55 Plus of Rochester, #76: July – August 2022

MONEY: DON’T LET FEAR GUIDE YOUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY

P. 12

Issue 76 – July / August 2022 For Active Adults in the Rochester Area

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K C A B E M O C A G IN K A M py about it. local record stores are more than hap Vinyl is back, and the owners of three 34 e of old and new aficionados alike. P. ienc aud oted dev a is nd fou ’ve they What

A PLACE FOR GOOD COFF

EE P. 20 ROCHESTER P. 30 SISTERS CREATE STAINE D GLASS ART P. 24 NEW WEBSTER GROUP IS SAVING THE TREES P. 48 THE PICKLEBALL CRAZE HITS

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55 PLUS | contents

MONEY: DON’T LET FEAR GUIDE YOUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY

July / August 2022 Story ideas? Information about advertising? Email editor@roc55.com or call 585-421-8109.

Issue 76 – July / August 2022 For Active Adults in the Rochester Area

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To subscribe to the magazine, look for the coupon on page 57.

MAKING A COMEBACK found stores are thriving. What they’ve Vinyl is back, and three local record new aficionados alike. P. 34 is a devoted audience of old and

A PLACE FOR GOOD COFFEE P. 20 THE PICKLEBALL CRAZE HITS ROCHESTER P. 30 SISTERS CREATE STAINED -GLASS ART P. 24 NEW WEBSTER GROUP IS SAVING THE TREES P. 48

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ON THE COVER

Armand Schaubroeck, co-owner of House of Guitars, poses with John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” and The Beatles’ “Abbey Road.”

Photo by John Addyman.

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Savvy Senior 8 14 RETIREMENT • The thirty greatest threats to your Dining Out 10 retirement that you should avoid Financial Health 12 20 BUSINESS • Union Place in Henrietta serves good My Turn 22 conversation and even better coffee Cover 34 24 ART • Sisters Mary Strang and Pat McKee Addyman’s Corner 64 create stained glass art in quarantine

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46 CHARITY • Don’t get scammed when checking out charities; how to donate legitimately

48 ENVIRONMENT • ReTree Webster is a new group in search of protecting Rochester’s forests

52 HEALTH • Michelle Dahlkemper, CEO at UR Medicine Home Care, discusses agency • Top things to do for your health

• The pickleball craze comes to Rochester

• Healthcare advocates help families book appointments, handle bills, & more

LAST PAGE

• Dick Rice: U.S. Squash Champion

Retired Victor Central School District Superintendent Dawn SantiagoMarullo talks life, values and the future of public education

42 BONES

55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

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30 PICKLEBALL 32 SPORTS

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• Feeling old in the bones? Time for a trip to Bone Gym, says Liz Lehmann

44 REAL ESTATE • Should you sell your home right now?

Experts offer tips and advice

58 PLANNING • What people misunderstand about retirement and final planning

60 SUMMER • Local immersive history experiences for history buffs to skip the books

62 VISITS • Exploring Route 20, New York’s “Big Daddy”

savvy senior

By Jim Miller

Best Travel Discounts in 2022

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here are literally hundreds of different travel-related discounts available to older travelers that can add up to save you hundreds of dollars on your next trip. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the age requirement, which varies by business. Here’s a rundown of top travel discounts, along with some extra tips to help you save.

Ways to Save The first thing to know is that most businesses don’t advertise them, but many give senior discounts just for the asking, so don’t be shy.

You also need to be aware that when it comes to senior travel bargains, the “senior discount,” if available, may not always be the best deal.

Hotels, resorts, airlines and cruise lines, for example, offer advanced bookings along with special deals and promotions from time to time that may be a lower rate than what the senior discount is. Before you book, always ask about the lowest possible rate and the best deal available.

Another way you can save is to be flexible when you travel. Last minute travel deals can offer huge savings, as does traveling during off-season or off-peak times, and avoiding holidays.

Club memberships can also garner you a wide variety of travel bargains.

AARP, for example, has dozens of travel discounts available on hotels, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages and more — see AARP.org/benefitsdiscounts. The American Automobile Association (AAA.com) is another membership club that provides some great travel discounts to members at any age.

Types of Discounts Here are of some of the best senior travel discounts available in 2022.

• Airline: British Airways offers AARP members $65 off economy travel and $200 off business club travel. American, Delta and United also offer senior fares to passengers 65 and older in certain markets but are

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roc55.com Editor and Publisher

extremely limited. And JetBlue offers 5% discounts for retired military and veterans that are enrolled in Veterans Advantage.

• Train: Amtrak provides a 10% discount to travelers 65-plus, and a 10% discount to passengers over age 60 on cross-border services operated jointly

by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada.

• Rental Car: Avis and Budget provide AARP members up to 30% off at participating locations. Hertz offers up to 20 off to 50-plus travelers.

And Thrifty and Sixt provides 5% off to those 50 and older.

• Hotels: Certain hotel chains offer discounted rates for seniors usually ranging between 10% and 15% off but may vary by location.

Some popular hotels that offer these discounts include Best Western, Choice Hotels, Hyatt, IHG Hotels, Marriott, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Red Roof and Wyndham Hotels.

• Restaurants: Many restaurant chains offer senior discounts ranging from free drinks, to senior menus, to discounts off your total order, but they may only be available on certain days of the week or at certain locations. Some popular options include Applebee’s, Denny’s, IHOP, Chili’s, Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and McDonalds.

• Cruises: Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise lines offer discount rates to cruisers 55 and over on select cruises. And Grand European Travel offers AARP members up to $100 savings per person on river cruises.

Call before booking to inquire.

• Entertainment and Attractions: Most museums, zoos, aquariums, movie theaters and public golf courses provide reduced admission to seniors over 60 or 65. And for those 62 or older, one of the best deals available is the America the Beautiful Senior Pass ($20 for an annual senior pass, or $80 for a lifetime pass) which provides admittance to more than 2,000 national parks and recreation sites.

Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Steve Yablonski

Writers & Contributors Deborah J. Sergeant, John Addyman Christopher Malone, Roger Wohlner Melody Burri, Mike Costanza Lynette Loomis, Todd Etshamn

Columnists Laurie Haelen, Jim Miller, John Addyman, Bruce Frassinelli Advertising Anne Westcott: 585-421-8109 Linda Covington: 585-750-7051 Office Manager Kate Honebein Layout & Design Joey Sweener Cover Photo John Addyman

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 © 2022 by 55 PLUS – A Magazine for Active Adults in Rochester.

No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher.

How to Reach Us P.O. Box 525 Victor, NY 14564 Phone: 585-421-8109 Fax: 585-421-8129 Email: editor@roc55.com Editor@cnyhealth.com

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The Italian villa-inspired winery offers a New York state winery experience year-round with a cozy atmosphere and a vibrancy in the summer.

Dining Out RESTAURANT GUIDE

By Christopher Malone

WINE DOWN AND RELAX Seneca Lake winery feels like a getaway

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h e F i n g e r L a k e s re g i o n continues to be a tour de force destination for both in-state and out-of-state visitors.

The expansive area consisting of 11 long and narrow lakes covers Western and Central New York, plus dips into the Southern Tier.

Ventosa Vineyards, located at 3440 state Route 96A in Geneva, sits up at the top of Seneca Lake. The Italian villa-inspired winery offers a New York state winery experience yearround with a cozy atmosphere and a vibrancy in the summer.

From larger events to bus tours, Ventosa is accommodating. Some nights they offer live music and they

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offer food service at their Café Toscana and wine bar. For a tasting, $10 will get a visitor five samples.

The small menu had nothing but eye-catching options, although many were familiar takes on soups, appetizers, sandwiches and more.

Sometimes familiar isn’t a bad thing. As always, it just comes down to the taste. Plus, if you’re looking to get a beverage with your meal, the winery adds wine pairings with the description of each option.

The escarole and bean soup ($4.25/ cup or $6.25 per bowl) kicked the meal off. It’s just like Nana used to make, in my opinion. The serving of the soup was filled with white beans, prosciutto

and, of course, escarole. The soup even had a slight kick. I could eat soup yearround and would order this again in a heartbeat.

Off to a great start, the freshness of the ingredients, in retrospect, was an indication of the options to come.

The French dip sandwich ($14.65) is also something to take note. The shaved sirloin sandwich comes with pickles and chips made inhouse. The tender sirloin is joined by sautéed onions and covered with provolone cheese. And, by request, the horseradish mayo adds a fun, slightly potent kick.

The sandwich comes with freshly baked ciabatta bread with a crispy

Ventosa Vineyards 3440 state Route 96A, Geneva, N.Y. 14456 315-815-4022 | ventosavineyards.com facebook.com/VentosaVyds instagram.com/ventosavyds Café Toscana Sun.: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Mon. – Tues.: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Wed.: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Thurs. – Sat.: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tastings Sun.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Mon. – Wed.: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Thurs. – Sat.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP French dip sandwich ($14.65): shaved sirloin sandwich on freshly baked ciabatta bread with sautéed onions and covered with provolone cheese; the grilled chicken wrap ($13.95) is also served with crispy dill pickle rounds and chips; the Genovese pizza ($13.45): pesto, grape tomatoes, roasted red peppers, onion, and mozzarella cheese.

crust and small bowl generously filled with au jus. There’s plenty to dip your sandwich in. The already delicious sandwich felt complete with each dip into the dark broth.

The chips are incredibly crispy and not heavily salted — thankfully.

The grilled chicken wrap ($13.95) is also served with crispy dill pickle rounds and chips. The wrap also proved to be an excellent choice. The halved wrap, which boasted a hint of garlic, displayed an array of bright ingredients. Aside from the chicken, the rolled-up handheld was filled with greens, artichoke, roasted red tomatoes and onions.

The description also says a tomato aioli graces the inside of the wrap.

Although, I didn’t pick up on that immediately, the orange glaze added that citrus punch.

The wrap is my ideal meal. It’s packed with fresh ingredients. It doesn’t fall apart easily. And even small bites are large due to the amount of food wrapped up.

And then there is pizza. There is an option to choose grilled or classic crust. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the menu properly and didn’t choose which crust I wanted. Fortunately, they gave me the grilled crust (I think).

The personal pizza-sized crust was incredibly crispy but not rock hard. It held the ingredients. Plus, it was unlike a crust I’ve enjoyed.

The Genovese pizza ($13.45) had me at pesto, which was as vibrant in flavor as its color. Add on the grape tomatoes, roasted red peppers, onion, and mozzarella cheese and here’s a complete pizza.

The big chocolate chip cookie that stared at me while ordering made it on the bill, too. How could it not? The flat but still chewy cookie wins any chocolate chip cookie lover over. I have no idea what the cookie costs because they forgot to charge me for it. I didn’t mean to swindle it on purpose.

Before tip, the meal and wine tasting before tip came to $72.

Regardless of your personal opinions of New York state wine — I steer more toward dry wines — Ventosa’s food is darn good. As previously stated, they offer familiar fair, but the fresh and homemade focus really shines.

And if you want to avoid the weekend crowds, pay a visit during the week for a more intimate, personal experience. But, still, the free peoplewatching on busy weekends is priceless.

JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

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financial health

By Laurie Haelen

Don’t Let Fear Guide Your Investment Strategy

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hat a difference a few months has made in the financial markets. As of this writing, the S&P 500 is approaching a 20% decline, which is often defined as the signal for bear market conditions.

Market pundits and friends alike are stoking the bad news fire until it becomes something close to an inferno, consuming every twig of good news in its path. Suddenly, fear becomes the motive to change something, anything, in your portfolio to make it easier to tolerate the volatility. Usually, when this happens, the only ones who benefit from your fear-induced actions are those who caused it in the first place.

You see, fear sells, and when we buy, we fan the flames for a while until they burn out and the next fear can be stoked. In plainer terms, an example would be the last time we had high inflation, which was back in the ’80s. Inflation exceeded 10%,

and volatility in the markets caused the same concerns that we see in the headlines today. At the time, it would have been hard to see that staying the course with stocks would be the best way to beat inflation over the next several decades. But the included chart shows the results for various asset classes since the last time inflation reared its ugly head.

——— The chart clearly shows that those who invested based upon concerns related to the volatility at the time, namely cash and gold investors, experienced the lowest returns as inflation abated and time smoothed the volatility of markets, as it usually does. Even with the tech crash and the financial crisis, those with equity exposure still ended up better off than those without — even in shorter time frames. But if you are retired or nearing retirement, you may still be looking

for something you can do to feel more secure to ensure your plan will last as long as you need it to. Here are a few tips to help avoid letting fear divert or even destroy your long-term plan.

➊ REVIEW YOUR PORTFOLIO AND REBALANCE IF APPROPRIATE.

Remember that if you liked stocks back in 2021 when they were going up, you are buying them on sale today. Even bonds have declined due to rising interest rates, and there may be an opportunity to purchase some with higher yields. Lower prices on assets mean higher yields, which equal higher income.

➋ MAKE SOME BUDGET CUTS.

It is easier to enjoy making purchases or going on expensive trips as your portfolio is going up. Look at your spending and see if there are ways to cut back a bit while inflation is taking a bite out of your purchasing power.

SOURCE Standard & Poor’s, Bloomberg, Federal Housing and Finance Agency (FHFA), Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS), U.S. Treasury, New York Mercantile Exchange (NYM). Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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➌ DO A ROTH IRA CONVERSION.

Since the taxes on a Roth conversion are based on the gains on the investments you convert from a regular IRA to a Roth, you may be able to do a Roth conversion with much less tax consequences. Or convert a larger portion of your IRA at the same tax consequence. This could save you some money both now and in the future, since Roth IRA funds grow tax free. Your tax adviser can run the numbers to help you evaluate the benefits of the conversion.

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➍ CONSIDER DOING SOME

TAX LOSS HARVESTING.

Many investors were shocked by capital gains — and the tax bills that came with them — after last year’s robust equity returns. This year, there may be opportunities to liquidate some holdings at a loss, either as part of the aforementioned portfolio rebalancing or as a single transaction in a taxable portfolio. Remember to be aware of the wash sale rules, which means you must be out of a specific position for more than 30 days to realize the loss on your tax return.

➎ REVISIT YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN.

There is a software program that can calculate the probability of the success of your overall financial plan in all types of markets. Either you, or ideally a certified financial planner professional, could run some different scenarios to see the impact of a bad market year (or more than one) on your portfolio and your plan. If your current allocation works well in most of these scenarios, you are probably OK, even if you don’t enjoy the fluctuations.

In some cases, you may even be able to reduce your risk and still have the plan work, hence allowing you to sleep better at night.

These are a few tips that may help, but the most important thing is to not panic and not deviate from the plan you have without taking steps to ensure it still makes sense for you.

Fear-mongering pundits like to sell you on the concept that “it’s different this time.” Even if it is, if you take steps to ensure you have the right financial plan in place, your outcome will be better, and you will hopefully be immune to the inevitable market gyrations that occur. ❖

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retirement The 30 Greatest Threats to Your Retirement If you want to have a happy retirement, avoid these perils home — or to want to avoid the stress of moving — people trying to save for retirement should consider relocating to a more appropriately sized property.

4. HAVING A MORTGAGE IN RETIREMENT

Depending on a retiree’s situation, having a mortgage in retirement could be a boon or a bust. If your mortgage payments are low, keeping that large property might not be a problem.

On the other hand, if high house payments are preventing you from adding to your retirement nest egg, you might want to consider selling that overpriced property and moving to one that’s more affordable.

5. GIVING TOO MUCH AWAY, TOO EARLY

By Roger Wohlner

S

aving for retirement is difficult enough if all goes according to plan.

However, individuals often encounter serious speed bumps on the road to retirement wealth. Although one of these issues on its own might not spell disaster, taken together, these obstacles can derail even the soundest retirement plans. By knowing the threats that could ruin your retirement plans and how to avoid them, you might be able to retire sooner and happier.

1. GROWN KIDS SIPHONING OFF YOUR RETIREMENT MONEY

Most people want to help their children succeed in life. Experts caution against sharing too much of your retirement money with adult kids, however.

“You won’t be around forever, and [children] need to stand on their own,” said Eric McClain, a certified financial planner at McClain Lovejoy Financial Planning.

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Teach your kids to be independent — they will likely thank you in the end.

2. NOT SAVING IN THE BEST WAY

Unless you are lucky enough to inherit a large sum or win the lottery, you will likely need to save a great deal of cash during your working years in order to retire comfortably down the line. Plan ahead to ensure you’re putting enough aside for whatever the future holds. While there are many ways to save for retirement like a 401(k) or an IRA, all of your funds may not be in those accounts and you should also make sure any money in a standard savings account is earning as much as possible. It’s always helpful to check with a financial planner on the way to invest money.

3. KEEPING TOO MUCH HOUSE

An oversized house can be a serious financial burden for individuals trying to save for retirement. McClain said a house that’s too large for your needs can become a liability, between upkeep costs and property taxes. Although it’s natural to feel sentimental toward a

If you have extra cash, you might be tempted to give some away to family members or a favorite charity.

There are some serious tax benefits to donating your retirement assets to charity, but individuals need to be mindful of timing. McClain said that people who give their money away too early risk outliving it.

6. MEDICAL EXPENSES

Saving enough for retirement is difficult in and of itself, but when you add the burden of paying for healthcare during your golden years, the goal can seem unreachable. According to Fidelity Investments’ annual retiree healthcare cost estimate, couples in their mid-60s can expect to spend $280,000 on medical expenses during retirement.

“Large, debilitating medical expenses can decimate your savings,” said personal finance writer Elizabeth Colegrove. She advised soon-to-be retirees who are still working to contribute money to a health savings account whenever possible. A great vehicle to supplement your other retirement income, an HSA lets individuals pay for qualified medical

expenses tax-free.

7. LONG-TERM CARE EXPENSES

A medical situation that leads to the need for long-term care can erode one’s retirement nest egg in a hurry.

Long-term care costs can be staggering and have gradually increased over the years. Moreover, a 2016 article by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reveals that one in seven adults will one day have a disability requiring care for more than five years.

Unfortunately, only a small fraction of Americans have long-term care insurance.

8. BEING PART OF THE SANDWICH GENERATION

Members of the sandwich generation, aspiring retirees often find themselves caring for both adult children and aging parents.

“Other family members can be a drain when on a fixed income and resources,” said Colegrove. “Instead of saving for holidays, vacations and larger expenses, your resources are spent on the older and younger generations.”

The best solution is to plan ahead by creating a system to grow your assets as you save for retirement and to protect them once you’ve stopped working.

9. UNEXPECTED MAJOR EXPENSES

Just because you’ve stopped working doesn’t mean life stands still.

Expenses can’t always be predicted at the outset, and even the most mundane, unexpected costs can threaten one’s financial health in retirement.

Citing expenses such as roof repairs and new cars, Colegrove said, “It is very important that, in your day-to-day budget, you are still saving for these expenses. On fixed incomes, not only might it be harder to qualify for a loan to cover the costs, the loan payments could blow your budget.”

10. DEFINED CONTRIBUTION RETIREMENT PLANS IN THE MILITARY

Military members often assume that their financial needs will be covered in retirement. However, the shift toward defined contribution retirement plans has put more burden on veterans, said Doug Nordman, a former member of the U.S. Navy’s submarine force and military financial expert.

In recent years, the Department of Defense has reduced its retirement

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expenses “by at least 10%, but now the burden of saving for retirement lies even more heavily on the service members,” said Nordman. “Just as we’ve learned with civilian 401ks, I doubt that the average young adult has the interest or the discipline, let alone the understanding, to make sure that they contribute enough to their TSP account for the full match.”

11. DEFINED CONTRIBUTION RETIREMENT PLANS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Military members aren’t the only Americans taking on more responsibility with regard to retirement savings.

Over the last 30 years, the burden of saving for retirement has been shifted to workers via defined contribution plans, such as the 401(k). If they don’t manage their 401(k) accounts appropriately, these individuals could very well come up short in retirement.

12. THE PENSION CRISES ACROSS THE NATION

Social Security and healthcare costs might dominate the headlines, but the pension crisis that many states are confronting is just as worrisome.

In Illinois, for example, the unfunded pension debt has risen significantly, jeopardizing the retirement plans of many who are still currently working.

As state finances become further stretched, the health of the pension system is likely to suffer in kind.

13. THE MYTH OF SPENDING LESS IN RETIREMENT

Many individuals assume that they will spend significantly less money in retirement than they do during their working lives, said blogger and freelance writer Michelle Schroeder.

“This is usually a mistake because other expenses may increase, such as travel and healthcare costs,” said Schroeder. “A person should also be realistic with their retirement spending instead of just assuming that it will be less.”

Budget appropriately for retirement now to make sure your golden years are comfortable.

14. TAKING 401(K) LOANS

Taking a loan from your 401(k) can seem like a fine idea when times are tough. If an employer terminates you while you have an outstanding loan, however, you could wind up taking an unwanted distribution from the plan, owing taxes and a penalty if you can’t 16

55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

pay it back immediately. Borrowing from your 401(k) can get costly and will put a significant dent in your retirement nest egg.

a few calculated risks, you can build a better nest egg and ensure that unexpected expenses don’t leave you crippled.

15. CONTRIBUTING ONLY YOUR COMPANY’S DEFAULT MINIMUM TO YOUR 401(K)

17. WITHDRAWING YOUR 401(K) MONEY WHEN LEAVING A JOB

Putting your 401(k) contributions on autopilot can cause serious issues when it comes time to retire. Some employers make all employees contribute a minimum amount to their 401(k) unless they opt out of the benefit. If your mandatory contribution is too small — for example, 2% of your pay — you will likely miss out on your savings goals.

In an era of pension and Social Security crises, employees must take greater control of their financial destiny by contributing more to their 401(k).

16. INVESTING TOO CONSERVATIVELY FOR RETIREMENT

It goes without saying that nobody wants to lose money on their investments. Being too conservative with your portfolio could cause you to come up short with regard to retirement savings, though. By taking

These days, it’s not uncommon for workers to switch jobs multiple times over the course of their careers.

Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of withdrawing their 401(k) money when they do so. Not only does withdrawing prior to retirement reduce the size of your savings account, but it also causes you to lose growth and face a potentially hefty tax bill.

18. RETIRING TOO EARLY

While everyone has fantasies about retiring at age 40 or 50, the reality is that few people can afford this luxury, thanks in part to longer life expectancies. No matter how large your nest egg might be — or how frugal your lifestyle — retiring too early can ruin your well-laid financial plans and affect your quality of life down the line. (continued on next page)

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Y0051_7232_M

19. NOT GETTING FULL EMPLOYER MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS

If you aren’t taking advantage of your employer’s 401(k) matching contributions, you are missing out on a valuable opportunity to grow your retirement nest egg.

“This is a part of your compensation package and should always be utilized to the fullest extent,” said Ryan Guina, founder of personal finance blogs Cash Money Life and The Military Wallet.

He recommended that individuals who can’t afford to contribute enough should adjust their spending habits and lifestyles to take advantage of this “free” money.

20. INVESTING TOO HEAVILY IN COMPANY STOCK

Aspiring retirees might be tempted to invest in their own companies.

Experts caution against putting too much of your money in one place, however. Even if your company’s stock has performed well in the past, it’s wise to diversify your retirement portfolio so your livelihood is protected.

21. HAVING INADEQUATE LIFE INSURANCE

Paying too little for life insurance now can affect your family’s plans in retirement. Life insurance gives breadwinners the peace of mind that comes with knowing surviving spouses will be protected after they’re gone. When saving for retirement, don’t forget to invest sufficiently in this necessity.

22. NOT HAVING DISABILITY COVERAGE

It’s not enough to save for healthcare costs in retirement; savvy individuals also purchase disability coverage to pay for unexpected costs like illnesses or injuries. Typically constituting 60% of your former earnings, disability payments let workers maintain their previous lifestyles after an injury and prevent them from having to withdraw from retirement funds to afford basic necessities.

23. SAVING FOR COLLEGE INSTEAD OF RETIREMENT

It’s no secret that college tuition rates have skyrocketed in recent years.

While it’s natural to want to pay for your children’s education, aspiring retirees shouldn’t make the mistake of paying exorbitant college tuition bills at the cost of their own savings. The last thing you want is to be a burden 18

55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

on your kids in retirement because you neglected to save appropriately.

stave off boredom.

24. IGNORING THE IMPACT OF INFLATION

Many aspiring retirees focus on the needs of others instead of their own self-interest, said author Valerie Rind.

“If you’re too busy taking financial care of other people, you might find yourself excluded from your own retirement plans,” said Rind. “For example, when you loan money to family members or borrow for your kids’ education, you’re tying up precious funds that could be invested toward your future.”

Inflation is a major threat to your retirement, said Todd Tresidder, financial coach and founder of Financial Mentor.

“It’s a hidden tax on savings. You have no control over it, it can’t be predicted and it has an insidiously compound, erosive effect,” he said. “It gnaws away at an otherwise healthy retirement like cancer to a healthy body.”

Stay abreast of inflation costs to avoid unpleasant surprises down the line.

25. FAULTY DECISION-MAKING

Tresidder also cited bad decisionmaking by people saving for retirement as a significant risk. For instance, putting your money in a wellperforming mutual fund in the belief that it will continue to climb higher is a perilous choice that is often based on wishful thinking. In the long run, making financial decisions based on bad assumptions and misinformation can result in negative outcomes and keep you from enjoying the retirement of your dreams.

26. POOR ASSET ALLOCATION

Poor asset allocation is a big threat to one’s retirement, said financial advisor Kirk Chisholm. Although the traditional advice is to subtract your age from 100 and use this value as the percentage of bonds in your portfolio, Chisholm and others recommend a more cautious approach. The fact is that investors can lose money in bonds or spend their time chasing yields since rates are low.

“This is a mistake you don’t want to make so close to your retirement,” said Chisholm.

27. BOREDOM

You might not expect boredom to be a big threat to your retirement, but it can be, said financial blogger and entrepreneur Jim Wang.

“Many people jokingly say that when they retire they’ll play more golf, take more vacations and lounge around all the time, but that’s only fun for a couple [of] weeks,” he said.

“What happens in year two or three?”

Wang emphasized that soon-to-be retirees should plan for what they can work on during retirement in order to

28. NEGLECTING YOUR OWN NEEDS

29. AN UNEXPECTED LAYOFF

Unplanned job losses can be highly problematic for people planning for retirement, especially if they don’t have funds set aside for emergencies, said personal finance expert and author Jason Vitug.

“I had a friend who was on track with his retirement savings until he got the call he would be laid off in 30 days,” he said. “Unable to find a job that paid the same caused him to dip into his savings to cover the gaps from his old salary and unemployment benefits. He saved money in his 401k and in a Roth but never set up savings for an emergency or similar situations.”

30. LIFESTYLE INFLATION

More than other Americans, soonto-be retirees need to be conscious of their spending habits and avoid buying more than they can afford, said personal finance blogger Chris Holdheide.

“This can be a huge threat to someone’s retirement, because it can cause people to buy stuff based on their income as it increases, instead of putting more of it toward their retirement,” Holdheide said.

“Oftentimes, when we get an increase in pay, people tend to think about the next thing they want to buy right now rather than thinking about the future and saving more.”

Stay aware of these retirementsaving roadblocks if you hope to build a robust bank account in the coming years.

Roger Wohlner is a freelance financial writer who has written for several national publications. This article was originally published in www.gobankingrates.com and reprinted with authorization.

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19

business A PLACE FOR GOOD COFFEE Henrietta business serves up good coffee and good conversation

By Mike Costanza

L

aurie DiProspero looks forward to coming to work every day.

“The first thing that brings me in is I do love people,” said the 63-year-old owner of Union Place Coffee Roasters.

Joe, Laurie’s husband of 35 years, shares that love.

“The people that come into our store, they’re like family,” said the 74-year-old retired software engineer.

Good customer service, combined

with a love of the retail coffee business, has helped the Henrietta couple build a thriving concern. Located on the 123-acre Henrietta property of the Genesee Valley Regional Market, Union Place offers a dozen types of Arabica coffee beans, from Columbian to Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, as well as flavored varieties like Italian Cookie.

A customer can pick up a bag of fresh-roasted beans or savor a cup of aromatic coffee at one of the outlet’s

tables.

Union Place is very much of a family affair. Laurie runs the Henrietta business. Joe mainly does the books, accounts payable and other important administrative tasks.

Nicholas, the youngest of the couple’s three sons, roasts and packages coffee beans and in other ways prepares them for sale. About 80% of Union Place’s business is wholesale.

A FAMILY AFFAIR: Laurie DiProspero, her husband, Joe, and son Nicholas. On the right is barista Jasmine Cee.

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55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

Laurie came to found Union Place by a kind of roundabout route.

After working in graphic design, she stayed home to take care of the couple’s children while Joe worked as a software engineer. When Joe was laid off in 2002, she took a job running the outlet store of what was then Maidstone Coffee, a commercial coffee roaster located in Rochester.

“I absolutely loved it,” Laurie said.

“I was always fascinated by coffee.”

Joe found a new job in his field, but Laurie stayed on at Maidstone, learning about different types of coffee beans, the roasting process and other elements of the coffee business.

Maidstone decided to close the outlet store in 2013 and offered her a job in marketing. Laurie had other ideas.

“I went home that night and I said to Joe ‘We should make an offer to buy that little outlet store,’” she said.

That’s what they did. In May, 2013, Union Place opened its doors in Building 15 of the Genesee Valley Regional Market. The 1,800-squarefoot space was way in the back of the property.

“It was just a warehouse,” Laurie said. “We renovated that, and made it really nice and cozy. People really liked it.”

Business improved and the DiProsperos began looking for a new location that was easier for customers to find. The couple eventually secured a 3,000-square-foot section of Building 9, which had just been built down the road from their original location. When they signed the lease, all the place offered was four walls and a single bathroom. Contractors had to bore a trench through the space’s concrete floor for the water pipes that feed the coffee bar’s sink.

“We spent quite a bit of money to build this place up,” Joe said.

Joe laid out the basic floor plan and did a bit of decorating, mounting the four framed burlap coffee bags that hang high above the front door like small tapestries. He had to use a contractor’s lift to do it.

“We had a lift here at the time,” Joe said. “I said ‘Oh, cool, I get to play on a lift.’”

The DiProsperos cut the ribbon on their new establishment on March 22 of last year.

Union Place’s customers can enjoy a bright, airy space

with a coffee bar, shelves full of bags of coffee and several tables for those who want to sit down and have a cup of their favorite drink. Works of art fill one wall, and employees stand ready to serve customers. The layout allows customers to actually watch their coffee being roasted.

Jasmine Cee has worked as a barista for different businesses for about 10 years.

“It’s a really cool way to connect with people,” the Rochester resident said. “Everybody likes to come in and tell their story and chitchat.”

Wayne Harrison got hooked on Union Place about five years ago, when he and his wife moved to Scottsville from California.

“I was looking for the best coffee in town,” the 78-year-old retired general contractor said. “They [the

DiProsperos] make really good coffee and we share good conversations about life in general.”

For Nicholas, such conversations are one of the perks of working at Union Place.

“A lot of people have a lot of interesting stories that you wouldn’t think that they’d have,” he said. “People love to tell their stories and usually I love to listen.”

Nicholas, who just graduated from SUNY Oswego with a degree in psychology and a minor in nutrition, finds the idea of eventually running the family business appealing.

“I’d like to be my own boss,” he said. ❖

FROM TOP Nicholas DiProspero checks the aroma of coffee beans; a rench press pours coffee into one of Union Place’s iconic orange mugs; A commercial Diedrich coffee roasting machine is on location at the Union Place Coffee Roasters, allowing customers to watch the production of their coffee.

JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

21

my turn

By Bruce Frassinelli Email: bfrassinelli@ptd.net

Are We Older Drivers a Menace?

B

efore the COVID-19 pandemic threw a monkey wrench into long-distance driving, I made a 1,000-mile trek to see my son and his family in South Carolina then went on to see some other family members in the Nashville area.

At age 80, I thought how fortunate I was to be able to drive long distances without any major consequences or hassles. I was also helping the economy with overnight stays, meals at a variety of restaurants and gasoline to keep my car humming along.

While I am dislocating my arm patting myself on the back, some of you may have recoiled wondering why an octogenarian is risking his life and the lives of other motorists by making such a long trip.

Shame on you for your ageism thoughts, but on one level I can understand it.

Quite frankly, between you and me, when I was in my 50s I thought the same thing when I heard that an 80-something driver was involved in an accident. I even had the misguided notion that there should be an age limit on driving, maybe 75, certainly no later than 80.

Once I reached that age, and all was well, I chastised myself for having such stupid ideas.

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55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

S l o w i n g re f l e x e s , d i m m i n g eyesight and fading hearing can all impair an older person’s driving ability. Many diseases and overmedication also increase the risk of crashes.

I guess it is only natural that now that I am at this age myself, I have a different view. I am in reasonably good health. I take an AARP-sponsored driver ’s safety course every three years, and I have given explicit orders to my three children that if they perceive that I am becoming a danger to myself or others, I will go quietly.

If I don’t, I told them, turn me in, and take my keys.

Let’s face it: Most of us equate the open road with independence — the idea that we can go and come as we please. Those who can’t drive because of age-related disabilities or reactiontime issues must either rely on others to get them from point A to point B or, basically, stay at home. Some are fortunate enough to have family members serve as chauffeurs; some live near public transportation, and a few others might have the wherewithal to summon a taxi or an Uber or other ride-share service.

Like most of you, I started driving when I was 16. I practiced learning to drive in a wide open area between two cemeteries in my hometown. I learned on my father’s 1951 stick shift Chevy panel truck, which he used for our family’s grocery store business.

(Oh the memories that were etched in that panel truck, but that’s a story for another day.)

When I first got my license, I cruised down my hometown’s main drag and those of nearby communities often with friends sitting on peach baskets in the back of the truck. That’s right. There were no seatbelts. Aside from the driver’s and front passenger’s seats, there were no other seats in the truck. When my dad was in a really good mood, he handed over the keys to his pride and joy: his 1955 red-and-

white Buick Roadmaster.

The automobile was my passport to exploring new communities, new states and cool sites. I remember on several occasions that my friends and I drove from our hometown to Philadelphia — a 120-mile round trip — for coffee and a piece of pie. One of the main points of driving was getting attention from girls. It was something I pretty much took for granted.

As I have aged, I notice slight discomforts. I have to stop more often (if only to pee). Depending on the time of day, I can get really tired. It is not uncommon for me on a four-hour trip to Upstate New York, where I once lived and worked, to pull into a rest stop for a 15-minute power nap.

The wave of older drivers and high-profile accidents involving my age group have caught the attention of law-enforcement and state officials, prompting both to call for programs that would aim to allow seniors to keep driving if they can do so without endangering others and themselves.

According to USA Today, quoting U.S. Census projections, the number of U.S. drivers 65 and older will jump from 41.7 million this year to 55 million in 2030. Today, about 20% of all drivers on the road are 65 or older, and that number will soon jump to 25%, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

M o re a n d m o re s t a t e s a re implementing additional and more frequent testing of seniors, particularly those who are in my age group — 80 and older.

In Maryland, state law allows d o c t o r s , p o l i c e a n d re s i d e n t s , especially relatives, to refer suspected unfit drivers to the Motor Vehicle Administration’s medical advisory board. Police have been referring about 700 drivers a year – about 60% of them 65 and over. In some cases, drivers are retested.

A 2004 Florida law requiring older drivers to pass a vision test

Today, about 20% of all drivers on the road are 65 or older, and that number will soon jump to 25%, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. before getting a license renewal has helped cut the death toll among drivers 80 or older by 17%, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The problem in trying to come up with a solution to this touchy issue is that people age so differently that it’s impossible to devise a fair single standard for ending driving privileges.

One 80-year-old may be perfectly fine and responsible behind the wheel; another 80-year-old motorist can be a ticking time bomb and a menace to others on the road.

Researchers caution against stereotyping older drivers. Thomas Meuser, a gerontologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, told USA Today that most older Americans

are safe and cautious drivers. “The challenge is older drivers with subtle but progressive health issues that affect them without their knowledge,” he said.

Mental health practitioners who deal with the elderly caution that driving is important for seniors, particul arly for their sense of independence and self-worth. Seniors passionately resist wanting to become a burden on others. Several studies have shown that grounding seniors who have no other available transportation depresses them, makes them inactive and causes them to lose access to health care, resulting in some cases to an earlier death.

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles requires anyone —

regardless of age — who has three accidents in a three-month period to undergo a mandatory road retest. It also requires those between the ages of 25 and 65 who have had three accidents in a nine-month period to fill out a re-examination questionnaire.

Based on its findings, the department will decide whether a retest is needed.

Those under 25 and over 65 who have three accidents in a nine-month period must take a re-examination.

The state DMV also has a program to retest suspect drivers who are referred by relatives or others if there is mitigating evidence to support the need for such a retest.

One of the toughest things children must do is to convince reluctant parents to give up their keys. There are many tips for those who must broach this conversation, but they are advised to focus the conversation on specific driving concerns and not on just their age. They are also advised to start a dialogue of addressing these specific concerns and address why they are worrying you by using examples of specific instances such as their fear of night driving or being uncomfortable with driving on the highway.

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23

art

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55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

Sisters Mary Strang and Pat McKee meet regularly in Mary’s basement glass studio to create fused and stained glass pieces.

Photo by Melody Burri

Glass Therapy Sisters Mary Strang and Patricia McKee have thrived through quarantine and beyond by creating fused and stained glass art in Rush. by melody burri

JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

25

W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought work and social interactions to a grinding halt, sisters Mary Strang and Patricia McKee were determined to weather the storm.

They did a lot more than that — they thrived.

“Isolating” together in Mary’s basement glass studio in Rush, the two spent hours crafting stained glass and fused glass art, ultimately launching their own pop up boutique called Glass Therapy.

“We started out creating for fun and to have something to do, but have since started a business to sell our items,” said Mary, who lives not far from her sister. “We chose the name

Glass Therapy because we considered the time we spent as our version of lock-down therapy.”

A mechanical designer by profession, Mary had years of previous experience making stained glass and fused glass pieces. And Pat, a retired structural engineer, was keen to learn.

Their competitive spirits as sisters and their knowledge and passion for fine art set them up for success, carrying them through quarantine and beyond.

“She taught me everything, but don’t tell her that,” quipped Pat. “I never took a class, except from her.”

In early 2020, the two got together almost every day. But Mary’s work schedule has them meeting in the studio just three or four times a week, at night and on weekends.

Mary’s long-term plan was always to work with glass after retirement and possibly start a retail business to sell her art. Though she hasn’t retired yet, she’s got a running start.

“We’re not really entrepreneurs and we’ll probably never be able to live off the money we make selling,” she said. “We’re just hoping to support our ‘therapy.’ Like everything else, glass is getting more expensive.”

Cutting sheets of colored glass into tiny shapes, they melt intricate designs and patterns together in a kiln at up to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. When the kiln finally cools, some 16 to 18 hours later, out came the ornaments, snowflakes, flowers, “sundangles,” coasters, clocks, kaleidoscopes, dishes and swizzle sticks they’ve dreamed up.

“I like opening the kiln — most of the time,” said Pat. “It’s either thrilling or it’s the worst day of your life, because it’s a disaster.”

Mary makes sundangles or suncatchers out of glass and adds things she’s collected over the years like shells, stones, beads and hardware.

“I like the precision of making snowflakes, flowers and ornaments,” said Pat. “I have the pieces in front of me and just play with them until I find something I like.”

She’s also created game-themed glass coasters created to look like Sorry!, Parcheesi, Monopoly and Rubik’s Cube.

Getting started

FROM TOP Glass flowers are one of Pat McKee’s specialties. Light catchers are some

of Glass Therapy’s best selling creations. An assortment lines the windows of Mary Strang’s glassed-in porch. Photos by Melody Burri.

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55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

Mary’s passion for stained glass ignited when she joined the workforce right out of college.

“I started going to local craft shows and buying stained glass things,” she said. “My mother suggested I try making them myself, so I took a class at Rochester Museum and Science Center and I was hooked.”

More classes followed at Rochester’s Studio 34, where Mary learned to fuse glass in a kiln.

“It wasn’t long before I bought my own kiln and continued making things for myself and as gifts,” she said.

“After that, it was glass, cutting tools, a soldering iron, a ring saw for cutting odd shapes, a grinder, scoring tools, a light table and kiln accessories.”

Her pride and joy— a 20-year-old top loading 18-inch Rampmaster kiln

by Evenheat — is programmable and “runs like a top,” Mary said.

Photos by Melody Burri

Sisters Mary Strang and Patricia McKee, isolated in Mary’s basement during the pandemic, created glassmaking challenges for each other. One was the creation of Picasso-inspired self portraits (top left). Mary depicted herself with earrings and made wearable earrings as a companion project. Another was the creation of bowls (top right), the prompt “something living” (bottom right), and giving a basic design their own unique spin (bottom left).

JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

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It’s powered by a 240v outlet, which in off hours runs the clothes dryer.

“I noticed my electric bill went up about $50 when we started,” said Mary.

“I can tell when we haven’t been doing a lot of work because the electric bill goes down.”

For others just getting started, Pat and Mary recommend taking classes and online tutorials, as well as visiting museums and anywhere that will inspire a hunger to learn more.

Sister challenges While Pat and Mary work side by side, creativity is best done solo.

Recently, though, they started competing against each other on “sister challenges.”

About once a month, one sister will pick a theme and they both create something that complies. They don’t see each other’s pieces until the final “big reveal” and the winner gets bragging rights.

Among their recent challenges: Picasso-inspired self-portraits, clocks, Wassily Kandinsky-inspired anything, scrap-glass-only pieces, bowls, nontraditional Christmas trees (decorated), something for each other, something for somebody else. Most recently the two made pieces for the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) 6x6 exhibition.

While Pat gains inspiration through the colors, light and patterns of everyday objects. Mary said she’s inspired by her travels locally and abroad and visits to museums.

“Dale Chihuly and Peter McGrain are two of my favorite artists,” she said.

As for the end product, Pat measures its overall quality and success by whether she had fun making it.

“If I had fun, then I like it,” she said.

“It’s pretty subjective.”

“We make what we like and we try to sell it,” said Mary. “But if people don’t want to buy it, we’re still OK with that.”

Glass Therapy creations will be available in September at the Memorial Art Gallery’s Clothesline Art Festival.

In Naples, they currently have pieces at Wildflower Gifts and expect to appear at various craft shows around the Finger Lakes this summer.

Find Glass Therapy on Instagram at www.instagram.com/glasstherapy807 ❖

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pickleball The Pickleball Craze Comes to Rochester

Tennis courts all over the area (and across the country) are being converted for pickleball in response to increased interest in the sport

By Todd Etshman

F

rom its humble beginnings on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in the ‘60s, the sport of pickleball has moved across America attracting millions of players and thousands of new courts in cities like Rochester.

Area pickleball pros and instructors estimate there are about 4,000 avid players and approximately 160 courts in the Rochester area. Those numbers, however, are growing bigger by the day.

In addition to players who just want to play the game that resembles aspects of ping pong, tennis and badminton for fun and friendship, the Rochester area is also home to highly ranked professionals that play tournaments all across the country.

Jose Derisi, 51, is a local professional pickleball player and instructor who says the game has changed his life for the better and not just because he received a tidy sum for winning a senior men’s pro tournament at the historic US Open Flushing Meadows tennis facility recently.

“It’s become a significant part of my life physically, mentally and socially,” he says. Derisi came from a tennis background but finds the benefits of pickleball far outweigh those he got from tennis.

“I’ve made so many friends that I couldn’t have made otherwise, he says.

“It helps people get fit and be social whether you play in a tournament or not.”

Indeed, you don’t have to be a pro like Derisi to have fun the minute you pick up a racquet.

“It has a very short learning curve. You can be having fun in just 20 minutes,” says another Rochester area pro pickleballer, Joseph Valenti, 30

55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

Jose Derisi, 51, is a local professional pickleball player and instructor. He recently won a senior men’s pro tournament at the historic US Open Flushing Meadows tennis facility. Photo courtesy of Steve Taylor.

A pickleball court that Paul Valenti built in his barn in Penfield, where three generations of Valentis play, including brother Joseph, who was recently named head pro at Irondequoit Country Club in Pittsford.

who was recently named head pro at Irondequoit Country Club in Pittsford.

The club has social memberships that include pickleball.

Everyone’s learning curve is different but unlike golf, you can be playing at a fairly high level in just six months or less with a pro’s help.

Valenti introduces people to the sport much like a golf pro: teaching people strategy and technique, positioning and how to swing.

“We love the sport but it’s more about families and friends than the professional tour,” Valenti says. “It takes a certain type of person to play this sport because of the name. There are people who won’t play it because of its name but the people who do play are very sociable and welcoming.”

Sure enough, my cousin’s husband

was playing pickleball when we arrived in Tampa last winter. He loves it and like many others, is playing four or five times a week or more. It looked like fun and when I got back, the 55 Plus editor wanted a story about it in our area.

It’s the type of sport 55-plus people are looking for. It’s unlikely to cause tennis elbow and you don’t have to chase balls all over the court.

The pickleball playing emphasis for 55-plus nonprofessional players is on recreation, staying healthy and keeping your mind sharp, Valenti says.

The past few years have seen a big spike in the number of pickleball players of all ages and from all walks of life. That includes famous people like Larry David, Leonardo DiCaprio and Stephen Colbert.

Derisi says it’s more fun to play than tennis, easier to learn and it’s a game the whole family can play together. It’s cheaper than a nine iron and a round of golf. Paddles cost as low as $40. Pickleball courts are approximately a quarter of the size of a tennis court.

In fact, tennis courts all over this area and across the country are being converted due to the increasing interest in pickleball.

Derisi teaches at Dinkers Pickleball Facility in East Rochester, the only facility in Rochester that is exclusive to the sport so far.

Pickleball courts aren’t extremely hard to install. The Valenti brothers can help you put one in. They put courts behind their sporting goods business on Monroe Avenue. They can be taken down, too.

Today, the courts can be found in just about every park in Monroe County. In addition to all the venues, you could have one in your driveway basketball court or even a barn.

Joseph’s brother Paul owns a pickleball barn in Penfield. Three generations of Valentis plays there.

Pickleball’s colorful history supposedly began with a Bainbridge Island family dog named Pickle picking up a wiffle ball in an early circa 1965 match.

A more complete history and guide to the game can be found in the book “History of Pickleball, More Than 50 Years of Fun!” by Jennifer Lucore and Beverly Youngren and on the web at www.pickleballchannel.com.

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31

sports Dick Rice: U.S. Squash Champion

By Lynette Loomis

S

quash is not a game for the faint of heart. It takes a strong heart and keen mind to excel.

Dick Rice, a 78-year-old Rochesterian and his playing partner, Jim Zug from Philadelphia, have won the 2022 U.S. National Doubles for the 75+ age category in Philadelphia in March.

A three-sport athlete at the University of Rochester, Rice played football, baseball and ran track for the school while earning a BS in mechanical and aerospace science. He was selected as the winner of the Louis Alexander Alumni Award presented to the UofR senior male athlete who had contributed most to student life and athletics. Rice was inducted into the UofR Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

“What I love about the doubles squash game is the intense competition while on the court, enhanced by the amazing camaraderie after the match.

With hundreds of resulting close squash friends across North America, I would, and have, invited any of them to be a guest in our home,” he said.

“That, to me, is the highest compliment I could pay.”

Addicted to sports, Rice played slow-pitch and semi-pro baseball into his 30s while putting to use his engineering degree as operations manager of the 1.2 million square feet serviced by Midtown Holdings. His next career move was to consulting engineering as he opened the Rochester office of WKBW Engineers as its manager. His career continued with stints at M/E Engineering and Erdman Anthony Engineers.

After his introduction to the game of squash by the president of Midtown, Rice was asked to become a doubles

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partner with local CFA Alan Ziegler and he began entering national and international competitions. With numerous partners (60+), Rice and partners have won tournaments from Vancouver to Montreal and San Francisco to Philadelphia. He has represented the U.S. in team competition against Canada for 23 years.

Rice has contributed to the community as president of the Rochester Engineering Society, president of the IES, board chairman of the Hochstein Music School, adviser to the Sisters of St. Joseph, and chairman of the Southeast Loop Citizens Advisory Committee. He currently serves on the UofR Engineering Dean’s Advisory Committee, Friends of UofR Athletics, and the Psi Upsilon fraternity board.

Rice is also currently putting his engineering and planning expertise to use for his alma mater as they take on one of the most ambitious projects in their history, the UofR Medicine Orthopaedics and Physical Performance Center.

“I have had 24 orthopedic surgeries and know the importance of a skilled surgeon, great nursing care, and rehabilitation therapy. I could not have played squash competitively without these surgeries; my own drive to return to the game would have been impossible,” Rice explained. “My role on this project is to provide input from my numerous surgical experiences, since I have become fairly expert as an orthopedic patient.”

Having goals and sometimes physical challenges to overcome and a group of friends who have similar interests, are all motivators in making the next day count,” he said. ❖

Dick Rice, (left) and Jim Zug won the 2022 U.S. National Doubles for the 75+ age category in Philadelphia in March 2022.

Dick Rice has not slowed down after two dozen orthopedic surgeries and is still at the top of his game.

HARDBALL DOUBLES SQUASH The game: hardball doubles squash was invented in Philadelphia in 1907. The court is 25’ wide by 45’ long with walls a minimum of 24’ high. Squash racquets are “badminton racquets on steroids,” as they are required to strike a semi rigid rubber ball the size of a golf ball at speeds exceeding 150 mph. Four players, two left wall and two right wall, alternate team play at each strike of the ball. The team reaching a score of 15 is winner of the game.

The match winning team must win three out of five games.

It is currently estimated that doubles squash has more than 10,000 participants in the U.S. and a slightly smaller number in Canada.

The hardball doubles game is played exclusively in North America. The first doubles squash championship was held in 1933. The 86th edition of the national doubles was held this year at the newly opened Arlen Spector US Squash Center in Philadelphia.

All national championships are age segmented: Open, 40+, 45+, and up to 80+ age groups.

JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

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cover

REMEMBER VINYL? Vinyl is back, with a devoted audience of old and new aficionados alike.

By John Addyman

n Thursdays, Jon Cooley is a happy man.

“Every week I have new records coming in on Thursdays,” he said from his Canandaigua Record Exchange store.

“For me, that’s Christmas every week. I listen to new music, check out new bands and when the UPS truck rolls up (rubs his hands gleefully), I get my box-cutter out and I’m a happy boy — let’s see what the new stuff is.”

That’s the first step.

“On Thursday I send out a newsletter by email, on Spotify, in my podcast, talking through the new releases for Friday, he said. “Thursday night on the social media channels I do a flip video, a video of me flipping through the new records in a crate — what’s available on Friday. People grab their popcorn and watch.”

Wait a minute. Is he talking about records? Vinyl?

Isn’t vinyl dead?

Far from it.

Margaret Storms, who is the manager in the vinyl department at Record Archive in Rochester, was at a music business national conference in Nashville in mid-May. “Sales of

vinyl are up 27% across the market,” she said. “And 41% of people buying vinyl are 13-24 years of age, 50% are female and 27% are Hispanic, 76% of vinyl buyers own their own turntable.”

That doesn’t sound like 2022. It sounds like 1968.

Storms is the daughter of Richard Storms, co-owner of Record Archive.

She was working at her dad’s store as a teen. The store was opened in 1975 and survived when vinyl sales dropped off the end of the earth starting in the 1980s as CDs, iPods, iTunes and streaming services came to be.

“I’ve seen demographic shifts in who’s buying records,” she said.

“When I first started here in 2005, I would see blues and jazz record collectors who were younger baby boomers, I would see punks coming in to buy records and deejays coming in to buy records. That was about it. If you were shopping with us, you were mostly buying movies or CDs. “We definitely did fight tooth and nail to keep physical media present in our region’s marketplace,” she said, sitting in an office surrounded by photos and band memorabilia.

“We did have to try different things alongside to keep it going during the down years. We leaned into gifts, we opened up event space. Then we were smart with how we staffed and what JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

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we bought.”

She said Record Archive “made sure we served the community so they felt they wanted to keep doing stuff with us. We got involved in local charity things, inviting people from the community to come in and do stuff with us. We used to do swap meets in the parking lot and opening the [performance] venue has been great because we’ve been able to book a ton of local bands now, enmesh ourselves more in the local music community even more than we did before.”

“There were a lot of different facets we did to make sure we could survive the 2000s. The challenge was, how do you make someone want to come into the store when they could literally get music for free at home. It became a lot about the atmosphere and the environment and the experience of going to a record store more than actually buying something at the record store. That has changed a little bit since the vinyl resurgence started — I think it really kicked in in 2017, 2018 when it really started to tick up.

“But the last three years for us have been a shocking blessing. The pandemic has caused the most insane growth in vinyl. I was looking at some numbers recently: over the last 20 years, vinyl sales have increased 33 times over.”

ANOTHER VETERAN Someone who not only dealt in vinyl but produced it himself is Armand Schaubroeck, who opened House of Guitars in Rochester with his brothers, Bruce and Blaine, in 1964.

From the start, the Schaubroecks were crafty: they stocked their new store with the kinds of guitars and amps the Beatles used and guess who showed up on our New York shores in 1964?

“We had vinyl records right away,” he said. “We had excellent timing. We opened in ‘64 and the Beatles came to American in ‘64. We were carrying all the English bands, but also carrying the 1950s 45s. Back in the ‘50s, an album was too expensive, you kinda bought a 45 to get the hit song you heard on the radio, with a ‘B’ side on it. Then they started making miniature albums that cost just a little bit more, EPs, with four songs or five songs and still under $2.”

Schaubroeck watched the vinyl 36

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Armand Schaubroeck, who opened House of Guitars in Rochester with his brothers, Bruce and Blaine, in 1964. “The market is exploding,” he says. “People like the sound of vinyl. When people buy an album, they’re buying that period in that band’s life.”

business change and almost disappear.

A new mode of business arose — selling used records. Today when you venture to the base of the store, past all the magnificent guitars, you find a warehouse of records, CDs and DVDs. The organization appears a little loose, but frankly, that’s part of the charm.

“Tell us what you’re looking for,” Schaubroeck said, “and we’ll take you to it or bring it to you,” admitting the enormous collection is a little spread out.

And the surge in vinyl is hard to corral.

“The market is exploding,” Schaubroeck said, his voice reflecting continued surprise. “People like the sound of vinyl. When people buy an album, they’re actually buying that period in that band’s life. They like to read about all of it inside, all the notes, figure out how Duane Allman sounded compared to the new Allman Brothers lead player. They really get into it.

“If the vinyl resurgence hadn’t happened,” he warned, “we might only have a choice of one song from a download. The record companies or

the groups wouldn’t bother making an album, they would make one hot song for a download and skip the expense of putting out a whole album.

“Because of vinyl coming back, it’s keeping music alive,” he believes, and he’s recorded — and still sells — some of his early recordings. “A lot of people are still buying CDs, too.

Vinyl has an analog sound that kind of smooths what was recorded. It was recorded with tape and when you hit play-record the tape stretches — each time the tape stretches a little and smooths it out. Digital comes out real clean, but it’s right in your face. Loud and right at you. Digital is very clean, but it’s different from vinyl.”

BUT WHY VINYL NOW? “Our society is racing all the time now, holding two jobs, we’re in a rat race trying to make ends meet, supporting our families and everything,” Schaumberg said, sitting on a chair surrounded by records.

“Vinyl itself…you have a little room, a little time, where you can relax and

Regretting the loss of the classic albums your mom threw away when you moved out of the house? They’re still available in well-stocked record stores in the area, and major labels have reissued many favorites. Plus, new releases from today’s artists are now being pressed on vinyl again.

INTERGENERATIONAL SHOPPERS

Margaret Storms, manager in the vinyl department at Record Archive in Rochester. “Sales of vinyl are up 27% across the market,” she says “And 41% of people buying vinyl are 13-24 years of age, 50% are female and 27% are Hispanic, 76% of vinyl buyers own their own turntable.”

remind yourself of slower days back when you took the time to just turn it all off and listen to a record. Music can make you forget all your problems.

“You listen to a couple of hot songs in a row you’re right there, back in your glory days in the 1960s. If you’re an attorney or a real estate agent or something, you can escape to your little room with your stereo, turn the TV off and slow things way down with an album. It’s the best way I can describe it.”

Storms said playing a vinyl record is a process of “intentionality” — it’s something you mean to do; it’s not background music.

“Playing a record forces you to pay attention to the music and it sounds better because you’re taking the time to give it attention and share intention with it,” she said. “If you’re streaming something, you just kind of hit play and walk away. Records force you to touch the artwork, pull the album out, babysit it a little to turn it over halfway through — it’s a more involved experience – you’re getting more from the music because you’re forced to pay attention to it.

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“I think people really took to vinyl for those reasons during the lockdowns: it sort of filled the gap that seeing live music does because it’s a very intentional music experience… you’re making it a point to go see music. Care and intentionality can be replicated at home with vinyl.”

“It is the experience,” agreed Cooley of Canandaigua Record Exchange. “When you have your favorite record, something you really, really love, you grab it, open it up, get to smell it. Everybody has old originals. You have to put it on the turntable. You have to pick up the needle and drop it down — very gently of course. You start the process, on your time. And you sit down and you listen about 20 minutes, get up, flip the record over, sit back down and listen to the other 20 minutes. That might be the only record you listen to that day, but you’re part of the process, almost like the fifth or sixth band member.

You have the big record jacket to look at the artwork and the liner notes and you can actually read them instead of getting out a magnifying glass, like for a CD or cassette.”

Schaubroeck and Storms are veterans in the vinyl business. Cooley just came to it two years ago when he opened his store.

With what was an apparent demise of vinyl, was that a mistake, a risk?

“It was a calculated risk,” he said.

Cooley had corporate experience and local automotive experience. And he had data — a graph that shows vinyl sales increasing every year for the last 15. “Even if I just sold records, it’s good,” he said. “I can make sure this business not only brings records to Canandaigua and the surrounding area, but will also be able to support me and my family.”

He figures his is the record store for the Finger Lakes because it’s so close to towns south of Rochester.

As for what he sells, “Everything is hot right now except for classical music,” he assured. “There are 400 albums released each week on vinyl.

People don’t realize that. Most of it is reissues because the major labels have gotten back involved. I know if I get any Grateful Dead vinyl, it sells. The big names – Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles — they are always safe bets.”

Canandaigua Record Exchange is a very small shop, but focused. Record Archive feels more organized and the staff is very experienced, plus you can hear live music on Wednesday evenings and just about anytime, do your record-searching with a lovely amber beverage or wine in your hand. House of Guitars feels like so many older record stores where you just knew you’d uncover a treasure if you stayed at it, and it, too has a music venue that is a constant draw for musicians.

Accepting that vinyl is back, OK, why is vinyl coming back so strongly?

“It’s a testament to the togetherness of listening to music,” Storms believes.

“The younger generations are really into making sure they are directly supporting artists. This is a generation that’s grown up streaming and listening to music on YouTube or iTunes or Spotify, now they want make sure the artists they love are supported and they’re aware that things like vinyl, merchandise and seeing them in live performance does make a difference to the artists and they’re coming into

the stores to buy records to directly support those artists.”

Storms sees today’s vinyl buyers as a new breed. “Intergenerational shoppers are coming in now. Parents with children and their grandchildren, walking around and recommending music to each other and swapping who’s listening to what record — and they all love Fleetwood Mac. It’s super, super heartwarming to see a 16-year-old talking to their 45-year-old parent, with their 65- or 75-year-old grandparent, all bonding over recordshopping together. It warms my heart genuinely.”

From his historical perspective, Schaubroeck has also watched the demographics change. “The change back to vinyl started out when people were buying their favorite record, even though they had the CD. It kind of exploded from there. Then it was college kids. Now it’s high school kids. They come in for a certain Duran Duran album in great shape or new and they have started to get into the sound of vinyl itself, because it is different,” he said.

He said the jazz market has recently gotten very healthy, with buyers seeking more obscure titles from Coltrane, Brubeck, Sun Ra and Joe Pass. His classical music customers are a quieter, more studious breed.

“They don’t want to be approached,”

Jon Cooley has a small store, the Canandaigua Record Exchange, where he is right on top of the latest new recordings on vinyl by today’s artists as well as stocking what’s popular in vintage vinyl.

The Record Archive provides an extensive, easy-tofind format for your favorite vinyl, plus the store stocks new and vintage turntables and sound systems so your entry (or re-entry) into vinyl can be a one-stop-shop.

JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

39

he said. “They just want to look at the records. The jazz people ask us for help because a lot of things are in spots they can’t get to on our floor. They just tell us what they’re looking for and we put it in their hands so they can decide.”

Behind the scenes, Schaubroeck and the others are fighting for music customers want but is unavailable. “The record companies aren’t interested in anything unless it’s making them a million dollars,” he said. “They don’t care about small markets very much.

There are so many albums they’re still

John Addyman visited three Rochester record stores for this issue’s cover story: “That snapped me back to the pleasure of my [record] addiction,” he writes.

CONFESSIONS OF A VINYL JUNKIE...

By John Addyman It took me years to admit it: I’m ➼There a vinyl junkie. is no help. No 12-step program. No expensive drug for Nurse Rachett to distribute.

It started when I was a teen. It took three days of arguing with my parents to get permission to buy an Elvis Presley 45 rpm record, “Love Me Tender.” My first LP, or long-play album, was “Peter, Paul and Mary,” and I bought that at a book fair at my high school.

When I started college close to home, I worked at a milk/bread/ magazine/cigarette/candy store and saved up enough to special-order an opera, “Madama Butterfly,” after I got inspired by my teacher, Dr. Lola Bernstein, in a humanities class.

I finally escaped my hometown and went to West Chester State Teachers College 150 miles away. In my second year there, I was in a dorm with music majors. When you walked down the 40

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not making. We’re looking for the best used in the best shape to buy so we can resell them because you can’t get a new one often. They might put an album out for a little while then take it right out of print. They sell just so many then it goes out of print again.”

That means stores depend on reissues from European or Asian markets, where companies are willing to produce copies of a vintage album.

The problem then becomes delivery and production costs.

Is vinyl alive? Oh, yes.

And record-shopping?

“The Rochester community believes we are valuable to them,” Storms said. “People saw Record Archive and other records stores — we’re all part of the same ecosystem, I believe — as a good place to spend time, someplace they want to go to, not just to buy something, but as a destination to hang out in or go meet your friends at the record shop, or just get out of the house and do something that will reset how you’re feeling. It feels good to go to the record store.” ❖

hall in the afternoon, different kinds of music — folk, classical, rock ‘n roll, pop, experimental and opera — would come out of each doorway I passed.

On Sunday nights we’d make record runs to the Corvette’s store in King of Prussia, where they had an enormous selection of classical music — all of it on special sale. Some nights I’d spend so much money there I didn’t have hoagie money for a week, and in those days a foot-long hoagie was less than $2.

In my first year of teaching, I took advice from my science supervisor and invested in good speakers and a hi-fi system. My record collection was still modest, but growing. I got married, we bought a house, and our neighbor across the street introduced us to something entirely new — garage sales. He and I bought so many records we had our own records-only garage sales a couple of times a year, and we sold thousands of dollars’ worth of records and acquired an inventory neither of us knew what to do with.

My family moved about every eight or nine years as I took better and more interesting jobs.

I had acquired enough records that half our basement was full of vinyl.

But I got help with remission — vinyl was disappearing fast. CDs were taking over. Then iPods. Then iTunes.

Then streaming services. The days I could expect to bring 50 records home from garage sales were gone. People had unloaded their records.

I panicked. When people got rid of their records, they also got rid of their speakers and turntables and receivers.

So, I started to buy turntables and speakers now and then, just to make sure I had something to play my

records on as the years went by. I think I have 10 turntables right now.

But I’m not buying vinyl anymore.

I’m still in remission from my addiction.

Oh, I’ll pick up the occasional record at the Arcadia Thrift Store in Newark because the guy who stocks the records does a good job of cleaning them up first and his prices are OK. At least I didn’t think I was buying vinyl anymore.

Then I visited House of Guitars.

A n d t h e R e c o rd A rc h i v e . A n d Canandaigua Record Exchange.

That snapped me back to the pleasure of my addiction, the pure enjoyment of sounds someone had worked hard to create years ago, the moment where I’m sharing moments of my life with someone else’s music.

The selfish feeling that, particularly with my collection, I may be the only person in the world sitting down and listing raptly to songs by the Halifax Three or the Gallows Singers or the Heightsmen or perhaps I’d spin the 45 “Black Slacks” by Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones. And it would be beyond pleasant for me to share that music with others. That’s the beauty of vinyl.

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esm.rochester.edu/community | (585) 274-1400

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JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

41

bones Dem Bones Startin’ to Feel a Little Thin? Time for a Trip to the Bone Gym

By John Addyman

L

iz Lehmann is on a quiet mission to save you from the drugs and the sweaty days at the gym.

Do you have osteoporosis?

Osteopenia? Do these bone diseases or dispositions run in your family?

She may have just the help you need, in a manner you probably don’t expect.

Lehmann runs the Bone Gym in Penfield.

It’s a place where she promises to help you increase the internal strength in your bones, which in turn leads to increases in muscle mass, which in turn causes your A1C to drop.

Lehmann uses a bioDensity machine that stresses your bones to make them grow by stimulating all the major muscle groups through four exercises: chest press, leg press, core pull and vertical lift. The entire process takes about 10 minutes once a week. There’s no need to wear gym clothes because chances are you won’t break a sweat.

And your joints shouldn’t hurt.

The machine forces safe and precise compressive movements that will not exceed your physical limits.

“This is all based on Julius Wolff’s Law, which has been around since the 1880s,” said Lehmann.

Wolff said bones build when they are stressed or a load is placed on them.

You stress your bones when you lift weights in a gym; you also stress your joints and muscles.

To get the joints out of the equations, which is good news for all of us at a certain age, the bioDensity machine, according to the website, “requires you to produce maximal force for five seconds. The force would be similar to pushing or lifting an object of significant weight and size in four different directions: (1) forward using your hands; (2) forward using your feet; (3) upward using your knees and (4) upward using your arms and legs together.

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Liz Lehmann uses the bioDensity machine to treat people who suffer from osteoporosis or osteopenia without using drugs, without requiring hours in weight training, and with the added benefit of lowering A1C.

“After completing a bioDensity session you may feel like you’ve completed physical work. You will feel warm from increased blood circulation and from work completed by the muscles,” Lehmann said. “Within 24 hours you may feel muscular fatigue, but you are not likely to feel soreness.

Since the movements only require five seconds of maximal work, your body will not produce the by-products which cause muscle soreness.”

“What is unique about this is that the machine isn’t doing anything to them,” Lehmann explained. “They’re using the machine to press or pull on, and it’s measuring their effort, measuring the muscle efforts and therefore how much stress is happening to their bones. People coming in have complete control over their sessions.

Nothing is happening to them. They are basically working against the machine or with the machine to stress their bones.”

No drugs Lehmann said the impetus for the machine came from Jon Jaquish.

“He was looking for something for his Ph.D. thesis when his mother called him and said she had just gotten diagnosed with osteoporosis.

The light bulb went off and he said, ‘That’s my thesis.’ He discovered that gymnasts have the best bones because they’re jumping up and down and they have the worst joints because they’re jumping up and down.

“The problem was how to stress the bones in a way that didn’t affect the joints,” she said. “He discovered bones and muscles are similar and different – both have the use-it-or-lose-it process.

If you exercise, it gets stronger; if you don’t, it gets weaker. Bones are no different than muscles in that respect.

To build muscles you have to do a lot of workouts a couple times a week and you have to have a rest period of a day or two in between so the muscles have

The Bone Gym is a work in progress for owner Liz Lehmann, who used her project planning and former landlord skills to design the space and build it herself. She opened her doors in April and is slowly filling out her treatment calendar.

a chance to recover.

“Bones are alike and different in that respect: they do need to be stressed to get stronger. But with the bioDensity machine, it only requires five seconds to be stressed at the right amount of pressure and the recovery time is a week for bones. With muscles, if you don’t go to the gym for a few weeks, you’re back to square one.

With bones, there’s more of a tail — the recovery process is longer and the fade-off process is longer.”

She said many clients come to Bone Gym to get off the drugs they’re taking for osteoporosis or osteopenia.

“I was one of the first people to go there,” said Virginia, who asked us not to use her last name. “I’d had my DEXA [bone density] scan and my doctor said I had severe osteoporosis and sent me to a specialist — and all she wanted to talk to me about was drugs. I don’t want to do drugs. I got really frustrated and upset.

“So, I started doing my own research. I found some supplements I could take and found out about the concept of what Liz is doing at Bone Gym…and then found out she was in Penfield. I thought, ‘This is a chance for me.’”

Virginia said her visits to the gym are usually 15-20 minutes, “more if we talk a little bit: Liz is really nice and supportive.” Virginia has stayed away from drugs and is feeling stronger.

“Liz has helped me feel more optimistic and hopeful than the doctors,” she said.

The road to Bone Gym Lehmann took a circuitous route to being the owner of a Bone Gym – the next nearest such facility is in Rome.

She grew up in Irondequoit, met her husband at a high school reunion.

“He’s a retired electrical engineer who did technical sales. I have a

master’s degree in computer science.

One of the reasons he married me is because I can talk engineer,” she said.

Her bachelor ’s degree is in polymer chemistry, but when her employer, Xerox, was looking to train computer programmers, she signed up and became a leader for the collegiate program.

“I would tell groups, ‘This is really hard. Say goodbye to your kids for two years, buy a whole bunch of frozen dinners and take a time-management class because you’re going to need it,” she said.

She had been warned ahead of time about the EBT — everything but thesis — problem of the program.

Doing a job fulltime and getting a master ’s degree takes a toll and Lehmann was told about the folks who got the coursework done but were too pooped to finish the thesis.

So, she used her project-management skills and an independent study course to begin her thesis as she started the master’s program — and it worked perfectly. When her classes were done, so was her thesis.

From there she did programming, developed her own browser before its time — “I built Netscape, for all intents and purposes,” she said — and worked contract and short-term jobs. She used her artistic ability to develop websites, but there was a problem: “I wanted to do independent websites, but India is cheaper.”

And recently, she’s learned another lesson: “In the computer field, they look askance at you if you’re over 40: it’s a very ageist and sexist field,” she said.

Lehmann looked at something that was her, something close to her heart.

She had rented out half her duplex in the city for years and learned a lot of fix-up skills. She put all of them to work in building out the layout of the Bone Gym after doing reams of research, getting help from SCORE of Greater Rochester to find a mentor and develop a business plan.

And Bone Gym was born.

Treatment at Bone Gym starts with a free one-hour assessment, then the follow-up sessions of about 15 minutes each week. Those sessions have some support from Excellus. Lehmann believes Silver&Fit will also cover some of the costs, which now run $139 per session with a 20% discount for a client who brings a “bone buddy.”❖ JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

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real estate

Bergen Meadows Apts.

6619 N. Lake Road • Bergen, NY 14416

585-494-2168 TDDY 711

Should You Sell Your Home Now? Sellers benefitt from sky-high prices; experts offer tips to get even more for your home

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Spacious one bedroom apartments with on-site parking & laundry. This property is for persons 62+ or disabled regardless of age. Income eligibility requirements. www.belmontmgmt.com This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or the letter to us by mail at: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

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55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

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s it worthwhile to sell your home and downsize? Area real estate agents say the market is still in the seller’s favor, making it a good time to consider moving, especially if the next home is not as costly.

“It can be very difficult to predict what will happen, but the market is still hot,” said Richard Sarkis, real estate agent with Howard Hanna in Rochester.

He said that people selling a home listed at $250,000 can expect to sell it for $325,000 to $350,000 because of the market’s low inventory.

“Some agents will say you don’t have to do anything to fix it up because we’re in a hot market,” Sarkis said.

“But that can change. You want to make your house the best it can be.

The cleaner it is, you’ll get the most for your time. The market is changing daily. The more perfection you put into your house, like some elbow grease, you’re only going to get the money back and more.”

Those who do nothing usually receive less than their neighborhood’s sales prices.

Although real estate agents receive a commission from the sale, Sarkis said that working with an agent is worthwhile because the professional can help sellers receive a higher sales price.

To get the very most for the home, sellers should consider upgrading the most important areas of the home: the kitchen and bathroom.

“If you don’t have the money to update, maybe paint it and upgrade the counters,” Sarkis said. “If you have the money, put it into the bathroom and kitchen.”

Touches such as contemporary style, granite counters and clean lines predominate, along with low

maintenance landscaping, attract today’s buyers. Sarkis recommends ramping up curb appeal by power washing the decks, mulching the landscaping, trimming trees and bushes and sprucing up the flowerbeds.

Make sure the pricey essentials are up to date: roof, furnace, hot water heater, foundation and wet basement.

Save any receipts to prove what you have had done.

“When staging the house, less is more,” Sarkis added. “No tchotchkes. You want people to focus on the dimensions and lines, not your artwork and furniture. You can have artwork, but have one picture on the wall, not seven. Declutter the mantle and display just one piece of art.

Family pictures are a deterrent; remove them. The fridge should be clean and organized and people open it up, and the cabinets. It gives an idea of how people care for their house.”

He tells clients to rent a storage unit for their extra things.

Homes should also receive a deep cleaning, especially to eliminate odors such as mustiness in the basement and pet odors in carpets. Most people do not think their homes smell, but outsiders will.

“Ask a friend or real estate agent to come through the house and see if they can sense odors,” Sarkis said.

Michael Fallen, agent with Norchar Real Estate in Rochester, said that typically homes sell for more than the asking price within two weeks of listing.

“The ‘days on market’ is now at record lows, but that’s a little distorted because we’re doing delayed negotiations,” Fallen said. “There’s low inventory, so it is a sellers’ market.

In the summer, a lot of people will be looking even with the rates going up.”

This means that the sellers list the home with a timeframe for showings, look at all the offers at once and then decide which offer they accept. This strategy can help sellers efficiently accept the best offer possible.

To get the most for a home, Fallen recommends using a real estate office that can offer 3D photography that can create a virtual tour. Buyers can view it online in greater detail and even measure areas to see if their furniture will fit. High-end or waterfront property may warrant drone videography or photography.

“We also work with a home stager to make sure the house is presentable,” Fallen said. “A lot of people want an outside area, like a patio or deck to sit and relax.”

Installing a small area of patio paver blocks and a firepit is not costly but a significant backyard upgrade compared with the expense of a pool.

Some buyers do not want a pool because of its upkeep, so it is not worth installing one. Sellers with a pool should make sure it is in tip-top shape.

Think about compiling a photo album showcasing your home’s landscaping through the seasons.

Seeing the spring tulips, daffodils, forsythia and crocus may woo a gardening buyer, for example.

“It lets people see what the property will look like,” Fallen said.

While these extra touches are not necessary, receiving an extra $10,000 to $20,000 for your efforts can help you settle into your new home. ❖

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charity Checking Out Charities Don’t get scammed, donate to legitimate charities

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

hether you call it good luck, fortune, blessings or karma, sharing what you have with a charitable organization is a good thing to do.

But knowing how your gift will be used represents an essential part of donating.

Make sure the organization is legitimate, whether you are donating online, in-person or by check.

One way to do this is to give through an existing, well-known group like Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF) or United Way. These organizations vet the groups to which they disburse funds so you can feel secure that your money will go to someone that will use it for the cause they claim.

“Most of the people we work with establish a fund that they can draw on to make gifts to other charities,” said Jennifer Leonard, president and CEO of RACF. “We also have field of interest funds that support organizations of a certain kind, like youth, health or racial justice. In that case, we make the selection.”

Another type of fund designates all the giver’s favorite annual charities from an interest-earning endowment, starting at $10,000.

Giving through an organization like RACF streamlines the donation process and makes recordkeeping much simpler. An endowment fund can be included in the donor’s estate to create a legacy of support to important causes that continues forever.

RACF gives grants to more than 800 local charities among eight counties in Western New York and the Finger Lakes, along with special gifts to acute needs elsewhere.

Fraudsters like to masquerade as legitimate concerns and have become very good at doing so. Spoofing technology allows them to appear

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to call from the same phone number as a trusted charity. It’s easy to copy a charity’s letterhead for a postal solicitation. Many scammers try to fool unsuspecting people with an email using the same logo and links that direct people to a webpage mimicking the real one.

The safest way to donate is to give directly to the organizations you know—and not through a link posted on social media or sent to you in an email (most real charities will not email an initial request, although some follow up with an email to previous contributors).

Never give your financial information over the phone. Doorto-door or email solicitors can claim

whatever they want. If you give to the organization directly, that is safer. Some scammers insist they receive donations in cash (a bad idea) or in checks made out to them. Checks should be written out to the organization, not one person.

If you are looking for a new organization, start with a cause dear to you. Leonard advises asking a trusted friend who is familiar with the organization and looking at their board listed on the website.

“The state of New York requires a minimum number for the board of a nonprofit,” Leonard said. “The idea of a board is to provide to confirm the mission and see it through. The board is in charge. The board has to care about the organization and articulate

with the IRS as a type of entity and file tax returns,” said Diana Apostolova, investment consultant with Rochester Investments. “Big charities will have their tax returns available on their website as well as financial statements that people may want to look at prior to making donations.”

The charities with 501(c)(3) designation have been approved for

HOW TO DENOUNCE A FRAUDULENT GROUP If you believe you have been scammed, contact the Department of State at www.dos. ny.gov or 1-800-697-1220; the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP; the New York State Attorney General at 1-800-771-7755 or www.charitiesnys.com.

W!

what it does.”

She added that six to 10 board members is typical for a small organization and 15 to 25 is for a larger one.

You should recognize some board members as area businesspeople and contact them from their business’ phone number to ask about the organization.

“You can also look for evidence that there’s a plan,” Leonard said. “A nonprofit that is successful looks for how it’s going to help meet its mission and sets an operational strategy to get there. They need a theory of change.”

If possible, volunteer with them to get to know their mission and needs. While financial gifts are always welcomed, you may have a possession that could also benefit their cause.

You should also check the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org), Charity Star, (www.charitynavigator.org), for information on larger charities.

“A charity has to be registered

tax-exempt status and are legitimate in the eyes of the IRS. Search for the organization by its Employer Identification Number (EIN) at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos or call 877-829-5500.

Apostolova encourages potential donors to ask for the organization’s financial statements. Without those, “it’s going to be impossible to determine what is spent on administrative costs and what goes to support their mission.”

CharityNavigator estimates that most organizations use about 75% of their budget for their cause with the remaining 25% supporting administration (15%) and fundraising costs (10%). While this varies by organization, percentages wildly different should raise concern.

You should also have the contact information for the organization, including a physical address. Search online for complaints against the organization.

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THIS PAGE Norma Pratt and John Boettcher, two

former Kodak chemists who found each other and a joint desire to protect Webster’s forested areas.

OPPOSITE PAGE A healthy woodlands site like this one is the goal of ReTree Webster, which hopes to leave a legacy like this for residents to enjoy in town into the next century.

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environment How to Leave Your Heart in Webster’s Forests ReTree Webster is a new group battling insect pests, disease and invasive plants, in search of protecting Rochester’s forests.

By John Addyman

Y

ou’re thinking that you’d like to do something new, now that you have a little more time.

But what?

Norma Platt and John Boettcher have something you’ll like.

Wait — you have quite a checklist.

You’d like to get out a little more, right?

Check. Their idea fulfills that in spades.

Fresh air. That would be nice.

Check. A lot of that.

Doing something with your hands.

Check. That, too.

Being with other sociable people.

Check. Groups as small as two and as large as 20 or so.

Something that requires that you use your brain.

Check. Research is part of what Platt and Boettcher do.

Doing something that has a lasting value that other people will benefit from and enjoy long after you’re gone.

Check. You can leave behind a

living legacy.

So what is it?

Platt and Boettcher, two retired Kodak chemists have been married for 36 years, lead a spinoff from the Friends of Webster Trails board — ReTree Webster — that is just starting its second year.

“We were talking about what we wanted to do,” explained Platt.

“The Friends of Webster Trails has open space that is under threats from different things — insect pests and disease and invasive plants,” said Boettcher. “One of the first things we did was survey the lands we have for the kind of trees we have there and the desirable ones we might lose. We should be doing something about the loss of those trees, and replacing them.”

Calling for volunteers to help assess the situation and decide what to do, Platt and Boettcher got five more people to join what would become a merry band: a naturalist, a former schoolteacher and administrator, a retired nurse, a facilitator, and a gardener.

“This is really our first season,” explained Platt. “We’ve spent a lot of time planning. We did surveys of all the open areas. We had a lot of meetings. We visited Jim Engel of White Oak Nursery in Canandaigua, who was very generous with his time and advice. He has done what we’re trying to do.”

Engel showed the ReTree Webster people how he clears an area of invasive species and brings the land back to its native flora. And he showed them his nurseryman techniques for raising a stock of native plants and trees.

What followed was the establishment of a nursery on the JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

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town of Webster’s park and recreation grounds on Route 250, where ReTree is raising American swamp white oak, chokecherry, American sycamore, sweetgum, ninebark, spicebush, red pine and more – all native plants.

“Our area is overgrown with invasive plants,” Platt said. “Do we want to remediate that and try to reclaim the natural habitat? Hemlocks, oak trees, beeches are all being infected with disease and insects. We wanted to find other species that are less susceptible to problems and increase the diversity.

“What difference can we make?” she wondered out loud.

“If not us, who?” asked Boettcher.

“We appreciate what we have here.

There are times when we regard ourselves as being very fortunate to live in a community like Webster that has what it has. We feel like we have to help the situation, help preserve it or make it better.

“If I do the right thing, it probably won’t make a huge difference in the world, but I’ll know I did the right thing. I feel like we’re very fortunate to belong to this volunteer organization, it is a vehicle, an outlet.”

The couple said Webster’s Gosnell Big Woods preserve contains trees that were saplings when the five nations of the Iroquois walked the land 400 years ago.

“This is what we’d like to see all our sites look like,” said Boettcher.

For the moment, the meetings of ReTree Webster are by Zoom, but Platt said when she gets the word out about a working party to clear weeds and invasives growth, people show up.

“I’ve got 30 people on my distribution list and when I ask for help, two to 20 people show up. It’s a pleasant way to spend a day,” she added “A joy. A light exercise in the company of other like-minded people.”

Platt made it clear that ReTree Webster is just getting started.

“We’re not 100% sure what we’re doing will be successful – this is a trial balloon,” she said. “My biggest concern is about when I can’t do this anymore. We need younger people with a fire in their belly to do it: they’ll get to know they’re doing the right thing. The planet is in trouble.”

The change Platt and Boettcher hope to make, as others pick up the work, is a legacy to Webster, they know.

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John Boettcher and one of the native-tree seedlings ReTree Webster is growing in a special plant nursery.

“In terms of leaving something behind, if it’s going to be this kind of legacy,” said Boettcher, “I’m going to carry that. Other people won’t know that I did it, but I will. It’s personal.

We’re not doing this for recognition.

“Look at all the opportunities for someone in what we’re doing. They’ll learn something about horticulture, what plants grow in this area, and the threats to those plants. There’s a lot of library work and research in what we do, learning new things. Then there’s the physical aspect of things. We’ll get people outside more often.”

Platt said she hopes the message of ReTree Webster can expand to scout groups and schools, to help build a generation that will steward the land here.

If you’re interested in checking out ReTree Webster for yourself,

Platt urges you to go to the Friends of Webster Trails website (www. webstertrails.org).

“There’s a ‘contact us’ link on there that comes directly to me,” Platt said.

“We’ll see what you’re interested in doing and get you involved.

“We’re also looking for money.

We have our little nursery trees. We’ll also have a specimen plot where we buy bigger trees and get them out so people can see progress right away, as a kind of advertising.”

The work is there. The need is there. And ReTree Webster is gearing up to make a difference.

Platt and Boettcher know there are interested people out there who just need a nudge.

“The planet is in trouble,” Platt said. ❖

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Q: What are aspects of home care that people don’t seem to know about?

A: Some may not realize that UR Medicine Home Care is a UR Medicine system partner and affiliate. Also, UR Medicine Home Care (URMHC) uses a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care. In consultation with your physician, a team of clinicians will provide care in your home for a short period of time until you’re well enough to return to your normal activities.

A CONVERSATION WITH:

Michelle Dahlkemper

CEO at UR Medicine Home Care discusses services her agency provides

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

lthough not new to healthcare, Michelle Dahlkemper is new to the role of CEO at UR Medicine Home Care. She took over the position in December 2021. Previously, she served as president and chief executive officer for Penn Medicine Home Health Lancaster General Health among her other positions in her 20 years’ experience in post-acute healthcare.

UR Medicine Home Care provides numerous services that many people in the community may not know about.

We recently sat down with Dahlkemper to learn more about UR Medicine Home Care.

Q: What do most people assume home care is all about?

A: Individuals who have never utilized any type of home care services may have different perceptions. For example, some may think a nurse or personal care attendant will be in their home 24 hours a day. We typically 52

55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

provide intermittent care one to three times a week while teaching family or caregivers how to provide care when we are not in the home. Some may think we provide housekeeping, prepare meals or transportation. We do have home health aide services available to help with a variety of activities of daily living until someone is able to get back on their feet after a hospitalization or debilitating illness.

Others might think we check vital signs for the doctor or help patients with their medications. In fact, we do those services and so much more.

Q: What is your agency like?

A: We are a comprehensive certified home health agency and a licensed hospice agency. Services include perinatal care, pediatric care, skilled nursing services (wound care, infusions), physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, telehealth, palliative care and end-of-life care (hospice)

Q: In addition to helping older adults, how do your services benefit their adult children?

A: URMHC can provide safe, effective care to patients after an illness or hospitalization, bringing peace of mind to adult children.

Often a patient is weaker and needs more assistance than they think they will need after a hospitalization. UR Medicine Home Care can ensure that patients receive care to regain their strength while teaching adult children or their caregivers how to support the patient once home care services end.

The collective goal is to help patients heal at home and prevent the need for or avoid a re-hospitalization. Often our medical expertise is a welcome relief to family caregivers.

Q: What are your biggest workday challenges and how do you meet them?

A: The demand for home care services is at an all-time high, and like other health care entities, we struggle to meet the demand. Every day we endeavor to provide high-quality, patient-centered care to as many patients as possible. We genuinely strive to care for everyone seeking or needing home care services, this being our biggest challenge.

Q: What is the most fulfilling part of what you do?

A: In a recent poll, 88% of Americans between the ages of 50 and 80 years of age indicated that it was important to them to remain in their homes as they grow older. UR Medicine Home Care is part of that solution. This is a special organization of caring and compassionate individuals with deep ties to the community. I feel very blessed to have been chosen as their new CEO and hope to continue the incredible work that has been part of the Rochester area for more than 100 years.

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Cardio workouts? More yogurt? Local experts offer up advice on how to best maintain your health as you get older.

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you are fortunate enough to be in midlife and enjoy good health, you likely want to try to maintain it. Local experts offered their best advice for staying in good health.

Tips from Cameron Apt, athletic trainer and exercise specialist with URMC: • “Get moving. If there’s an activity you like doing, do it. Stop doing something someone else told you to do. If you like an activity, you’ll keep doing it.

• “Every few years, they say strength is for longevity and then it’s cardio for longevity. It’s some of both.

If you can find someone to teach you how to lift with proper mechanics, do that and add body weight for resistance training. You need to do something you like for your heart — cardio — and something for the muscles. Running is great for cardio but it’s not the best if you don’t do it properly. Using an elliptical machine is easy on the joints.

• “Numerous sports can help you stay fit. Bike riding is a top exercise.

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• “Musculature can be a little intimidating if you’ve never been in the gym. Don’t pick up the biggest weight you can find. Find someone who can teach you the movements.

You can be self-sufficient with body weight exercise. Get a chin-up bar and some weights at home.

• “You don’t have to do something crazy, but just a little bit more than your current state. Our bodies adapt to current situations. In order to make a change, make something a little harder.

After a few weeks, that becomes the baseline, so make it a little bit harder.”

Tips from physician Az Tahir, practicing holistic medicine in Rochester: • “Do all the screenings and preventive care. You have to look out for things like heart disease and things like diabetes.

• “Know the signs of heart disease.

Heart disease can run in families.

• “Watch the cholesterol. It can go up, particularly if the high cholesterol runs in the family. Some, even if they eat a healthful diet, will have high cholesterol.

• “When exercising, you should see how you feel. You may feel some shortness of breath. That is a sign you are not in good shape. Anytime you feel tightness or pain in your chest, you should see a provider right away.

• “Avoid a high sugar and high carbohydrate diet. Healthy lifestyle is to eat natural foods you cook at home. It’s basically raw food you cook yourself at home that’s organic. Least ingredients. The best food has one ingredient: an apple, a banana. Rotate

what you eat so you have variety.

• “Limit sweet fruits like dates, watermelon and also honey. People think they can eat as much as they want, but they do have sugar in them.

• “Most doctors believe that once a year, have your blood sugar and cholesterol checked. It’s covered by insurance because it’s so important.

• “Colonoscopy should be done to prevent colon cancer as the risk goes up as you get older. If you have family history, you should check with a doctor

as you may need a colonoscopy earlier.

Usually, it’s after age 50. Repeat it after 5 years.

• “As you get older, the bone density goes down, especially in females. We check the bone density because in the elderly, the fracture is a very high mortality rate.”

• “At least once a year, have an eye exam to check pressure for glaucoma and to check for cataracts. They check the retina for degeneration. That can happen in older age and is a common

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55 PLUS – JULY / AUGUST 2022

RESPECT

EXCELLENCE

the body, water is needed.”

cause of blindness. We have treatment for it. There are interventions that can slow the process and can save sight for some years.

• “For older adults, fall prevention programs are very important.

• “Walking is probably the best exercise. I know a lot of people spend money on gyms and machines, but walking is the most helpful. It has shown to reduce inflammation, increase circulation to the brain and heart and it’s the safest. Walking is

also a safe and free exercise. Yoga and tai chi are helpful. Even five minutes in the morning and at night for stretches help. It helps balance the body outside and inside and prevent many problems. It helps your joints and ligaments stay strong.

• “Try to relieve stress. Deep breathing and walking are part of that.

• “Drink enough water. People don’t pay attention that water is free and has a tremendous benefit. It detoxifies the body. For every cell of

Tips from Marge Pickering Picone, nutritionist and owner of Professional Nutrition Services in Webster: • “I work with electrolytes to boost oxygenation to the blood and brain.

• “I encourage clients to a really wonderful five-type collogen peptide powder. It helps them keep from having leaky gut. It helps the digestive system, strengthens bones and muscles and works to improve their skin. It’s anti-aging. It supports bones and joints, skin, hair, nails, tissue repair and boosts the immune system. It gives them some protein.

• “A quality enzyme is good as well. I do a lot of research and pick particular product lines because of what it offers people. None come from the same place. Be aware of what you’re buying.

• “Eat well. Cut down on gluten and sugars. Be more aware that everything doesn’t have to be fried.

You can use an air fryer, as it’s better than conventionally fried foods.

• “Get good sleep.

• “Keep your exercise for what’s appropriate to your abilities and age. Try tai chi, yoga, swimming or walking. It’s perfectly fine. You can do Silver Sneakers through your insurance company or go online to find exercise programs.

• “In your 50s, manage stress and engage in self-care. It’s like putting your oxygen mask on first on an airplane. Take care of yourself before you care for others.”

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advocates Healthcare Advocates Help Families

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Y

our dad has knee replacement scheduled. Your mom breaks a hip. Or maybe they both have cataract surgery on the calendar.

With the associated appointments, bills, in-home help, insurance paperwork and forthcoming bills, getting some outside assistance can help you help your folks while you keep up with your own work and family life.

That is where healthcare advocates or case managers come in.

Alana Russell, owner of Aging Connections, LLC in Webster, is a certified aging life care professional who helps people navigate resources to help during times of health crisis and transition. While she predominantly serves older adults and their families, she does help with care for people who are younger. Most of the time, older adults lack the social supports and resources of younger people, as their spouse and many of their other family members and friends have passed away. Their children may not live nearby.

Typically, Russell meets with the older adult first.

“We want to get to know them,” she said. “We want to know what’s important to them. Their perspective matters.”

She identifies services that can help meet their needs, but the choice is up to the older adult as to what they want to do. Russell knows the local providers of services such as meal delivery, in-home healthcare, senior companions, housekeeping and senior transportation so she can better match the older adult with the service that best fits their needs and budget. Her business is not forcing older adults into a nursing home.

“If someone really does need to move out of their home because it’s not a viable option, then we can explore assisted living and nursing homes,” Russell said. “Both independence and 56

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safety are important. We have to find something in the middle to make it work.”

Her agency also helps advocate for people currently using assisted living, as some have adult children living out of town, for example.

Many overworked hospital discharge planners push for as early discharge as possible. It is easy for a few details to get lost in the process.

That is where Russell can help families plan for an easier transition to a family member’s home, a rehabilitation center or long-term care facility.

With her 20 years’ experience as a social worker, Russell feels comfortable having difficult conversations and helping families navigate what could be emotionally charged conversations.

She also guides family members in handling insurance and billing matters or manages it herself as the point of contact and emergency contact.

“We can be as involved as anyone wants or more on the sideline as a coach,” Russell said of all her company’s services. “More of our work is done by visits, phone Facetime and Zoom. There are a lot of ways we can help.”

Under new ownership, Constance Care Management, now in Rochester, also provides fee-for-service assistance.

Owner Cara Rusinko said that the company helps clients of any age with care management, but most clients are older adults.

“In a crisis situation, we have good relationships with people in

Alana Russell

Cara Rusinko

admissions at multiple nursing homes, whether it is a rehabilitation stay or long-term care,” Rusinko said.

Her business partner, Bridget Jarvas, said that it all begins with an initial in-home assessment as to what services would be appropriate for the client’s health and aligning with care

providers’ recommendations.

“We discuss costs and reach out to connect them to the services that would be appropriate and the right amount,” she said. “We discuss the big picture. If it’s long-term planning to stay home, we look at if there’s a long-term care insurance plan.”

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Health advocates can help connect community organizations, healthcare providers and other resources to assist older adults and their families in finding what they need. The process can otherwise become very time consuming.

“We’re already aware of the agencies that can provide adequate support and able to staff,” Jarvas said.

“Some agencies say they don’t have the staffing to accommodate them. We know about community resources.”

The agency may also attend clients’ doctor’s appointments to assist in continuity of communication and advocate for the care the clients need.

While this role may be filled by the patient’s adult child, many work full time, live in other areas or have other reasons for being unable to help.

“We make sure the follow-through is there and is communicated back to the caregivers,” Jarvas said. “We connect the dots with the primary care provider and specialists and make sure it carries over.”

While making decisions about health struggles is not pleasurable, health advocates can make it easier and better informed.

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JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

57

planning What People Misunderstand About Retirement and Final Planning

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

hat you don’t know can hurt you — or at least hurt your wallet.

While it is easier to think you will forever stay as active and vibrant as you are now, that is not reality. Making plans now can help you make this part of your life more financially stable and easier than if you delay.

PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT.

“Most people wait too late before they start planning for retirement,” said Diane Apostolova, investment consultant for Rochester Investments.

“The earlier you start planning, the better so you have time to build your plan for years to come. Not doing that may leave you destitute in retirement at a time when going back to work may not be an option.”

If you are 55 or older, it may be later than ideal timing. Meeting with a financial adviser or investment expert can help you improve your finances for retirement.

PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY—WHEN THEY DON’T. It may feel like you are ready to

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retire if your investment incomes yield enough to pay for today’s expenses, but Apostolova warned that is a mistake.

“Many people assume that if they can retire on a certain income today, that would be the income they’ll need in the future,” she said.

This line of thought does not account for inflation.

“The retirees in the future don’t want to miscalculate how much money they’d really need to live on,” Apostolova said. “Accounting for inflation and taxes in retirement is extremely important.”

Also think about the rising healthcare costs as one ages and—if aging in place—climbing expenses as the home requires accessibility accommodations and big-ticket repairs. (Homes grow older, too.)

PEOPLE DON’T GET THEIR PLANS IN WRITING.

Most people will not simply pass away in their sleep. Typically, we check out of the world after a series of bouts with ill health. Some of these illnesses may inhibit the ability to make decisions. Simply telling your family in advance that you do not want artificial resuscitation or that you want life support is not enough. You need to have the documents written up and included in your medical records with your health system as well.

Cara Rusinko, owner of Constance Care Management in Rochester and her business partner, Bridget Jarvas, encourage clients to complete their advanced directives: a power of attorney and a healthcare proxy designation and medical orders for life-sustaining treatment.

“Many couples are each other’s POA and proxy, but they do not have a secondary,” Rusinko said. “Having those documents in place before a crisis happens is very important.”

If a couple experiences a serious car accident, who will speak for them

then and handle their bill paying while they recover?

“People are reluctant to do these forms as it’s a taboo topic,” Jarvas added. “People wait too long to have those things put in place.”

PEOPLE LET FORMS GET OUTDATED.

Some couples have their proverbial ducks in a row with their will, power of attorney (POA), medical orders for life-sustaining treatment (MOLST) and proxy, but file the paperwork in a drawer for decades. Rusinko said that this is a bad idea.

“We make sure their wills and other papers are up to date,” she said.

Suppose your daughter is to inherit half your estate and your son the other half, but your daughter’s husband files for divorce and sues for a quarter of your estate to help care for your grandchildren?

When you filled out your POA, your son may have lived nearby but now he resides in California. While that does not make it impossible to decide matters for you, the child living nearby may make a better choice.

PEOPLE DO NOT PLAN THEIR FUNERAL.

It is not macabre to plan for the inevitable. After all, no one cheats death. However, you can lower its expenses. Pre-paying for your funeral locks in today’s prices to save your estate money. You can also spare your surviving family the struggle of planning the funeral and hoping that they are abiding by your wishes for burial, cremation or donating your body to science. You can also plan where you want to be interred and the service and calling hours (if any).

“Oftentimes, some focus on a plan for their funeral, but making those financial arrangements ahead of time helps,” Jarvis said.

Let your family know of where you have prepaid and where to find your copy of the documents.

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JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

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summer

Immersive History Experiences

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you’re a history buff, try an immersive history experience this summer. Instead of just reading about history, these sites help you feel like you’re living it through their knowledgeable staff, period appointments and historic venues.

• Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford (www.gcv. org) is the state’s largest living history museum and the third largest in the nation. Stroll among 68 authentic and reproduction vintage buildings that have been gathered on tree-lined streets to form a village of homes, shops, stores, farms, gardens, churches and a school, all peopled by costumed history interpreters busy about their occupations. As visitors stop by, they pause a moment to answer questions and demonstrate their trades, including blacksmithing, tin smithing, weaving, creating pottery, farming and crafting barrels. The three zones of Genesee Country represent different eras: Pioneer Settlement, 1795-1830; Center Village, 1830-1870; 60

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and Gas Light District, 1860-1900.

Bring along your grandchildren so they can try their hand at making a tin ornament, rolling a hoop with a stick and balancing on stilts. The hands-on

emphasis at Genesee Country engages children. The gift shop is worth a visit, as it features replica vintage items, gifts and treats.

Genesee Country offers three

eateries or you are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy on the tables in the meadow. The website features special event days.

• Motherland Connextions in Buffalo (www.motherlandconnextions. com) provides a variety of history t o u r s , i n c l u d i n g U n d e rg ro u n d Railroad Heritage tours, replete with historic facts, costumed guides and tales of bravery. The Underground Heritage Re-Enactment Tour allows guests to experience what it was like to escape through the woods as a Freedom Seeker in the 1800s.

Beginning at dusk, the tour guide leads the group with lanterns as “bounty hunters” and dogs follow.

Underground Railroad Heritage Tour of the United States and Canada represents another Motherland tour.

It examines the connection between western New York and Ontario, Canada and how they played roles in the pursuit of freedom. As these are group tours, make a reservation to bring along friends and family. Or, you could join one of the daily tours, Freedom Seekers Daily Heritage Tour of Niagara Falls or Freedom Seekers Tour of Canada. Each tour travels to key sites of the Underground Railroad where people like Harriet Tubman crossed the border and helped others find freedom.

• Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua (www.sonnenberg. org) is a bit less immersive than Genesee Country and Motherland Connextions tours. Sonnenberg offers no interpreters; however, its scope makes it worthy of a daylong visit.

Designated as a New York State Historic Park, Sonnenberg boasts a rare Queen Anne Victorian-style mansion open for tours along with several themed formal gardens. The mansion’s period-furnished rooms whisk visitors back to the late 1880s, when Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson built the grand structure as their summer home overlooking Canandaigua Lake. Choose a guided tour among the varied gardens and rooms or guide yourself with optional audio tour via your smartphone. Bring along a picnic to enjoy at one of the many picnic tables or grassy areas in the park or buy a lunch at the High Noon Café. Wine is available for sale at The Finger Lakes Wine Center on-site.

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visits

Exploring Route 20 NEW YORK’S ‘BIG DADDY’

➼ U. S. ROUTE 20 IS THE LONGEST ROAD IN THE UNITED STATES and is referred to as “America’s Main Street” or the “Big Daddy” (to contrast with Route 66, known as "Mother Road.")The 3,365-mile highway starts in Boston and crosses a dozen states, including New York, before ending in Newport, Oregon. Travel in the slow lane through small towns and the rolling countryside stopping along the way to explore Central New York’s diverse heritage, natural beauty and agricultural vitality. BY SANDRA SCOTT

➊ ALBANY

The state’s capital, Albany, is one of two major cities that Route 20 passes through. There is plenty to do.

Take a tour of the impressive Capitol building, learn about the state’s history at the State Museum, visit one of the many art museums, or take a ride on the Hudson River. Not to miss is the Tulip Festival held each May.

➋ SHARON SPRINGS

Once a favorite getaway with the well-to-dos, Sharon Springs has been out-shined by Saratoga Springs. In the past decade the area has undergone a renaissance. It is the home of Beekman 1802 Mercantile featured in the TV reality series “The Fabulous Beekman Boys.” There are 177 structures in the small village on the National Historic Places. Plaques and storyboards allow visitors to wander the village to get a glimpse into the town’s grandeur in a gone-by era.

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➌ CHERRY VALLEY

The museum of the Cherry Valley Historical Society, located in an 1815 Federal House, is the place to learn about the 1778 Cherry Valley Massacre.

The massacre has been called the “most horrific frontier massacre of the war.”

The museum has exhibits, including a diorama, dealing with the event along with many others that highlight the history of the area. Nearby is The TePee, a good place to grab a hot dog and enjoy the views of the Mohawk River Valley and surrounding area.

➍ CAZENOVIA

In the center of New York state, Cazenovia, is the lovely, picturesque town home to Cazenovia College.

There are many parks and a public swimming beach. Many of the town’s places are on the National Register of Historical Places including Lorenzo State Historic Site, home of John Lincklaen, where there are a variety of seasonal events. The Cazenovia

ABOVE Schuyler Mansion in Albany home of a former a Revolutionary War general.

The brick mansion is now a museum and an official National Historic Landmark.

began. The village is thought to be the inspiration for Bedford Falls in the film “It’s a Wonderful Life” and there is a museum devoted to the film. In the same building is a section dealing with “voices for humanity.” The historical society has many displays as does the Museum of Waterways and Industry.

➒ BUFFALO

THIS PAGE, FROM TOP Trinity Episcopal Church on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal in Seneca Falls; and The Botanical Gardens in Buffalo.

Beverage Trail highlights some of the state’s best agricultural products.

➎ LAFAYETTE

Two of the longest highways, Route 20 and Route 11 meet in LaFayette making it the “crossroads of New York”. The area is best known for its annual Apple Festival. Apples are one of the leading crops in New York state. There are apple orchards where visitors can buy apples and pick their own while also enjoying fresh cider and doughnuts.

➏ SKANEATELES

the Seward family until the early 1950s. Few changes were made to the house but everything was saved.

William Seward was a NYS senator and secretary of state under Lincoln.

He was injured as part of the Lincoln assassination plot.

Auburn is also home to The Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural Museum.

Writer Ward W. O’Hara became interested in collecting farm equipment in the mid-1900s. His wife, Ruth, joined right in and their collection grew beyond their ability to house it all.

➑ SENECA FALLS

Seneca Falls is a great destination for history lovers. The most significant are the Woman’s Rights National Historical Park and National Women’s Hall of Fame. Seneca Falls is where the women’s suffrage movement

There are a multitude of attractions in the city of Buffalo, including the Martin House Complex, highlighting one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most celebrated houses, and the AlbrightKnox Art Galleries with artwork by Picasso, Warhol, and Pollack. The Botanical Gardens has the third largest greenhouse in the United States. The Buffalo Zoo is the third oldest in the United States. Buffalo is home to the professional football team, the Buffalo Bills, and also home to the Anchor Bar where Buffalo chicken wings are thought to have originated.

Along the Way: Each stop along the way has interesting things to explore within a few miles. Cooperstown is about 10 miles south of Cherry Valley.

Route 20 also goes through Bouckville, home of New York state’s largest antiques and collectable show with over 2000 venders. The route offers easy access to the Finger Lakes and the NYS wine region. The road traverses the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. There are several unique small museums just a short jaunt off the Route including the Jell-O Museum in LeRoy and Kazoo Factory Museum in Eden plus several state parks.

The charming town on the lake hosts several annual and on-going events. The annual Antique and Classic Boat Show draws thousands of visitors as does the Dickens Christmas with many of Dickens’ characters wandering the streets. The village is also known for its historic downtown and great restaurants. Not to miss are the daily mail boat rides during the summer and the Friday night band concerts in July and August.

➐ AUBURN

History buffs will find a plethora of attractions of interest in Auburn, i n c l u d i n g t h e H a r r i e t Tu b m a n National Park. Tubman was known as “The Moses of her People.” The Seward House Museum has a myriad of displays. The house stayed in JULY / AUGUST 2022 – 55 PLUS

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addyman's corner

By John Addyman Email: john.addyman@yahoo.com

Some Advice for Boomers from People Who Aren’t

D

id you ever have a moment when you thought about something in your past, and then the moment went straight through the present to your future? And back?

I had one of those this week.

My wife and I were watching the first episode of the new “Stranger Things” series one night. Little pieces of that show seem to attach to me—my wife drives a Ford Pinto, my son likes Dungeons & Dragons, and all my daughters possess superpowers and can talk back to me in a way that I’m unable to respond or get the last word.

In one scene, in a high school classroom, the heroine, a girl named El, gets hit with a spitball.

A spitball, from my era, was a piece of paper, part of a school tablet or a gum wrapper, that you chewed up, formed into a ball and shot out of your mouth using a straw, kind of like a blowgun.

The second the spitball hit El in the cheek, my mind spun back to high school and our beloved principal, Bill Crum.

Mr. Crum and I had a charming tête-à-tête when I was a junior in high school. I was escorted to his office by my English teacher, who also confiscated my straw.

Yes, I had used the weapon.

No, I wasn’t the only one.

Yes, my aim was sharp and true.

And yes, just like the NFL, the referee saw me and not everyone else who was doing the deed.

Mr. Crum was a stern man. I cannot remember seeing him smile, although I’m sure that he did 30 seconds after dismissing me. He ushered me into his office and laid my straw on his desk. And he rolled out High School Principal Rule 13:11 on me, a lecture I’m certain he used many times.

Quoting Corinthians 13:11, he said: “When I was a child, I talked like a

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child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things…”

And he held up the straw.

“Exhibit A,” he said.

I left his office a chastened, humbled man.

Last week I read a blog on bonvoyaged.com, which purports to provide “our community with the latest trending travel entertainment news and insight on the best destinations to visit around the world.”

OK. But the blog was about “40 Things Baby Boomers Still Think Are Cool” but really aren’t. Too much of our present is really our past, the post argues.

It’s an interesting list, starting with, “For whatever reasons, it seems that when you reach that certain age, your propensity to dress like

a tourist…doubles — cargo shorts, tucked-in polo, random sun hat, and who can forget the fanny pack.”

Ouch!

I’ve certainly reached the age. I started to panic that maybe I’d finally really reached “The Age” where I’d become my father again. Yes, I do tend to wear my favorite clothes a long time. Like my dad did, I tend to keep sweatshirts until I can no longer put them on without ripping a new hole in the tattered fabric. And I have a pair of slippers that archaeologists would probably like to take a look at today.

But in my — our — defense, the photo with the blog showed a guy standing there looking like a tourist, but he didn’t have cargo shorts on, I see no fanny pack and he isn’t wearing a tucked-in polo shirt: he had a longsleeved Oxford shirt on.

Whew! I felt a little better…but the guy does have a silly-looking sun hat on his head.

So here are some things bonvoyaged.com has decided are no longer cool and we boomers should all rid them from our lives: * Knick knacks (“you’re prone to hoarding”). * Bar soaps. We boomers are the “only ones who still use them.” * Sweepstakes. The blog has a point there. Enter one of those and see how nagging those people can be. * 9-5 workweeks. Most boomers aren’t working anyway. * Blaming millennials. Duh! Why shouldn’t we blame them? * Paper bills paid with bank checks.

Your smartphone can do all that stuff.

You have a smartphone, right? * Toast. Toast? A cheap and simple breakfast staple has been replaced with burritos and blender-whipped smoothies. Get with it, boomers! * Cop dramas. Is “Blue Bloods” a boomer fave? * Word art on walls in the home.

No comment: my wife will kill me. * Ironing. A lost art. I spent many a Sunday afternoon in my college dorm watching football and ironing my stuff. But today there are “detergents and softeners that eliminate wrinkles” don’t you know? * Racquetball. (“Something you see elders playing at the YMCA.”) * Fuzzy toilet seat covers. I think the blog’s author has us mixed up with an earlier generation. * Patterned wallpaper. Really?

Do we throw kitchen backsplashes in there, too? * Mrs. Dash. (“You can tell you’re eating a Boomer’s cooking if you can taste the Mrs. Dash.”) Yikes! We’ve got two jars of it on our spice shelf. * Crocs. My wife just fell off her chair. (“Owning Crocs means you’re old, at least deep down.”) * All-You-Can-Eat Buffets. (“If you’ve ever been in one, boomers make up the entire crowd.”) I have the same feeling about a salad bar in a restaurant, but it’s not an age thing.

At least I don’t think it’s an age thing.

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There were more items, but the further I went through the list the more depressed and older I felt.

One thing they did miss was naps.

And I’m about to take one.

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last page

By Melody Burri

Dawn Santiago-Marullo, 63 Retired Victor Central School District Superintendent Dawn SantiagoMarullo talks life, values and the future of public education LEFT Dawn Santiago-Marullo is a wife, mother, grandmother who served in PreK-12 public schools for 37 years. She and her husband of 43 years, Tom, live in Victor. She has two adult children, a sonin-law, granddaughter, a mom and sister, all living in the area.

Q: What hobbies are you pursuing in your new-found “spare time?”

A: I’ve always loved reading for fun. I’m really enjoying having more time to read and have joined a couple of book clubs. I also like doing complicated jigsaw puzzles. Tom and I planned to travel a lot once we retired, but haven’t done much since March Q: You’ve enjoyed many career 2020. Before the pandemic, we went accomplishments. What gives you the to Italy and Australia, returning from greatest joy as you look back?

Australia on Feb. 23, 2020. Fortunately, A: I’ve been blessed to have done neither of us have had COVID. work I loved for 37 years in the same I’d like to go to Greece some day, district. I have so many fond memories so in April 2020, I started learning of former students and colleagues. Greek using the app Duolingo. I grew So many of my former students up bilingual — English and Spanish — are working, raising families and because I lived in Puerto Rico until I making a difference in the world — it’s was 10. I’ve always enjoyed studying heartwarming. I’m proud of leading languages. When I was in school and the Victor Central School District college I studied French, German, through the recession. It was quite Russian and Italian. I only remember challenging, but everyone worked a few words from these languages, but together to continue our mission I’ve found them all helpful for learning of preparing our students for their Greek. futures.

Q: What was one unexpected retirement Q: How has your own life changed since challenge you’ve encountered? retiring?

A: I went from 60 miles per hour A: I enjoy spending more time to 0 miles per hour overnight. At first with my family, especially my husband it felt very weird to have so much time and granddaughter. During the on my hands. That’s not a problem pandemic, we had our now 10-year- anymore. I’ve found a lot of rewarding old granddaughter, Lucy, two days a ways to use my time. week from March 2020 until students returned to school in person full-time. Q: What specific benefits of maintaining We were so fortunate to have all that an active lifestyle have you experienced? unexpected quality time with her. We A: Being retired has helped Tom played, read books, made art, baked and I prioritize our health. We eat goodies and went for a lot of walks. better and exercise daily. I’ve walked — 66

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Tom runs — a lot in the neighborhood and area trails. I usually do between three and six miles. Last spring, we decided to walk/bike the Erie Canal from Lock #29 in Palmyra to Lockport in short segments, traveling three to five miles each time. By Fall 2021 we made it to Middleport. We’re looking forward to finishing the goal this spring.

Q: What’s one core value that has served you well through your career and continues to shape your retirement?

A: Working hard, giving back to the community and caring about others. One of my new interests is serving on the Greater Rochester Chapter of the American Red Cross board of directors. I’m currently vice chairperson and will be chairperson in July.

I’m also an adjunct professor for the University of Rochester, Warner School of Education. I supervise PreK-12 educators who want to become school administrators. Since September 2019, I’ve worked with 33 educators. I’m enjoying being part of their preparation to be school leaders.

It’s an opportunity for me to ‘pay it forward.’

I’m volunteering as the executive director of the foundation I started when I was superintendent. The Victor Central Schools Educational Foundation supports the district by providing funds for educational opportunities not already funded by the district. Our website is https:// vcsef.com/ Q: What’s one thing that gives you hope about the future of education and the next generation stepping into adulthood?

A: Young people today care a lot about others, our environment and leading balanced lives. I believe the next generation will make this world a much better place.

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