Older Adults in Onondaga Make Up 15.3% of Population
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The Art of Traveling Alone, From the Expert The Family Meeting Why you need to share financial information with your family. Experts weigh in
PLUS Issue 61 February / March 2016
For Active Adults in the Central New York Area
Marvin Druger My Adventures in Senior Dating
#44
SU football legend Floyd Little, who wore the coveted No. 44 while at Syracuse, cultivates student-athletes at alma mater. Talks about concussions, changes needed in the game
Priceless
Inside: Author On Turning 65
Superior stroke care. It’s about time.
R
eceiving the area’s fastest stroke diagnosis and treatment starts even before you arrive at Crouse Hospital. That’s because our EMS
partners start communicating with our team the moment they arrive on the scene. Once here, our stroke specialists immediately assess your condition. And if more advanced care is needed, our boardcertified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeons use the most progressive stroke-rescue therapies and technology available. When it’s about time, say “Take me to Crouse.”
crouse.org/stroke
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333 Butternut Drive, Suite 100, DeWitt, New York 13214 Embracing Age is affiliated with St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center and the Franciscan Companies network
February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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CONTENTS
55 PLUS
55 PLUS
February 2016 / March 2016
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16
Savvy Senior 6 Financial Health 8 Gardening 10 My Turn 22 Golden Years 26 Aging 36 Life After 55 38 Consumers Corner 44 Druger’s Zoo 46 Visits 48 Last Page 50
LAST PAGE Jane Higgins talks about her presidency for the Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade 4
55 PLUS - February 2016 / March 2016
cny55.com
36 12 TRAVEL
• Kathleen Pascarella is now sharing her knowledge of solo traveling
16 AGING
• Author discussing turning 65 years of age
19 EIGHT QUESTIONS • Janet Agostini, Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo
24 LACROSSE
• West Genesee Coach Mike Messere has become a legend
28 LONGEVITY
• In Onondaga County, older adults already make up 15.3 percent of the population
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30 PLANNING
• Experts urge baby boomers to share financial information with immediate family
32 COVER
• SU legendary football player cultivates studentathletes at alma mater
40 INSURANCE
• Fairly young and healthy? Time to buy long-term care insurance
42 PROFILE
• Bonnie Sanderson dominates Mohawk Valley sports scene in both winter, summer
New Non-Surgical Protocol for Neuropathy What is Neuropathy?
Neuropathy is a collection of disorders that occur when nerves of the peripheral nervous system are damaged. The condition is generally referred to as peripheral neuropathy. In the United States, over 20 million people suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy can be brought on by a number of different causes including Diabetes, back
Are you Experiencing Pins & Needles? Numbness and Tingling? Pain or Burning in your Feet or Hands?
problems and certain drugs. Damaged nerves send incorrect signals back to the brain causing scattered signals resulting in numbness, burning, tingling and sharp pain sensations that are usually felt in the feet, legs, hands and arms. Symptoms associated with the motor portion of the nerve may include muscle weakness, cramping and spasms as well as a lack of coordination and poor balance.
Traditional Treatments:
Over the years neuropathy treatments in general have had poor results at best. Many medications are used that have significant side effects and poor treatment outcomes. Only recently have we had a promising breakthrough to help reduce symptoms of neuropathy with lasting results.
New Non-Surgical For Neuropathy:
Protocol
A new development in Class IV laser technology called Deep Tissue Laser Therapy has been shown to improve the function of the blood vessels and tissues that surround the injured nerves. This improves the elasticity and function of the blood vessels. As the blood vessels become healthier, the nerves begin to thrive. Another choice of treatment, Microvascular Therapy, is used to expedite healing and reduce pain through the process called “Vascular
Profusion”. This is the process of delivering blood to the capillary beds in the tissues and organs of the body. Microvascular Therapy is PAIN FREE and stimulates the pumping action of the smallest blood vessels which increases the oxygenation, nutrient transport to the cells and waste removal causing tissues to heal more rapidly. Additionally, a landmark study demonstrates the benefits of an arginine based nutritional protocol for patients. This pharmaceutical grade supplement containing L-Arginine boosts the production of Nitric Oxide in your body and has been labeled The Ultimate Cardio Health Solution. The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded in 1998 validating the effects of nitric oxide on the cardiovascular system and how L-Arginine is critical to the production of nitric oxide in the body. Ironically the use of L-arginine was also found to deliver dramatic results to patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy by improving circulation.
If you would like to learn more about this successful drug-free and pain-free protocol for neuropathy and other nerve and pain conditions call 622-0102 Mention This Article to Qualify For A Free Consultation.
3452 Route 31 • 622-0102 • Baldwinsville, NY 13027 (located across from Hickory Hill Golf Course) February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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savvy senior By Jim Miller
T
IRA and 401(k) Withdrawal Rules
he old saying “you can’t take it with you” is definitely true when it comes to Uncle Sam and your tax-deferred retirement accounts. Here’s what you should know about required retirement account distributions along with some tips to help you avoid extra taxes and penalties. RMD Rules Beginning at age 70½, the IRS requires all seniors who own taxdeferred retirement accounts — like traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, SARSEPs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s and 457s — must start taking annual required minimum distributions (RMDs), and pay taxes on those withdrawals. The reason: The IRS doesn’t want you hoarding your money in these accounts forever. They want their cut. Distributions are taxed as income at your ordinary income tax rate. T h e r e a r e , h o w e v e r, t w o exceptions. Owners of Roth IRAs are not required to take a distribution, unless the Roth is inherited. And if you continue to work beyond age 70½, and you don’t own 5 percent or more of the company you work for, you can delay withdrawals from your employer’s retirement plan until after you retire. But if you have other non-work-related accounts, such as a traditional IRA or a 401(k) from a previous employer, you are still required to take RMDs from them after age 70½, even if you’re still working. RMD Deadlines Generally, you must take your distribution every year by Dec. 31. First-timers, however, can choose to delay taking their distribution until April 1 of the year following the year they turn 70½. So, for example, if your 70th birthday was in March 2015, you would turn 70½ in September and your required beginning date would
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be April 1, 2016. But if your 70th birthday occurred later in the year, say in August, you wouldn’t turn 70½ until 2016. In that case, you would be required to take your first distribution by April 1, 2017. But be careful about delaying, because if you delay your first distribution, it may push you into a higher tax bracket because you must take your next distribution by Dec. 31 of the same year. Also note that you can always withdraw more than the required amount, but if you don’t take out the minimum, you’ll be hit with a 50 percent penalty on the amount that you failed to withdraw, along with the income tax you owe on it. Distribution Amounts Your RMD is calculated by dividing your tax-deferred retirement account balance as of Dec. 31 of the previous year, by an IRS estimate of your life expectancy. A special rule applies if your spouse is the beneficiary and is more than 10 years younger than you. IRA withdrawals must be calculated for each IRA you own, but you can withdraw the money from any IRA or combination of IRAs. 403(b) accounts also allow you to total the RMDs and take them from any account or combination of accounts. With 401(k) plans, however, you must calculate the RMD for each plan and withdraw the appropriate amount from each account. To calculate the size of your RMD, you can use the worksheets on the IRS website – see irs.gov/Retirement-Plans and click on “Required Minimum Distributions.” Or, contact your IRA custodian or retirement-plan administrator who can do the calculations for you. For more information, call the IRS at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of “Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements” (publication 590-B), or see irs.gov/ pub/irs-pdf/p590b.pdf.
55PLUS cny55.com Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto
Associate Editor Lou Sorendo
Writers
Deborah J. Sergeant Aaron Gifford, Sandra Scott Matthew Liptak, Janice Park Mary Beth Roach, Patricia Malin
Columnists
Eva Briggs, M.D., Bruce Frassinelli Marilyn Pinsky, Harold Miller Jim Sollecito, David J. Zumpano Marvin Druger, Michele Reed .
Advertising
Amy Gagliano Cassandra Lawson
Office Manager Alice Davis
Layout and Design Eric J. Stevens
55 PLUS –A Magazine for Active Adults in Central New York is published six times a year by Local News, Inc., which also publishes In Good Health–CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper. Published at 185 E. Seneca St. PO Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126. Subscription: $15 a year; $25 for two years © 2016 by 55 PLUS – A Magazine for Active Adults in Upstate New York.
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@CNY55.com Editor@cnyhealth.com
507 Plum Street, Suite 300, Syracuse, NY 13204 Phone: (315) 471-8111, Website: www.scolaro.com
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www.mcharrielife.org February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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financial health
Bennett Manor Apartments
By David J. Zumpano
Senior Housing (Elderly and/or Disabled) In Residential Section. E. Irving and Dausman Sts East Syracuse
Rent Based on Income Many Outstanding Features • On Bus Line • All One Bedroom Units • 24 Hour Maintenance • Secure Building • Wall to Wall Carpeting • One Pet Welcome • Total Electric w/ Individual Controls Apply Rental Office
100 Bennett Manor Drive, E. Syracuse Mon-Fri 7:30 – 3:30
437-4864
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55 PLUS - February 2016 / March 2016
“J
You Can Trust Your Children, Right?
ane” recently called the law office of an estate planning attorney to ask a few questions. She was one of five children. Her mother had been ailing for some time and her oldest brother, Bob, had been her mom’s power of attorney. Jane and her siblings became concerned because mom was complaining recently that she didn’t have any money. The children knew she had had over $500,000 after the death of their dad. When they began to look into it, it appeared that Jane’s oldest brother, Bob, had been taking mom’s money over the past several years. Jane asked the attorney what could be done. The attorney quickly explained the statutory power of attorney that her brother had did not authorize him to “self-deal.” This means, Bob could not have used his power of attorney to take mom’s money, and put it in his own name. Upon further investigation, they learned mom had personally signed checks over to the brother. While mom asserts she did not intend to do any such thing, Bob’s influence exerted over her was sufficient for her to have legally transferred those assets. Jane asked what her mom’s recourse was. The attorney explained her only recourse was to somehow prove “undue influence” or “duress” over mom by Bob. This would be a lengthy, time-consuming and expensive legal proceeding, the outcome of which was far from guaranteed. The attorney explained that many times elderly parents trust their children and rely on their judgment and do as the children suggest. In other cases, it is discovered the person with the power of attorney used his authority to benefit himself. Even though self-dealing is not authorized by the power of attorney, often the
assets are already gone and there’s no way to recover them. The attorney explained proper planning and the protection of mom usually should involve more than one of the children. Unfortunately, Jane did not have many viable options. After Jane discussed this matter with her mother, mom was not willing to “sue” her son to get the money back. Coincidently, Bob was no longer around to support mom. The other children had to step in to help. The worst of it was that the family was destroyed, likely, forever. Don’t let this happen to you. Work in a team approach with an estate planning attorney to properly utilize the strengths of the financial adviser, the attorney, and the family members, to ensure your clients’ needs are met and the family relationships are maintained.
‘Jane and her siblings became concerned because mom was complaining recently that she didn’t have any money. The children knew she had had over $500,000 after the death of their dad.’ David J. Zumpano is an attorney and a certified public accountant (CPA). He operates Estate Planning Law Center. He can be reached at 315-793-3622.
WANDERERS’ REST HUMANE ASSOCIATION
NEEDS YOUR HELP
LIVES SAVED THROUGH GENEROSITY OF OTHERS
Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association Is Looking for a Motivated, Outgoing and Energetic Volunteer to plan and organize a major fund-raising event for the summer of 2016 and annually there after. This is your opportunity to help the shelter raise funds. We are open to creating new themes/events and our area covers Onondaga, Madison and Oneida Counties so the possibilities are endless! This person would be responsible for soliciting and managing volunteers and the planning committee, managing the marketing, prizes for raffle items and reaching out into communities to seek support. Raising funds for shelter animals and having fun as a “take charge” kind of individual is exactly what we are looking for. This could be perfect for a retired advertising sales executive, public relations kind of person, homemaker or someone who is looking to take on and build a fundraising event to support animals. For more information or interest contact Joanne by email: Joanne Cronan Hamoy @ wrhaprograms@aol.com
ADOPT.FOSTER.VOLUNTEER.DONATE
7138 Sutherland Dr. PO Box 535 Canastota, NY 13032 WRHA founded in 1981 is the sole open admissions dog and cat shelter in Madison County which is dedicated to providing the highest quality care and compassion for the animals entrusted to us, striving to enhance adoptability, and re-homing adoptable animals at the highest rate possible, while educating and leading our community in creating a more humane society.
February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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gardening By Jim Sollecito
I
Do Dogs Have Souls?
always wondered if dogs have souls. Sometimes I ponder if we do ourselves. Dogs have been our family’s center of gravity. They have kept us connected and grounded. We talk to our dogs when we seek expert advice, or mostly when we just need a good listener. I took our 11-year-old Brittany in the field on a cool November morning to see if she could find some birds. Some dogs beg to go out; this one more or less demanded. She should have been called “Full Speed Ahead” but our daughters chose the name Stella. For years she chewed her way through our pool cover, pool thermometer, through other chunks of landscape and into our hearts. That day she worked strong and hard, her ears flying behind her as we covered about five miles through the native asters and goldenrod. We enjoyed each other ’s company
surrounded by spectacular autumn color and fragrance. Two days later the weather was quite a bit warmer, but there she was, barking at the garage door when I got up, ready to do it again. That was her style. She overcame three cancer surgeries, eating more than one rock I evidently left in the back yard for her enjoyment, and a host of other ailments. Her spirit was a lot younger than her body. I considered taking her out but decided to spend that day planting instead of hunting pheasant. There would be another time for us. When I came home from work the next day, she could hardly move. As I reached her in the dark, I knew immediately that it was not good. Most changes in life happen unwillingly. This would be one of them. Megan and I drove her to The Companion Animal Hospital at Cornell. It was serious and this might not have a happy ending. We got home
Jim Sollecito talks about the death of his family dog, Stella (right). “For years she chewed her way through our pool cover, pool thermometer, through other chunks of landscape and into our hearts,” he says. Next to Stella is Lucy. 10
55 PLUS - February 2016 / March 2016
at midnight, nearly silent, hoping and praying that she might beat the odds once more. She spent the night there. We spent a significant sum on tests. The next morning an oncologist called. My heart sank. This would be the end of a beautiful relationship. Liver cancer is painful, and we didn’t want her to suffer. I made the lonely drive down to the Cornell campus. She wagged her tail when she saw me and offered her hopeful impish smile for a moment. She knew if I were there, I’d take care of her. Everything would be all right. A true friend is hard to find and harder to lose. I rolled the windows down as I drove north. She always liked sticking her head out the window. Now she could no longer stand and bark at the scenery. I had trouble driving with all of the salt water on my face. I took her to our farm, gently lifted her out of the vehicle, and she perked right up despite the pain. She put her nose into the wind and inhaled. I took her there for herself, and for me. This was all happening too fast. She loved the scent offered by the cool sweet grass. She hunted around and went on her last point as she defiantly showed me she could still do it. I drove her home. Our other dog, Stella’s playmate Lucy, got her last sniffs. Then Megan and I started the journey to her Happy Hunting Ground. As we held her in our arms on the floor, Dr. Stack gently and compassionately sent her away from her silent suffering. We cried a bushel of tears. It was even harder than we anticipated but strangely peaceful. And really, there was no other option. If you have ever loved a dog, you know that their souls are in our hearts forever. Jim Sollecito is the first lifetime senior certified landscape professional in NYS. He operates Sollecito Landscaping Nursery in Syracuse. Contact him at 468-1142 or at jim@sollecito.com.
Social Security
Q&A
Q: What is a Social Security statement, and how can I get a copy? A: Your online Social Security statement gives you secure and convenient access to your earnings records. It also shows estimates for retirement, disability and survivors benefits you and your family may be eligible for. You can get your personal statement online by using your own my Social Security account. If you don’t yet have an account, you can easily create one. To set up or use your account to get your online statement, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. We also mail statements to workers attaining ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and older, three months prior to their birthday. Q: My son, who gets Social Security, will attend his last year of high school in the fall. He turns 19 in a few months. Do I need to fill out a form for his benefits to continue? A: Yes. You should receive a form, SSA-1372-BK, in the mail about three months before your son’s birthday. Your son needs to complete the form and take it to his school’s office for certification. Then, you need to return page two and the certified page three to Social Security for processing. If you can’t find the form we mailed to you, you can find it online at www.socialsecurity. gov/forms/ssa-1372.pdf. Q: My neighbor, who is retired, told me that the income he receives from his part-time job at the local nursery gives him an increase in his Social Security benefits. Is that right? A: Retirees who return to work after they start receiving benefits may be able to receive a higher benefit based on those earnings. This is because Social Security automatically re-computes the retirement benefit after crediting the additional earnings to the individual’s earnings record.
pathways to independence Providing housing choices and personal care support for seniors and people with physical disabilities
services include Assistance with Locating Housing Arranging In-Home Medical Services Financial Assistance for Housing and In-Home Care Coordination of Services (Meals, Nutrition, Transportation, Medical Appointments, etc.)
more information (315) 479-1325 or sasyr.org Particpants Must Be Medicaid Eligible February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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55+
travel
Traveling Alone
Kathleen Pascarella at Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
Kathleen Pascarella of Liverpool enjoys the challenge, freedom of traveling alone. Now she teaches a course at BOCES about the ins and outs of going solo By Matthew Liptak
L
iverpool resident Kathleen Pascarella, 60, has had an intense curiosity about the world around her since she was a child. As an adult, that curiosity has driven her to explore several continents on her own. Based on that experience, she is now teaching a course about the ins and outs of traveling solo. Pascarella's friend Deborah Churchwell of Atlanta met Kathleen, or Kithy as she calls her, when they were both working for Syracuse ad agency G. Andre DelPorte three decades ago. She said the thing that stands out most about her friend is her curiosity and fearlessness. “Kithy is inquisitive about everything, and it’s a genuine curiosity, almost childlike in its naivete,”
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“I travel a lot on tours and a lot with people who are with girlfriends and husbands. They always talk to me and they say, ‘Oh, I wish I traveled alone.’” Kathleen Pascarella Churchwell said. “I greatly admire her passion for travel. And, yes, I share it. As creative people and artists, we share an almost obsessive desire to see the world’s great works of art up close and in person as well as where and how the
artists lived, created and loved.” Pascarella received an associate’s degree in advertising design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City in 1976. She worked in the city for 20 years as art director, designer and creative director, including time on Madison Avenue. She also worked in Phoenix, Ariz., before coming to Syracuse. But she gave up her work in art in the 1990s because a transition was being made toward heavy computer use, and that didn't interest her, she said. “I'm more of a hands-on artist,” she explained. She took a job at Syracuse University in its publications department and retired from there in 2007 and then picked up part-time
Black Forest Germany, one of the most peaceful places on earth, according to Pascarella. and temp jobs, including being a tour guide. “That's when I really started getting the travel bug,” she said. While working at SU, she decided to go back to school for a bachelor's degree in art history a class or two at a time. The program inspired her. She got her degree in 2015. It took her 12 years. “When I started to take art history, I had to see these masters,” she said. “I had to see all the Van Goghs and all the Degas, the Gaugins and all the Toulouse Lautrecs and all the Northern Renaissance, Renaissance and Italian Renaissance paintings. And I had to see all the sculptures. I had to see the Sistine Chapel. I had
to see everything.” Her goal was to visit every major art museum in the world, which she has reached.
Taste of freedom Much of those travels were going solo. She said she loves traveling by herself because it gives her the freedom to do what she wants. There have been some moments she wished she had a traveling companion, like when standing before a major site like the Eiffel Tower or a pyramid and there is an “aha” moment. Other than that though,
she doesn't have a bad word to say about going it alone. “I travel a lot on tours and a lot with people who are with girlfriends and husbands,” Pascarella said. “They always talk to me and they say, 'Oh, I wish I traveled alone.'” That feedback led her to want to share what she has learned about traveling solo with others. She now offers a course through the Board of Cooperative Educational Services called, “How to Travel Alone” The course is made up of four classes. During the first class, she supplies students with resources and strives to inspire them to stretch their horizons; the second, she explains the options for a travel plan and how to execute it; the third, she gets down to the nitty-gritty, including packing, language and cultural differences; and the fourth is dedicated to safety, including dealing with customs and
At Giza Egypt in front of pyramids February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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taboos. Safety is an issue many are concerned about, especially with terrorism often in the headlines. Pascarella said it is something to take seriously, but travelers should not let it deter them from travel dreams. She has had a few adventures herself, including getting slapped by a manager of the Moulin Rouge in Paris when he caught her taking a photo without asking permission; getting lost in a huge museum in Moscow right at closing time; and sharing a smoke and conversation with a mayor of a village in Egypt who ended up recommending an excellent local restaurant off the beaten path. She said little adventures like these can lead to a renewed sense of accomplishment and self-confidence when you come home from your trip. Pascarella is adamant that her neighbors do what they can
At the Red Square in Moscow. 14
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to explore the world and enjoy reaching some of their own travel dreams. “Why do we have to beat these terrorists and continue to travel internationally?” she asked.
“By traveling internationally, what I realize first and foremost is that we're a whole human [race]. I know that sounds like fluff, but when you travel around the world and you see this, you realize how important it is. When you're walking in somebody else's shoes, when you eat with people from another country, you realize it's so true.”
“How to Travel Alone” Course OCB BOCES is offering two “How to Travel Alone” courses taught by Kathleen Pascarella. They take place from 6–8 p.m. every Thursday from March 31 to April 21 and from June 2 to June 23. Fee is $49 per session. Classes are offered at 4500 Crown Road in Liverpool. For more information, call 315453-4455.
February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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55+
aging
On Turning 65 New challenges arise for those in twilight of careers, lives By Janice Park
N
ext month is my birthday. I will be 65. Not to be confused with 65 years old. My mother, 95, is “years
old.” At this milestone birthday, I 16
55 PLUS - February 2016 / March 2016
will be officially labeled a “senior.” Surprisingly, I find I am OK with that. The dictionary defines senior as “a person older than another.” Nothing in that definition implies old person. In fact, some studies show
60 is the new 40. Therefore, 65 is the new middle age, only with far different pressures, responsibilities and slightly higher maintenance. Like many baby boomers, discovering a whole new me is exciting and energizing. Between volunteer projects and traveling, I am busier now than when working. According to Michael Roizen (occasional guest on the Dr. Oz show and a former physician at SUNY Upstate Medical University), catering to the whims and desires of people in this new midlife has become a multimillion dollar industry. I am fine with industries catering to me. While traveling, there are deals on hotels and tickets. My greens fees and gym memberships are discounted. A “senior” discount at retailers and restaurants works for me too. Ten percent off at Ben & Jerry’s is 10 percent less calories, right? However, to presume I am immune to the perils of aging is neither wise nor fair to my family. Learning from my parents, I have downsized and cleaned out stuff I didn’t remember I had. I purchased long-term care insurance, created a living will and have a health directive. My children should not be faced with those decisions. I am lucky — my health is good. I try to eat the right things. (Potato chips are part of the four food groups, right?) I belong to a gym and get regular exercise. Studies show as we age it is better to be a bit overweight. I like those studies. Prepared for this next chapter of my life, I am set to enjoy all this middle age has to offer. Try new adventures. Explore my hidden talents. I am good. Except … One in nine people (5.1 million) aged 65 and older is affected by Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Anyone with a brain, it says, is at risk. Women account for two-thirds of those cases and are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than breast cancer. The average Alzheimer’s patient, it reports, will survive four to eight years with the disease. Forty percent those years are spent in the most severe stages.
I am not good with those statistics. I started out being excited about my birthday. I am 65, a woman, and although some may debate the fact, I do have a brain. Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are not part of my plan. What are the arrangements if, or when, my ability to care for myself becomes impaired? Will I know when it is time to get help? Will I have enough money? How much money is enough? Medicare, my supplement, and long-term care insurance may cover many costs. In 2015, Medicare and Medicaid paid out $153 billion for dementia and Alzheimer ’s-related health care. I will have expenses too — insurance premiums, co-pays, deductibles and services not covered by other sources. The average annual per person out-of-pocket expenses for 2014 totaled $10,202. Is there a family member, or someone, prepared to help? In 2014, 15.7 million family caregivers provided an estimated 17.9 billion of unpaid hours of service. This time is valued at $217.7 billion, or nearly eight times the total revenue for McDonalds for all of 2012. The very basic of in-home care can start at $20 an hour. Continuing care communities, facilities that provide a continuum of care, usually require a one-time entrance fee. Fees can range from $60,000 to $120,000 and do not include monthly maintenance charges. What about higher level care facilities, assisted living and/or nursing homes? The 2015 national average for these services range from $3,600 to $6,600 per month. Yikes! I have met some wonderful people while helping my mother navigate through the various levels of Alzheimer’s and dementia. However, I find most do not have a specific plan for their own aging process. We discuss projects, investments, insurances and even aches and pains, but avoid constructive options concerning our potential dependence and eventual needs. It seems when it comes to our own decline and mortality, avoidance and procrastination are common. Comments such as “When I get …
put me in a boat and send me off” can defuse some uncomfortable tensions, but are not very productive. On the more productive side, I have learned some things that should be done. • Create and stick to the best financial/retirement plan possible. Having good financial resources allows for choices. • Stay active and involved, both physically and mentally. Preliminary results indicate mental and physical activity may result in continued brain development. Designate one person or family member with power of attorney — not your lawyer, but someone who can deal with daily expenses and can sign checks and talk to doctors, bank and insurance companies. • Tell your children where your important papers are — bank, insurance and medical records, passwords, etc. Often times telling only one person is not enough. • Have a support system, people who will check on and advocate for you. • Decide what your “end-oflife” wishes are. Not just your health directive, but the “what to do if … ” part. Discuss these with family and friends and write them down. “End-of-life” discussions can be difficult and disturbing. Once decided though, they only need to be revisited upon traumatic events. Having these in place provide a plan for family and caregivers. In addition to re-inventing myself and making both financial and personal arrangements, I have chosen to look at the upside of this. Yes, as I see it, there is an upside. The proportion of the U.S. population 65 and older will continue to increase. By 2025, the number of people 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to increase by 40 percent. Projections are that approximately 44,000 additional hands-on personal care positions will be needed. Additional long-term care facilities will also provide for additional construction and administrative jobs. Therefore, as a member of the baby boomer generation, just by aging I can add job creation to my list of accomplishments.
David Zumpano: A
Smart Way to Leav
Syracuse Awa rd-Winning
55
e Assets to Loved One
s
Columnist Sea n Kirst Turns 55
PLUS Issue 58 August / Septem ber 2015
For Active Adults in the Central New York Area
LIVING A LONGER, HEALTHY LIFE CNY’s top geriatrician, Sharo n Brangman, 59, on five things you should do to live longer. Plus a profile of the
doctor
Priceless
INSIDE: Skaneate les Doc, a e an Age-Friendly
Report: Is Syracus
Ping-Pong Champ Community?
Time Go? Did all The Free ent Life! Where Ah, the Retirem
55 PLUS Issue 57 June / July 2015
For Active Adults Area York in the Central New
Should You Fund Your Retirement or? Your Kids’ College How Four CNYers Spend Their Retirement
AVES
KING OF THE AIRW
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8 Questions to Janet Agostini, CEO and President of the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo By Matthew Liptak How did you come to be involved with the zoo? “I have loved animals all my life. I was in a different career. I was an administrator at Onondaga Community College. This position became available. It was advertised and I knew that I had to try for it because it brought my business background together with a cause that I really believe in.” What do you do at the zoo? “The Friends of the Zoo is a support organization for the zoo. Within Friends of the Zoo we run the gift shop, the restaurants, the catering department, education and membership development. So all of the earned income stream and fund raising is done through Friends. For member households we have about 8,500. People start to support us with their membership and then if we do an annual appeal or some other fundraising they're generally the ones that help us out with that as well. We have about 400 volunteers that volunteer at the zoo. That is all run through the Friends organization as well.” What motivates you to work with the zoo? “Oh gosh. I would say a couple of things. Our guests — when you look out and you see people that are enjoying the zoo and families that are together and they're making memories and the kids are so excited — that is a great motivator. And certainly our animals. To make sure that they are well cared for, that we can provide them with everything they need and that they have a good existence here with us at the zoo and so the community can come in and get to know them.
“I absolutely love animals. I've always had pets. I have four pets now. We're a 16-paw family. We have two cats and two dogs at home right now.” Why are zoos important? “A couple of reasons, I think. We're an accredited zoo. We're accredited through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. There's only 218 accredited zoos in the United States. That means we're at the top 10 percent. We subscribe to the highest level of guest experience and animal care. We have to be reaccredited every five years. The combined 218 zoos that are accredited account for 181 million visitors a year. We learned this at our last conference. It's more than the NFL, the NHL and Major League Baseball combined. “Accredited zoos combined provide more than $160 million in support for projects in the wild. They're a very integral part of what happens in the wild in addition to what happens in our local communities. “When people come to the zoo they come to see the animals but they also learn a lot. Even things that you didn't know you were going to learn.
What we hope when people get to know the animals better and understand that they are endangered in the wild, that that will move them to do something in their own lives to help animals. “A really good zoo like ours is a great community asset. It helps make living in Central New York such a rich experience.” Is the zoo a good place to go in the colder months? “It really is. You wouldn't think so, but it is. Sixty percent of our zoo is indoors so if you wanted to come and you don't even want to go outside you can have a great time going through the diversity of birds and the aviary. It feels like a tropical oasis in there. All of our primates are indoors. You can see a lot of the animals. “And then go outside. A lot of our species have been selected to be winter hardy so they really like to see people and they're active in the wintertime. And then you can come back into the Jungle Cafe and have a nice cup of hot
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from the previous page chocolate and a good lunch. The zoo seems to have a lot of success with baby animals — why do you think that is? “We do. I think there's a couple of things. Certainly the care that they receive at the hands of our zookeepers. We have dedicated staff that take it very much to heart when they care for the animals. They know every one as an individual and their personalities. “When you have successful breeding with your animals it really indicates that they are very content within their habitat and where they live. When we opened up Asian Elephant Preserve a few years ago we were hoping that we would get some babies and sure enough we did. This spring baby Batu was born on May12. That would indicate the animals are very comfortable where they are and they are engaging in normal behaviors. We had our markhor goats. We had five babies there. Our red pandas—we had two of those that were born. Two brothers and they are adorable. We had river otter pups. Two river otter pups were born here this year. We had two penguin chicks that hatched. It's been a pretty active year.” Do you have a favorite animal? “I've always loved cats. I'm a big cat person. I love the tigers and I love the snow leopards especially, the lions — all of the big cats. I have come to know a whole lot of animals here and absolutely fallen in love with them that I didn't expect. Like the naked mole rat and the octopus and some of the fish. Who would think that you would get emotionally attached. You get to know them as individuals. Sometimes it's whatever exhibit I'm standing in front of is the animal I like the best at that moment.
How can others help out the zoo? “There's lots of ways that people can get involved. Certainly coming and visiting. They can join as members. They can volunteer. They can donate, support our various projects. Right now we're raising money to build a pool in the elephant exhibit. “We even do catering here. They can have an event. We have school proms. We have weddings. We have baby showers. All kinds of events. Anything that we raise money from stays here to support the zoo.” 20
55 PLUS - February 2016 / March 2016
New Production of The Phantom of the Opera at Landmark Theatre
C
ameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of The Opera” will debut April 7 at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse and will continue through April 17. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of “Phantom” is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. To purchase tickets, visit BroadwayInSyracuse.com, call 800-745-3000 or visit Famous Artists 315-424-8210 or Landmark Theatre Box Office 315-475-7980. Ticket prices start at $38. “It’s wonderful to have a new production of “Phantom” touring America now that the show has celebrated 27 years on Broadway,” said Andrew Lloyd Webber. Director Laurence Connor has done an amazing job and this production has received huge critical acclaim in the U.K.” Cameron Mackintosh said, “With “Phantom” still the reigning champion as the longest-running
production on Broadway after 27 phenomenal years, with no end in sight, I’m delighted that this spectacular new production has been as well-received in the U.S. as the brilliant original. With an exciting new design and staging, retaining Maria Björnson’s amazing costumes, the new “Phantom” is thrilling audiences and critics alike all over again – the music of the night is soaring to dazzling new heights.” Based on the classic novel “Le Fantôme de L’Opéra” by Gaston Leroux, “The Phantom Of The Opera” tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command. For more information on the production and a video sneak peek, visit www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera. com/ustour/
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55 PLUS Issue 59 ember 2015 ber / Nov
Octo Adults For Active k Area tral New Yor in the Cen
Sen. Johnco DeFrancis
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my turn
By Bruce Frassinelli Email: bruce@cny55.com
Having a Good Time at the Fair What to do in the dead of winter? Dream of summer days, the county fairs
I
don’t know about you, but when I am hunkered down in the dead of winter, like now, I like to think of warm, summertime memories. I love fairs. For example, in all of the years my wife, Marie, and I lived in Oswego, I never once missed the New York State Fair in Syracuse. I often think back to the county fair I attended annually as a boy in Pennsylvania — the sights, the smells, the sounds. Going to the fair in my home county was an annual summer ritual for my friends and me. When I was younger, my parents and I would go, and we would explore the wonders of the many animal exhibits, the homemade desserts and other baked goodies that county residents concocted in an effort to win blue ribbons, stopped at many food stands, and, of course, I went on all the rides. There was one section of the fairway, which always intrigued me but was off limits: the sideshow tent. Massive colorful and lurid illustrations of Dwarf Boy, Giganto, the world’s tallest man, and other freaks of nature hung outside the tent next to a lectern occupied by a fasttalking man in a striped suit with a bowler hat. As I tried to pull my mother, who was holding on to me so I wouldn’t be kidnapped by some nefarious circus type, she countered each pull with a pull in the opposite direction. “Come on, mom,” I begged, “let me see what’s going on.” Mom would have none of it. “That’s for adults, not for kids like you,” she told me. I would fantasize for days after my fair visit about what might be inside that tent, and I was determined that one day I would see for myself. When I was 13, my parents allowed me to go to the fair with an
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older neighbor friend and his parents. When we got to the fair, my friend and I went off on our own, promising to meet his parents at a pre-determined location in an hour. My friend, Jerry, wasted no time in heading toward the sideshow tent. I couldn’t contain my excitement. Even though he was a few years older than I, he was not of age to get into the tent — the age limit was 21, although I don’t know how carefully the barker and his ticket-taker checked ages. We edged into the crowd of mostly men who were gathered around the lectern where the barker was urging prospective customers to spend 50 cents to see the bizarre attractions inside the tent. “Marvel t o t h e f i re eating human t o r c h , ” the barker screamed into his megaphone. “ W a t c h A m a z o perform feats that men of science say is impossible for a human. And, yes, of course,” he said in a somewhat hushed tone, “we have Stella, who will wow you with her, um, charms. Stella, come out here, and
show these good people some of your charms.” My mouth dropped when Stella emerged from the tent. She was dressed in a full-length gown, which showed ample amounts of cleavage and brought gasps from several of the men in the audience. “Stella hootchies, she kootchies, and she does a whole lot more inside this tent,” the barker said winking and smiling in a less-than-gentlemanly way. At that moment, the barker spotted me. “Hey, kid, this is not for you,” he shouted as everyone turned to look at me. “If I let you in to see Stella,
you’d have to go home to change your underwear.” The crowd roared with laughter, as I turned beet red, then quickly walked away in mortified embarrassment. Jerry caught up with me. “Hey, where are you going?” he asked. I shrugged my shoulders still feeling like a dope. “We’re going in there to see Stella,” he whispered. “And how do you figure we’re going to do that?” I asked. Jerry explained that he found an opening in the tent that he has been exploiting for two years. He led me to the back of the huge tent, where there was little activity. There was a small, almost unnoticeable flap where apparently performers could come and go without being seen by the audience. We got inside without incident and worked our way ever so slowly to the side of the stage where Stella would be performing. The place was packed with only men. Jerry told me to hide my face with my jacket. The men were fixated on the stage where Stella appeared in the same gown, and they were oblivious to our presence. Bump-and-grind music sent Stella into her routine as she blew kisses to some of the old geezers up front. A minute or so later, she shed her gown for just a bra and panties. I gulped. She continued to dance to the suggestive music, then came off the stage to give the men a better look at her “charms.” “Yeh, baby,” some of the men yelled, pretending to grope at her. A minute or so later, she returned to the stage, reached behind her, unhooked her bra, and her ample breasts spilled out, sending the men into a frenzy as they hooted and hollered their approval. Then, in a split-second, she was gone. Just like that, the show was over. My head was spinning. It was the first time I had ever seen female breasts in person, and while I didn’t have to go home to change my underwear, it was pretty darn close. “Come on,” said Jerry, breaking my reverie. We’ve got to get out of here, and in a flash, we were through the flap, then slowed down and nonchalantly joined the big crowd on the midway. When we met up with Jerry’s parents, his mother asked me whether I had a good time. Jerry elbowed me. “Yeh,” I said with a mischievous smile, “I had a real good time.”
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February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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55+
lacrosse
Mike Messere has coached lacrosse to several generations of students at West Genesee High School.
Living Legend West Genesee Wildcats’ Coach Mike Messere masterfully blends knowledge, athleticism By Mary Beth Roach
M
ike Messere is synonymous with West Genesee High School lacrosse. The coach, in his early 70s and a 1962 graduate of West Genesee, has built the program into a powerhouse over the past four decades, and one that’s respected throughout the country. Since taking over as head coach in 1976, he has racked up 803 wins to 71 losses. He is in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. His Wildcats have been Section III champions 31 times. They have played in 21 New York state championship games since 1981, and brought home the state title 15 times. During his tenure, he has coached at least two generations of players and at least 15 of them are on the coaching staffs 24
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at Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 college teams. The turf field at the Camillusbased school was named the Mike Messere Field last August. But his success goes well beyond the stats. “It’s being a teacher more than a coach,” he said. “We all know the same x’s and o’s. It’s who can get it across; who can put it together in a certain way.” That certain way is what some have called the Messere or West Genesee philosophy. “I think you have a vision,” Messere said. “Hopefully it’s something that you’ve experienced and you know that it works, and you’ve got to find a way to teach it. Teaching changes all the time because the kids are changing all the time. You’ve got to adjust as much as you can, but you’ve got to hold on to certain values, principles
and concepts that you don’t let go of because they’re constant.” While he admitted these values may be “old fashioned,” he insists they still need to be instilled in students. “You can go into a classroom and you can write down stuff, but you’re not doing it,” he said. “You have to mentally play a game, mentally make decisions. You actually have to physically do it, too. It’s a physical action as well as a mental challenge. I think that’s where kids are successful. It does prove if you work hard enough, work the right way, working the right skills and basics, you can be successful.” It is “basically work hard, do the right thing, make sure you have your fundamentals down really well, always do it the right way and come prepared,” said Tom Donahue, a 1977 graduate of West Genesee
who played for Messere during his junior and senior years. Donahue has worked for Messere for years in the summer lacrosse program in Camillus and is the junior varsity lacrosse coach at West Genesee. “You sell yourself short if you don’t talk to Mike Messere about lacrosse. He’s a real deep thinker,” according to Tom Kehoskie, former town of Camillus director of parks and recreation who worked with Messere on developing the Shove Park summer lacrosse program in the town. Kehoskie was instrumental in getting the field at the high school named for Messere last summer. “He’s got a great grasp on what’s right, what’s wrong, what it takes. He teaches lifelong lessons,” Kehoskie said. Messere follows his players’ schooling and behavior. “Everything has to be there or else they can’t participate,” he said.
Teaching moment He tells the story of one of his former players who was struggling in the classroom. Messere made him take his desk out on the field and do his homework. He made sure it was done before he’d let him practice. The student would go on to college and become an All-American. “Sometimes you just have to motivate them,” he said. That Messere is so steadfast about his players’ schooling should come as no surprise, since he was a teacher himself for more than 30 years. Messere was a West Genesee athlete and a member of the football, lacrosse and wrestling teams. Following his graduation in 1962, he went to SUNY Cortland and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1966. He returned to the Syracuse area and got a job with the Syracuse City School District, teaching at Porter and the former Prescott and Cleveland schools. A few years later, a fraternity brother told him of a job opening in the West Genesee School District, so Messere applied and got the job. He has remained with the district since then, retiring from teaching physical education at the high school in 1999.
He admitted that he never anticipated coaching this long, but the new challenges of the game and the kids keep him returning year after year. “It’s changing, so I have to keep up with it,” he said. “I enjoy being with the young kids. I enjoy just seeing that one kid light up when they catch on, and you see that look on their face. Staying with the kids keeps you young too.”
Creating a culture Messere’s commitment to youth can also be seen in the summer lacrosse program, which he worked with the town of Camillus to develop in the mid-1970s. Over the years, many of Messere’s players have come back to help run the program, and currently Donahue is heading it up. In its first year, Messere said, the program had 13 kids, and the next year it skyrocketed. A few years ago, Donahue said they had more than 400 kids. When he’s not on the fields at West Genesee or Shove Park, one might find Messere on what he calls his “small farm.” It’s west of Camillus and is on about 39 acres, complete with horses and a log home that he shares with his wife, Barbara, whom he met in college. While the place requires a great deal of maintenance, it is easy to see that Messere enjoys that life. The Messeres have two children, Michael and Amanda. His son did not play lacrosse, but instead was a swimmer and a member of the West Genesee High School Marching Band. Father and son enjoyed a little friendly rivalry while the younger Messere was in high school. The coach joked that during the time his son was in band, the lacrosse team won three state championships, but the band won four state titles. Reflecting on 40 years of
coaching, Messere has a difficult time in citing his greatest accomplishment. He looked at his win-loss record, and said the 71-loss number is the big number — that is 71 losses over 40 years. But yet, he seemed more proud of the members of his teams — how they have stayed in touch and matured. “I’ve seen the kids grow along with their families and experienced the successes they have had as they grow,” he remarked. He boasts a massive collection of Christmas cards over the years complete with photos of former players and their families. But when the players gather for reunions or award presentations, Messere is taken aback at what they have to say about their experiences as the West Genesee Wildcats. “They don’t say anything about wins and losses or x’s and o’s. They talk about work ethic; they talk about discipline, commitment. I’m just blown away. You don’t write a lesson plan saying, ‘I’m going to teach commitment today. I’m going to teach work ethic.’ You go along and do the things that you think should be done and it comes out somehow.” February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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golden years By Harold Miller hal@cny55.com
Everyone Needs a Mentor
Whether it’s a counselor, coach, tutor or teacher, having a mentor can prove invaluable
H
elen Keller contracted a terrible fever as a baby and consequently became blind and deaf. Her parents — unable to deal with the situation — were ready to place her in an institution, but as a last effort, they contacted a school for the deaf. Enter Annie Sullivan, a fragile young women, herself half-blind and raised in an institution, who took on the seemingly impossible job of teaching young Helen how to read and write. The rest is history. Helen Keller went on to be the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She went on to become an American author and an activist for the underprivileged. Sullivan, referred to as “the miracle worker,” remained Keller’s lifelong friend and mentor. My mentor was Herbert Livingston Laube — who was the owner of Remington Air Conditioning Corporation, a small manufacturing company in Auburn. Laube had been vice president of Carrier Corporation and worked for Willis Carrier, who invented the commercial air conditioning chiller. Laube resigned from Carrier in 1948 to develop a new system to air condition commercial buildings. I was hired in 1961 as a regional sales manager. From the first time I met Herb, it was evident this would be more than just a job, and he would be more than just a boss. Laube was on a mission to revolutionize the air conditioning industry and he wanted disciples — not just employees. I first heard the gospel of “energyefficient air conditioning” when Herb delivered the homily in a basement meeting room of the YMCA in Auburn.
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The author’s great-grandchild, 10-month-old Lottie getting a piano lesson from father Jon. There was no meeting room in the dilapidated and abandoned factory, given to Laube for $1 by the mayor of Auburn. Herb made the case that central, chiller-based air conditioning systems cost two to three times as much to own and operate compared to individual self-contained, commercial packaged air conditioners that Remington invented and manufactured. Today, we call what Laube invented “green building environmental systems.” After I was thoroughly indoctrinated in Laube’s revolutionary system, he took me on as his protégé.
Key ingredients to success What follows is a distillation and compilation of my mentor’s teachings regarding the four major factors of success in any endeavor: • Dedication — There is ample
evidence to prove that a man can accomplish pretty much whatever he wants to accomplish if he will decide what that is, and concentrate all his thoughts and actions on it. A man’s powers — often unrecognized — have a way of matching his dreams. He can’t win, however, just by wishing. He must concentrate everything he has on reaching his goal and give up anything that stands in his way. • Hard Work — Forget the time clock or the time of day. Sometimes your best ideas come in the small hours of the night, and if you’re too lazy to get up and put them down on paper, you might forget when the new day dawns. Going that extra mile and continuing when you’re exhausted, often accomplishes what needs to be done. There is no substitute for hard work. • Passion — How can you expect others to be passionate about their work if you are not? Passion allows you to overcome the challenges and obstacles that inevitably will get in your way. • Vision — Keep your eye on the ball. Others may be trying to accomplish the same goals as you are. What will separate you from the competition is staying true to yourself and maintaining your vision and focus when the going gets tough. There were a few other Laubeisms that helped me along the road to success, such as: • Knowledge is power • Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come • The KISS principle (keep it simple stupid) • Don’t procrastinate. Some will think of reasons why something
should be done — then go on to think of potential problems — and end up doing nothing. • Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than smart. (Don’t get over-confident. Your success may not always be the result of your genius). My final example, regarding the power of mentoring, is our new greatgrandchild, Charlotte (Lottie) Larue. She is the offspring of our grandchild, Kali (Spoto) Larue and our daughter, Marcia (Miller) Spoto. Lottie already has a plethora of mentors. When you add up the great grandparents, grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts and cousins of the Spoto, Miller and Larue clans, the number of mentors exceeds 50 and is increasing. The early teaching of a child is critical for his or her brainpower, particularly during the first year. The earliest messages have an enormous impact. DNA provides a blueprint for the brain but teaching, environment and experiences are the forces that fuel the brain’s development. When a baby is born, its brain is ready to learn. All the child needs is the engagement of those around who are willing to teach. The more involvement, the smarter the child will be. Little Lottie, at 10 months, is showing the results of this early education. She hobbles along on a toy tricycle following anyone who walks by, sits by the TV and swings her little bum to whatever music is playing, and laughs incessantly to anyone who will play with her. She tries to walk (Oh how she tries!) and I believe she is but a couple of prat-falls away. Once she accomplishes that goal — Katie bar the door!
The early teaching of a child is critical for his or her brainpower, particularly during the first year. The earliest messages have an enormous impact. February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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longevity
Group of 80-year-old residents of Loretto during a trip to Highland Forest. The nonprofit provides housing, health care and more than 20 different programs and services to more than 7,000 residents in the Central New York region.
The Graying of America Number of older Americans approaching 15 percent of the nation’s population; in Onondaga County, older adults already make up 15.3 percent of the population By Aaron Gifford
T
he number of older Americans is rapidly approaching 15 percent of the nation’s population, and most of them should expect to live about 20 years past the retirement age, according to a recently report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The report, “A Profile of Older Americans, 2014” details demographic information — who they are, how they live and where they are headed — of a rapidly graying United States. In New York state, more than 2.8 million residents, about 14.4 percent of the population, are over 65. The number of older residents has increased by 14.2 percent from 2003-2013, according 28
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to U.S. Census figures. Almost 12 percent of those residents live below the poverty level. In 2014, 8.4 million (18.6 percent) Americans over 65 were still working or actively seeking employment. The level of education for the older population has also increased, with the percentage of persons in that demographic who have completed high school rising from 28 percent in 1970 to 84 percent in 2014, in addition to the 26 percent last year who held a bachelor’s degree or higher. The report also said out-ofpocket health care expenditures for older consumers averaged about $5,069 annually, an increase of 35 percent from 2003 to 2013. By contrast, the total American population spent considerably less in
that 10-year period, averaging $3,631 per person for out-of-pocket costs. Locally, older adults make up 15.3 percent of Onondaga County’s population (compared to 14.5 percent nationally), U.S. Census figures show. And, according to the New York State Department of Labor, the number of workers over the age of 65 in Onondaga County steadily increased from 7,409 in 2002, to 10,634 in 2012. Loretto, which provides housing, health care and more than 20 different programs and services to more than 7,000 residents in the Central New York region, is constantly tweaking its long-term plan to meet the future needs of the changing senior demographic, said Katy
Nappi, the organization’s director of marketing and admissions. So much has changed since it opened a “rest home” 90 years ago. “And today, only about 14 percent of the people we service live in traditional nursing home settings,” Nappi said. “As life spans have expanded and family dynamics changed, more aging people are in need of services. The ‘coming of age’ of the baby boomers has necessitated even further plans for innovation.” One innovation, she said, is the PACE CNY all-inclusive care program that helps people over 55 who would otherwise qualify for nursing home care to continue to live in their community. The average time in the PACE program (per participant) at the time of death is about 50.9 months, compared to the nursing home average of 24 months. The goal
Study Findings Show a Rapidly Aging Country The 85-plus population is projected to triple from 6 million in 2013 to 14.6 million in 2040
S
ome of the statistics and figures in the recently released study — “A Profile of Older Americans, 2014” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — are fairly striking. Consider: ■ The population aged 65 and over numbered 44.7 million in 2013, an increase of 8.8 million or 24.7 percent since 2003. And between 2003 and 2013 the population aged 60 and over increased 30.7 percent from 48.1 million to 62.8 million. ■ The population 65 and over is projected to more than double to 98 million in 2060. The 85-plus population, meanwhile, is projected to triple from 6 million in 2013 to 14.6 million in 2040. ■ About one in every seven, or 14.1
is to keep participants healthy as possible for as long as possible. Nappi said PACE participants generally stay in the hospital for shorter periods and have fewer hospitalizations than skilled nursing residents. “Health care professionals agree that the less time elderly people stay in the hospital, the better,” she said. Loretto is not the only local organization that is trying to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the future needs of older adults here. Earlier this year, F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse released a report on that topic called “Shaping an Age-Friendly CNY Community,” which challenges local leaders to make their communities more pedestrian-friendly and endorses the idea of retrofitting old homes so bedrooms and bathrooms are on the ground level. The organization
also calls for zoning changes that foster the development of suburban mixed-use neighborhoods where residences and businesses co-exist. As part of that study, F.O.C.U.S. members asked 2000 respondents what would influence their decision to stay or leave. Once the responses were gathered and tallied, they convened five focus groups and took a closer look at the main issues: housing, transportation, social networks, retirement, and recreational, physical and cultural activities. “If we lost people from Central New York, we’re losing consumers, property owners, tax dollars and philanthropists,” F.O.C.U.S. cofounder Charlotte “Chuckie” Holstein said in a previous interview. “And we’re also losing a lot of wisdom and skills from people who still have so much to contribute.”
percent of the population, is an older American, and persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 19.3 years (20.5 years for females and 17.9 years for males). ■ Between 1980 and 2013, the centenarian population experienced a larger percentage increase than did the total population. There were 67,347 persons aged 100 or more in 2013, which more than doubled from 32,194 in 1980. ■ The population of older Americans is also getting more diverse. Racial and ethnic minority populations have increased from 6.3 million in 2003 (17.5 percent of the older adult population) to 9.5 million in 2013 (21.2 percent of older adults) and are projected to increase to 21.1 million, or 28.5 percent of all older adults, in 2030. ■ Older men were much more likely to be married than older women — 72 percent of men compared to 46 percent of women. In 2014, 35 percent of older women were widows. ■ About 28 percent (12.5 million – 8.8 million women and 3.8 million men) of non-institutionalized older persons, meaning those who are not in a nursing home or hospital, live alone. Moreover, almost half (46 percent) of the population of women 75 and old-
er live alone. ■ In 2013, about 536,000 grandparents over 65 had grandchildren living with them and were their primary caregivers. ■ The median income of older persons in 2013 was $29,327 for men and $16,301 for women. Households headed by a person over 65 reported median incomes of $51,481 in 2013. The median income for households headed by older people rose 3.7 percent between 2012 and 2013. ■ The major sources of income as reported by older persons in 2012 were Social Security (reported by 86 percent of older persons), income from assets (reported by 51 percent), private pensions (reported by 27 percent), government employee pensions (reported by 14 percent), and earnings (reported by 28 percent). ■ The U.S. Census Bureau shows that, officially, more than 4.2 million older adults (9.5 percent) were below the poverty level in 2013. However, the Census Bureau also released a new supplemental poverty measure (SPM) that takes into cost of living variations by region and other indicators, including out-of-pocket medical expenses. The SPM shows an unofficial poverty rate for older perFebruary 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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Estate Planning: the Family Meeting Experts urge baby boomers to share financial information with immediate family By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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ou may have lined up your final planning like ducks in a row: will, long-term care insurance, power of attorney, executor and agent for your health care proxy. But does anyone know about it beyond your legal advisers? "It's something we never talk about," said Clark Gronsbell, owner and broker at Fiscal Fitness, an
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independent insurance and investment brokerage in Syracuse. "If you have any druthers or wishes on someone you want to provide for, you can't talk about it when you're gone." If your family remains unaware of your wishes until you die you create a situation where they may not carry out your wishes. The confusion may increase the stress of an already emotionally difficult time. Your family may say or do things that cause each other lasting emotional pain. It's important to ask before you designate people to take the roles of executor, health care proxy and power of attorney — and they may or may not be your children. "It's a case-by-case scenario," Gronsbell said. "Have some kind of record and discuss your wishes while you can still do so, even though it's uncomfortable.� Don't assume that your accountant son wants to act as your executor. Perhaps his busy schedule would prevent him. Or selecting your nurse’s daughter as the agent for your health care proxy may seem a great idea, but if she lives on the other side of the country, a nearby child may make a better choice since health crises can occur suddenly. But discussing it first can help prevent your adult children from feeling trapped in a situation they didn't want. "Maybe there are three kids in the family and one kid lives in town," said James Pizzolanti, who is certified in long term care planning and insurance, and operates Pizzolanti Long Term Care Planning and Insurance in Syracuse. "The kid in town has to help the parent. He has no choice." Pizzolanti added that adult
children may want to care for their parents, but cannot with all their other responsibilities such as employment, children and their own home. Someone outside the family could provide better care. Give everyone the option of participating in the decision-making meeting. Some won't have the comfort level to learn about your final plans. Or ones who live out of state may not be able to attend. Outline what you want to say so you don't say too much or not enough. You don't have to tell your children how much money you have down to the penny, but some explanation as to how you plan to distribute your assets can help prevent problems. For example, if two of your children live comfortably but another has experienced financial struggles, you may let them know that you plan to designate their inheritance according to need. Or if you feel strongly about helping a certain charitable cause, you could let them know that organization is part of your planning. Once you hash out who has what responsibilities, let everyone know where you store your important documents, pass codes, keys and other vital information. "It helps the surviving [family] to have a three-ring binder that keeps all the financial information in one place," Gronsbell said. After the meeting, let the other siblings know what's going on through a letter or phone call. Gronsbell also advises clients to review their final planning annually or as circumstances change, such as health, a second marriage, additional grandchildren, and more.
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Little Big Man
SU legendary football player cultivates student-athletes at alma mater
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t 5-10, 195 pounds, Floyd Douglas Little was not exactly a menacing sight on the football field. However, a combination of blazing speed and power along with dogged determination led the Syracuse University Class of ’67 alumnus to the pinnacle of the sport: the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Little wore the coveted No. 44 while at Syracuse, a number that was retired in 2005 to honor him along with others who wore the number, such as Ernie Davis and Jim Brown. Little was the only three-time AllAmerican running back to compete for the Orangemen. He returned to Syracuse University in July 2011 in the role of special assistant to the athletics director. Little’s career has come full circle. He left Syracuse in 1967 and ironically, returned 44 years later in 2011. “There’s something to that,” Little said as to the length of time away and
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By Lou Sorendo his uniform number. “It’s significant. I’m supposed to be here,” he said. “It’s been written, and I’m just following that.” Little said he enjoys working and mentoring student-athletes in his role at SU. “I think I have the opportunity to really affect their lives and to share my life experiences,” he said. “I’ve actually gone through the same process as a student-athlete and I am able to relate to them because of the challenges I have faced.” The job has given Little new perspective in terms of working with recruits and their families. “This has given me the opportunity to really talk to parents who more or less can identify who I am and what I have been through, more so than a 17- or 18-year-old,” he said. “I enjoy connecting with studentathletes and their parents and really encourage them to be the best they can be,” he added.
Little also enjoys the fundraising part of his job and networking with former alumni. “I have had three careers, and this has been my favorite,” he said. Little, 73, also has the opportunity to reacquaint himself with those he went to school with back in the ‘60s, many of whom have gone on to accomplish great things. That group includes Lou Marcoccia, current executive vice president and chief financial officer at SU.; Donna Shalala, former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services and retired president of the University of Miami; Jean Thompson, wife of Dick Thompson, chairman of SU’s board of trustees, and world-famous fashion designer Betsey Johnson, who was the head cheerleader when Little was playing. Little, a native of New Haven, Conn., said he enjoys seeing alumni and what they have done with their lives.
Floyd Little was the only three-time AllAmerican running back to compete for the Orangemen. He returned to Syracuse University in July 2011 in the role of special assistant to the athletics director.
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Little is well connected with Syracuse city government being that his wife — the former DeBorah A. Green — was a city councilor in the 1990s. DeBorah, a former real estate agent in the city, was a member of the board of directors for the Syracuse-area Chamber of Commerce and also was an adjunct professor in SU’s honors program. Little said he also has many “respected and admired” friends and acquaintances throughout New York state, a key reason why he makes it home. Little has befriended veteran athletics administrator Herman Frazier, who came on board at the same time Little did at SU five years ago. Frazier serves as deputy athletics director and chief of staff. The five-time Pro Bowl selection is responsible for development and donor relations, assisting with studentathlete and team development and prospective student-athlete on-campus recruitment activities. In addition, he handles special projects as assigned by director of athletics Mark Coyle and he serves in many other capacities for the department. Little and his wife enjoy frequenting restaurants such as Prime Steak House and Julie’s Place in Syracuse and Bonefish Grill and Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Fayetteville. “We get a chance to say hello to a lot of people and see a lot of the same people at the university who frequent the same places,” he said.
Take on the challenge Little’s athletic accomplishments and his career successes often overshadow his community work and involvement. “It’s almost like paying it forward. Someone helped me when I was struggling as a youngster growing up in Connecticut,” he said. “I’m obligated to reach back and do everything I can to support programs that I think are beneficial to young potential leaders of our community.” Little enjoys sharing with studentathletes some of his insight that he has gained along the way. “There’s challenges, hurdles and obstacles that all of us have to face. We all have to deal with a lot of challenges during our lifetime. It’s how you approach these things, how you 34
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Lifelines Birth date: July 4, 1942 (73 years old.) Birthplace: New Haven, Conn. Current residence: Syracuse Education: Master’s degree in legal administration, University of Denver College of Law, 1975; completed the Ford Motor Executive Management Training Program, 1979. Career highlights: Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010; former president and owner of Pacific Coast Ford; consultant, instructor for Ford’s Minority Dealers Program; speaker for Touchdown Presentations, LLC. Personal: Married to Syracuse native DeBorah A. Little, and the couple has two daughters, Christy Jones and Kyra DaCosta; a son, Marc T. Little; and five grandchildren. Hobbies: Skiing, biking, playing in charity golf tournaments. get over them and how you pursue success,” he said. “It’s not promised. You have to go get it. You might have to be a little more aggressive than others. It just doesn’t land at your door. Little relishes the opportunity to reach out to young people and focus on valuable life and career development skills, such as ways to interview effectively, make a good appearance and represent oneself properly. “It’s more important that students are taught life skills, like the importance of being on time and how to be respectful,” he said. “These are the things that I learned when I was growing up and how I was able to get to the level that I am.” “You can’t just be a maverick. You have to be someone who is respectful,” he said.
Motoring along Little not only excelled as an athlete, but he also was highly successful working for the Ford Motor Co. In the late ‘70s, he was recruited at a time when Ford was looking for African-American dealers after recognizing demand for its vehicles was high among people of color. The late Judson Powell, an early member of Ford’s Minority Dealers Program, recruited Little. “I emerged as one that was proficient at financial statement analysis and internal control, so I wound up not only being a student, but a teacher,” Little said. “I was able to connect with a lot of people in the classroom more so than the lot.” He soon found himself studying certain details about the business that many recruits were not exposed to. It was then that Ford engaged him to not only be an instructor, but also a facilitator, liquidator and an advocate for dealers who had issues and problems. The former president and owner of Pacific Coast Ford, which became a private capital dealership in 1996, Little was known as one of the most successful and well-respected Ford dealers in the industry while serving as a consultant and instructor for the minority dealers program. In 2009, Little retired as a Ford dealer and was the longest tenured minority dealer in the Ford portfolio at the time. Little was instrumental in helping dealers survive the recession, and noted many who did weather the storm are ones he personally trained. He was particularly adept at providing guidance to dealers contemplating whether purchasing a dealership was a wise investment opportunity or not. “They [former trainees] reach out every now and then to say hello. Oftentimes they will say things like, ‘Because of you, I have reached a level where I have three stores,’ or ‘I survived the recession because of some of the things I learned from you.’” Since his retirement, Little has made appearances at NFL and Hall of Fame events and been a popular speaker for Touchdown Presentations, LLC. He also participates in and supports numerous charitable events around the country.
This is Floyd Little Some thoughts from Pro Football Hall of Famer and Syracuse University graduate Floyd Little:
• On acquiring leadership skills: “My dad died when I was 5. It was a challenge, just looking and watching. I was a good watcher and led by example. I was a good leader for the Denver Broncos. I was captain of the team from the time I joined to the time I retired. It’s just really paving the way and doing the right thing.”
• On his troubled youth (from his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech): “But the road was not always so easy and clear. I remember being a strong but angry young man in school. I used my strength in ways that became my weakness. After being kicked out of school, I had reached an impasse in my life. Everything was done. My hopes were shattered and done. And then I had a vision from my late father that came to me and said, ‘Floyd, I’ve chosen you to take my place, to do what I could not do, and to finish what I could not finish.’
“I can’t explain my moves. I don’t think any good runner can. I can’t copy anyone. I don’t know what I’m doing until I do it, then I can never repeat it. It’s some kind of instinct. I look at me on film and say, ‘Jeez that guy made a helluva move. What was that?”
have a dad and who works hard academically and athletically and needs a helping hand,” he said. “I get a chance to know who it is and call to congratulate them.” Little said it is gratifying to take a youngster who has been struggling while going to school and playing sports. “They might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but they deserve a chance to go to the next level, and this is an opportunity to go there,” he said. The New Haven Athletic Center was renamed the Floyd Little Athletic Center in 2012 in honor of the hometown superstar. “I’m there from time to time. These kids can say, ‘Hey, this is a real live person. If there is an opportunity for me to be like him, I’d like to be like him.’”
• On his legacy:
• On his favorite NFL team:
Little established the Floyd Little Scholarship that is awarded annually by the New Haven Gridiron Club in Connecticut. The Hillhouse High School grad said it is presented to a young man “who epitomizes the things I was and things that I did.” “We try to find a kid who doesn’t
Of course, Little’s No. 1 NFL team he roots for is the Denver Broncos. His second-favorite team is the New York Giants, primarily because former coach Tom Coughlin was a teammate of his at Syracuse. “I sent him a text saying I’ll see you in Canton in five years,” he said.
“I came to myself. With the help of those who saw the good in me, I was re-enrolled back in school with determination. Not only did I become the president of my class, I started my journey as a leader in everything that I did, and I never looked back.”
• On his ability as an athlete to run with the football (from profootballhof.com):
‘Football Needs to Change’ SU football legend Floyd Little takes a look at today’s game
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imes have certainly changed since Floyd Little ruled the gridiron during his glory days for Syracuse University and the Denver Broncos in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Little, a member of both the college and professional halls of fame, noted the game he so dearly loves has indeed evolved in different ways. “I think the challenges are the concussions and injuries that occur. I’m a fan of [NFL Commissioner] Roger Goodell and always have been. I like how he tries to correct injuries and dangerous hits by assessing fines,” he said. “If I were commissioner, in order to make the game safe, I would take away the face mask. Then players won’t be going in there trying to target
opponents with their head,” he said. “I think football has to be a lot stricter on targeting penalties,” he said. “A defenseless player is running on the field and can’t catch the ball, and a defender is coming into him with his eyes closed at 50 mph and hits the receiver, and he celebrates over this guy because he can’t get up. There’s no place for that,” Little said. Little said today’s pro players are bigger and faster. “These guys run as fast as I could, and they weigh 100 pounds more,” he said. The famed running back said the game is physical by nature, and players must “take their chances” and can’t control whether a concussion will occur or not. However, executing proper
tackling technique — with the emphasis on using the front of shoulders as point of contact instead of arms and head — will help in minimizing injuries, he noted. Little supports his grandchildren playing football, but said starting children out at 5 or 6 years old is too early. “Ten years is time enough to start,” he said. Little said back in the day, many of the issues like the use of performance enhancing drugs didn’t exist. “We didn’t make enough money to do drugs,” he said jokingly. Little said in terms of PEDs, he would enforce a rule that says once a player is flagged for using banned continued page 45 February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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aging By Marilyn L. Pinsky
Matter of Preference (III) This is the third and last in a series of articles on long-term gay relationships.
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interviewed many couples for this series. After the third interview, it became apparent that I had talked to two people who had been together for over 30 years before separating but I was speaking to each of them with their new partner/ husband. They both spoke so lovingly and kindly of their former partners, that I asked permission to incorporate that into this story. "We're all really close friends," said Ron Marquisee of his former partner, "and he visits often."
Marquisee and Sunny Sun have been together six years having met on the Internet, the way everyone seems to meet nowadays. Our hour together was a chance for me to spend time with two mature men, comfortable in their own skins, with a wonderful and realistic outlook on life who know how fortunate they are to have found each other. Marquisee met his previous partner of 35 years when he was teaching at Syracuse University. "In 1970 I left teaching television, radio and film and started a company called Media Artists, Inc. and did that for more then 45 years." Though Marquisee now calls himself retired, he has since done a feature length film, “Impossible Choice” (viewable on Amazon) and has pilots for a food series and a documentary presently
in the works. Also known locally as Captain Ron, he was the director of the PBS series “Cruising America’s Waterways,” and the author of a beautiful, photo-illustrated coffeetable book that accompanies it. Marquisee, who lives in Syracuse, and Sunny Sun, who was living in Binghamton when they met, maintained an online relationship for a year before getting together. Because there is a 25-year age difference they never expected the relationship to go anywhere. However, after taking a couple of trips together they realized they had something special. When Sun, who has two PhDs, was doing a post-doc in Florida, Marquisee went with him for a few months. Then Sun received a job offer from Binghamton and moved back north. He is now studying nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital and LeMoyne College. With such different backgrounds, I asked what they had in common? Aside from Marquisee being used to people in the sciences, absolutely nothing, they both laughingly responded. But what they do have in common are the essentials: honesty, a sense of humor and mutual attraction between two genuinely good people.
Three weeks and a half to decide
Sunny Sun, left, and his spouse, Ron Marquisee. They met through the Internet about six years ago. They said they share a sense of humor and mutual attraction. 36
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Mary Gillen and Sandy Davis have been together for about 15 years — since Feb. 17 2001. They met through Sage, a group for senior LGBT people, when Gillen was 60 and Davis, 59. "I had just moved to Syracuse with another woman," said Gillen, "and Sandy knew that relationship wouldn't last, so she waited until that ended to ask me out." "I started inviting Sandy to some
Sense of Purpose in Life May Boost Longevity, Heart Health
Mary Gillen, left, and her spouse Sandy Davis. The Oswego County couple has been together for about 15 years — since Feb. 17 2001. Four years ago they got married. Gillen said theirs was the first gay wedding in Oswego County. community and social events, like the Dorothy House dinners and SU Women's basketball game, thinking I was just making a new friend. We were also in a Sage swing dance group. Upon returning from a conference, there were a dozen red roses on my desk at Hansen Financial Services and my employers were just looking at me and grinning. It took me a couple of hours to figure out that red roses meant romance. From then on we talked for three and a half weeks and decided this was it. Davis lived in Oswego County and that's where we now live." Gillen had been married to a man for 28 years and has two children. "I tried to stay in the marriage and uphold my commitment, but I never felt it was me. I had to make a change and be who I am and not constantly be hiding," she said. "After coming out to my children, my daughter, who was then in her early 20s, said that she and her friends had known since they were in sixth grade that I was a lesbian. Coming out has really enhanced my relationship with my son and daughter. Sandy and I can be ourselves and talk comfortably with them about our gay friends." "The energy it takes to hide who you are can be much better spent
making a difference in the world," said Davis. "The gay movement has freed us up to be open and happy with who we are. Our energy can be shared with society at large." Like all successful relationships what makes theirs work is good communication. "When there is an issue we don't agree on, we talk it through and agree to disagree," Gillen said. "We look at life and decide what's important. Sometimes it just doesn't matter who is right. We are very grateful for all our opportunities, families and friends." Four years ago they had a small home wedding with about 40 close friends and family. "According to the Oswego town clerk, we were the first same sex couple in the county to apply for a marriage license and at first we were a little concerned. But she just stood there looking at us and then said how excited she was to be the first one in the county to issue a marriage license under the new law." "Seeing Mary's niece beaming during the ceremony," said Davis, "shifted my feeling that people were just tolerating gay marriage to realizing they were sharing our joy. It made us feel part of the rest of society and now I sometimes dare to call Mary 'my wife.'"
Having a sense of purpose might protect your heart and add years to your life, new research suggests. Scientists found that people who felt strongly that their lives have meaning or that they were "useful" to others were at lower risk for heart disease and death during the study period. It's unclear exactly how having a sense of purpose might guard the heart, but the researchers said strategies to help people find meaning in their lives could help improve their health. In examining the association between purpose in life and the risk for heart disease, researchers analyzed 10 previous studies involving 136,000 people from the United States and Japan. Their average age was 67. After being followed for roughly seven years, more than 14,500 of the volunteers died from any cause and 4,000 suffered a heart attack, stroke or other heart-related event. But the researchers found that people reporting a higher sense of purpose in life had a roughly 20 percent lower risk of death during the study. In addition, people who said their life had meaning also had a lower risk for heart problems, according to the study published Dec. 3 in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine. However, the study did not prove that there's a cause-and-effect relationship between a sense of purpose and longer life. "Of note, having a strong sense of life purpose has long been postulated to be an important dimension of life, providing people with a sense of vitality, motivation and resilience," study co-author Alan Rozanski, from Mt. Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, said in a journal news release. From HealthDay News February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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life after 55 By Michele Reed michele@cny55.com
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Surrounded by History in the South of France
here’s an old saying that goes like this: “To a European, 100 miles is long way. To an American, 100 years is a long time.” It points up the difference in our two cultures quite nicely. While everything in Europe is rather close compared to our sprawling American landscapes, they have a much longer history. We are amazed every day at how ancient our adopted home is. We were walking up to the butcher shop one day last summer and the elderly gentleman at the top of our street — who has taken quite a shine to Bill and speaks to him every chance he gets — was just coming out of his house for his afternoon cigarette. Morning and afternoon he comes out for his smoke, sitting on the low stone wall, where he can look at all the foot traffic coming and going. As he exited his house he pointed directly over his head. “La Coquille de Saint Jacques” he said with pride. “My house was the
hospital for the pilgrims on the route to Compostela.” We had read that there was a pilgrim hospital here but had so far failed to find it in our explorations. There on the corner of his house, where it overlooked our street, was a cement cast of the scallop shell of St. James of Compostela, the sign that marked the ancient pilgrim route to the Spanish city where the apostle sailed to evangelize and where his remains are said to be buried. For centuries, faithful Christians have made their way from all parts of Europe to the city on Spain’s Atlantic coast, to pray and receive blessings. One main route snaked along the north shore of the Mediterranean Sea, across the Pyrenees and through Spain. Medieval pilgrims passed right through our little village, stopping here to be treated in the infirmary that our neighbor proudly
lives in. Our town was a crossroads beginning hundreds of years before Christ, when Hannibal and his elephants, and then the Romans, used it on their march between Spain and Italy. The Via Domitia, or the way of Domitian, was the major supply route for the empire to its outpost in Spain. The name still holds, and if I read the map right, it is the main artery of Southern France, the A9. In nearby Beziers there is a billboard for a McDonalds with the address Voie Domitienne. They say an army marches on its stomach. Maybe Caesar would have liked to treat his centurions to a Big Mac “avec frites” on their way to Spain. We made a brief exploration of our new town, and on one 10-minute walk, found the gate of St.
To the left of this Corneilhan village house is a fountain dating from the 18th century. Photo by Bill Reed 38
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A picturesque house in the village of Corneilhan, with a view of the plains of Languedoc in the background. Photo by Bill Reed Ceronne, built in the 5th century to honor a local saint from the 3rd century. A young girl, she is pictured fleeing persecution with her book and baguette. Right next to the gate is the medieval chateau. Keystones above the doors of village houses bear dates of 1803, 1805, 1809, and one from the 1740s emblazoned with a Star of David. It was the home of a Jewish family 250 years ago, but now houses a food bank in its ancient walls. The medieval section is at the very top of the hill on which our village is built, with that 5th century gate and the church at the pinnacle and a statue of
A statue of the Virgin Mary stands on the church’s terrace at the top of the village of Corneilhan, keeping watch on the countryside for miles around. Photo by Bill Reed
Editor’s Note: Oswego residents Michele and Bill Reed bought a retirement vacation home in the South of France. In a series of articles, they take readers along on their journey, sharing the ups and down of senior expat living. the Virgin Mary looking out over the a sprawling landscape full of vineyards and olive groves and in the distance the foothills of the Black Mountains. The houses get progressively newer as you go down the hill. Our house is about a third of the way down from the top of the hill. We were told the foundations of our house and its neighbors are from medieval times, as early as the year 1000. But renovation work on nearby houses bears dates in the later centuries including the house next to the bakery, two doors down from our house, which boasts a lintel marked with 1765. At the foot of the hill is the “Place Courneuve,” or new heart of the village, built with the wealth from vignerons, or wine producers, during the great grape boom of the 19th century. Their huge houses bear wrought iron balconies, huge oak doors and walled-in patios. Typically they would drive their carts full of grapes right into the house at street level through the large wooden doors. There the grapes would be crushed and the wine fermented. The “first floor” as the French designate it, or the second floor for us Americans, would be the family living quarters and were often quite luxurious. The top level would house the offices of the wine business. But in the first years of the 1900s when the French did away with a tax on sugar to promote the sugar beet production in the north of the country, it flooded the market with fake wine, made using that now inexpensive sugar and chemicals. That was the
The village of Corneilhan, seen from the main road to the nearby city of Beziers. The church is at the very top of the hill, and served as a watchtower in medieval times. Photo by Bill Reed end of the boom times, and many vignerons lost their fortunes between 1903 and 1905. The vignerons revolted in 1907 and marched every Sunday in the streets of the major southern cities, calling for a repeal of the looser sugar regulations – first a few hundred marchers, their numbers swelling each week to 100,000 and finally 600,000. Eventually their leader was publicly humiliated by the prime minister Georges Clemenceau, but their revolt awakened a new pride in the French wine product and resulted in purity laws and the AOC appellation for wine varieties that is still used today. You could say we owe our wonderful French wine culture to those revolting vignerons. As we sip a glass of the local red in the evening, we often marvel at the history in our tiny village, and look forward to exploring even farther afield to learn the heritage of our new home.
Michele Reed retired after a career spanning four decades in public relations, advertising, journalism and higher education. She now writes travel articles, book reviews, haiku poetry and fiction. Bill Reed retired after four decades in social services with the County of Oswego, and now works at travel photography and photojournalism, along with writing book reviews. February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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Is Long-Term Care Insurance for You? Fairly young and healthy? Time to buy long-term care insurance By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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f you're active and healthy, buying long-term care insurance may rank low on your to-do list. But now's the best time to purchase it, while rates are still low for you. You'll likely need it, experts say. According to the New York State Partnership for Long-Term Care, of people aged 65 and older, 50 percent of women and 30 percent of men will live in a nursing home before dying. The average length of stay is five years, states the US Department of Health and Human Services. If you think you'll pay for it yourself, consider the cost. The New York State Department of Health states that in Central New York area, nursing home care is about $288 per day, amounting to $105,216 annually. While it's the lowest in cost Gronsbell statewide (Long Island's rate is $407 per day and $148,680 annually), it still adds up fast. Clark Gronsbell, owner/broker at Fiscal Fitness, and independent insurance and investment brokerage in Syracuse, said that many believe that their health insurance or Medicare will pay for care, but this coverage is very limited and oftentimes families lose much — if not all — of the senior's estate in the process. Long-term care insurance pays for health care provided in-home, assisted living and nursing homes. Gronsbell said that many people don't realize this. About three-quarters of care benefits paid out by coverage provides
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in-home benefits. Compared with the cost of paying for care yourself, long-term health insurance premiums offer a bargain. A 55-year-old would pay about $1,325 to $2,550 annually, depending on the payout of the plan. How much longterm care insurance you need depends upon a number of factors, according to Syracuse-based James A. Pizzolanti, who is certified to offer long-term care insurance. Pizzolanti, who operates Pizzolanti Long Term Care Planning and Insurance, urges people considering long-term care insurance to buy based on many factors, including potential longevity. "People live Pizzolanti longer these days, but even if you're in good health, there's frailty," Pizzolanti said. "You can still be in good health but have
problems performing activities of daily living." Don't count on your spouse or adult children to care for you, either. Your needs may exceed their physical abilities, schedule or comfort level. Is it fair to expect your children to put their lives on hold to spend every day with you? Long-term care insurance can also help you protect your assets for your heirs. "With no insurance, people have to spend down their assets and then go on Medicaid," Pizzolanti said. "Longterm care costs in New York state eat up nearly 50 percent of the Medicaid budget." Without long-term care insurance, if Medicaid covers your care, the state can seize assets to reclaim some of the expenses once you die while you're in a nursing home. That leaves nothing to your heirs. One of the types of long-term care insurance Pizzolanti likes is the New York State Partnership. "If someone needs care and
exhausts the benefits, the partnership means you're eligible for NYS extended Medicare coverage," he said. "You still have to contribute your pension, IRAs, and Social Security toward the cost of care. The difference is picked up by the coverage. Your house is protected. If you have a Roth IRA, it's 100-percent protected." Dollar-for-dollar asset protection plans let you protect the same amount of dollars that your plan has paid out once the benefits have been exhausted. "It doesn't have to be spent down to qualify for Medicaid," Pizzolanti said. "You can protect that money." Many plans offer inflation riders, but Pizzolanti said that people can drop that around age 80 because by then, they likely have accrued a sizeable benefit anyway if they've been paying premiums for many years. MedAmerica offers a plan where clients pay in for 10 years and then never have to pay in again. New York offers a 20 percent state tax credit, which, essentially, pays for one-fifth of the premium expense. Purchasing a long-term care policy may not seem worthwhile if you think you will never need the benefits; however, a return of premium rider can put your mind at ease, though they're expensive. You could also place a non-forfeiture rider in the policy. Should you not pay premiums, you receive either 30 times the daily allowable benefit or the premiums back. Life insurance policies with longterm care riders provide another option. These hybrid plans actually offer your initial, single premium back to your estate after you pass away if you don't use the plan. Gronsbell mentioned an insurance product for people diagnosed with a fatal illness. "You can use the death benefit prior to death offset care," he said. If you want to use the death benefit to pay for long-term care, you would need a benefit from about $50,000 to $100,000. This would cover only about one to two years of care. A life insurance policy with an accelerated death benefit allows you to use that benefit for long-term care, a solid funding strategy since you don't lose the investment. "It's less costly perhaps, but not as complete of a program," Gronsbell said.
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February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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78 and Holding Bonnie Sanderson dominates Mohawk Valley sports scene in both winter, summer By Patricia J. Malin
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onnie Sanderson remembers getting her first pair of skis when she was 6 years old. “My grandfather, who was a carpenter from Italy, made three pairs for Christmas, decorated them with red ribbons and left them by the fireplace,� she recalled fondly, referring to the gift for her younger sister and brother as well. "They were
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heavy and long and there were no bindings." Seventy years later, she is still skiing, and not just shuffling along. For more than a decade, she has taught downhill skiing to novices in Central New York. Now 78, Sanderson lives at Kayuta Lake at the outskirts of Remsen, and brings exuberance to skiing and
many other activities. She's a retired music teacher, principal and school superintendent — and those were her second, third and fourth careers, respectively. After she retired from the Remsen School District in 1999, she charged headfirst into the next chapters of her life, investing serious time in golf, tennis, hiking, running and kayaking.
Kayaking is not just fun, but educational. In 2013, she and three of her kayaking companions, Ruth Dandrea and Carol Moseman of Holland Patent, and Kathy DeLong of Kayuta Lake, released a book titled “Women on Water (WOW),” with photographs by Audrey Mihalko of Boonville. She describes the book as a personal journal "of stories that reflect the joy and camaraderie (of) old girls on boats" as they navigate their favorite local waterways. North Country Press printed 2,000 copies and the group embarked on a busy book-signing tour throughout the Utica and Syracuse markets. Fifty percent of the proceeds go to The Women's Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties Inc. “WOW” can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and in local bookstores. Athletics have always been central in Sanderson's life. She grew up in Chadwicks in that bygone era when children spent hours playing outdoors from morning to night with neither adult oversight nor undue worry. “As a girl, I was very active,” she said. "I played soccer, softball and basketball — when girls could only play a half-court game. There was a bunch of us who skied. We used to walk up the hill and ski down, turn around and walk back up, and we would stay out until dark.” After graduating from Chadwicks Central School, she studied dental hygiene at Erie County Technical Institute in Buffalo. She returned to the Utica area to begin her career. Meanwhile, she married and raised three children while working part-time as a hygienist for 15 years.
Overcoming all obstacles In the late 1960s, Sanderson turned her attention to music. She enrolled part-time at Syracuse University and began taking music courses one night a week. What was most memorable about those days were student protests over the Vietnam War that threatened to interrupt her studies. "I remember making my way past barricades," she recalled, laughing. "Those courses were costing me an arm and a leg and nothing was going to stop me from getting to class." Her penchant for music attracted the attention of her professors. "They
told me, 'We'll give you a scholarship if you come to college full time,'" Sanderson said. With her children then in junior high school, she eagerly accepted the university's offer and set to work obtaining her master's degree in music education, despite continuing to work part-time as a hygienist. In 1972, she changed direction again. Through the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, she began teaching music part time at two small schools — Poland Central and Mohawk Central near Utica. "It was a wonderful change of pace," she said. Soon after she started a band program at Poland, the district offered her a full-time job as a music teacher. That job lasted for 15 years. She moved up the administrative ranks, but staying true to her roots, she continued to serve in rural school districts. She was principal at Hamilton Central School, 198792; superintendent in Harrisville, near Ogdensburg, 1992-94; and superintendent for five additional years at Remsen Central.
A teaching family Her love for teaching has rubbed off on the next generation. Her eldest son, Steve, 56, is a physical education teacher at Clinton Central School. Michael, 55, teaches math at Madison Central. His fraternal twin, Theresa Lorence, retired as a music teacher at Carthage Central School, but started a business teaching music and movement for the extraordinary child, also in Carthage. Sanderson also has six grandsons ranging in age from 9-38. Now into her seventh decade, Sanderson still has no time to sit on the sidelines. She ran dozens of Boilermaker Road Races in Utica each July, although her knees thank her for trading in the grueling 15-kilometer for the delightful 5-kilometer. In 2012, she was third in the women's 70-74 age group in 39 minutes, 36 seconds, averaging 12-minute miles. In the summer of 2012, Sanderson added the final notch to her Adirondack 46er belt. She completed her ascent of the 46 highest peaks in the Adirondack Mountains, all more than 4,000 feet high, which is a circuit that took 30 years to accomplish. She used to be an avid participant in golf and tennis leagues, but her
summer days are now mainly occupied with kayaking, often near home on the shores of Kayuta Lake with other members of “WOW.” “We have expanded our (kayak tours) to include the Hudson River, Saranac Lake and Seneca Falls,” she added. “I led a group of women through the (Seneca) canal during the Women's Hall of Fame celebration in 2014.” She played bassoon and piano with the Utica Symphony Orchestra for 12 years, but now joins the Boonville Band each summer. Fifteen years ago, Sanderson became an accredited ski instructor and has kept busy teaching novices at Snow Ridge ski resort in Rome. In addition, she signed on as a volunteer ski instructor for the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement, based at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Marcy. Over the course of five weeks, she takes senior students to the slopes of Snow Ridge and Woods Valley, also near Rome; McCauley Mountain in Old Forge, and Toggenburg in Fabius. In the winter of 2013, she slipped on ice and broke her ankle in three places. Though she missed an entire season of skiing, she spent her time by painting watercolors. She is back to skiing this year. Yet spring is already on her mind. “I am planning another April-May bike and barge trip to Holland for tulip season,” she said recently. Through the four seasons, it's apparent that Sanderson has never abandoned her old-time play days. February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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consumers corner By Eva Briggs, M.D.
Don’t Think Twice: Call for Help
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wenty years ago I slipped on the ice and shattered my ankle while out walking my dog. Back then I didn’t even own a cell phone; luckily my neighbor came jogging by soon after and was able to call for help. That ability to call for help can be lifesaving for older people at risk of falling. About one in three people over age 65 will fall per year, and two-thirds of those people will fall again within six months. There are a variety of devices that can be worn to allow an injured (or ill) person to call for help with a single push of a button. The problem is, they won’t work if not used. Many people feel embarrassed to admit that they might need such a device. But falls in the elderly can be devastating, causing fractured hips, head trauma, or other incapacitating injuries. Receiving help quickly is vital. Lying undiscovered for hours or days can lead to pressure sores, hypothermia, dehydration, muscle breakdown and kidney failure. These complications can kill even when the initial injury would have been survivable. Over time, the medical alert systems have become more sophisticated. Some can automatically detect a fall, without requiring the user to push a button. Some systems can pair with a cell phone via Bluetooth, and can send a message to the user (or caregiver) if the user forgets to wear the device. Research shows that people often don’t push the button of their emergency device even when injured. Some reasons include forgetfulness, panic and trauma. And some people 44
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simply don’t want to alarm others. But if you have a device and need help, use it! Your family and friends will be much more alarmed if you end up lying on the floor suffering undiscovered. If you or a loved one decide to purchase an emergency response system, take some time to consider your options. Don’t allow an aggressive or pushy salesman to pressure you into a decision. Look at several systems. Compare the costs. Most insurances won’t cover the cost. There is usually a set-up fee as well as a monthly fee. Read the contract carefully, and specifically be sure to understand the cancellation policy. Inquire about the customer support. Is it available 24/7? Can you reach a live person? How is the equipment tested?
Ask about a free or money-back one-month trial. You don’t want to be locked into a system that doesn’t meet your needs or that the intended user refuses to wear. It’s also important to think about being prepared if emergency responders are summoned. It’s a good idea to have basic information readily accessible in a conspicuous
About one in three people over age 65 will fall per year, and two-thirds of those people will fall again within six months location — such as on the refrigerator. Vital information includes the emergency contact information, such as the names, phone number and relationship of family or friends. You’ll also want a list of medical conditions, medications, and allergies. Be sure to keep everything updated. What if your door is locked? One solution is to purchase a key safe made to install on the outside of your house, operated by a combination lock. Of course, that only helps if there is a way for emergency personal to obtain the code. If you are using a medical alert system, that’s information they can provide when they contact 911. Or you can give the code to trusted relatives, friends or neighbors, who can provide that information to emergency responders — provided you are able to reach those people.
Eva Briggs is a medical doctor who works at two urgent care centers (Central Square and Fulton) operated by Oswego Health.
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SU football legend Floyd Little takes a look at today’s game continued from page 35 drugs twice, he is out of the league. This “two-and-out” proposition would feature players waiving their right to litigation before they even come into the league, he added. “Everybody is going to slip up once, but twice, you are out of the league,” he said. Lack of control over players in the locker room is another issue, he said. “If a player is making a ton of money, it’s hard to manage a person making millions while the coach is making $100,000,” he said.
Height of excellence Little said being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 certainly ranks as an unbelievable experience. He is only one of seven players with Syracuse ties to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I’m no longer Floyd Little. My name is Hall
of Famer Floyd Little,” he said. “I’m just fortunate to be among greats such as Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Joe Greene,” he said. Earlier this year, New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft took 19 Hall of Famers and their wives to Israel. “It was one of the greatest experiences of my life,” said Little. He experienced Tel Aviv, while he and his wife were baptized in the Jordan River. He also enjoyed floating in the salt-laden Dead Sea and visiting Galilee. He said if it were not for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he would not have been afforded such opportunities. While being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a career highlight, Little had other memorable moments that indelibly stick out in his mind.
Little fondly recalls his first game at Archbold Stadium as an Orangemen on Sept. 26, 1964. Little scored five touchdowns and rushed for 159 yards and produced another 95 with pass receptions and kickoff returns. His counterpart on the Kansas team they played was fellow Hall of Famer Gale Sayers. Another memorable moment was his last game wearing No. 44 for the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium in 1974. He scored two TDs in the contest against the Philadelphia Eagles and was carried off the field by teammates and adoring fans. He was the team’s “franchise” player and a big reason why the squad stayed in Denver. Little also pointed to “Floyd Little Day” in Denver in 1972 as another significant moment in his career. Many avid supporters showed their appreciation for an amazing nine-year career. By Lou Sorendo February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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druger’s zoo By Marvin Druger
My Adventures in Senior Dating
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n a previous druger’s zoo column in 55 Plus magazine (Issue 57, June/July 2015, page 46), I described my adventures in dating. My wife, Pat, died in January of 2014 and my granddaughter registered me on an online dating service several months after that unforgettable event. I knew that Pat would not want me to sit home grieving every day, and that she would want me to seek a companion with whom to share life. Contact was made with many women and I took them to lunch. I was advised not to take these women to lunch, but invite them to have coffee. In this way, I wouldn’t have to waste money on a lunch if I didn’t like that person. I was also warned that weird people sometimes use online dating services, but I found that every woman I dated was friendly and nice. I soon discovered multiple dating was complicated, expensive and even risky. I was fearful that I might be on a date with one woman and meet another woman that I was also dating. Someone suggested that, if this happened, I should say, “Oh, I’d like you to meet my sister who just came in to visit from out-of-town.” In this article, I am sharing more of my adventures in dating. • One of my multiple dates was a former smoker and I bought her a carton of candy cigarettes as a joke. I called some women by their first initial. I wrapped the carton and put on a gift label that said, “To P, from M.” She accepted the package and exclaimed, “Who’s P? I’m K.” My stomach dropped and I began to 46
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sweat, while struggling for a reply. K saved the day. She said, “Oh, I guess you were thinking of your wife, Pat. How sweet.” I was actually thinking of some other woman who’s named started with P. Whew! • I t o o k K t o a c a b a re t a t Fayetteville-Manlius High School. I thought I had taken her there a few weeks earlier to see The Second City Comedy troupe from Chicago. K kept asking me if I knew how to get there. I said, “Don’t you remember? We were there to see a show two weeks ago.” It turned out that I had taken K to a dance performance at Le Moyne College, and I had taken someone else to the
comedy performance at the high school. I guess this dating stuff was getting out of hand. I was afraid this type of thing would happen. Since we hadn’t eaten before the show, and it was 10:30 p.m. when the show ended, I took K to Denny’s for dinner. The next morning, I received a text message from K saying, “That was the cheapest date anyone has ever taken me on.” I apologized and promised her an elegant dinner in the future. This dating business can be expensive. • My granddaughter said it was “obnoxious” for me to date many women at one time. I told this
comment to one of my dates. She said, “Maybe your granddaughter is right! An old man out there running around thinking he is some kind of young stud again … dating as many of those adoring women as he can fit into his schedule, ‘obnoxious.’ Sounds about right to me.” • I drove one woman from Syracuse to see my lake house on Owasco Lake and to have dinner. It was a Monday and several of the restaurants we tried to get to were closed. Finally, we ended up eating in Prison City Restaurant right next to Auburn Correctional Facility (good food, despite the name). To add to the date, on our way back to Syracuse, one of her two dogs threw up in the back of my new car. • One woman wanted to go kayaking on Owasco Lake. This was her first experience at kayaking. There were strong winds, heavy currents and high waves. Her kayak was thrust onto a small peninsula. She was shipwrecked. Instead of helping her, I laughed hysterically at her plight as I paddled by her boat. She finally managed to redirect her kayak and get to the beach of my house. My lack of concern for her safety did not go unnoticed. • I went to a movie with one woman. It was a Wednesday night, and we were the only people in the theater. The sound of the movie came on, but no picture. I left my date alone in the dark theater for about 15 minutes while I looked for the manager. The memory of the two of us, alone in the theater, watching the sound of a movie was much more memorable than the movie itself. • A man in my support group asked me for advice about dating. I offered him my opinion. I told him that most women don’t like to be rushed or overwhelmed, and they don’t like men who seem to have sexual intentions. Lasting, positive relations have to be nurtured and they grow slowly over time. Typical of the old Don Juan that I had become, I told him to play it cool and not to get overly involved too soon. If he is going with the “right” person, friendship and love will evolve. He thanked me profusely for my advice. Now, I feel like an expert on women and dating.
‘I soon discovered multiple dating was complicated, expensive and even risky. I was fearful that I might be on a date with one woman and meet another woman that I was also dating.’ • I took one woman to Phoebe’s restaurant for lunch twice. The first time, I met her at the restaurant, and she drove there in her own car. The second time, I picked her up at her house to drive her to the restaurant. After lunch, I forgot that she didn’t drive there in her own car. I said goodbye, and I hopped into my own car and began to drive away, leaving her standing in the parking lot. Fortunately, I realized my error in time to correct it. Otherwise, I would have been minus one date from then on. • I met a friend at a restaurant when I was with one of my dates. I was going to introduce her to him, but I momentarily forgot her name — an embarrassing lapse that was probably the product of multiple dating. • A woman always wanted me to be a gentleman and open the car door for her. She was sitting next to me in the front passenger seat of the car. I got out and just stood there, waiting for her to get out of the car. She was waiting for me to walk to the other side of the car and open the car door for her. I finally got the hint, or she could have been sitting there all night. • A date and I drove to Saratoga Springs to hear a concert. I brought along two small bags of cashews and two bottles of water. My date commented, “Is this because you are too cheap to stop to eat in a restaurant?” She told a friend my age. Her friend replied, “Do you have to drive him to doctor’s appointments all the time?”
90-plusser gives advice • Dan at the health club is over 90 and he married someone 30 years younger. He gave me tips on how to meet women. His advice was: — You meet them at Wegmans supermarket. — Look them in the eye. — Compliment them on their clothing. “You dress so well. Are you a designer?” — Don’t offer alcohol on the first meeting. They associate that with sex. Go to coffee or tea. — Give compliments, compliments and compliments • I took one woman, whom I had dated several times, to the New York State Fair. We sat at a messy, wooden picnic table with several strangers and ate a slimy hot dog and greasy French fries. It was very hot and muggy. Suddenly, she announced, “This is the grossest thing we have done so far.” I bought two bottles of water. We couldn’t open them. I asked a female state trooper if she could help. She effortlessly opened the two bottles. Then, in a sympathetic manner, she suggested that we take a golf cart to ride to the bus. We refused the offer. • I was driving in my car with a date on the way to New York City. She asked, “Do you want a cough drop?” I said, “Why would I want one?” “She replied, “It keeps your mouth busy doing something else besides talking.” • At home, I was reading some of my articles aloud to one of my dates. I was enjoying them immensely. My date was obviously becoming bored. “Honey, can you speed this up?” she remarked. Then, she abruptly stood up and went home. Losing my wife, Pat, has been devastating and has left large gaps in my life. I jokingly lament to people, “It’s the first time my wife ever died.” It feels like a piece of my own body is gone. Yet, life calls me forth, as I try to live my motto, “Do as much as you can while you can,” and that has meant becoming reacquainted with women. Nobody will ever replace Pat, but I have found companionship with K, who has many wonderful qualities, and we have had many adventures together that I know Pat would have wanted me to have. Now, life goes on. February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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Fun Things to Do in Stowe, Vermont A village to visit in the winter and all other seasons By Sandra Scott
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hen the word “Stowe” is mentioned many people think of skiing but Stowe, Vt., is a wonderful destination any time of the year. Stowe, a classic 200-year-old village, lies in the shadow of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. Unlike most of Vermont, Stowe’s history is not based exclusively around farming. By the mid-1800s it had become a favorite summer destination. Yes, there is skiing with European-style resorts like the famed Austrian-inspired Trapp Family Lodge whose owners were made famous in the movie “The Sound of Music.” Most of the resorts are open all season offering a variety of activities. Besides a plethora of snowbased activities there is hiking, arts, a balloon festival, sports, scenic drives and more.
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Historic: The Stowe Historical Society, located in the village, is housed in the West Branch Schoolhouse with the Bloody Brook Schoolhouse next to it. Pick up their free Historic Walking Tour of Stowe and wander the historic district where some of the buildings date from the mid-1800s, some are still residences while others have been re-purposed. Built in 1844, Emily’s Bridge is Vermont’s only haunted covered bridge. In one version of the legend, Emily planned to elope with her lover who was to meet her at the bridge. He didn’t show and she hanged herself from the rafters. Scenic drives: Truthfully, all the roads around Stowe offer spectacular scenery but some drives are more scenic
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than others and in the fall the area is ablaze with color. The historic auto Toll Road winds its way to the summit ridge of Mt. Mansfield where there are stunning views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains to the west. GoStowe. com has outlined several scenic drives that start in downtown Stowe including a short one along the Little River to the hamlet of Moscow. Hiking & biking: The 5.3mile Stowe Recreation Path is popular with hikers and bikers and starts right in the village behind the Community Church but is accessible at other locations. A favorite hike in Smuggler’s Notch State Park is the scenic Bingham Falls. Dedicated hikers can walk portions of the Long Trail, a 265-mile trail system that runs throughout
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Vermont crossing Mt. Mansfield and Spruce Peak in Stowe. The relatively short Pinnacle Trail to the summit of Pinnacle, a 2,740-foot peak. Water fun: Those interested in water fun should head to Waterbury Reservoir where they can canoe, kayak, standup paddle board, and swim. Several places offer kayak/canoe rentals and guided tours. There are several swimming holes in the area including the one at the end of the Bingham Falls hike. Most resorts have a pool, some of which are indoors and are heated. Smuggler’s Notch has an indoor park with eight heated pools, four waterslides, and splash pools open to the public. Thrill seekers can go white water rafting on a nearby mountain river. Golf and more: Golfers can tee off at the Ryder Brook Golf Club and Stoweflake Resort has an onsite 9-hole, par-3 course that is free to guests. They also have indoor and outdoor tennis courts and the area’s only racquetball/ squash court. The Trapp Family Lodge offers daily tennis clinics. The Stowe Golf Park is a mini-golf course, which simulates a real golf course and experience. Of course, in the winter there is skiing and snowboarding but there are also sleigh rides, dog sledding, ice fishing and guided snowmobile tours. Arts & Museums: The Stowe area is home to a thriving arts community. See glass blowing at Ziemke Glassblowing Studio. Wander the sculpture garden, which is part of the West Branch Gallery. There are several galleries including Helen Day Art Center, which offers classes plus theatrical
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performances and concerts that include outdoor concerts featuring the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Located in the heart of Stowe Village the newly renovated Old Town Hall, circa1818, is now The Vermont Ski & Snowboard Museum & Museum Shop with permanent & rotating exhibits, archives, library, movies & programs. Up, Up and Away: The scenery is even more dramatic from the air. Stoweflake Resort has its own balloon for hire and hosts an annual balloon festival in July. Stowe Mountain Resort offers gondola rides with spectacular views of the mountains. For another unforgettable experience Stowe Soaring takes passengers on a ride on silent wings. Get your pulse racing on one of Stowe’s zip lines. For foodies: The Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory Tour ends with a scoop of one of their unique flavored ice creams. Before leaving head up the hill to their Flavor Graveyard of discontinued flavors. Along Route 100 you can stop to sample and learn about Vermont maple syrup, Vermont cheese and chocolate. For something different there is the Ice Cream Float, a four-mile canoe or kayak trip followed by ice cream and a factory tour. In New England only Boston and Providence have more awardwinning restaurants than Stowe. Beverage Trail: At Cold Hollow Cider Mill watch the workers press the cider and try a free sample. At Crop Bistro and Brewery adults
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Stowe Historical Society can try a sampler of their brews. Vermont has more breweries per capita than any other state in the US. Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits is a fourth-generation farm with a free wine tours. Smuggler’s Notch distillery is justly proud of their award-winning vodka, rum, bourbon, rye whiskey and gin.
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The Stowe Response:
The “Stowe Response” is a peaceful, restorative, restful state that induces serenity, improves health, and rejuvenates stressed-out bodies and minds. When people arrive in Stowe they take a deep breathe of the fresh mountain air and instinctly begin strolling instead of striding, chatting instead of speed-talking, and smiling a whole lot more. The ultimate Stowe Response should include a visit to one of the many spas and yoga centers. Most hotels have spas including The Green Mountain Inn and the Stoweflake Spa, which has 30 treatment rooms and an Aqua Solarium that has been highly rated by Conte Nast and other magazines.
Those interested in water fun should head to Waterbury Reservoir where they can canoe, kayak, standup paddle board, and swim. February 2016 / March 2016 - 55 PLUS
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By Mary Beth Roach
Jane Higgins, 64 The force behind Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade Q: Why did you take on the role of president? A: This is my way of giving back to the community and having a blast at the same time.
happen every single year. And there are nice things; there are sweet things. People come up to you and say ‘thank you so much for doing this.’ They’re really appreciative.
Q: What makes you come back year after year? You’re just having too much fun? A: I am having too much fun. There are moments that it makes me crazy, but you know when you march down Salina Street and you see the looks on people’s faces and when you realize how much enjoyment the parade brings to the people of Central New York. That’s what makes me come back and do it year after year. It’s important to people. I do try to keep it in perspective. It’s a parade, but it’s really important to a lot of people, and they really do get a lot of joy out of it.
Q: As the parade president for a decade now, what changes have you seen in the parade over the years? A: I am proud to say that the parade has been raised to a whole new level during the past 10 years. We have had several years that we struggled financially, and still keep a watchful eye on our expenses, but we are now one of the top 10 parades in the United States, a fact of which I am very proud. We have begun the St. Patrick Hunger Project, the brainchild of Bill Gooley, Richie Walsh and John Young. Because of that, we have been able to donate thousands of dollars and meals to the less fortunate throughout our own community. The Hunger Project is now under the leadership of Vince Christian, and he is doing a fine job carrying on the Gooley-WalshYoung legacy. Additionally, this year, we are finally able to return to the former Hotel Syracuse, the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. The Grand Marshal Dinner the evening before the parade will be the hotel’s “soft” opening. I am absolutely over the moon about this. Next year, we hope to resume the famous after-parade party at the hotel.
Q: Why do you think it is important? A: I think it’s the rite of passage into spring. I think that’s part of it. And I think that it’s been in existence so long now that people have traditions. There are hundreds of families around Central New York that have big brunches before the parade, and then they go to the parade together as a family. It’s really a family-oriented event. I think they enjoy it together. They make memories. Q: What is your favorite part of the parade? A: My favorite part of the parade is the bands, and then the dancers. That’s what I get the biggest kick out of. And how happy people are the day of the parade. Q : Are there any favorite memories of a particular parade? A: There are a lot of memories — the weddings; the year we tried to stage it in Armory Square. I will never forget that. There are funny things that 50
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Q: What do you see as your greatest accomplishments as parade president for 10 years? A: My greatest accomplishment as president, I believe, is to bring a group of dedicated volunteers together and hone in on their strengths to bring the parade and all the surrounding activities to the status they are today. We are now fiscally solvent and that would not have occurred without the help of our fundraising director and
Higgins has been involved with Syracuse St. Patrick’s Parade since its beginning in 1983. She has served as president since 2006. The 34th annual celebration is slated for March 12 in downtown Syracuse. parade attorney, Kevin Ryan, and our wonderful board of directors guiding us along the way. Last year we were able to finally obtain our 501 (c) (3) designation as a charitable, nonprofit organization. Q: Since the committee is made up of all volunteers, what do you do for a living? A : Most of the committee members work full time, as do I. I am employed by the New York State Court of Claims as a secretary to one of the judges sitting in Syracuse. Q: When you're not busy with your parade duties, what do you enjoy doing? A: From Memorial Day to Labor Day, when the sun is shining and I am not required to be at work, you can usually find me at Sandy Pond on Lake Ontario. I love the beach and spend as much time up there as I can, if not swimming, then reading in the sun. During the fall, one of my favorite things to do is walk around Green Lake. I usually have one of my grandchildren with me. I am blessed to have three beautiful grandchildren, two boys, ages 5 and 4, and a new little granddaughter, who was just born on December 29. Q: Any plans to step down as president in the near future? A: As long I’m still enjoying it. I’m having too much fun. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.
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