SAVVY SENIOR: DO I NEED TO FILE INCOME TAXES THIS YEAR?
Issue 74 • March / April 2022 For Active Adults in the Rochester Area
roc55.com
THE WEATHERMAN Kevin Williams has been as busy as ever, nearly five years after he left his job on local TV… and it’s still all about the weather. “It’s in my DNA.” P. 28
THE LEGACY OF FLAVOR,
P. 14
HOW TO SPOT (AND COMBAT) FAKE NEWS,
P. 20
SPRING CLEANING TIPS AND TRICKS,
P. 34
IMPLANTS CAN REPLACE LOST TEETH,
P. 42
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Had a Stroke. Back on Stage.
Musician Todd Hobin KNOW THE SIGNS • CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY
Central New York music legend Todd Hobin knew nothing about stroke — but he does now. That’s why he’s raising awareness about stroke risk factors and its signs and symptoms.
F.
FACE DROOPING
A. S.
ARM WEAKNESS
SPEECH DIFFICULTY
Fact: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Important to know: Stroke can happen to both men and women — at any age. Good news: Stroke is preventable by managing medical risk factors and healthy lifestyle choices. What to do: Time lost is brain lost. So it’s vital to know the signs of a stroke — F.A.S.T. Four words to live by: Call 911 and say, “Take me to Crouse.“ When it comes to stroke, every moment matters. As one of just 10 hospitals in New York State tohave earned Comprehensive Stroke Center status, and with the region’s newest ER and hybrid ORs, Crouse offers the most advanced technology for rapid stroke diagnosis and treatment
Read Todd’s story and learn more: crouse.org/toddhobin.
T.
TIME TO CALL 911
55 PLUS | contents
SAVVY SENIOR: DO I NEED TO FILE INCOME TAXES THIS YEAR?
March / April 2022
ARE YOU AN ENTREPRENEUR who has started your first business after 55 years of age? 55 Plus is developing a story about it and would like to hear from you! Email editor@roc55.com or call 585-421-8109.
Issue 74 • March / April 2022 For Active Adults in the Rochester Area
roc55.com
THE WEATHERMAN Kevin Williams has been as busy as ever, nearly five years after he left his job on local TV… and it’s still all about the weather. “It’s in my DNA.” P. 28
THE LEGACY OF FLAVOR,
P. 14
HOW TO SPOT (AND COMBAT) FAKE NEWS,
P. 20
SPRING CLEANING TIPS AND TRICKS,
P. 34
IMPLANTS CAN REPLACE LOST TEETH,
P. 42
14
www.roc55.com
24
Savvy Senior 8 14 FAMILY • For Emily Amalia Folino Perez and Financial Health 10 her family, cooking is a group sport Dining Out 12 20 MEDIA • How to spot (and combat) fake news Essay 22 24 HOBBY Cover 28 • Jeff Bleier, with his brother Tim, turns Addyman’s Corner 56
blocks of ice into works of art
26 OUTING • Cross country skiing in Rochester is more popular than ever before
LAST PAGE 34 CLEANING Ed Varno, 69, former Ontario County Historical Society executive director, is making the most of each day of the pandemic. 6
55 PLUS – MARCH / APRIL 2022
• Make spring cleaning more effective
36 ART • Barbara Jablonski: art in the open air
38 GARDENING • Tips for bringing your backyard to life
40 HEARING • Signs you need a hearing examination
36
46
42 DENTAL • Implants can replace lost teeth; things to consider before getting work done
44 HAIR • Lots of options available for those worried about hair loss
46 RETIREMENT • Financial planner and 55 Plus columnist Jim Terwilliger retiring slowly
50 FINANCES • AARP study finds only 9% of older women feel confident in their retirement finances; experts weigh in
52 INVESTING • Navigating the SECURE Act and inherited retirement accounts
54 RELOCATING • Pros and cons of moving away from family when you retire
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Our Mission. To provide people in our community with healthcare, customer services, Life in balance. support & employment to achieve their individual best quality of life.
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Our Mission. To provide people in our community with healthcare, customer services, Our Team. support & employment to achieve their individual best quality of life.
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savvy senior By Jim Miller
Do I Have to File Income Tax Returns This Year?
W
hether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year depends not only on how much you earned last year, but also the source of that income, as well as your age and your filing status. Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax filing requirement thresholds. For most people, this is pretty straightforward. If your 2021 gross income — which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately — was below the threshold for your filing status and age, you may not have to file. But if it’s over, you will. • Single: $12,550 ($14,250 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2022). • Married filing jointly: $25,100 ($26,450 if you or your spouse is 65 or older; or $27,800 if you’re both over 65). • Married filing separately: $5 at any age. • Head of household: $18,800 ($20,500 if 65 or older). • Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: $25,100 ($26,450 if 65 or older). To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the “1040 and 1040-SR Instructions for Tax Year 2021,” or you can get it online at IRS.gov. • Check Here Too —You also need to be aware that there are other financial situations that can require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirements. For example, if you earned more than $400 from selfemployment in 2021, owe any special taxes like an alternative minimum tax, or get premium tax credits because you, your spouse or a dependent
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55 PLUS – MARCH / APRIL 2022
roc55.com Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto
Associate Editor Steve Yablonski
is enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace plan, you’ll need to file. You’ll also need to file if you’re receiving Social Security benefits, and one-half of your benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest exceeds $25,000, or $32,000 if you’re married and filing jointly. To figure all this out, the IRS offers an online tax tool that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file, or if you should file because you’re due a refund. It takes approximately 12 minutes to complete. You can access this tool at IRS. gov/Help/ITA – click on “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?” Or you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040. • Check Your State — Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, don’t assume that you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. The rules for your state might be very different. Check with NYS Department of Taxation and Finances (www.tax.ny.gov) before concluding that you’re entirely in the clear. • Tax Prep Assistance — If you find that you do need to file a tax return this year, you can free file through the IRS at IRS.gov/FreeFile if your 2021 adjusted gross income was below $73,000. Or, if you need some help, contact the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TCE provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, aged 60 and older. Call 800906-9887 or visit IRS.treasury.gov/ freetaxprep to locate services near you. You can also get tax preparation a s s i s t a n c e t h ro u g h t h e A A R P Foundation Tax-Aide service. Call 888-227-7669 or visit AARP.org/ findtaxhelp for more information.
Writers & Contributors Deborah J. Sergeant John Addyman Christopher Malone Thomaz Zahavi (DMD) Karen Putz, Todd Etshman Columnists Jim Terwilliger, Laurie Haelen Jim Miller John Addyman Jason Livingston Advertising Anne Westcott Linda Covington Office Manager Kate Honebein Layout & Design Joey Sweener Cover Photo Chuck Wainwright
55 PLUS – A Magazine for Active Adults in Rochester is published six times a year by Local News, Inc. at PO Box 525, Victor, NY 14564, which also publishes In Good Health — Rochester's Healthcare Newspaper. Subscription: $21 a year; $35 for two years © 2022 by 55 PLUS – A Magazine for Active Adults in Rochester.
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financial health By Jim Terwilliger and Laurie Haelen
Planning Opportunities: What Pre-Retirees/Retirees Need to Know About Social Security
B
efore I came to CNB Wealth Management six years ago, I remember seeing Jim Terwilliger’s byline in 55 PLUS and thinking, how does he always come up with such good topics? I have always enjoyed the magazine, and the featured author’s inspiring stories give me great ideas on finding more fulfillment in dayto-day life. Little did I know that one day I would be the one coming up with those good topics and hopefully helping someone learn something new, as Jim has helped me do many times in the past six years. Jim is an inspiration to all of us at CNB, as his curiosity knows no bounds and is only surpassed by his desire to help others. It will be hard for me to fill his shoes, but I hope that my passion
for the business of sound financial advice and my love of the written word will create a winning combination for the growing readership of 55-plus. Just a few things about me: I am a lifelong Rochester resident and have had the good fortune of being in the financial services business since 1992. Most of my career was spent at large, publicly traded companies, until I found a home at Canandaigua. I can now effectively match my desire to help others meet their financial goals with a wonderful team in a truly clientfocused bank. I live in the city with my wife and our two dogs and enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking, music and trying to play golf. As this was Jim’s last article and he had already started to work on it, we decided to finish it together. — Laurie Haelen
benefit and a need for an emergency cash infusion. • Between age 62 and FRA (full retirees and retirees is a daunting task. Not only are the options overwhelming retirement age): Anyone can withdraw in number, but thanks to Congress and their application for benefits within the first 12 months of claiming benefits. the IRS, they are always changing. Couple that with one’s goals and However, the amount already taken life circumstances in constant flux, must be repaid. You can then file later charting and managing a financial to receive a larger monthly benefit for pathway through this maze is an the remainder of your life. It is important to note that this ongoing project, not a one-and-done can only be done once and if you exercise. Let’s look at some situations you are already receiving Medicare, you may encounter and ideas as to how will have to pay Part B and Part D you might turn them into positive premiums directly if you wish to continue coverage. This could be planning opportunities. a good strategy for someone who Social Security do-overs decides to continue to work for either financial reasons or because they find Many people may not know that fulfilling work shortly after retirement. there are options for “undoing” the • Between FRA and age 70: Anyone Social Security distribution strategy can suspend their social security they have already implemented. The benefits and they do not have to be reasons for doing so include reclaiming repaid. During the pause in payment, at a later time to increase your payout, the benefits earn the 8% per year suspending payments to resume them delayed retirement credits, effectively at a later time with a higher monthly giving you an 8% deferred raise every
to juggle the myriad ➼ Trying financial choices facing pre-
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55 PLUS – MARCH / APRIL 2022
year until you resume. To maximize ultimate benefits, most folks who suspend will wait until age 70 to resume. This strategy could work well for you if you are finding that you are not needing as much income as you anticipated, or longevity runs in your family. This strategy also can benefit married filers, because if the spouse who suspended benefits dies, the survivor will receive the higher benefit (up to 100% of the deceased retiree’s benefit). • Six-month retroactive period after FRA with lump sum payment (do-over in the opposite direction): At FRA plus six months and beyond, you can opt to receive six months of your benefit in a lump sum. This can be helpful for someone who needs a lump sum for an unplanned expense. A downside is that receiving the retroactive lump sum reduces your monthly retirement benefits by about 4%. It can also work for someone who is claiming a spousal or survivor benefit. Such benefits are worth their maximum value at the beneficiaries’ full retirement age and do not increase due to the delayed retirement credits—unlike retirement benefits. Navigating retirement can be a challenge, but understanding the many options available, along with careful planning, can help ensure a financially secure retirement. Laurie Haelen, AIF, is senior vice president, manager of investment and financial planning solutions, CNB Wealth Management, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. She can be reached at 585-419-0670, ext. 41970 or by email at lhaelen@cnbank.com. James Terwilliger, CFP, is senior vice president, senior planning adviser, CNB Wealth Management, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. He can be reached at 585-419-0670 ext. 50630 or by email at jterwilliger@cnbank.com.
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The minimal décor of Café 19, featuring large portraits of influential women, gives a dining experience free of distraction. The large paneled windows give the entire place an unforgettable brightness, to boot.
Dining Out RESTAURANT GUIDE
FALLING FOR FOOD
By Christopher Malone
it into. The burrito itself wasn’t falling apart or messy because it was heated and seared for a confident wrap. On the other hand, the everything avocado toast ($7.50) was huge. Piled on a thick slice of ciabatta bread sat a mound of ingredients. Cue the avocado, feta cheese, tomato or a such a historic city in name a few. bruschetta, scrambled eggs. Oh, yes, the Finger Lakes region, Similar to many cafes, the ordering and there was that everything bagel Café 19 at 20. E. Bayard is straightforward: head to the bar, seasoning to zhush it up. St., in Seneca Falls, has a put in your order and a smiling staff This open-faced toast was as bright creative way of showing appreciation. member will bring it to you. Yes, as it was flavorful. All the ingredients Named appropriately after the they’re all wearing masks but their were fresh. The feta practically melted 19th Amendment, which gave women elated attitude is shown through in my mouth. Quite honestly — this the right to vote, the direction of the the eyes. However, before you order is probably my all-time favorite toast eatery is to keep the forward thinking and wander to find a table, the first I’ve enjoyed anywhere. mentality going. challenge is making it past the glass The base price for the café’s twoUpon entering, Café 19 (often case of temptation filled with cookies, egg omelet is $4.30. Each added stylized in Roman numerals as XIX) pastries and other sweet treats. ingredient is 50 cents each — so I had has an unforgettable brightness thanks Although I didn’t cave, resisting them throw in spinach, roasted reds, to the large paned windows that line was extremely difficult. mushrooms and cheddar for a total the front of the building. The first to come out was the of $6.30. This is less than an omelet The minimal décor permits an breakfast burrito ($6.50), one of my even at a greasy spoon, plus better experience free of distraction. Of favorite items to order. Although ingredients. Although it didn’t come course, the large portraits of influential tagged with a standard price, the with a side, it didn’t need to because women and suffrage activists are burrito was on the smaller side. The of its size. unmissable — Susan B. Anthony, cheese stretched out with each bite. The hearty, generous cup of Harriet Tubman, and Lucretia Mott to There was a side of fresh salsa to dip oatmeal ($6.50) is a great on-the-go
F
Seneca Falls café keeps things fresh
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Café 19 20 E. Bayard St. Seneca Falls, NY13148 315-568-1183 | xixcafe.com facebook.com/cafe.XIX.19 instagram.com/ cafe_nineteen/ Sun. & Mon.: Closed Tues. – Fri.: 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sat.: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
option for fall and winter. The roasted pears with the oats is a comfort food breakfast item. Plus, take the hint of cinnamon and sweetness of the maple syrup. It’s a great way to start the day. There’s enough to share it with someone or space it out over a couple meals. For lunch, the harvest turkey sandwich ($10.25). Generous slices of turkey are joined by stuffing and greens in between wheatberry bread. Sounds good, right? Now, add in cranberry apple compote and candied walnut mayo. Whoa. This amounts to a brilliant sandwich with resonating flavor. It’s a tangible Thanksgiving dinner between loaves of bread but better. It also comes with crispy kettle chips. Sweet and heat comes with the honey sriracha poké bowl ($14.99). The priciest item on the menu, by the way, is a generous piece of seared salmon glazed with the aforementioned ingredients. It has all the components of a bowl — greens, quinoa, onion, avocado, and pickled carrots. Sesame seeds are sprinkled throughout and there are just enough leaves of cilantro for added flavor. With tip, the total came to around $70. Yes, that does sound pricey. For breakfast and lunch, it is. Some readers were probably expecting me to say “this is a reasonable price” and have a chance to roll their eyes. But I essentially ordered two meals. Some food I took away to eat at a later time because the breakfast convinced me to do so. And I also don’t eat like a typical person. But for all humans — every human, in fact, normal or not — Café 19 is a great spot to gather for hot coffee, comforting favorites and fresh flavor.
Breakfast burrito, one of my favorite items to order.
Everything avocado toast: This open-faced toast was as bright as it was flavorful. Quite honestly — this is probably my all-time favorite toast I’ve enjoyed anywhere.
Sriracha poké bowl: A generous piece of seared salmon glazed with greens, quinoa, onion, avocado and pickled carrots. Sesame seeds are sprinkled throughout and there are just enough leaves of cilantro for added flavor. MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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this page Emily Amalia Folino Perez at her East Rochester home preparing a batch of tomato sauce for her family. opposite page The baskets of tomatoes
Photos provided
the family buys to prepare the sauce.
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55 PLUS – MARCH / APRIL 2022
family Legacy of Flavor For East Rochester native Emily Amalia Folino Perez, cooking has never been a solo endeavor. It’s a group sport, a way of life, and the magnet that draws and keeps her family together By Melody Burri
A
t 61, East Rochester native Emily Amalia Folino Perez has simmered thousands of gallons of “Sunday sauce” in her family’s basement kitchen. She has stuffed, roasted, fried, rolled and cured hundreds of family specialties: homemade manicotti, shells, fresh and cured sausages, capicola, prosciutto, braciole, arancini, fresine, pita fritta, pitta nchiusa and tardille. But for Emily, whose culinary traditions run as deep as the Ionian
Sea, cooking has never been a solo endeavor. It’s a group sport, a way of life, and the magnet that draws and keeps her family together. Their dishes, spiced with laughter, love and spirited debate, mark the passing of seasons and the centrality of tradition. “We are loud,” she jokes. “It sounds like we’re always arguing. But we’re not, we’re ‘discussing loudly.’ Everybody has an opinion about how it should be done.” Cooking days invariably include
at least one midday break for glasses of wine, cups of espresso, cookies and storytelling, and culminate with a family feast to celebrate a job well done. “Growing up in an Italian family, food has always been at the center of things — it has always brought the family together,” said Emily, an expert automotive mechanic and pre-K teacher assistant in East Rochester. “I remember my mom always cooking and baking,” she said. “I used to wake up to the smell of sauce already cooking for Sunday pasta.” It was those aromas and flavors that continue to stir memories of her childhood and family and cooking together. Those recollections became even more poignant following the death of her beloved parents, Teresa Zaccone Folino at age 90 in 2015, and Domenico Folino at age 96 in 2019. That’s why she carries on their culinary legacy — for future generations and also for herself. It’s a time to remember, connect with and honor her parents. Sunday pasta was always a big deal, she said. And so it will always be. The food calendar Many track the passage of time by the calendar on the wall. Emily’s family looked to the kitchen. “Our seasons have always been divided up by foods,” she said. “Fall was tomato sauce and winemaking season.” Together, multiple generations spent two days picking tomatoes at a local farm and hauling them down to MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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the second kitchen in the basement. Seven to 10 bushels yielded about 50 to 70 quarts of sauce, she said. “It was expected — it was the way we spent time together,” she said. “My father rigged up an old washing machine motor that helped us separate the tomato seeds and skins from the pulp. And I still have my father’s wine press.” Then came the holidays, with turkey, escarole and meatball pastina soup on Thanksgiving, because “you always started with soup,” said Emily. For Christmas Eve it was seven fishes and homemade fettuccine, and on Christmas day the family feasted on homemade lasagna or stuffed shells and some meat — often braciole or meatballs. New Year ’s Eve and Day meant two kinds of homemade manicotti: one filled with ricotta and the other with meat stuffing. “Then when it started getting cold in January and February, it was time to make sausage, capicola, prosciutto and bacon,” said Emily. “We’d go to a meat market and get various cuts of pork and then come home and make it and hang it up in the attic or fruit cellar to cure. We also made fresh sausage to eat right away.” Easter was always a big religious and food holiday, and the family table would often feature a lamb or goat. That’s one tradition her family doesn’t carry on, though. Emily remembers all too well the childhood trauma of playing with animals that came home and then seeing them later on the Easter table. “In spring it’s time to dig up the garden and prepare it for planting,” said Emily. “In the summer we’re tending and harvesting. And by the end of harvest, my parents always had a freezer full of vegetables.” When in Italy Four childhood trips to the Calabria region in southern Italy whetted Emily’s appetite for ancestral connection early on, but raising her family of seven took priority for several decades. “After our kids grew up, I was able to get more in touch with my relatives,” she said, and found her way back four more times to her roots in the village of Zagarise, Calabria. A global pandemic thwarted a return trip in 2020, but summer 2022 16
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promises a reunion with cousins, aunts and uncles and the next generation. “My brother has bought a house in our village and I’m hoping to buy a house by the Ionian Sea where my cousins live,” said Emily. This summer, she hopes to join extended family making wine and tomato sauce, and sharing “big meals because there are so many of us.” “My aunts and uncles each had seven or eight kids, so our meals are always huge and pasta is always part
of it,” she said. A surprise to Emily was that her relatives all carry on the same culinary practices she had been taught, to the letter. “My cousins prepare food the same way we do, so it was family traditions passed down,” she said. “Then it was to survive — now it is to remember.” It’s a legacy that will live on. “I think my boys are proud of their Italian heritage,” said Emily. “They
clockwise, from top left Emily Amalia
enjoy the food and help out and travel with us when they can. It’s a matter of being there and doing these things. You can’t really teach it, you just have to be there and do it. Leaving a culinary legacy For Emily, passing on her parents’ recipes is always a “yes.” But for others it may seem daunting. “Don’t be afraid to try to do these things, just because they seem too
difficult,” she said of cherished family dishes. “Now that my mom and dad are gone, if my kids don’t carry it on, it doesn’t go any further. It may not taste exactly the same way Noni made it. But it’s OK.” She remembers so clearly the last years her mom was alive. “Whatever I was making down in the basement, I would show her,” said Emily. “‘Is this what it should look like?’ I would ask.” “‘Yeah, that’s good,’” she would
Folino Perez with her late father, Domenico Folino; Emily’s son Austen makes manicotti; dozens of tomato sauce jars stand ready to be consumed; separating tomato pulp from seeds and skins; Emily and her brother, Ralph Folino.
(continued on next page) MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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Sample of food prepared for the New Year’s holiday at Emily Amalia Folino Perez’s East Rochester home. Recipes have been shared through generations.
answer. “She was proud and happy that I was able to recreate what she always did,” said Emily. “And I wanted to get her approval. She was happy, and I was happy.” Some skills were learned early on, and never questioned. “When I make the pintachiuse, I use white raisins because ‘they’re better than the dark raisins,’ my mom said. And ‘you have to wash your raisins the night before,’” said Emily. “I don’t know if it’s true, but I do it because my mother told me to.” “When we make bread or pita fritta, you have to make three crosses on the dough so it will rise properly,” said Emily. “It’s not because I necessarily believe it, but because my mother told me to.” A central fixture in Emily’s East Rochester home is her mother’s recipe ledger, with many recipes written in a hybrid blend of Italian and English. “It’s not in any order, and it’s written in my mom’s handwriting,” said Emily. Some American words are sprinkled in, but written phonetically 18
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“Food wasn’t just a way of nourishing ourselves, it was a way of being close as a family … “There was lots of joking and eating, espresso and cookies — through it all there was always food.” to reflect her strong accent. She gives lists of ingredients, but not many directions. So if I didn’t see her do it, I wouldn’t know how to make it.” When she retires, Emily hopes to compile a collection of those recipes with translations. “It’s going to take a little reading,” she said. “Many are not exactly Italian words or American, but as I read, I can hear my mom’s voice. She wrote it the way she talked, and that brings us close.
So it is for many — the tastes and the aromas of childhood bring back memories of time spent together. “Food wasn’t just a way of nourishing ourselves, it was a way of being close as a family,” said Emily. “It was work, but we also had fun doing it. After the work was done we’d make pasta and have a meal together that featured whatever we had made. “There was lots of joking and eating, espresso and cookies — through it all there was always food.”
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media Fake News How to spot fake news and halt the spread of misinformation in its tracks By Kimberly Blaker
T
hanks to the internet’s prevalence and easy access through smartphones and other devices, all the world’s information can fit inside our pockets. The latest news, information and anything you could ever want to know are all just a few clicks away. Unfortunately, the growth of information on the internet has given rise to fake news and misleading or factually incorrect information. The problem of fake news continues to worsen causing further division in our communities and across the country. Everyone who spends time on the internet will be exposed to fake news at some point, and many will be taken in by false claims. But some demographics are more susceptible. Those who create and spread fake news know this and which demographics tend to struggle more with technology and information. Fake news creators take advantage of targeting specific populations that may not have developed the skills and nuance to know how to sort facts from fiction online. In fact, Andrew Guess et al. published their study of the 2016 presidential campaign, “Less than you think: Prevalence and predictors of fake news dissemination on Facebook.” They found that Facebook users over the age of 65 were almost seven times more likely to share fake news articles than the youngest age range. Seniors may be particularly at risk for fake news because they’re “digital immigrants” who learned to use computers and similar devices at an older age. So, seniors may not be as fluent or comfortable with technology
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or as readily able to disseminate between legitimate and illegitimate sources of information. “Digital natives,” on the other hand, are those who grew up in a world with the internet, computers, and smartphones and have had more experience and understanding of its subtleties. It’s almost like the difference between being fluent in a language you were raised with versus learning a new language when you’re older. Despite this, statistics show that all age groups and demographics are susceptible to falling for or sharing fake news. According to a 2018 YouGov poll, 41% of those between 18-34 and 44% of those 65 and older agree with the statement, “I sometimes think fake news is real, only to find out later it was incorrect.” O v e r a l l , A m e r i c a n s re a l i z e misinformation online is prevalent and dangerous. Yet, according to “Fake news in the U.S. — statistics & facts” on the website Statista, only 26% are very confident in their ability to recognize fake news. Just 34% trust social media and 67% believe fake news causes a great deal of confusion. Fortunately, there are ways to combat and hinder the widespread dispersal of fake news. It just requires learning to protect yourself and educating oneself to differentiate between sources to gather accurate and
verified information. Types and sources of fake news Fake news comes in many forms and can be tricky to recognize. Generally, it can be found in any form of online media, particularly news articles. But a plethora of videos, posts, and pictures on the internet present inaccurate information as truthful. It’s posted online for many reasons — amusement, testing boundaries, or more nefarious purposes such as influencing segments of the population, spreading chaos, confusion, distrust, and even dividing groups and creating conflict. These misleading bits of information are often found and shared through social media, where people read and interact with posts by others. Fake news stories are usually either completely false or have some truth, but they aren’t entirely accurate in the presentation. The first type is easier to recognize, while the second can be more difficult and cause more confusion. Sometimes fake news is unintentionally spread when something is misunderstood or taken out of context. Still, it can be done deliberately to twist what someone said or did to persuade readers to believe something untrue. Satire sites sometimes become sources of fake news when people
Facebook users over the age of 65 are almost seven times more likely to share fake news articles than the youngest age range. reading or sharing these articles are unfamiliar with the website’s purpose. Many of these sites don’t prominently note they’re publishing parodies rather than reporting factual information. So it can be hard to distinguish parody sites from a legitimate source. Some common satire sites include: The Onion, The Babylon Bee, Borowitz Report, The Daily Currant, Empire News, CAP News, Big American News and National Report. How to spot fake news When trying to determine if an article or information is fact or fiction, there are some questions you can ask to help yourself spot fake news. • Does the website have a suffix indicating legitimacy, such as .gov, .edu or .org? • Does it come from a known media outlet such as a reputable news station or other organization? • Who’s the author, and what are their credentials? • Are other major news stations or sources reporting similar information? • Does the article itself include linked sources or citations to back up its claims? • Is the website selling a product? • Is there an obvious bias against a person or group? • Is the headline attentiongrabbing and unbelievable? The written word isn’t the only method by which people can share or spread fake news. Images and “deep fake” videos are easy to create with current technology. Just because you see a video, hear audio, or see a picture, doesn’t mean it’s accurate. There may be missing context like being cropped, or it’s from a different time or place. It could be edited with parts cut out, slowed down, or sped up. It’s even possible to add or remove both audio and visual content. If you’re feeling unsure about recognizing fake news, online classes are available to help. Through a class, you can learn how to spot fake news,
see examples, ask questions and discuss ideas like confirmation bias and the psychology behind people’s susceptibility to fiction presented as fact. Classes are offered through some colleges and universities. There are also online classes available such as through Media Wise at www. poynter.org/mediawise, for learning how to discriminate between fact and fiction on the internet. There are also classes designed for older adults such as Senior Planet, AARP and MediaWise for Seniors, that have resources for learning how to discriminate between fact and fiction on the internet. Remember that just because you don’t agree with something doesn’t mean it’s fake news. Fake news refers to something that is demonstrably false or cannot be verified. How to combat or prevent the spread of misinformation Fake news is created to be shared. Articles, pictures and videos designed to mislead can quickly spread once people start sharing with their friends, who also share until it becomes widely viewed and causes problems. Creators often rely on provoking an emotional response, especially fear or outrage, making you feel like it’s your duty to share this vital information with others. Even commenting on or reacting to a post can increase its visibility, causing it to spread. • Don’t share any resources without pausing to fact-check them. • Report posts or articles that are intentionally misleading or inaccurate. • Read more than just the catchy, attention-grabbing headlines. • Educate others: don’t be afraid to call it out when someone shares fake news (but be kind because the person sharing it doesn’t likely realize it’s fake). Once you understand how to recognize fake news, you can be a proud part of the movement to stop the spread of misinformation.
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essay
Karen Putz (right) water skis barefoot with her mentor, Judy Myers, in Florida. Putz returned to the sport at age 44.
Can You ‘Find Your Passion’ at Any Age? By Karen Putz
W
ay back when I was a teenager, I loved the sport of barefoot water skiing. One day, I turned to cross the wake and crashed into the water. When I climbed into the boat, I had become deaf. That moment changed the course of my life. I grew up hard of hearing and being ashamed of having hearing loss. It was no fun missing out on group conversations and constantly asking people to repeat themselves. After becoming deaf, I hit a dark time in my life. I woke up one morning and made a simple decision: I was going to embrace the journey of being deaf. That decision led me through a whole new world; one where people used sign language. I met my husband (who is also deaf) and I ended up passing a gene to my children and they too, became deaf. Fast forward to midlife My husband forwarded me a link 22
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to a Today Show segment featuring Judy Myers, a 66-year-old woman who learned to barefoot water ski at the age of 53. I quickly did the math — I was only 44. If this gal could do it in her 50s and 60s, I could barefoot water ski again! Except… I was over 200 pounds and quite out of shape. I was going to have to power through it. I flew down to Florida to meet Judy and to take a lesson from Keith St. Onge, the 2X World Barefoot Champion. Keith got me back on the water on my first try. The moment I put my feet on the water, passion came flooding back. I was hooked. I started entering tournaments and competed for four years. One of my mentors was Jim Boyette who was still competing at 90 despite battling Charcot-MarieTooth disease and cancer! The most valuable lesson I learned upon returning to the water is this: you’re never too old to tap into the energy of passion. You see, passion is energy. It is how
you live, not just what you do. Many of us have bought into the idea that we’re supposed to slow down in midlife and beyond. We are bombarded by media that associates aging with retirement and the cessation of work. We are taught that getting old is a dangerous thing—and most likely encompasses broken bones, declining health and diminished energy. Hogwash. We don’t have to settle for the typical messages of aging. When I was a teenager, I couldn’t even imagine being able to barefoot water ski backwards on one foot— but at the age of 56 and even with a few extra pounds, I can water ski backwards on one foot at 39 mph. My teenaged self would have been impressed. The point of this? When we forget the age aspect, our bodies are capable of learning new skills, especially when you have a mentor who may be older in age and who is doing the things you want to learn. And…if no one is doing what you long to do, maybe you have to be the
first. I love the story about the world’s oldest power lifter. Edith MurwayTraina started going to the gym at the age of 91. She wasn’t too crazy about working out at the gym, but she started challenging herself with weights. At 98 years old, she is officially recognized as the oldest competitive powerlifter and at 100 years old, she’s still going strong with weightlifting. While writing my book, “Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want,” I interviewed more than 200 people about the topic of passion. Jackie St. Onge, the mother of the 2X World Barefoot Champion, gave me a definition that I absolutely loved. “Passion is your joy,” Jackie told me. “It is the essence of who you are. You have to unwrap it to find it. The mind, body and soul become one when you find it. Passion comes naturally to a person. It’s like running water: turn on the tap and it flows.” In my study of passion, I uncovered five distinctive traits of people who are living at the highest level of passion. • Authenticity — Passionate people know who they are and what they want. They have something to strive for: goals, dreams, plans. They can articulate their passions to others. They continually choose in favor of their passions. They recognize their talents and share them freely with others. • Open-mindedness — Passionate people begin new endeavors with a beginner’s mind. They have an intense desire, openness, and willingness to learn. They are creative when it comes
to ways to get what they want and need. • Self-drive — Passionate people will go above and beyond for something they believe in. They are disciplined and focused when it comes to something they are passionate about. They seek out and engage with others who are in alignment with them. • High Energy — Passion is energy, and when you’re engaged in something you’re passionate about, your energy level is above average. Passion and enthusiasm are entwined. • Resilience — The ability to bounce back is a valuable trait that determines the longevity of staying engaged in a passionate life. The “bounce factor” is different in everyone, but when you are driven by passion and purpose, you are less likely to give up and walk away when faced with obstacles. Passionate people are willing to fail. They are persistent and, sometimes, relentless. The other word associated with this trait: grit. The good news: all of these traits can be learned and ingrained into your lifestyle so that you can have more passion, joy and adventure in your life. If you don’t know where to begin or it’s been a long time since you felt passionate about something—begin with what you’re curious about. Look back in your past—what is something that you’ve always wanted to learn more about? What are some past activities that brought you joy? Begin there. Sign up for a class. Immerse yourself in the newness. Watch YouTube videos to learn new skills
and become inspired again. And… Forget your age. Be willing to begin with a beginner ’s mind. Be willing to look completely foolish as you learn a new skill and master a new path. One more thing… What if you’re at the end of your life, can you still tap into passion? Down in Australia, Alfie Date moved into a retirement home at 109 years old. Off the coast, a group of penguins were caught in an oil spill and the nursing staff was looking for residents with knitting skills. The penguins needed tiny sweaters to keep themselves warm after being cleaned. Alfie passionately stepped forward—he learned to knit in 1932 and was happy to pick up the needles again. He taught classes at the home and quickly made new friends. At the age of 110, he died peacefully. So yes, you can choose to unwrap the gift of passion at any age. Rochester resident Karen Putz is known as “The Passion Mentor.” She is the author of multiple books, including “Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want.” Ta k e t h e M i d l i f e Reinvention Challenge with Karen at: www.yourpassionschool.com.
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hobby Still Making the Chips Fly Jeff Bleier enjoys creating award-winning ice artwork By Mike Costanza
M art.
ore than three decades after creating his first sculpture, Jeff Bleier still enjoys turning a block of ice into a work of
“The end result is something that’s crystal clear and spectacular,” said the 58-year-old professional ice sculptor and founder of the company Glacier Art. Jeff Bleier and his brother, Tim, were at Rochester ’s Ontario Beach Park on Feb. 5, creating two pieces for the annual Lakeside Winterfest Celebration, while the thermometer stayed well below freezing. One was a thick bench of ice that was just right for photo ops. The other was the striking sculpture “Infinity Power of Love.” Like all of Bleier ’s sculptures, the gleaming, winged “Infinity Power of Love” was a creation of his own design. The West Henrietta resident’s ice sculptures have won awards in competitions around the country, including one that was held in conjunction with the 2002 Olympics. Bleier gained his first opportunity to shape ice into art while in his mid20s and working for a now-defunct Henrietta hotel. The hotel featured ice sculptures with its Sunday brunch buffets, but an injury had left its regular sculptor unable to carve. Management put out a call for volunteers and Bleier, who was studying graphic arts and design at Monroe Community College, saw his chance. “I was itching to do it,” he said. Jeff soon realized he could do more than buffets and began entering ice sculpture competitions. His brother started coming with him just to help out, but eventually began to enjoy ice carving, especially two of its elements. “The opportunity to use different power tools and express your artistic opinion, and the fact that it (the sculpture) melts and goes away,” the Hilton resident said. “No one can ever 24
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Jeff Bleier, on the right, and his brother Tim flank their shining creation at Ontario Beach Park. Set against its harsh surroundings, the finished Infinity Power of Love appears ready to take wing.
duplicate it,” After about eight years of sculpting as a hobby, Jeff Bleier founded Glacier Art. Since then, the one-man company’s crystalline works have graced weddings, company celebrations and other events around the Rochester area. For a professional like Bleier, ice sculpting involves a great deal of equipment and effort. The process begins in his garage, where three ice
making machines equipped with circulating pumps freeze tap water into large, clear blocks. “Without the circulating pumps they would turn white, because the water has to be moving as it freezes” he explained. Once the blocks have formed, he pulls them out of the molds with a chain hoist, trims any impurities off their surfaces and trucks them to the walk-in freezer at the Caledonia
Village Inn. In addition to being an ice sculptor, Bleier co-owns the Caledonia, New York restaurant with his wife, Lisa, and is its executive chef. The blocks stay in the cooler for a day and then undergo a tempering process that leaves them in a condition to be used. Once the blocks are ready, Bleier goes to work with his electric chain saws and grinders, hand chisels and other sculpting tools. After he’s finished carving a piece, he uses a propane torch to melt away ice dust and flakes. The heat treatment gives the surface of the piece a lustrous, clear sheen. In addition to doing paid gigs, Bleier has entered sculpting competitions around the US. In about 1990, he and his brother headed to the now-defunct Trump Plaza hotel and casino in Atlantic City for a National Ice Carving Association national championship. Jeff Bleier took first prize for his carving of Pegasus and a fairy. “Pegasus was flying,” Bleier said. “There was a fairy attached by the mane…off to the side of the horse’s neck.” Tim submitted a work of his own, taking first place in the amateur division and an award for the most creative sculpture. “It was a Chesapeake Bay retriever with a duck in his mouth with some cattails,” he said. In 2002, Jeff and Tim headed to Salt Lake City, Utah. There, they vied with 29 other two-person teams in a national ice sculpting competition that was held in conjunction with the Winter Olympics. Working flat out for 36 hours, the brothers turned 10 large blocks of ice into a 15-foot-tall sculpture with a “Wizard of Oz” theme. Called “No Place Like Home,” the piece featured Dorothy atop a twister holding her dog, Toto, and pouring water on the Wicked Witch of the West. “My goal was to place in the top 10,” Bleier said. “We placed 10th.” Ice sculpting can be a lot of fun. It doesn’t necessarily pay the bills. Bleier spent many years working as an executive chef for Rochester-area hotels before acquiring the Caledonia Village Inn with his wife. His brother Tim is the founder and owner of Exact Machining & Manufacturing, Inc., a local firm. Both men are married fathers. Bleier also has a stepchild.
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outing XC Skiing in Rochester… and a Little Beyond
The sport seems even more popular today than it was when I growing up in the ‘70s By Todd Etshman
O
n a cold snowy day in the middle of winter, the parking lot at Durand Eastman Park across from Lake Ontario in Irondequoit is full, but it’s not for golfing. It’s for cross country, also known as Nordic skiing or XC skiing. Skiers can also be found at various other venues in the city, including Webster Park, Mendon Ponds Park and Harriet Hollister Spencer Recreation Area in Springwater overlooking Honeoye Lake. Those are the areas groomed by the Rochester Cross Country Ski Federation for traditional cross country skiing called classic skiing and for the more modern method of skate skiing. The ski methods are dramatically different. For those just getting started, experts like veteran skier Kevin Marks recommends starting with classic. “Once you get the hang of it and you want even more of a workout, you can try skate skiing,” he said. People of all ages and abilities traverse the park utilizing their preferred type of skiing and there are many. The one thing they have in common is they have skis on and they’re not prone to staying inside when the snow flies. In fact, the more snow the better since snowmaking isn’t an option as it is at downhill venues like Bristol Mountain, which also offers cross-country skiing on top of the mountain. Residents of our snow belt city know staying inside for months until winter passes isn’t a good idea for your health or your sanity. “Nothing’s better 26
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right Kevin and
Wendy Marks pause at Harriet Hollister Spencer Recreation Area in Springwater overlooking Honeoye Lake. Marks recommends people start slow on the slopes. “Once you get the hang of it and you want even more of a workout, you can try skate skiing,” he says.
than cruising along on a bluebird day through beautiful scenery,” Marks said. You can do that on snow shoes, too. But we’ll save that for another article. RXCSF members can access current ski conditions at the various venues in our area and member dues help support the cost of purchasing and maintaining grooming equipment. A 501c (3) nonprofit founded in 2005; RXCSF has vastly improved Nordic ski conditions in the Rochester area. Memberships start as low as $15 for a seasonal individual membership. Nordic skiing offers a full body, cardio and strength building workout without the impact stress on knees and ankles you can get from running and for the most part, has a relatively low risk of injury. For those who seek and like skiing challenges, cross-country skiing has that, too. A black diamond in crosscountry means the same thing it does in downhill: difficult. “I like winter escapes and being
outside in the woods in winter,” said Rick VenVertloh, of Scottsville. VenVertloh and I have been crosscountry skiing together for decades since we were kids growing up in Irondequoit. Like many others, we’ve also enjoyed skiing with our families: parents, siblings, kids and spouses. The sport seems even more popular today than it was growing up in the ‘70s. Unfortunately, whether it’s due to global warming or just variable weather, we don’t always get the amount of snow here that we used to. Experienced skiers know to get out there as soon as it snows since it could rain or melt the next day or in the next weather pattern. Ve n Ve r t l o h a l s o l i k e s bushwhacking or backcountry skiing in which the skier leaves groomed trails and other skiers behind on wider skis to go where they please. He uses them in places like Oatka Creek Park, which isn’t groomed. He’s skied the backcountry in our area, the Adirondacks, the Tug Hill Plateau, Pennsylvania, Colorado,
Northern Arizona, Canada and more. The amount of snowfall at Tug Hill Plateau in northern Oswego County is always higher than measurements at the city of Rochester. WHAM meteorologist Scott Hetsko can tell you exactly why that is. The Art Roscoe XC Ski Area in Allegheny State Park is closer than the Adirondacks and has groomed trails at an elevation of 2,150’. There are other nearby options, too. Byrncliff Resort in Varysburg has nice trails laid out through the surrounding forest. Bring a headlamp if you’re out after 5 p.m. on short winter days and some money since it’s not a public park. Cumming Nature Center in Naples, owned by the Rochester Museum and Science Center, is another good choice that charges just a nominal fee to ski. Ski rentals are available and they have 12 miles of groomed trails. Wherever you go, you’re sure to find whitetailed deer running around or often just standing near the trail, unafraid of quiet, tired people trying to get back to their car. My wife is always worried about bears although we haven’t seen one. Allegheny State Park is where you’re more likely to see them. Whichever spouse is faster should remember to wait up for loved ones or face the angry consequences. See if you can out-stare a deer while you’re waiting. If you’re not too tired to look up, a snowy owl or hawk might be keeping an eye on you, too. Variable temperatures and snow conditions affect how cross-country skis perform. If you’re just starting out or don’t want to be bothered with esoteric cross-country ski stuff, no-wax skis make cross-country skiing quick and easy for anyone who wants to try it. If you want, you can probably add a little wax to those skis, too. Rub it in with a cork. Even experts, like Kevin Marks, use no-wax, too. At the age of 66, he’s begun training this year for a 55K ski race next year. Like most things, cross-country ski technology keeps getting better with time. If you’re using three-pin bindings, you are most likely 55-plus. Marks and VenVertloh know all about the technology and they’re not the only ones in an area that embraces its cross-country skiing almost as much as a town in the Adirondacks or the state of Vermont.
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cover
Kevin Williams in the backyard of his Penfield home on Jan. 31.
Kevin Williams has been as busy as ever, nearly five years after he left his job on local TV… and it’s still all about the weather: ‘It’s what I do. It’s in my bones. It’s in my DNA’
Chuck Wainwright
By John Addyman
ou can take the meteorologist out of the weather, but you can’t take the weather out of the meteorologist. That’s Kevin Williams. “People know me from TV and for that I’m grateful,” he said. “But I have had the joy of a professional life that goes far beyond the screen and for that I consider myself immensely blessed.” Williams, 62, of Penfield, is someone you know if you’ve lived inside the broadcast area of any Rochester television station because he’s been a weather guy at each one, starting with Channel 13 in 1982 and continuing through being the chief meteorologist at Channel 8 in 1989 to Channel 10 in 1996 and ending there in 2017. His is also a voice you know if you’ve listened to radio weather forecasts in Dallas, Texas, Columbus, Ohio, Providence, Rhode Island, New York City, southeastern Pennsylvania, and provinces of Canada. In fact, Williams’ and his Weather-Track Inc. company today reach 90 radio markets every day. If you’re in a courtroom in Alabama
and the weather is an important consideration in a case, you shouldn’t be surprised if you find Williams sitting there as a forensic meteorologist expert witness. Did you pick up a copy of the Democrat & Chronicle in the mid-1990s to read the weather forecast and the meteorology column? That was Kevin Williams’ byline. And if you remember a story about a guy from Penfield who set up a snow-making machine in his backyard 20 years ago, something that made his two kids the most popular in the neighborhood, yep, he’s that guy. Did you also know he’s helped create a weather exhibition at the Rochester Museum and Science Center? That he’s won a passel of TV newscast awards and hit the pinnacle with an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of the blizzard of 2017? That he was named Rochester’s most popular TV meteorologist several times? Then it shouldn’t surprise you that the Washington Post declared him one of the nation’s coolest meteorologists in 2017. MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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EARLY START His departure from the Rochester TV meteorologist musical chairs game occurred in 2017 when his contract wasn’t renewed by WHEC-TV Channel 10. That meant he didn’t have three jobs to do anymore. He was down to two, both imbedded in his Weather-Track company, which he established in 1983, but really started while he was still in college. In fact, Williams’ love of weather started much earlier than that. “My mom tells me that when I was a toddler growing up on Long Island, there was a big thunderstorm one night and I was so enthralled by it she put me out in my playpen on the porch so she and I could watch it,” he said. “Don’t try this at home. It’s not good to be out in a thunderstorm. I survived. It started at that age, where I had a passion for weather. “People in my profession, whom I looked up to, whom I aspired to be, whom I respected, have something in their genes, some defective DNA, so that when a storm comes everything else stops. They are captivated by it. People say, ‘There’s a storm coming,’ and many will say ‘Yuck!’ I am the one running toward the storm, that’s been my life, running toward the storm. I started very young and my parents nurtured that in every way possible. It’s what I do. It’s in my bones. It’s in my DNA.” His mom, Pat, was a stockbroker, rising to vice president at Merrill Lynch. His dad, Don, was a sportswriter for the Long Island Press and the Newark Star-Ledger. “My mom and dad had contacts that allowed me to meet broadcasters in what would be my future profession,” he said. Graduating from Commack South High School on Long Island, Williams was thrilled to be accepted at Penn State, until his mom took him for a visit to Cornell, where he fell in love with the campus, the program and the support he got there. “My mom and I drove up to Cornell on a sleety April day,” he said. “We had lunch at the now-defunct Pancake House.” A track hurdler and football place-kicker at Commack, Williams played a little defensive backfield for Cornell’s Big Red for one season. “I rode the bench most of the time, but I did play for a year,” he said. In the classroom, “the program was perfect for me: I had the opportunity to get my hands dirty right away. I didn’t have to wait through two years of theory and not touch anything. They let you get into it right away,” he said. THE ENTREPRENEUR STRIKES Spend 60 seconds with Williams and you know he’s not a wallflower. In college, the world suddenly opened up for him. “In spirit, I’m an entrepreneur,” he said. “I saw niches that could be filled. “First, on the radio side, I convinced a local radio station manager to put me on the air, at WTKO in Ithaca. As students we used do some reporting: occasionally we’d feed a newsbite or two. I made an impassioned plea to them 30
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about how we could produce viable, useful weather reports for their station. They agreed. “I called a few other radio stations in New York and a business was born. Cornell and the professors were very supportive. They let me use the facilities. I think I gave back a lot to Cornell. I created a partnership that exists today for students to anchor weather reports on the Ithaca College evening news.” The beauty of that experience, and we’re talking 1980, is that Cornell’s meteorologists-to-be could get live experience in a studio and graduate with audio and video tapes, which were vital to getting a job. For Williams, a big change in his life had already occurred. “I ran the business, it was small, in my senior year. After graduation we moved into the DeWitt Building downtown. I had two partners, and at one point we had a 20-person staff. We did all kinds of things there.” Within two years, his senior staff was itching for
opposite page Kevin Williams dresses a
snowman at his Penfield home in January.
this page, clockwise from top Promotional
photo from WHEC-TV, Channel 10, 2014; Kevin forecasts the weather for WICB-TV (Ithaca College TV) in 1979; working at then WOKR-TV Channel 13 (call letters have since changed to WHAM) in 1985; Kevin fills in at WHAM-1180 in 2018, where he worked for more than 20 years.
other opportunities and Williams had to make a bunch of “I’m a big believer in paying dues. I worked one year decisions. on weekends, commuting, so I paid double my dues not “We still had a great group of clients. So, we agreed I sleeping on Sunday nights for a year. That’s how you do would just take the clients and they [my senior staff] would it. You learn from your mistakes in less-visible positions go their own ways. and from people above you who have been there before,” “An opportunity arose at Channel 13 in Rochester to do he said. “I passed that down to people who followed me.” TV, which is the one thing I could not do with the business, The success of Weather-Track depended on learning so I moved the business from Ithaca to Rochester in 1983. I two things, Williams said. commuted one year between Ithaca and Rochester. I worked “One is quite obvious,” he said. “You need to be accurate. evening TV Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday night, ABC You need to know not only the weather but the surrounding always had a late-running movie, so our news wouldn’t areas and how the lakes and mountains come into play. The go on until like midnight. By the time I had wrapped that other thing you have to know, which believe it or not is very up it was 1 a.m. I drove back to Ithaca on Route 96 in the important but sounds kind of silly, is to know how all the middle of the winter trying to avoid the deer and I’d get towns are pronounced and know all the nuances. back to Ithaca about 3 a.m. and I had to start my day at 4 “In Rochester, for example, if somebody came from out a.m. because we had 75 individual stations and regional of the market and was going to do the weather, he might say, networks that had to be served. ‘If you live in Aay-von, Chilly or Leema, bring your coat.’ “So, I didn’t sleep on Sunday nights for a year.” Right away people would say, ‘Who’s that guy?’ Williams looks back on those days with no regret. “So, I would always tell young people we’d hire, ‘Know MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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the market. Know the people, the ball teams they root for.’ What were once three-day forecasts now extend well “Here’s a great example: We were on a station in Dallas beyond. and it was a new station for us, we had just started. There His business also includes industrial accounts, was a big tornado outbreak, we had coverage all the time, 24 “businesses making mission-critical decisions based on what hours, live on the air. After the event had passed and things I tell them,” he explained. had settled down, the station manager thanked me, and said That includes huge ships on the ocean as far away the coverage was just what they were looking for. Then he as Australia, landfill operations, maple sugar harvesters, added, ‘Tell your crew they did a great job. However, Kevin, balloonists. One of his clients is an aerial imaging company we don’t have basements in Dallas.’ with clients in Hawai’i and Alaska. “When I said, ‘Go to your basement’ on our forecasts, STILL ON VIEW people heard that and said, ‘Huh?’ “That’s the kind of lesson I learned, you have to know When his departure from Channel 10 came in 2017, he’d your market. Not just the science, but the politics and the been there 21 years. “I believe I am the longest-standing sports and the pronunciation of the towns.” chief meteorologist in town, in this market, which is THE SCIENTIST IN THE STUDIO transient,” he admitted. Noting the movement of other well-known meteorologists who have Williams, like any other meteorologist, followed paths similar to his from station is sensitive to the fact that he was the lone to station, Williams said, “I think I started scientist on the TV broadcast team. He a trend.” wasn’t reading something prepared by “But think about it: over the course others, what he explained and what he of 37 years, I changed jobs twice. In this demonstrated and taught people came day and age is changing jobs twice in from his training and experience and data. 37 years, is that unusual?” he said. “It The radio experience was crucial seems that way. In TV, you’re invited because you needed to get a lot of into people’s home and you’re there. information across in 30 seconds, but Then suddenly you’re gone. That affects some station clients expected more people. Sometimes they feel hurt. repartee lasting three minutes. He was “In local news there’s nothing more accustomed to getting the weather important than the weather, with all forecast across on radio with a stopwatch respect to my dear friends in news and in his hand. sports. Nothing drives the ratings — And when he was doing that from his nothing — like the appreciation of and first days in radio, ‘I didn’t know I was the good spirit of and the fandom of the getting trained for TV,” he said. local meteorologist: it’s just the way it is. “I see people who want to break into In every market, except maybe in some of TV who have trouble being able to move, the southern markets where the weather point fluidly, speak clearly and get time doesn’t change but almost everywhere cues,” he said. “It’s a problem because else, the weather drives viewers.” they’ve never had to do it before. I trained He has a case in point. as a kid to take on all of this.” “When I left Channel 10 a lot of people For Williams, words flow quickly were not happy and got in touch with me. and his delivery is always with a smile So I said, ‘Let’s not make this the end. Let’s or genuine sincerity. He’s polite. He’s not stop here. Let’s get together Monday professional. He’s engaging. And his fans through Thursday at 5 p.m. and shoot haven’t left him. His radio experience the breeze on Faceboook (www.facebook. gives him the ability to clearly stress what com/profile.php?id=100044245488842). I he wants people to hear. His delivery comes fast or slow, have sponsors for it. I do it as a labor of love. I had people the modulations fixing your attention. If he has an accent, follow me from station to station and I wasn’t ready to leave it’s been scrubbed with care. them in the lurch. I wanted to give them an option, and When he started out, forecasting was nowhere near me an option, to have a platform. I don’t know where it’s as accurate as it is today. By necessity, he made his own going to take me, or where it’s going to go. The sponsors weather charts with colored pencils. Radar images came are happy,” he said. through on a fax machine and were fuzzy and cloudy. And Williams has 18,000 followers for his chatty, “There were limitations,” he said. “In some ways it neighborly show those four days a week. When you circle required more skill. I learned you could outshine your [TV in to view it, you see the wall behind him covered with meteorologist] competition if you worked harder and had awards and articles and photos. You don’t see his collection that drive.” of Star Trek phasers and memorabilia and autographs that Today, with instantaneous radar and high-resolution are on the bookshelf to your left. satellite images and all kinds of sophisticated computer Thursday is his dress-down day, so viewers can’t models and programs, “you have to be even more accurate experience viewing one of his 150-some weather-themed because you have more information,” he said. ties that fill a closet. But Monday through Wednesday,
‘I am the one running toward the storm, that’s been my life, running toward the storm. I started very young and my parents nurtured that in every way possible. It’s what I do. It’s in my bones. It’s in my DNA.’
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they’re on display. Some he bought, but many were given to him by viewers. He also has a more immediate presence on Twitter (@wxbywilliams), useful for sharing things right now, which he does. A COURT PRESENCE
TRACKING THE WEATHER Weather-Track Inc., a company owned by Kevin Williams, has five employees. The company prepares weather broadcasts, many 30 seconds or so long for 90 radio stations. Some of those radio stations are in regional networks, owned by the same company, and one forecast can cover six or more radio stations.
Beth and Kevin raised Brandon and Brianna, two kids who got really popular on their street. “I used to make snow here,” William said. “We did it for several years and it was a whole lot of fun. I’d drag out the snow-making machine and make a big hill of snow, 15 feet or so. When the kids were small, it became a winter resort for all the neighborhood children. “At first the neighbors thought I was a Looney Tunes. ‘What?’ they’d say, ‘We don’t get enough snow?’ “But suddenly, when all their kids were over at our house spending the afternoon, they’d tell me, ‘That’s really a good idea you got there.’” Then there was that one morning… “When you make snow,” he said, “it’s not those big flakes — it’s kind of like a cloud, little crystals, very dense, easily pushed by the wind. After I came home from my late work, I’d go to the machine to make sure that it was moving in the right position so as to take advantage of any breeze. One night, the wind shifted unexpectedly and my neighbor woke early, heading off to work at Kodak. When she opened her garage door, there was a small pile of snow on her driveway and there was no snow in the forecast. ‘What the heck?’ she said, and she looked over and saw the snow blower running.”
A solid portion of his WeatherTrack business is meteorological forensics. Simply put, there are times when it’s important to understand weather conditions as part of a lawsuit. When you think about how much Williams makes all those calls experience Williams has acquired in carefully looking at detailed weather himself except on weekends, data nationally for years on end, and when one of his employees will his experience in forecasting and pick up some of those calls. local knowledge, and his ability to get His employees are also busy his points made in professional but understandable terms, he becomes an doing forecasts and other work. ideal expert witness. His Facebook broadcasts at When an insurance company 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday are needs some weather evidence, who entertaining and provide a lot you gonna call? “They seek me out,” Williams said. of specific, intimate detail on “I don’t advertise. I’m sought out from what's going on for his followers. as far away as New Hampshire and Alabama. Weather is important, and In the Rochester area, Williams the lawyers want a scientist but they can be heard on the Family also want someone able to articulate Life network found at 94.7 FM, things in a conversational way so WCJW-1140 AM and CJBQ-800 the jury can say, ‘Oh, I get what he’s saying.’ It’s a fine line between science AM, among other stations. and a lay person understanding what you’re saying. That’s what I’ve done TAPERING and that’s how I built my reputation. “If they seek me out to get the Owner of a successful business matter resolved, I’m just reporting my findings. I tell them with a wide reach, Williams enjoys being present and objectively and they decide, based on the science, if that will accessible through his Facebook and Twitter accounts. help their strategy. I give it both sides all the time.” Watch one of his programs during the week and you Before the pandemic, Williams did a lot of traveling on see a neighborhood guy entertaining good friends and forensic cases “just because I didn’t have enough to do in dispensing, sharing helpful advice. my life already,” he said. “A lot of those cases never go to This is a good time for him. trial, so I submit a report or affidavit and that’s sufficient. If I “I love my work,” he said. “I get to talk on the radio. I have to testify, that requires travel, which means scheduling get sought after by high-profile attorneys from insurance with extreme precision and care to make sure everyone and companies and others to be their expert. I have people everything in my business gets served. making mission-critical decisions based on what I tell them; “I work for attorneys and insurance agencies, I work a boat out on the ocean, a company getting some aerial for plaintiff and defense, whoever calls first.” imagery and they need certain kinds of data. I don’t see There’s an hourly fee for any report he writes, expenses that ending…I see it tapering. I’m not as young as I was.” for travel and fees for time in court. From those moments on the front porch in a thunderstorm to a year of sleepless Sunday nights traveled SNOWMAKER on Route 96 between Rochester and Ithaca, to a very satisfying life working out of his home but completely Kevin Williams’ wife, Beth, who is a mental health in tune with the weather all around him throughout the counselor, knew what she was getting into when they tied northern hemisphere, Kevin Williams knows he’s a lucky, the knot in 1989. The honeymoon was in Paris and she centered man. allowed him a total of 15 minutes to watch one, just one, “I am never out of tune,” he said. “I am always in sync native French TV weather forecast. with the weather.” ■ MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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cleaning How to Make Spring Cleaning More Effective Some pros offering good, clean suggestions By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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he days are getting longer and warmer. It’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning—tackling those lessthan-routine household cleaning chores. To make spring cleaning more effective, Michelle Jungermann, director of social enterprises for Spot-On Cleaning Company in Canandaigua, said to work from the top down, knocking down cobwebs up high before dusting mid-level areas and finally vacuuming. SpotOn employees use vacuums as much as possible since they remove dust instead of stirring it up with sweeping. Instead of climbing ladders to clean, Jungermann recommends using a telescoping dusting wand. She also emphasized the importance of following package directions. For example, most products have “dwell time,” meaning how long the cleaner should remain on the surface. “That goes for any kind of cleaning whether disinfecting or not,” Jungermann said. “Follow the label.” Wiping it up too soon may mean that the product has insufficient time to work but leaving it on too long can damage surfaces. Cleaning Venetian blinds is tough for many people. Tina Servis, owner of Maid 4 Time in Rochester, has a few techniques. To vanquish tacky build-
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up, she reaches for Dawn dish soap or rubbing alcohol and a microfiber rag. “Apply the soap directly to the rag to break down grease on the blinds,” she said. “Use a separate clean cloth to wipe it. Any rag will work.” If the blinds are just dusty, she uses the vacuum cleaner wand with the brush attachment. If climbing and crouching to clean trim and baseboards has become challenging for you, follow Servis’ lead and use the vacuum wand with the brush, followed by a damp sponge mop.
Servis adds fabric softener to her mop water—1/8 cup per gallon of water—to soften up the gunk on hard surfaces. Reach fly specks and other smudges on painted walls and ceilings with a lightweight Swiffer-style mop. (Test an inconspicuous area first to ensure the disposable mop head will not damage the surface.) If your bathroom is prone to mold, Servis offered a method more effective than bleach. “Bleach does not kill mold; it just changes the color,” she said. “Tea tree
Erica Gray is general manager of The Maids in Rochester. She likes using Magic Erasers for wall scuffs and build-up on shower walls. “They work great inside the fridge for that residual jelly that hardens in there,” she says.
oil does. Add it to some water and you can put it on a Swiffer to mop the ceiling. It typically takes longer to come back. And it makes your bathroom smell good.” She also suggests using a “spaghetti string” style mop for areas such as the base of the toilet and behind it. “If there is urine on the floor, you can use shaving cream,” she said. “Put it on the tile or linoleum, then let it sit 30 minutes. It will remove the urine smell. You could also do it on an inconspicuous spot and test it to make sure it won’t damage the floor.” Stains or rust in the toilet that bowl cleaner won’t remove may be etches in the porcelain. Servis said that a wet pumice stone from a hardware store can help. “You wet it down to use, but test in an inconspicuous spot first,” she said. She also uses Bar Keeper’s Friend for rust and spots on porcelain. Zep, an acid bowl cleaner available at OfficeMax.com, lifts the most stubborn toilet stains. For rust in a fiberglass tub, Servis uses a Magic Eraser sponge. She warned to avoid over scrubbing, since it can be abrasive.
Cooking debris baked onto a stovetop can be challenging to remove. For tough spots, Servis uses The Pink Stuff, an all-purpose cleaner available at Target. James Aures, owner of Booie’s Professional Services in Canandaigua, said that for carpet stains, the trick is to use the right product. “You have to be careful with stain removers,” he said. “Sometimes they’re too strong and they’ll bleach your carpet.” Te s t t h e c l e a n e r o n a n inconspicuous area first. Ideally, you should blot a spill with a white towel immediately to increase the chances of removing the stain. “Then go to water and then something else,” Aures said. He likes Don-John carpet cleaner, available online. Another good stain remover, Amodex, sold at Lowe’s, is ideal for removing stains such as permanent marker, printer toner and ink. Use it first and without any water for the best results. Few people like cleaning windows because every swipe seems to leave streaks instead of clean, clear glass.
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Erica Gray, general manager of The Maids in Rochester, said that using newspaper or coffee filters to wipe away the glass cleaner will leave no streaks. Cloth rags and paper towels get wet quickly and cause streaks. “You want absorbent materials,” she said. “Some cloths get tainted with other cleaners. That can leave streaks.” To keep cleaning easier, she recommends assembling a caddy of the cleaning supplies you use the most. “You can take it with you room to room and you won’t have to run around the house searching for everything,” Gray said. She likes using Magic Erasers for wall scuffs and build-up on shower walls. “They work great inside the fridge for that residual jelly that hardens in there,” Gray added. If a deep spring-cleaning day seems overwhelming, ask family for help or enlist a cleaning service. “We do a lot of one to two times a year cleaning appointments to help people get back on track,” Gray said. “You don’t have to commit to a more frequent schedule.”
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art
Artistry in the Open Air Being outside and painting is one of the safest things you can do By Mike Costanza
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nowflakes swirled around Barbara Jablonski as she depicted in oil the stretch of the Erie Canal that flows behind her Pittsford home. “The canal is one of my favorite subjects to paint,” the plein air painter said. Plein air painters create their works out of doors, by natural light. Jablonski’s paintings have appeared in shows and galleries around the Rochester area and garnered many awards, including first place in the 1000 Islands Plein Air Artists Competition. The Rochester-born artist is the founder and president of Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters, Inc., an artists’ club, and a professional musician. Artistic expression appears to run through Jablonski’s family from a great-grandmother who painted in the Renaissance style to her late father, Donald O’Connor, who played the trumpet and banjo. As a youth, O’Connor played onstage with his mother and brother, who were also musicians. “They were called ‘The O’Connor Brothers,’” Jablonski said, who in 36
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March turned 73 years of age. “They used to play in the speakeasies during the Depression to put food on the table.” Both threads, painting and music, are woven through Jablonski’s life. While working as a marketing consultant and in other positions, she studied painting under such internationally acclaimed artists as Kevin McPherson and Steve Carpenter. “I started out painting in acrylic, but when I learned the beauty of oil, that became near and dear to my heart,” Jablonski said. Jablonski created still-lifes, portraits and other classical works until the 1990s, when one of her art teachers introduced her to plein air painting. The avid hiker and camper immediately took to it. “I love being outside,” Jablonski said. “It was a natural fit for me.” Eventually, Jablonski began gathering with other plein air painters at outdoor locations, some of which were isolated and remote. The groups gave their members a sense of security and allowed them to share their enthusiasm for plein air painting. “You enjoy the energy that comes
from other folk,” Jablonski said. “You’re only talking about painting. You’re solving problems.” Seeking to spread the benefits of group plein air painting, Jablonski formed the GVPAP in 2005. Professional artist Judy Soprano, a longtime friend of Jablonski’s, joined the club early on. Soprano values the camaraderie and security that the club’s group activities provide. “It’s hard when you’re painting on your own,” said the Livonia resident, who is in her 80s. “With the club, at least three people show up.” GVPAP, which began with just 45 painters on its roster, eventually grew to have 60 active members, including artists from as far away as Buffalo. Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the club regularly held in-person plein air workshops, juried competitions and large-scale events. All of GVPAP’s members participated in Under Open Skies; Painting Nature Past and Present, which was held in 2008 at the Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford. “We worked for a whole year on a theme of painting the Genesee Valley,” Jablonski said.
from left “Boat at the Clayton Yacht Club,” which took first place at the 2021 1000 Islands Plein Air Competition; Painting in the frigid moment, Barbara Jablonski depicts a winter scene on canvas; A “boats on the water” theme flows through many of Barbara Jablonski’s creations, which fill the walls of her Pittsford home
From the way Soprano speaks, such events are right up Jablonski’s alley. “The woman is so full of really neat ideas,” Soprano said. “Her energy is just unbelievable.” GVPAP has been forced to cancel some events since the pandemic hit and hold others remotely, though it has continued to schedule in-person activities that could be held outside. “Being outside and painting is one of the safest things you can do,” Jablonski said. W h e n n o t r u n n i n g G V PA P, Jablonski enjoys setting up her easel at sites near and far. “My love is nautical painting,” she said. “I love painting boats in water.” Jablonski has gone to her backyard, to parts of the Finger Lakes region and across the US to create her paintings. When far-off locales have beckoned, she’s hitched up her small travel trailer to her SUV and headed out, accompanied by Jessie J, her trusty silky terrier. “She’s a loud, yappy little dog,” Jablonski said. “She’s my security system.” Jablonski completes her works in
no more than two-and-a-half hours, a time limit imposed by the need to paint before the natural light changes. Though she will paint even if it snows or rains, she packs up her easel when hail falls. “When the hail hits your painting, it sticks to the painting and it makes, like, volcano craters,” Jablonski said. “When it melts, your painting is ruined.” The artist’s creations have earned awards and accolades at local and regional plein air competitions. Lovers of the that style of painting have been able to view or purchase Jablonski’s works at museums and other venues around the Finger Lakes, including the Memorial Art Gallery’s store, THE STORE @ MAG. When not standing before an easel, Jablonski might be found onstage. Proficient in the Appalachian dulcimer, the hammered dulcimer and the guitar and ukulele, the professional musician has played around the Rochester region in duets or as a member of two bands. She’s also a longtime member and past president of the Golden Link Folk Singing Society. Well-known folksinger Allen
Hopkins, one of Golden Link’s cofounders, has played with Jablonski in local schools and public venues since the 1970s and counts her as a friend. “We get into arguments sometimes about how to do particular songs, but overall she’s been just a joy to work with,” Hopkins said. The two are longtime members of the Celtic music quartet Innisfree. Denied by the pandemic the opportunity to perform for nearly two years, the band was finally able to mount the stage of the Big aLICe Brewing company in Geneva, New York, last November. “We got together after 22 months,” Jablonski said. “It was wonderful!” In addition to painting and playing music, Jablonski enjoys spending time with her two grown daughters and two granddaughters, aged 9 and 10. She seems bent on passing her love of the outdoors on to the kids. “I take them camping every year” she said. “I’m also trying to teach them how do draw, paint and play the ukulele.”
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gardening
Hostas in a flower bed, still a classic favorite for those improving their landscape. Photo courtesy of Frisbee’s Landscaping, Ponds and Patios in Rochester.
Top Tips for ‘Brown Thumbs’ Experts offer tips on what’s right for your lawn By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
shoots, the stake or tag, will indicate the ideal soil type and other growing ary, Mary, quite contrary/ conditions. How does your garden If you do not know your land’s soil grow?” type, you can have it tested by Cornell If your answer is, “Not Cooperative Extension of Monroe so well,” you can improve your County for $10 (http://monroe.cce. growing techniques to help your cornell.edu/horticulture/diagnostichome’s landscaping look great this clinic). Extension agents can also help season. troubleshoot other issues. If you want to grow plants from Avoid finicky non-native plants seed, start early. You can begin many and shrubs. Instead, chose plants plants indoors from seed if you start well-suited to the local climate. As one them four to six weeks before the last example, James VanEenwyk, president frost. and owner of Grandpa’s Nursery & This gives them a head start on Garden Center in Sodus, said to choose weeds that compete for their light, spirea. nutrients and water. If you grow plants “The spirea of today are very easy in pots with new soil, this can ensure to grow, with nice flowering color, as that you have low weed pressure. long as you give them some sun,” he Always select the right type of soil said. “The key to easy growing is for what you want to grow. The seed putting the right plant in the right packet or, in the case of seedlings and spot. Proper light, moisture and space,
“M
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all make growing plants much easier.” VanEenwyk is also a fan of hostas. “They are very easy to grow if you’re planting in the shade,” he added. “If you have a hot, dry spot plant sedum: nice flowers and no work.” A perennial, sedum attracts pollinators. Low-growing sedum can offer groundcover to shade out weeds; taller sedum works well in border gardens. Planting perennials will save work next year. However, they do not tend to retain their flowers as long as annuals. To add a punch of continuous color all season, add annuals. Lee Frisbee, owner of Frisbee’s Landscaping, Ponds and Patios in Rochester, likes daisies and pansies. “You can get them in April and they just need water and sunlight,” he said. Marigolds are also an easy-to-grow
annual that reseeds itself. Planting the rest of the yard. butterflies. They can create a meadowone marigold in a bare portion of the He also mentioned gerbera daisies like ambiance to landscaping without flowerbed or in a planter can result in or impatiens around water features requiring a lot of care. a bevy of blooms. Marigolds tend to or areas of the yard prone to water Frisbee encourages people new shade out weeds, so it helps to start “because they love to have their feet to gardening and landscaping to them early. wet,” he said. ask for tips from those working at a Frisbee likes decorative grasses, On the contrary, the Stella de Oro greenhouse, but always go with what which can help hide small birds from daylily is drought tolerant and can be they like. predators. Available in a variety of helpful in filling in areas because they “Different colors and plants appeal colors and sizes, decorative grass is reproduce prolifically. to people differently,” Frisbee said. easy to grow and can fill in a bare spot Wildflowers are also easy to “Go to a greenhouse and pick out in the landscape without taking over grow and attract pollinators and something.”
Bringing Your Backyard To Life in 2022 If your summer plans are like many others, it is likely you anticipate staying at home more as travel is still uncertain and some families are still recovering financially from losses incurred because of the pandemic. Lee Frisbee, owner of Frisbee’s Landscaping, Ponds and Patios in Rochester, said that since the pandemic began “my phone has been ringing off the hook” because so many homeowners want to spruce up their backyard instead of going on vacation. “Last year, we surpassed our sales goal and for 2022, I plan to double what we did last year,” Frisbee said. “We did more water features last year than the past 12 years combined, along with patios.” Because of the inordinate demand and supply chain issues, he recommends ordering goods and services early. Like comfort foods in the kitchen, many clients choose classics for their landscaping, like hostas, roses and fountain grass. “These never go out of style,” Frisbee said. Indigenous plants that add color and draw birds and butterflies such as
coneflowers and butterfly bushes are also popular. “It creates a healing place; it’s like therapy,” Frisbee said. As for hardscaping, Frisbee foresees a continued trend of decks with firepits as more people are staying home to cook and spend time together as a family than pre-pandemic. “No one is putting a metal ring in the middle of the lawn anymore,” he said. “This is about creating an outdoor living space. People want decks and firepits. They don’t want their feet muddy and wet. They want colorful furniture and umbrellas, canopies and windsails. “Pizza ovens in the outdoor fireplaces are also big.” Instead of collapsible lawn chairs, the trend is more wooden lawn furniture, such as Adirondack chairs and gliders, as homeowners make their outdoor living space more comfortable. Frisbee said that wooden lawn furniture has been difficult to keep in stock because of the shortage of wood and the uptick in demand. Backyards also need focal points to create a relaxing ambiance. That is why water features tucked into landscaped areas have become so popular. Frisbee said that many customers want either ponds with fish as a hobbyist or low-maintenance, pond-free water features such as fountains that circulate water in a closed loop. The relaxing sound of flowing water brings a sense of nature even to properties in the suburban or small-town setting. Many grandparents have been purchasing outdoor play sets and swing sets for their grandchildren’s homes or for their own homes for when their grandchildren visit. “It’s about safety over going to
public playground,” said Jennifer Deuel, treasurer of Cricket on The Hearth Inc., in Rochester. Play equipment at home helps children limit contact with others. Many grandparents bring in their adult children along with the grandchildren to Cricket on the Hearth so they can design a play set that accommodates the children’s growing interests, from baby seats to the monkey bars that young teens crave. “Each swing has a 250-pound tolerance, so parents can play too,” Deuel said. Cricket on the Hearth’s Swing Kingdom line is vinyl sleeved wood with finished edges. The aesthetics of play sets have move away from the cute cottage to a more modern design that resembles a tiny house—complete with a skylight. Shoppers can use Cricket’s design software to help choose features and visualize the finished product. “You can put one together from what you want, starting with color, the swings you want, spider-webbed trampoline swing and ADA-accessible swings that are more controlled,” Deuel said. Features like a built-in picnic table or café counter adds play interest and charm. Swing Kingdom delivers and installs the sets so that buyers will not have to feel concerned about the safety of their construction. So many families have been buying play sets that Cricket has experienced some delays in receiving them. Deuel said that five to eight weeks is typical delivery time, so ordering early may help prevent disappointment.
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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hearing
Signs You Need a Hearing Examination Sign No. 1: Your spouse tells you to have your hearing checked By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
E
veryone should have a baseline hearing evaluation. But after this point, some signs can indicate that you could benefit from another evaluation. Sometimes, a hearing loss could indicate an acute, treatable problem. Other times, hearing loss could mean that a hearing instrument could improve quality of life and communication. “There is the possibility if they have dizziness or ringing in the ears and loss in one ear, it could be an acoustic tumor,” said Ramona Stein, Ph.D, audiologist and owner of Sounds for Life in Pittsford. “Some people also might have an ear infection, treated with medication.” A build-up of wax in the ear could also contribute to muffled hearing. Audiologists who discover the likelihood of a medical reason for
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hearing impairment refer patients to an otolaryngologist or physician for further treatment. If hearing aids are in order, the audiologist would write a prescription for them. “Usually, they say they can’t hear because people mumble,” Stein said. “They might hear a person is talking but can’t make out the entirety of what that person is saying. Another major indication is you have difficulty hearing in background noise in restaurant and family gatherings. “Others in the household may say the TV or radio is turned up too loud. If you don’t hear your turn signal or notifications like the microwave is finished or the doorbell or phone ringing, you need a hearing evaluation.” Hearing loss is more than an annoyance or quality of life issue. Stein
said that people with untreated hearing loss a three times greater chance of falling. Because of the diminished auditory stimulation, those with a mild untreated hearing loss have double the likelihood of dementia. That jumps to three times the likelihood for those with a moderate hearing loss and for those with severe hearing loss, five times the likelihood. Hearing loss can be insidious. Audiologist Ron D’Angelo with Clear Choice Hearing & Balance in Rochester said that normally, it’s a family member who urges the person with hearing loss to seek an evaluation. “The spouse frequently ‘translates’ what other people say,” D’Angelo said. “A lot of couples don’t even realize they do this.” Factory work, serving in the military, playing loud music or engaging in loud hobbies like working with power tools or shooting firearms can increase the risk of gradual hearing loss. Anyone with abrupt hearing loss should seek immediate medical attention. “People might think it’s a weakness or don’t want to admit they have a problem, but they should at least find out what the real situation is,” D’Angelo said. Hearing aids have come a long way since the bulky, taupe-colored hearing aids of a generation ago. Today’s top-of-the-line models are Bluetooth-enabled to allow them to tune into Smart TVs and cell phones. They can cost a few thousand dollars. However, the improvement they offer is unparalleled. It may seem a good option to select an inexpensive over-the-counter amplifier. However, these devices often prove a waste of money, according to Joe Kozelsky, retired audiologist and honorary board member of the Hearing Loss Association of America Rochester Chapter in Fairport. “It is very easy to make sounds louder,” Kozelsky said. “Therefore, that is inexpensive. It is much harder to make sounds louder but more comfortable. The problem is to make sure that the sounds amplified are within the person’s comfortable listening range. This is part of where
the expense comes in. Hearing aids are a lot more complicated than most people think. They’re unlike any other listening device you’d have such as a cell phone, iPad or anything you’d put in your ear.” The main difference is that hearing aids are both input and output devices. Commonplace electronics are just output devices. Instead of an audio engineer at a soundboard perfecting the sound that goes through a phone or iPad, a hearing aid does this on the fly. “This is difficult to do and every advanced circuitry is involved and that’s where the cost lies,” Kozelsky said. Amplifiers simply make all sound around the person louder, but cannot determine which sounds are desirable so that less desirable sounds are not the focus. Modern hearing aids can also determine the origin of a sound so the aid on that side turns up and the other side turns down. Hearing aids can also record how much they are used and in what types of environments they’re used so that the provider can adjust them further. “This information is not available in over-the-counter devices and personal sound amplifier products,” Kozelsky said. He encourages people with hearing loss to visit a provider close to home so they can more readily receive service for their hearing aids as needed. “Do not respond to the ads that offer huge discounts or the national representative who comes into town for three days and you have a ‘wonderful opportunity’ to speak with him to get the best hearing aids recommended for you,” Kozelsky said. “They’re provided by the local facility. The national consultant will make a recommendation for you and you’ll never see them again. They also receive a very substantial portion of the purchase price.” Kozelsky welcomes people concerned about their hearing or who have a diagnosed hearing loss to sign up for the organization’s monthly remote sessions on Zoom. “People can ask questions and we have a series of lectures and presentations for people with hearing loss and hearing aids,” Kozelsky said. Those interested can sign up and find more information on hearing loss at hearinglossrocheter.org.
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Implants Can Replace Lost Teeth A few things you should consider before you have any work done By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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I
f you have holes in your smile, dental implants offer an option for replacing lost teeth. The technique has improved to the point where 90% of procedures result in teeth that last a few decades or much longer without complications or repairs, according to Sol Weinstein, dentist with the Weinstein Dental Group in Brockport. Of his dental implant patients, “80% are patients seeking a single tooth replacement,” Weinstein said. “It’s pretty cost effective.” The industry average is around $2,400 per tooth, plus more if other services are needed. The cost of dentures is about $2,500 for a full set. However, insurance typically offers
some coverage, unlike implants. Implants typically have no ongoing costs like dentures, which require adhesive, cleansing tablets, a d j u s t m e n t s a n d re p l a c e m e n t . Dentures last five to 10 years for most patients. Since dentures cover the roof of the mouth, they interfere with the taste and feel of food. Certain foods are off limits with dentures because they are too difficult to chew. Some patients feel uncomfortable with an appliance in their mouths. They can wear down the bone from the friction while eating. In addition to improving appearance, dental implants allow patients to chew and taste food normally. They also help prevent bone
loss and help keep the adjacent teeth from shifting. The process begins with visiting a dentist to review dental history, health history and receive X-rays. “The dentist will need to look at your medications and discuss any health conditions,” Weinstein said. “Diabetes needs to be well controlled. If you are on blood thinners, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a good candidate for implants, but you need to talk about it.” Any infections in the mouth will have to heal. If the bone in the jaw is not ideal, the patient will need to have more work done such as bone grafts. For typical cases, “it’s very predictable, as predictable as placing a filling,” Weinstein said. “You have your outlier extreme cases, but the mainstream cases are very straightforward.” Dentists can fit patients with a temporary tooth to fill in the gap cosmetically. It will not have the same function as the implant will. Once the bone heals around the screw under the gumline, a dentist can add the crown—the part that looks like a natural tooth—to the connector that sits on the gumline. One of the advantages that an implant has over a partial appliance is that the latter tends to torque the adjacent teeth, which can cause them to become loose. Weinstein added that the presence of the appliance can also trap food debris, which contributes
to decay. They can also irritate gums. “I don’t always recommend partials because it puts a half-life on your remaining teeth, though it’s a much more affordable option,” Weinstein said. A fixed partial denture or bridge offers a more permanent option. To fit it, the adjacent teeth must be filed down, which can raise the risk for decay. The recovery time after implantation varies case by case. “It depends of course on how many implants and if bone grafts are involved,” said Oren Weiss, diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology at Rochester Periodontal & Dental Implants in Rochester.
What Are Dental Implants? By Thomaz Zahavi, DMD, MS Dental implants are one of the most important advancements made in the field of dentistry. They were first developed in the 1960s by an orthopedic surgeon researching the integration of titanium to bone. Since then, dental implants have continued to evolve and have since been used safely in millions of patients. A dental implant is a special titanium post that is surgically inserted into the jaw bone. The bone then grows onto the surface of the implant to hold it securely in place, a process called osseointegration. The implant serves as an artificial tooth root. A porcelain crown matching your teeth is then attached to the implant using a special connector, or abutment. The end result is a beautiful, naturallooking tooth replacement that looks, feels and functions like your missing tooth.
Dentist Sol Weinstein practices at Weinstein Dental Group in Brockport.
The procedure is generally not painful, unless the patient receives bone grafts. Many people feel fine to go back to work the next day. The implanted tooth can be installed and functioning after three months. Weiss said that some whole jaw and mouth implant procedures can have implants and teeth installed on the same day. Patients need “soft, non-chewy, room temperature or colder food for the first day,” Weiss said. “After that, avoid chewing on where the implant was placed for at least six weeks. Once the teeth are installed you can chew normally.” Patients will have periodic checkups to ensure that their mouths are healthy and should perform home care to promote oral health.
From a single tooth replacement to a full mouth restoration or securing dentures, the range of clinical applications for dental implants is
impressive. Placing a dental implant requires special dental training. Patients requiring multiple implant placements, full mouth restorations or those needing bone augmentation should see a periodontist who specializes in dental implants and periodontal surgeries to ensure best outcome. A dental implant is a long-term investment in your oral health. Good oral hygiene, and regular visits to your dentist or periodontist for cleanings and oral exams will ensure your implant will keep you smiling for years. Thomas Zahavi is a board-certified periodontist at Dental Implants and Periodontal Health of Rochester (www.DentalImplantsRoc.com). He is also a teaching faculty member in the Department of Periodontology at the University of Rochester/ Eastman Institute for Oral Health.
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hair
Hair Loss Options First, find out what’s causing the problem By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
A
nyone concerned about hair loss has many options available for improving the appearance, health and thickness of their hair. To select the correct option, it is important to understand that hair loss differs from case to case. “There are many causes of hair loss,” said Ron Hebner, owner of New-U Hair Replacement Specialists in Rochester, which has treated clients since the 1980s. He recommends visiting a primary care doctor to rule out health issues. Changing medication may help avoid the side effect of hair loss, for example. Some health problems such as bulimia, anorexia and hypothyroidism can cause hair loss, among other symptoms. Shortly after pregnancy, most women experience abrupt, noticeable shedding as their hormones adjust (although this is temporary). People experiencing severe emotional or physical stress often lose hair suddenly. Once any medical issues have been resolved, Hebner advises seeing a hair 44
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professional. “The key to your success is addressing the issues right away,” he said. “Early treatments will yield the best results. Although most people are looking for that miracle cure, suggested treatments would depend on the individual and results would not be the same for everyone. The best way to determine which option is most suitable for the individual is to meet with a professional.” Beth Lertzman is board-certified in dermatology and dermatologic surgery. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and the National Board of Medical Examiners Lertzman and sees patients about hair loss and other concerns at Genesee Valley Dermatology & Laser Centre in Rochester. In addition to learning about why the hair loss is happening, Lertzman encourages patients to eat right, but not go overboard with nutrients.
“Over-taking zinc or biotin — a lot of people take too much of them when they have hair loss,” Lertzman said. “A healthful diet with the appropriate amount of zinc, vitamin B and vitamin D is good. If you talk with your doctor, they can test to make sure that you have the right levels.” If you choose to supplement, take a well-known brand and stick with the recommended daily intake of nutrients. Go easy on your hair. Washing too frequently, using harsh shampoo and using chemical treatments can weaken hair. Avoid styles that pull and break hair, as this makes the hair that is left appear thinner and can damage follicles. Lertzman said that for some people, over-the-counter minoxidil works well, but for some people they need to keep using it for life to maintain results. “A lot of the treatments are considered off-label,” she added. “There’s a medicine that’s FDAapproved to lower blood pressure, but we notice a lot of people had hair growth. There are a lot of off-label treatments and a lot of research to make drugs on-label.” Non-surgical treatments can also include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. This involves a series of office visits in which vials of the patient’s blood are withdrawn. The blood is separated so that the plasma is rich with the patient’s own platelets. This concentrated blood is injected back into the patient, which stimulates the scalp to grow hair. PRP treatments take time to become effective, but patients experience no downtime. “The platelets can affect the follicles directly,” said physician Alex Montague, who practices at Quatela Center for Hair Restoration in Rochester. He is board-certified by the American Board of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, and a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Quatela also provides Keralase, a treatment which uses a laser to create little channels in the scalp.
That facilitates the absorption of a proprietary growth factor and protein serum, KeraFactor. This stimulates the scalp to get into the growth phase of the hair’s cycle. Montague said that patients experience no pain or down time and need about six treatments to begin to see results. In addition to prescribing oral hair growth medication, Montague he also recommends a topical Rogaine/Propecia formula that patients apply twice daily to keep hair in the growth phase. “Rogaine takes hairs in their dying phase and tries to flip the switch,” Montague said. “Propecia blocks testosterone’s effect on the hair follicles. “Testosterone causes the majority of hair loss, about 90%. Coming at it with Rogaine and Propecia, you hit it from two different angles. It’s nice in that it’s a nonsurgical option, relatively cheap and you can do it at home.” These treatments all tend to work best on people who are just beginning to experience thinning. Those with profound, long-term hair loss may not see much improvement. Hair transplant is the costliest, yet most effective way to restore hair longterm. It may take a week or two before patients look like they normally do, and about six to eight weeks for hair to begin growing. It can take a year before the hair comes in thickly. The “doll’s hair” effect of hair plugs is what some patients think when they hear “hair transplant,” but Montague said that the technique has advanced so that the results are natural looking. Providers transfer follicular units, not big clumps, for a natural effect. It can take up to a year for hair to feel as soft as the original hair. Most patients who want it as thick as before come back for two or three rounds of transplants. “In one sitting, you can’t get it to be as thick as the hair God gave you,” Montague said. The outpatient procedure typically requires local anesthesia and little sedation for relaxing patients and can take eight hours. Patients feel no pain and return home the same day.
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retirement Jim Terwilliger is Going Out the Door Slowly Longtime financial planner transitioning into a new cycle of his life, which will include traveling, visiting national monuments and more By John Addyman
H
e just has that air about him, that comfortable, professional presence. “Two years ago, I was getting on a plane flying into Rochester. As I’m walking down the aisle, a lady said, ‘I know you! Aren’t you Jim Terwilliger? You write that column!’ Yep, that’s me all right,” he responded. Sitting in a small meeting room at Canandaigua National Bank where he is a senior vice president, Terwilliger was thinking about special moments in what has been a remarkable trio of careers. Now 79, he is slowly pulling the plug after 20 years at the bank. Before that, he spent 30 years building and leading a 250-person division at Kodak. And in his vocational career, he has been a dedicated community leader and author of his “Financial Health” column that graced the firstever issue of 55 Plus magazine and has been included in the next 73 issues. His last day on the Canandaigua City Council was Dec. 31. He had been a member for nine terms, 18 years. He’s pared the number of community boards of directors he’s been a member of to just two, the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center and the Canandaigua Centennial Endowment Fund. “It’s time to let someone else have a crack at it,” he said. “I’ve always been satisfied with community work and the decisions the council makes impact so many people, not only the 11,000 residents of the city and the property owners here, but the people in the town of Canandaigua think of Canandaigua as their city. The actions by city council really impact 20,000 – 25,000 people. That’s quite a responsibility, but it has been my most satisfying experience in the community.”
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As for the column, which Terwilliger clearly enjoys putting together, “The plan is for my boss, Laurie Haelen, to write it,” he said. “I’m going to phase into retirement the first quarter this year. I will no longer be full time at the end of February. But I will have some part-time role to play until the end of the year.” That column has been solid since 55 Plus began. Terwilliger laid out expert financial planning advice in a way anyone could read and understand. He cut through the Gordian knots of taxes and estate planning and new regulations and just clearly made sense. And he has those fans. “I get calls all the time,” he said,
“mostly people asking questions or wanting further clarification. Once in a while it will result in a new relationship for the bank. The main thing, it’s a very constant way to keep the bank’s name in front of people and hopefully to demonstrate the confidence, competence and knowledge that the bank represents. I think that column has had a big impact. “People tell me they read 55 Plus to see my column and they’re not just my clients. Other people tell me they tear that page out of each issue, punch holes in it and file it in a binder. “I was going through a receiving line at a wake. I was a brief acquaintance of one of the relatives. I’m going through the line and a woman said,
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‘Oh, I read all your columns!’ I didn’t know her from Adam. We’d never met before.” Celebrity can be a local phenomenon and not many chemical engineers who have turned senior financial planners ever see it. Terwilliger started life as an engineer, getting his bachelor ’s, master ’s and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He was one of the first engineers hired into his division at Kodak, where he recruited and grew other engineers, eventually having 250 people under him; many of whom he had to let go in a downsizing. That was painful; to bring people in, nurture and guide them, then show them the door. When the early retirement offer came to him, he took it. Restless and on the street, so to speak, he learned to do taxes, and then got certified as a financial planner. He was a Canandaigua boy, valedictorian of his high school class, and someone who designed the official city flag (“My mother, my grandmother and Mrs. Fletcher actually sewed on our dining room table.”) Would something local come up for him? He went to CNB and offered his services as a certified financial planner, the first for the bank. In the next 20 years, he would build another new department, watching his people grow and prosper in the bank, taking care of clients. “For my work life, that has brought me a lot of satisfaction, starting up something new and having it flourish to the point where it just becomes part of the company environment, part of the process. It’s more fun than coming into an organization and fitting into a slot that’s already been developed. “I have a deep pleasure watching people develop and taking positions I’ve designed,” he said. “We have a succession plan at the bank, so there’s a new person who took over my responsibilities and one of the major parts of her job is to continue the mentoring I did. In fact, I will also still be doing some of that.” But he turned the corner for good in February. The final door may be a while off, but he can see it. Now what? “Travel is the number one thing,” he said. “I really haven’t had time to develop other interests or hobbies,
which is a little dangerous when you retire, you really should have some hobbies or interests. I really don’t have any, but don’t see any problem filling my days.” He and his wife, Ellen, who is a nurse, have a house in Canandaigua and a small cottage 110 steps up a cliff from the Canandaigua Lake at Bristol Harbor. “I take care of all the outside work and I’ll continue to do that as long as I’m healthy. My mom lived to be 93. I had the cottage built 44 years ago. It’s small, cozy and comfortable. We can use it in the winter and summer. We have a wood stove plus electric heat. On a weekend I can put on the fire and watch the snow fall. I watch football, too,” he said. The Terwilliger kids, Cheryl and Catherine, have their own careers out of the area and have blessed Jim and Ellen with two granddaughters. Life is good. “I want to have the time and room to do everything I want to do,” Terwilliger said. “I can’t work 40 hours-plus a week and do that. I want to open up more time for myself and my family.” The work, though, has been so important to him. The roles he had at Kodak and at CNB were so different. “At Kodak, the beneficiary of my work was the company. These last 20 years, the beneficiaries of my work have been the people, the clients, some of the people in our readership community…making a difference in people’s lives. “For me, in your older years, people like to do things that help others, are meaningful to others. At the bank it’s a great organization, has a great culture and everyone is willing to pitch in as part of a team.” Jim and Ellen have been to much of Europe. Now they’d like to enjoy a river cruise, visit the national monuments and they’d like to see Southeast Asia. When he walks through the retirement door, it will close gently behind him, but it will close. “I don’t tend to look in the rearview mirror, other than to learn a lesson and apply it to the future,” he said. And for a man who has helped so many, directly and indirectly, professionally and in a neighborly fashion, with respect and affection, the future is something to learn from, treasure, remember and share.
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MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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finances
Many Older Women Face Financial Hardship AARP study shows only 9% of women feel very confident that they will retire comfortably. Experts weight in By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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any women aged 50–64 face financial hardship, both for affording day-to-day needs and for retirement savings, according to a recent AARP study. Two-thirds feel concern that prices are rising more quickly than their income. Nearly half scrimped on health expenses because of costs, including missing or reducing doses of prescriptions. For 42%, an unexpected expense of $1,000 would be a major financial setback. Only 9% feel very confident that they will retire comfortably. The reasons are more complex than pointing at the issues arising from the pandemic. Several factors may have placed these women on shaky ground financially, including domestic 50
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violence (which often includes financial abuse and is oriented toward women 97% of the time, according to the FBI), midlife divorce or widowhood, reduced earning potential because of childrearing, reduced earning potential because of providing elder care, and operating a family business or consulting business that has no retirement savings plans. Short of a time machine to go back and make other choices, women do have options for getting into better financial shape. Three experts suggest tips women can use to revert that trend. ——— • “Get on a budget first to find out where the money is going. • “Get with a financial planner.
See if the spending can be controlled to free up some money to start an IRA for retirement planning. • “Sometimes, you have to get a part-time job. Some additional income stream would be doable for their schedule and lifestyle. • “Start saving where you can.” —Tips from Thomas M. Giunta, Thomas M. Giunta Income Tax Service, Farmington • “If they don’t currently have a team, they need a network of people to whom they should get advice: a CPA-accountant, insurance broker and financial adviser. The financial adviser is the ‘quarterback’ to orchestrate the line of questioning and how she can save money. • “Revisit coverage with insurance. Higher deductibles will reduce the premiums. • “Reevaluate everything you’re doing. A life-changing event is very impactful. You need to run down everything in your life like earning potential, time until retirement, and goals that are realistic. • “It’s also a great time to take inventory of what you have now so you know what you’re working with. 401k, IRA, cash in bank accounts and some not so obvious things like whole
life policies, cars, property, vacation home, equity in your house. Look at all sources that could be used as an asset. • “Look at your debts and liabilities. Can you reduce your interest rates? Can you tap into your equity? • “Just about everyone is looking for good help and have tons of benefits. They are trying to compete with the job market. They are hiring. • “Some see their investment accounts and think the only way to pay down their debts is to cash out their investments. We have ways to borrow against their investments, not their home, to pay that down, and I’m not talking about their 401k. In many cases, cashing out investments is not a good idea. • “Depending on the scenario, I’ve had clients who have cars four or five years old that are paid off. They’ve dried up their net worth. Even $5,000 would help them for an emergency fund. They’ve come in to get a loan against that car. • “Revisit your life insurance if you’re divorced. Could you sell the policy or borrow against it? There are tons of different avenues.” — Tips from Constantine J Kitrinos, certified financial adviser and managing partner with Monarch Wealth Management, LLC in Rochester • “You may try to seek help through the government, New York state or private charities. There are some programs that may help alleviate some of the financial burden. Among these programs are Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Social Security, Welfare, Food Stamps, STAR exemption, Veterans benefits, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Weatherization Referral and Packaging Program (WRAP), Senior Citizen Rent Increase (SCRIE), Senior Citizen Homeowners Exemption (SCHE), and more. In New York, State the Office of the Aging may provide some assistance, too. • “No one should ever feel embarrassed for seeking help, but above all, it is absolutely imperative to plan ahead and never became a victim of improper planning, or the lack of planning. We are here to help you in any way possible.” — Tips from Diana Apostolova, investment consultant with Rochester Investments
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Contact me to get your FREE GUIDE to reverse mortgages. Copyright © 2022 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (“Fairway”) NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. All rights reserved. Fairway is not affiliated with any government agencies. These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency. Reverse mortgage borrowers are required to obtain an eligibility certificate by receiving counseling sessions with a HUD-approved agency. The youngest borrower must be at least 62 years old. Monthly reverse mortgage advances may affect eligibility for some other programs. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates and programs are subject to change without notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. Equal Housing Opportunity. NY- Licensed Mortgage Banker- N.Y.S. Department of Financial Services. MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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investing Navigating the SECURE Act and Inherited Retirement Accounts By Jason Livingston
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n the two years since the enactment of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act), planners continue to manage the fallout of its effects on inherited retirement accounts (IRAs). The SECURE Act resulted in a major tax reform relating to the use of trusts for retirement planning and retirement accounts. One significant change relates to the “stretch” provision of IRAs. Previous law allowed a nonspouse beneficiary or qualifying trust to “stretch” the distributions from the IRA over their life expectancy. The SECURE Act eliminated this “stretch” provision and now requires any non-spouse beneficiary to withdraw the entire balance of the IRA within 10 years of the account owner’s death. Beneficiaries may take disbursements from the IRA, but the account must be emptied by the end of the 10 years, requiring more planning than previously necessary to minimize tax consequences. The SECURE Act, however, classifies certain groups who are not subject to the 10-year rule. These individuals are referred to as eligible designated beneficiaries (EDB) and they are: (1) spouses; (2) disabled or chronically ill individuals; (3) individuals less than 10 years younger than the decedent; and (4) minor children of the IRA owner — once they are adults, they become subject to the 10-year rule. The rules regarding stretching distributions become complex when trusts are created for the benefit of an EDB, such as for a surviving spouse or minor children. These trusts may be desirable for estate tax reasons, long term care planning, or second marriage situations. If a trust is designed as a “conduit trust” then any retirement distributions
‘The SECURE Act resulted in a major tax reform relating to the use of trusts for retirement planning and retirement accounts.’ would flow directly from the trust to the beneficiary and would be allowed to stretch the distributions. If the trust is an “accumulation trust” any distributions from the retirement account can be held within the trust rather than distributed immediately. This flexibility disqualifies the trust for stretch distributions and the retirement account would have to be paid out following the 10-year rule. The only exception to this rule is if the trust is for the benefit of a disabled or chronically ill beneficiary. The SECURE Act has made the retirement planning landscape more difficult to navigate without the assistance of an adviser versed in the changing laws. IRAs make up the bulk of the average individual’s retirement plan and knowing the implications of these accounts on your beneficiaries can help plan for your future. Jason Livingston is a member of the Law Offices of Pullano & Farrow PLLC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, business succession planning, long-term care planning, estate administration, trust administration and guardianship petitions.
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MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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relocating
Relocating Away from Family in Retirement? Find out the pros and cons and how to manage life if you do By Kimberly Blaker
W
hen you’re finally able to retire, a new and exciting chapter in life begins. You no longer have to dedicate your time and energy to a job or raising kids. For many retirees, this means a return to focusing on their own wants and needs. One of the most significant changes new retirees often consider is moving to a new city or state. The idea of relocating is an exciting way to embrace your new life. But it’s also a big decision you may want to consider carefully, especially if it means leaving family behind. Living where you love or someplace more affordable
During earlier adulthood, people often relocate based on their jobs or the best location to raise a family. Retirement provides you the 54
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opportunity to choose where you want to live just because that’s what you want, therefore, eliminating many factors to consider. There are many reasons retirees choose to relocate. Most often, they want to live in a place that offers them a better way of life. A significant factor retirees consider is choosing an area where they’d love to live. Maybe you live in a suburban area but really enjoy nature and hiking. Or perhaps you’ve lived and worked in a crowded city for years, but would rather spend your time relaxing by the beach. After you retire, you’re better able to prioritize your personal preferences when deciding where to live. Think about what things you enjoy and the type of environment that makes you feel your best to help narrow down your options. Another important factor to consider is affordability. If you’re
thinking about moving after retirement, you may want to consider downsizing. If all your kids are grown and gone, you probably don’t need as much space. Plus, you may have different needs that are better served with a smaller home. Retirement means you likely have less income than you did before. So having a smaller mortgage or rent payments, lower property taxes and insurance, and less maintenance and repairs can save you a bundle. If you’ve got equity in your home or home values in your area have risen since you purchased your home, you might even make a profit from selling it. Do you currently live in an area with a high cost of living? If so, you may be able to find an area you’d enjoy with a much lower cost of living, thereby offering you multiple benefits. The pros and cons of relocating Deciding to move away from family and friends after retirement is a big decision. Creating a list of personal pros and cons is a helpful tool to help you process all the factors. Everyone has their own unique pros and cons based on various aspects. The ones below can help you get started. But don’t forget to add your own. PROS ✔ Leaving behind obligations, old drama, or bad memories ✔ Getting a fresh start ✔ Finding a more appropriate place for your stage of life ✔ Finding a new community with whom you have more in common ✔ Leaving an area that has a younger population and a family focus ✔ Saving money by downsizing or living in a less expensive area CONS ✖ Being away from familiar and special places ✖ Having to develop new routines ✖ Not getting to see family and friends regularly ✖ Starting over new takes a lot of effort
✖ Needing to make new friends and find new social outlets ✖ Moving can be difficult and stressful How to manage relationships with kids and grandkids if you move away One of the biggest hesitations retirees have about relocating is that it’ll take them away from their kids and grandchildren. If you’re used to living close to them and enjoy the benefits of living nearby and spending lots of time together, leaving family behind can be difficult. You may feel relocating is right for you, yet you’re still worried about living so far away from your loved ones. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep your relationships strong, even from a distance. Moving away from family and friends is easier than ever before because of all the technology now available for keeping your relationships close through virtual connection. Gone are the days of delayed communication through limited means. You can now easily see your kids or grandchildren at the push of a button. Through social media, you can follow them to see regular updates, pictures, and videos of important things happening in their lives. It’s just as easy to have direct communication at any time using text messaging and phone or video calls. Video calls can give you the feeling you’re right there with your family. At the pace technology is advancing, long-distance communication will only continue to
get better. In some ways, living away from your family can make seeing each other even better. When you live near family, you may not put as much effort into seeing each other or the quality of your time together because everyone’s lives are so busy. If you live further away, the times you get to spend together will be more focused, special, and memorable. You can travel to each other’s locations or meet for vacations together for a fun change of pace. The time leading up to visits can be fun too with countdowns or sending messages to each other as the visit gets closer and your excitement builds. How to make the most of your new life if you move away If you do decide to relocate, the best thing you can do is go into it prepared, so it’s a great experience from the start. You’ll want to begin by figuring out precisely what you want out of your new home, town, and life to narrow down the places that make the most sense for you to move to. Even if you already have a dream location in mind, know the reasons why you want to live there and that it’ll actually meets your expectations for retired life. It’s a good idea to visit any new places you’re seriously considering relocating to and spend time there. You’ll want to be familiar with the area you choose to relocate to. Check out the city or town, including the more mundane aspects of it, like places where you’ll run errands. Talk
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to locals, also, particularly those at a similar stage of life, and get their perspective. Realtors and librarians are both excellent resources for getting more information about what your potential new hometown has to offer. Once you’ve relocated, look for ways to get involved and become a part of your new community. Leaving your old home also means losing the relationships and routines you were used to. At the same time, as a new retiree, you have a lot more time on your hands than you’re accustomed to. So find healthy and fun ways to fill that time to ensure you’re taking advantage of your new opportunities. Look for group classes that align with your interests or offer the opportunity to try something new. There are often classes specifically for senior populations where you can meet other people to build new relationships and enjoy retired life together. Both the local library and city recreation department are helpful resources for finding these classes and groups. You can also go online to Meetup. com to find various social groups with a broad array of activities and interests. It’s a great way to do the things you love and make new friends who have something in common. Retirement is a time of change that can be both wonderful and daunting. So whatever path you’re considering, weigh your options carefully to find the best situation best suited for enjoying your new life.
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MARCH / APRIL 2022 – 55 PLUS
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addyman's corner By John Addyman Email: john.addyman@yahoo.com
‘I Thought I Was the Bedwarmer in the House’
I
think my wife has decided she I was there throwing off all that heat. now dust. doesn’t need me anymore. And so it was for many years and I went along with the bedwarmer. And you might ask, “What took many cold nights. Sleeping on the sofa or in the garage her so long?” Until this Christmas. was not on my list of desirable options; The signs have been there for a My love had decided that warm in fact, I had no options. while, but at Christmas, the proof as I was, a bedwarmer was nicer. That, And on the first night with the spilled out on the floor, a gift from one of course, meant that she didn’t need electric warmer under the sheets of of our kids. me. I could sleep in the back of my our bed, I found out there were terrors My wife had asked for a bedwarmer, car in the garage; she would still be to face. a cover you put on the mattress and kept warm by an electric device. She This particular brand of bedwarmer then plug into the wall. You turn it on didn’t have to put up with the noises has a set of switches in a little console at night and it warms the sheets and and vapors and bed-rumblings that go so you can turn it on and off and set the wife sleeping on them. with a husband. All my charms were the temperature. In the dark, it looks I looked at that thing under the Christmas tree and said to myself, “Wait a minute, I’m the bedwarmer in this house.” At least I thought I was. People who know my wife and then get introduced to me almost always say, “How come she agreed to marry you?” My wife, Gayle, is agreeable, affable, loving, kind, gentle, smart, caring and sweet. I fall apart in most of those categories. I know that. So for many, many years I’ve had an answer when someone asks the question about why my wife would have ever wanted to marry me. “My hands and feet are always warm,” I tell folks. “That’s why she married me.” The first night we spent together in the same bed, I got in on my side and gave myself lots of room. Gayle got in on the other side and as soon as the lights were out, there was this shuffling and bustling under the covers. She was moving herself all the way across the bed to be right next to me. In my youth, I thought she was motivated by love and passion to be nice and tight next to her hubby. Very soon, however, I learned she was motivated by warmth. Her hands and feet are always cold, and I was the hottie who would make the evening in the sack pleasant just by the fact that 56
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like the face a Japanese monster from a video game. That was odd. But that wasn’t the nasty surprise. In the deep darkness of our bedroom, the warmer casts shadows on the ceiling you don’t see right away. I found this out the hard way the second night we slept with the warmer on. I woke up and there, on the ceiling, was a blue-green monster snarling at me, eight feet above my head. “What the hell is that??!!” I asked myself and my wife out loud as I jumped out of the bed. In the darkness, I also noticed that despite the whole ceiling being lightly illuminated, one portion was deep and dark, like a hole in our ceiling that went right into the night sky. That hole was on Gayle’s side of the bed, not mine. “That’s her escape,” I thought to myself. “What is that thing on the ceiling?” I asked myself again, now totally awake. I sat up. I got out of bed and stared at the snarling face. Then I realized some of it disappeared as I moved. I was standing between the light source and the projection on the ceiling. That’s when I realized the ghostly face on the ceiling was being thrown there by this little bedwarmer console. I put my hand over it and looked up, the face was gone. I took my hand away and there it was again. I could never figure out what the dark hole was. When we went to bed the next night, I asked Gayle if she had seen the images on the ceiling. The lights were out. The bedroom was dark. “Do you see them?” I asked. “Nope,” she said. “Maybe you’re having flashbacks from the ‘60s.” I realized we had to be asleep for a while to have our eyes completely adjusted to the dark to see the images… and I wanted her to see them so she knew my brain hadn’t been toasted by old age. So I made a quick plan. “I’ll wake you in a couple of hours so you can see the stuff on the ceiling,” I told her. “No, you won’t,” she said. And I could feel her arm reaching behind my head to touch the console, turning it up to “Broil.” Then I knew I wasn’t needed anymore…
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last page
By Melody Burri
Ed Varno, 69 Former Ontario County Historical Society executive director discusses what it’s like to retire, marry your lifelong sweetheart and make the most of each day during a pandemic. Q: What were your most fulfilling career accomplishments at OCHS? It was a career accomplishment to serve as the executive director of the Historical Society for 25 years. Some years were easier than others, but I truly feel that the time I spent redeveloping this century-old not-for-profit was some of my most fulfilling career work. The friendships I made will stay with me forever.” During this time, the team at the Historical Society experienced just about everything imaginable, and it was enough to bond us as a team. But as an organization, I knew we needed an underlying raison d’etre to build on. So we decided that total museum integration into the digital age would be our purpose. Lofty? Yes, for 1995. But I was convinced that this technology shift was real and here to stay. So staff and volunteers undertook the job of entering the information on the museum’s vast collections into a database. We created www.ochs.org and eventually signed up for platforms like Facebook and YouTube. The public caught on quickly. Historians and those interested in our local history are 58
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now able to access information from the museum’s archives to do some very significant research on the history of western New York state. The museum’s transformation garnered the attention of granting agencies, and funded projects followed. I was recognized for this achievement when I was awarded the Anne Ackerson Innovation in Leadership Award by the Museum Association of New York in 2020. Some say that it prepared the Historical Society for the future. I believe that it was critical to the survival of the Historical Society as it existed in 1995. Q: How has your own life changed since retiring? The Historical Society and I planned my transition into retirement and their transition to a new director for two years. When the day came for me to hand my keys over, my life changed in ways I knew it would and in ways I hadn’t imagined. The removal of the burden of responsibility for an organization, and the fact that my time would be my own, was expected. And because my 30year sweetheart, Vanessa Waters, also
retired at the same time, we expected to spend more time together doing things we want to do. In fact, we got married at a ceremony here at ‘Three Greys,’ our place in Cheshire. But in retrospect, who could have predicted the whole pandemic social behavior shift? I do miss all my friends at the Historical Museum. And many cool things that Vanessa and I planned were canceled, so we became homebodies and picked up some new interests. It wasn’t what we planned, but sometimes in the stream of life it’s better to be the water and not the rock. Q: What hobbies and passions are you pursuing in your new-found spare time? Vanessa and I have always enjoyed traveling, especially with our Arabian horses. The pandemic has limited our international horse travel, but we have been on a couple of road trips outside the state and our love of the Finger Lakes offers many day trip options. We are happily retired and enjoying our life here in Cheshire [New York]. I have taken up gardening, home canning and landscaping. I really like to cook in the winter, so we invested in a kitchen renovation last year. I also became an apprentice winemaker and was fortunate to be offered involvement in a small wine group. As time ticks on, I hope to continue developing this and other important retirement skills. Q: What part of Ontario County’s local history fascinates you most? My favorite time period is when Canandaigua became a city in the early 1900s. It was a spectacular place to be, with a lot of hotels, restaurants and businesses. The community was very active commercially and agriculturally — it was working as a region should work. And there were so many colorful personalities in business and government. Gov. William Sulzer was impeached at that time, and there was a police chief in Canandaigua who kind of ran the town. That’s what history is — it’s all about the people. Q: What advice would you give to others entering and looking to thrive in retirement? Be flexible, especially if you retire during a pandemic. Have a purpose. Also, continue to promote personal health by maintaining an active lifestyle.
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Senior Vice President, Senior Wealth Advisor - Team Leader DONNA CATOR, CFP®, CDFA®
Vice President, Wealth Advisor MATTHEW SORCE, CFP®
CNBank.com/Retirement | (585) 419-0670
Bank Officer, Wealth Advisor
*To see the full version of our CNB Pledge of Accountability, visit CNBank.com/Pledge. Investments are not FDIC insured, not bank deposits, not obligations of, or guaranteed by, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust or any of its affiliates. Investments are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of principal amount invested. Investments and services may be offered through affiliate companies.