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Senior Life

Enjoying the Golden Years in the Adirondack Region • Spring 2016

INSIDE:

Celebrate 90

years

Hancock House enters 10th decade of telling Adirondack history

News & Notes

Meet the ‘A-Team’ at St. Mary’s and more through the Essex County Retired Senior Volunteer Program

Pictured: Ross Bouyea who served with the Army 83rd Regiment shows off a Nazi Germany Iron Cross that was taken from an German Schutzstaffel (SSI) during the Battle of the Bulge during Dec. 16, 1944 to Jan. 25, 1945.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

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2 | Spring 2016 • Senior Life

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n conjunction with the story on page 3, Sun Community News and Mikaela Foster are offering this interactive puzzle to be used with the story.

You may already be a historian of the town of Ticonderoga, in which case you may not need the hints, but the answers to the following clues can be found within Mikaela’s story on the following page. Good luck!

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‘90 years of history’ Crossword Puzzle

Across 6. like an attic 9. what you can see on scenic wallpaper 13. Where Horace Moses went to work for his uncle 14. Styled for the Philadelphia presidential mansion 15. Number of naval ships named after Ticonderoga 16. What Native Americans and early setters used elm bark for 17. Material used in the Diamond Jim Brady’s grandfather clock 18. original animal skin in the Long House exhibit 19. The street the Hancock House was originally located on

Down

1. exhibit on irish independence 2. German troops hired by the British 3. early piece of washing material displayed 4. Building built in 1737-1774 5. Killed in a skirmish against the French 7. owned of a little ladder-back

chair 8. material used for the Long House bunk beds 10. A wall mural in need of restoration by 11. a hat builder 12. gift from Thatchers 13. item displayed from early Fire Department

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90Ê yearsÊ of Ê history:

By Mikaela Foster

mikaela@suncommunitynews.com

TICONDEROGA —“Welcome to the Hancock House,” said William Dolback, president of the historical society.

“You are entering the foyer of the Ticonderoga Hancock House, the original was built in 1737-1741, it was located on Beacon Street in Boston, Massachusetts.

An oil painting of Horace Moses hangs in the foyer. He was born in South Ticonderoga on a farm, as a young lad he went away to be educated in academies, then he went over to Springfield, Mass. He worked for his uncle in a paper industry.

Dolback said he worked himself up from a clerk to management, then to ownership of a few paper mills.

Also in the foyer, hangs a wall mural in need of restoration. It shows the major battles from Saratoga up into Plattsburg, over into Bennington. It’s an original- constructed in 1924 for the opening of the Hancock House, by Ernest Clegg.

“This was one of the lost pieces that was returned to the Hancock House last year,” Dolback said.

Dolback will guide you into the grand parlor.

There are some original pieces from the Roger’s Rock Collection, including some china pieces and tile that show paintings of the original Hancock House, he said.

One reason the building was reproduced here in Ticonderoga, was because they actually had measured drawings for it.

The furniture in the grand parlor is Duncan Phyfe and Chippendale furniture. Dolback will show people each one, including two gaming tables, two Philadelphia pie tables and the specifically designed couch in the center of the room.

“Before Washington D.C. was designated as the national capital area, there were five different places the capital was, one of them being in Philadelphia. “This is a couch that was styled for the Philadelphia presidential mansion.

Situated in the fireplace are andirons manufactured in the Ticonderoga Machine Company. Andirons are metal supports designed to hold burning wood.

Dolback said these particular ones are designed to look like Hessian soldiers.

The term “Hessian” refers to the German troops the British hired to help fight dur-

Senior Life • Spring 2016 | 3

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ing the American Revolution. They were mainly drawn from the German state of Hesse-Cassel.

Another piece of furniture is a bombe desk. “It’s something that’s moveable, with two different pieces. On the top is the bust of General Amhurst. “This was the only piece of furniture that was ever removed from this building since it was dedicated. Both times it went to major exhibits in New York City,” Dolback said.

Dolback will guide you into the gift shop, which is themed “the Ol’ Post Office.” There are different pieces of postal furniture like a sorting desk and a sorting cage.

Just beyond the gift shop stands a case, dedicated to “the mystery of Lord Howe’s final resting place.”

“During the invasion in 1758, 16,000 troops were coming up Lake George to take Fort Ticonderoga,” said Dolback as he explained the exhibit. “In one of the original battles, the second in command was Lord Augustus Howe- he was killed in a skirmish against the French.” In case it lies a musket ball, a piece of coffin and a stone. Dolback said there was quite a discussion about whether or not the remains would be authenticated.

“There were five U.S. naval ships named after Ticonderoga. The first one was in the battle of Plattsburgh in 1814.

It was the second steamboat built in the United States. It was converted back into a sail craft, and the hull today is in Whitehall.” Images of this ship and the others are on display.

Heading up the stairs to the second floor you’ll see a grandfather clock, manufactured in England, made of rosewood and it belonged to Diamond Jim Brady. It is a key-wound clock piece, Dolback ex-

A tour of the historic Hancock House all of its treasures located in Ticonderoga plained.

At the top of the stairs, the room is set up to be a 1920s music room. There is an organ that was a gift from the Thatcher’s, it was the organ that was in the Me t h o d i s t Church on

Street Road, Dolback said.

The walls of the “music room” are decorated with a scenic wallpaper, which is “an original piece to the building.” One side of the room shows New York Harbor as it appeared in 1716 from the Brooklyn shore. Dolback said you can see the Dutch influence in the buildings.

Dolback will guide you to the right into a room divided into several different exhibits. One of the exhibits looks at how Native Americans and early settlers used native Adirondack plants.

Some items of this exhibit include elm bark baskets and a display of naturally died yarn, to show how they used the whole tree for different purposes.

A Ticonderoga High School exhibit displays different items from early school days. There is even an academy uniform from 1862.

For the fishing enthusiast there is even an outdoor themed exhibit with an array of fishing gear and scenery.

As you walk into the Longhouse Exhibit, it’s almost as if the rest of the museum disappears. It represents a small portion of a Long House and items that would be found inside one. Visitors can see and touch different tools like an original war club, and an Indian pipe. There are also original animal skins of bear, coyote and even skunk.

Dolback said the bunk beds inside were hand crafted from an arbor vitae, which is Latin for “Tree of Life” and is

also known as a Norther White Cedar.

Continuing the tour, Dolback will lead you into the Washington bedroom, where there is plenty to see. There is a trundle bed, a doll collection and even a quilt made from pieces of fabric left over from hats at a millenary. Dolback said the millenary, or hat builder, was Mary Prendergast Riley.

He’ll even show you the little ladderback chair, once owned by Emily Dickinson, a bed warmer and a chamber pot.

The tour will continue through the second floor, stopping at various exhibits and periods of history. One exhibit called “A Terrible Beauty,” will teach about how Irish-Americans in Ticonderoga, the Adirondack region and New York State provided support for Irish independence.

Climb the stairs to the third and final floor, Dolback will bring you into The Garrett, which is like an attic.

Visitors will see everything from early spinning material, household goods, early washing materials like a ringer washer, and an array of irons for pressing clothes. Dolback may even tell you about his memories of his personal experience with a ringer washer when he was a young boy.

There are even nesting boxes for chickens, old milk jugs, and antique toys, like the early version of the big wheel.

Nestled in the back of the third floor is a room dedicated to the early days of the Ticonderoga Fire Department. Different items displayed include a victrola, original uniforms, photos of fire fighters, a spittoon, and even a 1880s street flag for Defiance Hose Company.

“Thank you for visiting,” Dolback said.

“We’ve gone through several different time periods.”

So many unique pieces of local history are displayed at the Hancock House, one may be able to spend hours slowly making their way through time.

If you’re interested in taking a live-tour at the Hancock House, stop by and Dolback will tell you more. He said he’ll even tell you about all the research behind the exhibits.

4 | Spring 2016 • Senior Life

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DonÊ TaylorÊ halfwayÊ throughÊ 11thÊ decade That’s 105!

By Pete DeMola

pete@suncommunitynews.com

WADHAMS — Don Taylor leaned back in his armchair and recalled his recipe for tasty salt pork.

Fatten the pig with a mixture of cornmeal and hot water. Then examine its side — “That’s where the plump pork comes from” — before butchering, carving it up and smoking the animal.

Taylor advises smoking meat all day before lining the bottom of a barrel with a half-inch of salt. After cutting the meat into bricks, alternate placement between layers of salt and meat, using boards to separate them.

Cover with water and wait.

The meat will eventually grow hard.

When it does, slice a piece off. Fill a frying pan with about an inch of water and let it come to a good boil.

Roll the pork in flour and drop it in.

That’s how his mother used to do it, Taylor recalled.

Taylor sat in the front room of the farmhouse where he has lived since birth.

Outside, a warm wind blew through the willows and maple trees and up the dirt road that bears his name.

Taylor turned 105 on Saturday, April 30.

How does he feel?

“Pretty good, I think,” he said. “I don’t feel anything different than six months ago — I got my rings, I work out every day.”

Taylor does 50 curls at a stretch — sometimes 100, he said, if he’s sitting in

Wadhams resident Don Taylor turns 105 on April 30.

his chair.

He patted his dog, Bucky, as his woodstove crackled.

Like folks still do, Taylor made his living off the land.

A group of 12 cows would provide the milk that he sold to a local dairy, Anson’s, which closed sometime in the early 1970s.

Taylor’s father ran a small blacksmith shop on the 220 acre parcel. Milling ap-

ples for cider also provided a steady income.

The family used a handmade wooden apple press in the barn, a series of four buildings that dates back to March 22, 1863.

Both still exist.

Apples came from all over — Au Sable Forks, Cadyville, Morrisonville, Keeseville… even as far south as Ticonderoga, Taylor recalled.

One autumn brought a bumper crop of 15,000 gallons, kept in aluminum barrels and beer jugs.

The land kept him busy. After chores, Taylor would work on town roads and aid his neighbors with threshing — “Bees, they’d call them,” said his neighbor, Gary Anson — and play horseshoes, a lifelong hobby introduced to him by a visit from a pair of lightning rod salesman in 1926.

Trophies from years of competitions lined the wall of his home.

Taylor also played a mean fiddle at the Wadhams Grange, which he joined in 1924 as a teenager.

Very few things have remained the same since Taylor was born 105 years ago. One thing that has not changed: The fraternal organization his house. Taylor still lives in the house in Wadhams where he was born.

held dances every two weeks.

His mom — a Daniels girl from up the road — kept the books.

One dance, Taylor recalled, saw 219 tickets sold.

“It used to be quite a busy place,” Taylor said of Wadhams, the country crossroads that once counted a handful of shops, a sawmill, a post office and a grist mill.

Taylor attended a one-room schoolhouse which still stands today, right near where the Adirondack Northway cuts through the farmland.

It was a Monday in November when Taylor heard the bells ring.

The Taylors didn’t have a phone. His mother sent him over to see what all the fuss was about.

World War II had ended.

He was 7.

Taylor, an only child, comes from strong stock. His mother died on her 95th birthday, and his father passed away in 1952 at the age of 77. A cousin lived to be 97.

School was fun and he had lots of friends.

Taylor fondly recalled schoolboy pranks, like when he and a pal lit off a stick of dynamite.

He chuckled.

“He’s still pretty sharp,” Anson said.

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Senior Life • Spring 2016 | 5

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NorthÊ CountryÊ HonorÊ FlightÊ visitsÊ schools

Pictures from North Country Honor Flight visits to local schools, including (clockwise from top left) Crown Point Central, Westport Central, Ticonderoga Central and Moriah Central.

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Senior Life • Spring 2016 | 7

Honoring their service and sacrifice

CrownÊ PointÊ CentralÊ SchoolÊ studentsÊ spendÊ aÊ dayÊ withÊ theÊ membersÊ of Ê N.C.Ê HonorÊ Flight

By Jill Lobdell

jilll@suncommunitynews.com

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CROWN POINT — The applause was deafening as the “Greatest Generation” marched through the doors of Crown Point Central School as part of the North Country Honor Flight presentation March 11.

Students from the College For Every Student Leadership team, made up of student leaders, escorted the veterans to their seats and introduced them one at a time Friday.

The Veterans who made the trip where John SweetU.S. Navy; John Harvish, John Neggia, Paul Gibear, Ross Bouyea, Dorothy LeClair, Peter Keenan, Nick Lanza-U.S. Army; and Joseph Rodriguez-U.S. Air Force.

Most of the Veterans served in World War II, but some served in the Korean War. “It was really great to hear the stories from the veter- College For Every Student Leadership Team welcomes and escorts the Veterans around Crown Point Central School Friday, March 11. Students include Erick DuShane, Noah LaPointe, ans,” said John Roch-Sears. Jenna McIntosh, Tyler St. Pierre, Josh Behrendt, John-Roch Sears, Kenzie Bertsche, Savannah Crammond, Noah Arevalo, Shayla Trepanier, Bailey Noel and Emily Harmon. Veterans in“My grandfather was in the clude John Sweet-U.S. Navy, John Harvish, John Neggia, Paul Gilbear Ross Bouyea, Dorothy LeClair, Pater Keenan an Nick Lanza-U.S. Army and Joseph Rodriguez-U.S. Airforce.

Photo by Jill Lobdell Pacific and I never really got to talk to him about it, so it was nice to talk to someone who experienced the same things and give me an idea what my grandfather experienced.”

Students from grades 7-9 listened in awe to the veterans as they told their stories.

“It was very meaningful,” said junior Spencer Russell. “It made us realize that we were losing our time with the WWII veterans. I felt bad on where they were stationed and what they did. It was kind of cool to shake their hands and listen to their stories.”

Russell said he is interested in learning more from the aging population of veterans.

“If you know a veteran try to get their stories and learn about them,” he said. “When they came back from WWII they didn’t want to talk about it. Don’t take for granted everything we have. They are the reasons we are free.”

Several veterans told their stories.

“During the Battle of the Bulge, we were stuck inside piles of snow about four feet deep,” said Bouyea, who served with the Army 83rd Regiment, also known as the “Thundering Herd.” “There were bullets and cannons coming at us at all angles. We didn’t sleep for 3 to 4 days at a time. It was hell.”

Dorothy LeClair served as an Army nurse. She trained in New Jersey but was stationed in Long Island. She helped the soldiers with their mental issues when they returned.

“The Army took over two buildings in order to help and accommodate all the soldiers that were returning to us,” she said.

After a video, the soldiers went with the students to eat lunch and tell their own personal stories for those who wanted to hear it.

North Country Honor Flight’s mission is to raise enough money so they can send the men and women of the “Greatest Generation” and who served in the Korean War, to Washington D.C. for the day and to visit the WWII and Korean War memorial. They raise the funds so the soldiers can go and not have to spend the money. These Veterans are dying everyday and it is important to show them they are not forgotten.

“I thought the assembly went great,” teacher and CFES advisor Shane Thelen said.

“The students were attentive and asked really good follow up questions. I couldn’t be prouder of how our students received the veterans and how respectful they were.”

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Mary Kissell, Frank McCabe and Marge Lyons are the “A-TEAM” volunteers at St. Mary’s School in Ticonderoga. They serve as one of the dedicated crews that prepare and serve a healthy breakfast for the school children.

RSVP volunteers Marge Lyons and Mary Kissell setting up to serve for the breakfast line at St. Mary’s School Cafeteria.

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RSVP News & Notes

lthough our office is located in Port Henry, Essex County RSVP operates all over Essex County. RSVP serves the communities of Schroon Lake, Minerva, Newcomb, North Hudson, Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Moriah, Westport, Elizabethtown, Essex, Lewis, Willsboro, Jay, St. Armand, Keene and more.

We have a diverse group of volunteers and some wonderful volunteer opportunities throughout the county. It is our mission to engage men and women age 55 and older in meaningful volunteer service that strengthens the well being of both self and community.

One of the nice things about being an RSVP Volunteer, besides having a sense of accomplishment and helping others, is the recognition events that honor our volunteers. We do all the planning and prep. All our volunteers have to do is show up, eat, visit and enjoy the festivities. Invitations for the June Recognition luncheon are being mailed in May. Don’t forget to “RSVP” that you can join us!

We currently have a couple of sites that are requesting volunteers. There is a great need for volunteers at the Town of Keene Meals on Wheels Program. If you’d like to be a friendly face while delivering a hot meal to a neighbor in need a couple days a week, this opportunity is for you. If you like our local history, the fascinating all-volunteer staffed Iron Center Museum in Port Henry needs you to remain open in the tourist season. If you think you may enjoy serving in either of these community opportunities, please call 546-3565 for more information.

An update on “The Community Friendship Volunteer Program”: As mentioned in the last Senior Life, RSVP is partnering with: Eastern Adirondack Health Care Network, Mercy Care of the Adirondacks and Essex County Office for the Aging to start the new The Community Friendship Volunteer Program, which will help elders stay connected to their communities and grow older at home. It extends friendship, companionship and reassurance to older adults living in their own homes by pairing up a volunteer with a senior in need. The Community Friendship Volunteer Program will begin serving the southern Lake Champlain region, then branch out to other areas of the county. The communities of Ticonderoga, Crown Point. Mineville, Whiterbee, Moriah and Port Henry will be the first to enjoy the new Community Friendship Volunteer Program. Friendship volunteers will get to attend a training provided by Mercy Care of the Adirondacks, Eastern Adirondack Health Care Network and Office for the Aging free of charge in Ticonderoga.

Do you like to chat and get to know another senior?

Would you like to share of yourself and the outside world with someone who may not have any company?

Do you have an hour a week to play cards, have a cup of coffee, or take a stroll?

Do you believe kindness and companionship are important as we grow older?

Do you want to make a difference in someone’s life?

If so, join us by phoning 546-3565 for The Community Friendship Program training to be held on the mornings of Tuesday, July 19 and Tuesday, July 26 in Ticonderoga. RSVP will provide refreshments, lots of interesting information and good socialization with your neighbors.

To contact us about this or any RSPV volunteer opportunities please call Gayle at 546-3565 or email: rsvp@logical.net. We value all our volunteers and hope to hear from you soon.

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Senior Life • Spring 2016 | 9

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ScreeningÊ keyÊ toÊ survivingÊ colonÊ cancer

Third-most common cancer rarely presents symptoms

By Pete DeMola

pete@suncommunitynews.com

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She’s now five years cancer free after surgery paired with regimens of chemotherapy and radiation. Kempisty received her final treatments on Holy Thursday 2011.

Kempisty said she never felt uncomfortable during treatment. Medical staff were discreet and always made her feel comfortable.

“I would rather do the prep for a colonoscopy than go through chemo and radiation again,” Kempisty said.

The Cancer Services Program of Clinton County offers a variety of programs for un- and underinsured individuals, including colon, breast and cervical screenings.

Kempisty and Remchuk strongly encourage folks to reach out to explore their options, or discuss screening with their medical provider.

Remchuk said most victims will say they saw no signs or symptoms until it was too late.

And there is no family history.

Even after her ordeal, Kempisty said some of her relatives still refuse to get screened.

Remchuk said breast cancer once had the same stigma. But now it’s common knowledge for women to receive mammograms once they hit 40.

The FitzPatrick Cancer Center is participating in a national initiative that aims to screen 80 percent of the eligible population by 2018.

At present, Clinton County is at 75 percent, with Essex and Franklin counties clocking in slightly lower.

“Be the one,” Remchuk said on colon cancer screenings. “Be the person that does start to talk about it.”

She’s now training for a new half-marathon and enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren.

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t started as a routine gynecological visit for Theresa Kempisty.

But a digital exam revealed an abnormality that turned out to be colon cancer.

The long-distance runner felt no pain.

She didn’t smoke, seldom drank and had no family history. There was no symptoms, no outward signs.

Nothing.

Kempisty, who is now cancer free, is stepping forward to share her story with the hope that it will save lives.

“I never would have thought it would have happened to me,” said Kempisty.

Colon cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable, said DiDi Remchuk, program coordinator for the Cancer Services Program of Clinton County at the FitzPatrick Cancer Center. But only if you catch it early with a screening.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), colon cancer is the thirdmost common cancer among men and women. But it is seldom discussed, Remchuk said.

Folks can be uncomfortable discussing that bodily region, she said — especially men, who aren’t accustomed to being poked and prodded down there.

“Nobody wants to discuss being scoped, stool samples or blood in stools,” Remchuk said. “But it’s getting out there more and more.”

March marks Colon Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign designed to make discussion of the illness less embarrassing.

But exams are easy to do and can save lives. Early detection is critical.

The death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping in both men and women for several decades, the ACS says, due to increased screening that catches and removes polyps before they can develop into cancer.

All men and women should be screened at 50, the age when risk begins to increase.

Kempisty was 54 at the time of her diagnosis.

“I was not going to let that get in my way,” she said. “I’ve got too much to do.”

For more information about colon cancer, or to schedule a cancer screening, call the Cancer Services Program of Clinton County at 518-324-7661. Kempisty, who works at the FitzPatrick Center in Plattsburgh, encourages those with questions or concerns to contact her directly.

Colon cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable, said DiDi Remchuk, program coordinator for the Cancer Services Program of Clinton County at the FitzPatrick Cancer Center. But only if you catch it early with a screening.

10 | Spring 2016 • Senior Life

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May:Ê NationalÊ MentalÊ HealthÊ AwarenessÊ Month Five Brain Fitness Tips

by Susan Grotenhuis

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ere’s an idea to think about: To stay mentally sharp, sustained effort is key. It takes work to keep a complicated organ such as your brain in optimum condition.

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can follow these five simple steps to keep your mind bright: 1. Change. By the time you reach retirement age, your brain has mastered many tasks. You have to think of creative ways to surprise it. So change is vital to brain health. Change your routines, change your environment, make new friends, have different conversations, listen to different music, try new foods. List the most familiar things in your life and then change them.

2. Think. Don’t let your brain get bored. Stimulate it with lots of new, refreshing information. Read articles, visit

museums, study a new topic or take up a new hobby. That awkward feeling you may remember from your first day on the job is what you want to replicate. Try learning a foreign language or a musical instrument.

3. Move. Experts agree that aerobic exercise has the greatest benefit in terms of helping your brain stay young. Encourage important blood flow to the brain

by doing at least 21/2 hours of moderate aerobic activity (brisk walking) each week. Start where you can and gradually build up from there. Setting small, monthly goals keeps your efforts focused and on track.

4. Eat smart. Keep those arteries—in your heart and your brain—from getting clogged with fat by eating plenty of fruits, veggies and whole grains. Stick

Aging ‘SMART’

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n a recent survey by the Global Social Enterprise Initiative at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and Philips, 96 percent of senior respondents said it’s important to be as independent as possible as they get older.

For seniors to maintain that independence, it pays to age “SMART.” By combining basic physical and mental wellness techniques with technology, seniors can continue living the full, active lives they want and deserve. Consider these ideas: —Stay active, eat healthy: Activities such as walking and light weight lifting can help with balance and agility, preserving mobility and making you less likely to fall. Group classes designed for seniors can be a great way to stay fit and socialize.

Eat lots of fruits and veggies, lean proteins and smart carbohydrates. High blood pressure can be of particular concern with age, so diets should be low in sodium.

—Mental fitness: Your brain needs a workout, too. Studies have associated activities such as reading, playing a musical instrument, learning a new language, playing memory games and other cognitively stimulating exercises with a slower rate of mental decline. Staying sharp mentally can help you maintain your independence by empowering you to manage ev-

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independence. One in 10 senior hospitalizations is related to medication mismanagement. The good news is there are lots of tools out there to help, some as simple as plastic pill-organizing boxes.

More advanced solutions include mobile apps that send you a reminder when it’s time for meds and automatic devices that dispense pre-sorted medications at preprogrammed times.

—Technology to keep connected: E-mail, Facebook and Skype can be great ways to stay connected with family and friends. You can watch your grandkid’s soccer game from halfway across the country or catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in decades. Isolation and loneliness can take a huge toll on mental health, so it’s important to maintain and create relationships.

Technology also keeps seniors connected to help and lets them go about busy, active lives with less worry. Mobile response apps can connect seniors to a call center with the simple click of a button in the case of an emergency. Medical alert services provide seniors with direct access to a response associate both in their homes and on the go. Some even come equipped with fall detection technology that can signal for help if a fall is detected, when the senior is unable to do so.

For more resources related to aging “SMART,” visit Philips Lifeline at http://philips.to/lifeline.

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eryday tasks.

—A good night’s sleep: Lack of sleep can impair your memory, slow reaction time and exacerbate other conditions. Keeping a regular schedule, avoiding caffeine and sleeping in a dark, relaxing environment can help.

—Remembering medications: It can be tricky to keep track of your medications but getting doses and timing right are crucial to maintaining your

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with healthy fats such as those in nuts, avocados and olive oil. Include plenty of lean protein and fiber to round things out. Try to fill half your plate at each meal with fruits and vegetables. They’re full of anti-oxidants and supply important nutrients. Avoid white flour, generally found in breads and pastries. Losing any extra pounds can help, too. Maintaining a healthy weight means a better chance at a healthy brain.

5. Be happy. Human beings are social creatures. The brain is designed to interact with others and derives great benefit from close relationships. When you’re happy, your brain is happy. When you’re stressed or depressed, your brain releases a chemical called cortisol. Cortisol in small doses is useful for alertness and concentration. When it lingers, however, it attacks the cells in the hippocampus, where memories are formed. Getting plenty of sleep is also important for relaxing and renewing the mind.

Ms. Grotenhuis is a certified Brain Fitness Facilitator with Asbury Communities, an aging services organization. For more information on Brain Fitness, visit www.Asbury.org/Perspective.

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