Senior Life-Elko

12/25/2023

Happy Holidays From All Of Us At Senior Life Newspapers!🎄
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11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from Senior Life Newspapers!🦃
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11/11/2023

Thank You To Our Nation's Veterans! 🇺🇸
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10/31/2023

Have A Safe & Happy Halloween 🎃
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09/04/2023

Happy Labor Day From Senior Life Newspapers!
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08/03/2023

Congratulations Judith Meyer of Fort Wayne on winning our iSpy contest for July!

Want to try your hand at being a winner for our August Edition? Just find the 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓 in any edition by August 12th & head to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com/i-spy-contest to enter your answer! (Online entries only)

08/01/2023

The August edition of Senior Life - Elko is OUT NOW!

To view it digitally just head to our website www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com & click on the issue you'd like to view right from our homepage!

07/29/2023

It was 50 years ago —
‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’
By Randal C. Hill

The once-ubiquitous Andrews sisters — Patty, Maxine and Laverne — premiered “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in the 1941 Abbott and Costello comedy film “Buck Privates.” For the beloved Minnesota trio, that perky ditty became their 24th consecutive Decca Records winner.
Written by Don Ray and Huey Prince, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” has always been associated with World War II, even though the song was actually recorded in January 1941 — nearly one year before the Pearl Harbor attack, and soon after the establishment of a peacetime military draft imposed by Franklin Roosevelt’s administration.
The original cheerful tune featured a storyline — good for laughs but an obvious fantasy — about a hip Chicago street musician/ army draftee. Apparently, without his bandmates, the cat couldn’t do justice to blowing a buoyant rendition of “Reveille” when he was ordered to play it to announce the dawning. But his good-natured company leader (“the Cap”) saved the day by assembling a barracks-based band for the frustrated musician, who could then handily offer a spirited wake-up call for the snoozing soldiers.
In 1973, it would take a rising young star to bring the song to a contemporary audience.
Bette Midler, born in Honolulu in 1945, earned a bit part as an extra during the 1966 filming of James Michener’s novel “Hawaii.” Flushed with confidence, she moved to New York to try her luck in the entertainment world. She rose to Big Apple prominence in 1970 when she began singing in the Continental Baths, a Gotham gay bathhouse. There she built a loyal following, along the way growing close to her pianist, the then-unknown Barry Manilow. (Reflecting on her bathhouse times later, Midler professed, “I’m still proud of those days. I feel like I was at the forefront of the gay liberation movement, and I hope I did my part to help it move forward.”)
Manilow produced Bette’s future classic debut Atlantic Records offering, “The Divine Miss M,” which spent 76 weeks on Billboard’s album chart and featured the track that first brought her to national prominence. When Midler made “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” a summertime Top 10 single, a new generation of music fans came to embrace an iconic tune that had all but faded into the mists of history.
Most music historians credit the story’s inspiration to Chicago musician Clarence Zylman (who actually hailed from Muskegon, Mich.) for the “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” lyrics. It is ironic that Clarence had enlisted in the Army — he wasn’t drafted — on June 9, 1942, long after the snappy hit had come and gone. It is said that Zylman got his fellow soldiers jitterbugging to his unique style of “Reveille.” In 2018, he was honored with a statue erected at the veteran’s museum in Muskegon.
Recording hit songs new and old wasn’t the only pursuit for the versatile Midler. During her five-decade career, she earned a head-spinning three Grammy awards, three Emmy awards, two Tony awards, four Golden Globe awards, and a Kennedy Center honor, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards.
Wow!

See this great article on page 14 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

07/24/2023

That’s the ticket!
In A Nutshell By Dick Wolfsie

I just got a call from my wife who is vacationing with my sister in North Carolina. This trip worries me. If my name comes up, no one in that car will take my side.
Mary Ellen was just pulled over by the local police for a minor infraction. Mary Ellen never breaks the rules. She believes rules were made to be followed. This kind of harebrained notion caused a rift in the way we raised our son. To Mary Ellen’s credit, in over 35 years, Brett has not spent a single night in jail.
Getting pulled over has crushed her, ruined her clean record and put a damper on her vacation. My wife’s life has been exemplary. She never had detention, never cheated on a test, never told a lie, never even hot-wired a car. The woman was a saint. Until today.
When you have a perfect record — not just in driving, but in your entire life — being followed by a police officer is a perplexing and nerve-racking experience. I have studied the best way to deal with the po-po when getting pulled over for speeding. For example, I know that saying, “Officer, I was running out of gas, so I had to get home quicker,” just doesn’t work.
Mary Ellen, on the other hand, has no experience in this area. When she noticed the lights flashing behind her, she waved the policeman around her. In fact, she waved him around her for about 23 blocks. Then it dawned on her that he was after her.
“When you stop crying, ma’am, may I see your license and registration?”
“Oh, there must be some mistake, officer. I’ve never done anything wrong in my entire saintly life. You must have me confused with my husband.”
“Look, lady, I’m going back to the patrol car to check your record.”
“While you’re checking, you might take notice of the fact that I have never cheated on a test, from kindergarten through my MBA. And this is especially noteworthy: I never let anyone look at my paper, either.”
“Ma’am, your license plates are expired.”
“How could you possibly know that?”
“There’s a little sticker on the plate. It says 2022.”
“Well, how can you expect me to see that from the driver’s seat?”
I actually tried that line myself once, hoping to get a laugh from a cop. I got a sobriety test instead.
Now, back to the phone call from Mary Ellen right after she was stopped.
“Dick, I was just pulled over by the police.”
“Why didn’t you let my sister drive the get-away car?”
“Look, this is not a joke. Up until 20 minutes ago, I had a perfect record. I had never done anything wrong in my life. Do you know what this stain on my reputation means?”
“A big celebration at the convent. You’ve moved a lot of the sisters into first place.”
This event apparently created some soul searching on Mary Ellen’s part.
“You know, Dick, this brush with the law has given me a new perspective. I’ve led too sheltered an existence. In fact, marrying you is really the only questionable thing I’ve done in my life until today.”
“Mary Ellen, marrying me was not exactly committing a crime.”
“No, but it’s probably the closest I’ll ever come.”

See this great article on page 4 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

Senior Life has 4 editions distributed in northern Indiana highlighting all areas of general interest for people over 50.

07/21/2023

Foil identity theft during vacation travel
By Cecil Scaglione, Mature Life Features

Mature adults can continue driving safely if they adapt some habits and avoid some medications, according to the American Optometric Association.
Suggested driving practices include:
• Don’t focus only on the road ahead. Instead, keep your eyes moving, scanning the road, glancing frequently at the side and rear-view mirrors and the instrument panel.
• Don’t wear sunglasses or tinted lenses for night driving. During daylight driving, wear good-quality sunglasses. Keep the glasses clean.
• Choose a car with a clear, not tinted, windshield.
• Be wary of prescription and non-prescription drugs if you intend to drive. Cold and sinus remedies, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain killers and some prescription drugs can induce drowsiness and affect your vision. Know the side effects of any drug you take before getting behind the steering wheel.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

See this great article on page 14 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

Senior Life has 4 editions distributed in northern Indiana highlighting all areas of general interest for people over 50.

07/18/2023

Quick moves to credit card savings
By Cecil Scaglione, Mature Life Features

There are several simple chores you can perform if your credit card payments schedule has become unwieldy.
For starters, contact the card issuer and ask if you can change your payment date to one that works better for you. Ask if there is a toll-free 800 number to call to get an update on the status and total of your account.
If you think you’re going to exceed your limit, call the card issuer. They may be able to raise the credit limit and avoid an over-limit fee. Call also if you think your payment may arrive late.
To avoid a late payment fee, send your payment by overnight delivery if time permits. The delivery cost is usually lower than the late payment fee. You might phone it in with your account number and checking account information handy or make payment online.
Call your card issuer and ask about these and other steps you might take to make life easier for yourself.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

See this great article on page 5 of the June issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

Senior Life has 4 editions distributed in northern Indiana highlighting all areas of general interest for people over 50.

07/17/2023

Foil identity theft during vacation travel
By Cecil Scaglione, Mature Life Features

Summer months are ripe pickings for identity thieves. They go after travelers who make travel plans online, use credit and debit cards for purchases away from home, get money from unfamiliar automated teller machines, and let mail stack up in their mailbox back home.
A few simple steps to reduce their risk of becoming such a victim.
• Use a credit card, not a debit card, for online purchases. With a credit-card transaction, you can have a transaction reversed. A debit card takes the money automatically from your checking account.
• If you draw cash from automated teller machines, make sure no one can see the numbers you type into the screen. And do your transaction only at major banks or financial institutions.
• Never give out any personal or financial information unless you know who you’re talking to.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

See this great article on page 14 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

Senior Life has 4 editions distributed in northern Indiana highlighting all areas of general interest for people over 50.

07/16/2023

Baumann serves Jesus by serving others
By Laurie Lechlitner, Staff Writer

“As we follow Jesus, I believe we should try to live as He lived,” stated Amy Eberly Baumann, Warsaw. “God’s world view is different than our culture’s world view. We serve Him out of our own giftings. I see myself as an empathetic person. I’m also organized and detail oriented. I have some leadership ability thrown in there and love hosting people in our home when we have the time. To me, following Jesus is using our gifts and abilities to serve Him by serving others.
“My dad is a retired Church of the Brethren pastor, so I am a ‘PK’ (preacher’s kid). He and my mom live at Timbercrest in North Manchester. Even though they are retired, they are both still actively involved in ministry.”
When she was a sophomore in high school, Baumann committed her life to Jesus. “I was baptized in Waubee Lake, just two miles southeast of Milford.”
She attended Manchester College, where she majored in accounting and minored in psychology. “I worked in the accounting department at Bowen Center for 20 years. I now work part time in accounting at Joe’s Kids in Warsaw.”
After she and her husband, Jeff, were married, they began attending Warsaw Community Church. “I love volunteering at our church and am involved in various areas.”
Baumann has been a Stephen Minister for the past five years. “We are not professional counselors but have had 50+ hours of training. We’re paired with a care receiver who is going through a crisis period, whether that be a divorce, loss of a significant someone, grief or trauma. We’re not there to fix anyone. We simply walk alongside them, listening, supporting and helping direct them. We are the caregivers. Only Jesus is the cure-giver.”
She’s also part of a couple pit crews that serve the church’s mission partners. “We’re there to support and encourage the missionaries on and off the field so they can reach people for Christ better.”
“I also disciple women at the homeless shelter in Warsaw,” she remarked. “Right now I’m working with a woman who has some health issues. We are studying ‘Vertical Marriage’ by Ann and Dave Wilson together.”
Baumann and her husband work together at marriage mentoring using FOCCUS materials. “The program provides premarital sessions for couples to participate in. They answer a battery of questions individually. Then we help them talk about areas where they disagree or are uncertain about with one another. There are different categories such as friends and interest, finances, problem solving and sexuality. We stress how important communication is in a marriage and they learn it firsthand as they talk things through in our sessions. We love being a part of helping people develop a strong marriage.”
Through volunteering, Baumann is able to reach out to others. “I enjoy being able to pour myself into people and letting them know how much Jesus loves them.”
While pouring herself into others, Baumann continues to learn how to set boundaries and keep herself balanced. “Currently the verses of Matthew 11:28-29 have been speaking to me, where Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…you will find rest for your souls…For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’”

See this great article on page 12 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

07/15/2023

Sixties Flashback —
The coolest dive in town
A Boomer Blast To The Past By Randal C. Hill

In 1960, Chubby Checker’s multi-million-selling “The Twist” spent four months dominating the Top 40 airwaves. But, as with any hit tune, it eventually faded from favor and ended up on the voluminous heap of Golden Oldies.
Nearly two years later, though, Checker’s dance disc began earning radio spins again. For the second time, “The Twist” rocketed to Number One on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles list — but only briefly; the Chubster was soon knocked off the top spot by newcomers Joey Dee and the Starliters with their “Peppermint Twist.”
The New York City-based ditty was ear candy with a= heavy dance beat and lyrics that probably didn’t cause Bob Dylan any sleepless nights:
“Well, they’ve got a new dance and it goes like this
“(Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op)
“Yeah, the name of the dance is the Peppermint Twist
“(Bop shoo-op, a bop bop shoo-op)
“And where may we do such a dance, Mr. Dee?
“Meet me baby down on 45th Street
“Where the Peppermint Twisters meet
“And you’ll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist”
The difference in the dances? While Chubby’s uncomplicated moves were akin to shuffling one’s feet to extinguish a dropped cigarette butt, the short-lived Peppermint Twist dance involved pointing toes, crossing feet and employing elements of the Charleston.
The Peppermint Lounge was located at 128 W. 45th St. in the Times Square area and featured an interior that reeked of spilled beer and stale cigarette smoke. Entering patrons had to walk the length of a battered, 40-foot-long mahogany bar and traverse a mirrored hallway that opened to an absurdly small rectangular dance floor at the back. That’s where, on a raised platform, Joey and company rocked each night.
Then a sea change transformed the little-noticed locale. Middle-aged jet-setters became tantalized by recent newspaper puff pieces from New York society columnist Cholly Knickerbocker (actually the nom de plume of fashion meister Igor Cassini). He had spread the word that the watering hole had suddenly become the social epicenter for Gotham movers and shakers.
Eventually seen gyrating among the hoi polloi were such A-listers as Marilyn Monroe, Truman Capote, Greta Garbo, Norman Mailer, Judy Garland and Tennessee Williams. (But not, as was sometimes reported, First Lady Jackie Kennedy, although she occasionally did groove with Checker’s iconic dance at some private gatherings.)
Every weekend, the famous, the infamous and the anonymous arrived. The back of a Joey Dee album proclaimed, “For every motorcycle that pulls up to the front door, there is a Rolls Royce right behind it.”
The raucous joint wasn’t for everyone, though. Drama critic John McLean claimed it “possessed the charm, noise, odor and disorder of an overcrowded zoo.” Overcrowded, for sure; the legal number of partiers allowed in was 178, but each night many more than that sardined into the back room.
Like any fad-fueled hot spot though, the Peppermint Lounge became unhip when the hipsters moved to other venues. When the club closed its doors in 1965, few people cared — or even noticed.

See this great article on page 13 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

07/14/2023

Healthy feet a step ahead in weight loss
By Cecil Scaglione, Mature Life Features

The first step toward weight loss could be making sure you have healthy feet.
Instead of diving head-first into a diet or weight-loss program, you might want to look at your feet first.
Obesity aggravates foot problems that make it difficult to exercise when you’re trying to lose weight, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
Bad feet impede one of the simplest and easiest forms of exercise: walking.
The lack of exercise also assists the progress of heart disease, diabetes and other health threats.
Fat folks get caught up in the vicious cycle of avoiding physical activity due to foot or ankle pain, thereby permitting cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening conditions to worsen as a result.
Many seniors suffer foot pain, which usually is caused by treatable foot conditions that may have resulted from years of stress and pounding. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, foot and ankle pain can be eliminated from the debilitating health issues associated with aging.
A common misconception is growing older means having to cope with sore feet all the time. Foot and ankle surgeons believe seniors should not be resigned to accepting foot pain as a consequence of aging. Pain from common foot and ankle conditions can be treated successfully.
In many cases, chronic heel pain occurs from carrying too much weight. Left untreated, it becomes an impediment to physical activity and meaningful weight loss.
Medical advances have led to up-to-the-minute techniques employed to correct foot disorders and alleviate activity-limiting discomfort. Non-surgical and surgical treatments can help seniors stay active, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Many causes of foot pain and discomfort can be alleviated non-surgically with stretching exercises, orthotics, and/or athletic shoes with solid support and shock absorption.
When heel pain, a bunion, or other condition requires surgery, the patient can exercise during recovery by riding a stationary bicycle, swimming, or weight training.
A physical examination is mandatory before initiating any exercise program. After being cleared by your primary care physician and having your feet checked, don’t try to do too much too soon.
Many people with diabetes feel they shouldn’t exercise when they experience foot ulcerations. Everyone with diabetes needs regular foot exams to check for possible sore spots and assess nerve sensation. With proper foot care and the right footwear, most diabetic patients can develop and maintain an exercise regimen that is safe and appropriate for them.
Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

See this great article on page 12 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

Senior Life has 4 editions distributed in northern Indiana highlighting all areas of general interest for people over 50.

07/13/2023

Quick and easy salad dressing recipes
By Cat Wilson, Senior Life

When you eat a healthy= salad filled with greens, beans and lots of cruciferous vegetables you really don’t want to drown it in a bottle of heavy dressing. Let your dressing enhance your food and let the flavor pop.
What these recipes tell you is that you can use what you have and develop a dressing that suits your taste.
The below are all oil-free (get your oil from the whole food — avocado, olives, etc.)
• 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon agave/ Maple syrup and 2 tablespoon water.
• 2 tablespoon balsamic/ apple cider vinegar, 1-2 teaspoon any fruit preserves and 2 tablespoon water.
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon agave syrup, dash of turmeric, dash of ground ginger , 1 tablespoon chopped fresh scallions (green onion), 2 tablespoon water and light Asian-inspired vinaigrette.
• 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon mustard, ½ tablespoon agave/ maple syrup, dried Italian herbs of choice and 2 tablespoon water.
• 1 tablespoon hummus, 1 tablespoon lemon/lime juice, ½-1 tablespoon agave/maple syrup and 2 tablespoon water.
• 1 tablespoon tahini, 1 tablespoon lemon/lime juice, ½ tablespoon agave/maple syrup, 2 tablespoon water.
• 2-3 tablespoon of your favorite salsa added directly to your salad.
• ¼-½ ripe avocado, massaged into the greens of your salad before adding other vegetables. Top completed salad with a squeeze of lemon.
• 2 tablespoon hummus massaged into the greens of your salad before adding other vegetables. Top completed salad with a squeeze of lemon.
• A generous squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice all over your salad right before serving.
Other flavor filled ingredients to experiment with are:
Flavored wine vinegars
Hearty Mustards
Fresh herbs
Dates or Figs
Nut butters

Cat Wilson lives in South Bend and transitioned from a vegetarian diet to eating a plant-based diet over two years ago. She may be contacted at [email protected].

See this great article on page 16 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

07/12/2023

National Air Force Museum —
Celebrating 100th anniversary
Great Escapes By Rod King

What started in Dayton, Ohio, in 1923 as a small engineering study collection of technical artifacts is now the largest military aviation museum in the world.
And this year, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
It’s more than a place to see airplanes and missiles. It’s the history of flight from the Wright brothers’ initial flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., and the use of planes in transportation and military combat to exploration of space. It’s all here in four enormous airconditioned buildings.
The museum is divided into galleries covering broad historic trends in military aviation. They run the gamut from the Early Years, World War II, Korean War and Southeast Asia galleries to the Cold War, Missile, Presidential, Space and Research and Development galleries.
There’s also a Holocaust exhibit with a detailed timeline of the rise of Hi**er and the N**i Party to power in Germany to their calculated extermination of Jews and other people they deemed undesirable to their eventual defeat at the close of World War II.
As one docent commented “it could take several days to take in everything.” That’s because there are 22 acres under roof, housing more than 300 planes. The museum’s total collection is 2,900 planes. Some are on display outside and some are at other museums around the country.
Some of the most notable planes on display include a replica of the 1909 Wright Military Flyer, the World War II B-29 Superfortress that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan, the B-52 Stratotofortress, the Cold War era B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the U-2A spy plane, the Space Shuttle Trainer and seven presidential planes which are open for viewing. One is the plane that took President and Mrs. Kennedy to Dallas Nov. 22, 1963, when he was assassinated. Vice President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as president aboard the plane and it carried Kennedy’s body back to Washington, D.C.
The Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle is a main attraction. It became a symbol of the heavy bomber crews and support personnel who helped defeat N**i Germany in World War II. It was one of the first heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions, after which it and its crew returned to the United States to boost the sale of war bonds. Memphis Belle was featured in a 1944 documentary, two motion pictures and a 1990 Hollywood feature film.
Along the way there are lifelike vignettes with uniformed mannequins attending to planes, loading ammunition, climbing into the cockpit and doing pre-flight inspections. One is of a young pilot getting chewed out royally Continued from page 14 for running his fighter plane into a fence, upending it and damaging the propellers.
Visitors can get the feeling of flying in one of the flight simulators located in the Korean War Gallery. There’s a charge to find out what it’s like in the air. A huge C-124-C cargo plane is open for viewing, as is a B-29 fuselage. Guests can view aviation and space-oriented films (for a fee) in a large-format theater with surround sound.
Visiting the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is a fun way to get an effortless and painless history lesson. And get this. It’s free and so is the parking.
For more information, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil.

See this great article on page 22 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻

07/06/2023

55 years of dog grooming experience for Bonewitz
By Laurie Lechlitner, Staff Writer

“I’ve had 55 years of experience grooming dogs,” stated Anne Bonewitz, Warsaw. “I got my first poodle when I was 13 years old. I took him to the groomer a couple times, but it was about six weeks between grooms. I wanted to make him look beautiful all the time. So, I began grooming him myself at home. The groomers at True Pal Pet Shop were so impressed when they saw him that they offered me a job.”
Bonewitz fell in love with the poodle breed. “They are so smart you can train them easily. I also noticed that when they look rather odd and unkept, that’s usually the sign of a poor groomer. Poodles weremeant to be very beautiful animals. They are as graceful in their gait as horses.”
Of course, the shop groomed other breeds. “We had cocker spaniels and schnauzers. Eventually we had shih tzus, when they became so popular in the U.S. But our skill levels were stretched to the max when we spent 3-1/2 hours on a poodle. That’s where our time and talents were allowed to shine.”
Eventually Bonewitz’s dad fixed up the basement as a grooming facility. “I had an old milk tub from Winona Dairy to bathe the dogs. Dad fixed me up a tool workbench as a grooming table.”
Things would not always be so primitive for Bonewitz, though.
“When my husband Dave and I moved to West Center Street with our family, we fixed up the basement for my business, The Pets’ Parade LLC. Then I had professional hydraulic tubs and modern grooming facilities. Eventually, I moved into my own building on our property.”
Bonewitz believes that grooming pets is an art form. “Dave and I were trained in oil painting by Freddy Clark of North Webster. Grooming a dog is similar to painting a picture. You get an image in your mind of how the finished product should look and begin creating.”
Of course, there are some human clients who have vastly different tastes than Bonewitz. “We had an owner who wanted me to do a mohawk on their dog. I felt terrible making the animal look so odd. However, the owner loved it. My rule is that whoever brings in a dog can tell me how they want it groomed.”
Bonewitz also breeds and sells both poodles and Yorkies. “Dogs make a great deal of
difference in a person’s life. I’ve seen the results and it never ceases to amaze me.”
For example, a retired police officer from Chicago purchased a dog for his granddaughter who he and his wife were raising. “She had been abused and the first time I saw her in the family car she was in a fetal position. I was hoping the Yorkie they adopted would not scare her.”
Several years later the family came to thank Bonewitz. “This time the little girl walked in smiling, wanting to pet the dogs I had.”
During the COVID lockdown an elderly lady came to adopt a Yorkie. “Her family was concerned that she was isolated. Now she had something to love. She was out twice a day walking the dog. She met people. Her life was turned around.”
Bonewitz concluded, “I get to meet so many people I wouldn’t otherwise have the privilege to know through my work with dogs.”

See this great article on page 2 of the July issue of Senior Life Elko, you can check it out digitally at www.SeniorLifeNewspapers.com just by clicking on the Senior Life Elko cover on our homepage💻