Capital District Family Now - April 2022

Inside:

FREE

April calendar listings

FamilyNow Capital District

Vol. 3, #4 | APRIL 2022

generations together

World woes felt at home A mentor to inventors Spring into learning

cdFamilyNow.com April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 1

Summer Camp -

Summer DIPPIN 2022

July 5th - August 26th Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5:30pm (Rain or Shine) 1st grade – 6th grade (Fall 2022)

DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE: FOr WEEkS 2 - 7 SIBLING DISCOUNT: 5% OFF Weekly Tuition for 2nd and 3rd child MILITArY DISCOUNT: 5% OFF Weekly Tuition

Enroll

now!

*STAr: 5% OFF Total Tuition, if attending All 6 weeks 2-7 **ONE DISCOUNT PER CHILD a week

JUNE 27TH-SEPT 2ND FOR KIDS 4 TO 15 www.albanyjcc.org/camp 518-438-6651 x 113

22 Grove Street | Voorheesville, N.Y. 12186 Mailing address: P.O. Box 555 Office: 518/765-2399 | Campsite: 518/765-2388 Weekly tuition Includes Field Trips and Transportation.

serendipitychildcareprograms.com 2 Family Now — April 2022

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Please email Kate Novitsky, Owner at katenovitsky@yahoo.com for the information and registration packet

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Editor’s desk

FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT

For some, summer planning starts now What kind of experience is right for you and your family?

W

hen it comes to childhood memories, there are few moments quite as iconic as those spent at summer camp. Whether it’s roasting marshmallows around a campfire, taking nature walks or swimming on a hot afternoon, camp is oftentimes what makes summer … well, summer.

And today, those aren’t the only types of camps available.

There are summer camps angled toward every type of experience, from drama camps at area theaters to science camps on college campuses.

We know that many kids look forward to spending a portion of their summer months at camp, but we also know picking one out from scratch can be a bit daunting, especially as we enter a post-Covid era of enhanced health and safety concerns. That’s why our April and May issues feature some local summer camp options for you to start thinking about. Planning ahead means you and your child have the best options for a camp that is the right fit.

Also in this issue, in recognition of April as Autism Awareness Month, is an article by writer Jim Franco on pages 14-15 that highlights a brand-new sensory space for young people on the spectrum.

Don’t forget to check out our articles and more at www.cdfamilynow.com and mail your story ideas and pictures to Capital District Family Now, P.O. Box 100, Delmar, NY 12054, or e-mail me at robertsk@spotlightnews.com.

Kristen Roberts Editor, Capital District Family Now

GENERATIONS TOGETHER

For every age and stage of family life.

APRIL 2022 Features Plan for camp A neurodiverse space

7 14-15

Columnists Learning Center

4

Triple Threat

12

Social Security Corner

17

Retiring Retirement

22

What’s new On the Bookshelf

5

Kids Fun Page

8

Brain teasers

16

Resources Senior Centers

18-19

Calendar

20-21

publisher - John McIntyre editor - Kristen Roberts editor-at-large - Michael Hallisey advertising sales - Denice Mau art director - David Abbott graphic design - Martha Eriksen Engagement Coordinators -

Rachel Dottino, Frank Gillen

Read about a new sensory gym on Fuller Road in Colonie that caters to all ages and abilities on pages 14-15.

Capital District Family Now is a unit of Community Media Group LLC. Published monthly. Deadline for advertising and calendar events is the 5th of the month preceding publication. Display advertising rates are available on request. Capital District Family Now reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. We do not guarantee any of the information, services or products published in this or any issue.

The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this paper. © Copyright Capital District Family Now. No portion of Capital District Family Now may be reproduced without written permission from Community Media Group LLC.

April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 3

Learning Center

Education insight for parents

Spring into learning and fun

H

opefully by the development and immune time you’re reading system function. It can also aid this all the snow in healthy sleep and improve will have melted. mood, both necessary for a Days are getting longer and productive student. there is more sun to soak up.

Running around and getting Now that spring is here, it’s in some more exercise has an time to get outside and let out endless list of benefits. all the pent up winter Even if your children energy. Sunshine and by get in 60 minutes of fresh air are so benvigorous activity, eficial for children, the recommendaboth mentally and tion by the AAP, physically. aim for more Soak up the sun. time each day at Yes, too much sun home. Even if it’s just exposure can be damaganother 15 minutes. Get ing, but now is the optimal out there too! You’re a great time to be in the sun. The role model to your children. spring sun isn’t too harsh and Studies show that vigorous your child’s body will greatly exercise can increase the size benefit from some vitamin D of the hippocampus, the brain after the long winter. Vitamin area involved in verbal memory D plays a critical role in bone and learning. This can result in

Vanessa Banks

Believe it or not, play and exercise can help foster skills that translate into being a better learner. better concentration and improved memory. Take a quick walk or bike ride. Kick the soccer ball around in the yard, play tag, or hide and seek.

which is very understandable as a parent, let your children play with friends. This has been something children really haven’t been able to experience the

If you can’t get out there,

Continued on Page 6

Hello Spring! (from the)

D

ive into summer camp supported by our nurturing experienced Montessori teachers!

Adopt-A-Manatee®

to support manatees and their aquatic habitat savethemanatee.org

2022

Photo ©David Schrichte

Get the word out!

List your local event or meeting in our monthly calendar

Ages 3-12

Send calendar submissions by the 5th of the previous month to:

June 27 - August 26 518.283.5400

800-432-JOIN (5646)

Capital District Family Now, Attn: Calendar, P.O. Box 100, Delmar, N.Y. 12054 or Email: robertsk@spotlightnews.com

• woodlandhill.org • North Greenbush 6 m il e s f r o m A l b a ny

FamilyNow

Registration is open! woodlandhill.org/programs/summer-program

4 Family Now — April 2022

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CAPITAL DISTRICT

GENERATIONS TOGETHER

picture books

On the Bookshelf

Great books for good times ‘Thank You, Mama’

‘People Are Wild’

By Linda Meeker;

By Margaux Meganck

illustrated by Sandra Eide

An inviting and inventive classic-in-themaking about learning to have compassion for every living thing, this book turns the tables and asks what animals think of us.

We may not always see eye to eye, but the more we understand each other, the better we’re able to live in harmony. Knopf Books

TikTok star Grey (@greyandmama) says “Thank you, Mama!” to healthy foods in this picture book that teaches gratitude, manners and the joy of sharing meals with those we love. Thomas Nelson

‘The Hair Book’

By LaTonya Yvette; illustrated by Amanda Jane Jones With striking, colorful graphics and simple alliterative text, this board book features poufy hair, wavy hair, Afro hair, hair covered in a hijab and more. A surprise mirror at the end encourages young children to reflect on their own characteristics.

Union Square Kids

SUMMER CAMPS

Adventure Camp July 18-22, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Girls, Grades 7 – 10

Do something WILD! The summer adventure camp will be filled with exciting activities that will get you moving and stretch your limits. Travel to various locations for white water rafting, hiking, zip-lining and even a high ropes course!

EXPLORE: Girls Leadership Camp July 25 -29, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Girls, Grades 5 – 7

What does it take to be a leader? What does it take to be a good friend? Participants will learn the answers to these questions and gain tools to help navigate the waters of middle school and beyond.

Summer Arts Program August 1 -5, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Girls, Grades 4 - 8

Explore your creative side! Music, theater and art all wrapped into one week of self-expression. All levels of experience are welcome. Explore various mediums in art, make music with keyboards, singing, and instruments and develop your skills on the stage with both acting and singing.

For more information visit ahns.org or email tmoran@ahns.org 1075 New Scotland Road | Albany, NY 12208 116769_4

April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 5

FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT

GENERATIONS TOGETHER

UPCOMING

Monthly Deadlines May

Deadline:

June

Deadline:

APR

Summer Camp 2022 Starting to plan for your child’s summer experience?

Check out the awesome options at some of these FamilyNow advertisers: Academy of the Holy Names Themed summer camp programs for girls grades 4 to grades 10.

1075 New Scotland Road, Albany Email: tmoran@ahns.org www.AHNS.org Albany Berkshire Ballet Summer Dance camps and intensives for ages 4 to adult, beginner to professional.

25 Monroe St., Albany Call 518-426-0660 or visit www.SchoolofABB.org

4

Albany JCC Summer Camp Experience summer fun for ages 4-15. Choose our own adventure!

340 Whitehall Road, Albany Call 518-438-6651 or visit www.AlbanyJCC.org/camp

MA Y

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n Learning Center continued from Page 4

July

Deadline:

August

Deadline:

last few years. At least not in the same way they did before the pandemic. Even if it’s just siblings together, group play is a great way to socialize and increase their executive function. This is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. These skills help children multitask, plan, prioritize, troubleshoot and negotiate. This is a wonderful way for children to learn not only life skills, but skills that will translate to being a better student.

JUN

6

E

JUL Y

5

To advertise in one or more of these issues please call: Denice Mau at 518-439-4940 or email: maud@spotlightnews.com 116415_4

6 Family Now — April 2022

Playing outside will also give children more of an appreciation for nature. Children can see the beauty in all the little things, even a simple worm working its way through the dirt. Seeing the new flowers sprouting after a long winter, the buds on the trees, hearing

Serendipity Day Care Center – Summer Dippin’ Summer program for grades 1-6. Sibling, military and Star discounts.

Call 518-765-2399 or email: KateNovitsky@yahoo.com www.serendipitychildcareprograms.com The Arts Center of the Capital Region Full day summer art camp for kids ages 6-17 in a wide variety of artistic media.

265 River St., Troy Call 518-273-0552 or visit www.ArtsCenteronline.org Woodland Hill Montessori School Summer Day Camp for ages 3-12 with fun and creative play, music, arts and exploration.

100 Montessori Place, North Greenbush Call 518-283-5400 or visit www.WoodlandHill.org / programs/summer-program the birds chirping. All these things can help teach children that nature is very valuable, and we need to take care of our environment.

With spring break right around the corner make this a time to recharge. Let your children take that much needed mental break from the demands at school. Spend lots of time outside and let’s hope there aren’t too many April showers.

This column is dedicated to Sylvan Executive Director and Owner Patrick McNamara, who passed away in February. Patrick was an advocate for student success and he was a great friend to all who worked with him.

Vanessa Banks is Co-Founder of Kernel Creative Media and the marketing strategist for Sylvan Learning of Clifton Park and Albany. For more information, visit SylvanLearning.com.

cal

Summer Camp 2022

How to choose the perfect camp

C

hoosing a summer camp is no small task, as the options at families, disposal range from overnight camps to weekday afternoon camps to camps that specialize in certain programs, such as music or dance. Cost also is likely to factor into families, decisions, as the American Camp Association notes that cost can vary greatly depending on which camp fami- Camps can provide the opportunity to form lifelong friendships that can enrich campers’ lives for decades to come. lies choose.

The ACA urges parents to consider the child’s interests and personality before choosing a

summer camp. Parents might want their children to attend the same summer camp they visited as youngsters, but each child is different. Just because mom and dad liked a particular camp does not mean their children will. The ACA notes that summer camps should align with children’s interests and maturity level.

Summer Dance the School of the Summer Dance

CHOOSE CAR SEAT:

BY AGE & SIZE

THE ONES

WHO ACTUALLY DO.

ALBANY BERKSHIRE BALLET

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Director BALLET ALBANY BERKSHIRE

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Modern

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THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE

WHO THINK

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• •

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Ballet

Pre-Ballet Modern Pointe

Pilates

Pilates

Jazz

WEEKLY CLASSES WEEKLY CLASSES DANCE CAMPS DANCE CAMPS DANCE INTENSIVES DANCE INTENSIVES admin@schoolofabb.org admin@schoolofabb.org www.schoolofabb.org www.schoolofabb.org 518-426-0660 25518-426-0660 Monroe Street Albany, NY 25 Monroe Street 116433_4 Albany, NY

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Locale may only be a consideration for families considering overnight camps. Kids will likely be familiar with the locations of local day camps, but overnight camps might be set in mountain ranges, near the ocean or environments less familiar to youngsters. Kids who love the ocean might benefit from

Camps may last as little as one week or up to a couple of months. Session length should be considered by families looking at both local day camps and overnight resident camps. Parents who want their children to enjoy a largely schedule-free summer might not want to commit their children to lengthy camp sessions, even if those sessions are close to home. If parents think their children can benefit from the same structure they’re accustomed to during the school year, then an overnight camp that stretches for several weeks might be what they’re looking for.

CAMPS CAMPS

AND MORE Kids 6-8

CAMPS

Summer Camps Jun. 29- Aug. 28 9AM-4PM Monday- Friday Big Kids 9-11 & Afterfor Care We Before have something everyone at the Arts Center!

Half Day Sessions We provide full-day art camps in downtown Troy Sessions forFull kids Day ages 6-17 in a wide variety of artistic media, 1 Weekledorby2experienced Weeks teaching artists.

DOES YOUR KID LOVE BEING CREATIVE? Sign EXPLORE your child up for a unique creative experience!

TROY

Pre-Teens 11-13 WEEKLY CAMPS

ENJOY Cooking Drawing June 27th to August 22nd Mixed Media Painting THE ARTS CENTER OF THE CAPITAL REGION Photography 265 River St., Troy, NY 12180 | 518-273-0552 | www.artscenteronline.org Pottery April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 7 Stained Glass AND MORE 116599_4

When looking for a summer camp, kids should be involved in the selection process, as they’re more likely to have an enjoyable camp experience if they had a say in where they will be spending their summers.

oceanfront camps that focus on marine biology, boating or other activities involving the water. In the same vein, youngsters who like camping and hiking might be more likely to embrace camps located in mountainous regions.

Teens 14-17

THE ARTS CENTER OF THE CAPITAL REGION

n u F s d i K e g Pa

JOKE WORD FIND Find the words hidden in the puzzle.

APRIL FRIEND FAMILY GIGGLE FOOL GOTCHA

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Coloring Fun

8 Family Now — April 2022

Art Out and About The Colonie Art League, the Friends of Pruyn House and the Town of Colonie are co-sponsoring an art exhibit at Pruyn House, 207 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, for four weeks from April 4-29. This is a juried show and will feature approximately 60 selected paintings by members of the Colonie Art League. Pruyn House will be open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and there is no admission fee.

Native art on display This month, the Iroquois Museum launches the featured exhibit “Material Shift,” which showcases work by 13 Haudenosaunee artists who employ found objects and other unconventional materials to create or illustrate traditional cultural objects or concepts and

those who, conversely, explore traditional materials in unexpected ways. The works will be on display through November.

The Iroquois museum is located at 324 Caverns Road, Howes Cave. For more information, visit www.iroquoismuseum.org.

Clark Art announces summer exhibitions The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown Massachusetts recently announced its summer 2022 exhibition schedule, featuring a robust program of exhibitions including a major survey of Auguste Rodin’s sculpture, presenting important works included in museum collections across the United States in one of the most comprehensive looks at the artist’s early reception in America and the influential arts leaders who championed his work.

“Each year, we try to pres-

ent a range of exhibitions that offer a new scholarship, spark new ideas, and introduce new concepts or artists to our audiences. But with every show, we also hope to inspire a moment of delight— pleasure in seeing something beautiful, learning something new, or seeing something different. We think that this year will be a summer full of delights at the Clark,” said Olivier Meslay, Hardymon Director of the Clark Art Institute. “We will look at one of the world’s great sculptors, Auguste Rodin, but we will be looking at his work through a very specific lens that tells a fascinating story of his early reception in the United States.

We are particularly eager to introduce the distinctive prints of the Mexican modernist José Guadalupe Posada and believe they will offer new perspectives on an important period in Mexican history. And we are truly pleased to present an intriguing show that unites

the works of two artists, Tauba Auerbach and Yuji Agematsu, under the canopy of a single concept, the meander.”

The Clark’s summer exhibitions open on a staggered schedule, beginning in June.

The program includes: Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern June 18-Sept. 18 José Guadalupe Posada: Symbols, Skeletons, and Satire July 16-Oct. 10 Tauba Auerbach and Yuji Agematsu: Meander July 16-Oct. 16 The Clark Art Institute is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts.

Witness the magic of spring!

May 21, 10am-4pm

• Live Music • Live Wildlife Programs • Craft & Food Vendors • Meet the Lupine Lady • Community Partners • Wildland Fire Trucks & Crew • Take Home Craft Kit • Make Your Own Tie-dye Shirt ($5ea) • Storywalk & Guided Tours • Photo Booth • Games, Prizes & MORE • All ages • FREE Admission!

Parking at 302 Washington Ave. Ext. Shuttle bus provided.

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Pruyn House hosts juried show

AlbanyLupineFest.org 116654_4

April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 9 2022 Lupine Fest.indd 1

3/14/2022 11:37:00 AM

Recollections

Sartorial psychology

P

You are what you wear, and that’s not a bad thing

sychology was a favorite subject of mine while studying for a liberal arts degree I’d later transfer toward earning a bachelor’s diploma at another school. The subject material came easy to me because I was fascinated by all the work that went into defining our

various behaviors.

As a young 20-something, I was just trying to figure myself out — as were the other 22 kids in the class. The textbook could serve as a guide, or so I thought. Reading up on the symptoms that help diagnose schizophrenia is not welcoming information to someone on the bottom rung of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs motivational theory.

by

grains, he speaks of safety and love, leading up to selfactualization or the peak of self-motivation. That’s where I was a few weeks ago as I was preparing, of all things, to attend a party.

The top of the pyramid was sold to us as an accolade achieved only by the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, to name a few. But, as I understand it now, this climb up the pyramid is not a one-time task; it’s a daily one.

Michael Hallisey

Maslow’s diagram looks like the nutritional pyramid we learned in elementary school.

What does your style say about you? But instead of vegetables and

Metaphorically, the top of my pyramid at this moment had me standing in front of

Is it a fashion or self-actualization? a mirror at a shopping mall, inside a dingy department store changing room.

I’ll confess. My wardrobe is woefully neglected. I have, and still wear, a University of Auburn hoodie that’s older than my son. He graduated from high school last year. There are T-shirts that have been with me

SO CAN YOU. 10 Family Now — April 2022

Continued on Page 11

walked into the party wearing my leather jacket over a shirt and tie and a pair of black denim jeans. (My shoes were a mess, but so was the weather outside.) The conversations I had with people I already knew were more genuine than the flashy suit I had imagined myself wearing for the night.

I could have looked like Cab Calloway, but I’m a different kind of cat, and I’m comfortable with that.

n Recollections continued from Page 10 since before I met his mother.

Of course, these are outliers, but they nonetheless define the boundaries of both my comfort zone and my financial status. So, I felt the need to up my game.

Standing in front of that mirror, I was teetering the line between actualization and esteem. I know what I’m comfortable with and I know who I am, but I was short on time and resources. Though the invite suggested “creative casual attire,” I imagined busting out wearing a flashy suit.

Even if one could be tailored for me in time, that suit would be the only thing in my name as my wife threw me out of the house.

Before I had left, she had picked out an outfit from my closet. It involved a charcoal cardigan over a white dress shirt and paired with a pair of

No matter how much you dress up, if it’s not your style then it isn’t fashion. black denim jeans. It didn’t speak to me. I was already overrun with anxiety. Clothing speaks to people, and I was concerned with that. The cardigan said old. Anna Delvey’s vague German accent was in my head. As I leafed through the selections at the mall, I could hear, “Why do you dress

so poor?” Discerning eyes can differentiate between those who know what they’re doing and those who are trying too hard. And I was sweating.

Short of ringing up a bill like a fake heiress, I walked out with one red dress shirt. I decided not to try too hard, and

The following weekend my family and I ventured off to the same mall. Before we left, I walked down the stairs into the living room wearing that cardigan over a white dress shirt and black jeans, my driver’s cap sitting backwards atop my head. My wife cocked her head with an approving smile. “This is what I should have worn to the party,” I said.

“Duh,” she said.

The writer is managing editor of The Spotlight and editor-atlarge of Family Now.

Spring!

WELCOME

from the staff at:

FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT

GENERATIONS TOGETHER

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April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 11

Triple Threat

parenting triplets in the Capital District

Watching in horror

I

News of the war in Ukraine leaves a mom and her family worried

watch the news and can’t turn off the mother part of me when I see families trying desperately to get out of Ukraine. How could I? The very sight of children in winter coats clinging to adults as they continue to put one foot in front of the other while carrying another child or the basic necessities in a bag is heartbreaking. This mom doesn’t know how long she will be walking, how far she is travelling or if she has enough supplies. This isn’t a camping trip. This isn’t a quick trip to see the family the next city over.

Imagine having to leave your home with your child and not knowing if you need diapers and food for two or three days,

weeks or months. How many children can a mother carry?

How many supplies?

I don’t know how I could get three children, my disabled husband and my mother out of Albany and cover hundreds of miles. I could try to find a safe place and then figure out how to meet the family’s most basic needs. Harlan is medically fragile and would die in 7-10 days without dialysis. How far can my mom walk before she could not keep going? What would I do? I have no answers. I feel utterly useless. I see these women and I wish that I could help.

Moms are talking, tears flowing unchecked, about leaving behind homes and famiby lies that may no longer be there when it is safe to return to Ukraine. There is no question that life will never be the same. Families will feel this fracture forever. How will people find family members?

How will the children get back their innocence? I have never faced this and won’t pretend to Presently, the kids are learnbe an authority on the subject. ing about World War II in So-

Jennifer Steuer

cial Studies, and they are drawing conclusions while watching the international news. I see them struggling to comprehend this situation. For sixth grade Hebrew School, the entire curriculum is the Holocaust. I see Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca losing some of their innocence because they know genocide can happen again. My kids are 14 years old and they see the inhumane treatment of people just like us and don’t understand how this repeat behavior is possible. They feel helpless, just like the adults do.

One of the families at the school is organizing donations

Continued on Page 13

FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT

GENERATIONS TOGETHER

Capital District FAMILY NOW,

a monthly publication with timely features for every age and stage of family life.

With Capital District FAMILY NOW, you will find great columns and features to enjoy every month, plus so much more.

Pick up your copy today!

To advertise, please call Denice Mau at 518-439-4940 or email maud@spotlightnews.com.

12 Family Now — April 2022

116416_4

n Triple Threat continued from Page 12 that are needed in the refugee camps, field hospitals and for the people who have nothing.

No matter the need, we will have something to donate.

Putting good energy, something positive, out into the world might just help us all feel like we are doing something good.

If we sit back and do nothing, then we are complicit. If we do not protest, we are in agreement. In my heart, I will say a prayer with each item we are donating so that maybe, just maybe when the items are used the person will feel a positive energy. Maybe that person will know we are trying to help.

I sit on a comfortable chair. I sleep in a comfortable bed with my favorite blankets, and I am warm all night. To do laundry, I simply walk to my laundry room and wash my clothes. If I need groceries, I get into my car and go to the store. If my kids need a doctor, we can make

As Ukrainian cities are pummeled with bombs and refugees stream out of the country in droves, many in the United States are left wondering how they can help. an appointment or head to urgent care. If someone needs medications, I can just go to the pharmacy. We do not live in a country that is fighting for its very survival. Ukrainian citizens are likely feeling uneasy and afraid.

My heart breaks and my tears spill every night. I think how grateful I am we do not live in Ukraine right now. I watch

their president’s pride when speaking of how his fellow Ukrainians are fighting back.

The cities are being bombarded and decimated by mortar shells.

The children are afraid. Grandmothers are learning to make Molotov Cocktails and to shoot automatic weapons. Ukrainian citizens stand in front of Russian tanks. Over two million people have become refugees over the last two weeks. This is

equivalent to the population of Nebraska leaving for anywhere but where the fighting, shelling and killing is happening. I look at the families and believe that they will make a difference.

Jennifer Steuer is an Albany mom whose busy household includes her husband, Harlan, and 14-year-old triplets Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca. Follow her on Instagram: jennifersteuer.

86 million Americans

Maybe even you,

have prediabetes. person-ABOUT-TOFACT-CHECK-THIS-FACT.

April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 13

In the Neighborhood

An inclusive experience Bring on the Spectrum in Colonie gives neurodiverse young people and their families a place to be themselves

E

veryone needs a place to just hang out and be themselves. For some, that place is harder to find than others.

Bring on the Spectrum, or BOTS, offers that place for those that may not readily fit in with the mainstream.

“I think Lisa’s intention with BOTS is to make it inclusible, which is my word and means ‘suitable for inclusion,’” said Diane Guendel, a special education teacher with the Shenendehowa School District who specializes in using board and other games as a type of therapy. “Too often it is up to our kids to become suitable for inclusion, and I think that is backwards. I think we need to create the spaces and the activities and the opportunities for them, and that is what she has done.”

BOTS is the brainchild of Lisa Audi, who converted a vacant space on Fuller Road into a sensory gym and community center for children and adults who are on the autism spectrum. But “spectrum” here does have a broader definition.

“The word spectrum is in our title and people tend to relate it to autism but we relate it to the

RIGHT: Lisa and Carabelle Audi at BOTS. FAR RIGHT: Diane Guendel, (center) a special education teacher with the Shenendehowa School District, plays a board game at BOTS Photos by Jim FraNCO

14 Family Now — April 2022

spectrum of diagnosis, so it could be any intellectual or developmental disability,” Audi said. “The spectrum of ages that we can have here. Sometimes, when you think of a sensory gym you think of a young kid’s play gym, but this is more than that. This is meant to see the young children through the spectrum of their lives and the spectrum of diversity and inclusion.”

Sensory gyms are by not new or unique and include equipment “designed to provide vestibular and proprioceptive input,” according to an article in Autism Parenting Magazine. In other words, the activities in the sensory gym — like swings, slides, air hockey, inner tube trampolines safe climbing apparatus — help with “fine and gross motor skills and improve balance, movement and spatial orientation.”

“There are gyms for us, adults have places to go, but there isn’t anywhere for kids, especially kids on the spectrum, where he can be loud or stimming and it’s OK and that’s the key thing. Everyone is welcome.”

“It’s great so far. It is somewhere we can go and get out of the house for a little while and she loves it,” said Melissa Angeles as she watched her daughter Selena play on a swing set. “There isn’t much around for them. There is Dave and Busters but it’s too busy and too crazy and too crowded with kids and this place is a little more low-key and it’s better for her.”

Jim Franco

“There isn’t anything else like it where we can bring them.

There are outdoor playgrounds but when the weather is [bad], the couch becomes the bouncy tire and there is nowhere else to take them,” said Lisa Shapiro, who was watching her 13-yearold son Jacob enjoying a swing.

More than a gym There were sensory gyms in Ballston Spa and Latham but both closed, so Audi saw a need. Her vision, though, was to offer more than a sensory gym, and the space on Fuller Road also includes a large community room that plays host to programs like art and yoga classes, and there is a mom who is a beautician and wants to start a hair styling and make up class.

“I said ‘great.’ We are open to all ideas. This is not my community space. It is the community’s

space. If people have ideas, like mom the hair dresser, we want to hear them,” she said. “When we were out blossoming this idea, we wanted it to be more than a sensory gym and that is where the idea for the community space came about, to include social, recreational and lifestyle activities and that can be anything from art to yoga to Zumba. Really to anything.”

On Sunday, Guendel was hosting board games in the community room and Emily Barbara was teaching an art class, instructing children and adults on how to paint a rainbow arched over grassy, green hills.

The space on Fuller Road has a number of smaller rooms as well including a “sensory room,” which is darkened and has different lights and stimulus where children can go if they do get over stimulated by the activities “It’s a place where you can calm yourself when you get a little over stimulated and we are very appreciative of Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation for sponsoring it,” Audi said.

BOTS does not get any direct governmental funding but some families are able to access fees through the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

In the Neighborhood Your health

ABOVE: Persephone and Sara Kromrey take an art class at BOTS. LEFT: Salena Angeles rides on a swing at BOTS. Photos by Jim Franco

Audi said they are exploring grant opportunities and she is working with the surrounding school districts. The Shaker High School Pathways in Technology students built the acoustic panels for the sensory gym, which were a necessity because with the large, open space needed for the gym comes unpleasant echoes and sounds that can be disturbing to anyone, and more so for the children who frequent the gym.

Families pay for the different classes offered by BOTS at the community room or for time in the sensory gym or any of the other rooms and activities it offers.

So far, Audi said, they are seeing up to 50 “customers” a day since having a soft opening last month but it has been a slow opening by design.

“Our population needs to be comfortable coming some place,” Audi said. “We didn’t want it

to be a negative experience, or a one and done, and that could have happened if they were overwhelmed so we are keeping our numbers down because it is all about making sure they have a positive experience and that they are comfortable coming back.”

Why not me COVID had negative effects in so many ways, and when the pandemic hit Audi said she left United Way and was wondering what she was supposed to do with the rest of her life. Nine years ago she adopted a daughter, Carabelle, who is on the spectrum, and saw friends in the autism community struggle to find a place to take their children.

“Everyone talks about a career pivot during COVID and I was trying to figure out what to do next and we saw this opportunity, myself and fellow board members,

and we were stalled by COVID and we thought now was the time,” she said.

The need, too, is irrefutable.

In December, 2021, the U.S. Center for Disease Control said 1 in 44, or 2.3 percent, of 8-yearold children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder based on an analysis of 2018 data.

That is up from a previous estimate published in March, 2020, that found 1 in 54, or 1.9 percent of 8-year-old children who were on the spectrum.

out of COVID, there is a shortage of workers and direct support professionals so that means some of the day-hab, without walls type programs, are struggling.”

Also, she said, while stressing BOTS is geared to serve more than those with autism, school districts are reporting more students on Individual Education Programs.

COVID also played a role in the decision to open BOTS, Audi said.

Not long ago, she said, while she was watching an art class with students of all ages and there were those who were neurotypical, those who do not have any neurologic diagnoses, painting along with the neurodiverse, those who do.

“Our population during COVID was probably more ostracized than any other, similar to nursing homes. Folks in residential housing did not have visitors,” she said. “Now as we are coming

“There was young people there was old people. It truly was the spectrum of ages and all types and it was a melting pot,” she said. “I took a step back and I said ‘yes, this is what we wanted to create.’”

“Sometimes, when you think of a sensory gym you think of a young kid’s play gym, but this is more than that. This is meant to see the young children through the spectrum of their lives and the spectrum of diversity and inclusion.”

Lisa Audi, founder of BOTS April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 15

Puzzle Answers on Page 22 Clues Down 1. Polyvinyl acetate 2. Canadian folk musician 3. Evergreen trees and shrubs 1. Fall down 4. Meat from a pig (French) 5. Walmart founder Walton 5. Secretion 8. Los Angeles time zone 6. Quality of yielding nothing of value 11. Gallantry 7. Aquatic mammal 13. Early Supreme Court justice 8. Father Bartlett 14. One-time governor of Maryland 9. Protective crusts 10. Caps 15. Act of imitating 12. Handwoven rug 16. Popular basketballer Jeremy 14. Soil-like material 17. Round Dutch cheese 19. Not wide 18. S. American rodents 23. When you aim to get there 20. Comic opera “Princess __” 21. Commodities buyers and sellers 24. Hold molecules 25. Tooth caregiver (slang) 26. Amount of time 22. Hovers 27. Beverage container 25. Having had one’s head cut off 30. One-time monetary unit of Greece 28. Perform 29. Appollo’s grandmother 31. Not no 32. Beloved Cubs third baseman Ron 34. Obsolete home entertainment device 35. Serbian mythological demon 33. Shapes 36. Bulgarian currency 38. Giants signal caller Manning 37. Midway between south and southeast 41. Moves all the way around 39. Makes sense 43. Babe Ruth retired as one 40. A way to single out 45. Relinquishing 41. Criminal (slang) 48. Native religion in China 42. Former Tigers third baseman Brandon 49. Not well 44. Wobbled 50. Fill with high spirits 45. Singapore’s second highest peak 55. In bed 46. Grossly overweight 56. Type of pet 47. Radioactivity units 57. Somewhere to go 48. Famed Spanish painter 59. Smaller quantity 51. Internet router algorithm 60. Ingested 52. Expression of sorrow or pity 61. Singer and Jacobs are two 53. Druidic mother goddess 62. Anger 54. Electronic counter-countermeasures 63. British rockers __ Zeppelin 58. Midway between east and southeast 64. Like

CRYPTO F UN

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Solve the code to discover words related to BIRDS. Each number corresponds to a letter. (Hint: 19 = s)

16 Family Now — April 2022

THRUSH PARROT TERNS

SEAGULL LIONESS PELICAN

SWALLOW WOODPECKER OWL SPARROW GOOSE FINCHES HUMMINGBIRD FALCON PIGEON PLOVER DOVES PENGUIN

Social Security Corner

W

Are you entitled to more?

e know your circumstances may change after you apply — or become eligible — for benefits.

If you, or a family member, receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income, certain life changes could increase your benefit amount.

As part of our Potential Entitlement initiative, we want to help you identify where you might qualify for a higher benefit. For example, you may be entitled to higher benefits based on your own earnings record or someone else’s record. Some of the life changes that could possibly increase your benefits include the following scenarios: If your spouse or ex-spouse dies, you may be eligible for a

higher survivor benefit based on their earnings record. The death of an ex-spouse may entitle you to a higher survivor benefit even if you are already receiving a survivor benefit on another spouse’s record. We encourage you to read our publication, Survivors Benefits, for additional information at www.ssa. gov/pubs/EN05-10084.pdf.

at www.ssa.gov/retirement.

If your deceased adult child provided at least half of your support, you may be eligible for a higher parent’s benefit based on your child’s work history.

Our publication, Parent’s Benefits, includes information you may want to consider by at www.ssa.gov/ pubs/EN-0510036.pdf.

If you are receiving Social Security benefits based on your spouse’s work and you worked and earned credits, you may be eligible for a higher retirement benefit based on your own work. You can view our Retirement page

We continue to focus our Potential Entitlement initiative on people who face barriers. These populations include older people, children with disabilities, veterans, SSI recipients, and people with limited English proficiency. We

Elizabeth Pivonka

Empire Plan Enrollees:

The writer is with the Social Security Administration in Albany.

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April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 17

Senior Centers LifePath 28 Colvin Ave., Suite 2, Albany www.lifepathny.org; (518) 465-3322

ingham Palace.

Location: Watervliet Senior Center and Zoom Tuesday, April 5 10-11 a.m.: Chair Yoga Chair yoga builds muscle toning, reduced stress levels, better breathing habits, better sleep and an overall sense of well-being.

Location: Watervliet Senior Center Thursday, April 7 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Music Performance by Carmen and Life’s Guilty Pleasures Free live performance featuring a guitar and vocalist duo that will play old favorites and a few original songs for you to sing along with. Sponsored by Albany Musicians Association, Local 14, Music Performance Trust Fund Grant.

Location: Westview Homes Community Room and Zoom

Supportive services for older adults. To register: www.lifepathny.org/activities; (518) 465-3322 Friday, April 1 9:30-11 a.m.: Play Reading Club: “Red Velvet Cake Wars” (two sessions) In this Southern-fried comedy, the Verdeen cousins could not have picked a worse time to throw their family reunion.

Come as an actor or a member of the audience. (Second session is April 15) Location: Watervliet Senior Center and Zoom Monday, April 4 12:30-1:15 p.m.: Travel Log “Buckingham Palace” Join us as we explore the wondrous castle that is Buck-

Monday, April 11 12:30-1:15 p.m.: LifePath Time Machine “History of the Vikings” Join us as we explore the rich history of the Vikings.

Location: Watervliet Senior Center and Zoom Thursday, April 14 1-2 p.m.: Drum Circle Participants will have the opportunity to express themselves by playing a variety of drum and percussion instruments.

Sponsored by Albany County Department for Aging.

Location: Watervliet Senior Center and Zoom Tuesday, April 19 2-3 p.m.: Drum Circle Participants will have the opportunity to express themselves by playing a variety of drum and percussion instruments.

Sponsored by Albany County Department for Aging.

Location: Cohoes Senior Center and Zoom Thursday, April 21 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Drum Circle.

Participants will have the opportunity to express themselves by playing a variety of drum and percussion instruments.

Sponsored by Albany County Department for Aging.

Location: Westview Homes Community Room and Zoom Monday, April 25 1-2 p.m.: Book Club: “Run Rose Run” by Dolly Parton and James Patterson A new book from bestselling, award-winning novelist James Patterson and beloved singer-songwriter Dolly Parton about a young woman finding her voice and creating her future in Nashville. Call Beth at the Cohoes Senior Center to receive a copy of the book, 518-

Continued on the next page

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Senior Centers

Additional information along with the calendar will be posted on the Niskayuna Town website at www.niskayuna.org/seniorcenter. Call with any questions or concerns.

Tuesdays 9 a.m.-noon: Tom’s Computer Class (first and third Tuesday of the month) 10 a.m.: Tai Chi 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Open for indoor/outdoor socialization/ coffee service 10 a.m.: Cards, Mahjong and Bridge 11 a.m.: CDPHP Zumba Gold available in House and Zoom ( April 5, 12, 19, 26) Noon: Gershon’s, BYOL and coffee service

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1 p.m.: MVP Chair Moves/ Chair Aerobics (April 12-June 14) Thursdays 10 a.m.: Tai Chi 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Open for indoor/outdoor socialization/ coffee service 10 a.m.: Cards, Mahjong, Bridge, Bocce and Pickleball Noon: Gershon’s, BYOL and coffee service 1 p.m.: The Eddy Health Alert Chair Yoga (April 7, 21) Fridays 11 a.m.: Alzheimer’s Association Support (first Friday of the month) Exercise Update: Mondays at 12:30 a.m.: CDPHP Chair Pilates, in house and via Zoom (April 4, 11, 25) Wednesdays at 11 a.m.: SilverSneakers Zumba Gold, Zoom only (April 6, 13, 20, 27) Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.: Gentle Yoga, in-house (April 6, 13, 20, 27) Classes remain available on Zoom with a couple in-house. You can email Edie for registration, dates and times at ecannizzo@ niskayuna.org.

April 5: 10 a.m. Alcohol ink with Laurel-Le-UL April 5: 10 a.m. Helen Keller Trivia April 7: 11 a.m. Book Group – “The Great Divorce,” Ilyon Woo April 12: 10 a.m. Grilled Cheese Day Trivia April 12: 11 a.m. Blood Pressure Clinic by St. Peters Health Partners April 14: 1 p.m. Bingo April 16: 10 a.m. SAS Workshop April 19: 10 a.m. Animal Cracker Day Trivia April 26: 10 a.m. Jelly Bean Day Trivia April 28: 1p.m. Arts and Crafts with Edie

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235-2420 or email at bslezak@ lifepathny.org Location: Cohoes Senior Center and Zoom Thursday, April 28 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Jeopardy – 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s Music Trivia Join us and our mystery guest host for a fun game of Music Trivia, Jeopardy style.

Location: Westview Homes Community Room Friday April 29 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Third Age Achievement Awards The Third Age Achievement Awards are not lifetime awards; instead, the Award is designed to pay tribute to members of the Capital Region who make significant contributions to our community after turning sixty. These individuals show the world that life and the contributions made to our community don’t stop at 60, 70, 80 or over. For more information visit: www.lifepathny.org/fundraisers Location: Wolferts Roost Country Club

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April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 19

Calendar of events

April 1 Friday

greet, 10 a.m.-noon. Activities will include decorating of Easter eggs, an Easter egg hunt throughout the dealership, and make-andtake Easter Bunny ears.

5 Tuesday

Mini Golf in the Library Visit the Library for a fun game of afterhours mini-golf. Three tee times: 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. for all ages and 8 p.m. for ages 16 and up. Registration is required. The Library will not be open for regular business during this time. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park.

For more information, call (518) 371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

Transitions USA, a premier program designed to advance college and career success for young adults with autism spectrum disorders and other learning differences, is partnering with Mohawk Chevrolet to host a sensory-friendly Easter Bunny meet and

Submit an event

Join the second Zoom meeting of the “Famous Pigs in Literature” Book Club for Grades 1-5, 4 p.m. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call (518) 371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

11 Monday Genealogy: Introducing the 1950 United States Census The 1950 census, a treasure trove of family history information, will be released on April 1 after its required 72-year rest. In this virtual program, Genealogist Lisa Dougherty will guide you through what you can expect to find about your ancestors and where to access it, noon. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call (518) 371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

• To have your event included in our print edition, email the information, including date, time, place, cost and contact information to robertsk@ spotlightnews.com by the 10th of the preceding month. Events run space permitting, and submission does not guarantee publication.

on true cold cases, 7 p.m. Program is virtual; registration required. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

15 Friday

Famous Pigs in Literature

3 Sunday Sensory-Friendly Easter Bunny Meet and Greet

April

13 Wednesday Cold Case Analysis with Dr. Christina Lane Hear how the Cold Case Analysis Center at the College of Saint Rose allows selected students from the criminal justice, behavior and law, forensic science, and forensic psychology degree programs to work

Brad Mehldau The two sides of pianist Mehldau’s personality, the improviser and the formalist, play off each other, 7 p.m. Tickets are $35-$65. Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington St., Saratoga Springs. Tickets are available through the Box Office at Proctors via phone at (518) 346-6204 or online at universalpreservationhall.org.

Get More from Google Take an in-depth look at the various ways to search on Google, including the Advanced Search and Image Search functions, and much more, 1 p.m. Program is virtual; registration required. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

Moonlight Hike Also Saturday. View nature in a new light, or lack thereof, as we walk the trails under the full moon. For all ages; will cover approximately 1.5 miles of trail, 8 p.m. Free, but registration is required and space is limited. Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Road, Wilton. For more information or to register, call (518) 450-0321 or visit wiltonpreserve.org.

16 Saturday Breakfast with the Easter Bunny This fun event includes a hot breakfast, a visit from the Easter Bunny (parents will be able to take pictures with the Bunny) and three Easter Egg Hunts at 9, 10 and 11 a.m.

There will be giveaways and prizes during the egg hunts. Cost for the breakfast is $10 for adults, $5 for kids 3 to 12 and free for kids under 3. Pre-registration at Twin Bridges website (twinbridgesrotary.com) is strongly encouraged. Clifton Park Elks Lodge #2466, 695 Mac Elroy Road, Ballston Lake.

19 Tuesday Spring Scavenger Hunt Join us on a guided hike to observe the final days of winter and witness the early signs of spring. Look for new growth that spring brings and signs of animal activity, noon. Free, but registration is required and space is limited. Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Road, Wilton. For more information or to register, call (518) 450-0321 or visit wiltonpreserve.org.

Owl Exploration What makes owls such great nighttime predators, and what animals becomes their prey? Our activity includes an owl pellet dissection, 4 p.m. This program is geared for ages 7 and up and has a $5 supply fee, 4 p.m. Registration is required and space is limited. Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Road, Wilton. For more information or to register, call (518) 450-0321 or visit wiltonpreserve.org.

20 Wednesday Cybersecurity We will explore our digital lives and our online presence, discuss privacy and security, as well as manage your computer, email and social media settings. Let’s explore trends and educate ourselves, 6 p.m. Schenectady County Public Library, 99 Clinton St., Schenectady. For more information, visit www.scpl.org or call (518) 388-4511.

Continued on the next page

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FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT

GENERATIONS TOGETHER

Be sure to visit our website…

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20 Family Now — April 2022

April

Poetry Workshop

21 Thursday

Local author Janine De Tillio Cammarata will share various prompts to inspire you to play with words and poetry formats, 6:30 p.m. Registration required. Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Road, Clifton Park. For more information, call (518) 371-8622 or visit www.cphlibrary.org.

Nesting Birds Walk

Spring Discovery Walk Take a hike with our environmental educators to learn about all the changes that spring will bring to the Saratoga Sandplains ecosystem, noon. Free, but registration is required and space is limited. Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Road, Wilton.

For more information or to register, call (518) 450-0321 or visit wiltonpreserve.org.

Pollinator Planting Spring is the season of growth. Assist our pollinator friends and grow some native plants in your decorated pots, 4 p.m. This program has a $5 supply fee. Registration is required and space is limited. Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Road, Wilton.

For more information or to register, call (518) 450-0321 or visit wiltonpreserve.org.

Take a hike to search for the many types of birds’ nests at the Preserve, then join us for a craft, noon. This program has a $3 supply fee. Registration is required and space is limited. Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Road, Wilton. For more information or to register, call (518) 450-0321 or visit wiltonpreserve.org.

22 Friday Tribute to Eric Clapton With over 50 years of music to choose from, Journeyman covers it all, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $19.50-$39.50. Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington St., Saratoga Springs.

Tickets are available through the Box Office at Proctors via phone at (518) 346-6204 or online at universalpreservationhall.org.

Earth Day Clean Up Celebrate your local trails this Earth Day. Join our staff for the good habit of cleaning up our community and protecting our wild spaces by participating in a habitat management project. Specific project and time to be

Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES

I’m never

Calendar of events

announced. Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Road, Wilton. For more information or to register, call (518) 450-0321 or visit wiltonpreserve.org.

Earth Day with MHLC Join us at the Normans Kill West Preserve for Earth Day stories, a hike and a take-home craft, 2 p.m. Co-sponsored by Bethlehem Public Library and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy. Sign up here: mohawkhudson. org/events. For kids and families.

American Woodcock Walks Also Saturday. Learn about this sillylooking critter then take a guided walk at dusk. Through the meadows we will watch for their mating displays and listen for their calls, 7 p.m. Registration is required and space is limited. Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, 80 Scout Road, Wilton. For more information or to register, call (518) 450-0321 or visit wiltonpreserve.org.

25 Monday Craft and Color for Adults Choose between coloring or doing an open-ended craft activity on the Green,

11 a.m. This activity is specifically tailored for adults of all abilities. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

27 Wednesday Alan Via’s ‘Doghiker’ Author and outdoor enthusiast Alan Via will present his latest book, which is part guidebook for hikers and their canine companions and part operating manual for dog owners, 6:30 p.m. (book sale), 7 p.m. (program). Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

28 Thursday Citizen Science An introduction to the world of citizen science with examples of global, national and local projects for the active and the armchair citizen scientist, 3 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call 518-439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.

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April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 21

Retiring Retirement

Passing the torch

N

A ‘mentor of inventors’ competes with the next generation’s smartphones

o senior can magically pass on talent or genius to the next generation.

But finding those who desire to learn some of the mysteries of science has become in important quest for near-octogenarian John Harlow of East Berne.

John Harlow of East Berne is eager to pass along his love of discovery to a new generation of tinkerers.

The “Mentor of Inventors” spent years in the labs and halls of the famed Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory developing projects that assisted in the development of nuclear power for The United States Navy.

Since his retirement over a dozen years ago, he has amassed a considerable laboratory of his own in the hills of East Berne.

But the great experiment bubbling up more recently is the concept of handing off both technical and hands-on skills to eager beavers. Harlow pictures this happening as he chases the creative aspect of inventing and building from concept through design to discoveries through “lots of failures” to completion.

sorcerer’s apprentice. Due to the literal explosive nature of some of his experiments, the opportunities would abound for just the right youth or adult who has come across the greatest discovery and the one thing that John Harlow can’t teach: desire.

Home is Where

lucrative and fulfilling. The difficulty is competing with iPads and iPhones and tech-gizmos that provide instant gratification in a different way.

“I’m part of the old group like Mike Rowe’s Dirty You’ll Find UsJobs. His philosophy is identical to mine. We both strongly favor jobs that require manual skills and not necessarily computer skills.

by

Robert LaCosta

“I want to take something so Whether these projects might satisfying, useful include welding or training and fundamental to on lathes, milling machines, my life and share it with Home is Where You’ll Find Us electronic equipment of all kinds someone else,” Harlow said of coinciding with the magic of his dream. “I’d like to see somephysics, some young apprentice one else have as much fun as who would be luckier than the I’ve had - all the while have it be

“What would be music to my ears - make that an opera

- would be to hear, ‘Grandpa, can we go build something today?’ I wish I would hear those words. In the long ago, a lot of extended families lived in same house and that made it easier to pass on different things to the new generation.”

Harlow’s hope for the youth is to come to the realization that the coolest thing that could be on his iPhone is sitting in the next room.

Robert J. LaCosta’s “Portal to Heaven” is a daily devotional delivered free through email. Request it at norepcom@gmail.com or visit robertlacosta.com

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Belmont Management Co., Inc. was formed in 1975 and in 1980, we began to offer our management services to other property owners. Since that time the company has grown to 76 apartment communities across New York State.

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April 2022 — cdFamilyNow.com 23

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