April Edition Sponsored by EDP Dental Plan
Call 800-929-7881 edpdental.com
Calendar April 4 Blood Drive. Conference room of Town Hall South, Massapequa. Must between the ages of 17 and 75 years old (16 with parental permission and 76 or older with a doctor’s note), weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood within the last 56 days. Anyone who received a tattoo within the past 12 months is ineligible to donate. Eat well (low fat) and drink fluids in the days before the Blood Drive. For additional information regarding the Town’s Blood Drive, contact Nancy Haarstick at 516-624-6304 or visit the Town’s website at www.oysterbaytown.com. April 6 DNA Genealogy Group of Long Island. Author Talk: Carl Zimmer, She Has Her Mother's Laugh; 10 a.m. at the Sachem Public Library, Holbrook. New York Times columnist and science writer Carl Zimmer will discuss his bestselling history of our understanding of heredity, a profoundly original perspective on what we pass along from generation to generation. Books available for purchase and signing. Free. For more info, or to register, call 631-588-5024. April 10 ThyCa Long Island Meeting. Support group for thyroid cancer survivors; 1 to 3 p.m. North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset. Call to confirm meetings. Contact: Abby Melendez 516608-5113; www.thyca.org/sg/ny_manhasset/. April 11 Senior Group Meeting SAGE. Author Jaqueline Becker discusses her humorous book Raging Against Aging; 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Woodbury Jewish Center, Woodbury. Info: 516-496-9100 x352 or www.thewjc.org. Light Refreshments. Fee: $5. April 13 Using GPS. At the West Marine, Riverhead; 10 a.m. There is a $35 fee and student should register on line at www.pbps.us/education/schedule before 6 April. To learn more or reserve your space you can also call Vince Mauceri at 631-7253679. April 14 Welcome Wednesday. Pay as you wish admission to the The Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum and Education Center, Cold Spring Harbor; 12 to 4 p.m. Info: 631-367-3418; www.cshwalingmuseum.org. April 16 History of the Hearing Aid. At the Valley Stream Historical Society, Arthur J. Hendrickson Park, Valley Stream; 7:30 p.m. No fee, guests welcome, Info: 516-825-7157 or 516-872-4159.
April 18 Rich Iacona’s Bad Little Big Band. Jazz Loft, Stony Brook Village. Pianist Rich Icona's 12-piece jazz band performs music from The Great American Song Book. $25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students, $10 children, children under 5 free. 631 751-1895. Tickets available at www.thejazzloft.org April 27-28 33rd Arbor Day Family Fest. Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tree planting with Smokey Bear, live music with Peat Moss & the Fertilizers and Johnny Herbert, tree seedling giveaways. FREE for members and $20 per vehicle for non-members. All proceeds benefit Planting Fields.
AprEvents April 21st
Happy
April 27, 2019 Long Island Postcard Club 42nd Annual Show & Sale. 9am-4pm. Christ Lutheran Church, E. Northport. $3.00. Vintage postcards, trade cards, paper items, photographs, maps, booklets, magazines and souvenir items will be available for purchase. Food and refreshments will be available. Contact: Gordon Smith 631.307.6561 gordon-j-smith@hotmail.com April 28 TOBAY Spring Classic Car Show. Tobay Beach. Car owners can pre-register their vehicles at www.carshowli.com for $15 per car or register the day-of for $25 per car. Rain date: May 19, 2019. The event is free to spectators who are asked to bring two cans of food to donate to Island Harvest, the largest hunger relief organization on Long Island. For more information or to become a sponsor of the event, call 516-797-4121 or e-mail carshowli@oysterbayny.gov.
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AARP Stands with Key Lawmakers to Ensure NYS Budget Funds Services to Help NYers Age in Place
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he A ARP stood with the chairs of the state Legislature’s aging committees today to ensure the state budget includes critical funding to support working and middle class family caregivers in helping their loved ones age at home, rather than in costlier, taxpayer-funded nursing homes. A ARP then delivered over 15,250 post cards from members across New York to state leaders urging them to increase funding for services such as home-delivered meals, transportation to medical appointments and assistance with daily activities, and to enact a caregiver tax credit. In-home services help New Yorkers age at home, but thousands of working and middle class families that qualify for these non-Medicaid services are not receiving them. Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed a $15 million increase for these services. Older New Yorkers are counting on the Governor, Senate and Assembly to agree on a budget that includes and builds upon that commitment. A ARP is urging a $25 million increase to help end waiting lists. To highlight the need, A ARP is undertaking a multi-platform campaign that includes TV, digital and Facebook ads which began airing across the state last month. “New York’s population is graying at an alarming rate, and it’s time for the state to open its eyes and deal with this undeniable reality,” said A ARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. “We will all pay more in the long run, emotionally and financially, if we don’t attack this issue at the front end and help more New Yorkers age in their own home, as the vast majority want.” “Issues related to aging will touch all of us at some point in our lives — whether we are caring
for an aging parent or loved one, or find ourselves facing these challenges ourselves,” said Senator Rachel May, Chair of the Aging Committee.
“I will fight to ensure this year’s budget recognizes the needs of older New Yorkers and those who care for them by investing in expanded inhome services and a new tax credit for caregivers that will allow New Yorkers to age in place and remain a vital part of the communities they have helped to build throughout their lives,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson, Chair of the Aging Committee. “Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed 201920 executive budget includes $15 million to address unmet needs and waiting lists for services for approximately 9,000 older adults around the state, This investment in services by the Governor is monumental, and a testament to his dedication in ensuring that New York, the first age-friendly state in the nation, is improving the lives of our older New Yorkers,” said Michele
Roberts, Executive Director of the Association on Aging in New York “From Buffalo to Long Island, older adults are driving nearly all of the population growth in New York,” said Christian Gonzalez-Rivera, senior researcher for the Center for an Urban Future and co-author of its new report. “The Governor and Legislature should take new steps to support the state's expanding older adult population and make investing in older adult services a higher priority.” “With thousands of older adults across the state that are on waiting lists for critical in-home services, LiveOn NY is incredibly supportive of the $15 million in proposed new funds included in Governor Cuomo’s budget,” said Allison Nickerson, Executive Director, LiveOn NY. “In-home services for older adults have the ability to foster independence, improve wellbeing, and avoid more costly levels of care, saving the state money in the long-run. It is critical that given existing demand, proven programmatic success, and the rising older adult population, that the state make the necessary strategic investments to truly serve and support New York's older adult population.” By the state’s own estimate, nearly three million family caregivers across New York provide $32 billion worth of unpaid care every year to our parents, spouses and other loved ones. A ARP supports Assemblymember Bronson’s plans to introduce a family caregiver tax credit, which would help family caregivers offset outof-pocket expenses to care for loved ones that average nearly $7,000 a year – almost 20 percent of income. Follow us on Twitter: @A ARPNY and Facebook: A ARP New York. 50+
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Around The Towns... Send your news items to Frank@50plusny.com
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1. On February 23, Supervisor Ed Romaine (left) visited the Mastic Moriches Shirley Community Library to honor Jerome “City” Smith (right), Musical Director and CEO of “City Sounds Music.” His ensemble is the official house band and music vendor for Atlantis Marine World. 2. Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta and Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick joined Fortunata Durkin, a resident at the Smithtown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, her family and other guests to celebrate her 100th birthday. She was born on February 6, 1919 in Brooklyn to Italian immigrants.
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3. Historical and cultural organization throughout Suffolk County will find support in Introductory Resolution 10112019, an amendment to the County 2019 Operating Budget to transfer funds to such organizations “After much discussion, we are pleased we were able to negotiate consistent, and in some cases increased, funding from prior years to each of the organizations,” said Legislator Bridget Fleming. 4. Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn discusses the introduction of policy recommendations intended to reduce plastic and Styrofoam waste during a press conference with members of the Single Use Plastic Reduction Task Force. 50+
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TECH TALK
Worst Passwords in the World You Should Never Use NordVPN Gives Advice on How to Create Strong Passwords
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or the fifth year in a row, the world’s most popular passwords are “123456” and “password.” Despite the constant reminders from cybersecurity and digital privacy experts, people still tend to create weak and easily hackable passwords. It is estimated that about 3% of internet users have used “123456” and approximately 10% used at least one of the top 25 worst passwords. Such findings come from the software company SpalshData, which releases the list of the Top 100 Worst Passwords each year. To compile the list, the company evaluated more than 5 million leaked passwords accessible on the dark web. Such password databases mostly come from users in Europe and North America. “Over the years, an enormous database of private user information has emerged as a consequence of the various data leaks and breaches. And lately it seems that we can’t go more than a few days without hearing about yet another one,” says Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at NordVPN. “With access to such masses of sensitive data, cybercriminals can use it in numerous ways. That’s why using the same login
rds of 2018, Here are the ten worst passwo for your acwhich you should never use 100 Worst Passcounts, according to the Top words: 6) 111111 1) 123456 7) 1234567 2) password 8) sunshine 3) 123456789 9) qwerty 4) 12345678 10) iloveyou 5) 12345
details for different services, websites, and platforms is extremely dangerous.” How to create a strong password A few tips from NordVPN’s Daniel Markuson on how to create a strong password that you won’t forget in ten minutes: • Never use short passwords. The more different characters the password has, the longer it takes for a hacker or other shady cybercriminal to break it.
• Make your passwords complex. Use upper and lower case letters, symbols, special characters, and numbers to create strong passwords. • Use long passphrases. Using dictionary words is not advisable, but creating a combination of 6-7 random words is a good method. A combination like “left elephant shoes purple rugby vacation” is difficult to guess because of its length and randomness, but stil fairly easier to remember. 50+
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VeteransNews
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American Legion Anniversary The American Legion Organization was founded on March 15, 1919, at the American Club in Paris by members of the American Expeditionary Forces who served there in World War I. It is a U. S. war veterans service organization with membership open to those who served at least one day of active duty during World War I or II, Korea, Vietnam or served during actions in Lebanon, Grenada and Panama. People who have served after August 2, 1990, are also eligible for membership. Members must have an honorable discharge or still be serving. The organization has its headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is made up of regional departments and local posts both in the U.S. and a few locations abroad. — Joseph A. Regina; 1st Division Vice Commander; GIJoe608@hotmail.com
For “Operation Remember,” Victory in Sight The effort to update four existing war memorials located in Port Jefferson, Setauket and Stony Brook to commemorate the sacrifices made by the latest generations of America’s service members has been decisive thanks to the support of a grateful community. To date, $13,900 of the estimated $25,000 has been received by the Veterans Memorial Fund established through a partnership between the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts located in Setauket, Stony Brook and Port Jefferson Station, the Long Island State Veterans Home and Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn (District 5, Setauket). Among those who have already answered the call are Purple Heart spon-
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sors Realty Three LLC/ Ridgeway Plaza LLC, and Bruce Acker. Ardolino Group Realty Connect USA, and Friends of Kara Hahn became Meritorious Service Medal Sponsors, while Burner Law Group. P.C. earned the Commendation Medal, and Moose Lodge #1379 of Port Jefferson, donated at the Recognition Ribbon level. Bill Wolf, Commander, American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432 in Port Jefferson said: "This project is in recognition of ALL veterans who served in all wars."“For those who served and gave so much, we Americans can only say ‘thank you,’” said Jack Gozdziewski, Member of American Legion Post 432 and VFW Post 3054. “Through our local veterans memorials our communities show our love of country and respect to those who gave all. America’s freedom can never be taken for granted, veterans can never be forgotten.” “The memorial is important lest we forget the sacrifices made and what we fought for,” said Tim Still, Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3054 in East Setauket. For more information about “Operation Remember” please visit: americanlegionwilsonritchpost432.org. Checks should be made payable and mailed to Veterans Memorial Fund, PO Box 986, Port Jefferson Station, NY, 11776 or hand deliver to the following service post location: American Legion, Wilson Ritch Post 432, 1450 Hallock Avenue, Port Jefferson Station, New York 11776 o to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3054, 8 Jones Street, East Setauket, New York 11733. 50+
...Writers Corner... By Linda Maria Frank
Calling All Book Lovers
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re you interested in books and authors? Put this event on your calendar, LONG ISLAND AUTHORS FAIR, April 6, 2019 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Tilles Center on the C. W. Post campus of Long Island University. The event will be sponsored by • Long Island Authors Group, longislandauthorsgroup.org • Long Island Children’s Writers and Illustrators, licwi.com • Global Institute Did you know that Long Island had so many authors and organizations devoted to literature and its production? From the traditionally published to the self-published author, the many talented writers from the organizations listed above will let you in on their writer’s journey; the joy of writing, the breathless waiting to be published and a glimpse into the on-going process of “getting your book out there”. Retired U.S. Representative, the Honorable Steve Israel is the keynote speaker. He is also a political commentator on CNN, and the critically acclaimed author of his novel, The Global War on Morris, a parody of Washington politics, published by Simon and Schuster. His other work is Big Guns. Hon. Steve Israel served as a chief architect of House campaign strategies at Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and serves as the Chairman of the Long Island University Global Institute and a university Writer-in-Residence, a supporter of authors and writing programs. Ask questions of participating authors and view their books, covering all genres in fiction and non-fiction. It’s never to early to start Holiday shopping. Authors will be reading from their books, and answering any questions you may have about writing, publishing and marketing the books they have written, the ones you are reading, and the ones you may be writing. If you love books and are interested in writing or just how an idea becomes a book, join us at the Long Island Authors Fair; www.facebook.com/events/404472450367672/. 50+
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Across 1 Whitewater craft 5 Basic sleeping apparatus 8 Rat- 12 Part of a continent; abbr. 13 Exist 14 Timbre 15 Created 16 Rise to the occasion? 18 Attack 20 “But don’t take it out on her” remedy 21 Senate wear 23 Emote 24 A biannual phenomena 28 It can be of death 31 A child’s card game 32 He had his own army Down 1 Indian god or avatar 2 Outrigger canoe part 3 Government men 4 If you don’t get tricks, you get 5 A lady of the evening 6 Iron’s first stage 7 Sandal manufacturer 8 What assault groups do 9 Requesting help; with “a call” 10 Against; prefix 11 Over 12 17 Popular food writer’s first name 19 A smidgen 22 11 Down skin disorders 24 Old sol
34 Propeller found on 1 Across 35 French seaside city 37 Lower extremity coverings 39 A hewing tool 41 Having shoes 42 Take off the market 45 Airborne African killer 49 According to Hillary it takes one to raise a child 51 Galway island group 52 Throw a gala for 53 Arab federation of seven 54 Dog from Kansas 55 Scores in rugby 56 2000 pounds in the US 57 Summers in 35 Across 25 Navy version of CIA 26 Your home turf 27 Legal age in some states 29 Droop 30 SAT takers; abbr. 33 Ids counterparts 36 Banishments 38 Conceive of 40 Often taught in night school; abbr. 42 Crazy, foolish 43 Always 44 Tight 46 An easy pace 47 Satisfy 48 Son of Seth 50 Congressional watchdog
N I JO ! Wed.
S U
9/18/19
GOLF OUTING
GROUPS WELCOME!
Timber Point Country Club•Open to Men&Women 50+
Tournament Includes:
Continental Breakfast • Dinner after Golf + Open Bar Greens Fee & Cart • BBQ Lunch • Raffles & Awards • 20+ Trophies Email us to recieve registration info. Frank@50plusNY.com or call 631-286-0058 ext. 112..
We Want
YOU! Contibute your experiences to future stories we will be writing for publication! • Are you volunteering? • Are you living with your kids? • Are you caring for a grandchild? • Are you planning a vacation? • Are you in a family business? • Are you playing any sports? If you feel you have something to contribute to any of these topics please send your experiences, in 100 words or less, to the Publisher, Frank Trotta @
Let’s hear from you!
A Bronx Tale: The Original Classic at the Paramount with Chazz Palminteri ronx-born and raised ‘Chazz’ Palminteri was a natural choice to continue the long line of prominent Italian actors in the film industry. In the tradition set forth in the 1970s by icons director Martin Scorsese and actors Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, Palminteri has brought grit, muscle and an evocative realism to the sidewalks of his New York neighborhood, violent as they are and were. Born in 1952, Palminteri grew up in a tough area of the Bronx and it gave young Calogero (Palminteri’s given first name) the life lessons that would later prove very useful to his career. He started out pursuing his craft in studying at the Actor’s Studio with Lee Straussberg. He appeared offBroadway in the early 1980s while paying his dues as a singer in his own band. Well known for A Bronx Tale, Palminteri originally wrote the script for the stage and performed it as a one-man show in Los Angeles. Mr. Palminteri was offered over a million dollars to walk away from the project and with $200 left in the bank he refused. He wanted to play Sonny and write the screenplay. One night Robert DeNiro walked in to see the show and as they say, “the rest is history.” He then moved the production to New York, where it played for four sold-out months and earned him nominations for the New York Outer Critics Circle for both acting and writing. While in New York he completed the screenplay of A Bronx Tale and soon found himself starring opposite DeNiro, who chose the script for his directorial debut. Most recently A Bronx Tale was on Broadway at the Longacre Theater where it finished a successful run and Palminteri finished closing out the show in the role of Sonny. Chazz has more than 50 movies to his credit including Bullets Over Broadway (Academy Award nomination). He has also directed the HBO
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Age of Elegance Marleen Schuss
Joan Allen
We’re Still Looking
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pring is synonymous with new beginnings and Ms. New York Senior America is the definition of new horizons for women 60 and older. Our star search is ongoing. We’re looking for that special woman who has a flair for life, a talent, a positive outlook, adventuresome and always in search of new challenges. Senior America is a wonderful role model for both young and old alike to encourage and motivate even the most reticent of them to participate in life and all that it has to offer. It is the stepping stone for women who are waiting in the wings for their opportunity to show the world who they are and share their many accomplishments. We look forward to sharing the secret and importance of social connection. So, join in the fun. Celebrate life in a new way by becoming part of this energetic, friendly group.
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series Oz, Showtime’s Women vs.Men and the feature film Noel, starring Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Robin Williams and Paul Walker. He appeared on the New York stage in the play The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, starring with Al Pacino, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Billy Crudup. Chazz is a member of the Actors Studio in NYC. Chazz received the 1996 Leadership in Entertainment Award from the Coalition of Italo-American Association, Inc. and was honored by President Clinton with a Special Achievement Award for the Performing Arts from the National Italian American Foundation in Washington, D.C. Chazz currently resides in Weschester County, NY with his lovely wife, Gianna and their two children, Dante and Gabriella.
CHAZZ PALMINTERI
A BRONX TALE
The classic coming of age story brought to life in the original one man show.
JUNE 23
Written & Performed by Chazz Palminteri For More information visit www.ParamountNY.com 370 New York Ave. Huntington, NY 11743 • (631) 673-7300 Tickets also available from Ticketmaster and Live Nation
The sky’s the limit! “We all have a Wonder Woman inside us.” Diane von FurstenbergThis year is our 34th NEW YORK STATE PAGEANT. SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, July 14, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. at the Madison Theater, Malloy College, Rockville Center, NY. Interviews for prospective contestants are in progress now. Fill in coupon below or call Marleen Schuss at 516-761-7503; e-mail: marleenschuss@aol.com 50+
Remember…. ‘If you try, you’re already a winner” Until next time, Joan and Marleen
For more information contact: Marleen Schuss, State Director 318 East Shore Drive, Massapequa, NY 11758 Phone: 516-678-3242 • 516-761-7503
SOCIAL SECURITY COLUMN
April Is National Social Security Month By John Biundo; Social Security Assistant District Manager in Patchogue
t’s National Social Security Month and this year we’re highlighting some of the time-saving features of the my Social Security account. Once you create an account, you’ll see that we already have your work history and secure information to estimate what you could receive once you start collecting benefits. With your personal my Social Security account, you can also: • Request a replacement Social Security card; • Set up or change direct deposit; • Get a proof of income letter; • Change your address; • Check the status of your Social Security application; and • Get a Social Security 1099 form (SSA-1099) For over 80 years, Social Security has worked to meet the changing needs
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of the American public. Today, you can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online, as well as take care of other business. Knowledge is power. You care about your friends’ and family’s future, so encourage them to create a my Social Security account. Celebrate National Social Security Month by learning what you can do online anytime, anywhere at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. 50+
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50 Plus’s Tim Edwards Elected President
he North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA) has announced that Tim Edwards, Executive Editor and Vice-President of 50+ Lifestyles and Fire News, has been named President of the association. The announcement was made at its annual convention, held in Orlando, Florida. 50+
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How to Create a Retirement Income Stream Live the Retirement You’ve Imagined By Mark J. Snyder ChFC, CLU, CFS, RFC, CMFC, CFP, CRC, RMA,
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eplacing that last paycheck does not need to be an anxiety-producing experience. You likely have accumulated tax-deferred money in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), a 401(k) or 403(b), or annuity. You also may have put aside specific “taxable money” for retirement. This can include basic investments such as stock shares or mutual fund holdings. While individual situations vary, unless you have a so-called “tax issue,” you most likely will first draw down your non-qualified funds. If your employer offered a 401(k) or similar qualified plan and you’ve steadily invested into it, you may wish to consider converting or “rolling over” into an IRA. By rolling over with an office such as ours you may also be able to benefit from professional oversight of your retirement and other investments. What about “Guaranteed Products”? If you haven’t done much retirement-income planning there are several steps you can take. There are many so-called “guaranteed-income products,” most of which have been designed to help protect retirees from running out of retirement income. Insurance can help families manage the risks of not living as long as expected, while various retirement-income products can help manage the risk of outliving your retirement savings.
There are many factors that should be taken into account when considering leaving your job for good. If your spouse is also planning to leave the workforce at about the same time he or she should take an active part in the planning process as well. Before (IRAs and 401(k) plans, retirement was simple — put in your time at work, retire and collect your checks. For most, that's no longer the case. Many employers have phased out traditional defined-benefit pension plans. Social Security cannot be relied upon to provide the majority of one’s retirement income. Your ability to save and invest for retirement is critical. Instruments like IRAs, 401(k), 403(b), 457 or other qualified employer plans have become the main retirement savings tools. If your employer doesn't offer a retirement plan, you can fund a traditional IRA or Roth IRA. Similarly, most of us have the option of converting all or part of a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. Roth IRAs can provide certain advantages but the conversion amount is taxable the year it takes place. For more information, contact our office: mailbox@markjsnyder.com or 631-289-4224. Retirement Income Stream Checklist • Consider your health and personal status • Understand your Social Security payments • Utilize tax-advantaged investments • Account for inflation • Be sure you have adequate insurance • Realize the true value of your assets • Put an estate plan in place. Mark Snyder is an independent financial advisor in Medford, NY. To help plan your retirement or to get a free copy of his personal finance newsletter, The Snyder Report, please contact: 631-289-4224 / mailbox@markjsnyder.com. Securities offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., member FINRA, SIPC. Advisory services offered through Mark J. Snyder Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment advisor, not affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. Mark J. Snyder Financial Services, Inc., 1733 B, North Ocean Ave., Medford, NY 11763, Mark J. Snyder Manager: 631-289-4224 / www.markjsnyder.com.
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Helping Older Adults with Low Vision Resources for living an active and enjoyable life By Dr. Steve Schoenbart, OD An optometrist in Garden City and Fresh Meadows, he specializes in optometry and low vision rehabilitation
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any people would consider losing their eyesight among one of the worst losses they could endure. While most of us will not suffer from complete blindness, millions currently live with some form of visual impairment. Sadly, there are some 18.3 million American adults between the ages of 18 and 64 and 7.3 million American adults 65 years and older report experiencing significant vision loss. What is low vision? Low vision is significant vision impairment, which is characterized by either reduced visual acuity (to) or reduced field of view that usually results from serious disease or an injury. The vision loss can’t be fully corrected. For patients with low vision loss of the ability to read, use the computer, and perform other tasks that most people take for granted such as driving or watching TV can be traumatic. What causes Low Vision? Low Vision can be caused by a number of disorders. If you have Macular Degeneration (Wet or Dry), Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinitis Pigmen-
tosa, Glaucoma, Albinism or (Stargardt’s Disease), Early detection of any changes is critical for managing eye disease and preventing vision loss. What can be done to help people with low vision? Patients with low vision are often told that there is nothing more that can be done for them. That perspective is wrong! While medically there may not be anything that can be done to reverse vision loss, in many cases a low vision optometrist can help the patient to regain their independence and do the things they love, by prescribing advanced optics (miniature telescopic glasses) that are custom designed for them. Many patients are amazed that they can drive, read, watch TV, sew, play cards, see faces, and many more activities that they thought was no longer an option for them. In my practice serving patients with low vision in New York City, Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, I see countless patients regain their independence and hope with custom-made low vision devices that help them do the things they love most. Many patients try the miniature telescopic glasses that we prescribe for them on in the office and are blown away by the results. Additionally we explain to patients to get those results requires high-quality lighting at their home or office. For A Free Low Vision Phone Consultation or To Schedule An Appointment Call 516-219-8690 Dr. Steven Schoenbart, OD is a low vision specialist and with over 40 year experience of helping people with vision loss. He is New York State Certified in Low Vision-Rehabilitation and is a member of International Academy of Low Vision Specialists. He can be reached at 516-219-8990 or www.lowvisionofny.com
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New IRA Rules Can Increase Your Tax Savings By Marvin Appel
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ood news for retirement savings if you are still working: You can contribute $500 more to your IRAs and retirement plans in 2019 ($6,000) than you could in 2018 ($5,500). In addition, the maximum employee 401(k) contribution rises to $19,000 from $18,500. Moreover, workers who are 50 or older can contribute an additional $1,000 on top of these limits. (This $1,000 amount is fixed by law and does not increase with the cost of living.) What should you do with all the money you have in retirement accounts? As a general rule, the more money you have in traditional or Roth retirement accounts, the better. However, there is one pitfall with traditional retirement accounts: you have to pay ordinary income rates when you withdraw any money even if the underlying investments would be subject to better tax treatment if they were held in a taxable account. For example, if you hold a stock in your IRA for more than a year and it doubles, you will still pay ordinary income rates when you withdraw the funds from your IRA. However, if you held the same stock in a taxable account and you sell, the profits will be taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rate. On the other hand, if you held a taxable bond paying 4% in your IRA, that investment would compound at that rate tax-deferred until you needed to take the money out. However, if you held the same bond in a taxable account you would pay taxes each year, reducing the compounded growth rate from the 4% pre-tax interest to whatever your after-tax rate would be (say, 2.8% if you are in a 30% tax bracket). Therefore, if you hold both taxable and retirement accounts, consider overweighting heavily taxed investments such as taxable bonds or real estate investment trusts in your retirement accounts. Investments that are
20 50+ LifeStyles April 2019 • www.50PlusNY.com
subject to favorable tax treatment such as stocks held long term should be more heavily represented in your taxable accounts. A Roth account is the best of all from the tax perspective because all investment earnings and withdrawals are untaxed entirely. However, unless you have been contributing to a Roth IRA all along, you may not be able to take advantage of a Roth IRA. Savers with significant retirement account assets are not likely to benefit from converting their traditional to Roth accounts because of the significant income tax bill that would result. At Signalert Asset Management we advise our clients on how best to position their retirement savings, maximize income and manage risk. Call us for a free consultation 516-829-6444, and visit us on the web at www.Signalert.com. Signalert Asset Management LLC, a registered investment advisor, is a full service investment company. Let us customize a FREE financial plan for you by calling 516-829-6444.
Signalert Asset Management Registered Investment Advisors
Cover Story - SCAM!
Scams That Target Seniors Increasing Every Day, They Come in All Formats By Gary P. Joyce
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s personal privacy and security becomes more of a concern as more people utilize the Internet for things as serious as banking and as less earnest as mere social contact, fraud continues to raise its head. And some of the people most likely to be targeted are seniors and the elderly. Why? According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), there are several reasons. Senior citizens are most likely to have a nest egg, to own their home, and/or to have excellent credit — all of which make them attractive to con artists. The generation was generally raised to be polite and trusting and may find it difficult or impossible to say “no” or just hang up the telephone. Older Americans are less likely to report a fraud and may be too ashamed at having been scammed. When an elderly victim does report the crime, they often make poor witnesses. In addition, realization that they have been swindled may take weeks—or more likely, months. This extended time frame makes it even more difficult to remember details from the events. On March 7, 2019, the US Department of Justice conducted what it called the “largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history.” It involved 260 defendants from around the globe who victimized more than two million Americans. The sweep included the DOJ’s Consumer Protection Branch, the Criminal Division’s Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section, 50 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigation (HIS). Extraditions were carried out from a half-dozen or more countries. On March 19, Nassau County Police reported a 62-percent increase of crimes against the elderly over the previous year. The means of the fraud were various. In one, a Plainview man was told he had to pay taxes on winning a sweepstake. Two were arrested, but the man was scammed out of a reported $147,000. More recently, spoofing — the ability to make caller ID numbers appear as if coming from someone else, in this case the Suffolk and Nassau Police Departments, the Social Security Administration and PSEG — have showed up. Spoofing can be done via email, telephone, websites, or virtually anything that is digital — which, today, means just about everything. On March 19, the Suffolk Police Department reported that a man in Melville received two calls with Caller IDs saying they were from the Suffolk County Police Department. In the first
he was instructed to remain on the line to clear up a “warrant for criminal activity.” He then received a second call which “displayed a legitimate Second Precinct phone number on his caller ID.” The caller provided a fake badge number and threatened to arrest the man if he didn’t follow the instructions of the first caller. “Members of the Suffolk County Police Department will never call the public asking for money,” said a Suffolk Police spokesperson.
On March 19, Nassau County Police reported a 62-percent increase of crimes against the elderly over the previous year. The means of the fraud were various.
Also in March, Nassau Police said that scammers were using Nassau Police phone numbers to demand money. They urged that you hang up on anyone who solicits or demands money over the telephone and who identifies themselves as police officers or employees of the department. “The Nassau County Police Department does not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, nor request a prepaid debit card or wire transfer,” police said in a released statement. In February, PSEG warned its customers to be alert for increasingly sophisticated scams that targets utility customers across the nation. Customers have reported phone scammers pretending to be PSEG Long Island employees, in some cases with caller ID reading “PSEG Long Island.” The scammers then demand payment for pastdue bills and threaten shutting off power. “To better protect customers, it is critically important we continue to raise awareness and educate the public about scams,” said Rick Walden, vice president, customer operations, PSEG Long Island. “If you receive a call from anyone demanding immediate payment via a prepaid card, do not give them any personal or
Elder Fraud Complaints: Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTCHELP. The Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime can be reached at www.ovc.gov. You will always receive prior notification from Social Security by mail or telephone before a personal visit is made. When in doubt, call 1-800-772-1213 and verify the identity of the Social Security employee who has contacted you. The FBI offers a great deal of information on Scams and Safety. Their website is www.fbi.gov/scams-safety. In Nassau County, a fraud report can be submitted online at: https://bit.ly/2UPsIF5. The Nassau County Police can be contacted at 516-573-8800. The Suffolk County Police have a page devoted to scams that on Long Island. suffolkpd.org/Home/scamalerts.aspx. The Suffolk County Police can be contacted at 631-852-6000. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) offers 8 Tips for How Seniors Can Protect Themselves from Money Scams at: https://bit. ly/2U37Eh3.
account information. Hang up the phone and call PSEG Long Island at 1-800-490-0025.” According to PSEG, a genuine PSEG Long Island representative will ask to speak to the Customer of Record. If that person is available, the representative will explain why they are calling and share the account name, address and current balance. If you do not receive this correct information from the person on the phone, you are likely not speaking with a PSEG Long Island representative. As for e-mail scams. PSEG Long Island does not ask customers to provide personal information online without first logging into “My Account.” Do not provide any personal information requested by email. Do not download any attachments, and do not click on any links in the email. Open a separate browser window yourself and visit www.psegliny.com to log into “My Account.” The Social Security Administration started a media campaign regarding scams. “We urge you (Continued on page 22)
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(Continued from page 21) to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your Social Security or bank account inumbers to unknown people over the phone or internet,” said Nancy A. Berryhill, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “If you receive a call and are not expecting one, you must be extra careful ... get the caller’s information, hang up, and contact the official phone number of the business or agency the caller claims to represent. Do not reveal personal data to a stranger who calls you.”
In an effort to combat email scams, Social Security has issued the following: “Social Security will not send you an email asking you to give us your personal information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or other private information. If someone saying they are from Social Security does email you requesting information, don’t respond to the message. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call us at 1-800-772-1213 to see whether we really need any information from you.” 50+
Registration Open for Town of Oyster Bay Championship Golf Course own of Oyster Bay Councilman Anthony Macagnone announced that registration is now open for residents seeking tee-time at the Honorable Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course, located in Woodbury. Anyone interested in teetime can simply register online at www.OysterBayTown.com/golf. The Honorable Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course is situated on 121-acres of Long Island’s coveted Gold Coast. It is a challenging 18-hole, par 70, championship golf course that features meticulously manicured greens complete with cascading waterfalls, narrow fairways, water holes, sand and grass bunkers, as well as a putting green. Completing the scene is a turn-of-the-century mansion that offers a state-of-the-art
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catering venue. People can enjoy a round of golf as well as the incredible setting while dining outdoors course side. Visitors are welcome to utilize the Lucas Golf Center at the Oyster Bay Driving Range and Pro Shop,
advanced. The Pro Shop is stocked with brand name merchandise for all your golfing needs. For more information on instruction, driving range hours and the Pro Shop, please visit www.LucasGolfCenter.com or call 516364-3600 to speak to a PGA professional. Applications for membership to the Honorable Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course are available and are processed at the golf course Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prospective members must provide proofs of residency. Non-resident memberships are also available for an additional fee. under the management of PGA Director of To make a tee-time reservation visit Golf Bob Miller, which offers a full range of www.oysterbaytown.com/golf or call 516golf services. Instruction is available for all 677-5980. A $5 fee per player is applied at levels of golfing ability, beginner through time of reservation. 50+
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CLASSIFIED ADS PERSONALS SWM, 73, Looking for a nice lady for friendship. (631) 231-9432. Foodie Seeks same. Lovely, trim, Patchogue F, 67, seeks platonic friend, well dressed M or F, any age, mainly to experience 4-5 star restaurants. Will “go Dutch” for them and for country B&B’s. Call, preferably text, (361) 379-9477. FOR SALE WELCOME HOME Gated 55+ community. PETS ALLOWED. Detached homes beautifully renovated starting @75k. 631-680-0547. This is the good life, at a GREAT price.
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