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

SOCIAL SECURITY: CAN WE STILL COUNT ON IT?

FR Marilyn Pinsky A Conversation with Two Therapists

55 PLUS

Issue 35 October / November 2011

For Active Adults in Central New York

Cry Laugh CooK

The fascinating life of motivational speaker and author Yvonne Conte

Bette Davis Was Right: Growing Old Is Not for Sissies October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

Basketball Referee Michael Kitts Celebrating 29 Seasons

Hello, CoolSculpting

…Bye Bye, Bulges 4117 Medical Center Drive

Fayetteville, NY 13066 Exclusively at Living Proof Longevity Centre CoolSculpting by ZELTIQ™ —the non-invasive way to lose fat.

CoolSculpting is a new, non-invasive procedure that uses a revolutionary cooling technology to reduce areas of unwanted fat gently and effectively. The result? Noticeable, natural-looking fat reduction in treated areas within two months. Continued improvement for up to four months.

CoolSculpting Benefits: • Average of 22% fat-layer reduction after one procedure • Precise cooling affects only targeted fat cells, leaving skin unharmed • No downtime; patients typically resume normal activities the same day

Before

3 months after one procedure Procedure by Ivan A. Rosales-Berber, MD

Is CoolSculpting right for you? Call us at (315) 329-4975 to schedule your consultation today. For more information visit us online at www.livingproofmd.com Living Proof Longevity Centre is part of the North Medical Family of Practices. 2

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

Financing available through

ALL UNDER ONE ROOF Your Complete Wellness Facility • New renovated private ladies-only ﬁtness rooms • Personal training for small SENIOR arthritis sufferers • We accept insurance from Blue Cross and Blue Shield as well as many others • Multiple pool classes, including arthritis aqua, cardio splash and open swim time for SENIORS • Located at the Ollies Plaza in Cicero (near Lowe’s)

Helping you live, work and play better

COUPON

Medicare will pay for you to enjoy the soothing relief aquatic therapy can provide. Ask us about our individualized sessions.

FREE EVALUATION Champions Fitness Pass

Exp. 12/1/2011

www.championsﬁtness.com

452-5522

For a special free injury screen offer, go to www.onondagapt.com/55plus.html

Cicero • 218-1451 Onondaga Hill • 492-0592 Baldwinsville • 635-5000 www.onondagapt.com facebook.com/onondagapt October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

55 PLUS

October / November 2011

Health Watch 6-7 Gardening 8 Financial Health 9 Golden Years 28 Druger’s Zoo 44 Aging 46 Consumer’s Corner 47 My Turn 48 Last Page 50

17 10 OLD FRIENDS

• My class reunion: A special time to reminisce, reflect, and have a good time

13 AGING GRACEFULLY • Bette Davis was right: Growing old is not for sissies

15, 17 SOCIAL SECURITY

• Outlook for the Social Security and Medicare is not good. Should we count on it? • A bad experience applying for Social Security

19 PROFILE

• The NuHavuns: Just getting started

CONTENTS

22 COVER

• Yvonne Conte: Motivating people by making them laugh

36 VOLUNTEERING

• Meet Baldwinsville’s Energizer Bunny, Bonnie Kisselstein

38 FINANCE

• Consider a reverse mortgage carefully

40 HOME MODIFICATION

• Older seniors can remain at home longer by making simple modiﬁcations to their homes

42 VISITS

• New York’s byways and highways— perfect time for some driving October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

HEALTH WATCH

55PLUS

Breakthrough Technology To Freeze Away Body Fat Living Proof Longevity Centre in Fayetteville is first to offer CoolSculpting

ho doesn’t dream of a simple way to reduce and accentuate those annoying fatty areas? CoolSculpting, an innovative technology that freezes away unwanted fat, is now available at the Living Proof Longevity Centre in Fayetteville, making it the ﬁrst medical practice in the Central New York region to offer this breakthrough in non-invasive fat reduction. “CoolSculpting is an exciting new approach that is non-invasive and has shown signiﬁcant results in clinical studies for removing fat without the potential risks and downtime of invasive procedures,” said Dr. Susan Merola-McConn, executive vice president at North Medical. “The procedure is extremely effective, especially on resistant localized areas such as back fat, love handles and the isolated belly fat.” Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CoolSculpting by ZELTIQ gently cools unwanted fat cells in the body thereby inducing a natural, controlled elimination of fat cells. Based on science developed by the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass., this breakthrough is based on a vast body of research that demonstrates that fat cells are more susceptible to cold and are selectively, painlessly and permanently destroyed. Starting several weeks after the procedure, 6

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

Unlike many other methods of fat reduction, the CoolSculpting procedure involves no needles, surgery or downtime. On average, each procedure results in a 22 percent reduction of fat in the treated area cooled fat cells begin a process called “apoptosis” and begin to shrink and disappear. The body proceeds to naturally and gradually eliminate the cooled fat cells, reducing the thickness of the fat layer. Unlike many other methods of fat reduction, the CoolSculpting procedure involves no needles, surgery or downtime. During the procedure, a non-invasive applicator delivers precisely controlled cooling to the treatment area thereby speciﬁcally targeting fat. An average procedure lasts between one to two hours. Patients can have additional procedures for more pronounced effects if they desire. Merola-McConn said on average, each CoolSculpting procedure results in a 22 percent reduction of fat in the treated area, and patients can start to see results as soon as three weeks following treatment, with the most dramatic results occurring over a period of two to four months in most patients.

Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Lou Sorendo

Writers

Suzanne M. Ellis, Sandra Scott, Aaron Gifford Mary Beth Roach, Ken Little Nancy Haus, Deborah Sergeant

Columnists

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

Advertising

Donna J. Kimbrell Marlene Raite Tracy DeCann

Ofﬁce Manager

Laura J. Beckwith

Layout and Design Chris Crocker

Cover Photo

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

Health in good

CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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 E-mail: Editor@cnyhealth.com

Study links poor sleep to higher rates of dementia

etting a good night’s sleep may be extra important for women as they age. A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at a possible link between dementia and poor sleep. They asked 298 older women who didn’t have dementia to spend the night in a sleep lab to record their sleep patterns and behaviors. Then they followed them for several years, checking their brain function. Women with sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea, were 85 percent more likely to develop dementia or mild difﬁculty in thinking

clearly. The results suggested that having low oxygen at night was the likely connection between the women’s sleeping problems and their cognitive trouble. Tr e a t i n g s l e e p - d i s o r d e r e d breathing with air-pressure devices called CPAP machines has been shown to slow and even improve cognitive impairment in people with Alzheimer’s disease. According to the researchers, the new results suggest that treating these sleeping problems might also help protect people from developing dementia.

Certain Foods Said to Help Lower Bad Cholesterol Combining nuts, plant-based foods with low-fat diet produces biggest drops, researchers say

dding speciﬁc cholesterollowering foods, such as nuts, to your diet can lower your cholesterol more than a low-fat diet alone can, new research suggests. Foods with plant sterols also have known cholesterol-reducing properties, and combined with a lower fat diet, they lowered LDL (bad) cholesterol by more than 13 percent. A low-fat diet alone produced only a 3 percent reduction in LDL, according to the study. “Giving people a diet enriched with food components that the FDA has already allowed health claims to be made for, based on their cholesterol-lowering ability, lowered their LDL cholesterol between 13 and 14 percent,” said Dr. David J.A. Jenkins based at the University of Toronto. Jenkins added that these people

were already “diet-interested” and tended to have better-than-average diets. “The extra effort of choosing the right foods had a very good effect,” he noted. The findings were published in the Aug. 24–31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Changes in diet, such as eating fewer foods that contain animal fat or more foods high in fiber, can lower cholesterol levels, though these reductions may be modest. Certain foods, however, are more likely to reduce cholesterol. According to the study, these include: foods containing substances called plant sterols such as enhanced margarines; foods with significant amounts of viscous fiber such as oats and barley; soy protein found in soy milk, tofu and soy meat substitutes; and nuts such as tree nuts and peanuts.

HEALTH WATCH

FDA Approves Botox for Incontinence Treatment lasts up to 10 months

he U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Botox to treat urinary incontinence in people with neurological conditions, including spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and overactive bladders. Botox is injected into patients’ bladders, causing them to relax and increase their storage capacity and decrease urinary incontinence. Doctors inject the Botox using a cystoscope, which allows them to visualize the interior of the organ. The procedure requires a general anesthesia. The effect of the injection lasts for about 10 months, according to an FDA statement. The effectiveness of Botox, usually used in cosmetic procedures, was demonstrated in two clinical studies involving 691 patients. The most common adverse side effects from the procedure are urinary tract infections and urinary retention. The latter condition may require selfcatheterization to empty the bladder. October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

Gardening

By Jim Sollecito

Planting: It’s Easier in the Fall It’s easier for roots to grow in warm soil and they will continue to grow for months, until the ground freezes

ou might have heard that fall is for planting. This tag line has been around since my college days in the early ‘70s. It used to be that plants were dug and sold only when dormant, meaning the time that the leaves were off the branches. In Central New York, we enjoy full leaf at May 15, and we think of Oct. 18 as the date when leaves are off the trees and shrubs. These dates are generally accurate, so when you plan your landscape foliage palette,

Jim and Megan Sollecito have been planting in the fall for decades, and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. 8

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

keep that in mind. Much has changed since my time at Cornell, and now we can obtain almost any plant we like nearly any time we want it. But there are reasons why plant establishment is indeed better in autumn. First of all, it’s easier in the fall. It’s easier for roots to grow in warm soil and they will continue to grow for months, until the ground freezes, and that’s usually in January. Autumn rainfall is plentiful, and still warm. Our last frost date, usually in May, has been popularized by mass marketers as a target planting date. The truth is that this date coincides with cold spring rains that persist through May. Plants, like people, actually appreciate a warm shower, like we get in fall. Plus, people seem to have more time in the fall, fewer items on the honey-do list and the cooler weather invigorates us. Someone told me a while ago that you don’t stop planting because you get old; you get old because you stop planting. I believe that’s true. I remember my grandmother planting peas in the stoniest soil you can imagine, up to the time of her death. We harvested some of her vegetables that fall after Rose was gone, and we felt the love she gave them when we dined. She enriched the soil with composted cow manure from her own herd. She used old lilac branches to mark the rows she planted. She hauled buckets of rainwater to her garden that she collected from her

downspouts. She and my grandfather managed a 170-acre dairy farm that required daily attention, but the vegetable and perennial gardens that my grandmother tended were among her most important treasurers. It’s ironic that she escaped the hard work of farm life by tending plants. Her vegetables enjoyed a great life, but then had one bad day at the end. A great day for us. One fall 30 years ago, my wife and I carefully moved some of my grandmother’s perennials from her house to ours, after our September wedding. Those plants, and our marriage, are still alive and kicking. I’d like to think my grandmother would be proud of both. I know that she gave me a lot of inspiration as a young boy when I saw how eagerly she planted, looking forward to the rewards, as everything she touched ﬂourished. If you haven’t been satisﬁed with the way your own landscape looks, this is the time to make some moves. Fall is for planting, and it’s easier in the fall. 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.

55+

financial health By David J. Zumpano

Subsidized Housing for Senior Citizens and Mobility Impaired

Joint Ownership Is Rarely the Proper Way to Own Assets

Independent@Home

‘The estate planning attorney explained to Mary Applications are currently being accepted for rent subsidized that if something were apartments for people age 62 to happen to her, all the or over and mobility impaired Ind@Home Ad_2.5x6.75 5/6/09 9:43 AM Page 1 regardless of age. For more assets going to her husband information or an application contact: would likely be lost to pay for his care in a nursing Sacred Heart APARTMENTS home, which would be likely 8365 Factory St. Cicero, NY 13039 without her support.’ (315) 699-1509 • Fax (315) 699-1660

TDD/TTY 1-800-622-1220 M-F 8-4 Ind@Home Ad_2.5x6.75 5/6/09 9:43 AM Page 1 www.christopher-community.org

Independent@Home

would occur if she left everything to her husband in her will. Mary was shocked and concerned. No one had explained that to her and she had not considered it, but realized it was quite possible. Something could happen to her ﬁrst, and all of their assets would be lost to her husband’s care. The estate planning attorney next explained several ways Mary could protect her assets and ensure her husband gets the best care, if something were to happen to her. Each solution, however, required her to remove the joint ownership of their accounts. Joint ownership is rarely the proper way to own assets. Contact an estate planning attorney to help you protect your assets.

Ind@Home Ad_2.5x6.75 5/6/09 9:43 AM Page 1

Independent@Home

ary and Paul were married for over 50 years. Paul’s health had begun to fail and he needed Mary’s assistance more and more. Mary was happy to do it. She loved her husband, but she was getting tired. Like all married couples, they owned all of their assets in joint ownership. They were assured that this would “avoid probate,” if one of them died. Mary recently went to see an estate planning attorney to determine if there’s any option she needed to consider to update her will. Upon reading the will, the attorney shared with her that if anything happened to her before her husband, he would automatically get everything because of the joint ownership. Mary was pleased with this since that was their intention. The attorney, however, was not so conﬁdent. He explained to her that she was at risk more so than her husband of dying, because of the additional stress being put on her to care for her husband. The attorney continued to explain that, in many situations, when there is an ill spouse, the well spouse often has a much higher level of stress, and does not eat or sleep as well, in caring for their ailing spouse. The ailing spouse, on the other hand, is quite content as they are getting all of their needs fulﬁlled through the well spouse. The estate planning attorney further explained to Mary that if something were to happen to her, all the assets going to her husband would likely be lost to pay for his care in a nursing home, which would be likely without her support. The attorney also explained the same

We Can Give You A Hand Independent@Home provides support for those in need throughout Central New York. We can help in a number We Can of ways, including: We Can Give You • Companionship Give You A &Hand TLC A Hand •Independent@Home Household provides support for– management Independent@Home those inprovides need throughout cleaning, maintenance support for Central Newpreparation York. & meal those in need throughout We can help in a number Central New York. including: •of ways, At-home salon We can help in a number services – hair • Companionship of ways, including: &dressing, TLC manicures • Companionship & pedicures • Household & TLC • management Shopping &– errands cleaning, maintenance • Household

& meal management preparation – To learn cleaning, more how • At-home salonabout maintenance hair &–meal preparation weservices can help you, or to dressing,amanicures schedule free in-home • At-home salon & pedicures consultation, contact services – hair • Shopping & errands

David J. Zumpano is an attorney and a certified public accountant (CPA). He operates Estate Planning Law Center. He can be reached at 793-3622.

Anita West, Customer dressing, manicures & pedicures at: Service Coordinator To learn more about how

Shopping we can •help you, or to& errands 424.3744 schedule a free in-home

October /

1050 West Genesee Street consultation, contact To learn more about how Syracuse, New York 13204 Anita West, Customer we can help you, or to www.ihcscny.com Service Coordinator at: schedule a free in-home 424.3744 consultation, contact November 2011 - West, 55 Street PLUS 9 Anita Customer 1050 West Genesee Syracuse, New York 13204 Service Coordinator at: www.ihcscny.com

424.3744 1050 West Genesee Street

55+

old friends

My Class Reunion A special time to reminisce, have fun, reflect on old times By Nancy Haus

or some, it is something to anticipate. For others, it is the “dreaded” high school reunion. Usually, the ﬁrst is 10 years after you graduate from high school, and those don’t really seem to have much meaning or bring much excitement. By age 27 or 28, you’re still young with so many other responsibilities, it doesn’t seem very important. Often, no one even takes the time to set one up. But life happens and, before you know it, the 20th and then 30th roll around, and now you’re starting to talk longer periods of time, and there are more things happening in your life from ages 37 to 47. It’s been awhile since you’ve seen your high school classmates. For some, interest peaks. The very ﬁrst reunion I went to was my 40th. I grew up in Brooklyn and went to what was referred to as a diocesan Catholic high school—Christ the 10

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

King. It was brand new and my class was the very ﬁrst one. It was spanking brand new: 400 girls and 400 boys but not in the same classes. It was coinstitutional, not co-educational. I hadn’t had a boy in my class since ﬁfth grade anyway, so it wasn’t very different from what I’d been used to. We started in September, but the school wasn’t even ready until May. In the meantime, we had to travel via train and bus to another diocesan school in Astoria, Queens, which wasn’t close to where most of us lived. In fact, I had to take two trains and walk for about 20 minutes, which translated to about an hour to 90 minutes, depending on how the trains were running. That school was called Mater Christi (Mother of Christ) and was brand new, too. After a few months, some rivalry ignited between Christ the King kids and the Mater Christi kids, you know, after sports events and such.

I found myself very nervous going to the 40th reunion. I didn’t know what to expect in terms of what former classmates would be there, how they would look, and how they would think I looked.

Best friends forever But of all the friends I’d hoped would be there, there was one in particular with whom I’d gone all the way from grammar through high school, my very good friend, Priscilla. When I arrived, I didn’t see her so I began chatting with a lot of other friends I remembered. My sister had accompanied me since she went to school there too, and suddenly she came over saying that she’d found Priscilla. I excused myself and ran over to where she was, and we looked into each other’s eyes, and we both started tearing up. She took my face into her hands and said, “You look just as beautiful now as you always did.” The tears rolled down my face and I choked out

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

old friends my words after that. It was so good to see her. So much of our lives had passed us by. From there, we headed to dinner and found our places, mine right next to Priscilla. We talked the whole night and tried to ﬁt 40 years of life into a couple of hours. We danced and mingled. And before we knew it, the night was over. I decided then that I would deﬁnitely go to the 45th because I’d had such a good time; so many memories coming back. The 45th reunion was last March 26 and I traveled down to New York City via railway. I’d decided that gas was so expensive and the weather was too iffy, so why not relax and take the train? Priscilla could not go this year,

R.J.Barrett Manor 4615 Southwood Heights Dr. Jamesville, NY 13078

SUBSIDIZED HOUSING For Seniors 62 and Over

On-site 24 hour emergency maintenance Free weekly grocery shopping bus Community room with a kitchen Heat included • Secure building

Applications now being accepted

(315)469-1533 TDD-TYY (800)662-1220

rjbarrett@christopher-community.org

If you or someone you love is unable to shop for or prepare their own meals, contact Meals On Wheels.

300 Burt Street, Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 478-5948 • www.meals.org 12

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

which made me sad, but another friend, Marion, invited me to stay at her house on Long Island. After 5-1/2 hours on the train, we met at Penn Station, which was a feat in itself. I’d forgotten what Penn Station was like after living in Syracuse for 34 years. Afterwards, we had to get on the Long Island Railroad for another 40 minutes. I stood in the designated place and when the announcer said that one track was being changed to where I was standing, I felt like I was being stampeded. There was nowhere for me to go. Marion cell phoned me and hobbled over after a recent hip replacement and we made our way to our track. There were no seats on the train except two that two ladies had their packages on. I spoke up and asked Marion why we couldn’t sit there; then looked down at the girl beside me and asked her if she could move her “stuff” so I could sit. If looks could kill! The lady on the other side got the hint and moved her things too so Marion got a seat. Finally, we were both able to sit for the 40-minute ride. Then, a 15-minute car ride to her home. We felt like teenagers again and talked and talked. After all, we had 45 years to catch up on. We had dinner out, then went back home and engaged in more talking—it was like a sleepover. Saturday, we two kids had our nails done, and before long, it was time to get ready for the reunion. Marion’s sister was coming too (she’d been in our class too) and we were all teenagers again. It was a good thing Marion was driving because they’d changed all the road names and I had no idea where I was going. I would’ve gotten lost for sure. When we pulled up to the school, I had a surreal feeling of all the times I’d walked down that hill to our high school, surrounded by a cemetery— good times, happy times, times that went by so quickly. I did feel like a teenager again that night.

Teen all over again My heart beat a little more quickly

than before. As we entered, a guy I’d gone to grammar school with and had been talking to on Facebook for a year and bugging to come to the reunion greeted me. I never thought he’d show up, but he did, all the way from Delaware. What a nice surprise! During the evening, he even told me he’d had a “crush” on me since second grade. Could he have waited any longer to tell me? The school looked beautiful after all these years and I was as proud of it now as I was then. I began looking around at all the nametags and recognizing good friends and some classmates I hadn’t known so well. But that night, they were all equally as special. It was kind of funny because going to a co-educational school hadn’t changed at all as the guys stood on one side of the room, and the girls on the other. The other thing that surprised me about the guys (and it’s hard for me to admit this but it’s just my personal opinion) is that they hadn’t aged as well as the girls. I’d always thought that as men aged, they looked more distinguished. But I found the women won this contest. The women also won in the area of dancing mainly because most men didn’t get up to try (those who did were pretty good). But overall, the women were still great at age 62. I thought everyone looked good, and from those I spoke with, had done well for themselves. It was hard to get a chance to talk to everyone, or even recognize everyone. I had hoped more of the Daughters of Wisdom, our dear teachers, had been there, but many had other commitments. It was a wonderful night and brought me right back to my days in Middle Village, Queens, when I was a shy, skinny, young girl trying to begin my life, and Christ the King was the best place I could’ve gone to start it. I’m already looking forward to my 50th reunion and plan to keep in touch with my fellow classmates. The reunion was definitely nothing to be worried about. It was a great night of memories.

55+

aging gracefully

Bette Davis Was Right: Growing Old Is Not for Sissies Arthritic-filled knees, cholesterol-controlling drugs, capped teeth, cataracts — Not easy to turn 69 By John Kares Smith

ette Davis was right when she said that growing old is not for sissies. It takes courage and good fortune to have a 69th birthday, as I just did. We humans think of ourselves as a self and a body, a kind of spirit in a box. We know we are growing, altering, hopefully getting wiser or mellower — or both. But we know that, eventually, the body will drag us down every time. When it starts to rain, I used to run for cover someplace. Now, my arthritic knees only let me hobble for cover. I get a lot wetter than I used to. Lots of other changes: capped teeth, cholesterol-controlling drugs, beta blockers. I never knew I even had a beta til my cardiologist insisted on blocking it. And, of course, eye problems. I recently had cataract surgery. You know, where the doctor takes a tiny razor to your eye, removes your old, clouded lens and puts in a new one. I was petriﬁed — would I ever see again? Of course, I ignored the obvious: there is more to look at because there is less time to look. But, believe it or not, the surgery was not only successful but also absolutely painless. One of the healthcare providers at the surgery told me that, with the kind of anesthesia that is now used,

the doctor could take my eye out, roll it across the ﬂoor, put it back in and I wouldn’t know the difference. I thought I had behaved very well under the light anesthesia until the doctor told me that I had threatened to recite the Magna Carta while still under. He needn’t have worried: I don’t know the Magna Carta. Last year I was invited to my 50th high school reunion; I was not sure I would go. I told my classmates that they had gotten too old. But I did go and had a wonderful time. So many of the bumps of young life had been smoothed out. So many of the t h i n g s t h a t w e re important at 16 — like who would go with me to the sock hop (if you don’t know what that is, ask someone over 50 to tell you), who would be my new lunch-mates my senior year. One of my classmates told me at the reunion she thought I was kind of hot in

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

Barrett DeWitt Apartments Applications now being accepted 1400 Kinne St., E. Syracuse, NY 13057

SUBSIDIZED HOUSING For Seniors 62 and Over • Heat & Hot Water Included • Secure Building • 24 hour Emergency Maintenance

Contact: Carolyn Nojaim (315)434-1854 TDD-TYY (800)-662-1220

barrettdewitt@christopher-community.org

Pompei North

Apartments

143 Mary Street • Syracuse, NY 13208 Affordable Housing for low income Seniors and the mobility impaired of any age. FEATURES INCLUDE: • Secure Building • Community room with social activities • Onsite Laundry • Free weekly transportation to Wegmans

For more information call the rental ofﬁce at: (315) 472-2614 • TDD/TTY 1-800-662-1220 Or visit us at: www.Christopher-community.org

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

aging gracefully high school. I replied that it was too late to learn that now. While it was fun to learn so late in life, it would have helped my self-esteem as a 16 year old. None of that matters now. The beautiful girl I knew in junior year is now a beautiful older woman with grandchildren; the high school runner is now setting records for his age group. The classmates I thought would succeed and did, and the classmates I thought would succeed and did not. And the ones who came up to me to tell me how meaningful and inspiring my relationship was to them back in high school, as I squint through my 60-plus eyes to read their name tag because I honestly didn’t remember that at all. And those who died: a handful of women, a few dozen men — actuarially, what would have been expected. Our senior class adviser was quite a young teacher when we were in high school. Turns out she is only a couple of years older than we are. She came to the reunion and was our dinner speaker: gracious, warm, witty, smart, accomplished, still caring, still knew our names. But being on the threshold of 70 has its ﬁne compensations. For the most part, the career climb is done. I can let go of my improbable dreams and enjoy the ones that came true.

The rat race is over.

Give your word-of-mouth advertising a big boost. Advertise in 55 PLUS 14

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

Was I the rat that won everything or the rat that didn’t win everything or the rat that left the race proudly or the rat that just got tired of it all? The children are mercifully out of the house — our two kids asked me several years ago what I wanted for my birthday. I replied: different zip codes! Not that I don’t want to be around them (of course I do), but it was and still is time for them to be well on their own. One lives in California, the other in the Adirondacks — different zip codes indeed. No need for a second job because the mortgage is paid off. No need to save money for tuition bills. I now have what my father used to call “go-to-hell money.” That is, resources that let an employee say no

to supervisors. There were things the boss could get us to do years ago just by hinting. Now we can refuse. We don’t need to win the rat race any more I have learned much from our very old dog. Natasha came to us in 1995, full of energy. She could run like the wind and loved to be out in the woods chasing after squirrels, often snapping off their tails as they scampered up a tree. Then, at home, she would be the perpetual coach potato — very content to rest on a sofa, take long naps and accept belly rubs gladly. After 16 years, she was blind in one eye, full of arthritis, hard of hearing and cognitively impaired. But she still loved her walk in the woods every day. I could look at her and see the young, vibrant dog; but I could look at her and see the very old dog whose face had a very simple message: I accept what has happened to me. Near the end, she was a living tribute to the maturity, which comes from age — and with it the acceptance of limitations and inﬁrmities. Yes, those of us so fortunate to live out a good life know that getting old, as Bette Davis said, is not for sissies. It’s not for rats either. It’s a time to look around, probably with new eyes, to see what we can still do. We have lessons to learn about the life we not only have left to live, but the joy we will experience as we continue to participate as fully as our arthritic knees will allow us. It’s a time for acceptance of our limitations, contentment with what we have accomplished, and know that we may be approaching three score and ten but, if we don’t think we’re sissies, we still have some living to do.

DR. JOHN KARES SMITH is SUNY Oswego’s professor of communication studies and has served on its faculty for over 30 years as professor, administrator, consultant, performer, mediator, civic leader, colleague and researcher.

55+

social security

Social Security. Can We Still Count On It? By Ken Little

he outlook for the Social Security and Medicare programs as they currently exist is not good. To ensure a comfortable future without depending on either federal beneﬁt program, ﬁnancial advisers say couples and individuals need to start planning as early as possible. In May, the government issued a report that said the troubled economy of recent years has shortened the life of the funds that support Social Security and Medicare. Trustees of the two programs moved the target date for the Medicare hospital trust fund to be exhausted from 2029 to 2024, due to the weaker economy. A poor economy means fewer people in the workforce paying Medicare premiums into the fund, along with continued increases in health care costs, the report said. The report said the Social Security trust fund was projected to be exhausted in 2036, compared to a 2010 projection of 2037.

“Baby boomers are going to have to save more and rely less on other programs to get them through retirement”

Kevin VandenBerg, Blue Ocean Strategic Capital LLC

“The financial conditions of the Social Security and Medicare programs remain challenging. Projected long-term program costs for both Medicare and Social Security are not sustainable under currently scheduled financing, and will require legislative modifications if disruptive consequences for beneficiaries and taxpayers are to be avoided,” trustees of both funds said in a message summarizing the 2011 annual report. Trustees recommend addressing the financial challenges to the program now, rather than later, enabling “more options and more time to phase in changes so that those affected have adequate time to prepare.” Acting now in aligning personal finances to ensure a secure future is also the advice of Kevin VandenBerg, CEO and chief investment officer of the Blue Ocean Strategic Capital LLC office in Syracuse. “We just need

to save more and do more for ourselves,” he said. “Folks need some kind of financial planning to see where they’ll be down the road.” Many of VandenBerg’s clients who are decades away from retirement have realistic expectations about reliance on government programs to ease their retirement years. “A lot of folks who we counsel who are in their 40s or younger, they really are not counting on Social Security.” VandenBerg said. “It might be a bonus if it’s there.” Gradually scaling back the eligibility age for Social Security benefits may be the most realistic way to cut government costs with minimal impacts to recipients, he said. The current debate about Social Security and healthcare reform is beneficial, VandenBerg said. “A lot of people in our society October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

Malta House

Affordable senior living in a suburban community.

Comfortable one bedroom apartments for seniors age 62 and over with special needs. Safe and secure with 24 hour on-site emergency response.

Income cannot exceed $23,000 for one person and $26,300 for two people. Rent subsidized based on 30% of monthly adjusted income

For more information call:

212 North Main St., North Syracuse, NY 13212

(315) 452-1028

Fax (315) 452-1733 TDD/TTY 1-800-662-1220

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

O’Brien Road Apartments 7171 O’Brien Road • Syracuse, New York 13209 Located in the Town of VanBuren

Beautiful, new, one bedroom apartments designed for the needs of the frail, age 62 or older. Rent is based on 30% of monthly adjusted income. Income cannot exceed $22,550 for one person or $25,750 for a couple.

O’Brien Road Apartments

7170 O’Brien Road, Syracuse, NY 13209 • (315) 635-3339 • Fax (315) 635-3391 This development was ﬁnanced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and sponsored by the LORETTO Organization. Smoke Free Apartment Community An Equal Housing Opportunity

LONG MANOR APARTMENTS/ ROGERS SENIOR APARTMENTS 5490 & 5500 Miller Road Brewerton NY 13029 Subsidized Apartments based on your gross income for Seniors 62 or older and the Mobility Impaired. Very short waiting list

Sign a One Year Lease & Get the 12th Month FREE with This Ad! For more information call: 315-676-4174 M,W 8a-4p / F 8a-12p • 315-668-9871 T,Th 8a-4p / F 1p-4p TDD/TTY 1-800-662-1220 Monday-Friday

Or visit www.christopher-community.org

St Mary’s Apartments 100 La Madre Way Baldwinsville, NY 13027

Independent Living for Seniors in a Rural Community

SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

Applications for subsidized housing for Senior citizens, 62 or over are now being accepted.

For more information and application, please contact: St. Mary’s Apartments (315) 638-2003, Monday – Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm. TDD-TTY 1-800-421-1220. www.christopher-community.org StMarys@christopher-community.org

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

believe that the government should take care of them,” VandenBerg said. “I think the talks going on in Washington need to be done for the long-term financial security of our country.” In terms of long-term personal security, VandenBerg said everyone needs a financial plan “so you can look at a whole lot of scenarios.” An example would be if Social Security is cut 25 percent, he said. And those of a certain age, particularly the baby boom generation born between 1946 and 1964, need to start thinking about health care expenses. About 10,000 members of the baby boom turn 65 every day. That trend will continue through 2030. “We support [the idea] of if you are looking at long-term care, to look at it early,” VandenBerg said. Several studies recommend that those age 65 or older should have at least $300,000 set aside for medical expenses. The recommended amount will rise to $500,000 by 2019, VandenBerg said. “Baby boomers are going to have to save more and rely less on other programs to get them through retirement,” he said. Savers and those on fixed incomes are currently in a tight pinch because of low interest rates and the stagnant economy. “During the ‘90s, you had one hell of a bull market in terms of financial assets going way up and you haven’t had that market in the last decade,” VandenBerg said. About 55 million retirees, the disabled, and children who have lost parents currently receive Social Security benefits. More than 46 million Americans are covered by Medicare. “I think we are going to have to tighten our belts not only on an individual basis, but in society as a whole,” VandenBerg said. “It needs to be done and it’s needed to be done for a long time. “Social Security will survive in some form. I don’t think there’s any way they can completely take away Social Security, but I believe they’re going to nip at it every way they can,” he said.

55+

social security

A Bad Experience: Applying for Social Security My advise: Speak with at least two Social Security agents to confirm that the information you are getting is accurate By Suzanne M. Ellis

et’s be clear. I never planned to be sitting in a Social Security Administration office when I’d been 60 years old for less than a week. But life, as we all know, is what happens while you’re making other plans. After a nearly 30-year career in journalism, including 23 years at The Post-Standard and former HeraldJournal in Syracuse, I suddenly found myself navigating the oft-unfriendly seas of our country’s Social Security system. That’s because the newspaper was offering its second buyout in less than three years, and many believed it would be the last one. Considering the state of the economy in early 2009 and a rather grim outlook for the future of traditional newspapers, it was, by all accounts, a generous offer. In the preceding few years, we had witnessed discouraging signs at the paper: reporting and editing vacancies not being filled, a freeze on our pension, increased contributions for health insurance where once there had been none, no raises or very low raises and, eventually, pay cuts. These were the same kinds of things that were happening at businesses across the nation. Hence I made the decision to take a serious look at the newspaper ’s buyout/early retirement offer. It was an extremely difficult financial decision to make at the relatively young age of 60, especially when current statistics indicate, God willing, that I could live for another quarter of a century or more. It was a decision that would require me to take a long, in-depth look at my financial future, including

Ellis: “Had I known three years ago what I know now, it might have changed my decision on early retirement. the role Social Security would play in that future. After meeting with my tax accountant and financial advisers from two different investment companies, my next stop was the SSA office in the James M. Hanley Federal Building in Syracuse. I drove to Syracuse because it is next to impossible to find a telephone number for the local office. If you call the 800 number that’s online and in SSA publications and sit through all the prompts, you’ll eventually get a local number, (315) 479-0049. But when you dial that number, the automated voice tells you it is not in service, and no replacement number is given. Despite a 30-year career in journalism and a well-honed talent for finding needles in haystacks, I was unsuccessful in numerous attempts to find a working local number.

And even if I’d been able to find a local number that actually connected me to a local person, I couldn’t make an appointment to speak with a representative. I had to just show up and take a number, then wait my turn, just like I do when I need a half-pound of sliced turkey at the deli. My primary objectives in talking with SSA personnel were to determine Social Security payments at age 62 vs. age 65 and to find out what steps were necessary to collect more Social Security every month by filing under my ex-husband’s benefits. For the latter, it is a complex formula with confusing rules and regulations, but basically you must have been married at least 10 years, have a lower monthly Social Security income than your former spouse, not be remarried and have been divorced for at least two years, among other things. The decision to start taking my Social Security at 62 vs. 65 turned out to be a no-brainer. All three financial advisers said they encourage a majority of people to start collecting benefits sooner rather than later, for a variety of legitimate financial reasons. The other questions I had, collecting Social Security under a former spouse, led me into a maze that I’m still working my way through more than two years later. During four lengthy discussions — in person or by phone — with four local and national Social Security representatives, I got (you guessed it) four different interpretations of how the ex-husband thing works. One had me earning “a few hundred more dollars each month” by filing under my ex’s benefits. That was October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

Robert K. Druger, M.D., Ph.D. Maureen K. Wallen, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Medical Center West 5700 W. Genesee St. Camillus, NY 13031

(315) 488-1601

COMPREHENSIVE EYE CARE INCLUDING:  Cataract Surgery (we also offer premium lens implants)  Diabetic Eye Care  Pediatric Eye Exams  Optical Dispensary  Glaucoma Care (including Advanced Glaucoma Surgery)

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

great news because when you’re living on a fixed income, a few hundred dollars a month can take care of a car payment or groceries or perhaps even provide a little something to set aside for a rainy day. Not so fast, said the next agent I spoke to a month or so later. My monthly Social Security benefit will be too high to qualify for additional money under his name, even though my monthly benefit is $1,200 less than his. That’s because SSA has a headache-inducing mathematical formula that involves subtracting and dividing and multiplying. Bottom line: zilch for me. The third rep I spoke with sort of agreed with Rep No. 2, but he used an entirely different mathematical formula. The numbers came out differently, but the end result was the same: no extra monthly benefit for me. The fourth and final (for now, anyway) SSA agent then told me something that none of the previous three had breathed a word about: I can’t “earn” any extra benefits now, but if my ex dies, I am entitled to 100 percent of his monthly benefit, something that would more than double what I now receive each month. And anyone to whom he’s ever been married for 10 years or more would also be eligible, if they meet certain criteria, for that same 100 percent. Grim as all of this may sound, the good news is that if you’re getting ready to file for benefits (without the albatross of an exspouse) the procedure has become quite streamlined and user-friendly. Once you’ve consulted with your financial gurus (I suggest you meet with at least two, and most reputable investment companies will give you a free, comprehensive consultation with no commitment required). And based on my experience, I’d also suggest you speak with at least two Social Security agents, one of whom is in a supervisory role, to confirm that the information you are getting is accurate. Had I known three years ago what I know now — that I would be living on my own Social Security and not that of an ex-husband who earned substantially more than I did over the years — it might have changed my decision on early retirement.

55+

profile

Just Getting Started

New careers in real estate and a nonprofit keep the NuHavuns energized By Suzanne M. Ellis

e e t J u dy a n d Dav i d NuHavun — and discover the true meaning of passion. At 65 and 64, respectively, they are a “senior couple” in stereotypical deﬁnition only. Both share a youthful passion for life, for each other, for their family and for their new-found “retirement careers.” “I guess you’d say we are reinventing ourselves,” said Judy, who married David 18 years ago. “All of our friends have retired, and we both feel like we’re really just getting started. We haven’t even thought about slowing down.” It was a second marriage for both, in 1993, and their blended family included 11 children and, now, 20 grandchildren. Judy’s “regular career” was in a variety of sales and marketing

positions; David owned and operated NuHavun Industrial Contractors, he managed the Scotch ‘n Sirloin restaurant in Dewitt for awhile, and he also dabbled in real estate back in the 1970s. Both are natives of Central New York; he grew up in Canastota, she in Eastwood. As they enter their golden years, the NuHavuns are associate real estate brokers with Eagan Real Estate and they function as a team — they are even pictured together on their business cards — at a company that’s been a Central New York institution since 1927. They are also the owners of Distinguished Painting, Inc., which recently became the ﬁrst company in the United States certiﬁed to sell and install IdeaPaint, a revolutionary new product that’s erasable, can be used on any smooth surface and may someday replace blackboards in schools and

whiteboards in ofﬁces and homes. But despite the youthful enthusiasm and the passion they exude today, the road that brought the NuHavuns to where they are was not an easy one, and it was not without deep personal sacriﬁce, sadness and loss. Shortly after they were married, the bottom dropped out of their world. Judy’s daughter, Emily, married Chris Porter in October of 1994. He was in the Navy, and the couple relocated to Edsel, Scotland. On the bright, sunny morning of May 4, 1995, Emily was killed in a one-car crash on her way to work at the store on the Navy base where Chris was stationed. She was 22. A year later, in April of 1996, when the shock and grief began to subside a bit, Judy and David invested all their strength and all of their resources to October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

SASSI

Superior Assurance Services of Syracuse Inc.

Are you thinking of Retiring?

Are you confused about the choices for Medicare plans & supplements? We can Help. We can give you guidance as to your best choices with Medicare Plans & supplement plans. We can also assist you with your medical billing issues & beneﬁts management. Call us for a Free consultation.

Senior Advisors - Helping you Understand Your Rights & Options Serving All Regions of New York

315-657-2242

305 Vine Street, Liverpool, NY 13088 SassiSeniors@gmail.com Brenda Debejian, Manager-Partner Marie Fradette LAH, Agent-Partner MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS

PROVIDENCE HOUSE APARTMENTS

Senior Living on Syracuse’s West Side

One bedroom subsidized apartments for Seniors or those persons with long-term mobility impairments. On site manager and maintenance personnel in the building. Laundry, bus line, handicap accessible, elevator, security camera and emergency call systems. Rent is based on 30% of your adjusted gross income. Maureen Quirk, Manager

1700 W. Onondaga Street, Syracuse, NY 13204 Call 315-471-8427 Fax 315-474-1224 TDD/TTY: 1-800-662-1220 www.christopher-community.org providence@christopher-community.org

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

profile set up Emily’s Foundation, a nonprofit agency whose mission was to save and strengthen the marriages of couples who had lost a child. “The divorce and separation rate of couples who go through this tragedy is extremely high, 90 percent by some estimates,” David said. “Over the years, we were able to help more than 500 families.” Four years ago, when they were 60 and 61, the money for the foundation ran out and the NuHavuns had to refocus, redirect and reinvent. “We weren’t taking any salary all of those years, and it just reached the point where we couldn’t do it anymore,” Judy said. “I hate the phrase ‘burned out,’ and we weren’t burned out, we simply couldn’t afford to do it anymore.” The nonprofit foundation still exists, but the NuHavuns need to find someone willing to carry it forward. “We are praying that someone who is financially sound and stable,

maybe someone who has lost a child, could step in and take over,” David said. “It is a wonderful foundation that has helped an awful lot of people and can continue to help a lot of people, but we just can’t do it anymore.” In the meantime, the couple is trying to move forward by focusing on their real estate career. Aside from their relationship with Eagan, they have established their own website, www.relocatetosyracuse.com, which touts the advantages of coming back to Central New York, or coming here for the ﬁrst time. Anyone listening to Judy, whose enthusiasm is contagious, would be hard-pressed not to consider that option: “I love selling Central New York because it’s an absolutely fabulous place to live. There is small-town manageability, yet there is a big-city feeling. We’ve got cultural resources, fabulous colleges, recreation, lakes and parks everywhere and the Adirondack Mountains close by,” Judy said. “We are no more than a 6-hour drive from Montreal, Quebec, Boston, Toronto, Cleveland, New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and the Atlantic Ocean. “The weather here is so gentle. Yes, gentle. Sure, we get a lot of snow, but how violent is snow? It’s not earthquakes or tornadoes or hurricanes,” Judy said. “And then there are all the year-round festivals, the SU [Syracuse University] sports. Sure, the taxes are nasty but we get a tremendous amount for those taxes. Central New York is a happy, fun and wonderful place to live.” And her ﬁnal words to those of us in retirement or semi-retirement? “Always have the attitude that you can do it, whatever you put your mind to. Keep that sense of adventure and stop thinking about retirement as something you have to do. Everybody thinks, ‘Well, I’m 65 so it’s time to retire.’ No, it isn’t time to retire. It’s time to do what you want to do, what you have always wanted to do, and if that means a new career or a new education, then just get out there and go for it … just because you’re a certain age, it doesn’t mean you can’t carve out a new future for yourself.”

Smart Giving Will Carry On for Letty Murray

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

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

Where the Smart Money Gives. 431 East Fayette Street, Suite 100 Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 422-9538 www.cnycf.org October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

55+

cover

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

55+

Eat, Laugh, Cook Yvonne Conte: Motivating people by making them laugh By Aaron Gifford

vonne Conte can find humor in anything. The granddaughter of Italian immigrants, Conte grew up in a household of seven children. Her father was a disabled World War II veteran who was always in pain and spent a portion of his adult life in a wheel chair. One of her sisters was disabled and another had severe asthma. As an adult, Conte was divorced after a brief marriage, inherited her father ’s rheumatoid arthritis and lost her job, income and home. Those events, coupled with a bizarre misunderstanding, led Conte to a very lucrative career doing what she loves — making people smile and laugh. She draws from her experiences to deliver a message that’s one part wisdom and one part punch line. “It’s pretty phenomenal,” said Arlene Bubbico, a Coldwell Banker

representative who hired Conte to speak before a group of 700 realtors and mortgage professionals in Boston last year. “People left the presentation with a smile on their face and still laughing — and I mean laughing really hard — but feeling really inspired when they walked out the door.” Conte, 59, is a motivational speaker, the owner of Humor Advantage Inc. and the author of six books, one of which made the Syracuse best-seller list. She travels the country and presents to more than 50 different groups a year, ranging from small nonprofits in Central New York, to international corporations like Xerox. Recently, she was the keynote speaker at a women’s leadership luncheon during the Great New York State Fair. She also held a local workshop for others who aspire to become motivational speakers

cover

some day. The Utica native moved to Fayetteville when she was in elementary school and now lives in Onondaga. At a young age, she discovered that she had a knack for humor. “In my house,” she recalled, “it was the only way I could get any attention.” She watched the Ed Sullivan show and learned how to imitate celebrities. Lucille Ball was her idol because the actress deﬁed the social norm back then “that women were not allowed to look stupid.” Every Sunday, after dinner with a large gathering of aunts, uncles and cousins, Conte performed. The laughter and applause was her blanket of love. On Saturdays and week nights Conte helped her father, Frank Conte, sell cookware. Even when he was confined to the Veteran’s Administration Hospital for an entire year, Frank sold pots and pans to the doctors and nurses who cared for him. After he was discharged, Yvonne would wheel him into the homes of potential customers and cook an Italian meal while her father made the sales pitch. He later became the president of the Permanent Stainless Steel Corporation. “He never used any excuses,” Conte said of her father. “You could see the pain in his hands and his feet, but you never heard him complain about anything. He was a tremendous role model for me. Use the gifts the Lord gave you. Don’t use illness or money or age as an excuse.” After attending Wellwood Middle School in Fayetteville, Conte was sent to a Catholic boarding school in Pennsylvania because her mother, Angela, needed more time and space in the home to care for her sick children. Conte was a bit of a troublemaker there and loved to imitate the Slovak nuns, but she also matured and learned to be independent. She got married after high school but was divorced when her children, Aubrey and John, were only 18 months and 6 months old. October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

55+

cover

As a single mother in Syracuse, Conte supported her family by selling telephone services. She lost her job after the 1987 recession, so she made ends meet by performing stand-up routines at Wise Guys Comedy Club. Even though the gigs paid very little, Conte loved the laughter. Getting up on stage and talking about her hardships was also a stress reliever. She read up on stand-up comedy and made Sunday dinners for the more established local comics, hoping to acquire more tools of the trade. One of Conte’s colleagues, Mark Cooper, got her a job playing “Olivia the Octopus” on the “Gary the Happy Pirate” children’s show on the Fox television affiliate in Rochester. That gig led to additional work in TV commercials. She landed an appearance on the Vicky Lawrence show in California and performed stand-up comedy in Rochester, but those jobs still didn’t pay enough to make the rent, so Conte, then in her 40s, started taking classes at Monroe Community College in Rochester. She learned about television, radio and script writing en route to completing an associate’s degree in communication with a 3.7 grade point average. Professor Barry Goldfarb called Conte “fearless.” “She would always look to scale the highest peaks, or the most difficult assignments,” Goldfarb said, noting that Conte’s standup experience outside of the classroom conditioned her well for any challenge. “And in that business, when you get up on stage in any given night, you either sink or swim.” Conte had to keep working during college. Her reputation as a comic spread quickly, and she took any work that came her way. At a bar mitzvah, Conte crawled under a table, covered her head in fake grape vines and startled guests at the appetizer table, remarking: “You know that snack is going right to your hips, don’t you?” An executive for a Rochester-area fund raising organization mistook Conte for a marketing professional and hired her to make a presentation for a larger gathering of nonprofit agencies. 24

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

Conte needed the money so she winged it, speaking on the topic of “connecting to others through humor.” She already knew a little about sales from her past humor and took out all of the library books she could ﬁnd on fund raising. “She [executive] didn’t know that I was Conte only a stand-up comic,” Conte recalled. “I wasn’t sure I could make people laugh because it was in the afternoon and they weren’t drinking.” But Conte was a smash hit. She got a standing ovation, and realized that she was on to something. The day after her Rochester presentation Conte was contacted by a nursing home company in Ohio. Conte worried that her old car wouldn’t make it out of state and that she couldn’t cover expenses, but the client was already preparing flight and hotel accommodations before Conte could confess that she was not an established professional. She said her fee was $400 for ﬁve sessions, which is about what she made at the comedy clubs. The client, however, assumed the fee was $400 per session, and still thought the $2,000 bill was a bargain. Sixteen years later, after hundreds of speaking engagements, Conte gets up to $6,000 an hour. Her reputation spread quickly in the mid-90s, when she was still in school and before she had a website or any promotional materials. Conte did 22 programs in 1996, 40 in 1997 and 59 in 1998. She soon learned that all well-known motivational speakers have books. After reading up on publishing, Conte wrote “Serious Laughter” and self-published it in a work book/ spiral binder format. Printing costs ran Conte $6 each and she sold each book for $12. She later borrowed money from friend Al Pylinski to publish the book in hardcover format, helping “Serious Laughter” to make the Syracuse best-seller list. Even though the book was selfpublished, Conte bought a business

license with the name Amsterdam-Berwick Publishing, named after her parents’ home towns of Amsterdam, N.Y., and Berwick, Pa. “I ﬁgured it sounded high brow,” Conte said. “Snooty people would ask me who published the book, and I’d say, ‘Amsterdam-Berwick. ‘ And then they’d say, ‘Oh wow.’ ” But having a book allowed Conte to expand her client base to Fortune 500 companies. As the business grew, Conte moved back to Central New York and changed her company’s name from Crack a Smile Seminars”to Humor Advantage Inc. She hired Image Light Productions in Syracuse to market her and rebuild a website, www.yvonneconte.com. Even though Conte is nationally known, her local client list remains extensive. Central New York companies are thrilled to have her. “What enhanced her performance is that she’s from the area,” said Lisa Ennis of the Make over My Heart Foundation of Utica, which hired Conte in February to speak before 300 women who want to raise awareness about the risk of heart disease in women. “She’s very relatable. She’s a mom, a grandmother, a working woman. She really brought the house down in a big way. She had a meaningful message about looking for the good in life.” These days, Conte is booked six months in advance. As always, before each engagement she reads up on every relevant topic in advance. She reads a ton of books, glances at the news occasionally but usually avoids television. She’ll visit local comedy clubs periodically with friends but dislikes the vulgar comedians who are popular today. She hails Bill Cosby as one of the greatest ever, preferring a great story teller to those who manipulate laughter with crude humor. While the clients and industries vary, Conte has personal experiences that anyone can relate to, and her

message is always the same — Treat each other with respect and don’t get upset about trivial things. “The nicer they are to people, the nicer a place this world will be,” Conte said. “You have a choice in life no matter what the situation is.” Conte considers herself to be very religious, and believes that everything happens for a reason. You do your best to deal with your problems, she said, “and for the rest you go to God.” With such a busy lifestyle, Conte has to keep her rheumatoid arthritis at bay. She confronts the condition head-on, shufﬂing on stage in slippers and telling the audience that her sister inherited her father’s house while she inherited the arthritis. She maintains a healthy diet largely made up of ﬁsh, fruits and vegetables and tries to walk three miles a day. She also works on her large garden. Conte’s daughter, Aubrey Panek, 38, used to perform in New York City theaters and now does marketing work in Syracuse. Conte’s son, John Ludington, 37, lives in California and performs in alternative rock bands. As a teen-ager, Ludington and his former band, “Barefoot Grave Diggers,” won Syracuse SAMMY awards for best new songwriter in 1992 and best new artist in 1993. Conte, also known as “Noni,” cherishes the time she spends with her three grandsons (Aubrey’s sons), especially when she can have “dates” with each one individually. On a recent summer day she and 4-yearold Joseph spent the afternoon simply watching a chipmunk go in and out of a tree. The following week she and 13year-old Christian made a craft from a large box they found on the side of the road. Conte took out a few books from the library, as always, before they converted the cardboard into A suit of shining armor. The comic says humor is all around us and everywhere in life. She proclaims that she won’t stop working until all of her grandsons are married, but she has taken some initial steps toward retirement by shopping for a condo in Chattanooga, Tenn., where she has several friends already. “That’s 10 or 15 years down the road,” she said. “Right now I’m enjoying it too much to stop. Nothing is ever the same.”



 



             



             

          



They say “With age comes wisdom” and many thoughtful people make plans for their own funerals well beforehand. You can find peace of mind by making choices now, by planning ahead. Pre-arrangement is also a good way to avoid pressure and confusion later. Why not call and come in to discuss pre-need planning with us?

Consider the following advantages: � � � � � � �

Established and locally-owned since 1919. Third generation family experience. Two comfortable, modern facilities. Handicap accessible & convenient parking. Memorial event planning. Cremation services available. Serving all faiths. 910 Fay Street • Fulton • 315-592-2313 837 Cayuga Street • Hannibal • 315-564-6288 fosterfh@windstream.net www.fosterfuneralhome.com

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

Cash for the Holidays! GET MORE FOR YOUR GOLD & SILVER Sell Today with the People You Can Trust! sellyourgoldsyracuse.com

Syracuse’s Flatware Buying Experts

We Buy All GOLD JEWELRY & MORE!

We Buy All COINS

8K, 10K, 14K, 16K, 18K, 21K, 24K Broken, Unwanted & Outdated • Class Rings • Platinum & Silver Jewelry • Necklaces, Bracelets, Rings, Broaches, Earrings, Watches & More!

Also Buying: • Dental Gold • Pocket Watches • Sterling Flatware Sets • Diamonds & More

• Any Pre-1965 Dimes, • Estate Coin Collections Quarters, Half Dollars • Rare Coins • Gold & Silver Bullion • Silver Coins / Bars • Gold Coins Do NOT clean your coins -

it will ruin the value!

Why Sell with Upstate Coin & Gold Center? Central New York’s LARGEST GOLD BUYER We use state-of-the-art electronic gold testing equipment to ensure the highest price is paid We are a well-capitalized company that can fund all purchases, large and small We have an established reputation as a precious metal dealer for over 30 years We are located in a comfortable and secure setting in the village of Fayetteville We respect your privacy and will always guarantee complete conﬁdentiality

632-4910

Fayetteville Square Shopping Plaza Next to Friendly’s

Store Hours:

511 E. Genesee St. (Route 5) Fayetteville, NY 13066

Mon-Sat. 9:00am – 5:30pm

Walk-Ins Welcome PRIVATE APPOINTMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE

Sorry, we do not buy from anyone under 21.

It’s worth the drive to Fayetteville!

Visit us online at

www.SellYourGoldSyracuse.com

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

Locally Licensed And Insured

Jane Waligora, Au.D.

Megan Jordan, Au.D.

NYS Licensed

Doctor of Audiology

Helping people hear better for over 35 years

Dr. James Dr. Omarbasha Specializing in Erectile Dysfunction at A.M.P. Urology • Surgical & Non-Surgical Treatment • Impotence is reversible • Most Insurance accepted

Offering a full line of the most technically advanced hearing aids to fit individual needs, and all include our Complete Hearing Health Care. Repair service available for all major brands of hearing aids. Providing diagnostic evaluations for hearing and balance disorders, including OAE’s, ABR’s, & ENG’s. (From infants on up.) Approved provider for most major insurance companies, including The Empire Plan.

463-1724 Authorized Dispenser for…

Starkey, Oticon, Widex, Phonak,

J Waligora Audiology

463-1724

Visit us @ www.jwaligora-audiology.com

Every hearing aid receives: 3 yr warranty 3 yrs of batteries 3 yrs of service

and more

1226 East Water Street, Syracuse, NY (315) 478-4185 [phone] • 478-0840 [fax]

357 Genesee Street,Suite # 1, Oneida, NY 315.363.8862 [phone] • 315.363.3326 [fax]

www.ampofny.com

6700 Kirkville Rd. Ste 107 East Syracuse, NY 13057 (Just off 481, Exit 5W)

Coach Jim Bindley died in 2002.

“I had cancer. Cancer never had me.”

This summer, he’ll send four kids to soccer camp. Thank you to our partners:

Yesterday, I got out my fishing rod. I couldn’t help thinking of everyone at HOA. It was last spring when I found out. I was overwhelmed, distraught - and scared. I thought my fishing days were over. Then I went to HOA. My medical team all said, “We have the technology to fight this thing!” and showed my the CyberKnife. It sounded scary, but when I learned how it worked and how safe it was, I had hope for the first time. Your attitude really inspired me, your staff always encouraged me and your plan of action worked. I may have had cancer, but cancer never had me. Today, my kids and I are heading up to the lake.

LEAVE A LEGACY®

OF CENTRAL NEW YORK Make a Difference in the Lives that Follow

315-701-3117 ��

��® program to learn how.

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

Miniature telescope offers new hope for age-related macular degeneration patients

The Jewish Community Center Of Syracuse Senior Meal Program Serving hot kosher meals ﬁve days a week to 60+. The JCC also offers many other amenities including:

EVERYONE WELCOME

• Activities including bridge, manicures, bingo, movies and more! • Entertainment and Education Programs • Exercise and Wellness Programs and much more! More than just a meal... a place you can call home! Call 445-2360 for more information 5655 Thompson Rd., Dewitt, NY 13214

$20 28

FOR ONE HOUR OF TENNIS OR RACQUETBALL COURT TIME.

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

new study in Ophthalmology (online), the journal of the Ame r i c a n Aca de my o f Ophthalmology, says that an implantable miniature telescope (IMT) makes a positive difference in the lives of some people with end-stage agerelated macular degeneration (AMD). These patients had lost most of their central vision and were considered legally blind. They had either stopped responding to AMD medications or had a form of the disease for which no treatment is available. AMD is the leading cause of blindness among older people in the United States. By the end of the two-year study, vision improved in 76 patients. Most patients could once again see people’s faces rather than just blurry outlines, and could get around the market or their backyard on their own. Overall, these IMT patients’ lives improved substantially and at a reasonable cost. Quality of life was measured using a system called human value gain, with standards based on the experiences of people with vision loss. A year ago the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the treatment — knows as IMT — for end-stage AMD. Only patients who meet strict criteria, pass pre-surgery tests with an external eye telescope and agree to vision training afterward are eligible. The FDA plans to follow IMT patients for at least five years to check for long-term effectiveness and safety. IMT surgery and related care cost $18,494 per patient. But restoring vision often eliminates the need for other medical services. Medicare covers IMT treatment in some states. The tiny telescope, implanted in the back of the eye in the lens capsule, magniﬁes images so that the retina can relay better visual information to the optic nerve. Peripheral (side) vision is somewhat reduced by the IMT, but the patient’s other, non-implanted eye is able to help with that, once the patient receives training that helps the brain learn to fuse the images received from each eye.

“I got results.”

“After my car accident, I never thought I would walk again. I can’t say enough about the short-term rehabilitation program at Syracuse Home. In less than three weeks, I walked into my home again.” - Michelle Rurka of Baldwinsville

Central New York’s leading choice for short-term rehabilitation

315-638-2521

7740 Meigs Road, Baldwinsville, New York 13027

Over 500 short-term rehab residents successfully returned home last year

12166

www.syracusehomeassn.org

Ready to hear better?

Professional people who care Authorized Dispenser for

• OTICON • STARKEY • GN RESOUND • PHONAK Ampliﬁed Telephones & TV Ears 1001 Vine St. • Liverpool 451-7221 • www.maicohearing.com October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

aging By Marilyn L. Pinsky

On the Couch Husband-wife team examine the benefits of psychotherapy

y image of two therapists who happen to be a couple has each one lying on his or her own separate analyst couch, working out their differences on a higher plane than the rest of us. For instance, instead of screaming, “If you do that one more time, I’ll kill you,” one therapist might gently say to the other, “Darling, tell me what happened in your childhood that might have caused the need to turn on every single light in the house, and to never think about the possibility of

turning one off?” I had the opportunity to find out if that’s really what it’s like for therapists who are married to each other by speaking with the Lands. Linda Land is a licensed clinical social worker with an amazing reputation among the medical profession for helping people sort out their issues and move forward with their lives. She is married to Jay Land, a psychologist with his own highly successful and diverse therapy practice.

Q: Given all the years of training both have experienced, as students of therapy and as mentors, do you apply your professional skills to one another in your own relationship? A: “Only on pain of death,” replied Linda. “We try, not always successfully, to avoid using psychological interpretations during our conversations with each other,” said Jay, “Though we have come to have great awareness of our differences. Whether these differences come from our backgrounds or simply from our

Linda Land and Jay Land at their home in Syracuse.

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

55+ genders, recognizing that, and even more important, accepting those differences, helps our relationship.” Q: Could you give an example of how that would work? A: Jay—”One that stands out occurred several years ago, when we were discussing what time to leave the house for a television interview we were doing together. I asked Linda, ‘What time do you think we should leave?’ She said, ‘how about 11:30?’ From experience I knew that for Linda, 11:30 was just an opening bid in the discussion, meaning really ‘sort of approximating 11:30’, which could be 11:45 or 11:20, while for me, 11:30 becomes a done deal. So I’ve learned to clarify with Linda whether a given 11:30 is an actual 11:30 or more of the ‘sort of’ variety. That way I’m not standing by the door at 11:30 in my coat and hat becoming infuriated as 11:30 comes and goes.” Q: Even though each of your practices encompasses all age groups, for this article could we look at some of the speciﬁc life cycle issues that older adults are facing? A: Linda—”Many of the concerns of older adults are around health, retirement, money, living with an ailing mate, relationships with family members, and dealing with what looks like a later version of being in the sandwich generation, where concerns with aging and/or dying parents vie with the needs of children and grandchildren. “To illustrate that notion of the older sandwich, think about a simple issue of traditional versus contemporary values. Consider, for example, the situation of a young adult offspring moving in with a boyfriend or girlfriend. This may be no problem for the parents, but the grandparents may be horrified and angry. The adults in the middle (parents of young adults, children to grandparents) are truly in the middle.” Q: I have heard you say that some of us have trouble relinquishing the power in the family that we used to have when our children were

younger. But what do we do when we see our children making mistakes that we feel could be prevented with the beneﬁt of our experience? A: Linda—”In most cases, the parent simply has to learn to let go. The potential costs of intrusion are high, and of course, it is necessary for your children to make their own mistakes. But if it is a situation that you feel must be addressed, do so with extreme care and respect for your adult child. “You might say something like, ‘I have a concern about something I would like to share with you.’ ‘Are you OK with my sharing it?’ ‘Is this a good time?’ “Proceed only with the permission of your adult child. And be aware that anything you say may have much more impact than you think it might. Anything that has even a hint of criticism is going to have a huge potential punch. “The adult child who is coping with the parent who continually is giving unwanted advice has to begin to face the reality that he actually possesses the power to make his own decisions. “It is of course hard to give up wanting mother or father’s approval. We all probably want that for all of our lives, but it is no doubt increasingly true that on some fundamental level, there is a kind of power shift. “Aging parents are eventually going to be in need of the support, cooperation and even approval of their adult offspring. “For example, the adult child possesses the power to regulate contact—with themselves and of course with their children—the increasingly beloved grandchildren.” Q: Are there differences in the ways men and women relate to their adult children? A: Jay—”In healthy relationships, there are usually just the typical differences: Moms are more interested in relationship issues, dads a bit more focused on ‘doing’. But when the connections are less healthy, it is usually because the father is either very passive or very domineering;

aging

there doesn’t seem to be a middle range, so they are either cow-towed to or avoided. The wise father makes himself emotionally present and adjusts his expectations to be in accord with what his kids want to give.” Q: Could we discuss grandparenting concerns? A: Linda—”Sure. Grandparents seem to occupy some blessed state; very rarely is there a conﬂict between a grandchild and a grandparent. But as people live longer, and marry more often, it sometimes feels as is if there is an overpopulation of grandparents. That has some good aspects. One of our grandchildren has referred to his eight grandparents (all of the grandparents had remarried) as his ‘posse’, and he wanted them all to know about his big events. “But the downside of that proliferation of grandparents is the increased potential for rivalry. It can come up often in scheduling. Who goes where for which holiday? This can often take on nightmarish aspects for the offspring, who need to go to one grandparent for Christmas Eve, another to open gifts, and Christmas dinner at yet another, and so on. Q: In your many years in practice, what do you think the biggest changes have been in the ﬁeld of therapy? A: Jay—”We used to believe that psychological problems could be permanently resolved in therapy. We now believe that problems in living recur over the life cycle, and crisis can happen any time. “Another change is the view about psychoactive medications. It has become clear that for many patients, talk therapy and medication used together work better than either works alone, particularly for people struggling with moderate to severe anxiety and depression. Primary docs seem much more comfortable prescribing anti-depression and antianxiety meds. “Then there is scheduling. It used to be assumed that therapy had to be a once or twice weekly process. We now know that you can be helped even if you can only consult October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

55+

aging

a therapist only one to three times a month. Shorter-term therapy with less frequent sessions has become a viable option.” “There is also more theoretical ﬂexibility. Years ago, therapists would tend to define themselves strictly according to their modality. A therapist might be, for instance, a Freudian, a Gestalt therapist, a rationalemotive therapist, a behaviorist, a family therapist, to name just a few well-defined areas of training and practice. These days many therapists are comfortable incorporating a variety of different approaches in their practice.” Q: As you age, are the people who come to you for therapy getting older? A: Linda—”Yes and no. One unexpected advantage of getting older is that we are more attuned to concerns of our older patients because we, and our peers, are experiencing some of the same issues. And as we

continue to enjoy working with our younger patients, we see how our own life experiences enable us to see their multi-generational issues from the perspectives of both our younger clients as well as the perspectives of their parents.” Q: What happens in group therapy? A: Jay—“In the type of groups that we run, people learn about their own feelings, the feelings of others and how their behavior impacts on other people. They also ﬁnd comfort in learning many of their feelings are also shared by others.” Q: Being that our issues may be different, have you considered starting a group speciﬁcally for older adults? A: Linda—“We are considering a six-to-eight session group focusing on issues such as: to retire or not, how to get along better with adult children, sexual concerns of older adults and generic communication issues, which come to play in some

new ways in later life. And since one of the prevailing concerns of later life is loss, we would address what one faces in grieving and managing life alone.” Q: Do you ever work with the same patients? A: Jay—”Yes. For instance, one of us might see the patient in individual therapy and the other might see them as a couple or in a group.” Linda—”Sometimes we consult either about a patient or actually interview the other’s patient if we see a need for a ‘second opinion.’” Q: Could you give an example of how you help people deal with specific situations? A: Linda and Jay—”We look to see how the particular issue connects to other difficulties or earlier difficulties. We look for repetitive patterns in behavior. When the patient begins to understand his or her own pattern, a kind of ‘blueprint’, it is easier to attempt to find newer ways

. .. ll a F is Th g in m o C New...

! s l l a C e s u o H e k a Hearing Doctors M

We come to your home for routine hearing & services, repairs, and programing adjustments. Diagnostic testing and specialized treatments are available in the ofﬁce, but if you are home bound and don’t drive in bad weather we will come to you. Call for more information 468-2985

Have a COMPLETE hearing and tinnitus evaluation performed by a Doctor of Audiology to diagnose a hearing defect or possibly medically-related hearing problem.

The Lyric is here! We will work with you to make the most of your hearing! 5639 WEST GENESEE ST., CAMILLUS, NY 13031 • (315) 468-2985 Located in the Aspire Medical Center

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

Nicole Anzalone Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA Doctor of Audiology

■ We are Now setting appointments. ■ 100% invisible. ■ No batteries to change. ■ Natural sound quality. ■ Stays in ear 24/7 – up to 120 days. ■ Sleep, shower, talk on the phone or exercise with Lyric in your ear. ■ Schedule Your Appointments Today.

55+ to solve the problem.” Q: How do you respond when people ask how therapy can help them? A: Linda—“Sometimes people will call me and ask, ‘What is your approach’? I respond that mostly I help people get clarity about what is hurting and search out those repetitive patterns.” Q: You mentioned that nowadays people are not in therapy forever. How should we then think of what is involved in going for therapy?” A: Linda—”Given the new, looser styles of scheduling, people are more likely to see their relationship to their therapist like their relationships to other professionals in their lives— their lawyers, physicians, etc., whom they see from time to time as the need arises, and whom they might see intensively around a particular concern. “For example, someone may come early in life to deal with self-

esteem issues, or to sort out growingup woes, then return later with a partner to iron out couple issues such as problems with sex, money, in-laws, division of labor and dealing with kids. Then the person might return at a different stage of their life with concerns about their own aging and all the later-life issues.” Q: What makes therapy work? A: Linda and Jay—”Though we cannot say what all the elements are that makes it work, we know that without a solid rapport between the therapist and the patient, there cannot be any success. There has to be that ‘click’, and the person can generally know in the ﬁrst session or two if this is the right therapist for him or her.” Q: What is realistic for people to expect from therapy? A: Linda—“It is imperative to have goals, but they can change. There are three different categories of goals. One relates to how the person feels, including managing depression,

Call for Our Fall Specials

Brand New Luxury 2 Bedroom Apartments

aging

handling anxiety and issues of selfesteem. The second relates to how the person manages relationships and external issues, such as intimate relationships, relationships with children, relationships with their own aging parents and relationships with friends or co-workers. “The third area has to do with inevitable life changes: challenged health, job loss, illness of a partner and bereavement. “Goals could range from very speciﬁc symptom relief to more broad goals—self-esteem, self-awareness, understanding of one’s own emotions and the feelings of others, and concerns about life choices.” Q: Has television, such as “The Sopranos” and “In Therapy,” both of which show actual therapy sessions, inﬂuenced the way people feel about going for therapy? A: Jay—”Yes. These programs have helped people to accept therapy as a legitimate self-care strategy.”

AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY IN THE QUAINT VILLAGE OF CAZENOVIA

Maintenance Free Living

New Legacy Adult Community

• Wall-to-Wall Berber Carpet • Granite Counter tops • Garbage/Disposals • Elevators in Each Building • Laundry on Every Floor

• Patio/Balcony • Keyed Entry • Community Room • 24 Hour Emergency Maintence • Close to I-90 & 690

7 Legacy Drive, Baldwinsville www.newlegacyapartments.com

635-6290

CCFL Cazenovia Senior Housing Newly Remodeled 1 BDRM Apt, Senior 55+, Income Based Housing $558/mo. Ample off street parking, Handicap Accessible, On Busline, Laundry Facility on site, Elevator, Cats & Dogs welcome! For Details Call Longley Jones Management 315-424-0210 or contact Barb at 677-3836 EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

K Mac’s Lawn Care

Quality, Affordable Lawn Care Call now for Fall Cleanup Cut, edge, mulch, etc... Located near Great Northern Mall Fully Insured, Free Estimates, Referral Program

Call 720-9272

r u o Y t A

Service Directory Grouping - A great way to promote your business and services to potential 55-plus customers

COLOR

THE THE T TO R R OP E E P V V O O

ROOFING • Owner on Job Site • No Job Is Too Big or Too Small • • Financing Available • Additions • Garages • Decks • • Siding • Windows • Doors • And Much More •

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

315-564-6938

Fully Insured • Free Estimates Serving Central New York

DISCOUNT DUMPSTER RENTAL ■ Construction Debris ■ Household Trash ■ Yard Waste ■ Gutter Cleaning & Repair ■ Exterior House Washing ■ Tree Trimming ■ Demolition

You Load or We Load

A+ SERVICES Free Estimates ■ I nsured ■

430-1121

LHL

LIVE HOME LONGER

• Specializing in “Aging in Place Renovations” • Residential & Commercial Construction • Licensed & Insured • NYS State Code Certiﬁed • LEED Certiﬁed-Green Initiatives William J. Hennigan

(315) 882-8165

LiveHomeLonger@gmail.com

Reach the fastest growing population in Central New York. Your Ad, Good For Two Months 34

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

Fighting Aging? Expert: Skip the Botox and go for the face cream

eople might like you more if you don’t have surgery or get injections to look younger, a new study suggests. The results show that study participants felt more warmth toward a woman, and said she was less vain, if they were told she fought the signs of aging by staying out of the sun or using face cream than if they were told she had used the cosmetic drug Botox or had a face-lift. “This is important because it shows that despite the emphasis on looking younger in society, there are possible negative social consequences to ﬁghting the signs of aging,” using more extreme methods, said study researcher Alison Chasteen, a professor at the University of Toronto. “Despite the rapid expansion of the anti-aging cosmetic industry, the present findings suggest that age concealment has not yet become universally accepted,” the study authors wrote. In one experiment, researchers asked 260 women to read about a woman who was in her 50s, 60s or 70s, who used either facial cream or Botox injections to look younger. Half of the participants were young (their average age was 18) and half were older (their average age was 70). The older participants had more positive feelings toward women who used any type of anti-aging techniques than the younger participants did. But all participants felt more warmth toward the woman they read about, and said she was less vain, if they were told she used facial cream rather than Botox. In a second experiment, 100 female participants read about women who had used one of four anti-aging techniques: avoiding the sun, using facial creams, getting Botox injections or undergoing a face-lift. Again, the less that a woman had done to try to look younger, the more the study participants said they liked her.

r u o Y At

Service Directory Grouping - A great way to promote your business and services to potential 55-plus customers

Expert Clutter Removal We clean out your junk — not your wallet!

We remove just about anything! Call for a free estimate. 730-6370

Appliances • Yard waste • Electronics • Auto • Furniture

Indoor and outdoor general clutter and trash

Color it Gone!

We are insured and we RECYCLE! www.expertclutter.com

Trusted in Your Home for 40 Years

Visit our website anytime

www.lakeshorehardwoods.com

SHEEHAN’S APPLIANCES & MATTRESSES SALES & SERVICE

Chris Sheehan • BlakeAnn Sheehan 28 Oswego St. Baldwinsville

638-0757

Park Free in Village Lot and Use Our Rear entrance

SUBSCRIBE TO 55 PLUS

Don’t Miss a Single Issue

We stock -KILN DRIED cherry, walnut, maple, butternut, ash, oak, exotics and woodworking supplies

HARDWOOD FLOORING • STAIR PARTS • MOLDING 266 Manwaring Road, Pulaski, NY 13142 • 315-298-6407

Subscribe today to 55 PLUS . Six issues per year. Only $15 Name ____________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________ City / Town ________________________State ________Zip ________

Clip and Mail to:

55 PLUS

P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126

Only $ a Year

1500

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

55+

volunteering

Baldwinsville’s ‘Energizer Bunny’ Historian Bonnie Kisselstein: Keeping Baldwinsville’s history organized By Richard Palmer

hile some may think “enough is enough” after spending 34 years as an educator, Bonnie Kisselstein still puts in a full day’s work. Sometimes it seems she’s everywhere at once. If you can’t find her at home or at Baldwinsville Public Library, she might be at the Lysander Town Hall, Baldwinsville United Methodist Church or at the Female Charitable Society. Kisselstein has always had a good work ethic and gives unselfishly of her time to the betterment of the community. At 68, she has the reputation of being one of the Baldwinsville area’s most active senior citizens. She thrives on keeping busy. Although she officially ended her working career in December 2000, she said, “what’s retirement?” Her calendar is as full as it ever was. She is probably most noted for having organized the Colonial Festival, a historical-related craft fair that has been held annually for elementary school children at the Baldwinsville bus garage for nearly 30 years. Born in Medina in western New York, Kisselstein came to Baldwinsville with her family when she was 5. Her parents, the late Albert and Aleen Palmer, were both very active in the community. Her early education was during a transition period when students were shifted from one place to another after the school district was formed. “You never knew from one year to the next where you would be,” 36

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

she said. Classes were held at parish h o u s e s , c h u rc h kitchens and even the bus garage.

Heeds her calling After this, Kisselstein attended Syracuse University where she earned her master ’s degree. She then returned to the Baldwinsville School District, but this time as a teacher. In fact, she p a r t n e re d w i t h one of her former school teachers, Kisselstein Dorothy Ingersoll, third grade. Some of her teachers who were well known in Baldwinsville were Pearl Palmer and Mae Reynolds, who had elementary schools named after them. After teaching at Elden Elementary School 20 years, she then became the school’s librarian for another 14 years. “I loved working with young people,” she said. It was through Palmer that Kisselstein became interested in local history. Today, she is the Lysander town historian with an ofﬁce in the town hall. Over the years she has helped countless people with genealogy and historical research questions. Among

her projects in this regard has been the creation of a database of all the cemeteries in the Baldwinsville area, and properly filing and retyping the massive Anthony Christopher historical collection. Christopher wrote 850 articles on local history for “The Baldwinsville Messenger” between 1960 and 1975. The family gave the collection, which includes 350 photos and more than 1,300 slides, to Baldwinsville Public Library. The library maintains a local history room. Kisselstein also spent much time putting the collections of other former historians in order, including the late Robert Nostrant, former Lysander

historian. One of Kisselstein’s more interesting projects was to research the life of George Hamill, who is the only former Confederate soldier buried in Riverside Cemetery in Baldwinsville. Hamill had gone south before the Civil War. Being unable to return, he served in the Confederate army. “I was delighted one day when a lady showed up who was a descendant of Hamill and shared his diary. We had it retyped and it’s in our collection,” Kisselstein said. Hamill was born in 1833 and died in 1893.

Historian’s role As town historian, she furnishes historical information and scans images for the town of Lysander’s website. Besides frequently speaking to groups on historical topics, she sings in the Methodist Church choir and serves on various committees, including the library where she also works part-time. She is on the boards of Syracuse Home and McHarrie’s Legacy, and is an ofﬁcer in the Female Charitable Society. This group, founded in 1816, is the second oldest women’s organization in the U.S. It furnishes hospital beds, walkers, commodes, crutches, wheelchairs and other equipment to the needy. But Kisselstein still occasionally drifts back to her beloved schools to assist them in historical projects. Last year, she acted as adviser for a historical mural created by students at McNamara Elementary School. The mural depicted Baldwinsville’s rich heritage. She has also authored many historical-related articles published in local newspapers over the years. She and her husband, Harlow Kisselstein, reside in Baldwinsville and have two daughters, Kate and Lisa. Her husband is an avid antique enthusiast and is enjoying remodeling their new home in the village. Kisselstein always remembers what her father (who had his own restaurant in the village) said: “Always try to do something for someone else by volunteering.” She’s certainly living up to her father’s expectations. Her goal “is to live my life to the fullest right here in my own community.”

Retiring? Medicare changes got you confused? To Get the Expertise You Need, Visit

MyMedicareMadeSimple.com Discussing your options; simplifying the system

Call Today to Enroll... (315) 676-4933

tcangemi@twcny.rr.com

Medicare Advantage • Medicare Supplements • Prescription Drug Plans Long Term Care • Life Insurance • Dental

Pitcher Hill Apartments

Aﬀordable and conveniently located One Bedroom Apartments

114 Elbow Road • North Syracuse, NY 13212 • Subsidized housing based on your income. • Seniors 62 and older or mobility impaired (utilities not included)

For more information, contact Janice Difant, Manager Phone (315)454-0697 • Fax (315) 454-0053 • TDD/TTY 1-800-662-1220 Monday –Friday 8:00 am-4:00pm www.christopher-community.org • PitcherHill@ChristopherCommunity.org

i n r b i a l a c S a l l i V Apartments Beautiful 1 bedroom subsidized apartments available for people 62 and over or with long term mobility impairments

825 East Willow St. • Syracuse, NY 13203 (315)472-3142 • TDD/TTY 1-800-662-1220

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

55+

finance

Consider a Reverse Mortgage Carefully Seniors need to understand program before taking the plunge By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

or many seniors on ﬁxed incomes, rising food and utility costs can make necessary home repairs or upgrades impossible. Paying unexpected expenses can be out of the question. These are among the reasons some who own their homes turn to reverse mortgages for cash. For “Peter Baxter,” a Central New York septuagenarian, a reverse mortgage last fall allowed him to quickly pay off $150,000 in unexpected bills instead of abruptly selling his house for less than what it was worth to raise the money. (Editor’s note: Baxter is a ﬁctitious name because the source requested anonymity.) “All I had was Social Security,” Baxter said. “The reverse mortgage was like a lifesaver to me.” Reverse mortgages allow seniors 62 or older with any credit rating to tap into the equity of their homes either through a lump withdrawal or a line of credit. They pay no taxes on the money and do not have to pay back the loan 38

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

while they’re living in their homes as their primary residence and drawing on its equity. They must also keep the home in good repair. Reverse mortgages are not grants; they must be repaid because they are loans. Usually, the senior’s home is sold after his death to pay off the loan and, depending upon the contract’s terms, any extra reverts to the estate. Or, if a senior decides to sell his home, he receives any remaining equity. Since Baxter took the lump sum payment, applied it to his outstanding bills, and now lives on Social Security. He plans to sell his large farmhouse to pay back the reverse mortgage and buy a smaller, more suitably sized home. The reverse mortgage helped him delay his home’s sale so he would not have to take a low offer in desperation. “Without the reverse mortgage, we’d have to have sold the place for a little to nothing and likely would be on welfare now,” he said. For the right scenario like Baxter’s, a reverse

mortgage can be helpful.

Power of equity “It’s an attractive option for some seniors because they have equity in their homes,” said Peggy Penders, representing the Better Business Bureau’s Upstate New York ofﬁce. Even if a senior is still paying off his mortgage, as long as he has equity in the home he can get a reverse mortgage. Since most seniors want to remain in their homes, the reverse mortgage’s livein requirement and the cash it gives them can make that desire a reality. “I hear a lot of people say they’re awful, but I think they’re good for the person in the right situation who understands it,” said Rose Perkins, branch manager for Consumer Credit Counseling of Central New York. “You need to know what you’re getting into, but that is sensible for anyone getting into any kind of contract.” State law requires seniors to speak with a certiﬁed counselor such as those at Consumer Credit

55+ Counseling before agreeing to a reverse mortgage. “We have no fees,” Perkins said. “We’re getting nothing out of this but being able to sleep at night because we’re looking after them.” Grants pay for the time Consumer Credit Counseling’s advisers spend with seniors seeking reverse mortgage advice. “The session allows seniors to learn about the financial implications of the loan and discuss other financial alternatives to help ensure the borrower makes the right decision,” said Veronica Clemons, representing Wells Fargo, which operates an office in North Syracuse. “All family members impacted by this decision are encouraged to attend.”

Seek out counsel Penders thinks getting advice on reverse mortgages is a good idea. “We’re a great resource for anyone who’s decided to do it so they can find a company that’s offering it,” Penders said. “We’re concerned about the advertising. We don’t want people to fall for a ‘no-brainer’ offer that actually whacks you with high fees.” Some have fees as high as 5 percent of the home’s value. “It’s all about the fees as far as participating in one offer vs. another,” Penders said. “Some institutions waive the fees, so shop around.” Seeking third-party advice from a pro also helps. “Search to find an expert in this field and who doesn’t have a vested interest,” Penders added. Seniors need to consider what’s at stake. By tapping into their home’s equity, they may leave little or nothing to will to their children and grandchildren; however, during their remaining years, the value of their home can depreciate significantly anyway because of market fluctuations or lack of repairs. A reverse mortgage could help pay to repair a problem that could cause further

finance

damage such as a leaky roof. For some seniors, quality of life is more important than leaving behind more assets to well-off adult children. “You’re always welcome to pay it back with no fee or penalty,” Perkins said. “You don’t have a crystal ball. What if you do have a medical issue that comes up or a major home repair? You have something there to fall back on. But you don’t have to use it.” But some seniors place a high emotional value on leaving assets to their children. “I’ve had seniors tell me, ‘I didn’t realize it would eat up all the equity in my home,’” Perkins said. If seniors outlive the amount of equity in their home, they will have to repay the loan, likely selling their home to do so, which can be problematic for those who strongly desire to stay in their homes.

or ﬁgure out re-housing. The funds might have been gone a year and they might not know. All of a sudden, they’ll get a notice from the bank saying you owe us thousands of dollars for real property taxes. The homeowners either don’t realize how quickly the funds will get used up or else they were totally unaware that these funds were coming out.” In some contracts, the bank doesn’t need the homeowner’s permission to pay homeowner’s insurance, property tax or HOA dues. Some seniors mistakenly think that they will pay no fees if they obtain a line of credit from a reverse mortgage but don’t use it. Others obtain a reverse mortgage without their spouse in the contract, which means he could render his wife homeless if he dies ﬁrst and she is unable to repay the loan.

‘Not for everyone’

The most important aspect of obtaining a reverse mortgage is to thoroughly understand it before signing anything. “I had someone contact me from a different company and they sounded like slick talkers,” Baxter said. “I thought they were trying to work a scam on me. “People need to make sure they investigate the company they’re dealing with. They should heed the counseling service’s advice. They sure gave me good advice. If you need the money, it’s the best way to get it. “They saved our lives, deﬁnitely. It was the best move I could have made at the time. I had quick money and I was able to pay off the bills rather than try to sell the place so quick.” For more information about reverse mortgages, visit the following sites: National Reverse Mortgage Lenders www.nrmla.org, Housing and Urban Development www.hud.com/reverse, and Wells Fargo www.wellsfargo.com/reverse.

“While a reverse mortgage can help supplement retirement income and assist with unexpected expenses, it is not for everyone,” Clemons said. “Some things seniors should consider before they apply for the loan include the length of time they plan to remain in the home and the continued ﬁnancial obligations they will have as borrowers. So for seniors not planning to retire in place, they should take note of how long they plan to live in the residence.” Seniors should also be aware that a reverse mortgage does not free them from paying property taxes, any homeowner’s association fees or utilities. Since they retain the title of the home, seniors must continue to pay these expenses. Some lenders automatically pay taxes and HOA fees from the funds available from the reverse mortgage. “Now the funds are depleting and the homeowner needs to pay the bank that amount,” Perkins said. “We’re trying to help them understand this. We’re counseling them on how to pay off the bank

Read between lines

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

55+

home modification

Safe at Home With a few simple home modifications, seniors can remain in their home longer with greater safety By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

any seniors want to stay in their homes as long as they can and enjoy the homes they’ve worked to maintain. With a few simple home modifications, an elderly person can remain in his home longer with greater safety. One of the biggest concerns about an older person living at home alone is the risk of falls. “The vast majority of all fractures and 90 percent of hip fractures in the elderly are due to falls,” said Susan E. Brown, certiﬁed nutrition specialist and director of The Center for Better Bones and the Better Bones Foundation in East Syracuse. “Fall prevention is extremely important. Even many spinal fractures are due to falls.” The injury itself is serious; however, falls often bring lasting negative impact on the person’s health and quality of life. 40

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

“That’s one of the top reasons people have trouble at home,” said Sharon Brangman, geriatrician with SUNY Upstate Medical University. “Falls start a cascade of problems that makes people lose independence.” Hip fractures can have serious and even life-threatening complications. The Mayo Clinic lists blood clots, bedsores, urinary tract infection, pneumonia and muscle wasting among the complications for hip fracture patients. “One of the goals of our older adult population is to remain as independent as possible,” said Lisa D. Alford, commissioner of Onondaga Department of Aging and Youth. “But when older adults fall, their injuries are more serious and sometimes lead to more medical complications, and a loss of independence. Many falls are preventable, and older adults can be proactive and can control their falls risk themselves.”

The checklist from NY Connects Onondaga County found at www. ongov.net/ay/documents/housing. pdf may be a useful tool to help evaluate the home’s safety and make recommendations for changes that could make the home safer. Or a consultation with an organization such as Visiting Nurse Association of Central New York, Inc. in Syracuse can help identify potential hazards. VNA requires a doctor’s referral to perform a home consultation. Many changes to improve safety are free, such as eliminating clutter and throw rugs. “People who lived through the Depression save things that can lead to a cluttered environment,” Brangman said. Brown Clutter isn’t a

Times change. Our standards of home care don’t. 315.476.3101 � www.vnacny.org

SUBSCRIBE TO 55 PLUS

1500 a Year

Only $

P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126

55 PLUS

Clip and Mail to:

City / Town ________________________State ________Zip ________

Address __________________________________________________

Don’t Miss a Single Issue Name ____________________________________________________

“Lighting in the house is important,” Brown said. Wiring is insufficient in many older homes. Consider battery-operated closet lights to help illuminate dark areas and buying nightlights to brighten the route from bedroom to bathroom without flipping on bright overhead lights. A small, bedside “touch” lamp may also help. Some of the moderately- to higherpriced improvements can also add value to the home, such as painting the walls or replacing the carpeting. Choosing the right ones can help improve safety. Especially in poor lighting, color contrast between the floor and walls will improve depth perception. “Go with nonskid surfaces,” Brangman said. “Watch for a rug with frayed corners.” Thick, shagAlford style carpeting can be easier to trip on than low-pile carpeting. Brown added, “Be careful not to have boards bump up or carpets that come up easily.” Keeping flooring in good repair by keeping carpets tacked down and boards nailed in place will help prevent falls. Among the other higher priced home modifications, lever-activated faucets, raised toilets, and walk-in bathtub are examples of fixtures that can make personal care easier for people with arthritic joints. “Tubs with a swing door are nice because you don’t have to step over it,” Brangman said. Tight seals keep water where it belongs. For owners of two-story homes, a stair lift may offer easier access to the upstairs. Modern lifts require minimal changes to the current staircase and the seats flip up so others can walk up the steps. Most companies that install this type of equipment offer free estimates.

Subscribe today to 55 PLUS . Six issues per year. Only $15

problem exclusive to hoarders. If visiting grandkids leave clutter around, designate a specific place for shoes such as under a bench near the door. Provide a large basket to corral toys and train the Brangman kids to keep their things picked up when visiting Grandma and Grandpa. Many older people grew up with throw rugs in their homes as a means of keeping carpeting from becoming soiled. Old habits can be hard to break, so taping the rugs down may be the answer. It may help to rearrange the contents of cabinets. “Move frequently-used kitchen and household items to within easy reach,” Alford said. This can minimize using stepstools or straining on tiptoe to reach an item. Often it’s the everyday things that had previously presented no problem that cause falls in someone whose sense of balance and reaction time is decreasing. Power cords across walkways can be hazardous. “A little pet can be tripped over,” Brangman said. Reroute cords or, if possible, have additional outlets installed where they are convenient. Consider asking a friend or relative help with pet care. For example, frequently walking an energetic dog would help it remain calmer inside and less likely to dart underfoot. Or hiring help to keep the yard clean can reduce the chances of slipping on waste. Low-priced changes can include installing a cordless phone that has additional bases and handsets throughout the house to avoid rushing (and falling) to pick up the phone. “Grab bars, depending upon your degree of unsteadiness, should be in the bathtub, near the toilet and in the halls,” said Brown of The Center for Better Bones. Non-skid appliqués for the bath or shower floor can help prevent falls, as can applying reflective strips on porch, basement or attic steps.

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

55+

visits

New York’s Byways and Highways

Fall Is Perfect to Travel in the Slow Lane And Visit Really Interesting Sites By Sandra Scott

all is the perfect time to travel in the slow lane and explore New York’s byways and highways. The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s effort to recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. A byway is a road with a story to tell — be it archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational or one with special scenic qualities. Byways have something to interest every travelers.

National Scenic Byways New York has three nationallydesignated scenic byways with the Great Lakes Seaway Trail one of the ﬁrst American roads to be so honored. The Seaway Trail follows the 518-mile scenic route along the shores of the St. Lawrence, Lake Ontario and the Niagara River to Lake Erie. The route 42

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

takes several days to travel but has something for everyone: forts, nature, museums, lighthouses, ﬁshing, quaint towns, plenty of history and great vistas. There are over 100 themed storyteller signs along the way that identify unique aspects of an area. A good place to start is the Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Sackets Harbor. Another designated national scenic byway is the Lakes to Locks Passage. The major portion of the byway is the interconnected waterway connecting the Hudson River, Champlain Canal and Lake George with the waterways of Canada. The struggle for control of these waterways has led to battles from the earliest days of New York with the boundaries shifting until the conclusion of the War of 1812. The historic, cultural, natural and recreational opportunities

are phenomenal, including driving, hiking and biking. Explore the Turning Point Trail that visits sites that led to the American victory in Saratoga, the “turning point of the American Revolution.” Travel the back roads around Hoosick Falls exploring the trail “A Pallet of Many Colors: Landscape Art and Grandma Moses.” There are lakes, mountains, gorges, history, exciting races, and incredible vistas. The Mohawk Towpath Byway is the third nationally designed national byway. It is a series of roads that follows the historic route of the Erie Canal between Schenectady and Cohoes highlighting the role the canal played in creating local communities, developing an industrial corridor, and promoting the westward expansion of the United States. Take a ride on the Erie Canal, learn about the impact

55+ of the arrival of the railroad system, relax at the local parks, and visit historic homes from the 18th and 19th centuries.

NYS Scenic Byways New York state has designated several other highways as being of scenic, recreational, cultural, natural, historic or archaeological significance. The 86-mile loop around Cayuga Lake is a New York state scenic byway that offers a landscape of farmlands, vineyards and small towns as it encircles Cayuga Lake. Waterfalls and gorges are characteristic of the region’s unique geology. The lake itself provides almost limitless opportunities for fun, including swimming, boating and fishing. It is a favorite fall drive due to the plethora of wineries that dot the area around the lake. Do not miss Taughannock Falls State Park near Trumansburg, one of the highest waterfalls in the Northeast U.S. Suffolk County’s North Fork Trail on Long Island loops for 36 miles taking travelers from Southold to Orient Point through a series of charming hamlets, past renowned wineries, expansive farms and wild wetlands. This all mingles with intermittent glimpses of the ocean, beaches and maritime life, finishing

with an uninterrupted view of the Atlantic Ocean stretching into the horizon. Visit Shelter Island located between the two forks of Long Island. Nearly a third of the island is devoted to the Mashomack Nature Preserve. Some of the NYS designated routes have specific themes. The Revolutionary Trail runs east-west for 158 miles between the state capital of Albany and the shores of the Lake Ontario. As it traverses scenic valleys and woodlands, the route offers exceptional museums, historic sites, hiking, picnicking and cycling. Lake Ontario and lakes of the Adirondacks accommodate all kinds of water sports, including fishing, boating and swimming. Stops along the way include Salmon River Falls, Salmon River Fish Hatchery, and Fort Stanwix in Rome. The Dude Ranch Trail is a 40-mile circular route that begins and ends in the village of Lake George. Before riding into dude ranch country, be thrilled at Six Flags Great Escape or enjoy one of the lake cruises offered by the Lake George Steamboat Company. Good food and great opportunities for fun are easy to come by as the trail leads visitors over picturesque roads, through several charming Adirondack hamlets and past a number of resorts.

visits

Proposed byways and beyond There are several proposed byways, some of which are extensions of ones already in existence. They are designed to include signiﬁcant historical sites. An extension of the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway will include the Auburn home of Harriet Tubman, one of the most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad. The maple sugar industry is the focus of another proposed route. Once off the major highways, New York state is a web of beautiful scenic roads, many of which were influential in the development of New York. Route 31 from Brockport to Lockport connects the small towns that once supported travelers on the Erie Canal. Head south of Rochester to Letchworth State Park to view the “Grand Canyon of the East” where the Genesee River roars through the gorge over three major waterfalls between cliffs — some as high as 600 feet. The Visitor Center Museum has maps of the paved roads, lookout points and trails to hike. Whatever your fancy — history, nature, or adventure — you will ﬁnd it along one of state’s byways by traveling in the slow lane.

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

druger’s zoo By Marvin Druger

10 Things I Enjoyed at This Year’s State Fair

ach year, the Great New York State Fair offers fun and food for people of all ages. Pat decided that we would go to the fair this year. Parking was wellorganized, as was everything at the fair, and we walked from the parking space to the entrance. This was good exercise, since we parked quite far away. We could have taken a shuttle bus, but we didn’t. At the entrance, we were greeted by my favorite sign: “Seniors Free Today.” We marched through the turnstile triumphantly. What did we manage to see: 1 – Wonderful sewed and quilted items, and a senior section that we felt obliged to visit. 2 – The butter sculpture as large as life in the dairy building. I had a glass of chocolate milk for 25 cents. 3 – The impressive sand sculpture in the Center of Progress building honoring rescue workers who died trying to help at the 9/11 disaster. 4 – A dog show. Many breeds of dogs were paraded in front of judges. Some peed, some pooped, and some were remarkably obedient. In one instance, dogs ran through a long tunnel about three feet in diameter. A few of the dogs emerged at the other side of the tunnel; some got stuck; and a few refused to enter. Dogs also had to jump over a bar about a foot off the ground. 5 – Goats, cows, chickens, horses, rabbits, pigs and swans. Every animal was completely oblivious to humans. They all seemed content in their conﬁned quarters. Baby chicks could be purchased, six for $10. 6 – A cookware demonstration in the Center of Progress building. We stayed an hour because the speaker kept telling us that some of us would walk away with free items, particularly a chopping machine. Pat

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

wanted to leave, but I wanted to stay with the hope that I would get the free item. It turned out that, if you bought $1,000 worth of pots, you would get the chopper free. This was not the outcome I expected. 7 – The highlight of the fair was the loaded baked potato for $1 — I remember when it used to be free. As I was lamenting to Pat about having to pay for the potato, a friend walked by and gave us two coupons for complimentary potatoes. This made the potato taste even better. We waited about 20 minutes on a long line, but it was worth the wait. We met some very nice people along the way. An accompanying bottle of fruit punch for $1 was another treat. 8 – A concert at the main pavilion. The singers appeared on a giant TV screen. It was very crowded, and people were crushed together to see and hear the singers. This was when my age showed. To me, what was supposed to be singing, was someone shouting into a microphone and wiggling back and forth. The socalled “music” was just excessively loud screaming, with no rhythm and no meaningful words. The “music” was nothing like “You Are My Sunshine.” 9 – Pat bought a handsome watch for $5.75 in one of the pavilions. What a nice watch! And for so little money! When she got home, she tried to put the watch on her wrist, and the band broke immediately. It pays to buy a new watch elsewhere, rather than buy a new band. Cheap is cheap. 10 – The most impressive part of our visit to the fair was the food. It was remarkable to see how many ways potatoes could be cut and fried in unhealthy oils. Everywhere we looked, there were overweight people stufﬁng some sort of fried potatoes

into their mouths. I made a list of other interesting foods that were available. There was “smoked alligator — original or hot and spicy.” There was “Gator on a Stick,” “Shrimp on a Stick,” “Shark on a Stick” and “Meatballs on a Stick.” The famous “Awesome Onion” and “Colossal Onion.” Other food items included: popcorn, pizza, cotton candy, snocones, ice cream, frozen bananas, candy apples, salt-water taffy, hot dogs, sausages, deep-fried mashed potatoes on a stick, deep-fried Snickers wrapped in bacon, corn, salt potatoes, cinnamon roasted almonds and all sorts of drinks, including cold beer. A specialty was a “Big Kahuna Burger,” which consisted of 1/2 pound of Angus beef, with onions, pineapple and cheese for $7. The counterpart was the “Big Kahuna Donut Burger.” What did we eat? First, the delicious baked potato. Then, we had two corn dogs for $3 each and a bottle of water for $1. After that, we had two pizza fritters. These were among our favorites. They consist of two feet of rolled dough with powdered sugar for $3 each. These must be a big money-maker, since there’s nothing but dough and powdered sugar, but they were scrumptious. Finally, we ate chicken on a pita and steak on a pita. We ﬁnished the day at the Indian Village. We watched samples of tribal dances, and were reminded about the proud Native American heritage of Central New York. We took the shuttle bus back to the parking lot, and easily got onto 690 East to drive home. What a nice day at the Great New York State Fair!

CONFUSED BY MEDICARE? DO YOU UNDERSTAND ALL YOUR OPTIONS? ARE YOU TURNING 65 SOON? ARE YOU A VETERAN AND WOULD LIKE LOCAL CARE? ARE YOU DISABLED?

WE CAN HELP YOU SELECT THE PROPER COVERAGE. CALL, WRITE, FAX OR EMAIL US.

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

golden years By Harold Miller E-mail: HMillerMOD@aol.com.

I Haven’t Got the Time to Die Meet ‘The Chronicler of the Finger Lakes’

oan P. will be embarrassed when she reads this so I won’t use her last name; however, her inspiring story needs to be told. This lovely octogenarian does not look her age nor act her age, and her mind is going every minute — searching, writing and creating. She lives in a very nice high-rise apartment building, designed for 55-plusers in the heart of downtown Auburn. This great lady lost her husband many years ago, and though she lives alone she is never lonely. Joan is constantly busy reading, clipping articles, and pictures, and scanning everything in print. I call her “The Chronicler of the Finger Lakes.” Joan has slowed down somewhat because of arthritis and the other ravages of age. Recently she had to spend time in a rehab center hating every minute of it. She used to be at all the civic functions and sporting events — anything that was going on in Auburn and the surrounding areas. McKenzie-Child is one of her passions. She has designed items that appear in the catalogue, including wrought iron bells which are on the cover during the holiday season. In a recent letter, she writes, “Hal — did you hear that there were 15,000 at the McKenzie Childs barn sale?” Joan would have been there if she possibly could. The photography of John McCarthy is another passion. He is “The Photographer of the Finger Lakes” and Joan has prints

Joan P. has not yet embraced the computer, and defends it by sending a clipping from Time magazine on historian David McCullogh, who talks about the death of letter writing. of virtually all of his works. McCarthy’s photo of the five major Finger Lakes at sunset taken by airplane is truly a work of art, which has graced the pages of 55 PLUS (October/November 2009 issue) and the wall of my office. Joan promotes all of the local journalists and authors. Perhaps her favorite is Ormie King’s “Legends of Auburn,” which is a photographic history of Auburn and its people from the 1800s, when Auburn was incorporated as a city, until today. Anybody who is somebody can find their picture in its pages. King updates the book periodically and it can be found in any bookstore in the Auburn area. Her favorite publication beyond a doubt is 55 PLUS. In a recent letter

to me she writes, “Is there really a man named Wagner Dotto, the editor of 55 PLUS?” I assured her that there was such a person and maybe someday I’ll bring her to see him. She would love to do that. Joan reads every issue from cover to cover and clips many articles to send along to her friends. She has not yet embraced the computer, and defends it by sending a clipping from Time magazine on historian David McCullogh, who talks about the death of letter writing. He fears that history, research and communication will suffer from the loss of the handwritten document or letter. I have tried to convince her to take a leap of faith to the electronic world because this intelligent and articulate woman would take to it like a duck to water. She writes back, “I can’t quite get to the computer. Maybe when I am 90.” Regardless of this, Joan keeps me well informed while we are in Florida for the winter. Periodically I get large packages ﬁlled with newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, pictures, and anything else that informs of local happenings. In effect she is my eyes and ears while we are away. Joan was motivated by my recent column “After the Battle is Won,” which urges us all to have a retirement career or hobby — painting, writing, etc. She wrote, “I would write a book titled “I haven’t got time to die” but I haven’t got time to write it.”

Visit 55 PLUS online at cny55.com 46

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

consumers corner By Eva Briggs

New Vaccine Offers Hope to Smokers, Cancer Patients Another relatively new use for vaccines is in the treatment of cancer.

he ﬁrst thing that comes to mind when most people think of vaccines are inoculations to prevent childhood diseases like measles, mumps and German measles. These established vaccines are designed to prevent people from ever developing these illnesses in the ﬁrst place. But there are several new vaccines in the works designed to treat conditions that people have already contracted. NicVAX, made by NABI Biopharmaceauticals, is a vaccine against nicotine. It’s not designed to keep people from starting smoking, much as most health care professionals wish that were possible. Instead, its purpose is to help smokers quit smoking. One of the toughest parts of quitting smoking is staying quit, and avoiding cravings or urges to start back. This happens because nicotine is a highly addictive molecule. When someone lights up a cigarette, nicotine enters the lungs, passes quickly into the bloodstream, and is small enough to pass through the blood-brain barrier. Once nicotine is inside the brain it binds to receptors on brain cells and triggers the sequence of biochemical events that lead to addiction. Normally nicotine molecules are too small to for the body’s immune system to recognize. NicVAX combines nicotine molecules with large carrier proteins. The body’s immune system sees the combo as foreign and produces antibodies. Later,

when normal nicotine molecules enter the body, those antibodies bind to them and make them too large to pass from the blood stream into the brain. So the pleasurable feeling from smoking cigarettes doesn’t happen, and the body doesn’t get the nicotine reward. The vaccine doesn’t work for everyone. In clinical trials, 16 percent of heavy smokers who developed high antibody levels from the vaccine were able to stay away from cigarettes after one year, compared to only 6 percent of smokers who received a placebo vaccine. Smokers who had high antibody levels from the vaccine but didn’t quit, cut their smoking in half. Smokers who quit with the aid of currently available aids, like nicotine patches, bupropion (Wellbutrin), or varenicline (Chantix), have a high relapse rate after discontinuing these substances. One plus of the vaccine approach is that, for those who produce antibodies, the effect is likely to last a lifetime. Unfortunately 20 percent of people have no antibody response to the nicotine vaccine. Researchers don’t yet know why. But the approach holds promise, and researchers are beginning to study the use of vaccines in treating other addictions such as cocaine. The current NicVAX protocols use six injections about one month apart. Further research is needed to determine whether this is the optimal vaccine schedule. Another relatively new use

for vaccines is in the treatment of cancer. Melanoma is a dangerous form of skin cancer, which is often deadly if it metastasizes or spreads throughout the body. Recent clinical trials compared interleukin-2, a drug that activates the body’s immune system, to interleukin-2 plus the melanoma vaccine. The results showed that the group that got the vaccine experienced greater shrinking of their tumors, had a longer period before the cancer began to grow again, and had a longer survival time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently approved a vaccine for canine melanoma of the mouth. Veterinarians at the Animal Medical Center in New York developed this vaccine in collaboration with scientists working on the human melanoma vaccine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. There is also research underway to develop a vaccine to help patients fight a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma. This tumor affects 17,000 people in the U.S. every year. With current treatments, only about 2 percent survive more than five years. Prostate cancer patients too may one day benefit from vaccines, thanks to current research in that area. Edward Jenner coined the word vaccination back in 1796, as one of the pioneers in the development of early vaccination techniques to prevent smallpox. It’s exciting to think of the new applications of this “old” method that may come into use in the next few years! Eva Briggs, a board-certified physician, works on the staff at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, in its two urgent care centers: one in Ithaca, and the other in Cortland. October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

my turn By Bruce Frassinelli

The Fine One-Line Humor of Henny Youngman

ld TV shows bring back loads of memories. Whether it’s an “I Love Lucy” marathon this past August to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lucille Ball’s birth, or an entire night of scary science fiction movies, such as “Godzilla,” the “Blob,” “Them,” or “It Came from Outer Space” on AMC, nostalgia is big business and lots of fun for us seniors. Some of the biggest performers of the first decade of rock ‘n’ roll have found life after career-death on PBS specials around fundraising time. What a thrill to see the likes of the Platters, the Coasters, the Four Lads, Frankie Laine and the DeCastro Sisters. I recently saw a clip of the old Ed Sullivan TV show, “Toast of the Town,” which aired on Sunday nights. Featured was Henny Youngman, the oftproclaimed king of the one-liners. Youngman, who died in 1998 at the age of 91, would come on stage with his violin in hand, play a few bars of a well-known tune just to let the audience know the instrument was more than a prop, then segue into a rapid-fire set of one-liners. I had the pleasure of interviewing Youngman twice and listening to his performance each time. Although the shows were separated by a decade, the material remained essentially the same. Curiously, Youngman interviewed as if he were on stage. You’d ask him a question, and the likely response was a one-liner. Of course, Youngman is credited with the classic line, “Take my 48

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

wife, please.” He explained that the line became associated with him one night when he was doing vaudeville. Close to curtain time, his wife needed eight additional seats for friends. Fortunately, Youngman said, he would pay the usher $2 a week to keep him in spare tickets for situations such as these. “I said to the usher, `Take my wife, please, and get her the heck out of here.’” The line stuck, according to Youngman. Youngman’s place in the comedic ﬁrmament was ensured for all time when famed gossip columnist and journalist Walter Winchell proclaimed him “King of the One-Liners.” I can’t ever recall being at a performance where more people were left helplessly laughing than at Youngman’s. My brother, who accompanied me to one of his performances in the Poconos in the early-’80s, was left in limp convulsions — tears of laughter streaming down his face. At a performance about ﬁve years later, a man fell into a theater aisle — that’s how hard and uncontrollably he was laughing. Perhaps, it was the snappy, nonstop patter that affects the audience. I often wondered what does this guy have: He’s not handsome; he’s not particularly well-spoken, he seems nervous and on-edge, and he basically stands there and tells corny jokes. Despite its improbability, somehow, it works. Here is a sample of Youngman’s humor: • A guy goes to the doctor and says, “Hey, doc, every time I move

my arm like this, I get a pain. What should I do?” The doctor says, “Don’t move your arm like that.” • Two guys went bear hunting. They came to a fork in the road that said “Bear Left.” So, they turned around and went home. • For our wedding anniversary, my wife said she wants to go somewhere exotic, a place she’s never been before. I said, “How about the kitchen?” • Ready to board a plane, I told the airline reservationist: “Send one of my bags to New York, send one to Los Angeles, and send one to Miami.” She looked at me and said, “We can’t do that.” “Well, you did it last week,” I told her. • A doctor tells a man if he wants to improve his love life he needs to get some exercise. “Run 10 miles a day,” he told the man. Two weeks later, the man called the doctor. The doctor says, “How is your love life since you started running?” “I don’t know,” the man says, “I’m 140 miles away.” • I was so ugly when I was born the doctor slapped my mother. • She’s been married so many times she has rice marks on her face./She must have Egyptian blood, because every time I try to kiss her she says, “Tut, Tut.”/ I just got back from a pleasure trip; I took my mother-in-law to the airport. Instantly recognizable, Youngman said to me that he would get a kick when young comics would say with emphasis, “Take my wife…” stop, turn the microphone to the audience, which replied in deafening unison, “PLEASE. He sat back in his chair, puffed on his cigar, cupped his hands behind his head and said with more than a little self-satisfaction, “That’s when you know that you’ve got it made.”

Boomers Seek Security in Gold, Silver By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

ave Cooper, owner of Upstate Coin & Gold Center (www. SellYourGoldSyracuse. com), grew up in the business and hasn’t seen a time that gold, silver and precious metals have been such a hot commodity. Hovering around $1,852 per ounce, according to www.goldprice. org, it’s a great time to sell gold and silver jewelry and coins. Cooper thinks he knows why the prices have skyrocketed. “People’s low faith in the U.S. dollar and unemployment levels are higher,” he said. “People have been beat up in the stock market so they’re hesitant to put money there.” The 26-year-old said that the price of gold has been rising for the past four to ﬁve years because baby boomers have been eagerly selling off

their stock market shares to invest in gold. “It’s an older crowd of both genders,” he said of the buyers. The number of sellers at his store has seen an uptick, too. Those selling Cooper jewelry are usually women between 40 and 70 who are willing to part with items they no longer want to feel more secure ﬁnancially. Cooper sees plenty of jewelry, sterling silver flatware, diamonds, pocket watches, and coin collections coming in his doors these days. Instead of selling on eBay or Craigslist, Cooper said that selling at a store like his is better for the seller. “You’ll save the commissions and

UPSTATE UNIVERSITY RADIATION ONCOLOGY

UNIVERSITY AdvancedRADIATION Technology, World ONCOLOGY Class Expertise TM

TM Technology, World Class inExpertise Commitment to excellence treating

cancer:

you will avoid the risk of sending something through the mail or dealing with someone you don’t know or trust,” Cooper said. “We have networks of connections across the country to give the highest prices.” Although selling one’s jewelry means quick cash (the store pays for items on the spot), Cooper advises sellers to “separate what you’re sure you’re going to get rid of from what you’re not sure you’re ready to get rid of,” he said. “Anything that’s sentimental, once you sell it you can’t get it back. Determine what’s sentimental and what’s not.” The business also purchases U.S. postage stamps, pocket watches, paper money, European and Canadian money, and unwanted gift cards. Cooper earned his Master ’s in Business Administration from Rochester Institute of Technology. He has operated the business for the past two years. It has been in the family since its founding in 1979. Upstate Coin & Gold employs ﬁve. The business is a member of both the American Numismatic Association and the Better Business Bureau.

provides powerful peace of mind because you know that, if ever needed, live help is just the push of a button away....

1-866-688-6238

to excellence inand staff • Physician expertise offering r: the broadest array of

New York

state-of-the-art taff expertise offering technology rray of state-of-the-art

Medical Alert

• Comprehensive patient-oriented care for all typescare of cancer e patient-oriented including prostate, breast, cancer including lung, colorectal, t, lung, colorectal, brain and other tumors

r tumors

A Connect America Medical Alert Company

• Nationally recognized

leadership in in clinical ognized leadership research cancer research

al reet

donc

University Hospital Hill Radiation Oncology Oswego County 750 Radiation East Adams Street 1000 East Genesee Street Radiation Oncology Hill Oncology Oswego County Syracuse, NY 13210 Syracuse, NY 13210 105 County Route 45 A 1000 Genesee Street Radiation Oncology (315)East 464-5276 (315) 476-3535 Oswego, NY 13126 (315) 207-9066

Syracuse, NY 13210 (315) 476-3535

upstate.edu/radonc

105 County Route 45A Oswego, NY 13126 (315) 207-9066

Limited Time: $25 Wegmans Gift Certiﬁcate for new customers

Free Delivery Simple Setup Only $29.95 per Month 2005 Rated #1 by GoodHouseKeeping

newyorkmedicalalert.com October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

last

page

By Mary Beth Roach

Michael Kitts, 61 Celebrating 29th year as a basketball referee

ow that college basketball season is in full swing, Michael Kitts is starting his 29th year as a referee. Calling it the best part-time job in America, Kitts has ofﬁciated at least 2,200 games and has met some of the biggest names in the sport. A Syracuse native currently residing in East Syracuse, he played basketball at the former St. Anthony’s High School and Onondaga Community College, but it was while playing in a recreation league a few years later that prompted him to start refereeing. In 2009, he was named the Naismith Men’s College Ofﬁcial of the Year. Q. How did you get started? A. John Sherlock was refereeing a rec game I was playing. And I was a pain in the butt to referee for. He got so mad at me. He came in the locker room after the game and said, ‘If you think you know so much, why don’t you take the test?’ So, that’s how I got started. [John Sherlock, who passed away in late August, was a legend among local basketball refs and was president of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials Inc. Board 38 during the 1970s.] Q. Has the game changed a lot? A. It has. We’re getting more stipulations put on ourselves as far as calling games. Q. There must be a thrill to refereeing players who have gone on to great fame in the game. A. Yeah, I refereed a lot of them. When I started in the Big East, I had Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Allen Iverson. People still ask me who was the fastest guy I refereed; it was Allen Iverson . . . he can dribble faster than most guys can run. When I started out you had someone 6’1. Now you have a 6’7 guard instead of a 6’1 guard. And they’re just as quick as a 50

55 PLUS - October / November 2011

6’1” guard. It’s a fast game. Q. It’s a faster game. Is it a more aggressive game now? A. Just because a team is stronger and bigger, we can’t let them dictate how they want to play. Q. How do the refs stay current with all the changes? A. We have a website now — the NCAA — that we have to go on. We have to attend a clinic — an NCAA clinic and a conference clinic. They go over films, show plays that are mostly missed and why they’re missed. There’s a lot of training. It’s really come a long way since when I first started out. Q. What is the most challenging aspect? A. I think it’s managing the game. Everybody says it’s just going out there and making calls. When I go out there, I have to manage players and find out what their personalities are. I have to manage coaches. I’ve been around. They know where I’m coming from, and I know where they’re coming from. Q. How do you stay in shape? A. It’s something you develop. I see so many plays night in, night out. I’m up to five or six nights a week. I see the same plays every night, so it’s instinctive. I have to work out. I work out in the morning every day, walking five miles a day. Then after Labor Day, I start doing the treadmill three days a week. I’d like to referee three more years. We’ll see what happens. I still like the games. I like dealing with the coaches. It’s fun for me. It’s still a big challenge. Q. How do you handle the criticism from fans and the media? A. I’m to the point now where I don’t listen to too much anymore, very rarely, unless they get personal. There’s always certain calls that I know I’m 100 percent right on — I don’t listen to anybody. The tweener — the ones 50-50 where I could be

wrong, well, then I have to listen because I might be wrong. Q. In your refereeing career, what would be your greatest achievement? A. I just think it’s the longevity in this profession. If you’re not good, you don’t stay in this profession long. To have been doing it so long without getting in a lot of trouble. There were a couple of games I made mistakes in but for the most part, I haven’t had too many big mistakes. Q. What’s the best part of the job? A. The friendships I’ve developed over the years. Q. What is it that keeps you coming back year after year? A. I’m going to miss it when I have to give it up. I like the challenge of going to a game and trying not to miss a call, but I’ll never ref a perfect game. There are too many variables involved in the game with quickness and what’s going on and the size of the guys. You’re going to miss some calls. I don’t have any problems with coaches because I’m consistent and that’s all they want.

FINANCIAL TURMOIL, POLITICAL UNREST, ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY

What are YOU doing to protect YOUR nest egg? With the ﬁnancial markets getting more volatile every day, are you wondering whether you’re ﬁnancially prepared for whatever the future holds?

YOU ARE NOT ALONE A truly conservative investment portfolio is more important than ever. Rick Urciuoli, CFP® and his team at Summit Planning Group have been helping Central New Yorkers create just that for almost 30 years. So, whether your concerns are: • Creating a portfolio that can provide a potential hedge against market volatility • Generating retirement income to meet your needs • Managing your assets to avoid big declines • Preserving your assets to pass on to your heirs • Devising strategies to minimize taxes

SUMMIT PLANNING GROUP CAN HELP Call us for a free no-obligation consultation and... learn how we can help you put “guardrails” around your retirement.

THE RETIREMENT PLANNING SPECIALISTS

344 W. Genesee St., Suite 300, Syracuse, NY 13202 • 315-425-0344 or 800-345-PLAN (7526)

www.summitplan.com

October / November 2011 - 55 PLUS

55 PLUS - October / November 2011