55 Plus by 55 Plus: For Active Adults in Central New York

Marilyn Pinsky: My Conversation With Jane Pauley

55 PLUS

Issue 42 December 2012 / January 2013

For Active Adults in Central New York

Will Your Taxes Go Up in 2013? Get the lowdown on the “fiscal cliff”

JACKIE ROBINSON OUT OF THE ANCHOR DESK

The Art of Picking the Right Pet

She talks about her retirement life after having spent several decades as an anchor with CNY Central, Channel 3.

Several things to consider before you choose a new pet

Holiday Gifts. What’s Popular, Where to Find it

Suzanne Ellis: Post-Standard’s News ‘Felt Like a Death in the Family’

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Based on a true story, Always….Patsy Cline is about the legendary friendship of Patsy Cline with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger. This rollicking musical comedy includes many of Patsy’s unforgettable hits including Your Cheatin’ Heart, You Belong To Me, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams, She’s Got You, Anytime, Walkin’ After Midnight, True Love and of course, Crazy. At just 30 years old, the tough-asnails Cline had already made what would become some of the most memorable records in country, pop, and rock n’ roll music history. Becky Bottrill is reprising what has become her signature role as legendary performer Patsy Cline. Sing along with over 24 tunes that made her famous, and get ready to dance in your seats with a live, foot-stompin’ 7 piece band and backup singers known as “The Bodacious Bobcats” featuring Syracuse’s own “John Cadley & The Lost Boys.”

Christine Lightcap, Producer starring Becky Bottrill as Patsy Cline Over the last decade there has been no greater, deeper, more emphatic identity of a performer with a part than Becky Bottrill’s contralto song-belter in “Always… Patsy Cline.”

Created by Ted Swindley

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Not only is Bottrill’s vocal interpretation on target, so is her acting.

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Smart Giving Will Carry On for Letty Murray

Letty Murray sits in her home at The Nottingham alongside a photo from her wedding day in 1942.

It just came naturally for us to be charitable. When my late husband, Gil, suggested that we open a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation to help increase our charitable impact, I trusted his good judgment. That was in 1960, when donor-advised funds were a relatively new vehicle for giving. Over the past 50 years, we used our modest fund to support causes we cared about deeply. We actively participated in the grantmaking process while taking advantage of being part of a larger investment pool for continued growth. I feel strongly that our familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy of generosity should continue on long after I am gone, and have turned to the Community Foundation to carry that torch. I have entrusted the Community Foundation to continue giving in the Murray name in perpetuity, supporting the greatest needs of the community. There is no better way to honor Gil than to leave a lasting mark on the community we love. Our fund has had immeasureable impact for over half a century and will carry on for generations, making the Community Foundation Where the Smart Money Gives.

Where the Smart Money Gives. 431 East Fayette Street, Suite 100 Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 422-9538 www.cnycf.org 4

55 PLUS - December 2012 / January 2013

55 PLUS

December 2012 / January 2013

Savvy Senior 6 Financial Health 7 Gardening 8 Golden Years 13 Planning 14 Aging 24 My Turn 34 Consumers Corner 38 Druger’s Zoo 48

CONTENTS

22 25

10 TRENDS

36 PROFILE

18 GIVING

40 FITNESS

22 RETIREMENT

42 VISITS

26 COVER

46 MEMORY

• Floyd Little: The legendary No. 44

• The art of picking the right pet

• Exercising in your 50s, 60, 70s and beyond

• Holiday gifts—what’s popular, where to find it

• Lighting the way — The lighthouses of Upstate New York

• Do you call this retirement? A conversation with Nick Pirro

• Learning the fate of The PostStandard: “It felt like there had been a death in the family”

• Jackie Robinson: Life out of the spotlight

31 ICON

• Joe Carfagno: Saying it with music

50 LAST PAGE

• Mack Richardson, opera director

December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

savvy senior By Jim Miller

Is a Longevity Annuity Right for You?

f you’re worried about outliving your retirement savings, longevity annuities are definitely an option worth looking into. Longevity annuities are simply deferred annuities that pay you income for life, but only if and when you make it to a certain age. How does it work? You give an insurance company a lump sum of money when you retire (say age 60 or 65), in return for monthly income usually starting at around 80 or 85. The advantage of choosing a longevity annuity over an immediate annuity is that the payouts are much higher. For example, a 65-year-old man who puts $30,000 into a longevity policy could expect to receive around $1,600 per month (that comes to $19,200 per year) starting at age 85. Buying a $30,000 immediate annuity at age 85, he’d get only around $370 per month. Why such a big difference? Because the insurer has more time to make money off your money before it must begin paying you back. And, they’re betting you won’t live long enough to receive many, if any, checks. National statistics show that a 65-yearold man will live, on average, to 82, and a 65-year-old woman to 85. Another great benefit with a longevity annuity is it gives you the freedom to spend down your nest egg, knowing you’ve locked up an income stream for your later years. But as tantalizing as those big payouts may be, longevity annuities have their drawbacks. For starters, a basic longevity policy offers no escape hatch for you to retrieve your money during the 20 years or so you’re waiting for benefits to start. And your heirs won’t get death benefits if you die before you begin to collect. If that bothers you, you may want 6

to consider a longevity policy that offers flexible features like a death benefit to be paid to your heirs, early payment options, inflation protection and more. The downside, however, is that every extra feature you add will reduce your monthly benefit. Yo u c a n u s e t h e B r a n d e s Retirement Simulator (see www. brandes.com/institute) to figure out if you should consider a policy. Plug in your current and projected income, expenses and investment strategies. It will show you the possible impact of a longevity product on retirement spending and on your income after age 85. Brandes does not sell longevity insurance.

When to Buy Most people purchase a longevity annuity at or just prior to the time they retire. To estimate how much coverage you should get, ﬁgure out how much of your essential expenses you can cover with Social Security, pensions, and other forms of guaranteed income, and buy longevity coverage for the rest. But don’t overdue it. Experts recommend you use no more than 10 to 15 percent of your assets to purchase a policy, and leave the rest in your portfolio to provide income until it kicks in. Also, when choosing a product, remember that you’re buying income that will not kick in for 20 years or more. So be sure to go with a company with a good reputation and solid ﬁnancials that you can check online for free at ambest.com, standardandpoors. com and thestreet.com/insurers. Insurance companies that currently sell longevity annuities are MetLife, Hartford Financial Services, Symetra, New York Life, Northwestern Mutual and MassMutual.

55 PLUS - December 2012 / January 2013

55PLUS Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Lou Sorendo

Writers

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Ken Little, Sandra Scott Aaron Gifford, Richard Palmer Suzanne Ellis, Mary Beth Roach

Columnists

Eva Briggs, M.D., Bruce Frassinelli Marilyn Pinsky, Harold Miller Jim Sollecito, David J. Zumpano Marvin Druger

Advertising

Jasmine Maldonado Marlene Raite Tracy DeCann

Ofﬁce Manager

Laura J. Beckwith

Layout and Design Chris Crocker

Cover Photo

Chuck Wainwright 55 PLUS –A Magazine for Active Adults in Upstate New York is published six times a year by Local News, Inc., which also publishes In Good Health–CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper.

Health in good

CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper Published at 185 E. Seneca St. PO Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126. Subscription: $15 a year

No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. Third class postage paid at Syracuse, NY. Permit Number: 3071

How to Reach Us P.O. Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126 Phone: 315-342-1182 Fax: 315-342-7776 Email: editor@cnyhealth.com Editor@cnyhealth.com

financial health By David J. Zumpano

Are Taxes Going Up Jan. 1?

ack in 2001, President Bush a n d C o n g re s s p a s s e d a massive tax overhaul that reduced capital gains, income, and estate taxes. The 2001 law was set to expire Dec. 31, 2010, but in a quick deal put together by President Obama and Congress on Dec. 17, 2010, the 2001 laws were extended two years until Dec. 31, 2012, just beyond the 2012 election. Now the clock is ticking toward Dec. 31 when all the 2001 tax laws are set to expire. What will this mean to you?

Capital Gains Tax A capital gains tax applies whenever you buy a capital asset (i.e. stocks, bonds or your house) and sell it at a later date for a proﬁt. The increase in value (over what you paid) is taxed at the preferred capital gains tax rate. Previous to 2001, capital gains were taxed as high as 28 percent. Under the Bush Tax Act, capital gain tax was reduced to a maximum of 15 percent. On Jan. 1, 2013, the capital gain tax rate will revert back to the pre Bush tax law rates and rise from a maximum of 15 percent to a maximum tax rate of 28 percent.

bonds, annuities, IRAs, and even your life insurance proceeds received after your death! If you die with more than $1 million of worth, the government assessed a tax of up to 55 percent of the excess, leaving 45 percent available to give your family. The 2001 Tax Act eliminated the estate tax in 2010. The Obama extension in December 2010 brought back the estate tax, but provided for a $5 million exemption with the amount in excess being taxed up to 35 percent. This law is also set to expire on Dec. 31. On Jan. 1, all estates over $1 million will be subject to an estate and gift tax of up to 55 percent.

A Brand New Tax Effective Jan. 1, all sales of assets that result in a capital gain (discussed above) over certain threshold amounts will be subject to a new additional 3.8 percent Medicare surtax on top of the capital gain tax to help pay for the Obama Healthcare Plan passed in 2009. This will affect all Americans that have capital gains over the threshold amounts so be sure you consider all of these new increases in your 2012 planning.

Income Tax

What Will Happen Jan. 1?

Under the 2001 Bush Tax Act, the maximum income tax rate dropped from 39.6 percent to 35 percent. Effective Jan. 1, the maximum income tax reverts to 39.6 percent. In addition, “dividend” income, (typically received from investments and stocks, bonds), will return to being taxed at ordinary income tax rates (of up to 39.5 percent) rather than being taxed at a maximum of 15 percent as the current tax law provides. So, if you have a lot of dividend income, expect to pay signiﬁcantly more in taxes in 2013 — it could be more than double!

Will Congress again extend the Bush tax cuts, modify them or eliminate them? If they intend to maintain them, why wouldn’t they have extended in 2010 for more than two years? The hope was that the election would be a mandate as to whether these tax cuts were preferred or not. Well, we shall ﬁnd out. The law is set to expire Dec. 31, 2012. Congress has indicated they want to ensure that doesn’t happen. I’m not holding my breath but we will keep you posted.

Estate and Gift Tax Prior to the 2001 Tax Act, an estate and gift tax was assessed on any individual who died with an estate of more than $1 million. Your “estate” is the value of all your assets including your money, stocks, home,

David J. Zumpano is an attorney and a certified public a c c o u n t a n t ( C PA ) . He operates Estate Planning Law Center. He can be reached at 793-3622.

Subscribe to 55 PLUS See our coupon on p. 49

December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

5 Best Jobs For A Second Career

s many older Americans put off retirement and continue working, it makes sense that some of them are looking for second careers — jobs that may have little to do with the careers they became experts at. With the help of PayScale and BLS data, AOL Jobs has identified five jobs that are ideal jobs for those looking for a second career. The positions listed below are relatively high paying, don’t require an advanced degree, aren’t management-level jobs, have good growth projections and employ relatively large numbers of people. 5. Software Developer: Develop applications that allow user to perform specific tasks on computers and other devices, or create operating systems that run the devices or control networks. • Median annual pay: $72,400 4. User Interface Engineer: Design and build systems that allows users to more easily interact with computers and other systems (similar to software engineer). • Median annual pay: $77,000. 3. Clinical Research Associate (CRA): Monitors clinical trials involving medical research and drug testing. • Median annual pay: $80,200. 2. Portfolio Manager: Supervises a team of analysts and selects the mix of products, industries and regions for a given investment portfolio. • Median annual pay: $83,900. 1. Supply Chain Consultant: Works with companies and organizations to design systems to move products from supplier to consumer more efficiently. • Median annual pay: $95,700. 8

Gardening

By Jim Sollecito

The Cutting Edge of Washington DC

ecently, my wife Megan and I took a trip to tour the nation’s capitol, its monuments and the vegetation. I grew up during the Vietnam era and had friends who served. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall with names of the deceased organized by the day they died was one of my must-see sights and it was indeed impressive. The Korean War Veterans Memorial was most haunting. The World War II Memorial was impressive in size, seeming larger than the other two put together. It was sobering to observe a number of veterans using prostheses, walkers or wheelchairs as they toured the sites. Freedom isn’t free, that’s for certain. Th e W hi t e H ou se g roun ds have always held my interest. As I suspected, the Rose Garden is properly situated on the southwest side of the building. The Kitchen Garden that the ﬁrst lady made sure was planted is just far enough away from the tall black metal fence so nobody could help themselves to free samples. Along with his other obvious duties, the heavily armed man on the roof also insured the garden would be used by occupants only. It looked great, as any professionally-attended vegetable garden would at this time of year. I found it curious that it was located a fair distance away from the White House itself. Usually when people ask me where to site a vegetable and herb garden, I look for the best available light, with easy access to water, and not too far away from the home. Out of sight, out of mind, and full of weeds is pretty much the way it goes. If you contact your congressperson a month ahead and obtain proper Secret Service clearance, then you too can get a White House tour. Interestingly enough, there are no tour guides, only Secret Service personnel,

55 PLUS - December 2012 / January 2013

lots of them, and they are really fussy about details. I had read ahead of time and carefully noted on clearly posted signs that a pocket knife under 3” would be allowed. For more than 25 years I have felt comfortable traveling with my pocket knife, using it mainly to open tightly sealed food packaging or fruit, so I kept it in my pocket. Purses and backpacks are contraband on the White House tour, so we left those with friends. After a 35-minute line through multiple ID and security checks, wouldn’t you know, one of the Secret Service agents seized my pocket knife. I pointed to the sign, he ﬂexed his credentials (read: gun) and we came to an agreement. I told the agent that I wanted the president to have this wonderful Camillus knife, something that he could enjoy and use for another 25 years, no matter where he lived. I pointed out that this would be perfect for cutting lettuce and chard from the garden, as I had used it for two and a half decades. He wasn’t impressed. He just took it and motioned me on. I would be looking for a new knife to carry on my next trip. I am betting that the agent has a collection of interesting pocket knives at home. I am just hoping he plants his garden close enough to the kitchen door so he can easily enjoy freshly cut vegetables. Jim Sollecito is the first lifetime senior certified landscape professional in NYS. He operates Sollecito Landscaping Nursery in Syracuse. Contact him at 4 6 8 - 11 4 2 o r a t jim@sollecito.com.

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Picking the Right Pet Your situation may change between now and 10 years from now. Select a new pet accordingly, local experts say By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

ew would dispute the stressreducing effect pets offer. Watching their amusing antics, stroking their soft fur and receiving unconditional attention all make pet ownership a satisfying pastime. “They provide companionship,”

said Ed Fadden, president of Gertie’s Small Dog Rescue in Fulton. “A lot of seniors don’t have a lot of people who come around and see them. A small dog who jumps in your lap and you can be a little closer to is nice. You can talk to them and they don’t smart mouth back. It’s unconditional

Barb Capella relaxes with Petey. She is a member of the Oswego County Humane Society Inc. board of directors. 10

55 PLUS - December 2012 / January 2013

love.” Whether you’re a ﬁrst-time pet owner or have enjoyed dogs and cats your whole life, selecting a new pet at retirement age is a little different than earlier in your life. Since dogs and cats can live up to — or, in some cases, beyond — 15 years, you have more considerations than when picking a pet in your young adulthood. A lot can change in the next 15 years. You may be able to walk a large, energetic dog now; however, if your mobility decreases, could you control the animal? If you have your heart set on a large dog, you could invest in obedience training, which will make the dog easier to handle or get help from others in exercising the dog. Using a zip line near the backdoor, fencing the yard or installing an electronic “fence” can make it easier to contain the dog than using a leash. Small dogs and cats are not without their hazards, too. Many older seniors ﬁnd that smaller pets can become tripping hazards as the eager animals get underfoot or curl up in dimly-lit areas. Selecting an adult pet over a kitten or puppy can also help ensure a less boisterous pet. It may also help to select a breed of cat or dog that tends to possess a quieter demeanor. Basset hounds, for example, are less active than Pomeranians. Maine coon cats play more than California ragdolls. You

don’t need to pay for an expensive purebred from a breeder. The occasional purebred may be found at a shelter. The experts there can help you determine the activity level of a mixed breed pet, too. The breed can also make a difference in coat upkeep and expense. If you want to avoid grooming bills, select a short-haired cat or dog. Barb Capella, a director on the board at Oswego County Humane Society Inc., recommends seeking a pet from an organization that emphasizes socialization. “Go through an organization that knows their cats and doesn’t keep them in cages,” she said. “We keep ours in foster care. I know my cats and my fosters know their cats.” She recommends cats to seniors because they are so easy to handle. At Gertie’s, Linda Fadden said the small dogs are already house trained, have all their shots and dental care, and are trained to leash or harness, in addition to socialization. Training a dog to sit and stay can help keep it under control when it would ordinarily become over-excited and cause you to trip, such as feeding time or when a visitor comes. Crate training can help provide a place for a dog to calm down. Yo u can form the habit of walking more carefully when your pet scurries around. The animal’s coat color can also make a difference when it comes to tripping. It’s easier to see a lightcolored pet than one with dark fur. Keep in mind that your living arrangements may change between now and 10 years from now. If you downsize from a large home with a big yard to a condo, would your new home accommodate your dog?

Age Matters Consider the age of the pet. “Seniors should consider if they get a younger dog, are they going to be physically and mentally capable of handling in 10 years, especially if they’re 70 or older,” said Theresa Penfield, dog control officer for Hannibal Animal Shelter in Oswego.

“They should consider an older dog, 7 [years of age] or so.” Make arrangements for your pet’s care should you become unable to care for it. Since accidents happen, everyone should do this; however, since older adults statistically have a greater chance of a health crisis, it’s even more important. Older dogs will be past the puppy vaccinations, alteration and other medical expenses younger dogs experience, but “when the dog is older, will [the senior] be able to handle different medical issues?” Penfield said. Affording a pet’s veterinarian care, food and supplies may be easy now; however, after you retire, you may find these expenses more burdensome. You help mitigate vet bills by selecting a pet that has been screened for health conditions common to its breed. It also helps to feed a high-quality food to keep your pet in optimal health. Don’t let your pet get overweight. Just as with people, carrying too much weight leads to expensive health problems and lower quality of life. Feed the proper amount of food as your veterinarian recommends and provide exercise opportunities. Walk the dog and play fetch. Most dogs merely tossed in the fenced backyard run for a few minutes, then lie down. Some cats enjoy batting dangling toys, chasing balls, climbing a “cat tree” or tossing around toy mice. Figure out what your kitty likes best and keep it fit. Avoid feeding excessive treats and food intended for humans. You may have fed the family dog table scraps as a youngster, but a sedentary pet — as opposed to a dog owned by a young active family — may not burn off the extra calories. Some “people food” is not healthful for pets, either. M a n y s h e l t e r s a n d re s c u e operations offer programs for seniors to make pet ownership more affordable. Gertie’s offers a seniorto-senior program where senior dog owners are charged only $50, for example. Even if a shelter or rescue doesn’t advertise a senior program, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

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December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

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55 PLUS - December 2012 / January 2013

golden years By Harold Miller Email: hal@cny55.com

Common Sense is Not so Common World would be a far better place if everyone had common sense

ommon sense is not taught in schools and it is difficult to define or discern in others at first glance. The closest that I could come to pinning it down was a book written by Howard Gardner titled “The Nine Types of Intelligence.” The author discusses the following: 1 – Naturalist Intelligence — Designates the human ability to discriminate among living things (plants, animals) as well as other features of the natural world (clouds, rock configurations). This ability was clearly of value in our evolutionary past as hunters, gatherers and farmers. 2 – Musical Intelligence — The capacity to discern pitch, rhythm, timbre and tone. This enables us to recognize, create, reproduce, and reflect on music. These intellectual skills are found in composers, conductors, musicians, vocalists, and sensitive listeners. 3 – Logical, Mathematical, Intelligence — The ability to calculate, quantify and consider propositions and hypotheses. It also includes complete mathematical operations. This type of intelligence is usually well developed in mathematicians, scientists, and detectives. 4 – Existential Intelligence — The sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why do we die, and how did we get here. 5 – Interpersonal Intelligence — The ability to understand and interact with other people. It involves effective verbal and non-verbal communication, and the sensitivity to the moods

and temperaments of others. Teachers, actors, and politicians all exhibit this quality. 6 – Bodily-Kinesthetic — The capacity to manipulate objects and use a variety of physical skills. Athletes, dancers, surgeons, and craftsmen all exhibit these traits. 7 – Linguistic Intelligence — The ability to think in words and to use words to express and appreciate complex meanings. This quality of intelligence is the most widely shared human competence and is evident in poets, novelists, journalists and effective public speakers. People with this type of intelligence enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles (I might add playing scrabble). 8 – Intra-personal Intelligence — The capacity to understand oneself and one’s thoughts and feelings, and to use such knowledge in planning and directing one’s life. It is evident in psychologists, leaders and philosophers. 9 – Spatial Intellegence — The ability to think in three dimensions: mental imagery, spatial reasoning, graphic and artistic skills, and an active imagination. Sailors, pilots, sculptors, painters and architects all exhibit these skills. Any person who possesses all of the above mental skills would be a genius, but might not have common sense. That’s how elusive it is to deﬁne this human condition. As a matter of fact, my observation reveals that so-called intellects more often than not posses very little

common sense. It is not tied to the brain as much as being tied to the heart. Heredity seems to play a role. Most of what a child learns is not taught, and therefore common sense seems to be passed from parent to child by observation. Education has little to do with common sense. That is why it’s not taught in schools. The intellectual traits that come closest to revealing common sense are interpersonal intelligence, the ability to understand and interact with other people; and intrapersonal intelligence, the capacity to understand oneself and one’s thoughts and feelings. In other words, it entails empathy, the ability to put yourself in the other people’s shoes, and selﬂessness. All I really know is that the world would be a far better place if everyone had common sense.

December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

planning By Bill Losey

9 Major Retirement Planning Mistakes To Avoid

uch has been written about the classic financial mistakes that plague startups, family businesses, corporations and charities. Aside from these blunders, there are also some classic financial missteps that plague retirees. Calling them “mistakes” may be a bit harsh, as not all of them represent errors in judgment. Yet whether they result from ignorance or fate, we need to be aware of them as we plan for and enter retirement. 1- Leaving work too early. The full retirement age for many baby boomers is 66. As Social Security benefits rise about 8 percent for every year you delay receiving them, waiting a few

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years to apply for benefits can position you for greater retirement income. Some of us are forced to make this “mistake.” Roughly 40 percent of us retire earlier than we want to; about half of us apply for Social Security before full retirement age. Still, any way that you can postpone applying for benefits will leave you with more SSI. 2 - Underestimating medical expenses. Fidelity Investments says that the typical couple retiring at 65 today will need $240,000 to pay for their future health care costs (assuming one spouse lives to 82 and the other to 85). The Employee Benefit Research Institute says $231,000 might suffice for 75 percent of retirements,

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$287,000 for 90 percent of retirements. Prudent retirees explore ways to cover these costs — they do exist. 3- Taking the potential for longevity too lightly. Are you 65? If you are a man, you have a 40 percent chance of living to age 85; if you are a woman, a 53 percent chance. Those numbers are from the Social Security Administration. Planning for a 20- or 30-year retirement isn’t absurd; it may be wise. The Society of Actuaries recently published a report in which about half of the 1,600 respondents (aged 45-60) underestimated their projected life expectancy. We still have a lingering cultural assumption that our retirements might duplicate the relatively brief ones of our parents.

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4- Withdrawing too much each year. You may have heard of the “4 percent rule,” a popular guideline stating that you should withdraw only about 4 percent of your retirement savings annually. The “4 percent rule” isn’t a rule, but many cautious retirees do try to abide by it. So why do some retirees withdraw 7 percent or 8 percent a year? In the first phase of retirement, people tend to live it up; more free time naturally promotes new ventures and adventures, and an inclination to live a bit more lavishly. 5- Ignoring tax efﬁciency and fees. It can be a good idea to have both taxable and tax-advantaged accounts in retirement. Assuming that your retirement will be long, you may want to assign that or that investment to it “preferred domain” — that is, the taxable or tax-advantaged account that may be most appropriate for that investment in pursuit of the entire portfolio’s optimal after-tax return. Many younger investors chase the return. Some retirees, however, ﬁnd a shortfall when they try to live on portfolio income. In response, they

move money into stocks offering significant dividends or high-yield bonds — which may be bad moves in the long run. Taking retirement income off both the principal and interest of a portfolio may give you a way to reduce ordinary income and income taxes. Account fees must also be watched. The Department of Labor notes that a 401(k) plan with a 1.5 percent annual account fee would leave a plan participant with 28 percent less money than a 401(k) with a 0.5 percent annual fee. 6- Avoiding market risk. The return on many fixed-rate investments might seem pitiful in comparison to other options these days. Equity investment does invite risk, but the reward may be worth it. 7- Retiring with big debts. It is pretty hard to preserve (or accumulate) wealth when you are handing chunks of it to assorted creditors. 8- Putting college costs before retirement costs. There is no “financial aid” program for retirement. There are no “retirement loans.” Your children have their whole financial lives ahead

of them. Try to refrain from touching your home equity or your IRA to pay for their education expenses. 9 - Retiring with no plan or investment strategy. Many people do this — too many. An unplanned re t i re me n t ma y b r i n g t e r r i b l e financial surprises; retiring without an investment strategy leaves some people prone to market timing and day trading. These are some of the classic retirement planning mistakes. Why not plan to avoid them? Take a little time to review and refine your retirement strategy in the company of the financial professional you know and trust. Bill Losey, CFP® is the president of Bill Losey Retirement Solutions, LLC, an independent fee-based registered investment advisory firm. He is the author of “Retire in a Weekend! The Baby Boomer ’s Guide to Making Work Optional” and he also publishes “Retirement Intelligence®,” a free weekly award-winning newsletter. Learn more at www.MyRetirementSuccess.com and www.BillLosey.com.

December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

Working After Retirement

Scenario’s becoming more real as many people say they are pessimistic about living comfortably in retirement By Aaron Gifford

mericans increasingly have a dim outlook on being able to retire comfortably some day, let alone at the age of 65, recent surveys suggest. The AEGON Retirement Readiness Survey, which is based on interviews with 9,000 people in the United States and eight European nations, was released early in 2012. It indicated that 71 percent of workers surveyed in all nine nations felt that future generations will be worse off in retirement than current retirees. Only 15 percent of those surveyed said they were confident that they are on course to achieve the retirement income they need. And of the Americans surveyed, 73 percent said they do not expect a traditional “cliff experience” when they retire from full-time work; rather, they anticipate having to maintain a part-time job or take on temporary assignments or contract work. Likewise, a 2012 “Retirement Confidence Survey” report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute noted that optimism levels for being able to remain financially stable after leaving the workforce are at historic lows. Fifty-two percent of workers surveyed did say they are somewhat confident about having enough money to live comfortably throughout their retirement years, but that figure is down from 70 percent in 2002. And 60 percent of those surveyed indicated that they have less than $25,000 in savings or investments beyond the value of their home and any defined benefit plans. “Planners and local governments,” the report said, “need to begin preparing now for a large percent of their senior population not to be able to 16

retire. That means an older workforce, more older people commuting daily to work, and among those who are not able to keep working (will be) more low-income or no-income seniors who will require help.” The Retirement Confidence Survey also said Americans are increasingly preoccupied with immediate financial concerns. More than 40 percent of workers and retirees who participated in the study identified job uncertainty as their most pressing financial concern (in the retirees’ case, the answer pertains to finding a job if they needed to go back to work). Many are also carrying significant debt. Twenty percent of workers surveyed and 12 percent of retirees described their level of debt as a major problem, while an additional 42 percent of workers and 25 percent of retirees called it a minor problem.

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Need to ﬁnd an illustration of an older worker

Eric Kingson, a professor of social work at Syracuse University and co-director of Social Security Works in Washington, D.C., a national organization that is fighting to preserve Social Security benefits for retirees and disadvantaged populations, called the future of retirement in America a crisis. “Two thirds don’t have assets to maintain their standard of living in retirement,” he said in a recent interview. Events earlier in the decade — the tech bubble burst, plummeting real estate values across the nation and the credit crisis — wreaked havoc on baby boomers’ investments before the Great Recession took hold after 2008. Kingson, 66, said his peers who are still in the workforce are skeptical that Medicare and Social Security will still be there during their golden years. If the retirement age really does get raised by two years in 2027 in accordance with federal guidelines, Kingson said, “a lot of people will get left behind.” “I don’t think our private pension plans are going to increase. I don’t think companies are going to increase contributions to their 401Ks. I personally like the idea of working past 65, but not everyone can do it. It’s time to talk about a benefit [Social Security] increase, not a benefit cut,” he said. In the 2002 Retirement Confidence Survey, 26 percent of those who Conntinued on page 45

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Gift-giving Season What’s popular, where to find it By Ken Little

ith holiday shopping season in full swing, older Americans are joining their younger counterparts at Central New York stores and malls in full force. The range of gifts being purchased this year varies as much as the tastes of gift-givers. Books, golf accessories and crafts are among the favorites of gift givers over 55, according to those who sell to them this time of year.

Gift Ideas Budget-minded gift givers ﬁnd many bargains at Book’s End, at 2443 James St. in Syracuse. “They read mysteries. They read romances. They read nonfiction, science fiction, fantasy and westerns,” said Steve Nielsen, manager of Book’s End, which has been operated by the same owners for 25 years. According to a 2009 AARP Bulletin survey of the holiday spending habits of adults age 50 and over, conducted in an economy similar to the current one, 18

about seven in 10 of the more than 1,000 Americans polled said they purchase most of their gifts in stores or malls. Like most other shoppers in the weak economy of recent years, many seniors work on a set budget. The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, said in October it expects sales during the holiday shopping period in November and December to rise 4.1 percent. That’s more than a percentage point lower than the growth in each of the past two years, and the smallest increase since 2009, when sales were up just 0.3 percent. Employees at Michael’s Arts & Crafts, in the Northern Lights Plaza in North Syracuse, said there are three perennially popular holiday gifts. They are custom framing, custom ﬂoral arrangements and make-yourown ornament kits. Another popular gift for adults over 55 is golf-related equipment. A set of golf clubs can run well over $500, but accessories in the $150 to $500 range are more within the budgets of many holiday

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shoppers, said Brad Snyder, sales lead at Golf Galaxy, at 3409 Erie Blvd. in East Syracuse. “During the holidays, we always do real good with the electronics as far as range ﬁnders and GPS units and stuff like that,” Snyder said. Golf Galaxy also runs a popular special during the holiday shopping season for golf lesson packages, Snyder said.

Black Friday Inﬂux T h e re a re h o l i d a y - m i n d e d shoppers in the stores right now, but the real inﬂux begins with Black Friday, Snyder said. “We don’t start to notice anything until after Thanksgiving, usually,” he said. The early fall months “are a slow period, then it starts building back up in November,” Nielsen, the manager of Book’s End, said. When adults age 50 and over were asked in the AARP survey what they would do with extra money from spending less on holiday gifts, 48 percent said they will pay bills. More than four in 10 respondents, or 44 percent, said they planned to

spend less than $300 in the 2009 survey, with nearly one-ﬁfth, or 18 percent, saying they plan to spend less than $100. More than four in 10, or 43 percent, said they plan to spend more than $300 on holiday gifts, with one quarter, or 24 percent, saying they plan to spend $500 or more. Nearly six in 10 respondents to the 2009 study, or 57 percent, said they plan to spend the same amount as the previous year.

In 2011, the average American adult expected to spend about $764 on holiday gifts, according to a Gallup Poll. “If you’ve fallen into the habit of exchanging gifts with adult friends and colleagues and ﬁnd that it’s adding up, why not agree that it’s a habit in need of breaking? What about just exchanging holiday cards instead?” an AARP article from November 2011 said.

Gift Giving for Budget-minded Adults AARP offers some creative, budget-stretching gift-exchange ideas The Dollar-Store Gift Exchange

The Charity Gift Exchange:

If it’s truly the thought that counts, then set a spending limit of a single sawbuck and see how creative everyone can get at the dollar store.

Don’t you already have everything you need? Many are not as fortunate, so agree to make a contribution to a charity rather than trading gifts.

The Regift Exchange Agree to wrap up something you already own and don’t need (that’s still in the box or in mint condition), and give it to someone who will appreciate it. Remember: It’s only regifting if you believe it’s regifting.

The Handmade Gift ExchangeThe giver has

to make each present, be it a birdhouse, a fruitcake, a poem, or a pair of slippers.

The Old-Photo Gift Exchange: What more cherished—and inexpensive—gift could there be than an old family photo? Get up there in the attic and see what you can ﬁnd! To boot, you could probably ﬁnd a suitable frame at the Dollar Store, an outlet, or a thrift store.

The Tackiest Gift Exchange: Keep it cheap and fun by seeing who can give the tackiest gift for under $5.

The Gift-of-Time Exchange: Exchange gift cards for your time. Recipients redeem them, and have you do anything from washing their car to giving them a massage or volunteering your time for a charity of their choice.

The Baked-Goods Gift Exchange: Those cookies don’t qualify unless you baked them yourself.

The Talent-Show Gift Exchange: G i v e t h e p l e a s u re o f f re e entertainment by performing your special talent before a gathering of family or friends. Have a Christmas concert!

Popular Toy Train Store Celebrates 10 Years in Business

esser’s Whistlestop, CNY’s largest discount model and toy train store, is celebrating 10 years in business. Located in Baldwinsville, the facility features a wide range of toy trains — replicas of the Polar Express, Thomas the Tank Engine, model train layouts and many train-related merchandise. Its ample showroom allows visitors and buyers to see many trains in action. To celebrate the anniversary, Besser’s is selling a $300 train set for $199.99 with a coupon that is available on its website (besserswhistlestop. com) and in this magazine. Owner Kevin Besser took over the store after his father Paul passed away. Opening a train store was his father ’s dream after he retired as superintendent of the Central Square School District, Besser said. “As a child, of course, what did I get every year for Christmas and my birthday? A toy train. So I was sort of born into it,” Besser said. Besser said the store has been popular because people still enjoy building model train layouts and he has the ability to offer merchandises at discounted prices. “The reason I like being at the store is because Kevin as a proprietor is very knowledgeable about trains,” said a customer, Oscar Jensen. “He grew up with them because of his dad. He’s a people person who knows how to be very helpful. He’ll answer questions and explains things and help plan a layout to someone who is new.” Besser ’s deals exclusively in model trains, and treats the business as a high-volume store rather than a hobby. Besser said by moving a signiﬁcant amount of volume he is able to exist as a discount store, which means his customers will never pay MSRP or retail prices, he said. The store is located at 2731 Brundage Road. By Alyssa Mammano

December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

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retiring

Do You Call This ‘Retirement?’ Former county executive Nick Pirro has different definition of ‘retirement’ By Mary Beth Roach

“

It’s time to do other things,” said Nick Pirro, about his decision in 2008 to retire as Onondaga County executive after 20 years in that ofﬁce. That was nearly ﬁve years ago, and since that time, he has most certainly been doing other things—traveling, teaching, working as a business adviser for

several area companies, serving as a board member with the SPCA and staying involved in the north side Syracuse neighborhood where he grew up. He and his wife, Patti, live in the same house that his family has owned since the 1930s, and it’s where they raised their son, Nick, and daughter, Jessica. He has put his love for the neighborhood into action, continuing over the last four years to organize with his neighbors to upgrade the area. They have worked with the Northside C o l l a b o r a t o r y, a program of the Franciscan Collaborative Ministries to improve the neighborhood. They have established a good relationship with nearby St. Joseph’s H o s p i t a l Health Center, the expansions of which are transforming that area. They have also partnered with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

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to landscape a park area on North McBride Street. In addition, the group has been able to secure necessary approval for a special lighting district on North McBride Street, from James to Butternut streets. He and Patti have also formed a consulting business, and he is a business adviser at the law ﬁrm of Gilberti Stinziano Heintz and Smith. One of his major clients is ProAct, a pharmacy benefit management company. Its parent company is Kinney Drugs, which Pirro pointed out is an employee-owned New York state business with about 2,500 workers. He is also a business adviser with the Thomas J. Pirro Funeral Home in North Syracuse, a family business that his father had been involved with, so it’s important for him to remain a part of it, he said.

Master of government He has been bringing his experience and knowledge about local government to the classroom as an instructor at the Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He teaches a local government policy class, and his students get some realistic insight into the workings of a municipality. “Your daily lives are affected more by the local government than the federal or the state,” he said.

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Because of his many years in government, he has the ability to bring in speakers, such as Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and Joanie Mahoney, his successor as county executive, as well as judges. He takes them on field trips to such places as Destiny USA, a project for w h i c h h e re m a i n s a strong advocate, and the county 911 center, which came to fruition during his administration. “They’re hearing from people that are doing the jobs,” he said. “They see the actual operations.” Pirro can provide real-life problems for them to resolve. For example, he assigns three papers during the term. In the first paper, Pirro said, they a re t o w r i t e w h a t they know about the local governments in their hometowns. In Because of their love for pets, Nick Pirro and his wife Patti have helped raise funds for the second paper, the students research his the the local SPCA chapter. Pirro is shown with SPCA Executive Director Paul Morgan. tenure in office, and But it’s an everyday challenge, he write whether or not they agree with you can do a lot of good things.” His “pet” project is his work with said. a decision he made and why. While true to his Syracuse roots, the SPCA, an organization that he has And in the third paper, they are Pirro loves to travel. He and Patti plan long had an affinity for. to apply what they learned during the The Pirros’ own dogs were rescue a major trip every two years. They class to their hometown government. have already traveled to Ireland, a Their final exam this term will be to dogs from the SPCA, and for a quarter trip that he had been promising for of a century now, he has been playing solve the financial problems facing the “Santa Paws,” a benefit for the SPCA. 15 years; to Italy; they took a cruise city of Syracuse. The organization has had some on the Rhine River from Switzerland financial troubles, which have only to Amsterdam; and a family trip with Grassroots level been made compounded by the poor their children, and their spouses. He hinted, too, that a safari trip “I really try to convince them that economy. That in turn results in more to Africa with some friends might local government is a great place to animal turn-ins, Pirro explained. He has been able to bring be in the not-too-distant future. It’s a serve,” he said. “I don’t discourage anyone from entering politics. I just additional people onto the board and rough trip, so one has to be in shape, tell them it’s a different world. If has worked with the organization to he said. Pirro said he works out three you’re in there for the right purpose, develop some new business practices. times a week. December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

aging By Marilyn L. Pinsky

Jane Pauley: Yes, Just As Nice in Person Former Today show anchor shares insights about life changes, reinvention

ane Pauley, former co-host of the Today show, is AARP’s ambassador for “Your Life Calling,” a Today show segment about people 50-plus who have reinvented the way they live and work. We met at a major golf tournament where she was interviewing a 50-plus golfer who after many years of not golfing professionally turned his game around and re-entered the pro tour. I wasn’t surprised that she is as warm, charming and enthusiastic in person as she is on television. But what I didn’t expect from our time together, was that I would gain insights to use on my own life’s journey that I will share in this article.

philosophical perspective. He realized that trying to take a ‘big picture’ view of his life was just too big a task. Like Liles did, you need to take that ﬁrst step and then the next step will be revealed to you. In his case, it was deciding to hike local trails and see if he could get himself in shape for a larger challenge. That was his baby step. Then with researching the Appalachian Trail hike, getting the needed equipment for such a long journey and making preparations for food to be sent to him along the way, it took a year to take the big step. And what he learned about himself was life changing. The experience of getting up every morning and knowing you were going to be hiking 15-20 miles each day, made him realize

he had developed the kind of focus that could be used to do anything in life he wanted. In Liles’ case, it was his interest in Native American culture and music, and he is now using that passion and his skills as a teacher, to bring what he is learning about that culture to others. MLP: So often we hear “just ﬁnd your passion and it will lead you down the right path.” Many of us don’t have something we feel is a real passion. How do we identify it in ourselves? JP: Feeling you need to have a passion and turn yourself into a new person is daunting. That is not what reinvention is all about.

MLP: “Your Life Calling” tempts us to take a chance on reinventing ourselves as we age. Though a thrilling thought, it can seem overwhelming to contemplate. JP: The answer is to do it in steps. Let me tell you about Joe Liles, a retired art teacher, who changed his life by fulfilling his dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. He wasn’t really looking for a new life, but he ended up finding a new way to live. Before, he said, it felt like life was always going to be hard for him and that even the traffic lights were conspiring against him. He knew there had to be a better way to spend his life. The six-month journey changed his outlook from pessimism to optimism. The physical demands of testing himself against life in the wilderness gave him a different 24

55 PLUS columnist Marilyn Pinsky and Jane Pauley, AARP’s ambassador for “Your Life Calling,” a Today show segment about people 50-plus. Photo courtesy of Stephen Appel Photography.

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Contemplating a leap can be scary; a step is not. Often it is a matter of taking one small step and then, surprisingly, the next step reveals itself. Signing up for a class in something that interests you is a step. Realize that the process of reinvention may take months or years of just being open to new possibilities. MLP: “How do you get over the mental hurdle that what you do has to be compensated to be valued? JP: Often what people are really yearning for is more freedom, independence, and creativity. And often that more amounts to less. Betsy Lee McCarthy was earning a six-figure income as a health care executive but she wasn’t happy and knew there was something missing in her life. What she really liked to do was knit. With her recently retired husband, they made a financial plan and restructured how they lived. It also took the ability to live with a lot of ambiguity until she figured out how to make money knitting. She traveled the country teaching knitting classes, taught on cruise ships and wrote a book. Even though her earnings are now in the four, and not the six figures, she has found satisfaction and happiness by turning her passion into a profession. That is what I mean by less is more. I’m an example of “less is more” myself. I used to be on television five days a week; now it’s five days a month. As far as fame and being hot in the industry, I’m about “room temperature.” But that change lets me tell my own stories and have a life to do the volunteer advocacy work I want. Some might say, “how disappointing — not being on the air five days a week,” but I now play golf and this year I started throwing pots. My life is better balanced than ever. MLP: “At what point do people realize they need to do something more with their lives? Is it after retirement, before, after a life crisis? JP: Many people who stay in the same career for years, can feel burned out, but don’t have the luxury to take time off and figure it out. The message here is, “just change something.”

“Some might say, ‘how disappointing — not being on the air five days a week,’ but I now play golf and this year I started throwing pots. My life is better balanced than ever.” Jane Pauley One of our Your Life Calling stories was about a Lutheran minister, Rev. Rick Rittmaster, who felt like he was drying up. The 80 percent of running a church that was administrative was taking the life out of him. He had trouble getting out of bed in the morning and realized he was probably depressed. He made himself just lie on the sofa saying, “I’m not getting up until I make a decision.” Four days later he got up and resigned from the church. For the next few months he took a series of part-time jobs, including tending bar. He didn’t have a plan, but he was committed to paying attention to what he might be if he wasn’t running a church. His son saw an ad on Craig’s List looking for someone to counsel young people. It was for the Minnesota National Guard Chaplain Corps. Two months later he was a chaplain in the United States Army and then on his way to Iraq. In this case, the profession didn’t change, but the context did and context is everything. He took the gifts that most enthused him and used them in a new setting, the military, where he now feels very rewarded in the work he is doing, even though it is still being a chaplain. MLP: “Is reinvention only about major change?

JP: Don’t think of reinvention as a leap, think of it as making a move. Of not coming to this time of life and just stopping. And it is different for everyone. My friend Anne hates the word change and even though she has come to accept that it is inevitable, she will never embrace it. But she is happy. She likes to take weekend trips, discover new places, make new friends and there is nothing static about her life. For her every day is a chance to discover something new. MLP: Most of us want to live a meaningful life but are not sure how to compose one. How would you deﬁne “a meaningful life?” JP: I met a woman in Florida who had been widowed, her children were grown and she had the lonesome feeling of no one needing her. But she had an insight that if everyday she looked for a way to be useful to someone, that would make her happy. She now defines herself as, “I am someone who helps people.” She was like my aunt Martha, who was widowed when young. If she was still alive, she wouldn’t “get” the word reinvention, yet she personiﬁed it. Over her lifetime she did many different jobs and at 85, she volunteered at a nursing home. She proudly told us, her nieces, how she got “the old folks” to sing their high school songs and how happy it made them. What kept her young at 85 was intuitively doing something that was useful to someone else. My father looked after my mother who had years of poor health following a series of strokes. He led a meaningful life even with a commitment that kept him close to home. He was known as a helpful neighbor and when he died, the people that he did little things for, like changing a light bulb, told us how much his helpfulness meant to them as individuals. The point is to just start with an idea. If being helpful makes you feel worthwhile, look for ways to be helpful. If you’re running to the store, ask your neighbor if they need anything? Making banana bread? Make an extra to share. Reinvention doesn’t have to be huge to be meaningful.

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Jackie Robinson: Life Out of the Spotlight Former CNY Central anchorwoman gradually embracing to life away from TV studios By Aaron Gifford

ackie Robinson can finally shop in peace. Robinson, who retired from a long career at CNY Central (WSTM-Channel 3) in September, had plans to arrive in New York City a few days before her Nov. 28 New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. This would allow her ample time to catch up with her daughter Jocelyn, who works in the financial industry there, and spend a full afternoon browsing Manhattan boutiques for a new dress. “I’m still getting used to that odd feeling around mid-day,” the Manlius resident said during a recent interview. “I still feel like I should be getting ready for the [evening] newscast. And I’m still not used to sleeping longer. Thirty-four years of working nights will do that to you.” Robinson, 56, has come full circle. It was that addiction to clothes shopping that inadvertently led her into the TV news business in the first place. The daughter of an Air Force veteran, Robinson was born in Athens, Ga., and moved to England as a young child when her father, Hubert Robinson, was reassigned to a base outside of Oxford. She started elementary school overseas, and at 26

an early age learned to appreciate a global community where so many friends and neighbors came from other lands. It was there that she also learned that she had to be outgoing to succeed. Hubert later moved his family to North Syracuse after he was reassigned to Hancock Air Force Base. Robinson fondly remembers her ﬁrst few days in Upstate New York. “Coming back to the states was unique,” she said. “We were one of a few minority families, but we had British accents.” At the time, Robinson didn’t imagine that she would settle in the Syracuse area. But she and her four siblings (Vicky, Eric, Mandel and Hubert Jr.) eventually became quite comfortable with their surroundings. They did well in school and participated in all kinds of extra-curricular activities — scouts, church, sports, music, and the arts. Mandel excelled at football and Jackie developed a passion for twirling batons in the marching band. Their mom and dad, when he was not deployed overseas, somehow managed to attend most of their events. “They’d [Hubert and mother, the late Earsie Robinson] run from Mandel’s game to see me march with the Cicero Golden Eagles,” Robinson

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recalled. “We were lucky to be in such a supporting household.” Robinson said she had no interest in journalism or broadcasting during high school, but was always serious about attending college and finding her career interests there. Hubert worked three jobs after retiring from the military but still didn’t have enough money to put all five kids through school. Robinson scoured scholarship and financial aid opportunities. One of them, Syracuse Coalition for the Free Flow of Information (SCFFI), immediately grabbed her attention. It was a program sponsored by the Newhouse media company, which began a strong push to increase diversity at local television and radio stations. Newhouse offered the first and only journalism scholarship for minority applicants. The program later evolved into the Newhouse fellowship, an advanced degree scholarship program at Syracuse University where graduates are hired onto Newhouse papers. Robinson, after having been selected over 300 other applicants, was the first recipient of that program. “Opportunity knocked,” she said. “I just happened to be graduating at the time. I was filling out applications for anything and everything.” Robinson had her heart set on

Robinson in the kitchen at her Manlius home (top photo) and holding a picture frame featuring the WSTM NBC 3 building on James Street, Syracuse, with farewell messages from her colleagues. December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

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First day presenting the news on WSTM Chanel 3 on Sept. 4, 1990 (left photo). Former Assemblyman Mike Bragman and Robinson’s two children,Jocelyn H. Melchor and Henry R. Melchor, in a photo taken May 10,1989 when Robinson received the outstanding communicator of the year from Women in Communications of Central New York. Daugher Jocelyn was 4 months old while Henry was 3 years of age. living off campus, and the program covered her housing in Sadler Hall, where she lived all four years. She was also able to join SU’s marching band. She was thankful to be attending college, but during her first two semesters remained indifferent to a career in communications. That changed in the summer of 1975. As a teenager, Robinson had always worked in clothing stores. She loved the job — the problem was most of the money she earned was already spent on new outﬁts. After a year of college Robinson decided she needed a job that would help her become more ﬁnancially responsible. She applied for a newsroom secretary position at WSTM. It was there where she observed the likes of Bob Costas and Steve Kroft, both of whom went on to became national broadcasting icons. “I was hooked,” Robinson said. “After that I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” She achieved high marks in her communications classes while completing a minor in speech. Channel 3 kept Robinson on as the newsroom secretary while she completed her coursework. Upon graduation in May

of 1978, she was hired full-time to work three nights as a television news reporter and two nights doing radio broadcasts. “For the overnight shifts,” she recalled, “I’d leave the discos and go right up to 1030 James Street.” When WSTM later split its radio and television functions apart, Robinson ran as fast as she could to the television side, she said. Her ﬁrst story was a difﬁcult one — an accidental electrocution. A senior reporter put Robinson on the spot with little warning to broadcast from the scene, and afterward Robinson thought her TV career had ended before it really got started. “I remember getting there and seeing that the ladder was still touching the wires,” Robinson said. “The smell of burned flesh is something you never forget. When I got back the crew said it was time to take lunch. Everyone was ready to eat, and I felt like I was going to be sick. I didn’t think I wanted to come back.” But she did, and the job did get easier for her. Robinson was married to Henry Melchor a short time after starting her career at WSTM and continued to work while raising a family. Melchor, an attorney,

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eventually became a partner at the prestigious Syracuse law ﬁrm Bond, Schoeneck & King. Friends and relatives often helped the couple with child care. Like her parents, Robinson still managed to get to her kids’ events. “You do what you have to do,” she said. “It’s a balancing act. Their sports, music activities — I went to everything. I’d leave at 6:30 after the co-anchor took over and I’d race to the school. In the worst case, I’d get to watch at least one half of each kid’s event. My parents were always there. It was important to me, so I know it’s important to them [daughter Jocelyn and son H.R.].” Robinson covered her fair share of hard news, including the trial of Cynthia Pugh, who was convicted in the 1983 murder of Manlius millionaire James Pipines. Prosecutors asserted that Pugh used a handgun that belonged to her common-law husband. She was paroled in 2008. There was also the 1996 Flight 800 tragedy in which 16 high school students from Montoursville, Pa., a small community near the New York state border, were killed when their plane exploded off the coast of Long

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Farewell party on Sept. 4 2012 at WSTM NBC 3 gathered many of Robinson’s colleagues. Her husband, attorney Henry Melchor, a partner at the law firm of Bond Schoeneck & King in Syracuse (right next to Robinson) joined the celebration. Island. They were on their way to Paris at the time as part of a scholastic French club program. In between those two events there were countless fires, automobile accidents, drowning and other sad stories. “Anything involving children was always hard for me,” she said. “Some things you just never get used to. My kids always knew when I had a tragic story, because I’d come home and check the batteries in the smoke detector. You come home and you hug your kids a little bit harder, and you hug them longer.” Her favorite story was the rise of Vanessa Williams, a Syracuse University student who, in 1983, became the first African-American to win the Miss America pageant. Robinson first interviewed the future celebrity when Williams competed in the Miss Greater Syracuse pageant. As Williams advanced to higher levels of competition, Robinson convinced her editors to let her stick with the story. “The news director said, ‘nobody from Syracuse is going to win.’ I told

them, ‘I’m telling you, she [Williams] is really something special. She has a gift. It was a big deal, because she was making history. After she won the state pageant, the news director said if I was serious, then they would send me to Atlantic City. You bet I was serious!” In 1985, Robinson became the ﬁrst African-American anchor at WSTM. She began that role on weekends, and was appointed to the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekday anchor position in 1990. She also hosted “City Scene,” which was dedicated to covering news and events in Syracuse that appealed to African Americans and other minorities. In 1992, more than 100 local eighth-graders, during a standardized test, wrote essays about Robinson as a historical figure. They chose the topic from a list of several names, but did not realize that they were supposed to write about the famous baseball player who broke the color barrier. The Board of Regents, after further examination, gave those

students credit for their essays about the Syracuse anchorwoman, and Gov. Mario Cuomo in turn named Robinson an Outstanding AfricanAmerican of Distinction. Robinson believes that many of those students, whether or not they watched the evening news, probably met her at some point when she read to their classrooms. She’s read to thousands of students over the years, and plans to continue that during retirement. While promoting literacy and local libraries are among her most passionate causes, Robinson says she has always been very active with church activities and has served on as many boards as her schedule allows. Most recently she joined an advisory committee for the Students of Free Enterprise organization at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management. “I said when I retired that I was going to take some time off and not do anything — but this [civic work] is where I’m headed. I just volunteered to do the silent auction at church,”

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she said. Robinson’s interest in community service dates back to her childhood, when an anonymous donor gave her family a gift basket while Hubert was off fighting in the Vietnam War. “I can never forget,” she said, “how touched we were.” Robinson was informed of her New York State Hall of Fame Association induction shortly before announcing her retirement. She made up her mind several months before then but hadn’t made it known yet. A film crew from New York City made it up here in time to get footage of Robinson with her CNY Central peers, which was to be shown during the Nov. 3 ceremony. With this induction, Robinson will be in the same company as Regis Philbin, Walter Cronkite, Barbara Walters, Don Imus and local colleagues Carrie Lazarus and Rod Wood. “I never dreamed I’d get into the Hall of Fame,” Robinson said. “I hope I paved the way for others to follow in my footsteps. I feel blessed.” On the CNYCENTRAL.com website, colleague Matt Mulcahy calls Robinson his “first TV wife.” “Several times a year,” he wrote, “car repairs or maintenance lead to Jackie and me carpooling on the ride home. When I drive, the ride is 15 minutes. When she crawls along it takes 30. In either case, the time of conversation far exceeds the number of miles. Once she starts talking she cannot be stopped. It is my duty to listen as her “first TV husband.” The former anchorwoman doesn’t feel quite retired yet, but she’s working on it. In the weeks that followed Robinson’s last day at work, she often found herself doing laundry at 3 a.m. But there’s been some progress: As Robinson folds the clothes, she thinks about projects around the house, or maybe moving to a different house, or maybe travelling somewhere. The next day’s top story isn’t always the first thing on her mind anymore. “I like the idea of being able to go somewhere and not have to hurry back — our daughter in New York, our son in Boston, or maybe Europe,” Robinson said. “It’s still hard to get used to being able to sleep in. It’s going to take awhile to reset my biological clock. When I do, I just want to slow down and enjoy this time.”

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Joe Carfagno: Saying It With Music Musician who played for U.S. presidents and vice presidents has been a staple in the local music scene for 65 years By Richard Palmer

f Syracuse ever came up with a Mister Music Award, the ﬁrst recipient would undoubtedly be Joseph S. Carfagno. He’s been in tune with the local music scene for 65 years and is still going strong. Over the years Carfagno has played piano accompaniment for a long list of world-famous entertainers, including Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Jerry Vale, Tony Bennett, The Four Aces, and Chubby Checker. He is the lone survivor of the original Stan Colella Orchestra, which was founded in 1972. Aside from that, he has also played keyboards for President Jimmy Carter, Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo. Although popular music has been his forte, Carfagno has performed with the Syracuse Symphony. In 2004 he was inducted into the “Sammys Music Hall of Fame.” The SAMMYs, or Syracuse Area Music Awards, and the Hall of Fame, recognize not only top local musicians, but people who’ve made notable efforts to help promote the local music scene. And that’s certainly what Carfagno has done for the past six decades. “This was the highlight of my career,” he said when he received the award. Most recently, he was inducted into the North High School Hall of Fame, Class of 1951, for his achievements in visual performing arts. Upon graduation from high school, his classmates voted him “Most Talented of the Class of 1951.” Carfagno, or Joe as he is know, was born in Norristown, Pa., a suburb

Joe Carfagno takes time out during his busy days as executive secretary of Local 78, American Federation of Musicians, to keep in practice on the keyboard. December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

Joe Carfagno, standing, third from left, played accordion for years with the WSYR studio orchestra. of Philadelphia, son of Joseph and Louise Carfagno. Job opportunities led his father to Syracuse in the late 1930s. The boy had a “bent” toward music, and at an early age he took to the saxophone. Later, he switched to keyboard instruments. Although an accomplished pianist, he is best known as an accordionist. Over the years he has played extensively, both publicly and privately. With instruction from Mike Riposo, Carfagno has been essentially a self-taught “make or break” musician. In high school he reformed a little band called the Melody Kings Trio that included accordion, guitar and drums. “We not only played at school events, but at weddings and showers,” Carfagno recalled, for $6 or $7 a gig. They also played around town a lot in the days when the city was full of “neighborhood joints night clubs.” “We also did a lot of jam sessions,” he said. After high school, Carfagno attended LeMoyne College and studied music theory under Nicholas Gullio. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, but managed to escape combat duty after auditioning for the service club band at Fort Dix, N.J. He served out his military service in Alaska. 32

‘Joe Carfagno is the patron saint of music’ NYS Sen. John DeFrancisco In his early years, music wasn’t the full time profession it later became. Between stints he was a sales rep for the Consolidated Cigar Co. as a means of supporting his family — his late wife, Tommasina, and three children, Joseph, Steve and Elizabeth. Through diligence and hard work he became secretary of Local 78, American Federation of Musicians, in 1982, and has held that position to this day. This is one of the oldest musicians unions in the country, having been founded on Feb. 11, 1886. For many years Carfagno was music director of the New York State Fair. Carfagno’s myriad day-to-day business activities is carried on at the union headquarters at 3009 Burnet

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Ave. in Syracuse. “I always tell people that the AFM brought me into contact with people who were best in a position to help me out in terms of furthering my career,” he said, adding, “my wife was always very supportive.” Carfagno’s career at Local 78 has ranged from helping new and aspiring musicians launch their careers to collective bargaining and contract negotiations. The 450-member union in the past also represented the Syracuse Symphony. His first professional breakthrough in the field of music was when he became a staff musician for the WSYR orchestra that provided back-up for Jim Deline and Denny Sullivan Gang noontime shows in the ‘50s, ‘60s and early ‘70s. Carfagno said when that kind of entertainment format ended on TV and radio, “the laughing and smiles stopped.” Even the means of projecting music isn’t the same with advanced technology. Electronic keyboards have essentially replaced pianos. A keyboard can be thrown into the trunk of a car. A piano can’t. “But there is something about a piano that a keyboard doesn’t have — life,” Carfagno said. And life is something he continues to live to the fullest.

10 Tips to Have More Sex, Sleep Better and Alleviate Stress

aking the time to take care of your body and fulfill your needs becomes increasingly more difﬁcult with the pressures and stresses of a demanding schedule, fast-paced job and the increasing number of distractions around us. Physicians Ana C. Krieger and Gail Saltz presented these key tips on how to sleep better, have more sex and stress less at the 30th Annual Women’s Health Symposium hosted in October by NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center: 1. Sex is Good! Sex is a great form of exercise that enhances bonding with your partner, fights aging, reduces your stress and allows you to sleep better 2. Sex Alleviates Stress: Sexual problems can contribute to stress, but healthy sex can alleviate stress 3. Make “Me” Time: Carve out time to wind down for a few minutes before sleep 4. No Work Allowed! Use the bedroom for sleeping and sex, not work 5. The Secret to Sleep: The key elements of an adequate night’s sleep include timing, duration and quality 6. Seven Hours or Bust! Only a fraction of people can function optimally with six or less hours of sleep 7. Turn Off TVs and Smartphones! Before bedtime and during sleep, avoid light exposure, even from electronic devices 8. Be Cozy: Create a cozy bedroom environment with a room temperature between 65-70° Fahrenheit 9. Keep a Routine: Establish a night time routine and get up at the same time every day 10. Manage your Stress: To better manage your stresses consider relaxation training, better time management and problem solving

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December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

my turn

By Bruce Frassinelli Email: bruce@roc55.com

No. 29 on My Bucket List: Drive a Lamborghini

fter hearing about the 2007 ﬁlm The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, I thought this was a fantastic idea: Come up with a list of things I want to do before I “kick the bucket.” In the intervening ﬁve years, until June 1 of this year, I had crossed off 28 items from a list of nearly 50. Among them were: hike the Grand Canyon, speak at commencement exercises at my alma mater, East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University, snorkel in the Caribbean,

visit Alcatraz and ﬁnd a photo of me shaking hands with the late former president Ronald Reagan in 1981. Number 29 on the list was really exciting, and it was now in my sights. Ever since I saw a Lamborghini Gallardo (pronounced “gar-gar-do” — Spanish for a famous breed of bull) parked in front of a Las Vegas casino in 2009, I announced to my son, “I just have got to drive that car.” Note: I did not say “own,” because the base price of a 2012 model is an

Bruce Frassinelli posing next to a Lamborghini Gallardo Aug. 4 in Bridgewater, N.J. Driving the car was a longtime dream. Next on his bucket list: climb every stair in the Empire State Building without stopping to rest.

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eye-popping $202,000, about $243,000 fully loaded. Yes, a Lamborghini is of another world. It is insanely sleek, powerful, ultra-stylish and obscenely expensive. Oh, and one other thing: It’s tough as hell for a 73-year-old man to get into the cockpit of this two-seater fantasy car. I feared that getting out of it might require a call to the local ﬁre company to bring the Jaws of Life. Gotham Dream Cars of New York City offered a Groupon with the opportunity to drive a Lamborghini

Gallardo around a closed course in Bridgewater, N.J., for four laps for only $99. Normally, such an experience would cost close to $300. I bought two — the other for my son, Paul. I had to wait several months to make an appointment. Finally, Saturday, Aug. 4 dawned hot and humid — a perfect day to put the Lamborghini through its paces. Our drive was set for 7 in the evening. I kept practicing my Italian all day, just in case I had to talk to the car in its native language to coax it to perform. What am I, nuts? I was soon to ﬁnd out that this machine needed no coaxing. When we arrived, Gotham ofﬁcials had two cars available for the fantasy drive; along with the Lamborghini was a Ferrari, certainly a beautiful car, too, but, for me, it was no contest. Gas up the Lamborghini, please. We s i g n e d c o n s e n t f o r m s promising to pay up if we wrecked the car and holding the company harmless if we wrecked our bodies. We received our numbers, 78 and 79 with the Lamborghini logo, and

were told that we were next. Each would have his own drive time, but I wanted Paul to go ﬁrst so I could see the process before it was my turn. Paul roared away in the V-10, 562-horsepower yellow beast that can hit 62 mph in the blink of 3.7 seconds. What’s the fuel economy of this car, I asked stupidly. I was thankful that my Gotham handler, Damian, didn’t reply, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford one.” The answer, by the way, is 13 mph city and 20 highway. Now it was my turn. I put on the protective helmet, then struggled to get into the cockpit. Damian gave me a “crash course” on how to drive the car, which could be navigated in either standard shift or automatic. Paul chose standard; I opted for automatic. The top speed we would be allowed to go was 100 mph, but with the layout of the curvy course, I knew I would never get close to that speed. The Gallardo’s top advertised speed is 210 mph, but Damian said he had had it up to 225 on one occasion. Damian ﬂipped the switch, and the rear-engine Gallardo roared to life. I touched the gas pedal, and

the car shot away, the forces of gravity ﬂinging me back in my seat. I came to the ﬁrst curve, and I was already sweating from anticipation. The Gallardo responded coolly as I nudged the steering wheel. It took the turn without a problem. I came into turn two a bit fast and wide and wound up on the grass, bringing an admonition from Damian. Ten minutes later, now an old pro, I sped down the last straightaway at about 80 mph, took the last turn with ease and brought the Lamborghini into its parking space where the roar became a purr. I sat there for about three minutes plotting how I would get out of the car. It’s obvious that I would not be getting an agility award anytime soon. Afterward, the Gotham photographer took pictures of Paul and me next to the fantasy car of my dreams. I was so grateful to be able to scratch one more item from my bucket list. Next up: climbing every stair in the Empire State Building without stopping to rest.

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The Legendary No. 44 Hall of Fame SU superstar Floyd Little now on a different playing field By Mary Beth Roach

or years, the former Syracuse University football superstar Floyd Little played and excelled at the game of football, both on the college and professional levels. He returned to campus in the spring of 2011 as a special assistant to

athletic director Daryl Gross, focusing on donor relations and player and team development. “Now, I’m not to be a game changer anymore but a life changer— that’s my role, that’s my goal—is to change lives every day,” he said. Wearing the legendary No. 44,

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he was a running back for SU during the 1960s, becoming a three-time AllAmerican (1964-‘65-‘66), and joining the ranks of SU superstars Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1967 and went on to have a stellar career with that team during his nine years there. Throughout the decades, he has been inducted into numerous halls of fame. His No. 44 jersey has been retired by SU and the Broncos, he has won countless awards and accolades, and was finally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 2010. But now at the age of 70, after years of impacting the game of football, Little has moved on to improving the lives of those around him. In his current job, Little visits with students and often travels with the various sports teams and helps them find their individual GPS, as he calls it. But this is not an acronym for global positioning system, but for “Grace, Passion and Skill” instead. “Everyone is given a blessing or a grace, your passion and your skill,” he explained. “When you find out what your passion is, you can fulfill your blessing or your grace that you have. But when you find out why you’re here—and you can only find that through your passion—and when you are able to develop skill that will allow you to impart that passion, then you can fulfill that grace. That’s what I talk about with them.”

Little claims that challenging oneself is key. “Smart people hang around with people who are smarter than they are,” he said. “All of us need to challenge ourselves every day because none of us knows what we can become if we never challenge ourselves. If you’re not challenging yourself, and walking the walk and talking the talk, and ﬁnding a way to persevere through all these challenging and difﬁcult times in your life, then you’re missing the opportunity to live and to grow to be a better person.”

Big time for Little

my word, that’s my bond. I don’t hold anything more valuable than that.” He honored that commitment and went to SU, calling it the best decision he’d ever made. “I was trying to replace the Ernie Davis who had not had the chance to go and be great and do great things. I kind of took on that role to try to emulate who he could have been, and I found myself trying to do that most of my life because he had that kind of an impact and impression on me,” he said.

His GPS led him to SU in the early 1960s; well, his GPS and rather a long conversation with the legendary Ernie Davis. More than 40 scholarships had been offered and he was being recruited by some heavy-hitters. Gen. Douglas MacArthur was trying to get Little, who had been attending a military school in New Jersey at the time, to go to West Point. As Little recalls, the war hero had suggested that by attending West Point, he might have the opportunity to become a high-ranking military ofﬁcial. But in December of 1962, everything changed. Little recounts the day that affected the rest of his life. Davis, the ﬁrst African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, had visited Little at his family’s home in Connecticut to talk to him about enrolling at SU. “He was very approachable, very engaging,” Little recalled. After meeting and impressing Little’s mother and sisters, Davis and Little went to dinner where they ordered steak and lobster. While waiting for their meals, they went to the men’s room and began what Little described as a good conversation about SU, but yet it ran about 35 minutes, Little recalled. “My steak and lobster were getting cold,” he chuckled. So he told Davis he would agree to go to SU if he could get back to his meal. Three months later, Davis died of leukemia. “It was something I lost internally,” Little said. “I had given him my word that I’d go to Syracuse. When I give

Davis was also the inspiration of his autobiography, “ P ro m i s e s t o K e e p : M y Inspired Run from Syracuse to Denver to the Hall,” which was published recently. Whereas Little’s first book, “Tales of the Broncos Sidelines,” tells stories from the locker room and the sidelines, “Promises to Keep,” he said, “chronicles my journey from the time I was a little kid and how I got back to Syracuse. It’s my inspired run from Syracuse to Denver to the Hall of Fame. How I got here, the obstacles I had to overcome, the challenges in my life, and how I got back here.” When the opportunity presented itself to return to Syracuse in his new role last year, it was not a difﬁcult decision, he said. He relishes the history and tradition at the university. “To be part of that makes you feel so welcome. This was where it all began. It’s only ﬁtting that this is where it ends,” he said. Yet, it’s far from the end. He claims he wakes up every morning saying, “Today is the best day of my life and tomorrow’s gotta be better.” He truly enjoys his job with the athletic department at SU, calling it a “love fest.” He mentors the students, travels with some of the teams, and, along with his wife, DeBorah, has become one of their biggest cheerleaders. And he will certainly be the proudest cheerleader in the stands if his grandson Blaze, now 7, ends up playing for SU in about 10 or 11 years.

Autobiography recently released

Blaze has been claiming that he plans to become an Orangeman just like his “Poppi” since he was a toddler, Little said. Moreover, Blaze has been pronouncing Syracuse correctly since the age of 3. Blaze and his other grandchildren—A.J., Skye, and Hayes—his wife of nearly 10 years, the former DeBorah A. Green, a Syracuse native, and his three children are vital to him. And despite all of his feats in sports and later in the business world, he said his children are his greatest accomplishments—son Marc, and his daughters, Christy Jones and Kyra DaCosta, who has done a good amount of work on Broadway. “If you can go through life and you never say, ‘I wish I had’ or ‘I should have,’ you would be so successful. You would have the greatest life experience if you never say these two things,” he advised. “If you say these two things, you’ve left something on the table. If you could have, you should have. Now if you’re saying at the end of the day, ‘I wish I had,’ well it’s too late. Do it now. And never say that,” he added. “If you play the game with all the intensity that you can, you can look back and say I had a great time, I had a great life, and I did all I can do. I’ve been able to fulﬁll my passion.”

December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

consumers corner By Eva Briggs

Should I Stay (Home) Or Should I Go (See a Doctor)

embers of the English punk rock group The Clash had a hit with their tune “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” Every day at the urgent care we see patients who stayed home when they should have gone to the doctor. There are times when delaying medical care can allow the problem to worsen, to spread, to cause collateral damage or to become more difﬁcult to treat. So if you ﬁnd yourself saying any of the following, don’t delay. “I think I have a urinary tract infection.” You have to urinate frequently. It burns when you urinate. Your urine smells foul. Yes it’s time to go to the doctor, because an untreated urinary tract infection can become severe pretty quickly. Not only can the preceding symptoms get worse, but the infection can spread to the kidneys, causing back pain and fever. Or spread to the bloodstream, leading — in

the worst-case scenario — to low blood pressure, confusion or shock. Drinking lots of ﬂuids will dilute your urine and may relieve some of the symptoms but it won’t cure an infection. Neither will cranberry juice. “I think I have a yeast infection.” If you are a woman, and have had a previous yeast infection that behaved exactly the same, go ahead and try an over-thecounter antifungal treatment. But if that doesn’t work or you have genital sores or symptoms that aren’t identical to a previous yeast infection, get checked. Lots of things besides yeast infections can make you miserable, and they won’t be properly treated by over-the-counter medicines. And for the men reading this, if you have genital symptoms such as a rash get that checked out sooner rather than later. “Ouch! A cat just bit me!” Cat teeth are like little bitty hypodermic needles injecting bacteria deep into your tissues. Cats seem to love to bite hands, a place where an infection can do a lot of damage. Fifty percent of cat bites become infected, often becoming severe in less than 24 hours. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your own cat whose vaccines are up-todate. The bacteria that live in cat mouths doesn’t make cats sick and your cat’s shots do not render its mouth sterile. And if it’s a stray or unknown cat, then you really need to be seen because

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of the risk of contracting rabies. “I think I need stitches.” Don’t delay. Unless you are hemorrhaging, wash the wound with soap and running water ﬁrst. There is a time limit as to how long wound repair can be delayed and still be successful; generally wounds older than eight hours (or 12 hours on the face) can’t be successfully stitched. A very important aspect of wound care is cleaning the wound, and if a wound is serious enough to need stitches, it probably needs additional cleaning beyond what you can do at home. The sooner it’s cleaned, the less chance for infection. If your wound is minor but you aren’t sure whether your tetanus shot is up-todate, then you can wait a day or two to check with your primary doctor. “I’m having chest pain.” Don’t wait on this one. Get to an emergency room. If you are having a serious heart or lung problem, an emergency room can provide the care you need promptly. And if your problem turns out not to be serious, better to have been inconvenienced by an emergency room visit than dead. “My family member is confused, or speaking funny, or having trouble using arm(s) or leg(s).” Those are emergency signs that something serious is wrong. It could be a stroke, an injury, lack of oxygen to the brain, or an infection. But it’s not something that can wait. Call 911 and get to the emergency room. Eva Briggs is a medical doctor who works at North Medical Urgent Care in Liverpool and Fulton Urgent Care in Fulton.

Social Security

Q&A

Q: What can I do if I think someone has stolen my identity? A: You should do several things, including: • File a report with the local police or the police department where the identity theft took place, and keep a copy of the police report as proof of the crime; • Notify the Federal Trade Commission (1-877-ID-THEFT or 1877-438-4338); • File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3. gov; and contact the fraud units of the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax (800-525-6285); Trans Union: (800-680-7289); and Experian: (888397-3742). Learn more by reading our publication, Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number, at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html.

For comprehensive, quality care from physicians you can trust, turn to University OB/GYN Associates All general and specialty women’s services are provided by our group • Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment including Advanced Reproductive Technologies Accepting new patients In – Vitro Fertilization to our practice • Family Planning • General Maternity Care 725 Irving Ave., Suite 600 • General Gynecology and Well Woman Services Syracuse, NY 13210 including menopause and PMS 315-464-5162 • Urogynecology • High Risk Maternity Care www.upstate.edu/obgyn • Gyn Oncology Our physicians are faculty of the Upstate Medical University We are the only group with the Academic Difference. Most insurances accepted

Q: I’m reaching my full retirement age and thinking about retiring in early 2013. When is the best time of year to apply for Social Security benefits? A: If you are planning to retire in early 2013, you can apply now. You can apply as early as four months prior to when you want your monthly benefits to begin. To apply, just go to www. socialsecurity.gov/applytoretire. Q: I am 57 years old and I currently receive Social Security disability benefits. Can I still get my regular Social Security retirement benefits when I reach full retirement age? A: If you are still receiving Social Security disability benefits when you reach your full retirement age, we will automatically switch you from disability benefits to retirement benefits at that point. The money amount will remain the same. For more information, visit our website on disability benefits at www. socialsecurity.gov/disability. December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

Exercising In Your 50s, 60s, 70s and Beyond

recent study has shown that exercise can add years to a person’s life. Still, as we age it can become more tedious and sometimes more difficult to exercise. Many people see aging as a time to slow down and take it easy. The reality is the more we age, the more we need exercise to keep us independent and healthy. Still, it sometimes takes a prescription from the doctor to get adults up and moving. “ E x e rc i s e i s i m p o r t a n t f o r almost everyone. There are very few medical conditions that exercise won’t benefit. In fact, I sometime write a prescription to get my patients to start taking this seriously and help them understand exercise can be just as helpful as medication,” said Keith Veselik, director of primary care at Loyola University Health System and associate professor in the department of medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. “Around age 35 is when our muscle mass and resting metabolism starts to decrease. When this happens our bodies require more, not less exercise to manage our caloric intake. When this starts to happen we can eat the same things, do the same things and may gain 3 pounds a year. That’s 30 pounds in a decade.” Though exercising is beneficial to nearly everyone, before starting a program the physician advises that people, especially those who have not been active, consult a doctor to determine their baseline and to get guidance about what exercises would be most beneficial. “In my own life I’ve seen the benefits of exercising. When that alarm goes off in the morning I want to just roll over, but I’ve seen such a positive change in so many ways. It can be difficult, especially at first, but the benefits truly out weigh the struggles,” said Veselik. Veselik said the best workout program balances cardiovascular exercise, strength training and 40

ﬂexibility. He recommends an hour of cardiovascular exercise four days a week, two days of strength training for 30 minutes and balance and ﬂexibility exercises such as stretching, yoga or pilates, one to two times a week. But what is optimal doesn’t always translate into what is doable. Each decade has unique challenges. Veselik gives some ideas of how to use exercise to counter those health hurdles.

In Your 50s Muscle and joint aches and pains start becoming more apparent, so Veselik said get creative about how to keep up cardiovascular exercise that is easy on the joints but gets the heart rate up. He suggests trying exercising in a pool or riding a bike instead of running. If you do run, make sure you have good shoes and try to run on softer surfaces. Cardiovascular exercise also helps to ﬁght many of the most common and deadly medical concerns, including heart disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “But don’t go from doing nothing to running a marathon. Talk to your doctor, ask about risk factors and together create a plan that’s right for you,” said Veselik. Another nearly universal complaint for people in their 50s is back pain. “The best way to protect your back is to build strong core muscles and make sure you are lifting heavy objects correctly,” said Veselik.

In Your 60s As we enter our 60s, balance and strength should be a major focus. Many people are scared of breaking a hip, which can limit independence. Also, our bones aren’t as strong and both men and women become more susceptible to osteoporosis. To help battle these concerns Veselik suggests incorporating balance and leg strengthening exercises to increase ﬂexibility as well as balance

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to help prevent accidental falls. Weight-bearing exercise is crucial to bone health and keeping bone density strong. In addition, many adults in their 60s begin to experience symptoms from arthritis, which can make exercise difﬁcult. “Exercise has been proven to help people deal with their arthritis. It’s just making sure your exercise routine is working for you, not against you. Some people forget that walking is a great form of exercise, just make sure you get your heart rate up. Also, aquatic classes or swimming are a great way for people with arthritis or fibromyalgia to exercise,” said Veselik.

In Your 70s and Beyond “The biggest worry I hear from my patients who are entering their 70s, 80s and beyond is dementia. The two most common forms are Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia,” said Veselik. He also said that exercise is the only thing that is proven to prevent Alzheimer’s. And, many of the major risk factors for vascular dementia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, can be countered with exercise. “Exercise is important, but it’s not the end all. It needs to be coupled with eating right and incorporating other healthy habits to lead to a better quality of life,” said Veselik.

Fewer Falls Among 65-plus CNY Adults On average from 2008 through 2010, 180 fallrelated hospitalizations and 377 fall-related emergency room visits occurred per 10,000 older adults in Central New York

dults aged 65 and older in Central New York had lower fallrelated hospitalization and emergency department visit rates than their Upstate New York counterparts About 130,000 older adults in Upstate New York reported falling during a three-month period, risking serious injuries, hospitalizations and even death, according to a new Excellus BlueCross BlueShield report, which was released in October. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths, hospital stays and emergency room visits for adults age 65 and older. “Avoiding falls is one of the most important things adults 65 and

older can do to avoid hospital and emergency room visits and maintain their health and independence,” said Marybeth McCall, vice president and chief medical ofﬁcer, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “Our report shows that one in three U.S. adults aged 65 and older falls each year, but more adults are likely to fall as large numbers of the baby boom generation reach age 65.” Among Upstate New York adults aged 65 and older, the report showed an annual average of about 30,000 fall-related emergency room visits, 15,000 fall-related hospitalizations and more than 300 fall-related deaths. The Excellus BlueCross BlueShield report analyzed data from a 2010 state survey of adults

aged 65 and older. Participants were asked whether they had fallen and were injured in the previous three months. The report also included state hospital and emergency room data for 2008 through 2010. The report, Fall Incidence and Costs Among Adults 65 and Older in Upstate New York, reﬂects the most recent data available. According to the report: • Older adults in the Central New York region were the least likely to be hospitalized or make an emergency room visit because of a fall, while those 65 years old and older in the Utica region were more likely to do so. On average from 2008 through 2010, 180 fall-related hospitalizations and 377 fall-related emergency room visits occurred per 10,000 older adults in Central New York, compared to 226 hospitalizations and 461 emergency room visits per 10,000 older adults in the Utica region. • The fall-related death rate and total number of fall-related deaths among adults 65 and older in Central New York was second-highest of all Upstate New York regions studied. On average from 2008 through 2010, 6.0 fall-related deaths occurred per 10,000 adults aged 65 and older in Central New York, compared to the lowest death rate, 3.6 fallrelated deaths per 10,000 older adults in Western New York. • About 19 percent of men age 65 and older in Upstate New York said they fell during a three-month period in 2010, compared to 15 percent of women in the same age group. Of those who reported a fall, men were more likely than women to report a fall-related injury (38 percent vs. 33 percent, respectively). • The average annual cost of fall-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits made by U-pstate New Yorkers 65 and older was an estimated $352 million from 2008 through 2010.

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visits

Lighting the Way The Lighthouses of Upstate New York By Sandra Scott

Oswego West Pierhead Light

here are nearly 100 lighthouses in New York state that have safely guided ocean, lake and canal vessels through the years. The most famous is the Statue of Liberty, which has been standing in New York harbor since 1886 welcoming people to America. It was ofﬁcially considered a lighthouse from 1886 to 1902 and was the ﬁrst American lighthouse to utilize electricity to light its beacon, which could be seen for more than 20 nautical miles. For many people lighthouses are a metaphor for hope, that beacon of light at the end of a long journey. For others the remote and often solitary location appeals to those who would like to escape the hectic pace of today’s life. Lighthouses have a loyal and dedicated following. There are many lighthouses in Upstate New York within a short drive by car or, in some cases, by boat. Each is unique in its own special way. 42

Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario has been of strategic importance since colonial times. Over the years three lights were erected; the first one in 1781. The current one was built in 1872 to replace the 1823 one. The light was first atop a 50-foot octagonal stone tower. An 11-foot addition in 1900 enabled the beacon to shine 25 miles over Lake Ontario. It was decommissioned in 1993, due in part because trees had grown up obscuring the light. It is not open to the public but the adjacent Old Fort Niagara is.

Olcott Lighthouse Perched on the shore of Lake Ontario, the Olcott Lighthouse is a wonderful example of a community’s effort to resurrect the past. The original lighthouse was built in the 1870s when

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Olcott was a port of entry for ships from Canada that would offload grain to be shipped to Rochester and Oswego. In 1930 it was deemed no longer needed. It was moved, deteriorated over the years and later dismantled. In 2003 the Olcott Lighthouse Society raised roughly $6,000 and built an accurate, full-scale reproduction.

Old Sodus Lighthouse The current limestone lighthouse in Great Sodus Bay was built in 1870 to replace the 1825 one. Today the keeper’s house is home to the Sodus Bay Historical Society with exhibits dealing with shipping and sailing along with lighthouse artifacts. On a clear day the view of the area from the lantern room is worth the climb. The lawns are sublime with excellent views including the newer lighthouse on a pier. Concerts are often held on

55+ the lawn during the summer.

visits Selkirk Lighthouse

Verona Beach Lighthouse The Verona Beach lighthouse is one of three identical structures on Oneida Lake. The others are located on Frenchman’s Island and in Brewerton. The lights, atop an 80-foot tower that resembles a candlestick, helped to assure safe passage for vessels crossing the 22 miles of Oneida Lake. The Verona Beach lighthouse has been restored by the Verona Beach Lighthouse Association.

Oswego West Pierhead Light The historic lighthouse is the iconic image of Oswego and will continue to be thanks to a group of dedicated citizens who have undertaken the task of preserving and restoring it. Built in 1934, it was the fourth lighthouse in Oswego. The rotating fourth order Fresnel lens was removed in 1995 and can be viewed at the H. Lee White Marine Museum. The current light is solar-powered alternating red and white at 10 second intervals. The lighthouse is not accessible to the public. Tibbetts Point Lighthouse

Selkirk Lighthouse Where the Salmon River flows into Lake Ontario stands Selkirk Lighthouse, built in 1838, and topped with a unique “birdcage” lantern. The

hexagonal dome of small-paned glass and wrought iron predates those used to house Fresnel lenses. There are only four similar ones in the United States. It remained unchanged because the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1858. The lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is privately owned and available for overnight stays.

Stony Point Lighthouse Some lighthouses have become private residences. Such is the case with the one at Stony Point in Henderson Harbor. Erected in 1869 it is similar to the one on Horse Island, which is only accessible by boat. Stony Point can be viewed from the Lighthouse Road but the grounds are not open to the public.

Cape Vincent Breakwater As unlikely as it may seem there is a lighthouse on Route 12E at the entrance to Cape Vincent. It is an indication of the desire and dedication of community members to preserve their historic lighthouses. Built in 1901 it was one of two lights originally December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

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visits Olcott Lighthouse

built. The Fresnel lens, which was fueled by whale oil in the beginning, is the only remaining part of the 1827 structure and the only classical Fresnel lenses still in operation on Lake Ontario. Today, it is still an active lighthouse maintained by the Coast Guard. It is a state historic site with a visitor center, Lighthouse Museum, and a hostel in what was once the caretakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home.

Sunken Rock Lighthouse The lighthouse can be viewed from downtown Alexandria Bay. It is located in the St. Lawrence River marking the east entrance to the narrows between Wellesley Island and the U. S. Mainland. Built in 1847 and refitted in 1855, the light still guides mariners. It is owned by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation who converted it to solar power in 1988. It is still active. located at each end of the village breakwall to protect Cape Vincent harbor. It was moved to a place of honor in 1951 becoming a proud landmark welcoming people to the village.

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse The U.S. Government built a lighthouse in Cape Vincent at the entrance to the St. Lawrence in 1827 and, in 1854, the current tower was

Sunken Rock Lighthouse 44

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Verona Beach Lighthouse

Working After Retirement Conntinued from page 16 participated indicated that they believed they would still be working at the age of 66 or older. By contrast, the response to that same question in this year’s survey was 44 percent. New York state’s workforce, meanwhile, is getting older. According to the state Labor Department, the number of workers in Onondaga 65 and older increased from 7,771 in 2000 to 9,894 in the third quarter of last year. For the same time frame, the Syracuse metro areas population of older workers jumped from 9,462 to 12,081. And throughout the Central New York region, Madison, Cayuga, Oswego and Oneida counties each reported increases in workers 65 and up during that 11-year period. Kingson said with the increase of older adults remaining in the workforce longer nationwide, local, state and federal governments need to make some serious changes. To begin with, the national Age Discrimination and Employment Act, which hasn’t been amended since 1978, needs to be revisited with a greater emphasis on enforcing it. He also said Central New York leaders should do more to keep older adults, whether they are retired, semiretired or still working, from leaving the region. “We need to preserve our tax base and create vehicles where people can contribute to their communities,” he said. “It can be little things like street lights, sidewalks and benches for people who like to walk. It’s important to have dignity — to be part of a community and contribute to it. I think it’s reasonable to expect older people to contribute to their community. It doesn’t necessarily have to be just employment. It can be volunteer work, religion — there’s a real value to that.” The 2002 Retirement Confidence Survey indicated in 2002 that only 16 percent of those who participated in the study believed that Social Security would continue to produce benefits of at least equal value of the benefits received by current retirees. That figure dropped to 12 percent this year. As for Medicare, 17 percent of those

surveyed 10 years indicated that they were confident that Medicare benefits would remain the same for them after retirement compared to what current retirees were receiving. But in this year’s study, only 7 percent of those surveyed provided that response. In May 2012, a paper Kingson cu-authored for the Economic Policy Institute, “Can Workers Offset Social Security cuts by Working Longer?” He answers that question after providing ample evidence that a significant population of Americans are retiring earlier than expected due to circumstances beyond their control — poor health, the inability to sustain the physical requirements of certain types of manual labor, and the responsibility of caring for an elderly parent. “Raising the retirement age might make sense if longevity gains were equally shared by all workers, regardless of income groups,

educational status or race; if increased longevity meant continued good health; and if older workers had opportunities in the workforce equal to those of younger workers,” he writes. “But none of these conditions is true. Thus, a further increase in the Social Security retirement age would impose hardship on many older workers. “In any case,” Kingson says, “there is no need to cut beneﬁts at all if Americans prefer to contribute more to the program to restore its long-term solvency. Closing the projected shortfall on the revenue side makes sense given the weakness in employer-based plans and personal savings — the other two legs of the retirement stool.” If the federal government is serious about raising the retirement age, Kingson said, then it should borrow some ideas from the private sector. Part-time work, flexible schedules and higher wages would get more people interested in the concept of working past 65. “That’s a good way to encourage people to work – pay it,” he said.

Cremation Services of Central NewYork

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www.cremationservicesofcny.com December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

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memory

Learning the Fate of The Post-Standard “It felt like there had been a death in my family” By Suzanne M. Ellis

ou probably know the feeling. It’s the morning after you’ve gotten terrible news, you awaken and — for a split second — you’re not sure if what happened was a dream or reality. I had one of those surreal moments when I awoke today, Oct. 2, 2012, the day after learning that more than 100 former colleagues at The Post-Standard would soon lose their jobs. The layoff notices (and for the lucky ones, offers for new jobs in the new world) were delivered to employees privately as they were called to corner offices in alphabetical order. Those meetings spanned more than 12 hours for some of the messengers. Breaking the news to employees was a calculated step on the newspaper’s new path, a road that will lead it away from traditional, daily newsprint to 24/7 digital online content. The first step was taken publicly five weeks earlier, on Aug. 28. In the bitterest of ironies, the initial news came to me in a rapid-fire succession of smart phone text messages from my daughter: “Heard about PS?” “1/1/13 — only Tuesday Thursday Sunday papers” “Can’t believe it” “Big release from Syracuse.com” I headed (more irony here) for my laptop computer. The news wasn’t yet an hour old, yet there were already posted stories from local non-newspaper media about The Post-Standard’s announcement to cease seven-day-a-week home 46

delivery beginning Jan. 1, 2013. So monumental was the news — and its implications so far-reaching — that by the end of the day the Washington Post, the New York

This black-and-white photograph of the Syracuse Newspapers’ building was taken in early 2001 on Clinton Square in Syracuse, four months before the last editions of the Herald-Journal and Herald American were published, ending a 162-year run. In August, it was announced that The Post-Standard would cease daily publication on Jan. 1, 2013 and become a threeday-a-week publication. (Photo by Suzanne M. Ellis)

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Times and other national media outlets had picked up the story. It felt like there had been a death in my family because, in essence, there had been. Life in the Clinton Square newsroom in Syracuse, where many journalists spend more time than they do with their “real” families, is a uniquely bonding experience. When big news breaks, egos go out the window and adrenaline, professionalism and teamwork take over. Reporters, assignment editors, copy editors, photographers, graphic artists and research librarians stand shoulder to shoulder, plotting the best ways to deliver the most comprehensive news report possible. It happened in 1986 when the Challenger space shuttle exploded 73 seconds into its ﬂight. It happened in 1988 when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, taking the lives of 35 Syracuse University students and others with ties to Central New York. It happened on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists ﬂew airliners into buildings, killing 3,000 Americans. And to a lesser degree, it happens seven days a week, 365 days a year, when news breaks that impacts the life and times of the people of Central New York. Not surprisingly, a positive spin by Post-Standard marketers played up the creation of a new company and its future dedication to an allencompassing, better-than-ever, 24hour news cycle. No one mentioned the fact that a newspaper founded in 1829 was about to undergo its most radical changes in nearly 200 years.

55+ “We know it’s a digital world, so we have to throw as much energy as we can to the digital realm,” said Post-Standard Editor and Publisher Stephen A. Rogers in an article published — online — later that day. “It’s very clear, if we do nothing we’re doomed. So what do we do? We go to where people are moving to get news and information, and that’s digital.” Like those of many, my initial reactions were shock, disbelief and sadness. I turned to my Facebook community, where more than 100 of my friends are current or former Post-Standard/Herald-Journal employees or members of other local media. The news was spreading like wildﬁre, and friends from Prague to Pulaski shared their own feelings of shock and sadness. One friend summed it up pretty well: “I’m a newspaper guy. I love the paper. I think the Post [Standard] reporters do an incredible job of bringing the people of Central New York the news every day. Yes, syracuse.com also does a great job, no question. But there’s nothing like sitting back, relaxing and reading the newspaper. The losers in all of this, of course, are ALL OF US!!! My thoughts are with those people who have spent their lives working at the paper. Good luck and Godspeed to all of you.” Comments by others were equally heartfelt: “How will I ever start my day?” “I feel as if I’ve lost a limb.” “Such a huge, huge loss.” “Shock and tears here. Shock because I truly believed we had a few more years (before this happened here) and tears for ... the slow death of a proud and incredibly relevant part of our history.” “What a bereavement to our community, a loss that is visceral not only in terms of having an excellent resource taken from us, but also in terms of outstanding talent moving on from this area.” The following Sunday, The Post-Standard devoted almost its entire Letters page to the allnegative written barrage from

readers, including Deborah O’Shea, of Fayetteville: “The news on the Internet is read in bits and bytes, not turned page to page where stories are offered across all interest lines and geography,” O’Shea wrote. “The daily newspaper delivery … is a calming constant (before) the start of each day where work and family take precedence. The internet is only an enhancement in the delivery of the news.” JoAnn Seeber, a senior citizen from North Syracuse, probably summarized the feelings of many older Central New York readers. “I feel this newspaper has made a very bad decision not to publish a printed paper every day,” Seeber wrote. “Did anyone do any research to ascertain how many homes — people like me — do not have a computer or access to one? More important is the fact that I would not have access to obituaries and would not know until it’s too late that I had missed the chance to bid farewell to a friend.” Early yesterday morning, as one by one my former colleagues and friends began to learn their fate in corner offices on Clinton Square in Syracuse, cell phones and computers buzzed with speculation that was soon followed by more sadness. When the dust settled late last night, the unofficial number of newsroom casualties stood at 35 and included reporters, copy editors, photographers and research librarians. Building wide, roughly 80 other employees got equally bad news. Describing the day-long mood in the newsroom, one former colleague said, “It’s like a funeral without all the flowers.” Another noted that a cake, lovingly decorated with the inspirational, hand-written frosting words, “Family, Together, Believe, Inspire, Succeed, Hope,” had been brought to the newsroom. By 8 p.m., not a single journalist had touched it. “A cake feels like something for a celebration,” one employee

memory said. “It was a sweet idea and very thoughtful, but I guess nobody was in the mood for celebrating.” Throughout the day and long into the night, Facebook served as a virtual “calling hours” for our newspaper family, which found an outpouring of comfort, solidarity and support. “I hold you all in my heart today.” “The sun will come up, the gloom will burn off and you’ll see opportunities and happiness in the post-PS stage of your life.” “Today was a very, very difﬁcult day for our Post-Standard family. I was fortunate to get an offer to stay, but my heart goes out to all the dedicated and talented journalists … who did not.” “Out of the ashes the Phoenix will rise. You’ll get through this!” “Mourning for you from afar.” “I’ve been gone for a long time, but my heart is back there today with my newspaper family in Syracuse.” “No matter what today brings, you are loved and supported.” The ﬁnal comment I read last night on Facebook echoed, ever so eloquently, the sentiments of myself and countless others who will forever be part of a newspaper family: “The journalistic life is a strong and dominant culture. When you’re part of it, it can be so hard to believe that anything else could ever be as good or better, or that there will ever come a time in life when you can look back fondly and don’t miss it. But it happens. I know your sadness is inevitable, but I hope it is short-lived.”

lives in Baldwinsville.

Suzanne Ellis was a reporter and copy editor at The PostStandard and the former HeraldJournal/Herald American from 1987 until 2009. She

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druger’s zoo By Marvin Druger

10 Pleasures and 7 Perils of Aging

ging is a fascinating phenomenon. There are both pleasures and perils of aging, especially after retirement. Some of the pleasures of aging include:

Pursuing hobbies without guilt feelings. Nobody can accuse you of negligence when you spend your day fishing, shopping, reading or simply doing nothing.

2 3

Awakening in the morning and asking your spouse, “What day is it?” and not caring what the answer is. Spending time with grandchildren, if they have time to spend with you. You can feel fortunate if they can fit you into their busy schedules.

Being more accepting, tolerant and caring of others. You suddenly realize that cousin Jane is not such a bad person after all. You can forgive her for not inviting you to the wedding, or for her insulting remarks. Why not forgive her, contact her, and enjoy interactions with her? Why not let bygones be bygones?

Sharing your wisdom of older age and helping others cope with problems in life. After all, you now have extensive experience in living and you really do want to help others avoid the mistakes that you made. Sometimes, you can be frustrated because nobody seems to want to listen to your wisdom. “What does that old person know about this issue?” In reality, older people often know more about the issue than younger people.

Saying whatever you want to say, without any trepidation or hesitation. Now you can speak your mind freely. What can they do to you? Fire you? Now, you tend to write letters to the editor of newspapers and you preach against social injustice. Every day, while driving, I noticed two or three cars with a defective headlight or brake light. I wrote a letter to the editor to complain about the situation and to suggest that a universal signal (e.g., two quick honks of the horn) be adopted to inform drivers about the problem. In one instance, I followed a lady’s car into her driveway to tell her about her defective brake light. She seemed frightened when she saw me, but she finally realized that I was just a friendly old man trying to do a good deed.

Trying new things that you never thought you would ever do. If you were reluctant to do yoga, Zumba, kayaking, travel, volunteer work, playing a musical instrument, writing articles for 55Plus magazine, etc., now is the time to do it. Why not? You may never be able to have these opportunities again.

Developing a new world view. Older people tend to become more peace-loving. You realize the stupidity and futility of wars and the importance of people getting along with each other. You recognize that much of the history of humans is war. Nations fight each other, humans are killed needlessly, but eventually, the warring nations become friends. So, why have the wars in the first place?

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Appreciating friendships. True friends care about you and you care about them. You don’t even

have to see them often, but you feel good to know that they are there. At my age, I jokingly tell people that most of my friends are either retired, terminally ill, or dead. This becomes less of a joke as I get older.

Getting senior discounts almost everywhere. Senior discounts are among the greatest pleasures that older people can experience. In any transaction, you should always ask for a senior discount. I once asked a repairman at my house for a senior discount. His response was, “We charge more for seniors.” So, sometimes, this request backfires.

Some Perils of Aging

People start calling you “sir” or “ma’am.” When I was still teaching at Syracuse University, I commented to a faculty colleague, “When the students start calling me ‘sir,’ I’ll retire.” His reply was, “Gee. I just heard five students call you ‘sir’.’” I guess this was some sort of hint.

You tend to forget things. I used to have senior moments. Now I have senior half-hours. “Where did I put that paper that I just had in my hand?” “What was the name of that person I just met?” “Was I supposed to buy bread, or milk, or eggs, or all of the above?” A former student who is now a prominent gerontologist told me, “If you know that you are forgetting, you’re OK. If you don’t know that you are forgetting, you’re in trouble.” Many things that you forget suddenly reveal themselves in the middle of the night or the next day when you are not thinking about them, and you remember the item thereafter. The

Increased grumpiness seems to be a common feature of older age. You become irritable and cranky. You do need to keep busy to prevent the grumpiness syndrome. information is buried in some folder in your brain and, as you get older, it becomes more difficult to readily access the information.

You think more about the past, and less about the future. Everyone follows a unique pathway in life, and everyone takes steps or makes decisions that are later regretted. I’ve been married for 55 years. I told my wife, “Pat, I regret not being nice to you for the first 16 years of our marriage.” Her response was, “What about the rest of the years?”

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Increased grumpiness seems to be a common feature of older age. You become irritable and cranky. I admire older people who seem to live happily, no matter what. They don’t think about getting older. They are too busy to do so. You do need to keep busy to prevent the grumpiness syndrome. There are many other pleasures and perils of aging. Events that we witness in the movies have music that accompanies them. Happy events are accompanied by happy music; sad events have mournful music. In real life, there is no music when an event occurs. So, as we get older, we have to invent our own music in our minds and try to make that music happy.

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Very often, older people have a sharp mind, but the state of the body doesn’t match the mind. You tend to think that you can do the same physical things that you did in your youth, but the sad truth emerges that you can’t. In my younger years, I jogged a mile at an eight-minute pace. Now, I’m lucky to jog at all, and at a very slow pace. When I was younger, I was a decent racquetball player. I eventually stopped playing. When I had an opportunity to try the game

A lack of balance tends to accompany older age. Older people tend to be more likely to fall and injure themselves. While standing on a ladder, I stretched to cut a branch on a tree. The ladder slipped and I lost my balance. It seemed like an eternity as I fell sideways toward the ground. “What do I do now?” I thought, as my body fell. Fortunately, I landed softly on my side and was lucky not to have broken my hip. Practicing simple balancing exercises may help deal with any tendency toward imbalance

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P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126

You are bound to get some illness or health problem. Young people think that they are invincible. This invincibility becomes less of a reality as you get older. You hold together as best you can, often by engulfing many pills each day. Exercise helps delay the inevitable. An exercise physiologist once told me, “Bodily functions deteriorate as we get older, but, if you exercise, they deteriorate more slowly.” So, regular exercise is good for you. Proper sleep habits and diet also help maintain health. A 90-yearold man at the health club exercises regularly, but he is always complaining, “I wish I had my libido.” I decided not to look up the meaning of the word.

once again, I swung the racquet and missed the ball by a foot. Another instance of older age vs. youth was when I had to move a large log across the beach at our lake house at Owasco Lake. I tried to lift the log, but I wasn’t able to budge it at all. I saw a teenager at the neighbor’s house. “Can you give me a hand?” “Sure,” he replied. He came over and energetically lifted the log and asked, “Where do you want it?” So much for youth vs. older age.

December 2012 / January 2013 - 55 PLUS

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By Alyssa Mammano

Mack Richardson Artistic director for the Oswego Opera Theater talks about music, the group’s 34th season, and how unique it is for a small town to have an opera company Q. Tell us about the Oswego Opera Theater and how it is structured. A. We are an independent nonprofit organization, although obviously we work extremely closely with the SUNY music and theater departments. We wouldn’t be able to put on the things we put on without the support of SUNY. They support us in things we need, like the venue to perform in. At the same time, many of the people who perform for us or work back stage on technical things are students. There is experience to be gained. Q . What are your primary functions as artistic director of the Oswego Opera Theater? A. I come up with ideas. Once you have the idea, you have to come up with a way you can accomplish it. Then it takes the volunteer board of directors to dig in and provide the resources for that to happen. We have a board that’s very energized about doing whatever it takes to put these events on, put them on well and to raise funding for it. In just this calendar year we have had three fundraisers for the opera company. One was bringing Craig Schulman to town back in March. He is on Broadway and got his start here. We also have our annual golf tournament and chicken barbecue. Q. As artistic director, what are the most challenging aspects of your role? A. It’s logistics. The “Welcome Back” program had far more problems logistically then even a full opera 50

production, such as last year’s Cosi Fan Tute by Mozart. It was very difficult because of the number of people involved and all the communication back and forth. Obviously getting the funding is one of the challenges, but we are fortunate to have a board that is committed to get funds. Q. It seems your son Andrew is following in his father’s footsteps. How significant is that for you to see your son perform on a high level? A. First I have to say he is following in his mother Christine’s footsteps as much as he is mine. She is the trained singer and has done alto solos in Handel’s “Messiah.” He is a bass baritone and there is no question he inherited that aspect from her. Chris doesn’t particularly enjoy performing as the star but he wants to be the star. He has the ability to get out front and perform. Not everybody has the ability to both perform and to get right out in front and put yourself out on the end of that limb. He got that from me because of all my years of being a conductor. He has sung twice in Italy and is at the Indiana University Bloomington campus, which is acknowledged as the finest opera school in the country. He’s done his master’s and is working on the doctoral level. Q. How exciting was it to present the “Welcome Back” concert at SUNY Oswego in November which featured many opera and music theater artists coming back to their roots?

55 PLUS - December 2012 / January 2013

A. It’s one of the more felicitous ideas we’ve come up with. I think it was great for people to see how many young people have come out of this area and have gone on and are starting to make a real career for themselves in singing opera and musical theater. The idea of a community the size of Oswego having an opera company is astounding. It just doesn’t happen. It’s practically unique to Oswego. Opera is way too expensive for most places to deal with. Even the Metropolitan Opera sweats every dollar. Q. This is the 34th season of the Oswego Opera Theater. How does the community beneﬁt from its existence? A . From a quality of life standpoint, it’s something that the city can point to with pride and say, “We have our own professional performing opera company.” A lot of towns in Central New York have opera and music theater, but they hire traveling companies to come to town and put in on. They don’t do anything except sell tickets and market it. We put it on from the bottom up and that is what is highly unusual. Mack Richardson, a native Tennessean and Baldwinsville resident, is an adjunct professor with the department of music at SUNY Oswego and has served as artistic director for the Oswego Opera Theater since July 2008.

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