PrimeTime - Oct. 2022

FAVORITES FALL

Apples, Pumpkins & Cider

Who doesn’t love October? Who doesn’t love food? If you love both, there are certain tasty foods in abundance when October rolls around.

Apples! Who can resist a nice big shiny, juicy apple? Luckily, there are lots of local farms producing not only apples but other fruits and veggies as well. Here are just a few you might want to check out:

Phantom Farms in Cumberland. The 63-year-old farm grows more than 15 varieties of apples. Favorites are the Macoun and Honeycrisp, but you can also find Macs, Paula Red, Empire and Red Delicious, just to name a few. They also offer strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, squash, cu cumbers, peppers and giant pumpkins. The stand offers a country café and bakery, garden center, and gift shop. 2920 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI.

Appleland Orchard in Smithfield. Their produce in cludes apples and peaches, and fresh pies, and cider donuts daily. If you’ve got a craving for chocolate, try their Gour met chocolate apples. 135 Smith Avenue in Smithfield.

Confreda Greenhouses and Farms. Since 1922 the Con freda family has been farming in Rhode Island. Find plenty of fall fun from their corn maze to pumpkin picking not to mention all the apples and fall goodies at the farm stand. 2150 Scituate Ave, Hope.

Find apple cider at Pippin Orchard in Cranston. At this 20-acre farm, founded in 1964, you can find also find apples and pumpkins along with peaches, nectarines, and pears. Pick your own apples if you like. 751 Pippin Or chard Road in Cranston.

Take a fall drive to Clyde’s Cider Mill in Old Mystic, Connecticut. Known as a National historic landmark and the only steam-powered cider mill in the United States, the winery produces hard ciders and apple wines. You’ll also find jams, jellies, local honey, maple syrup, and fudge. In the fall you can choose from apples, apple pies, pumpkin bread, gourds, Indian corn, candy apples, kettle corn, and apple cider donuts. 129 North Stonington Road.

Dame Farm and Orchard is open for picking with a va riety of trees including McIntosh, Cortland, Gala, Honey crisp, Macoun, Jonagold, Braeburn, Ida Red and Red Deli cious. 91B Brown Ave., Johnston.

Hill Orchards, located at 86 Winsor Ave. in Johnston, grows 11 types of apples and offers horse-drawn hayrides on select weekends.

Narrow Lane Orchard, 213 Narrow Ln., North Kings town. Visit and stroll through ten acres and pick McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Empire and Cortland apples. Check out their honey too.

Sunset Orchard Farm has 25 different varieties of ap ples to choose from. Take home a ho’smemade apple pie, fresh apple cider and candied apples too. 244 Gleaner Cha pel Rd., North Scituate.

Steere Orchard, 150 Austin Ave., Greenville. With several varieties to choose from, Steere Orchard has been growing since the 1930’s. Visit to pick own and pick up goodies like apple butter, cider and honey!

Socially Invasive Species

Lately there’s been news about invasive species, especially in the waters around Florida. The two species I’ve read about most are the Burmese Python and the Lionfish. The Burmese Python has become such a problem in the Everglades that the South Florida Water Management District issued a hunting challenge with a $10,000 grand prize. Its purpose is to “incentivize a limited number of public-spirited individu als to humanely euthanize these destructive snakes.”

RETIREMENT SPARKS

by ELAINE M. DECKER

meant to accom modate everyone who lives there, at least not at the same time. The invasive Pool Hogs use more than their fair share of time, thus keeping others from enjoying the facility.

Happy Hour Earworms invade the peace and quiet even if they haven’t been golfing. It’s usually their loud and boisterous voices that interrupt the tranquility. They sometimes break into song, favoring oldies (very) but goodies (in the ear of the beholder). The further into Happy Hour it gets, the more invasive the antics of the Earworms become.

I’m not sure how one would do this humanely, but you can imagine what an incentive $10,000 would be. The hunters get paid $10 per hour and $50 for each python they catch that measures up to 4 feet, plus an extra $25 for each additional foot above 4. On top of that, they get $200 for each nest they deactivate. That’s quite a haul, and a lot of python skins for cowboy boots and handbags.

As for the Lionfish, they swarm in the Panhandle. That’s led to a tournament with cash prizes, too. Divers spear these preda tory fish and sell them to local restaurants. Supposedly, those suckers can lay 27,000 eggs every two and a half days and can elimi nate more than 80% of native species within five weeks. This not only plays havoc with the ecosystem, it’s a threat to the survival of coral reefs as well.

As with invasive species like the Burmese Python and the Lionfish, Socially Invasive Species tend to settle in Florida, especially in retirement communities. I’ve collected some information about quite a few of these to share with you.

Let’s start with the Golf Cart Broncos It’s no surprise that golf is a hugely popular activity, especially in retirement communi ties. Combine this with the cocktail hours that come after (and sometimes before) a golf outing, and it can be deadly. Inebriated duffers race around the community in their carts with little or no regard for the safety of the residents.

Close behind the Broncos are the Pickle Ball Fanatics. This sport has exploded in the past few years, especially in retirement communities. It’s not as physically stressful for the players as tennis is. But the noise of the ball clacking off the paddles is invasive to the auditory calm that nearby neighbors had planned to enjoy when they moved in.

Not as dangerous as these first two species but equally invasive are the Pool Hogs. Most retirement communities have a pool for their residents. It’s often a modest sized one, not

What’s worse, as with other Earworms, it’s next to impossible to banish the songs from your head even when Happy Hour is over.

The Peripatetic Travel Bug is psycho logically invasive more so than physically. This species invades your comfort zone with detailed accounts of their recent trips abroad. Having retired with a comfortable income, they travel far, wide and frequently. There’s no escaping them unless you simply retire to your own nest and lock the door.

The Meme Maniacs are a modern species, especially invasive on Facebook and other social media sites. Some of their posts are entertaining. The problem with the Maniacs, however, is a lack of discrimination about which memes are worthy of posting. The result is that one has to scroll through a lot of dross just to see a few cute cat ones.

Acronym Aficionados are a closely relat ed invasive species to the Meme Maniacs, also showing up most often on social media. Some of these are useful, taking less time to type than it would to spell out the words. The main problem is that many seniors aren’t up to date on these shortcuts. So they clut ter up the thread with questions like: “What does IMO mean? How is that different from IMHO? How about LOL and ROFL? What is FOMO?” If you don’t understand this last one, you’re definitely Missing Out.

This is by no means a complete list of Socially Invasive Species, but it captures the most common and most egregious ones. BOLO for them in your neighborhood.

Copyright 2022 Business Theatre Unlimited

Elaine M. Decker’s books include Retirement Downsizing—A Humorous Guide, Retirement Sparks, Retirement Sparks Again, Retirement Sparks Redux and CANCER: A Coping Guide. Her essays appear in the antholo gies: 80 Things To Do When You Turn 80 and 70 Things To Do When You Turn 70. All are available on Amazon.com. Contact her at: emdecker@ix.netcom.com

This service includes: gathering and collation of vital statistic information, one person transfer of remains to funeral home, use of facilities for state mandated 24-hour waiting period, preparation of remains (not embalming), cremation container, transfer of remains to crematory, and crematory fee. Also includes opening Irrevocable Trust Account to hold funds for time of need Route 44 • Greenville, RI (401) 949-0180 andersonwinfield.net

WARWICK MALL

Things My Mother Taught Me

ACCORDING TO DON by DON FOWLER

Did you ever stop to think about how many things you do today that were influ enced decades ago by your mother?

Here I am in my mid-eighties, and I still turn the lights off when I leave the room.

It’s automatic. Even though I’m going back into the room in a minute.

“Don’t stand there with the refrigerator door open,” I can still hear her say, even though she was two rooms away.

“Close the door; you’re letting all the cold/hot air in.”

Those are three of my favorites, and they haunt me to today, as I turn off lights and close doors. I remind myself that somehow I failed to pass them on to the next two generations.

There are instances when I do rebel.

“Clean your plate. There are children starving in China.”

I never made the connection, and to this day I leave one small bite of food on my plate as a form of rebellion…and to irritate my wife.

“Don’t sit so close to the TV. You’ll ruin your eyes.”

I guess she was right. Today I must sit close so I can read the closed caption

because I must have ruined my ears, too.

“Don’t go out without a coat. You’ll catch a death of a cold.” I could never argue that colds were caused by germs, but to this day I still reach for the coat rack.

“Chew your food.”

Mom drilled this into me. To this day I’m the last one to finish my meal.

“Sit Still!”

“Why?” Moving is good for circulation. My doctor tells me to get up every half hour and walk around. Do some exercises.

Dad gets into the act too.

He insisted that I fill the car with gas when it reached half full. This began when gas was a quarter a gallon. Can you imagine that. A quarter a gallon!

And yes, I paid for my rebellious actions… or non-actions. Once on a big date.

So today it never goes below a half tank.

I used to let it go below the empty line. Heck, I could use that quarter for a McDonald’s hamburger, or to go to a movie.

And both of them constantly told me to save my money.

Oh God. I wished I had listened to them on that one.

Good for You Candied Apples

Homemade candied apples are a fixture come Halloween. Sweet, delectable and very easy to make, these apples are a staple at parties and may even be distributed to trick-or-treaters. As anyone who has bit into a sticky-sweet candied apple can attest, although delicious, these apples are not ex actly a healthy snack. Yet, with a few, easy modi fications, it’s possible to improve the nutritional value of candied apples.

With ingredients like caramel, marshmallow, chocolate fudge, and sugar, it’s easy to see how candied apples do not embody a healthy treat, despite an apple being underneath all those candy adornments. Try these ideas to increase the nutritional value of this beloved treat.

• Make your own caramel using condensed milk, brown sugar and butter. By controlling the in gredients, you can avoid extra sugar and any additives in commercially sold caramel toppings.

• Use honey for the outer coating of the apple. Then roll it in chopped almonds or granola.

• Coat apples with dark chocolate, which contains less sugar than milk chocolate and is packed with antioxidants. Sprinkle with dried cranberries and chopped walnuts.

• Substitute actual cinnamon for melted cinnamon candies in recipes. Mix powdered cinna mon with a light corn syrup and then dip the apples to coat.

• Swirl homemade raspberry jam with an all-natural peanut butter and spread it on the apples for a gourmet take on peanut butter and jelly.

• Use your favorite chocolate hazelnut spread on the apples and sprinkle with granola for crunch.

• Drizzle the apples with your sugary concoction rather than dipping them to cut down on the sugar. This still provides much flavor but does so without all of the sugar.

• Dip apples in melted cheese, like brie or gouda. Sprinkle with bacon bits for a sweet and salty combination.

Experiment with your own flavors. Making your own candied apples, rather than purchasing them from stores, enables you to control the ingredients and how much actual candy goes into the recipe. TF14A585

Porch Lights

Did you ever have an experience that is so unique, or fulfilling, or simply so beautiful that you think to your self - I need to remember this moment. I need to soak it in so completely so that I won’t ever forget it? Sometimes it’s watch ing sunlight dance on the quiet ripples of a mountain lake or moonlight on the rolling waves of the ocean like a million diamonds floating on the water. Maybe it’s looking up into the night sky where far-away stars shine their ancient light upon us. So much magic in this world.

MEMOIRS

by SUSAN DEAN

salad and bread, and I brought the wine and dessert.

The intricate beauty of a bright collec tion of flowers nodding in the wind. Trees that stand silent in their majesty, but speak ing to us with their wisdom gained through the ages of their solitary existence.

Perhaps it is music that flows into our ears and touches our souls. Or the voice of a loved one that winds its way into our hearts. Beauty that feeds us so deeply that we never want to forget the experience.

I work a seasonal job - spring, summer, and fall. I have two co-worker friends, Donna and Kate, whom I’ve known for about twenty years. We rarely see each other during the winter months, but look forward to being together again in the spring when we’re all back to work. We also look forward to going out to dinner together after work once each week, going to our usual favorites or trying new places when we are feeling adventurous.

Due to Covid, our workplace didn’t open till mid-summer in 2020. And due to Covid restrictions, our weekly restaurant outings could not happen. But one day, Donna sug gested that we order take-out from one of our usual eateries and we could share our dinner together on her front porch.

That first night when Kate and I arrived - Donna hadn’t worked that day - we found Donna sitting on her porch next to a small, round, glass table - just big enough for three. Donna had hung strings of tiny white fairy lights along the porch ceiling and railings. Three place settings were waiting, complete with colorful cloth napkins, three wine glasses, and a bottle of red wine with a corkscrew resting beside it. We shared fish and chips that night.

Each week we shared a meal together on Donna’s porch - sometimes pasta, or hamburgers, or other take-out food from various nearby restaurants. Sometimes we would have a home-cooked meal, like the time Donna made steamed mussels and pasta and vegetables, Kate brought the

Donna lives on a narrow street lined with old homes in Newport where neighbors and tourists often pass by. Many times people would glance up at us from the sidewalk and smile at the three of us sitting around our small glass table, elegantly set with food and wine and real dishes and silverware - no styrofoam or plastic in sight. Many laughingly made comments, like “That looks inviting - can we join you?” or “How about sharing with us - it looks like you’re having so much fun!” or “Wow - how nice - what a way to enjoy an evening!”

Our shared meals were also a chance to talk, to solve the problems of the world, to laugh, to be together, and to watch the sun set, the moon rise, and the stars slowly appear. We named our weekly ritual “Porch Lights” as we ate and toasted our wine to the day turning into twilight, sur rounded by fairy lights and the stars above.

I think about a time when “Porch Lights” will be a thing of the past as all things must travel that path into memory. But I want to especially remember these shared eve nings that have continued even as Covid restraints have eased, these meals that never would have happened without the arrival of Covid restrictions. A silver lin ing for sure - who would have guessed? We continued our “Porch Lights” ritual weekly through our April to October work season in 2021 and through our season this year, too. We’re winding down now that it is October and the weather is turning chilly and our seasonal job is ending.

I took a picture of one of our table settings so I would always have a visual reminder of our special nights. I wanted to take a picture of the two of them, too.

“No, no, no!” they protested.

“Okay,” I said, and when they weren’t looking I snapped a quick picture anyway.

I believe that when we’re finished here on this earth and we cross over to the Other Side, we’ll remember the special moments of our lives. I know I want to remember my dinners with Donna and Kate - our “Porch Lights” - and look back with love at the bonds of friendship forged around a small, round glass table on a quiet summer night in the midst of world chaos.

Keep Your Pumpkin Spice Enthusiasm To Yourself!

We are now officially emersed in Pumpkin Spice Season. It’s time for pumpkin spice cof fee, donuts, ice cream and countless other gourd “delicacies.” It’s time for pumpkin spice candles, lip balm, tissues, soap, clothing, and too-numerous-to-list products to emerge from the calendar closet. It’s pumpkin spice AD NAUSEUM and I don’t like it one bit. For me, (and maybe other discontented souls), the pumpkin spice craze is like fingernails screeching down a blackboard. Taking its cue from way-to-early Christmas displays, the pumpkin spice extravaganza seems to begin earlier and earlier every year. It bursts onto the scene in full force every October, following its subliminal introduction during mid to late summer.

MY SIDE OF THINGS

by LARRY GRIMALDI

ber over Octo ber any day.

If you are lucky, Oc tober begins the annual countdown for migration to Florida or another tropical havens. Unfor tunately, everyone in New England cannot or don’t want to leave for warmer locations.

And some people ACTUALLY ENJOY win ter. It’s a mystery to me why anyone would be a fan of snow, sleet, slush, or Arctic tem peratures. It’s not my preference; but as the adage goes, “To each his own.”

it has become a brief stop on the way to commercial Nirvana.

I’m not a fan of October. The days grow shorter and colder and winter, my least fa vorite season, is lurking behind the weather curtain. If you think about it though, you re alize that October lacks the split-personality conflicts of other months. Climate change has ushered in some dual-season confusion. March can’t figure out whether it’s winter or spring. June sits on the cusp of spring and summer, and September is an emotional wreck, hovering between summer, fall, and the hurricane season. But I will take Septem

I don’t know when the Great Pumpkin Spice Phenomenon began. Maybe it was the creation of a popular donut conglomerate. Maybe it was the clever marketing idea of an advertising firm. Maybe it was an accidental result of a cooking experiment gone terribly awry. I do know is that it’s quickly gaining the dubious status of Black Friday. And the phenomenon lasts more than 31 days!

October, or even late September in some stores, brings with it the inevitable Christmas displays and shopping frenzy. Endless Yule tide commercials creep into the media with disheartening frequency. It always seems like Thanksgiving gets lost in the shuffle. We seem to forget that Thanksgiving should be time spent with family and friends. Instead,

I realize that some people are not fans of summer heat and humidity (like my friend Matt D) and wait in anticipation for fall. The pumpkin spice disciples anxiously await the mythical celebration to gorge themselves on pumpkin spice foodstuffs, wear pumpkin spice clothing, or to discover new and dif ferent ways of incorporating pumpkins into their lives. If you want to avoid the frenzy, plan a long Caribbean cruise and hope that a hurricane doesn’t spoil your vacation. Avoid shopping until November 1 or have your food and essentials delivered. Don’t expose yourself to media or social platforms (all are impractical options).

In any case, I’ll take spring and summer. All I ask is that the pumpkin spice afficio nados keep their enthusiasm to themselves.

Larry Grimaldi is a freelance writer from North Providence. Many of his Prime Time columns, are included in his anthology, “50 Shades of Life, Love, and Laughter,” (with the permission of Beacon Communications). For more information about this publica tion or his other books, e-mail lvgrimaldi49@gmail.com

Here for

Make plans with AARP Rhode Island

We have so many ways to connect! Enjoy an AARP member discount at Rail Explorers Rhode Island on Oct. 20 and AARP Rhode Island Sundays at Roger Williams Park Zoo throughout October and November.

Join us online for Tai Chi October 25 and the Rhode Island LGBTQ+ Archival Films Showcase on October 26. In November, it’s the URI Master Gardener Series on Nov. 8, Everybody Dance!: Discover the Power of Movement on Nov. 9, and a Veterans Resources Tele-Town Hall Nov. 10. And more: Webinars, Movies For Grownups– all free. There’s so much to do. Find our lineup at www.aarp.org/RIEvents

Protecting Loved Ones From Elder Abuse

Are you concerned about pro tecting your older relatives and friends from elder abuse? The pandemic highlighted the dis proportionate impact of tragedy on underserved communities, including older adults, who face high rates of elder abuse, fraud, and nursing homes deaths.

SOCIAL SECURITY

by CHERYL TUDINO SOCIAL SECURITY PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST

It’s important to remember that elder abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gen der, or financial status. We are committed to helping and preventing further victimization – especially in underserved communities.

Fraud

A recent Federal Bureau of Investigation report showed that elder fraud has increased. Older adults in the United States reported over $1.6 billion in losses in 2021. This includes victims of COVIDrelated scams. Older adults in the U.S, also lose

nearly 25 times more money to scammers than other groups –an estimated $113.7 bil lion a year!

Reporting fraud can be difficult and older adults tend to underreport– especially when money is lost. Many older Americans are unsure about the reporting pro cess or feel too embarrassed to report. Understaffed Adult Protective Services offices can also cause long processing times and underreporting.

We work hard to protect beneficiaries from Social Security and government imposter scams. You can learn more about protecting your loved ones at blog. ssa.gov/slam-the-scam-how-to-spot-governmentimposters and our Protect Yourself from Social Secu rity Scams webpage at www.ssa.gov/scam

VISIT THESE EXHIBITORS AND MANY MORE AT THE

SENIOR EXPOLiving

Thursday, October 27th 10am – 2:30pm

Warwick Mall

400 Bald Hill Rd, Warwick, RI

Alliance for Better Long-Term Care Big Brothers Big Sisters of RI Brookdale Centre of New England Care Link

Cranston Senior Center

Family Choice Cremation

Halcyon at West Bay Neighborhood Health Plan of RI Oak Street Health

SPONSORED BY

Ocean State Center for Independent Living Picerne Real Estate Group

Remember When DJ Saint Elizabeth Community Scandinavian Communities Seniors RULE Ship Shape

West View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

WARWICK MALL

Ultimate Pumpkin Pie with Rum Whipped Cream

FILLING

1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 teaspoons grated orange zest

3 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup whole milk

2 tablespoons dark rum, such as Mount Gay Rum Whipped Cream (recipe follows)]

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line an 11-inch pie pan with the unbaked pie crust and place it on a sheet pan. Line the crust with parchment paper. Fill the paper three-quarters full with the beans and bake the crust for 15 minutes, until the edges start to brown. Remove the beans and paper (save the beans for another time), prick the crust all over with the tines of a fork, and bake for another 5 minutes.

Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the pump kin, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, orange zest, eggs, cream, milk, and rum. Pour the filling into the baked pie shell. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, until the filling is just set in the middle and knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Set as side to cool completely. Serve with the rum whipped cream.

RUM WHIPPED CREAM

(Serves 8 to 10)

1 cup cold heavy cream

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon mascarpone or creme fraiche

1 tablespoon good dark rum,such as Mount Gay

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

PERFECT PIE CRUST

Place the cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the sugar, mascar pone, rum, and vanilla and beat on medium-high until it forms soft peaks.

Serve with the pumpkin pie.

12 tablespoons (11/2 sticks) very cold unsalted butter

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1/3 cup very cold vegetable shortening

6 to 8 tablespoons (about 1/2 cup) ice water

Dice the butter and return it to the refrigerator while you prepare the flour mixture. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball. Dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Cut the dough in half. Roll each piece on a well-floured board into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it doesn’t stick to the board. Fold the dough in half, place in a pie pan, and unfold to fit the pan. Repeat with the top crust. DE138426

MAKE-AHEAD APPETIZER

Celebrity chef and Food Network star, Alex Guarnaschelli offers three make-ahead, delicious appetizers that will help make entertaining a breeze. By pairing seasonal produce and herbs with nuts like walnuts and pecans for rich flavor, these appetizers will be the highlight of your meal. Chef Alex Guarnaschelli prefers to use Fisher nuts, as it is the only national brand of recipe nuts entirely without preservatives.

WALNUT STUFFED CHERRY TOMATO HALVES

“Who doesn’t love a stuffed cherry tomato?”

Guarnaschelli says. “A mixture of cheese, peppery arugula and juicy tomatoes brings out the great richness of the nuts. Stuffed cherry tomatoes are satisfying without being filling, and make a great alternative to bread-based starters. You can assemble these appetizers ahead of time and refrigerate them until you’re ready to serve.”

Yield: 12 servings

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup fresh arugula leaves, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup (2 ounces) coarsely chopped Fisher Walnut Halves and Pieces, toasted

1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

1/8 teaspoon salt

36 cherry tomatoes

Toast the walnuts by placing them in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Stir fre quently until the walnuts turn golden - about three to five minutes.

Combine the arugula with the walnuts, cheese, olive oil, vinegar and lemon zest; set aside.

Cut the tops off the tomatoes. Use a small spoon (such as an espresso spoon), the han dle of a teaspoon or a melon baller to gently remove the majority of the seeds and pulp, taking care not to pierce the skin. Season the insides lightly with salt. Fill the tomatoes with the walnut and arugula mixture. Serve at room temperature.

“For a more Italian experience, use authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese in this recipe,” Guarnaschelli suggests. “It’s more expensive than domestic Parmesan, but it has a wonder fully rich and nutty flavor.”

from Ina Garten’s cookbook: Barefoot Contessa Foolproof

On to November

You’ve heard it before, buthit bears repeating.

As the voting bloc most likely to turn out in mid term elections, voters 50-plus will once again decide this year’s elections.

AARP - RHODE ISLAND by CATHERINE TAYLOR

Surveys show that voters over 50 will be voting and earlier than ever — so candidates in Rhode Island and across the nation need to pay attention to us now if they want to win.

Inflation concerns are top of mind of many voters, yet the data show that voters 50-plus, regardless of political party, are more likely to vote for Congres sional candidates who vow to protect Social Security and Medicare and to lower prescription drug prices.

At the state level, older adults want candidates who say they will improve home care services and nursing home conditions. AARP is calling on candidates to propose solutions to these challenges as well as the lack of affordable, accessible housing and options to save for retirementsthrough employers.

This election year is so important that AARP Rhode Island has produced a non-partisan online video voter guide for key races. Visit www.aarp.org/RIVotes (and on Facebook.com/aarpri and @aarpri onTwitter) to watch videos of candidates for Governor and the 2nd Congressional District sharing their vision on state topics (Housing, Home Care Services, Nursing Home Reform and Retirement Savings) andlfederal issues (Prescription Drug Costs, Caregiving, Medicare and Social Security.)

Candidates were given no more than a minute to respond so that their answers are straightforward, clear and concise – and convenient for you to check out.

Also at aarp.org/RIVotes, you will find the very latest information on how, where and when to vote in Rhode Island. We include important deadlines. One of the most important coming up is the October 9th deadline to register to vote in November.

The combination of high inflation, lack of adequate retirement savings and the difficulty many older adults have finding work presents a challenge to their ability to take control of their economic health and retirement planning.sThose elected to Congress, gov ernorships, and state legislatures in 2022 will have the powersto improve the financial resilience of all of us,

young and old, through taxeand savings poli cies and enhancements to caregiving and fam ily leave policies, and other measures to

address individual needs and to help the economy thrive. .In the next session of the General Assembly, AARP will urge state lawmakers to enact a Work and Save program that allows employers to offer their employees access to payroll-deduction retirement savings options. Where state candidates stand on such a savings option is one of many things Rhode Island voters want to know before casting our ballots.

Candidates should pay particular attention to what women have to say. In fact, older women, expected to turn out in record numbers, may decide the election.

The AARP “She’s the Difference” research project shows that 46 percent of potential 50-plus female voters identified the rising cost of living their greatest concern. Other top issues women voters expressed concern about were the lack of unity and the political divisions in the country (35 percent) and government spending (20 percent). And 67 percent of women 50 and older said they are looking for candidates who are willing to cooperate and get things done.

Lastly, I hope you have had a chance to see AARP’s “In My Shoes” campaign on national television as well as on AARP Rhode Island’s social media chan nels – www/facebook.com/aarpri and @aarpri on Twitter.

The message is “Hey candidate, take a walk In My Shoes. Understand that voters 50+ want politicians to understand our lives, experience our everyday challenges, and focus on the issues that matter to us. Understand we’re worried about what we face day-today, including the cost of food and gas, out-of-control prices for prescription drugs, paying thousands out of their own pockets to help care for older parents, spouses, and other loved ones – while also juggling jobs, often without paid leave.”nOur list of concerns is long and we are asking candidates for solutions.

Americans 50+ are our nation’s most powerful voters – and we will be the deciders in the 2022 elections..

We will have our say on November 8.

Catherine Taylor is AARP Rhode Island State Director.

YOUR TAXES by MEG CHEVALIER

Got a letter or notice from the IRS?

Here are the next steps

When the IRS needs to ask a question about a taxpayer’s tax return, notify them about a change to their account, or request a payment, the agency often mails a letter or notice to the taxpayer. Getting mail from the IRS is not a cause for panic but, it should not be ignored either.

When an IRS letter or notice arrives in the mail, here’s what taxpayers should do:

Read the letter carefully. Most IRS letters and notices are about federal tax returns or tax accounts. Each notice deals with a specific issue and includes specific instructions on what to do. A notice may reference changes to a taxpayer’s account, taxes owed, a payment request or a specific issue on a tax return. Taking timely action could minimize additional interest and penalty charges.

Review the information. If a letter is about a changed or corrected tax return, the taxpayer should review the information and compare it with the original return. If the taxpayer agrees, they should make notes about the corrections on their personal copy of the tax return and keep it for their records. Typically, a taxpayer will only need to take action or contact the IRS if they don’t agree with the information, if the IRS requested additional information, or if they have a balance due.

Take any requested action, including making a payment. The IRS and authorized private debt collection agencies do send letters by mail. Most of the time, all the taxpayer needs to do is read the letter carefully and take the appropriate action or submit a payment.

Reply only if instructed to do so. Taxpayers don’t need to reply to a notice unless specifically told to do so. There is usually no need to call the IRS. If a taxpayer does need to call the IRS, they should use the number in the upper right-hand corner of the notice and have a copy of their tax return and letter.

Let the IRS know of a disputed notice. If a taxpayer doesn’t agree with the IRS, they should mail a letter explaining why they dispute the notice. They should send it to the address on the contact stub included with the notice. The taxpayer should include information and docu ments for the IRS to review when considering the dispute.

Keep the letter or notice for their records. Taxpayers should keep notices or letters they receive from the IRS. These include adjustment notices when an action is taken on the taxpayer’s account. Taxpayers should keep records for three years from the date they filed the tax return.

Watch for scams. The IRS will never contact a taxpayer using social media or text message. The first contact from the IRS usu ally comes in the mail. Taxpayers who are unsure whether they owe money to the IRS can view their tax account information on IRS.gov. More information: Visit IRS.gov and search for Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter.

Know the when, where, and how. Then vote.

On to the November general election! Voting gives you the power to decide what our future looks like. But you have to be in the know to vote. AARP Rhode Island is here to help. We’ve collected the most up-to-date election information, including key dates and deadlines, to make sure that the voices of voters 50-plus are heard. Make sure you’re prepared to vote and know the safe and secure voting options included in the new, AARP Rhode Island-backed Let RI Vote Act. Find our updated Video Voter Guide along with all the latest election information at aarp.org/RIvotes.