C a p i ta l D i s t r i c t
Spotlight
Senior A Spotlight News publication in cooperation with LifePath
THE RESOURCE FOR SENIORS
COMPLIMENTARY
AUGUST 2019
NO.8
The Eccentric House on the Hill A Patriot Remembers Calendar & Events
cdseniorspotlight.com
AUGUST 2019 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 1
The 28th Annual e v Sa the Capital Region ! e t a D SENIOR EXPO
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e are pleased to announce that this year’s Senior Expo will once again be held at the Crossgates Mall, lower level. This exposition has grown to be the largest, most widely recognized expo for older adults in the Capital Region. Join us, along with our Presenting Sponsor - CDPDP on Friday, October 18, 2019 from 9:00am to 2:00pm at Crossgates Mall. This year’s show will once again include exhibitors who cater to the 60+ population and their families. Exhibitors who provide services, programs, housing or wish to sell products to seniors and/or their caregivers, will be a part of this exciting annual event and we are thrilled to have the support of CDPHP again this year! LifePath (formerly Senior Services is Albany) has been OCTO BER the area’s leading provider of services and programs in the Capital District for over 65 years. It is our mission to keep our older neighbors and friends healthy and safe by providing effective programs and supports to help them stay connected to our communities. Anyone wishing to be an exhibitor may contact Maria Jones at 518-465-3322, mjones@seniorservicesofalbany.com or visit www.SeniorServicesofAlbany.com for more information.
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We look forward to seeing you there!
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Editor’s desk
More than you can imagine
I
Seeking Old World adventures in my backyard at Olana
t’s only human nature for us to look upon a far distant land and wish to visit. We admire its beauty and imagine the interesting people and fascinating conversations we will be certain to have while there. Ever since I dove into my family’s genealogy, I found myself daydreaming about jaunts across the Atlantic Ocean to visit the jagged mountains and shadowy hollows of the Scottish Highlands. To walk along the lush green pastures of Southern Ireland, and maybe explore the ruins of an ancient Irish castle. Perhaps a visit to a stone circle will inspire a story or two. There is magic captured there, and it makes my heart race with each thought. But, I was reminded of how too often we neglect to appreciate the magic that resides right here, before us. A visit to Hudson to visit Olana snapped a new perspective for me of how I view my family’s homeland here in New York. Olana is an open love letter from Frederic Church to his wife Isabel. He proposed to his love and immediately purchased the farmland looking out upon the Hudson Valley he painted as Thomas Cole’s student. The structure of the home captured accents of their travels to the Old World. In life, it would serve as their Garden of Eden for them and their children. Looking over the Hudson Valley from Olana’s western ridge, I found myself looking upon a similar scene to what I always imagined in Scotland. The shadows of billowy clouds danced across the Catskills. The colors of the blue mountains flowed into the lush greens with a jagged line of baby blue cut through by the Hudson River. It was then I realized, I had just explored my ancient castle — one with a story worth telling generation after generation. The adventures you can find in your proverbial backyard can prove to be more exhilarating than you imagine. Sincerely, Michael Hallisey, Managing Editor Spotlight Newspapers
August 2019 Features Olana: The eccentric house on the hill
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Columnists Social Security Corner
4
Retiring Retirement
13
Organize Senior Moves
14
Veteran Next Door
18
Senior Services Albany JCC
5
Life Path
6
Clifton Park Senior Comm. Center
6
Niskayuna Senior Center
15
Bethlehem Public Library
16
Voorheesville Public Library
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publisher - John
McIntyre editor - Michael Hallisey advertising sales - Denice Mau art director - David Abbott graphic design - Martha Eriksen Capital District Senior Spotlight 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 Senior Spotlight 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 © 2011 by Capital District Senior Spotlight. No portion of Capital District Senior Spotlight may be reproduced without written permission from Community Media Group LLC.
AUGUST 2019 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 3
Social Security Corner
We know what matters Informing yourself is key to matters affecting you and those you love
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how-you-can-grow-yoursocial-security-benefits-beyond-retirement-age. Do you need to replace a lost Social Security card? You may be able to do it online using your my Social Security account. Find out more at blog. ssa.gov/1-million-social-security-replacement-cards-andcounting. Want to know three things you can do right now to prepare for retirement? Taking these steps today will give you a head start at blog.ssa.gov/3things-you-can-do-to-preparefor-retirement-right-now. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov. s
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Insurance and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds. Read more at blog.ssa. gov/social-security-2018-trustees-report. In one infographic, we show you how easy it is to create a secure my Social Security account at blog.ssa. gov/how-to-create-a-mysocial-security-account. We released our list of most popular baby names for 2017! Read them at blog.ssa. gov/just-arrived-introducingsocial-securitys-top-10-babynames-of-2017. Want to know how to increase your benefits beyond retirement age? We break it down here: blog.ssa.gov/
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consider sharing them with friends and family. o Medicare or Medicaid? We know this can be a little confusing, so we broke down the differences for you in easy to understand terms at blog. ssa.gov/is-it-medicare-ormedicaid. Estimating your benefits is easy with our online calculators. It only takes a few minutes to see what your years of work will add up to at blog.ssa.gov/ estimate-your-benefits-todayfor-a-secure-tomorrow. The Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the current and projected financial status of the Old-Age and Survivors
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e named our blog Social Security Matters for a few reasons. Yes, we matter to millions of people. And the matters we write about—from policy changes to new programs— from online my Social Security features to popular baby names—are topics that affect you in one way or another. Our blogs provide a lot of information about our programs and services as well as our easy to use tools that can help you plan for retirement or do business with us from the comfort of your home. So, we’d like to share our most informative blog posts from this past year. As you peruse these posts,
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Senior calendars
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Albany JCC, Adult Department
Mondays & Wednesdays 5 to 6 p.m.
Full-course kosher dinners for those 60 and older. Reservations taken until 9:30am the day of the meal. Suggested contribution: $3 per person. Guest under 60 pays $10.
Book Mavens
Wednesday, Aug. 21
Rabbi Beverly Magidson, director of Chaplaincy Services, will review the Suri Rosen book, “Playing With Matches.” This coming-of-age novel offers a glimpse into matchmaking in observant Jewish communities.
Wednesday, Sept.18
Faye Silton, author and retired education, will review Angela Himsel’s “A River Could Be a Tree: A Memoir.” Himsel shares her unusual journey from rural Indiana as a fundamentalist Christian to New York as a practicing Jew. There is a $2.25 suggested donation to attend.
Rediscovering Yiddish Tuesdays, Aug. 6, 20
Instructor Phyllis Ross guides you on the path of rediscovering the language of Yiddish. Suggested donation: $2.25/ session.
Having The Last Say Tuesday, Aug. 27 from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Author Alan Gelb goes stepby-step as he instructs you on how to create a short personal narrative to leave behind; something heartfelt and meaningful.
$26 prepaid registration required by July 15th or before workshop fills. Gelb’s book will be available for purchase at the class.
Driver Safety Program
Tuesdays, Aug. 13 and 20, from 9 a.m. to noon
Provided by American Safety, Inc., Roger Dames will instruct attendes in this two-day driver safety program. Participants must attend both days. Participants are asked to provide a $25 check made payable to Roger Dames, dated after Aug. 1st. Limited space. Call the Albany JCC to register before class fills. 518-438-6651 x112
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Tuesdays, Sept. 10 and 17, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Author and editor Peggy Frezon will instruct you on how to write for Chicken Soup for the Soul. Prepaid registration is required before the class fills. Cost of the class if $55 ($45 for JCC members).
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340 Whitehall Road, Albany (518) 438-6651, ext. 112 Claire Sigal, Program Director
Mentor Youth in Your Community! Serving Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Saratoga Counties for over 40 years!
Eye On The World Thursdays 11a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
A current events discussion group, guest moderators $2.25 suggested donation per session.
Billy Elliott
Wednesday, Sept. 25
Take a bus trip to E. Haddam, CT to see “Billy Elliott, The Musical” at The Goodspeed,. Lunch included before the 2 p.m. show. Contact the Albany JCC for trip flyer.
Would you like to make an impact in the life of a child? Are you interested in earning some additional money? Become a senior mentor with CEO’s Foster Grandparent Program. Dedicate 15+ hours a week with placements in schools and daycares nearest to where you live! 518-272-6012 X 315 to learn more! www.ceoempowers.org
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AUGUST 2019 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 5
Senior calendars LifePath
formerly Senior Services of Albany www.seniorservicesofalbany.com 28 Colvin Ave., Suite 2, Albany (518) 465-3322
Westview Wednesday Dinner
with a great group of folks. For more information please call Kathy at (518) 273-4422.
Wednesdays, Aug. 14 & 28
Frank Sinatra Tribute
Watervliet
Concert Oct. 24, at 1:30 p.m. Join us for an exciting afternoon of music as you enjoy the sounds of Frank Sinatra. Patrick Tobin will be there to delight and thrill you with his musical performance. Patrick has been critically acclaimed internationally. The bus will pick up those interested from LifePath Living Center @ Westview at 12:45 p.m. and from the LifePath Living Center @ Cohoes at 1
Come for dinner on Wednesday, Aug. 14 and have a delicious meal with live music after. Dinner starts at 5 p.m. To RSVP, please call Nora at (518)482-2120.
Senior Citizen Day Wednesday, Aug. 21
Senior Citizen Day Celebration Dinner come enjoy a delicious meal and have fun
Thursday, Oct. 24
Look out for a Frank Sinatra tribute in October. p.m. Please register on or before Tuesday Oct. 1.
For more information or to register please contact Nora at (518) 482-2120.
Senior calendars Clifton Park Senior Community Center 6 Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park (518) 383-1343
Learn to Play Bridge Mondays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. FREE – members only – registration required.
Exercise to Tapes
Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. FREE – members only.
Summer Book Sale Saturday and Sunday, Aug 3 and 4 It’s a two-day summer book
6 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — AUGUST 2019
sale at the Clifton Park Senior Community Center. Join us on either Saturday, Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m... Or, visit us on Sunday, Aug. 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Open House
Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. Are you a new member? Not yet a member? Come and meet some of our instructors and learn about the many programs & classes we have to offer! Advanced Registration Required.
Periodic Activities
Call or go online for dates and times. See our newsletter at http://cliftonpark.org/services/seniorservices/senior-center.html. Reservations are required. Call ahead.
Investment Group, Social Bridge, Memories to Memoirs, Hand & Foot (cards), Dice 6-5-4, Rummikub, Crochet & Knitting, Poker, Osteo Exercise
Thursdays
Exercise to Tape, Pool/ Billiards, Chorus, Yoga, Mondays Watercolor & Sketch, Legal Tap Intermediate, Jazz Assistance by appointment, Dance, Chair Yoga, Discussion Group, Clogging, Quilt- Seton Health Seniorcize, Duplicate Bridge, Mahing, Osteo Exercise, Soul Jongg, Pinochle, Bunco or Line Dancing. Pinochle – learn to play
Tuesdays
Chess, Checkers & Backgammon. Exercise to Tape, LCR or Dice 3000-learn to play, Pinochle, Pool/Billiards, Duplicate Bridge, Tai Chi, Scrabble
Wednesday
Exercise to Tape, Senior
Fridays Orchestra on the Common, Woodcarving, Tap Advanced, Ballet, Dominoes, Center Big Band, Diabetes Support Group, BINGO, Lunch and a Movie, Beading Buddies, Scrabble, Osteo Exercise.
Feature
Olana
The eccentric house on the hill
Continues next page Photos courtesy of Zio & Sons
AUGUST 2019 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 7
By MICHAEL HALLISEY halliseym@spotlightnews.com
C
ontemporary reports paint a picture that includes long lines of people waiting outside the Tenth Street Studio Building in Greenwich Village, all with the intent to attend the exhibition of a single painting from Frederic Church. Church took a cue from the theatre. Once inside the gallery, visitors witnessed a room surrounded by dark drapes with a skylight above them directing its light towards the featured piece of work. The wedge of light cut through the dark to reveal a large canvas that stood more than five feet tall and stretched nearly ten feet wide. The trick of the eye forced everyone’s perspective into believing they were peering out of a window. Benches were placed before it and patrons were fashioned with opera goggles to look over the work. It was 1859 and the 32-year-old Church was a celebrity. He grew up as a rich kid. His father was a prominent financier in Hartford where a long line of Church’s descendants lived, including one of the city’s pioneers who helped found the city. This Church pursued his passion for the arts. At 20, he was a student of Thomas Cole, a Catskill resident and founder of the Hudson River School. It was the start of a love affair. Church did for landscape art as what high definition did for television. He had developed a reputation for painting landscapes with extraordinary detail. Whereas Banksy today is a celebrated artist in his anonymity, Church was a household name. Prints of “Niagara,” a piece he revealed two years before depicting
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the Niagara Falls, was a commercial success to such magnitude that it was one of the most popular wedding gifts of his time. Church had recently returned from Ecuador and Columbia, a trip financed by a businessman who hoped to lure investors towards ventures in South America. The piece in the exhibition was inspired by that trip. Called “The Heart of the Andes,” Church took a composite of images he had observed and pieced them into a masterwork featuring a waterfall, lush fauna and grand mountainscapes, including Mount Chimborazo. Each of the various kinds of plants could be identified, revealing a composite of plant life from different atmospheric zones. In one painting, Church was providing a tour of South America for 25 cents. The lines continued to form at such length until the exhibition ended a month later. Somewhere within that time, Church met his future wife, Isabel. The most famous of students from the Hudson River School built his home upon a hilltop overlooking the Hudson River immediately across from his former mentor. Named Olana, the home and all 250 acres of the estate are preserved as a historic site owned by New York State and managed by the non-profit organization the Olana Preservation, Inc. More than 150,000 visitors walk the grounds that had been designed and manicured by Frederic, himself. Several carriage trails cut through surrounding woods that occasionally yield glimpses of the rolling hills and valleys of the region. These are the sights that inspired some of the most important paintings in American history.
“We want to encourage people to visit the grounds and enjoy the landscape,” said Sean Sawyer, Washburn and Susan Oberwager President of The Olana Partnership. “It’s like walking through a three-dimensional view of a Frederic Church painting.”
Olana
To many, Olana is the eccentric looking building on top of the hill as one crosses east over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge from Catskill to Hudson. The complexity of its style only becomes more peculiar as one steps closer to the Church family home. It’s an amalgamation of cultures. Many of the windows are Persian in style, squared off at the bottom while tapering off to a peak from either side. The stone facade is ornamented with various accents, including the Star of David and Arabic writing, most notably above the home’s main entrance. These features were inspired by a pilgrimage Frederic and his Isabel took to the Middle East. These features continue throughout the interior of their home, too. Frederic had an apparent appreciation for other cultures. Above all, he was a devout Christian. According to Sawyer, the Churchs kept more than 30 Bibles inside the home. Frederic’s devotion to Christianity was often evident in his work. From on of his earliest pieces that hangs inside his Olana studio “Through the Valley of Death,” which depicts an armoured knight standing outside the Gates of Hell, to the cross that stands modestly within “The Heart of the Andes.” But with Mother Nature often his muse, he believed man should stand as
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From page 8 ...
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The grounds
“Can I help you with anything?” One of the guides in a blue Olana vest hovered outside the store that stands about a football field’s length outside the home. There are information stations that stand throughout the grounds, including along the trails; but, how to sign up for a guided tour, or where to begin on your own excursion, starts with a helpful word of advice. I struck up a conversation. While snapping photographs for this feature, I came across the sight of the initials “J.B.” carved into a stone around one of the home’s Moorish-style windows. It
Continues next page
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was prominent in size, below the year “1871.” The guide admitted no one was able to find out who it was that carved his initials into the rock, perhaps one of the masons. Whomever it was, the act had to have been approved by Frederic, who was “very” meticulous with his details, she said. The thought of masons working on the home prompted me to ask whether or not anyone found symbols relating to the Freemasons. Such as at the State Capitol, masons will sometimes leave personalized carvings in the stone, like a signature. Freemason symbology is said to even exist at Disney World. Cole, Church’s mentor, was reportedly a Freemason, so the question wasn’t out of place, but she did not know. She offered a postcard that encouraged patrons to leave questions that were left unanswered, so that the staff can research it and post to its social media outlets. Just as she was about to offer a card, another guide joined us. As he approached, he jokingly offered a few reddish pebbles that he found inside the home. They are the same stones used to pave the carriage trails. He tossed them back onto the trail behind him as he admitted he found no such symbols, despite being aware of what they look like. The scene reminded me of Stephen King’s Andy Dufresne discarding of pebbles from his prison cell, only in a more conspicuous act. Though I doubted these two were being held captive or felt they were being punished, the analogy wasn’t out of place, either. Involving oneself with a passion is a captivating act, and that’s what I observed here.
KeepMovingWithStephanie.com
Add Your Event to our Monthly Calendar for Older Adults! Does your organization have an event of interest to older adults? If so, we want to know about it! Events must be submitted via email to: halliseym@spotlightnews.com Deadline is the first of the month prior to publication.
All listings must include date, time, location, contact information and any fees. Please do not exceed 90 words per item listing.
For more information, please call Michael Hallisey at 518-439-4949
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her steward. Frederic’s vision of Olana had less to do with the house he built, and more to do with the land. “About an hour this side of Albany is the center of the world — and I own it,” stated Frederic. The words are captured on a sign welcoming visitors to Olana. It’s accompanied by a map showing all 250 acres of the estate, the carriage paths, the lake and other points of interest. For 30 years, the painter turned to molding the land into an ornamental farm. He still kept cows and grew corn, as the land provided when he bought the farm in 1860. But, he also dug out the lake, etched and built up roadways, returned topsoil to exposed terrain and planted thousands of indiginous trees. He was consulted by Calvert Vaux, who designed the landscape for New York City’s Central Park. Church explained his work to a friend, “I can make more and better landscapes in this way than by tampering with canvas and paint in the studio.”
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From page 9 ...
Olana
The Olana Partnership, and all of its employees embody a devotion to Olana that started more than half a century ago, on the day the Churchs’ home was nearly lost.
Almost lost
Frederic purchased the farm in 1860, the home in which we now observe was built a decade later. It stood as a Garden of Eden to the painter and his family. The visits to his New York City studio waned over the years, as did his interest in contemporary trends. Morning carriage rides, like the one along Ridge Road that offers an awe-inspiring view of the e Hudson Valley and blue mountains of the Catskills, was where he wanted to spend his time with family. It’s that view that helped define the Hudson Valley School. If Frederic’s devotion to Christianity is evident in his paintings, the love for Isabel was equally as present with the building of the Olana home. Every bit of it is a manifestation of the world travels the two shared. From the aforementioned architectural elements inspired by his travels, to the stencil work found on each archway, the home stood as a reminder of the memories they shared. Over the mantle in the reading room hangs “El Khasné Petra.” It captures the Greek-inspired facade of the famous temple carved out of a narrow crevasse in Jordan. Isabel was pregnant during their pilgrimage to the Holy Land and could not bear the camel ride. He presented it as a gift to her, and it hangs in the room along with separate portraits of themselves. This was their sanctuary. The Churchs would later make frequent travels to Mexico due to Frederic’s arthritis. They would spend winters in the South only
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to return home after winter. Olana was to be hers once he died, but Isabel passed away in 1899. Frederic was returning home from Mexico when he died a year later. According to letters, he missed Isabel and wanted to return to Olana. Olana was left to Frederic’s and Isabel’s son, Louis to which he maintained along with his wife, Sally. They each preserved the main floor as it was furnished during
Frederic’s and Isabel’s time. After Louis died in 1943, Sally continued preserving the home until her death in 1964. The home was bequeathed to a nephew in New Jersey who had no interest in owning the expansive property. All of Frederic’s artwork was sent to Sotheby’s in New York City to be appraised for an upcoming auction before a herculean effort was launched to save it all. The Olana Partnership was formed in late 1964, signing into a rental agreement with the estate to ultimately
purchase the property. A fundraising campaign ensued which included a feature in Life magazine and exhibitions at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and the Albany Institute of History and Art. Meanwhile, Robert Kennedy spearheaded the effort to preserve Olana as a National Historic Landmark. In two years, nearly $400,000 was raised. New York state contributed another $189,000 towards the final purchase of the estate. Much of Frederic’s artwork remains at the property, including “El Khasné Petra.”
helped thwart the plans for a coal-fueled cement plant in Hudson 15 years ago. A nuclear power plant proposed for Cementon was abandoned in 1979 thanks in part to one of Frederic’s paintings of the Hudson captured from Olana. More than a century after his death, Frederic continues to be Mother Nature’s steward. To date, The Olana Partnership has played a part in protecting 3,000 acres in conservation easements to preserve the surrounding aesthetics in the Hudson Valley. Frederic and Isabel are both buried in Hartford,
Viewshed
Aside from the Rip Van Winkle Bridge and the occasional barge that floats up and down the Hudson, the view from Ridge Road is remarkably similar to Frederic Church’s from more than a century ago. Even the site of the natural gas plant in Athens is camouflaged into the surrounding environment by design. Olana’s viewshed is protected by law, allowing The Olana Partnership to factor into the discussion of any proposed development in view. That protection
Olana offers fantastic views of the Hudson Valley, much of it still resembles what Frederick Church captured as a student of Thomas Cole in the mid-1800s. Photos courtesy of Zio & Sons
Connecticut. “The Heart of the Andes,” the painting that helped bring the two together, is with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been since 1909. Frederic’s final study of his masterpiece hangs high upon the wall in Olana’s East Parlor.
or an in-depth look at various themes that relate to artist Frederic Church’s Olana. The tours are part of a larger goal to move Olana to the forefront of historic house museums as a holistic environment and world class destination, present visitors with a memorable and educational experience, and Olana recently launched its shed light on the significance 2019 season with an expanded of Frederic Church as one of the preeminent American array of new tours and experiences of the Main House artists of the mid-19th century. Nine new tours offered by and Historic Landscape. These The Olana Partnership cover new offerings are designed to better accommodate visitors by different aspects of Olana, providing a general overview including Frederic Church
What’s new
The structure of the Church’s family home at Olana was inspired by the couple’s trip to the Middle East. Photos courtesy of Zio & Sons
and the Hudson River School, the architecture and design of the Main House, the Church family’s life at home and abroad, and the history and design of the historic landscape. Guests are now offered an “Explore at Your Own Pace” tour option every afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. which gives visitors the chance to discover the Main House on their own and ask questions of the knowledgeable guides along the way. Guided tours of the historic landscape are available daily for the first time and one
can explore the forests and meadows, the farm and lake, the carriage roads, and the expansive views from Olana, the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains. Landscape tours can be experienced via an electric vehicle, a guided walk, or a free audio tour which can be downloaded from www. OLANA.org. “Our goal is to expand access to all of Olana for as diverse an audience as possible. This new program provides a great variety of content and types, from the intensive electric carriage tour to the 60-minute themed tours of the
University and the Museum of Modern Art, open through Nov. 3. In celebration of the 150 years since architect Calvert Vaux and Frederic Church began the design of the Main House at Olana, contemporary architects and artists have been invited to lead specialty tours each month during the “Architects on Olana” and “Artists on Art” series. “Olana is committed to playing a central role in art and culture in the Hudson Valley and we are excited about these new expanded tour offerings which will serve as inspiration for all audiences and communities,” said Amy Hausmann, Director of the Olana State Historic Site. “The spectacular home and landscape created by Frederic Church celebrates the beauty of the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. We look forward to sharing this remarkable cultural treasure with our visitors.” Olana is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to sunset. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the five miles of carriage roads during these hours, take advantage of the free audio tours, experience the flower garden or watch the sun set over the Hudson Valley. Ticketed tours of the Main House and landscape are available Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. house to daily tour-at-yourthrough November. own-pace house access and free The Olana Museum Store digital landscape tours,” said and Visitor Center is open Sean Sawyer, Washburn and Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 Susan Oberwager President a.m. to 5 p.m.. Tickets are $15 of The Olana Partnership. for adults and free for children For the first time, visitors can 12 and under. Members now plan and schedule their of The Olana Partnership day or weekend ahead of time receive free 30-minute tours, by purchasing tickets online and 60-minute tours for $5. through a ticketing system Historic Landscape Driving launched this season. Tours are $35 for all visitors. Due to the popularity of the The season also includes tours, advance ticket purchase “In Frederic Church’s is strongly recommended. Ombra: Architecture in Conversation with Nature,” a For more information about design exhibition curated by membership or to order tickets Barry Bergdoll, of Columbia online, visit www.OLANA.org. AUGUST 2019 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 11
Crossword & Crypto Answers on Page 18 Clues Down 1. Form of “to be” 2. A hand has one 3. Thought 1. Sacred bull (Egyptian myth.) 4. Physical body 5. One-time European money 5. Removes 8. Disfigure 6. One who perpetrates wrongdoing 11. Polish city 7. Make one 13. Move quickly on foot 14. Landlocked West African country 8. Kate and Rooney are two 9. __ Ladd, “Shane” actor 15. Used in aromatherapy 10. Makes fun of 16. The greatest of all time 12. Space station 17. Type of horse 14. Gene 18. Volcanic craters 19. Satisfy 20. Type of graph (abbr.) 23. Livid 21. Supporters 24. It comes after “et” 22. North and South are two 25. More (Spanish) 25. Spread 26. Electronic data processing 30. Adjusted 27. Buffer solution to separate DNA 31. Vietnamese offensive and RNA 32. Nazi architect 28. Primate 33. Nigerian peoples 29. Scattered 38. When you hope to get there 34. Evergreen tree 41. Ridicules 43. Allied Powers vs. Central Powers 35. What engaged couples will say 36. Barbie’s friend 45. Produce 47. Ancient kingdom near Dead Sea 37. Midway between south and southeast 39. A position from which progress 49. Hebrew unit of liquid capacity can be made 50. Type of sword 40. Showed up 55. “Sin City” actress 41. Insecticide 56. Female reproductive cells 42. Type of milk 57. Afflicted 44. Verandas 59. One point north of northeast 45. Annoyingly talkative 60. Garland 46. Abba __, Israeli politician 61. Spiritual leader 47. “Heat” director 62. Negative 48. Plant genus 63. Tooth caregiver 51. Swiss river 64. Cheek 52. Prejudice 53. Actor Idris 54. Freedom fighters (slang) 58. Criticize
CRYPTO F UN
Clues Across
the 1950s
WORD SEARCH
Solve the code to discover words related to the 1950s Each number corresponds to a letter. (Hint: 17 = d)
12 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — AUGUST 2019
DANCE ELVIS FUN
GREASE JAMES DEAN MALT SHOP
MOTORCYCLE PONY TAILS REBEL
ROCK N ROLL SODA POP SUNGLASSES
Retiring Retirement
“Go jump in a lake!” This classic blow off may just be the secret to longevity
“G
o jump in a lake!” That might not sound like the secret to longevity, but it’s working for 91 year-old Veva Bangert of Delmar. When she’s not splashing in Lake George off her son’s boat, she makes sure she “works it out” at the YMCA, walking dogs or a host of other holistic ways. “For my eightieth birthday,” she explains, “I swam a half mile. For another, I hiked a mountain.” She hasn’t released plans for her 100th yet, but perhaps you might want to shadow her and find out.
“After rehab,” she says, “the YMCA trainer helped me little by little by learning meditation and motion; that brain and movement had to go together.”
BANGERT When aging becomes an adversary to her body, she fights back with exercises designed to minimize the damage. In 2009, a fall on black ice resulted in spine surgery and kept her in the hospital for a week and rehabilitation for another ten days.
Since that time, she’s been a literal poster “child” for the Bethlehem YMCA where you can see her conquering spirit in a large photo in the main hallway. One of her go-to routines is Chair Yoga. It is mostly about stretching and includes the some of the same exercises as regular yoga. When Veva’s not there, she’s in the deep end of the pool in a belt class or at the Silver Sneakers cardio or moving-it in modified Zumba.
Robert LaCosta All of that gives her an appetite and so she’s constantly whipping up healthy food in her kitchen between dog walking. “I’m too young to be that old,” she says. When another birthday tries to spook her, Veva tells aging to go jump in a lake. Go to “Robert LaCosta” on You Tube to subscribe for free for the writer’s daily inspirational one-minute devotional. To suggest seniors for this column, call 518-435-1250. Robert J. LaCosta’s daily inspirational writing is at robertlacosta.com. His latest book, “Portals to Heaven,” is at bookstores and through Amazon.
MARIE-ROSE MANOR
100 Marquis Drive, Slingerlands, NY 12159
Join us on Tuesday, September 10th MARIE-ROSE MANOR
Join us on Tuesday, September 10th For our OPEN HOUSE event!
JoinStop us by onFrom Tuesday, September 10th 11am-3pm to enjoy light refreshments From 11am-3pm
as you tour our community. ForFor our OPEN HOUSE event! our OPEN HOUSE event!
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From Slingerlands, 11am-3pm NY 12159 100 Marquis Drive,
• One bedroom apartments • Affordable rent FIRST based on income BE ONE OF THE 5 PEOPLE • Professionally managed Pet RECEIVE friendly • Smoke THROUGH THE DOOR• TO A GIFT.free Requirements: 62+ • One bedroom apartments A• DePaul Housing Management Affordable rent based on Community income Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
A DePaul Housing Management Community Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
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• Professionally managed • Pet friendly • Smoke free Requirements: 62+
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You can even try your luck at our Stop byfamous to enjoyprize lightwheel! refreshments as you tour our community. BE ONE OF THE FIRST 5 PEOPLE You canTHE even try your luck atAour THROUGH DOOR TO RECEIVE GIFT. famous prize wheel!
AUGUST 2019 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 13
Organize Senior Moves
Moving on
O
ur clients move for a lot of different reasons. Some are recent emptynesters who have been planning all along to happily pack up and move the minute their kids are out of the house. Others have health issues or prefer a maintenance-free lifestyle. There are those who want to move closer to their adult children to see their grandchildren grow up. Then there are those who move because they lost a spouse and their house is too much to keep up with alone. This was the case with Mrs. O., who we recently moved from her Latham home to an apartment in Watervliet.
By Mary Beth Galarneau They say after a spouse passes away, you should put off decisions about a change in lifestyle for at least a year. Mrs. O. took her time, three years, to be exact, deciding what do with the Colonial house she shared with her husband for 18 years. The yard work got to be too much, as did shoveling the snow. Emotionally, it was hard to go into certain rooms because the memories of her husband were just too much. It was time to start over. Mrs. O. planned for the move for a over a year, checking out many apartments and senior living facilities with her sister-inlaw. Eventually she settled on Hudson Preserve Apartments
in Watervliet. She assumed she would start packing and hire a moving company to execute the move. That is, until she heard about Organize Senior Moves. One thing Mrs. O. particularly appreciated was how OSM took care of all donations, especially her husband’s clothes, which she hasn’t seen or touched since his passing. The OSM team donated everything to the Albany City Mission. “When the clothes left the house, it felt different,” she admitted, but it was also a good feeling knowing they would benefit others. Another thing that sur-
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14 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — AUGUST 2019
Michelle KavanaughAnastasi prised her was how everything was placed in as close to the same spot in her new apartment, as it was in her house. OSM’s services include everything from helping to sort through clutter before a move, to hanging artwork at the end of a move. While OSM can’t take away the emotional side of moving, they can certainly help with the physical side. Organize Senior Moves is a senior move management company based in Delmar. Call for a free one-hour consultation: 518-621-6568 or visit organizeseniormoves.com.
Senior calendars Niskayuna Senior Center 2682 Aqueduct Road, Niskayuna (518) 372-4969
Leading the Way in Memory Care
Ongoing activities Tuesdays
9 a.m. to noon — Tom’s computer class (first and third Tuesdays each month) 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. — Tai Chi 9:15 a.m. — Meditation workshop outside, weather permitting 10 a.m. to noon — cards, bridge and Wii Bowling 10:30 a.m. — Line Dancing Noon — Lunch 12:30 to 2 p.m. — Lectures, trivia or games 1 p.m. — Mah Jongg 1 to 1:45 p.m. — Walking Club 4 p.m. — Gentle Yoga
Thursdays
9:15 to 9:45 a.m. — Tai Chi
9:15 a.m. — Meditation workshop outside, weather permitting 10 a.m. — Cards, Wii Bowling, and Bridge 10:30 a.m. — Bocce and Pickle Ball and line dancing Noon — Lunch 12:30 to 2 p.m. — Lectures, trivia, games or Bingo
Fridays 10 a.m. to noon — Beginner Mahjong 10 a.m. to noon — Men’s Group (Aug. 9 & 23) 10:30 a.m. — Alzheimer’s Support Group (first Friday of each month). 11 a.m. to noon — CDPHP Chair Pilates
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:
Colonie
518-456-4500
ColonieMemories.com 5 South Family Drive Colonie, NY 12205
Clifton Park
518-371-2200
CliftonParkMemories.com 1 Emma Lane Clifton Park, NY 12065 109631_4
- Spacious private rooms, ground-level floor plan with common areas - Three nutritious meals a day, plus snacks - Expansive grounds and secure, enclosed courtyards - Dedicated chapel for all denominations - On-site beauty parlor/barber shop - Housekeeping, laundry and maintenance services included - Daily activities to promote physical health, social interaction and intellectual stimulation
Upcoming Events First Aid for Seniors — Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. Putting Around Day: Mini golf at Kingsway — Thursday, Aug. 22, at 1 p.m. Men’s Group — Friday, Aug. 23, at 10 a.m. Advanced Hearing Aid Services — Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m. Senior Driving Safety — Thursday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m.
Lucille Ball
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Birthday Celebration — Thursday, Aug. 1, at 12:30 p.m. Clowning Around Day — Thursday, Aug. 1, at 12:45 p.m. Neil Armstrong Day — Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 12:30 p.m. Racetrack and Racino Trip — Wednesday, Aug. 7, leaving Town Hall at 10:30 a.m. Walmart Vision — Thursday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m. Lucille Ball Day — Thursday, Aug. 8, 12:30 p.m. Men’s Group — Friday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. Cornell Corporative Extension Lecture — Tuesday Aug. 13, at 11 a.m. Navajo Code Talker Day — Thursday, Aug. 15, 12:30 p.m. 55 and Over Dance Party — Friday, Aug. 16, at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
AUGUST 2019 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 15
Senior calendars Bethlehem Public Library 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar (518) 439-9314 www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org
Monday Cinema Mondays, Aug. 12, 19 & 26
Film series with titles suitable for adult audiences. See www.bethlehempubliclibrary. org for a list of titles. Shown with Subtitling for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing when possible, 2:30 p.m.
Evenings on the Green Wednesday, Aug. 7
Family-friendly music featuring the music of Alyssa Yeager that engages the imagination with imagery and creative storytelling, 7 p.m.
Featuring an ice cream social and membership drive at 6:30 p.m. sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Open Sewing Monday, Aug. 5
Sewing machines will be available for independent projects, 6-8 p.m. Bring your own supplies. Volunteers may be on hand to assist you. Register for up to two sessions. Sign up online or call.
Fun and Games for Grownups Monday, Aug. 5
An adults-only gathering where you can play games, in-
cluding chess, color and socialize, 6 p.m. Snacks served!
Exploration of the Solar System Tuesday, Aug. 6 Kevin H. Knuth, a UAlbany professor of physics and former NASA research scientist, will highlight the last 50 years of exploration and focus on the major planets and their moons, sharing exciting new discoveries, 7 p.m.
Support, Guidance for Caregivers Wednesday, Aug. 7 Social workers from Eddy Alzheimer’s Services will be available to speak with caregivers of individuals with dementia. Funded by a grant from NYS Department of Health, 11 a.m.
Library board meets Monday, Aug. 12
Monthly meetings are open to the public, 6 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar.
Book and Chocolate Pairing Wednesday, Aug. 14
Sample books in a variety of genres paired with different flavors of chocolate that may inspire you to read something new to you, 7 p.m.
Friends of the Library meet Monday, Aug. 19
New members are always welcome, 6:30 p.m. Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar.
Don’t just live longer, live better! Every month, we’ve got what you need to know.
cdseniorspotlight.com 16 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — AUGUST 2019
To advertise call Denice at 518.439.4949 or email: MauD@Spotlightnews.com
Senior calendars Voorheesville Public Library 51 School Road, Voorheesville (518) 765-2791 www.voorheesvillelibrary.org
Thursday Afternoon Movie Aug. 1, 15, 22, & 29, at 1:30 p.m.
Join us Thursday to watch a classic movie on our giant screen. Check our website calendar or call for movie titles and descriptions. Light refreshments served.
Nimblefingers Craft Group Tuesdays, Aug. 6, 13, 20, & 27, at 1:30 p.m.
Bring your projects, socialize, and connect with other crafters every Tuesday. Share your own special talents or learn a new knitting, crocheting, embroidery or quilting skill. All crafters are welcome to join the group.
Fiction Book Discussion
Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 7 to 9 p.m.
This month, the fiction book selection is “Brooklyn” by Colm Toibin. “Leaving her home in post-World War II Ireland to work as a bookkeeper in Brooklyn, Eilis Lacey discovers a new romance in America with a charming blond Italian man before devastating news threatens her happiness.” (B&T) Please register.
ENCORE! Books
ENCORE! Books, located behind the Library, is open every Tuesday & Thursday until mid-September. We invite
the public from near and far to come browse the HUGE selection of pre-owned & wellloved books and media. Our selection fills the need for all ages and all genres. Suggested donation prices are all 50 cents or $1. Please call if the weather is questionable. Tuesday, Aug. 6, 13, 20, & 27 – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 – 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Mug & Muffin Social Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 to 11 a.m.
As our first Adult Summer Reading BINGO ends, please stop by at to discuss your summer adventures. Just bring a mug to fill with a warm or cold beverage and enjoy a muffin provided by the Friends of the Library. Bring your weekly log and notes to reflect back on adventures. Please register.
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Philosophers 101 Thursday, Aug. 15, from 7 to 8:45 p.m.
People with opinions welcome to follow where the conversation leads. Always seeking talkers. Very casual. No homework! Drop in or call for info .
Books & Beyond Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m.
The book selection this month is “Brooklyn” by Colm Toibin. Eilis Lacey discovers a new romance in America with a charming blond Italian man before devastating news threatens her happiness.
CARE LINKS
CARE LINKS VOLUNTEERS help drive senior citizens to medical appointments, grocery shopping, hair appointments, and fitness centers. Volunteers provide a friendly visit, help alleviate loneliness, and help seniors remain in their home as long as possible.
A program of CAPTAIN Community Human Services
Call 518-399-4624 for more information. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED NOW IN CLIFTON PARK, HALFMOON, MECHANICVILLE, MALTA, AND BALLSTON.
AUGUST 2019 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 17
Veteran Next Door
Stories from World War II, Korea and Vietnam
A Patriot Remembers
D
Turning the page on a new chapter
efine a Patriot? Yes, I still have a hard copy of “Webster’s 3rd New International Dictionary,” copyright 1961. The book is almost 60 years old and it defines Patriot as ‘one who loves their country and zealously supports its authority and interest.’ Count me as one of the hundreds of millions who subscribe to that definition. Once I asked a person what a Patriot was and they said “something relative to the military.” Patriot’s Day ‘is observed as a legal holiday (April 19th) in Maine and Massachusetts in commemoration of the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. Being a Patriot has a military touch but also it is a person who appreciates being an American. There is so much to be proud of as we think back over 250 years of growing pains and celebrations for this young country. Patriotism is around us and remembering our history, events, failures and celebrations are in all our hearts and minds. I have those feelings and hope to share future articles with this new
title ‘A Patriot Remembers’ as I turn the chapter from Veterans Next Door. I have spent over 25 percent of my life between volunteering for Veterans and living in the 1960s where Patriotism hit its lowest point. Yet Patriotism survived. Having military Veterans as relatives and myself a Patriot, I enjoy moving through the
bring back the great days gone by and move forward to appreciate the present and hope we learn for the future. Some of the famous people, events and accomplishments in our history will be presented for you to reminisce. The stories will make you feel good, you can converse with others and maybe they may just educate you. Think about
Frank DeSorbo old and realize they will witness the last Veteran of WW II, Korean War and Vietnam War. The soldiers of today will have their time and sincere recognition as they approach their ‘80s and ‘90s. I will not abandon stories about what I have experienced in 12 years of Veteran work nor will I forget the men and
I have spent over 25 percent of my life between volunteering for Veterans and living in the 1960s where Patriotism hit its lowest point. Yet Patriotism survived. Having military Veterans as relatives and myself a Patriot, I enjoy moving through the “remembering and reminiscing times.” I believe in Winston Churchill who said, “A nation that forgets its history has no future.” History is valuable but we move forward and I never say we can not go back to the ‘ole times.’ “remembering and reminiscing times.” I believe in Winston Churchill who said, “A nation that forgets its history has no future.” History is valuable but we move forward and I never say we can not go back to the ‘ole times.’ The new column will cover a host of topics from our life style, our entertainment life, the old and new sports, hand held computers, TV, radio, camera and instant news that is old in 60 seconds. It will
Learn about Hearing Technology August 13, 14 and 15
the cars of 60 years ago compared to cars run by computers today. We had a landing on the moon and now we hear of going to Mars and taking recreational flights into space. All of this will introduce the past to the present and hope for the future. I never knew either of my grandfathers and yet I talk to my grandchildren about what it may be like in 50 years. I tell any person under 50 years old that their life expectancy is now 90 years
women I’ve met along the way. Thank You for all you’ve done for this country and for my ventures into your lifetime and mine own. The driving force of a person’s motivation is still a challenging mystery. I need to believe living in this country, being a proud patriot, a good citizen and hoping for the best for all will always prevail. Thank you as I leave Patriot Flight Inc and turn a chapter for the ages.
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
OPEN HOUSE Robert J. LaCosta, BC-HIS
435-1250
Ear • Glenmont Plaza
18 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — AUGUST 2019
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by appointment, please call:
CRYPTO ANSWERS: A. Daddy-O B. pad C. greaser D. drag
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AUGUST 2019 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 19
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20 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — AUGUST 2019