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Bill's Bulletin
West Lafayette Wellness Center Tour
On October 1st, I was one of twenty-eight PURA members signed up to participate in the tour of the new West Lafayette Wellness Center at 1101 Kalberer Road in West Lafayette. This tour was organized by Jim Lehman, Chair of PURA’s Campus and Community Activities Committee. The tour was well organized as we divided up into groups of six to eight people.
I was impressed at the attention to privacy since this was a gymnasium. All dressing/changing rooms were private accommodations. No sharing with someone you don’t know. Free individual lockers are available; you provide your own lock.
A lifeguard is on duty while the pool is open. Membership includes pool access with walking vortex, land and water group fitness classes, indoor walking track and drop-in childcare. The facility is very kid-friendly. The running track overlooks the gym floor below so parents can utilize the exercise equipment located at the perimeter of the track while supervising their children playing below, and there’s a supervised play area for younger children, for those who have small children.
I encourage you to access the virtual tour link of the facility on YouTube: Welcome To The West Lafayette Wellness Center – A Video Tour. For operating hours and fees contact the Wellness Center at 765-269-4950. There is no charge to walk in and view the facility and its equipment. [See article and photos later in this issue.]
United Way of Greater Lafayette Update
PURA has contributed $109,990 as of October 14, 2021. A big THANK YOU goes out to all who have contributed so far! It’s a huge help for our community. PURA has a goal of $175,347 for the 2021 campaign. All United Way mailings for PURA members have gone out, so if you didn’t receive your pledge card in the mail or have misplaced it, please contact me, bennetwi@purdue.edu, or Megan Eberly at meberly@purdue.edu, (317-695-5740) and we will get a new pledge card into the mail for you. The campaign runs until November 17, 2021, so there’s still time if you’d like to participate. If you live outside the immediate region, we hope you’ll participate in your local United Way campaign.
William Bennett, President, PURA
Miss a PURA Program? Listen to the Recording
Topic for the November PURA Meeting: "Tech Toys for the Holidays"
PURA’s annual discussion of “Tech Toys for the Holidays” will be Monday, November 1, at 12:30 pm ET via Zoom. Scott Ksander will look at new technology that has become available for both retirees to “play with” and to give as gifts this year. COVID has changed the types of technology available and also the likely availability of products. This session may help you shop early if you envision tech gifts this holiday season.
West Lafayette Wellness Center Tour
On Friday, October 1, 28 PURA members toured the new West Lafayette Wellness Center at 1101 Kalberer Road in West Lafayette. The 73,000 square foot facility opened its doors to the public in January and now boasts a membership of over 1,200.
The PURA attendees initially gathered in the facility’s community meeting room space (which can be rented for events) and were greeted by Heather Wiltse, Membership and Marketing Director. She shared a brief video tour of the facility, which is available on YouTube at: Welcome to the West Lafayette Wellness Center- A video Tour - YouTube. Following the welcome video, the group split into three smaller groups to tour the facility.
The facility offers many exercise options and amenities including three basketball courts, fitness studios, a track for running or walking, a zero-depth entrance swimming pool, an outdoor patio, a variety of exercise equipment, and an indoor play area for kids while parents work out. All of the toilets, changing rooms, and shower rooms are private and unisex. Personal trainers are available to assist members or the community with their exercise needs for a separate fee. It is an impressive facility with much to offer!
Memberships for active older adults (65+) are $40 per month, or $55 per month for two active older adults (both 65+). There is a one-time joiner fee of $50 for non-residents. Unfortunately for PURA members, the center has not been able to reach an agreement with Silver Sneakers and does not currently accept it for membership fees.
In late September, PURA members toured the new Loeb Stadium at Columbian Park, in Lafayette.
Purdue’s United Way Campaign Wraps Up
To donate, visit the Purdue United Way website. Make sure to note that your payment should be credited to the
PURA goal. Alternatively, you may send a personal note to the United Way Campaign office with a check, 1114 East State Street, Lafayette, IN 47905-1219. This is especially important if you are contributing from an IRA or other third-party source.
Wherever you live, we encourage you to support your community’s annual United Way campaign. If you live outside the Lafayette area, check your local United Way website to learn about this year’s campaign.
Zoom Connection Information for PURA Meetings
The Zoom connection information for PURA monthly meetings is shown below. The link, Meeting ID, and password will be the SAME for all normal monthly meetings.
Members who wish to join via phone call audio only will need the separate Passcode shown below. (The password/passcode for that method is different from the normal “computer connection” to Zoom.)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97285398989?pwd=MlB4U0FudEplMFRoWm1GTkZzNmYrZz09
Meeting ID: 972 8539 8989
Passcode: BoilerUp
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,97285398989#,,,,,,0#,,41051096# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,97285398989#,,,,,,0#,,41051096# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 972 8539 8989
Passcode: 41051096
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acvQQKVcnE
PURA Tech Bytes
By Scott Ksander
MFA (Microsoft Multi-factor Authentication) Is Coming to @purdue.edu Email
This week in Purdue Today, ITaP announced it is implementing Microsoft Multi-Factor
Authentication (MFA) for faculty, staff, students, and retirees on the West Lafayette campus to help protect users’ personal information. MFA, sometimes called Two Factor Authentication, is widely used now by financial institutions. You will have likely experienced this as a prompt for a code sent by the institution via email or text when you log into your account.
This ONLY affects retirees who use their @purdue.edu email address. Microsoft MFA protects users by requiring a second form of authentication. Options include using text messages, an audio phone call, or the Microsoft Authenticator App to authenticate.
If you have an @purdue.edu email address, the PURA Media Communications Committee will be contacting you directly via that email address in the coming weeks. No action is required by you at this time. By the end of March 2022, Microsoft MFA will be required for all retirees using @purdue.edu email.
To learn more about Microsoft MFA, visit itap.purdue.edu/mfa.
True Story About How My Brain Works
By Sara Jane Coffman
I just finished an interesting book called Chatter: The Voice in our Head, Why it Matters, and How to Harness It. It’s a new book – just published in 2021. The author, Ethan Kross, an academician/ researcher/ psychologist who studied people’s behavior and the “chatter” that goes on in our brains.
I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of chatter in my brain. Sometimes I marvel at how my brain just goes off and thinks of things all on its own. Let me give you an example.
The other day when I got up, I looked at my “to do” list for the day. The first thing on the list was “pick up horse.”
Now, if you’d seen that, what would have been your first thought? MY first thought was: horses are heavy. I don’t think I’m strong enough to pick up a horse.
That’s chatter. Whenever I don’t understand something, my brain jumps in and tells me how dumb I am. “You’re not strong enough to pick up a horse.”
So I looked at the list again. The second thing that crossed my mind was: Do I even HAVE a horse? I actually stopped and thought about that for a minute. No, I don’t have a horse.
The third thing that crossed my mind was: I buy a lot of things on Amazon. Did I buy a horse on Amazon? If I did, it sounds like it’s not going to be delivered to the house – I’m going to have to go pick it up.
The fourth thing that crossed my mind was: my friend Linda has a horse. Maybe I agreed to go pick up HER horse. Did I agree to pick up HER horse?
I looked at the list one last time, then it hit me. The “r” was a “u.” It wasn’t “pick up horse.” It was “pick up house.”
Pick up all the clothes that were lying on the floor that I’ve been tripping over the last few days.
True Tales of an Entomologist
By Tom Turpin
Editor’s Note: This is the eighth installment of Tom Turpin’s colorful experiences, which appear in his self-published Memoirs.
A Sample is a Great Way to Identify an Insect Problem
Grower meetings have been an important part of extension education for many years. Almost from the beginning of my career at Purdue I would go to extension-sponsored meetings and present information about insect pests of corn. Such meetings were always interesting because you never knew exactly what to expect out of the attendees.
I have to admit that what happened at one such a meeting, many years ago in Southern Indiana, really surprised me. The meeting was held in the days when European corn borers were a major problem in corn and that year had unusually heavy populations of those insects. So the requested presentation was focused on how to recognize corn borer damage, application of insecticides if needed, and best insecticides to use.
After the presentation – we used a carousel projector to show slides to the audience in those days – it was time for questions. There were lots of questions before one old farmer at the back of the room said he wasn’t sure if he should apply insecticide or not because he wasn’t sure his corn was infested with corn borers. He said he had brought a corn plant along and wondered if I would look at it to see if it was infested with borers. I said sure. The old farmer stood up and proceeded to pull a five-foot corn plant through the bib of his overalls much to the delight of others in the audience.
He sat through the meeting with the corn plant threaded down the leg of his overalls which I am sure might have been a bit uncomfortable. The plant was somewhat worse for the wear but I was still able to tell him that the plant was infested with corn borers!
Notable Historic November Events
1782—November 30. A provisional peace treaty was signed between Great Britain and the United States heralding the end of America's War of Independence. The final treaty was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783. It declared the U.S. "...to be free, sovereign and independent states..." and that the British Crown "...relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety and territorial rights of the same, and every part thereof."
1783—November 21. The first free balloon flight took place in Paris as Jean Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Marquis Francois Laurent d'Arlandes ascended in a Montgolfier hot air balloon. Their flight lasted about 25 minutes and carried them nearly six miles at a height of about 300 feet over Paris. Benjamin Franklin was one of the spectators.
1789—November 26. The first American holiday occurred, proclaimed by President George Washington to be Thanksgiving Day, a day of prayer and public thanksgiving in gratitude for the successful establishment of the new American republic.
1811—November 7. General William H. Harrison led 1,000 Americans in battle, defeating the Shawnee Indians and their leader Tenskwatawa (“the Prophet”) at the Battle of Tippecanoe Creek, and destroyed the Native American village Prophetstown, near Lafayette, Indiana.
1848—November 1. The first medical school for women opened in Boston. The Boston Female Medical School was founded by Samuel Gregory with just twelve students. In 1874, the school merged with the Boston University School of Medicine, becoming one of the first co-ed medical schools.
1911—November 5. Aviator C.P. Snow completed the first transcontinental flight across America, landing at Pasadena, California. He had taken off from Sheepshead Bay, New York, on September 17 and flew a distance of 3,417 miles.
1929—November 29. American explorer Commander Richard E. Byrd, navigator and leader of the expedition, and
Norwegian chief pilot Bernt Balchen completed the first airplane flight to the South Pole. They were accompanied by Harold June, his co-pilot and radio operator; and Ashley McKinley, the flight's photographer. The flight was considered one of the greatest aviation achievements in history.
Byrd (1888 – 1957) was an American naval officer and pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics. Aircraft flights in which he served as a navigator and expedition leader crossed the Atlantic Ocean, a segment of the Arctic Ocean, and a segment of the Antarctic Plateau.
Per Wikipedia, by the time he died, Byrd had amassed 22 citations and special commendations, nine of which were for bravery and two for extraordinary heroism in saving the lives of others. In addition, he received the Medal of Honor, the Silver Lifesaving Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Navy Cross.
Balchen (1899—1973) had been part of Byrd’s previous expeditions to the North Pole and on numerous transatlantic flights. Per Wikipedia, due to his reputation as a polar, transatlantic and aviation expert, Balchen was hired in 1931 by Amelia Earhart as a technical adviser for a planned solo transatlantic flight. In an attempt to throw off the press, Earhart turned over her repaired Lockheed Vega to Balchen who was assumed to be planning an Antarctic flight. Balchen flew the Vega to the Fokker Aircraft Company plant at Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. There, he and the mechanics Frank Nagle and Eddie Gorski reconditioned the Vega for the upcoming record flight. Its fuselage was strengthened to carry extra fuel tanks that were added to provide a 420-gallon capacity, and some additional flight instruments were also installed. After modifications had been made, Earhart flew this Lockheed Vega across the Atlantic Ocean on 20 May 1932, landing in Ireland.
Balchen became an American citizen, holding dual citizenship with his native Norway. His service in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II made use of his Arctic exploration expertise to help the Allies over Scandinavia and Northern Europe. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII, and ultimately received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
1947—November 2. The first and only flight of Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" flying boat occurred in Long Beach Harbor, California. It flew about a mile at an altitude of 70 feet. Costing $25 million, the 200-ton plywood eight-engine Hercules was the world's largest airplane, designed, built and flown by Hughes. It later became a tourist attraction alongside the Queen Mary ship at Long Beach and has since been moved to Oregon.
1963—November 22. At 12:30 p.m., on Elm Street in downtown Dallas, President John F. Kennedy's motorcade slowly approached a triple underpass. Shots rang out and the President was struck in the back, then in the head. He was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital where fifteen doctors tried to save him. At 1:00 p.m., John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of the United States, was pronounced dead. On board Air Force One, at 2:38 p.m., Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States.
1965—November 9. At 5:16 p.m., the Great Blackout of the Northeast began as a tripped circuit breaker at a power plant on the Niagara River caused a chain reaction sending power surges knocking out interconnected power companies down the East Coast. The blackout affected over 30 million persons, one-sixth of the entire U.S. population. Electricity also failed in Ontario and Quebec. (The popular urban legend that the event triggered a mini-baby-boom has been disproved.)
1989—November 9. The Berlin Wall was opened up after standing for 28 years as a symbol of the Cold War. The 27.9 mile wall had been constructed in 1961, and was a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. The barrier included guard towers placed along large concrete walls, accompanied by a wide area (later known as the "death strip") that contained anti-vehicle trenches, beds of nails and other defenses. The Eastern Bloc portrayed the Wall as protecting its population from fascist elements conspiring to prevent the "will of the people" from building a socialist state in East Germany.
November Birthdays
Daniel Boone. November 2, 1734. American frontiersman Daniel Boone (1734-1820) was born in Berks County, near Reading, Pennsylvania.
Will Rogers. November 4, 1879. American humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935) was born in Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). "All I know is what I read in the newspapers," he once joked. He was killed in an airplane crash with aviator Wiley Post near Point Barrow, Alaska.
Walter Cronkite. November 4, 1916. Journalist Walter Cronkite (1916-2009) was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was a leading correspondent for United Press International during World War II. From 1962 to 1981, he was the anchorman of the CBS Evening News and was widely regarded as America's most trusted journalist.
Carl Sagan. November 9, 1934. Scientist Carl Sagan (1934-1996) was an astronomy professor at Cornell University and a consultant for NASA, but best known for inspiring the public with his reverence for the universe around us, and explaining it in an easy-to-understand way. He was a bestselling author (The Dragons of Eden), and his 1980 PBS series “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage” is still among the most popular and widely-watched PBS series of all time.
Alan Shepard. November 18. One of NASA's original Mercury astronauts, Alan Shepard (1923-1998) went down in history as the first American in space when he rode the Freedom 7 spacecraft to an altitude of 116 miles on May 5, 1961. The 15-minute trip was preserved on film, and today, you can take a virtual ride-along with Shepard. Shepard also walked on the moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission in 1971.
Roy Campanella. November 19. Baseball player Roy Campanella (1921-1993) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was one of the first African American major league players and was one of the Brooklyn Dodgers' "Boys of Summer." His career ended when an automobile accident left him paralyzed in 1958. He then became an inspirational spokesman for the paralyzed.
Edwin Hubble. November 20. American astronomer Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) was born in Marshfield, Missouri. He pioneered the concept of an expanding universe. The Hubble Space Telescope was named in his honor. It was deployed from the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1990, allowing astronomers to see farther into space than they had ever seen from telescopes on Earth.
Dale Carnegie. November 24. Motivational lecturer Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) was born in Maryville, Missouri. Best known for his 1936 book How to Win Friends and Influence People which sold millions of copies and was translated into 29 languages.
Andrew Carnegie. November 25. American financier Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) was born in Dunfermline, Scotland. He emigrated to America, made his fortune in steel, then became a major philanthropist. Among his gifts: over 2,500 libraries, Carnegie Hall, Carnegie Foundation, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He once wrote, "The man who dies rich dies disgraced."
Mary Edwards Walker. November 26. American physician and women's rights leader, Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919) was born in Oswego, New York. She was the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army, serving during the Civil War. She was captured and spent four months in a Confederate prison. In 1865, she became the first and only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor.
Other Americans born in November, among many:
—U.S. Presidents Joe Biden, James A. Garfield, Warren G. Harding, Franklin Pierce, James Polk, Zachary Taylor
—Musicians Ray Conniff, Aaron Copeland, Tommy Dorsett, Art Garfunkel, Robert Goulet, Jimi Hendrix, Al Hirt, Bruce Hornsby, Lyle Lovett, Chuck Mangione, Bonnie Raitt, John Phillip Sousa, Tina Turner, Neil Young
—Authors Mark Twain (Tom Sawyer), Margaret Mitchell (Gone with the Wind), Charles Shultz (cartoonist, Peanuts), Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
—Sports figures Ken Griffey Jr., Billie Jean King, Joe DiMaggio, Tom Weiskopf
—A host of actors and actresses, including: Ed Asner (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), Charles Bronson (The Magnificent Seven), Art Carney (The Honeymooners), Richard Crenna (The Real McCoys), Sally Field (Gidget), Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple, Sister Act), Robert Guillaume (Soap, Benson), Goldie Hawn (Private Benjamin), Grace Kelly (It Takes a Thief), Bert Lancaster (From Here to Eternity, Field of Dreams), Mandy Patinkin (The Princess Bride), Roy Scheider (Jaws), Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H), Ray Walston (South Pacific, My Favorite Martian), Robert Vaughan (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
Benefits/Health
The Pros and Cons of Sparkling Seltzer Waters
By Chris Rearick, MSN, RN, Purdue Nursing Center for Family Health
Have you noticed all the flavors and brands of carbonated waters that are now available at the store? These popular drinks are also known as carbonated water or sparkling water, not to be confused with sparkling mineral water or tonic water. The bubbly to these drinks is achieved by infusing carbon dioxide gas into the drink. You may even purchase a home machine to create this refreshing drink. Do these bubbly drinks possess any health benefits and if so, what are they?
Confusion comes when comparing other bubbly drinks like sparkling mineral water and tonic water. Sparking mineral water comes from a natural well or spring and contains minerals, salts, sulfur and calories. Tonic water is plain water with added carbon dioxide and quinine. Seltzer or sparkling water is plain water with carbon dioxide added for fizz. There are no calories in these bubbly waters, unless there are added ingredients such as flavoring, vitamins or nutrients. You need to read the label to check for any added calories.
One health benefit to sparkling seltzer water with no calories or sugar, is that they are a great alternative to ingesting sugary sodas. Sugary sodas can lead to tooth decay*. Similar to plain water, sparkling waters are also hydrating and can prevent dehydration. Many consumers claim the fizz feels refreshing and it gives them an alternative to just plain water. This drink may be a good choice when dieting, staying hydrated or if you are diabetic. Another benefit is that a swallow of this bubbly may put off some hunger urges due to the bubbles taking up space in your stomach.
When it comes to your teeth, studies have shown that these bubbly drinks are safer than sugary soda but still may not be the best for your teeth. Sparkling waters are slightly acidic. The pH of our mouth** tends to be about 7, in part due to saliva. Dentists will tell you that when the pH of the mouth drops below 5.5, the environment is better for tooth decay. The pH of soda is around 2.5. The pH of plain sparkling water is around 3 or 4.5.
Moderation is the key! Plain tap water may still be our best choice with its alkaline properties and added fluoride but enjoying a bubbly now and then can be a refreshing treat and break. I am too frugal and prefer to not spend my extra dollars on a sparkling water but I do keep them around for guests. You be the judge.
Additional Resources:
*https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/nutrition/food-tips/sugary-drinks
**https://www.healthline.com/health/ph-of-saliva
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-carbonated-water-bad-for-you
If you would like to schedule a Wellness Screening please call Chris at 765-496-0308 or email at crearick@purdue.ed
Fall Cooking Classes (The Teaching Kitchen @lylesporter)
Campus Services News:
PURA Contact Information
To streamline ongoing communications and service from Purdue Human Resources, a new email account has been set up. All PURA-related communications from HR will now come from pura@purdue.edu – which will show up as “PURA Admin” in your email inboxes.
Conact Information for PURA is:
Office of Retiree Affairs
2550 Northwestern Ave., Suite 1100
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Telephone, via Purdue Benefits help line: (toll free) 877-725-0222
Email: pura@purdue.edu
How to Subscribe to Purdue Today
Retirees may signup online to receive Purdue Today emails. Visit this web site: https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/subscribe-to-purdue-today.html.
The form asks for first and last name, University affiliation and email address. Once the form is submitted, you will receive an email from Purdue Today (purduetoday@purdue.edu) asking you to confirm the subscription.
Some mail servers may identify Purdue Today as spam and filter the confirmation email — and subsequent Purdue Today emails — into a "junk" or "promotions" folder. To avoid this, add purduetoday@purdue.edu to your email application's contacts list.
Questions about Purdue Today should be directed to Valerie O'Brien at purduetoday@purdue.edu or 765-494-9573.