AGING

By Marilyn L. Pinsky

Chuckie Holstein, An Amazing Life

First of a two-part series

At the age of 97, Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein is still a force in our community.

She is an icon of leadership and the people she has inspired are now found throughout business, government and the nonprofit world.

There is rarely a time that anyone comes away from a meeting with Holstein that they haven’t learned something, been connected to someone or had a conversation that will affect some part of our community. Part one is a look back at this amazing life and part two, in the next issue, will be life lessons learned over 97 years.

Holstein was born in Rochester into a Jewish family who believed in tzedakah, an ethical concept of giving back, through doing the right thing, and giving aid, assistance and money to the poor and needy.

Her father was a house painter who often employed workers from different backgrounds, so from an early age she became comfortable with diversity. What she has accomplished in her life was guided by this early background and a set of beliefs from her religion, other religions and cultures, and from the man she married and his beliefs.

When she married Alexander Holstein, whom she met on a blind date, she stepped into a different world.

The Holsteins owned Syroco, a large manufacturer of molded wood products, with a three-generation history of philanthropy in the community through civic, cultural and religious life.

Chuckie and Alex expanded this tradition of involvement into the arts, health care, education, religion and interfaith work.

She says that from Alex she “learned to love and to be generous, to have patience and to not believe

Enjoying lisfe at 97: Chuckie Holstein at her Syracuse home earlier this year. Photo provided

Chuckie Holstein and Hillary Clinton pose in an undated photo. everything you hear. To do your own research. To evaluate other points of view. And … what forks to use.”

The Holsteins always opened their home to others, providing a gathering place for family, friends and community groups. Together they raised four children (they lost their adult son, Philip, in 2016) who with their spouses, carry on the tradition in their own communities. In Syracuse, it is their son, David, and their daughtersin-law, Alyse and Jeanne Holstein, whose names would be most familiar.

After 79 years of marriage, Alex died two years ago at the age of 96.

As a young woman in Syracuse, Chuckie was involved in activities focused on diversity and was a longtime member of the National Council of Negro Women, the National Council of Jewish Women and the American Jewish Committee, hosting meetings in her home. She was the chairwoman of the mentorship program for the Syracuse City School District, herself mentoring an eighth grader, saying that “if you’re going to be a mentor, you need to get involved and know what’s going on in people’s lives.” An example of an early project was setting up an overnight camp week for children and their mothers from Pioneer Homes, one of the first government public housing projects in the United States. “I’ve always copied people I admire,” she said. This list includes Rhea Clark, community leader and president of Cazenovia College, and Monsignor Charles Fahey, a person who values ‘values.’ “He helped me think ‘how will this action help someone?’ “In more recent years, I have learned leadership skills from Judy Mower, my long-time collaborator, and from Barbara Stone, a leadership development coach and a graduate of Leadership Greater Syracuse when I was the director, and so many others.”

So, it is no surprise that perhaps the biggest impact Holstein has had locally and internationally is in intentionally making diversity a priority so that people from varied walks of life, from a janitor to a corporate CEO, are offered opportunities to get to know each other and even become friends and colleagues.

It is a fact of life that when people in positions to hire, or who are looking for people to serve on boards, or belong to clubs, or to run for office, they often choose those they have worked with and know, and yes, consciously or unconsciously, choose those much like themselves.

Holstein set out to change that perspective in a very purposeful way.

It goes without saying that diversity in race, religion and gender are her top priorities, but she also cares about diversity in professions. People in manufacturing, small business, construction, law, the arts, public service or insurance would not in the daily course of events have the opportunity to interact meaningfully with people in the fields of health care, government, substance abuse and persons with a disability. But thanks to Holstein and some strong cohorts she enlisted, this type of collaboration is now the face of the community.

She was a visionary before her time who recognized new cultural shifts before they actually hit the public eye. Before women began to be seen in leadership roles, and prior to the start of the women’s movement, Holstein chaired a national committee on women’s issues and spoke around the country on the importance of involving women in decision-making. It was women like her who “put grease on the wheels” of the women’s movement. Locally, she was the first woman on the board of Loretto, a Central New York health and rehabilitation company, and eventually president of its board.

How did someone get to be in such a position of influence and effectiveness without ever holding political office?

Every politician in her community for the past 65 years will tell you that it is not easy saying no to Chuckie Holstein.

Next article: Chuckie’s meetings with heads of state, including Pope John Paul, Leadership Greater Syracuse and FOCUS, and life’s lessons learned.

Micron Technology and the Future of Real Estate in CNY

By Janice Egan and Tim Beauvais

Micron Technology Inc. is coming to Central New York, with the construction of its $100 billion fabrication facility slated to start in 2024.

This project will create 9,000 jobs over the next 20 years as well as four times that many in support positions at related suppliers and service companies.

Micron’s move to the Syracuse area will bring more people, which will have an effect on the real estate market. With more buyers, we very well may see home prices shoot back up.

Even though rates are high, it would be beneficial in the long-term to get your foot in the door early. A refinance when rates drop in the near future may benefit a buyer, rather than waiting for lower rates and increased home prices.

In March of 2020, when COVID froze the nation, one of the biggest concerns was the potential crash of the housing market. The initial lull in home sales at the very start of the pandemic quickly turned into a white hot sellers’ market with buyers offering over-asking price and even waiving home inspections.

This was attributed to interest rates hitting historic lows and the total number of buyers outweighing inventory to choose from. On average, there were eight offers on a home during this timeframe which typically resulted in the properties selling for much higher than the list price. The median value of properties located in Syracuse increased significantly.

Fast forward to the end of 2022 and we are beginning to see the market change.

The steep increase in interest rates over the 2022 calendar year has played a significant role in the real estate market. As of Nov. 2, the Federal Reserve has increased its federal funds rate by 3.75% in 2022 through numerous rate hikes. Although the Fed does not control mortgage interest rates, these hikes have resulted mortgage rates for a 30-year products to increase around 4% higher than in 2021, the buyer of a median-priced home is facing a monthly principal and interest payment that is 66% higher.

One factor contributing to the lack of inventory is the lower foreclosure rate. Currently, the amount of foreclosures is well below the historic average. With many economists predicting a recession in the 2023 calendar year this rate may rise.

‘Yes, interest rates rose to the highest percentage they’ve been at since the early 2005 in 2022, but they are not expected to stay at this level for an extended period of time.’

Although there is still currently a low inventory of homes in Syracuse and its surrounding areas, the total is steadily starting to increase and it is safe to fully expect more homes on the market in 2023. More inventory means more options, which points to the potential of the market shifting towards the buyers.

Although 2020 through most of 2022 can be deemed a seller’s market, we’re starting to see a change that points to the buyers. Increased interest rates have put some buyers out of range from an affordability standpoint, and this is leading to less competition.

Yes, interest rates rose to the highest percentage they’ve been at since the early 2005 in 2022, but they are not expected to stay at this level for an extended period of time. An expected, a drop in inflation in 2023 will result in interest rates falling as well. Though we saw a significant increase in rates over the course of 2022, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The market is always changing and these rates will be more affordable soon. 2023 will be a great time to buy. With expected increases in housing inventory along with projected dropping interest rates, it will be all about the buyers. If you are thinking about selling your home in 2023, the market will not be like it was, but the values of homes will not be like they were a couple of years ago. I think they may drop some.

I do not think there will be multiple offers on a home like there was.

Janice Egan is a licensed real estate salesperson with decades of experience in CNY. She is affiliated with Hunt Real Estate. For more information, visit www. janiceegan.huntrealestate.com or email Janice.egan@huntrealestate.com. Tim Beauvais is a mortgage loan originator with Genesee Regional Bank in Liverpool. For more information, call 585-278-4885 or email tjbeauvais@ grbbank.com.

Poll: Most Americans Over 50 Suffer Some Type of Joint Pain

Aching joints are common for people over 50, but it’s still important to talk to a doctor about it rather than endlessly self-medicating, experts say.

Now, a new poll from the University of Michigan breaks down joint pain, its impact on those who responded to the survey and how they’ve chosen to react to this painful condition. Findings from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging include that 70% of people over 50 experience joint pain at least occasionally. About 60% have been told they have some form of arthritis.

Among those who have arthritis symptoms, about 45% said they have pain every day and 49% said it somewhat limits their usual activities.

“If you are feeling joint pain frequently, or it interferes with your normal activities, you don’t have to go it alone,” said Indira Venkat, senior vice president of AARP Research. The organization was one of the supporters for the poll. “Talk with your health provider about how you are treating your joint pain and additional strategies that may help.”

About 80% of those with joint pain said they had at least some confidence they could manage it on their own.

About 66% do so with overthe-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). About 26% reported taking supplements, such as glucosamine or chondroitin.

There are sizable risks associated with many of these treatment options, especially when taken long-term or in combination with other drugs, said Beth Wallace. “This suggests a pressing need for providers to talk with their patients about how to manage their joint pain, and what interactions and long-term risks might arise if they use medications to do so,” Wallace said.

Janice Eagan

At HUNT Real Estate ERA, my goal is to be there for you throughout the entire real estate process, ensuring it is as easy and stress-free as possible.

(315) 391-5082

www.janiceegan.huntrealestate.com email: Janice.egan@huntrealestate.com

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