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Co-op City Times / January 20, 2024
Building 27 Association Hello, neighbors, we trust all is well. Stay vigilant, cautious and wear your masks in crowds. Hospitals and facilities have mandated wearing masks again. The virus is on the rise, so take heed. Weather – Rain is causing flooding in unlikely places, even on Bartow Avenue under the overpass. There we came upon flooding unexpectedly, and could not back up, so we had to drive through. Be cautious. Building 27 Association – The Meet and Greet to celebrate the New Year 2024 turned out great on Saturday, Jan. 13. New and old shareholders came out for a full room. Each of our invited guests arrived and we thank them. Aaron Carnegie, our newly elected president of Bldg. 27, welcomed everyone and introduced the Association to new shareholders, also with a written memo of the function of the Building Association, and welcomed shareholders to become involved. Our first Guest Speaker, Pastor Michael Adolphus, spoke about the program funded by the Government of a Blueprint for Health Awareness. One must be 18 years and older to register. He suggested we should take advantage of the program because it is free. The next and last session will be held on February 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at New Vision Church, 115 Einstein N., right on the corner. Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (photographed above) shared how they are working on the NYS State Budget to provide more funding for education and he is working on legislation to ban sports training under the age of 11 to 12 years to prevent damage to their young bodies and because this is a
critical time when brains are still developing. Warren Mitchell explained that staffing is now in the mode of a “partnership” with the community and team efforts to work together to resolve issues. A plaque and flowers were presented to Thalia Roach (pictured left), former president of Bldg. 27 Association, to recognize and thank her for her service to the Association and Building 27 for several years. Thalia well deserved the honor. Aaron Carnegie and the Association thank all of our invited guests, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, Pastor Michael Adolphus, Riverbay Deputy General Manager Warren Mitchell and CSO Ms. Tanysha Farley. We thank our faithful workers of the Association, Aaron, our baker, Ms. Margie; Sharon, Wanda, Lydia, Thalia, Joanne, Hattie, and the salad maker from Bldg. 26. Isn’t it great how we work together always in our building? May God continue to bless us all. Happy Birthday to all celebrating this month. We offer our sincere sympathy and condolences to the families who lost loved ones. We wish all the best of health and safety. Contact Lydia Rondon at 718-583-3040 and she will gladly acknowledge your birthday by sending you a card, she is excellent in sharing good will. Also notify her of any illness or if a neighbor has become deceased or transferred to a nursing home. For our community to be a better place to live is for the people of the community to understand and accept their personal responsibility for what happens. –Davis Merritt, Jr. —H. Overman
Caregivers Outreach Mentorship Empowerment How many informative facts do you know about Glaucoma? Are you ready to take on the challenge? Grab a pencil and paper and answer the questions below. Remember, it’s okay if you don’t get everything correct; this quiz aims to test your knowledge and help you better understand Glaucoma and the symptoms associated with the disease. (1) Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among individuals 60 and older. True or False (2) Glaucoma can be cured. True or False (3) Individuals with Diabetes are at high risk of Glaucoma. True or False (4) Glaucoma is sometimes called the “silent thief of sight.” True or False (5) Severe Throbbing eye pain is a sign of Glaucoma. True or False (6) Glaucoma does not run in the family. True or False. Here are the answers. 1. True; 2. False; 3. True; 4. True; 5. True; 6. False. Glaucoma is sometimes called the “silent thief of sight” because it slowly damages the eyes and can cause irreparable harm before vision loss. The National Eye Institute defines glaucoma as a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of the eye called the optic nerve. Usually, glaucoma affects side vision (peripheral vision) first. As this nerve gradually deteriorates, blind spots develop in your vision. For reasons doctors don’t fully understand, this nerve damage is usually related to increased pressure in the eye. Symptoms may include severe throbbing eye pain, eye redness, headaches (on the same side as the affected eye), and blurry or foggy vision. While anyone can develop glaucoma, those who are overweight, people with diabetes, people with high blood pressure, seniors, Hispanics/Latinos, and African Americans over 40 are more likely to get glaucoma. There is a genetic component to glaucoma. If you have a family history of glaucoma, your risk of developing glaucoma may be higher. There’s no cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision. Glaucoma is treated by lowering intraocular pressure. Treatment options include prescription eye drops, oral medicines, laser treatment, surgery, or a combination of approaches. The only way to determine if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Take steps to protect your eyes by maintaining a healthy body weight. Maintaining a healthy body weight lowers your risk of developing diabetes or high blood pressure, decreasing your likelihood of developing classic glaucoma or glaucoma-like retinopathy. Stick to a balanced diet and try to exercise regularly. Monitor and Control Your Blood Pressure. Keep a log of your pressures and see your doctor if your pressure spikes or if you have chronically elevated pressures. Regular exercise and low-sodium and low-calorie diets can help you control your blood pressure, minimize the risk of developing hypertension-related glaucoma, and schedule an annual, thorough eye exam. Make sure you see your optometrist or ophthalmologist annually for an eye exam and that they test you specifically for glaucoma. —Diane Cooper
Reflection: An Update to “Christmas Layers” and Beyond... BY DAISY WINDLEY II
Before “Christmas Layers,” there was “Juneteenth” 2023, produced and directed by Daisy Windley (II). It was a challenging start with a willing cast who were novice actors. The joy? No script, just an outline to keep to and a lot of creative improvisations...It was a well-received turn-out! And now, six months later, I was asked to consider a Christmas idea. I had nothing planned except for a prior idea! I was starting a Drama class and realized I had more than twenty participants! I decided to sketch out a production to involve ‘everyone’ because their eagerness to participate was sincere and exciting! The word “script” was overwhelming, so I decided to evoke their true emotions and experiences in order to achieve the best they could give without fearing that “conscious effort” to remember lines ––even I find that a challenge! And so, Christmas Layers was fun! What an unexpected turnout! I am so proud of everyone who took part and took a chance, even the volunteers behind the scenes. And now, we go forward with hopefully three more productions, each one different from the other, each one inclusive of fearfulness, doubt, and diversity; we are a community of “Lifelong Learners.” Who cares? The bottom line from me to you is, “take a chance, come join the fun, you will be surprised at yourself!
