MARCH 2020 |
FREE
Western New York’s FREE Monthly Magazine For Adults 50+, With More Than 85,000 Readers
Make ‘em laugh Local legends and landmarks of comedy Spring pruning | Visiting the National Comedy Center | Easy Toronto trips
Burning Feet? Electric Shocks? Pain & Numbness? Pins & Needles? Creepy Crawlies?
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MARCH 2020
2019 must-see movies
10
GIs of Comedy
20
Toronto day trips
22
On the cover: The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York Photo courtesy of the National Comedy Center
Home & Garden 6
Features: Comedy in WNY
Gardeners: Start Your Shears!.................. Carol Ann Harlos
16 Funny Business in Jamestown ...........................Rick Falkowski 18 Local Comedy Clubs......................................... Gabe DiMaio
Let's Talk About 7
19 A Stand-up Gal.............................................Kathy Schlaich
Is it Time to Move?...........................................Judith A. Rucki
Genealogy
Arts 8
20 Comedian Thom Tran..................................Gabe DiMaio
21 Landing in America........................ Carol DiPirro-Stipkovits
March Theater..................................................Donna Hoke
10 Gems the Oscars Ignored.................... Christopher Schobert
Getaways 22 Easy Toronto Trips.................................. Deborah Williams
My WNY
24 Explore Buffalo: UU Church................... Olivia McCarthy
11 Jean M. Nolan: End of Life Doula.............Judith A. Rucki
Being Well 26 Laughter: a Pontent Pill............................. Catherine Stack
Ever y Issue: Calendars 3 | Crossword 5 | Bingo Buzz 12 | Classifieds 28 | Noteworthy 29
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EDITOR’S NOTE OUR 32ND YEAR 1738 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 103 Buffalo, NY 14207 Phone 716.783.9119 Fax 716.783.9983 www.foreveryoungwny.com
PUBLISHER
Barbara E. Macks Editor-In-Chief............................................................................Elizabeth Licata elicata@foreveryoungwny.com
Editor......................................................................... Wendy Guild Swearingen wswearingen@foreveryoungwny.com
Creative Director..................................................................... Jean-Pierre Thimot Production Director........................................................................ Jennifer Tudor jtudor@foreveryoungwny.com
Production Manager......................................................... Adam Van Schoonhoven Lead Designer............................................................................ Nicholas Vitello Senior Graphic Designers.............................................. Josh Flanigan, Kim Miers, Andrea Rowley Graphic Designer........................................................................ Kristen Thomas Director of Marketing & Sales........................................................... Brittany Frey
bfrey@foreveryoungwny.com
Director of Advertising............................................................. Barbara E. Macks bmacks@foreveryoungwny.com Director of Audience Development & Sales Coordinator.................... Robin Lenhard Senior Account Executives............... David Cooper, Mary Beth Holly, Keren Green, Caroline Kunze, Robin Kurss, Robin Lenhard, Betty Tata, Lori Teibel National Ad Director...................................................................... Terri Downey Administrative & Finance Director.......................................................................Michele Ferguson Classifieds Sales............................................................................... Robin Kurss BUFFALO SPREE PUBLISHING, INC.
President & CEO....................................................................... Sharon C. Levite Publisher/Chief Revenue Officer............................................... Barbara E. Macks Associate Publisher/Editor-In-Chief............................................... Elizabeth Licata Vice President/Production & Advertising.......................................... Jennifer Tudor Vice President/Administrative & Finance.....................................Michele Ferguson Corporate Counsel....................................................... Timothy M. O’Mara, Esq.
From the Editor
Is laughter really the best medicine? We're setting you up this month to find out. With the opening of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, Western New York has a bigger dot on the map of comedy destinations. It's drawing folks in from around the globe who want to learn more about and experience the history and future of comedy. That's what we call funny business. We've put the spotlight on some local clubs and talent, too. Stand-up comedians Thom Tran and Rebecca Christie talk about their experience learning and sharing their comedic gifts. Lots of places have open mic nights for folks who want to try their hand at stand-up, but we're fortunate in the Buffalo area to have two clubs dedicated to comedy. Helium Buffalo in the Cobblestone District and Rob's Comedy Playhouse in Amherst both schedule comedy lineups weekly. Check them out; it's good for you! It may not feel like it yet, but Subscribe to Forever Young for just $12/year! Call 716-972-2238 or fill out and mail in the subscription form on page 12.
Wendy Guild Swearingen wswearingen@foreveryoungwny.com 783-9119 ext. 2253
Forever Young is published monthly, with an annual Senior Directory. Copyright ©2020 by Buffalo Spree Publishing, Inc. 1738 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 103, Buffalo, NY 14207 and is open Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. The entire contents of Forever Young are copyrighted 2020 by Buffalo Spree Publishing, Inc. and may not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part without written permission from the publishers. All rights reserved. Display advertising information and rates may be obtained by calling (716) 783-9119 ext 2250. For home delivery by mail, send check or money order for $12.00 payable to Forever Young. Standard mail postage paid at Buffalo, NY 14207. POSTMASTER send change of address to Forever Young, 1738 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 103, Buffalo, NY 14207. Manuscripts and free calendar listings should be sent to the editor (wswearingen@foreveryoungwny.com) at 1738 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 103, Buffalo, NY 14207. Material cannot be returned unless accompanied by a self addressed, stamped envelope of adequate size and strength. The publisher does not take responsibility for the accuracy or legitimacy of the advertising message or any aspect of the business operation or conduct of the advertisers in the paper.
This publication is a member of the North American Mature Publishers Association. Membership in NAMPA includes verification of member’s print & circulation totals.
2
www.foreveryoungwny.com | March 2020
gardening season is just around the corner. Carol Ann Harlos shares tips about late winter pruning to get the most out of your flowering shrubs and fruit trees, so store your snow shovels and sharpen those shears. As always, we have lots of information on the arts, travel, and health, as well as the amazing people who make our region a wonderful place to live and grow.
Photo courtesy of National Comedy Center
FOREVER YOUNG MARCH CALENDAR Ongoing
Erie County STAY FIT DINING PROGRAM offers a hot noon meal at 45 locations in Erie County. Menus and site list at erie.gov/stayfit or 8587639. Gowanda HEALTH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE Activities open to the public age 50+, (no residency requirements), Concord Senior Center, 1 School Street, Gowanda; for schedule visit communityalliance.org; 5321010, or beemana@hcanetwork.org Niagara Falls SENIOR COMPANION/FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM Looking for seniors who enjoy working with their peers or children. Volunteers receive a tax-free stipend, transportation assistance, and supplemental insurance coverage while volunteering. If you are 55+, have a minimum of 15 hours per week to give, and want to make a difference, contact Nora Aloian (SCP) at 285-8224 ext. 217or Jennifer Britton (FGP) at 285-8224 ext. 228 Williamsville MEDICARE EDUCATION PROGRAM offers complimentary services through the WNY Medicare Resource Center. Appointments encouraged, 833-0252
1
East Aurora NIGHT AT THE OPERA The Roycroft Film Society presents The Marx Brothers’ classic film and a live vaudeville performance in collaboration with The Lancaster Opera House, 7:30 p.m. at Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster roycroftcampuscorp.com. Tickets: $20 (adults), $18 (seniors), and $15 (members of the RFS and students)
1+
Buffalo MEDITATION, 2:30 p.m., El Buen Amigo, 114 Elmwood Ave. Free every Sunday. Meditation unites with creative arts and pain management. Practitioner Sondra Holland welcomes people of all ages. Wear comfortable clothes. For information, Sondra: 947-5092; store: 885-6343
2+
Tonawanda TONAWANDA TOPS CLUB #50 Weekly meetings on Mondays, weigh-in 6 p.m./meeting starts at 6:25 p.m., Zion United Church Koenig & Parker Tonawanda; 912-6875
3+ Farnham T.O.P.S. CLUB weekly 4+ Orchard Park TAI CHI meetings held Tuesdays at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 10633 Church St., starting at 9 a.m. Call 934-9619.
3+
Tonawanda T.O.P.S. CLUB, weekly meetings on Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Claremont Avenue. For information, call 693-5161
3+
Kenmore UKULELE SING
ALONG Ukuleles provided during
Classes are Wednesdays at 1 pm. 8-week session costs $30. Orchard Park Senior Center, 70 Linwood Ave., Ph: 662-6452.
4 Williamsville WOMEN’S
LYMPHEDEMA SUPPORT GROUP 5:45 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month. Sheridan Surgical room, 4510 Bailey Ave., Williamsville. Call 908-4149
4, 18
West Falls MEMORY CAFE A gathering place for friends with Alzhiemer's and their caretakers. 10-11:30 a.m. the 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month, with free refreshment and concerts11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. West Falls Center for the Arts, Center, 1863 Davis Rd., info: westfallsartcenter. org or 570-6520
4
Amherst FREE RESPITE CARE PROGRAM, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Trinity Old Lutheran Church 3445
class. All levels welcome beginnerexperienced. Tuesdays 8 p.m. Church of the Advent, 54 Delaware Rd., Kenmore $5 suggested donation. 4815735
3+
Buffalo TAI CHI FOR BETTER BALANCE 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Tosh Collins Senior Center, 35 Cazenovia St. $3 For more information, contact monicazucco@ gmail.com.
3+ Buffalo GENTLE YOGA, 11:15
a.m. Tuesdays at Tosh Collins Senior Center, 35 Cazenovia St. $3 Bring a yoga mat. Info: 828-1093
3+, 5+
Tonawanda UKULELE SING ALONG Ukuleles provided during class. All levels welcome. Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays 1:30 p.m. Brighton Place Library 999 Eggert Rd. Call to register 332-4375, $5 suggested donation
3+, 5+ Orchard Park ZUMBA
Day and evening classes, Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays at 11 a.m. $30 for an 8-week session. Orchard Park Senior Center, 70 Linwood Ave., Ph: 662-6452.
3, 17 Buffalo HEADWAY
SUPPORT GROUPS, 2635 Delaware Ave. For individuals who have sustained brain injuries, their families, and caregivers; exchange information and resources, and find mutual support and encouragement. Peer Support (Suite B), 1st & 3rd Tuesday, 6:30–8 p.m.; Caregivers Support (Suite B), first Tuesday, 6:30–8 p.m. Info: 4083100 or headwayofwny.org
4+ Cheektowaga T.O.P.S. #391
Meets Wednesdays, 9–10:30 a.m. upstairs at Cheektowaga Recreation Center, 2600 Harlem Rd. Info: MaryAnn 895-4414
March 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 3
FOREVER YOUNG MARCH CALENDAR Sheridan Drive. First Wednesday of the month, for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia. A morning snack and nutritious lunch are provided. Info: 8364868
10
4+
Orchard Park ALIENATED GRANDPARENTS ANONYMOUS meetings 1 p.m. the 2nd Tuesday of month, 4295 S. Buffalo St.
Boston HATHA YOGA Wednesdays at 7 pm. Gentle and meditative. Bring your own mat. Faith United Church of Christ, 8651 Boston State Road. For more info call church office 716-941-3529
5 Holland FREE RESPITE CARE
First Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. for those caring for loved ones with any form of dementia. Lunch included. Presented by Holland Methodist Church, 11699 Partridge Rd.; 388-3150
5+ Akron T.O.P.S. CLUB Thursdays,
5:30–6:45p.m. at the Akron/Newstead Senior Center, 5691 Cummings Rd. We offer tools, programs, support, fellowship and recognition for healthy living and weight management. For information call Diane 542-4980
5+
Tonawanda LAUGHTER YOGA Come as you are, just bring your laughter! Thursdays 11 a.m. Brighton Place Library, 999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda. FREE
5+
Cheektowaga T.O.P.S. MEETING, Thursdays at 9 a.m., St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 900 Maryvale Dr. (corner of Union Road). Come for the love, support and friendship. For information, call Karen at 247-2334
Hamburg ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP for males at Wesleyan Church, 4999 McKinley Pkwy. 2nd Tuesday. 626-0600, alz.org/wnyc
10 10
Depew BREAST CANCER NETWORK OF WNY Monthly meeting 2nd Tuesday, 6 p.m., Bella Moglie Bldg., 3297 Walden Ave. Call 706-0060 or visit bcnwny.org. Professional support group will be held at 8 p.m.
11
West Seneca AMANA GARDEN CLUB OF WEST SENECA, is welcoming new members interested in gardening, floral arrangement, and more the 2nd Wednesday of month, 11 a.m., Ebenezer United Church of Christ, 630 Main St. Info, Marie: 884-8543
11
Williamsville MCGUIRE GROUP MEMORY CARE SUPPORT GROUPS: General Support Group is 2nd Wednesday, 3 p.m. at Harris Hill Nursing Facility, 2699 Wehrle Dr., Williamsville; Daughters’ Support Group, 5 p.m. Coordinated with the Alzheimer’s Association, with caregiving tips and coping mechanisms. Info: 632-3700 or mcguiregroup.com
12
Falls NIAGARA FALLS SINGLES SOCIAL CLUB, An active 50+ crowd, Game Night 1st Saturday of each month,Wheatfield; contact for location or for more info 550-1232
Hamburg SOUTHTOWNS OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP Please join us and learn about the latest products, receive help, and meet new friends. Family and friends welcome. 2nd Thursdays, March–November, 11:30 a.m. ZJ's Restaurant, 140 Pine St. (Please do not call the restaurant.) Info: Mike: 725-7126
5, 19, 26 , Southtowns NEW
13
7Niagara
HORIZONS MUSIC Calling all musicians interested in music. New Horizons Music meets in the daytime and is for people 50+. For info, email Janet Stout at 354janet@gmail.com and visit newhorizonsmusic.org. Next practices: March 5 at the Hamburg Senior Center at 11 a.m., 4540 Southwestern Blvd, Hamburg; and 19 & 26 at The Guitar Factory at 11 a.m., 5455 Webster Rd., Orchard Park
10
Hamburg SMOL TRAVEL CLUB Meets at 1 p.m. at St. Mary's of the Lake, 4737 Lake Shore Rd. Contact: Joe & Esther Pietrocarlo 627-4797 4
Niagara Falls NIAGARA FALLS SINGLES SOCIAL CLUB, An active 50+ crowd, Meet & Greet, 2nd Friday of each month, 6 to 8 pm at Tim Hortons, 8500 Niagara Falls Blvd., NF. Call for more info 550-1232.
14
Buffalo 25 YEARS OF GRAND MARSHALLS OF THE BUFFALO ST. PAT PARADE The Waterfront Memories & More Museum is dedicated to the vibrant history with information, photos, and memorabilia of the rich history of the First Ward and surrounding areas. Open Tuesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 41 Hamburg at South St.
www.foreveryoungwny.com | March 2020
17
Buffalo LGBTQ MEMORY LOSS CAREGIVERS PROGRAM: The Pride Center of WNY offers the LGBTQ Memory Loss Caregivers Program providing support and education for people providing care for a person with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. 3rd Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m., Pride Center, 200 South Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, 8527743 or pridecenterwny.org
20 Niagara Falls NIAGARA FALLS
SINGLES SOCIAL CLUB, An active 50+ crowd. Dances are the 3rd Friday
–
of each month, 7 to 11 pm at Buffalo Social Club 2565 Young St., Niagara Falls. Monthly activites include Picnics, restaurants and parties. 50-50 raffles, and door prizes. FaceBook: SINGLES SOCIAL CLUB or call for more info 550-1232
27
Orchard Park FISH FRY AT ST. BERNADETTE CATHOLIC CHURCH 4–7 p.m., Presale tickets $13 Tickets at the door $15. Beer, wine soft drinks 5930 S. Abbott Rd.
DANCE CALENDAR MONDAYS
Sloan CLOGGING LESSONS by Kickin’ Rhythm Cloggers, 6:30 p.m. @ St. Andrew’s Parish Hall, 111 Crocker St., Bldg. 1. (585) 457-4455.
Amherst & 4th Wednesdays @ VFW Post in Village of Williamsville. 7:00 p.m. Info: Geraldine, 877-0222 or amherstvictoriandance.org
THURSDAYS
Buffalo HUSTLE FOR HEALTH URBAN LINE DANCING with Phyllis Caver at Gloria Parks: 3242 Main St, Buffalo. 12pm - 1pm. FREE for ages 55+ Call 832-1010 ext. 4
Kenmore JACKIE’S THURSDAY NIGHT DANCES @ Brounshidle Post, 3354 Delaware Ave. Lessons: 7 p.m. Open dancing: 8 p.m. 691-8654.
Kenmore JACKIE’S DANCE Two lessons, 7–9 p.m. dance. Call 407-914-5251 for details.
Buffalo HUSTLE FOR HEALTH URBAN LINE DANCING at East Community High School 820 Northampton St, Buffalo. 11:30am - 12:30pm. FREE for all ages. Free Lunch. Www.HustleforHealth.com
TUESDAYS
Buffalo LINDY FIX 8–10 p.m. @ Polish Cadets Hall, 927 Grant St. lindyfix.com, swingbuffalo.com.
WEDNESDAYS
N. Ton. DANCING WITH DOTTIE AND FRIENDS country-style line lessons, 7:30 p.m. @ Pendleton Center Meth. Church, 6864 Campbell Blvd. 625-8306. Buffalo HUSTLE FOR HEALTH URBAN LINE DANCING with Phyllis Caver at Gloria Parks: 3242 Main St, Buffalo. 11am- 12pm. FREE for ages 55+ Call 716 832 1010 Amherst AMHERST VICTORIAN DANCE SOCIETY Authentic music, dress and dance of Queen Victoria's time. New members and guests welcomed! 1st Wednesdays @ Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village in
SATURDAYS
ONGOING
WNY BELLYDANCE CLASSES 560-1891, nadiaibrahim.com. WNY BALLROOM SOCIAL DANCE, Argentine tango and belly dance instruction with Carol Allen; N. Collins and Amherst. 337-3092 or callen8801@aol.com. West Seneca BALLROOM DANCE classes @ 1761 Orchard Park Rd., 771-3110, ballroomiliana.com.
WNY DANCE W/ ERIN BAHN 997-7190 ARGENTINE TANGO IN BUFFALO Dancing & Classes. traviswidricktango.com. Contact Travis @ 517-7047
CROSSWORD 22. *Sally Ride was 1st woman in space for this country 24. Speaker's platform 25. *1st person to win two Nobel Prizes 26. Carthage's ancient rival 27. Implied 29. *She developed philosophy of Objectivism 31. Formerly, formerly 32. *Home of Wesleyan College, first college chartered to grant degrees for women 33. Insect, post-metamorphosis 34. *Inventor of a newborn screening test 36. Use a whetstone 38. Caitlyn Jenner's ex
42. Primitive calculators 45. Ulysses and Cary 49. Female 51. *Singular of #60 Across 54. Tennis-affected joint 56. Gold, to a chemist 57. Pepsi rival 58. Fling 59. Rush job notation 60. Inevitable occurrence 61. Reduced instruction set computer 62. Alleviate 63. Old Woman's home 64. *Jennifer Lawrence played her in eponymous 2015 movie 66. Rivoli in Paris, e.g.
THEME: WOMEN INNOVATORS ACROSS 1. Cause for September celebration
53. Attention-getting interjection
6. Net holder
55. Pres. Truman's 1947 creation, acr.
9. Island near Java
57. *She originated the little black dress
13. "PokĂˆmon," e.g. 14. *Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman wrote its first version in 1923, acr. 15. Archeologist's find 16. Synagogue scroll 17. Bag in Paris 18. "Behind ____ Lines" 19. *Aviation pioneer 21. *She rebelled against sentimental novel 23. Nurses' org. 24. Deceptive maneuver 25. Director's cry 28. Snow and cycling helmet manu facturer
60. *"Hidden ____" 64. Knights' feat of strength 65. *Mary Phelps Jacob patented the 1st modern one 67. Dickens' Heep 68. Ladies' fingers 69. Three strikes 70. Actress Rene 71. Crowd-sourced review platform 72. Lilliputian 73. Master of ceremonies DOWN 1. Better than never?
30. Low hemoglobin
2. a.k.a. midget buffalo
35. Bryce Canyon state
3. 100 cents in Ethiopia
37. Something to do
4. D-Day beach
39. Lady's Bella Notte date
5. Move a picture
40. Puerto ____
6. Breather
41. Bone hollow
7. Investment option, acr.
43. Slang for heroin
8. Last European colony in China
44. Cake cover
9. Crooked
46. ____ and drab
10. Sheltered, nautically
47. Roman robe
11. Trace or outline
48. "Purple People ____," pl.
12. Slippery surface
50. Defender of skies, acr.
15. Feel indignant about something
52. Easter lead-in
20. Indian cuisine dip
The solution for this month’s puzzle can be found on page 28. March 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 5
HOME & GARDEN
Gardeners: Start Your Shears!
T
oward the end of March is the perfect time to do some serious pruning of many trees and shrubs. Why now? They are still dormant. Buds have not yet swelled. Growth is at a standstill. If you wait until April, many trees and shrubs will have begun growing, So what? It is wasteful in terms of the plant's energy for you to cut back something that is already growing.
CAROL ANN HARLOS
Why prune at all? Good pruning can improve the shape of a shrub, get rid of dead branches that prevent light and air from reaching live branches, remove diseased material, and remove damaged or torn branches. Cut back to healthy outward facing shoots or buds—and yes, the buds are there. Folks notice that trees or shrubs are growing buds in spring, but they may be unaware that buds are often already formed the previous season and remain tightly closed until the right
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www.foreveryoungwny.com | March 2020
time for a given species. Try not to cut out healthy wood, or you may lose flowers later. Then again, sometimes this cannot be helped. Some pruning can be done at any time, but it is often difficult to see the “skeleton” of a shrub when it is in full leaf and or flower. However, if you are concerned about losing flowers this year due to spring pruning, I suggest that you take pictures or notes of what pruning will need to be done after those shrubs bloom. Examples include forsythia and weigela. Please go outside and take a critical look at your shrubs. You may notice some branches that cross through the shrub. Take the time to cut them down to the base now. When growth begins again, energy can be put into attractive new shoots making for a better looking and healthier plant. You may even look at a shrub and say, “You know, that shrub should come out (or be moved).” Note it now. Write it on your calendar as a reminder so the work can be done at the appropriate time later. What about evergreens? They usually don't need pruning unless they are overgrown or bare at the bottom from many years of neglect. Lilacs really become scraggly looking if you have never pruned them. You might be tempted to just cut the entire shrub down to the ground. This actually works well for lilacs if you can stand looking at the chopped shrub for several years. Your choices here are to wait until late May to prune them after they flower or prune out about
one-third of the branches to the ground now and endure the consequences. The issue is that this year's flower buds were formed about three weeks after flowering was completed last year. You might have no flowers this year if you prune in late winter. If you can live with that, then do it. Smoke trees, Rose of Sharon, Hydrangea paniculata, and Hydrangea arborescens can be pruned now because they bloom on new wood. Fruit trees are pruned in spring even though the buds formed last year. Yes, there will be less fruit this year, but the trees will grow strong and there will be larger fruit. Are you worried that your pruning will kill the shrub? It is unlikely that will happen from winter pruning. It can happen, however, when folks prune back shrubs late in autumn, because pruning often stimulates new growth, which is then killed back by the winter freeze. That is one reason you do not cut back lavender and roses in the autumn unless you are trying to kill them! The tools you use for cutting could include hedge shears, bypass pruners, loppers, saws. My husband bought me a small chain saw last year. I love it! Keep your tools clean by wiping them off with bleach water or alcohol wipes between cuts and keep them sharp to prevent accidents and to make clean cuts. FY I love receiving your emails: caharlos@ verizon.net
LET’S TALK ABOUT...
Is it Time to Move?
live near family and friends. Why move? Be mindful that scenario can change. As we age, we can develop a variety of health problems. Questions you need to ask yourself include what is going to happen if your physical and/or mental abilities diminish or you need extended care. This is where moving into a retirement community, possibly with onsite health care, can give you the help you need. Even if you are currently in good physical and mental shape, there may come a time when you find you can no longer handle everyday tasks. That can range from raking leaves to personal care, like bathing. Family and friends may not be able to help long-term. Home services are likely available, but costs can add up quickly. Becoming a resident in a retirement or assisted living community can get you the help you need. There is also the bonus of having a readily available social life and built-in companionship. You can make new friends and enjoy various activities. Aging does not mean you become a recluse. The important thing to remember is, you have options. Before you make any major decisions, speak with your financial adviser, accountant, or a real estate agent who understands seniors’ particular needs. Planning ahead can help make your next move the best one yet! FY
BY JUDITH A. RUCKI
A
ccording to a study conducted by the United States Census Bureau, the average American will move 11.7 times in his or her lifetime. Early on, we may move to attend a different home, condo, apartment, consider other reasons to pull up roots. school, go from an apartment to a starter home, or accommodate a or senior community could give you For instance, almost half of seniors benefits you don’t currently have. who move do so to be closer to friends growing family with a larger home. These include more money, time, and family members. This could mean Employment opportunities, marriage, and leisure, along with lower stress having more time to spend with friends divorce, or wanderlust can also find us and greater security. And additional when everyone is retired. Or you may changing our address. benefit: lower consumption can result enjoy a deeper relationship with adult Later in life, moving may become a in less environmental impact. children and grandchildren. This can necessity. Seniors realize their homes You need to know your home’s be especially true if a spouse or partner are too large for them to maintain, current value. Understand what has passed on. they want to enjoy a warmer climate, impact a real estate sale could have Seniors also may choose to move or being closer to family is a draw. on your pensions, IRA accounts, in with family members. Before going Because so many seniors are working Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, this route, a lot of discussion needs to longer, even well into their seventies and estate planning. If you are moving take place to determine if this is the and beyond, they may move because to a retirement community, find out best option for everyone involved. of a job. if you are eligible for reduced upfront Warm-weather states are a big draw. How do you know the right time to fees or closing-cost assistance. Seniors who have had it with the cold move? Take a look at your home, and One note of caution—some seniors and snow can find the living easier in ask yourself a few questions: downsize, or right-size, because a sunnier clime. The cost of living can they feel their home is too large. also go down in states like Florida, • Do the mortgage, insurance Eventually, they may find that the new Texas, and Nevada where there is no and property taxes exceed 30 abode cannot easily accommodate state income tax. percent of take-home pay (or Judith A. Rucki is a public relations grandchildren or overnight guests. On the other hand, some seniors Social Security, pensions, and Next thing they know, they are looking insist they want to age in place. consultant and freelance writer. other income)? for more spacious quarters. Staying in their own homes with their Once you start thinking about possessions is what they want most. • Is home maintenance becoming making a move, you may want to Suppose you are happy, healthy, and too difficult? • Do maintenance and repair costs keep increasing? • After spending on housing We know what it takes to keep you Safe, Secure, Comfortable, and costs, is any money being saved? most importantly at a price that seems too good to be true. For over thirty-five years, our family owned and operated business strives to • Is all the space really being used? offer you this and so much more. Come be a part of our family. • Is security a concern? NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR QUALIFIED SENIORS. • Is driving, or finding reliable • 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments • All utilities included transportation, an issue?
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March 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 7
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March Theater Preview Theaters are hopping! BY DONNA HOKE PREVIEW Indecent Kavinoky Theatre By Paula Vogel Director: Kristen Tripp Kelley Cast: Jordan Levin, Arin Lee Dandes, Aleks Malejs, Matt Witten, Peter Palmisano, Debbie Pappas Sham, Saul Elkin, Joe Donahue, Megan Callahan, Maggie Zindle, and Ben Levitt “On its most basic level, Indecent is a play about a play,” previews Kristen Tripp Kelley, who directs the Paul Vogel play for Kavinoky and Jewish Repertory Theatre’s co-production this month. “A theater troupe rises from the ashes to guide us through the story of Sholem Asch’s God of Vengeance, a groundbreaking and controversial script that features a romantic relationship between the daughter of a brothel owner and one of his prostitutes. We follow the play from its inception as a work of Yiddish literature in Warsaw, Poland, in 1906 to its English-speaking Broadway debut at the Apollo in 1923. The Apollo production features Broadway’s first lesbian kiss [and] is closed down by law enforcement on indecency charges. We witness the personal toll of the guilty verdict on the playwright and the company, and then travel with the troupe back to Europe where they face the growing threat of Nazi Germany. As we journey through history with our Ghost Company, we’re reminded of the awesome power of love and art, even in the most hateful and dangerous of human 8
environments. And we are asked to consider the magnitude of what is lost when love is exterminated and the potential for creation is snuffed out.” A fan of Vogel’s since graduate school, Tripp Kelley is thrilled to be directing this play, particularly because Vogel and the original Broadway director, Rebecca Taichman, made strong connections between Indecent and our country today. “Anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise, immigration and refugee resettlement policies still seem connected to fear and prejudice, women continue to be subjugated, and LGBTQ citizens are still facing discrimination,” she explains. “This play is eerily relevant and not, unfortunately, just a story from the past. Also, the more I work on this play, the more I realize that joy and humor are an essential part of the narrative. We have to experience what’s beautiful about the lives of these characters in order to feel the depth of what is lost.” Though Indecent is a play, Tripp Kelley says it feels more like a musical in disguise; it’s a big show. Indeed, there are four musicians cast as ensemble members, and they’ll play live on stage under the direction of Joe Donahue. Lynne Kurdziel Formato will be using her knowledge of dance history to assist with transitions and production numbers, and Amanda Lytle Sharpe will help actors with their multiple dialects. Cast member Saul Elkin, artistic director at JRT, also serves as Yiddish pronunciation advisor. The costume, props, and set designers have had to do historic research to meet the creative demands of their jobs. And, of course, Tripp Kelley
www.foreveryoungwny.com | March 2020
Image courtesy of Kavinoky Theatre
has done a ton of it herself— and shared it with the cast. “I tried to focus on information that can be translated to the stage. These characters are impacted by real history, so I think it’s important for us to share an understanding of the simultaneous rise of anti-Semitism and Jewish nationalism through the Yiddish language in Eastern Europe at the time when God of Vengeance was written,” she says. “It’s equally important for us to consider the growing fear of immigrants and the crackdown on sexuality in the United States when the play hit Broadway in the early 1920s. We’re looking at some history of the indecency trial, and I’ve passed along a few inspiring accounts of theater performed in the Nazi-ruled ghettos
of Poland. I’ve also shared some stories about the actual people on whom some of the characters are based. All of this research should remind us of how high the stakes are in this play. How fortunate I feel to be working on a play that combats fear and hate with empathy and imagination. A play like this reminds me why I chose to work in theater.” Indecent opens March 6 at Kavinoky Theatre (kavinokytheatre.com, 8297668). FY Playwright Donna Hoke writes about theater for Buffalo Spree and Forever Young.
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OPENINGS OPENINGS March March 55 Hand God Hand to to God In the wake Jasonand andhis hismother mother In the wake of tragedy, tragedy, Jason organize a spiritually redemptive puppet organize a spiritually redemptive puppet show at show at their local church. The problem? their local church. The problem? Jason’s puppet Jason’sis lewd, puppet Tyrone is lewd, Tyrone profane, combative, andprofane, refuses refuses to Tyrone leave Jason’s left tocombative, leave Jason’s and left arm because is moved arm because Tyrone is moved by a greater by a greater power: Satan. power: Satan. (roadlesstraveledproductions.org, 629-3069) (roadlesstraveledproductions.org, 629-3069) March 6 March 6 Indecent Indecent Kavinoky and Jewish Repertory Theatres Kavinokyto and Repertory Theatres collaborate bringJewish you Paula Vogel’s Broadway collaborate to bring you Paula Vogel’s sensation, which takes us through the history Broadway sensation, which takes of Sholem Asch’s controversial 1907 Yiddishus through historytheofstory Sholem Asch’s play God of the Vengeance, of a Jewish controversial 1907 Yiddish play God brothel owner who bribes a rabbi so that theof Vengeance, of a Jewish brothel rabbi’s son will the marrystory his daughter. The problem: who bribes rabbiwith so that the rabbi’s theowner daughter falls ina love a prostitute. son will marry his daughter. The problem: (kavinokytheatre.com, 829-7668) the daughter falls in love with a prostitute. (kavinokytheatre.com, 829-7668) The Onion Game Irish Classical favorite Bryan Delaney (The The Onion Gameis back with the story of Cobbler, The Seedbed) Irish and Classical Bryan marrieds Delaneywho (The Onion Pearl, favorite two miserable Cobbler, The Seedbed) is back with the story plot each other’s ruin. of Onion and Pearl, two miserable marrieds (irishclassicaltheatre.com, 853-1380) who plot each other’s ruin. (irishclassicaltheatre.com, Kiss of the Spider Woman853-1380) In a Latin American prison, an emotional Kiss of the Spider Woman relationship evolves between a homosexual and a Latina political American prison, an emotional hisIncellmate, radical. relationship evolves between a homosexual (newphoenixtheatre.org, 853-1334) and his cellmate, a political radical. (newphoenixtheatre.org, 853-1334) March 10 Hello, Dolly! March Winner of10 four Tony Awards including Best Hello, Dolly! director Jerry Zaks’ “gorgeous” Musical Revival, Winner of four Tony Awards including new production (Vogue) is “making people crazy Best Musical Revival, director Jerry Zaks’ happy” (The Washington Post) and “a musical “gorgeous” new Stone). production (Vogue) comedy dream!” (Rolling is(sheas.org, “making people crazy happy” (The 847-1410) Washington Post) and “a musical comedy dream!”12 (Rolling Stone). March (sheas.org, The Curious 847-1410) Incident of the Dog in the NightTime March 12 Christopher is exceptionally Fifteen-year-old The Curious Incident toofinterpret the Dog in the intelligent but ill-equipped everyday Night-Time life. When he falls under suspicion for killing is exceptionally hisFifteen-year-old neighbor’s dog, Christopher he sets out to identify the intelligent but leads ill-equipped to interpret true culprit, which to an earth-shattering everyday life. When he discovery and a journey thatfalls willunder changesuspicion his life.
forShea’s killing At 710.his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to(sheas.org, identify 847-0850) the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change March 13 his life. At Shea’s 710. (sheas.org, The Dance847-0850) on Widow’s Row In this comedy about death, dating, and March 13 superstition, four wealthy widows invite the area’s The Dance on Widow’s Row four most eligible bachelors to an intimate soiree In eight this in comedy about death,Mr. dating, for the hopes of meeting Right. and superstition, four wealthy widows invite (aaccbuffalo.org, 884-2013) the area’s four most eligible bachelors to an intimate March 14soiree for eight in the hopes of meeting Mr. The OutsidersRight. (aaccbuffalo.org, 884-2013) Territorial battles between the have-it-made rich kids—the Socs—and Ponyboy’s tough, March 14 underprivileged “greaser” family and friends are The Outsiders just a part of life. This heroic story of belonging, Territorialand battles between hope the have-it-made friendship, maintaining in the face of rich kids—the Socs—and Ponyboy’s struggle is a powerful reminder of whattough, young underprivileged “greaser” family and friends people face. are(theatreofyouth.org, just a part of life. This heroic story of 884-4400) belonging, friendship, and maintaining hope in the March 20face of struggle is a powerful reminder ofThe what young people Nunsense: Nunsense Vegasface. Review (theatreofyouth.org, 884-4400) When a parishioner volunteers to donate $10,000 to the Little Sisters of Hoboken’s March 20 school if they will perform in a club in Las Nunsense: The Nunsense Vegas Review Vegas, Mother Superior is hesitant to accept. Whenbeing a parishioner volunteers donate After convinced by the other to sisters that $10,000 to the Little Sisters of Hoboken’s “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” she schoolNaughty if they will in a inclub Las agrees. nun perform hijinks ensue thisin VegasVegas, Mother Superior is hesitant to accept. themed Nunsense sequel. After being convinced (lancopera.org, 683-1776)by the other sisters that “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” she agrees. Naughty nun hijinks ensue in Three Tall Women this Vegas-themed Nunsense sequel. Three women of different ages talk about (lancopera.org, their lives and 683-1776) their relationships with their families in Edward Albee’s Pulitzer PrizeThree Tall Women winning play. At Shea’s Smith Theatre. Three women of different ages talk about (secondgenerationtheatre.com, 508-SGT0) their lives and their relationships with their families in March 26Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prizewinning play. At Shea’s Smith Theatre. Buffalo Quickies (secondgenerationtheatre.com, The 29th annual smorgasbord of508-SGT0) one-act plays begins! March 26 (alleyway.com, 852-2600) Buffalo Quickies The 29th annual smorgasbord of one-act plays begins! CLOSINGS (alleyway.com, 852-2600) March 1 Glorious! In 1940s New York, the performer who everyone wanted to see live was Florence Foster Jenkins, an enthusiastic soprano whose pitch was
CLOSINGS far from perfect. But this delusional and joyously
happy woman paid little attention to her critics March 1 and was surrounded by devoted friends almost Glorious! as eccentric as she was. (oconnellandcompany.com, In848-0800) 1940s New York, the performer who everyone wanted to see live was Florence Foster an enthusiastic soprano whose WhatJenkins, I Thought I Knew pitch was far from perfect. But thisin delusional Alice, an infertile Jewish woman her forties, and joyously woman discovers she ishappy pregnant. Basedpaid uponlittle true attention to her critics and was surrounded by events and the book hailed by Oprah as “darkly devoted friends unexpected almost as eccentric was. hilarious…an bundle asofshe joy,” this (oconnellandcompany.com, 848-0800) one-woman show is told with the intimacy of a diary and the suspense of a thriller. What I Thought I Knew 281-0092) (jewishrepertorytheatre.com, Alice, an infertile Jewish woman in her forties, discovers she is pregnant. BasedLuau upon true Betsy Carmichael’s Hawaiian BINGO events and the book hailed by Oprah as “darkly Aloha! Betsy Carmichael the Big BINGO hilarious…an unexpected Kahuna is pulling out all bundle the stopsofasjoy,” shethis hosts one-woman show is toldnight withoftheBINGO. intimacyGrab of another unforgettable a your diary lucky and thetrolls suspense of a thriller. and grass skirts and brush (jewishrepertorytheatre.com, 281-0092) up on your limbo. All winners will get lei’d! (oconnellandcompany.com, 848-0800) Betsy Carmichael’s Hawaiian Luau BINGO March 8 Aloha! Betsy Carmichael Cookin’ At the Cookery the Big BINGO Kahuna is pulling out all the stops as blues she hosts A buoyant celebration of the life of singer another unforgettable night of BINGO. Grab Alberta Hunter features such memorable songs as your lucky trolls Brown,” and grass skirtsthe andSaints brushGo “Sweet Georgia “When up on yourIn,” limbo. All Handy winnersMan willAin’t get Handy lei’d! Marching and “My (oconnellandcompany.com, 848-0800) Anymore,” among many others. Pianist George Caldwell leads an onstage musical quartet in the March first WNY8production of this show since its soldCookin’ theat Cookery out 2002atrun Studio Arena. A buoyant celebration of the life of blues singer (musicalfare.com, 839-8540) Alberta Hunter features such memorable songs asMarch “Sweet Georgia 14 Brown,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “My Handy Man Scotch and Madness Ain’tThe Handy Anymore,” many others. holidays can beamong a difficult time at Pianist George Caldwell leads an onstage Psychological Counseling Services, especially musical in the WNY production for the quartet overnight crewfirst which consists of only ofFred. this But showthissince its sold-out 2002 torun at Christmas, he’s going receive Studio Arena. so much more insight than hell give. One big (musicalfare.com, secret that’s been839-8540) hiding is about to explode on the scene. Imagine what it’s like to be alone yet March 14 surrounded by the inhabitants of your psyche! Scotch and Madness (alleyway.com, 852-2600) The holidays can be a difficult time at Psychological Counseling Services, especially for the overnight crew which consists of only Fred. But this Christmas, he’s going to receive so much more insight than hell give. One big secret that’s been hiding is about to explode on the scene. Imagine what it’s like to be alone yet surrounded by the inhabitants of your psyche! (alleyway.com, 852-2600) March 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 9
ARTS
Gems the 2019 Oscars Ignored— and Where to Watch Them BY CHRISTOPHER SCHOBERT
T
he Academy Awards came early this year, and the shortened Oscar season meant major films were released pretty much every week since October.
That crush of releases, however, also meant some strong films may not have been on your radar. The list below features eight films, including two box office smashes, an indie hit, a highprofile Netflix release, and four much smaller releases. What do all eight have in common? They were unjustly ignored at Oscar time, receiving a grand total of … zero nominations. Don’t make the same mistake the awards voters did—watch them now. Dolemite Is My Name Watch it now: On Netflix. Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes both deserved Oscar recognition for their performances in this wildly entertaining biopic of Dolemite actordirector Rudy Ray Moore. A fast, funny film about moviemaking, Dolemite Is My Name is available exclusively on Netflix. Honey Boy Watch it now: On Prime Video. Shia LaBeouf deserved two COME HOME TO
Shaarey Zedek Apartments
nominations for Alma Har’el’s drama—screenplay and supporting actor. He sadly received neither for this autobiographical stunner about a child actor and his alcoholic father. Hustlers Watch it now: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, OnDemand, etc. Perhaps the most surprising Oscar snub of 2020 was Jennifer Lopez missing out on a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance in Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers. It’s the tremendously involving story of a group of ex-strippers who team up to take down some Wall Street sleazes. The Farewell Watch it now: On Prime Video, or rent on Amazon, iTunes, OnDemand, etc. Beautiful and engrossing, Lulu Wang’s family drama The Farewell is a genuinely moving film about secrets and lies. It managed to perform well at the box office, but somehow missed the cut when it came to screenplay and acting honors.
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The Report, starring Adam Driver Photo courtesy of TIFF
The Last Black Man in San Francisco Watch it now: On Prime Video, or rent on Amazon, iTunes, OnDemand, etc. Sorry, 1917, but the greatest cinematography of 2019 can be found in Joe Talbot’s feature directorial debut. It is a gorgeous story about the weight of history and its powerful hold on the present.
The Report Watch it now: On Prime Video. Starring Adam Driver, this film is an investigative drama in the mold of All the President’s Men and Spotlight. While perhaps not as memorable as those films, this story of the investigation of post-9/11 CIA torture tactics is smart, gripping, and wonderfully acted by Driver and Annette Bening.
The Nightingale Watch it now: On Hulu, or rent on Amazon, iTunes, OnDemand, etc. There’s no getting around it— Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale was the most punishing viewing experience of 2019. But this Australian period drama about a woman seeking revenge was also one of the most impactful. (Trigger warning: the film features a brutal rape and the horrifying murder of an infant. I was not kidding about it being a punishing experience.)
Us Watch it now: On HBO or rent on Amazon, iTunes, OnDemand, etc. Jordan Peele’s Us lingers in memory long after its epic final shot. The writerdirector somehow managed to top himself with this haunting follow-up to Get Out, creating a nightmarish (and nightmare-inducing) exploration of duality and division. Just try to forget those crimson jumpsuits ... FY Christopher Schobert is a film critic whose work appears in Forever Young, Buffalo Spree, and other outlets.
MY WNY STORY
Jean M. Nolan Easing the end of life BY JUDITH A. RUCKI
T
he word “doula” is usually associated with someone assisting a woman in labor. However, Jean Nolan is an end of The success of this pilot program life (EOL) doula, which she describes allowed Fersko-Weiss to form as “non-medical holistic comfort and INELDA in 2014, along with doulas support to the dying person, their Meredith Lawida and Janie Rakow. family, friends, and caregivers in the They have committed to training last months of life.” The support she EOL doulas around the country. It is provides is emotional, spiritual, and their mission to change the way people physical. die in the United States and other Nolan started working as a nurses’ countries. By taking their training, aide in the early 1980s for Hospice Nolan also joined their mission and Buffalo. She decided to go to nursing vision. school and became a licensed practical EOL doulas can provide guided nurse in 1991. imagery to clients to help with pain “I worked for hospice for over control and bouts of anxiety. “I twenty years and have also worked can assist with simple mouth care, in area rehab and nursing facilities,” repositioning, changing bed sheets, Nolan says. She has provided private applying cool or warm compresses, nursing services in family homes, and wiping sweat from the person’s nursing facilities, and hospitals for face and neck,” Nolan says. She notes more than thirty years and most that she cannot perform any medical recently has been a care manager in assessment or interventions, regardless private medical practices. of her background and licensure. Any Nolan works with doctors and other physical care needs are discussed practitioners to develop a plan of between Nolan and the caregivers, care for the highest-risk patients in and there is a written agreement. the practice. She then works with the Nolan’s goal is to help create a safe patients to lead a better lifestyle. environment in which patients can “That is when the thought of explore the issues that surround death becoming an EOL doula became my and gain control of the final stage of passion,” she says. “I could now help life. She helps clients with planning, facilitate end of life plans that are reflection, reminiscing, healing, and individual and very special. I could use forgiving. all the skills I learned about death and “I am able to facilitate the dying and help families through this sometimes-difficult conversations natural process.” that need to happen. I want to turn Nolan trained with the International your fear and anxiety into peace and End of Life Doula Association readiness,” Nolan says. An EOL doula (INELDA). In 2003, Henry Fersko- is a complement to social workers, Weiss created a model to utilize end medical and hospice teams, palliative of life doulas in a hospice in New York care agencies, family, and friends. “I City. Through the years, he perfected provide information to help the dying this program and had been told by person and others to understand the many that they could not imagine nature of the dying process.” going through the death of a loved According to Nolan, one of one without a doula. the primary areas an EOL doula
End of life doula Jean M. Nolan Photo by Danielle Burtick
focuses on is life review. Through this process dying persons and those close to them can see what has been important to them and what they have learned, the values they have come to hold, and what they consider their legacy. “This life review helps the EOL doula and the dying person and family concentrate on what they would like to do for their legacy project. A very important area to focus on is how my client would like to spend his or her final time on this physical earth, with the main focus on creating a vigil plan—the last hours of the dying process.” If the dying person is unable to make his or her own vigil plan, Nolan will work with those involved in their care to make choices and options for the atmosphere and surroundings. “If the family would like me to be present for the vigil, I will [help them recognize] signs and symptoms of
imminent death and what to expect through this process. My role as a doula during the vigil is to advocate for the plan and wishes the dying person and/or the family worked out earlier, including the body care arrangements. I will support family members and friends who are finding it difficult to say good-bye.” She says it is not necessary to do life review, legacy work, and vigil planning in order for her to provide services. “You can pick what you would like to work on. I also provide respite care for exhausted caregivers and family. Services are provided in whatever setting you consider your home in the final stages of your life.” For more information, contact Nolan at jnolandoula@gmail.com or (716) 392-7989. FY Judith A. Rucki is a public relations consultant and freelance writer.
March 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 11
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Bingo Calendar AM. LEG. MCKEEVER POST 1770 S. Park Ave., Buffalo 7:30 p.m................... 822-6400 KENMORE K OF C 1530 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo 1 p.m......................... 875-5780 FATHER JUSTIN K OF C — SPONSORED BY THE JUSTINETTES 2735 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 7:30 p.m.................... 681-7251 FATHER BAKER K OF C at the Matthew Glab Post 1965 Abbott Rd., Lackawanna (on hiatus until 4/22) 825-3733 LANCASTER K OF C 6114 Broadway, Lancaster 11:45 a.m................... 684-2901 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 1 & 7 p.m.................. 549-4389 ST. ALOYSIUS RCC 156 Franklin, Springville 7:30 p.m.................... 592-2701 ST. AMELIA 2999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda 7:15 p.m.................... 836-0011 ST. MICHAEL’S BINGO 140 Warsaw, Lackawanna 7:15 p.m.................... 825-9415
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(continued)
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FEATURE
Funny Business in Jamestown
BY RICK FALKOWSKI
The lobby of the National Comedy Center Photos courtesy of the National Comedy Center
N
earby Jamestown, New York, has become a mecca for comedy fans with the opening of The National Comedy Center and Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum. The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, Lucille Ball Little Theatre, Robert H. Jackson Center, Willow Bay Theatre and, on the nearby shore of Lake Chautauqua, the historic Chautauqua Institution also host comedy events throughout the year, especially in summer and during the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, this year August 5–9, has showcased the top names in comedy, along with rising stars, for over twenty-five years, including Jerry Steinfeld, Amy Schumer, Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Lewis Black, Trevor Noah, Joan Rivers, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Gaffigan, Paula Poundstone, Ray Romano, John Mulaney, Bob Newhart, the Smothers
16
Brothers, and more than one hundred other comics. Lucille Ball was born on August 6, 1911 at 69 Stewart Avenue in Jamestown and raised at her maternal grandparent’s house in the nearby village of Celeron on Lake Chautauqua at 59 8th Street (now Lucy Lane). There, Lucy enjoyed Celeron Park, where she danced to big band music
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at the Pier Ballroom and experienced vaudeville concerts and theatrical shows on the bandstand stage. Celeron Park is now known as Lucille Ball Memorial Park and is the home to the two Lucille Ball statues, the infamous Scary Lucy and its replacement Lovely Lucy. In 1989, the city of Jamestown approached Ball about starting a
comedy festival and opening a comedy museum. She gave permission for the use of her name but said she would like to see a national comedy museum, rather than one just dedicated to her accomplishments. Her original vision was to honor all forms of comedy. The city started with the festival in 1991 and added the Lucille Ball Museum in 1996 before beginning plans for the National Comedy Center. Planning and fundraising for the $50 million investment in the national museum was funded by federal, state, and private philanthropic contributions, including support from Empire State Development, I Love New York program, the Oishei Foundation, Ralph Wilson Foundation, and other organizations. Construction took three years, and the National Comedy Center opened on August 1, 2018, as the first institution and state-of-the-art museum dedicated to comedy. Opening weekend drew thousands of people to Jamestown for star-studded events, performances, and on-stage interviews by Lewis Black, Amy Schumer, Lucie Arnaz, Lily Tomlin, W. Kamau Bell, Dan Aykroyd, Laraine Newman, and others. In 2019, the United States Congress designated the National Comedy Center as the United States’ official cultural institution and museum dedicated to presenting the vital story of comedy and preserving its heritage for future generations. Time magazine named it one of its “World’s Greatest Places.” It was voted best new attraction by a USA Today poll, Conde Nast Traveler called it “one of the best museums in the country,” People magazine named it one of the “100 Reasons to Love America” and on TripAdvisor it earned a 5/5 rating. The center has already been visited by people from all fifty states and aims to annually attract over 100,000 visitors to Jamestown, which has a population of 35,000 people. The 37,000 square foot facility has fifty immersive exhibits that enable visitors to take an interactive and personalized journey through the history of comedy dating back to early vaudeville. The museum has collected
FEATURE
Ernie Kovacs centennial exhibit
props, costumes, and archival material from revered names in comedy: exhibition partners include Kelly Carlin and the George Carlin estate, George Shapiro, Jerry Steinfeld, Dan Aykroyd, Alan and Robin Zweibel, Joan Dangerfield, the Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, the Harold Ramis Family, the Gary Shandling Estate, George Schlatter, Bill Marx and the Harpo Marx Family, the Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams Estate, Desilu Too, NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers Corporate Archives and many more. Visitors spends two and a half to three hours at the museum on average and comment that there is still more to see and do. The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum opened in 1996 and is operated by the National Comedy Center. Also a 501c3 non-profit organization, its mission is to preserve the legacy of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and enrich the world through the healing powers of laughter and through its commitment to the development of the comedic arts. The museum offers costumes, memorabilia, awards and photographs of their personal and television lives. With the abundance of artifacts, the museum continually changes out exhibits to reflect the many aspects the “First Couple of Comedy” and celebrate their impact upon the world. The Tropicana Room is a recreation of Ricky Ricardo’s Manhattan
nightclub, one of the best-known nightclubs in television history. Located on the second floor of the museum, it is only available for private and special events. On the fourth Friday of the month, two performances by nationally known comics are featured in the Tropicana Room. Bus tours sometimes include admission to both the National Comedy Center and Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, with lunch between the tours in the Tropicana Room. In addition to the year-round availability of The National Comedy Center and Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, comedy enthusiasts can experience events at other locations in the Jamestown area. Shows are presented by the National Comedy Center and independently by the venues. Reg Lenna Center for the Arts at 116 East Third Street in Jamestown was previously a vaudeville theater called the Palace Theatre, which opened on February 5, 1923. When Lucy was young, her grandmother took her to productions at the theater, where she also later performed. The Palace was purchased in 1926 by Nikitas Dipson, who continued to operate it as a vaudeville house until it was leased to Warner Brothers. At the end of the Warner lease, Dipson Theatres took over management and again offered some stage shows, including orchestras and vaudeville performances. In 1956, Lucy returned to Jamestown for the
world premiere of the movie she and Arnaz starred in, Forever Darling. The Robert H. Jackson Center is dedicated to and includes the archives of Jamestown native Robert H. Jackson, who was a US Supreme Court Justice and Chief US Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials. It was appropriate that the National Comedy Center introduced their Lenny Bruce exhibit with a discussion on comedy and the First Amendment at the Jackson Center. The Comedy Center also presents larger comedy shows at the auditorium in the Jackson Center. Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown at 18 East 2nd Street offers community theater productions and was named after Lucille Ball on May 24, 1991. It has a history of presenting plays, opera, vaudeville, and movies dating back to 1874. Previous names of the theater were Allen’s Opera House, Samuels’s Opera House, Shea’s Theater, and Little Theatre of Jamestown. Lucy performed there early in her career when it was the Little Theatre.
The National Comedy Center is open Sunday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The bus tours include both museums and lunch in Desi’s Tropicana Room. Comedy fans from across the country are flocking to this state-of-the-art new museum that was just nominated by USA Today readers for the 2020 Best New Museum Award. We are fortunate that it is located a ninetyminute drive away. FY Rick Falkowski gives presentations on Buffalo music and history. He is the author of History of Buffalo Music & Entertainment and Profiles Volume 1: Historic & Influential People from Buffalo & WNY – the 1800s.
March 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 17
FEATURE
WNY Comedy Clubs
Better than Netflix and YouTube BY GABE DIMAIO
N
eed a good laugh? Sure, you could watch countless videos on your TV or device and never even leave the couch, but you’d be missing out on real comedic experience.
When you see a stand-up comedian in person, there’s an added dimension of spontaneity and electricity that comes from the person right in front of you working the audience very hard to get you to laugh. You also can be the first to hear their newest and most topical bits. Several venues in Western New York offer live comedy. There are bars, restaurants, and coffee shops with open mic nights where you can catch a comic probably any day of the week. But there are only two bon-a-fide comedy clubs dedicated to the craft and presentation of stand-up comedy. Helium-Buffalo, located downtown in the Cobblestone District, opened in 2012 and is one of several Helium comedy clubs across the nation. Its focus is bringing well-known A-list comedians to town, along with regional and local comics, to fill an evening’s entertainment. 18
The club is also home to Helium Comedy Academy, offering training to aspiring comedians. Classes provide students the skills necessary to succeed in front of an audience with a spotlight in their face and a mic in their hand, as well as a chance to develop themselves purposefully. It also helps the club build a bench of local talent. The other dedicated comedy club, Rob’s Comedy Playhouse, is in Williamsville. It offers two public shows on Saturdays; other weekend shows (on Friday and Sunday) cater to private events. The club is owned by Rob Lederman of Buffalo’s 97 Rock, a former road comic who has been bringing live comedy to Western New York for over thirty years. While the club headlines mainly regional and local comics, every now and again you’ll get a chance to see some famous acts.
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For example, Louis C.K.’s return to the stage recently filled the club to capacity. In some markets, comedy clubs are at each other’s throats as they vie for audience. But more than geography differentiates Rob’s from Helium. Lederman says, “I’m Ground Round; they’re Buffalo Chophouse. On a regular basis, I have people calling up and saying, ‘I’d like two tickets to see the 7:30 show.’ At Helium, they’re saying, ‘I’d like two tickets to see Chris Pratt or Tommy Davidson.’ The separation is so distinct that it allows both of us to flourish.” It’s also a very interesting time to visit a comedy club as societal attitudes and mores shift. What is deemed acceptable (or not) is being load tested on-stage by standup comedians nightly. Topics and language that were once standard
comedy fodder are now frowned upon, either through a heckler’s veto or by the clubs themselves. “As a whole, we are still in a rebirth of stand-up comedy,” says Shawn Eckert, general manager at Helium. “It’s feeling out which lines can be crossed: what can be said, what can’t be said; what should be joked about, what shouldn’t be joked about. It’s ever-evolving.” Political divisions and other sensitive issues can quickly cause crowd dissention. To avoid that, Lederman developed a list of words and topics that comedians should avoid so that audience members are able to leave their troubles at the door. “They’re there saying, ‘I need an hour and twenty minutes to not think about any of my problems.’ And that’s what we owe these people,” says Lederman. FY Gabe DiMaio is a frequent contributor to Forever Young and Buffalo Spree.
Helium Comedy Club 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo 853-1211 buffalo.heliumcomedy.com Showtimes: Tuesdays at 8 p.m. (open mic night) Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Rob’s Comedy Playhouse 1340 North Forest Road, Williamsville, 688-1867 robscomedyplayhouse.com Showtimes: Fridays and Sundays: open for private parties Saturday: open to the general public 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
FEATURE
A Stand-up Gal BY KATHY SCHLAICH
A
t fifty-seven years old, Rebecca Christie came to stand-up comedy later in life. She started out six years ago performing in an old warehouse building on Main Street near Buffalo General through talent/entertainment group Foxy Entertainment.
“It was my first twenty-minute set, and it went over very well,” she says. Always a fan of the art, she would frequent comedy clubs when she was away on business. Gaining confidence with each performance, she hired a coach from Los Angeles who trained her to put her funny musings into set form. Since her debut, she has performed at Helium Comedy Club in Buffalo raising money for local animal shelters, and at Rob’s Comedy Playhouse. In August and September, she can be found aboard Niagara River Cruises embarking from North Tonawanda. She recently did a set at the Galley Restaurant in Youngstown. “I mostly perform in New England because there are more clubs and bigger audiences,” she says. “Most of my shows are sold out.” Gaining a strong following, she has opened for comedians who have opened for Amy Schumer. Christie was recently picked up by the Big and Tall Tour out of Manhattan, where some of the proceeds go to support veterans. Anyone who has seen Christie perform, or who knows her personally, is drawn in by her broad grin, the mischievous twinkle in her eye, and infectious chuckle. She says the decision to get into comedy at this point in her life was “a message from the universe.” “People have always said that I was funny and should get into comedy,” she says. Her father, Richard Thomas Sr., was a major influence. “I grew up with my dad always telling stories.” When he was only sixteen, he was a server at Chez Ami, a former Buffalo restaurant and nightclub, and waited on the Rat Pack, the group of entertainers centered on the Las Vegas casino scene in the 1950s
and 1960s that included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, and others. “He always made them laugh and they would request him to wait on them,” she says. An agent handed him a card, but he never followed through because of family obligations. “I think he still regrets it,” she says. The now eightyeight-year-old is still cracking jokes and meets regularly with a group of buddies at Tim Horton’s, according to Christie. Christie says she gets most of her material from her own life experiences. “Growing up Italian and being married have provided me with endless streams of humor. Everyone has calamity in their life; rather than cry, I laugh. You can’t get away from it, but the laughter helps me filter through it. I never do politics or religion.” Her husband Jon is her biggest fan, although he is the only one to have ever heckled her. “He’s been to every single show, no matter where he is or what he’s doing,” says Christie. “My daughter, Jillian, has only been to two. She gets too nervous for me.” Christie says she’s very happy she decided to pursue comedy. “Old friends show up that I haven’t seen in years. I feel so humbled and blessed by their support.” As a child, Christie did some acting, performing at Studio Arena Theater, and is attempting to get back to those roots. She is under the instruction of Frank Rossi, whose many acting credits include Miami Vice and One Life to Live and who has written numerous scripts. She was hired as a cast member for the murder mystery dinner theater at the Hilton Garden Inn, there are twenty shows a year, and hopes more acting gigs follow.
Christie’s day job is business consulting. She also operated a wine store in Buffalo and Lewiston and booked wine tours. She is working on creating a business development firm to help struggling sales teams. On top of all that, she’s writing a screenplay. “The majority of people want to laugh. When you’re on stage, the lights blind you, so you really can’t see the audience. Then you hear the roar of the laughter. That’s what keeps you going.” To catch Christie’s act, go to www. niagararivercruises.org for tickets for her August-September appearances, which quickly sell out. Tickets for her
Comedian Rebecca Christie Photo courtesy Rebecca Christie
murder mystery performances at the Hilton Garden Inn can be purchased at info@thedinnerdetective.com. FY Kathy Schlaich is a frequent contributor to Forever Young and has written for publications across the country.
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FEATURE
Thom Tran A journey from refugee to veteran to comedian BY GABE DIMAIO
T
hom Tran left Western New York for Los Angles twelve years ago to make his way in comedy. This Memorial Day weekend, Tran, the creator of the GIs of Comedy, will take the stage at the Reg Center for the Arts in Jamestown. The National Comedy Center will present the touring troupe of comedians, all military veterans themselves, to honor active duty military and veterans. His love of comedy started in 1986 when he got his hands on a copy of Eddie Murphy’s Raw from his uncle’s video store. Not unusual; many comedians find themselves inspired by Murphy’s body of work. The difference with Tran is that he was only eight years old at the time. “I was not the class clown. I loved comedy, but it was never once in my head, ‘Oh yeah, this is the thing I’m going to do with my life,’” says Tran, who played in a rock band and admits that he really wanted to be Eddie Van Halen. Tran is a first generation American. He and his family were refugees from Vietnam. His father, a pilot in the South Vietnamese Air Force, was put in a POW camp after Saigon fell. Tran’s father escaped and brought his family to the United States. It was the tradition of his family’s military service and an act of gratitude that compelled Tran to join the Army. “The first adult decision that I ever made was to swear to defend the country that adopted my family. Until that time, it was girls, rock and roll, and partying.” When he joined, Tran wanted to be Adrian Cronauer, the American Forces Network disc jockey made famous in Good Morning, Vietnam. That job wasn’t available, so he signed-up for what his recruiter 20
called a “radio job” in a special operations unit. “I thought I was going to be playing AC/DC for the Green Berets,” Tran says. Instead, he became a signal support systems specialist for the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion, then in the Town of Tonawanda. As a reservist, Tran took college classes between his deployments. He studied broadcasting at Buffalo State and worked in various on-air capacities at local radio stations. He took a theater arts class to help him find his voice as a broadcaster. As part of a project, he developed five minutes of stand-up material. That was the first time that he realized that he was funny. Actually, it was a classmate who told him he was funny; Tran says he blanked out and has no recollection of the audience’s response. Other forays into comedy were put on hold as he was called to active duty for deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. On April 3, 2003, after four days in Iraq during the Battle of Nasiriyah, Tran took a shot in the head from Iraqi small arms fire. This, coupled with the death of his Army roommate two weeks before they were supposed to leave Iraq, added to the post-combat trauma that Tran deals with to this day. After returning home, Tran was medically retired from the service,
www.foreveryoungwny.com | March 2020
and he says he had a hard time adjusting to the transition. He picked up where he left off, continuing his studies, and doing his radio work. Now, comedy is part of Thom Tran’s therapy. Tran credits Rob Lederman of 97 Rock (who also owns Rob’s Comedy Playhouse) with getting him into comedy. Lederman asked him to emcee some nights at the club. From there, Tran started writing his own material and going on the road with other comics. Instead of being the “radio guy who does comedy” in Buffalo, Tran set his sights on Los Angeles. That was May 2008. Almost immediately, he started getting acting jobs. He also got work as a military consultant for movies, television, and video games while he gradually got back to comedy.
After doing a benefit for the Bob Hope USO, Tran connected with other comics who also were veterans. That’s when the GIs of Comedy was born. He realized that if comedy could help him work through his pain, it could help other active service personnel, veterans, and their families, too. Their motto: “Standup Comics. All Veterans. Still Serving their Country. One Joke at a Time.” Tran says, “I still have the Army in my blood; I just serve in a different way now.” More information about the GIs of Comedy can be found at gisofcomedy.com. Gabe DiMaio contributes to Forever Young and Buffalo Spree magazines.
GENEALOGY
Landing in America
An advertisement for the S.S. Canada Courtesy of Library and Archives Canada
T
hose who know me would never describe me as well traveled. I’ve left the country a handful of times (hello Canada!) and packed the kids up for family road trips, but my favorite vacation destination is home. If you’re a homebody like me, you understand the comfort of your own bed each night. That’s not to say I’m not adventurous. You will find a well-worn path from the front porch to our vegetable garden in the summer and a well-worn carpet where I make the long journey from the kitchen teapot to my home office daily. This could explain my obsession with passenger records. Like a really good book, they whisk me away to different worlds without having to pack a bag. Win-win. Almost every American family history begins with the story of an immigrant. More than 100 million Americans have ancestors who immigrated through Ellis Island or the previous station, Castle Garden. Who was the first immigrant from your family to arrive? When did they arrive? Where did they come from? Did your immigrant ancestors land in New York or did they arrive through a port in Boston, New Orleans, or Philadelphia? These are the first questions a family historian will need to ask when starting to build their family tree. The answers matter because it determines where to start your record search. Fortunately, the immigrant journey generated a wealth of records. These “Passenger Arrival Records” or “Ship Manifests” are among the most prized records documenting
an ancestor’s immigration. An early passenger list typically includes ship name, passenger names and ages, ports of arrival and departure including dates, and country of origin. But by the twentieth century, they included even more details, such as nationality and town of origin, age and physical description, profession, name of family members left behind, name and address of relatives they are joining in the United States, and how their passage was paid. Between 1790 and 1820, an estimated 6,000 people freely immigrated to the US each year. They traveled on ships that were often dangerously overcrowded and without a thought for the passenger’s health. Starting in 1820, to ensure safer conditions, ship captains were required to provide passenger lists to US
customs officials, a move that would make future genealogists very happy. In the 1850s, New York decided to provide a more “protective landing” for the weary travelers and so created an Emigrant Landing Depot at Castle Garden, which opened to immigrants in 1855. During the next thirtyfive years, millions of people passed through Castle Garden. But, in 1890, the federal government took over the immigrant process at Castle Garden and closed the facility due to safety concerns. A new facility, Ellis Island Immigration Station, opened in 1892 and ushered in a massive wave of migration to our country. Useful websites for searching ancestor passenger records Libertyellisfoundation.org passenger holds the Ellis Island database of more than 65 million records. Familysearch.org offers almost 200 related databases. Not all are searchable so you may need to browse the collections for your ancestor. Library and Archives Canada (bac-lac.gc.ca) enables you to search Canadian resources if your ancestor arrived in Canada and traveled overland to the US. Ancestry.com is subscription based but offers more than 500 immigration focused databases from around the world. I love to peruse these records, seeing each name or family as a story waiting to be written. But nothing quite matches the emotional thrill of finding the record of your own ancestor’s arrival in America. It’s a glimpse into their hardships and hopes
CAROL DIPIRRO-STIPKOVITS as they left everything and everyone familiar behind to build a new life in a strange place. I treasure the many passenger lists I’ve uncovered, like my paternal grandfather’s ship manifest, which reveals that he traveled with his brother-in-law’s family—including six children under the age of twelve (a feat in itself!)—and that he made the journey with $8.67 in his pocket, the equivalent of about $250 today. These are the gems that make the time and effort worthwhile. Documenting your own ancestor’s journey to America can be one of the most rewarding finds and a great way to start. Happy hunting! FY Carol DiPirro-Stipkovits is a member of the National Genealogical Society and Association of Professional Genealogists. She is a board member and president of the Niagara County Genealogical Society, as well as a guest lecturer and freelance writer. Email questions or comments to noellasdaughter@gmail.com
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www.baptist-manor.org • All Faiths Welcomed March 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 21
GETAWAYS
Easy Toronto Trips STORY AND PHOTOS BY DEBORAH WILLIAMS
Downtown Toronto as seen from atop the CN Tower
T
oronto is a dynamic world-class city, growing with a steady influx of new residents from around the world and an ever-increasing assortment of new buildings. It has been called the most diverse city in the world, and more than 140 languages are spoken here. As Canada’s largest city, it is the cultural, entertainment, and financial capital of the country. Luckily for Western New Yorkers, it offers an easy getaway for the day, weekend, or longer. The exchange rate continues to favor the American dollar (one US dollar is worth 1.30 Canadian at press time). Toronto is very much a city of neighborhoods with a dizzying array of attractions and experiences. Here are a handful of favorites in the downtown area: St. Lawrence Market, a few blocks down Front Street from Union Square, has been welcoming visitors since 1803. National Geographic named it as the world’s top food market a few years ago. It is a great place to stop for an inexpensive breakfast or lunch, as well as the perfect place to shop for picnic supplies. A longtime market favorite is the Canadian bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery that drew rave reviews from the late culinary celebrity Anthony Bourdain. More than 200 vendors sell everything from local mustard, cheese, and wondrous baked goods to flowers, fresh produce, fish, and meats. Many 22
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shops offer samples. Musicians often serenade visitors. From here, take a stroll to the Distillery Historic District, North America’s largest, best preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture. The streets are cobblestone and the buildings are now filled with art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. If the weather gods cooperate, take the ten-minute ferry ride from the dock in front of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel to the Toronto Islands. The ferries operate year-round, and terrific views of the skyline are everywhere. The CN Tower has defined Toronto’s skyline since its completion in 1975. It is impossible to miss, and if the weather is reasonably clear, a trip to the top is a must-see adventure. While it is no longer the world’s highest structure at 1,815 feet, it remains the highest in North America. Our dinner at the CNN Tower’s 360 Restaurant is one of my most memorable. It takes about an hour for the complete revolution, offering quite awesome views of the city and Lake Ontario beyond. The food and service matched the views and the timing for the sunset made for a perfect evening. Dinner reservations include admission to the tower viewing levels. Next door to the Tower is Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the country’s largest indoor aquarium. It showcases more than 16,000 marine animals and features the largest shark collection in North America. Regular dive shows demonstrate rays being hand-fed by divers, with a ray touch pool on the surface level. Train fans are drawn to the railroad cars on display across the street at the Toronto Railway Museum. Don’t miss the recently restored Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo railway caboose No. 70. A few blocks away are the Princess of Wales and the Royal Alexandria Theatres, two iconic Mirvish theaters. The very popular musical Come from Away, based on the true story of the small Newfoundland town that hosted thousands of of 9/11 passengers, is continuing through May 31 at the Royal Alex.
GETAWAYS
One of the 16,000 marine animals at Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Toronto Railway Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum, otherwise known as the ROM, is Canada’s largest museum of natural history and world cultures. Easy to reach by subway, it is the place to be for all dinosaur fans. Everyone seems to gravitate to the Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs. The museum has one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of dinosaur skulls. Gordo,
an eighty-eight-foot-long Barosaurus, is the centerpiece of the exhibit. Toronto tip Toronto traffic is often heavy and unpredictable, and parking is expensive. While there are buses to the city, schedules are limited. However, there is another way. Drive on the QEW and exit at Burlington. Just a
few blocks away is the free GO Train parking area. If there are no spaces in front of the station, drive around to a larger parking area in back. The GO Train operates every thirty minutes for the hour-long trip to Union Station with a prime location on Front Street. Just across the street is the iconic Fairmont Royal York Hotel. In celebration of its ninetieth anniversary
last year, the classic hotel’s 1,329 rooms have been modernized and new dining and drinking venues have opened. FY Deborah Williams is author of The Erie Canal: Exploring New York's Great Canals; deborahwilliams.com
March 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 23
GETAWAYS
Inside Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo BY OLIVIA MCCARTHY
Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo Photo courtesy of Explore Buffalo
T
hroughout the month of March, Explore Buffalo dives deeper into the area’s unique houses of worship with a number of stand-alone inside building tours. Join us on Thursday, March 5 at 1 p.m. for Inside St. Joseph University Church, Wednesday, March 11 at 1 p.m. for Inside St. Luke’s Church, and Monday, March 30 at 1 p.m. for Inside Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. In addition to these daytime church tours, we have Inside Unitarian Universalist Church on Thursday, March 19 at 6 p.m. The Unitarian Universalist Church at throughout the interior. Gothic style 695 Elmwood Avenue in the Elmwood is marked by key features like pointed Village was completed in 1906 by arches, ribbed vaulting, flying buttresses, architects Edward and William Kent. and heightened building structures. The church was built on two parcels of English Gothic Revival emerged as the John J. Albright Estate, benefactor a popular style in the United States of the Albright Art Gallery. There were between about 1840 and 1860 and, like reportedly two conditions made by the Unitarian Universalist Church, can Albright, “that the church edifice shall sometimes feature additional elements be acceptable to him as to architecture, like a tower with battlements and and the front of the church shall be hammer-beam ceilings. seventy feet from the sidewalk line.” Architects Edward and William Kent The design was an undeniable success have a couple of notable buildings and at the time of its construction and, projects that remain part of Buffalo’s more recently in 2015, it was added architectural fabric. William Kent was to the New York State and National the main force behind the incredible Register of Historic Places. Italian marble mosaic floor inside the Architecturally speaking, the Ellicott Square Building (featured on Unitarian Universalist Church, built of our Inside Downtown South Walking a beautiful light gray Indiana limestone, Tour) with its 23 million hand-laid combines English Gothic with Arts and pieces. Edward Kent is represented in Crafts style, predominantly displayed downtown Buffalo, as well. The Otto24
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GETAWAYS Kent Building is located in the Theater District next to Shea’s Performing Arts Center. It stands out as a large white Beaux-Arts terra cotta structure with beautiful ornamentation throughout the exterior facade. Traveling in the Elmwood Village not far from the Unitarian Universalist Church, Kent fans can admire the unique Chemical No. 5 building along Cleveland Avenue, down the street from Spot Coffee. In addition to his architectural contributions, Edward Kent is recognized in history for his heroism and tragic death onboard the Titanic in 1912. Returning from a vacation abroad, Kent planned his return home around the maiden voyage of the Titanic. Thanks to surviving accounts, we know that when tragedy struck, Kent worked tirelessly to help others onto lifeboats. A specific account focuses on an elderly writer from Washington, DC, named Mrs. Helen Churchill Candee, who Kent was looking after during the voyage. At the time of the collision and chaos, Kent brought Candee up to the main deck. “She insisted that he slip into his coat pocket an ivory miniature of her mother, at first he protested, but to satisfy her, he accepted it and saw that she was helped into one of the lifeboats.” After helping others into lifeboats and running supplies from lower decks up to the main deck, Kent went down with the unsinkable ship. “Kent’s body was recovered at sea and brought to Halifax aboard the morgue ship Mackay Bennett, and then taken to Boston, where the body was claimed by his brother, William. Mrs. Candee’s miniature of her mother was still in his jacket pocket and was eventually returned to her.” We hope you’ll join us in celebrating the beautiful architecture and history of the Unitarian Universalist Church. On the tour, guests will see the Kent brothers’ outstanding use of oak in the church’s great hammer-beam ceiling, pews, doors, and sanctuary ornamentation. The Arts and Crafts style stained glass windows, each depicting one of the Beatitudes are beautifully adorned with grape and leaves tracery. Visitors will also tour the Alliance Room where several of the
Kent brothers’ original architectural renderings of the church are on display. Inside Unitarian Universalist Church takes place on Thursday, March 19, 2020 6–7:30 p.m. Guests meet outside of the church, 695 Elmwood Avenue, at the garden entrance. Free street parking is available after 5 p.m. on Elmwood Avenue and West Ferry Street. General admission is $15, Explorer Pass admission is $10, and student admission is $5. Please note that this tour is part of Explore Buffalo’s Sacred Spaces Tour Series and proceeds are shared with houses of worship to support maintenance of their historic buildings. Please visit our website www. explorebuffalo.org for more information about this tour and our other winter season offerings. FY Explore Buffalo is a volunteer driven nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Buffalo’s history, architecture, and neighborhoods through quality tours and programming to learners of all ages.
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BEING WELL
Laughter a potent pill
BY CATHERINE STACK
You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. – Michael Pritchard
W
e all have that one friend (at least I hope you do) that makes us laugh whether they are trying to be funny or not. They are medicine for your soul.
Deepak Chopra said, “The healthiest response to life is laughter.” Those who surround themselves with people who make them laugh are generally less depressed, healthier, and more optimistic. Not taking life so seriously and having a gowith-the-flow-attitude will leave you
more fulfilled at the end of the day. Laughter is like the master switch to wellbeing for your body and soul. Laughter is highly contagious, an infection that should be welcomed into our lives, homes, and workplaces. Have you ever been around someone in a fit of giggles? It’s very hard not to
succumb. I remember this happening on a regular basis, to my mother’s horror, at Sunday mass. Once I started, I just couldn’t stop. Then my sister and my brothers would start. I’m sure there was no hiding our jiggling bodies as we tried to remain silent. Of course, someone would
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always snort or make some other inappropriate noise, and it was all over. It was exhausting—like holding your breath. It always seemed to happen in church or somewhere else where we were supposed to be silent. Even the memories make me giggle. Laughter boosts the immune system by increasing lymphatic flow which, in turn, releases your immune soldiers in the form of T cells, B cells and NK cells. These cells are essential to fighting your bodies unwanted invaders. Laughter also provides increased oxygen flow to the brain, which helps to optimize problem solving, memory, and clarity. Endorphins are neuro transmitters associated with improved mood and pain reduction. Laughter releases endorphins in almost the same way as physical exercise does. This rush of endorphins can cause increased tolerance to pain or, rather, decreased perception of pain. Everyone is exposed to various forms of stress in their lives, but it’s how they perceive their stress that dictates the toll it takes on their physical body. Laughter reduces the effects of stress by providing a platform that is “in the moment.” Think about it, you cannot be depressed or anxious in the moment of a hearty belly laugh. Even that small moment is a potent delivery of medicine. Don’t underestimate the power of being with those who make you laugh when it comes to your health. Remember, good health does not come in the form of a pill. For the vast majority of us, it comes from laughter and love. The ability to acknowledge mistakes without becoming angry or frustrated plays an important role in developing resilience. Laughing at our mistakes allows us to recognize we are only human. This realization and allowance makes for a much happier life—something that influences and benefits those around us, as well. Do you have a group of friends who when you recall shared memories most of it is laughter? Keep them close. See them more. Even an occasional night out is food for the soul. Take vacations or weekends
BEING WELL whenever you can. Although these priceless intervals of time can be hard to schedule and plan, there are many scientific studies to support the benefits of spending time with friends. This has the most incredible healing power. I am blessed to have amazing friends, and we do try to plan a getaway at least once a year. As we are getting older, I’m thinking it’s time to give up some precious luggage space to fit in a few Depends for those moments when you are laughing too hard and squeezing your legs doesn’t work. Psychologist William Chopik from Michigan State University says, “Keeping a few really good friends around can make a world of difference for our health and wellbeing, so, it’s smart to invest in the friendships that make you happiest.” He also noted that friendships may be more influential on our happiness and health than other relationships, so it’s worth taking the time to make plans to be just with friends. This
may seem like a jab at your family or partner, but it is not. As someone who has been with the same partner for thirty-six years, having great friend circles only enhances our healthy relationship. Visit the Laughter Online University https://www. laughteronlineuniversity.com/ for more tips and suggestions for putting a bit more laughter in your life. FY Catherine (Cathi) Stack is owner, facilitator and Doctor of Naturopathy at Journey II Health, LLC in Niagara Falls. She specializes in colon health and bio-identical hormone replacement and is also a practicing staff midwife at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Her books, Free Yourself from a CONSTIPATED Life and PUSH, Labor & Delivery from the Inside Out are available on amazon.com Visit cathistack.com for more info.
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RADIO
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ELVIS VS. THE BEATLES It seems like this has always been a tough call. Who was better? Elvis or The Beatles? Well, I suppose that is what you’re basing it on. I am a die-hard Elvis fan, probably the biggest in the world! Not kidding! In fact, as I write this, I am listening to his brand new “Live in 69” box set from his incredible Vegas years. Let’s face it...Elvis was a performer. He was a showman. He had a great voice! Plus he made some cheesy movies. Elvis had a ton of hit records, but he wrote none of those songs. The Beatles however were song writing geniuses. The Fab Four took America by storm, while Elvis was in his movie contracts. Elvis got worried when the Beatles came to America, and rightfully so, as they were to become the biggest band in history. I love discussing this... but the real reason I am writing about this, is to let you know that no other radio station in Buffalo plays more Elvis or more Beatles than WECK Radio, and to remind you to listen to the “Elvis Experience” with your’s truly every Sunday from 11am-1pm. At WECK it’s not Elvis vs The Beatles...it’s Elvis AND The Beatles!
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YOUR PAGE Forever Young readers: we want to hear from you! Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? Tell us more. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Drop us a line. We want to devote space in Forever Young to what matters most: you. Send your story ideas to editor Wendy Guild Swearingen at wswearingen@ foreveryoung.com or 1738 Elmwood Ave., Suite 103, Buffalo, NY 14207.
Thanks for listening!
WECK owner and president 28
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MARCH SOLUTION SOLU TION
NOTEWORTHY 4
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29 March 4 The High Kings
The quartet of internationally acclaimed singers of Irish folk songs performs.
8 p.m. at Asbury Hall (Babeville, 341 Delaware Avenue; babevillebuffalo.com, 852-3835)
March 19 Buffalo State Spring Choral Concert The Buffalo State Chorale, the Buffalo State Chamber Choir, and the Buffalo State Vocal Jazz Ensemble perform together in a concert that is free and open to the public.
7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall (Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Avenue; buffalostatepac.org, 878-3005)
March 12 Sally Cook: 1960–present This survey brings together major paintings from Cook’s earliest abstract years with her most recent figurative works. Her poetry is also highlighted.
5–7:30 (opening reception) at UB Art Gallery (201 Center for the Arts, North Campus; ubgalleries.buffalo.edu, 645-6913)
March 26–April 18 Buffalo Quickies Enjoy a smorgasbord of tasty one-act plays flavored with the spice of life! Suitable for adult audiences; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Alleyway Theatre (1 Curtain Up Alley; alleyway.com, 852-2600)
March 29 The Healing Power of Plants Explore the many healing properties of plants and the natural world. Several plant and health centered community partners are presenting information and demonstrations.
10 a.m.–3 p.m., Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens (2655 South Park Avenue; Buffalogardens.com, 827-1584)
March 2020 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 29