Inside:
The pandemic school year begins
FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
Vol. 1 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | FREE
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
Cover story: Our orchard picks
Respecting different viewpoints Remember what normal was
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2 Family Now — September 2020
Editor’s desk
Seasonal tradition is one constant
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FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
What’s more Upstate than a crisp fall day spent picking apples?
hen fall rolls around in the Capital District, there are many things to celebrate. For some parents (and kids), it’s the return to school and its predictable schedule – although there’s nothing predictable about this school year. For other folks, the cooler weather is a welcome respite from the humidity and heat of August. Empty nesters and older adults who are no longer bound by the school calendar often find this is the perfect time to explore the area through day trips and other adventures. September lets us ease into autumn as we eagerly watch the foliage brighten and turn. This is also the time when our area apple orchards swing into high gear; new varieties becoming available with each passing week. If you live in Upstate New York, apple picking is part of your DNA. And, honestly, why try to fight it? It’s such a great way to spend time outdoors as a couple, a family or a multi-generational outing. You can even bring a picnic and make a day of it. It’s also an activity that is uniquely suited to our times because, although prime picking days can get a little busy, the expanse of an orchard makes social distancing possible. On pages 14-15, Editor-at-Large Michael Hallisey shares his apple-picking musings along with his own orchard picks. It’s nice to be able to hold onto some of the traditions, like apple-picking, that offer us a sense of normalcy as we grabble with how this pandemic has upended our lives. We may feel like we are in a state of suspended animation, but the changing seasons prove otherwise, and that should be cause for hope. 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.
September 2020 Features Collecting memories
12-13
Area orchard picks
14-15
Columnists 24-Hour Shift
4
Triple Threat
6-7
Let’s Cook! Learning Center
9 10-11
Retiring Retirement
18
Social Security Corner
21
A Patriot Remembers
22
What’s new Kids fun page
8
Senior center shorts
19
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
It’s that time of year again! The apples are ripening and the orchards are bustling — in a socially distant way.
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.
September 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 3
parenting is a full-time job
The 24-hour shift
Kids adapt to different views
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Parents shouldn’t feel threatened by a child’s exposure to different perspectives
ou’re the heroes. The ones who changed the diapers, stayed up all night, cleaned up the puke, poo and other unidentified things you never knew could come out of a human being. You’re Mom and Dad. The No. 1 people in your kid’s life. Umm ... I hate to break it to you, but there is such a thing as “daddy’s kid” and “mommy’s kid” – the one parent your kid is closer to. Then there’s your child’s grandparents or other relatives. Is your kiddo the one who is chatting away with one of them at every visit? Why don’t they talk to you like that? Why isn’t your child closest to you? You’re the parent;
the one who’s put in all the work. You’re No. 1. Right? This isn’t the time to get jealous or angry. As kids grow and their personality develops, they are going to start having preferences for certain types of people. Furthermore, they are going to recognize that different people react to different things. They may want to express their feelings without receiving an enormous or miniscule reaction. They may tell someone else something first in order to make sure their feelings are valid, or make sure they’re expressing themselves correctly.
A rehearsal, if you will. What if your crazy mother, your kid’s teacher, coach, etc. have different beliefs than you? In the current climate, your kids may hear opinions you may by not want them to hear. That’s OK. They should be hearing different viewpoints on everything, so they can form their own opinions.
Theresa Davis
For example, I think it’s wrong to feed wild animals so they don’t lose their natural instincts. My child wanted a bird feeder. She called grandma and got one. I didn’t interfere. I just respected
that she wanted to see the birds eat. The sky didn’t fall. Parents, take heart. You aren’t going to be told everything nor are you always going to be the first to know. Your kids are going to listen and talk to others about anything and everything. The important thing is that you will always be their parents, and they will always need you in some capacity. Especially on allowance day. Theresa Davis is a former early childhood educator and has worked in childcare centers for more than 15 years. She is also an adoptive mother, living and taking care of her family in the Capital District.
To all of our
A Heartfelt Thank You! 4 Family Now — September 2020
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ESSENTIAL WORKERS
picture books
On the Bookshelf
Pandemic back to school reads ‘Good Morning Zoom’
‘If You Can’t Bear Hug, Air Hug’
By Lindsay Rechler;
by Katie Sedmak Fuzzy bears, flapping owls and adorable animal friends prove that distance can’t overcome love and friendship in this uplifting book of rhymes for children that explores the creative ways animals might show affection while socially distancing. Pink Pangolin
Illustrated by June Park From “Zoom school,” to watching doctors and nurses on TV, to building pillow forts and talking to loved ones from a distance, this book reminds us that there are still things to enjoy and be excited about in these unprecedented times. Philomel Books
‘Lucy’s Mask’ By Lisa Sirkis Thompson, Illustrated by John Thompson Suddenly, masks are everywhere, but when Lucy finds out her mom is making her a new mask, her boredom turns into excitement. The mask her mom is making is not a costume at all but one that will keep her safe and make her a real-life superhero. Independently published
Toddler • Early Childhood • Elementary • Middle School
Miss Peggy’s Music Room Live Your Love!
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Engaging, educating and inspiring children ages 18 months to 14 years old
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100 Montessori Place • North Greenbush 518.283.5400 • woodlandhill.org
September 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 5
Triple Threat
parenting triplets in the Capital District
Are we there yet?
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The push for racial justice will continue until there is true equality
ho hasn’t heard or said, “Are we there yet?” Usually when this question is bellowed from the back of the minivan there is a small, sticky person with little patience who just wants to get out and run. This year has kept kicking us over and over while we are down. Are we there yet? I keep hearing this in my head. The question pops up when I least expect it. Even when my trio is all buckled up and we have been in the car for a long time, they don’t say it as much as I hear it. When I hear “Are we there yet?” it’s because I
can’t believe that we still aren’t there. Black Lives Matter is not going to go away until this country steps up and eradicates racism. The fact that we by are still having this very conversation is just proof that the country is not hearing the cries of the men, women and children who face discrimination on a daily basis. How is it possible that this behavior has continued? Yes, things are better now than 200 years ago. Better than 50 years
ago … yes. Ten? Maybe. Are we there yet? Unfortunately, we are not. When Benjamin gets dressed in the morning, I don’t have to check what he’s wearing before he races out the door. I’m fairly confident that he will not have any trouble if he decides to run down the street. If Ben puts a hoodie on and his jeans are a little baggy, I don’t feel like I have to send him back to his room for a wardrobe change. I love my son, just like most moms love their sons.
Jennifer Steuer
How many mothers of Black sons know they can blow them kisses in the morning and give them hugs before bed? Does my son’s life matter anymore because he is white? Does my 12-year-old need to be afraid for his life if a police officer is nearby? Why should any 12-year-old boy be afraid? The Black Lives Matter movement was born from the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin of Florida on February 26, 2012. The person who was responsible of this murder was acquitted in July 2013. While I remember hearing details of Trayvon’s murder, I hate to say
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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. 6 Family Now — September 2020
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n Triple Threat continued from Page 6 that I was so occupied with having 4-year-old triplets that the information did not sink in. I should have paid more attention as a mother. This young man, like so many other young Black men, did not deserve to die. He was simply walking while Black. Tamir Rice was 12 years old when he was shot and killed on November 22, 2014. When police were called, it was for “a possible juvenile with most likely a toy gun, who was pointing it at passersby.” When Tamir was asked to stop, he pointed the gun at the police and was shot and killed. The “gun” was confirmed to be a toy. Tamir was playing while Black. I do not believe for one second that I alone can save the world or make a monumental difference. What I do know is
tum. Racism must be stopped. Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca hear vile words coming from some children and adults. Words hurt and they do damage. The fact that the most powerful guy in our country perpetuates negativity and will whip citizens into frenzy if he feels that he has been slighted in some way is terrifying to me. My kids say he behaves like a 2-yearold. My kids have been afraid for their friends who have darker skin. My kids know that they need to help repair The Black Lives Matter movement the world (Tikun olam is a is not going to go away until this large part of Judaism) and country steps up and begins to have that each of them can start an honest discussion about racism. another ripple that amplifies as it continues. that racism is infectious, and if my family and I can make a small difference for someone then maybe destroying racism will be a possibility. Maybe our efforts will meet the efforts of other people, and we can all keep building on that momen-
As a mother and wife, I feel like I cannot sit back and just hope. Who doesn’t want the best for their family? In my life, family is everything. I believe that all children deserve to live. I believe that husbands
and wives should live to be very old together. My child does not deserve to be shot for looking “sketchy” after buying Skittles and an Arizona Watermelon drink. My child does not deserve to be shot by police who are not sure if what is being played with is a real gun. My husband doesn’t deserve to be shot because a counterfeit $20 bill has been passed at a store he had been to. If people in every community start to understand that Black Lives Matter isn’t just a catchphrase but is the desired reality for 13.4 percent of the United States population, we can live in a better country. We can live. Are we there yet? 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.
September 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 7
n u F s d i K e g Pa
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? There are four things different between Picture A & Picture B. Can you find them all?
A
B
Coloring Fun
8 Family Now — September 2020
What’s the Difference answers: 1. Bigger piece of blueberry pie taken 2. Apple has red skin 3. Missing umbrella handle 4. Extra cherry
Get Scrambled
Let’s Cook! by
Jodie Fitz
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Easy-peasy pizza dough Whip up a family favorite in no time
id someone say pizza? Well, if you did and you’re looking for an easy dough recipe, you’ve come to the right spot. This no-rise pizza dough is deliciously easy and fun to make. It also adds an interesting twist of flavor versus traditional pizza dough. It’s great to make for play dates, to serve as a snack, lunch or dinner. You can make it ahead and store it or make it right away and eat the pizza fresh out of the pan – well, once it’s cooled anyway. 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.
No rise pizza dough 2 cups all-purpose flour, unbleached 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon sea salt 2 teaspoon canola oil 1 ¼ cup of warm water Crisco Saran Wrap Measure the flour, baking powder and sea salt together into a bowl. Using a fork, stir the ingredients together so that everything is evenly distributed. Add in the two teaspoons of canola oil and stir it though the dry ingredient mixture. Slowly pour in the warm water, you may not need to use it all so pour and stir until all of the ingredients come together. Remove the dough from the bowl and place it on a floured surface. Knead the dough until it’s smooth and forms into a ball of pizza dough. Sprinkle flour onto the
dough as needed during the kneading process. Lightly coat a bowl with the Crisco using a napkin or paper towel. Place the dough in the bowl and cover it for 30 minutes. Once the dough has rested and is ready to cook, remove it from the bowl and divide it into 5 equal pieces by simply pulling it apart with your hands. Place each piece of dough onto a floured surface and roll it out and stretch it with a combination of your hands and rolling pin to create five personal pan sized pizza doughs. Lightly coat a skillet style pan with 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil or canola oil and heat the pan over medium heat. Carefully add the pizza doughs to the pan. Depending on the size of your pan you can add one or two at a time. Cook one side until it’s golden brown and the dough starts to puff slightly, flip it over with heat safety tongues and cook the other side until it’s golden brown.
Easy dough recipe means you can have pizza in a jiffy.
Get the word out! 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
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CAPITAL DISTRICT
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
EVER WONDER IF THERE’S LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS? EVER WONDER IF THERE’S LIFE ON LUCIANNE WALKOWICZ EVER WONDER IF THERE’S LIFE ON ASTRONOMER, THE ADLER PLANETARIUM OTHER PLANETS? OTHER PLANETS? LUCIANNE WALKOWICZ ASTRONOMER, THE ADLER PLANETARIUM
LUCIANNE WALKOWICZ
ADLER THE PLANETARIUM GIRLS IN STEM BECOMEASTRONOMER, WOMEN WHO THE CHANGE WORLD. LEARN MORE @SHECANSTEM ON INSTAGRAM
GIRLS IN STEM BECOME WOMEN CHANGE THE WORLD. September 2020WHO — cdFamilyNow.com 9 LEARN @SHECANSTEM ON INSTAGRAM GIRLS MORE IN STEM BECOME WOMEN WHO CHANGE THE WORLD. LEARN MORE @SHECANSTEM ON INSTAGRAM
Learning Center
Education insight for parents
FamilyNow What will CAPITAL DISTRICT
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
UPCOMING
Monthly Deadlines October Deadline:
November Deadline:
December Deadline:
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he 2020-21 school year will be unlike anything we’ve seen before. To help your family understand your child’s schooling arrangements, here are some things to think about.
In-person
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Considerations: A/B or AM/PM scheduling at schools can be difficult to accommodate, especially with multiple children of different ages at different schools.
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Pros: Students will have a structured schedule, connection with peers, in-person instruction and a dedicated learning environment.
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Cons: Maintaining social distance will be difficult, on the bus, in school and after school. Kids will be kids, regardless of what you tell them.
Online only
January Deadline:
Considerations: As parents have discovered, having to manage online class schedules and online assignments can be exhausting. Making sure each of your children has access to a working computer and internet is required and not always easy.
DEC
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To advertise in one or more of these issues please call: Denice Mau at 518-439-4940 or email: maud@spotlightnews.com 112398_4
10 Family Now — September 2020
by
Patrick McNamara
Every learner has different needs, and parents will have to weigh those needs to find the best fit
SEP
8
school year look like?
Pros: They can feel better that their children are not potentially exposed to the virus at school. Some students actually prefer virtual schooling. Cons: Students will miss the in-person instruction with
teachers, social connection with peers and a dedicated learning environment. Many students do not thrive with online learning, especially those who already struggle in school.
Hybrid Considerations: Switching back and forth between online and in-person school could be difficult, depending on parents’ work schedules and children’s school schedules and learning styles. Multiple kids complicate this further. Access to computer and internet concerns exists here too. Pros: Students benefit from in-person instruction and peer connection, even if it’s limited. Their exposure to the virus will be more limited. Cons: Students can risk bringing home the virus, students could be anxious going back and forth – learning in each environment requires different levels of focus and management and a lack of consistency will be challenging for some students.
Homeschooling Considerations: Having to create a new “normal” in your home can be tough, as will becoming your child’s sole teacher and balancing that role with being the parent. State law compliance becomes an issue, but there is an established
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teach students at different grade levels.
n Learning Center continued from Page 10
Over time, parents may find that their initial education choice just doesn’t work. Don’t be afraid to try something else. The virus is likely to be a part of our lives during the entire school year, so meeting the challenges of this year will be a marathon, not a sprint. Schools, teachers, parents and students will need to be flexible and adjust as they go.
homeschooling community to help you make sense of it all. Pros: More time with your children controlling the environment and schedule, creating the school year’s pace based on your child’s learning speed, ability to personalize your child’s curriculum to his/ her interests and strengths. Cons: Having to get up to speed on local curriculum requirements quickly, having to teach your child the curriculum, balance teaching and your own work/responsibilities.
Micro-Schools or “Pods” 7.0 in.
Considerations: A homebased learning solution for small groups (4-6 students) learning via online or homeschooling. The learning environment is a shared space at
Schools spent the summer coming up with education plans for the pandemic, but it is important to think about what works best for your family. a participating family’s home, office or other location. Pros: Sticking with the same small group minimizes virus exposure, while still allowing for social stimulation and providing some relief for parents.
Cons: Finding a teacher and determining the cost. Additionally, planning where the group will meet and putting in place the agreed-upon safety standards and procedures are very important pieces. The right teacher may need to
Remember that you’re not alone in your child’s academic journey. School administrators and teachers will be doing their best to meet their students’ needs, and there are also third party providers that are resources for you to consider. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Patrick McNamara is the owner and executive director at Sylvan Learning of Albany and Clifton Park. For more information, visit SylvanLearning.com.
fatherhood.gov
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10.0 in.
#DanceLikeaDad
September 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 11 19NFM0007_A-NFP National Fatherhood_NF
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Nostalgia
The magic behind a baseball card Collection is more of an investment in memories
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efore New York Times best-selling author Gary Vaynerchuk inspired would-be entrepreneurs into action through LinkedIn, he was a sports fan. Vaynerchuk has a near cult following of disgruntled professionals seeking the gumption to jump-start a new career or perhaps find the next big trend into which to invest. Which is why it’s sometimes jarring to hear him pitch sports cards as the next investment. I’m old enough to remember the last baseball card boom. Young professionals with expendable income turned to card conventions and tried to reclaim the collection their
mothers threw out. As they and that’s partially due to the started throwing hundreds of internet. Buying and selling still dollars for every Mickey Mantle happens in hobby stores around and Willie Mays, the conscious- town, but the bulk of it takes ness of the hobby spun from place on eBay. collectible to investment Gone are the days opportunity. By the of conventions at ‘90s, card compaby the Polish Comnies played into munity Center. the supply-andThose events demand game. garnered hunThe price of cards dreds of vendors, over the counter sports fans and the went from cents to occasional Hall of dollars. Famer. The casual collecTruth is, sports card collecttor is somewhat of a dinosaur, ing never went away. Vaynermaybe. If so, I’m that dinosaur. chuk may be the loudest voice My collection stays with in the room, but there are plenty of hobbyists who’ve been me, and I have little intent on selling anything from it. To do saying it for years; it’s just not so would mean assessing its as mainstream as it once was,
Michael Hallisey
value. I’d have to submit it to a grading service, and I have little interest in that. Besides, I’m still collecting. I’m not an investor. After all, my buying strategy is still influenced by a 35-year-old baseball simulator I played on a Commodore 64. Whenever I pick up a card, the act of turning it over to read the statistics is ingrained in me. It could be a Sandy Koufax or a Warren Sphan, both are good players — they’re in the Hall of Fame. I just need to see how he performed the year before. My love for baseball grew beyond the patch of green grass at school. My friends and I
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MAKE SURE THEY’RE IN THE RIGHT CAR SEAT
NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat
12 Family Now — September 2020
n Nostalgia continued from Page 12 first started playing dice baseball. We’d field a team after buying a few packs of cards. Sometimes someone had to play out of position. The game was rudimentary: one six-sided die determined if a hitter singled, doubled, tripled, homered, struckout or walked. Not a pitcher went unscathed. When Micro League Baseball came out with the ability to create teams, we evolved our game to the modern age. One weekend, my friend and I had our own winter meeting. I brought my baseball cards over to his house and we conducted a draft. We could only draft players we had in our collection. Furthermore, we could only use the statistics from the previous year. You could draft George Brett, but unless you had his card from 1981, you couldn’t use his .390 batting average. We drafted enough players to field 15 teams, each — 750 players, total. It was a long weekend. Free agent pickups followed. After hitting a convention, one of us would phone the other: “I choose Roberto Clemente,” or “I’ve got Mickey Mantle.”
In a similar vein to the baby boomers of the ‘80s, I find myself shopping baseball cards online. I’m not looking for jewelry-grade cards. My wife would kill me. The cards I find may have likely spent time in the spokes of a bicycle. The brutal appearance of one Ted Williams card only suggests it was once owned by a Yankee fan. That’s the kind of story a mint condition card doesn’t have. On my computer, I have a Commodore 64 emulator. With it, I have a copy of Micro League Baseball and so many more “disks” to compliment it, including the one that allows me to create my own teams. Unlike when I was a kid, I now find it difficult to read the statistics on the back of cards. Still, I’m back in the habit of finding the next free agent. Hey, Gary. I’ve got a 1966 Sandy Koufax. The writer is editor-at-large for Capital District Family Now.
a b L o r y D p p a a y H
from the staff at
FamilyNow CAPITAL DISTRICT
GENERATIONS TOGETHER
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September 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 13
Welcome to a Top picks for this time-honored Upstate tradition
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he waning days of summer are often used as literary symbolism for a transition. John Knowles and John Cheever come to mind, writers whose work was introduced to me during my studies in college. Though, in literature fall often forewarns the readers of something ominous, these transitional days in the Capital District welcome opportunities of change, and the promise of an apple cider doughnut. This time of year reminds me of weekend drives up north with a car stuffed with the life essentials of a 20-something-year-old boy en route to college. The two-plus hour drive was marked by apple trees. Just as we grew tired of the mountains, we’d be greeted by hundreds of apple trees after descending from the Adirondacks. It was always the harbinger of a new year, new experiences. When the north wind breaks through the last of the summer heat, these are the days I remember. The next best thing is spending time on one of our local apple orchards. Pittsburgh babies are born with a Steelers’ “Terrible Towel.” New Yorkers are born with an apple. Our Hudson Valley is ripe for apple lovers. When Johnny Appleseed went walking through the valleys, as evident by the abundance of orchards in our neighborhood, he spent most of his time here. Only Washington produces more apples. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, New York produces
14 Family Now — September 2020
nearly 30 million bushels each year, grown on 55,000 acres across the Empire State. The Capital District is blessed with a healthy balance between the urban and rural that allows us all to take a short drive to reconnect with the country. That means, we’re never too far from a good place to pick apples. But, there’s more to it than just walking through the rows of trees with a bag in hand. Many of these places feature plenty of other activities in which families can partake. Hayrides, corn mazes, petting zoos, hard cider bars and live music — have become staple activities to expect at any one of these locations. However, with
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apple season the world still in the grip of a pandemic, some of these activities are either limited or postponed. Nonetheless, if you can exhibit safe social distancing and follow the respective rules of these establishments, I’m certain they would welcome your business and support. Altamont Orchards 6654 Dunnsville Road Altamont, NY 12009 (518) 861-6515 altamontorchards.com
by
Michael Hallisey
As one of the owners of this family-run orchard told me, this place was built from love. Jim Abbruzzese’s mother, Ellen, gave his father, Joe, an ultimatum more than 50 years ago. If he didn’t sell his bar, she wouldn’t marry him. It wasn’t just a bar, it had the first television in town. It was making money. “She wasn’t going to marry a drunk — or a guy who served drunks,” he said with a laugh. And, as it turns out, his father sold the bar and married his mother. “That’s love,” he said. The history of this land, located at the base of the Helderberg Escarpment outside of Altamont, goes back to Stephen Van Rensselaer in the 1700s. An ambitious doctor named Daniel Cook turned it into an apple orchard a hundred years ago. Now it’s a place for banquets, golfing, marketing and apple picking.
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n Apple season continued from Page 15 Golden Harvest Farms 3074 US Route 9 Valatie, NY 12184 (518) 758-7683 goldenharvestfarms.com Golden Harvest is a required stop for antique pickers driving south on Route 9 to Hudson. On any given day, you’re likely to see a balloon tethered to the farm, marking its place along your journey long before you realize what you see. The roadstand has been around since 1957. It’s a place apple lovers can stop to pick up a quick bushel before returning home from the road. The bakery has been popping out cider doughnuts since 1988. Douglas Grout started doing that with just one machine and a mixer. Today, John Henry has the bakery humming to the tune of five doughnut making machines. There’s also five convection ovens kicking out
muffins, cookies and pies. Come November, the bakery takes advance pie orders for Thanksgiving, when it traditionally dishes out hundreds of pies. Just a note, there is no pick your own apples available this year, according to the farm’s website. Indian Ladder Farms 342 Altamont Road Altamont, NY (518) 765-2956 indianladderfarms.com The Helderberg Escarpment is just as much a part of the Albany skyline as the Corning Tower. Growing up here, you also recognize it as the direction to go to visit Indian Ladder Farms. It’s a family tradition to make this trip. There are trails and various animals for kids to feed. Rosie, the farm’s beloved Scottish Highland cow, had been a welcome sight for families.
Sadly, she passed away, but the farm continues to remember her by offering a plush toy at their market. The farm allows visitors to pick apples, berries and pumpkins, too. Indian Ladder Farms has been around for a century, but it’s been hip to recent trends over the years. WEQX had often broadcast radio shows from the barn. It’s been hosting a bit of the nightlife with live music and hard cider beverages from the Indian Ladder Farms Cidery & Brewery tasting room. Kristy’s Barn 2385 Brookview Road Schodack, NY 12033 (518) 477-6250 kristysbarn.com So, this was going to be a Top 5 list, but I’m consumed by cravings for apple pie. I just can’t anymore. The market is front-andcenter once you park the car. It’s where you’re going to find all the goods you don’t
dare try to bake yourself — if you’re like me. You can pick up your fresh fruits and vegetables here, but I’m talking about the baked goods. The pies. Or — if you’re not like me — you can get out into the fields and pick up the ingredients to make your own pie. OK. Can we change the subject now, please? Picking season starts in June at Kristy’s Barn, where visitors can walk away with their choice of strawberries. The season transitions from strawberries to raspberries in July, then to peaches before September brings apples, tomatoes and pumpkins. On a nice day, you’re bound to enjoy a pleasant hayride or start up a conversation with one of their goats. Live music can often be had from just outside the market, too. There’s more to the experience than what Saturday Night Live showed last year. That skit’s funny, though, right?
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16 Family Now — September 2020
fiction for adults
On the Bookshelf
Gripping tales to transport you ‘The Paris Hours’
‘Party of Two’
By Alex George
By Jasmine Guillory
Four individuals share an extraordinary day in Paris between the wars, including a maid in possession of a lone surviving Marcel Proust manuscript and a lovesick artist who would repay an impossible debt through a partnership with Gertrude Stein. Flatiron Books
After a chance meeting at a bar leads to a passionate encounter, Olivia Monroe discovers that the stranger is a junior senator, but when their whirlwind romance goes public, their feelings for each other are tested as the media starts digging into Olivia’s rocky past and current job. Jove
‘Florida Man’ By Tom Cooper When his prospects are endangered by massive sinkholes appearing throughout Florida’s Emerald Island, a middle-aged beach bum uses his amateur spelunking skills to uncover artifacts that change his understanding of the island’s history and his own family’s birthright. Random House Inc.
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(518) 389-6335 September 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 17
Retiring Retirement
This senior is still standing … and so is his confidence This is the second in a two-part column.
W
ith barely a step between him and the outbreak of COVID-19, a 76-year-old Delmar man with a fractured pelvis, ribs, punctured bladder and a brain bleed from a motorcycle accident somehow made it from the Bahamas to Tampa General Hospital after a nightmarish five days, some without painkillers. In Part I of this tale, we examined how something so chilling could contribute to confidence. Perhaps the biggest answer was his renewed sense of confidence he had in his fel-
“The medical personnel were knowledgeable, caring and competent. The Emergency low man. In the middle of his Room did a first-rate job. The misery, his motorcycle buddies lead doc was a graduate of Colstayed with him through thick gate, and they had me up and and thin, a passing pickup walking in a couple of truck brought him to days. The rehab was safety, an island great, as was my by doctor with limson and his famited resources was ily when I went able to wrestle to stay there. with insurance companies to And although get him an airlift, it wasn’t a “posian older couple tive experience,” he offered him money said, referring to the at the airport thinking he pain, “many things could have needed it, as did a kind cabby been worse. For example, the who filled in for a missing orthopedist said I had broken ambulance at the airport. my pelvis in just the right spot. Furthermore, I was just ahead “As fraught with trouble as of COVID-19, so I didn’t have this world is, there were good to be quarantined.” people all around,” he said.
Robert LaCosta
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We offer joy and meaningful stimulation to those afflicted by dementia along with safe and secure services for our residents 24 hours a day. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: • Spacious private rooms, groundlevel floor plan with common areas • Three nutritious meals a day, plus snacks • Expansive grounds and secure, enclosed courtyards • Dedicated chapel for all denominations • Housekeeping, laundry and maintenance services included • Daily activities to promote physical health, social interaction and intellectual stimulation • Enhanced Services available at Colonie
His confidence may not be as shattered as some of his bones, but he has decided to modify his mojo a bit and get “training wheels” for his Harley back in Delmar that will paradoxically allow a little safety in the daring. Harleys don’t need a lot a spin, but the conclusion of this story on confidence has some metaphorical poetry: “Harleys are stalwart,” he said. And so are their riders. Robert J. LaCosta writes a daily blog. Write him at norepcom@gmail.com or call (518) 435-1250. He is also a Hearing Instrument Specialist and has worked with seniors through four decades.
“I want our retirement savings to be as strong as our partnership.”
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18 Family Now — September 2020
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Senior Centers
Tuesday and Thursdays 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 Noon: Bring your own lunch
Fridays 10 a.m.-noon: Beginner Mahjong 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Alzheimer’s support group (first Friday of each month) 10:30 a.m.: Open art studio 11 a.m.-noon: CDPHP chair Pilates *Registration or additional fee. Bring your own lunch.
Exercise update Classes such as chair Pilates, chair yoga, etc. remain available on Zoom. You can email Edie for registration, dates and times at ecannizo@niskayuna. org. Pilates, yoga, walks, art and Bingo are available on You Tube at “Niskayuna Seniors.”
Monthly activities Sept. 1 - Boxed lunch provided by Centers Health Care; must pre-register* as count is based on that; Titanic trivia Sept. 3 - Birthday celebration w cupcakes; Frank Sinatra Day Sept. 8 - Baptist Health Blood Pressure Screening; “Star Trek”
Clifton Park Senior Community Center 6 Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park (518) 383-1343
We are moving forward together with safety in mind In spring we began to offer Zoom classes online: ukulele sing along/play along, soul line dancing, basic computer skills, tai chi for arthritis, yoga and discussion groups. We also continue to offer books, coloring pages and puzzles. Over the summer, we opened some outdoor activities (weather permitting): bocce ball, discussion groups, tai chi, golf, yoga, watercolors, woodworking, Latin line dancing and Bingo. Space is limited, you must call ahead. Visit cliftonpark.org/index. php/services/senior-services/ senior-center for a list of current programs and services. Here are some of the things we are doing to safeguard your health. Class sizes will be limited; you must sign up in advance. Daily temperature checks will be taken. If your temperature is over 100 degrees, you cannot participate. We are cleaning and sanitizing before and after each class. Hand sanitizer is available. 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.
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Dates for exercise classes scheduled inside are only tentative, and subject to change. These classes may continue on Zoom, based on recommendation from the state, Schenectady County and The Town of Niskayuna
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The Niskayuna Senior Center has resumed weekly and monthly activities. Please note that contact tracing, temperatures, name and phone numbers, as well as masks and “social distancing protocols” will be required.
TV premiere; 1 p.m. collage hour with Brookdale Sept. 10 – “The Carol Burnett” Show trivia Sept. 15 - Agatha Christie Trivia; Alzheimer’s Association research, updates and discussion Sept. 17 - Boxed lunch provided by Schenectady City Senior and Long Term Care and discussion; must preregister Sept. 22 - Rosh Hashanah discussion Sept. 24 - Bullwinkle and Rocky Day trivia Sept. 29 - Yom Kippur discussion
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September 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 19
Crossword Answers on page 22 Clues Down Clues Across
CRYPTO F UN
1. Babies’ eating accessories 5. Charge on a coat of arms 9. Set of five 11. California town 13. One who cites 15. Elected official 16. Japanese delicacy 17. Couldn’t be happier 19. Enormous 21. Hunter’s tool 22. Georgia rockers 23. Cold wind 25. Beginner 26. Where you sleep 27. Without 29. We all have them 31. Spoiled 33. Platform 34. Drama and horror are two 36. In abundance 38. Turf 39. Inventor Musk 41. Negative answers 43. French river 44. Saps of energy 46. Type of sandwich 48. Sets apart again 52. Engage in a contest 53. Sufferings 54. Freestanding sculpture 56. Digs into 57. Fish have them 58. Speaks 59. Storage unit
1. Spread over 2. Dyes 3. British thermal unit 4. Small city in Maine 5. Having an affection for 6. Welsh for John 7. Plays that ridicule 8. Not of your right mind 9. A way to get there 10. Hideaways 11. Relating to neurons 12. “Family City USA” 14. Proof of payment (abbr.) 15. Flew high 18. Wreaths 20. Got rid of 24. Shortly 26. Confer 28. Monies given as support 30. German electric car 32. Objects of an earlier time 34. Flat-bottomed boats 35. Small waterbird 37. Willingness to please others 38. Military actions 40. Brooklyn hoopsters 42. Took to the seas 43. Romanian city 45. What the sun eventually does 47. Titans’ DC Dean 49. Resentful longing 50. Ceases to live 51. Pouches 55. Humbug
autumn
WORD SEARCH
Solve the code to discover words related to FALL. Each number corresponds to a letter. (Hint: 1 = L)
20 Family Now — September 2020
AFTER SUMMER AUTUMN BACK TO SCHOOL BEFORE WINTER
FALLING BROWN CHANGE HALLOWEEN LEAVES COLORFUL NOVEMBER COOL
RED OCTOBER SEASON ORANGE PICTURESQUE THANKSGIVING YELLOW RAKING
Social Security Corner
D
Keep track of your earnings
id you know you can see your work history online all the way back to your first job? Your earnings history is a record of your progress toward your Social Security benefits. We keep track of your earnings so we can pay you the benefits you’ve earned over your lifetime. This is why reviewing your Social Security earnings record is so important. If an employer didn’t properly report just one year of your earnings to us, your future benefit payments could be less than they should be. Over the course of a lifetime, that could
cost you tens of thousands of dollars in retirement or other benefits to which you are entitled. It’s important to identify reporting problems as soon as possible. As time passes, you may no longer have easy access to past tax documents, and some employers may no longer exist or be able to provide past payroll information.
should still review and inform us of any errors or omissions so you get credit for the contributions you’ve made through payroll taxes. You’re the only person who can look at your by lifetime earnings record and verify that it’s complete and correct.
Elizabeth Pivonka
While it’s your employer’s responsibility to provide accurate earnings information to us, you
The easiest way to verify your earnings record is to visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount and set up or sign in to your personal my Social Security account. You should review each year of listed earnings care-
fully and confirm them using your own records, such as W-2s and tax returns. Keep in mind that earnings from this year and last year may not be listed yet. You can find detailed instructions on how to correct your Social Security earnings record at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-0510081.pdf. Let your friends and family know they can access important information like this any time at www.ssa.gov and do much of their business with us online. The author is with the Social Security Administration in Albany.
DID YOU KNOW?: Your earnings history is a record of your progress toward your Social Security benefits.
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FamilyNow
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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.*
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September 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 21
A Patriot Remembers
Reflecting on the ‘old normal’ Remembering a simpler time brings comfort to today
normally had only one TV, and if you were lucky, you may have had two radios. The news on TV was once a day at dinner time, then a second one came at 8 or 10 p.m. Walter Cronkite concluded his show with, “and that’s the way it is” and the date of the broadcast. Today we have a news channel that quotes “news you can trust.” Does it imply that some news you cannot trust? This reminds me of Johnny Carson’s show in the 1950s called “Who Do You Trust.”
T
hese days we have new words, new concepts, “the new normal.” With 24hour news and opinions, you can’t be normal if you have not overdosed on how our daily life has emerged. As a writer who likes to remember and reminisce of times gone by, I believe we all can be perked up by nostalgia. I have a background in technology and know that is where the future lies. A young computer techie told me in the early 1990s that the computer world is driven by the 3M’s – the Medical, Military and Money industries. How true that seems to be some 30 years later. My geometry teacher in high school in the early ’60s told us that the future was in lasers and computers. A college economics teacher in the late ’60s said the day will come when you don’t need cash – everything will be on a plastic card. Now some people even buy Starbucks coffee with a credit card through their smart phone.
In the “old normal” milk was delivered to your home not in a truck but a horse-drawn cart.
tions. Remember when we had primarily only three, went milk delivered to our homes, off the air around 1 a.m. and not in a truck but horse-drawn concluded with the National carts. The same method was Anthem. Some of the used for our bread and old TV sitcoms and doughnuts. It was a westerns have been by business for some brought back and to sell vegetables, provide us a good collect old rags diversion. Many or your junk showed a growusing the same ing Home is Where You’ll Find Us nation of our horse-drawn triumphs and othmethod. Some of ers taught us lessons our streets still had of our poor judgment the old trolley tracks and and philosophy. The persome were made of cobblestone. spective we have now as adults Life You’ll became so muchUs better Find is different from our youth. We Thinking aboutHome the “old is Where when the Good Humor Man normal” will remind you of came around with the ice cream. all had our favorite shows and even remember the evening and a simpler time and clear your Our television stations, time they were on. A household head of today’s complica-
Frank DeSorbo
The sports world from 1950 to 1980 loaded us up with memories and icons. Some names were made for books and movies like Mantle, Mays, Robinson, Ali, Frazier, Marciano, Native Dancer, Secretariat, Affirmed, Namath and Lombardi. Do not feel offended if I left off your favorite player or team. As New Yorkers we had many hometown idols. Didn’t we all want to be a switch hitter like Mantle or make those basket catches like Mays? The years gone by were simple, and we knew they would change. Yet we recall that our visions were normal then and we can hope they are still today. The author is a Capital District resident and freelance writer and guest speaker. Contact him at fomservice.com.
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CRPYTO ANSWERS: A. folliage B. colors C. chilly D. fall
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.
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.
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September 2020 — cdFamilyNow.com 23 Senior Spotlight 7.375” x 9.875” due Aug 03
We’re always here for you. With Medicare Advantage plans from CDPHP, you can: fSee a doctor from the comfort of your own home with Doctor On Demand fAccess emergency care anywhere in the world fReceive no-cost health screenings and preventive visits fHave dental, hearing, vision, and prescription drug coverage in one plan
Call today for more information: (518) 641-3400 or 1-888-519-4455 (TTY/TDD: 711)
Annual Enrollment starts October 1, call us to hear about new benefits for 2021! 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. CDPHP is an HMO and a PPO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in CDPHP Medicare Advantage depends on contract renewal. Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. | CDPHP Universal Benefits,® Inc.
24 Family Now — September 2020
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