Young at Heart Courtesy Photo Jerry Christensen plants around a small tree at Blair Street Park.
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Playing in the park
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COUPLE STAYS ACTIVE BY MAINTAINING CITY PARK
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By ALYSSA OCHSS News Page Designer
ALPENA — Staying active can mean keeping your body moving, but it can also mean keeping the community beautiful by maintaining and adopting parks. Jerry and Paula Christensen, both 72, adopted the Blair Street Park a couple years ago with their family. They applied with the city through the Adopt a Park program. They are in contact with the city to talk about what they need and want for the park. In the fall they summarize what they’ve accomplished, Jerry said. “And we communicate by email,” Paula said. “So we keep in touch.” Both Paula and Jerry agree that they’ve had a lot of fun since adopting the park. “For a lot of reasons,” Jerry said. “Number one is we like the park to look well and number two is that we enjoy being outside and doing that kind of work.” Jerry and Paula do things such as laying down mulch, picking up trash such as cigarette butts, picking up branches, and planting different types of plants. They planted perennials and annuals — the perennials came from their own garden and the city provided annuals, Paula said. Plants that were already at the park included a plant called milkweed. Milkweed is what is required for monarch butterflies to lay their eggs, Jerry said. He said there is an organization that encourages pollinators and there is a sign indicating that. The sign was gifted to Jerry by one of his children. Milkweed can also be found throughout Alpena. Jerry said it’s been successful so far. Some of the things are left to the city to do, such as mowing the grounds. ____________________________________________ 2 - Young at Heart ~ Thursday, June 16, 2022
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i Jerry Christensen kneels down next to a row of plants at Blair Street Park.
Courtesy Photo
“We really don’t do that much. We’re just citizens that want to have a nice place.” — Jerry Christensen
Paula said they notify the city of things such as graffiti and the theft of a life preserver. “At this entrance to the pier is a life preserver ring,” Paula said. “And that’s there every year, but somebody had stolen it — we have no idea who — and we let the city know and they let us know we can get it from the health department. And so we did the legwork to make sure there
was a life preserver there. That was important to us, that a safety thing like that was still there.” Paula also explained how someone had painted graffiti on the pier and some of the things at the park, and they painted over it. She said the city has also done an excellent job Park, see Page 3
Park,
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at keeping up the park by mowing the grass and cleaning up the beach. Since the park was adopted by the whole family, their children and grandchildren also help with maintaining the park. When asked if it makes for good bonding time, Paula said yes. “It depends who you ask,” Jerry joked. “If you ask the grandkids, they’d probably say grandpa’s a boss he tells us what to do.” “No, the grandchildren enjoy it,” Paula said. “And we think that we’re fostering civic responsibility with our grandchildren to do something like this.” Jerry said getting the family involved is probably the most important part of
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They both always walk their dog down to the pier, helping to keep them active. Paula said gardening also helps with that because it’s a good physical activity for them, as well. Jerry said they are just doing their thing, “We really don’t do that much,” Jerry said. “We’re just citizens that want to have a nice place.” They have more projects planned for the future including their current project fixing and replacing benches that were destroyed by high water levels in recent years.
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Alyssa Ochss can be reached at 989-3585680 or aochss@thealpenanews.com.
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____________________________________________ Thursday, June 16, 2022 ~Young at Heart - 3
How empty nesters can overcome boredom
Raising children is a significant responsibility. Parents know there’s no such thing as a day off, which is why the first day they come home to an empty nest can be so confounding. After roughly two busy and likely hectic decades or more of looking after their children, parents whose sons or daughters have left home for the first time may experience feelings of sadness and loss. That’s not unusual, as the Mayo Clinic notes it’s a phenomenon known as “empty nest syndrome.” Though it’s not a clinical diagnosis, empty nest syndrome can be a difficult hurdle to overcome, especially for parents who find themselves suddenly bored after years of being so busy. Empty nesters looking to banish boredom can consider these strategies. ∫ Give your home a new
look. Parents go to great lengths to make their homes welcoming safe havens for their children. Moms and dads often joke that, between play rooms and study areas, kids get the bulk of the real estate under their roofs. Now that the children have moved out, parents can take back that space and refresh their homes. A home that’s adapted for empty nesters will look quite different from one designed for families with young children. So a renovation or redesign can provide plenty of work that can fill idle time and instill a sense of excitement about the future. ∫ Become a weekend road warrior. Newly minted empty nesters are likely still working full-time. But now that there’s no soccer practices or band recitals taking up valuable real estate on your weekend
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schedule, Saturdays and Sundays can provide perfect opportunities to travel. Plan routine weekend getaways, choosing different locales for each trip. Visit a city one weekend and devote a subsequent trip to the great outdoors. ∫ Reconnect with old friends. Some individuals experiencing empty nest syndrome may be hesitant to admit they’re experiencing feelings of sadness and loneliness. But a recent Sky Mobile study of parents of teenagers in England found that 47 percent were fretting about having an empty nest. So it’s likely that old friends and fellow parents are experiencing feelings associated with empty nest syndrome. Reaching out to old friends is a great way to reconnect and can provide an outlet to discuss feelings parents might be hesitant to share with others. But empty nesters who experience significant
feelings of sadness and loneliness are urged to speak with a health care professional as well. ∫ Replace kids’ activities with your own. After years of toting kids from one extracurricular activity to another, empty nesters can now do the same for themselves. Visit local community centers and libraries and ask about classes for adults. Many offer classes on everything from crafts to sports. Adults also can research continuing education programs at local colleges and universities if they’re interested in a career change or pursuing an advanced degree for personal enrichment. Newly minted empty nesters can look at their empty nest as an opportunity to engage in activities that pique their interests after years of catering to the needs and wants of their children.
How to make new friends after 50 The early years of midlife are a hectic time for many people. Around the time many people reach their late 30s and early 40s, they’re balancing the responsibilities of a career and a family. But as people enter their 50s, some of those responsibilities tend to be less significant, leaving more time for recreational pursuits. Hobbies and other pursuits outside of work are often more fun when enjoyed with friends. People over 50 undoubtedly recognize that it’s not always so easy to make new friends, even though it’s undeniably beneficial to have supportive relationships into your golden years. A 2017 study from researchers at Michigan State University found that valuing friendships was a stronger predictor of health and happiness among older adults than valuing family. Those results align with an earlier Australian study that found Australians age 70 or older tended to live significantly longer if they had more strong friendships. Making friends after 50 might not be as simple as it was during your school days, but these strategies can help men and women in midlife build new friendships. ∫ Identify your interests. Fiftysomethings who have spent the last couple of decades building a career and raising a family can give some serious thought to their interests outside of work or passions they hope to pursue now that they have more time to commit to such pursuits. The more interested you are in a given activity, the more likely you are to stick with
it. And the longer you stick with something, the more likely you are to meet like-minded individuals (i.e., future friends) willing to make similar commitments. ∫ Utilize social media. In years past, men and women over 50 may not have had any readily available tools to reach out and connect with new people. Social media has made it much easier to build such connections. Even the most obscure passions likely have a social media group of locals devoted to them, and these groups can be great ways to meet new people. A local runner’s club may have its own social media accounts, and local governments and community groups often share information about sports leagues and other groups via social media. ∫ Sign up for group outings. Communities often sponsor group outings to museums, the
theater, sporting events, and other day trips. Signing up for a bus trip to a local museum presents a great opportunity to meet people who share your interests, providing the potential to build lasting friendships built on a foundation of shared interests. ∫ Broaden your horizons. Just because you’re in your 50s doesn’t mean your friends have to be. Don’t hesitate to invite younger
or older acquaintances and colleagues over for dinner or on weekend excursions. Friends come in all shapes, sizes and ages, so you could be missing out if you’re not willing to extend a hand in friendship to people of different ages and backgrounds. Making friends after 50 can be challenging. However, various strategies can help men and women over 50 connect with new people.
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Social media: It’s not just for kids, anymore Perhaps due to the popularity of social media among a generation of young people who grew up with it, platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are often associated with people born in the 21st century. However, a 2018 study from the Pew Institute found that 65 percent of adults between the ages of 50 and 64 used Facebook and 68 percent used YouTube. Social media is often on the receiving end of negative attention, but it’s also a potentially valuable tool that can help men and women over 50 stay connected with their communities. That’s not always so easy for adults who no longer have children at home. And as its name suggests, social media can help users connect with others who share their interests. Such connections also can be hard to make for adults over 50. Adults over 50 may be more comfortable with social media now than they were a decade ago, but it’s still a good idea to brush up on basic security measures that can help men and women protect their privacy as they utilize platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. ∫ Protect your personal
information. No social media user has the right to access your personal information, including your address, date of birth or other data unique to you. Avoid interacting with anyone who requests personal information, employing the function to block such users from connecting with you when possible. It’s also important
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to keep information about travel plans private. For example, sharing details of an upcoming vacation can serve notice to potential criminals that no one will be in your house, making it a potential target for burglars. ∫ Aim for quality, not quantity, when building social media networks. Avoid accepting friend requests from individuals you don’t know. Cyber criminals often gain access to victims via social media, so limit your social media network to people you know and trust. ∫ Turn off location information. The technology behind social media is impressive and even makes it possible to determine where users are when they tweet or post to other platforms. But
many users, especially those concerned about their privacy, don’t want to share location information with anyone, much less strangers. Turn off location information and routinely double check to make sure it’s still turned off. ∫ Discuss others’ privacy concerns before posting to social media. Social media isn’t for everyone, and some people may not want photos of themselves or their children posted to platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Prior to posting pictures or information about other people, confirm that they’re OK with you doing so. Adults over 50 are engaging with social media. But no matter how comfortable users become, it’s still best to keep various social media safety protocols in mind.
How to organize a social club The early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic taught the world many lessons, not the least of which was how easy it can be take socializing for granted. Lockdown was a big part of life during the early days of the pandemic, as people were forced to stay home from work and school and remain largely isolated, even from their own friends and family members. The sense of isolation that many people developed during those early days of the pandemic likely didn’t come as a surprise to medical researchers, particularly those who have studied the effects of isolation on aging populations. The National Institute on Aging indicates that social isolation and loneliness are linked to depression as well as a host of other negative health outcomes, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and cognitive decline. Social clubs can be a great way for adults over 50 to avoid isolation and loneliness. Such clubs can provide opportunities to connect with individuals who share similar interests, laying the foundation for new friendships that can be hard to develop in midlife. Perhaps the best thing about social clubs is that anyone can start one. These tips can help individuals over 50 start social clubs that appeal to locals who are on the lookout for fun ways to meet new people. ∫ Think of a hobby unique to your location. One of the best ways to attract other locals is to find a hobby that caters to residents in your area. For example, coastal residents may want to start a local fishing club, while city dwellers may draw more interest starting a club focused on local museums or restaurants. ∫ Take all comers. Individuals over 50 may aspire to meet people in situations similar to their own, but they should still allow anyone interested in their club to join. Adults in the early
stages of midlife (i.e., their thirties and forties) are often too busy with their personal and professional lives to make much time for social clubs, so it’s likely that those interested will be 50 or older. But accepting all who are interested can increases the chances of starting a diverse and engaging group. ∫ Spread the word. Meetup (meetup.com) has been facilitating connections for two decades, making it a great place to start a group for people with shared interests. In addition to utilizing a service like Meetup, founders can spread the word through their social media apps and create fliers to post on public boards at local community centers and libraries. ∫ Find a public place to get together. It’s best to avoid hosting club
events and meetings at a private residence, including your own. Instead, prior to starting the club, look around for meeting places, which can include local churches, libraries or community centers. Ask about reserving spaces for meet-
ings and look for places that are accessible for all people, including those with mobility issues. Starting a social club can be a great way for individuals over 50 to meet new people and explore new or existing passions.
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