55 Plus of Rochester, #13: January – February 2012

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Grandma’s Secret Ambition: Being a Stand-up Comedian

‘Shopping for a Job In Rochester Is a Crazy Adventure’ A personal account

PLUS Issue 13 January / February 2012

For Active Adults in the Rochester Area

In a League of Their Own

These six women have been bowling together for many years, some for nearly three decades

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January / February 2012

Page 40

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14 HealthWatch 6

Financial Health 10 My Turn 34 Long-Term Care 35

Photo of last page

Last page 42

Pam Hatch, co-founder of Deaf Women of Rochester

CONTENTS

How Much Do You Need to Retire?

20

17 8 PROFILE

• For this grandmother, stand-up comedy was a ‘secret ambition’

12 NEST EGG

• Local experts discuss best ways to invest in 2012

14 LIVING

• Older musicians still hard at work—and having tons of fun

17 HOBBIES

• Kodak engineering technician now hooked on quilting

20 WINTER ACTION

• Not a snowbird in this group.

• Crazy about winter: Meet Jim and Nancy Peters

26 COVER STORY

• In a league of their own. Six women have been bowling together for several decades

32 ACTIVITIES

• Meet the Boomers of the Finger Lakes

36 LEARNING

• Greece Community Education helps those who want to improve their education —or get one

38 CONCERNS

• What’s on the minds of American seniors?

January / February 2012 - 55 PLUS

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HEALTH WATCH

55PLUS

Dried Plums Help Prevent Fractures and Osteoporosis

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55 PLUS - January / February 2012

Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Lou Sorendo

Contributing Writers

Ernst Lamothe, Amy Cavalier Mike Costanza, Renee Rischenole Jason Schultz, Jeanne Gehret

Columnists

Jim Terwilliger, Susan Suben Bruce Frassinelli Tricia Carey

hen it comes to improving bone health in

postmenopausal women — and people of all ages, actually — a Florida State University researcher has found a simple, proactive solution to help prevent fractures and osteoporosis: eating dried plums. “ O v e r m y c a re e r, I have tested numerous fruits, including figs, dates, strawberries and raisins, and none of them come anywhere close to having the effect on bone density that dried plums, or prunes, have,” said Bahram H. Arjmandi, Florida State’s chairman of the department of nutrition. “All fruits and vegetables have a positive effect on nutrition, but in terms of bone health, this particular food is exceptional.”

A r j m a n d i a n d a g ro u p o f researchers from Florida State and Oklahoma State University tested two groups of postmenopausal women.

Over a 12-month period, the first group, consisting of 55 women, was instructed to consume 100 grams of dried plums (about 10 prunes) each day, while the second — a comparative control group of 45 women — was told to consume 100 grams of dried apples. All of the study’s participants also received daily doses of calcium (500 milligrams) and vitamin D (400 international units).

The group that consumed dried plums had significantly higher bone mineral density in the ulna (one of two long bones in the forearm) and

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spine, in comparison with the group that ate dried apples. This, according to Arjmandi, was due in part to the ability of dried plums to suppress the rate of bone resorption, or the breakdown of bone, which tends to exceed the rate of new bone growth as people age.

The group’s research, “Comparative Effects of Dried Plum and Dried Apple on Bone in Post Menopausal Women,” was published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

In the United States, about 8 million women have osteoporosis because of the sudden cessation of ovarian hormone production at the onset of menopause. What’s more, about 2 million men also have osteoporosis. “ I n th e f ir st fi v e to se v e n postmenopausal years, women are at risk of losing bone at a rate of 3 to 5 percent per year,” Arjmandi said. “However, osteoporosis is not exclusive to women and, indeed, around the age of 65, men start losing bone with the same rapidity as women.”

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HEALTH WATCH 90-andOlder Population Triples in 3 Decades Among the 90-andolder population, women outnumber men by a ratio of nearly three to one

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he nation’s 90-and-older population nearly tripled over the past three decades, reaching 1.9 million in 2010, according to a report released in November by the U.S. Census Bureau and supported by the National Institute on Aging.

Over the next four decades, this population is projected to more than quadruple.

Because of increases in life expectancy at older ages, people 90 and older now comprise 4.7 percent of the older population (age 65 and older), as compared with only 2.8 percent in 1980. By 2050, this share is likely to reach 10 percent.

The majority of people 90 and older report having one or more disabilities, living alone or in a nursing home and graduating from high school. People in this age group also are more likely to be women and to have higher widowhood, poverty and disability rates than people just under this age cutoff.

These findings come from 90+ in the United States: 2006-2008,

which presents an overview of this age group and a comparative analysis of selected demographic and socio-economic differences between people 90 and older and their younger counterparts within the older population. Statistics for the report, which go down to the state level, come from the 2006-2008 American Community Survey threeyear estimates and 2008 one-year estimates, as well as census and projections data.

“Traditionally, the cutoff age for what is considered the ‘oldest old’ has been age 85,” said Census Bureau demographer Wan He, “but increasingly people are living longer and the older population itself is getting older. Given its rapid growth, the 90-and-older population merits a closer look.

While nearly all people in their 90s who lived in a nursing home had a disability (98.2 percent), the vast majority (80.8 percent) of those who did not live in a nursing home also had one or more disabilities.

Difficulty doing errands alone and performing general mobility-related activities of walking or climbing stairs were the most common types, which indicates that many who live in households may need assistance with everyday activities.

The proportion of people age 90 to 94 having disabilities is more than 13 percentage points higher than that of 85- to 89-year-olds.

Other highlights ■ Given that people age 90 and older included in the report were born in 1918 or earlier, an unexpectedly high proportion (61.3 percent) had completed high school or above. Nearly 28 percent continued their education beyond high school, about half of whom completed a bachelor’s degree or higher.

■ The 90-and-older population

is overwhelmingly (88.1 percent) white. Additionally, blacks represented 7.6 percent, Asians 2.2 percent and Hispanics (who may be of any race) about 4 percent.

■ The annual median personal income for people 90 and older during 2006-2008 was $14,760 (in 2008 inflation-adjusted dollars).

Almost half (47.9 percent) of this amount came from Social Security and another 18.3 percent came from retirement pension income.

All in all, 92.3 percent of those 90 and older received income from the Social Security Administration (86.2 percent received Social Security income only with the remainder receiving either Supplemental Security Income only or both).

■ In 2006-2008, 14.5 percent of people 90 and older lived in poverty, a higher rate than for those 65-89 (9.6 percent).

■ Among the 90-and-older population, women outnumber men by a ratio of nearly three to one.

There were 38 men for every 100 women ages 90 to 94, with the ratio dropping to 26 for ages 95 to 99 and 24 for those 100 and older.

■ More than 80 percent of women 90 and older were widowed, while more than 40 percent of men this age were married.

■ In 2006-2008, half of men 90 and older lived in a household with family members or unrelated individuals, less than one-third lived alone, and about 15 percent were in an institutionalized living arrangement such as a nursing home. In contrast, less than one-third of women in this age group lived in a household with family members and/or unrelated individuals, four in 10 lived alone, and another quarter were in institutionalized living arrangements.

■ Those 90 and older were almost universally (99.5 percent) covered by health insurance.

January / February 2012 - 55 PLUS

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55+

profile

Making Audiences Laugh, at 73 For this Fairport grandma, stand-up comedy was a ‘secret ambition’

By Renee Rischenole

A

lmost everyone at some point in life either personally knows somebody or knows of someone who makes you laugh. They may be a close friend, a relative, a coworker, an acquaintance or that gentleman across the street.

Meet Phyllis Reed, a 73-yearold comedian from Fairport.

Reed, a mother of two grown sons and grandmother to a 9-year-old grandson, hasn’t always been cracking jokes in front of a crowd and she wasn’t the class clown in childhood either.

“It’s been my secret ambition for years,” Reed said.

Originally from Mendota, Ill., Reed labels

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55 PLUS - January / February 2012

herself as the class goody-goody while in her high school years. During her younger days she thought she wanted to be a newspaper reporter but instead she graduated from seminary with her Master of Divinity degree but then married a month later.

Reed swayed off path from her career and left her denomination to support and dedicate herself to her children, husband and his work. After her kids were in school, she filled in at seminary when someone was out sick and then was ordained in 1977.

She has married numerous couples until retiring 10 years ago in January 2001.

Reed has been taking standup comedy classes for five years with Carol Roberts at Writers & Books located at 740 University Ave. in Rochester.

Roberts, a former standup comic who has performed with a few celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres, is the instructor for the Monday night, six week, standup comedy workshop.

Writers & Books also hosts an open-mic night where Reed and many others can be seen performing on stage in front of the locals.

“Phyllis is a very confident woman with a dry manner; she is blunt but then finishes it off with a little smile,” Roberts said.

As a former preacher, Phyllis is no stranger speaking in front of a crowd, although the environment is now on a whole other spectrum.

Two people from Neutral Ground, a local support group she belongs to, convinced Reed to attend an open-mic night. The two acquaintances had been taking classes with Roberts and knew Reed would fit right in.

The 73-year-old didn’t want to go to the comedy club but did anyhow.

She enjoyed it so much that she decided to give the classes a try.

“Carol’s classes are so much fun,” said Reed, “It’s not like triple X; they are PG-13 bordering on R,” Reed said.

There is a wide age range in Robert’s classes, anywhere from high school age to the oldest being Reed.

“People will find it interesting that a woman of her age gets up on stage as a standup comedian,” Roberts said.

A creative and hardworking woman, Reed finds new material for her performances from her every day life.

“Life has been bizarre enough and that gives me the material,” Reed said.

The stories don’t always have to be true. One time she joked about how a young, hunky fireman came banging on her door, claiming George Clooney informed him that a great lady lived there. However, it was only just a dream.

Coming up with something new was one of Reed’s concerns but Robert has her students participate in exercises outside of class which Reed follows through with, while working in her yard.

“She prepares new material all the time and is easy to work with because she is open to and respects feedback, takes it home and reworks her routines,” Roberts said.

Its no wonder Reed has plenty of life material to use for her routines, she’s been a busy woman in her 73 years.

After her divorce from her husband of 23 years, she began attending the support group, Neutral Ground, a non-sectarian, nonprofit peer support organization for people who are divorced, widowed, separated or ending a significant relationship. This led her to volunteer teaching with the

group for the past 20 years. Among the many other jobs and volunteer services Reed has accomplished so far, the addition of standup comedy is now checked off her bucket list.

Writers & Books isn’t the only stage she’s braved. Reed has performed for family members in Illinois, at a coffee house in Rochester, a senior citizen’s group home in Florida for a 1950s party, and recently at her 55th high school reunion in her childhood hometown.

Reed feels comfortable on stage but was uncertain how she would feel performing a routine at the reunion.

“I was more nervous doing it for my high school class than open-mic night,” Reed said.

Her classmates were a friendly audience and she ended up feeling at ease just as she does anywhere she performs.

“Phyllis has the confidence of a Tea Party member,” said Roberts, “except she’s got brains behind it”

See Phyllis Reed in Action For a good laugh and to see Reed perform, watch one of her previous performances on YouTube at: www. youtube.com/watch?v=K-ylpRe_voU. Or type in youtube.com the follwoing: “73-yr-old Rochester, NY Comedian.”

To learn more about Carol Robert’s standup comedy workshops visit www.wab.org.

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financial health

By Jim Terwilliger

A Will May Not Be Enough Legislation has changed so much that your will may be obsolete

F

olks who have a will in place feel reasonably secure about their wishes being honored in the event of their passing.

For some, the feeling is justified.

For others, having a will provides a false sense of security.

Why? There are a number of reasons.

Age of Will From a technical design perspective, older wills may be obsolete, not reflecting ongoing changes in federal estate tax laws.

Ten years ago, the federal exemption was less than $1 million.

It rose to $5 million in 2011-2012. It will revert back to $1 million in 2013 unless Congress acts. To add confusion to the mix, Congress actually abolished the federal estate tax in 2010.

Many wills established or updated over this time period have provisions that may be “hard-wired” to the federal exemption or some combination of the federal exemption and the NYS exemption, which has remained steady at $1 million. Such provisions can yield disastrous consequences such as allocating all assets to trusts and none directly to heirs.

Some attorneys employ more flexible designs, using disclaimer techniques to accommodate changing exemptions. That helps. But wills signed more than 10 years ago are likely to be technically obsolete.

Then there is the issue of “life happens.” Things change. Everyone ages, siblings and parents pass on, family members become married or divorced, loved ones become incapacitated, and charitable interests evolve. You name it.

I can’t tell you how many clients become close to horrified when we sit down to chart out the flow of wills 10, 15, or more years old. For some, 10

55 PLUS - January / February 2012

it’s “That’s not what I wanted.” For others, it’s “That was fine then, but it’s not what I want now”.

Regardless, making sure wills are reviewed and updated on a regular basis is crucial. We typically suggest no longer than five-year intervals. It is one of the most important actions we can take — ensuring that our lifetime accumulation of wealth is directed to our families, friends, and institutions in accordance with our wishes.

D o n o t l e t p ro c r a s t i n a t i o n interfere with this important personal responsibility.

Beneficiary Designations Many commonly held assets pass only by beneficiary designation, including employer retirement plans, IRAs, Roth IRAs, life insurance death benefits and non-IRA-related deferred annuities.

Beneficiary designations trump the will.

Other assets trumping the will are those that pass by operation of law. A common example is jointly owned property with the right of survivorship.

Given the above, you might wonder why having a will is important, particularly when a lot of estates consistent largely of the above two types of assets.

The will creates the overall design of the estate plan, directing the strategy for naming beneficiaries and directing decisions regarding jointly owned vs. individually owned property. The will often creates trusts that can be used to minimize estate taxes or to create managed pools of assets for family members and/or charities. The will names the estate executor, trustee(s) for trusts created by the will, as well as guardians for minor children.

Having a will is crucial. But the best-designed will cannot correct or

moderate beneficiary designations that are out-of-date or just plain wrong.

The problem we all face is that beneficiary designations evolve over time. We are asked to name beneficiaries over a span of decades as we purchase life insurance, sign up for retirement plans or IRAs, and/or purchase annuities. Over that time span, our lives have changed. We are inconsistent naming contingent beneficiaries. Because of this, it is common to find ex-spouses who are still named, newer children/ grandchildren who are not named at all or a myriad of other inconsistencies that work against our wishes and our wills.

Suggested “to-do” List • Review and update all your beneficiary designations, primary and contingent, to make sure they carry out what you intend and are consistent with your will. Contact your attorney for guidance.

• If your will is more than five years old, meet with your attorney to review the design, consider an update, and design your beneficiary designation strategy. At the same time, include power of attorney, living will, and health care proxy documents in the review process.

Put this at the top, not bottom, of your priority list. And include a trusted financial planner in the process to ensure that your estate plan is consistent with your overall financial plan.

James Terwilliger, CFP®, is vice president, Financial Planning, Wealth Strategies Group, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. He can be reached at 585-419-0670 ext. 50630 or by email at jterwilliger@cnbank.com.

life lessons

By Tricia Carey

Shopping for a Job In Rochester Is a Crazy Adventure

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h e t h e r y o u a re o u t of work in Rochester or somewhere in the rest of the U.S., age discrimination exists whether it is obvious or not.

It took me a while to realize this as, of course I thought my skills and experience level were very marketable in today’s world.

I am and have been in executive and administrative positions in the nonprofit sector for many years.

I naively thought that was worth something. I never thought of myself as an “older worker”, but have run into many roadblocks that have shaken my confidence to the core.

First, awareness of the situation will allow you to adjust your thinking and react positively to the current market. Online random applications (with (careerbuilder.com and the like) do not work for those of us “experienced.”

Here in Rochester, this is very difficult for those who have left the employ of the former big “3” —Kodak, Xerox and B&L — since those positions were very specific and technical.

I have joined the ranks of Rochester Works and taken the career navigator course. Here is where we learn the hard truths; update your technical skills, be sure you are accurately represented on Linkedin and have at least 100 connections and network, network, network!

This is the only way you will become employed again!

Bridge to Employment Services program at Lifespan will also lead you to part-time positions if that is what you are looking for. And, if you want full time, don’t go for part time — it will come back to haunt you when you receive your first paycheck.

“It took me 11 months to find a part-time job and I am fairly well connected in the community and have volunteered most of my working life.”

It took me 11 months to find a part-time job and I am fairly well connected in the community and have volunteered most of my working life.

Volunteering is a good way to stay in the game and keep your skills up.

I love the position I now hold in the nonprofit sector. It is not 24/7 with huge responsibilities and that is great for me.

I know several of my male counterparts have had a harder time than I have for one reason or another.

Gray hair shows and younger hiring managers know it! Some of my colleagues have been out of work almost two years now and have so much to give. We all are out of our “know it all” stage and just want to contribute.

A word to the wise and aging worker: Keep at it! Keep your confidence up by engaging with others! As my Mom always said, and she is not the only one: “If at first you don’t succeed, pull yourself up and try, try again!”

Tricia Carey now works at Gilda’s Club in Rochester.

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January / February 2012 - 55 PLUS

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55+

nest egg

Stocks, Mutual Funds, Annuities, Bonds, CDs Local Experts Discuss Best Ways to Invest in 2012

By Ernst Lamothe

W

ith a volatile and ever more unpredictable stock market seemingly making record highs and record lows, sometimes in the same week, many investors struggle with the best options for their money.

Do they try conservative bonds in these uncertain times? Do they take a chance that the stock market will recover? Do they simply keep their money under their mattress? And how reliable are all those late night commercials encouraging individuals to invest in gold?

With so many choices, financial planners believe it’s easy to make the wrong decisions.

“There are people with very little to invest and who can’t afford to lose money, trying to decide where to Feldman put their savings.

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55 PLUS - January / February 2012

Investing in stocks and bonds makes them nervous,” said Jeff Feldman, owner of Rochester Financial Services, 7 Hastings Circle in Pittsford.

“Then there are those who have been investing for years and can afford to experience short term fluctuations in their investments, who invest in stocks and bonds, because they know that they will need growth for the long term. People need to know where they fall in that spectrum because every individual is different and there are so many ways they can make their money work for them.”

Feldman advises individuals to invest in a brokerage account. Those with very low risk tolerance should consider investing in a conservative bond fund, which can produce better returns than Certificates of Deposit (CDs). In this current low interest rate environment, shorterterm maturity funds should be used because they will perform better if interest rates were to rise.

For those who can endure a modicum of risk, mixing in some

balanced stock funds can add some growth to the portfolio.

“You want a portfolio that can balance stocks and bonds together because they can absorb some of the hurt when the stock market isn’t doing well. You are always going to be vulnerable when you have a 100 percent stock portfolio,” said Feldman.

Then there are those close to retirement who have a Vegas mentality of high risk, high reward and are blinded by the allure of high yield investments.

“The biggest mistake I see people make is when they see an investment that is advertised to yield an above market rate, such as 10 percent interest,” said Feldman. “These investments can involve much greater risk than the investor realizes.”

When a person works, they are dependent on a stream of income e v e r y w e e k f ro m a p a y c h e c k .

However; during their retirement, money comes from multiple income streams like investment and retirement

accounts, social security, pensions and annuity.

Steven Schwartz, certified public accountant and president of Wealth Design Services Inc, 940 Westfall Road in Brighton, preaches a different investment playbook. That includes diversification of stocks and use of individual bonds to neutralize risks.

His mantra decrees never sell a stock when it is down or never sell a bond when interest rates are up.

When first talking with his clients who are approaching retirement, he urges them to understand that when you retire, you are exposed to more risk. Health care expenses, inflation and outliving your savings become scarier on a fixed income.

“It’s not like people can say let’s buy groceries when the market is up and when the market is down we just won’t eat,” he said. “You have people today who have a fear of living too long because they may run out of money. You have to make smart investments because nobody wants to go back to work at 80.”

Even though some analysts consider these unprecedented times on Wall Street, Feldman doesn’t view the stock market as anymore capricious than normal. He said even back in the 1990s when the economy flourished and the stock market showed tremendous gains, there were times when the market had severe declines.

“While I agree it has been more volatile than in previous years, it’s not very different historically,” said Feldman. “The market has never been smooth sailing. It’s just that people were a lot calmer then and unemployment was low and we as a nation have very short memories. Even in good times the market crashes.”

Schwartz argues with those who think the stock market isn’t any more unusual today than in years past. He believes Schwartz the situation calls

for retirees to be conservative in their portfolios.

“The thing that feels different to me now is that information is so fluid,” he added. “Yes, the market has always been volatile but I don’t know if the depths of the extremes have ever been as deeply volatile as it has been in the past two to three years.”

For Schwartz’s clients, portfolios that have a lower allocation to stocks have done better over the past few years.

In recent years, gold has found its way back into mainstream conversation. Over the past 10 years, gold has been one investment that has performed very well. Gold is often considered more valuable during challenging economic periods, especially during times like these when countries are reaching historic proportions of debt. As they are forced to print money, they will devalue their currencies, which will enhance the value of gold.

However gold can’t always hold its weight in financial success because there is no guarantee that it will appreciate over time.

“The price of gold moves in reaction to fear and fear is not a reliable criteria for investment,” said Schwartz. “People have made money with gold because we are experiencing a time of high anxiety but that can change quickly.”

The last two or three years before retirement can be the most crucial.

Officials recommend maxing out 401 K and IRA contributions because those are the potentially highest earning years of income.

“Once you retire and you start withdrawing money then you will be in a lower tax bracket, making this a net gain for you,” said Feldman. “A big mistake people make is starting to think about their finances when they retire.

Schwartz believes that the old school mentality of hiding money under your mattress simply won’t help in the long run. “Your money can’t grow if it is inside your pillowcase,” he added. “Even in these volatile times everybody should have an investment portfolio of some kind.”

Older Workers Are Most Engaged They are also more committed, study says

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new research study by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College examines work experiences of employees, finding that those 40 years old and older are the most engaged and demonstrate the highest level of organizational commitment, and that those 50 years old and older are the most satisfied with their jobs.

The “Generations of Talent Study” is one of few to assess the effects of country, age, and career stage among employees worldwide.

It gathered data about work experiences from 11,298 individuals, working for seven multinational companies, at 24 worksites in 11 countries. In this initial data release, researchers analyze responses in individual countries as well as divide countries into two groups: those with older populations and developed market economies (old developed countries: Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, UK, U.S.) and those with younger populations and developing market economies (young developing countries: Brazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Botswana).

“Regardless of the complexities of today’s global economy, all companies want employees who are willing to give their very best,” says Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, director of the Sloan Center on Aging & Work.

“Contrary to popular opinion, older workers are the most engaged, and forward-thinking companies need to begin strategizing about how to capitalize on this asset,” PittCatsouphes said.

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living

Rockin’ On!

Older musicians still hard at work —and having tons of fun

By Mike Costanza

A

t a time of their lives when many might tune to the “easy listening” stations, these three musicians are tuning up for their next concerts.

George DeMott Developed an eclectic group of musical styles

George DeMott, drummer for acclaimed rhythm and blues band the Coupe De Villes, says he and the band have opened for such legendary musicians as bluesman BB King.

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George DeMott, drummer for acclaimed rhythm and blues band the Coupe De Villes, remembers his first attempts at drumming.

“I used to get the spoons out and bang on pots and pans,” the 65-yearold says.

After riffing in his parents’ kitchen as a small child, DeMott went on to purchase a real set of drums. By the time he was 17, he was playing with his band for classmates at dances at Rochester’s East High School.

“It sounded so bad, but it sounded good to us,” he says. “The more I played, the more I liked it.”

DeMott was drafted and sent to Vietnam. After being wounded and decorated three times, he left the service and returned to Rochester.

Here he became engaged to a young woman he’d met before being drafted, Diane Bovenzi.

“I sold my drums, and bought an engagement ring,” DeMott says.

They married, and DeMott acquired a new set of drums and went

55+ on to play with bands all around the Rochester area. At that time, the area supported a lot more venues for live music than it does now, and bands could play the same gig for six nights a week for months.

“You would go from the Ramada [Inn] six nights to the Holiday Inn, then to the Parliament Lounge,” DeMott says.

To keep up with audience tastes, DeMott developed an eclectic group of musical styles. One club might demand such placid works as “The Girl from Ipanema,” and another jazz, blues, or energetic rock, he says.

One band, the Neal Marvel Goodtime Band, played particularly energetic country rock.

“I was doing 20 minute drum solos every night—I lost 15 pounds,” DeMott says.

To help pay the bills, DeMott usually worked at least one other job—and generally two, he says.

Around 1985, Tommy Bianchi, a musician with whom DeMott had played before, invited him to join a rhythm and blues band Bianchi had put together, the Coupe De Villes.

DeMott says he has been with the band ever since.

The Coupe De Villes’ mix of passionate vocals, solid rhythm and hot solos has taken the group to the top of the local music scene, and to gigs around the country.

The band traveled to Memphis in 1990 to compete in the International Blues Festival, DeMott says, where it took third place honors. It has also released several CDs, including the critically acclaimed “Blues for You,” for certification of a Grammy, and has opened for such legendary musicians as bluesman BB King.

“He’s BB King, and we’re opening for him,” DeMott says, remembering the thrill of that gig. “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

As enjoyable as his time with the band has been, DeMott says it began with a tragedy. His youngest son, 14year-old Robert, was struck by a car and killed soon after the drummer joined the Coupe De Villes.

“My whole life changed forever,” DeMott says.

living

Don Mancuso started playing at age 6. The married father of three grown sons currently tours with DDrive and with the Lou Gramm Band, while January / February 2012 - 55 PLUS

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living

Though the drummer continues to play with the Coupe De Villes, he also works other jobs during the day, including cleaning a restaurant.

“When I’m playing on stage, I’m saying, ‘George, don’t get a big head—you’re nothing but a janitor.’”

To follow the Coupe De Villes, go to: www.coupedevilles.com

Samuel DiFranco Began stepping up to the microphones in local clubs in the ‘80s You might say that Samuel DiFranco began singing again by popular request.

“I got out of the service, and a lot of people were asking me, ‘Do you still sing?’” the 61-year-old says.

The Webster resident says he began singing with garage bands when he was a student at Ben Franklin High School in Rochester. After graduating, he spent four years in the Navy, and then took a job as a machinist. When the karaoke craze hit Rochester in the mid-80s, DiFranco began stepping up to the microphones in local clubs. One thing led to another, and he eventually began singing with bands again.

“I said, ‘Well, now’s a good time to get back into it,’” DiFranco says.

For about the past 20 years, DiFranco has sung lead with Moondance, a local 60s-style band known for its eclectic mix of musical offerings.

“We play all types of music— jazz, blues, a lot of ballads, a lot of Motown,” he says.

DiFranco, who describes his voice as “just below a tenor,” says such classics of soul as Ray Charles’ “Unchain My Heart” are among his favorites.

“It’s very soulful; it’s got feeling, and it’s got a nice, raw beat,” he says.

At the same time, he comes back to the stage each time for more than the music.

“You start singing some of these old jazz songs to elderly people, and 16

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“At different points of my life I’ve made great money, and at other points, I’ve made nothing,” he says. “If you’re doing what you love, you can usually get through it.”

Don Mancuso they just light right up,” he says. “It’s a good feeling.”

Don Mancuso Tours with DDrive and with the Lou Gramm Band Don Mancuso, rock musician and president and owner of Rock Productions LLC, remembers the strange feeling he had when he first played the guitar at the age of 6.

“It was a little bit big for me, and I wasn’t too good at it,” the 56-yearold says.

Mancuso took lessons, learned how to play the guitar, and then turned away from the instrument when he began playing sports. Then, the sounds of rock guitars, as played by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, drew his attention back to the instrument in junior high school. Though he’d generally played acoustic guitar up until that time, he bought an electric model and began playing with garage bands.

“We dabbled in writing, [and] a little recording,” he says.

By the age of 18, Mancuso was playing with the Rochester-based

blues-rock band Black Sheep, which featured Rochester native Lou Gramm on vocals. The band toured with such legendary artists and groups as Peter Frampton and Procol Harem.

Mancuso admits that the experience of playing before thousands of fans initially took some getting used to.

“It was a little bit frightening, especially when we started doing the touring with KISS and Ten Years After, where we were playing in front of 20–30,000 people at a pop,” he says.

Gramm left Black Sheep, went on to fame with the ‘80s super group Foreigner, and became a platinumselling artist. Mancuso went to New York City to do studio work, and obtained a music degree at a California college. Returning to the Rochester area, Mancuso played with a variety of bands, including Cheater and Celtic Fire, and eventually formed his own band, DDrive. The band released 3D, its third CD, in June 2010, Mancuso says.

The married father of three grown sons currently tours with DDrive and with the Lou Gramm Band, while pursuing other musical projects.

Music can be an unstable source of income for the most talented of musicians. Mancuso says he developed two sidelights in order to help finance his touring schedule.

Rock Productions, which he runs out of his Gates home, gives Mancuso a venue in which to teach guitar and bass, help young artists record their works, and generate revenue.

“I have a little production studio,” he says.

Mancuso also has an associates degree from Monroe Community College, and puts it to use both as means of earning additional money and to “get me away from the music thing, and have something to write about,” he says. However his finances go, he always comes back to music.

“At different points of my life I’ve made great money, and at other points, I’ve made nothing,” he says.

“If you’re doing what you love, you can usually get through it.”

To follow Mancuso, go to www. myspace.com/donmancuso.

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hobbies

Hooked on Quilting Former Kodak engineering technician turns design skills to quilting

By Jeanne Gehret

D

esigning and building machines to manufacture Kodak’s digital cameras is a far cry from piecing fabrics together to make quilts. But for retired engineering technician Jim Smith of Hamlin, both activities use his creative and organizational skills with impressive results. Since he left Kodak in 2004, Smith has completed 1,000 quilts on his own and assembled hundreds of others through the Sweden Senior Center quilting group.

“I’m just a machine operator doing what I’ve always done,” Smith says. “I designed and built at Kodak, and I’m doing it now.”

Smith quickly learned that making quilts involves much more than operating a sewing machine.

Only a few days into retirement he complained to his wife Joan that he was bored, so she gave him a pile of fabric and said, “Here, cut out some squares for me.” In short order, both of them were carrying those squares to the quilt group every Monday morning. Now their home features a workroom with his and her sewing machines.

Sisters Elsie Farmer and Dorothy Tidwell started the Senior Center Quilters 10 years ago with material left over from a garage sale. Modeling their projects on those of a senior group in Henrietta, they took donated fabrics and made them into sleeping bags for homeless people. From there, they branched out and added baby quilts and twin-size quilts to their

creations.

Lap robes fashioned by the group go mostly to people in wheelchairs.

“Once a year when I’m out hunting, I drop off a bunch of lap robs to the VA Hospital in Batavia, “ says Smith.

“I still hear from guys who say they

use them every day. “We also make comfort quilts for people in the hospital or those who have lost a spouse,” he continues.

Because founder Dorothy Tidwell now lives at Lakeside Beikirch Nursing Home in Brockport, the group meets

Jim Smith of Hamlin worked at Kodak as engineering technician. After his retirement, he started making quilts as a hobby and has not stopped since.

“I’m just a machine operator doing what I’ve always done,” Smith says. “I designed and built at Kodak, and I’m doing it now.”

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hobbies ones were snapped up right away.”

The senior center has provided ample storage for the group’s five sewing machines plus separate cupboards for fabric scraps and finished quilts. “Once in a while,” adds Joan, “we have set up a cutting board to cut fabric, laid out blocks to be sewn, stitched them on one of our five sewing machines, and tied them—all at one time in this room.”

Basically self-sufficient, the club buys little more than thread and batting, which cannot be previously used. To purchase these items, Joan makes and raffles fancy quilts. This year’s offering is a 63” square tulip quilt in shades of red and green.

Some people behind the Sweden Senior Center Quilters: Clockwise from left: Joan Smith, Helen Estrada, Phyllis Tornatola, Ruth Stahlecker, Elsie Farmer, Bea DeRuyscher, and Lucille Ribble. there once a month so that she and two other quilters in their 90s can participate. “Dorothy and her friends enjoy the camaraderie and making a contribution,” adds her sister Elsie.

The donated quilts all start out as scraps of fabric stacked several layers high and cut with a rotary cutter, often on Smith’s ping pong table at home.

If Smith does not sew the individual blocks together in his own workroom, club members will piece them on one of the five sewing machines that the quilters received as donations.

Once club members have finished the colorful pieced top, Smith cuts a warm inner layer called batting and a plain backing material the same size as the top and sews these three together around the edges. “He’s very organized, thanks to his engineering background,” says wife Joan, “and he has applied that to the way he streamlines many of the steps in quilting.”

Finally, to prevent the three layers 18

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from shifting, members hand-tie the top, batting, and backing together.

Each lap robe or quilt displays a label that says “Made in Sweden Senior Center in Brockport, New York.”

On this Monday morning, sunlight streams through a window overlooking the Erie Canal in the Sweden Senior Center ’s large multipurpose workroom. On two 6-foot tables, eight people work and chat as they tie dozens of surgeon’s knots to complete two twin quilts.

“During the summer I noticed that we had a large supply of finished twin quilts,” Smith recalls. “Someone had given us a lot of fabrics with racing cars, skulls and crossbones, and motorcycles in flames. While Catholic Charities in Brockport was hosting summer school for migrant children, we took a bunch of these twin quilts in and laid them on the floor for the kids to choose and take home. Two boys actually got into an argument over a car quilt, and all of those boy-type

Joan Smith has introduced quilting to her husband, Jim. Now their home features a workroom with his and her sewing machines. Joan and her husband are heavily involved in the Senior Center Quilters.

Quilt made by Joan Smith designed for a raffle. The money helps the group buy quilting materials.

They receive the rest of their supplies and equipment from people in the community. One item, however, is often in short supply. “We need heavier fabric to make sleeping bags because homeless people place them right on cold floors,” says Jim. “Canvas, denim, draperies, sheets, wool blankets—all of these are ideal.”

Sleeping bags start out as 84” square quilts that are sewn on the club’s “Big Bertha” industrial machine.

They are folded in half, then stitched across the bottom and part of one side.

Finally two men’s ties are attached to either end so that the owner can load his possessions inside the quilt, tie it into a roll, and slip his arms through the ties to carry like a backpack.

“Open Door Mission tells us that increasing numbers of people are losing their homes because they can’t pay their mortgages,” says Jim. “Whole families may have to sleep in cars. Some of the sleeping bags are

pretty uglys, but they keep people warm.”

The Smiths’ three sons and seven grandchildren share Joan and Jim’s enthusiasm for quilts, the father reports, adding that each family has about 10 quilts. Last summer when his 5-year-old grandson Josh visited, the boy picked out fabrics and helped to make three quilts for his young friends. “I operated the needle and Josh pushed the foot pedal,” Smith recalls. With his granddaughter Kyra, age 6, he sewed a quilt for her stuffed rabbit and a quilted purse.

Despite his technical background, Smith rarely seeks entertainment from the computer or even the television. Instead, he says, “I like to sit downstairs and watch the grass grow or the snow fall while I quilt.”

Contributions of fabric, equipment, or money for the Sweden Center Quilters may be dropped off at the center, 133 State St. in Brockport, or call 585-637-8181.

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winter action

Not a Snowbird in This Group

Iris Raiman (far left) and her friends at the Briea Cross County Trials in Boonville, NY

For these winter lovers, season offers variety of outdoor activities

By Ernst Lamothe

D

uring the brutal Rochester winters, you will find Iris Raiman spending her mornings at Mendon Ponds Park cross-country skiing and doing some snowshoeing. Occasionally life takes her to Vermont to tackle more aesthetically challenging patches of snow or closer to home at Garnet Hills Lodge in the Adirondacks or Webster Park. In previous years, she attacked the slopes with abandon going downhill skiing, and this year, she’s considering going sledding at Black Creek Park in Chili.

These winter sports, which are 20

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often associated with high school clubs or collegiate students during winter breaks, are being tackled by a 57-year-old woman.

“It’s ridiculous the people who think I would be too old to ski,” said Raiman, of Henrietta, who is part of the Huggers Ski Club in Rochester, a 360-member organization. “Most of our members are over 55 years old and we are active all the time. It’s a wonderful workout for your entire body.”

As a mother of two sons, Stephen, 30, and Daniel, 27, who thoroughly enjoyed winter sports, including

one of them playing high school hockey, Raiman had no choice but to throw herself into ice and snow activities during the last decade.

They spent their winters sledding as a family, even though her husband, Robert, hates the cold.

However, even before her boys would ever come into her life, she was intrigued by skiing as a Brighton High School student. Having an open mind, she joined the ski club, received lessons and starting lightly on the ski lifts. Then, she got into downhill skiing because “it was more of a thrill,” she said.

55+ “ P e o p l e d o n ’ t re a l i z e h o w exhilarating and enjoyable the winter can be because they shut themselves in when it’s cold,” said Raiman, who has been skiing for more than 25 years.

“My favorite is skiing in the morning and watching the sun fall down on my face.”

As the years went on, her sons moved away to Hawaii and Michigan.

The weather began dictating her interest in skiing. With Upstate New York averaging more than 100 inches of snow per winter, she figured she had two options and only one of them would be appealing.

“If you live here in Rochester, you are going to experience long winters so you can either go outside and try to have fun or be miserable for months.

Well, I wasn’t about to be miserable,” said Rainman.

Peter Yochim wanted no part of being miserable either during the punishing Rochester winters. Yet, in no way did he envision skiing being his refuge from December through April.

Never considering himself an athlete in his teenage years or in his 20s, he shied away from taking up the downhill sport. Then in the

winter action

Pete Yochim, (in the green cat helmet) Donna Vanderlaan and Bob Orem enjoy the sights of Winter Park, Colorado. winter of 1975, five of his friends from Brockport decided to take a ride in his 1972 Plymouth Roadrunner and drive to a nearby ski resort. The snow was rolling into town and the boys

Richard Teeter and Iris Raiman at Boonville

were growing weary of the whole bar scene being their only winter activity.

The first couple years skiing were a disaster.

“I just didn’t really like it. The equipment was ill-fitting, the boots were not comfortable and my joints and knees were hurting,” said Yochim, 68, of Irondequoit. “Then I started getting lessons and I was able to stand up instead of landing on my butt and back. Buying decent skis didn’t hurt either.”

Whether it’s taking advantage of the 700 feet-vertical drop at the Holiday Valley, an hour south of Buffalo, going to Wilmington, Del., or other local resorts with his 80-member Monroe Y Ski Club organization, he takes in the beautiful scenario that winter offers by whisking around and through it.

“When the snow falls and I can start skiing, it’s the most exciting moment of the year to me,” said Yochim. “We get such short sunlight that it’s the perfect way to enjoy a winter Rochester morning that can really lift your spirits. Where else can you go that fast and grin ear-to-ear January / February 2012 - 55 PLUS

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winter action

and not get bugs in your teeth? Plus I can ski guys far younger than me under the ground when I’m in my best shape.”

If not for her children, Judy Harrigan, 68, might have never considered strapping on a pair of downhill skis. Decades ago, her teenagers attended Churchville-Chili High School and they had passes to Swain Ski Center, about an hour south of Rochester. As a supportive parent, she took them and would sit in the lodge waiting for them to finish.

But then something all of a sudden happened.

“I got really bored just sitting down so I took some lessons and figured why not try,” said Harrigan, of Chili, who bought a season pass to Bristol Mountain Ski Resort this year. “It’s something I look forward to with baited breathe and it’s a great way to stay healthy and active.”

She later became skilled enough to teach others how to ski, including

Pete Yochim (closest in the picture) and Bob Orem enjoy Vermont’s slopes at Okemo.

volunteering to help people with disabilities slide down slopes. Skiing has become a staple in her life.

“I don’t want to hear anyone

say they are too old to start,” added Harrigan. “I have worked with people in their 80s who wanted to learn to ski and I plan to be skiing until my 90s.”

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winter action

Crazy About Winter

Couple gets every chance to enjoy the outdoors during the cold months, especially skiing

By Renee Rischenole

S

ome retirees often acquire the name snowbirds, those who move to warmer climates during the cold weather, but for this one couple, they can’t seem to get enough of the winter months.

Jim and Nancy Peters have been married for 51 years and every year they look forward to the colder temperature. “ We l o v e b e i n g o u t d o o r s , especially in the winter,” Jim Peters said.

Jim, 73 and Nancy, 72 have been skiing since their 40s and it all began from a family vacation with their son and daughter.

“Nobody knew how to ski,” said Nancy, “One day we just decided to take a trip and learn how to ski,” she continued.

The couple took their adolescent children to Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin near the Adiroracks and signed up the family for ski lessons. They all had such a great time it had inspired them to continue skiing back home.

It was about a year after their ski trip when Nancy decided it was time to purchase ski gear. The couple had been renting equipment but because Nancy’s feet are difficult to fit, having her own boots only made sense.

Since both still had full-time careers at the time, they were only able to take one ski trip a year but still found time to go to the local ski resorts.

“After I retired from Kodak, we January / February 2012 - 55 PLUS

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winter action

joined the Rochester Ski Club,” Jim said.

The Rochester Ski Club was founded in 1936. It is Rochester ’s oldest Alpine Ski Club and one of the oldest in the country. In December, the club celebrated 75 years along with its holiday party at the Burgundy Basin Inn. Its membership are for those 21 years of age and older.

Jim has been a member since 1994. At that time there were 50-60 members; now the club has 362. A bulk of the club members are retirees with 10 members over 80 and the oldest being 92 who skied once last season.

“I can’t keep up with them,” Nancy said.

Nancy was treasurer of the Rochester Ski Club for nine years and ski trip coordinator for 14. As coordinator she would book the ski trips every year.

“We usually go on five trips a year but this year we are signed up for three,” Nancy said.

In July, Nancy had a knee replacement and wasn’t certain how long she would need to recover.

Normally the couple takes all five trips but with this uncertainty, they scheduled fewer.

Nancy was determined to heal fast. She began her therapy at home and kept a positive outlook.

“She said my job is to get better,” Jim said of Nancy.”

After only four months of recovery, Nancy was running around their home getting ready for the 41st annual holiday bazaar that is presented by the Rochester Museum Science Center Women’s Council.

Nancy not only was coordinator for the Rochester Ski Club until this past year, she also is coordinator of volunteers for the RMSC (Rochester Museum & Science Center) Women’s Council.

“Nancy is very active in the holiday bazaar,” Jim said.

The two of them have and continue to support each other through their marriage and have always been open to trying new adventures.

They’ve visited Egypt to scuba 24

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dive at the tip of the Red Sea, they’ve been to Africa and Pakistan, and even hiked for five and an half weeks at various parks including the Grand Canyon. They’ve been skiing in Utah, Colorado, California, Canada, France, and many other places of interest.

“We love to travel,” said Nancy, “we are lucky we can, financially and physically.”

The couple doesn’t travel during the winter because they don’t want to miss the ski season. They usually travel during the summer months when it costs less because of the offseason.

This year they will be going on three of the five ski trips with the Rochester Ski Club. In January there will be a trip to Okemo, Vt., another one in January to Sunday River, Maine, and also to Stowe, Vt., at the end of February. Between the ski trips they will sometimes ski locally with Bristol Mountain as their resort of choice and occasionally Swain Resource, south of Rochester.

“The slopes are crowded on weekends, but with a senior pass, we can ski all season Sunday through Friday,” Jim said.

Jim is immediate past President of the Rochester Ski Club. The club has a four-year rotation. The club is trying to get younger people involved but it never seems to work out that way. At least with the rotation, it gives the club new people on the board.

“Go out before the scandal happens, that’s my motto,” Jim said smiling.

The Rochester Ski Club is an involved group of individuals. Once a month they get together for a meeting, an event, or a ski adventure. Every year they host a free New Year ’s party called the Chili Party. This year the party was scheduled for Jan. 1 at Swain where members were planning to get together to ski and socialize.

Sometimes members go on ski trips without their spouses because they like to go to different places and not everyone has a significant other.

While Nancy was coordinator she would organize ski trips to places for woman only or just for men. That

way everyone feels comfortable and it gives him or her a chance to meet new people.

“Some have even continued longterm friendships,” Nancy said.

Members of the Rochester Ski Club come to know each other well, between their monthly gatherings and their yearly ski trips.

Each year for the past 15, Jim has been running a trip to Sunday River in Maine. Roughly 110 people attend.

Nancy makes the cookies for snacks to bring along to share.

The Peters have no ritual before heading out on their winter adventures and they pack last minute, although if you are new to skiing or any other winter activity, don’t do as they do.

It’s a good idea to find out what belongings are needed before going, and take a lesson or two before hitting the slopes.

“Don’t let friends take you to the top and say go,” Jim laughs.

To ski you should be reasonably fit and active. Also be aware that broken bones do happen. Nancy has broken a couple ribs and a collarbone but it certainly didn’t scare her away from skiing.

“I’m just out there enjoying it,” Nancy said.

The Rochester Ski Club has helped both Jim and Nancy keep an open state of mind.

“They are the most positive group,” said Jim, “Active people are positive.”

When the couple isn’t skiing they spend a lot of their time around their Penfield home they had built in 1974.

It’s an inviting brick and cedar ranch overlooking some acreage. Jim is often found outside puttering around or playing tennis on their private court.

“It’s so wonderful to be out in the winter snow, when the trees are packed with snow, they call those snow ghosts,” as Jim said as he points to a picture on the wall of the snowcapped trees.

“The whole scenery is gorgeous, not just skiing,” said Nancy, “It’s about being out in the vast wilderness.”

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cover

Top row from left: Pat Emmens, Sue Storke and Betty Kingsley. Bottom row, from left, are: Rose Dreher, Jean DiSanto and Cindy Cumming

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cover

In a League of Their Own For six local women, bowling is much more than a game. It’s a way of life — some of them have been playing together for several decades

By Amy Cavalier

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ou probably won’t recognize the subjects of this story as the movers and shakers in Rochester or as the top bowlers in the area. Ranging in age from their 60s to late 80s, these six women have raised and supported families, held down fulfilling careers and maintained households. Bowling is the glue that brings them together.

Some of these six women have bowled together for close to 30 years.

Rose Dreher can’t remember the last time she was home on a Monday night in the past 40 years thanks to the Ladies Doubles League.

Several of the women have dedicated thousands of volunteer hours to serving as the backbones of the Rochester Women’s Bowling Association (RWBA) and other area organizations. Traveling around the country countless times for national tournaments and conventions, they recall lavish banquets and hotels packed to the gills with bowlers from all over the world.

“Sometimes there were up to 5,000 delegates, more some years,” Dreher says. “When I first started going in 1957, sometimes we were

there until midnight ironing out our rules. That’s why it got to be such a well-organized sport.”

Four of these six women are grandmothers, and one of them is a great grandmother 10 times over.

You’d never know it based on their game. These women can throw a mean strike. It’s not their scores that make them incredible though.

It’s their dedication to bowling, the friendships they’ve formed through the sport, and their commitment to keeping active that makes them worthy of a cover story.

Highs and lows Some of these women can brag of some pretty big feats in the sport of bowling.

In 1962, Cindy Cumming won the New York State Junior Bowling Championship and got to travel to Washington, DC to represent New York state in the Nationals where she came in fifth in the nation.

“I recall it as though it was yesterday,” she says.

In 2002, Jean DiSanto and her partner Marlene Webber ended up in the top 10 at the Milwaukee Women’s

National Tournament out of 30,000 bowlers. DiSanto has helped her husband Ray DiSanto run Bowlers World for the past 34 years “It’s my recreation, it’s our livelihood. What else would there be?,” she says. “Bowling is in my life every day, one way or another and we feel it’s been very good to us.”

Betty Kingsley has served on local league committees, the RWBA, as well as the United States Bowling Congress New York State Board for 20 years and the national board for nine years.

She once took 14 trips in one year as a result of her work with the USBC. “I’ve been all over,” she says.

“That was the very best part of the position, going out on assignment to the various associations and meetings trying to spread the word and help them.”

They aren’t in it for bragging rights, but they do keep an eye on their score.

“If we miss a spare or don’t get a strike, yes we’re unhappy about it,” says Kingsley.

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Pat Emmens

Rose Dreher

league bowling steadily decline over the past decade.

“It’s a whole new world out there today and there’s a lot of competition for the recreational dollars,” says Kingsley. “It used to be everyone bowled. Back in the early 1980s we had nearly 30,000 women league bowlers. Now we don’t have 3,000.”

Bowling’s height of popularity was in 1963, with 11,476 bowling centers operating in the United States, according to Joe Schumacker, a Florida bowling center owner and consultant and author of a recent report titled “Bowling 2035.” In 2010, that number was down to 5,361. In 1983, there were over 8 million competitive bowlers. In 2010 there were only about 3 million, according to Schumacker. According to the United States Bowling Congress, there were 71,904 registered leagues in the 2010-11 season.

Dreher says she thinks people are hesitant to make the commitment to bowling once a week for 30 weeks.

“That’s over a half a year we’re bowling,” Storke adds. “That’s one of the reasons we’re losing bowlers, but we have a new group of younger bowlers and they love it.”

Despite the concerns over the

future of league bowling, for these six women, the sport is as much fun as ever.

“The team spirit and camaraderie… it’s the common denominator that keeps everyone together,” says DiSanto. “It’s just a way of life, in more ways than one.”

And it’s a great way to stay active, they say.

“If you don’t step up to the plate, then it all passes you behind and I don’t want to be left behind,” says Pat Emmens.

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Betty Kingsley

League night This Ladies Doubles League has been hosted by various bowling centers in Rochester over the years.

It’s been at Bowl-A-Roll Lanes on Jefferson Road for about 12 years.

“Don’t let their age fool you,” Kathy O’Neill, 49, says of the over 55 crew. “These women are sharp witted and spunky. Pat is a spitfire and Suzie is a hellion.”

There’s not much sitting or down time in this league. With just two women on each team, both bowling in the same lane, the games are fast paced.

Storke steps up to bowl, barely

avoiding the dreaded 7-10 split on her first shot. Her sour apple results in a Woolworth, the 5-10 split. Storke’s second shot comes up short, leaving the 10 pin standing.

“I should be able to get that, but it’s my new ball,” she says. “I’ve been using it six weeks now.”

Storke got the 11-pound ball at nationals in Syracuse. She used to use a 15-pounder but her tendinitis has been acting up.

“You don’t need a heavy ball to score anymore,” DiSanto says. “The balls make it easier. The materials they use have more hitting impact and the void in the pins is different. That’s why people at any age can bowl, because you can use a lighter ball and still keep up.”

On her next shot, Storke gets a 2–7 split on her first roll and picks it up on the follow-up.

“That’s how it’s done,” she says with satisfaction. “Baby splits are easier than wide splits. If you can ‘park the car’ between them, then you can knock them both out.”

In the next lane over, DiSanto approaches the foul line. Her first shot nets eight pins. She picks up the spare on her second. DiSanto’s

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Sue Storke

Jean DiSanto

knee has been bothering her. She tore her meniscus and may need to see a doctor.

“But I’m not doing too badly,” she says. “I’m second in the league.”

She punctuates the statement with a strike.

“That was text book…,” says O’Neill, who’s subbing for Cumming on this particular night. “…text book all the way.”

Dreher is also out on this week.

She’s been healing from double knee replacement surgery and is expected back in a week. Emmens also had double knee replacement surgery.

The two timed their surgeries on the off-season. While she’s been out, her granddaughter Kristen Ewin subbed for her.

“She’s an amazingly strong woman,” Ewin says of her grandmother.

Dreher ’s daughters Janet and Kathy, Ewin’s mother, play on a team in the league. It’s become a family venture, Ewin says.

“Between Pat and my grandmother, they’ve taught me my technique, concentration and the fun and joy of bowling,” says Ewin.

Pat Emmens and Rose Dreher Dreher grew up in Rochester’s 10th ward. She and her late husband Donald were married 63 years and had six children. Dreher has 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. As a child, she recalls going to the bowling hall with her father on Sundays to watch.

She joined her first league around 1950.

“The thing about bowling is you don’t have to be a star bowler,” Dreher says. “Anybody can bowl. You don’t have to have a high average to bowl on a league, depending on what league you get involved in.”

Dreher served as second vice president of the Rochester Women’s Bowling Association for over 10 years and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for meritorious service in 1998.

“I just always felt comfortable doing it because I wasn’t a sportswoman by any stretch of the imagination,” she says. “I loved bowling and I could keep up with it.”

Dreher has bowled in 37 national tournaments and traveled all over the country. Her highest average was 165.

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Cindy Cumming She bowled a career-high 265 point game at Clover Lanes, “good grief…25 years ago,” Dreher recalls.

She was in four leagues that year.

Dreher began bowling with a 16-pound ball and has gradually decreased to a 10-pounder. In addition to the Ladies Doubles League, she bowls in a Singles League at Domms Bowling Center on Ridge Road. She’s missed a few weeks due to her knee replacements and sciatica recently, but she’s hopeful it won’t keep her out for too long. Although it’s not about the competition, Dreher says, she can’t help but want to keep improving.

“Every year it seems like I want to do better,” she says. “I think I need to relax and stop worrying about it. It’s a sport you can be on for one week and totally off for the next two weeks.”

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Emmens and her husband Bob, a retired pediatric surgeon, have four children and nine grandchildren. She started bowling in 1962 when her first born was 1.

“It only cost 25 cents a line and they had a good deal. They’d babysit at the same time,” Emmens says. “I could bowl very cheaply.”

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they came to Rochester in 1976. She and her husband began bowling in Rochester about seven years ago at the encouragement of DiSanto’s husband Ray. Emmens joined the Ladies Doubles League at Bowl-ARoll about five years ago. She’s played

in seniors city, state and national tournaments for the past four years.

This is her fifth season at the Bowl-A-Roll. Emmens began the year with a 167 average. After having both knees replaced, she’s down to around 157.

Bowling Through the Ages Despite ebbs and flows in its popularity, the sport is still the No. 1 most participated-in sport in the United States

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ccording to the United States Bowling Congress, 71 million, people bowled at least once in 2010 making it the No. 1 participation sport in the United States. Bowling provides a source of social interaction, team work and friendly competition.

“I think a lot of us got into it because we were introduced to by our parents, aunts, uncles or grandparents who were in it,” says Nettie CrossKing, media director for the National Bowling Association in Akron, Ohio.

“We grew up in it as junior bowlers.

We became adult bowlers and then we bring our own children into it. To me it’s generational.”

There are many more reasons behind bowling’s popularity as a lifelong sport. According to information from the United States Bowling Congress, bowling on a regular basis can slow decline in motor performance allowing for more freedom later in life.

It aids in the development of fine motor skills, from the manipulation skills needed to release the ball in order to match up with the changing lane conditions to the eye-hand coordination required to consistently target a mark on a lane. Tactile sensation also comes into play with the feel of the grip.

Bowling also burns calories. An individual weighing 180 pounds will burn 250 calories an hour. During a three game series, an average bowler can walk the equivalent of about a 30

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half-mile.

“Bowling is my exercise,” says Cross-King. “It involves every limb in your body. And in terms of the mind, you have to focus on what you’re doing to make that strike or pick up that spare. It gives your brain a workout. For me, it’s quality of life.”

Sports Performance Specialist for the United States Bowling Congress, Nick Bohanan says bowling is not a high intensity sport.

“It doesn’t require a lot of high endurance training which you can lose as you get older,” he says. “It also doesn’t take a lot of strength, so you won’t be affected by the loss of muscle mass as you get older.”

Bohanan says he is working with a 63-year-old professional bowler who is recovering from wrist surgery.

“The physician said he wouldn’t be able to bowl more than three games at a time,” he says. “Now he’s bowling eight games a day.”

Cross-King says she has made adjustments to keep up her game as she’s aged. The 57-year-old uses a wrist guard on her right hand and an ankle bracelet for support. Her average has drop from 172 to 158, and she’s gone from a 17 pound ball to a 14-pounder, still, she doesn’t plan on giving up bowling.

“And if I physically stop bowling, I’ll never stop being around it, ever,” she says. “I’ll probably die with a bowling ball in my hand or at some bowling function.”

“I want to get back those 10 to 15 points,” she says.

Emmens bowls in three leagues, in addition to subbing. Before her knee replacement, she bowled every morning.

“When I was doing physical therapy, the whole process was so I could get back to bowling,” she says. “I love the people and the camaraderie.”

In high school, Emmens was a competitive swimmer. She was an Idaho State champion, holding the record for the 100-yard backstroke for about 15 years. In addition to bowling, Emmens and her family are also avid water and downhill skiers, scuba divers and her husband is a pilot.

“I have never felt the age that I am mentally…,” she says. “If you’re feeling comfortable with yourself… then you are able to do the things that you want.”

Jean DiSanto and Cindy Cumming Cumming met DiSanto 34 years ago when she was taking bowling instructions from DiSanto’s husband Ray. “We started bowling and have been friends ever since,” Cumming says.

A Rochester native, Cumming and her husband Jim have one daughter and one granddaughter. Cumming began bowling with her family on the weekends as a youth and then joined the junior leagues at Sunset Bowl on Chili Ave. “My parents were behind me all the way and my dad was like my coach,” she says. “He used to go down with on Saturday mornings with me and keep score and coach me along in the junior leagues.”

Cumming maintains an average in the 170s. She and her husband have bowled in leagues together. They also golf together, as do she and DiSanto.

“No matter how you do the sport, it’s just fun being out there, enjoying the weather and what nature has to offer,” she says. “The competition isn’t all that important anymore. Although it’s competitive, it’s a good time and you’re there with your friends.”

55+ Cumming still plays in tournaments, including the 600 Club, 700 Club and Senior Women’s Tournament, among other state and national competitions. She served on the RWBA board of directors in the early 1980s.

“I just think it’s important to stay active as you get a little bit older,” says the part-time dental hygienist. “Your body changes, so if you want to keep going, you’ve got to keep it going.”

DiSanto had been exposed to Candlepin bowling in Massachusetts in high school. Candlepin bowling uses smaller balls without holes and players use three balls per frame. The pins are thinner and downed pins are not cleared away during a players turn.

When DiSanto moved to Rochester in 1964, she was seeking out a way to make friends in the area.

“I decided to go to the nearest bowling center and join a housewives league,” she says. “I’ve made some very nice, lasting friendship through bowling.”

DiSanto has bowled in the Monday night Ladies Doubles League for 34 years. She joined at the encouragement of Dreher, and she’s been in a league ever since.

She met her husband, a professional bowler and coach, while keeping score at a tournament. The sport is a family affair. Ray’s oldest son has a bowling store in Boston, and she also has a son who bowls in the Special Olympics at Clover Lanes in November as well as throughout the year.

DiSanto has served on the Rochester Womens Bowling Association board for about eight years. She’s also served as an officer and as a delegate at a national convention. She has bowled in over 26 state and national tournaments across the United States.

Over the years, DiSanto has gone from a 15-pound ball to a 12-pound ball. She says that’s the hardest thing working at a bowling retail store – convincing older bowlers that they don’t need to use a 16 pound ball anymore.

“Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth,

especially with the men, to go to a lighter ball,” she says. “My husband can relate to them and talk to them and when they come back in the store, they have positive things to report. They’re having a better game, so you can make adjustments to keep yourself in the game.”

At the height of her bowling career, DiSanto was in three leagues at once. Now she’s just in the one.

In addition to Bowlers World, she works part-time at Advantage Credit Union at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

“I’m going to bowl as long as I can walk,” she says.

Betty Kingsley and Sue Storke Kingsley and Storke were league champions last year. It came down to a tie. The women won in a rolloff. They both have a long resume of involvement in bowling.

Originally from Clyde, Kingsley worked at Kodak for over 29 years.

She joined a company bowling league in 1957 because someone asked her to.

Bowling has been a large part of her life ever since.

Through her involvement in administrative positions, on local league boards, all the way up to the state and national level, she’s helped organize tournaments, dinners and handle publicity, recruitment, certification and inspection. Kingsley has served as a delegate at state competition for at least 32 years.

She’s organized bowl-a-thons for nonprofits like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Continuing Development Services, and she was instrumental in securing the 1993, 2001 and 2009 NYS WBA Championship Tournament and Annual Meeting in Rochester.

“It is work, but I’ve always been one to be involved,” Kingsley says. “I guess that was my way of belonging, to get involved.”

Kingsley has won dozens of awards for her service, including the Jean Giambrone Service Award for Bowling in Rochester in 1996. She’s been inducted into the RWBA and the USBC New York State Women’s Bowling Association hall of fames.

And her game’s not too shabby

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either. Highest average has been 171.

She ended last season with a 161.

Bowling has been a blessing since she lost her husband Bruce, Kingsley says.

As she gets older, she admits, the ball feels a little heavier every year.

“I think your ideals change,” she says. “Yeah you’d like to bowl well, but you’re there for the camaraderie, and a night out with the girls. I think it’s about friendship more than your bowling average.”

Originally from Ionia, Storke now lives in East Bloomfield. She worked for Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. for 31 years.

Active in sports throughout high school, Storke has played volleyball and softball. She’s golfed since she was about 20 years old. She has a boat and a 33-pound kayak, which she can lift on her own, and she enjoys fishing.

Storke has been bowling for 47 years. Her involvement with began at Roseland Bowl in Canandaigua. With encouragement from Kingsley, Storke got involved in RWBA as a chaplain.

She served on the RWBA board from 1989 to 1994, and as director from 1995 to 2009. She’s currently president of the league.

“The girls are fun,” Storke says.

“You know it’s just a good way to have a night out.”

Storke has been traveling to state and national tournaments for 22 years.

When she’s not bowling, Storke is very active at her church St. Bridget.

She was awarded citizen of the year by the Bloomfield Rotary Club in 2008 for her volunteer efforts, which include work with Ontario County Health Facility in Hopewell, the sisters of St. Joseph and the Cerebral Palsy Association’s Horseback Riding Project. When she’s not busy gardening or helping her brother with his rental properties, Storke is busy staying active. It’s the secret to living life to the fullest, she says.

“I just think overall, you feel better and have a better overall look on life,” she says. “You’ve got to get out and keep moving and stay in motion.”

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Meet The Boomers of the Finger Lakes

Group meets every Sunday to brighten the weekends of people who often find it difficult to socialize

By Jason Schultz

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eniors in the Finger Lakes region looking for a social group catering to their interests and hobbies, whatever they may be, are finding the Boomers of the Finger Lakes to be the ideal organization for the over-50 crowd.

The Boomers met for a bowling night late last year at Rose Land Bowl in Canandaigua, where almost 20 members showed up to knock down some pins, make some friends in a welcoming atmosphere and talk about the group that had brought them all together.

Boomers founder Randy Pawly of Honeoye took time from joking with group members that night to talk about the birth of the Boomers. A gregarious character who always seems ready with a smile for whomever he meets, Pawly said he started the group just over two years ago due to a need in the community for a cohesive seniors group. He said the group meets every Sunday to brighten the weekends of people who often find it difficult to socialize.

“For people without partners, Sunday afternoon can sometimes seem lonely,” Pawly explained. “We 32

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wanted a place for those people to go, and though it’s not a dating group, some people do find others that share their interests and take their relationships from there.”

Penn Yan resident Joe Nichols, chairman of the Boomers, was also at the lanes socializing with Boomers new and old during the night’s event. Although originally intended as a dating network, Nichols said the Boomers have grown into an organization focused on group activities. Although there are no membership dues, Nichols said a small volunteer donation to cover costs is always appreciated. He added the rules for the group are simple: “Be yourself, enjoy life and don’t be negative,” he said.

Since its founding, Nichols said the group has expanded to roughly 30 core members and more than 100 participants, and meets every Sunday at various locations in the Canandaigua area to relax and socialize, as well as to enjoy a happy hour every Friday night.

Pawly said the group has taken hold better than he had thought, thanks to the efforts of people like

Above, Beverly Cartwright of Canandaigua has been a Boomers of the Finger Lakes member since the very beginning. “If you’re single and looking for something to do, you are always welcome to join up, meet people and know you’re not alone,” she says. She was photographed during one of the groupss outings last year in Canandaigua.

Nichols and all the other volunteers, who contribute by coordinating events, running the Boomers website and acting as hosts to welcome new members. As news of the Boomers has traveled, so has its reach, as Pawley said the group draws members from all over the Greater Rochester area, from Canandaigua and Lyons to Lima and even some from Batavia.

Nichols explained membership has risen the past six months, as word of the organization has spread. One notable aspect of the Boomers is the wide range of activities its members can participate in, from hanging out and socializing during weekly meetings, to picnics, dinner events

55+ and more. Boomers can be found trying their luck at the Seneca Casino, enjoying local theater productions, and Nichols said the more adventurous among the Boomers have even gone on jet boat rides at Niagara Falls, as well as whitewater rafting on the Salmon and Genesee rivers.

Nichols said some Boomers in the fall went on a bus trip to Old Forge in the Adirondacks, where visitors enjoyed the all the natural beauty and shopping the town had to offer, before taking in the scenery on a unique return trip, as the group traveled back home in an open-air rail car.

Pawly said having such a wide scope of the activities has been the key to the growth of the Boomers since it was founded.

“Today’s 50 is yesterday’s 40, or so they say,” Pawly stated. “Seniors today are definitely more active, and looking for more physical and exciting things to do. We are always welcoming of new ideas for events, and even if it only appeals to a few members, there are now enough people participating that there is always an audience for whatever activity is suggested.”

Members of the group at the bowling night were eager to share

their views on being a Boomer. Beverly Cartwright of Canandaigua has been a member since the very beginning, and took time between frames to share her experiences.

“If you’re single and looking for something to do, you are always welcome to join up, meet people and know you’re not alone,” Cartwright said before picking up a spare to the cheers of her teammates. She said the group is always hosting a variety of activities and employs hosts and hostesses at events to make new members feel welcome. “We’re always open to new ideas; if you have an activity or hobby you like, there’s a good chance we can turn that into an event for the group to enjoy.”

Kathy Moreland of Farmington is one of the Boomer ’s activities coordinators responsible for planning their many events. She said the Boomer’s coordinators meet once a month to propose new activities, as well as conduct surveys to determine what their members might like to try next. “ We h a v e s o m e t h i n g f o r everyone,” Moreland said, adding she heard about the Boomer’s first meeting two years ago and hasn’t

Penn Yan resident Joe Nichols, chairman of the Boomers, said the club has certain rules: “Be yourself, enjoy life and don’t be negative.”

activities Joining the Boomers For more information about Boomers of the Finger Lakes meeting locations and times, visit www.boomersofthefingerlakes. com or call 585-738-2326. looked back since. “We go to plays, concerts, we just had a bus trip to Old Forge that drew a lot of people.

This group is a great place to go to find people willing to do new things together, which becomes harder to do as you get older.”

Moreland said the effect the Boomers have had on her social live the past two years has been significant.

“I’ve gone on more trips, done more activities and met people I never would have had the chance to meet if I didn’t join,” she said. “Over time, you get to know the people here and form life-long friendships with people that share your interests.”

Attesting to the group’s role as a vital social network was newcomer Jerry Kleehammer of Lima, who was joining the Boomers for his second meeting. Kleehammer, who said he had recently lost his wife, explained he joined the group in an effort to meet new people.

“It is very hard when you get older to meet people,” Kleehammer said, adding he is retired but farms on a part-time basis. “I plan on coming back, because this seems like a good group of people.”

Pawly concluded by saying he is motivated to continue the Boomers of the Finger Lakes to support the many wonderful people he has met over the years.

“The more people participate, the more people get out of it,” he said. “This group makes people feel connected, which is so important these days, as time is tight and people get spread out. We want everyone who is interested in being a Boomer to know that the light is always on and the door is always open, so feel free to join us.”

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my turn

By Bruce Frassinelli

A Serious Daily Walking Regimen The difference this has made in my life has been stunning

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I’ve flown around the world in a plane…” That’s a line from the great, 1937 Bunny Berrigan classic “I Can’t Get Started with

You.” Well, I have walked around the world on foot — figuratively. This past fall, I have clicked past the 25,000-mile mark since I undertook my vigorous walking and weight-loss program of calorie control in 1999. That’s the equivalent of walking around the world at the equator.

Doing 10 miles a day, just about every day, I walk the weekly equivalent of a trip between Sandy Creek and the Great Northern Mall, then back again.

The difference this has made in my life has been stunning. Not only has it helped take my weight from a totally unacceptable 257 to a now reasonable 172, but it has enhanced all of the important health numbers, including blood pressure (90 over 65), pulse rate (42 at rest), cholesterol (total cholesterol 160 and LDL-C 63), and glucose (73). Not bad for a 72year-old. I have not had a headache in 12 years, and instead of two or three colds annually, I have had just two during that time.

My daily walking routine is consistent: I try to start by daybreak.

Prior to hitting the road, I do about 10 minutes of knee bends, stretching and other exercises. I do a route that takes me up some fairly steep hills (no pain, no gain). I take a liter of water with me and take water breaks after two, four and six miles. After eight miles, I wind up at my breakfast hangout where I have a bagel and coffee and read the morning paper. After breakfast, I continue for another two miles to home.

This sets an indescribable tone 34

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for my day. I feel great, pumped up, ready to face the challenges of the world. The entire process, from warmup exercises until I step foot into the garage at the end of the walk takes a little over three hours (including breakfast). Obviously, working a 40hour-a-week job makes such a time commitment difficult to impossible.

Being retired gives me the time to do justice to this regimen.

Here are my tips for getting involved in a walking regimen: • Warm up before starting to walk; otherwise, you run the risk of hurting yourself.

• Start modestly, maybe a mile or two a day (15 to 30 minutes) until you get into shape; then, if motivated, you can increase the distance proportionately.

• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated — you will sweat.

• Listen to your body; if you feel pain, don’t ignore it.

• Reduce your caloric intake so that all of your hard work is not offset by binge eating.

• If available, walk with a buddy; if not, download National Public Radio podcasts and music to your iPod, Droid or other device.

• Walk on the left side of the road facing traffic; be sure to share the road and wave a thank you to vehicles which give you wide berth.

The payback?

MedicineNet.com provides this information about the benefits of walking: • Walking 150 minutes per week and losing just 7 percent of your body weight (12-15 pounds) can reduce your risk of diabetes by 58 percent.

• Walking strengthens your heart if you’re male. In one study, mortality rates among retired men who walked

less than one mile per day were nearly twice that of those who walked more than two miles per day. Walking strengthens your heart if you’re female. In the Nurses’ Health Study (72,488 female nurses), those who walked three hours or more per week reduced their risk of a heart attack or other coronary event by 35 percent compared with women who did not walk.

• Walking is good for your brain.

Researchers found that those who walked the equivalent of 1.5 hours per week had significantly better cognitive function and less cognitive decline than those who walked less than 40 minutes per week.

• Walking is good for your bones.

Postmenopausal women who walk approximately one mile each day have higher whole-body bone density than women who walk shorter distances, and walking is also effective in slowing the rate of bone loss from the legs.

• Walking for 30 minutes, three to five times per week for 12 weeks reduced symptoms of depression by 47 percent.

• Women who performed the equivalent of one hour and 15 minutes to 2 1/2 hours per week of brisk walking had an 18 percent decreased risk of breast cancer compared with inactive women. Many studies have shown that exercise can prevent colon cancer, and even if an individual person develops colon cancer, the benefits of exercise appear to continue both by increasing quality of life and reducing mortality.

• Walking just three times a week for 30 minutes can significantly increase cardiorespiratory fitness.

• Research shows that walking prevents physical disability in older persons. The list goes on.

long-term care

By Susan Suben

Women Concerned with Implications Of Longevity

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n a study conducted by MetLife Mature Market Institute, “Women, Retirement, and the Extra-Long Life: Implications for Planning,” 1007 men and women ages 50–70, who have $50,000 or more in household income and $100,000 or more in investable assets, were surveyed regarding their concerns about retirement and their ability to provide their own or their spouses’ long-term care (LTC) needs.

Following are some of the key findings: • Two in five women (39 percent) expect to live to age 90-plus.

• Seven of 10 women (71 percent vs. 63 percent of men) report being either very or somewhat concerned about providing care for their own or their spouse’s LTC needs.

• More than half of the women (54 percent vs. 44 percent of men) report that they are very or somewhat concerned about outliving their retirement resources.

• More than half of women (53 percent, and an equal percentage of men) respond to unexpected financial emergencies by dealing with them “if and when they happen” • Almost six in 10 women (58 percent) spend fewer than 10 hours in information gathering or planning over a six-month period.

What does all this mean? Many women are planning to live a long life but are concerned about not having enough income for daily living expenses or during a LTC situation, yet they are not preparing for these scenarios.

Ask yourself these questions? Do you see yourself getting older? Is it reasonable to say that if you live to be 85 or older you might need assistance with your activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, continence) or

supervision if you have some form of dementia?

What do you think your odds are that you are going to need care if you live a long life? The answer is simple.

It’s either 0 percent or 100 percent.

Why not be prepared?

Think proactively about your future. Write down your goals and take action. It will give you more confidence to deal with what lies ahead 10 to 20 years from now.

If you are concerned about your income in retirement, speak to your financial adviser about annuities.

An annuity is an agreement between you and an insurance company. You pay the company a certain amount of money in order to receive a guaranteed, steady stream of income during your lifetime that is not effected by how the market performs. It can supplement income from social security, your pension or 401K. If you are concerned about being able to care for yourself or a loved one if a long-term care illness should occur, investigate LTC insurance coverage or a life insurance policy with a LTC rider.

A stand-alone LTC insurance policy provides comprehensive coverage for home care, adult day care, assisted living and nursing home care. It is the only insurance that provides care for someone afflicted with Alzheimer’s or dementia. It shifts the burden of care from your family to the insurance company. Your family can now supervise your care instead of providing it.

Like an annuity, it provides a steady stream of income each month to pay for your long-term care expenses.

You can stay at home for as long as possible.

In addition, you are fortunate to be able to take 20 percent of the premium

as a tax credit in New York.

Life insurance is another planning tool for the future. A life insurance policy can replace lost income for your heirs, maintain your family’s standard of living, and fulfill promises such as paying for child’s or grandchild’s college education.

Now there are several life insurance policies that have LTC riders. This is a win-win planning strategy. These hybrid plans allow you to accelerate the death benefit to pay for all of the services a standalone LTC insurance policy pays for.

If you never need long-term care, the full death benefit is received by your beneficiaries.

The conclusion of the MetLife Mature Market Institute’ study states: “When it comes to their retirement futures, women are more at risk and more concerned, yet they are less actively engaged in planning.”

Planning for the future is a necessity for every woman’s wellbeing and the well-being of her family.

I will not disagree with you when you say it’s hard to get started. Take one step at a time. Step one is to surround yourself with professionals who you can trust. Step two is to articulate your goals and concerns, and step three is to select those solutions that address who you are.

Once you get started, you will feel empowered and ready to face anything that comes your way.

Susan Suben, MS, CSA, is president of Long Term Care Associates, Inc. and a consultant for Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. She can be reached at 800-422-2655 or by email at susansuben@31greenbush.com.

January / February 2012 - 55 PLUS

35

learning Getting an Education Later in Life 55+

Greece Community Education helps those who want to improve their education — or get one

By Ernst Lamothe

A

life altering diagnosis almost threatened to end Janine Mack’s life. She worked for two decades at Xerox Corporation when all of a sudden she started to feel intense pain. A trip to a specialist provided the answer; she had a brain aneurysm, which forced her out of the workforce around 10 years ago.

A brain aneurysm is an abnormal bulging of one of the arteries in the brain. An estimated six million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm. The condition is often discovered when it ruptures, producing bleeding into the brain or the space closely surrounding the brain, causing hemorrhaging.

Brain aneurysms are most prevalent in people aged 35 – 60.

Mack, 58, understood it would be an uphill climb after her condition.

However, she wasn’t going to allow it to write the final chapter of her life.

Ever since the diagnosis, she has taken as many educational classes as possible from cake decorating to resume writing from the Greece Community Education program.

“I have to do things that keep my mind active because sitting around and just watching TV would make me a recluse,” said Mack, who lives on the northwest side of the city.

“Learning something new is very exciting to me. It’s just like in high 36

55 PLUS - January / February 2012

school when everything was difficult in the beginning but once you get a base everything comes together.”

Greece Community Education, a self-sustaining division of the Greece Central School District, is one of the largest programs of its kind in New York state. The department has four components: adult literacy, community programs, EduCare and workforce development. Greece Community Education’s adult literacy program also provides GED preparation and family literacy initiatives throughout the community.

The school district also offers educational services to anyone 60years of age or older, who may want to take an unlimited number of classes.

Instructor Wendy Scavuzzo helps Jill Kenney during her computer class.

Greece Community Education offers a variety of classes for those the the 55-plus crowd.

55+ “Especially in this economy, taking workforce development classes for people who are either changing careers or trying to advance in their current jobs is essential,” said Amy Peritsky, director of Greece’s community education. “ Students are able to take classes centrally located at various locations such as the Community Learning Center at the Mall at Greece Ridge and learn either through home study or day and night evening classes.

Whether it’s improving math and reading skills or simply learning English and preparing for citizenship tests, there are several programs that fit each adult students’ needs.

“We had this one gentlemen who was close to 80 years old who left high school and went to World War II but promised his mother on her death bed that he would finish high school,” said Peritsky. “When he graduated, walked across the stage, got his diploma and said ‘Mom, this one is for you,’ there wasn’t a dry eye in the auditorium.”

Today, Mack’s mission is to jump back into the workforce. Through the Greece program, she takes computer technology classes creating spreadsheets, invoices and charts while also learning PowerPoint. While she performed some computer work at Xerox, the depth of her knowledge pales to what she’s tackling now.

She believes she overestimated how quickly things would fall into place.

“When I started in the fall, it was stressful and frustrating. It’s hard because you do one thing wrong when inputting information in a spreadsheet and everything can fall to pieces after that,” said Mack. “These classes brought me up to speed with what’s going on in today’s computer world.”

Continuing Education After dropping out of school a few years before graduation to help support her family, Mae Hall, 75, always intended to earn her GED. However, she made raising her children and being a devoted wife her top priorities over further education. But with her children

new tricks

Janine Mack, 58, says she enjoys taking classes at Greece Community Education: “Learning something new is very exciting to me. It’s just like in high school when everything was difficult in the beginning but once you get a base everything comes together.” all grown up now and her husband deceased, she decided she had put off her educational goals long enough.

Learning about reading, math and science, she enrolled in the Greece program two years ago and is moving along nicely.

“I would never say to myself that I am too old to learn because that doesn’t make any sense. You learn something every day,” said Hall, of Irondequoit. “I feel better about myself the more I learn.”

Her biggest obstacle is not motivation but spelling, pronunciation and reading comprehension. Although she views each as a hurdle, she’s not letting it get in her way.

“I know the things that I need to improve on,” said Hall. “But my writing is getting better every day.”

While Hall admits that going back to school has been every bit as difficult as imagined, outside voices and influences won’t deter her.

“You’ve got to believe in yourself because you are going to go through many trials and tribulations and a lot of people telling you you can’t do it,” said Hall. “Don’t let them discourage you because you are doing this for yourself and not for anyone else. You can do anything you want to do if you really want to do it but you have to be strong.”

That kind of sentiment also works for teachers. Sue Sepkowski, 64, teaches in the Greece Community Education EduCare program working with kindergarteners and fifth grade students before school. She worked for 20-plus years in the Greece school district before retiring. Then six years ago, she decided to help again with the program. Aiding young children with homework and games, she views it as an opportunity to give students more of a choice in their learning.

“It is a relaxed atmosphere because I think education is too programmed these days and it doesn’t allow kids to choose their activities,” Sepkowski said. “Kids now if they have 20 to 30 minutes of free time they don’t know how to use it.”

Also it allows her to continue educating young minds.

“I am an early riser, I can bike or walk to work and it keeps me busy,” said Sepkowski. “This gives me a chance to use some of my gifts and talents and help someone do their math or read them a story.” You are never too old to keep contributing.

In addition, Greece Community Education offers a program at the East House, 1701 Lac De Ville Blvd., in Rochester, that helps adults further their education who suffer through developmental and mental illnesses as well as chemical dependency.

Founded in 1966, the East House helps more than 1,000 people, including seniors, and their families each year with 80 percent of their clients completing their program.

Lifelong learning gives you a chance to hone your own skills and we have a number of people who are 50 years old and up who are taking our classes and expanding both personally and educationally,” said Peritsky.

January / February 2012 - 55 PLUS

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55+

concerns

Health, Economy Top Concerns of 50-plus Americans Large AARP study shows challenges, dreams of 50-plus population

By Aaron Gifford

S

o what do people 50 and over worry about the most? Not surprisingly, affordable health care is a chief concern, along with unemployment, retirement, the future of Social Security benefits and seniors’ ability to remain in their homes during their twilight years, according to a recent AARP report, “Voices of 50+ America — Dreams & Challenges.”

AARP, the largest lobbying organization in the nation, surveyed more than 29,000 adults over the age of 50 across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The calls were made in January 2011 and the report was published last year. Topics range from Medicare, to priorities in local communities, to opinions on state budgets, to dreams of the future.

“AARP has a strong commitment to help improve the lives of the 50-plus population,” said the report’s executive summary. “As part of the association’s continuous communication with its members and all 50+ Americans, AARP commissioned an innovative set of surveys designed to better gather information on the needs, interests and concerns of 50+ Americans both at the national and state level.”

Forty-three percent of respondents were between the ages of 50 and 59, 39 percent were between 60 and 74, and 18 percent were over 75.

A quarter of those surveyed were disabled. Twenty-eight percent of those surveyed reported a household income of less than $30,000 a year, while 19 percent reported a household income of $30,000-$50,000, 18 percent 38

55 PLUS - January / February 2012

reported $50,000-$75,000, and 16 percent reported above $75,000.

The summary noted that four in 10 adults 50 and over think health care issues are the top problem or challenge in that age group in every state.

About 33 percent of those surveyed, meanwhile, cited economic issues as the largest challenge. Significantly smaller percentage of respondents cited transportation or family values as the top challenge facing them, though examples of individual responses were not provided.

In response to a question about personal priorities, 90 percent of those surveyed said staying healthy, mentally sharp and having adequate health insurance is extremely important. However, only about 30 percent of those surveyed indicated that they have all that they need to stay mentally sharp and healthy, the study said.

In the “dreams” section of the study, 38 percent of those surveyed said they desire vacation and travel.

The second most common response, at 15 percent, was hobbies and interests.

Thirteen percent said their top choice would be to spend time with children, grandchildren, family and friends. Six percent listed faith and spirituality as their most desired activity. Six percent indicated that their dream is simply to be in good health. Five percent listed career and work, while a lesser percentage of those surveyed chose marriage, having enough money, volunteering or “reinventing” oneself.

Nearly everyone surveyed said it’s important for older adults to

remain in their own homes as they age, and that more long-term care services are needed in that effort.

Four out of five respondents favored shifting government spending for nursing home care to home and community-based care.

“In the current economy,” the study said, “adults 50+ believe it is important to protect health and long-term care services from budget cuts.”

Locally, older adults in the Rochester area share the same concerns noted in that national report.

Access to transportation, however, is more than a minor issue here, said Corinda Crossdale, executive director of Monroe County Office for the Aging.

“Transportation consistently rises to the top here as a chief concern,” she said. “Even in the city of Rochester, where you would think access to public transportation is fairly accessible. People need to get to more places, in or out of the city, with a broader range of times. Being able to get places is important to remaining independent.”

Another major issue is the increasing number of people who are caring for their own children in addition to an elderly parent. That’s known as the “sandwich generation,” and it’s expected to become more commonplace due to the decreasing number of home health aides.

“The average caregiver is 35-plus and female,” Crossdale said. “People [home health aides] are retiring and the younger generation simply is not interested in working with older adults. Part of the reason is it’s a lowpaying field.”

Crossdale cited a May 2011 report by the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency. It noted that by 2025, people 65 and over will comprise more than 20 percent of the population in the Rochester area and Finger Lakes region. According to that report, the typical caregiver for an elderly adult is a 64-year-old female who spends more than 40 hours a week providing care to her mother.

The Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, in its report, forecasted the

NOW OPEN IN BRIGHTON ! that, by 2025, 12,264 home health aides will be needed in the Rochester area and Finger Lakes region to meet the demand for those services. That’s an increase of at least 2,000 more home health aides. That need could be met if community colleges and the state Department of Labor collaborated on a program that forgives college loans for students in appropriate fields who work part time as home health aides as part of a degree program curriculum, the report said.

The fear of not having enough money after retirement is another common concern of seniorsin the Rochester area. JoAnne Sims, a career counselor with the Lifespan agency’s Bridge to Employment Service, has noticed a major shift: When she started her job with Lifespan seven years ago, most of the people 50 and over who visited the monthly networking group were seeking a part-time job just to avoid boredom, get out of the house and make a little extra money. Now, there are out-ofwork tenured professionals looking for anything, even low-paying retail jobs, to avoid going into debt.

“Retirement isn’t a part of the conversation when it gets to that point,” Sims said. “It can get pretty emotional. The longer they’ve been out of work, the harder it is for them.

This is a very different job market, and there is age bias out there. People who were in pretty good shape are saying, ‘Holy cow, I don’t think my money is going to last.’ ” It’s an especially tough situation ford unemployed older adults who are putting their children through college while also caring for an elderly parent. “They’re in that crush,” Sims said, “and they’re having financial difficulties.”

S i m s e n c o u r a g e s p ro g r a m participants to apply for jobs in education or for non-profit agencies where wisdom and experience is appreciated and age discrimination is less rampant. “Volunteer work can shift your focus as well,” she explained. “You go from thinking ‘poor me,’ to realizing that there are a lot of people out there who are a lot worse off than you.”

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January / February 2012 - 55 PLUS

39

savvy senior

By Jim Miller

How Much Do You Need to Retire?

H

ow much money you need to retire comfortably is a great question that all working adults should ask themselves. Unfortunately, far too few ever bother thinking about it.

But calculating an approximate number of how much you’ll need to have saved for retirement is actually pretty easy and doesn’t take long to do. Here’s a quick, simple three-step approach that can help you find your magic retirement number.

Estimate Expenses The first step is the trickiest — estimating your future retirement expenses. If you want a quick ballpark estimate, figure around 75 to 85 percent of your current gross income.

That’s what most people find they need to maintain their current lifestyle in retirement.

If you want a more precise estimate, track your current expenses on a worksheet and deduct any costs you expect to go away or decline when you retire, and add whatever new ones you anticipate.

Costs you can scratch off your list include work related expenses like commuting or lunches out, as well as the amount you’re socking away for retirement. You may also be able to deduct your mortgage if you expect to have it paid off by retirement, and your kid’s college expenses. Your income taxes should also be less.

On the other hand, some costs will probably go up when you retire, like health care, and depending on your interests you may spend a lot more on travel, golf or other hobbies. And, if you’re going to be retired for 20 or 30 years, you also need to factor in the occasional big budget items like a new roof, furnace or car.

40

55 PLUS - January / February 2012

Tally Income Step two is to calculate your retirement income. If you contribute to Social Security, estimate how much your monthly benefit will be at the age you want to retire. You can get a personalized estimate at www.ssa.gov/estimator. If you’re married, remember to count your spouse’s benefits too.

In addition to Social S e c u r i t y, i f y o u h a v e a traditional pension plan from an employer, find out from the plan administrator how much you are likely to get when you retire. And, figure in any other income from other sources you expect to have, such as rental properties, part-time work, etc.

Calculate the Difference The final step is to do the math.

Subtract your annual expenses from your annual income. If your income alone can cover your bills, you’re all set. If not, you’ll need to tap your savings, including your 401(k) plans, IRAs, or other investments to make up the difference.

So, let’s say for example you need around $45,000 a year for retirement and you expect to receive $25,000 a year from Social Security and other income. That leaves a $20,000 shortfall that you’ll need to pull from your nest egg each year ($45,000 – $25,000 = $20,000). Multiple your shortfall by 25, and that’s how much you’ll need to have saved.

In the case above, you would multiple $20,000 by 25 and come up with $500,000.

Why 25? Because that would allow you to pull 4 percent a year from your savings, which is a safe

withdrawal strategy that in most cases will let your money last as long as you do — at least 30 years.

If you find that your savings are lacking, you might want to go back to your worksheet and cut some costs. Or, you may need to consider part-time work during retirement or postponing retirement so you can boost your savings.

Savvy Tip If you need help figuring out how much you’ll need to retire, there’s a variety of free online calculators that can assist you. Some top tools are offered by Analyze Now (analyzenow. com), T. Rowe Price (www3.troweprice. com/ric/ricweb/public/ric.do) and AARP (aarp.org/work/retirement-planning/ retirement_calculator).

Jim Miller writes the column “Savvy Senior” for In Good Health, Rochester’s Healthcare Newspaper. To contact him, write to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

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41

last

page

By Ernst Lamothe

Pam Hatch, 64 Co-founder of Deaf Women of Rochester, now in its 30th year, talks about growing up deaf Q. How did you become one of the founders of the Deaf Women of Rochester?

A. Joan Dickson, Sally Taylor, Vicki Hurwitz and I felt that there were many deaf women out there that did not have a support group.

We had a meeting in my kitchen and the organization was born with ideas flying all over the place. During the first several years, we reached out to women who may have been isolated, unsure of themselves and maybe more dependent on their husbands to manage the household and money.

Q. Why is an organization like Deaf Women of Rochester important?

A. We help women grow more confident in their own abilities and gather strength from others to be able to venture out into new things. We talked about issues covering health, leadership, financial management, te chnology, assertiveness, home repair, bringing up children and fun things like craft skills.

Q. How was it growing up being deaf?

A. I was born with my hearing loss. It affected my speech and everyone thought it was “baby talk” and I would outgrow it. Finally, in first grade, it was the music teacher and the school nurse who first began to think that maybe I couldn’t hear. I got through high school by reading and re-reading the material, studying handouts, outlining information to help me remember. I wanted to be a nurse and was accepted to two nursing schools. However, when they interviewed me and realized just how deaf I was, they cancelled their acceptances.

42

55 PLUS - January / February 2012

Q. What career path did you pick?

A . I did my student teaching at the Rochester School for the Deaf and was offered a job teaching high school math. I realized just how much I had missed in high school. The kids at RSD talked to each other about everything, learned from each other, dated and when I look back at my years in school most of that is missing going to a public school. I eventually became the high school principal.

Q. What do you think about Rochester as a place for people who are deaf?

A. We are very lucky to have two world-known programs here in Rochester. The Rochester School for the Deaf that been around over 125 years serving children from birth to 21 and The National Technical Institute for the Deaf at RIT. Both programs attract hearing and deaf people to the area.

Q. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

A. My retirement gift from the Rochester School for the Deaf department heads was a summer of sailing lessons. I always talked about sailing but never learned how. I’m now on my third sailboat. I sail around Lake Ontario and participate in racing on someone else’s boat.

Q. How did you get involved volunteering for emergency management preparedness?

A. In September of 2002, my house

burned down and I lost everything.

After my new home was built, I started volunteering for Rochester Red Cross.

I was interested in their disaster action team, which is called out for local fires, floods and other emergencies. When I started volunteering it was decided that we needed to develop a pamphlet to share with the deaf community on how to prepare for an emergency and what to expect.

Q. What are some exciting stories from your time at the Red Cross?

A. When Hurricane Katrina happened, word came to the deaf community here in Rochester about deaf people being stranded with no services getting to them. The Red Cross asked me to go to New Orleans so I spent three weeks there helping out including getting connected with a church and interpreting their services.

I have also been deployed by the Red Cross to go to Hurricane Ike, the plane crash in Buffalo and recently drove supplies to Binghamton for the floods.

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