55 Plus of Rochester #81: May - June 2023

Kathy Riegel, president of the Rochester Bicycling Club, rides her bike in the Puglia region of southern Italy.

so does dad–knowing he

feel better–and

can see his doctor

home.”

When getting to medical appointments becomes a challenge, Physician House Calls is here to visit you in the comfort and convenience of your own home.

From routine check-ups, to urgent appointments, medication review, care coordination and a 24-hour on call service, we offer a safe and secure option for homebound adults over age 65 seeking a primary care provider.

To find out more, call (585) 244-5993 or visit JSLPhysicianHouseCalls.org. A service of Jewish Senior Life

“I

re you looking for a healthier alternative to strengthen your bones?

In her own search to reverse her osteopenia, Liz Lehmann found this really interesting device, called a bioDensity machine.

It's similar to a workout machine for muscles in a gym, but it's optimized to build bone. The reason the bioDensity machine is so good at building bones is because of...

Science of Osteogenic Loading

(osteo bone; → genic producing) →

Since the 1880's, doctors have known that healthy bones remodel themselves after a load is placed on them, known as Wolff's Law.

As it turns out, bones and muscles are similar and different – both have the use-it-or-lose-it process. To build muscles you have to do long workouts a couple times a week and your muscles need a day or two to recover.

Bones, on the other hand, only require five seconds of stress and the recovery time is a week. But the stress needed to start the bone building process is multiple times a person's body weight. For a 130 lb woman, it would take about 550 lbs of force on the leg bones to make them stronger, which is not really possible at a gym.

“What is unique about the bioDensity machine is that it isn’t doing anything to them,” Lehmann explained. “They’re pressing or

pulling on the machine on their own. It's simply measuring their muscle efforts and therefore how much stress is applied to their bones. People have complete control over their sessions and they get a chart of their progress.”

Build Bones from the Inside Out

During each session, a client tries to produce maximal force for five seconds in four different exercises: chest press, leg press, core pull, and vertical lift. The force would be similar to pushing or lifting a heavy object, but in a controlled manner.

As a result, these exercises build denser bones from the inside out by remodeling and strengthening the interior bone matrix – the way bones naturally get stronger.

Bone Gym is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. It is an exercise plan designed to allow users to benefit from the healthy effects of osteogenic loading of the bones as supported by the U.S. Surgeon General and numerous studies.

Weight Loss Surgery

It’s about more than just weight loss. It’s about reducing your risk for serious conditions like heart disease and diabetes — and regaining the stamina, mobility and confidence to take on every day.

Crouse’s bariatric surgery program offers a dedicated team of physicians and providers, as well as psychological and nutritional counseling — all with the expertise to support you every step of the way.

Begin the process from home by viewing our online informational video. Then consult with our bariatric team via telemedicine visits to start your journey. It’s time — and now easier than ever.

Start today at crouse.org/weightloss or call .

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42 PROFILE

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• Growth in digital photography gives local photographer a renewed passion for his craft

• Optometrist publishes book he wrote for his kids – before they were born

• Key to a

• Five cool things to do in

• Exploring the waterways of New York state

By Jim Miller savvy

senior

Donating Your Body to Science

If you’re looking to help advance medical research, and in the process eliminate your funeral and burial costs, donating your body to science is a great option to consider. Here’s what you should know.

Body Donations

Each year, it’s estimated that approximately 20,000 people donate their whole body, after death, to medical facilities throughout the country to be used in medical research projects, anatomy lessons and surgical practice.

After using your body, these facilities will then provide free cremation and will either bury or scatter your ashes in a cemetery or return them to your family. And, just in case you’re wondering, your family cannot not be paid for the use of your body. Federal and state laws prohibit it.

Here are a few other things you need to know and check into, to help you determine whether whole-body donation is right for you:

• Donation denial : Most body donation programs will not accept bodies that are extremely obese, or those that have infectious diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis, H.I.V. or MRSA. Bodies that suffered extensive trauma won’t be accepted either.

• Organ donation : Most medical school programs require that you donate your whole body in its entirety. So, if you want to be an organ donor (with the exception of your eyes), you probably won’t qualify to be a wholebody donor too.

• Religious considerations : Most major religions permit individuals to donate both their full body and organs, and many even encourage it. If you are unsure, you should consult with your pastor or spiritual adviser.

• Special requests: Most programs will not allow you to donate your body for a specific purpose. You give them the body and they decide how to use it.

• Memorial options: Most programs require almost immediate transport

of the body after death, so there’s no funeral. If your family wants a memorial service, they can have one without the body. Or, some programs offer memorial services at their facility at a later date without the remains.

• Body transporting: Most programs will cover transporting your body to their facility within a certain distance. However, some may charge a fee. How to Proceed

If you think you want to donate your body, it’s best to make arrangements in advance with a body donation program in your area. Most programs are offered through university-affiliated medical schools. To find one near you, the University of Florida maintains a list of U.S. programs and their contact information at Anatbd.acb.med.ufl. edu/usprograms. If you don’t have internet access, you can get help by calling the whole-body donation referral service during business hours at 800-727-0700.

In addition to the medical schools, there are also private organizations like Science Care (ScienceCare. com) and Anatomy Gifts Registry (AnatomyGifts.org) that accept whole body donations too. Some of these organizations will even allow organ donation because they deal in body parts as well as whole cadavers.

Once you locate a program in your area, call and ask them to mail you an information packet that will explain exactly how their program works.

To sign up, you’ll need to fill out a couple of forms and return them. But you can always change your mind by contacting the program and removing your name from their registration list. Some programs may ask that you make your withdrawal in writing.

After you’ve made arrangements, you’ll need to tell your family members so they will know what to do and who to call after your death. It’s also a good idea to tell your doctors, so they know your final wishes too.

roc55.com

Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Stefan Yablonski

Writers & Contributors

Deborah J. Sergeant, John Addyman

Melody Burri, Kimberly Blaker Mike Costanza, Gabrielle Olya Todd Etshman, Ken Sturtz

Columnists

John Addyman, Laurie Haelen Jim Miller, Sandra Scott

Advertising Anne Westcott • 585-421-8109 anneIGHsales@gmail.com

Linda Covington • 585-750-7051 lindalocalnews@gmail.com

Office Manager Allison Lockwood

Layout & Design Angel Campos-Toro

Cover Photo Provided

55 PLUS – A Magazine for Active Adults in Rochester is published six times a year by Local News, Inc. at PO Box 525, Victor, NY 14564, which also publishes In Good Health — Rochester's Healthcare Newspaper.

Subscription: $21 a year; $35 for two years © 2023 by 55 PLUS – A Magazine for Active Adults in Rochester. No material may be reproduced in whole or in

Diminish the telltale signs of time on your face, jawline & neck with LASER SKIN TIGHTENING. Reduce skin laxity and the appearance of lines, wrinkles and pore size. Results are immediate & cumulative. Call to schedule a consultation and determine a course of treatment today.

Empire Blvd. (near Wegmans) Webster, NY inclusionspa.com

By Laurie Haelen

Income Opportunities in Today’s Environment

Investors were disappointed in 2022 with both stocks and fixed income finishing the year with negative returns.

Year to date, the market has improved a bit, but uncertainty abounds as the Fed tries to tackle inflationary concerns without pushing the U.S. into a recession, a task that seems more and more challenging as the months progress.

As I am fond of telling clients, every market scenario — both good and bad — generates opportunities. You just need to be patient and always on the lookout for the chance to benefit from the inevitable changes in the market.

So, why should investors be happy about rising interest rates? The short answer is, many people are getting a pay raise that we have not seen in a long time. When interest rates rise, the market value of most assets tends to decline. But the actual income on many assets rises, providing a greater cash flow stream for investors. And, to receive that income, the amount of risk one has to take is often significantly less. If this sounds too good to be true, understand that it does not happen very often and can be beneficial for investors in various ways.

For savers who rarely like to take risks, this is the moment you have been waiting for. Most banks are offering CD rates that for the first time in many years are topping 4%, while money market rates for investment accounts are also more than 4%. This means that if you have $100,000 to invest, you could earn $4,000 a year on those funds with very limited risk. Be sure to be aware of the FDIC limits, the importance of which was highlighted this year with the recent bank failures. Deposits are insured up to at least $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC

insured bank, per ownership category. Another option that has surged in popularity for savers is investing in treasuries, primarily short-term (treasury bills), as the yield curve remains inverted (long-term rates are lower than short-term rates) as of this writing. Short-term treasuries are paying well over 4% and are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. These can be purchased through a brokerage or managed investment account, or through the auction (TreasuryDirect.gov).

For those willing to tie up their money a bit longer, fixed annuities are also an option. Fixed annuities are contracts between an investor and an insurance company. They pay a fixed rate for the term of the contract (usually anywhere from 3-7 years).

An additional benefit (if you are not drawing the income for living expenses) is that the investment grows tax deferred. It is very important to be aware of the quality of the insurance company where the funds are invested, the total fees paid and to avoid the surrender charges (which can be as high as 7%) for early withdrawals. Many contracts allow penalty free withdrawals — as much as 10% of the value — in the first few years.

If you are fully invested in a specific allocation (i.e. 60% stock, 40% bond portfolio) and have wisely stayed the course in the midst of market turmoil, you will also benefit from the current rate environment. Bond yields for the past several years have been in the mediocre 2% range and have increased to over 4% or more. Tax-free municipal bond yields have increased as well, a boon to an investor in a high tax bracket. The implications for a 60-40 portfolio are that the 40% invested in bonds — diversified or not— will now provide an investor

with as much as twice the income as before. The increased income can help retired investors by allowing them to continue to receive the cash flow they need—without taking so much from principal when the equity markets are still well off their highs.

There are yield opportunities in the stock market as well for those who are willing to take the risk. Certain sectors historically have provided the most dividend yield, well above the current S&P 500 yield of under 2%. Those sectors include: financials, utilities, real estate and energy are some of the sectors boasting a higher yield than the S&P 500. Most 60-40 portfolios own these sectors (whether in mutual funds or individual stocks) and staying well diversified by not owning too much in any one sector still beats the benefit of concentrating one’s holdings just to obtain yield. A better strategy for income-oriented investors is to consider the dividend growth of a company as well as the current yield to take advantage of both current yield and future growth.

If you are fully invested and keep little cash on hand, you may not need to do a thing to benefit from the current rate environment — just collect the higher income from bonds and wait for stocks to recover, as history tells us they will. But, if you keep cash on hand, now is the time to maximize returns with lower risk vehicles. With inflation still taking a big bite out of our purchasing power, every little bit helps.

Laurie Haelen, AIF (accredited investment fiduciary), is senior vice president, manager of investment and financial planning solutions, CNB Wealth Management, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. She can be reached at 585-419-0670, ext. 41970 or by email at lhaelen@cnbank.com.

Q.: I’m reaching my full retirement age and thinking about retiring early next year. When is the best time of year to apply for Social Security benefits?

A.: You can apply as early as four months before when you want your monthly benefits to begin. To apply, just go to www.ssa.gov/applytoretire. Applying online for retirement benefits from the convenience of your home or office is secure and can take as little as 15 minutes.

Q.: Will my retirement benefits increase if I wait and retire after my full retirement age?

A.: Yes. You can increase your Social Security retirement benefit in two ways:

• You can increase your retirement benefit by a certain percentage if you delay receiving retirement benefits. We will add these increases automatically from the time you reach full retirement age until you start receiving benefits or reach age 70.

• If you work, each additional year you work adds another year of earnings to your Social Security record. Higher lifetime earnings may result in higher benefits when you do retire.

Q.: What is the earliest age that I can receive Social Security disability benefits?

Financial Considerations for Caregivers

Workshop Series

Sponsored by the Ontario County SALT Council Programs are held at Quail Summit 5102 Parrish St. Ext. Canandaigua NY 14424

May 2 6:30 p.m.

Managing Money: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finances

If you or someone you know is facing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or another chronic illness, it’s never too early to put financial plans in place. Join us to learn tips for managing someone else’s finances, how to prepare for future care costs and the benefits of early planning. This workshop will be presented by Brian Potvin, Program Manager at the Alzheimer’s Association, Rochester and Finger Lakes Region.

May 16 6:30 p.m. - Legal and Financial Planning

Join us for a conversation with Miles Zatkowsky, Esq from Dutcher & Zatkowsky on elder law issues including Advanced Directives, Medicaid planning, and asset protection. Miles is a member of the Executive Committee of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and current Co-Chair of the Monroe County Bar Association Elder Law Section. He is a recent past chair of the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association, Rochester & Finger Lakes Region.

For more information or to register please call the Ontario County Office for the Aging at (585)-396-4577

I’m

with your Medicare questions.

A.: There is no minimum age as long as you meet the Social Security definition of disabled and you have sufficient work to qualify for benefits. To qualify for disability benefits, you must have worked under Social Security long enough to earn the required number of work credits and some of the work must be recent. You can earn up to a maximum of four work credits each year. The number of work credits you need for disability benefits depends on the age you become disabled. Learn more at www. ssa.gov/disability.

I’m Charles Bearce, a licensed sales agent in Western NY. When it comes to Medicare, it’s important to consider all of your options. What works well for your neighbor may not be the best fit for you. I know the ins and outs of Medicare, and I’m ready to answer your questions and help you find a plan that fits your needs.

It’s time to take advantage.

Charles Bearce

Licensed Sales Agent 5859913701, TTY 711 bearcemed@gmail.com www.MyUHCagent.com/charles.bearce

*The SALT Council (Seniors And Law Enforcement Together) is a committee of local senior citizens and representatives from the Ontario County Sheriff’s Department and Office for the Aging, the Canandaigua Police Department, Quail Summit and the Alzheimer’s Association, who educate the community on senior health and safety issues.

money 11 Social Security Mistakes That Can Cost You a Fortune

By Gabrielle Olya

Whether you’re counting on Social Security to fund most of your retirement income or supplement it, you want to make sure you get

1. The Mistake: Not Checking Your Earnings Record

Even if you’re decades away from claiming Social Security, you could be making a big mistake if you don’t keep track of your yearly earnings. The amount of Social Security benefits you receive depends on your earnings record, so if that record is incorrect, you might not receive the benefits you’re entitled to.

Errors can occur for a variety of reasons, including an employer reporting an incorrect amount of earnings or your earnings not showing up because you got married or divorced and your name change has not been processed correctly.

all of the money you’re entitled to. However, with so many ways to claim benefits — especially if you’re married or used to be married — small mistakes

could end up costing you a lot of money over the rest of your life. By knowing which Social Security mistakes to avoid, your retirement will be easier to

handle — even if you aim to retire early.

2. The Mistake: Not Working Long Enough

To qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, you need at least 40 work credits. You can earn up to four credits each year based on your earnings. For 2023, you must earn $1,640 to get one credit, or $6,560 to get the maximum of four credits.

In addition, your benefits are calculated based on the average of your 35 highest-earning years. If you have fewer than 35 years of earnings, $0 will be averaged in for each year you don’t have earnings.

• What To Do: Do the Math Before Retiring

benefits as soon as you turn 62 years old. However, for everyone born after 1959, the reduction for claiming benefits at age 62 is 30%. The lower benefits are permanent: Your benefits won’t go up once you reach full retirement age.

• What To Do: Wait Longer Before Claiming Benefits

As much as you might like to quit your job the day you’re eligible for Social Security, that might not be the best move financially. If you’re in good health and expect to live a long retirement, waiting to maximize your benefits could be crucial in your later years.

If you can wait past full retirement age, your benefits could increase by as much as 8% per year you wait — up to age 70.

•

What

To Do: Check Your Social Security Statement While Working

To avoid losing money due to errors in your earnings record, check your statement annually. If you notice errors, gather proof of your earnings to send to the Social Security Administration, such as your W-2 or pay stubs. Once the Social Security Administration has verified your claim, it will correct your record.

It’s much easier to prove an error that happened the previous year, when you still have your records handy, than it is for 10, 20 or more years ago because you probably don’t have a paper trail going back that far.

As you’re approaching retirement, check your earnings statement first to make sure you have enough credits to qualify for Social Security. If you don’t already have 35 years of earnings, consider whether working an additional year or two could help boost your Social Security benefits.

For example, if you worked a first career where you weren’t covered by Social Security, working for an extra year or two might ensure you qualify for Social Security benefits or boost your monthly benefit amount.

3. The Mistake: Taking Social Security Too Early

You can claim Social Security

4. The Mistake: Waiting Too Long to Claim Benefits

Even though the monthly benefit goes up each month you wait to claim your benefits, that doesn’t mean it’s always best to wait as long as possible. If you live to the average life expectancy, theoretically it won’t matter whether you claim benefits early or late. That’s because the amount of the benefit reduction for claiming early and the increase in benefit for delaying your claims will even out.

But very few people are precisely

And here, you will too.

average. If you’re in poor health, claiming early could result in more benefits over the rest of your life. In addition, if you have cash flow trouble, an infusion of monthly benefit checks at a younger age could help you pay off debt or avoid taking on debt, which could ultimately save money in the long run.

• What To Do: Consider Your Situation Before Taking Benefits

Don’t assume that waiting until age 70 is best for your situation. Instead, run the numbers yourself or work with a financial adviser, and consider your unique circumstances. For example, if you have health issues and don’t expect to live until 75, much less 80 or older, you’ll receive more in total benefits if you claim them earlier.

Regardless of when you decide to claim your Social Security benefits, make sure you sign up for Medicare at age 65.

5. The Mistake: Only Considering Your Own Benefits

If you file for the Social Security benefits you’re entitled to based solely on your earnings record, you could be missing out on a larger benefit. This is especially important if you don’t have enough work credits to qualify based on your own earnings record.

For example, if you were a stayat-home parent while your spouse worked, you might not have earned the minimum 40 work credits to qualify or your benefit might be small. However, you could still qualify for Social Security benefits under your spouse’s work record.

• What To Do: Consider Your Spouse’s Earnings Record

Check to see how much you would be eligible to receive under your spouse’s work record before deciding how to claim benefits.

If you’re divorced, you could also claim benefits under your ex-spouse’s earnings record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are age 62 or older, you are unmarried, your ex-spouse is eligible to receive Social Security retirement or disability benefits, and your benefit from your own work is less than what you would receive under your ex’s earnings record.

6. The Mistake: Not Coordinating Benefits With Your Spouse

If you’re married and you and your spouse each look at your benefits in a vacuum, you could be missing out on strategies to maximize your combined retirement benefits.

For example, if your spouse plans to claim benefits based on your Social Security earnings record, the spouse won’t receive any extra credit for delaying claiming benefits beyond full retirement age.

• What To Do: Coordinate Your Claiming Strategies

When you and your spouse work together on your Social Security plan, you can make sure you’re maximizing your combined retirement benefits.

For example, a low-earning spouse might start claiming benefits based on the high-earning spouse’s income at full retirement age. Meanwhile, the higher-earning spouse delays benefits to increase their retirement credits. This strategy can be tricky, so consulting a financial adviser is worth the cost.

7. The Mistake: Not Planning For Taxes on Social Security Benefits

Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits could be subject to federal income taxes if you earn substantial outside income, such as wages or dividends. The percentage of your benefits that are subject to income taxes depends on your combined income, which equals your adjusted gross income, any nontaxable interest income and half of your Social Security benefits.

• What To Do: Proactively Plan For Taxes

Engaging in tax planning can help ensure you aren’t paying the IRS any more of your Social Security benefits than you have to.

For example, if you’re planning to donate money to charity, consider a qualified charitable distribution to satisfy your required minimum distribution from an IRA rather than using other funds. That way, the

distribution doesn’t add to your taxable income and might make more of your Social Security benefits count as taxable income.

8. The Mistake: Ignoring Work Rules for Early Benefits

If you plan to continue working after you start collecting Social Security benefits, you could find yourself coming up short financially.

In the years before you reach full retirement age, your Social Security benefit is reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn over the annual limit. In 2023, the yearly limit for earners younger than full retirement age is $21,240.

In the year you reach full retirement age, your Social Security benefit is reduced by $1 for every $3 you earn over the annual limit. For 2023, the yearly limit for these earners is $56,520.

• What To Do: Budget For Early Retirement

If you rely on early Social Security benefits to supplement your working income in the years before you reach full retirement age, make sure you account for the rules for working while earning Social Security. It’s important to be aware of the potential reduction in your benefits.

Once you reach full retirement age, there’s no further reduction. Your benefit amount will be recalculated at this time to leave out the months when benefits were reduced or withheld due to excess earnings. Without proper planning, however, you could face short-term cash-flow problems.

9. The Mistake: Remarrying Without Knowing How It Will Affect Your Benefits

Divorced seniors who are 62 years and older can receive benefits on their ex-spouse’s record, but only if they are unmarried. If you were relying on your ex-spouse’s benefits because your income was low or you didn’t work, you would lose the opportunity to receive their benefits if you remarry.

• What To Do: Know the Implications Before Tying the Knot

Marriage can sometimes be as much about finances as it is about love, especially later in life. If you will struggle financially because you’ll miss out on your ex-spouse’s Social Security benefits by remarrying, take some time to figure out if it’s worth it for you to do it.

10. The Mistake: Waiting Until 70 To Collect Spousal Benefits

Delaying your benefits beyond full retirement age will only qualify you for delayed retirement credits if you are the primary beneficiary. Social Security benefits you receive as a spouse do not include delayed retirement credits, so there is no incentive to delay collecting Social Security past your full retirement age. If you wait, you’ll have missed out on years you could have been collecting.

• What To Do: Retire at Full

Retirement Age To Receive Your Maximum Spousal Benefits

Although you won’t get credits for delaying benefits past the full retirement age as a spouse, you should plan on retiring at your full retirement age to get the maximum benefits if you’re going to collect spousal benefits. When you reach full retirement age, you’ll be eligible to receive 50% of your spouse’s benefits, which is the maximum amount.

If your full retirement age is 67, and you start receiving your spouse’s benefits early at age 62, your benefit amount would only be about 32.5% of your spouse’s benefits.

11. The Mistake: Assuming Social Security Benefits Can Fully Cover Your Living Expenses

The average monthly Social Security benefit for retired workers was $1,827 per month as of January

2023. Although it might be possible to live off Social Security alone in some instances, it would likely require a big paring down of your lifestyle. For many people, however, it may not be feasible to live entirely off of Social Security benefits. Planning to live on Social Security alone — and then not being able to — puts you at risk for financial problems down the line.

• What To Do: Create a Well-

Thought-Out Financial Plan Before Retiring

Social Security can be a great supplement to other sources of retirement income, but it should not be your only source. Make sure you have a healthy nest egg saved in a 401(k) or IRA, and ideally set yourself up to have passive income streams that will continue to pay out in your post-9-to-5 life.

This article previously ran in GOBankingRates.com. Reprinted with permission.

Of the three enticing boxty options at Mulconry's, the steak and mushroom ($20) made the cut over the chicken with asparagus or the shepherd’s pie.

Dining Out

Dining Out

By Christopher Malone RESTAURANT GUIDE

LUCKING OUT WITH IRISH CUISINE

Fairport Pub Dishes Out Comfort Food

It wasn’t the fact The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon more than popped his head into Fairport, which got me to go to Mulconry's Irish Pub & Restaurant; I put two and two together after the fact.

But it was March when this review took place, the latter part of the month wasn’t leaving like a lamb, and the “just OK” Catholic I claim to be had a craving for fish or comfort food during this Lenten season.

So, why not a darkened, wooddecorated Irish pub?

It wasn’t Friday and there were some interesting menu items to take precedence over the familiar fried food. The 15-year-old Mulconry's doesn’t have a huge menu, but there are plenty of options for tough decisions to make.

To kick off the meal along with a Guinness ($7), the five-onion soup ($7)

sounded enticing. Covered in a blanket of three cheeses and topped with green and fried onions, the crock of medium broth with shallots, red onions, white onions and croutons hit the spot.

The draught and the soup paired well together. The Irish beer seems to go well with a lot of things — including meat.

Keeping up with tradition, what’s unlike any other, is the boxty. The boxty is a rather large Irish potato pancake folded over so it cradles whatever ingredients you want to throw in there. The pancake isn’t as large as what John Candy’s titular character in Uncle Buck creates for a young Macaulay Culkin, but it’s big enough to have photographic proof of it.

Of the three enticing boxty options at Mulconry's, the steak and mushroom ($20) made the cut over the chicken

with asparagus or the shepherd’s pie. The steak, mushroom, peppers and onion — the four musketeers of food combos — should be relied on to always satisfy.

And satisfy it did, especially the tender steak. The meat was cooked perfectly to a bright medium rare and wasn’t fatty. The ingredients were also dressed in a Jameson demi-glace, which held onto its hint of the Irish whiskey.

The chicken curry ($17) may have some patrons questioning its tradition with Irish food but, from what I recall from a trip over a decade ago, it’s all over. The dish is made up with chicken, roasted red peppers, rice, chips (fries) and that saucy concoction of spices.

Unlike Indian curry, the Irish take isn’t as spicy. There is that notable curry kick, but it’s not overwhelming. The chicken was also very tender. It was difficult to put the fork down or even share.

The curry and boxty entrees came with a slice of brown bread, which was good in and of itself. Why spoil the flavor of the notable bread, which is frequently made with white and wheat flour, buttermilk and salt, by dipping it in the curry? The salt really does bring out the richness of the bread — even

without butter.

Keeping with the theme of Irish fusion, Mulconry's Cuban ($17), which comes with a choice of sides, which I went with a veggie medley, may not truly compare to a traditional Cubano but leaves an impression.

Sandwiched between two loaves of toasted bread are pulled pork, Irish bacon, pickles, Swiss cheese and slathering of Guinness horseradish mustard. There’s a lot going on. There’s a lot of flavor coming from the pork and the fattiness of the Irish bacon, which comes from the back end of the pig, similarly to Canadian bacon. The horseradish mustard is relatively mild, not over-competing with the rest of the flavors.

With another Guinness thrown into the meal, the bill came to $81 on the nose before tip.

Mulconry's has a good thing going. As previously mentioned, by the time this article is published, the restaurant would have celebrated 15 years in April this year.

Its food hit the spot with its take on Irish fare and offered a friendly, clean and comfortable atmosphere. It was a popular for a weekend lunch, a place where everyone seemed to know each other — for the most part.

Sláinte!

Mulconry's Irish Pub & Restaurant

17 Liftbridge Lane East, Fairport, 14450

585-678-4516

mulconrys.com facebook. com/100049285165034

instagram.com/mulconrys

Sunday: 11:30 a.m. - midnight

Monday – Tuesday: 4 p.m. – midnight

Wednesday – Thursday: 11:30 a.m. - midnight

Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m.

TOP:

MIDDLE: Mulconry's Cuban ($17): sandwiched between two loaves of toasted bread are pulled pork, Irish bacon, pickles, Swiss cheese and slathering of Guinness horseradish mustard.

BOTTOM: The five-onion soup ($7) at Mulconry's Irish Pub: covered in a blanket of three cheeses and topped with green and fried onions.

The chicken curry ($17) is made up with chicken, roasted red peppers, rice, chips (fries) and that saucy concoction of spices.

Dining Al Fresco in Rochester Area

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Now that sunny weather is finally here, enjoy dining out at area restaurants. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

Genesee Brewhouse, Rochester

www.geneseebeer.com/brewhouse

From the patio, diners can view a 95-foot waterfall in the middle of the city. The restaurant serves pub food including Bavarian-style pretzels. Dinners will find a few unexpected offerings like a burger topped with goat cheese, crabcake sandwich and seasoned pork terrine. In addition to the 16 taps, beer lovers will want to check out the interactive exhibits, multimedia programming, gift shop and brewery. The Brewhouse displays artifacts from the history of The Genesee Brewery, which represents one

of the largest and oldest continually operating breweries in America and snagged honors with its Genesee Brew House Helles winning “Best New York State Beer (at least 60% NYS Hops & NYS Malt)” by the New York State Brewers Association.

Ventosa Vineyards & Café Toscana, Geneva

https://ventosavineyards. com/cafe-toscana

Order your food and drinks to go and enjoy a picnic at the tables near the vineyards right on the estate grounds. The picturesque 23 acres overlook Seneca Lake.

Simply Crepes, Canandaigua, Pittsford and Webster

www.simplycrepes.com

Featured on Food Network's "Best

Thing I Ever Ate" Simply Crepes is a full-service, casual restaurant with French influences and seasonal menus. Simple Crepes stretches the meaning of “crepe” to include unexpected flavors, along with non-crepe items, such as fried chicken, burgers, sandwiches and French toast. The outdoor patio isn’t large, but its street-side ambience is enhanced by a screen of foliage to provide a garden-like atmosphere.

Gananda Pub at Blue Heron Hills, Macedon

https://blueheronhillsgc. com/gananda-pub

Enjoy your meal on the patio overlooking the grounds of the Blue Heron Hills Golf Course. The restaurant serves pub food and entrees like wraps, salads, salmon, and steak. House specialties include fire roasted pasta and Buffalo gouda mac.

Trio, Rochester

https://trioddd.com

For those who enjoy farm-to-table dining, Chef Marcus Germonto offers locally sourced meals for patrons

Patrons enjoy a beverage and food at Ventosa Vineyards.

of Trio. Local farms’ steak, chicken and more are on the menu. Vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian options are available. The fire pits add a touch of warmth for cooler evenings on the patio. Step inside to enjoy a twirl on the dance floor. Upscale dress is required for dining after 9 p.m.

Brewery Ardennes, Geneva

www.breweryardennes.com

Newly opened in 2021, Brewery Ardennes is styled after a Bavarian pub with numerous craft beers on tap. Chef Jayden White’s menus center on traditional Bavarian fare with his own special flair, crafted from locally sourced ingredients. For those sitting outside, leashed dogs are welcomed, too. Brewery Ardennes was awarded with the 2023 silver for the “Belgian — Other” category by New York State Brewers Association.

The Peppered Pig, Webster

www.thepigroc.com

Savor French and American food with wine, cocktails and craft beer. The quiche is a house specialty. Other French fare includes charcuterie, fromage and duck confit. Items such as braised pork belly and chicken liver mousse make The Peppered Pig stand out. But the reliable sandwich, salad, burger and pasta are available for those not into French food. The patio is small but is tastefully appointed.

Tony D's, Rochester

www.tonyds.net

Enjoy sandwiches, salad, pasta and wood-fired pizza at the large outdoor seating area. Tony D’s offers an impressive array of red and white wines, available by the glass or bottle.

Aladdin’s Natural Eatery, Pittsford

http://myaladdins.com

Enjoy homemade pastas, pita sandwiches, salads and Mediterranean fare like as souvlaki and moussaka. Aladdin’s serves New York microbrewery beers and wines. The restaurant has been lauded for its affordability, with many items less than $10. After your meal, stroll along the nearby Erie Canal.

Lighting Up the Skies

After 50 years in the fireworks business Jim Young still loves his job

By Ken Sturtz

After decades in the business

Jim Young still enjoys a good fireworks display, but watching shows staged by his Ontario County company makes him nervous enough that he can’t really enjoy himself.

“I’m more at ease watching somebody else’s work,” he said. “To watch my own is a little hard, but I’m sure there’s a lot of actors in movies who don’t like to watch themselves.”

He’s able to relax and enjoy the show when he travels out of town to festivals or out of the country to fireworks seminars and conventions.

Young’s family has been illuminating the night sky and

delighting audiences for more than 70 years.

As president of Young Explosives, he oversees a company that puts on shows throughout New York and across northern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

His father, Robert, went into the fireworks business in 1949. He developed a fascination with fireworks as a child and worked for a company called Atomic Fireworks before buying the business and changing the name. Back then it was a part-time, summer business. Young’s father worked full-time as a technician at General Dynamics.

Young began helping his father

as a kid and remembers going to shows with his mother and sister and returning home late at night.

“I was always a little more nervous watching it even as a little kid because I knew the people that were setting them off,” he said.

Growing popularity

Fireworks shows grew in popularity beginning in 1976, the year of the nation’s bicentennial celebration, and the family business grew in the following years, Young said.

When he turned 18 he began shooting shows on his own.

Although he continued working for his father’s company part time through high school and college, Young studied criminal justice at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He thought about becoming a police officer after college or maybe working for probation. But as the family business grew he became more involved, joining full time in 1985.

Over the years Young has witnessed many changes in the industry. For example, when he started there were fewer occasions to shoot fireworks. Shows at weddings, parties and on New Year’s Eve were rare. Now firework shows at weddings are popular and New Year’s Eve is his busiest time of year except for Independence Day.

And it doesn’t end with ringing in the new year. Although still a fraction of their overall business, winter shows have become more popular, Young said, regardless of temperature. A few years ago, he put on a winter show in Lake Placid despite the teethchattering cold.

Fireworks shows have also become shorter and faster paced. When Young was a child a show might have featured a steady cadence of effects and lasted for 35-45 minutes.

“Now that’s unheard of,” he said. “People’s attention spans are not as long as they used to be plus they see stuff on TV.”

As an example, Young points to a show he watched a company do for a hotel and casino opening in Las Vegas. The $75,000 show only lasted about five minutes, he said. His company’s shows typically don’t go much longer than 20-25 minutes.

No matter how long the fireworks display lasts, however, people

ABOVE: Jim Young, president of Young Explosives in Ontario County. Photo provided. OPPOSITE: Fireworks display over the Rochester skyline.

generally don’t realize how much legwork goes into a successful show. Young likens it to showing up to an all-day concert without giving any thought to everything that went into setting up for the concert.

“People just come to the concert or a firework show and just ‘say oh that’s great,’” he said. “They don’t realize how much time went into it.”

Aside from obtaining the necessary permits, workers have to design the show and make the fireworks. A good show will slowly build to a spectacular ending. Poor planning can lead to a show that starts off strong, but peters out at the end.

They have to pick a good location — not too close or too far from the audience — and factor in variables such as temperature and humidity, which can affect how high shells travel into the air. And there’s the work of

actually setting everything up on site. That averages four or five hours.

The family business has grown larger than his father, who died in 1996, could have imagined. The company includes eight full-time employees and more than 150 seasonal workers.

After bouncing back from the pandemic, Young said they’re on pace to do close to 500 shows this year. Customers include municipalities, civic organizations and people having weddings or private parties.

One of their higher profile clients is the Rochester Red Wings. They’ve done shows for the team for decades and put on shows about 30 nights a season.

Young is 67 years old and said he doesn’t have a plan for how long he wants to keep working. His sons Tim, 33, and Brian, 37, work part time, but have day jobs and haven’t decided yet

if they want to take over the business.

“You see so many family businesses eventually they just sell out to somebody bigger, it’s just too difficult.” Young said. “All family businesses certainly are getting harder and harder to do, but we’re still maintaining it that way.”

Young said he benefits from the fact that the fireworks business remains somewhat seasonal, so in February, for example, he’s not working himself to the bone and gets a break.

Even though he spends a good deal of his time running the company, he still shoots shows himself, albeit fewer than in the past. He said that after decades in the business, he still enjoys it.

“I like entertaining people,” he said. “I like hearing the crowd afterward.”

Jim Young and one of his children, Tim, who is involved in the business.

The Graying in Rochester

Number of older adults in Rochester grows — faster than any other city in New York state

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

The Rochester region is going gray — and faster than any other area of the state, according to a study from the Center for an Urban Future, released in January 2023.

The number of people 65-plus increased by 64% in Rochester in the past 10 years, followed by Saratoga County (50%) and Syracuse (43%).

The U.S. Census indicates that the percent of people 65-plus in Ontario County increased from 15.4% 2010 to 21.5% in 2020.

The state’s life expectancy declined early in the pandemic, dipping from

80.7 in 2019 to 77.7 in 2020, which indicates it was likely a statistical effect because of coronavirus. Despite this decrease in lifespan, the 85-plus group grew by 3% from 2011 to 2021, faster than the 1.8% growth in population.

One reason for fewer younger people in New York is the mass exodus from New York.

In 2021, more people moved out of New York (63.1%) than into it (36.9%), according to a report released by United Van Lines.

New York had the third-highest rate of people leaving, surpassed only by New Jersey (70.5%) and

Illinois (67.2%). The trend continues from 2020 (66.9%), 2019 (63.1%), 2018 (61.5%), 2017 (60.6%), 2016 (62.8%), 2015 (64.7%) and, the earliest year for which data is available, 2014 (64.1%). This data does not include people using other moving services or moving themselves.

The most recent United Van Lines study stated the reasons for leaving New York included family (29.4%) and for those with multiple reasons, reasons included retirement (28.95%); work (25.72%); lifestyle (24.28%); cost (11.69%); and health (7.02%).

The reason affecting older adults the most — retirement — is comparable to the one affecting younger adults — work — indicating that the declining population numbers is not primarily driven by retirees moving to warmer climes. The exodus from New York doesn’t correlate with other northeastern states with equally cold climates. None of the New England states but Rhode Island has experienced more moving out than moving in.

Ann E. Cunningham, executive director of Oasis Rochester, partially attributes the shift toward larger older

adult populations to more people living a healthy lifestyle.

“The implications for all aspects of our society suggest there will need to be a reimagining of the retirement years, which include working longer, finding more opportunities to develop social connections and ways to access health, wellness and lifelong learning opportunities,” Cunningham said.

The Oasis Rochester, along with the nationwide network of Oasis chapters, offers workforce development, technology literacy and lifelong learning to promote healthy aging through engaging programming.

Typically, older adults need more community resources for healthcare and support in activities of daily living than younger people. That is particularly true for those with limited financial resources.

The Center for an Urban Future report revealed that 21.7% of older adults live in poverty in Rochester, ahead of Syracuse (21.6%) and the Bronx (25%).

Across New York, the rate of poverty among 65-plussers increased by 37.4% between 2011 and 2021, undoing years of declines in senior poverty rates. This may be in part explained as a statistical anomaly, as in recent years, those financially able to move out of state have left behind more older adults who lack the means.

Some people need more help as they grow older and 80% of those who do require help rely on family and friends to help with their needs, according to Ann Marie Cook, president and CEO of Lifespan.

“When people do need assistance, we do have a network of providers

who can provide everything from a complete social work assessment to friendly ‘check-in’ callers, to companion services to home care to short-term respite to placement in long-term care facilities. We have a network of transportation providers, home care providers, chore services and more,” Cook said.

Before the pandemic, most people preferred to age in place at home and the pandemic only underscored that preference. Cook believes that aging in place at home will continue as a trend, assisted by technology to provide a greater measure of safety for medication dispensing, sensors to ensure the senior has not fallen or left the stove on, and health monitoring.

She noted that technology can also help people stay more active and connected.

“Supporting older adults as their needs increases includes several strategies, such as providing more funding for nonprofits serving older adults; developing more options for affordable housing; and cultivating strategies to address social needs including transportation, food and medical care access, elder abuse and mental health issues,” Cook said.

Lauren Goetz owns Everyday Hands in Rochester. Her company provides light housekeeping, companion care, grocery shopping, light meal preparation and transportation and support with errands, mostly to older adults (although 20% of her clients are younger people). She views her services as a means to help older adults stay independent in their own homes for longer. The rate is $65 an hour rate with a one-hour minimum. Many older adults need help for just a few hours a week to remain in their homes safely. Most companion care services require two hours three to four times a week as the minimum.

“Wouldn’t you rather spend your time as the sandwich generation with your family doing something besides housework and things anyone could do?” Goetz said. “It does save money. If we’re doing the laundry, we’re reducing the likelihood someone will fall taking it down the stairs.”

Her company serves many people whose adult children lack the time or proximity to help with activities of daily living. Everyday Hands also checks on the welfare of older adults living alone as “eyes on the ground,”

Irene Coveny

Ann Cunningham

Lauren Goetz

Anne Marie Cook

Goetz added.

One of the gaps in service providers she identified is working through hoarding situations, as many organizers won’t address these problems. With too much clutter in the way, the senior is at risk for falls and the inability of emergency care providers removing them from their home.

arts

“Until I got into this work,” she said, “I had no idea how common hoarding is. They’re almost always highly educated collectors of things.”

She would also like to see more home remodeling companies in the area to help with adding accessible features to homes and renovating dwellings so that the first floor offers a bathroom, laundry and bedroom.

Supports for aging in place is also on the mind of Irene A. Coveny, director of the Ontario County Office for the Aging. The shortage of caregivers represents a top need in the area.

“There’s no one at home,” she said. “The needs of older adults have become higher level because people can’t get the care they need at hospitals. They’re sent home faster and

sicker, and their families are looking at how to take care of them physically. It’s a big issue.”

Coveny thinks that the low pay in this field is one reason fewer people want to apply for these jobs.

She also believes that providing non medical services earlier for four to six hours a week can delay the need for higher and more expensive medical care.

Many older adults who no longer drive or are recovering from illness or injury lack transportation. Public transportation is inexpensive. However, numerous areas in the region have no dependable public transportation and drivers are not permitted to assist riders to the door or help them take groceries inside. Ride share programs are both expensive and require technology to access, both of which may prove barriers to some older adults.

The Department of Aging receives funding to contact with Rochester Transit Service, Finger Lakes Bus service and Gogo Grandparent, a service app that acts as a middleman with Uber, Lyft, Instacart and other

app-based services.

Users can call Gogo Grandparent using even a landline phone and an operator sets up whatever app-based service they need.

“It’s so helpful, as they do all the coordination,” Coveny said. “It saves dollars on our end. Once we set it up, people can use it any time. We use it specifically for medical appointments. On occasion, we’ll use it for people getting to dialysis or visit their spouse in a hospital or nursing home.”

The department also coordinates programs for volunteers to provide transportation, grocery shopping and meal delivery. Personal emergency response buttons are also available.

Coveny said that these programs and services help keep people safely at home for four to five years longer.

Families should call NY Connects to discuss resources for aging in place: 585-325-2800 or 1-800-342-9871. The local office for the aging can also recommend resources. In Monroe County, call 585-753-6280. In Ontario County, call 585-396-4040. In Wayne County, call 315-946-5624.

White Haven Memorial Park

We Are Here For You

Our Pittsford location is Audubon Certified and a Level 1 Arboretum. Our park-like setting will provide peace & comfort while you visit.

Our Canandaigua Lakeview Cemetery sits on quiet hillside on the east side of the lake. It offers the most serene and intimate location for you to reflect on your loved one.

We have a wide variety of settings and a full range of options for both full casket and cremation burials. Throughout all of our Park you will find large mature trees, colorful gardens and many places to sit, reflect and connect with your loved ones.

The Basin Pond is our newest addition to The Nature Trail. These cremation sites are in a peaceful & natural setting. The centerpiece is a man-made pond with a tranquil fountain in the middle. This area is under development but sites are available for purchase today.

We have several mausoleum buildings to choose from and they each have their own unique features and styles. You can choose a crypt, niche or even a combination crypt. We have many inside or outside locations available.

210 Marsh Road

Pittsford, NY 14534

585.586.5250

www.whitehavenmemorialpark.com

These Cyclists Travel Far and Wide

By Mike Costanza

Harvey Botzman gets a special kind of feeling from riding his bicycle.

“I like the feeling of freedom,” said the 79-year-old Rochester resident. “You can just go anyplace and under your own power.”

Since Botzman began longdistance biking in the 1980s, that wish for freedom has taken the retired substitute teacher and author far beyond the Rochester area. During just one 2015 trip, he put about 170 miles on his collapsible bike.

“I biked down the whole coast of New Jersey, taking a train to New York and a ferry to Sandy Hook and then bicycled all the way to Cape May, New Jersey,” he said.

Botzman particularly enjoys cycling around the Great Lakes. His trips around Lake Ontario, which generally covers about 600 miles, have given him some of his most memorable experiences.

“There’s so many small towns around Ontario, on both sides of the lake, that you can just wander into and some of the larger cities, like Toronto and Rochester” Botzman said.

On long journeys, Botzman straps a tent on his bike and camps along the way, stopping to buy food or meals in the towns or cities he passes through. When he can, he ends his day at a restaurant with a bar.

“If you sit at the bar, it is more likely that you’re going to meet people,” Botzman said. “In Hammondsport [Steuben County] I met a guy who used to be on the Tour de France. He was a mechanic for riders.”

A trip around Lake Ontario might seem a bit long, but the veteran cyclist has traveled even farther for the fun of

it. A 1988 trip to Chicago took Botzman across the top of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. By the time he was done, he had traveled about 1,200 miles.

When biking routes that begin far from the Rochester area, Botzman puts his collapsible bike in a case and travels to his starting point by plane or train. Last July, he traveled to Niagara Falls by train, and then pedaled to Syracuse and Utica before heading back to Rochester. By the time he came home, he’d ridden about 220 miles.

Botzman has shared his knowledge of long-distance biking and the Great Lakes in seven books, including “Round Lake Ontario: A Bicyclist's Tour Guide.” His last work was a revision of “Erie Canal Bicyclist & Hiker Tour Guide.”

When not wheeling his bike to faraway places, Botzman enjoys pedaling around the Rochester area. He’s a member emeritus of the Rochester Bicycling Club (RBC), director emeritus of the New York Bicycling Coalition and an adviser to Rochester Reconnect, which seeks to normalize the use of bicycles in the Rochester area.

Peter Swift just isn’t slowing down.

“I have no real limitations at 92,” the RBC member and retired business owner said.

Swift ran every weekend with a local track club until back trouble sidelined him. After he successfully underwent back surgery, the Rochester resident began casting about for a form of exercise that would be easier on his skeleton. Bicycling fit the bill.

“I was probably in my 60s when I started riding,” Swift said.

He soon found himself on a bicycling team that entered in the Tour de Cure, the American Diabetes Association’s annual nationwide fundraiser.

“Pretty much, when I first got a bike, I was doing the Tour de Cure,” Swift said. “I’ve done that for about 25 years.”

In addition to supporting the ADA, Swift rides in Bike MS, which raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society each year. He used to put as much as 100 miles on his bike for each of the fundraisers, but these days limits himself to riding just 100 kilometers for such causes, or just more than 62 miles.

When not pedaling his bike for good causes, Swift can be found tooling around the Rochester area or

a touch beyond it.

“In the spring, I do a ride with a friend of mine [who] lives on Keuka Lake. He calls it the ‘fall classic.’” Swift said. “We ride around Keuka Lake with a group of friends, about 43, 44 miles.”

Kathy Riegel, the president of the RBC, said bicycling brought her and her husband, Steve Riegle, together.

“Steve was encouraged to start [bicycling] by his late wife, Mary Ellen, and I was encouraged by an avid cyclist I dated at the time,” the 64-year-old retired nurse said.

The two met after they joined the RBC, and married in 2002. Since then, they’ve taken their bikes on local, oneday rides of as much as 70 miles and much longer ones through parts of Southeast Asia, Western Europe and

Eastern Europe.

Steve, a 65-year-old retired software engineer, enjoys the challenges that such trips bring.

“Long trips force you to change your routines,” he said. “Culture, language and logistics challenges are all part of the fun.”

The couple has taken as many as 30 long bicycling trips in the past 10 years alone. An approximately 1,000mile ride they took through Laos and Myanmar in 2014 was particularly memorable.

“It was our first time in a nonwestern culture,” he said. “It was fascinating to realize how common our human beliefs and aspirations are, even though the customs and expressions and rituals are so different.”

Kathy Riegel was struck by the

Steve Riegel, a 65-year-old retired software engineer from Rochester, rides in Croatia. “Long trips force you to change your routines,” he says. Inset: Riegel eating at one of the Italian restaurants.

effects of military rule upon Myanmar, which she refers to by its old name, “Burma.”

“At one time, Burma was the richest country in Southeast Asia, but five decades of military misrule turned it into the poorest,” she said. “So much was 50 years behind and I came home with questions that had me reading for weeks.”

Last October, the couple took back-to-back bicycle tours through the Puglia region of southern Italy and most of Croatia’s Dalmatian Islands. They pedaled about 300 miles through Puglia with friends, and then headed to Croatia to pedal about another 400 miles alone. Both were self-guided trips that were set up with the aid of a tour company.

“In self-guided tours, the company provides the bikes and the routes, your lodging is set up for you, and luggage can be moved for you from place to place,” she said.

Some of those benefits fell by the wayside when they began island-hopping by ferry through the Dalmatians.

“Since we were going island to island, we carried what we needed on

the bikes,” he added.

When they could, the Riegels stopped to talk to the people they encountered.

“We had good conversations with many locals which made us more aware of Balkan history, including the wars in the early 1990s,” he said.

In the coming months, the couple plans to bicycle through the Umbria and Tuscany regions of Italy, and follow that up with a ride through part of Morocco.

“We have heard that it is very interesting and we have never been to that area of the world,” she said.

Long-distance cyclists have a few tips for those who want to put lots of miles on their bikes. He advises wouldbe long-riders to pace themselves.

“Don’t ‘give it all you’ve got’ each day, because you won’t recover enough for the next,’” he said.

Botzman only rides folding bicycles and said anyone who wants to begin long trips far from home should get one.

“It’s just easier to travel with,” he said. “You can take it on a plane without any hassle [or] on a train.”

Interested in Biking?

Rochester-area bicycling clubs may offer rides for those at all skill levels or be more oriented toward competition than cruising. Rides might be memberonly or open to anyone with the proper equipment and a desire to roll. For more information, check the following places:

Rochester Bicycling Club rochesterbicyclingclub.org

Genesee Valley Cycling Club https://gvccracing.com

Towpath Women (ladies only) www.towpathbike.com/about/ towpath-women-pg175.htm

Rochester Area Cyclists www.strava.com/clubs/9012

Rochester Youth Cycling Club (mountain bikers in the 6th to 12th grade) rochesteryouthcyclingclub.org

Great American Bike Tours www.CycleTheUSA.com.

Peter Swift, second from the front, rode the hills around Keuka Lake in the 2022 Bike MS fundraiser. “I have no real limitations at 92,” he says.

Harvey Botzman, a 79-year-old Rochester resident, is an avid biker.

Pedaling into a Business

Couple organizes bike tours along Erie Canal

By Mike Costanza

Diane Kolifrath turned a love of cycling into a going business. Her company, Great American Bike Tours, gives bicycle tours in the Erie Canal and the northeast US and as far away as Canada.

Kolifrath came up with the idea of founding a bicycle tour company in 2015, when she was rolling along Canada’s Le Petit du Nord trail with her husband, Ron Bailey, and some friends.

“I was inspired to start a business that would leave my career as an IT director behind, which was kind of just chewing me up and spitting me

out every day,” the 61-year-old said. Kolifrath and her husband live in Raymond, New Hampshire, but at that time were spending May through October in Syracuse. Though they enjoyed cycling the Erie Canalway Trail, which runs along the Erie Canal through Syracuse, the lack of services for bicyclists made long-distance trips a bit difficult.

“The kind of bike trails had no support services,” she said. “I saw that void.”

That led Kolifrath to start Erie Canal Bike Tours. The company initially had only two employees —

she and her husband — and offered small-scale bike tours and services to those cycling the Erie Canal. That changed in 2017, when the Albany Symphony Orchestra asked the firm to help celebrate the historic waterway’s bicentennial. Construction of the canal began in 1817.

Partnering with the New York State Canal Corporation, the Albany Symphony arranged to give seven performances in cities and town along the length of the Erie Canal in July of that year. Audiences from Albany to Lockport had the chance to enjoy music from the orchestra’s Water

Group of bikers along the Erie Canal. Photos provided by Great American Bike Tours.

Music New York series.

In response to the Albany Symphony’s request, Erie Canal Bike Tours ran a tour of the canal that coincided with the orchestra’s performances. Kolifrath led 12 cyclists who pedaled along the waterway from Albany to Syracuse, a distance of about 150 miles. Her company provided meals, lodging and other supports for the cyclists and the orchestra provided the music.

“We got front-row seats for each of the performances that they did,” she said.

Since then, Kolifrath has expanded her business and changed its name to Great American Bike Tours. The company now has nine employees, including 63-year-old Bailey, and offers a variety of bike tours. While most go through the northeast US — the Le Petit du Nord tour goes hundreds of miles from north of Montreal, Canada, to Burlington, Vermont — the Erie Canalway Trail tour is one of the company’s more popular offerings.

“We start at Buffalo and we cycle all the way to Albany,” Kolifrath said. “We’re the only cycle touring company that does the entire Erie Canal.”

The full Erie Canalway Trail tour runs about 400 miles, including a 40mile detour to sightsee and rest in Seneca Falls and takes nine days to complete.

Those who are seeking a shorter trip can do just the eastern or western halves of the canal.

Kolifrath still leads about half of Great American Bike Tours’ trips. Bailey, the company’s operations director, manages the firm’s rolling stock, which includes four support vans that accompany cyclists on tours. The vehicles carry first aid supplies, cyclists’ luggage and snacks and water for customers’ comfort and are also mobile bike repair shops.

Tired riders ride in them if they need a break.

For more information on Great American Bike Tours, visit www. CycleTheUSA.com.

Worried about downsizing, relocating, or settling an estate?

By Karen Lesser Menachof

Has downsizing been on your mind? Are you or someone you know starting to think about relocating to a new home…or managing the liquidation of an estate? Then it’s a good time to learn about Caring Transitions.

In business for almost ten years, we offer the most comprehensive solution for downsizing, relocating, liquidating or selling your home. We provide move support (space planning, downsizing, packing and resettling), we deal with what’s left behind (selling, donating, recycling and discarding), and as a top-notch licensed real estate agent with Howard Hanna, I can sell your home too!

What sets us apart?

1) You’ll have just one point of contact for the entire project. This makes the process easier and faster.

2) We have a large network of complementary service providers, so we can connect you to other community resources based on your needs.

3) Everyone on our team is background checked, bonded, and insured.

Our goal is to reduce your stress as you go through this process, so you can relax and focus on more important things. Call today for a free, in-home consultation.

One call does it all! 585-978-3025 www.caringtransitionsrochester.com

Ron Bailey and Diane Kolifrath run Great American Bike Tours, LLC. The company organizes bike tour along the Erie Canal and other locations in the northeast U.S.

$200 per month for healthy food, utility bills, and more

$200 per month for healthy food, utility bills, and more

$200 per month for healthy food, utility bills, and more

If you have both Medicaid and Medicare, a Dual Special Needs Plan from UnitedHealthcare® could be a big help to you, providing extra benefits for care and services you may be missing now. Plan benefits may include:

$200

per month for healthy food, utility bills, and more

per month for healthy food, utility bills, and more

If you have both Medicaid and Medicare, a Dual Special Needs Plan from UnitedHealthcare® could be a big help to you, providing extra benefits for care and services you may be missing now.

Plan benefits may include:

$200 credit for food, OTC, and utilities

$2,000 allowance for hearing aids

$2,000 allowance for hearing aids

If you have both Medicaid and Medicare, a Dual Special Needs Plan from UnitedHealthcare® could be a big help to you, providing extra benefits for care and services you may be missing now. Plan benefits may include:

$200 credit for food, OTC, and utilities

$0 copay on all covered prescriptions

$0 copay on all covered prescriptions

$200 credit for food, OTC, and utilities

$1,500 for comprehensive dental services

$1,500 for comprehensive dental services

$0 copay on all covered prescriptions

48 rides for doctor or pharmacy visits

48 rides for doctor or pharmacy visits

$1,500 for comprehensive dental services

$

$2,000 allowance for hearing aids

Renew Active® fitness for body and mind

Renew Active® fitness for body and mind

Renew Active® fitness for body and mind

$2,000

$0 copay for meals after a hospital stay

$0 copay for meals after a hospital stay

$0 copay for meals after a hospital stay

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By Bruce Frassinelli Email: bfrassinelli@ptd.net

How Long Do We Subsidize Our Kids?

The new thinking is that parents should be accommodating young adults to live at home as long as possible — is it a good idea?

When my children had finished college back in the 1980s, my goal was to get them out of the house and into a responsible job as soon as possible.

Of course, I love my children, but I could not imagine any of my three boys sponging off their parents until they were 30 or older.

I am happy to say that my two older sons found jobs right out of college; my youngest went to medical school, so he didn’t start his fiveyear surgery residency until he was 27.

The conventional advice for me and other parents my age was to cut the financial relationship with our young adult children as soon as we could. Do we push them out — a sink-or-swim scenario — or do we keep them until they are able to take on financial responsibilities for themselves?

If we didn’t do that, we were viewed to be irresponsible, coddling adults who would regret allowing them to be on the family dole indefinitely. After all, who wanted to raise 20-something sloths closeted in their childhood bedroom watching TV or doing other activities that resulted in frittering away the days that turn into months, possibly even years?

Sorry, but now I am told that this is outdated thinking, even callous in the face of the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. I am told that giving a helping hand to adult children doesn’t mean that you are stifling their path to

independence. Our kids now face monthly rent payments that can be more than 50% of their take-home pay. Inflation is causing food prices to surge. Energy costs have risen significantly during the past year. If your children need to buy a vehicle, even an older model, it costs a bundle.

The new thinking is that parents should be accommodating young adults to live at home as long as possible, especially if they need to pay off large student loans. Even if they don’t have major debts, a few years of being rent-free can help them tremendously when they finally go it alone, we are now being told.

In another era, I was out of the house and on my own at age 22 when I graduated from college and landed a teaching job that paid $4,000 a year in 1961. I also had a part-time job at a radio station in the same community. But I really lucked out: I boarded with an elderly couple at whose home I had an upstairs bedroom and kitchen

privileges, all for $1 a day. At another home, a couple with whom I became good friends, allowed me to have supper with them each night, also for $1 a day. So I paid $14 a week for room and board. When I tell this and other stories from my youth to my grandchildren, who are just now making their way in the world, they roll their eyes and remind me that deals like this are no longer available except in fairy tales.

All of my five grandchildren, ranging in age from 20 to 27 are still being subsidized to varying degrees by their parents. One is still in college, one has a good job but still lives at home; another, who also is living at home after quitting a full-time job without another job to go to, just got an offer that she is considering. One lives with her fiancé, and the other is an ensign in the U.S. Navy stationed on the West Coast.

A big variant in this different generation of kids has been the COVID-19 pandemic. So many younger workers lost their jobs when there were massive layoffs — victims of first in, first out. Now, that jobs are plentiful again, at least they were before some of the high-tech layoffs of late, younger workers have more choices than previously.

A report from savings.com indicated that many young adults who were blindsided by the pandemic turned to a reliable safety net — their parents. From buying food to paying for their cell phone plan or covering health and auto insurance, half of parents with children over 18 provide them with at least some financial

support. According to savings.com, these contributions to their kids amount, on average, to about $1,000 a month.

These children even have their own name now — they are called “boomerang kids,” because they return to the nest or require financial help to stay afloat.

I was curious as to whether some of these young adults, especially those who might have part- or full-time jobs, are contributing to household expenses while living with their parents, but savings.com in its survey found that two out of three do not.

For parents who are in their key earnings years, supporting grown children can threaten their own financial security, but most parents take the position that “my kids need me, and they come first,” even if it means that parents do without.

Financial experts caution, however, that when you lay out large amounts of cash to help your adult children, it deprives you of the funds that you are saving to reach your financial goals, such as paying off debt, building a nest egg for retirement and salting away money for long-term health-care costs. This could be the equivalent of robbing Peter to pay Paul. These experts advise that you should take care of yourself first, then help your adult children, who have to be able to fend for themselves, even if it is a bit painful at the beginning.

More and more grandparents, especially those who are in a position to do so, are coming to the rescue by either subsidizing their children or their grandchildren to get them over the financial hump.

I thought the advice of former educator Jenny Grant Rankin, who has written on the subject, was perfect: “The key is to be helpful but not to enable poor behavior.”

Your financial helpfulness cannot be an open checkbook. There must be expectations on the part of your children or grandchildren, and they need to be articulated so everyone is on the same page.

Here is the bottom line: Parents and grandparents might think that they are doing their children and grandchildren a big favor by continuing to support them as adults, but, in reality, the best gift they can give is personal responsibility and the will to let them make it on their own.

Meet the Geriactors

Group of aging actors determined to continue entertaining and be vital

By John Addyman

As we go down the highway of life, we drive by a lot of beautiful meadowy areas — pastures. A lot of the time, we’re so busy chasing life that we don’t see what’s standing silently in those pastures.

Slowing down, as we do when we get a little older, we see what the pastures have held for many years — doctors, teachers, bank managers, cashiers, snowplow drivers, carpenters, mail carriers — all people who have gotten off the fast track and are enjoying a quieter stage of life.

But locally, there’s a pasture where people are standing at the gate, refusing to cross into the field. They’re adamant — not us; not now.

“Who the heck do they think they are?” the retired and sedate pasturedwellers in other fields ask.

They’re actors. A small group, to be certain, but steadfast in their desire not to leave the limelight.

And there they are, standing apart. The Geriactors.

They’ve organized and become emboldened.

“The people who started this group were some of the best veteran actors in Rochester,” said Jean Gordon Ryon. “They were people of a certain age, in their 70s, and they were very frustrated because the local theatre groups, community theaters, were offering so few roles they were appropriate for, so few plays that had older characters

in them. They were frustrated. They wanted to perform more. They decided to take matters into their own hands and form a performing troupe that would tour and be an ongoing learning and performing opportunity.”

Ryon is the artistic director of Geriactors.

When actors Elaine Good, Jim Scholes, Darrell Lance, Greg Byrne and Sonya Raimi decided to form the group in 1999, they invited Ryon, who had been a dramaturg (show developer and director) and literary director at Geva Theatre, to an evening of conversation.

“It started with us sitting around a table, deciding what kind of work we’d like to do, what kind of performance situations we’d like to be in, and we landed on the idea of becoming a touring group that would perform when hired by organizations like senior living facilities, schools, libraries, churches Rotary clubs — whoever wanted a program of an hour or so, groups who wanted someone to come in and do a program for them,”

The Geriactors are, from left, bottom row: Greg Byrne, Jean Gordon Ryon and Ginni Pierce; middle row, Vicki Casarett, Mary Krickmire, Elaine Fuller, and Denise Bartalo; back row, Roger Gans, John Jaeger, and Richard Kenrick (Courtesy of Ira Srole).

she said.

Ryon added that the group is very selective: 10 members, period. This number keeps everyone involved to a satisfying degree.

“As with many things, the more you enlarge it the more you water down the benefit for the people involved,” she explained. Ten is a manageable number, easily portable and everyone would get to know each other well.”

Geriactors was born

Roger Gans, the business manager and advance man for the troupe, said they’re ready to go in places small and large.

“We need about 200-300 square feet of space,” he said. “We like to have 16 feet across and 14 feet deep for a ‘stage,’ but we can do readings in a smaller space.”

Geriactors travels light.

“We have five to seven actors plus a keyboard and player, Elaine Fuller. If an organization has a piano, we use theirs. We never bring all 10 people,” Gans said.

“Quality is very important to us,” Ryon stressed. “The original founders wanted to do very high-standard work. We’re not the dancing grannies. We’ve always kept in place that we want to do excellent work. We don’t want to just throw stuff up there and have people say, ‘Isn’t it amazing that they can still talk?’”

Ryon’s history with Geva and theatre in the area meant she compiled a Rolodex — a file — full of writers she has worked with.

“I usually approach writers we’ve worked with before, with whom we have a relationship, and say, ‘You got anything new? Would you consider writing a play about this?’ We have three or four who will — almost by return email — send us new plays. I am so grateful for them,” she said.

“We have a pretty big set of plays,” Gans said. “Jean is brilliant in the way she’ll take this play and this play

and this play and program them as a theme. She writes the little pieces, what we call the ‘connective tissue,’ that get said between the plays to stitch a whole performance together.”

A typical Geriactors performance goes between 45 minutes and an hour, and presents four to seven small plays with a Ryon theme weaving them together.

“We’re not just doing fluffy stuff,” she said. “We do a lot of comedy, but we’re trying to do scripts that have some character, some theme to explore, some idea about life as we know it to talk about. All the actors I work with are hungry to talk about these things — we don’t talk about them very much in social situations,” she said.

Gans describes their play,

for local groups who need more production space.

"Reminiscing" is a play about the afterlife.

“Some of its scenes are funny and some are touching. Some are just silly, total fluff, like 'The Godmother',” Ryon said.

"Disconnect" is a play about all the ways people don’t communicate.

"We Were There" is another play Bartalo especially likes.

“It’s composed of pieces written by our members.” Gans added. “It’s about how war affects people, about ordinary people in extraordinary times, from the Napoleonic Wars up to World War II.”

"Downsizing", “about a couple who don’t agree too much on what they’re doing, but they’re selling their big house and moving into an apartment.”

The sardonic "Bridge Club of Death" is a fuller production and actor Denise Bartalo has her favorite role in it. “There’s a lot more character development and it’s more challenging,” she said. “It’s about four people in a senior living facility who hatch a plan to assist the people in memory care to their ends.”

Gans went a little farther in the play’s description: “People had asked us to murder them.”

That production was done at the Multi-Use Community Culture Center at 142 Atlantic Ave., Rochester. It’s a rent-a-theatre turnkey enterprise

“That developed in the sittingaround-the-table phase because people had old family letters that had been written from the front, or a poem someone had written for their son who was a soldier, or an old family story,” Ryon said. “So, we asked, ‘This is such great material, how can we use it?’ Everybody in the group had their own monologue. A story, a letter, a relating of experience about how war had affected not necessarily the people at the front, but people who were at home. It is a wonderful program. All of our programs are designed to be dusted off at a moment’s notice if people request them.”

For Bartalo, coming to Geriactors filled in some special places in her life.

“Here you get to do some character analysis — and it might just be a twopage script. You kind of make up a backstory for your character. It gets your creative juices going to be able to do that,” she said.

“One of our newer members asked me, ‘Do you still enjoy it?’ When I said I did, I was asked what I enjoy about acting. I enjoy keeping the craft, keeping my skills sharpened. Because if you don’t act for 10 years or whatever, you’re not as sharp. Having to memorize, thinking about character and character development, the arc

Geriactors Denise Bartolo, Jean Gordon Ryon and Roger Gans.

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of a scene — it’s good to keep all that active,” she added. “My favorite role as a Geriactor was in SSFP – Seniors Searching For Partners. In my role, I’ve come to hear an activist lecture and she’s definitely searching for partners and I’m not searching for partners.”

“It’s kind of speed dating for seniors,” Bartalo summed up.

The troupe size makes it easy for people to be involved and busy, but Ryon also noted the reality of her partners.

“As we age, we have more doctors’ appointments. Sometimes people have conflicts. Sometimes they go on vacation. Sometimes they get a parttime job. Sometimes they’re active, then something happens and they’re less active for a while, then they come back,” she said.

Still, the Geriactors have performed at every Rochester Fringe Festival since the beginning and they’ll be back this summer.

Each production of the Geriactors is specifically tuned to the audience providing the $250 performance fee. The process of booking the troupe starts with a phone call or email to Gans (geriactors@gmail.com and 585533-1606).

Ryon said they’d like four weeks’ notice, but can work more quickly in certain cases. Sometimes organizations would like a longer glidepath while they apply for a grant. After that first phone call, Gans will visit the performance site to make sure it’s workable. And then the troupe will start to prepare.

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“This has been a great privilege of my life, to lead this group of people because they are so excellent and so dedicated and I hate to see a person’s gifts go unused,” Ryon said. “We’ve had some members get increasingly frail, but as soon as they start to perform, the spirit comes out of them and just fills up the room — that’s just so thrilling for me to see.”

How to Contact the Geriactors

For more information about the Geriactors or to book a presentation, email geriactors@gmail.com or call 585-533-1606.

“There’s no running away from the unction,” she said, sitting at her dining room table, resplendent in a royal blue dress. “You have to yield to it.”

She’s tapping her finger on the table, quietly making her point. Then she’s pointing to whoever is listening.

“I was called into the ministry. I had an unction from God. The Holy Spirit gives you an unction and God speaks to you.”

For many who hear the call from on high, it’s a whisper, a tingling, a sudden realization that you’ve had your thinking turned completely around.

Ivy Caldwell, 58, clearly got the call.

She explained: “I had dreams of being in front of people. I can remember one Sunday our pastor, Bishop John Crocker, preached a message and it spoke directly to me: God was calling me to preach. There’s no running from the unction.

“I told Bishop Crocker that God was speaking to me in my dreams. I dreamed of being in front of people, speaking. He told me about a program in Yonkers where I could get my bachelor’s degree in theology. He said, ‘I’m going to get you signed up for that.”

That was years ago. Caldwell has since been just about everything in her Faith, Hope and Charity Worship Center in Rochester — teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, leading the praise and worship team, working as the cleaning overseer, teaching youth discipleship and standing in as Pastor Theresa Crocker’s armor-bearer.

IVY CALDWELL GOT THE CALL

By John Addyman

Now she has stepped onto a national stage as a writer who spent years as a Christian struggling against and finally subduing a particularly ugly demon.

It is the pain she carried for so many years that has clarified her voice so that she now helps other women face their deepest fears and conquer them.

She is vivid in her tale.

“As a little girl, I was sexually abused on my ninth birthday,” she said, unwinding the core of who she is now. Her tone is matter-of-fact. She doesn’t have to emphasize much, her story is so strong.

“There are so many people who are holding in past trauma, trauma

Where the unction can take you: living a fulfilling life, urged on by The Call, climbing away from abuse

they have yet to talk about. That’s why people are drinking, are using drugs and are in psychiatric wards,” she said. “The challenge is comprehending the trauma that has happened to them. That’s why I wrote my book. God told me to write this book. It has already helped women.

“My mother’s boyfriend abused me. I got a phone call from him on my birthday. The voice on the other end of the line said, ‘I have a surprise for you.’ So, of course, I figured I was invited: I go to his house, alone, I get up there and that’s what he does.

“After the incident, I didn’t speak of it. We were living on one side of town. Our house caught fire and we moved to the other side of town. Months went by, but who shows up at our house? He does. He’s living with us now. I am this little girl walking around with this fear, this anger, this hatred and one day my mom asked me, ‘Why don’t you like him?’

“I told her exactly what happened to me. Her words to me were, ‘Child, ain’t nothing happened to you. Must have been something you saw on TV.’” Silence.

“That day shut my voice,” Caldwell said. “If your mom doesn’t have your back, who’s going to have your back? Her boyfriend would taunt me — ‘I’m going to get you, I’m going to get you’ — with this evil grin on his face. He would try to bait me. He’d buy me things, wanted me to get close to him, to like him. I wasn’t having it. I hated this man.

“Years go by and finally my mom and I did have a conversation again about the incident. She said, ‘Well, I just did the best that I could.’ So I left it alone. I went back a third time because I’m getting ready to write my book. I told her, ‘Mom, you’re going to be in this book; you’re part of my story.’ We sat at the table and I listened

to her story.”

Her mother had been raised on a plantation.

“We know what goes on at a plantation. So

when my mother said she did the best that she could, I got it,” Caldwell said. She understood, but still, her mother had not protected her.

“But I got it, the mindset my mother had was that she did the best she could because what happened to her on that plantation was worse in her mind — far worse — compared to what happened to me.”

In the end, Caldwell and her mother reconciled.

“All is well. Months went by and she came over to my house with the book I’d written and told me, ‘You know what? I missed it. I missed it.’ That was her way of saying, ‘I’m sorry. Would you forgive me?’” she said.

Not a year went by and Caldwell’s mother died of cancer.

“I ended up being her caregiver,” she said. “She came here and just deteriorated with terminal bone cancer, in 30 days. She didn’t tell anyone.”

The book Caldwell wrote is “Expose It! Let Your Healing Process Begin…”

In it, she details what abuse meant — and did — to her. She asks readers who have suffered abuse and trauma to focus on the enemy, in her Christian sense, Caldwell is zeroed in on Satan, the entity who forced the abuser into action. But for those who aren’t Christian, the abuser is the target.

TOP: Ivy Caldwell’s newest book, “Where is My Father?” is a children’s book about a little boy who doesn’t know who his father is and wonders if he will ever meet him. She just announced the publication of two more children’s books — “I Am Special” for girls, and “I Am Special Too” for boys.

BOTTOM: In her book, “Expose It! Let Your Healing Process Begin…”, Ivy Caldwell details what abuse meant — and did — to her.

She uses scripture references to make her points, allowing someone to expand their faith as they try to get themselves whole again after the horrors of the abuse.

And once she put the book together, Caldwell’s next move was to develop a program she could deliver to abused women, using the book as the foundation. She taught the beta (test) version of that course last year.

“I wanted to get feedback from people about the course. I had three brave souls, women, with backgrounds of domestic violence and sexual abuse. We met two days a week for six

sessions,” she said.

She got right down to business in the opening session.

“I don’t need to know what happened to you,” she told her participants. “But I’m going to challenge you to find someone in your circle you trust to share your story with.

That first night I share my story. I’m very transparent about me and what I’ve been through. The people in the class didn’t have anything to say. The second night, they asked questions, but they weren’t giving up any information. On the third night, they could not wait to expose their truths. I sat there in awe. ‘God, look what you have done.’ This is how life-transforming this is: One of the young ladies asked me, ‘Can I share my information with you?’ I told her, ‘Of course.’ She gave me a call. She said, ‘I thank God for you because I was getting ready to kill myself.’ I thought, ‘Oh my God. We don’t know what people are going through. They all stayed with the course and enjoyed it, loved it.”

Caldwell had another session in April. She’s offering the classes virtually, but can schedule a group in person, and extend the program beyond those six basic sessions if need be. Details are on her website, footprintenterprisesllc.com.

Just before Expose It! made it into print, Caldwell got published in Chanel Martin’s collaboration about race relations in America, "We Deserve to Be Heard." Martin is, as Caldwell describes, “a performance and accountability leadership coach using Biblically based principles.”

Caldwell had responded to Martin’s social media plea for writers to submit a chapter about African American women finding their voices. Caldwell wrote about hate being taught to children.

“We don’t come into this world hating people. Children can be outside playing with one another, no matter what background you come from, no matter what your color is — with no problems, no issues,” she said.

That chapter and her book led her to contribute to Latrina Caldwell’s collaboration, "Walking in My Purpose – Successful Women on the Move." Next came five chapters in Dr. Monique Rodgers’ series, "Calling to Intercede: A Collaboration of Intercessors on the

Front Line of Prayer" – an Amazon best-seller.

And the pace accelerated. Caldwell has made bylined contributions and chapters to Michelle S. Thomas’s "8 Qualities of the Exceptional Black Woman" and the later "A Guide to Success." Caldwell collaborated with Pastor Crocker on "Transitioning to the Other Side – Coping with the Loss of Life," and was one of 99 authors of the devotional, "Joy Comes in the Morning."

Caldwell’s newest book, “Where is My Father?” is a children’s book about a little boy who doesn’t know who his father is and wonders if he will ever meet him. It’s the first in a series she’s developing “because children don’t have a voice.” It is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

And she just announced two more children’s books — “I Am Special” for girls, and “I Am Special Too” for boys.

“All too often our children are pushed to the side and not given the attention they need,” she said. “I wrote these books to encourage and empower children to look within and appreciate who they are.”

You’d think Caldwell is being pulled in a hundred different directions, now that she is so active in Christian literature and self-help books; but she is still running an insurance business out of her home. She has four sons and a husband, Kevin, whom she describes…”I know that scripture says when a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing. But I am the one who has found a good thing — anything my heart desires, God fulfills and anything I want, my honey (Kevin) fulfills.”

Caldwell looks at her developing career.

“I am a certified life coach, a certified Christian counselor and chaplin. I have a faith-based organization that helps women who are ready to confront their past emotional trauma. I help women find their voice, authority and power,” she said.

She believes she will continue to reach more and more women.

“It’s going to happen,” she promised. “It’s just a matter of time.”

And right after that, she added that she’s a co-author with Dr. Elaine Harvey in the recently released book, "I Am An Overcomer."

That unction just keeps moving Ivy Caldwell along.

ADULT SPORTS LEAGUES ABOUND IN THE REGION

They provide camaraderie, exercise and a great way to stay active

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

If you would like to improve your fitness, you could walk. It’s weightbearing to build bone and improve balance.

Walking involves major muscle groups and costs nothing. If you walk outdoors, it provides fresh air and sunshine. You can even wear weighted vests and carry hand weights to challenge yourself.

But joining an adult sports team

offers benefits beyond these.

“The thing we most need is contact and connection as human beings,” said Grace Klein, Ph.D., in private practice in Rochester. “That is the most important thing for mental health: being able to share common interests and relationships and spend time together. It helps people connect with each other and to not be isolated.”

Isolation is a known risk factor

for depression and cognitive decline. Team sports provide the benefit of the enrichment of meeting new people and building relationships.

“People recognize each other if someone makes a good move,” Klein said. “Everyone can celebrate and acknowledge each other.”

These feel-good moments make exercise more enjoyable that slogging it out alone on a treadmill with little

immediate reward.

Although exercising solo at the gym or on the hiking trail fulfills many aspects of fitness, group fitness through joining a team can help keep you accountable. You know that your teammates are counting on you to show up. It’s tougher to skip a session if you feel like you’re letting others down. You play hard to score and succeed. It’s also motivating to practice outside of scheduled times to improve your game.

“Team sports are a valuable piece to any older adult’s overall wellness routine,” Mike Avery, associate executive director of Eastside Family YMCA. “Sports like pickleball require your body to move and react in three dimensions with agility and coordination. All can be difficult to incorporate in your weight training routine yet are critical for balance and injury prevention as we age. They also offer a fun opportunity to socialize and share your competitive spirit.”

If you have played team sports before, reviving your interest can be mentally stimulating as you recall old skills and sports memories. But learning new skills can also engage your mind, which is associated with maintaining cognition later in life.

Although playing a team sport can help you get in better shape, consider any health considerations such as previous injuries that a sport may aggravate. Check with your doctor about any health concerns before you sign up for a sport. You may need to participate in something less intense before joining the sports team of your choice.

To find area team sport available, check out your municipality’s offerings and teams that play at local sports complexes.

Organizations offering team sports include:

• In Batavia https:// bataviaparks.org/athletics

• Canandaigua YMCA https:// www.ymca.org/what-we-do/ healthy-living/sports-recreation

• In Geneseo www. geneseoparkdistrict.org/ athletics-leagues

• Geneva Adult Sports https://cityofgenevany. com/262/Adult-Sports 315-828-6550

Henrietta https://henriettany. myrec.com/info/ activities/program_details. aspx?ProgramID=30866

• Penfield Recreation www.penfield.org/ programs_and_activities/ sport_leagues/adult.php

• In Perinton https://perinton. org/departments/randp/ recreation/55-plus-program

• Rochester Go FLingo Sport & Social www.goflingo.com

• Rochester Sports Garden Inc. www.rocsportsgarden.com

• Rochester YMCA https:// rochesterymca.org/groupexercise-schedules?&locatio ns=&categories=Gym&cn=

• In Spencerport www.leagueathletics.com/

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well past retirement. That’s because he likes it.

“My camera is a high-res Canon. The secret to the quality of my copies is my lighting. I use Polarizing filters on my lights to remove virtually all the glare and allow for maximum tonal range,” he said.

“There are all sorts of other things I might do to do the job right. Sometimes I end up blending several exposures taken different ways. It all depends on what it will take to do the job right,” he added.

Baldwin said his photography career may not have been lucrative monetarily, but it definitely was rich in personal satisfaction. Cars and pets are subjects he never tired of photographing and still does today.

“Life as a commercial photographer is both intellectually and physically challenging. Lugging heavy equipment around to location shoots and long days on my feet were signs it was time to slow down,” said the veteran photographer who grew up in Connecticut and graduated from RIT with a degree in photography in 1969.

Not long after that, he decided to remain in the region he came to love.

“Here you can milk cows in the morning and take in the symphony orchestra in the afternoon,” he said of the diverse number of activities and opportunities our region presents.

Bringing New Life to Old Photos

Growth in digital photography options gives local photographer a renewed passion for his craft

By Todd Etshman

Time waits for no one — nor does it wait for your photographs unless they were stored properly, printed on archival paper, kept out of the sunlight and out of a moisture laden basement.

Even then there’s no guarantee that treasured photo of the 1930 Yankees, the college fraternity, your

parents or all your favorite photos, won’t fade, crack, stain and break down one way or another as the years go by.

Here to help restore those photos to look like new — or at least better than they were — is Studio Astute in Fairport and Steven Baldwin, 75, a Rochester photographer working

The growth in digital photography options gave him a renewed passion for his craft. He’s finding more digital options all the time and enjoys passing his knowledge onto his customers.

“I was beginning to spend much more time in front of a computer screen than behind a camera. And I was discovering all sorts of possibilities that really intrigued me,” he said of his new focus on photo restoration, which isn’t really photo restoration at all since the customer gets the original back in the same condition he left it.

What it is, is a new digital photograph of the original with all the fixes and style and additions or subtractions the customer wants in the facsimile of the original. Baldwin isn’t sure what else to call it exactly.

And while some of his commercial photography assignments were a little less than exciting, many of his photo restoration projects definitely are

exciting to Baldwin and his customers.

Take for example, historical photos. Baldwin studies what people in history looked like and can make a face to replace one that time, mishaps or lack of care took out of a photograph.

It all depends on what the customer wants. Baldwin will create the new photo based on the customer’s desire and expectations.

Want to make your photo into giclee art or in an impressionist style? Baldwin can do that and more. There are all kinds of options for customers who want to try a new look or a new old look.

Alas, however, not every photo

can be restored or brought back to life. Baldwin will tell customers if that’s the case and if anything can be done to improve the photo.

The Epson photographic paper he uses will last a long time — longer than Baldwin himself, he said, assuming it’s cared for properly.

As Baldwin explained, he’s not the only one that does this kind of work, but he may be the best.

“You can’t get this at Walgreens or your local drug store,” he said.

Scott’s Photo on East Avenue is one that gets his approval and the only legitimate one that he knows of, he said.

Most who attempt this kind of photo restoration work, do it from a scanned image supplied by the customer meaning they don’t get to see the original and that could result in a misleading interpretation of the image.

You can even try doing some digital-based photo restoration with programs available on your own computer, but as you can see for yourself, it’s tough for an amateur to beat a professional like Baldwin.

More information on Baldwin’s photography services and photo restoration may be found on his website, www.studioastute.com.

Veteran photographer Steven Baldwin graduated from RIT with a degree in photography in 1969. Part of what he does today is photo restoration. Above are some before-and-after photos he restored.

Optometrist Publishes Book He Wrote for His Kids – Before They Were Born

By John Addyman

Before they were born, Robert Conway’s children were an important part of his life.

He was a folksinger, releasing his first and only record album with local singer Judy Nett, “Stories from Cobbs Hill.” That was in 1982.

He was enjoying married life with wife, Lori, and a budding career as an optometrist, fulfilling a plan he’d formed as a very young man. And being an optometrist, he had

very clear vision. So, on that record, he inserted two songs — for son Jason, who was born a year later, and daughter, Molly, born five years later — foretelling the arrival of his kids. They had been, of course, a twinkle in dad’s eyes. And few things twinkle more brightly than an optometrist’s eyes.

'When Molly’s Here' is definitely about our daughter, Molly, but it was written in February of 1982, five years before she was born,” Conway said.

“Like most of my songs and stories, the words and music, or the words and pictures, always came together. Lori and I are now approaching our 45th wedding anniversary. At the time that this song was written we had been married four years and were starting to dream and talk about having children. We knew that if we had a daughter, she would be named Molly, after Lori’s great-grandmother (Hebrew name ‘Malka,’ English name Molly).”

“Our first child, Jason, had not even been conceived yet. He was born in 1983. Molly was born on Valentine’s Day 1987. I recited the lyrics to her song at her wedding in October of 2016. Jason has his own song titled, 'The River Flows,' also on the record album. Both songs are about potential parents imagining their love for the next generation,” he explained.

In raising his kids, Conway focused on a relationship with them that included stories he wrote just for them, stories he’d read to them at bedtime.

Conway, now 66, and Lori are looking at retirement. Lori, a nurse practitioner at Highland Family Medicine, has already pulled the plug. He is going to wait until the end of this year.

But on the way, he’s turning some of those stories he used to read to his children — the stories that had been gently collecting dust on a shelf — into books. The first one, self-published with a lot of help from Amazon, debuted in 2021 – "The Floating Rock."

“This is the first story I’ve done something with,” Conway explained at a desk at the Henrietta Library, which carries his book. “I wrote it more than 10 years ago. It has nothing to do with optometry. When I was a young boy, I was at the St. Louis Zoo and they had this announcement for a ‘floating rock.’ I imagined what a floating rock must look like. I went to the exhibit. I remember there was a pool of water and I asked the guy next to the pool, ‘Where’s the floating rock?’ I’m a young boy looking up to the sky. He points down to the water and a floating rock is a type of lava that if it’s a certain temperature, and it happens to fall into the water in a certain way, it’s becomes a floating rock. Well, I was very disappointed,” he said.

“Originally, my story of “The Floating Rock” was going to be about all those unexplainable things that happen in life that when people are given an explanation of — and it’s really not an accurate explanation — but it just lets them go on with the rest of their lives, as if they know what’s causing it,” he continued.

Without giving up too much of the story, “The Floating Rock” is about a good ant that has some questions that the queen ant and her minions can’t answer, but they provide answers anyway.

“The book started out being just that — an explanation of things we don’t really understand how they happen,” Conway explained. “For instance, Monarch butterflies make a migration of thousands of miles and not one member in that group has done it before. But they know exactly when to do it and where to go and they end up in the same place. We don’t know how the caterpillars turn into butterflies. We don’t know how if you take a starfish and cut off a leg, it grows another leg. These are things we really just accept. We don’t really know.”

He got his book together with illustrations he painstakingly prepared and tried to market it to publishers.

“I’ve always been interested in graphic arts and photography,” Conway said. When he was 17, he had done a poster for Planned Parenthood of Rochester.

“It was a pile of turtles like Yertle the Turtle (I was inspired by Dr. Seuss). The poster said, ‘If you feel crowded today, just wait until tomorrow.’”

He went to Monroe Community College and got an associate degree in graphic arts and printing. He completed his bachelor’s degree at St. John Fisher in preparation for optometry college and also took art classes at Nazareth College.

The next stop was the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago.

“It’s one of the largest and oldest optometry colleges,” he said. “When I was accepted, there were 150 students in each class, with a total of seven women. Now 80% of the classes there are women and Asian women are the most common. There’s a big demographic shift going on in optometry.”

He liked being in a big-city school where he got a lot of patients to work with in his clinical studies.

Optometry has been a perfect career for Conway. “I like the oneon-one aspect of it. It’s a way I like to spend my life. You get to know people, you get to know them over the years, get to know their children. I’ve been in practice 42 years, so at this point I’m seeing the grandchildren of people I saw years ago. It’s nice to see this continuity,” he said.

When COVID-19 hit, he was out of business for three months during the lockdowns.

“I had these books on the shelf and I realized that this was the time to do something with them. The meaning of The Floating Rock became different because the world had changed around it. Now it was about governments lying to people about what was going on. The floating rock could now be covid or anything we get misinformation about. It didn’t start off being political, but in the context of where we are now, it is a political book,” he said.

“Many of my patients who have read the book and given it to their neighbors’ children or grandchildren have commented that it’s a bridge, a

way for families who have been so split apart by politics over the last few years to start to talk about things and close that gap,” he added.

In every way “The Floating Rock” is a children’s book, but to an older audience, it is a simple tale about why people don’t come clean when cornered.

Looking at the book, it’s easy to see why kids would like it. But his first illustrations, though charming, were too simple, too one-dimensional. He decided on his second try to get published was to incorporate photos he and Lori and Molly took, layering and texturing them against the illustrations using advanced Photoshop techniques he learned on

Starr’s Octopus’s Garden or John Denver’s Garden Song are examples.”

“That’s where my future books will come from — the books and the songs I’ve already written,” he added.

“Now I’m an optometrist, raising a family. Life happens. I’m an optometrist who has written 200 songs and 10 books — but I haven’t published anything except one record and this (book).

"That’s why I’m retiring, so I can have time to do this.”

Back in his singing days, he was a regular, playing and singing at the Park Avenue Project and Genesee Coop and he was a member of the Golden Link folksinging collective.

As a now-recently published author, he said his association with Amazon has been fruitful: “The way you publish on Amazon is that you create the files, Photoshop or text files, format them in the proper way. Anyone who orders it, it’s printed in the closest place to them in the world, so it’s worldwide, printed that day, and they send it to the person who ordered it.

Then, at the end of the year, they send me a royalty check and the first check came last year. My wife asked why I was excited to get a check (and it was a very modest amount) because I had to pay taxes on it. I said to her, ‘Well, now I’m an official author.’”

The Conways visited Israel earlier this year and at the Hand in Hand Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Jerusalem, he left a copy of The Floating Rock with the inscription, “To the students of the Hand in Hand School, wishing you lives filled with love.”

YouTube and Photobacks.com. The result was transforming. The cover photo’s blue sky is a Henrietta clear day during COVID-19.

The photos and layers under the illustrations take kids from the page into a world they can see up-close in their own backyards.

Now Conway is looking over his inventory for ideas on books to come.

“I’ve written 200 songs,” he said. “On my record album there are 10 songs that can be turned into children’s stories. It’s nice to see that the record album is still around; sometimes I see it on eBay. Any favorite song you have when you look at it for a children’s book, it’s probably already been done — that they’ve illustrated it: Ringo

“Our rabbi then added that inscription in Hebrew and a teacher, Nour Younis, a Palestinian, wrote it in Arabic,” Conway said.

So now he’s an official international author, whose next book, “Esmeralda and the Chrysalis That Didn’t Work,” is due in 2024.

Where you can buy “The Floating Rock”:

• Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport

• Hipocampo Children’s Bookstore, South Wedge

• Book Culture, Pittsford

• Amazon.com

There are also copies at Council Rock Elementary School, the Henrietta Library and the Brighton Library.

Your Guide to a Successful Garage Sale

Everything you need to know to get rid of unwanted stuff

By Kimberly Blaker

Are your garage, basement and closets overflowing from the heaps of stuff you've been saving “just in case?” If so, it may be time to put those languishing piles to good use—in someone else’shome. Rummage sales are a great way to clear out, recycle, and make some extra cash. Follow these suggestions for a successful sale and a clutter-free home.

The storefront

A garage is usually the best place to hold a sale offering shelter and requiring little daily set up and tear down. If your garage is hard to access, hidden from view or contains

valuables that can't be easily hidden, use a covered porch, patio, or your yard. Be sure to have plenty of tarps available to protect your goods from rain and for covering at the end of the day

All in the timing

Plan your sale when temperatures are between 60 to 90 degrees outdoors. Typically, the best days to hold sales are Thursdays thru Sundays, with Fridays and Saturdays bringing the most traffic. Mornings bring the most significant flow of shoppers, and the earlier you're ready, the better. If you open by 7:30 a.m., rummagers will flock.

Displaying your wares

Don’t heap your merchandise on tables or leave it in boxes to be ransacked. While some don’t mind digging through messy stacks, most people won’t bother.

Hang as much clothing as possible. Use a laundry pole or portable closet, or install two support brackets and a closet rod. You can also support a ladder between two stepladders. If you only have a few clothing items, a clothesline will do.

Plenty of table space is also a must. Borrow folding tables, and if you run out, make a table by resting a sheet of plywood over sawhorses, or prop spare planks of wood between chairs. Keep all but big items off the floor for better visibility.

Neatly fold and stack clothing that can't be hung on tables, and label stacks according to size. Organize good toys and complete sets where parents and grandparents will easily spot them. Set up a 'guys' table with hand tools, gadgets, electronics, and home repair items. Then place small articles such as jewelry in divider containers

His volume, or yours? Up and down it goes. If hearing the TV has become challenging, we can help. Schedules and registration for free programs are at hearinglossrochester.org

or egg cartons, so they're easy to view. One exception to the disorderly rule is for small toys. Stick all these little goodies in boxes on the ground where young children can dig for treasures to take home. Label boxes according to the price per item or allow kids to choose one as a prize.

Finally, make sure batteries and electricity are available so you can show shoppers that items are in working condition.

Next to new sells

Appearance plays a big role in the sale of used goods and how much they can bring. Wash and dry all clothing and linens, then fold or hang immediately to prevent wrinkles. Wash dust, dirt, and grime from toys, tools, and household items. Also, repair broken merchandise when feasible.

Priced to sell

Don't overprice or you'll end up packing up nearly as much as you started with. For big items, look through classified ads or on eBay for average resale prices. But if you check eBay, keep in mind that eBay pricing often isn't comparable to what people will pay at a garage sale. Some top quality items in like-new condition can bring 25% to 35% of the replacement cost at rummage sales. Occasionally, tools, equipment, and other things in small supply can be priced higher and sell for 50% to 60% of replacement cost, depending on age and condition. Most used merchandise will bring 5% to 10% of replacement cost at best.

Advertising

Newspaper classified ads or Craigslist, as well as the more popular online garage sale locator websites, usually bring the best results. The exception is if you live on a main street or a heavily traveled highway. In your ad, be sure to include your address and main cross streets, dates and time of your sale, and what you'll be selling. List big items individually as well as the categories of things you'll sell, like "tools" or "toddler clothing."

Also, post flyers on the grocery store or laundromat bulletin boards. If there are no regulations against doing so, posting signs on nearby corners is a must. Don't forget to put a bright sign in front of your house, too. Balloons tied to your mailbox or a tree can also make your sale more visible.

Tips for success

The bigger the sale, the more traffic you’ll get. Go in with family, friends and neighbors and hold one big sale rather than several small ones.

Hold a street or subdivision-wide sale. This will draw people from surrounding areas.

Move big items such as furniture or appliances into the driveway to attract passersby.

Finally, have your items priced. Many people will walk away from a sale with nothing when things aren't priced. They don't want to make an offer that's too low and might offend you. They also don't want the hassle of having to ask the price for every little thing they might consider buying.

Don't overprice, or you'll end up packing up nearly as much as you started with.

Five Cool Things to Do in the Summer

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Rochester Pedal Tours

www.rochesterpedaltours.com

Grab up to 17 friends and propel a people-powered cycle “boat” on the Genesee River. Or book a pedal bike to tour the city with up to 12 to 14 friends (depending on the bike). The megacycles’ retractable awning offers protection so tours go on rain or shine. The company provides a driver to lead each tour and steer the vehicle. Tour participants are welcomed to bring their own food and beverages. Each tour lasts 100 minutes. Tour guides can arrange architecture and history tours, progressive dinners, brewery tours, milestone parties such as retirement and customized bar crawls. Reservations are required.

Bristol Mountain Ziplines and High Ropes

https://bristolmountainadventures.com

This Canandaigua business offers guided Zipline Canopy Tours with seven ziplines measuring more than 5,000 feet and shorter ziplines as well, all with views of the Bristol Valley. The Aerial Adventure Park includes seven courses with a dozen unique challenges in each, like tight rope walks, rope ladders, swings and short ziplines, all while participants wear safety harnesses and helmets. For the very adventuresome, try The Launch, which shoots visitors 63 feet in the air above the forest canopy, experiencing 3.8 G-forces. If you’re bringing along the grandchildren, the Kids Adventure

Park is a good fit for children aged 4t hrough 7.

Genesee Country Village & Museum

www.gcv.org

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“Sharon was so kind & understanding and she had lots of hairpieces to choose from. She knew exactly what I needed. I loved her right away because she showed me what was good on me & the ones not good on me. Sharon was always patient with me... Sharon loves her customers and it shows in how wonderful she treats them: like family.

High quality wigs & hair pieces in a variety of styles & blends and toppers are available.

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Located in Mumford , this is the largest living history museum in New York. Walking the 600-acre grounds feels like stepping out of a time machine into 19th century life with 68 replica or reconstructed historic buildings peopled by costumed interpreters engaged in period life: pottery making, barrelmaking, blacksmithing, weaving and more. The museum is fun for children as well. The GCV provides games and toys for youngsters and plenty of open spaces for play. Picnicking space is available, but food is also available onsite so you can make a day of it. Stop by the gift shop before you go to find old-time games and educational toys.

G&S Orchards

https://gandsorchards.com

This Walworth business offers U-pick opportunities starting with strawberries, juneberries (aka saskatoons), blackberries and raspberries in June; blueberries, cherries, currants and gooseberries in July; and apples and pumpkins in September. The farm also operates a farmstand with fruit, local honey and vegetables, along with a community supported agriculture program. Before you go, check the website to ensure that U-pick fruit is in season.

BayCreek Paddling Center

www.baycreek.com



NO TEXTING OR

EMAILS NO PICTURES TAKEN - ONLY FACETIME

MASKS ARE STILL REQUIRED Due to COVID-19, strict safety policies are in effect and apply to EVERYONE. We cover our styling chair in disposable vinyl. I also wear protective coverings. There is no way an operator could be three feet apart from a client while working, which is why the client and I are covered. You will receive foot coverings, vinyl gloves and a sheer vinyl cape which you will wear out to your car and discard at your convenience. Temperature will be taken at the door. No wigs are touched by bare hands. ONLY THE CLIENT IS PERMITTED INSIDE!

The Rochester based center provides canoe, kayak, and paddleboard sales, rentals and lessons. If you want to try these sports or feel ready to commit, this is the place for you. BayCreek provides paddling activities, events like the Wednesday Night Race Party and guided tours of places like Irondequoit Bay and shuttles to Ellison Park to paddle through the wetlands. If you’re interested in getting in shape, join BayCreek’s paddleboarding or kayaking fitness programs. Classes in canoeing, kayaking or paddleboarding are also available, from beginners to advanced paddlers.

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Exploring the Waterways of New York State

10 Places You Need to Check Out

By Sandra Scott

New York state is blessed with waterways which allow access to all parts of the state. Throughout the years the waterways were used by Native Americans as they hunted and traded, then came the explorers, namely Henry Hudson.

Hudson was followed by ship after ship loaded with settlers. They settled along the waterways creating towns, village, and cities. They built dams to harness the waterpower and then canals to ship their products.

Today those waterways are still used but no longer bustling as they previously were but the scenery and history along the way make for fascinating travel.

Many businesses offer a variety of options including scenic, dinner and sunset cruises. It is not necessary to own a boat to enjoy the beauty of New York state by water — there are plenty of companies offering tours.

1Erie Canal

The Erie Canal system is 365 miles long and spans Albany to Buffalo. There are boat tours on several sections of the Erie Canal but the best way is on a traditional packet boat multiday rental from MidLakes Navigation. The canal is free and there are lock tenders to aid in locking through. Along the way there are tie-up areas, some with electricity and other amenities. There are also many day tours to choose from.

Circle the Island

Most people know Manhattan is an island but the best way to appreciate the entire island and its waterways is on Circle Cruise all the way around Manhattan Island. The guided boat tour takes in every angle of New York City’s iconic waterfront with unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Statue of Liberty. The 2.5 hour cruise passes by all five of New York’s boroughs.

HUDSON RIVER

There are several places to take a boat trip on the Hudson, including Kingston, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Peekskill and Albany. The Evening Star, from Peekskill, is a former US Coast Guard Buoy Tender converted to a 36-passenger tour boat. The Evening Star gives folks an opportunity to witness the spectacular beauty of the land and the rich history woven in and out of the Hudson Highlands.

Blount Small Ship Adventures offer a couple of two-week cruises that include the Hudson River and portions of the Erie Canal. One option travels between New York City and Quebec. It includes the Oswego Canal, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River along with the locking through the St. Lawrence Seaway. There are many stops along the way.

The Ultimate 5

Raquette Lake

There are several boat tours on lakes in the Adirondacks. Check out the scenic cruise aboard the W. W. Durant on Raquette Lake. The boat’s namesake, William W. Durant, was the designer and developer of the camps in the Adirondacks now referred to as the Adirondack Camp Style or Great Camp Style. The lakes became the preferred getaway for the wealthy in the late 1800s, including the Vanderbilts and Carnegies. The “camps” were actually rustic mansions surrounded by the forest. Learn about the lake and how the scene has changed over the years on 90-minute sightseeing cruise.

Niagara River

The most popular way to experience the Niagara River is on the Maid of the Mist which offers up-close and personal views of Niagara Falls. Be prepared to get wet. For an adrenalin rush experience the Whirlpool Jet Boat Ride. Out of Buffalo there is a 90-minute afternoon river cruise where one can learn about the waterways that turned Buffalo into one of the biggest and richest cities in the world.

Lake George

The Lake George Steamship Company offers a variety of seasonal cruises but the most interesting is the six-hour complete tour of the lake on the Mohican. The Mohican, built in 1908, has been offering tours for over 100 years. The fully narrated cruise offers views and information about the mountains, islands, historic mansion, and the lakes current ecological balance.

Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes are beautiful but most people only see them from the shores or the roads running along these scenic lakes. To get the full effect of the Finger Lakes you have to get on the water itself. Several of the Finger Lakes have boat tours including Seneca, Canandaigua. Skaneateles and Cayuga. One unique trip on Skaneateles Lake is aboard the mail boat.

St Lawrence River

The New York section of the St. Lawrence River is home to the famed 1000 Islands. There are several companies offering tours of the area including Uncle Sam Boat Tours. Some tours include stops are Boldt and Singer Castles plus a cruise by Millionaire’s Row. The “Night Heron” out of Clayton is a glass bottom boat. The narration on the nearly three hour tour focuses on the ecology of the river. The Antique Boat Museum in Clayton offers a 45-minute ride in 30-foot triple cockpit Hacker Craft.

River rafting

Looking for an adrenalin rush? If so, check out whitewater rafting on the Black River, Moose River, or the Hudson River. May and June rafting offers the biggest thrills as that is when the rivers run the fastest. Between the rapids there are spells of tranquility for rafters to catch their breath and enjoy the unspoiled splendor of the area. There is also lazy river tubing on the Black River. One company offers an overnight rafting adventure on the Sacandaga River.

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By Melody Burri

Suzanne Underhill, 66

Light Hill Comfort Care Home director reflects on a career in medicine, veterans' advocacy and the essential role of end-of-life care

Q: Your career in health care has spanned decades and touched many. Share a bit about your journey.

A: In 1978, I began working at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center as a psychiatric nursing assistant and earned my RN licensure in 1991. My career at the VA spanned 36 years and I held various positions, including charge nurse on an acute medical unit, midnight hospital nursing supervisor and advanced illness care coordinator. As AICC I worked with veterans as inpatients and outpatients, coordinating palliative and hospice care in the community. I retired from the VA in 2014 to step into my dream role as executive director of Light Hill/ Canandaigua Comfort Care Home, Inc.

Q: What led you to invest yourself fully in end-of-life care and help launch Light Hill?

A: Experiencing personal losses — my mother, father, brother and a miscarriage —taught me quite different lessons. I took the time I needed to feel and process my losses, realizing

each of these unique experiences left me with very rich gifts. I intended to give meaning and purpose to those I loved by utilizing their gifts and what I learned, to help others navigate and make a little more sense out of such a painful and challenging time.

Q: What’s one common misconception people have about hospice care?

A: A big misconception regarding hospice is that you should wait as long as possible before accepting hospice care. For many, the term ‘hospice’ means all hope is gone and you are giving up on life. Hospice is not about hastening death or prolonging life. It is supportive care to promote quality of life until death occurs. Unfortunately, people are often in crisis before considering hospice support. If people accept hospice support earlier in their disease trajectory, they have the potential to have quality symptom management promoting comfort, resources through an interdisciplinary team offering guidance and often a significant decrease in stress for the

individual and their loved ones.

Q: Comfort care is hard work, but your passion for it never seems to waver. Why is that?

A: It is my philosophy that we are spiritual beings composed of energy within a physical form. I believe that each person I meet shares their energy with me and I with them. I feel rich from all those whom I have encountered. I live each day with gratitude from deep within, knowing that life is fragile. I experience life with a greater appreciation and a heightened awareness of the beauty surrounding me. I do this not only for myself but for all those I carry with me.

Q: What hobbies outside of work help you unwind and keep you fueled up?

A: I enjoy playing in the dirt — gardening, being out in nature, experiencing the beauty and solitude, walking with my husband and sharing family time. Cooking, reading, and camping are also pleasures. To keep me fueled up I participate in a morning boot camp class at Tall Trainer in Canandaigua. This has helped me immensely both physically and mentally. By starting my day in this way, I relieve stress through physical activity while working towards becoming a better version of myself. This helps to maintain good health and invigorates me.

Q: What core value has kept you focused and on track through the years?

A: I believe in being true to who I am as a unique individual. I find it much easier to be myself than trying to become someone I am not. Finding joy in the moment in what I am doing, promoting kindness, health, and wellbeing, having a strong work ethic, and striving to do my best has helped me accomplish some of my dreams and keeps me happy and content.

Q: What’s next for you?

A: I am not sure what the timing for retirement is yet. I love what I am doing and have the energy to keep doing it a while longer. A succession plan has been created for when the moment seems right for me to step away. For now, I’m enjoying spending time with the residents, their families and my amazing Light Hill family of volunteers and staff.

Suzanne Underhill lives in Cheshire, a hamlet in the town of Canandaigua, with her husband Steve and a cat named Blue.