be so involved in reliving the wonderful
memories, you’ll forget that the snow is
falling outside. And if you have some photos
that aren’t a joy to look at, ditch ‘em. No
one said you have to keep those images.
Remember, winter is a great time to purge.
Coordinate those recipes you’ve been
keeping. Digitally, in binders, in a box, it
doesn’t matter, just get them in order so that
you can find what you want when you want
it. And once you’re done, use them to cook a
fantastic meal.
Get busy planning your garden. Peruse
seed catalogs, map out a new garden design,
vow to plant three new flowers, fruits
or veggies this year. Once you’ve gotten
everything organized, take a trip to the home
improvement store to see what’s popular and
trending.
Meet up with friends
Friends can chase the blues away, even
those that are weather-related. Grab your
best pals and plan an after work or weekend
| Photos by Joy Neighbors
afternoon outing to a local restaurant or pub.
Indulge in a hot drink, order comfort food,
tell stories, and enjoy lots of laughs. Friends
are always good for what ails you.
Be entertained
It’s already dark outside, so indulge
yourself and go see a movie, take in a play,
or visit a comedy club. There’s something
magical about sharing a laugh, or a cry, with
a room full of strangers. At the movies, buy
that jumbo buttered popcorn and wrap up in
a comfy blanket from home. At the theatre,
find a warm place to sit and let yourself get
carried away in the performance. At the
comedy club, take a seat up front and be
willing to become part of the show. Or sit in
the back and guffaw to your heart’s content.
Stay cozy
The Norwegians call it “koselig,” but we
know it as staying cozy. Whether you like
to bundle in a blanket, wear an extra pair of
plush socks, sit next to a roaring fire, or sip
hot tea, find what makes you feel cozy and
revel in it. And remember to dress warmly.
Layer clothing and opt for warm footwear.
Heading out into the elements? Wear a coat
that keeps you toasty, and don’t forget the
gloves, hat and boots. At this time of year, the
goal is to stay warm.
Buy flowers
You’ll be surprised how much better that
little bouquet makes you feel. It’s like seeing the
light at the end of the long, dark winter tunnel.
The sight, the colors, the smell — it all adds
up in our brain as a hopeful sign of spring, and
that’s something we’re all looking for.
Grab these dark days of winter and make
the most of them. It will be warm weather
again before you know it.
Joy Neighbors is an area writer whose first
book, The Family Tree Cemetery Field
Guide, is available at Barnes and Noble, and
Books-a-Million stores around the country.
It may also be purchased online at Amazon.
com and ShopFamilyTree.com. Neighbors
continues to write her weekly blogs, A Grave
Interest and Joy’s Joy of Wine, and is also
working on a full-length play about Kentucky
pioneer heroine Jane Todd Crawford, to be
released in 2018.
 boomer health
Fitness in the New Year
It’s January again, so that means that our New
Year’s Resolutions are in full swing. By Jane Fritch
THE MOST POPULAR New Year’s reso-
lutions usually involve becoming healthier,
whether through diet, exercise or both. Let’s
face it, most of us indulged a little (or a lot)
over the holiday season, and are ready to
make some changes to get ourselves back on
track. Fitness is a great way to get started.
Exercise is not just for the young because
as we age, our bodies go through a number of
biological changes. Having strength, flexibil-
ity and balance are all key factors in keeping
us healthy and active to have a higher quality
of life. And adding cardiovascular exercises
not only helps keep us fit, but will help keep
our heart healthy.
Strength training
As we get older, our muscle mass decreas-
es and the muscles that we have are smaller
and weaker than those in a younger person.
In fact, studies show that the rate of muscle
loss nearly doubles after age 50. Fortunately,
muscle loss is reversible, and research
reveals that resistance exercise is effective for
increasing muscle mass at all ages. There are
many benefits to strength training: boosting
metabolism, reducing fat, improving blood
pressure, increasing bone density, enhancing
mental health, reversing physical frailty, and
combating cancer, to name a few.
Cardiovascular exercise
The American Heart Association
recommends 150 minutes of some form of
cardiovascular exercise per week. This means
getting your heart rate up and breathing
faster. Walking, cycling and swimming are all
examples of cardio/endurance exercises. If
you tire easily, especially if you are resuming
a routine or just starting to exercise, it is
perfectly acceptable to break these minutes
into increments until you work your way up
to the recommended time. After exercising
consistently for a few weeks, there will likely
be an improvement in your ability to exercise
and ability to perform everyday tasks without
getting winded and tired. Some benefits to
cardiovascular exercise include preventing
osteoporosis, improving mood, preventing
diabetes, reduced risk of cardiovascular
disease and weight management.
Stretching and flexibility
exercises  individuals since they are the most prone to
Stretching is vital to an exercise regimen.
It helps muscles warm up and cool down
gradually and improves and maintains
flexibility, prevents injury and reduces muscle
BOOMER z JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | 23
soreness and stiffness.
Stretching can also function as a time for
meditation and a time to appreciate how your
body is feeling.
Activities like yoga or Pilates can provide
both useful stretches and strength training
because they focus on different muscle
groups. A number of exercises focus on
developing a strong “core,” which refers to
the muscles connecting the inner stomach
to the lower back and spine. Because the
core muscles provide the foundation for all
movement and strength, having a strong core
can help with all movement, encourage better
posture, and reduce all-over muscle pain.
Some benefits of stretching and flexibility
exercise such as yoga include: improves
balance and stability, improves flexibility and
joint health, improves respiration, lowers high
blood pressure and lowers anxiety.
Of course, there are some people whose
physical abilities are limited by medical
conditions or general frailty. These seniors
have to go about exercise more carefully
than others, but they do not have to dismiss
it entirely. With proper instruction and
guidance, everyone can learn activities and
exercises that improve mobility and strength.
Exercise is even more important for frail
falling and broken bones.
Trying activities in a class setting with
proper supervision is a great place to start.
The Health and Wellness Department at
Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center
offers a Get Fit Series that offer Strength,
Cardiovascular, and Yoga Classes. Although
these classes are geared toward ages 55
and older, all ages are welcome. For more
information and a class schedule, go to www.
mhhcc.org under Classes and Events, or call
the Health and Wellness Department at
812-996-2399.
Sources: American College of Sports Medicine, American Heart
Association, American Fitness Professionals and Associates.
Websites: chopra.com and humankinetics.com.
Jane Fritch is health educator at Memorial
Hospital and Health Care Center.
World-class & local:
EXPERIENCE FIVE OF MARRIOTT’S TOP SPAS IN ONE STATE: ALABAMA
After a round of golf, enjoy a relaxing massage or body treatment at a great
Marriott spa. In North America, five of the top Marriott and Renaissance
spas are found on Alabama’s RTJ Spa Trail. For guest satisfaction, the Spa
at the Marriott Shoals in Florence and the Spa at the Grand Hotel in Pt. Clear
are consistently ranked in Marriott’s top 10. For Renaissance Hotels, the Spa
at Montgomery, the Spa at Ross Bridge in Hoover and the Spa at the Battle
House in Mobile are always highly ranked for pampering their guests. All
five of these spas are part of the RTJ Resort Collection and feature innovate
treatments inspired by Southern Hospitality. Clearly great golf and spas
work well together in Alabama. Come experience them for yourself.

FLORENCE · HOOVER · MONTGOMERY · MOBILE · POINT CLEAR

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