Forever Young May 2022

MAY 2022 |

FREE

Western New York’s FREE Monthly Magazine For Adults 50+, With More Than 85,000 Readers

Growing Interest Garden trends, hacks, and joys

Female ancestry research | Local stage veteran Lisa Vitrano | Tomato troubles and treatments

Wednesday, May 18th • 1:00pm

MAY 2022

Photo by Stephen Gabris

A modern Little Women takes the stage

Photo by Rebecca Cuthbert

6

Patio gardens gain popularity

12

The truth behind artificial sweeteners

18

Genealogy 5

Researching female ancestors......... Carol DiPirro-Stipkovits

Theater 6

Little Women...Now’s Lisa Vitrano........... Sabrina Kahwaty

Features: Gardening 11

Garden trends............................................... Judith A. Rucki

12

Patio gardens..............................................Rebecca Cuthbert

14

Young entrepreneur ..................................Michael J. Billoni

16

Trouble with tomatoes.............................. Carol Ann Harlos

Business 17

Understanding tax assessment ................ Sabrina Kahwaty

Being Well 18

Photo courtesy of the Shelp family

Young entrepreneur Grayson Shelp

Artificial sweeteners: not sweet at all...........Catherine Stack

14

Ever y Issue: Resources 3 | Crossword 4 | Bingo Buzz 8 | Classifieds 20 | Noteworthy 21

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May 2022 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 1

EDITOR’S NOTE OUR 34TH YEAR 1412 Sweet Home Road, Suite 12 Amherst, NY 14228 Phone 716.783.9119 Fax 716.783.9983 www.foreveryoungwny.com

PUBLISHER Barbara E. Macks

Editor-in-Chief............................................................................Elizabeth Licata elicata@foreveryoungwny.com

Editor..................................................................................... Sabrina Kahwaty skahwaty@foreveryoungwny.com

Creative Director..................................................................... Jean-Pierre Thimot Lead Designer............................................................................ Nicholas Vitello Senior Graphic Designers............................................... Josh Flanigan, Kim Miers Graphic Designers.........................................Rachel Kaznica, Taramarie Mitravich

Director of Advertising............................................................. Barbara E. Macks bmacks@foreveryoungwny.com

Director of Audience Development & Sales Coordinator.................... Robin Lenhard Senior Account Executives..................................... Mary Beth Holly, Keren Green, Caroline Kunze, Robin Lenhard, Rachel Wasserman National Ad Director...................................................................... Terri Downey

Administrative & Finance Director..............................................Michele Ferguson

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/Administrative & Finance.....................................Michele Ferguson Corporate Counsel....................................................... Timothy M. O’Mara, Esq. Forever Young is published monthly, with an annual Senior Directory. Copyright ©2022 by Buffalo Spree Publishing, Inc. 1412 Sweet Home Road, Suite 12, Amherst, NY 14228 and is open Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. The entire contents of Forever Young are copyrighted 2022 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 Amherst, NY 14228. POSTMASTER send change of address to Forever Young, 1412 Sweet Home Road, Suite 12, Amherst, NY 14228. Manuscripts and free calendar listings should be sent to the editor (skahwaty@foreveryoungwny.com) at 1412 Sweet Home Road, Suite 12, Amherst, NY 14228. 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.

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www.foreveryoungwny.com | May 2022

Time to grow I joined the staff of Buffalo Spree Publishing as Associate Editor of Buffalo Spree and Editor of Forever Young in March 2021. In the little over a year that’s passed, I have been fortunate to learn from and connect with so many wonderful Western New Yorkers through these pages.

Now, it’s time to grow.

As of April 25, I have assumed the position of Executive Editor of Buffalo Spree Publishing. We wish our beloved former Editor-in-Chief, Elizabeth Licata, the best of luck as she moves to her next adventure. She has helmed this ship brilliantly for the past twenty-three-plus years and she’ll be missed by staff and readers alike. Her invaluable influence will no doubt resonate in our pages for years to come.

How appropriate that this month’s theme is gardening, a venture that requires patience, gentleness, and adaptability, traits I strive to exhibit as I transition into my new role. May you too find them within yourself as Never miss a Forever Young! Subscribe for $12/year!

Call 716-972-2238 or fill out and mail in the subscription form on page 20.

you tend your garden this spring.

We hope our features will aid you.

In my first letter as Editor of Forever Young (that issue’s theme was also gardening!) I ended with this Audrey Hepburn quote: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

I’m still believing and hope you are too.

Wishing you a spring full of joy,

Sabrina Kahwaty Editor

FOREVER YOUNG *MAY RESOURCES *PLEASE CONTACT EVENT/PROGRAM ORGANIZERS TO CONFIRM INFORMATION PROVIDED Do you have an event or resource to list? Email it to skahwaty@buffalospree.com

Online IMAGINE BUFFALO SPEAKER SERIES Presented by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library in conjunction with C-SAAHN and ImagineLifelongLearning.com via Zoom every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.

Each week features a local speaker and Q&A. Free. Visit website for Zoom link: buffalolib.libcal.org

Hamburg ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP for males; call 626-0600 or visit alz.org/wnyc for info.

Online LAUGHTER WELLNESS Come as you are, just bring your laughter! Tuesdays at 11 a.m.

FREE. Visit www.facebook.com/ Buffalo-Laughers for information.

West Seneca AMANA GARDEN CLUB OF WEST SENECA, is welcoming new members interested in gardening, floral arrangement, and more. For mor information, contact Marie: 884-8543

Gowanda HEALTHY COMMUNITY ALLIANCE Activities open to the public age 50+, (no residency requirements), Concord Senior Center, 1 School Street, Gowanda; for schedule, visit communityalliance.org; 532-1010 Niagara Falls SENIOR C O M PA N I O N / F O S T E R 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+ and want to make a difference, call 2858224 Jennifer Britton (ext. 217) for Senior Companions and Kelly Carr (ext. 228) for Foster Grandparents Williamsville MEDICARE EDUCATION PROGRAM offers complimentary services through the WNY Medicare Resource Center.

Appointments encouraged, 833-0252 Buffalo HEADWAY SUPPORT GROUPS For individuals who have sustained brain injuries, their families, and caregivers; exchange information and resources, and find mutual support and encouragement.

Info: 408-3100 or headwayofwny.org Southtowns NEW HORIZONS MUSIC Calling all musicians 50+ interested in music. For info, email Janet Stout at 354janet@gmail.com and visit newhorizonsmusic.org.

Depew BREAST CANCER NETWORK OF WNY Call 7060060 or visit bcnwny.org for more information.

SOCIAL CLUB or call 550-1232 TOPS CLUBS Take Off Pounds Sensibly Clubs offer tools, programs, support, and fellowship for healthy living and weight management.

Akron For info, call Diane 542-4980 Cheektowaga For info, call Karen 247-2334

Cheektowaga For information, call MaryAnn 895-4414 Niagara Falls For info, call Beth 385-7558 Farnham For info, call 934-9619 Lancaster For info, call Eva 4070539 Tonawanda For info, call 693-5161

Buffalo PARKINSON’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP (Caregivers only) 4th Tuesday of Each Month, 3 PM. Weinberg Campus 2650 North Forest, Amherst (off in July & August) Buffalo PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP United Way – Room 219, 742 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo. Contact: Stephanie Mruzek. Email: eastamherstDSM@ solsticeseniorliving.com. Please visit www.parkinson.org for a full listing of Parkinson’s support groups in WNY. Williamsville MCGUIRE GROUP MEMORY CARE SUPPORT: Coordinated with the Alzheimer’s Association, with caregiving tips and coping mechanisms. Info: 6323700 or mcguiregroup.com Buffalo LGBTQ MEMORY LOSS CAREGIVERS PROGRAM: The Pride Center of WNY offers support and education for people providing care for a person with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. For information: 8527743 or pridecenterwny.org NIAGARA FALLS SINGLES SOCIAL CLUB: An active 50+ crowd. Meet & Greets second Friday of the month at Tim Hortons (8500 Niagara Falls Boulevard); dances third Friday of the month at Buff Social Club (2565 Young St.). For more info: see Facebook: SINGLES

May 2022 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 3

CROSSWORD 22. Tennis do-over

44. Served raw

23. *Splice, to a gardener

46. Isaac of science fiction

24. Nimbi on ikons

48. This Dogg can rap

25. In the cooler (2 words)

49. What Elton John tickles, sing.

26. Former Saint Brees

50. Street in Anytown, USA

27. “Pulling my leg,” e.g.

51. Guesstimate phrase (two words)

28. Mother-of-pearl

52. Bodily disorders

29. *Kind of thumb

53. Lope de ____, Spanish playwright

32. Pizzeria output, pl.

54. Building extensions

33. “____ you kidding?”

55. Nurses’ org.

36. *N in N-P-K

58. ____ time in golf

38. Sneaked glances 40. Slammer 41. “The Shawshank Redemption” theme

THEME: GARDENING ACROSS 1. Betting probability

48. Retches

5. Once headed by J. Edgar Hoover

50. Bovine cries

8. Formally surrender

52. *Like an aggressive weed

12. Gravy holder

55. Frustration, in a comic book

13. Nile dweller, for short

56. *Holds a plant stem to a support

14. More certain

57. Type of hot sandwich

15. Tiny bit

59. One born to Japanese immigrants

16. a.k.a. Bruce Banner

60. Urban legends, e.g.

17. One who plies one’s trade

61. Check out

18. *”Days to ____,” on a seed packet

62. Shakespeare’s “at another time”

20. Big-ticket ____

63. “The ____ Who Loved Me”

21. Apartments, e.g.

64. *Flower’s location after a garden?

22. *Plumerias are often used in this Hawaiian greeting

DOWN

23. Scrooge’s visitors

1. Kimono closer

26. Digging into

2. Banish to Hades

30. What Carl Lewis did

3. Crunched numbers

31. Bestow

4. Facebook’s update feature

34. Month before Nisan

5. *Seed plant’s harvest

35. Dress with a flare

6. *Goes to seed

37. Choler

7. Rotten and stinky

38. On a store tag

8. *Plant variety

39. Central points

9. Famous canal

40. Paul Reubens’ Herman

10. Hold as a conviction

42. Mother lode stuff

11. Make a blunder

43. African bloodsucking pests

13. Church service oil

45. Salty dogs

14. Salesman’s speech, e.g.

47. Current tense of #30 Across

19. Loosen laces

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www.foreveryoungwny.com | May 2022

The solution for this month’s puzzle can be found on page 20.

GENEALOGY

CAROL DIPIRRO-STIPKOVITS

Researching female ancestors

THE SOUND OF THE CITY

I

remember when I found the photo. I was sitting on my office floor sorting a box of old photographs into three piles: names, no names, and partial names. As the no names pile grew, so did my frustration. I picked up a photo of six women dressed in their Sunday best. Each face was more expressive than the next; I saw wisdom, hope and maybe even a little sadness. I turned it over and, to my surprise, names were penciled on the back. I was looking at my young maternal grandmother, greatgrandmother, and four great-aunts for the first time.

Having lost my mother at a very name (for example: Mrs. John Smith I found a record of her volunteering at a local orphanage. Take a photo of rather than Mary Smith). young age, this photo symbolized a Take a closer look at male- the gravestone and Google search any connection to all I’d never known emblems; they may reveal religious dominated records. A woman may not about my maternal side. I was excited to start researching and recreating the have been able to sell land, but she could beliefs and affiliations.

Use marriage records. Depending lives of these strong women. Sadly, I appear in deed books alongside her on the county’s recordkeeping method, found myself hitting brick walls when husband. Be on the lookout for subtle a marriage license may include not only mentions like “between David Brown wedding bells rang. names of the bride and groom, but also and his wife Sally, and Peter Jones.”

Female research is difficult. Unlike men, who were well-documented There may be no maiden name, but parents’ names and notes regarding even a first name is helpful when trying previous marriages. Something I throughout their lives, women often learned the hard way: if a bride is a to fill in that blank line on your tree. became invisible once married. To widow, some marriage records will list Find an obituary. Often, an learn about female ancestors, you have the last name of her deceased spouse, obituary will note a woman’s maiden to work harder, dig deeper, and get rather than her maiden name. Don’t let name. If not, look for names of creative. Here are some tips. this send your research sideways. surviving brothers. I’ve found death Avoid making assumptions. Don’t Researching the women in your fall for the “she was just a housewife” notices vary by newspaper, so if the first family tree will no doubt pose doesn’t have the information you want, myth. Although many wives didn’t challenges, but hard work and creativity keep looking for another that does. work outside the home, some did, can lead to valuable discoveries. Happy Head to the cemetery. If you’re or were involved in the community, hunting! FY lucky, gravestones can not only provide schools, and churches. Try a newspaper family relationships, maiden names, search on fultonhistory.com. I’ve and dates of birth and death, but also located female ancestors advertising Carol DiPirro-Stipkovits is a member give a peek into who your ancestor was seamstress and laundry services from of the National Genealogical Society and their homes in the 1920s and taking while alive. I once located a female Association of Professional Genealogists. in boarders after being widowed. If ancestor’s headstone that read, “Loving She has a monthly column in the wife and mother of seven, dedicated to Niagara Gazette and Forever Young. your ancestor was married, searching a husband’s name or initials may be helping those less fortunate.” This clue Send questions or comments to her at led me to a newspaper search, where noellasdaughter@gmail.com. more fruitful than using her own first

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May 2022 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 5

ARTS

Aging with grace Buffalo favorite Lisa Vitrano plays mother of the March sisters

BY SABRINA KAHWATY L-R: Brittany Bassett (Meg), Lisa Vitrano (Mom), Alexandria Watts (Jo), and Sabrina Kahwaty (Amy) star in Donna Hoke’s Little Women...Now. Not pictured: Heather Gervasi (Beth) Photo by Stephen Gabris

“T

he playwright has brilliantly managed to bring the story and its beloved characters into the present day, while staying true to the essence of the original source material,” says Buffalo native Lisa Vitrano of Donna Hoke’s Little Women…

Now (LWN), a world-premiere adaptation of the beloved Louisa May Alcott novel. After two pandemic postponements, the play is finally up and running at Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP). Vitrano plays Mom, the modern version of Alcott’s adored “Marmee.”

Vitrano has graced nearly every stage Vitrano is no stranger to the Buffalo two Artie Awards, and named Best Alltheater scene; in 1993, at age twenty- in Western New York as everything Around Actress in Buffalo Spree’s Best from quirky cops to Shakespearean three, she made her debut at Theatre of of Western New York 2006.

Youth, playing a twelve-year-old-girl. queens. She was invited to join the Through her nearly thirty-year RLTP Ensemble of Artists, awarded Fast forward twenty-nine years, and career, Vitrano has experienced, as

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www.foreveryoungwny.com | May 2022

all actors inevitably do, aging out of certain roles and into others. “I think I began to notice that change around 2012; I was forty-two,” she recalls.

“I was cast as Queen Margaret in Richard III, a role traditionally played by more mature women.” After that, most of Vitrano’s roles were in what she describes as the “women-of-acertain-age” category. “It was a genuine struggle throughout my forties, coming to terms with aging and all the physical and emotional changes,” says Vitrano.

“It continues to be challenging even now, but I look forward to continued learning and growing and hopefully moving gracefully into my ‘wisdom years.’”

Fortunately for Vitrano, while the roles have changed, they haven’t stopped coming. Being an Ensemble member at RLTP means that “Scott [Behrend, Artistic Director] usually has something for me in any given season,” she says. “It’s wonderful because he really is gifted at knowing which roles are good for me.”

This season, that’s Mom. Vitrano finds the character relatable and welcomes the opportunity to use her own maternal experience on stage.

“I don’t have to imagine what it’s like to be a mom having become one at a young age,” she says. (Bitch Bares All, Vitrano’s autobiographical onewoman show chronicling her journey into motherhood, was mounted at RLTP in 2011.) “Since the death of my own mother this past year, mother and daughter relationships have been on my mind, very much coloring my approach to the role.”

Even as she ages, Vitrano’s theater

ARTS

May Theater Highlights

OPENING

Photo by Vincent Lopez

career keeps her forever young. In LWN, her castmates are all twenty and thirty-somethings. What’s it like in that dressing room? “There’s a lot of energy!”

Vitrano laughs. “One can’t help but be swept up in it.” Though she’s far too humble to say so, one surmises that Vitrano brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to the table as a seasoned veteran. Thanks to theater, Vitrano has friendships across generations; she shares, “I’ve learned so much from talented creatives of all ages.”

Though she’s playing the mom now, Vitrano can see herself as each of the March women. “I can imagine being each sister at different points throughout my career,” she says, “but, of course, if I have to choose, it’s Jo.” Vitrano wears many artistic hats— playwright, director, voiceover artist, print model, and theater educator— and there’s no doubt in her mind of the importance of live theater. “From the playwright’s creation of a story to the sharing of that story with an audience, everything is an epic collaboration,” she says. “All the people and processes come together to experience a joyously visceral complicated immersion into the human condition.”

Little Women…Now runs through May 22 at Road Less Traveled Productions. FY

May 5 Modern Orthodox When Ben, an Upper West Side financial consultant, meets Hershel, an Orthodox jewel merchant, to buy an engagement ring, differing views of their shared religion divide them. Three months later, Ben and Hershel meet again as changed men.

Through May 29 jewishrepertorytheatre.com, 281-0092 May 6 Anton in Show Business This comedy follows three actresses across the footlights, down the rabbit hole, and into a strangely familiar Wonderland that looks a lot like American theater.

As these women pursue their dream of performing Chekhov in Texas, they’re whisked through a maelstrom of “good ideas” that offer solutions to their desire to find life’s purpose. Through May 22 varlets.org Spunk Based on three short stories by Zora Neale Hurston and adapted

by George C. Wolfe, Spunk uses blues, choral narrative, and dance to interweave survival tales from the early twentieth century African American experience. Through May 29 ujimacoinc.org, 322-5178

May 10 Ain’t Too Proud-The Life and Times of the Temptations Set to the beat of Temptations hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” this Broadway musical follows the Temptations’ journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Through May 15 sheas.org, 847-1410

CLOSING May 15 Damn Yankees Based on the novel, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, this classic Tony and Oscar Award-winning musical comedy is a captivating tale of devotion, deception, dancing, the Devil, and Major League Baseball. oconnellandcompany.com, 848-0800 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat This favorite sung-through musical comedy from Andrew Lloyd Webber is based on Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis. lancasteropera.org, 683-1776 May 22 Beauty and the Beast Based on the Academy Awardwinning animated feature film, this classic story follows Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and

the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end. theatreofyouth.org, 884-4400 The Other Josh Cohen Enter the quirky world of Josh Cohen’s New York City apartment… as it is getting robbed. Thus begins the hilarious rock-and-roll romantic comedy about good guy Josh, caught in a lifelong battle with bad luck. Two actors play the haplessyet-warmhearted title character–one eventful year apart –in a ninetyminute laughfest that will leave you feeling better about the world. musicalfare.com, 839-8540 May 28 Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

When history professor George and boozy wife Martha return late from a cocktail party at the home of the college president, Martha announces that she invited another couple, newly appointed instructor Nick and his timid wife, Honey, over for a nightcap. When the younger couple arrives, the night erupts into a no-holds-barred torrent of marital angst and verbal tirades. newphoenixtheatre.org, 853-1334 For a full listing of May theater productions, visit buffalospree.com/ events/agenda.

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Sabrina Kahwaty is editor of Forever Young.

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Bingo Calendar

Bingo Calendar Bingo is back!

Please call event organizers to confirm information provided.

Listings are alphabetical by day.

MONDAY AMERICAN LEGION MCKEEVER POST 1770 South Park Ave., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.......................................... 822-6400 AMERICAN LEGION POST 1041 533 Amherst St., Buffalo 7 p.m............................................... 875-9276 FATHER JUSTIN K OF C 2735 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 7 p.m............................................... 681-7251 HAMBURG–KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 36 Pierce Ave., Hamburg 7:30 p.m.....................649-9830/649-4340

MATTHEW GLAB POST 1965 Abbott Rd., Lackawanna 7 p.m.............................................. 825-3733 ST. AMELIA 2999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda 7:15 p.m.......................................... 836-0011

TUESDAY AMVETS MEDALLION POST NO. 13 25 Review Pl., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.......................................... 874-0559 ASSUMPTION PARISH 435 Amherst St., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.......................................... 876-1038 ARMOR VOL. FIRE CO. 4932 Clark St., Hamburg 7:30 p.m.......................................... 649-9821

FATHER JUSTIN K OF C 2735 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 1 p.m............................................... 681-7251 HARTLAND VFC 8945 Ridge Rd., Hartland 7:30 p.m.

2 p.m. (second Tuesday) OUR LADY OF POMPEII 129 Laverack Ave., Lancaster 7 p.m............................................... 683-6522 ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH 1525 Sheridan Dr., Kenmore 7:30 p.m.......................................... 873-6716 ST. ANDREW CHURCH 111 Crocker St., Sloan 7:30 p.m.......................................... 892-0425

WEDNESDAY AM. LEG. MCKEEVER POST 1770 S. Park Ave., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.......................................... 822-6400 FATHER JUSTIN K OF C — SPONSORED BY THE JUSTINETTES 2735 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 7 p.m............................................... 681-7251 ST. ALOYSIUS RCC 156 Franklin, Springville 7:30 p.m.......................................... 592-2701 ST. AMELIA 2999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda 7:15 p.m.......................................... 836-0011

THURSDAY BLESSED TRINITY 317 Leroy Ave., Buffalo 8 p.m............................................... 833-0301 FATHER JUSTIN K OF C 2735 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 1 p.m................................................681-7251 FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS 1345 Indian Church Rd., West Seneca 7:00 p.m...........................................674-2374 K OF C MADONNA COUNCIL NO. 2535 755 Erie Ave., North Tonawanda 7:30 p.m.......................................... 693-5470 ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH 1525 Sheridan Dr., Kenmore 7:30 p.m.......................................... 873-6716 ST. JAMES DEPEW 500 Terrace Blvd., Depew 7:30 p.m.......................................... 683-2746 VFW COL. WEBER POST 989 2909 South Park Ave., Lackawana 7:30 p.m.......................................... 823-9605

FRIDAY AM. LEG. MCKEEVER POST 1770 South Park Ave., Buffalo 7:30 p.m......................................... 822-6400 ASSUMPTION PARISH 435 Amherst St., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.......................................... 876-1038

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Bingo Calendar DALE ASSOCIATION CENT. 33 Ontario St., Lockport 7 p.m (first two Fridays)................. 433-1886 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 7 p.m.................................1-800-421-2464 ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA 157 Cleveland Dr., Cheektowaga 7:30 p.m.......................................... 833-1715 ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH 1525 Sheridan Dr., Kenmore 7:30 p.m.......................................... 873-6716 ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE 950 Lossen Rd., Cheektowaga 7:00 p.m.......................................... 668-8370

SATURDAY BUFFALO GAY BINGO/ AIDS PLUS FUND OF WNY Amvets Medallion Post 13, 13 Review Pl., Buffalo 7 p.m (2nd Sat.).............................. 822-0818 CARDINAL O'HARA HIGH SCHOOL 39 O'Hara Rd., Tonawanda 7:30 p.m.............................. 695-2600 x326 OUR LADY OF BISTRICA 1619 Abbott Rd., Lackawanna 7:15 p.m.......................................... 822-0818 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 1 & 7 p.m..........................1-800-421-2464

(continued)

ST. AMELIA’S RCC 2999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda 1 p.m............................................... 836-0011 ST. ANDREW CHURCH 111 Crocker St., Sloan 7:30 p.m.......................................... 892-0425 ST. JOHN XXIII 1 Arcade St., W. Seneca 7 p.m............................................... 823-1090

SUNDAY CARDINAL O'HARA HIGH SCHOOL 39 O'Hara Rd., Tonawanda 1 p.m................................... 695-2600 x326 DELEVAN VFC N. Main St., Delevan 7 p.m............................................... 492-1910 LOCKPORT ELKS LODGE 41 6791 N. Canal Rd., Lockport 7 p.m (first and third Sundays)....... 434-2798 OUR LADY OF POMPEII 129 Laverack Ave., Lancaster 2 p.m............................................... 683-6522 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 1 & 7 p.m....................................... 549-4389 ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH 1525 Sheridan Dr., Kenmore 7 p.m............................................... 873-6716

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FEATURE

What’s trending in the garden?

BY JUDITH A. RUCKI

S

ome folks are natural gardeners. Their green thumbs could make exotic foliage bloom in a pile of dust. The less talented among us hang a plastic flower wreath on the front door and call it a day. Whether your garden is featured in the nationally known Garden Walk Buffalo or you’re a newbie in search of inspiration, you may be interested in what’s currently trending.

Here are some of 2022’s top garden trends.

Color, color, color. Bold, colorful choices, as well as bicolor flowers, are gaining popularity. Consider filling your garden entirely with a bicolor plant for eye-catching simplicity or choose a bicolor plant and complement with neighboring plants of each color. As gardeners select reds, oranges, and purples, low maintenance houseplants in brighter hues are edging out green-leafed plants. However, for gardeners looking to create a soothing oasis, Garden Media Group (GMG) predicts clover green will steal the show.

“Green symbolizes renewal, rebirth, and stability,” GMG notes. “Vibrant green reminds us of life, renewal, and nature.”

Planet-friendly gardening. Gardeners are gravitating toward pollinator-family plants, which both reduces carbon footprint and provides micro-habitats for wildlife. Trees, both beautiful and practical, are also being planted more frequently. Trees can absorb and store as much as a ton of carbon pollution (CO2) from the atmosphere. According

to the National Wildlife Federation, “If every one of America’s eighty-five million gardening households planted just one young shade tree in their backyard or community, those trees would absorb more than two million tons of CO2 each year.”

Gardening through the seasons.

All-weather gardening, also known as guerilla gardening, is making a comeback. While the weather is beyond our control, experts say we can create healthy soil. The secret is good garden compost, which will improve the soil’s

ability to absorb water and oxygen.

What to plant? Violas have been called the most popular winter potted plant.

Pansies can survive freezing cold, then thrive in the summer. Also consider lily-of-the-valley and hosta.

Bringing the outdoors in. Create a sense of place and connection to the natural world by setting up a small herb garden in a sunny window. Use grow lights for plants in rooms that don’t get natural light. Position outdoor hanging planters near a window to enjoy the greenery or position a trellis next to

a window where you can view the climbing plant.

Minimalism. Group multiple plants together in the same pot instead of having a lot of individual pots.

Experiment with contrasting leaf shapes, textures, and colors. Not sure how to mix and match? Consult an expert at your local nursery.

All things retro. Cue increased interest in flowering houseplants.

African Violets, for example, can last indefinitely and bring long-lived joy.

Container and balcony gardening.

For those lacking space, these are always in style. Consider utilizing your front porch as your destination for decorating and planting.

Edible gardening. This perpetual, but always evolving trend is evidenced by seed companies reporting record sales. Many grew up with vegetable gardens, growing items like tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini. Not only does this save money, but it ensures clean eating and reduced plastic use.

Trends aside, do what makes you happy. Garden with intent. How does each plant or piece of garden art contribute to your garden? What elements draw you in? If a plant evokes fond memories, find a special place for it. Include colors you enjoy.

Place scented plants where you spend the most time to create sensory connections.

Time to dust off the gardening gloves and have at it! FY Judith A. Rucki is a public relations consultant and freelance writer.

May 2022 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 11

FEATURE

Patio gardens Always the perfect size

BY REBECCA CUTHBERT A repurposed colander makes a great planter.

Photos by Rebecca Cuthbert

A

s spring looms large in Western New York (WNY), experienced and novice green thumbs alike are getting the itch to start gardening.

However, many have downsized from larger homes to smaller ones, or live in apartments or condos for safety and convenience. Are they destined to go without gardens? Not at all!

Patio gardening isn’t just a trend, budget. A patio garden can include one planter or many, and containers it’s a great way to fit your garden to your available space, lifestyle, and can be customized according to

Hanging planters of beans and naturtium

each gardener’s growing desires.

Thinking of trying a container garden this spring? Ask yourself the

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following questions.

How many hours of sun does my patio get each day? Is it gentler morning sun, or strong afternoon sun?

This is a critical consideration because all plants thrive in different conditions. Hours of strong afternoon sun are great for tomatoes, peppers, strawflowers, and portulaca, but will fry more delicate plants like begonias and some herbs. If you have all-day shade, you need plants that won’t mind the lack of light, such as ferns, coleus, impatiens, and torenia.

When shopping at your local greenhouse, read plant tags or ask

FEATURE for help finding plants that match your conditions. (Tags will say “full sun,” “partial sun,” “full shade,” etc.) You want your plants to thrive and create beautiful containers, but they can’t do that if they’re being asked to grow outside their required habitats.

What am I hoping to grow, and what container sizes will I need?

Some plants have extensive root systems that need to keep cool, and so can only grow in large containers.

Most vegetables are especially fussy about this, but annual varieties of flowers and ornamentals like sedum can tolerate tight quarters, provided they are getting enough water.

If you do include large pots in your patio garden, remember that they will be heavy and hard to move. Buy plant stands on wheels to save time and your back.

Many plants grow well in hanging baskets if your patio can

accommodate plant or shepherd’s hooks. Options include beans, strawberries, anything in the petunia (Solanaceae) family, and fuchsia, which comes in many color combinations, and attracts hummingbirds!

Fill all pots with high-quality potting soil labeled for containers.

The fewer chemicals, the better; you want to be kind to pollinators.

When and how often am I able to water my patio garden?

Plants’ moisture needs matter just as much as sun or shade conditions. If a plant is overwatered or sits in undrained water, its roots will rot, and the plant will collapse.

If a plant doesn’t get enough water, it will turn yellow and crispy, and faint.

The best time to water your plants is early in the morning, before the sun gets too high in the sky. This allows them to get a long, refreshing drink before the

temperature rises and gives them the entire day to dry out a bit, so they aren’t left soggy to sit through the cooler night. (If plants are left too wet overnight, they are more likely to develop to certain fungal afflictions.) However, if containers are very small, or the day is extremely hot, check plants in the early afternoon to make sure they don’t need a few little sips!

Middle-of-the-day or evening watering is not ideal because, by then, plants may have already gotten several hours of strong sun. This dries out soil, making it harder for the plant to absorb the water it needs when it does get it.

In other words, it stresses the plant, and stressed, weak plants are more susceptible to diseases and pests.

And again, late-in-the-day watering leaves plants too wet overnight.

Make sure all planters, regardless of style or size, have enough drainage holes for excess water to run out the bottom.

A few extra tips • If you want to grow vegetables, look for special varieties marked “great for containers,” like pickle bush cucumbers and red robin tomatoes.

• Make sure plants that need support, like a tomato cage or a trellis to climb, are properly equipped.

• Keep plants out of spots that get too much wind; strong gusts dry soil out quickly and can even knock over pots.

For our short gardening season in WNY, skip the seeds and buy established plant starts from your local greenhouse, where you are sure to get the healthiest plants. FY Rebecca Cuthbert lives, writes, and gardens in Dunkirk. She is a longtime contributor to Forever Young.

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FEATURE

How his garden grows

Young entrepreneur sells Healthy Eats

BY MICHAEL J. BILLONI

Grand Island native Grayson Shelp Photo courtesy of the Shelp family

G

rand Island native Grayson Shelp is promoting daily consumption of organic fruits and vegetables. The twelve-years-young entrepreneur tells customers, “Eating healthy doesn’t mean it has to taste horrible.”

August, ranking him first in the by growing in their basement.

A sixth grader at Veronica E. “In January, I picked out seeds district and second in the nation.

Connor Middle School with a Last summer, in addition to of pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, ninety-nine grade point average, selling popcorn, Shelp assisted cucumbers, zucchini, and gourds,” Shelp is a born salesman. As a father Edwin and mom Kimberly Shelp says. “They were planted and member of Boy Scout Troop 630, with managing the thirty-by-fifty- grew throughout winter.” he had a table outside a busy Ace As Shelp and his family began foot garden behind their East River Hardware and sold $15,005 worth Road home. The family began transferring the plants from the of popcorn items throughout

14

www.foreveryoungwny.com | May 2022

basement to their outdoor garden, it became obvious they had too many.

“In late April, I placed some plants outside so they could grow stronger stems and get used to the sun,” Shelp says. “After Dad picked out the plants for the vegetable and flower gardens, there were thirteen tomato plants and several flower plants remaining.” Shelp sensed an opportunity. He nurtured the remaining plants to a “monstrous size,” and took them on the road.

“I decided to go through the neighborhood to see if anyone would like the plants and flowers and, as I did, I thought about how many of our fruits and vegetables went to waste from not eating them in time last year,” says Shelp.

“I created Healthy Eats by turning my wagon into a mobile store.”

Shelp’s wagon, recognizable by its forest green base and yellow lettering, features three stories of shelving with wood containers in the middle, and black welded wire baskets on the outside. “My veggies do not get dinged and damaged because of the cloth protecting them,” Shelp says proudly.

Shelp invites customers to text their orders to his cell number, visible on the wagon. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Grayson’s mobile vegetable business is building entrepreneurial skills he will tap into throughout his career,” says Healthy Eats original customer, attorney Andrea A. Tarshus, Esq. “He is learning to be self-motivated, collect payments,

FEATURE interact with a wide range of personalities, and provide topnotch customer service to ensure repeat business. He remembers our orders and pitches us new products, and often gets us to spend a little more with his increasingly effective upselling tactics!”

This year’s garden was expanded to include more root vegetables, eggplant, blackberries, and spices.

The yard is also home to apple and pear trees. In addition, Shelp has begun growing stevia, a natural sweetener, which requires great patience. “It took over a month for the seed to germinate,” Shelp says. “They are like grass seeds and only require a small amount of dirt because they rot. I planted twelve seeds and only one germinated.”

Growing stevia is the first step toward another goal. “My goal is to grow full, self-sustaining commodity items,” says Shelp.

“That is why I grow plants like chamomile and use their leaves for

teas with stevia as a natural sugar.”

Shelp enjoys providing customers with healthy options and working in tandem with nature. “I love helping our environment by moving people from chemicalbased factory products to natural products,” he says with a smile.

An abundance of product is expected this year; the Healthy Eats mobile store will be in operation weekly from June through September.

“This really has turned into something I did not expect,” says Shelp. “I may get a little money back from selling items below store prices, but I am more interested in helping people improve their daily lives by eating healthier.” FY Michael J. Billoni is a storyteller and publisher.

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FEATURE

Trouble with tomatoes Common problems and solutions

CAROL ANN HARLOS for the Irish Potato Famine.) Plant tomatoes resistant to late blight, such as Defiant PHR F1, Matt’s Wild Cherry, Mountain Magic F1, and Plum Regal.

M

uch of what I share with readers are gardening joys, but much of what my readers share with me are questions and concerns. This time of year, most questions involve tomatoes, the most common crop of the backyard vegetable grower. So, dear reader, let me help prepare both you and your garden for a satisfying season.

Problem: Blossom end rot How to spot it: A water-soaked spot appears at the blossom end of the fruit (hence the name), then gets bigger, darkens, and becomes leathery looking. Although this can happen at any stage of development, it usually occurs when fruit is about one-quarter to one-half developed.

Cause: Eager gardeners! When I was a child, many planted warm season vegetables—like tomatoes— near Memorial Day. This worked well, as the soil was usually warm. Today, overenthusiastic growers plant in midMay. If plants are put into cold ground, they don’t grow.

A note: You may have heard the

defense “the plants need calcium.”

While it’s true they do, it’s not common for soil to be calcium deficient. While some nutrients enter roots due to higher concentration of that element in the soil, calcium is different; when warm air causes water to be pulled up through leaves, it pulls calcium up with it. (I know some apply calcium anyway and believe it works, but this is because the soil has warmed up and is able to take the calcium it needs. The uptake would have happened anyway.)

Solution: The fruit is still edible; simply cut away the end rot. (This is so unappealing that many discard the tomato.)

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Problem: Early blight How to spot it: Look for bullseye pattern leaf spots. Early blight usually appears on older leaves and can affect members of the same family as tomatoes including potatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Although early blight seldom kills plants, it lowers fruit production.

Cause: Alternaria solani (a fungal pathogen) Solution: Avoid crop rotation, or planting tomatoes (or any vegetable) in the same place year after year. Leave space between the plants for optimal air circulation. Stake or cage your tomato plants. Lastly, practice good sanitation when removing leaves so you don’t spread the disease.

Problem: Late blight How to spot it: Sudden death of all tomato plants Cause: Phytophtera infestan (the scientific name alone is frightening!)

Solution: Destroy them! Do not put the plants in your compost bin.

Late blight survives in living tissue, so potatoes and other tomato relatives can be affected. Potatoes from diseased plants should not be overwintered either, as they become repositories for the blight. (Late blight was responsible

Problem: Septisporea, or leaf spot How to spot it: Yellowing, dead lower leaves Cause: Weather Solution: Remove the affected leaves. Practice good hygiene so you don’t spread it further!

Problems: Cracks in fruit, yellow curled leaves, few flowers (little fruit) Cause: Night temperatures over seventy degrees or below fifty degrees Fahrenheit cause flowers to drop off.

Day temperatures over eighty-five degrees cause fruit production to cease. Peppers and other members of the same plant family will experience similar problems.

Wasn’t this fun? You now understand serious weather consequences for those whose livelihood is so dependent on it.

Remember: we are part of nature, not outside it trying to control all aspects of it.

Stay tuned for next month’s column, in which I will address common plant problems. I wish you a wonderful gardening season.

I love hearing from you: caharlos@ verizon.net FY Carol Ann Harlos is an awardwinning retired math and science teacher, Master Gardener, beekeeper, writer, and speaker. She tends extensive gardens, including herbs, and loves learning from others and sharing her knowledge.

BUSINESS

Pay what you owe

Wolfgang & Weinmann challenges tax assessments for New Yorkers

BY SABRINA KAHWATY

E

very property owner pays taxes. The bill shows up, property owners pay. Simple, right?

Not necessarily.

“Property taxes are based on the valuation wage set by the local municipality,” explains Peter Weinmann, managing attorney at tax assessment challenge firm Wolfgang & Weinmann (W&W). “The wage is a subjective determination by the local municipality, and they usually use algorithms, not humans.” This lack of direct human interaction can lead to inaccuracies. Weinmann shares that in most cases, the firm determines municipalities’ assessments are wrong and “because of that, the taxpayer is paying too high a property tax.”

Taxpayers who suspect their bills

are too high contact Wolfgang & Weinmann by phone or email. The firm requests a copy of the tax bill (and purchase contract, if it’s a recent acquisition), to determine if there’s a case. W&W operates on contingency, so initial consultation is free.

“Our firm does our own calculations to determine the valuation,” Weinmann says. If the firm finds the client is paying too much, it handles everything from initial filings to possible court action.

“It’s sort of like when you file an income tax return,” says Weinmann.

“Paperwork goes to an administrative review board. After that, we make an appointment for an oral presentation, they ask for supplemental information to back up our presentation, then they issue a decision. We have thirty days to either accept or change that decision.” If the decision is accepted, case closed. If not? “The next stage is a court challenge, which is more formal,” says Weinmann. “You have to be a lawyer.”

W&W’s team of lawyers and administrative staff is ready to help.

“We’ve got a practice that really just

does tax assessment challenges,” Weinmann says. “We’re the biggest practice in the state that does this exclusively.”

Think you may have a case? Visit wolfgangandweinmann.com to fill out an inquiry form, email info@ WolfgangAndWeinmann.com, or call 855-0600. FY Sabrina Kahwaty is editor of Forever Young.

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BEING WELL

Artificial sweeteners Not sweet at all

BY CATHERINE STACK

Y

ears ago, for reasons I still can’t wrap my head around, I decided that sixteen calories of sugar in my coffee was too much and switched to artificial sweeteners. My sweet tooth grew, and, over the years, what started as a quarter packet of sweetener became almost a full pack until I was a Sweet-n-Low junkie.

When I wised up and quit artificial sweeteners, it was hard to go back to just a teaspoon of sugar a day but, over the next six weeks, I dropped ten pounds. You might think that lowering your calorie intake by using artificial sweeteners would help you lose weight, but this couldn’t be less true. Currently, I don’t use any type of sugar in my coffee and feel strongly that getting off artificial sweeteners has improved my overall health.

Artificial sweeteners have been shrouded in controversy ever since saccharin, the first no-cal sweetener, was discovered in 1878. Even then, public health advocates questioned whether these lab-created sweeteners were truly safe; saccharin, after all, was discovered by a chemist working with coal tar, a carcinogenic material.

Increased risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s, neurological disorders, and headaches aside, researchers are finding new reasons these no-cal taste enhancers pose undue health risks without fulfilling the promise of 18

helping you lose weight.

Here are a few reasons to withdraw and avoid artificial sweeteners at all costs.

They trick your taste buds.

Artificial sweeteners are hundreds, sometimes thousands of times sweeter than sugar. Sucralose, sold under the brand name Splenda, is 600 times sweeter than table sugar and neotame—an alternative to the dangerous aspartame—is 7000 times sweeter. This even applies to natural sugar substitutes; stevia, which comes from an herb, is 200 to 300 times sweeter. Anne Alexander, editor of Prevention magazine and author of The Sugar Smart Diet states: “Exposing your taste buds to these high-intensity sweeteners makes them less receptive to natural sources of sweetness, such as fruit.” When taste buds adapt to these sweeteners, you become more likely to seek out sweeter and sweeter foods. This can have disastrous results, namely adult-onset diabetes. A recent study from the University of Texas

www.foreveryoungwny.com | May 2022

found that individuals who drank diet soda were sixty-five percent more likely to be overweight than those who drank no soda and, even more surprisingly, more likely to be overweight than those who drank regular soda.

They fool your gut. Optimizing gut health is essential to overall wellbeing, and eliminating artificial sweeteners is a huge step in the right direction. Susan Swithers, Ph.D., professor of behavioral neuroscience at Perdue University and lead researcher on artificial sweeteners, says that consuming super sweet, zero-calorie foods sends a signal to the gut that something high in calories is on the way, leaving it confused when that food doesn’t arrive. This damages the microbiome, which sets the stage for autoimmune conditions and obesity.

They mess with your hormones.

When you consume artificially sweetened foods, even ones with no calories, the body still releases insulin as if you have eaten sugar. Insulin leads

to blood sugar highs and lows, which increases cravings. Dr. Swithers’ research suggests that artificial sweeteners also prevent the body from producing GLP-1, which controls blood sugar levels and feelings of being satisfied. This combination leads you to feel hungrier and therefore consume more food.

They make you overeat. Artificially sweetened products or food can trick you into overeating because of the way they feel in the mouth. High-fat, high-sugar foods tend to be sweet and dense, signaling to the body that highcalorie foods are coming. Artificially sweetened foods are less dense and less satisfying, causing us to eat more.

If you really need a sweetener, consider safer options like stevia or Luo Han. Keep in mind, however, that if you struggle with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or carrying extra weight, you already have insulin sensitivity issues and would benefit from avoiding all sweeteners.

Sugar runs through every cell in our bodies but getting the right kind of sugar is essential. Take advantage of fruit as a healthy option and make it your go-to to satisfy sweet cravings.

Breaking a sweet-tooth habit likely requires two to three weeks of sugar avoidance. Then, reintroduce fruit. However, living in a state of deprivation is a setup for failure, so treat yourself once a week to a snack or dessert that you miss. Any more than once a week will have you back in the same boat. What have you got to lose? Maybe a future diagnosis like diabetes, or the twenty extra pounds you’ve been holding on to. FY Catherine Stack is owner, facilitator, and Doctor of Naturopathy at Journey II Health. She specializes in colon health and bio-identical hormone replacement and is 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 information.

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THE NEW RADIO Remember the days when you had a radio or boom box in every room of your home to ensure easy listening?

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Have questions about the multiple ways to access the BIG WECK (for free!)? Call us at 783-9120 or send an email at www.bigweck.com, and we’ll be happy to answer. And, if you love listening to us the old-fashioned way, you can hear the BIG WECK on 1230AM, 102.9FM, 100.1FM, and 100.5FM. The BIG WECK, made in Buffalo, is here with the oldies that you have loved for decades and local information you need daily.

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13

7 May 6-7 World’s Largest Yard Sale This event is a bonanza for buyers and sellers; expect close to 300 vendors.

11 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday; 8:30–4 p.m., Saturday, Hamburg Fairgrounds (5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg; the-fairgrounds.com, 649-3900)

May 13 Art of Jazz - Catherine Russell Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Catherine Russell has been described as a true jazz and blues vocalist that’s made her mark on the African American songbook.

8:00 p.m., Kleinhans Music Hall (3 Symphony Circle; bpo.org, 885-5000)

May 7 One-Stop Mom Shop Celebrate mom at this plant sale, which includes food trucks, the Bubble Bar, and other vendors. A Sip and Paint event includes an extra fee.

Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens (2655 S. Park Avenue; buffalogardens.org, 827-1584)

May 19 Preview of the Future Buffalo AKG Art Museum Learn about the exciting exhibitions to come, which will showcase collection favorites as well as newly acquired works.

6–7 p.m. (albrightknox.org, streaming)

Closes May 22 Little Women…Now In this contemporary adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic story, follow March sisters Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth as they navigate love, loss, family, and coming of age in the twenty-first century. With fresh perspective, humor, and charm, this world premiere production captures the spirit and sensibility of the original for a modern audience.

Road Less Traveled Theater (456 Main Street; roadlesstraveledproductions.org, 629-3069)

GET OUT. ENJOY LIFE. STAY YOUNG.

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