55 Plus of Rochester, #65: September – October 2020 by 55 Plus: For Active Adults in Rochester

Financial Help for Retirees Affected by COVID-19

n Presidential Elections

Trump, 74, vs. Biden, 77 Is age a problem? n Traveling

Bargains abound for those willing to travel n Cannabis

Assemblyman Harry Bronson on working to legalize pot

Ginny Ryan Award-winning TV anchor reflects on more than three decades in front of TV cameras. “Every day is different, and I learn something every single day,” she says.

55 PLUS

Issue 65 • September/October 2020 For Active Adults in the Rochester Area

roc55.com

Inside Nancy Dubner: A Life of Path Paving for Women

free please share

Local Black Artists Respond to Racial Injustice

health care right at home. The Physician House Calls program provides a convenient way for you to get high-quality care in the comfort of your own home. For over 10 years, our medical team has provided one-on-one medical assessments, medication review, and care coordination. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll work with you to develop a comprehensive care plan that will give you and your family peace of mind. Available to individuals 65 years and older.

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CONTENTS

‘

Financial Help for Retirees Affected by COVID-19

Trump, 74, vs. Biden, 77 Is age a problem? ■ Traveling

Bargains abound for those willing to travel

PLUS

■ Cannabis

Sept. / Oct. 2020 To subscribe to 55 PLUS, please see our coupon on page 39.

Issue 65 • September/October 2020 For Active Adults in the Rochester Area

Assemblyman Harry Bronson on working to legalize pot

55 PLUS ‘

■ Presidential Elections

roc55.com

Ginny Ryan Award-winning TV anchor reﬂects on more than three decades in front of TV cameras. “Every day is different, and I learn something every single day,” she says.

Inside Nancy Dubner: A Life of Path Paving for Women

free please share

Local Black Artists Respond to Racial Injustice

Find us on facebook

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@ 55 PLUS ROCHESTER

26 COVER Savvy Senior 6 12 TRAVEL • Anchor Ginny Ryan reflects on her • Travel agents: now is a great time to Financial Health 8 travel, if you select the right area to visit long career in front of TV cameras Dining Out 10 14 FOLIAGE 30 PRESERVATION • Historian, craftsman, entrepreneur • Leaf peeping trips to enjoy close to Visits 44 home gives Naples landmark new life Addyman’s Corner 46 16 ELECTION 34 HOBBIES • Meet those who are passionate about • Trump, 74, vs. Biden, 77. Does age Long-term Care 48

55 PLUS Q&A Assemblyman Harry Bronson, 61, talks about his work to legalize recreational cannabis in New York state 4

55 PLUS - September / October 2020

represent a problem?

die-cast car collection

18 RACE

37 COSTUMES

• Black artists respond to racial injustice

•Five generations keep Arlene’s Costumes going

22 EXPLORE • Exploring New York’s food and beverage trails

24 BIG SISTER •U of R leader enjoys helping young kids through Big Brothers Big Sisters

40 PROFILE • Jeffrey Melvin: minister, writer, and prayer warrior has a new book out

42 WOMEN • Force of feminism: Nancy Dubner, a life of path-paving for women

Had a Stroke. Back on Stage.

Musician Todd Hobin KNOW THE SIGNS • CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

Central New York music legend Todd Hobin knew nothing about stroke — but he does now. That’s why he’s raising awareness about stroke risk factors and its signs and symptoms.

FACE DROOPING

A. S.

ARM WEAKNESS

SPEECH DIFFICULTY

Fact: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Important to know: Stroke can happen to both men and women — at any age. Good news: Stroke is preventable by managing medical risk factors and healthy lifestyle choices. What to do: Time lost is brain lost. So it’s vital to know the signs of a stroke — F.A.S.T. Four words to live by: Call 911 and say, “Take me to Crouse.“ When it comes to stroke, every moment matters. As one of just 10 hospitals in New York State tohave earned Comprehensive Stroke Center status, and with the region’s newest ER and hybrid ORs, Crouse offers the most advanced technology for rapid stroke diagnosis and treatment

Read Todd’s story and learn more: crouse.org/toddhobin.

TIME TO CALL 911

savvy senior By Jim Miller

Financial Help for Retirees Affected by COVID-19

n addition to the $1,200 federal coronavirus stimulus check that was distributed in April and May, there are many other financialassistance programs (both public and private) that can help struggling retirees, as well as give relief to family members who help provide financial support for their loved ones. To f i n d o u t w h a t t y p e s o f assistance you may be eligible for, just go to BenefitsCheckUp.org, a free, confidential web tool designed for adults 55 and older and their families. It will help you locate federal, state and private benefits programs that can assist with paying for food, medications, utilities, health care, housing and other needs. This site — created by the National Council on Aging — contains more than 2,500 programs across the country. To identify benefits, you’ll first need to fill out an online questionnaire that asks a series of questions like your date of birth, ZIP code, expenses, income, assets, veteran status, the medications you take and a few other factors. It takes about 15 minutes. Once completed, you’ll get a report detailing all the programs and services you may qualify for, along with detailed information on how to apply. Some programs can be applied for online; some have downloadable application forms that you can print and mail in; and some require that you contact the program’s administrative office directly (they provide the necessary contact information). If you don’t have internet access, you can also get help in person at any of the 84 Benefit Enrollment Centers located throughout the U.S. Call 888-268-6706 or visit NCOA.org/ centerforbenefits/becs to locate a center in your area. Some centers also offer assistance over the phone. 6

55 PLUS - September / October 2020

Depending on your income level and where you live, here are some benefits you may be eligible for: • Food assistance: Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help pay for groceries. The average SNAP benefit for 60-and-older households is around $125 per month. Other programs that may be available include the Emergency Food Assistance Program, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. • Healthcare: Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs can help or completely pay for out-of-pocket health care costs. And, there are special Medicaid waiver programs that provide in-home care and assistance too. • Prescription drugs: There are hundreds of programs offered through pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and charitable organizations that help lower or eliminate prescription drug costs, including the federal low-income subsidy known as “Extra Help” that pays premiums, deductibles and prescription copayments for Medicare Part D beneficiaries. • Utility assistance: There’s the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as well as local utility companies and charitable organizations that provide assistance in lowering home heating and cooling costs. • Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Administered by the Social Security Administration, SSI provides monthly payments to very low-income seniors, aged 65 and older, as well as to those who are blind and disabled. In 2020, SSI pays up to $783 per month for a single person and up to $1,175 for couples.

55PLUS roc55.com

Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Lou Sorendo

Writers & Contributing Writers Deborah J. Sergeant, Christine Green, Mike Costanza Melody Burri, Todd Etshman John Addyman, Lynette Loomis

Columnists

Jim Terwilliger, Susan Suben Jim Miller, John Addyman Sandra Scott

Advertising

Anne Westcott, Linda Covington

Office Assistant Nancy Nitz

Layout and Design Dylon Clew-Thomas

Cover Photo

Chuck Wainwright 55 PLUS –A Magazine for Active Adults in the Rochester Area is published six times a year by Local News, Inc., which also publishes In Good Health–Rochester—Genesee Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper.

Mailing Address PO Box 525 Victor, NY 14564 © 2019 by 55 PLUS – A Magazine for Active Adults in the Rochester Area. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Buffalo, NY Permit No. 4725

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

“We did not want to leave the hard decisions to our family, especially the financial burden.”

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financial health By Jim Terwilliger

The SECURE Act: Dealing with Loss of the “Stretch” IRA

arlier this year, we reviewed key elements of the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act of 2019. One of the law’s 29 provisions e l i m i n a t e s “ s t re t c h ” I R A s a n d mandates that inherited IRAs for most non-spouse beneficiaries be distributed within 10 years following the year of the IRA owner’s death. This applies to both inherited traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Previously, beneficiaries could stretch required minimum distributions (RMDs) over their expected lifetimes while the investments continue to grow taxdeferred or for Roth IRAs, tax-free. Beneficiary exemptions are s p o u s e s , m i n o r c h i l d re n u n t i l reaching age of majority, those who are chronically ill or have special needs, and those within 10 years of the original IRA owner’s age. Otherwise: • If the IRA owner died in 2019 or earlier, a non-spouse beneficiary is covered by the old rules. While the beneficiary must take RMDs, the inherited IRA can continue to be stretched over the beneficiary’s life expectancy. • If the IRA owner dies in 2020 or later, the new rules are in place. Unless one is an exempted beneficiary, RMDs are no longer required but the inherited IRA must be distributed fully within 10 years.

So, what is the big deal?

It is not a big deal for beneficiaries who empty their inherited IRAs quickly, which, of course, is allowed. But it is for beneficiaries who are responsible stewards of their inheritances. Forcing non-exempt heirs to empty their inherited IRAs within 10 years may put them temporarily into a high tax bracket, particularly if they are still working during that 10-year timeframe. Net after-tax proceeds can

55 PLUS - September / October 2020

be subsequently diminished. It can also be a big deal for IRA owners who name a trust as beneficiary. In many such cases, the trust is designed to meter out RMDs to heirs over their lifetimes. With the new rules, there are no RMDs. With other trust designs, distributions are taxable to the trust, not the beneficiary. Trust income tax schedules are highly aggressive and will now subject trusts to these high tax rates over a short 10year timeframe. So, what is one to do? Enter planning opportunities that provide workarounds to the new inability to stretch inherited IRAs over time. Let’s take a look at three of them:

Build up your Roth IRAs

A powerful workaround to dampen the loss of the “stretch” is to shift your portfolio to minimize traditional IRA/401(k) pre-tax holdings in favor of maximizing Roth IRA/410(k) tax-free holdings. This can be accomplished by shifting your savings practices if you are still working and/or performing partial annual Roth conversions during your relatively-low tax-bracket years between retirement and age 72, the new age when RMDs are now scheduled to start. This is even more powerful if you delay starting Social Security benefits until age 70. The key is to limit annual taxable conversions to keep you within your current tax bracket. Doing the above increases the inherited Roth/traditional IRA ratio for your heirs. While inherited Roth IRAs must also be emptied in 10 years, the tax hit is zero since Roth distributions are non-taxable. Inherited Roth IRAs can be “stretched” by transferring the full tax-free value of an inherited Roth account to a taxable investment account at the 10-year point which can then appreciate at lower long-term capital-gains tax rates.

Use of Disclaimers by Spouse Beneficiaries

Here, a spouse names the other spouse as sole primary beneficiary of a traditional IRA and children as contingent beneficiaries. When the first spouse dies, the survivor can elect to disclaim a portion of the IRA, which automatically directs that portion to the children. Finally, when the survivor dies, the children will inherit whatever is left, starting another 10-year clock. This sequence can “stretch” out the children’s two inherited IRAs for up to 20 years combined.

Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) as IRA Beneficiaries

This workaround should only be considered if the IRA owner has charitable interests. Here, the owner names a CRT as a partial or full primary beneficiary of a traditional IRA. The trust document can provide, say, for a child or children to receive taxable distributions from the trust over their lifetimes. When the children ultimately pass, the remainder value of the trust transfers tax-free to charity. The IRA owner accomplishes two objectives: 1) provide “stretch” distributions to the children over their lifetimes, and 2) provide a potentially substantial legacy to one or more charities. If you have an IRA or 401(k), sit down with your attorney and financial planner to determine if your estate plan needs to be revised because of the SECURE Act. Do it so sooner rather than later. James Terwilliger, CFP®, is senior vice president, senior planning adviser at CNB Wealth Management, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. He can be reached at 585-419-0670 ext. 50630 or by email at jterwilliger@cnbank.com.

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DiningOut By Christopher Malone

Restaurant

Guide

It was difficult to say no to the spicy fried raviolis served at Canal View Family Restaurant.

Homemade and Hometown Vibes Quaint Canal View Family Restaurant in Newark serves up loud appeal

’m kicking myself as I write this review of Canal View Family Restaurant: I should have gotten breakfast. It’s not saying dinner wasn’t tasty, it’s just that breakfast is a key to my heart. However, traveling an hour with breakfast items doesn’t sit well. There are too many risks for potential soggy food, and cold gravy isn’t as good heated up. With pancakes, it’s the same. Canal View, like many other eateries in July, is abiding by staterequired guidelines for operation with limited seating but still allows

55 PLUS - September / October 2020

customers to take away food to their home. What caught my eye about Canal View, save this being my first stop in Newark ever, is the restaurant itself. Had I not Googled restaurants in the Wayne County village and traveled there on the whim, this family-style diner would have caught my attention for sure due to the aesthetic value of looking like a no-holds-barred diner. As a car snack for my commute back home – giving in to food aroma is a celebrated vice — I started the meal off with deep fried pickles ($6.99). The small takeaway container was filled

to the brim with quarter-sized fried delights. With a side of ranch, the option was complete. They didn’t fail to satisfy, and I actually saved a few for my fiancé. It was difficult to say no to the spicy fried raviolis ($6.99). They needed to be enjoyed early as well. After all, who knows what would happen with an hour-long commute? Similar to the pickles, the raviolis were lightly fried. Being pasta, there is always a slight chewiness where the raviolis are pinched but it didn’t compromise the overall enjoyment of the appetizer. A side of marinara came

with the raviolis. The slight sweetness of the sauce and subtle heat of the spices married well. For an all-American diner in Upstate New York, it was necessary to go with the classic: burger and fries. I opted for the tower burger ($9.99). Between two buns sat two charbroiled beef patties, bacon, cheese, lettuce, onion and tomato. The beef was good as requested and didn’t have a bland flavor. Combined with the aforementioned ingredients, it was a satisfying option. The fries were also very good. The “Land and Sea” ($16.99) was the first entrée, which is what it sounds like: a 12-ounce New York strip steak, mashed potatoes, and three battered shrimp and scallops. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t wonderful. As all food does after it gets off the grill or out of the oven, the steak continued to cook on the ride home. The medium rare slab of meat was slightly more done than expected but that’s OK. It also lacked seasoning. The naked steak also adopted some of the flavor of the shrimp and scallops as iffy compensation. Regardless, it was a good cut of meat. The scallops and shrimp were good, especially since we received three of each. The breading fell off of them but the flavor and size of the shellfish were good. The mashed potatoes hit the spot. We also went with the stuffed haddock ($12.99). The broiled haddock was filled with what is described as a “crab meat stuffing” per the menu, and judging by the price tag, it was deduced to be imitation crab. Although it wasn’t the real thing, it wasn’t rubbery or have an off-putting flavor. The haddock was very good. The notable fish was broiled very well and was a very generous portion. The baked potato, well, was a baked potato. It was slightly dry and the skin was a tad tough. Overall, you can’t go wrong with Canal View Family Restaurant, especially with a $60 bill for all this food. In a world of chains, this hometown hero will satisfy your needs in a world with or without COVID-19 and restrictions. I’ll be going back, for sure, to try the breakfast.

The “Land and Sea” option: a 12 oz New York strip steak, mashed potatoes, and three battered shrimp and scallops.

The broiled haddock was filled with what is described as a “crab meat stuffing.” Very good option.

Canal View Family Restaurant Address 247 W Union St, Newark, NY 14513 Phone 315-331-4803 Website/Social canalviewrestaurant.net facebook.com/Canal-View-Family-Restaurant-113372492030496/

Tower burger: the beef was good as requested and didn’t have a bland flavor.

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Contact your Account Service Coordinator: phone: 585-392-7823 phone: Account 585-392-7823 #: CL140654 COUPON PLACEMENT MAY CHANGE PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. COUPON PLACEMENT MAY CHANGE PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. Contact your Account Service Coordinator: email:585-392-7823 SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM phone: Contact your Account Service Coordinator: email: phone: Ad #: 585-392-7823 CL-4710439.INDD Account #:SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM CL140654 This ad is the property of - and may not be reproduced. Please review your fax: -SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM email: -SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM email: proof carefully. - is not responsible for any error not marked. Adfax: #: CL-4710439.INDD This ad is the property of - and may not be reproduced. Please review your fax: fax: COUPON MAYfor CHANGE TO PUBLICATION. proof carefully.PLACEMENT - is not responsible any error PRIOR not marked. Contact your Account Service Coordinator: phone: 585-392-7823 COUPON PLACEMENT MAY CHANGE PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. Contact your Account Service Coordinator: email:585-392-7823 SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM phone: fax: 717-358-2625 fax: 717-358-2625 fax: -SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM email: Account #: CL140654 fax: 717-358-2625 fax: 717-358-2625 Sales Rep: Sales Rep: fax: Ad #: CL-4710439.INDD Account #: CL140654 This ad is the property of and may not be reproduced. Please review your Account #: CL140654 Sales Rep: Sales Rep: proof carefully. - is not responsible for any error not marked. Ad #: CL-4710439.INDD This ad is the property of - and may not be reproduced. Please review your AdYOUR #: CL-4710439.INDD Account #:AD CL140654 APPROVE YOUR AD OR SUBMIT CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ABOVE OR SIGN YOUR PROOF & FAX TO THE NUMBER ABOVE. This ad is the property of - ABOVE and may not reproduced. Please review fax: 717-358-2625 APPROVE OR SUBMIT CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ORbeSIGN YOUR PROOF & your FAX TO THE NUMBER ABOVE. COUPON MAYfor CHANGE TO PUBLICATION. proof carefully.PLACEMENT - is not responsible any error PRIOR not marked. Contact your Account Coordinator: proof carefully. - is not responsible for any error not marked. AdYOUR #:Service CL-4710439.INDD phone: 585-392-7823 APPROVE YOUR AD OR SUBMIT CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ABOVE OR SIGN YOUR PROOF & FAX TO THE NUMBER ABOVE. This ad is the property of - ABOVE and may not reproduced. Please review fax: 717-358-2625 APPROVE AD OR SUBMIT CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ORbeSIGN YOUR PROOF & your FAX TO THE NUMBER ABOVE. COUPON PLACEMENT MAY changes CHANGEindicated PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. Ad is approved Ad is approved with changes Ad is not approved make changes indicated Salesyour Rep:Account Service Ad is approved Ad is approved with changes Ad is not approved make Contact Coordinator: COUPON PLACEMENT MAY CHANGE PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. proof carefully. - is not responsible for any error not marked. email:585-392-7823 SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM phone: ur Account Service Coordinator: phone: 585-392-7823 Ad is approved Ad is approved with changes Ad is not approved make changes indicated Sales Rep: Ad is approved Ad is-SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM approved with changes Ad isTOnot approved make changes indicated COUPON PLACEMENT MAY CHANGE PRIOR PUBLICATION. fax: email: Account Service Coordinator: email:585-392-7823 SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM phone: APPROVE YOUR AD OR SUBMIT CHANGES fax: BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ABOVE OR SIGN YOUR PROOF & FAX TO THE NUMBER ABOVE. fax: -SHARGRASTA@YAHOO.COM email: SIGNATURE DATE PRINT NAME SIGNATURE DATE PRINTOR NAME APPROVE YOUR AD OR SUBMIT CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ABOVE SIGN YOUR PROOF & FAX TO THE NUMBER ABOVE. Ad is approved with changes Ad is not approved make changes indicated fax:Ad- is approved SIGNATURE DATE PRINT NAME SIGNATURE DATE PRINT NAME fax: 717-358-2625 Ad is approved Ad is approved with changes Ad is not approved make changes indicated fax: 717-358-2625 -358-2625 @cmag.com Sales Rep: Sharon Greco-OConnor SIGNATURE DATE PRINT NAME 58-2625 Sales Rep: Sharon Greco-OConnor p: Sharon Greco-OConnor Contact your Account Service Coordinator:

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Michael R. Brockport, NY By of Private “Dear Sharon, NoAppointment Walk-Ins. Only. “Dear Sharon, No Walk-Ins. I just want to let you know how much I appreciate the effort “I started seeing Sharon in Oct 2007 and have going to Grasta’s ever since. “This is the place to come if you need hair, not a wig.... Any old wig will make you feel uncomfortable Ihouse. just want to let you know how much I appreciate the effort She It hasseeing been aSharon tremendous help deciding color to andGrasta’s style ofever eachsince. wig to go out of the to looking confident and feelmy likemake youhair can anywhere and no “I started in Octmy 2007inand have going “This is& the experience place come Ifif you’re you need hair, to notfeel aput wig.... Any old wig will yougofeel uncomfortable you into replacement. does fit head always been honest upfront. wasstyle neverofaeach timewig when I willexperience you’re Ifwearing a wig, come toconfident Grasta’s! Afterfeel looking forhair 2 weeks at other shops, Sheand hashas been a tremendous helpand inhead deciding There color and to one go& out ofknow the house. you’re looking to feelput and like you can go anywhere and no I you into my replacement. It does fit my she would me something to make a sale.a When I bought stillwearing didn’t Your feel confident. the right at Grasta’s and at I feel likeshops, I can my properly. technique of head size was so perfect, itnever andthought has always been sell honest and upfront.just There was time when I onepurchased, will know but you’re a wig, come to Found Grasta’s! Afterpiece looking formeasuring 2 weeks other Igo my first she sell toldme mesomething exactly how condition, take anywhere andstill forget forYour a short time, I’m a cancer patient. cancer, while looking thought shewig, would justto toshampoo, make a sale. Whenand I bought purchased, but didn’t feel confident. Found the right piece Beat at Grasta’s and I feel like Igreat! can my go Don’t head properly. technique of measuring size was so perfect, it was right had thatgreat!had and when they came inandI did,takeand she it. she If I had any at alltoshe said to condition, call, which worry about your hair, toon Grasta’s.” mycare firstofwig, told me question exactly how shampoo, anywhere and forget for agoshort time,point. I’m a cancer I patient. Beatothers cancer, while looking Don’t to order right point. I had others had to are order they came inwas explained to me over phone. That itself, tremendous –was Janet of Virginia VA care ofand it. If Ieverything hadwhen any question at alltheshe said to call,in which I did,aand she worry aboutS.your hair, go Beach, Grasta’s.” never fit toon like this one, you knowthat what you doing. help when you feeltosome lostover about youThat are in doing. also has a explained everything thewhat phone. itself,Sharon was a tremendous – Janet S. of Virginia Beach, VA never fit like this one, you know what you “For those of you in need of a good quality custom wig, Grasta’s Beauty & Wig Studio is the place are doing. very big you inventory many styles colors whichalso makes help when feel sowith lostmany, about whatnot you areand doing. Sharon hasita all It fits my head so comfortable, keeps me warm and I do to go. For years now, I have been going to Grasta’s. My hair was thinning due to my age and “For those of you in need of a good quality custom wig, Grasta’s Beauty & Wig Studio is the place much easier. She makes wig the very big inventory with many,buying manyastyles andeasiest colors thing whichyou’ve makesever it alldone. Itknow fits my head comfortable, keeps me warm and I have do not Sharon Grasta went the mile towent select awork wigdue thattohas just right to medications. go. even For years now, I have been going toextra Grasta’s. Myhelp hairme was thinning myon age the and Thank you, Sharon, youbuying given fightyou’ve this.”ever done. much easier. She makes a wigme thecourage easiest to thing it’s on! I so to Monday and my coworkers cut for me. Sharon Experienced professional, shetois help always toa help me feel special and medications. Grastaand went theon! extra mile meready select wig that has on just theMonday rightgood – Rose ofSharon, Penfield, Thank you, youNY have given me courage to fight this.” even know it’s went to work and my coworkers myself. Sharon has a friend have been there 25special years. Sharon you cutabout forcomplimented me. Experienced and become professional, is Ialways readygoing to help mefor feel and goodhave “IsheasIlike your hair! What you done itNYlooks great?” – Rose of Penfield, are great!! Sharon has become a friend about myself. I have been going there for 25 years. Sharon have you complimented “I aslike your hair! What you “Idone itI toam looks recently went Grasta’s feeling very nervous and self-conscious about I smiled so great?” glad I natural Linda of Webster, NYand said, “I found a new stylist! Thankmyyou. are–great!! hair. went I needed to find afeeling that as possible.about Sharon “I recently Grasta’s very looked nervousasand self-conscious I checked smiled I toam somepiece glad Ias natural – Linda of Webster, NYand said, “I found a new stylist! Thankmyyou. was She made feel comfortable and she put my mind at hair.excellent! I needed to find a piece thatvery looked as possible. Sharon the internet finally found someone that knew what they “The best decision I everin made. Grasta’s Studio offers topand notch professional service. Sharon ease about wearing a hair I was amazed atand theshe variety of wigs was excellent! She made me piece. feel very comfortable put my mindshe at checked in the and finally someone that knew what they Grasta a talent, experience and internet sensitivity to make specialty studio service. standfound out.” “The besthas decision I ever made. Grasta’s Studio offers topthis notch professional Sharon carried on site! She took the time to amazed show meathow to wearofmy piece and ease about wearing a hair piece. I was the variety wigs she were doing, thank you so much for making me so happy again. I feel – Tamria Scottsville, NY and sensitivity to make this specialty studio stand out.” Grasta has aoftalent, experience carefully selected that to would natural hair tone. carried on site! She the tookcolor the time showbest mematch how tomy wear my piece and were doing, – Tamria of Scottsville, NY thank you so much for making me so happy again. I feel I’m very pleased with the piece I received! Thank you, Sharon for providing like a new woman again. I could go out and not feel like I did not want carefully selected the color that would best match my natural hair tone. “I was introduced to Grasta and her wig studio while coordinating my wife’s funeral. Grasta’s heart is with alike greatwith experience a difficult time my life.forShould I need very pleased pieceduring I received! Thank you,inSharon providing like amoon new woman again. Ibecould outheart and notI’mmefeel Ithedid not want as big as the and she make my wife be able toThere herself in funeral. front one last “I was introduced to Grasta andhelped her wig studio while coordinating my wife’s Grasta’s is in my life, I am being positive to face the world again. isgo aof everyone change piece experience I will be visiting Grasta’s in the future!” meanother with a great during a difficult time in my life. Should I need you so very as time. big asThank the moon and shemuch!” helped make my wife be able toThere be herself in front of everyone one last in my life, I am being positive to face the world again. is a change – Courtney another piece IR. will be visiting Grasta’s in the future!” – Michael R. of time. Thank you so Brockport, very much!”NY the color you have picked was perfect. It could not have again! Also, – Courtney R. – Michael R. of Brockport, again! Also,NY the color you have picked was perfect. It could not have Ourcome History any better. No one could tell that I was wearing a crown. Our History From 1942 to 1984 my mother Lucille K.No Russo one owned thecould LuRue’s Beauty Shopthat in Rochester. From thewearing age of 14, I helpedamycrown. mom in the shop. I loved everything about making come any better. tell I was the asShopand there is notheone you. why people and Sharon feel beautiful. Soyou much soare that I followed inbest her Beauty footsteps Continental School oflike Beauty, of England, Alternativeabout Hair Training From 1942look to 1984 my mother Lucille K. Russo owned the LuRue’s inattended Rochester. From age of 14, I helpedChadwick my momSchool inThat the shop. I loved&everything making Center. Sharon you are the there is no one you. That why I decided to specialize in wigsSoand hadso additional guidance from theas daughter of our wig supplier. Throughout the years, whileSchool working mom’s salon, I also worked at areaCenter. hospeople look and feel beautiful. much that I followed inbest her footsteps and attended Continental School oflike Beauty, Chadwick ofatEngland, & Alternative Hair Training you are, you are. I will tellMonroe everyone about You are very pitals and senior communities their beautician. Rochester Community Hospital dealing with the Chronically ill patients, Highland and the former great I decided to specialize in what wigs andashad additional guidance fromGeneral, the daughter of our wig supplier. Throughout theyou. years, while working at mom’s salon,Hospital, I also worked at area hosyou are, what you are. I will tell everyone about you. You are very Genesee Hospital, were a few. I was at The Grandeville Senior Community for the Elder and ran the beauty shop at the Village of Park Ridge. pitals and senior communities as their beautician. Rochester General, Monroe Community Hospital dealing with the Chronically ill patients, Highland Hospital, and the former great compassionate and understanding. I just can’t say enough about Grasta’s Genesee Hospital, were a few. I was at The Grandeville Senior Community for the Elder and ran the beauty shop at the Village of Park Ridge. compassionate and understanding. I just can’t say enough about Grasta’s In 1973, I opened myAnd very own salon Grasta’s Beauty & Wig Studio on 104 Flower City Park in a different Rochester neighborhood. I worked very hard and walked many blocks and Beauty Wig Studio. papers my at And everyone’s door. Grasta’s I followed up with many phoneoncalls invites able to generate and loyal clientele. Afterhard 13 glorious yearsmany I opened a second In handed 1973, I opened very own salon Beauty & Wig Studio 104 and Flower Cityuntil ParkI inwas a different Rochestera new neighborhood. I worked very and walked blocks and Beauty Wig Studio. Grasta’s location 1985 atdoor. 409 Parma Center Rd inmany Hilton. I Back. rancalls bothand salons for many andtodecided to close location in 2017. handed papers at everyone’s I followed up with until I years was able generate a newthe andcity loyal clientele. After 13 glorious years I opened a second Iin Definitely Will Bephone ”invites Grasta’s locationIin Definitely 1985 at 409 Parma Center Rd in Hilton. ran both salons Will Be I Back. ” for many years and decided to close the city location in 2017. Jay Cohen of Bushnell’s Basin Jay Cohen of Bushnell’s Basin From the Owner From the Owner From the Owner “I’d like to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews. I do this with my From the Owner “I’d like to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews. I do this with my

There is much pride between my mother and I in our accomplishments in the field of cosmetology. She was my mentor and I am truly grateful to her for starting me on this path. I haveishelped manybetween people throughout andaccomplishments continue to provide a service comes fromShe mywas heart. There much pride my motherthe andyears I in our in the field ofthat cosmetology. my mentor and I am truly grateful to her for starting me on this path. I have helped many people throughout the years and continue to provide a service that comes from my heart.

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test is required,” she said. “Travel insurance is a good plan,” Bean said. “It won’t cover you for the fear of getting COVID and canceling it, unless the tour operator lets you refund or have up to two years to book it. It covers the interruption in your travel plan and the hospitalization or if you can’t get home.” Travel agents specialize in knowing just what is open and what the travel protocols travelers need to follow. Melinda Johnston, owner of Luxe World Travel in Rochester, plans international customized wellness travel to places such as Thailand, Bali, India and Peru. She said that online booking is pretty tricky for consumers. “The standard cancellation policies no longer apply most of the time,” she said. “With most hotels, you can cancel within a two-week period, but if you need an international ticket and need to cancel because the virus is raging, you might not be able to take the trip. Everything is constantly changing.” She said that booking through third parties such as Orbitz online means that travelers pay cancellation

fees if they cannot take their trip. She estimates that the soonest international travel will take place will be March 2021. “Right n o w, t r i p insurance is not covering if a country bans us from going in,” Johnston said. “It’s a game of statistics a n d probabilities. The consumer is no longer in any control. If you need to cancel or the U.S. can’t get this virus under control, any travel consumer is at the whim of whoever they booked with. If you’re going to book anything, book directly with the airline and hotel.” She added that the cost of lodging

in locations that live on tourism have very low rates to attract wary travelers; however, if the pandemic worsens, travels could get stuck there. They may receive a voucher for future travel, but they’re out the cost of airfare and in the meantime, their money is tied up in a future trip. Jim Havalack, owner of Quality Transportation Services in Victor and Geneva, encourages New Yorkers to take domestic trips in their own backyard. “With Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks — you can’t see everything in five years of traveling,” Havalack said. Some travel agents book for local stays, such as Lori Angelone Chaba, owner of Lori’s Travel in Rochester. Her company books cottages in the 1000 Islands and Adirondacks so clients won’t have to worry about quarantining themselves as part of their travel protocol. The Thousand Islands and Adirondacks venues appeal to many travels because “anything by the water is what people like right now, Chaba said.

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Leaf Peeping Trips to Enjoy By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

f you’ve been looking forward to a leaf peeping trip this fall, you still have options, despite COVID-19. “Vermont and Maine are good locations,” said Lori Angelone Chaba, owner of Lori’s Travel in Rochester. Although she did caution that virus-related restrictions may limit travel to New England. “ We d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t t h e government will say about quarantining,” Chaba said. Not all kinds of fall trips are available, however. Patty Bean, travel agent and owner of Bean Cruises and Travel in Rochester, said that while leaf peeping cruises likely won’t happen this year, road trips to prime leaf peeping destinations may be great options. “I’m suggesting Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts,” Bean said. The foliage is fantastic throughout

55 PLUS - September / October 2020

New York and New England, and the many historical points of interest and places of lodging can make a long weekend getaway particularly inviting. As an example Bean suggested the Chatham area near Cape Cod. It boasts numerous attractions, such as Chatham Lighthouse Beach, Atwood Museum, Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Chatham’s Godfrey Windmill, several tour companies and several seafood restaurants. “It’s got that Cape Cod experience,” Bean said. “It’s a nice little town you can walk around and it’s really, really nice.” C h a t h a m B a r s I n n ( w w w. chathambarsinn.com) includes its own private beach, spa, restaurant and farm. I n Ve r m o n t , c o n s i d e r T h e Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville (www.

wildflowerinn.com), which boasts 300 acres of rural charm with a pool, tennis, trails, petting barn, lawn games, hay rides, a spa, and a sauna, all with mountain views. Also in Vermont, Phineas Swan Inn and Spa (www.phineasswann. com) can meet your travel needs, whether it’s a romantic getaway, trip with the grandkids or purely for leaf peeping. It’s near facilities offering mountain climbing, hay rides, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. If you want to pamper yourself, the inn provides spa services and is located near Vermont Salt Cave and Spa Bolton. The area also offers numerous farm markets, antiquing opportunities and unique shops. If a daytrip is more your style, New York has plenty of terrific leaf peeping drives. Jim Havalack, owner of Quality Transportation Services in Victor and Geneva, books local wine trail tours. “You see a lot of colors as you go to the wineries,” he said. Whether you’re going for the wine, scenery or both, the local wine trails offer a laid-back outing that won’t require an overnight stay. Considered the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth State Park (https://parks.ny.gov/parks/79/ details.aspx) offers 600-foot walls of sedimentary rock framed by spectacular fall color. At Inspiration Point you can see two waterfalls at once. Get up-close to the foliage on any of the 66 miles of hiking trails the park offers. Drive any part of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway to view gorgeous autumn leaves. The 518-mile trail stretches includes the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, the Niagara River, and Lake Erie, with Alexandria Bay at the northernmost portion, all the way to the New York/ Pennsylvania border. In Western New York, slow your pace on the Amish Trail, between Cattaraugus and Cherry Creek on Route 353. Look for shops selling handmade goods, quilts and home furnishings to pick up a memento of your trip. The route also boasts many buffets. Call ahead to check on possible closings due to the pandemic.

Social Security

Q&A Q: I’m retired and the only income I have is a monthly withdrawal from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Are the IRA withdrawals considered “earnings?” Could they reduce my monthly Social Security benefits?

A: No. We count only the wages you earn from a job or your net profit if you’re self-employed. Non-work income such as pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, capital gains, and other government benefits are not counted and will not affect your Social Security benefits.

Q: I’m trying to figure out how much I need to save for my retirement. Does the government offer any help with financial education?

A: Yes. For starters, you may want to find out what you can expect from Social Security with a visit to Social Security’s Retirement Estimator at www. socialsecurity.gov/estimator. The Financial Literacy and Education Commission has a website that can help you with the basics of financial education: www.mymoney.gov. Finally, you’ll want to check out the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which offers educational information on a number of financial matters, including mortgages, credit cards, retirement, and other big decisions. Visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at www.consumerfinance.gov.

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Trump, 74, vs. Biden, 77 Is Age a Problem? At an age that most Americans are enjoying retirement, two politicians in their 70s will face off to see who will lead the most powerful country on earth. Are they up to the task? By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

egardless of which of the two presidential candidates is elected this November, a septuagenarian will be commander-in-chief. President Trump is 74; Joe Biden is 77. By the time either would finish a four-year term, he would be close to or slightly over 80 years of age. Are these seniors up for the task? The stressors of the job are many, including the jam-packed schedule brimming with meetings, travel and speeches. A president doesn’t have a lot of down time. While the effects of travel are often mitigated by assistance

55 PLUS - September / October 2020

and the use of Air Force One, it still takes a toll. There’s also the stress of acting as a public figure who’s the leader of a world power. The media watches constantly, scrutinizing every word, action and expression. It’s like living under a microscope. That’s a lot of pressure. The president must also bear responsibility for decisions made. How will these choices affect future generations of Americans? How will they affect countless other nations? It’s really an awe-inspiring concept. Chronic stress can be difficult for a

person of any age. It can contribute to a lowered immune system, increased heart rate and blood pressure, digestive problems and muscle tension. Add to this the typical age-related maladies most people experience and it would seem that being president as a septuagenarian would be detrimental to health. Each candidate’s baseline health also makes a difference. The webpage Ranking the Health of U.S. Presidents (https://www4.medicaresupplement. com/content/healthiest-presidents) places Donald Trump at 26 out of 44 based upon several factors. His score

for diet, exercise and sleep are low. He ranks a perfect five in alcohol/tobacco and vision/hearing/dental. His body mass index (BMI) of 29.87 places him in the category of overweight. According to a CNN report, he takes a statin drug for cholesterol. CNN also reported that he scored a perfect score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Nearly half of US Presidents were overweight or obese. The site predicted Donald Trump’s lifespan will be 84.2 years, older than predicted for former Presidents Barack Obama (82.7), George H.W. Bush (78.4), Bill Clinton (75.7), and Jimmy Carter (75.4). According to his 2018 physical when he was 72, President Trump’s blood pressure was 122/74, resting heart rate was 68, LDL was 143 and total cholesterol was 223. Each of these numbers is healthy to slightly elevated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In December 2019, Joe Biden received a physical from his physician. Its published results reveal that his BMI is 24.38, his blood pressure was 128/84, pulse is 72, LDL was 69 and total cholesterol was 126. His blood pressure is considered “elevated” by the CDC; however, the rest of his numbers are within the normal range. Although he has experienced an intracranial hemorrhage from an aneurysm in 1988, it was successfully repaired and he has not had any recurrence. CNN reported that he also takes a statin drug to control cholesterol and also takes Eliquis, medication to prevent blood clots. “People age differently,” said Ann Marie Cook, president and CEO at Lifespan in Rochester. “We know a local 91-year-old who does ski patrol. D r. A n t h o n y Fauci is another great example at age 79. We have Supreme Court justices who serve the Cook country well into their 80s. Physical and mental capacities vary by person. If physically and mentally fit, age shouldn’t be a knock-out criterion for presidency.” To simply look at age as a disqualifier smacks of ageism. Ann Cunningham, director of

“People age differently. We know a local 91-yearold who does ski patrol. Dr. Anthony Fauci is another great example at age 79. We have Supreme Court justices who serve the country well into their 80’s.”

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Oasis Rochester, has spent her adult life working with senior adults. She said the expression “age is just a number” is true. “I work with senior adults who are vibrant, vital, energetic, engaged and enthusiastic,” Cunningham said. “They have a lifetime of experiences that shape their understanding of the world around them but are still willing to use those same experiences to shape new understandings as well. “I’ve also seen our senior adults open to embracing change and taking risks, especially during this pandemic. We cannot underestimate the power of age and wisdom.” Self-care plays a large role in maintaining a healthy life. Phil Berchard, doctor of chiropractic, operates Mount Hope Chiropractic & Wellness in Rochester, which focuses on self-management of health as well as therapy to help clients with their health concerns and prevent health problems. Berchard sees patients of all ages. He said that he has seen plenty of people in their 70s and 80s “perfectly capable of functioning better so than some in their 60s who don’t take care of themselves. It has to do with their health practices.” He thinks that good stress management can help mitigate the ill effects of stress in the position and that exercise can help people age better. “It’s always been my observation that in general, the position where they’re overworked,” Berchard said. “As far back as I can remember, I think people serving as President are overextended. If there were capability to allow them to have more time for their health, to not be involved for even an hour a day, that would be important.”

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Black Artists Respond to Racial Injustice

he summer of 2020 was a hot one.

The humidity spiked just as Rochester residents were getting used to the masks they had to wear in order to protect themselves against the coronavirus. People were agitated and afraid about their health and the reopening of New York businesses. But the coronavirus wasn’t the only virus stirring things up last season. George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in May — on film — brought new attention to the illness that has plagued America since its founding: racial injustice.

Protests erupted nationwide. Activists used social media to spread the word about racism and how to fight it. Artists, too, took up the fight in their own unique ways. Local Black artists, Doug Curry, Almeta Whitis, and Cornelius Eady share how they responded to the Black Lives Matter movement.

55 PLUS - September / October 2020

By Christine Green

Almeta Whitis

“The world is standing against America and its racist policies and it’s rotten to the core foundation — based upon racism — and saying, enough, enough.” Storyteller and writer Almeta Whitis of Rochester has lived through many historic moments over her 73 years. She’s seen loss and hard times, illness and injury. She has seen the civil rights movement in its infancy and has been both a witness and participant as it has evolved over the years. Today she believes that the Black Lives Matter movement is opening the eyes of more and more Americans.

The recent murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have sparked outrage across the nation. Record numbers of Americans have taken to the streets in protests against racially motivated violence, and this swell of support is encouraging to Whitis. “The difference as I see it today is that there are white and red and brown and yellow allies that weren’t always there. There were a number of white and native allies during the early 20th century, and obviously, with the civil rights movement, and in the abolitionist movement of the 19th century. However, what I’m looking at today is that our allies are much greater, a much more vocal segment of the white population than ever before in history, and we’ve got the world standing with us.” But Whitis, like so many others, is keeping close to home as the coronavirus pandemic continues to threaten lives. Instead of marching in the streets she is using the power of the internet to share her thoughts in social injustice with friends and family. She sends

emails with detailed information about a variety of social justice issues. She has shared articles and personal tales about everything from rent forgiveness during the pandemic to educational videos about the history of the Black Panthers. These personal tales are at the crux of Whitis’ mission to reach audiences with messages of equality. “I’ve always known what I wanted to be. I wanted to be in front of people saying something important that would entertain them and educate them. That has always been my, my raison d’etre,” said Whitis. “I use stories not only to entertain but to educate and enlighten people to the spirit of what is going on, so that people can step back, take a deep breath, go into a place of mindfulness.” She took these lessons with her, too, into her online teen writing classes through Writers & Books in Rochester over the summer. Whitis said her five grandchildren give her hope for the future. She is also hopeful that her award-winning show, “Smudge Stick Experience: The Pungent Aroma of Truth!” can reopen at various venues around the country after the pandemic subsides. Whitis will also be included in an upcoming October exhibit at the Rochester Museum and Science Center called “The Changemakers: Rochester Women Who Changed the World.”

Cornelius Eady

May 25 was a lovely day for bird watching in Central Park, and birdwatcher Christian Cooper was quietly looking for birds when Amy Cooper (no relation) threatened to call the police when he requested that she leash her dog. “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life.” Later that day George Floyd was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

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Poet and musician, Cornelius Eady, 66, watched it all from home as so many did. “It’s so depressing to watch how many African Americans are being murdered on live TV,” he remarked, his voice heavy with sadness. But with COVID-19 looming large, Eady and so many were compelled to stay home instead of join in-person protests. So he did what he has done for decades: write. “You know, the only thing I can do as an artist, the only way I can respond to it is to write. So, I’m old and I’m afraid of the virus so I’m not going out. The best thing I can do, the strongest thing I could do, is to write and try to get it out there.” Thus was born one of his latest songs with his group, The Cornelius Eady Trio, “Birdwatching.” The lilting melody feels light and airy, but the lyrics are dark and reveal the reality of life for Black Americans. Your particular skin Is a popular sin Doesn’t matter what you do. And now the cop kneels Down to prey His heaven’s a place Where you go away. Eady and his bandmates Lisa Liu and Charlie Rauh are also working on a project with musician Jenny Johnson to honor musician Elijah McClain. An unarmed McClain was killed in August 2019 after police placed him in a chokehold and administered a sedative. He was just 23 years old. Eady wrote a poem in honor of McClain, and Johnson is working with the band and other artists to create a sound art piece. Eady’s poem addresses how police officers stormed a nonviolent violin vigil held in McClain’s honor over the summer. “Elijah’s killing ripped my heart out,” said Eady of the incident. “You’re taking the most gentle person in the world and wiping them out on live TV, it was so clear.” He went on to explain that what the cops were trying to do on the day of the vigil was silence the music, “because that was the sound of him [McClain] dying.” Eady is a Rochester native currently living in New York City. He teaches at SUNY Stony Brook. His 2001 book, 20

55 PLUS - September / October 2020

“Brutal Imagination,” was a finalist for the National Book Award. His work in poetry and theater has twice been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Learn more about the Cornelius Eady Trio at corneliuseadytrio.com. Listen to their latest songs, including “Birdwatching,” “The Knee” and “Anthology” on Soundcloud.

Doug Curry

Some have said that the summer uprisings against social injustice in the U.S. were historic with no precedent. But is this re a l l y t h e case? Rochester poet Doug Curry, 69, knows that the fight for racial equality isn’t new. “Young people are self-conscious; that’s all they know is themselves,” says Curry. “So, they think that just because they notice something that it has never happened before. Oh, yes, it has. It’s only new to you.” Curry, the host of “Blacks & Blues” on WRUR-FM Rochester, examines the Black Lives Matter movement and how it crosses paths with the COVID-19 pandemic in his poem, “Mr. Jackson.” The poem is a stunning commentary on protests and demonstrations in light of the most recent murders of Black Americans. The poem’s protagonist, Mr. Jackson, is a 70-year-old African American man from Meridian, Mississippi. He has seen protests before and none of this is novel in his experience: He is bemused by ironies, confused by contradictions as battle lines form again Curry’s Mr. Jackson questions the protests (he calls them parades) and the motivations of some of those involved. No one is off the hook including world leaders: African brothers across the Diaspora wherefore have you forsaken your

brethren? He also muses about religious leaders that implore protesters and activists to pray: Let us pray, bow our wretched heads and pray, pray for healing although we were never well Call on the Lord; we always do We may catch him awake this time “The poem is really brutal,” Curry says. But Mr. Jackson does more than comment on performative activism. He also contemplates the violence and murder he has witnessed for decades and mourns the injustices he’s seen over the course of his lifetime. He reflects on how George Floyd and Black Americans have had their very breath stolen over and over. Lines that appear in the poem include: we can’t breathe… there is a man kneeling on my neck and I cannot breathe. . . George Floyd “ I c a n ’t b re a t h e ” “ I C A N ’ T BREATHE!” When asked what gives him hope, Curry’s answer was complicated and nuanced just like his poem. “It was President Obama who characterized hope as ‘audacious.’ Was this a simple rhetorical flourish, or a coded warning that change in America’s race relations may come interminably slowly, or not at all? Is hoping against the obduracy of and for the final elimination of American racism the equivalent of President Trump’s rose-colored assessment that COVID-19 is something that will one day ‘just disappear?’ “American racism and COVID-19 will one day become relics, signposts along the evolution of our species. Until that moment, which will only be fully appreciated in hindsight, the same tedium of change is all we will see. “Our world of ubiquitous media with lenses and microphones everywhere reveals its truths. There is no longer a place to hide them, nor any place to hide from them; keeping them in our consciousness offers rays of hope. Is this why so many protesters march, photographers angle, and writers write?” To read his poem “Mr. Jackson,” find him on Facebook.

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55 PLUS - September / October 2020

Exploring New York’s food and beverage trails By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

hat pairs well with crisp fall air and beautiful foliage? A tasty meal and delicious beverage. The craft food and craft beverage industries are strong in Upstate New York, fostering the many food and beverage trails available to tourists both from home and far away. “Going tasting on the wine trails and beer trails is popular because there’s a lot of different wines and beers that are unique,” said Jim Havalack, owner of Quality Transportation Services in Victor and Geneva. “We see a lot of different sights along the way. Our driver guides are knowledgeable of the best wineries.” The tours aren’t standard routes, but based upon what the customer wants, such as the type of wine or beer preferred. Havalack has also offered food trails in the past, such as visiting cheeseries, but so many people request beverage-based trips that he has plenty of business doing those. The beverage trail tours usually include visiting about five establishments with a 45-minute stay at each. Havalack likes to work in Finger Lakes history and pretty scenery along the way to make the travel aspects enjoyable, too. Each Finger Lake location — plus locations in lakes Ontario and Erie — boasts a wine trail. As more recent editions, there’s also the Finger Lakes Beer Trail, Rochester/ Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trail, Cazenovia Beverage Trail, Central New York Food and Beverage Trail, Heart of New York Craft Beverage Trail (Utica), 1000 Islands Craft Beverage Trail, Cooperstown Beverage Trail, Adirondack Craft Beverage Trail, and

more. Owing to the nature of the trails, many tour companies provide transportation for these trails so patrons can imbibe safely. But New York is also home to numerous specialty foods on their own food trails, including the Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail (Cayuga County), Finger Lakes Cheese Trail (Interlaken) and Finger Lakes Ice Cream Trail (Ithaca), among others. If you’re on a weekend trip elsewhere in the state, follow the local food or beverage trail to see what’s available. You may find a new favorite you never expected. Or, you could plan your weekend trip around a trail so that you will have time to explore each stop. All self-guided tours — unless you’re a part of a transportationprovided tour where it’s a premade route — the various trails help visitors connect venues of similar interest and maybe discover a place they haven’t tried before. But if driving an entire tour in one day isn’t your style, it’s OK to do half a trail one day and do more another. Or skip a few places that don’t appeal to you. But if you’re ready for a day-long outing, following a guide can also help you get out and enjoy the good weather while we still have it. Most of the stops offer more than a unique shop, but also tastings, samples, scenic vistas and more reasons to linger a little longer. It’s about more than just shopping, so slow down and savor the journey. For a complete map of New York’s food and beverage trails, visit https://taste.ny.gov. Check each site’s COVID-19 guidelines before making plans.

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2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

55+ big sister

Ghislaine Radegonde-Eison of the University of Rochester and Laila, a girl she mentors through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester.

New Big Sister U of R leader enjoys helping young kids through Big Brothers Big Sisters By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

t an early age, Ghislaine Radegonde-Eison absorbed various cultures and a worldwide perspective that even most adults rarely have the opportunity to experience. Not only were both her parents French Caribbean, she was born in Madagascar, lived in French Guiana and Martinique and her family finally settled in the south of France. Growing

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up as the second eldest of six children, she saw taking care of others and adding to their life as essential. “I’ve always had a well-rounded view and understood the importance of the impact you can have on someone,” said Radegonde-Eison, 60, of Rochester. “Taking care of my siblings gave me a lot of responsibility at an early age, and I knew they were looking up to me. I had to be that

example and role model for them. It was instrumental to the person I am today.” She has spent her life taking that mindset to another level. Radegonde-Eison is a program manager at The Frederick Douglass Institute for African and AfricanAmerican Studies at the University of Rochester and is also involved in the language and culture department teaching French. She is also a member of the American Red Cross advisory committee which helps with disasters and other humanitarian hardships that affect communities. While teaching at the University of Rochester, she joined with colleagues to form the Woman of Color Circle, intended to give women a safe space to talk about issues they are facing. For the past nine years, it has created an outlet for guidance and the common thread of supporting each other. “College is a time when you are forming who you want to be as an adult,” said Radegonde-Eison, who has a master ’s degree in human development and a doctorate in education. “You are learning the foundation of your career and where you want your place in life to begin. A strong educational environment is important so you can expand your knowledge, grow and be the best person you can be.” During her journey in life, she met her husband, Carvin Eison, who at the time was with Garth Fagan Dance. She was involved in the International Theater of Dance in the south of France where they were performing. Eventually they met, found a connection and she eventually went on the road as a translator for the dancing troupe. Her husband was the project director for the Reenergize the Frederick Douglass Project which placed monuments around the city of Rochester; the original statue resides in Highland Park. At the time, it was the first statue of a black man in America. “We were long distance for around five years in a time where there was no internet so we would connect when he would land in Europe. We eventually connected our lives together,” she added. Almost a year ago, she wanted to expand her ability to help others. She joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester as a “Big” where she

mentors a young woman, Laila, once a week. Even since COVID-19, they have walked in the park or talked on the phone. “She is an incredible young woman and I am trying to help her become her best self. When you get involved in your community, it helps you understand your community better. Frederick Douglass said it is easier to build strong children than repair broken men,” said RadegondeEison. Big Brothers Big Sisters relishes having people like Radegonde-Eison as they meticulously match mentors and mentees. “If you think back to someone who has truly influenced your life and then remove that person from your experience, you can see the impact that just one person can have,” said Lisa Mattoon, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester. “Having someone that makes you feel supported and cares about you can make the biggest difference in the world. We have seen the impact that connection has made.”

The organization, which has been serving Monroe, Ontario, Wayne and Yates counties for 40 years, believes in creating a strong, one-to-one and professionally supported mentoring relationship to serve as a foundation for transformative connections. There are 500 mentors like Radegonde-Eison and mentees with a waiting of at least 400 for the latter. There is a philosophy of developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people. Even with COVID-19, the organization has worked to make sure those lasting ties are not broken. A combination of virtual meetings, phone calls and one-on-one meetings have taken place. “We hear our mentors talk about how they are gaining so much from this experience and that it has exceeded their expectations,” said Mattoon. “They truly feel the relationship as it grows. We have people who are committed to spending quality and quantity time and it shows in the connections that exist.” Those mentored, also called “Littles” in the programs, can range

from 8 years old to 24 years old. “We know middle school and high school can be challenging times and these are the opportunities where a Big Brother or Big Sister can be impactful and change the course of someone’s life,” she said. In her spare time, RadegondeEison gardens, planting pine and hydrangea. Being outside has been a breath of fresh air during this challenging time. “With everything going on with COVID, it has been just relaxing and a piece of heaven to be outside planting flowers,” said Radegonde-Eison. “It’s important to take a moment and just enjoy the beauty that the world has to offer.” Every year, she feels more invigorated and advises other seniors to feel the same. “I don’t think because you turn 55 or older you stop being involved and stop contributing to society,” said Radegonde-Eison. “We have a lot of wisdom and time to give the younger generation. There is no limit to what you can do at any age.”

2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

55+ cover

Chasing Stories Through the Years Anchor Ginny Ryan reflects on her long career in front of TV cameras By Mike Costanza

fter 35 years in television news, 13-WHAM news anchor Ginny Ryan still looks forward to coming to

work. “Every day is different, and I learn something every single day,” the 56-year-old says. Ryan co-anchors two newscasts at 13-WHAM, anchors a third, and covers stories on her own. During her many years before the camera, she has related the tale of two long-lost sisters who found each other, done a series about teen suicide and covered the 9/11 attacks. Those who enjoy Ryan’s work can thank a teacher for starting her on her way. Eight-year-old Ginny was having a hard time when she walked into her third-grade class at the Washington Irving Elementary School in Gates. Her

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father had just died, and her mother had been forced to go to work for the first time in her life. Ryan really didn’t like to learn, and was worried about her mom. “I didn’t really like going to school, because that meant leaving her,” she says. Maureen Ryan (no relation), the class’s teacher, took Ryan under her wing. “She really played such a role in not only teaching me to write and to love to write, but really getting me to be a learner in school,” Ryan says. “She believed in me.” Ryan never forgot the teacher who helped her all those years ago, and the two have become good friends. Cindy, Ryan’s older sister, was another early influence. The two often spent time reading newspaper stories about current events.

“At the time, Watergate was the big story,” Ryan says. “That was really the reason why I wanted to be a journalist, in addition to knowing that I loved to write so much.” Ryan acted on that ambition at the now-defunct Cardinal Mooney High School, where she wrote for the Greece school’s paper. After graduating, she headed off to SUNY Buffalo. She initially majored in journalism, but the campus newspaper was unwilling to allow a freshman to report the news. Dejected, Ryan walked around the campus until she spied a notice that WBNY, the college’s radio station, was looking for a news writer. She applied, and got the position. “I walked in and started writing the news,” Ryan says. “I loved it more than I could have imagined.” Though Ryan liked hearing others read her words on air, she stayed away

from the microphone as much as she could. “I hated hearing my own voice,” she says. Then she ran into two men who were in the process of starting a closed-circuit television station on the campus. “They said ‘We need a girl. Want to be the girl on the TV station?’” Ryan says. Ryan auditioned for the position, and soon found herself doing the w e e k l y “ B e n g a l N e w s ” s h o w. Recognizing that there were more opportunities in television news than in radio news, Ryan decided to seek a career before the cameras. She also switched to studying broadcasting and political science. In her junior year, Ryan’s interest in politics took her to Washington, D.C., where she did an internship in the office of the late Margaret Heckler, who was then secretary of health and human services in the

Reagan administration. The position, which was in the office of Heckler’s speechwriter, could have led to another career change. “They offered me a job after that, but I decided to stick with journalism,” Ryan says. While in Washington, Ryan met another intern, Jeff Curran. The two dated, and eventually wed.

First job During her senior year at college, Ryan borrowed her mother’s car and applied for jobs at television stations in Upstate New York markets as farflung as Plattsburg and Utica. WENY, an Elmira station, decided to take her on. After graduating, she headed right off to start her new job. “We kept the car loaded up right from college, and my mom drove me right down,” Ryan says. “I was in a hurry to get to work.” In 1987, Ryan headed back to the

Rochester area to take a job as a news reporter for WOKR, the precursor of 13-WHAM. After just a short time on the job, she covered a murder that had taken place on a Rochester street. “That was the first time I’d ever done live reporting from a scene,” she says. “It was probably the most scared I’ve ever been.” Ryan eventually began anchoring news shows for the station, in addition to reporting from the field. Allison Watts was one of her producers. “I was pretty green when I started there. She was already experienced, established and respected,” Watts says. “She was a mentor to myself, and a lot of people.” The experience led to a friendship. Watts, who did not have family in the area, often spent holidays with Ryan, her husband and their children at their Pittsford home and the family cottage on Conesus Lake. “Some of my fondest memories 2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

are just hanging out on the dock or on the boat with her, and just laughing, and catching up on stuff, and sharing stories,” Watts says. Though easy with her co-workers, Ryan was always in control before the cameras. If the teleprompter failed or the live shot wasn’t ready at the right time, she didn’t lose her cool. “You would have no idea, looking at her face, that anything was going on, while behind the scenes things could be up in smoke,” Watts says. Don Alhart, the associate news director of 13-WHAM, is the dean of local news anchors. He never worries that Ryan, with whom he has co-anchored newscasts for almost 30 years, might drop the ball while working on a story. “In a day and age when a lot of people are rushing to get something on as soon as it’s on Twitter and Facebook, Ginny is always the one who says ‘Let’s vet this, let’s make sure,’” Alhart says. “You feel more confident in the product as a result.” That ability to stay calm at tense times stood Ryan in good stead on Sept. 11, 2001. Though slated to start work at 3 p.m. that day, she headed to the station at 9 a.m. after learning of the terrorist attacks. “When something like that happens, if you’re not in journalism, you’re just utterly shocked by it. The only difference is, we have to jump into work,” she says. That began a series of long days for all at the station who covered the attacks and their effects on the country. Through it all, Ryan kept her horror at bay—temporarily. “You just kind of put it into your back pocket,” she says. “It will always hit me a couple of days later.” As difficult as those days were, when Ryan speaks of them comforting scenes come to mind. “The one thing I remember was people going to church that night, and people making ribbons to raise money for the victims and their families,” she says. “People just came together without being asked.” The rapid spread of the coronavirus, and of COVID-19, forced Ryan and her colleagues to shift into overdrive again. “9/11 was intense for maybe a couple of weeks, but this has been a sustained effort like no one has ever 28

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Five Things You Didn’t Know About Ginny Ryan 1. She grew up watching local news anchor Don Alhart on television, and now works with him. 2. In her first on-air job in television, Ryan made only $4 an hour, less than she made when working summers as a lifeguard. 3. Ryan started working in “news” at 11 years of age, delivering the now-defunct Times-Union newspaper, a Rochester daily. 4. When Ryan was 13 years old, her older sister gave her a dictionary. She still has it. 5. She loves vacations that involve something scary, like swimming with sharks.

Ryan with husband Jeff Curran. They met in Washignton, D.C., while both worked as interns in their college years. Photo provided. gone through,” she says. Not only have those at 13-WHAM had to work harder than normal to cover the story, but they have had to do it with a skeleton staff in the newsroom. To reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus among its employees, the station sent just about everyone but its producers and news anchors home to work remotely.

Local news As important as it is to cover national problems and events, local ones often draw Ryan’s attention as well. Back in 2016, she presented the tale of two sisters who were adopted as young children by two different local families — one in Henrietta and the other in Gates. With information from the state’s Department of Health Adoption Information Registry, the siblings were finally able to meet decades after being adopted. Ryan still remembers how it felt to cover their story. “I got such a charge out of it,”

Ryan says. “That was a fun story because it was a journey story, and I love journeys.” Other local stories are not so pleasurable to cover, but concern important issues. The suicide of a 16-year-old girl in Texas left Ryan wondering how often such tragedies occur, and what was being done to prevent them. “Why was this happening? What’s happening to kids? What was being done about it?” she says. Ryan ended up doing a series of stories and an hour-long special on local teen suicides. Among those that she interviewed for the special were the parents of Makenna “Kenna” Dadey, a Chili teen who died Jan. 10, 2017 as the result of a suicide. She was just 13 years of age. After the Dadey family suffered its tragedy, Kenna’s father Pat created Kenna’s Fight. The nonprofit seeks to raise public awareness of mental health issues, and supports measures to prevent teen suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Americans 10 to 24 years old. “We don’t want another family member or family to go through what we’ve gone through,” Pat says. Kenna’s Fight has held three fundraisers in an effort to finance those efforts. Ryan has continued to report

about the problem of teen suicide, and has emceed all three events. So far, the nonprofit has raised $21,000. “She just wants to help in any way she can,” Pat says. For more information on Kenna’s Fight, go to www.kennasfight.com.

Hall of Fame On her off time, Ryan enjoys hiking, biking and cross-country skiing, sometimes with her husband of 33 years, and spending time with her family at their home on Conesus Lake. She also likes to travel and read, preferring self-help books. Though she’s the mother of two grown children, Ryan just signed a new contract with 13-WHAM, and doesn’t intend to slow down anytime soon. “I actually feel more energized now that my kids are raised,” Ryan says. It helps that her husband Jeff is “super-supportive” of her. “He never questions if I have to run out on a Saturday night, like I did recently.” Ryan’s dedication to her profession and achievements have drawn praise from a number of organizations. The National Women’s Hall of Fame presented her with its “Keeper of the Flame” award in 2019, and she has also received the Victor Chamber of Commerce Women of Excellence award. In 2018, she and 13-WHAM coanchor Doug Emblidge were inducted as a team into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

Ginny Ryan covering a story at an orphanage in Haiti in February 2015 (lower left photo), emceeing the Athena Awards in 2018 (top photo) and covering a breast cancer walk in Rochester last year with colleague Andrew Banas. Photos provided. 2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

55+ preservation

Maxfield Inn: Preserving the Past, Securing the Future Historian, craftsman, entrepreneur Wayne Buchar gives Naples landmark new life By Melody Burri

eople tell Wayne Buchar his painstaking seven-year quest to resurrect a decaying historic landmark has been a labor of

love. He says they’re half right. “It hasn’t been labor, it’s been a fascinating journey,” said the host and owner of the newly and lovingly restored Maxfield Inn on Main Street in Naples. “Everything has been layered with history.”

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Buchar said he could see the grace and charm of the languishing 1841 classical revival mansion immediately, even as it lay in decay. “When I first walked through, there was nothing here except a grand piano, one light fixture, about half the radiators and two beautiful sets of cut glass doors that lead into the parlor,” said Buchar. “But I could see the beauty of it. Just walking around with all the cut glass in the doors and windows, the

place was sparkling. It was amazing. You just don’t see that anywhere.” Although the long-dormant building had ultimate potential, Buchar knew it would be a “money pit” in every sense. “You could climb outside through the basement,” he said. “The pipes — wrapped in asbestos — had frozen, the basement was flooded, the foundation was crumbling, there was a hole in the roof. It was so disgusting.”

Buchar, a former engineering program manager at Xerox, said he’d always dreamed of restoring an old home with his wife, Christine. She also had aspirations of owning a small jewelry and craft boutique in Naples “because of the artists, the Grape Festival and everything,” he said. So in 2013, with eyes wide open and a strategy fueled by pragmatism, optimism and a never-say-die work ethic, the Buchars took ownership of the Maxfield Inn. It had lay on the market, eroding daily, for five years. Thankfully, local officials took notice, and initiative, and intervened just in time. “The village did everything possible to help,” said Wayne Buchar. “I got a call from the mayor [Brian Schenk] who offered to meet me at the property with the building inspector and assessment officer. There was no heat — it was 23 degrees — and we sat on the floor and talked. I was really impressed with the village. If they hadn’t done all that they did, I probably would have walked away.” Ultimately, Buchar said he was “destined to buy this house.” That, and an “adorable little shop” just down Main Street for Christine’s craft and jewelry store, Sweetblessing Boutique. “Anything that’s stood in the way has worked itself out or was moved out of the way for me,” he said.

Four phases

With the decision made, it was time for Buchar to roll up his sleeves and open his wallet. Working seven days a week from 6 to 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to midnight, 12 months a year for seven years, plus vacations, Buchar logged tens of thousands of hours in backbreaking labor, meticulous restoration and reconstruction, painstaking online research and tireless sourcing of period-specific furnishings. “I just got to work on a four-phase plan,” he said. “It took me about three weeks of not sleeping to put the whole house together in my head. It’s a huge place.” Phase One was triage: fix the parts that were in crisis. That meant picking up the back of the house to rebuild the foundation under it, reattaching the porch, reshingling and repairing the shingle and tin roof, repairing broken pipes

Wayne Buchar, top photo, has spent seven years resurrecting a decaying historic landmark in Naples. “When I first walked through, there was nothing here except a grand piano, one light fixture, about half the radiators and two beautiful sets of cut glass doors that lead into the parlor,”he says. Below are photos taken inside the home after a major renovation project. 2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

last another 150 years,” he said. “I’m making it a winning venue so whoever has it next can make a ton of money. I don’t want it ever to get it in the situation it was when I got it.” In future phases, Buchar will build a Victorian gazebo to match the stately and curvaceous arbors, expand the large garden and add water features, and restore the inn’s 2,400-squarefoot, three-floor carriage house and pony house that are currently home to antique carriages. He’s still in the middle of restoring the inn’s third floor ballroom for group and family gatherings.

Rooted in love

and getting the water back on. “I hired no one to help except someone to do the roof,” said Buchar. “The rest I did myself with an apprentice, two colleagues from work and a friend who’s a retired pipe-fitter. One of them would come here for a week from Iowa just to work with me side by side rebuilding this house.” Phase Two was interior triage. Ceilings had fallen and cleanup promised to be a monumental and costly task. So Buchar earned his lead abatement certification, and his son became certified for asbestos abatement. Problem solved and dollars saved. Phase Three was beautification, 32

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like carefully removing a century and a half of grunge from the inn’s original wood floors and polishing them to a lustrous sheen, restoring its detailed woodwork and sparkling light fixtures and installing period-specific wall coverings and furnishings. Phase Four is now underway, what Buchar calls “next level improvements.” “I’m adding my own 1903 enhancements to it,” said Buchar, “Like the old gardens. I built two arbors and I’m trying to get some of the original plants from the [Luther’s and Maxfield’s] descendents. “I’ve also added extra doors, and am enhancing the inn so it will

Buchar smiles when he talks about his “adopted ancestors,” the families who first lived in and loved the Maxfield Inn. Especially the mansion’s founder. It was Calvin Luther’s love for his childhood sweetheart that prompted him to purchase the property in 1821 and spend a decade building the front portion of the house, Buchar said. His goal: to entice his future wife, Rebecca, to marry him and move to Naples. The couple’s son, Sumner Luther, later penned a diary detailing “every dream and thought” as he grew up in the home, said Buchar. “He and his friends used to stick their trumpets out of the window and play to Main Street,” he said. In 1860 the home was occupied by U.S. Senator Hiram Maxfield (1823–1900) and his wife, Mary Monier Chesebro Maxfield. Two generations of Maxfields lived there, and the Naples Savings and Loan Bank was off the porch at the Maxfield residence. The bank safe, door and old door bell are still there.

All or nothing

“I wasn’t doing this to make money,” said Buchar. “I was doing it because I love doing it. So why only half do it? If you’re going to go to the trouble of restoring a house, why not restore a house?” Cutting corners on renovations would be “like taking a Van Gogh masterpiece and repairing it with finger paint,” he said. “Even the shadows on the staircase are geometrically perfect,” he said. “The pitch of every window was planned — you don’t need any lights

on during the day because they let the light in.” The Inn now boasts the Maxfield’s original china, its original fireplace, and an intact 1,800-bottle wine cellar from the 1920s. The phrase, “it takes a village” rings especially true for Buchar, who said over the last seven years, people who used to live in the house and neighborhood have turned up on his doorstep — some in tears — with historic photos, pieces of original furniture that had been sold, period tin for the roof and the inn’s original exterior hand railing. “When you’re doing a house like this, you attract people who value history, you attract the original families,” said Buchar. “The people just come out of nowhere. One man watched me work on the roof and told me his father had put that roof on.”

Hands on education

The extensive research that goes hand-in-hand with restoration has provided an unexpected bonus for Buchar: a hands-on education. “It’s almost like space exploration, but instead of exploring the stars, you’re going back in time,” he said. “I almost feel like a kid. I was never into history, but if they’d done this in school, I’d have been interested.” Buchar said he’s had many kids who, after visiting the inn, said they wish they knew more about the village and its history. “A lot of people are saying the young kids don’t care about that stuff, and they’re absolutely wrong,” he said. “Half of my guests are between 25 and 35, and they are so fascinated. They expect me to know about all that and I do. They leave here and say ‘someday we want to do this.’”

Time to jump in

People often ask Buchar how he had the courage to take on such a daunting task, and how he knew where to start. For that answer, he points to his father. “My dad always told me, ‘Nobody’s smarter than we are. If they figured it out, we can, too. And if worse comes to worse, you’re paying for an education,’” said Buchar. Ever the consummate project manager, list-maker, record-keeper, numbers-juggler and self-taught

craftsman-artisan, Buchar took a leap of love into the Maxfield Inn with its decaying foundation, asbestoswrapped pipes, flooded basement, crumbling foundation and leaking roof. But not before he had a safety net, which he recommends for anyone considering taking a similar plunge. “I make sure I know my escape route,” said Buchar. “If this goes bad, what will I do? What’s my backup plan? That’s what lets me sleep at night.” Once there’s a backup plan in place and the worst-case scenario is covered, “then you jump in” he said. When it came time for roof repairs, Buchar’s axiom was put to the test quite literally. Steep pitches and slippery footing were both dangerous and unnerving — a fear of falling brought his part of the work to a halt. Until Buchar bought a roofing harness. “Once I had that harness on, then I could do anything,” he said. “So go for whatever your heart tells you to go for, knowing you’ve got a backup plan.” An added surprise: when you’re tackling a job that benefits everyone, people standing on the sidelines will

be ready to help. “When people see that you really want to do something, that you’re passionate about what they’re passionate about, they’ll jump in and help you,” said Buchar. The promise Buchar — and village officials — saw in The Maxfield Inn seven years ago has now become a reality. Its resurrection has further boosted the community’s pride, economic future and historic identity. And as Buchar has passionately and faithfully invested in the past and future of Naples, he was an obvious choice to become president of the Naples N.Y. Historical Society, a role he’s naturally gifted to fill. “It’s definitely a jewel,” said Buchar of his resurrected inn, which now stands proud over stately gardens in the summer sun. “It was really a shame what happened to this place, and I want to make sure it never happens again.”

Find the Maxfield Inn 105 North Main St., Naples NY 14512

585-455-6307 maxfield.inn@yahoo.com

2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

55+ hobbies

Collecting Memories Here’s how to own all the die-cast cars you really love By John Addyman

id you have the moments as a kid? You took out a toy car — bright colors, shiny, something you could easily hold in your hand — and you ran it along a smooth surface, such as desktop, the floor, the dining room table, a sidewalk, the sheets on your bed. And to make the experience authentic while the wheels of your car were turning, you supplied the soundtrack: “VROOOM-VROOOM!” rumble … rumble … rumble “VROOM! Your dad smiled at you.

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Your sister ignored you. And your mom patted you on the head because you weren’t eating jelly off the floor. Those cars were part of your growing up. At some point before you reached your teen years, you put those cars away. You were growing up. And then, at some time in your adulthood, you came across a die-cast (metal) car somewhere, and those old “rumble, rumble, VROOMs” came back to you. For John Zornow, 76, that moment came 20 years ago when he decided he’d collect models of all the cars he’d owned over his life. An amateur

Bill Bangert of Newark stands in his garage next to a portion of his pressedsteel toy car models big enough to be sat on by young children. These car models disappeared in the late 1950s.

historian whose lectures at the NewarkArcadia Historical Society are often delivered to a standing-room-only crowd, he tied the models he acquired with parts of his life — mileposts, kind of. Sitting in the breezeway of his home, he held a model of a 1948 rearengine, rear-drive Tucker sedan in his hand — the last model he still has after gifting his collection to his grandson. And of course, there’s a story behind the model. “Leon Stell and his brother from Wolcott signed up in 1947 to be one of the first Tucker car dealers,” Zornow said. “They went through all the rigmarole. Their dealership was going to be on the corner of Colton and Union avenues in Newark, where they had a garage.” Tucker made cars, but none ever made it to the Stells’ dealership before the company broke up. “Years later,” Zornow said, “Leon’s widow, who went to our church, told me, ‘I know you’re interested in old cars and I’ve got something for you

to see.’ I went to her house and she had stacks of Tucker literature and magazines, showroom banners, order blanks and all this stuff. “I held onto it, then the movie about Tucker cars came out (“Tucker: The Man and His Dream”) and all of a sudden people wanted to know more about Tuckers. I traded away some of those things,” Zornow said. “But that’s not the end of the story,” he said. “Vic Thomas, a teacher, lived in town and when he died, his cousins settled his estate and showed up at the museum with some things to donate, including a sign hanging in the garage — ‘20th Century Motors.’ “My knees started shaking,” said Zornow. “That was the name of the Tucker dealership. How that sign got in that garage I’ll never know. Now it’s in the museum.”

Dedicated hobbyist Bill Bankert, 77, has had model cars for about 57 years. He hosted afternoon slot car racing every Saturday for kids in the basement of his modest home — with 500 linear feet of track and a drag strip — for many years. “We had kids come from all over,” he said. An upholsterer, he still works at Hallagan’s Furniture factory in Newark. Bankert has a jaw-dropping collection of metal cars. His garage contains large pressed-steel models big enough for a small child to ride on. The unrestored models grab your attention because they are just so rare — the restored models are works of art, harkening an age that is no more. B a n k e r t o n c e re p a i re d a n d collected antique bicycles and was the guy who would fix your bike for free if you were a kid in Newark. “My wife and I used to collect antique bicycles and we put 300,000 miles on a truck looking for them,” he said. The bicycles and the slot-car track gave way to his pressed-steel and die-cast collections, which have absorbed his garage and basement. And Bill’s basement is full of die-cast cars, specializing in hot rods and competition vehicles of all kinds, thoughtfully arranged in floor-toceiling displays. He has thousands of cars and is a serious, persnickety collector: He’s been known to chase one particular Ford sedan model he knew existed for 20 years. He’s

Modified Racer. Randy Salerno of Newark has a huge collection of NASCAR cup stock cars and other race vehicles, like this short-track modified car.

Nascar model. This is a model of Randy Blaney’s No.12 Advance Auto Parts car. Bench Racing Diecast Models & Collectibles shop owner Keith Still has just taken it out of the box and is inspecting it to make sure his customer gets exactly what he ordered. 2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

Ray J. Delue, 54, owner of Ray J’s, a corner shop selling parts and accessories for American motorcycles in Newark. also had Chris Tones of Macedon do some customizing for him, building a special replica of a beloved hot rod in a different scale. A designer with very special skills, Tones uses a 3-D printer to make new parts for old or rare model cars. The Bankert basement has two chairs in it, a computer, and a stereo system that Bill describes as “ground-pounding,” with floor-toceiling speakers. He puts on some 60s music, works on his models, and bliss envelops him. “My granddaughter came in and listened to some music with me,” he said, explaining that the air-suspension speakers “moved her hair” on certain low-frequency riffs. The earthworms out in the yard probably had the same reaction. His biggest toy is a 1951 Ford Business Coupe that he’s turned into a period-correct hot rod, and you know he’s put some wrenching time in it. “You better start, sweetheart,” he says to it as he climbs in.

Racing aficionado Ray Salerno, 59, is renovating his basement in a way to complement what his father-in-law Bill Bangert has done. Salerno is very familiar to local motorsports radio audiences as “Racing Randy,” appearing weekly on the FM95.1 midday Ditullio & Moran show, is also finicky about what he wants in his die-cast models. He goes 36

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Keith Stell, owner of Bench Racing Diecast Models and Collectibles in Newark. after “first win” NASCAR cars driven by a certain driver. If a sponsor changes the colors on a car, he’ll collect all the variations. The first two cars in his collection were models of stock cars driven by Mark Martin and Kyle Petty, which he picked up in 1995. He also had models of dirt track modifieds and drag racing top fuel cars. A master mechanic at Friendly Ford, Salerno has five children and eight grandchildren, and he’s already trying to line up progeny to take on the collection. His cars are not objects. Like Zornow’s mileposts, each car has a history, a spot in time and memories attached to it. Pull a car off the shelf and Salerno will tell you everything about it — about the race and driver. Salerno is a hunter-seeker in his collecting. “I go to flea markets, garage sales, and bargain stores looking for models,” he said. Most of his models are in 1:24th scale, which means that the real car is 24 times the size of the model. “I’ve bought cars at Carlisle and online from California — whatever catches my eye. I used to collect all I could get my hands on; now it has to be something rare.” He’s been on a quest to find a 1991 Food Country NASCAR stock car he believes Butch Miller drove.

Thinking about collecting model cars? See additional stories about die-cast cars on our website, www.roc55.com

John Zornow, a 76-year-old amateur historian,, started collecting modela cars 20 years. “It’s one of the rarest NASCAR Racing Champion cars,” he says, wistfully. “It’s in a black box.” Ray J. Delue, 54, is the proprietor of Ray J’s, a corner shop selling parts and accessories for American motorcycles in Newark. And although others pointed to him as a collector, he disagrees. “I wouldn’t say I collect them; I have them,” he said. “I didn’t go out hunting in flea markets for the ones I have. Most of them came from my father.” He’s modest. In the shop are perhaps 20 die-cast and plastic cars and trucks, including a nice Jaguar XKE coupe on a top shelf. He also has a cupboard full of die-cast 1:64th scale cars and trucks (the size of Matchbox cars), each nestled into a slot. He has a truck model collection at home. “They are just toys sitting on shelf,” he said. “I have all kinds of trinkets hanging around in the shop.” The prize of a visit to his shop is a very rare Danish-built Nimbus motorcycle that sits to your left as you walk in the door. Because the cars are on view, they’re conversation starters — another beauty of collecting cars. Die-cast cars come in all sides and shapes. Not every car ever made was turned into a model — only about 5%, according to experts. But chances are, there’s a model car somewhere that will trigger a memory that has your name on it; something you can share with the grandkids.

55+ costumes Arlene’s Costumes co-owners, Donna and her sister, Arlene. Both in their 80s, they are in charge of a business that started in 1956.

Five Generations Keep Arlene’s Costumes Going By Lynette M. Loomis

o matter what your age, when you think of incredible costumes, you think of Arlene’s Costumes in Rochester. The store, which offers costumes for children and adults as well as makeup, accessories and novelties to meet its theatrical, business, school and Halloween needs, has been a staple in Rochester for more than 60 years. But do people realize that five generations staff Arlene’s? It’s all a family affair: Arlene Stephens, 85, her sister Donna, 82, her daughters Cindy, general manager, and Dawn (warehouse manager), her granddaughter Terry, marketing manager, and her great-granddaughter Mollie, who does face painting and

temporary tattoos. All five generations cater to adults and children who delight in transforming themselves into fantasy or historical figures In an era where retail businesses come and go, Arlene’s has a legacy that began in 1956. Arlene and her mother, Mildred “Molly” Stephens, ran a small shop on East Main Street in Rochester. The Next to New Shop was a vintage and consignment clothing store. Why did smiling women leave the store with unmarked brown paper bags? “It was very taboo back then to be seen in ‘used clothing’, unlike today where it is considered chic,” Arlene says. Arlene and her mother Molly paid

close attention to the conversations of their customers. Harried mothers talked about the need for costumes for their children, something unique that would befit the imaginations of their children, and the unspoken competition between kids for best costume. On Halloween, Molly and Arlene would watch women scramble to make costumes out of material and embellishments or even garbage bags. That is when Arlene and Molly went to work making costumes for children in the neighborhood. The mother-and-daughter team soon outgrew their retail space, renamed the shop as Arlene’s Costumes and moved to a different location. Rentals such as overhead parade outfits and vintage period costumes were the main attraction. Now in a showroom on Portland Avenue, the store offers traditional Halloween costumes for children and adults as well as theatrical makeup, accessories and novelties. “Adults love Arlene’s Costumes as much as kids do,” Arlene says. “There might be a nostalgia factor, but it also has to do with the incredible selection of costumes and accessories for time periods like the Roaring 20s — which is especially popular this year being 2020.” If people think older adults are satisfied with the status quo, they have not met this lively sister team. “We have also developed our own ‘side hustle.’ Just over 25 years ago, we took our theatrical makeup department up a notch and started doing airbrush face painting and temporary tattoos for birthday parties, community and school events, holidays, corporate events and more,” says Arlene. In 2015, they took their one-stop disguise shop on a whole new level. Always a company that stays on top of trends and technology, they started selling beyond their own website and started with Amazon, and then with 2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

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eBay, and with Walmart. Arlene’s Costumes has recently been doing a warehouse sale, to sell off some of their retired rental costumes and accessories, as well as discontinued items. They have concentrated on marketing to theater groups, cosplayers and schools. The sale will be expanded to include more brand-new discontinued costumes and accessories. The store owners expect a greater volume of customers because of Halloween and the deals they are offering. Arlene and Donna have been instrumental in making special moments for thousands of people. “One of the most touching memories we have was a 9-year-old girl and her uncle, recalls Arlene. “She had just lost her parents and her uncle was doing his best to help her enjoy Halloween on a shoestring budget. All she wanted was to be a bird, but a full costume was not within their budget. We did have accessories that we could piece together with her regular clothes. We found her a cape, feathers and a boa and showed them how to put the costume together. On Halloween, she came back for trick-or-treating in the mall. She ran up and gave us a huge hug. We were all crying as she skipped off twirling around tweeting like a bird and loving Halloween.” What keeps these energetic women in their 80s going? “We love working with our customers,” says Donna. “It is more than helping find a costume. It’s about making memories that last.”

Arlene Stephens, co-owner of Arlene’s Costumes in Rochester. 38

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55+ profile Jeffrey Melvin: Minister, Writer — and Prayer Warrior Rochester pastor just published inspirational book about coping with COVID-19 By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

n many ways, the life of Rochester resident Jeffrey Melvin, 58, has come full circle. His mother, Shirley Jean Jackson-Wilmoth, founded Skip Generations, an organization supporting grandparents raising their grandchildren. She also influenced legislation that gave grandparents caring for grandchildren equal pay as foster families. “She went to Congress with this,” Melvin said. “Skip Generations is still going; there are chapters all over the US.” Also, his great-great-grandfather helped found the Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in North Carolina after the abolition of slavery. Melvin also influences his community. He pastors two churches, Power House Kingdom Cathedral Church of God in Christ in Rochester, and Encouragement Centre in Buffalo, and heads a Facebook-based prayer hotline. He has also written two books and operates an online radio station. Melvin’s mother moved the family to Rochester in 1967 from Newburgh in Orange County, when her marriage to Melvin’s father ended. One of his earliest significant memories was the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. “We were outside and people started running and screaming, ‘They killed him,’” Melvin recalled. “My mother called us upstairs. On the TV, Walter Cronkite said that civil rights leader Martin Luther King was assassinated. My mother used that to explained what ‘assassinated’ meant; he was killed while doing the right thing. There were all kinds of chaos going on.” He counts that event as his introduction to racism, classism and the differences between people — and the end of his childhood innocence.

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Jeffrey Melvin and his wife Deborah Melvin (left). In the middle is Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren. His mother remarried. Though he never had a conversation with his father, Calvin Melvin, until he was 24, Melvin said that his stepfather, Howard Wright, Sr., helped him immensely through the challenges of growing up. Melvin calls himself the “neighborhood fat boy — every neighborhood has one,” he said. At 5’10” and 245 lbs., he struggled to make the football team. Team member Willy Nesmith helped him get fit, lose weight and make the team at Franklin High School. Coach Vin Nix helped him not give up on himself for football as a metaphor for life. The lesson stuck with Melvin. He went on to excel at football and indoor and outdoor track and eventually received scholarship offers. After a brief stint in college, Melvin married Deborah Denise in 1982 at age 19, and began preaching that year as well. He worked a few different jobs, including working with incarcerated youth for New York state, and eventually became involved with radio. Though a seeming patchwork of employment, Melvin’s career path dependably intersected helping others. Though the couple has no children, Melvin said that he and Deborah have plenty of “spiritual children” whom they have influenced for good. In 1993, he completed his theology degree at Zoe University in Jacksonville, Florida, and began pastoring in Lackawanna, near Buffalo, the following year at Lamb of Life Church of God in Christ until 2002. At that point, he

was reassigned to Power House. While still pastoring at Power House, he returned to the Buffalo area in 2005 to found Encouragement Centre, a church he still pastors. Deborah Melvin works in wealth management for Chase Bank. Melvin said that he has written books to encourage others. One published in 2018 was inspired through a hospital visit with a member at Powerhouse, Audrey Alexander. Medical providers couldn’t readily find a vein for a blood draw. At last, a provider experienced in “difficult” veins easily did so. “On the way out the door, the voice of the Lord spoke to me about tapping into the veins of God,” Melvin said. “Life travels in the veins, so I named the book ‘Seven Essentials for Tapping into the Veins of God.’” Alexander recovered and Melvin’s book was published with her on the cover. “Each ‘essential’ is an instruction you need to have a closer walk with God,” he said. “They’re very basic things.” He has sold about 1,000 copies of the 62-page book.

Earlier this year, Verlean Kingsby, a member at Encouragement Centre, received a cancer diagnosis. She was slated to return home from Roswell Cancer Institute in Buffalo with a treatment plan March 15; however, she became critically sick with COVID-19 and was hospitalized. Melvin said she was placed on ventilator in a medically-induced coma. Melvin called her sister, Merry Cherry of Buffalo, and said that they needed to start a prayer chain — a group of believers in praying — for Kingsby. Beginning March 25, they began praying at both midnight and 5 a.m. for Verlene’s health. A few members of the church joined in prayer at that time. More people wanted to join them in prayer, so they began a Facebook page and offered a call-in number, 978-990-5000 code 352005, to share other requests. Kingsby’s outlook was grim. Her family was notified in two separate instances that she wouldn’t make it, yet the prayer chain continued. On May 13, Kingsby returned home, heralded by the Roswell doctors as “The Miracle Woman of Roswell Park.” “There was no way she was

supposed to live,” Melvin said. “When she came out of the hospital, there was press there and a car caravan going to her house. The doctors are scientists, not theologians. To them, the science said she would never go home. They said she was the only one with cancer and COVID. She’s still being treated for the cancer but is clear of COVID. She came on the prayer line to thank everyone.” Kingsby never needed the standard rehabilitation for patients in a medically-induced coma. She awoke after 10 days of the medication ending and never felt pain or the need for rehabilitation. On March 28, Melvin asked Hope Isom, a member at Encouragement Centre, and Harriet Webster, a friend from Albany who had joined the Facebook page, to start chronicling each scripture offered on the page, e a c h p r a y e r re q u e s t a n d e a c h testimony to trace the answers to the prayer. Charlene Burgess, a member at Encouragement Centre, assists them. By April, Melvin felt that the Lord wanted him to write another book, “100 Days of Prayer, Fasting, Praise, Prophecy and Miracles in the Midst of COVID-19.” Melvin said he’s sold close to 1,000 copies. “I’m sending them all over the nation,” he said. “The book offers hope and people are shut in right now. They need hope and something to hold onto.” Dubbed the Warrior’s Hotline, his prayer hotline has received requests from people all over the world. About 50 to 100 people participate every session. Melvin is also busy with R-Spirit, an online Gospel radio station, which was nominated for a Stellar Awards, what Melvin calls the Grammy Awards for the genre. While the pandemic continues, Melvin has been working to stay in touch with his congregations. As of July, he hasn’t resumed services as normal, since the nature of his church’s worship tends to be physical such as laying on hands. Instead, he leads Bible studies and church services through Facebook Live to stay in touch until the congregation feels it’s safe to meet in-person again.

2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

55+ women Force of Feminism Nancy Dubner: a life of path paving for women By John Addyman “I wish I could be born and start again,” said Nancy Couture Dubner. Her voice didn’t trail off wistfully when she said that, like she was thinking of a dream. She meant it. She saw what she could do if she had another run at life. “We waste so much energy and the power of our population by making women second class. Young women today aren’t going to take that. I’m very proud I’m a woman and outraged that women are still considered second class in this country,” Dubner said. The 86-year-old doesn’t need a long runway to make her point. She was a teen when she began bristling about being considered less than a whole capable person just because she wore a skirt, and she has spent the last 70 years clearing a path for herself and other women to follow. You know her. Well, you know of her works, her achievements. I n h e r c a r e e r, D u b n e r singlehandedly changed Internal Revenue Service tax laws to allow working women to deduct childcare expenses. She spearheaded the movement to restore Eleanor Roosevelt’s home, Val-Kill, and have it become a National Park in downstate New York. Used her success with Val-Kill to start the process and land funding to create the Women’s Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls. Born and educated in Connecticut, she started a family in Rochester, ran for town board in Henrietta, was a major player in Democratic politics, formed the Women’s Political Caucus to provide a Good Old Girl power network, was one of the first hires for the first female lieutenant governor of New York, attended national 42

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conventions and got tear-gassed in Chicago in 1968 with the whole world watching. Along the way she was a junior high teacher in Minneapolis, worked in U.S. Army Service Clubs in Europe in the 1950s (where she met her husband), created the Mohawk Valley Institute for Learning in Retirement and taught

Nancy Dubner and Susan B. Anthony.

a class there every Monday morning. She also served as a trustee at SUNY Polytechnic. She worked for the New York State Department of Transportation and was a regional manager for the New York Power Authority. Dubner learned lessons about getting things done early in life, and dedicated herself to showing other women the ropes. “My purpose in being politically active in things I cared about is that I saw politics and public service were the ways to get things done,” she said. She graduated from Central Connecticut State University. She taught for two years but wanted to travel. “You couldn’t do that on a teacher’s salary,” she said. She found an organization that would show her the world and took a job in the U.S Army Special Services, working in USO Clubs in Europe.

“I got the job and went to Europe on a troop ship,” she said. “There were 1,700 men and 33 women on that ship. We did mid-ocean maneuvers and mock atomic attacks. The 33 women were going crazy because we were so bored, so we put on a show. I sang the old Danny Kaye “Triplets” song with two black friends. It was quite funny at the time. We had to put the show on five times so all the guys could see it.” Her job in France was to keep off-duty GIs out of trouble. She gave classes on appreciating French culture, and led bus tours. “Once we went to the Folies Bergere,” she said. “I was the only one with a top on.” The GIs did a lot of wine and champagne sampling. “We had to stop at every poplar tree on the way back to base to let someone throw up,” she explained. One day, Dubner needed to get a prescription filled and ran into the cutest pharmacist she’d laid eyes on — Hillel Dubner. There was something special in his potions and notions, and they were married in a Napoleonic Code civil ceremony in Fontainebleu, France. “About 200 people came to our wedding, including all my friends from the army post,” Dubner said. “It was the week celebrating the patron saint of Fontaineblue and the mayor — who officiated the ceremony — was dressed to lead the parade,” she said. “He had a Napoleon hat on and a French flag wrapped around his waist as a cummerbund. “I realized that in France I had no right to own property, I couldn’t have an inheritance, and I didn’t own the money I earned or the children I bore. This was long before the feminist movement. “I said to myself, ‘Wait a minute – am I going to say that I can’t sign this?’ So I agreed. As we were walking out the door, I said to my husband of 10 minutes, ‘Honey I think we ought to get married in America. We had the second wedding in Queens and had all the families together.” Politics followed quickly. She became chairwoman of the local Democratic Social Club’s dance in 1961, was Henrietta committeewoman within the next two years, and by 1964 was a regular at town board meetings, pressing issues. She had an unsuccessful run at town board

Someone who enjoys a good meal, a good time and a good brew, Nancy Dubner relishes all three at the Genesee Brewhouse in Rochester.

“We waste so much energy and the power of our population by making women second class. Young women today aren’t going to take that. I’m very proud I’m a woman and outraged that women are still considered second class in this country,” - Nancy Couture Dubner.

the next year, then worked on Hubert Humphrey’s presidential campaign in 1968, and found herself in Chicago. And the whole world was watching. She became a state committeewoman and got her master’s degree with her oral argument delayed so the rest of her much-younger graduating class could gather for a celebratory beer party in her honor.

Nancy’s Law As she and Hillel started a family, Dubner found out how successful a single, committed woman could be. “When I went back to work I had

to pay for child care,” she said. “I provided a salary to someone else. And I asked, ‘Why isn’t this eligible for a tax deduction?’ I did some research.” A Louisiana congressman took her to dinner, and advised, “This is a woman’s legislation: you should get a woman to introduce it.” Dubner told him, “Some day a guy is going to introduce this and he’s going to be right.” “I came home and continued to work on that bill. I saw Congressman Barber Conable in his office on a Saturday morning. He said, ‘Nancy, I’m going to pretend that I am the committee and you are me – and I’m going to have to argue the bill before the committee. My first question is, what do you think will be the impact on the federal treasury?’’’ “How am I supposed to know that?” I asked. “Then I said,’ every person who can claim this – you have another taxpayer!’” The bill went through the House and Senate. Nancy’s Law was signed in 1972. And working moms, you’re welcome. Dubner had learned a pivotal lesson for women who wanted to create change: “To get anything done, you have to know how the political system works and then put in the work. This certainly beats an emotional 2020 September / October - 55 PLUS

Val-Kill, when it became a national park in 1984, did not just include Eleanor’s home— it was a museum and conference center.

Honoring the greats

Nancy Dubner (facing camera) teaches a class at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at RIT on two national park projects she successfully drove — the creation of the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill National Historic Park and the Women’s Rights National Historic Park. appeal,” she said. The next year, she established the Women’s Political Caucus, a vehicle to allow women to organize and seek public office. And she urged those who were bold and brassy to step forward. The organization started to fund women candidates in the next elections, and in 1974, Dubner was named feminist of the year.

Religious experience During her college days, Dubner had been an officer in the Collegiate Councils for the United Nations. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was a UN ambassador, and Dubner worked with her often. The Val-Kill Cottage was Eleanor’s home after the death of Franklin in 1945. The home reflected her values: After the war, she turned a portion of the property into a small factory for hand-worked items to give local women an income. Dubner started working for Lt. Governor Mary Anne Krupsak in 1975 as a community relations field representative and ended up directing Krupsak’s western regional office. The Dubner family was now five with son Jon and daughters Jollene and Susan. Nancy’s workweek started on Sunday night when she made 38 sandwiches for lunches and froze them for the week. In 1977, she formed the 44

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Woman’s Network of Rochester, a mechanism to link and network rising women in the community and assist them in their endeavors. She took a side trip to visit the Franklin Roosevelt National Park, and found herself at the side-by-side graves of Franklin and Eleanor. “It was early in the morning,” she said. “There was tall arborvitae. I was alone. I was thinking, ‘I wish, Mrs. Roosevelt, you could realize what women are trying to achieve and be part of it and proud of us.’ I was in tears trying to communicate with her. It was like a religious experience.’ “As I was leaving the tour of the main house, I asked a park ranger to see Val-Kill, and I found out it wasn’t part of the park. It was willed to their son John, who sold it and auctioned off everything inside. “I said, ‘Somebody’s got to do something about this.’ By the time I got home to Rochester, I had a plan,” she said. S h e c o n t a c t e d N e w Yo r k Congressman Jonathan Bingham and Washington State Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson both friends of the Roosevelts — and began a campaign to save Val-Kill. The effort culminated in a 1977 congressional hearing where Dubner had enlisted actress Jean Stapleton (from the “All in the Family” show, who also made a film about Eleanor Roosevelt) to testify her support. And

While all this was going on, Dubner had been networking with landscape architect Shary Berg and the legislative affairs director of the National Park Service, Judy Hart. They were considering a women’s rights park in Seneca Falls, and it was Dubner who told them the Elizabeth Cady Stanton house was for sale. She pressed for the park service to include the site of what was left of the Wesleyan Chapel – site of the first women’s rights convention in 1848. Dubner once again got Bingham interested, and tapped Senator Patrick Moynihan for support. Actor Alan Alda (“M*A*S*H*”) was a large donor to the effort and spoke at the opening in 1982, noting the buildings represented “part of the soul of our democracy.” Within 14 months in 1996, Nancy suffered two tragedies — Jollene, a park ranger in Lowell, Massachusetts drowned, and Hillel died from an aneurysm. The tragedies crushed Dubner, but the people in Lowell were so compassionate and loved Jollene so much, they honored her by creating and naming a park after her along the Concord River. Friends in Rochester sent 14 lilac bushes, and a childhood friend from second grade sent a special tree from a Native American reservation on the St. Lawrence River. “Jollene’s Park opens up that neighborhood and people in the area take care of her park,” Dubner said. “They also named a conservation award in her name. I have the honor to present it to the winner.” Dubner finally retired, then u n re t i re d . A t r u s t e e a t S U N Y Polytechnic for nearly two decades, she proposed a new idea a seminar series for retired persons. The OK was given even after a SUNY official claimed, “If Nancy says she has a good idea, run like hell.” “We thought about 100 people would be interested; we had to cap it the first year at 750,” Dubner said. “It’s now in its 23rd year.” She teaches a class, “Quarterbacking the News,” about what’s happening in the world. Dubner has slowed a little, but

her family hasn’t: Daughter Susan is a civil engineer, son Jonathan an accountant, grandson Nathan an electrical engineer and granddaughter Hannah a Fulbright scholar working on her doctorate. There’s no loss of voltage in Dubner’s spirit. She urges women to challenge injustice: “When you think things are wrong, say that something has to be done about it. We’re seeing it now with Black Lives Matter, an injustice. It’s also an injustice that women can’t control their own reproductive processes women have a right to make their own decisions about their bodies. “I have a very high sense of when something is cruel or unjust: Somebody has to do something about this; someone’s got to try, even if it’s only to talk.”

You Never Forget the Taste of Tear Gas Nancy Dubner, delegate to the National Democratic Convention in Chicago, picked the night of Aug. 28, 1968, to go for a walk to see what was going on. It was the night of the police riot directed by Mayor Richard Daley. “I was with a reporter I had met, John Steen from the Charlotte Observer,” Nancy said. “We were walking down Balboa Street, on our

way to the hotel, the Palmer House, to get the bus to the convention center. It was a crowded street. People were packed in. You don’t know what was happening, just what was going on with the people right in front of you. “All of a sudden the tear gas bombs went off. Steen, a little guy, grabbed my arm, and we ran into the hotel and into the Haymarket Pub, right inside the door. He seated me at a table next to me a big glass window: you could see people from Grant Park across the street leaning up against that window. A waiter came over and told me, ‘You can’t sit here — it’s too dangerous.’ “I headed off to the other side of the room, and the window broke and some of the demonstrators came through it, with policemen swinging billy clubs right behind them. Steen arrived and pushed me against the wall and stood in front of me. Policemen were swinging clubs on a demonstrator who was on the floor. “Steen told the cop, ‘You’ve hit him enough!’ and the policeman turns on us. I thought, ‘Steen has a very powerful voice for a little guy!’ “We got out of there fast. I found out that tear-gassing doesn’t affect your eyes, but your throat oh my gosh! “At the convention center, it was the night of the nominating

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and balloting. I stayed until the Pennsylvania delegation had voted and I knew Hubert Humphrey had the vote. I went back to the hotel. And it was quite a grueling thing to get back there. “Our shuttle bus stopped outside main center. The driver told us, ‘I’m not going any further. You have to go home on your own.’ “Nobody else was going to Palmer house, so off I go, completely alone, wearing my press credentials. It was pitch dark: no people, no cars out there. I walked six-seven blocks and saw four teenage boys coming toward me. Behind me was a city police car following me. I knew members of the press were being attacked by the police. “I put the biggest smile on my face and passed right through the boys, then I hid my press card in my bra. I got back to the hotel, went to the Florida Room, where there was a hospitality suite, and had a good hefty drink.”

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addyman’s corner By John Addyman Email:john.addyman@yahoo.com

Wet and Wild

Taking tradition of car washing to whole new level

here are parts of hot and sticky summer weather I love. I like to watch my grandson mow the lawn. That’s very relaxing. On especially hot days, I enjoy watching my wife grill dinner. That’s very fulfilling. When it’s humid enough that you have to peel your shirt off at the end of the day, I value the lady that delivers our mail in all that, with her widebrimmed hat on. She is special. But the one thing I love to do in hot weather is wash my car. My parents had a Paul Detlefsen painting hanging over the fireplace in the den, “Horse and Buggy Days.” It pictured a young man watching a blacksmith shoe a horse next to a carriage, in front of the blacksmith’s red barn, with big trees all around. The framed painting was something my dad sold, along with furniture, up and down the east coast. I think you could find that same painting in about every 200th home. I guess I kind of replicate that painting, because almost every time I wash my car, I think about it. For instance, I like to wash my car under the shade of a tree and, like the blacksmith, I don’t mind if people come watch me or say something as they walk past on our sidewalk or drive slowly by. I’m out with the car for at least a couple of hours, so it seems that someone almost always pauses to say something. These days I don’t see a lot of other people washing their cars in their yards or driveways. I guess we’re blessed with too many convenient carwash businesses. But I like to get up close and personal with my car. We often have conversations, he and I.

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Most of you would say, “Wait a minute – he just called his car ‘he’ – isn’t it a ‘she’?” That’s an interesting question. I drove a 1979 Mustang Turbo TRX. That was a “she” because she was temperamental. My Miata was a “she” because she was so small and fun loving. My Nissan 350Z was a “she” because she could scare the pants off me.

But now I have a Corvette with 436 OMG horsepower in crystal red metallic paint and he is definitely a he. Starting that baby up in the morning raises the testosterone level of every male within 100 yards. I’m amazed we don’t have more babies in the neighborhood. People don’t ask me if the ‘Vette is a midlife-crisis vehicle: They should, because it isn’t. My first midlife-crisis ride was a 750cc Yamaha Virago motorcycle; my second was a Mitsubishi Eclipse GT rice-burner hot rod I loved them both. The ‘Vette is my late-life-crisis vehicle. My car-cleaning process starts by assembling my tools. I grab some of the old bath and hand towels my wife saves for me, get the bucket, the sponges, the wheel brush, the car wash with carnuba wax, detailing spray, and something to drink. Out in the garage, I turn on the radio and I love listening to opera

while the car is getting cleaned. A little Puccini or Wagner is perfect for car washing, but any decent companykeeping music is fine. I park the car under the tree, on the grass, get out the hose and retrieve my very special tool — a metal milk crate.

Unexpected surprise You might wonder about that milk crate. It’s a heavy, wired thing, perfect for about six glass gallon jugs of milk. When I bought it at a garage sale, I had no idea what to do with it. But this year, with my knees going snap, crackle and pop, I’ve ensconced myself on that wonderful milk crate so I can wash the wheels and the tailpipes (yes, Corvette owners do that), and pay more attention to the bottom of the car. The crate is easy to sit on, and more importantly, easier to lift my butt off most of the time. The metalwork is open on all sides, so it’s easy to grip. I never thought I’d have an adventure while washing my car, but it happened just a couple of weeks ago. When I wash my car on a hot day, I’m also ready for the heat. I wear a junky T-shirt and gym shorts, plus sandals. I know I’m going to get wet; in fact, the hotter it is, the less I care if I get wet. The gym shorts are elastic and have pockets, and because they’re long and it’s hot, I usually don’t need underwear. That last fact has some importance to this story. My car likes to be washed. I think it has another color it saves for me to be revealed right after the soapsuds

come off. And when I tell it, “You look great,” I think its adds a bit of a blush to its redness. When I buff it just a little bit, I swear it has a smoothness it was anxious to show me. I had gotten the whole car washed and was now taking care of the wheels — the first chrome wheels I’ve ever had on a car. I moved the milk crate next to the wheel, sat down and rinsed the wheel, grabbed the bucket, and dropped the hose. Our hose has a trigger-type nozzle. My son visits every couple of weeks to wash his car in the same spot (the apple didn’t fall far from the tree), and he likes to buy the hose nozzles. The one he got this summer seems to have a higher resistance — it kind of holds the pressure at certain levels all by itself. When I dropped the hose, it unfolded with the nozzle right under the milk crate I was sitting on. And the hose turned itself on just as it hit the ground, pointed straight up at the top of the crate, where I was sitting. Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t think I’ve ever had a feeling like that in my life. It was a hot day. I had been working more than an hour on the car. The water coming out of the hose was very cold. There were parts of me experiencing wet cold that almost never do that all by themselves. Those old gym pants weren’t much of a barrier to the torrent. I was getting a bidet-quality soaking I’d never requested, and it surprised me so much I couldn’t get up quickly. I spread my legs and the water came straight up between my legs like

a fountain, up over my head. As I tried to wiggle myself up and off the crate, the stream blew up one leg, then the other, then into more personal places that caused me to exclaim, “YeeHAW and Hells Bells!!!” Away from the crate, I tugged at the hose and the trigger quit. Things were calm again. I was soaked from head to toe. I was also cleaner than I’d been in a long time. When I got the car done and dry and put away an hour later, I went into the kitchen, where my wife was sitting. The window next to her looks out to where I was washing the car. “You were screaming,” she said. “You OK?” “I’m clean,” I told her. “Very, very clean.”

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long-term care By Susan Suben

COVID 19: Planning for the Unexpected

The four documents you should have to be protected

OVID-19 is wrecking havoc with the way we live and how we relate to one another. Millions are still unemployed or furloughed, businesses are still on the brink of collapse, our health is still threatened and our finances are strained. It is a very vulnerable time. But something good is coming out of it. I believe the pandemic is heightening our awareness and motivation to plan for the unexpected. No longer can you ignore the fact that at any given time, for any given reason, something catastrophic can happen to your family. However, there are precautionary measures for what can come along. Today, COVID-19 has created an urgency to stop procrastinating and get your affairs in order. According to “Estate Planning in the Age of Covid” by Sara Rabi, you should have four legal documents: • Power of attorney (POA) • Health care proxy, • Last will and • Testament and living trust. Without them, your family is unprepared. A POA gives someone the authority to act for another person in specified legal or financial matters such as paying bills, writing checks, selling assets or gathering health and insurance information. It allows you to deal with the personal needs of a loved one when they can’t manage on their own. A health care proxy appoints an agent to legally make health care decisions on an individual’s behalf if he or she is incapacitated. In the case of COVID-19, many individuals are on ventilators and unable to articulate their wishes. A health care proxy makes wishes known. A last will and testament expresses a person’s directives on how their property is to be distributed and

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managed upon their death. However, a will often needs to go through probate, a process to prove the validity of a will for certain assets. Probate can take months and be very expensive. To avoid probate you should also have a living trust. A living trust designates someone to be your trustee in order to manage all your assets so that they can be passed on to the intended beneficiary. It is an extension of your will. I’d like to add one more — a living will. It details a person’s desires regarding their medical treatment in circumstances, such as COVID-19, where the person is no longer able to express informed consent such as “do not resuscitate.” These documents serve a very important purpose during a pandemic like COVID-19 or any tragic event when an individual may not be able to communicate their preferences or manage their affairs. Simply put, you need them in order to navigate through systems and barriers. COVID-19 is causing volatility in the stock market and raising anxiety levels. There is an increased fear of running out of money in retirement and knowing how to pay for a longterm care (LTC) illness. Mass Mutual conducted a chronic care survey in November 2019 to determine consumer awareness and understanding of chronic care and LTC probability and funding solutions. The results are insightful and show that the issue of LTC is a concern for older as well as younger individuals. I believe the findings are more relevant today due to the virus. Even though many individuals have recovered from COVID-19, they may still suffer residual medical conditions requiring care that their families are struggling to deal with. Mass Mutual sampled approximately 1,250 people ranging

in age from 30 to 65 with household incomes ranging from $50K to $150K. The findings include: • Individuals are concerned about needing chronic care after age 65 and the fear of running out of money shows they are not prepared for it. • Solutions to managing chronic care are not well understood, although the interest in learning more about it is high, especially among those younger surveyed. • Individuals are uncertain about the costs of in-home care but strongly prefer to stay in their home. What all this means is that any time is the right time to investigate LTC planning options. All three findings have validity. Statistically, 70% of individuals over the age of 65 will require LTC and 42% of individuals below 65 require some form of LTC. Many individuals do run out of money and have to apply for Medicaid within months. LTC insurance claims history shows most claims start at home and the average cost of an aide is $30 per hour. There are numerous solutions to manage the cost of LTC. They include standalone LTC insurance, life insurance with LTC components (hybrids), life insurance with accelerated death benefits, and life insurance with chronic illness riders. You have to take the time to learn which solution is right for you. Disruptive times, like during COVID-19, call for adaptation and planning. Unlike the virus, you do have some control over the unexpected.

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

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55+ last

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By Todd Etshman

Harry Bronson, 61 Assemblyman working to legalize recreational cannabis, says state could receive $436 million in additional tax revenue Q. What is your role as cosponsor of Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes’ bill — the Marijuana Regulation and Tax Act — to legalize recreational marijuana use? A. Becoming a co-sponsor means a couple things. It sends a message that I support the transformative measure. My role is to help educate, advocate and promote the measure to the general public and my colleagues

in the assembly and the senate and advocate for it when I speak to the governor’s people. Q. What issues are left to decide before the bill is voted on? A. A big issue that is still in disagreement is where will the revenues go and what will they be used for. In that regard, the assembly wants a significant portion of the revenue to go to communities that have been adversely affected by the criminalization of marijuana. This particular drug has greatly impacted communities of color. They need to have a significant share of the revenue that we get from this industry. There is also disagreement on how to deal with homegrown personal use marijuana, similar to how we allow people to make their own wine or beer at home for their personal use. Q. Are there enough votes in the legislature to pass the bill? A. The current bill does have opposition in the senate. The last count I heard was we’re two votes short of the 32 needed to pass it. Talks in the assembly show we could pass it. My read on it is there are a number of senators that are

55 PLUS - September / October 2020

just waiting for the governor to say I’m ready to sign this bill. They’re waiting for him to take the lead. Q. Where does the governor stand on legalization of recreational marijuana? A. He supports the concept but not the dollar amount. He wants more control of the revenues. This bill does encapsulate some of the measures the governor wanted such as an Office of Cannabis Management to deal with regulation. Q. Could a COVID-19 resurgence delay passage of the bill? A. The sooner we can pass this, the sooner the state and municipalities and local governments can start receiving monies through this industry. The money isn’t coming immediately. It’s going to take some time. My push is this should be part of our decision of how we deal with the COVID economic reduction. Let’s get it done now so we can see this revenue in the future. Q. Where does law enforcement stand on the issue? A. Law enforcement’s most vocal opposition is how do you detect someone who is driving while intoxicated. We don’t have a blood alcohol content type of test yet. Marijuana does not leave your system quickly. But a lot of it is observation that leads to a sobriety or blood test. They’re concerned about it but also willing to let science catch up with it. Other states have dealt with it and the sky hasn’t fallen in other states. Q. What about setting a tax rate for legalized cannabis? A. Tax rates are considerably different throughout the states that have legalized it. The biggest issue with taxation is to bring this issue above ground so it can be regulated. You have to tax it in such a way that it doesn’t overprice the product so that consumers continue to buy it from the underground market. We also want to help people be part of this business industry. What we’ve done in this proposed bill is an 18% excise tax. A report released by the New York City comptroller estimated the state could receive $436 million in tax revenue.

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55 Plus of Rochester, #65: September – October 2020

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Maxfield Inn: Preserving the Past, Securing the Future