Inside:
Fun and frightening harvest happenings
FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
Vol. 1 | OCTOBER 2020 | FREE
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
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Crisis encourages healthy habits Spooky snacks Songwriter pens hope-filled pandemic tune cdFamilyNow.com October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 1
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2 Family Now — October 2020
Editor’s desk
FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
Halloween has evolved over time
W
hen I was growing up, Halloween was for kids. The adults would take the little ones out for a round of trick-or-treating in ill-fitting costumes until our bags were full. I also remember some of us carrying cardboard banks to collect spare change for UNICEF. We watched “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” on TV. The older kids might have gotten up to some pranks, but they were relatively mild as most of us naturally “aged out” of trick-or-treating around middle school. All-in-all, it was a one-night affair with little fanfare. By the time my own children were ready to go door-todoor begging for treats, Halloween had become something else altogether. Now it is generally marked by a month of festivities for all ages with elaborate decorations to match. Neighborhood lawn displays become a point of pride and friendly competition. And some Halloween events are most decidedly not meant for children. This evolution of Halloween is a welcome thing, in my opinion. As we feel the winter months beginning to close in on us, October is a good month to let off a little steam. That seems more true now than ever, as we face the uncertainty of an ongoing pandemic that many of us did not think we’d still be talking about months after it upended our lives. So get ready to bundle up and celebrate the colors and flavors of Halloween (or get scared out of your wits, if that’s your thing) at one of the haunted happenings on Pages 12-13 compiled by Editor-at-Large Michael Hallisey. In his article, you’ll find some family-friendly suggestions along with some that are not for the faint of heart, and he’s thrown in a dash of Halloween history as well. Have a safe and happy Halloween! Thank you for reading Family Now. Check out our articles and resource listings 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 us at robertsk@spotlightnews.com. Kristen Roberts Editor, Capital District Family Now
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
For every age and stage of family life.
October 2020 Features Haunted happenings
12-13
A COVID recovery
18
Columnists 24-Hour Shift Triple Threat
4 6-7
Learning Center
8
Let’s Cook
9
A Patriot Remembers
15
Social Security Corner
21
Retiring Retirement
22
What’s new Kids fun page
10
Senior center shorts
17
Brain teasers
20
publisher - John McIntyre editor - Kristen Roberts editor-at-large - Michael Hallisey advertising sales - Denice Mau art director - David Abbott graphic design - Martha Eriksen Engagement Coordinator - Kaitlin Lembo
Halloween is a great excuse to cut loose before the long nights of winter set in. Read about some fun local events on Pages 12-13.
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.
October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 3
parenting is a full-time job
The 24-hour shift
Seek new ways to learn Family and friends can be great resources
H
ow’s school going? For me, it has me searching the farthest corners of my brain, trying to dredge up all the facts, theories and stories from my own past school experiences. Whether your child is homeschooling, in-person learning or some kind of hybrid, at some point we as caregivers will be teaching some lesson or another this year. The good news is we may not have to do it alone. Not every piece of available knowledge is in a book or online. The answer, my friends, is not blowing in the wind, but on the phone. Sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who
you know. (Don’t tell the kids that. Yet.)
might be the option to better understanding.
The bookworm in your life Your child’s grandparents or can suggest book options if you great-grandparents are living yourself are not a reader. Form a history. If possible, have your child interview them about what book club where you all read a book together and discuss life was like for them it. growing up. Their experiences may by Although be different than school may look what is taught in different this a history book. year, you may It could be they find help from knew someone some unexpected who witnessed a “experts.” historical event or were there themselves. Theresa Davis is a former early childhood educator and has If an uncle or cousin is the worked in childcare centers for family math whiz, they may be able to offer a different approach more than 15 years. She is also an adoptive mother, living and to those intimidating equations. The core may not be common, taking care of her family in the but the different learning style Capital District.
Theresa Davis
Not a big reader yourself? Maybe your bookworm friend or family member can make some suggestions your child will love.
FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
The Capital District family has changed -- and we are changing too. In recognition of the multi-generational nature of the modern household, we are merging Capital District Parent Pages with Senior Spotlight to create Family Now, a monthly publication with timely features for every age and stage of family life. With Family Now, readers will find all the great columns and features they already enjoy every month, plus so much more.
To advertise, please call Denice Mau at 518-439-4940 or email maud@spotlightnews.com. 4 Family Now — October 2020
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picture books
On the Bookshelf
Colorful new releases ‘A Pig in the Palace’
‘Nice Try Charlie!’
By Ali Bahrampour
By Matt James
What happens when a clumsy pig wallowing in the mud receives an invitation to have dinner with the queen? For any kids who have tried their hardest to behave at a grownup gathering, Bobo the boar is just the itchy, clumsy, endearing hero they’ve been waiting for. Abrams Books for Young Readers
With his cart full of treasures and big green hat, Charlie is a neighborhood fixture. When he finds a pie, he sets off to find the owner ― and helps some friends along the way. Poignant and funny, this story is an ode to resourcefulness and the compassion that turns neighbors into friends. Groundwood Books
‘Soon You’ll Be Sleeping’ By Haddy Njie; illustrated by Lisa Aisato This goodnight book is about nature’s seasons as they sleep and awaken, sleep and awaken through the year. Children listening and reading will be lulled by the rhymes and the whimsical pictures of nature’s dreamy beauty. Firefly Books
Get the word out!
Toddler • Early Childhood • Elementary • Middle School
List your local event or meeting in our monthly calendar
Send calendar submissions by the 5th of the previous month to:
Capital District Family Now, Attn: Calendar, P.O. Box 100, Delmar, N.Y. 12054 or Email: robertsk@spotlightnews.com
FamilyNow GENERATIONS TOGETHER
Want to “draw“ more business online? To advertise on our website, call Denice Mau at 518-439-4949 Visit us at:
cdFamilyNow.com
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Limited openings for Toddler ages 18-36 months and Primary ages 3-6 years old
CAPITAL DISTRICT
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
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100 Montessori Place • North Greenbush 518.283.5400 • woodlandhill.org 113060_4
October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 5
Triple Threat
parenting triplets in the Capital District
Stress can lead to violence
T
There is help and a way out for domestic violence victims of any age
he past six months have tested every family. The divorce rate has risen 34 percent over the same time last year, and a New York Post article from Sept. 1 states that 31 percent of couples feel that being together in this very trying time has “caused irreparable damage to their relationships.” In my house, we have fought more since March 13 … however, we talk a lot too. Our big family is in a small space, and sometimes the adults disagree. We can get upset when someone is unable to understand what we are trying to say. Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca see us argue, and they see us talk things out. Harlan
and I have been married for fifteen years and don’t always agree, but we try to show our kids that people can love one another and not always agree. Domestic violence in all forms has been on the rise since the pandemic caused many jobs to evaporate and incomes slashed. Many families were left unable to pay bills and under immense pressure with schools being closed (or classes held virtually) and a loss of recreational activities. All relationships are vulnerable to domestic violence. Men and
by
women have been reaching out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline or local agencies seeking help. There has been a 9 percent increase in domestic violence since March 16, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The external stressors keep mounting, and the isolation helps to hide evidence of violence and intimidation.
Jennifer Steuer
I am a domestic violence survivor. It has been 18 years, but this is part of who I am and how I identify myself. Getting out of an abusive relationship – whether you are teen, young
adult, man, woman, straight, gay, trans or non-binary – is hard and can feel insurmountable. There is help, and no one is alone in this fight. I have watched my children grow and develop their own unique personalities. Talking about violence in relationships is not easy, but it is necessary. Young love is not immune to violence. My job is to prepare Olivia, Benjamin, and Rebecca to protect themselves and to have the skills to help someone who may be in a relationship that is unhealthy. There are places that concentrate on teens facing a violent relationship.
Continued on Page 7
To all of our
A Heartfelt Thank You! 6 Family Now — October 2020
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ESSENTIAL WORKERS
continued from Page 6 One website (dosomething. org), gives very alarming statistics: One in three young people will be in an abusive or unhealthy relationship. The violent behavior usually begins somewhere between sixth and 12th grade. The statistics are frightening: “50 percent of young people who experience rape or physical or sexual abuse will attempt to commit suicide,” according to the website. Also, the teens that do experience dating violence are subject to consequences far beyond the relationship. The long-term effects can include alcoholism, eating disorders, promiscuity and violent behavior. I realize that Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca are not in relationships now, and hopefully will never be the victims or perpetrators of dating or domestic violence. The conversations we have aren’t geared just toward Ben as the possible abuser and Olivia and Rebecca as the potential victims. Dating and domestic violence is not that clean cut. Any of my kids could be an abuser or victim. Hopefully by having conversations and letting my son and daughters hear that violence is unacceptable, they would come to us or reach out to somebody for help. They will be able to help a friend. They can be part of the solution.
There has been a 9 percent increase in domestic violence since March 16, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The external stressors keep mounting, and the isolation helps to hide evidence of violence and intimidation.
RESOURCES FOR HELP National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233 If you cannot speak safely: thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522 or (866) 331-9474
Early Learning Center
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THE ONES
WHO ACTUALLY DO.
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452-0984 FULL AND PART TIME DAYCARE AVAILABLE
For teens and young adults: Dosomething.org LGBT National Hotline: (866) 843-4564
Toddlers (18–36 months) Three year olds (36–48 months) Four year olds (48–60 months)
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
LGBT National Youth Talkline: (800) 246-7743
10% DISCOUNT for Active Military Families
WHO THINK
LGBT National Senior Hotline: (800) 234-7243
THEY HAVE THEIR CHILD IN THE RIGHT SEAT.
Equinox: (518) 432-7865 Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center: (518) 447-7716 Rensselaer County Unity House: (518) 272-2370 (collect calls accepted) or text (518) 720-6161 or webchat online at rc.chat/uhdvs
KNOW FOR SURE
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN THE RIGHT CAR SEAT.
My experience as a survivor helps me talk to my kids. More than once I have shown them where I lived and how far I was allowed to go if I was to leave the house. I lived across the street from a AGX-2A001D bus stop. I was AD COUNCIL “NHTSA Pencil” walking distance Non-Bleed: 3.5”to x 10” grocery Magazine Thin Vertical stores and4/Cplaygrounds. I was Line Screen: 133 Pubs: Various Date: 2012 that street. not allowedInsertion to cross I was not allowed to walk to the store. Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca gave me stunned looks when I told them how far I was allowed to go. They had questions about my situation and wanted to know why I didn’t just walk where I wanted to, and the answer seemed to stun them: I wasn’t allowed and there would be consequences. I took back my life with help. I am a safe person to talk to about domestic violence or dating violence.
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If you are a victim, please reach out for help. You are not alone. Jennifer Steuer is an Albany mom whose busy household includes her husband, Harlan, and 12-year-old triplets Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca. Follow her on Instagram: jennifersteuer. October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 7
FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
UPCOMING
Monthly Deadlines November
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Education insight for parents
Understand your child’s learning style
S
by
Patrick McNamara
o we’re back to school, and you’ve picked out the new clothes, shoes, backpacks and school supplies. But have you prepared for a successful school year by understanding your child’s personal “learning style”?
instance, would be a better learning tool than hearing a list of prices read aloud.
Visual/Spatial learners enjoy photography, visual metaphors, puzzles, illustrations and story maps. Seeing a bar graph on the cost of different cars, for
Musical/Rhythmic students may play an instrument, sing, hum or tap during work or require background music while
Verbal/Linguistic learners shine in activities such as storytelling, public speaking, drama and journal writing. Give children journals to keep for one month. Encourage them Just as there are many different fashions, there are also many to write detailed descriptions of what they see, taste, feel and different ways a child learns. hear. Celebrate their writing Because each child is unique, with different learning styles and – children respond to positive reinforcement by repeating academic needs, it is imporwhatever got them the praise. tant to personalize the learning process. Understanding a child’s Bodily/Kinesthetic learners learning style can help parents thrive on hands-on experiments, and teachers personalize instrucfield trips, body language, crafts tion and/or homework to ensure peak performance in school and and sports. Take a field trip to a local factory, and then make build a child’s self-confidence. a visual display of what was learned. People learn in at least eight different ways, according to the Logical/Mathematical learners Multiple Intelligences Theory: tend to be better at problemvisually, verbally, physically, mathematically, musically, natu- solving, coding, data collectralistically, through group activ- ing, money management and scientific models. Help your ity or through quiet thinking child create a budget sheet that time. The following are some itemizes every cent spent during tips to assist parents in detera one-month period. Determine mining what type of learning what category drew the bigstyle their child exhibits. Keep in mind that a child may exhibit gest expenses. Have them chart spending. more than one learning style.
V
DEC
7
JAN
4
To advertise in one or more of these issues please call: Denice Mau at 518-439-4940 or email: maud@spotlightnews.com 112398_4
8 Family Now — October 2020
Learning Center
Continued on Page 19
People learn in at least eight different ways: visually, verbally, physically, mathematically, musically, naturalistically, through group activity or through quiet thinking time.
Let’s Cook! by
Jodie Fitz
H
All treat and no trick Celebrate the season with this pair of Halloween-themed recipes alloween is a great time to pull out all the stops when it comes to playing with your food. Have a little fun with
these spooky snacks as you enjoy them together or on their own. Some assembly is required, but that’s really the fun part, isn’t it?
Get more recipes from Jodie Fitz through the Price Chopper Kids Cooking Club at www.pricechopper.com. To learn more about her, visit www.jodiefitz.com.
Mini Spider Pizzas Mini whole grain pitas Pesto sauce Shredded mozzarella cheese Grape tomatoes Sliced olives Nonstick cooking spray Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with the nonstick cooking spray. Spread approximately 1 tablespoon of pesto on each of the pitas. Add approximately ¼ cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese on each pita. Building your spider on top: Select one larger grape tomato for the body
of each spider and one smaller grape tomato for the head. You will need four slices of olives for each spider. Cut three in half and place them as legs around the body; three on each side. Cut one olive slice in quarters. Place two as antennae. (Technically an insect; you can do four legs on each side if you are an arachnid purist.) Bake your pizzas for 8-10 minutes; until the cheese is melted and the pita toasts. Note: Some pre-made pestos can be thick and need to be diluted. If so, start with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to 1 tablespoon of pesto. Increase the oil in half-teaspoon increments until the consistency is spreadable.
Beetle Juice 4 cups ice 2 lemons, fresh 2 cups water ½ cup honey ½ cup fresh frozen mixed berry medley 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon raspberry extract Triple berry seltzer Raspberry sherbet (optional) Cut the lemons in half. Squeeze the lemon juice from the lemons. Note: If you have a citrus juicer simply
squeeze the juice right into a blender pitcher. If you have to squeeze by hand, squeeze the juice into a glass or bowl first so that you can remove any seeds with a spoon before adding the juice to the blender. Add the ice, lemon juice, water, honey, frozen mixed berry medley and extracts into the blender. Blend the ingredients together well. Depending on the size of the glass, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the triple berry seltzer to add fizz to the mix. Fill the rest of the glass with the blended fruit mixture. Optional: Add a scoop of raspberry sherbet on top.
October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 9
n u F s d i K e g Pa
MAZE CRAZE Can you find your way through the maze?
Coloring Fun
MAZE SOLUTION
10 Family Now — October 2020
MAKE IT SAFE & KEEP IT FUN
Social Distancing Guidelines Best Practices
TRICK OR TREATERS Stay home if sick Trick or treat with people you live with
Let’s Celebrate!
Remain 6 feet apart from people not in your household Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose (even under/over your Halloween mask)
With the convergence of a full moon, a blue moon, daylight savings time and Saturday celebrations — plus the unprecedented events of this year — Halloween 2020 will truly be one to remember. Much has changed … but our love for the fun, fright, and delight of Halloween is strong as ever. So let’s unleash our Halloween inspiration — to celebrate the season in safe, fun, unexpected ways!
Trick or Treat!
Time to get the treats, but before you do... it’s super important to strictly adhere to the official trick or treat guidelines! Focus on safety first and make sure you’re only visiting the neighbors that have safety measures in place!
Yeet the Treats
Embrace the Millennial dictionary this Halloween and learn a new word that all the cool kids know… YEET! This trendy new lingo means to throw (something) forcefully in a specified direction. So, huddle with the neighborhood beforehand and get everyone on board to Yeet the Treats! Reminiscent of those nostalgic days gone by where parade floats threw out candy to kids who patiently stood by. This time, homeowners will yeet candy from 6 feet away as costumed kids travel safely up and down sidewalks.
Drive Up Trick or Treat
Neighbors set up curbside shop as parents drive on up with their favorite costumed characters to scoop up the sweets and treats! Keep the hand sanitizer handy.
Trunk-R-Treat
It’s not just for parking lots anymore! Neighborhood Trunk-R-Treats will be popping up everywhere this Halloween to help minimize the close quarters of pathways and porches. Neighbors park their rides at the end of a driveway to dole out the goods. Chances are you’re going to see some pretty fun trunk themes!
Hand sanitize (with sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol) frequently while out, especially during key times like before eating or after coughing/sneezing
Neighborhood Parade
Organize a neighborhood costume parade where the route is predetermined and marked to maintain safe distances between participants. Stay safe by incorporating sanitize stations, yellow caution tape, 6ft sidewalk stickers/tape, age group signs and more!
HOMEOWNERS
Family Pet Parade
Take the Safe House pledge and register as an official Halloween Safe House
Talk about a new tradition! Take to the streets with your furry friends and take part in a social distancing pet parade! Dog treats go to the best costume!
Fairytale Forest
Plan a path through neighboring woods or a park and light it up with glow sticks, flashlights and more! Line the trail with Halloween décor, props, candy and surprises. Trees can be tied with ribbons to help follow social distance guidelines!
Face Mask Party
Order up a bunch of plain face masks and have yourself a paint party! Decorate, doodle and bedazzle your way to some snazzy new face masks to wear this fall. Have fun and get creative with it.
Costume Week
Fully embrace your inner costume character and dress up throughout the entire week leading up to that big ol’ Blue Moon! Your friends and fam will have a blast running errands, walking the dog or joining a zoom meeting… in costume!
For more information visit: www.halloween2020.org Enjoy a SAFE and HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the staff of:
Do not hand out candy if you are sick Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose
Use duct tape to mark 6-foot lines in front of home and leading to driveway/ front door Position a distribution table between yourself and trick or treaters Distribute candy on disinfected table to eliminate direct contact Wash hands often
PARENTS Stay home if sick Talk with your children about safety and social distancing guidelines and expectations Guide children to stay on the right side of the road always to ensure distance Carry a flashlight at night and ensure your children have reflective clothing Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose Wash your hands as soon as you return home Inspect all candy before eating
OCTOBER — CDPARENTPAGES.COM 11 35 October 2020 — 2013 cdFamilyNow.com
Care for Halloween haunts across the Capital District range from family friendly to frightening
Haunted Cave Tour
O
ctober starts the Awesome Trinity of Holidays. If you’re not familiar with that trinity, it’s OK. I just made it up. But, you know what I’m talking about. The Awesome Trinity of Holidays includes Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it all starts with Halloween.
by
Michael Hallisey
Pumpkin Glow & Light Show
October is the month for haunted hayrides, ghost tours, pumpkin carvings and trickor-treating. All of which are fun activities ingrained into our childhood memories to the point we forget Halloween’s roots. The childhood icons of the day lend hints to Samhain. Pagan Celts believed this was the day in which the veils between the world of the living and the land of the dead were at their thinnest. It allowed the souls of departed loved ones to mingle with the living once more, and not in a creepy, zombie-apocalypse kind of way. There are a few stories tied to the act of
12 Family Now — October 2020
pumpkin carving. History. com shares a compelling story about the Irish myth of “Stingy Jack.” According to lore, he made a deal with the devil and managed to wiggle himself out of it. In doing so, he built such a reputation for himself that he was frozen out from heaven and that other place once he died. He’s now left wandering the earth with a glowing piece of coal to light his way. He places it in a carved-out gourd to serve as a lantern. Across the ocean, kids carve scary faces out of apples and turnips to ward off evil spirits. Pumpkins are most common in the United States, so we see them used instead. Now, the whole idea of conversing with the dead and making deals with the devil sounds like heresy. Following such traditions could lead to accusations of practicing witchcraft. In the past, that never ended very well for the accused. Today, it’s relatively safe to dress up as one on the 31st, but if you float, I’d choose another costume. Halloween is the underlying theme for many of the activities for one to enjoy this month. Take a peek at the events we’ve compiled to see what catches your attention. Just
a scare? keep in mind, if it has anything to do with Jack o’ Lanterns, Stingy Jack may be there, and the devil not too far behind.
The Underworld: Haunted Cave Tour Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25-Nov. 1
Howe’s Cavern 255 Discovery Drive, Howes Cave (518) 296-8900 howecaverns.com/howe-scary Howe’s Cavern is a fascinating place to visit, giving you both reprise from the summer heat and a peak of what the Underworld could look like on Halloween. This time of year, it’s the setting of The Underworld: Haunted Cave Tour. The event’s marketing suggests this won’t be for everyone. There’s a litany of conditions you should meet before stepping foot on the tour. You can’t eat, can’t drink, don’t smoke or be intoxicated, best not be injured or limited physically, and don’t suffer from any heart, mental, circulatory or respiratory issues. If you’re in a cast, a brace, or using crutches, you won’t be allowed in. The latter sounds like it’s meant to insure the safety of staff members as much as it is for those who visit. Using a crutch to club away scary ghouls will likely be frowned
Zombie Zips
upon. It’s best to know your limitations before considering going on this tour. There will be no refunds once you buy a ticket. “If you violate any of these rules, or if you enter the attraction but decide you are too soft, too scared or too much of a cry-baby, and you want to leave without completing the event, you will not be given a refund,” states the event’s website. “You will be lucky if you even get your soul back … which we probably acquired from you within minutes of entering this underworld!”
The Pumpkin Glow & Light Show Drive-Thru Thursdays-Sundays, Oct. 1-Nov. 7
Have a Drink on Me 5K
Ellms Family Farm, 448 Charlton Road, Ballston Spa (518) 884-8168 ellmsfarms.com
The Pumpkin Glow & Light Show Drive-Thru is a practical way of enjoying the season while maintaining safe social distancing during the COVID pandemic. It features a drive-through experience meandering among
Saratoga DBA Fall Festival
Continued on Page 14
October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 13
n Scare continued from Page 13 a pumpkin wonderland of thousands of hand-carved Jack o’ Lanterns. The tour showcases works of single pumpkins to large, dazzling light displays. Visitors will also be able to purchase fallthemes treats, food and beverages, all to be enjoyed from the safety of your family vehicle. The first of each evening’s 20-minute tours starts at 7 p.m. and continues until 9:40 p.m.
Have A Drink On Me 5K Saturday, Oct. 24, at 9 a.m.
ther for kids, nor for the faint of heart. “[It] will stop your heart,” they said.
SingleCut North 6 Fairchild Square, Clifton Park
Your nightmare begins with a corpse-guided tour along a serial killer infested forest to then be hauled into the trees among complete, utter horror. Once in the trees you will be launched in complete darkness.
Running is so popular in this area, you really can’t swing a turkey leg without finding a 5K around Thanksgiving. In a similar vein, SingleCut North is making a habit out of hosting Great American Brewery Runs each year, this one set to kick off on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Alone. Afraid. And, vulnerable along a screaming steel cable hundreds of feet along Mountain Ridge Adventure’s Zip Line Park.
Zombie Zips at Mountain Ridge Adventure Fridays and Saturdays in October, from 7-10 p.m.
The zip lines can have you soaring through the air, more than 70 feet above the ground. That, along with the prospect of not knowing when you’ll stop, or who will stop you at the end, can heighten the adrenaline for anyone. In all, the event will have you running through 10 zip lines.
Mountain Ridge Adventures warns that Zombie Zips is nei-
Best to have your affairs in order before visiting.
Mountain Ridge Adventure, 300 Weatherwax Road, Schenectady mountainridgeadventure.com/ zombie-zipline-adventure
Saratoga DBA Fall Festival Saturday, Oct 24, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Saratoga Springs (518) 587-8635. The Spa City hosts a free family-friendly event in its 2020 Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Our affinity for running is matched only by our love for music and beer. Run through a closed, USATF-certified 5K course. Off the course, enjoy Singlecut beer in an official Rastal Craft Master Grand glass. You can also enjoy water, fruit and snacks. Visitors will also be able to partake in Cornhole, Beer Pong and Kan Jam. There will be food trucks and live music at the finish line.
This unique Halloween celebration encourages families to have fun together, enjoying the hospitality of Saratoga Springs’ businesses and the great spirit of the community. Young and old alike will find themselves rediscovering all there is to love about the fall season at this fun-filled free event. Plus, with all of the fun activities planned, this is one event you and your family will not want to miss.
For more information and to register, visit greatamericanbreweryruns.com/singlecut-5k.
The event features pumpkin decorating, magic, music, face painting, pony rides and more.
Happy Halloween from all of us at
FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
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14 Family Now — October 2020
A Patriot Remembers
A
Mom’s advice still rings true
s my article for October came due, I was short on ideas. I went to a doctor recently, and inspiration struck: With all of the precautions these days with masks, alternating seating and no magazines, my mind wandered to my youth and some healthy advice from the past. Wearing masks in the doctor’s office make so much sense. I was there for a semiannual checkup, but what about the other patients who have ailments? Since it was my general doctor, there could have been people with some illness that could spread. Wearing masks in a doctor’s office should have become the basic mode of operation many years ago. There are sick and healthy people mixed in the office. What are the chances of going there healthy and returning home sick? My mom always said money (cash and coins) was very dirty. Think of all the people who handled that money and where it was used. My college teacher in the late ’60s made the prediction that in the future, most of our transactions would be done with a plastic card. I know of businesses today that only take credit cards.
ic fact, then he found the cure for the common cold. Wearing a mask in freezing temperatures makes sense to keep you warm. I know some cold days are very invigorating, and yet they make me appreciate the indoors.
Of all places, a hospital or medical setting is one where masks and gloves make a lot of sense. As an 8-year-old, I spent three football fans with painted weeks in a hospital and still have faces and costumes would be just ordinary unknowns rather bad and uncomfortable feelings getting their five seconds of to this day about them. Visitors fame. I am always concerned brought in germs or left with with the people who germs, and nobody took sit behind those precautions. Of all places, a hospital who can’t sit by was one where for five secmasks and gloves onds. Maybe would be so aplower noise propriate, but we from wearing lived in a bubble a mask and earwith the idea that plugs might have “I am not sick so why some health value. should I take precautions.” A veteran of WWII once A mask at sporting events told me that going out in the would quiet the crowd and cold weather is how you catch a maybe their behavior. Those cold. If that was truly a scientif-
Frank DeSorbo
I use mouthwash every day, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day, and I have not had a sore throat in so many years that I can’t remember. Since I also take an aspirin a day, likewise cold symptoms have stayed away. Moms told us that “an apple a day keeps the doctors away.” She should have also mentioned aspirin. It is remarkable that medicine has come so far by has still been stymied by a worldwide crisis. I believe there will be a return to some degree of normalcy, and maybe some of the old tales and Mom’s advice will continue to be sound. After all, with life expectancy in the low 80’s, our children and grandchildren may be star athletes in their 60’s. Maybe this statement will become a healthy tale of the past. The author is a Capital District resident and freelance writer and guest speaker. Contact him at fomservice.com.
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GENERATIONS TOGETHER
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October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 15
On the Bookshelf
fiction for adults
Fall days are perfect for reading ‘Anxious People: A Novel’
‘The Haunting of H. G. Wells’
By Fredrik Backman
by Robert Masello
Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-ordeath situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix their own marriage. Atria Books
It’s 1914. The Great War grips the world — and from the Western Front a strange story emerges. In it St. George and a brigade of angels descending from heaven to fight beside the beleaguered British troops. But can there be any truth to it? 47North
‘A Single Swallow’ By Zhang Ling When Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender to the Allied forces, bringing an end to World War II, three men made a pact. After their deaths, each year on the anniversary of the broadcast, their souls would return to the Chinese village of their younger days. Amazon Crossing
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Senior Centers
We’re holding these at-home online Zoom classes: ukulele, soul line dancing, yoga. We’ll even teach you how to Zoom if you need help. We have bocce ball, walking club, exercise to tape, knitting and crocheting, golf, yoga, watercolor, bingo, Latin line dancing, discussion group – all outdoors. We also offer jazz dancing, tap dancing, ballet, chair yoga, basic computer skills, billiards, qi-gong/tai chi, and tai chi for arthritis. In October and November we will once again do a service project and make holiday stockings out of felt our soldiers filled with small travel-sized toiletries, candies, dried fruit and nuts, energy bars and more. This is a multi-week project. Join us if you can. Help us keep you safe and always wear a mask or shield. Please arrive no more than 15 minutes before a class.Please bring your own water bottle and a chair for outdoor activities. A 2020 membership is just $15. Some instructor-led classes have a small additional fee. We continually update our newsletter with new activities and announcements. Please check the website frequently for these updates: cliftonpark. org/services/senior-services/ senior-center.html.
Serving the entire Capital District
The Niskayuna Senior Center has resumed a weekly and monthly activities schedule. Contact tracing, temperatures, name and phone numbers, as well as masks and “social distancing protocols” will be required. Dates for exercise classes scheduled inside are only tentative, and subject to change.
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9 a.m.-noon: Tom’s Computer Class (first and third of each month) 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Open for indoor/outdoor socialization/ coffee service* 10 a.m.: Cards, bridge, bocce available Noon: Bring your own lunch
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11 a.m.-noon: Zoom Chair Pilates *Registration or additional fee. Bring your own lunch.
Monthly activities
Oct. 1: First published after 50, trivia and book discussion Oct. 6: Eddy community service division lecture Oct. 8: Nutrition lecture Oct. 13 at 10 a.m.: Blood pressure screening; Molly Pitcher Day treat/trivia Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.: Chair yoga; “I Love Lucy” trivia Oct. 20: Army National Guard lecture Oct. 22: Think positive discussion on Facebook live Oct. 29: Halloween Party
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October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 17
Health and wellness
When COVID came calling
M COVID-19.
Writer weathers increasingly harrowing symptoms in “mild” case
y name is Kaitlin Lembo. I am 25 years old. I fought
It started with a cough. Nothing too aggressive; if I took too deep of a breath, I hacked a bit. A feather did a little dance in my throat. I had three positive coronavirus cases in my home when I started showing symptoms. I lasted 10 days before I got it; I was the last to contract it. Wearing masks in my house and disinfecting everything daily was no match for the coronavirus. Soon, my body began to deteriorate from the inside. Aches
ripped me apart from invisible seams. Food became a vehicle with which my body would expel in every way it could. Water turned my stomach into stormy seas. The softness of my bed, my only refuge; head buried in a pillow and legs tucked to by my chest yielded the only comfort I would have for two weeks.
warm. Imagine my fear when I couldn’t get the air conditioner cool enough. The walls close in way too quickly when you’re confined within them. Your mind begins to play tricks on you. My car laughs at me from right outside the door, mocking how I can’t leave. I can’t go to the doctor. I can’t even leave the property. In a haze, I kept asking myself why people were driving by the house all day. Can’t anyone see what’s going on? How is the world still spinning when I can’t even hold my head up? How are people feeling well when I can’t remember what well even
Kaitlin Lembo
Each day, something changed for the worst. My normal temperature is 98.1 degrees. Imagine my fear when the thermometer hit 100.7. Imagine my fear when I started hallucinating from being so
feels like? My sheets were their own form of wavebed and I supplied the moisture. I was doing laundry like a professional athlete, except the sweat wasn’t coming from my latest triathlon. I’m sweating out COVID-19. I’m puking out a pandemic. I’m oozing what has killed 2020 for so many people. It’s now on my doorstep, holding on to my chest like a cat. I can feel its nails, but I can’t get them off. There’s nowhere to grab except my soaked shirt. My stubby, bitten nails are sore and broken from clutching my headboard. Somewhere along the way, I’ve
DON’T PLAY WITH FIRE. IF YOU SMOKED, GET SCANNED.
G e t S a v e d B y T h e S c a n . o rg 18 Family Now — October 2020
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n COVID
n Learning Center
continued from Page 18
continued from Page 8
mastered the breathing exercises they teach you in therapy. Inhale health. Exhale the virus. How is this considered mild? I think I’m dying.
they study. Turn memorization exercises into rhythmic word play and set it to any musical style.
Hours are lost to sleep and odd dreams. I’m six hours between life and death. In those six hours, I have to find a way to write stories my job so desperately needs for the week’s paper. That’s right; I worked during COVID-19. My team is counting on me, even when they ask me to stop working and get some sleep. I have to find a way to take a shower. Oh, hot water is amazing. I can’t get it hot enough. The sun begins rising again. I haven’t had a fever for a week. I’m still so, so weak. I’m still confined to my house. By day, my body is raw and bruised with each unnecessary movement. By night, the fibers begin
A mild case of COVID-19 can still wreak havoc on the body. to connect. Day by day, my strength multiplies. Eight hours of consciousness becomes 10, then 11, then 12.5. Before I know it, naps are less frequent. I can feel my throat again. The feather is a mere memory. The walls are opening up. Air fills the places that once felt full. My name is Kaitlin Lembo. I am 25 years old. I beat COVID-19. I hope you never have to experience it. Kaitlin Lembo is a NYPA Award-winning writer serving Spotlight Newspapers as a reporter and engagement coordinator.
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Interpersonal learners work better in group activities, such as clubs, peer teaching, conflict mediation and active discussions. They would enjoy volunteering at a nursing home, women’s shelter or charity and documenting the experience in a journal. Naturalist learners tend to
As parents prepare their child for the new school year, it’s important to remember that he or she will be better prepared for classes if parents and teachers understand a student’s personal learning styles and use this knowledge to help the child excel in school and on homework. Parents should share their observations about their child’s learning style with their child’s teachers as the school year progresses and they receive report cards. Patrick McNamara is the owner and executive director at Sylvan Learning of Albany and Clifton Park. For more information, visit SylvanLearning.com.
Don’t Put Your Life on Hold
f you would like to showcase special events in our monthly publication, Please send them to us by the 5th of the month preceding publication.* MO
Intrapersonal learners work better alone, doing individual study, personal goal-setting and self-esteem activities. This type of student should write down concrete objectives and the steps required to achieve them. A study schedule would be more effective if it breaks down what will be studied, rather than just “study time.”
better understand ideas when it is related to a natural occurrence. These learners prefer outdoor activities. Learning about science by doing outdoor experiments that relate to schoolwork will make that schoolwork more interesting and more likely to connect to this kind of learner.
Enjoy Living a Simpler Life Now’s a great time to move to a maintenance-free independent living apartment for seniors. Kingsway offers living options that will fit your budget and your lifestyle. Features include updated kitchens, chef-prepared cuisine, concierge services, 24 hr staffing and an abundance of programs for social connection.
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GENERATIONS TOGETHER
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October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 19
20 Family Now — October 2020
Social Security Corner
D
Don’t delay, get number right away
o yourself and your newborn a favor and apply for their Social Security Number before you even leave the hospital to avoid processing delays later on. Getting your newborn a Social Security Number is important. If your child is born in a hospital, the easiest way to secure a Social Security Number is when you give information for your child’s birth certificate. If you wait to apply for a number at a Social Security office, you may encounter delays while we verify your child’s birth certificate.
When you give information for your child’s birth certificate at the hospital, you’ll be asked whether you want to apply for a Social Security Number for your child. If you say “yes,” you need to provide both parents’ Social Security Numbers, if you can. Even if by you don’t know both parents’ Social Security Numbers, you can still apply for a number for your child.
Elizabeth Pivonka
There are many reasons why your child should have a Social Security Number. You need a Social Security Number to claim your child as a dependent on your income tax return. Your child may also need
a number if you plan to: •
Open a bank account for your child. • Buy savings bonds for your child. • Get medical coverage for your child. • Apply for government services for your child. You can read more about Social Security Numbers for children at www.ssa.gov/pubs/ EN-05-10023.pdf. Share this information with people who are expecting a child. Applying for a Social Security card at the hospital will save them time and let them focus on the new member of their family. The author is with the Social Security Administration in Albany.
Do yourself and your newborn a favor and apply for their Social Security Number before you even leave the hospital to avoid processing delays later on.
“ Everything was always very tidy. Then my family noticed how disorganized I had become.” —Theresa, living with Alzheimer’s
When something feels different, it could be Alzheimer’s. Now is the time to talk. Visit
alz.org/ourstories to learn more
October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 21
Retiring Retirement
Song of hope in trying times
C
OVID-19 affected me the most as a hearing instrument specialist, a writer and as a son-in-law.
in triumph across generational, ethnic and national borders. The chorus rides along without skimping on simple profundity: Love goes viral, it’s who we’re meant to be. In the image of God who heals to set free. Love goes viral, though lockdowns constrain, for love lives from the inside out anyway.’
The latter role gave me the opportunity to spend three months with my mother-in-law under my roof. That was one of the greatest privileges of my life. It was as if time was standing still, and it made up for all of the other years that a busy schedule frustrated my desire to get together with her at her house for a cup of coffee or an Andy Griffith rerun.
Author Robert LaCosta’s role as an essential worker, as well as the challenges his family faced during the pandemic inspired him to reflect on this moment in time through his song “Love Goes Viral.”
In terms of the first role, I found that I couldn’t just say, “No,” to patients at our offices because hearing aids – especially during a pandemic – became more critical than ever as people spent more time together constantly watching televisions turned up way too loud.
This cut cuts deep into my soul because we were living it out while I wrote it out. I personally lived with the concern of giving With regard to my work as my mother-in-law a writer, my heart was stirred the virus when I more than ever as I witnessed returned from acts of courage and love nearby work. It was and around the world. It was in heart-wrenching the midst of the pandemic that I to watch my steppenned “Love Goes Viral,” song daughter postpose that celebrates love in action. her wedding twice. I dubbed it “the quintessential Two of my daughters’ song by the essential worker.” businesses were shut down. My sister was unable to get critical I wanted a hope-filled, eye surgery and was left legally snapshot pandemic memorial blind. Some of these events song minus any superficiality.
became part of the song’s lyrical montage.
by
Robert LaCosta
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Even so, I wanted to embed inspirational imagery in an upbeat song that would evoke a desire for listeners to choose love over fear while tapping their toes.
The country-pop chorus underscores the worldwide lesson that courage can’t be locked down, while the video powerfully portrays love
Between the song’s lines, a fourfold message emerges: 1. Determine to counter hard circumstances with decisive acts of love. 2. Take our minds off ourselves. 3. Follow the example of those who are changing the world one life and one act at a time. 4. We are all in this together. Whenever I listen to or watch the song on YouTube, I wonder if somehow COVID-19 wasn’t essential in some ironic way. Robert J. LaCosta has written over 2,000 songs and blogs daily at robertlacosta.com. Write him at norepcom@gmail.com or call (518) 435-1250. The author is a Hearing Instrument Specialist and has worked with seniors through four decades.
BRAINTEASERS ANSWERS CRPYTO ANSWERS:
A. antique B. shop C. refinish D. bargain
29th ANNUAL CAPITAL REGION
vi r
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Friday, October 16, 2020 9am - 2pm virtually stop by: www.lifepathny.com for more details & to register
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NEW!
Virtual Living Well Programs from MVP Health Care® We are excited to announce that some of your favorite MVP Living Well programs and classes will be coming to you virtually this fall! Log on from the comfort of your home and join us for a fitness class, educational program, or art class. Here is a sampling of our upcoming virtual programs: Zumba Gold®/ MVP Latin Moves
A fun, friendly aerobic workout anyone can do, including beginners! This class is for active older adults who are looking for a modified Zumba class that recreates the original moves you love at a lower intensity. The design of the class introduces easy-tofollow Zumba choreography that focuses on balance, range of motion and coordination.
MVP Chair Moves Stay as mobile and strong as possible! This chair-based class emphasizes strengthening, limbering, and stretching exercises for upper and lower limbs. Hand weights and a sturdy chair with no arms is recommended. 113050_4
MVP Tai Chi Moves An introduction to Sun Style Tai Chi! Described as “meditation in motion,” the benefits of Tai Chi can include improved balance, flexibility, and muscle strength. Wear flat-soled shoes and loose comfortable clothing.
Visit our MVP Living Well Calendar at mvphealthcare.com/calendar for program descriptions, dates/ times, and registration information for these programs and many more.
Y0051_4788_M October 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 39 Senior Spotlight 7.375” x 9.875” due Aug 03
CDPHP Makes Choosing the Right Medicare Plan Easy ®
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We’ll help you find the plan that works best for you. Call (518) 641-3400 (TTY 711)†
Visit CDPHP on the web at www.cdphp.com/medicare. * Out-of-network/non-contracted providers are under no obligation to treat CDPHP Medicare Advantage members, except in emergency situations. Please call our customer service number or see your Evidence of Coverage for more information, including the cost-sharing that applies to out-of-network services. † Our hours are 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. seven days a week from October 1 - March 31. From April 1 - September 30, Monday – Friday, our hours are 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. A voice messaging service is used weekends, after-hours, and federal holidays. Calls will be returned within one business day. CDPHP® refers to Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. and CDPHP Universal Benefits,® Inc. CDPHP is an HMO and a PPO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in CDPHP Medicare Advantage depends on contract renewal. Y0019_21_13567_M 20-14591 | 082020 40 Family Now — October 2020
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