55 Plus CNY, #109: February - March 2024

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR YOUR HEALTH? P 42

SAVORY SOUPS TO SIMMER P. 48

Issue 109 February-March 2024 For Active Adults in Central New York

cny55.com

TIM BENNETT: MY UBER ADVENTURE P. 22

This is Tom Yandon of E. Amherst climbing the Salmon River Falls in northern Oswego County

ADVENTURERS KNOW FEW LIMITS

For some local 55-plussers their sense of adventure seems to know no age or altitude limits — they still actively ski, climb icy waterfalls and mountains ALSO INSIDE

8 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SPRING Including the first complete solar eclipse in the region since 1925

PAUL ROSS ON CHARITY, RUNNING 15 MCDONALD’S IN UPSTATE NEW YORK P. 66

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17 Sunrise Drive Oswego, NY 13126 and collective development to improve our well-being, quality of life To join our talented, professional team, please visit one of our care facilities career pages for 315-342-4790 | www.morningstarcares.com A company philosophy that speaks to a continual process of individual and personal visit onerelationships. of our care facilities career pages for 17 Sunrise Drive Oswego, N available positions. and collective development to improve our well-being, quality of life available positions.

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Our Vision.

220 Tower Street, Waterville, NY 13480 315-342-4790 | www.morningstarcares.com and personal relationships.

RESIDENTIAL CARE C 315-841-4156 | www.watervillecares.com To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use 220 Tower Street, Waterville, ofOur technology, progressive service andOur being aVision. strong community partner.

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RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER Licensed Nurses 132 Ellen Street, Oswego, NY 13126 Our Vision.

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220 Tower Street, Waterville, NY 13480 A s s i s t e d L i v i n g C o m Physical Therapists 315-841-4156 | www.watervillecares.com To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use 315-841-4156 | www.watervillecares.com Licensed Nurses 132 Ellen Street, Oswego, N To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use Occupational of technology,Therapists progressive service andPhysical being aTherapists strong community partner.

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Speech Therapists Occupational Therapists Social Workers Our Team.

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Speech Therapists Recreational Therapists u enni tt ey r Registered Nurses R eA h asbsi il si ttaet d i o nL iavni dn gN uCros m i n gmC Assisted Living Community Social Workers Registered Nurses Dieticians M Licensed Nurses Ellen Street, 100132 St. Camillus Way,Oswego, Fairport,NYNY13126 14450 Aaron Recreational Therapists Licensed Nurses 132 Ellen Street, Oswego, NY 13126 315-343-0880 | www.thegardensbymorningstar.com Nurse Aides 585-377-4000 | www.aaronmanor.com R e h a b i l i t a t i o n a n d N u r s Physical Therapists 315-343-0880 | www.thegardensbymorningstar.com Dieticians Physical Therapists 100 St. Camillus Way, Fairport Occupational Therapists Nurse Aides Occupational Therapists 585-377-4000 | www.aaronm Speech Therapists Speech Therapists Social Workers Aaron Manor Social Workers

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SJH10468_CVI-FY23-55-Plus-7.25x10-V1.indd 1

1/9/24 11:38 AM

Contents

www.cny55.com

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024

XX 22

XX 57

32 XX

Features

Columns

14 Events

38 Photography

• 8 things to look forward to this spring

• Tips for wintertime photography

16 Money

40 Exercise

• Things you must do when you’re 10 years from retirement

• Why learn to swim

17 Essentials • Essential topics you need to discuss with your aging parents

18 Fraud • Fraudsters have developed sophisticated ways to steal your money

22 First Person • My Uber adventure

26 Radio • Oldies N More: From Syracuse’s Eastwood to the world

30 Second Hand • Stores offer value and repurposing for home furnishings

32 Cover • Adventurers know few limits 6

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

42 Health • The single most important thing for your help? Take a guess

45 Shape • How to look years younger

47 Maple • Maple Weekend showcases the labor of 180 NYS producers

48 Soups • Warm up a winter’s day with a steaming bowl

54 Drive • Meet Lauren Miller of Auburn

57 Aging • Who will take care of baby boomers?

• The hard task of downsizing

Savvy Senior 8 Gardening 10 Dining Out 12 Aging 21 Your Health 44 Life After 55 62 Druger’s Zoo 64 Last Page 66

On the Cover Tom Yandon, 78, of E. Amherst, climbs Play It Again Salmon on Falls Road, below Salmon River Falls. He was 58 at the time. Photo provided

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR YOUR HELP? P 42

SAVORY SOUPS TO SIMMER P. 48

Issue 109 February-March 2024 For Active Adults in Central New York

cny55.com

TIM BENNETT: MY UBER ADVENTURE P. 22

This is Tom Yandon of E. Amherst climbing the Salmon River Falls in northern Oswego County

ADVENTURERS KNOW FEW LIMITS

PAUL ROSS ON CHARITY, RUNNING 15 MCDONALS LOCATIONS P. 66

For some local 55-plussers their sense of adventure seems to know no age or altitude limits — they still actively ski, climb icy waterfalls and mountains ALSO INSIDE

8 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SPRING Including the first complete solar eclipse in the region since 1925

Story ideas? Email editor@cny55.com or call 315-342-1182.

To subscribe to the magazine, look for the coupon on pages 56, 20

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FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS CROP MARKS INDICATE

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savvy senior

By Jim Miller

I

How to Fight Back Against Age Discrimination

f you believe your age has cost you in the workplace — whether it’s a job, a promotion or a raise — you have options for fighting back. Here’s what you should know along with some steps to take against this illegal workplace activity.

ADEA Protection The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is your first defense against age discrimination.

This is a federal law that says an employer cannot fire, refuse to hire or treat you differently than other employees because of your age.

Some examples of age discrimination include: • You were fired because your boss wanted to keep younger workers who are paid less.

• You were turned down for a promotion, which went to someone younger hired from outside the company, because the boss says the company “needs new blood.”

• When company layoffs are announced, most of the persons laid off were older, while younger workers with less seniority and less on-the-job experience were kept on.

• Before you were fired, your supervisor made age-related remarks about you.

• You didn’t get hired because the employer wanted a younger-looking person to do the job.

The ADEA protects all workers and job applicants age 40 and over who work for employers that have 20 or more employees. If your workplace has fewer than 20 employees, you may still be protected under your state’s anti-age discrimination law.

Steps to Take If you think you are a victim

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

of employment age discrimination, you may first want to talk to your supervisor informally or file a formal complaint with your company’s human resources department.

If that doesn’t resolve the problem, you should then file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation, but it may be extended to 300 days. You can do this online, by mail or in person at your nearest EEOC office (see EEOC. gov/field-office) or call 800-669-4000.

They will help you through the filing process and let you know if you should also file a charge with your state antidiscrimination agency.

If you do file, be prepared to provide the names of potential witnesses, your notes about agerelated comments and other episodes.

Once the charge is filed, the EEOC will investigate your complaint and find either reasonable cause to believe that age discrimination has occurred, or no cause and no basis for a claim.

After the investigation, the EEOC will then send you their findings along with a “notice-of-right-to-sue,” which gives you permission to file a lawsuit in a court of law.

If you decide to sue, you’ll need to hire a lawyer who specializes in employee discharge suits. To find one, see the National Employment Lawyers Association at NELA.org, or your state bar association at FindLegalHelp.org.

Another option you may want to consider is mediation, which is a fair and efficient way to help you resolve your employment disputes and reach an agreement. The EEOC offers mediation at no cost if your current or former employer agrees to participate. At mediation, you show up with your evidence, your employer presents theirs and the mediator makes a determination within a day or less.

cny55.com Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto Associate Editor Steve Yablonski Writers & Contributors Deborah J. Sergeant Mary Beth Roach, Carol Radin Kimberly Blaker, Cynthia Meason Barbara Pierce, Tim Bennett Columnists Marilyn Pinsky, Jim Sollecito Marvin Druger, Michelle Reed, Jim Miller, Christopher Malone Advertising Amy Gagliano Pamela Roe Tom Bachman Office Manager Allison Lockwood Layout & Design Angel Campos-Toro Cover Photo Provided

55 Plus: A Magazine for Active Adults in Central New York is published six times a year by Local News, Inc. at 185 E. Seneca St. P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126.

Subscription: $30 a year; $40 for two years © 2024 by 55 Plus: A Magazine for Active Adults in Central New York.

No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher.

How to Reach Us P.O. Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126

Phone: 315-342-1182 Fax: 315-342-7776 Email: editor@cny55.com Editor@cnyhealth.com

UPSTATE CARDIOLOGY CONTINUES TO GROW Get The Upstate Advantage for your heart. Our united expertise brings you advanced technology and streamlined care. As the Upstate Cardiovascular Group, we provide connections to research and surgical care.

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PHYSICIANS FROM TOP LEFT: Larry S. Charlamb, MD Mark J. Charlamb, MD Jorge Davidenko, MD Christopher A. Nardone, MD Michael Fischi, MD Charles Perla, MD Theresa Waters, DO Andrew M. Weinberg, DO Timothy D. Ford, MD Robert L. Carhart, Jr., MD Debanik Chaudhuri, MD Hani Kozman, MD Sakti Pada Mookherjee, MD Amy Tucker, MD Daniel Villarreal, MD Kiran Devaraj, MD Srikanth Yandrapalli, MD, FACC Courtney Maxey-Jones, MD

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Cardiovascular Group

gardening

By Jim Sollecito

Not Altogether Understood, But Still Appreciated

Jim Sollecito: “Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end.”

I

n my lifetime I have been fortunate to visit art galleries in a variety of countries. Sometimes the work moves me. Other times it inspires me to move on. After all, art and a lot of life, is subjective. And art can be found in nature, anywhere and everywhere.

Especially at this time of year, I just love looking at the structure of trees without foliage, revealing their true personalities.

The success of fallen seeds and nuts becoming a tree is hardly automatic. Estimates give a one in

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3,000,000 chance of that happening. I guess every standing tree is by some definition a miracle, part of a process that depends on a number of factors.

Every year the forest refreshes and replenishes itself substantially by applying a coat of fresh leaves to the ground, enhancing the soil with organics. Sitting still in the woods, I can hear a single leaf leave its arboreal home and find a new place on the Earth. The leaf actually makes a sound

through departure called abscission.

This fallen debris will become part of the soil profile. Every story has a beginning, a middle and end. At the end of a leaf’s life, something else benefits. There are no winners or losers in nature, but a series of evolving consequences.

Having multiple-aged plant structures increases the value of any property. Some age out, others become stronger as they add annual growth rings. Although the days of hearing falling foliage are done for this year there is still visual interest and structural value in the vertical form. Studying bonsai in Japan, I also learned that even when a plant died it was kept and cherished, as the form still had intrinsic value.

The holey basswood tree in the photo, thoroughly appreciated by woodpeckers, has become a protected home for other creatures. The resulting small shredded bits of wood also enrich the ground below. Horticulturally, more added organics, including those that improve and create soil, will result in even more thriving plant and animal diversity. Taking a lesson from nature, where a lot of lessons are taught, organics create life.

Repurposed stones claimed from the nearby plowed field form an eyecatching vertical line that is attractive on both sides. This is a good goal when considering changes to our landscapes this year. Utilitarian and visually appealing from multiple views.

Some trees, such as beech, hold their leaves well into winter. The clinging of spent leaves to branches is called marcescence. During that time studying Japanese bonsai I learned that certain trees keep their leaves to help protect the new buds from drying out.

In this forest, the younger red oak trees have marcescent leaves, while older trees readily shed.

I find life lessons every time I go into woodlands. Hearing the gentle rustling of retained leaves while walking in the woods is a gentle reminder that even when we might not fully understand something, we can still appreciate it.

Jim Sollecito is the first lifetime senior certified landscape professional in New York State. He operates Sollecito Landscaping Nursery in Syracuse. Contact him at 315-468-1142 or jim@sollecito.com.

Turning 65 or just confused about Medicare?

Are you paying too much for your prescriptions?

Do you qualify for Medicaid?

Do you have enough $$$ set aside for your funeral?

Do you qualify to get money back in your Social Security check?

AARON BALLARD

President & Owner, Ballard & Associates, LLC.

Call me to set up in-person or over the phone consultation and let me help you, at no cost!!

315-374-1783 www.ballardassoc.com • ballardassoc@gmail.com We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

IS DOWNSIZING IN YOUR FUTURE? We can help! Are you considering moving to a smaller home or maybe moving out of state? Are you looking at senior communities? We want to guide you from beginning to end! We will start with a free consultation to understand your situation. We can support you through every step with our unyielding compassion and years of experience in real estate! Call or text at 315-663-6633 with any questions.

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FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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Dining Out - RESTAURANT GUIDE

BAILIWICK MARKET AND CAFE BRIDGES CULINARY, COMMUNITY Elbridge cafe is more than meets the eye

W

hile driving down Route 5 through Elbridge, there’s a lot to see no matter which direction of travel.

There’s an orchard and farms, a school and a library, a golf course, several small businesses boasting Italian food to furniture and even larger businesses like Tessy Plastics. A lot is going on for a small community.

One of the more notable aspects of the route is Bailiwick Market and Cafe. If the notable red and while building doesn’t catch drivers’ eyes, the metallic statue of a steaming coffee mug certainly will; it’s a fitting hint for those unfamiliar with the eatery, which has been around since 2016.

Where the exterior of Bailiwick hoots country inspiration, its interior hollers mountain-town chalet.

The rustic Bailiwick is highlighted by its wooden furnishings, a notable loft area and a large fireplace. During the winter holiday season, where wreaths 12

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

By Christopher Malone and stockings and other decorations emphasized a cozy atmosphere, the year-round cafe adapts to Central New York’s seasons.

What also stands out are the crafts — clothing (mittens and hats), cards and various food items — made by community artists.

Aside from food, Bailiwick strives to be a go-to for small gift shopping. In my opinion, it succeeds.

Where it also excels, the cafe and gathering place, which offers a plethora of tables, also hosts live music featuring regional performers.

Bailiwick offers all the meals of the day, including the weekend-favorited brunch. The concise menu, which can be found immediately as patrons walk in, is also found on a chalkboard above the register, where you order.

You’ll receive a buzzer, which will start shaking uncontrollably when your food is ready to be picked up at the counter, a few feet down from

where the order was placed. The condiment, utensil and napkin station as well as the trash and dirty plate and tray station can conveniently be found as soon as you turn around.

OK — the food.

On my visits to Bailiwick, I opted for one of their coffee drinks and orange sodas. I’m unsure if the soda was made in-house (the label reads that the label itself was made in New Hampshire) but it was a healthier carbonated beverage with actual cane sugar and basic ingredients instead of the junk.

The campfire latte for the winter morning sounded delightful. The cafe-made toasted marshmallow syrup joined espresso and whole milk, cocoa and cayenne pepper. The concoction was nothing short of warm and comforting. The cayenne added a slight but not overpowering kick.

The Bonta Bridge sandwich sounded too good to pass up with

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1. Coffee at Bailiwick Market and Café: The cafe-made toasted marshmallow syrup joined espresso and whole milk, cocoa and cayenne pepper. 2. The Bonta Bridge sandwich with roast beef, New York cheddar and horseradish sauce — by lettuce, tomatoes and pickled onions between halves of ciabatta bread. 3. The weekly Bailiwick bowl special featured salmon atop a bed of quinoa and broccoli; a garlic butter sauce drizzled over the top livened things up. The generous piece of salmon was cooked perfectly and not overly seasoned. roast beef, New York cheddar and horseradish sauce. These ingredients were joined by lettuce, tomatoes and pickled onions between halves of ciabatta bread. The crispy toasted bread and flavor of the sauce were noteworthy along with the fresh ingredients. Although the kettle chips may not have been homemade, the bread and butter pickles could have been eaten by the handful; I’m not one to go for bread and butter pickles either, and these were top-notch.

The weekly Bailiwick bowl special featured either steak or salmon atop a bed of quinoa and broccoli; a garlic butter sauce drizzled over the top livened things up. The generous piece of salmon was cooked perfectly and not overly seasoned. The flaky fish fell apart easily, boasted great color and was deciduous with the quinoa and crispy broccoli. The special, which varies weekly, came with an appropriate $15 cost.

The beef on weck, a personal favorite item of mine, was the polarizing item I ordered. The tender roast beef sat in a small pile between the halves of the in-house kimmelweck roll. The roll was fantastic with scarce caraway seeds and salt, a gateway roll for those not a huge fan of caraway.

The $14 sandwich was served with a heaping pile of french fries and a cup of au jus to dip the sandwich in (and fries, too).

The beef by itself, despite how it was cooked, fell flat a little with flavor.

The amount was pretty minimal, too, resulting in a very bread-heavy sandwich. I was also surprised it wasn’t served with cheddar, horseradish and even onion. Maybe I’m living in the Clark’s Ale House past but I’ve enjoyed other roast beef sandwiches touting the same presentation or at least explaining the option of having such things.

As a sweet treat, is the homemade ice cream from Bailiwick’s Field of Creams ice cream line. The hard ice cream is served year-round with several options including seasonal varieties. I love a good scoop with chocolate and peanut butter, and their “Dirt Road” had both with a bonus of cookie crumbs. I also got a scoop of the “Just Got Dumped.”

Where this is not an attestation of my relationship status, this guilty pleasure ice cream has just about everything anyone could ask for: caramel swirl, Chocolate Pizza Company chocolate-covered potato chips and pretzels, almond toffee and

more chocolate cookie crumbs.

No matter the time of year and no matter the temperature, ice cream is an appropriate treat. The homemade, meltable, sweet and savory dessert was nothing short of satisfying.

The total came to around $60.

Bailiwick Market & Cafe has something for everyone, whether it be for a quick gift, a warm and comforting meal or cool off with some loved ones or friends over coffee and conversation.

Bailiwick Market & Cafe 441 NY-5 Elbridge, NY 13060 315-277-5632 bailiwickmarket.com facebook.com/ bailiwickmarketandcafe instagram.com/bailiwickmarketcafe Sun.: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Mon. - Wed.: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Thurs. - Sat.: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

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April 8: First complete solar eclipse in the region since 1925.

8 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SPRING

Annual events and one-time-only events are coming to CNY early this year

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

lthough we have a few months of gray weather ahead before spring, you still have interesting things to look forward to spring 2024 — including eight exceptional events.

1 • Feb. 2-3 offers the Syracuse Winter Fair. Although it may feel like an indoors mini version of The Great New York State Fair and it’s also held at the fairgrounds, the two are not associated. Nonetheless, Syracuse Winter Fair offers favorite festival foods, rides and live entertainment that feel like the big fair. Why not take the grandkids out for the day?

More info: https://nysfairgrounds. ny.gov/events/winter-fair

2 • Feb. 22-24 is the New York Farm Show in Syracuse. It’s more than 14

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just an industry expo for farmers.

Landowners, homeowners and anyone interested in agricultural life will find plenty to see among the 400 vendors, free workshops and demonstrations, all among six buildings on the fairgrounds. Free shuttles run all day among the buildings.

More info: https://nysfairgrounds. ny.gov/events/new-york-farm-show

March 15-17 offers the Home and Garden Show for gearing up for the spring season. Peruse dozens of vendors at the Exposition Center at the NYS Fairgrounds for inspiration.

More info: https://nysfairgrounds. ny.gov/events/home-and-gardenshow

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March 9 is when you can see more than 100 vendors set up at the Salt City Spring Antiques Show Syracuse.

For more than 30 years, the event has brought choice antiques to sell at the fairgrounds. Attendees can also connect with potential buyers for their own antiques.

More info: (https:// nysfairgrounds.ny.gov/events/saltcity-spring-antiques-show) in

March 16-17 and 23-24 is Maple Weekend at farms statewide. More than 180 farms and museums host free open houses that may include farm tours, maple history, activities for children (bring the grandkids!), samples, product sales, sap boiling, tapping and spile-driving demonstrations and pancake breakfasts. Except for breakfasts and museum tours, these events are free. Most farms will host their Maple Weekend events rain or shine but visit their social media

page before heading out to confirm hours and other details. Keep in mind that the farm sites are working farms and dress with appropriate footwear and with the weather in mind. Visit https://nysmaple.com/retail-dealers to find farms around CNY and to see which farms are participating in Maple Weekend.

More info: https://nysmaple. com/retail-dealers

In Office Teeth Whitening in 1 Hour

6 March 22-23 is the area’s largest and longest-running beer festival, CNY Brewfest in Syracuse. More than 100 breweries will participate, along with other local vendors and live entertainment. Ticket sales are limited, so it pays to purchase them early.

More info: www.facebook.com/ CentralNewYorkBrewfest

7 March 28-31, plan to attend Salt City Cluster Spring Dog Show in Syracuse. This AKC-sanctioned show includes all-breed conformation and junior showmanship, plus an obedience trial. Numerous vendors will offer canine items as well, so you can find some new supplies and gear for your pal.

More info: www.raudogshows. com/upcoming-shows

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8 April 8 represents the first complete solar eclipse in the region since January 24, 1925. Don’t wait for the next one. That won’t happen until 2045. Since CNY lies directly in the path of the eclipse, you can view it (with your solar glasses for safety) at 3:23 p.m. for one minute and 24 seconds in Oswego, Syracuse and the surrounding area. Vist the websites listed below to learn about special eclipse events. There’s the 2024 Solar Eclipse Festival at the Museum of Science & Technology (https://www. most.org/solareclipse2024), events scheduled for Thompson Park in Watertown and many more across the region.

More info: w w w. v i s i t s y r a c u s e . c o m / syracuse-eclipse-2024 www.oswegony.org/solar-eclipse watertownnewyorkeclipse.com FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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money THINGS YOU MUST DO WHEN YOU’RE 10 YEARS FROM RETIREMENT

By Cynthia Measom

A

s you approach the decade b e f o r e yo u r r e t i r e m e n t , yo u m i g h t f i n d yo u r s e l f contemplating whether all of your financial ducks are in a row.

“In your 50s, you are in the prime of your life, the kids are out of college, and you’re helping them get started,” said Brent Weiss, certified financial planner and head of financial wellness at Facet. “Family expenses start to ease, you’re in your highest earning years and you start to see retirement on the horizon. You may also be dealing with parents that are getting older and starting to need a little help now and then. This is when most people become laser-focused on retirement.”

The 10 years before you retire are a valuable window of opportunity.

Here are five money moves you must make, according to a financial planning expert.

Take Advantage of Catch-Up Contributions

If you haven’t taken advantage of catch-up contributions and are of age to do so, now is the time to start.

“Once you turn 50,” Weiss said, “you can make catch-up contributions to various retirement plans. For 2023, you can now contribute up to $7,500 more to your 401(k), 403(b), federal Thrift Savings Plan and most 457 plans. Traditional IRA and Roth IRA contributions increased to $6,500 per year, up from $6,000. You can also add an extra $1,000 per year to your health savings account, but you have to wait until age 55. Now is the time to supercharge your savings.”

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

Reassess Your Investments and Risks As you approach retirement, Weiss said, your investment priorities should start to shift from growth to protecting what you’ve already saved.

“This doesn’t mean being too conservative” he said, “as you will still need your money to last decades into retirement, but assess your overall level of risk to make sure you are comfortable with it. And don’t forget the trade-off between investing more or paying off debt — like your mortgage.

There is no right or wrong answer, but it’s an important decision to make.”

Prioritize Tax Diversification for Investments “Having different accounts that are taxed differently puts you in control of how you create income in retirement and helps you minimize your taxes,” Weiss said. “You want to invest in different types of accounts like a 401(k), Roth IRA and a taxable investment account. And with kids out of the house, a health savings account could be a great way to save for retirement healthcare costs due to its tax advantages.”

Assess Your Retirement Readiness To a s s e s s y o u r r e t i r e m e n t readiness, Weiss said, it’s important to take a good look at what your expenses may be in retirement and size up your income sources and your investments.

“You’ll want to determine how much income you will need, what you

are on track to have and identify any gaps,” he advised. “This assessment can help you develop a strategy to reach your retirement goal. If you’re feeling behind, that’s OK. There are still planning moves you can make, but you need to act now.”

Focus on Health and Well-Being “Retirement healthcare costs are one of the biggest expenses you will face,” Weiss said. “Making sure you are in good shape physically can substantially reduce your costs. And now is the right time to begin planning for long-term care (LTC). Not everyone needs LTC insurance, but everyone needs a plan for the costs of ongoing care that health insurance doesn’t cover.”

Additional Information as You Prepare for Retirement Weiss offered the following key numbers to measure your progress. He said to keep in mind that no number is right or wrong for you. Instead, he said these are guidelines to help you assess where you stand: — How much of your income to put away: “15% is good, 20% is ideal and 20%+ is great,” he said.

— Your savings goal for when you hit 60: Aim to have eight times to 12 times your annual household income saved.

Article previously published online at GOBankingRates.com. Reprinted with permission.

ESSENTIAL TOPICS YOU NEED TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR AGING PARENTS

M

any adult children don’t know much about their elderly parent’s financial situation or end-of-life plans,but they need to. Getting up to speed on their finances, insurance policies, long-term care plans and other information is important because some day you might have to help them handle their financial affairs or care, or execute their estate plan after they die. Without this information, your job becomes much more difficult. Here are some tips that can help.

Have the Conversation If you’re uncomfortable talking to your parents about this, use this column as a prompt or see TheConversationProject.org, which offers free guides that can help you kick-start these discussions.

It’s also a good idea to get all your siblings involved too. This can help you head off any possible hard feelings, plus, with others involved, your parents will know everyone is concerned.

When you talk with your parents, you’ll need to collect some information, find out where they keep key documents and how they want certain things handled when they die or if they become incapacitated. Here’s a checklist of areas to focus on.

Personal Information • Contacts: Make a list of names and phone numbers of your parent’s doctors, lawyer, accountant, broker, tax preparer, insurance agent, etc.

By Jim Miller

• Medical information: Make a copy of their medical history and a list of medications they take.

• Personal documents: Find out where they keep their Social Security card, marriage license, military discharge papers, etc.

• Secured places: Make a list of places they keep under lock and key such as safe deposit boxes, safe combination, security alarms, etc.

• Digital assets: Make a list of their digital assets — everything from social media accounts to online banking. It should include usernames and passwords.

• Pets: If they have a pet, what are their instructions for the animal’s care?

• End of life: What are their wishes for organ or body donation, and their funeral instructions? If they’ve made pre-arrangements with a funeral home, get a copy of the agreement.

Legal Documents • Will: Do they have an updated will or trust, and where is it located?

• Power of attorney: Do they have a power of attorney document that names someone to handle their financial matters if they become incapacitated?

• Advance directives: Do they have a living will and a medical power of attorney that spells out their wishes regarding their end-of-life medical treatment? If they don’t have these documents prepared, now’s the time to make them.

Financial Records • Financial accounts: Make a list of their bank accounts, brokerage and mutual fund accounts and any other financial assets they have.

• Debts and liabilities: Make a list of any loans, leases or debts they have — mortgages owed, car loans, student loans, medical bills, credit card debts. Also, make a list of all credit and charge cards, including the card numbers and contact information.

• Company benefits: Make a list of any retirement plans, pensions or benefits from their former employers including the contact information of the benefits administrator.

• Insurance: Make a list of the insurance policies they have (life, longterm care, home, auto, Medicare, etc.) including the policy numbers, agents and phone numbers.

• Property: Make a list of the real estate, vehicles or other properties they own, rent or lease and where they keep the deeds, titles and loan or lease agreements.

• Taxes: Find out where they keep copies of past year’s tax returns.

You’re probably not going to get all this figured out in one gathering, so it’s important to keep the conversation going to ensure your parent’s wishes will be accurately executed.

Jim Miller is the author of Savvy Senior, a column that is published every issue in 55 PLUS. FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

17

fraud Scam Alert!

Beyond the ‘Grandma Scam,’ fraudsters have developed sophisticated ways to steal your money

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

B

y now, you’ve likely heard of the “grandma scam” where thieves call late at night pretending to be a grandchild needing money to bail them out of an emergency (“but don’t tell Mom and Dad”).

But scammers have become ever more adept at bilking unsuspecting people out of substantial amounts of money. And you don’t have to be someone who is elderly, isolated or struggling with cognition to fall prey to these scams (although these factors increase the likelihood).

Linda Covington, senior account manager for In Good Health and 55 Plus magazine, was targeted recently. She received a phone call from someone claiming to represent Medicare. The caller wanted to see if she had received her new Medicare card in the mail that was mailed out within the past 10 days. Although this kind of a call seemed a little suspicious, Covington felt reassured because the caller recited her correct address.

“I got caught up in this call and long story short, they tricked me, saying it was mailed, and maybe I forgot and already replaced my old card with it, and asked for the Medicare card number of my old card and I gave it to them.”

The call disconnected, signaling to

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

Covington that she had been scammed.

Fortunately, her next step was exactly the right thing to do at that point: request a replacement Medicare card at the real phone number, not the one that had called her.

“I am usually not this gullible, but it happened,” Covington said.

C a s e s l i k e C o v i n g t o n ’ s a re becoming more widespread.

Deb Turner, co-owner of Seniors Helping Seniors, serves Oswego, Cayuga, Seneca, and Wayne counties.

She said that she knows of many people receiving similar calls — and even she received one, despite not having the card.

“I think seniors have to be really cautious these days,” Turner said.

Her mother also received a Medicare card scam call.

The information that people share often helps scammers. The obituary of Turner’s father-in-law contained all of the grandchildren’s names. A few months later, Turner’s mother-inlaw received a call from a scammer claiming to be her grandson, but since he called her “Grandma” and not “Granny” as her actual grandchildren would, she became suspicious and ended the call.

“My mother-in-law said it was disturbing when they called,” Turner

said. “She felt sick because she thought her grandson was in trouble, but she got her wits about her and said to call their mother.”

Her best advice regarding strange calls is to hang up the phone and call a trusted person knowledgeable about what’s going on and to never provide or confirm information over the phone.

Justin McCabe, scam and fraud prevention coordinator at Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan in Rochester, works with only those who have been scammed by unknown offenders. He said the department receives “15 to 20 calls weekly,” representing losses ranging from $15,00 to even $900,000 — life savingssized losses that leave retirees destitute at a time when they will never be able to recoup their assets.

Many of these scams involve a call, text or email that purposefully targets older adults. McCabe said that they’re particularly targeted because they have substantial savings, tend to want to help and can be too trusting at times.

McCabe said that the kidnapping scam has been increasing. Scammers call claiming that a loved one has been kidnapped and demand a ransom — even though that relative is safe at home. The call becomes very convincing when the recipient hears

their loved one’s voice over the phone.

“There are a million free sites for voice cloning,” McCabe said. “They get an audio of the person’s voice from a video posted online or voicemail. They run it through the system and it makes it say whatever they want.”

Scammers can also make fake videos showing the “kidnapped” person based on videos the “kidnapping victim” posted on social media.

The caller instructs the victim not to call the authorities and that the ransom must be paid right away.

“With scammers being out of the country, it’s very hard for law enforcement to do much,” he said.

“The federal government pushes more education to make people realize scammers are out there. They call 100 people and maybe only three will take the bait. They can make $10,000 to $15,000 or more a person.”

McCabe encourages everyone to make their social media pages private.

This can help curtail deepfake videos and scam calls. Otherwise, it’s easy for scammers to glean information like birthdays, travel plans, email addresses, phone numbers and relatives’ names because “it’s much easier for them to scam you if they know more about you,” he said.

It may also help to have “safe” word to share to ensure that the caller is a known person.

Shaking down people for information that can help with identity theft represents a trending means of swindling. Scammers may call claiming to represent a bank or government entity, such as with Covington’s Medicare scammer.

Usually, the scammer will ask to “verify” information — information they then either sell or use to bilk victims.

“Always call people back using a known number, especially if it’s about anything financial,” McCabe said.

“Whenever customer service calls, they document it. Pull out your card and call the number on it. 99% of the time, it’s a scam.”

It’s not even safe to trust caller ID, as thieves use technology to mask their true phone number and make your bank or credit card company’s phone number appear.

McCabe said that scammers typically call presenting a problem, such as a shipment delay, large charge

Justin McCabe is a scam and fraud prevention coordinator at Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan in Rochester. He says his department receives 15 to 20 calls weekly, representing losses ranging from $15 to even $900,000. “With scammers being out of the country, it’s very hard for law enforcement to do much,” he says. on a credit card or IRS issue. Usually, they pump the victim for information and then demand immediate payment to avoid terrible consequences such as a canceled order, fees, or legal action.

The payment required is always in the form of a wire transfer, gift card, crypto currency, cash in the mail or peer to peer transfer platform like Cash App, Venmo or Velle. These are untraceable and nonrefundable.

“No legitimate company or government agency will take gift cards as payment,” McCabe said.

Catfishing scams are still going strong, where scammers present themselves online as a romantic interest, but in fact may not be at all the person represented, or even one person. McCabe said that often, catfish scammers launder money through several victims they bilk at the same time.

“With the romance scams, it’s very

difficult to catch them,” McCabe said.

He added that victims are often isolated widows or widowers who feel lonesome and end up losing all of their savings.

“They’ve taken out second and third mortgages and they lose their homes and have to find a place to live,” he added.

For those who cash out their investments, the IRS will expect taxes to be paid on the money withdrawn.

The state of New York does try to work with victims about this issue.

Through a lengthy process, the New York Office of Victim Services can help people get back up to $2,500, but it’s only $100 for each instance of transferred money. Someone who wired one transfer of $300,000 to a scammer would get only $100, just as would someone who wired one transfer of $3,000. But someone who wired $100 three times would receive FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

19

$300.

“Ninety-eight percent of victims don’t get their money back,” McCabe said.

Another type of fraud is the tech support scam. The criminal poses as a representative of a legitimate company such as an antivirus company or computer firm, claiming that the computer has been infected, needs updating or has illicit material on it like child pornography.

McCabe said that many of these calls come from India, “as they have a huge population of out-of-work IT people,” he said.

Or spyware causes a pop-up to appear with a phone number. Once the victim calls the number, the scam begins. When the scammer gains remote access by the victim providing them the correct information, the scammer turns off any antivirus software present and begins harvesting information vital for identity theft.

McCabe said that people should never call the number in a pop-up ad or respond to someone on the phone or via email who claims the computer or phone has a problem.

Identity theft is so rampant that McCabe said it’s a good idea to pull

a credit report occasionally to ensure that nothing is going on. Doing so is free and does not harm credit ratings.

In addition to new accounts you didn’t open, look for “hard enquiries” that you don’t recognize. This means that someone applied for credit in your name.

“A lot of people don’t realize they’re victims of identity theft until a year later when that debt is sold to a debt collector,” McCabe said. “Look for addresses and phone numbers that aren’t yours.”

This can indicate a scammer has been using your identity.

Fishy Shopping Deals Ever see enticing shopping deals promoted on social media?

Linda Covington learned the hard way that these are often too good to be true. She has also experienced two online shopping scams where the company did not send what they advertised.

“In both cases, unbeknownst to me, the companies were from China and they are scammers,” Covington said. “One of them, Cora Cora Clothing, has false customers’ reviews on their website.”

The wrongly sized clothing looked unlike its appearance online and to return it, she had to ship it to China — much more costly than

to its previously stated location in New Jersey. Covington lost $40 on that shopping attempt.

T h e s e c o n d c o m p a n y, Arosebrden, which she also spotted on social media, arbitrarily added $12 to the order and sent an item made of plastic, not the advertised sea glass.

“I paid $46 for a plastic, eightinch tree,” Covington said.

She advises people considering an order from an unknown company to first search for independent customer reviews related to the company and to not rely on reviews the company posts.

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aging

By Marilyn L. Pinsky

Non Sequitur: Parts 1 and 2

T

his column is a series of two non sequiturs. I’m not sure if that’s the right word, but how often do you actually get to say non sequitur? Anyway, I think it makes me sound intellectual.

Our building has a Friendsgiving dinner where everyone signs up on a list to bring a dish. It was my first time out and, of course, I managed to mess up the list.

In a moment of exuberance I had signed up for mashed potatoes, forgetting I was no longer in Oz or, rather, Syracuse, where my Kitchen Aid mixer with its large bowl and beaters resided, and where my two human potato peelers known as daughters who would come to help cook.

To be perfectly honest, it was my sister-in-law who actually made the mashed potatoes for a large group.

And she passed away.

But that’s not my excuse.

I’m going with the lack of peelers.

So I scratched mashed potatoes out on the list and wrote I would bring a vegetable instead.

Now I was committed to bringing a vegetable. I told the organizer I would check with the other people to be sure I didn’t duplicate. I mean, one green bean casserole is good, but three or four? And to atone for messing up the list, I offered to dress up as the vegetable I brought…or not.

After careful research I was now set to bring Brussels sprouts, but at the last minute I got very excited when I saw that the person who had previously signed up for sweet potatoes had crossed it out and switched to rolls, therefore leaving, what seemed to me at the time, sweet potatoes up for grabs. I figured I wouldn’t mess up the list anymore by writing on it as it was already the day before and the category looked wide open.

I know you are all hanging at

the edge of your seats to see how this played out. So I won’t hold you in suspense any longer. I ran to the grocery, calling my sister-in-law, Stephanie, on the way to make sure I had the recipe right and bought four large cans of sweet potatoes, bags of marshmallows, sticks of butter and brown sugar…stuff I don’t normally keep in the house.

Then, disaster hit!

An hour before the dinner, when I happened to look at the list, I saw that, totally out of left field, someone else had already signed up for sweet potatoes. But by then it was too late.

I had no time to switch once again.

And forget the atoning outfit; there is no good way to dress up as a sweet potato casserole. Even the Brussels sprouts would have been a stretch.

And as recrimination, their casserole was better than mine. Chopped nuts beat out marshmallows as a topping.

I know there’s a lesson in all this and I just hope I learned it.

In another lesson learned category, I will now switch to body parts.

I made an appointment with an

orthopedist as my left knee was really bothering me. The appointment was a month out, so I was being careful not to aggravate it while exercising and even started walking a little more slowly. I had just taken up Pilates and, as that was the only new activity, I figured that I was doing something wrong that was causing the problem. Nope. The explanation is so stupid that I debated even writing about it, especially after the sweet potato debacle. But maybe I could help some other idiot out there — I mean fellow human.

As you know, I recently moved.

My new kitchen has drawers on the bottom instead of doors and it’s where I keep the dishes and the pots and pans, things you use for every meal.

Somehow I got in the habit of shutting the drawers with, you guessed it, pushing them with my left knee. Once that dawned on me, I also realized I was shutting the refrigerator door the same way. And the bathroom drawers.

If there are any other sore knees from hitting things out there, let’s form a support group for dummies.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

21

Tim Bennett of Syracuse ready to hit the road as an Uber driver.

MY UBER

ADVENTURE

An Uber driver looks back after six years and 6,000 miles on the road

By Tim Bennett

“

You are sooo handsome! How many hearts have you broken?”

I turned to look at the zealous 80-year-old lady in my backseat in shock and with a complete loss for words. I had just stopped at the entrance of a local hospital to pick up my riders for Uber — apparently a middle-aged daughter and her mother.

Going on 72 (or at any age), I have never considered myself irresistible to the opposite sex — and with my teeth and hair deserting me and a growing paunch, even less so.

Yet, somehow, I had caught this older lady’s fancy. (Was she on strong medication?) Her daughter had just helped her in the car and was going around to the other passenger door when she erupted with this sudden effusion of flattery. I was tempted to say, “Oh, probably thousands” to play along, but held my tongue. I didn’t want to sound conceited with my new status as most attractive male Uber driver in Central New York. The funny thing about it was, once her daughter got in the car, she returned to normal. In fact, the conversation was so normal on the way to their house, I had to shake my head in disbelief after I dropped them off. Did that lady really say that, or was I just imagining it?

As you can see, being an Uber driver gives you a rare opportunity to meet all kinds of people. But let me give you a little back story on how I became an Uber driver. I had

been working as a market researcher since 2006 when Uber came to town in 2017. Unfortunately, during that time, the market research industry had dried up considerably. In fact, market researchers like myself had dwindled to 10 people in our company when in 2006 there had been more than 100 people “smiling and dialing.”

Over the years, the public was obviously less enthused about doing surveys of any kind and it was taking longer and longer to get people to answer questions on the phone. As a result, I began dreading going to work — even after taking early Social Security and working only three days a week. I thought maybe a two-week vacation would renew my motivation.

It didn’t.

Enter Uber on the Syracuse stage.

A woman at work said she was driving for Uber and loving it. I saw it as my ticket out of tedium and convinced my wife it was a valid alternative to making money. Plus, I could choose my own hours and nobody was looking over my shoulder. Another benefit was if my wife and I wanted to visit our adult children’s families on a weekend or go to a grandchild’s sporting event during the week, I could just work other days.

In terms of a job, nothing could be easier. The Uber app tells you where to go with a map and a voice.

OK, sometimes the voice gets on your nerves, but you can always turn it off.

I can listen to audio books or music as I drive. I get to go to places I’ve never been before and meet people from all walks of life. I’ve met a helicopter pilot trainer, a Special Forces commander, a judge, a hockey player, students from around the world, professional baseball players, a pro bowler, a voice coach for Broadway musicals, a crypto coin enthusiast and a comic book creator, among many others.

You might wonder if being an Uber driver is dangerous. After driving for six years with more than 6,000 trips under my belt, there was really only one that fell into that category. It started with a call from a local bar. A text message from a woman revealed that things could get “strange.”

At the bar, two couples got into my car — the two women in back with one of the guys and one guy in front.

They were probably in their early 40s.

Apparently, the two men — normally friends according to one of the women — were upset with one another. One had hit the other below the belt in the bar and now the offended party (in the back) wanted to fight him once they got out of the car. They yelled obscenities at each other right from the get-go. I tried to distract them by offering to play their favorite type of music on Sirius radio. “Country” a woman said. I switched it on. The cursing and vulgarity continued.

Finally, I said, “Excuse me, guys. Could we tone down all the FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

23

obscenities?” The women immediately voiced their agreement: “Yeah!”

The more belligerent guy in the back seat became calm and asked a random question, “Did you have a rough life or something?”

I figured I’d be honest. “Well, I think everyone has some rough times now and then.” To which he said nothing for a few minutes and then resumed his vulgarities with renewed gusto. The guy in front, however, was apologetic whenever he slipped, but his “friend” remained unremorseful.

I was relieved when we pulled up to a middle class-type home in the suburbs. The woman in the rear passenger seat got out and the man next to her started to slide out when he stopped and said, “You know, you really shouldn’t be an Uber driver.

In fact, why don’t you get out of the f**king car right now, you p**sy. Let’s fight!”

His wife, in the meantime, was pushing hard on his cheek with her hand to discourage more talking. But he couldn’t help himself. He spouted, “Get the hell outa here!” as he exited my vehicle.

My last view of the four of them was standing side by side in the light 24

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

of my low beams.

My only positive takeaway from the ride was, maybe he no longer wanted to fight his friend, having vented all his anger at me. I notified Uber of the incident. The woman, whose credit card was used for the ride, selected the Uber tag, “Night time hero” to describe me.

Fortunately, the percentage of riders like that are infinitesimal. Some of my funnier ones include the call I got from the commercial mall, Destiny USA. As I drove up to the food court entrance, I saw a group of four young Asian students from Syracuse University. One was carrying a huge mattress. In my mind I am thinking, Lord, no, please. There’s no way that thing is going to fit in my Kia Forte with four people! Sure enough, they were my passengers.

At first I complained and urged them to get a larger vehicle, but the young man with the mattress countered my reservations with, “It’s OK. It’s OK. I’ll just fold it and put it on our laps!” And that’s what he did.

One student took the front seat and the three others held the mattress on their laps. I couldn’t see them but I thought,

Well, at least they’ll be well-protected if we have an accident!

Another time a young AfricanAmerican woman got into my car with her 5-year-old son. I sometimes offer candy or mints to my riders so when we reached their destination I asked the lady if I could give a piece of candy to her son. She politely said, “Thank you, but no.” This, of course, put the boy into a foul mood. When I turned to wish them a good day, he stared at my mouth and said bluntly, “What happened to your teeth?” His mom was clearly embarrassed by his remark, so I quickly turned it into a show-and-tell lesson that supported her views: “Well, my boy. That’s what happens when you eat too much candy. You lose some teeth. So, listen to your mom and make sure you brush every day.”

Probably my favorite trip was with a young South Korean-American woman I picked up at the Syracuse International Airport. Her flight had been delayed and she had waited at the airport for two hours before learning her flight was cancelled. She, therefore, had to return to Cornell University the next day.

During our conversation I got to

share how my life had changed as a young person when I had put my faith in God. When I dropped her off she thanked me for my sharing and said she felt I was a godsend because she had been grappling with her family Christian beliefs in college. She strongly believed it wasn’t an accident I had turned out to be her driver. When she got out of the car, she smiled and then spontaneously gave me a hug. Of course, I was then thankful that she was thankful so I did what any writer would do, I gave her one of my books, my young adults’ novel, “Runaways.”

Pros of Driving for Uber 1. You make your own schedule, even drop out for months and still be on the books.

2. You meet interesting people.

3. You can write off the mileage you use while on the Uber app (not just when riders are in the car).

4. You are motivated to keep your car clean.

5. On good days you can make $30 an hour or more.

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Cons of Driving for Uber 1. Uber sometimes jerks you around by changing the incentives week to week.

2. On bad days you only make $20 an hour or less.

3. If you have problems it can take time to resolve them because there is no middle management.

The “Help” call center is in the Philippines.

4 . Yo u d o n o t g e t p e r s o n a l affirmation for doing a good job.

5. The Uber umbrella car insurance policy has a deductible of $2,500 if accident is not covered by your own insurance.

Tim Bennett is an award-winning author who lives in Syracuse. His articles have appeared in a wide variety of magazines and newspapers.

His books include: “To Uber or Not to Uber,” “Runaways,” “With a Grain of Salt,” “Salt for the Supper Table,” and “My Life Zero to Sixty” (co-written by Terry Bish).

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Joe Troiano broadcasts on his internet radio station, “Oldies and More.” The station runs 24 hours a day and seven days a week with Troiano and 26 other DJ’s.

Troiano gets ready to send out another song to his “Oldies N More” listening audience. At any given time, a show will capture at least 4,000 listeners.

Oldies N More: From Eastwood to the World

Joe Troiano is in charge of 26 DJs who play music 24/7 on his Oldies N More internet music station. His own show, “Joe T’s Soda Shop,” airs from his basement Monday through Thursday. At least 4,000 listeners around the world tune in

By Carol Radin

T

he first record Joe Troiano ever bought was “Love Letters in the Sand” by Pat Boone.

That was a 45 rpm vinyl, the one where you stuck the adaptor disk in the middle, positioned it on the turntable and lowered the tone arm.

Troiano was pre-teen and every week when he came by money from his allowance or such odd jobs as a 12year old could get, he would go to the record store, where Perry Como, Paul Anka, Bobby Rydell, the Chimes and the Mystics called out to him.

Now 78, Troiano has made his childhood preoccupation a life-long playlist which he broadcasts from

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

Syracuse’s Eastwood neighborhood to the world on his internet radio station, “Oldies N More.”

He anchors the station with his own show “Joe T’s Soda Shop,” a fourhour marathon of hits and memories from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

When he started the “Oldies N More” station in 2020, he had 10 other disc jockeys. Now three years later, the station pops 24-7 with 26 DJs and listeners all over the globe.

“I know my listening audience,” Troiano said. “People in the 55-plus age market. And I want them to know they have a choice. They are not forgotten.

My listeners know I’m going to give

them the best!”

“Oldies N More” is the natural outcome for a guy with Troiano’s life-long experience in disc jockeying, radio stations and local connections on the music scene.

Even with full-time employment, first at Naum Brothers household goods store on Erie Boulevard and then 30 years with the U.S. Postal Service, Troiano has maintained his part-time be-bopper-ship.

After moving to Syracuse in 1972 from his native Rochester, he did not waste any time. Next to Naum Brothers, a little place called the “Jelly Bean” was “looking for a stereo and a

live DJ and they hired me to spin the music.” People noticed. Pretty soon, the kid who used to play music in his room and pretend a hairbrush was a microphone was spinning up to 400 weddings and clambakes a year.

Once after a Crunch hockey game at the War Memorial, he played the discs for the open skating time.

Those were the days. Troiano ran radio commercials for Naum Brothers and got to hang out with local radio people, Jim Cate, Ron B., and Walter Cooper, a.k.a. Charlie Brown.

One day, Charlie Brown called him and said he had set up an interview with the band Boston but he couldn’t make it, so would Troiano do it instead.

Would he!

“I did it on a reel-to-reel tape recorder,” Troiano reminisced. “Then I did the Elvis Presley Hour. It got me into the radio end.”

As much as he loved it, Troiano never pursued radio full time, since he had a stable day job to support his family with three children. A variety of part-time music-related projects kept him busy enough. One of those was co-inventing a board game called “Trivia Country Style” in 1995.

Charlie Daniels, the outstanding Country Hall of Fame singer, was the spokesperson for the game and appeared with Troiano at the World Toy Fair in New York’s Jacob Javits Center for the debut. The game sold 50,000 copies at the time and is still available for sale online, complete with game board, dice, question cards and five cowboy-boot game pieces.

In the early 2000s, Troiano worked for WSEN Radio, where he had an oldies show and was also the program director.

In 2019, he struck out on his own.

Astutely, he realized that the internet had become the accessible source for a wide listening audience.

Of course the internet added a whole new dimension to radio broadcast. Troiano knew programming, marketing, hiring — no problem.

However, he said, “When you own something of your own and you’re in a world that’s constantly changing, you become humbled. You need people with you.”

That would be Chris Anderson, his go-to technician and trouble-shooter.

“He’s the person I rely on for the technical end,” Troiano said.

Troiano watched and learned as

The map on Troiano’s monitor indicates locations of listeners in real time.

Even Pacific Islanders are tuning in.

Anderson hooked him up to a server, set up the hardware, showed him how to put shows into automation and introduced him to the many other possibilities of the software applications.

And what great possibilities there are. Sitting in his basement studio recently, Troiano swiveled to the side in his chair, gesturing with his hands.

“Before, you had two turntables, one on each side. A mic overhead. And,” — here he raises one hand sky-high — “a PILE of records in the middle. You had to cue the records.”

He swivels back to front and center and, with a flourish, motions to the here and now: large computer monitors. One screen is covered top to bottom with dense print, a playlist in near-constant motion. The other screen shifts from chat room messages,

to photos sent in by fans, to a large world map.

On the map, a dot lights up in Brussels, so — Belgium is listening.

According to Troiano, youngergeneration audiences in Europe have a renewed interest in American oldies.

“At any given time, over 4000 people are listening to my show,” Troiano said.

Rock on, “Joe T’s Soda Shop!”

Whereas regular radio stations would do listening surveys, the internet station can track numbers and locations in real time, minute to minute. And the reach is everywhere.

“I can check at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. and see sometimes 1,500-1,700 cities,” Troiano said.

“Joe T’s Soda Shop” broadcasts live four hours per show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

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Some of the artists who give Troiano the inspiration to bring the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s to listeners all over the world.

“Trivia Country Style” is a board game co-invented by Troiano in 1995.

Country singer Charlie Daniels was the spokesperson for the game and joined Troiano for the promotion at the World Toy Fair in New York City.

From ceiling to baseboard and shelf to door, Troiano’s basement radio studio chronicles his favorite era.

Troiano’s particular cut-off for a music decade is the ‘70s. Most of his other 26 DJs, who have their own transmitters and music libraries, also do the ‘50s to ‘70s, although “Cosmo” on Thursday and Friday covers the ‘80s from 9 to 11 p.m. and on Sunday there is now a classic country show, “Crazy Cowboy,” with Cowboy Ken from 4 to 6 p.m.

Check out the weekly schedule on the station’s homepage, oldiesnmoreradio.com and the show titles themselves will drive your listening calendar: “Vinyl Treasures,” “Judy’s Diner,” “UK_USA_Rock Soul Connection,” “Story Untold,” “Time Tunnel,” “Rockin’ Richard,” “The Doo Wop Corner,” to name only some. For those who need their music fix earlier than most, there is also “Rise N’ Shine” at 4 a.m.

Though Troiano is clearly an oldies guy kicking it new style, his basement studio absolutely defies technology.

It is four solid walls of very human history, nostalgia and fond memories, where the reverential among us can

swoon for hours among the shelves of old photos, baseball caps, book bindings and record sleeves. It is a museum to the guys who wore suits and ties and the women with big hair, a time when songs were women’s names like “Peggy Sue,” “Gloria,” and “Katy Too;” being in love was to “Cherish” or be “Crazy;” the boldest enticement ever was “Be My Baby” and “Return to Sender” was the way people broke up.

Troiano has access to an internet library of 30,000 songs, but his loyalty remains with the vinyl he owns — 10,000 single 45s and 1,000 record albums. Among his prize possessions are autographed photos signed personally to him: Mel Carter, Larry Chance and the Earls, Randy and the Rainbows all live in Troiano’s basement and smile at him every day.

And playlists on a computer application do not supersede what makes his show most special: his mellow DJ voice, his on-the-air specials like “Street Corner Acapella” on Tuesdays and the “Elvis Presley Song

of Inspiration” every day and tributes on a singer’s birthday, which his wife, Linda, will remind him of.

Every DJ is a performer, and Troiano has some particular characters and voices he’s made up — Aunt Maude pops up or Chief Metro the weather reporter or Uncle Rocco. Over the years, fans have also enjoyed his on-the-air interviews with singers like Willie Winfield and the Harptones, Paul Evans, Jimmy Clanton, Bobby Rydell, the Flamingos, the Duprees, the Chimes. Troiano can go on and on.

Then there’s Joe T’s guarantee — “I’ve never had a song I couldn’t find. If I don’t have it, I tell the caller I will have it tomorrow.”

Five decades into spinning discs, Troiano will never run out of material. “I love the music business!” he proclaimed with childish delight.

Maybe he’s having too much fun?

Nah, never!

For your own journey into “Oldies N More” check out www.

Oldiesnmoreradio.com.

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

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Gently used furniture available at Oswego Thrifty Shopper Store.

Item available for sale at Oswego Thrifty Shopper Store.

Revamp With Resale Stores

Secondhand stores offer value and repurposing for home furnishings

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you want to refresh or even redo your home décor, a second-hand store can help you create a new look for the new year. You have many reasons to feel good about finding home furnishings at a resale store.

“Obviously, reduce, reuse, recycle; that’s huge personally,” said Kristin Griffin, manager at Thrifty Shopper in Oswego. Thrifty Shopper operates 22 stores across the region. “You save things from going into a landfill.”

Why buy new when used will do?

M a n y t h r i f t s t o re s s u p p o r t charitable causes. Purchases at Thrifty Shopper help support Rescue Mission Alliance, for example.

Some shoppers like to peruse the thrift store to find crafting supplies for their home projects. Griffin has a

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number of shoppers who buy jewelry not to wear, but to repurpose into decorative uses. A costume jewelry necklace could make a sparkling curtain tieback. Or the stones from costume jewelry rings could accent a picture frame.

“We get a lot of wall art donated,” Griffin said. “Lots of times, people buy an item for a beautiful frame and not the art in it.”

The quality of the furnishings draws many people to buy thrifted décor items.

“We find that a lot of people donate older items, which means that a lot of the furniture pieces are gems,” Griffin said. “It’s easy to strip something old and turn it into something new. The items have to be of good quality for

us to sell them. We have a few pieces left over from an estate sale. There are things people don’t find value in, but given the right buyer, it’s the best thing in the world to them.”

Many shoppers go to secondhand stores to find better values. Brands and materials otherwise unaffordable are now within budget, such as a crystal vase. Griffin has one regular customer who owns several places of lodging that she has decorated solely with thrift items.

Shopping thrift can help decorators build an eclectic, lived-in look that’s very popular now, rather than a forced, overly matched appearance. Bland, monochromatic “basic” decor lacks the story and character of mismatched yet coordinating items anchored by an

Interior of Sequels Home Furnishings in Rochester. The store offers a variety of gently used items.

interesting statement piece. Unique items are easy to find, as many times, they are donated from various estates.

“We always have an abundance of tchotchkes,” said Laura Bigness treasurer at St. James Thrift Shop in Skaneateles. “We’ve had record sales lately.”

The organization raises funds through the thrift shop to support local and international charitable causes. Shoppers can look for vases, figurines and pictures, as well as old

china dishes.

“A lot of younger people aren’t interested in their parents’ fine china,” Bigness said. “More and more are using pieces of it for a craft project.

At Christmas, they’re buying platters and fancy plates as part of a gift with cookies or a cake on it. It’s a nice way to make a presentation.”

Sometimes, the chinaware includes brands like Royal Doulton and other well-known brands.

“We do a lot of research here,”

Bigness said. “We have a couple of antique dealers who’ve been very good at helping us by suggesting prices and the value. Like we had an expensive tapestry donated. We only charge maybe a quarter of what someone would sell at a retail store.

You’re bound to get very good deals at a thrift shop. We price them to sell and don’t keep things longer than four months and then donate them to the Rescue Mission.”

How to Find the Right Item

Josh Gideon is the owner of Gideon’s Gallery in Syracuse.

To find good home décor and furnishings at a thrift store, try these tips from Josh Gideon, owner of Gideon’s Gallery in Syracuse: • “Look for real furniture from wood, not composite,” Gideon said. “If a piece has been here for 100 years, it speaks for itself. It was made well. You can’t say that with a lot of contemporary pieces.

• “Look at the construction.

You have multiple ways a drawer can be jointed. It’s easier to put

together something made properly than something wood glued and tack-nailed together. Look at how it’s made. Allen bolts will wiggle loose.

• “There’re brands that typically have notoriety that are making products of nicer quality. It helps if you know a specific brand.

Stickley, for example.

• “Faux leather will last a few years. I’d rather find something that is better quality.”

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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Pompei resident Jim Lawyer, 58, has been climbing since the 1980s. Today, he likes to climb frozen terrain. He is shown at Tinkers’ Falls in Tully.

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

ADVENTURERS KNOW FEW LIMITS For some local 55-plussers their sense of adventure seems to know no age or altitude limits — they still actively ski, climb mountains and icy waterfalls and hike Mary Beth Roach

M

ary Ann Zeppetello, now 93, was skiing well into her 80s when she decided to give up the sport due to health

reasons.

Neville Sachs, at 81, not only skis for enjoyment with his wife, Carol Adamec, 77, but also volunteers one day a week with the Labrador Ski Patrol.

And Richard Frio, 72, Jim Lawyer, 58, and Terri and Keith Murray, in their 70s — all love to climb. Lawyer’s terrain of choice being ice.

The number of senior skiers nationally is at an all-time high, according to a 2022 article in Ski Magazine.

Experts have suggested several reasons. Improved equipment and better grooming have made the sport safer and many baby boomer skiers are still enjoying the sport they learned during their days in high school when school ski clubs were especially popular.

While the Onondaga Ski Club doesn’t ask members’ ages, it estimates based on past surveys that about 75% of its 800-plus members would be older than 55.

At Greek Peak in Cortland, about 15% of its 2022-23 season passholders were over 60 years of age this past season, which is up about 1% or 2% higher than the previous year, according to Jon Spaulding, director of marketing.

At Labrador Mountain in Truxton, there are several skiers who are in their 90s, according to Sheila Larkin, inside operations manager for SkiCNY, which operates both Labrador and Song mountains.

Though one might think there would be some apprehension among seniors to continue high-intensity sports as they age, many have a completely different perspective.

“Skiing is dancing with the mountains,” said Zeppetello. A skier for decades, the East Syracuse resident was still taking part in the sport until she was 88.

Zeppetello recalled that one of her friends would announce to other nearby skiers, ‘Look at my friend. She’s 85. Look at how she can ski.’

Her skiing adventures and her need for speed took her around the world to locations in eastern and western United States, Canada, Austria and New Zealand, to name a few. One spot she didn’t get to was Chile. She said, “I can live with that. I had the best of times.”

Skiing for those older than 55 is easy and fun because, for most, they started as young people, according to Chris Keller, 75, an Onondaga Ski Club member and a former resident of Baldwinsville who relocated to Massachusetts several years ago to be closer to family. “We can all ski as easily as we can walk now, because we took all our spills at a young age,” he explained.

While most of the long-time skiers are as sharp and skilled as ever, Keller added, “we get tired sooner and so have shorter days on the slopes.”

He further pointed out that because most of the senior skiers are retired, they can choose the days when the conditions are best.

“When you’re skiing down the hill and the conditions are halfway FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

33

The work of ski patrol members requires them to be in good physical shape. As Holloway explained, they are responsible for assessing a skier’s injuries or medical emergency, loading them onto a sled, and transporting them to the patrol room or a waiting ambulance, depending on the nature of the injury. The ski patrol also takes care of skiers in case of a chairlift breakdown, he added, evacuating them using ropes, harnesses and carabiners.

“It’s a never-ending objective to stay in shape to maintain fitness and ability to ski and operate equipment,” Holloway said.

He does stretching exercises, weights, elliptical, rowing, lunges and squats. He visits a gym two to three times a week and does cross-training and non-impact cardio.

Training and keeping in shape is key, too, for Sandy Kirnan, who turned 65 in January. She does the Peloton, leg exercises and upper body conditioning. Another incentive to keeping in shape, she joked, is that she has invested in expensive ski suits, so she can’t gain weight.

At 81, Neville Sachs, a Camillus resident, not only skis for enjoyment, but also volunteers one day a week with the Labrador Ski Patrol. He is shown at a ski facility in Taos, New Mexico. decent, you’re just floating,” Neville Sachs said.

He has been skiing for more than 70 years. His wife took up the sport about 30 years ago, he added.

He said that he and his wife have slowed down a bit. But consider his idea of slowing down: The Camillus couple exercises daily, they kayak, bike, snowshoe and cross-country ski.

They also help with trail maintenance at the Camillus Unique Area. In addition, Sachs conducts training sessions throughout the country and Canada on ski lift maintenance, mixing his background in engineering with some skiing.

Sense of Adventure Conditioning, ski lessons, the ability to learn, an affinity for the cold, proper nutrition and hydration to maintain energy levels, warm attire, a helmet and that sense of adventure are all key to safe skiing, according 34

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

to Steve Wechsler, a chiropractor for over 35 years who is with Network Healing Arts in the Syracuse area. He is a skier and a member of the Greek Peak Ski Patrol.

“You have to start with lessons,” he said. “If you think you’re going to strap them on and go down the hill, that’s not happening at any age.”

To that end, Labrador Mountain offers Masters in Motion, a six-week program for skiers and boarders aged 25 and up. At Song, in Tully, there is a women’s program led by expert female ski coaches. Among the ski lesson packages offered at Greek Peak is Master Trax, for skiers 50 or older. It is typically an eight-week program on Thursdays at 10 a.m. during the season and includes a special rate for a lift ticket and 90 minutes of instruction, according to Spaulding.

Underscoring the need for conditioning is David Holloway, 69, of Clay. He is a member of the Ski Patrol at Labrador.

Onward and upward But there are also many seniors who opt to go up mountains for their adventures.

Richard Frio said that he and some of his friends are “kind of” peakbaggers, which is defined as those whose main goal is to reach the summit.

“It’s just so cool up there,” he said. “I think what drives me is the excitement and the achievement and goal. Once we get to the top, we highfive each other, jump around and act like teenagers.”

He and his friends have reached more than a few summits in both the winter and summer months.

Although he’s only been hiking since he was about 65, today, the 72-year-old Liverpool resident is an Adirondack46er, having climbed the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks; a member of Catskill Mountain 3500 Club; and an aspiring winter 46er, winter Catskill 3500 and winter Fire Tower Challenge. He’s also completed the Lake Placid Niner, the Fulton Chain Trifecta Ultra and the Tupper Lake Triad Ultra. In the summer of 2022, his group hiked Alta Via 1 Trail

Large photo: Keith Murray of Tully at the Via Ferritas trail system of the Dolomites in Italy. Inset: his wife, Terri.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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Neville Sachs and his wife, Carol Adamec, 77, pause for photos at Lake Tahoe in California. They live in Camillus which he said, was 72 miles with an elevation gain of 24,015 feet over 10 days through the Dolomites in Italy.

Three years prior, he and his friends did a 10-day trek around Mont Blanc.

He joked that he likes winter hiking because there are no bugs — but there can be ice, feet of snow and very cold temperatures. And because more gear and apparel are required, the backpacks can be heavy.

It is important, Frio said, that those endeavoring to hike peaks get training, travel in a group and have the right clothing and equipment.

He was adamant about the training, crediting the Adirondack Mountain Club, specifically the Onondaga Chapter, for developing his hiking skills.

Lawyer has been climbing since the 1980s. Today, at age 58, the Pompey resident likes to climb frozen terrain.

He said he first started taking on this activity as a way to enjoy climbing during the winter.

“There’s an aesthetic appeal,” he said. “The purity of movement, of moving on ice and it’s really, really 36

55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

pretty. You really become immersed into the ice.”

He realizes that there is what he calls an objective danger to the sport, adding there used to be a saying in ice climbing — ‘you just don’t fall.’

It seems easier said than done. But he explained that the advances in equipment and apparel have helped to mitigate those hazards.

While he does a lot of his climbing in the Adirondacks and Salmon River Falls, he has also traveled out west, Switzerland, Scotland and Italy.

For Terri Murray, it’s a love of adventure, she said, when explaining her interest in climbing. She and her husband enjoy downhill skiing, but they also love rock and mountain climbing and heading to a local rockclimbing gym.

The Tully couple, in their 70s, is already Adirondack 46ers, but most recently they took their love for adventure to Europe to experience the Via Ferritas trail system in the Dolomites. On their first day there they hiked to San Marco at 6,000 feet and once acclimated, they climbed the

via ferrata systems to the top of Mount Nuvolau at 8,500 feet and Ra Bujela at 7,400 feet.

It’s more than the climbs themselves that the Murrays appreciate on their treks. They, too, enjoy the sense of achievement in setting and attaining a goal and in sharing their experiences and stories with others they meet on the trails. And they will sometimes hike the same peaks more than once, finding each climb to be a different experience, with “different people, different dynamics, different weather,” she said.

One mountain on their bucket list is Mount Whitney, which at 14,505 feet, is the highest mountain in the contiguous United States.

And when not pursuing mountain trails in hiking boots, she and Keith will continue to ski in season as members of the Onondaga Ski Club.

Seeing members in their 80s still skiing is inspiring, she said. “That’s what we want to be as well. We want to take care of ourselves and look forward to that.”

ON THE COVER: CLIMBING THE SALMON RIVER FALLS

F

or Tom Yandon, 78, of E.Amherst, one of the reasons he enjoys the ice is that he can “demonstrate one of my cherished beliefs that age need not be a deterrent to pursuing one’s talents.”

Yandon has been ice climbing since the early 1970s and learned to enjoy the practice while growing up in the Adirondacks.

Where one might see a treacherous icy landscapes, Yandon sees it quite differently. He calls them “random arrangements of pillars, hanging chandeliers, and colorful smears join there with the power of the wind combining both peace and solitude with the rugged beauty of a wild energy of movement and action.”

For Yandon, the experience of ice climbing is utter bliss.

He explains: “Have you ever been to a magical place and involved in a pursuit where the entirety of your body, mind and spirit have been so intensely focused that your body knows no weakness, your mind replaces all confusion, doubt, fear and frustration with such a clarity of thought and certainty of direction , that you are enabled in the very midst of pain and struggling to call upon your highest faculties to answer a call to action which becomes so right that you are flooded with a peace and calmness that can only be described as complete and utter joy?”

He was 59 when this photo of him climbing the Salmon River Falls was taken. (Mary Beth Roach)

Pompei resident Jim Lawyer. climbs at Fox Mountain in the Adirondacks.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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John Kucko

Tips for Wintertime Photography

Learning from photographer John Kucko

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

intertime provides many photography opportunities for John Kucko, a former channel News 8 WROC-TV anchor in Rochester.

His 514,000-plus social media followers are a testament to the photographer and videographer ’s popularity as well as his popular photography calendar, which features his photos of local vistas.

Kucko shared his best tips for wintertime photography.

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Prepare your equipment.

“Use a tripod in the frigid cold as your hands will shake. For stabilization, use a decent tripod. You want a tripod to keep the camera still.

Protect your gear with a jacket for your camera and its lens.”

Avoid physical risks.

Dress for the weather “Be prepared for the elements,” Kucko said. “Hand warmers are a must. Get crampons for your boots if you’re in an icy area. They can save you from a broken bone. Three or four years ago, I slipped on a frozen puddle covered by snow and fell. I messed up my ribs and it felt bad for three weeks.

If there’s any chance of slick spots, I wear crampons. I’m 58 and you don’t want to break any bones. You have to take care of yourself.”

“I avoid things like a frozen pond.

During the last few winters, you could have a stretch of frigid weather followed by warmer weather. It’s easy to break through the surface.

Try manually adjusting for lighting.

“I like shooting manually opposed to ‘landscape mode.’ You can adjust to the setting you’re presented with. Sun on snow can be blinding. With manual settings you can get a better picture.”

Try close-ups.

Tr a d i t i o n a l l y, o u t d o o r photography features a sweeping landscape. But sometimes, Kucko likes “tight, macro shots of ice. I’ve been trying to shoot more creatively with my stills and day-to-day stuff.”

Use your phone.

Don’t feel like you have to use expensive camera equipment. A smartphone is usually enough and because it’s always available, you may be able to capture unexpected photos.

“In this era and age of social media, the phone has become the go-to tool for a lot of content creators out there, and even photographers. You don’t have to be tethered down by equipment and it’s harder to protect that kind of gear with break-ins. Smartphones have three or four lenses and stabilization.

The quality is really, really good. A lot of videos I send to Channel 8 are shot on my phone and I shoot 80% of my social media videos on my phone. It’s high resolution.”

Plan the shot.

“Like golfers, have a pre-shot routine. When I fly my drone, I rehearse what I want to get and estimate how long it will take to safely get those clips before I land. I plan four or five clips of 20 seconds each before I launch.

The batteries and your fingers don’t do well in cold.”

The same holds true for standard photography. If you think about the angle and perspective before taking each picture, you can take much more interesting photos. Look at everything within the frame before shooting to avoid unwanted elements and glare.

Be spontaneous.

VOLUNTEERING IS GOOD FOR YOU!

R ERFO TE N OD U! LU O O O G Y V IS

Sometimes not planning equals excellent quality photos.

“One of the best photos I ever took at Sodus Point was in the winter. I did a Facebook live broadcast. Something told me something to grab the camera because I felt that the wave would ride up and I got my greatest wave shot ever through the windshield. I constantly put wiper fluid on it to keep it clean.”

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39

Why Learn to Swim

If you never learned as a kid, you have plenty of reasons to learn now

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

D

i d yo u h ave a t ra u m at i c experience the first time you tried swimming, such as a near drowning or an adult tossing you into a lake?

For some people, this results in an abiding fear of water or at least a lack of interest in learning to swim.

But if you still don’t swim, learning how is not only possible but advisable.

Fear of the water is what prevented Fred Wilson, 82, from learning to swim as a youngster. Wilson owns Fitness After 50 and works as a senior fitnesscertified trainer in Syracuse. He also teaches adult swimming lessons — something he likely could never imagined as a younger person.

Wilson nearly drowned as a child and stayed out of the water for decades. In 2004, he learned how to swim in his 60s.

“When I became certified in 2004 as a personal trainer, I decided I wanted to be at least an average swimmer,” Wilson said.

He signed up for lessons at the YMCA with an instructor experienced with people who had water fear issues.

Wilson wanted to learn the six or so

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55 PLUS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024

basic swimming strokes.

“I felt wonderful while I did it and after,” he said. “I had good circulation.

I got interested in it and became a swimming instructor. I’ve taught a number of adults how to swim, particularly those who are afraid of the water as I was.”

He believes that swimming is an important life skill.

“It’s important to be safe in the water,” Wilson said. “The fear of water takes a while to overcome. You can start in four feet of water learning how to tread water.”

Whether to save your life or that of a grandchild’s or other family member, learning to swim well can be lifesaving.

Wilson also likes the notion of grandparents setting a good example and swimming with their grandchildren.

Swimming can also prove life enhancing. Wilson views swimming as a full-body form of exercise.

“When I go swimming, I do every single stroke,” he said. “Each stroke is a different form of exercise. Swimming uses every muscle in your body. That is

highly beneficial, especially to an older person. You want to get muscles going.

The range of motion is improved because you have to move your joints in ways you ordinarily don’t.”

Since it’s not weight bearing, it’s not as beneficial for preventing osteoporosis, but it does strengthen muscles. Wilson also noted that swimming can increase coordination but with reduced risk of falling associated with many land-based exercises.

Many fitness endeavors can become more challenging as arthritis, old injuries and overall stiffness sets in with aging. The water’s warmth and buoyancy ease joint movement and lowers the load on joints.

“Let’s be honest–it’s not easy to get older,” said physician John F. Parker, who practices at Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists. “But we know that exercise is like a high-yield savings account for the brain and body. It’s great for cognition, mental health, and overall physical fitness. And swimming is unique in that it provides strengthening, balance, muscle control, and also consistency, and all with

Fred Wilson, 82, is a swimming instructor and owner of Fitness After 50.

minimal impact on aging or arthritic joints.

“In addition, there is a definitive social aspect to swimming, as any s unique sorrow. swimmer will quickly tell you, and social connectedness is the most crucial factor contributing to longevity.”

Whether swimming with family and friends at home or the lake or going to a public pool, swimming brings people together.

“Learning to swim in adulthood, or adding swimming to an existing fitness regimen, is a great way to add cardiovascular fitness, strength, longevity, and even happiness at a crucial time of life,” Parker added.

Swimming can remain a vital activity for life. Brian Wilcox, aquatics director at Webster Aquatic Center, has noticed that many of the pool clientele is “retirement age” during the water fitness classes and open swim times.

“We have one who’s 94 in one of the classes,” Wilcox noted. “She’s super active. Swimming gets people off the couch. If they have trouble walking on land, they can do it in the pool. They can walk in the shallow end. We also have water belts--a ‘floatie’ for adults--so they can aqua jog with no impact.”

It may seem like it’s too late to learn; however, one of his swimming lesson participants was 86.

“Learning to swim was on her bucket list,” he recalled. “She almost drowned as a child, which made her fearful of learning before.”

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Join my free monthly newsletter at www.RejectedParents.net FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

41

The Single Most

IMPORTANT Thing for Our

HEALTH

W

hat would you say is the single most valuable thing you can do to stay healthy and happy as you age?

You might say exercising or being active every day, or maybe eating less unhealthy food and more healthy food, or getting a good night’s sleep.

You wouldn’t be wrong — all of those things are valuable.

However, the most valuable is not on that list. The most valuable thing you can do to stay healthy and happy as you age is connecting with others.

This surprising finding is from the Harvard study, done by Harvard Medical School, which has followed a group of Harvard students and other men for the past 85 years.

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The study found that meaningful social connections play a huge role in our physical and emotional well-being.

H o w h a p p y w e a re i n o u r relationships has a powerful influence on our health, concluded the study director online.

“That’s the startling revelation!” he said.

Our bodies work better when we’re not alone. The need for other people is hardwired into our brains.

Several months ago, I mentioned in this column that I just moved into a retirement complex. I didn’t know anyone living there or anyone in the city I was moving to. I know the importance of connecting with others.

As I’m an introvert, I knew

I’d need to step outside of my comfort zone to make connections.

In that column, I said I was considering this an experiment — my own research project — and I’d let you know how it worked out.

My experiment was a success; I have made friends with most everybody, of course, some closer than others.

There’s my neighbor, Evelyn, a feisty 91-year-old fighting dementia with all she has. We walk to and from meals together, sit together at meals.

Then there’s Lila, my age, like me still active mentally and physically. We often sit together and compare notes on the paths our lives have taken. And Trish, who comes to the exercise classes I lead. She is a 73-year-old struggling with Parkinson’s; it’s hard to think about what the disease will do to her.

And Rick. The friendly good-natured 78-year-old has had several bad strikes against him. In the hurricane that recently devastated Florida, he lost his home, car and boat. Before that, the once-research scientist crashed his

motorcycle, damaging his brain. He asks me for advice as he recognizes that his judgment is impaired.

I think what helped me make friends is that I’m able to smile easily and make eye contact. As I worked with people all my life, developing the ability to remember their names and stories. People love that I remember.

As I’m reserved in sharing information about myself, I do better asking questions and listening.

“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we give each other is our attention,” said author Rachel Naomi Remen in one of her books; she worked with people with terminal illnesses.

I do need to be careful about my question-asking so it doesn’t feel like an interrogation. I need to remind myself to be more open and sharing about myself.

And I’ve done things purposely to help me connect to others. Like volunteering to work in the residents-

run little store. I’ve become friends with Kay who comes in often to buy an ice cream sandwich, Tom who buys milk duds daily, Rose Marie, cat food.

I’m happy to see each one.

I lead an exercise group, moving to music on YouTube; I’m the bingo caller; I help in the library. And notice when newcomers move in, helping make them feel OK. I’ve had the advantage of people living in the same apartment complex to become friends. It’s harder when you have to get in your car and go out to be with people. But I encourage you to do that: find something you would enjoy and go. Volunteer, join a regular social group at a church, community center, and library; investigate a new hobby, or revive an old one.

Remember that friendships don’t grow without effort. When you meet someone intriguing, be bold and suggest a next step, like coffee or lunch.

A simple overture can go a long way; you never know where it could lead.

Many of us hit a wall here; I certainly do. But if you don’t take action, you

won’t form any new relationships.

Once you’ve made a new friend, stay in touch. Regular contact deepens your connection with others.

I’m especially excited because the person that I’ve developed the strongest connection with is a man — he makes me laugh, thinks much the same as I do, enjoys the same things I do.

We want to be together and are moving into an apartment together.

A transition that I am sure will bring me much joy.

Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book, “When You Come to the Edge: Aging” or if you have questions for her, contact her at barbarapierce06@yahoo.com.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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your health

By Eva Briggs, M.D.

Vascular Complications of Diabetes

The best way to reduce the chance of developing vascular disease is to work with your doctor to control your diabetes

D

iabetes affects about 38 million people in the U.S., more than one out of 10 adults. About 29% of people over 65 — about three out of 10 — have diabetes, many of whom are undiagnosed.

Diabetes damages blood vessels and causes many complications.

Vascular damage is divided into two groups. Microvascular disease involves small blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys and nerves. Macrovascular disease involves larger vessels of the heart, brain and peripheral blood vessels.

Here’s a description of each of these disorders.

D i a b e t i c retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels supplying the retina are damaged. There are two main categories: non proliferative and proliferative. Non proliferative re t i n o p a t h y d a m a g e i n c l u d e s : microaneurysms, bulging in tiny vessels where the wall is damaged and weakened; venous loops, where the damaged vessel stretches and loops, departing from its normal straight path; retinal hemorrhages, bleeding into the retina; exudates, deposition of substances that leak from damaged vessels.

In proliferative retinopathy, new blood vessels develop on the inner surface of the eye. These new abnormal vessels can bleed into the vitreous (the gel-like material filling the eye) or

cause the retina to detach. This causes vision loss.

Diabetic retinopathy is extremely common, affecting nearly one in four persons with diabetes over the age of 40. The longer you have diabetes, the higher the risk. Between 4%-8% of retinopathy patients have severe vision-threatening disease. That’s why everyone with diabetes needs regular dilated eye exams. The goal

fail to register pain, small injuries can progress to ulcers and infection. In the worst scenario, diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy require amputations.

Diabetic neuropathy can also affect the autonomic nerves that control various internal organs.

Possible manifestations include gastroparesis (failure of the stomach to empty properly), constipation, diarrhea, bladder dysfunction, e r e c t i l e dysfunction, and various heart problems.

Macrovascular disease damages larger blood vessels. Chronic inflammation in blood vessels leads to injury of the vessel walls, accumulation of plaque, and narrowing of the arteries that restricts blood flow.

When the arteries that supply the heart, known as the coronary arteries, become narrowed, patients can suffer heart attacks. Damage to the arteries that supply the brain, the cerebral arteries, can lead to stroke. Diseased arteries in the legs and other body parts can lead to dysfunction or loss of limbs.

The best way to reduce the chance of developing vascular disease is to work with your doctor to control your diabetes. This includes not only medication, but also lifestyle choices for healthy eating, exercise — and not smoking.

About 29% of people over 65 — about three out of 10 — have diabetes, many of whom are undiagnosed.

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is to identify and treat retinopathy to prevent blindness.

Diabetic nephropathy damages the small blood vessels in the kidney.

The first sign is the loss of protein in the urine. High blood pressure increases the risk for diabetic nephropathy, and kidney damage increases the risk of high blood pressure. This is one reason for regular blood pressure checks and treatment of hypertension. Diabetes is the most common cause of end stage renal disease (kidney failure).

Neuropathy is the term for damaged nerves. Damage to sensory nerves can lead to numbness, tingling or burning pain. It’s most common in the feet. Because damaged nerves

How to Look Years Younger No injections or plastic surgery necessary

By Kimberly Blaker

R

egardless of how gracefully we want to handle aging, we often find ourselves making heroic efforts to stave it off, starting in early adulthood.

The proof is that women of all ages (even in their 20s) are spending small fortunes on Botox injections, fillers and plastic surgery.

Also, many who don’t go to such drastic measures still spend hundreds of dollars a year on anti-aging lotions and potions.

Fortunately, you don’t have to undergo risky and costly injections and surgery or resort to ineffective concoctions to enjoy a more youthful appearance.

It’s All In The Application Makeup techniques can go a long

way toward fine-tuning your features to make you look younger. So give these a try.

The eyes have it To make your eyes look bigger, line the inside of your lower lid with a white or flesh-colored eyeliner. Then brighten up your eye area by dabbing pale pink, flesh or oyster color shadow to the inside corners of your eyes. Also, add a couple of more dabs just under your lower lashes moving from the inner corner of your eye to the center.

For your lashes, flare them. First, brush through your lashes as usual with mascara. Then sweep through them again and pull your outer lashes outward and inner lashes inward.

Repeat these steps with your lower lashes.

Youthful lips Full lips make you look younger.

So invest in a quality, long-lasting lip liner, and line your top and bottom lip.

For fuller lips, line just to the outside of your lip line.

A flawless complexion Foundation can do wonders to give you flawless, youthful-looking skin. But your skin type and age may dictate what type works best.

On younger skin, sheer coverage is best. On mature skin, foundation can make your lines more noticeable. So look opt for a sheer, very lightweight foundation or skip it altogether.

Avoid the dry look Unless you have very oily skin, skip the face powder because it can make your skin look dry and any FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

45

lines more noticeable. If you must use powder to control too much shine, apply it only in your oily areas. Also, look for a translucent pure silica formulation and avoid mica or talc.

compliment you. Everyone looks great in particular colors. So play those up. This also goes for black-framed eyeglasses. Opt instead for metallics, bright colors or lighter colored frames.

Add some color Use soft pink or bright coral blush to add color and brighten your face. Avoid bronze tones, which only serve to age your skin. Also, use cream rather than powder blush since powder makes your skin look dryer.

Apply blush along the top of your cheekbones, forehead, and center of your chin.

Keep it stylish, but don’t overdo it.

As you age, dressing trendy from head to toe is hard to pull off without drawing attention to your age. Instead, mix a pair of classic pants and shirt, with a trendy sweater. Or add style to a pair of jeans and a classic top with a pair of fashionable boots (so long as they aren’t bulky). Another option is to choose pieces that are mostly classic but have a stylish flair.

Clothing That Compliments Your clothing can either add years or subtract them from your appearance. Consider the following tricks to make clothing work in your favor.

Out with the black If you’re over 35, banish black above your waist. As you age, black draws attention to your fine lines.

For tops and jackets, wear colors that

Shapers aren’t what they used to be That’s excellent news. At one time, many women wouldn’t be caught dead wearing the hideous shapewear that existed. But lingerie companies have finally gotten the message. You can find shapewear now that’s both sexy and more comfortable to wear.

Shapewear can shave years off your appearance by creating a sleek look.

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Physical and emotional wellness goes a long way toward both looking and feeling younger. A positive outlook on life is beneficial to your physical health. In contrast, anger, stress and depression increase your risk of disease. Negative emotions also reflect in your posture and face. So, make wellness a priority.

Exercise is an essential part of physical and mental wellness and should be a part of your daily routine.

A regimen of aerobic exercise for your heart and lungs and weight lifting for muscle tone and bone health will help you maintain your youth longer.

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maple

TAP INTO NEW YORK’S SWEETEST FLAVOR

Maple Weekend in March to showcase the labor of 180 of New York’s maple producers

T

hought to have originated with Native Americans who cooked maple tree sap into a thicker liquid, maple syrup products have long been an important part of New York’s agriculture.

Using modern methods, maple farmers boil about 40 or more gallons of sugar maple tree sap to produce one gallon of pure maple syrup.

If you would like to see the process in action and learn more about the state’s maple syrup industry, visit a farm during Maple Weekend 2024, an open house event where maple farms welcome visitors to tour their farm.

Held two weekends in March-16-17 and 23-24 the event showcases the labor of 180 of New York’s maple producers, who on average make more than 800,000 gallons of liquid gold annually, according to USDA’s most recent figures.

In addition to syrup, most producers also make value-added goods including maple sugar, maple candy, maple cream, maple cotton candy, and maple-based sauces, dressings and marinades and maple lollipops.

Visitors to host farms during

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Maple Weekend can watch evaporators in action, sample maple products, purchase a pancake breakfast and enjoy children’s activities, among other things to do.

Farms typically display different grades of maple syrup, so visitors can compare them. Some exhibit sample spiles and tubing—the equipment that makes modern sugaring possible—for visitors to handle. From a safe distance, visitors may also see the reverse osmosis equipment, evaporator, and wood-fired boiler in action at some sugar houses.

Many sugar houses share displays of vintage photos and old-time equipment like galvanized buckets.

“Maple sugaring is steeped in tradition for most producers, and they love sharing their passion and stories with the public,” said Kristina Ferrare, Mobile Maple Experience coordinator for the New York State Maple Producers’ Association in Syracuse.

“Families will find the warm and delicious smelling sugarhouses and welcoming enthusiasm of producers irresistible. Visiting neighboring producers on Maple Weekends just might become your family’s next

tradition.”

Host farmers enjoy answering questions about the maple sugaring process and showing visitors around their sugarhouse. Many maple farms produce other goods and offer them for sale in their farm market and may include other farms’ goods as well, such as jams, jellies, cheese, baked goods and more.

Because Maple Weekend involves visiting operating farms, expect the possibility of uneven ground, inclement weather and outdoor activities.

Dress for the weather with closed shoes suitable for wet, slippery conditions because sugarhouses are located in the woods.

Maple Weekend will go on, rain or shine. Most sugarhouses cannot comply with accessibility guidelines because of the nature of their business.

Not all farms offer pancake breakfasts, but for those that do, ask about any dietary restrictions in advance. Plan to pay with cash, as some more remote sugar houses may not accept credit cards.

To find a sugarhouse near you, visit https://nysmaple.com.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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cover

SAVORY SOUPS TO SIMMER Warm up a winter’s day with a steaming bowl

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

s the Campbell’s Soup Company aptly put it, “Soup is good food.”

Brimming with flavorful vegetables, these recipes offer plenty of nutrition and are both economical and easy. Pair soup with a salad and perhaps some wholegrain bread or crackers and you have a healthful meal to warm up a wintry day.

minestrone soup from Kelly Springer

HEARTY MINESTRONE Slow Cooker Style - Serves 8

“ Kelly Springer, registered dietitian, master’s-prepared health educator and owner of Kelly’s Choice in Skaneateles Kelly Springer, registered dietitian, master’s-prepared health educator and owner of Kelly’s Choice in Skaneateles, shared a couple of recipes.

“These two soups are loaded with fiber, rich in protein and filled to the brim with antioxidants,” Springer said.

“Fiber can keep you full longer and is amazing for gut health. We can all use more plant-based proteins. You don’t need to be vegan, but by consuming more plants, you will reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and almost any chronic health condition.”

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This soup is loaded with nutrients and has an ample amount of protein and fiber,”Springer said.“Onions and garlic are natural antivirals. Carrots are loaded with immune-boasting vitamin A. Tomatoes have an incredible amount of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that research shows may improve brain and heart health.

“Most people don’t get nearly as much fiber as they should. A cup of this soup will give you over 30 grams of fiber from the beans and the pasta.

Yes, the pasta! This soup uses chickpea pasta, which has 11 grams of fiber per serving as opposed to 2 grams of fiber in ordinary pasta.”

INGREDIENTS: 1 large onion, diced 4 garlic gloves, minced 3 large carrots, diced 3 stalks of celery, sliced 1 zucchini, sliced 2 14-ounce cans of low-sodium diced tomatoes 1 14-ounce can of low-sodium tomato sauce 1 15-ounce can of cannellini beans, rinsed 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth 2 cups water 2 tablespoons pesto 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 1 ½ cups chickpea rotini INSTRUCTION: Mix all the ingredients, except the chickpea rotini into a slow cooker.

Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or low 7 to 8 hours. Add in the chickpea rotini 10 minutes before serving and turn the crockpot to high if you had it set to low. Let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Kelly Springer lentil soup

CARROT LENTIL COCONUT STEW Slow Cooker - Serves 6

“

This soup is so flavorful with health-boosting spices,” Springer said. “Turmeric is one of the most powerful spices on the planet.

It is a natural anti-inflammatory and research has found that it may lessen pain, improve memory, and even fight depression.Fenugreek may help stabilize blood sugar and lower cholesterol.

Lentils contain the highest amount of protein originating from any plant. The amount of protein found in them is up to 35%, which is comparable to red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products. Lentils are also filled with fiber.”

INGREDIENTS: 2 cups of dry red lentils 1 cup of medium spiced salsa 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil 2 yellow onions, chopped.

3 large carrots, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced 5 cloves of minced garlic 2 teaspoons of turmeric 1 teaspoon of cumin 1 teaspoon of fenugreek 1 teaspoon of salt ½ teaspoon of lemon pepper 6 cups of vegetable stock Korean Chili sauce 1 can of light coconut milk 1 tablespoon of lemon juice Chopped cilantro and unsweetened shredded coconut for garnish

INSTRUCTION: Rinse lentils and soak overnight in 5 cups of water. In a big soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and carrots and cook for 5 minutes, stirring them until they are soft. Add the garlic, turmeric, fenugreek, salt and lemon pepper and stir for one minute. Add the salsa and bring to a boil. Stir in the lentils and vegetable stock. Transfer this mixture to a slow cooker. Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or low for 8 to 10 hours.

Stir in coconut milk and lemon, cook for 15 to 20 minutes on high. Add a couple of squirts of the Korean chili sauce. Mix well. Serve in soup bowls garnished with cilantro and coconut.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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Tex Mex Soup by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

TEX-MEX VEGETABLE SOUP Serves 6

INGREDIENTS: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound 97% lean ground beef (if you use a fattier beef, you may need to drain it after cooking and before adding vegetables) ½ red onion, minced 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced 1 carrot, peeled and diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon dried oregano ¼ teaspoon black pepper Dash cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon parsley 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes with juices 4 cups beef broth 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 large russet potato, peeled and diced ½ cup cooked yellow corn Salt and pepper to taste Shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

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INSTRUCTION: In large stock pot, add olive oil and cook beef over medium heat.

Add onions, celery, carrots, and garlic and cook three minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients except corn, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low for 25 minutes. Add corn at the end of the cooking time and to taste, salt and pepper. Garnish each bowl with cheese.

Writer Deborah Sergeant offers a family favorite: Tex-Mex vegetable soup. Spicy but not too hot, this soup is delicious served with corn tortilla chips.

TEX-MEX VEGETABLE SOUP Serves 12

Laurel Sterling, registered dietitian in Canastota, works for Carlson Labs. She offered a recipe from Weight Watchers.

“Lentils can be an addition to a nutrient-rich diet,” Sterling said. “They are packed with fiber, protein, and key vitamins. Kale is packed with vitamins, minerals, and plant-based compounds.

Tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K, and antioxidants like lycopene.”

INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoon olive oil 2 cups chopped onions 1 cup thinly sliced celery 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth 2 cups sliced carrots 1½ tsp. dried Italian seasoning 2 bay leaves 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes (no salt added) 3 cups dried lentils, picked over for stones 1½ tsp. salt ¾ tsp. black pepper 1 medium bunch kale (about 8 oz.), center stalk removed, leaves chopped

INSTRUCTION: In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the onion, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, carrots, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, tomatoes, and 3 cups water and bring to a boil.

Stir in the lentils. Reduce heat to low.

Partially cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are almost tender, about 30 minutes. Stir in the salt and black pepper. Gradually stir in the kale and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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Nutritious, Delicious Favorite Soups

By Anne Palumbo

I

hate being cold and, for me, nothing shakes a chill better than a steaming bowl of hearty soup.

Before we dip into some of my all-time favorites, let’s head down memory lane and learn a bit about the history of soup.

Based on archeological evidence found in China, it turns out the first example of a soup bowl was discovered in 20,000 BC. The ancient pottery showed scorch marks, which would suggest the soup maker was cooking a hot soup of sorts. While this is the first example of a soup bowl, other ancient soup makers may have simply dug a pit, lined it with animal skin, filled this “pot” with water and plunked in some hot rocks. The use of hot rocks to boil water was a known practice among clever Neanderthals back then.

After the invention of clay pots and bowls, however, making soup was easy and became a staple of cuisines all over the world.

Thanks to a change in fashion in

the 14th century, slurping soup directly from the bowl ended. Stiff ruffles around the neck became fashionable, which made lifting the bowl to one’s lips downright impossible. Enter the soup spoon! Thank goodness the habit of eating soup with a spoon stuck, even without all the fussy ruffles.

Condensed canned soup was invented in 1897 by John T. Dorrance, a chemist at the Campbell Soup Company. It’s the only soup I knew as a kid, and my favorites — Campbell’s Tomato, Cream of Mushroom, and Chicken Noodle Soup — continue to be three of the most popular soups in America.

These days, I make my own soup, which allows me to control the ingredients, especially the sodium content. Plus, it’s the kind of versatile dish I can easily experiment with and never really ruin. I like that in a dish!

One carrot? Give me two! Ground beef? Bring on the beans!

And while some folks don’t really

Hearty Vegetarian Chili Serves 4-6

1½ to 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 yellow onion, chopped 1 large carrot, sliced or diced 1 orange bell pepper, chopped 1½ to 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 tablespoon cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano ½ teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes 1½ to 2 cups vegetarian broth or water 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup corn 2 tablespoons lime juice Garnishes: tortilla chips, sliced avocado, cilantro, grated cheese 52

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see soup as a meal, our household certainly does.

In less time than it takes to create many well-balanced meals, we’ve got our proteins, our fiber-rich carbs, our vegetables, our fluids, and, of course, our crusty bread for sopping things up.

Soup prepared elsewhere — whether canned, take away, or restaurant-prepared — may contain considerably more calories, fat, and sodium than you might expect. On that note, be sure to check labels in stores and nutrition information in restaurants (when available) if this concerns you.

At The Cheesecake Factory, for example, a bowl of cream of broccoli soup has 630 calories, 33 grams of saturated fat, and 1940 mg of sodium; a bowl of baked potato soup has 800 calories, 34 grams of saturated fat, and 1940 mg of sodium. For the record, the American Heart Association recommends we have no more than 13 grams of saturated fat and no more than 2300 mg of sodium (both per day), with an ideal limit of 1500 mg sodium for most adults.

Ready to make your own? Here are a few of my favorites—favorites because they’re healthy, satisfying, fairly easy to make, and super delicious!

1. In large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, carrot, and bell pepper; sauté for 6-8 minutes, stirring frequently.

2. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper; stir for 30 seconds.

3. Stir in diced tomatoes, broth or water, both beans, and corn. Bring to a boil, cover, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove cover and simmer for 10 minutes more, until chili thickens. Stir in lime juice; add more liquid if chili seems too thick.

Adjust seasonings. Garnish and serve.

Why this soup is healthy Low in fat and calories, this chili delivers a bounty of powerhouse nutrients: protein, fiber, vitamins A and C, potassium, and plenty of healthpromoting antioxidants.

Mushroom Artichoke Soup Serves 4-6

¼ cup butter or 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup thinly sliced shallots or onions 2 large carrots, sliced 1 (20-ounce) box sliced white mushroom: rinsed, hard stems removed 3 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 2 (14-ounce) cans artichoke hearts, drained and quartered ¼ cup sundried tomatoes, chopped 1 bay leaf 1 cup 2% milk 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1. In large soup pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic, shallots or onions, and carrots and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add mushrooms and cook 10 minutes

more, until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally.

2. Stir in flour, thyme, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Mix well. Add broth and cook until soup is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in artichokes, dried tomatoes, and bay leaf. Simmer, covered for 15 minutes. Stir in milk and lemon juice; heat through. Discard bay leaf. Adjust seasonings. If soup seems too thick, add more milk or broth.

Why this soup is healthy Thanks to its unique combo of garlic, onions, artichokes, and mushrooms, this soup is positively chockfull of antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals that can accelerate aging and increase your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Serves 4-6 adapted from loveandlemons.com 3 tablespoons butter 1 medium yellow onion, chopped ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper 3 garlic cloves, chopped ¼ cup all-purpose flour 2 cups reduced-fat milk or unsweetened almond milk 2 cups vegetable broth 3 cups coarsely chopped broccoli florets 1 large carrot, sliced or chopped ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons hot sauce (optional) 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese Croutons (optional) 1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute, then sprinkle in the flour and stir continuously for 1 to 2 minutes, or until

the flour turns golden. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking continuously.

2. Add the broth, broccoli, carrot, and mustard and stir to combine.

Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the broccoli is fork-tender.

3. Gradually add the cheese, stirring after each addition, until all the cheese is melted and the soup is creamy. Add more broth or milk if soup seems too thick. Adjust seasonings and serve with croutons, if desired.

Why this soup is healthy Brimming with immune-boosting vitamin C and bone-strengthening vitamin K—one cup has nearly all your daily needs for both—broccoli is also loaded with compounds that are believed to protect against cancer.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes.

She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

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Living the Dream: Loren Miller of Auburn plays in two bands, The Petty Thieves, a Tom Petty tribute, and My Buddy’s Band, which plays classic rock.

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A DRIVEN LIFE

Loren Miller, a retired Auburn Correctional Facility officer, talks about being threatened by a gun-toting drunk, spending weeks in a comma and how kung fu helped him turn his life around

By Joe Sarnicola

L

oren Miller’s life has been anything but dull. The Miami, Florida-born pastor of Auburn Christian Church has been threatened by a guntoting drunk, spent weeks in a coma, become an educational counselor, achieved kung fu mastery and is a professional musician.

He was as surprised as anyone about his achievements because he struggled early in school and even wondered if he had a learning disability.

He spent the first eight years of his life in Miami, where his father, James Earl Miller, owned a small plumbing business. In 1960 his father attended a Billy Graham crusade.

“That was it,” he said. “Dad sold his business and packed us all off to Enid, Oklahoma, where both he and my mom went to the seminary there.”

After assignments at a couple small churches in Oregon, the Miller family ended up in North Carolina when racial tensions were still very high. His church was a white congregation, but his wife had invited an African-American woman to be a guest musician, angering some of the church members.

Miller remembers one particular incident. “I went to the store and a drunken racist was there,” he said. “He knew who my father was. He pointed a shiny, new .357 Magnum in my face and threatened to kill me. Luckily for me the store owner said to him, ‘Don’t shoot him here, you’ll ruin my new carpet.’”

The drunken man just nodded and

left the store.

Even though the school year was only half over, with Miller a senior, the family moved to Auburn, where Miller became the pastor of Auburn Christian Church.

“We lived in a trailer until the church was able to buy a house for us to live in,” he said.

Although he continued to struggle in school, Miller graduated from Auburn High School in 1971 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master ’s in counseling and psychological services from SUNY Oswego.

By the early 1980s Miller was married with four young children and working as an education counselor at Auburn Correctional Facility. Within 10 years he had been promoted to assistant deputy superintendent for programs.

“I oversaw the guidance unit. Each inmate had an assigned counselor. I even wrote a few computer programs,” he said.

On what was expected to be another typical day at work, Miller collapsed in a hallway at the prison.

He was diagnosed as having had an attack of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, a neurological disorder that causes swelling in the brain and spinal cord.

“I spent almost three weeks in a coma and there was a risk I was going to die,” he recalled. “My brother, Vinson, visited me almost every day and continued talking to me.

Eventually I woke up.”

Upon regaining consciousness, he was partially paralyzed. So he needed the use of a wheelchair, and his vision was very poor. He said the only thing that kept him from giving up was thinking about his family, especially his children. He spent several months in recovery at St. Camillus Skilled Nursing and Short-Term Rehab in Syracuse. He also had to retire from his job.

Of course, the same drive that motivated him to try to recover also motivated him to try to leave the facility. “One evening my [now former] wife brought one of my dogs to St. Camillus. The hospital staff brought me by wheelchair toward the front door. I lined the dog up to the front door, held on to its leash and said, ‘Hike!’ The dog then began pulling me in my wheelchair toward the front door. I was almost a free man! But then I was stopped by two nurses,” he said.

Miller still had no intention of giving up.

“I was encouraged when one of the doctors told me I would be OK. My vision was starting to return but I still had double vision and blurring after several months. So I was declared legally blind. I also had some other disabilities,” he said “Now I am fine. All I am missing is some of my memories from the 1970s and early 1980s. Before I was ill, I was a normally functioning individual.”

Miller attributes his internal drive to his lifelong practice of kung fu.

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strength to not only lift myself from the coma I was in, but it has given me a mental toughness that I have found handy in handling life’s problems,” he said.

His style of kung fu is wing chun, the same style studied by Bruce Lee. Miller continues to practice kung fu and serves as an assistant instructor at classes with a local teacher, called a sifu.

“I am not aggressive. I am a peaceful warrior,” he said.

He has also pursued another hobby, which he blames on Kiyuh, a dog who did not like to walk, only run. He said Kiyuh is the name of a mountain range in Alaska. He bought the six-month old puppy from a breeder in Constantia. The breeder called and asked if he wanted to buy Kiyuh’s brother, Yukon, as well. Miller did, but found the dogs liked to fight with each other. So began his foray into sled dog racing.

“I loved my dogs and they seemed to know it. I never treated them like livestock which is how other ‘mushers’ treated their dogs,” he said. “I beat the

breeder in a race and he wanted to buy Kiyuh back.”

Miller made his first sleds with materials he could afford.

“The very first race I was in must have looked a sight to the other dog mushers. They all had trucks with dog boxes on them. I drove up in an old Chevy Nova with my sled on top of my car and all the dogs seat belted into the back seat,” he said.

Eventually one of his dogs jumped over the six-foot fence of his kennel and ran away. Miller was never able to find him. After the deaths of his other dogs, he retired from sledding.

Music has been another constant in his life from the time he was in eighth grade. He plays guitar a bit, but his main instrument has been keyboards.

“I used to play with bands over the summer when school was out. I have played in a lot of bands since then,” he said.

Miller has used his talent for music to operate a side business as a piano tuner since 1997.

“It seemed a perfect vocation for me since I had a musical background

and an aptitude for tuning by ear,” he said. “I also had a desire to do something purposeful with my time that could generate some income.”

Not long after that decision he met another piano tuner, Mike Kurta.

The two became good friends. Kurta taught him a lot, including how to take a piano apart for repairs, and encouraged him to join the Syracuse chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild.

“Joining the PTG provided opportunities for me to advance my skills and meet interesting professionals in the field. Mike offered invaluable support and encouragement for which I will always be grateful,” he said. “It was a sad day for me, but a happy day for him, when he moved back to the Midwest to be closer to his children and grandchildren.”

Miller currently plays in two bands, The Petty Thieves, a Tom Petty tribute, and My Buddy’s Band, which plays classic rock.

“Music lifts me up,” he said. “I love it.”

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Who Will Take Care of Baby Boomers?

The oldest baby boomers are 77, meaning the largest swell of boomers in long-term care is yet to come

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

U

pstate New York long-term health care faces an industrywide disaster like healthcare has never seen before,as nursing homes experience unprecedented staffing shortages, chronic budgetary stagnation and escalating need.

The oldest baby boomers are 77, meaning the largest swell of boomers in long-term care is yet to come.

The average age of a nursing home resident is 81.1. In just a few years, many, many more people will need care in a setting where staffing to meet legislated minimums is already nearly impossible.

Joe Murabito is president and managing member of Elemental Management Group, believes that the answer lies in adequate Medicaid reimbursement for long-term care providers.

“The number one thing lawmakers and legislators must recognize is how critical Medicaid is to Upstate for recruitment and retention,” he said.

Elemental is headquartered in Oswego and manages assisted living facilities, residential care centers and rehabilitation and nursing centers in Monroe, Chemung, Oswego and

Oneida counties. He is also a member of the New York Providers Alliance, an organization of 50 for-profit and nonprofit long-term care facilities from Buffalo to Lake Placid.

Murabito said that between 2012 and 2022, Upstate healthcare providers have experienced a 50% to 53% increase in wages for care staff, but Medicaid rates have not moved since 2007, except for a 7.5% increase passed last year.

“We didn’t realize any of that funding until a month ago,” he said.

“It was a good thing, but a fraction of what’s necessary to deal with the labor problem, 15 years of no new funding and significant inflation. We must be competitive players in the marketplace and without adequate Medicaid funding we just can’t get there.”

When workers could make similar wages doing work much less emotionally and physically taxing, it becomes very difficult to attract workers.

Especially grating to Murabito is the discrepancy between Upstate and Downstate reimbursement.

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Joe Murabito, is the president and managing member of Elemental Management Group.

Kim Townsend, is president and CEO at Loretto.

He explained that because Upstate relies much more heavily on Medicaid than in New York City, this means that proprietary providers Downstate survive with 8% to 9% profits overall.

Although modest, it keeps them going. Similarly, across all payers Upstate proprietary providers lose on average $17 to 18 per patient day, and voluntaries across the entire state lose more than $80 per day: a clearly unsustainable business model, he said.

Most Upstate long-term care providers receive between $180 and $210 per day per resident to provide medical and personal care, housing food, bedding, recreation, housekeeping, laundry services and administrative services. A hotel room alone in Central New York averages about $235 per night.

Coupling these reimbursement levels with the current market and recent staffing mandates is a death knell for many. As a result, long-term care facilities are closing, meaning fewer available places for those needing care.

“Nationwide, there have been more than 500 nursing home closures since 2020 and nearly 40% of them have been operating as four- to fivestar facilities,” Murabito said.

Murabito sees increased Medicaid reimbursement as the key to turning Upstate long-term care around. Although technology such as artificial intelligence can help reduce administrative busywork for staff, “you still need people to provide hands-on care for people.”

One good possibility is loosening

the administrative burden to sponsor and hire immigrants or refugees like in agriculture to help cover care needs. Murabito recently met with an immigration attorney to try to start the process of bringing nurses from other countries who are willing to work in long-term care. But he views better wages as the ideal solution.

“There are a lot of workers in our own country if we made healthcare more attractive,” he said. “Paying better will help.”

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Low Medicaid reimbursement makes it difficult to hire Kim Townsend, president and CEO at Loretto, also said that low Medicare reimbursement rates have led to the current crisis.

“All of us know that proper staffing leads to high-quality care,” she said. “There’s no doubt about that.”

I t ’ s f ru s t r a t i n g t o h e r t h a t therapists providing physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy are integral parts of the caregiving team, but their roles do not count toward the mandatory staffing minimum. Neither do staff engaged in therapeutic recreation, social work, nutrition and dietary, even though all of these workers “are critical to maintaining an individual’s wellbeing within a long-term care facility,” Townsend said.

The low Medicaid reimbursement makes it difficult to hire sufficient clinical staff. Townsend said that since the pandemic’s beginning, 20% or 400,000 frontline caregivers have left

long-term care, whether quitting the healthcare field or moving into another healthcare role. When organizations like Townsend’s lack caregiving staff, they have to reduce the number of available beds, which will exacerbate the existing crisis in long-term care when more baby boomers will need care.

“In a highly competitive labor market like what we have here, skilled nursing facilities simply cannot compete on wages,” Townsend said. “That’s leading to a shortage.

It’s creating an environment where it’s difficult to attract and retain great employees. It impedes our ability to serve the community and provide discharge plans for hospitals.

That’s part of why we don’t have great movement across our regional healthcare system.”

Loretto and many others Upstate senior facilities serve a mostly Medicaideligible population. But because costs are so high and reimbursement is so low, these organizations lose about $100 per person, per day. Raising wages further isn’t possible. Townsend said that 78% of nursing homes across Upstate are operating in the red, largely because Medicaid funding has remained stagnant for 15 years.

“We’re constantly assessing the needs of the community and how we can meet those needs,” Townsend said. “It’s a fundamental problem when New York state only pays for 75% for the cost of care for long-term care. There’s no filling that hole except by improving the Medicaid rate over time.”

Volunteer programs helped many organizations like Loretto reduce its labor costs. However, since the pandemic, their numbers have not returned as lingering concerns about COVID-19 continue. Townsend said that many of Loretto’s volunteers are retirees. In addition to those who don’t want to risk exposure, some retirees have returned to work to help their financial situation and are therefore unavailable to volunteer.

Townsend would like to see more grant money allocated to help nurses and other clinical staff pay for their education. She believes that this would incentivize more people to enter these fields.

Making education attainable is one of Loretto’s objectives. Loretto’s LPN apprenticeship program is the first

federally accredited apprenticeship program in the US. It enables workers to earn as they learn and eventually become LPNs. Townsend noted a lack of clinical faculty has made it tougher for people to enter LPN and RN programs.

“If you talk with any nursing schools or Onondaga Community College, finding faculty to teach those clinical programs is a real challenge. I’d suggest not only to provide money to students to be part of that pipeline but it’s also important to incentivize those in the profession today to become faculty members to teach the next generation of caregivers.”

Earning the degree required to instruct is expensive.

Clinical placements are also limited, so students have no place to precept. Townsend said that it’s tough for short-staffed facilities to provide clinical placements.

Family caregivers can help delay the onset for long-term care. However, many families are geographically dispersed and most couples both work. In addition, “Baby boomers are known for being individualistic and don’t necessarily want their children caring for them,” Townsend said.

“People are living longer and want to live in their homes longer. They all contribute to an eventual reliance on a system when you can no longer be cared for at home. Whether assisted living or long-term care, most people

are far more acute than a generation ago. By the time they go into assisted living or long-term care, they have extraordinary needs. Their families have tried to care for them but they’re acute and need greater services.

“The work we do is sacred because it makes a difference in people’s lives every day. The workers here are the first people they see when they wake up in the morning and may be the last people they see when they pass from this earth.”

Receiving care at home as long as possible is an appealing option for most baby boomers and it saves money compared with long-term care.

According to AARP, 87% of those 65 and older want to age in place in their own homes. To help make this a reality, services like Seniors Helping Seniors provide non-medical household help and transportation, such as washing laundry, minor household repairs, taking out trash and driving clients to the grocery store.

“Our whole mission is to keep seniors at home as long as possible, as long as it’s safe,” said co-owner Deb Turner. Based in Oneida, her franchise location serves Oswego, Cayuga, Seneca, and Wayne counties.

Turner said that the rising minimum wage is making it challenging for her to stay in business, as raising her rates prices some older adults out of the market for receiving help at home.

Typically, insurance and Medicaid

will not cover the costs because it’s not medical care, even though her agency’s services help delay the much more costly care provided in nursing homes and help prevent isolation, poor nutrition, deconditioning and costly health crises like broken hips.

Her rate for care is $33 to $35 per hour with a minimum of two hours per visit.

With fewer volunteer organizations operating, Seniors Helping Seniors and similar agencies provide an essential service to older adults trying to stay at home.

“I think Medicaid or Medicare has to jump in and recognize the non medical in-home agencies,” Turner said. “There’s not a license or certification for non medical care. If the government would recognize our role for that first-level care and give people who are on a lower income some help, it would save the government for paying for that person’s nursing home bill. Most people don’t need a ton of care, just a little in the beginning.”

She said that Medicaid is beginning to provide a certain number of caregiver hours per month, but vetting the caregiver is up to the older adult. Turner said that the process is so complicated and risky that many older adults give up.

By not covering more in-home options, “we are hurting the very people we should care about the most,” Turner said.

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moving

The Hard Task of Downsizing

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you’ve decided to downsize into a smaller home the task can seem overwhelming, especially if you have lived in your current home for many years.

Start by sorting out things that should be shredded, recycled, or thrown out, such as old receipts, phone books and tax records no longer needed. Many people possess years of documentation that they no longer need, since nearly every manual, receipt and resource is available online.

Get rid of broken or soiled items that hold no sentimental value and you can’t fix or clean to make them usable again. Clearing spaces by eliminating these things will give you more sorting space.

“I try to go through each room and question, ‘Do I truly need this?

Can I donate it? Does it need to be in my life?’” said Sonja Vigneux, owner of Errand Angels in Liverpool. “Spend

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even a half hour in each room. It’s surprising what you can get done.”

I f y o u ’ re k e e p i n g i t e m s t o remember someone by, choose the most meaningful item.

When you look at your perfectly good stuff, think about if you’ll use it at your new place. If you’re moving from a house with a workshop to a patio home with a single-car garage, you likely won’t need an extensive set of automotive tools — especially if you haven’t done any major car repair in years. If you don’t anticipate entertaining big groups, you could probably let go of the big platter and dinnerware for 24. Just keep the basic set and pass along the fancy stuff you don’t use a lot.

“A lot of people want to give things to their family members upon their death,” said Allison Schad, owner CNY Compassion Care in Syracuse.

“They should give them before they move. It’s one less thing to pack. They can see if their family member even wants it.”

Passing items along to a grandchild just starting out can be easier and more ecological than tossing them. If you have a set of fine china, consider giving a piece or two to each daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughter to remember you by. Unless they explicitly ask for them, no one wants an entire set of hand wash only, nonmicrowavable dishes. Most young people don’t want large hutches and display cases because they move often and most middle-aged adults already have them and don’t want more. If your granddaughter does want the hutch, she may decide to give it a facelift with paint or repurpose it for another use, so give with no strings attached.

Old electronics are likely not something other people want. Look on eBay to see if your item model is selling (not just listed). If it’s old enough, you may have a market for it.

Some designer clothing labels sell well on eBay and Facebook Marketplace, as do high-end tools, but only if they’re in good condition.

Paradoxically, some items that seem like junk are valued now.

“Someone might think, ‘I bought this in the ‘70s and it’s passé,’ but people are collecting it and paying hundreds for a sunburst clock,” Schad said. “And the same people think that the Hummels have value and they don’t.”

Inviting relatives to look around and select from things you won’t take with you can help you thin out your possessions. But don’t feel pressured to get rid of things you want to keep for now.

“Some people want their familiar chair that’s comfortable and their artwork and things that look familiar,” Schad said. “Otherwise, it doesn’t feel like it’s home at their new place.”

Enlisting help for the sorting, whether personal or professional, can help you make progress and make the process easier.

“It’s so stressful,” said Jennifer Novak, owner of Caring Transitions of Syracuse. “We’re concerned about people’s physical and emotional health. Seniors don’t always tolerate the stress. We give them options wherever possible.”

Novak said that for many clients, donating to cause they care about feels better than selling their things at an auction because they feel more in control of what happens.

“If they’re planning on moving to a place half the size, and you have 20 things, keep half of the things,” Novak said. “Pick the top few you love and donate and sell the things you’re not taking.”

She added that sorting into labeled boxes the things they wish to pass down to someone is easier than labeling items with notes. Once their friend or family member has sorted through the box, they can more easily sell or donate the rest.

“We love what we do,” Novak said.

“You have to be kind and respectful as you don’t know what people are going though. Treat everyone how you’d want your grandparents to be treated.”

What and Where to Donate Unsure of where to donate your stuff that’s in good condition?

Consider the following types of organizations, but ask before you drop off items and ask your tax adviser about if you can deduct these on your taxes: • Linens, clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, luggage, small household items.

Donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army, homeless shelters, church “help” closet ministries and women’s shelters.

• Linens, pet beds, leashes and carriers

Donate to pet shelters • Craft and hobby supplies office supplies Donate to teachers, schools.

• Craft and hobby supplies, old magazines, books (especially in large font), lap quilts/small blankets, pillows Donate to nursing homes and day facilities.

Freecycle.org: Register and then list any items you’d like picked up from your curb. This can help you shed larger items like furniture and exercise equipment.

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life after 55

By Michele Bazan Reed Email: bazanreed@hotmail.com

Embrace ‘Cozy Season’

We should make the most of all our winter weather by celebrating coziness

I

’m writing this column with a steaming mug of hot cocoa on the table next to me, fuzzy slippers on my feet and a chunky cardigan over my shoulders.A candle on my bookcase scents the room with the spicy smell of apples and cinnamon, as my cat, Charlie, curls up asleep in front of the fire.

OK, the “fire” in question is actually an electric heater with fake logs and flickering lights, accompanied by a realistic crackling sound from a plastic box attached by a wire to the whole structure, but c’mon, a girl can dream, right?

If the scene above sounds cozy, that’s the point.

I am experiencing the ancient Danish practice of hygge, which disappointingly does NOT rhyme with piggy. It’s pronounced hyoo-guh and it is the essence of cozy.

Numerous scientific studies have designated Danes as the happiest people on the planet and hygge is probably one of the main reasons why. I mean, think about it, a whole tradition and culture centered around being warm and comfortable?

Not to mention the hot cocoa and accompanying cookies? It only makes sense they’d be a happy people.

For those who haven’t encountered it yet, the principles of hygge are simple, centering on coziness, tranquility and hospitality. Because as cool as it is to hygge alone, it’s even better with friends, sharing a hot beverage (hot toddies count, right?), the warmth of the fire and relaxing conversation.

Textures are important to hygge and so you’ll see chunky knits: sweaters, throws, socks. Maybe a sheepskin rug on the floor under your feet. Cushy pillows with folk embroidery or macramé trim.

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so deck out your hygge corner with warm tones of ivory, taupe and beige.

No jarring hues to disturb the peace of the winter’s eve.

Fire is important, whether it be a fireplace — real or faux like mine — or candles. Bonus points for those wooden-wick candles that burn with a robust flame and make the crackling noises so essential to the feeling of coziness.

A hot beverage is key too, especially a nice, sweet creamy one — hot cocoa, a chai latte, milky tea with honey. It’s especially nice when shared with friends.

And that’s why hospitality is key to hygge. But luckily for us, hygge is anything but formal. No fancy table settings or wines paired with each course, the whole point of hygge is relaxing, easy friendship.

Relaxing music sets the tone, soft instrumentals, sweet, soft melodies, the essence of “easy” listening.

Don’t have all these things

available? No problem. Like that other popular Scandinavian import, the smorgasbord, you can pick and choose the elements of hygge you like the best.

I’ve never been to Denmark but I assume, being Scandinavian, they have a winter weather marked by snow like ours or damp chilly drafts from the sea.

It all calls for a bit of cozy, snuggling down under fluffy blankets or duvets, hot cocoa at the ready and a good book to keep you occupied.

Here in Central New York we are right now in what I like to think of as “cozy season,” that long stretch from New Year’s to Easter. The Christmas lights are long returned to the attic and the warmth of the spring sun is nowhere in sight.

We Central New Yorkers, like the Danes, have learned to make our own cozy. It helps that Mother Nature frequently gives us some enforced coziness. When a blizzard is raging outside, those of us fortunate enough to be retired can hunker down. We can

Here in Central New York we are right now in what I like to think of as “cozy season,” that long stretch from New Year’s to Easter. The Christmas lights are long returned to the attic and the warmth of the spring sun is nowhere in sight. Time to practice hygge. watch Nature’s show from the comfort of our living rooms — or our bedrooms if we just don’t feel like getting out of our jammies and facing the day.

For me, a snow day means a big pot of chicken soup — my grandmother’s recipe — simmering on the stove for hours. Or beef stew in the crockpot. It comes together in minutes but gives pleasure for hours as the rich aromas of simmering meat and vegetables fill my home with warmth.

And then there’s the books.

With undisturbed time for reading, there’s nothing like curling up with a nice hardcover or paperback book, preferably from one of our local independent booksellers or the public library. All year long, I enjoy my e-reader for its portability and builtin light source — not to mention the ability to MAKE THE TYPE REALLY BIG for these aging eyes. Or I listen to an audiobook as some skilled narrator brings the story to life as I go about my day doing laundry or cooking. But during cozy season, I want to read on paper. To feel the texture of the cover and pages of a good book in my hands.

To smell that new book smell or the slight mustiness of a vintage volume.

And don’t forget the convenience of falling asleep and having the book flop open to the exact last page you read face down on your chest. Your e-reader won’t do that! You’ll be searching for that last familiar page for hours.

Maybe your snow day rituals are different. Whatever they are, enjoy them with gusto. It’s one of the special perks of living in Central New York.

Our friends and relatives who move away always say, “What I miss most are the seasons.” We should make the most of all our winter weather by celebrating coziness.

So this cozy season, try a bit of Danish culture and hygge along with me. You’ll be glad you did.

How to Stay Warm Outdoors

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

E

njoying winter means staying warm. Try these tips to stay toasty from head to toe.

1. Layer your clothing.

Wearing one thick, bulky layer is less effective for keeping you warm than wearing several thin layers, which traps heat between the layers.

2. Wear the right base. Start with a moisture-wicking base layer, such as synthetic material or silk. Cotton traps perspiration against the skin which will make you feel colder. Many outdoor outfitting stores sell base layers designed to keep you dry.

3. Pick a warm mid-layer. Synthetic polar fleece or wool are very warm materials and can help you retain body heat.

4. Layer your outerwear. An insulative layer covered by a waterproof shell offers great protection from the cold. Look for snowpants and a coat that offer you the freedom of movement you will need for your activity.

Many newer outerwear designs are thin—and seemingly not warm enough—but if you check the tag, you will find a cold rating to let you know you have the right gear.

5. Cover your head. Don’t just grab a thin knit beanie. Wear a hat lined with fleece or faux fur that covers your ears and provides a windproof shell.

6. Use the right gloves. Repeatedly tugging off your gloves to operate your phone unnecessarily exposes your hands. Instead, wear a pair of texting gloves which include conducive fiber woven in the fingertips.

Over these, wear warm, waterproof mittens or gloves. Whenever you want to take a selfie or text a friend, you can keep your fingers covered by a layer. Bring along hand warmers if you plan to be outside a long time.

7. Select the right footwear. Once you’ve layered moisture wicking socks topped by insulative socks, you’ll need lined boots rated for the temperature and tall enough to keep snow from falling inside. Tall boots that fit snugly at the top can also help keep snow out. If your feet are especially prone to cold, try rechargeable heated boots for hours of warmth.

8. Stay dry. Bring along extra clothing—especially socks, gloves, and hat—to peel off and exchange for dry clothing should yours become sweat or snow soaked.

9. Don’t imbibe. It may seem like alcohol warms you up, but it’s not true. “It can actually be quite dangerous,” states Kate Goldbaum on Livescience.com. “The natural tendencies of your body—to detect cold, for example—are there to protect you from frostbite or hypothermia.

Usually, your blood vessels constrict in lower temperatures in order to direct blood to your vital organs.” Because alcohol reverses this effect, your extremities feel warmer, but your organs lose heat. In addition, this effect can cause you to sweat, which can make your body feel cooler. But you should drink beverages to stay hydrated, as it’s easy to hydrate less while active during cold weather.

10. Take breaks as needed. Most winter activity centers offer a warming station. Get a warm drink like coffee, tea or cocoa.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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druger’s zoo

By Marvin Druger Email: mdruger@syr.edu

Kindness and Caring

Recent small episodes restore and substantiate my faith in the goodness of human beings

T

he modern world is filled with conflict, violence, prejudice and hatred. But fortunately there is also kindness, caring and love.

I think of all the individuals who serve as first responders to help others in any crisis. I think of the medical profession that, at peril to their own health, moved us through the COVID-19 pandemic. I think of the many volunteers for charitable organizations who are dedicated to helping people in need. There are many other instances of people caring and demonstrating love for humanity.

It may seem trivial but, in this article, I want to tell about small episodes that restored and substantiated my faith in the goodness of human beings. I’m sure you can provide many examples in your own life when someone has done a kind deed for you.

Such deeds are memorable and they reflect my belief that when you help others you help yourself. Doing something nice for someone makes you feel good, no matter how small the deed. Here are some examples of small things that people have done for me recently. These small good deeds are memorable and help me be as kind as possible to others.

It was the week of Thanksgiving.

My friend and I were at a conference and we were dressed with a shirt, tie and jacket. We were having lunch in a small cafe. An attractive, welldressed African-American woman was at the store counter paying for something. The woman approached our table and gave me a $5 bill. “Have a Happy Thanksgiving,” she said. I was dumbfounded and I just stared at her.

“Have a very Happy Thanksgiving,” she said and she left the store. I framed the bill to remind me of how nice people can be.

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I saw a commercial for a nonstick frying pan on TV and decided to order it. A few weeks later, a giant box appeared at my doorstep. It was a complete set of pots and pans. I had to return it at the post office. The box was very heavy and I was barely able to get it into my car. Meanwhile, the rain was falling. I parked about 20 feet from the door of the post office and wondered, “How can I get this heavy box into the post office without dragging it on the wet sidewalk?” A middle-aged African-American man got out of his car and approached me. “I can help you with that.” He picked up the box and carried it into the post office.

This episode was devoid of prejudice.

Skin color had nothing to do with his kindness. He was simply helping another human being in distress.

Recently, I experienced several instances of people buying food for me.

In one instance, I was waiting on a line to pay for a Subway sandwich.

The woman who was in front of me announced, “I’ll pay for his sandwich.”

I was shocked. I said, “I wouldn’t have done that for you.” She replied, “I like to do kind deeds.”

Another time, I was waiting on

a line at the cashier to pay for a large bag of potato chips. The young man in front of me said to the cashier, “I’ll pay for his chips.”

Another time, I was having dinner by myself in Texas Roadhouse. A bunch of teenagers were eating at a table nearby. After I finished eating, I asked the waitress for the check.

Instead, she gave me a napkin with writing on it that said, “Enjoy the meal! Have a great rest of the night.

The meal is paid for already! The table next to you.”

I went to the All Night Egg Plant on Bridge Street in DeWitt to have breakfast by myself. The place was crowded so I sat down at an empty table for four people. The waitress said, “I may have to move you.” “Fine,” I replied and I moved to a smaller table when it became available. After eating, I asked the waitress, “Can I have my check?” She replied, “Your meal is already paid for.” What a nice gesture on her part.

I ordered a medium pizza at Dominos. When I went there to pick up the pizza, the pizza-maker said, “Oh, I made you a large pizza.”

One evening, I went to Applebee’s to eat dinner. The booth next to mine

had an African-American woman and a young child. I chatted with the child and gave him one of my pocket-sized magnifiers. When the woman left the restaurant, she said to me, “Take good care of yourself.” She meant it and I was touched by her sincerity.

People are very complex creatures and kindness and caring can be expressed in many different ways, ranging from holding a door open for an elderly person to saving the life of another human being.

My son, Bob Druger (Druger Eye Care in Camillus) was practicing aikido in a gym when someone in the room had a heart attack and collapsed. My son rushed to his aid and administered CPR and mouthto-mouth resuscitation for about 20 minutes until professional help arrived. The man survived and has recovered. He stays in touch with my son. Bob was awarded the Red Cross Hero of the Year award for his actions. That’s what caring for others is all about.

Every human is inherently focused on self-preservation. In this sense, we are born selfish, but we can learn to be kind and caring. We learn that helping others brings good feelings. We can also learn prejudices and hatred. I can’t imagine how a terrorist or murderer goes home at night after committing horrific atrocities and plays with his or her own children. But that’s part of the complexity of being human.

You may be thinking that it’s easy for me to preach about kindness, caring and love, but how do I practice this myself?

I could have attended medical school and become a physician to help others. But my pathway to helping others was different. I did not enter the medical profession mainly for two reasons. One, I was afraid that I was sure to catch every disease that I encountered in patients. The second reason was that I’d give a wrong prescription that would result in the death of a patient.

So, I decided to enter the teaching profession. Teachers influence the lives of others in positive ways. I taught science in many different settings and at different levels to more than 50,000 students in my teaching career. I was fortunate to end up as a professor of biology and science education at Syracuse University and I mainly taught the large, introductory biology

Note from teenagers who were eating at a table nearby. “After I finished eating, I asked the waitress for the check.” Instead, she gave me this napkin with writing on it.” course. My largest class had about 1,400 students.

Teachers do not get the credit or appreciation that they deserve. I once said to a young girl, “Doctors and lawyers get lots of respect. Teachers don’t,” Her response was, “Yes. But without teachers there wouldn’t be any doctors or lawyers or anybody.”

On another occasion, Joan Baez’s father said to me. “Our job as teachers is to inform and motivate students, but, if we motivate them, they inform themselves.”

In my career, I learned that the most important mission for teachers of any subject is to “provide meaningful, motivational experiences that enrich the lives of students and help them identify and nurture their unique traits and find out where they fit in life.” I meet former students wherever I go and testimonies from past students demonstrate that my teaching has influenced their lives in a meaningful way. That’s how I help others and that’s what teachers do as a career.

So, think about how you can help others and do one good deed for someone today. You will feel good about it, whatever that deed might be.

Addendum Those of you who read my articles in 55 Plus magazine may think: “Wow! He is narcissistic! He is always writing about his life and his experiences.”

There are basically several reasons why I write about my own experiences.

First, each of us has common experiences. Yet, no two experiences are exactly the same. We enjoy reading about the experiences of others and we learn from them. We often find common threads among them. We learn from every experience and every experience, even a vicarious one, becomes part of who we are.

Secondly, I know most about myself and, if I didn’t write about my own life and experiences, I probably wouldn’t have much to say.

I hope that you are interested in my articles and I encourage you to provide me with positive and negative comments.

Simply, email me at mdruger@ syr.edu and I will respond to you. I hope that my articles have a positive effect on your life. Thanks for reading my articles and providing me with comments.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 – 55 PLUS

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last page

By Stefan Yablonski

Q: When did you start you business?

A: “I started the program to become an owner and operator and had my first McDonald’s store in Nedrow in November of 1973 and we grew from there one store at a time. I started when I was 28 years old and I was one of the youngest owneroperators in the system at the time.

Q: The ‘program’?

A: “You don’t just walk up to the front door of a McDonald’s and say, ‘OK I got the money, here ya go. I’m ready to start tomorrow.’ There’s a significant amount of training that they have for franchisees, so that took about a year to get through. It’s like going back to school — and like going to school, you don’t get paid, either.

Paul Ross, 79

Burgers and fries and improving children’s lives: Local businessman is McLoving it The owner of 15 McDonald’s stores in the area has done more than flipping burgers during his more than 50 years with McDonald’s — he has been instrumental in creating and sustaining the Ronald McDonald House program. We recently spoke with him.

Q: You are an original founder of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York. Tell us about how that came to be.

A: Growing up, my little brother was partially paralyzed and I told myself that when I got older, if I had the opportunity to give back to those that couldn’t do for themselves that I would. I was part of the building committee for the first Ronald McDonald House in Central New York in 1982 and have continued to stay involved with the organization ever since.

Q: How do you raise funds?

A: I raise funds both on a personal level and through my restaurants with the Round-Up Campaign. The 66

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campaign allows customers to round up their change or otherwise donate a dollar amount to RMHC when they cash out. Collectively, my 15 restaurants recently passed generating $1.5 million for Round-Up to support RMHC of Central New York.

Q: Why do you do all this?

A: I do this because it’s what I love.

I feel fulfilled having been able to make a difference in my community through RMHC and in my restaurants seeing success in people and how their lives have evolved.

What resonates with me the most is being part of change in my community and supporting the people I work with. I’ve had my hand in being part of people living good lives and that is most meaningful to me. Of course, every job comes with learning opportunities. Making tough business decisions when needed can be difficult; although I can confidently say the positives have outweighed the negatives.

Q: How much did it cost back then?

A: The cost to get started in 1973 was about $200,000. Today, the approximate cost to start a new McDonald’s restaurant exceeds $2 million.

Q: Was it tough to get going?

A: Yes. In 1974, I came so close to going bankrupt. The first restaurant I opened didn’t meet the sales expectations that McDonald’s had set for us. Then, we had a gas crisis. You could only buy gas on every other day.

People’s lives changed — business wasn’t as good as we expected it to be.

Q: So, what happened?

A: McDonald’s made me an offer — to take over a store in Fulton. That restaurant was probably one of the lowest volume restaurants in the United States at the time. Over the next year and a half, it became one of the highest volume restaurants in the Central New York area.

Q: How did you do that?

A: Some things were just the way life works out. Miller Brewery came to town, Huhtamaki expanded. It was like all the right ingredients went into the job and poof!

Q: So, things have gotten better over the years?

A: Business is not easy and a successful business is even harder.

You’re always trying to do better than you did before.

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