55 Plus CNY, #101: October – November 2022

YOUR MONEY: BUDGETING FOR AND DURING RETIREMENT

P. 20

Issue 101 – October / November 2022 For Active Adults in Central New York

cny55.com

Fall Foliage Fall foliage is still happening ... Linda Lowen, author of “100 Things to Do in Syracuse,” and photographer Sandy Roe suggest places to visit in the region. P. 32

INSIDE BILLY MARTIN: BORN TO CIRCUS • CAPTAIN TONY BUFFA ENJOYS LIFE ON THE WATER • WHY RETIREES ARE RETURNING TO WORK • SILVER TSUNAMI: BY 2030, ALL BOOMERS WILL BE 65+ WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SANDRA SCOTT? P. 55

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55 PLUS | contents

October / November 2022

YOUR MONEY: BUDGETING FOR AND DURING RETIREMENT

Do you have story ideas, or would you like to advertise in 55 Plus?

Send an email to editor@cny55.com or call 315-342-1182.

Issue 101 – October / November 2022 For Active Adults in Central New York

cny55.com

Fall Foliage

To subscribe to the magazine, look for the coupon on page 51.

Fall foliage is happening in Central New York.

Linda Lowen, author of “100 Things to Do in Syracuse,” and photographer Sandy Roe suggest places in the region to visit during this time of the year. P. 32

INSIDE BILLY MARTIN: BORN TO CIRCUS • CAPTAIN TONY BUFFA ENJOYS LIFE ON THE WATER • WHY RETIREES ARE RETURNING TO WORK • SILVER TSUNAMI: BY 2030, ALL BOOMERS WILL BE 65+

ON THE COVER

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SANDRA SCOTT? P. 54

FREE

Taughannock Falls State Park in the town of Ulysses near Ithaca

12 SAVVY SENIOR 6 GARDENING 8 DINING OUT 10 MY TURN 24 AGING 40 GUEST COLUMNIS 49 GOLDEN YEARS 60 DRUGER’S ZOO 62 LIFE AFTER 55 64 LAST PAGE

26

37

12 55+COOKS

30 SAVINGS

• Marjorie Spoto talks about how to cook her favorite specialty

• Save on cable TV—cut the cord

14 AGING

• Fall foliage is still happening in. Local experts suggest places to go

• Silver tsunami: by 2030, all boomers will be over 65

18 UNRETIRING

32 COVER

37 PASSION

• Why retirees are returning to work

• Owner of Billy Martin’s Cole All-Star Circus is passionate about circus life

20 MONEY

42 FISHING

• Budgeting for and during retirement; how to create budget that works.

• Captain Tony Buffa: 47 years fishing on Oneida Lake and still going...

22 VOLUNTEERING

46 LEARNING

• Ready to volunteer? Retirement is the Onondaga County perfect time to give back and volunteer.

Sherif Eugene Conway, CNY offers abundance of options.

69, is set to retire at 26 SECOND ACT the end of the year. He • Meet the owners of Aristocats and talks about his tenure, Dogs in Skaneateles his acomplishments and how he dealth with the stress 4

www.cny55.com

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

• Local groups offer classes for boomers

48 TECHNOLOGY • Zoom 101: What you need to know

50 HOBBY • For Mexico resident, tipi project is more than a hobby

42

With expert clinicians and the latest technology, we’ll help your whole family get back on track.

A H I G H E R L E V E L O F C A R E | gethealthysjh.org © 2022 St. Joseph’s Health. © 2022 Trinity Health. All rights reserved.

savvy senior

By Jim Miller

T

Moving Services Help People Downsize and Relocate

he process of downsizing and moving to a new home is a big job for anyone, but it can be especially overwhelming for people who are moving from a long-time residence filled with decade’s worth of stuff and a lifetime of memories. Fortunately, there’s a specialized service available today that can help make the move a lot easier.

Senior Move Manager To help you get packed up and moved into your new home, you should consider hiring a senior move manager. These are trained organizers (they are not moving companies) who assist older people with the challenges of relocating and can minimize the stress of this major transition by doing most of the work for you.

A senior move manager can help you or your parents pare down belongings, decide what to take and what to dispose of, recommend charities for donations and help sell unwanted items. They can even create a customized floor plan of a new home so you can visualize where your belongings will fit.

Senior move managers can also get estimates from moving companies, oversee the movers, arrange the move date, supervise the packing and unpacking and help set up a new home, have the house cleaned and just about anything you need related to the move.

If you want to do some of the work yourself, you can pick and choose only the services you want. For example, you may only want a move manager’s help with downsizing and selling excess furniture and unwanted belongings but plan on doing the actual packing and moving yourself.

The cost of working with a senior move manager will vary depending on where you live, the services you want and size of the move, but you 6

‘Before you hire one, be sure you ask for references from previous clients and check them.’ can expect to pay somewhere between $60 and $125 per hour or more, not including the cost of movers.

How to Find One To locate a senior move manager in Western New York area, visit the National Association of Senior Move Managers website at NASMM.org or call 877-606-2766. The NASMM is a trade association with an accreditation program that requires its members to abide by a strict code of ethics that ensures integrity. They currently have around 1,000 members across the U.S. You can also search at Caring Transitions (CaringTransitions.com), which is the largest senior relocation and transition services franchised company in the U.S. They currently have nearly 200 franchises throughout the country.

But, before you hire one, be sure you ask for references from previous clients and check them, and check with the Better Business Bureau too. Also find out how many moves they have actually managed and get a written list of services and fees. And make sure they’re insured and bonded.

If you can’t find a senior move manager in your area, another option is to hire a certified professional organizer who specializes in downsizing and relocating. To find one, check the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, which has a searchable database on its website at NAPO.net.

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

cny55.com Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto Associate Editor Steve Yablonski Writers & Contributors Deborah J. Sergeant Mary Beth Roach, Christopher Malone David Figura, Kimberly Blaker, Ken Sturtz, Margaret McCormick, Steve Yablonski Columnists Bruce Frassinelli, Marilyn Pinsky, Harold Miller Jim Sollecito, Marvin Druger Michelle Reed, Jim Miller Thomas Griffith Advertising Amy Gagliano Cassandra Lawson Office Manager Ahme Cruz Layout & Design Angel Campos-Toro Cover Photo Provided by Getty Images 55 Plus: A Magazine for Active Adults in Central New York is published six times a year by Local News, Inc. at 185 E. Seneca St. P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126.

Subscription: $21 a year; $35 for two years © 2022 by 55 Plus: A Magazine for Active Adults in Central New York.

No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher.

How to Reach Us P.O. Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126 Phone: 315-342-1182 Fax: 315-342-7776 Email: editor@cny55.com Editor@cnyhealth.com

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gardening

By Jim Sollecito

Which Way to Witch?

Sollecito uses a cherry branch cut from his orchard to aid in finding water on his farm.

I

sn’t life just full of surprises? And isn’t it great when they are good?

I had long heard of people witching wells on their property but was actually pretty skeptical. Like reading tea leaves.

Years ago my sister Kathy used a divining rod to dowse water for her new house in Oregon. I chalked it up to either good luck or to the fact that there must have been easily accessible water everywhere under her property anyway. It was hard to refrain from 8

remarks about witches but I am mature, after all.

Fast forward 22 years and I am having a new barn built on our farm.

I look forward to including the luxury of running water. I met with Robin Caster, a well-drilling contractor whose family has been doing this for four generations. He gave me very explicit instructions in our quest: find a fresh forked branch of a cherry tree with the diameter of a pencil and meet

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

him in an open field on our property. I cut an appropriate branch from a tree in my orchard, leaving on any new foliage as he said that would help conduct electricity. When we met, he stripped all of the leaves off except what he’d hold in his hands, held the branch horizontally and we walked.

And we walked. And we walked.

As God is my witness, at a very distinct location, the branch all of a sudden took a bend toward the heavens. It stayed that way for perhaps another 15 steps, and then relaxed. We then took a 90-degree turn, walked away, then returned toward the spot where the branch originally went skyward. The branch responded at the exact intersection with the first line. That was where he determined he’d drill.

I was speechless, which seldom happens to me. I had watched but now I had to be convinced. The kind of guy that I am, I had to do this for myself.

There was no magical feeling of waves through my arms or anything, the branch just moved on its own.

Rob said only one in 20 people have the ability to make this happen; it is electrical. I asked if his wife could do it. He said no. Only three of his children have this ability, and they will take over the well drilling operation as he ages out. On the day he brought out his drilling rig, he had to drill down only 53 feet for all the fresh pure water we wanted. Neighbors had averaged at least 120 inches deep with other drillers using a “best guess” type of speculation.

Previously a devout doubting Thomas, I am learning to consider things that really don’t have a straightforward explanation.

Especially when I see it work.

Yes, I’ll drink to that.

Jim Sollecito is the first lifetime senior certified landscape professional in New York State. He operates Sollecito Landscaping Nursery in Syracuse. Contact him at 315-468-1142 or jim@sollecito.com.

« SOCIAL SECURITY «

4 for $40 at the jcc of syracuse Looking for a new gym? Try out the JCC Fitness Center at $40 for 4 months.

Q: What is the average Social Security retirement payment that a person receives each month?

A: The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker in 2022 is $1,657. The average monthly Social Security benefit for a disabled worker in 2022 is $1,358. As a reminder, eligibility for retirement benefits still requires 40 credits (usually about 10 years of work).

Learn more at jccsyr.org/fitness-center

Q: I am receiving Social Security retirement benefits and I recently went back to work. Do I have to pay Social Security (FICA) taxes on my income?

A: Yes. By law, your employer must withhold FICA taxes from your paycheck. Although you are retired, you do receive credit for those new earnings. Each year Social Security automatically credits the new earnings and, if your new earnings are higher than in any earlier year used to calculate your current benefit, your monthly benefit could increase.

Q: I'm retired and the only income I have is a monthly withdrawal from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

Are the IRA withdrawals considered "earnings?" Could they reduce my monthly Social Security benefits?

A: No. We count only the wages you earn from a job or your net profit if you're self-employed. Non-work income such as pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, capital gains and other government benefits are not counted and will not affect your Social Security benefits.

Q: I served in the military, and I’ll receive a military pension when I retire. Will that affect my Social Security benefits?

A: You can get both Social Security retirement benefits and military retirement at the same time. Generally, we don’t reduce your Social Security benefits because of your military benefits.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

9

The griddle toast ($12): sourdough bread topped with hummus, spinach, tomato bruschetta and two poached eggs.

Dining Out RESTAURANT GUIDE

BREWERTON HOT SPOT Brewer Union Café dishes the comfort food

T

h e re ’ s a l i t t l e p l a c e i n Brewerton that has been getting a lot of chatter among friends and the community.

Brewer Union Café, at the corner of Bartell and Miller roads, is located in a place sparsely populated, aside from a few small businesses, a hotel, gas stations and a nearby neighborhood.

It’s not in the middle of nowhere, but in a place you may not expect.

The small eatery under Chef Christian Felix has successfully 10

By Christopher Malone

blended the intimate feel of a boutique cafe with the casual atmosphere of a typical diner, a place where everyone should feel comfortable even when it gets super busy. And, according to Felix’s bio, his resume of the places he’s worked shows his experience and dedication to filling bellies.

To get the full experience of breakfast and lunch, I ended up going to Brewer Union twice. The first experience dining alone was filling, so it was obvious to go back for more — or it wouldn’t be much of a review, would it?

In chronological order, I ended up going with the reuben ($15) and the included side of fries. In fact, I’ve had part of this very sandwich before coming to this review. A former coworker split this with me, because I had to taste it. The corned beef creation was great and delicious.

Consistency is key, and for

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

the second time, I swooned over the sandwich. It’s a big sandwich, especially for the price, even with fries included. It’s completed with Swiss, bacon sauerkraut and smoked Thousand Islands dressing all stacked between slices of marble rye. The corned beef had a slightly smoky flavor and was as rich in flavor as it was in quality. Eating the entirety of this reuben by oneself is bold and, in a personal opinion, a disservice.

Oh, and the sides. The crispy homemade pickles are equally vibrant in color — it’s easy being green — as flavor. The fries are crispy standard fries.

The poutine ($9), which is listed as a side, is actually larger than its designation. The easily shareable pile of crispy fries is dressed in and softened by dark, seasoned gravy. Soft cheese curds are strewn throughout in various stages of melt. And that’s

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Reuben sandwich at Brewer Union Café ($15): it’s completed

with Swiss, bacon sauerkraut and smoked Thousand Islands dressing; the easily shareable pile of crispy fries is dressed in and softened by dark, seasoned gravy; cinnamon roll ($5).

about it. The straightforward poutine hits the spot.

For the brunch visit, the meal was kicked off with the griddle toast ($12).

The large piece of sourdough bread is toasted to a nice golden brown crisp. It’s topped with hummus, spinach, tomato bruschetta and two poached eggs before a balsamic drizzle decorates the plate.

This should be called the garden toast because how fresh the ingredients are. As aroma matches the flavor, it’s similar to walking through a garden with fragrant produce. Even with each cut of the knife, the hummus keeps the rest of the ingredients in place.

Breaking the poached eggs coats the top with a golden crown.

Go big or stay home — the chicken and waffles ($15) followed shortly after. The tender, crispy chicken lived up to its promise and was joined by a Belgian waffle, breakfast potatoes and two eggs. Then, cue the Cedarvale maple cayenne butter sauce. The spotlight component, the chicken, was a sizeable piece. It was lightly breaded and fried, tender and never tough. Nor was it spicy, for those wondering.

The thick Belgian waffle, which was also cooked perfectly and without any blackened sear marks, nor was it dry, paired well with the chicken.

When you pull it through some of the

spicy maple sauce, it all adds up to a flavorful eating experience.

The breakfast potatoes were something to note because I couldn’t pinpoint the flavor I was tasting. The chunks of potato were nice and crispy on the outside, with a yellow-orange tint. My brain and palate brought me to the conclusion: asiago cheese.

However, I was wrong.

The egg-coated potatoes were seared on the griddle, picking up whatever seasonings and flavors were on there. Unlike the mystery Dum Dum lollypop, where it’s one specific flavor, the spuds were tasty. No need for ketchup or hot sauce – that maple cayenne stuff was right there.

Lastly, for a treat, I opted for a cinnamon roll ($5) to go. Wife of the chef, Erin, boasted it was deemed the largest cinnamon roll around. She said there were one or two others that were much heavier.

I took my time with the cinnamon roll with sweet frosting. The softness of the cinnamon roll lasts for days when stored in the fridge. Yes, it was savored.

Between the two days, the amount spent — plus, a cup of coffee I forgot to add in, and they offer coffee from local roasters — was just more than $64.

There were no significant complaints to be had. Brewer’s Union creates some savory and sweet options

Brewer Union Cafe 5771 Miller Road Brewerton, NY 13029 315-668-52076 brewerunioncafe.com facebook.com/Brewer-UnionCafe-107524654414463 instagram.com/brewerunioncafe

Sunday – Tuesday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Closed Thursday – Saturday: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

that will please (hopefully) anyone. It’s easy to see and taste what the buzz is about.

And be sure to call ahead and reserve a spot, especially on Sundays.

The space fills up quickly.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

11

an executive with Widewater Hotels, based in Syracuse.

The Spotos traveled to Greece in 2019 and have been to Italy several times. Both countries left a lasting impression on Marjorie and her cooking style. She grows vegetables and herbs and incorporates those things into her cooking.

When she’s not planning and making a meal, her husband likes to cook outside on his flat-top, restaurantstyle grill.

“My mom had the ability to pull things together with whatever was in the cupboard to make something delicious, and I think I learned that from her,’’ Spoto says. “Cooking is relaxing to me. It’s the best way to destress. With a glass of wine, of course.’’

How would you describe your cooking style? “Italian with a fusion of Mediterranean. I like merging both styles. I’ll make Greek salad with pasta.

Or I’ll make Greek-style eggplant and make Italian-style, too. I mix things together. Right now, I’m using Greek olive oil instead of Italian olive oil.’’

Marjorie Spoto, Jamesville area Story and Photos by Margaret McCormick

W

hen she was growing up, Marjorie (Weaver) Spoto’s mother hosted Thanksgiving for nearly 30 people — and drafted her young daughter to help with the meal preparation and cooking.

“I was 7 or 8 when she taught me how to make stuffing. After that, I was hooked on cooking,’’ Spoto recalls. “I learned how to make meatloaf and homemade bread by age 9.’’

By the time she was a teenager, Spoto was cooking for her family several times a week. Her mother was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

The disease affected her mobility and ability to do things. “I learned how to 12

cook and then ended up having to do it,’’ Spoto says.

These days, cooking looks different for Spoto, and she approaches it with a lot of thought and care.

She’s allergic to eggs and to American strains of wheat and has what she describes as a sensitivity to or intolerance of gluten. She also has lupus, and American wheat can cause her to have “flares’’ that last 12 to 15 days.

Spoto, 56, and her husband, Robert, live near Jamesville and spend a couple months of the year in Florida.

Marjorie, a former NFL cheerleader for the Cincinnati Bengals, is a writer and manages an online marketing and destination guide called Party in Key West that spotlights that area’s best places to dine, drink and visit. Bob is

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

What’s your favorite thing to cook on a weeknight? “My homemade pizza using 00 Italian wheat flour from Lombardi’s. Or ‘Sunday gravy’ (red sauce) over penne (gluten-free options are pretty good these days).’’

What do you like to cook when family/friends come over? “Pasta and meatballs, paired with a great Chianti or Super Tuscan (full-bodied red wine).”

What have you been cooking during the pandemic? Have you been experimenting more in the kitchen?

“I have been making soups, chili and stews. During the beginning of the pandemic, I found out I was allergic to eggs and wheat. I’m not celiac, just a true allergy to the American-style wheat. So, I have been experimenting with cooking with gluten-free flours, no sugar (using applesauce or granulated maple sugar) and after many unsuccessful attempts, I finally mastered making a moist cake with success. My homemade gluten-free brownies are the best brownies I’ve ever had in my entire life. Is that OK to say?! Oh, and my 36-year-old daughter, who is an amazing cook, taught me some tricks that made

NOMINATE a 55+ home cook for this feature!

Email details, including contact information, to Margaret McCormick at mmccormickcny@gmail.com

my baking a success.’’ (Those tricks include making Toll House cookies without eggs, substituting buttermilk, vinegar and yogurt instead.)

What’s your favorite recipe resource? Spoto is a fan of the cookbooks and recipes of Jamie Oliver.

“After going to Italy, I saw one of his books and how he cooked pizza on a campfire. The way he described it, I wanted to be on that adventure. He tells you the best way to do everything.’’

What’s your favorite place to shop?

“Lombardi’s, of course!”

Calabrian Spicy Meatloaf with Capers From Marjorie Spoto 1 lemon (instructions below) 1 heaping tablespoon capers, drained and roughly chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons ketchup 1½ teaspoons Calabrian chili paste (or more if you like, it has a kick) 10 ounces ground beef 1 egg (or substitute 4 tablespoons

unsweetened applesauce) 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (dried) One or two cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (or Romano cheese) Salt and pepper to taste ¼ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs or crumbled gluten-free crackers (see note)

breadcrumbs last and gently mix to combine — they will soften quickly.

(See note.)

Transfer the meatloaf to the sheet pan. Shape into a tightly packed loaf, about 7 inches by 3 inches. Top the meatloaf with the remaining spicy ketchup and remaining cheese.

Heat the oven to 450F. Zest the lemon, reserving one teaspoon of zest. Quarter the lemon, juice two wedges and save remaining two wedges to use as a garnish. In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, chopped capers, lemon juice and olive oil.

In another bowl, combine the ketchup and Calabrian chili paste to taste.

Line a sheet pan with foil. Evenly coat the center of the foil with a drizzle of olive oil.

To the bowl holding the lemon and olive oil mixture, add half of the ketchup-chili paste mixture, ground beef, egg (or applesauce), Italian seasoning, garlic and half the cheese.

Season with salt and pepper. Add

Bake meatloaf 16 to 18 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.

Remove from the oven. Let rest at least two minutes. Serve with reserved lemon wedges on the plate. Serve the meatloaf with roasted root vegetables tossed with olive oil and oregano, if desired. Makes 4 servings.

Wine pairing: Italian Chianti or a Sicilian Nero d’Avolo.

COOK’S NOTE Gluten-free breadcrumbs and crackers lose their structure and should be worked into the meatloaf quickly, so they don’t turn mushy.

If this happens, feel free to mix in additional breadcrumbs.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

13

aging

Silver Tsunami: By 2030, All Boomers Will Be 65+ Dramatic changes are expected as baby boomers get older

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he baby boomer generation has always formed a notable shift in society and economics.

Turning 65 represents yet another milestone.

With 73 million people becoming 65 or older by 2030 the baby boomers will likely affect many aspects of life in new ways. They will be old enough to draw on Medicare, likely begin needing further medical care and probably to have retired from working.

To qualify as a boomer, one must be born after World War II ended in the period between 1946 and 1964. By 2030, that entire cohort will be 65 or older, according to the 2020 Census.

U.S.-based boomers outnumber each of the other age groups, including the 65.2 million members of generation X (born between 1965 and 1980), 72.1 million millennials (born between 14

1981 and 1996) 68 million generation Z, (born between 1997 and 2012), and approximately 48 million generation alpha (beginning in 2012 to possibly 2025).

So why do we have so many older adults compared with each of the younger cohorts?

Although many people are living longer and in better health than in recent generations, that’s not the only reason. Greater accessibility to contraception and better opportunities for education have meant more women have avoided childbirth or delayed it until they no longer have the fertility window to bear several children.

In 1960, at the peak of the baby boom, the fertility rate was 3.6 children per woman. The current U.S. average fertility rate is 1.7 children, which is shy of the 2.1 children average to

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

replace those dying. This means that by 2034, the U.S. will have more adults older than 65 than children younger than 18.

A few of the concerning implications of this trend include insufficient funds and caregivers for older adults’ growing healthcare needs. Staying healthy has grown to become a major concern for baby boomers and generation Xers, adults who grew up with little idea of health implication so of factors such as diet, exercise, smoking, drug use and alcohol consumption.

Having all baby boomers age 65plus “will change a lot of things,” said Douglas Goldschmidt, 72, a licensed clinical social worker and life coach in practice in Syracuse.

“One of the things about the boomers is there was a tremendous

➥

Above: Dunbar Association students on their trip to Disney World Right: Betty and Ted Stark

Recently it became a dream of ours that every child, no matter their circumstances, would have the opportunity to visit Disney World. We believe that Disney World is a place that can inspire them as they begin making life decisions.

Our vision was set in motion when we created a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation. Our fund provides support for the Dunbar Association to send its students, who exemplify the qualities of kindness and character, on an all-expenses paid adventure to Disney World.

We hope that continued support from our Dunbar Disney Dreams Fund will help spark curiosity and motivate our community’s young people for many years to come.

GIVING BACK TO INSPIRE: BETTY & TED STARK

Read more of Betty and Ted’s story at cnycf.org/Stark

315 . 4 22 .9 5 3 8 | C NYC F. O R G

Kimberly Townsend

By 2034, the U.S. will have more adults older than 65 than children younger than 18. transfer of wealth from the boomers’ parents to them in the middle class.

Their parents bought housing after the war and made a huge amount of money on real estate. People still look at real estate as something that will increase in value, but that’s not as predictable as it used to be.”

People depending upon selling their real estate to sizably fund their retirement may not have the nest egg they had counted on. Goldschmidt added that inflation has outpaced income which is especially detrimental to people on fixed income.

“Upper middle class has done alright but lower middle class is struggling,” he said.

Those who have sufficient funds will influence the economy in ways not seen in previous generations. Because people are now living active lives into their 70s, 80s and beyond, they’re spending longer. But how they’re spending is different from previous generations.

“You’ll see more money spent on leisure activities,” Goldschmidt said.

“They travel and buy RVs. You’re looking at a generation that’s eating 16

Douglas Goldschmidt

healthier, more active and has more medical care.”

Alberto Bianchetti, 60, regional director of customer and community engagement with National Grid, also sees aspects of the market ramping up.

“You can’t stop the clock,” he said.

“Marketing of goods and services will continue to follow baby boomers.

There will be a vast market for things that will keep people active. People want to stay nimble physically and mentally. People want to stay sharp.

Companies will cater to that.”

He plans to work for the indefinite future and knows many peers who feel the same way. Why retire when working feels fulfilling and one’s health is good?

But for those who do retire at “retirement age,” Bianchetti has noticed a growing number of people moving overseas, whether because they have family in other countries or because they had always wanted to travel.

To prepare for the time that those boomers will begin needing more care, organizations like Loretto have been gearing up, according to Kim Townsend, president and CEO. “We’ve been working on that for a few years,” she said. “What we know about baby boomers as a group, and these are generalizations, is that they’re very different than prior generations. They are savvy, and they consider themselves to be consumers of healthcare. They demand personalized services and are not looking to have care delivered to them in traditional long-term care settings.”

Although receiving long-term care at home offers many advantages, Townsend fears that many will not

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

have the financial means in place to pay for it, nor will sufficient caregivers be available to offer care.

“As a general population, they have not been big savers,” she said.

“Likewise, they frequently do not have the pensions their parents relied on. Twenty-four percent of baby boomers have absolutely no savings for retirement, 42% of baby boomers have less than $100,000 saved for retirement and 50% of them report that they’ll be wholly dependent on Social Security and Medicare for their livelihood once they retire.”

She added that by 2035, it is projected that Social Security and Medicare will be fully depleted, in part because of the number of active workers is dropping from three per retiree to two per retiree by then.

“Since COVID-19 began in 2020, the long-term care industry lost 20% of its workforce,” Townsend said.

“Not only have we seen a huge impact of COVID-19 on our workforce, but by 2030, we will likewise have fewer people to care for those baby boomers as they age.”

To help combat these issues, Loretto and other organizations are promoting internal promotion through in-house programs. Townsend also said that technology is helping keep people in the community better connected to caregivers and to opportunities for engagement. Loretto’s PACE program emphasizes keeping people safe and thriving as they live at home for as long as possible.

Baby Boomers Outnumber Gen-X, Millennials U.S.-based boomers outnumber each of the other age groups, including the 65.2 million members of generation X (born between 1965 and 1980), 72.1 million millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) 68 million generation Z, (born between 1997 and 2012), and approximately 48 million generation alpha (beginning in 2012 to possibly 2025).

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17

unretiring

Why Retirees Are Returning to Work It’s not just for the paycheck, experts say

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he COVID-19 pandemic caused numerous unexpected consequences.

“Unretirement” represents people who believed they were done working, retired during the pandemic and changed their minds post-COVID-19.

Many of these were probably nudged toward retirement because they were part of the eight million COVID-19-induced layoffs and furloughs and figured “why return?”

For some, the hassles and risks of returning to work at their age during the pandemic did not make sense.

But many of these new retirees are returning to the workforce. According to CNBC, the level of workers who retired during the pandemic and then returned a year later is at about 3.2%, near where it was before COVID-19. As employers scramble to find workers, their recently retired employees are providing a ready cadre of seasoned workers ready to fill openings.

Like other age segments, older adults have been feeling the pinch of the recent months’ inflation, especially difficult for those on a fixed retirement 18

income. They realize their care needs and expenses will only increase as well. Returning to employment can ease those budgetary issues.

“As we look at it in its totality, we have a larger and more sophisticated consumer population who’s aging, has less money for retirement than previous generations and who are relying more heavily on soon-to-be insolvent government programs, who will be cared for by fewer caregivers,” said Kim Townsend, president and CEO at Loretto.

With fewer people providing care and more people in the future requiring care, the cost of that care will increase due to demand. Many older adults who realize this have returned to work to ensure they will have enough money to cover their future needs.

“For many, their anticipated income wasn’t enough to support them in their old age,” said Douglas Goldschmidt, licensed clinical social worker and life coach in practice in Syracuse. “Social Security and their pension aren’t enough. A lot of people in the middle class, their investments

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

are a key part of their net worth.

Investments have not exactly done fabulously over the past few years. The boom stock market left some people flush is not now.”

While economic downturns are not as bad for people in their 40s, by the time someone is 65-plus, recovering is tougher because of their timeline.

Finances are not the only reason for returning to work. Goldschmidt said that many people realize that they feel bored in retirement and go back to work to stay active.

“For some people, it’s an opportunity for people to do things they hadn’t done before,” he added.

For these people, going back to work will likely be in a different field or as a consultant, entrepreneur or freelancer.

“I’ll continue to work because I enjoy it,” said Goldschmidt, who is 72.

“You can’t do very physical forms of labor as you age, like being a firefighter or police officer. Certain jobs require coordination, like truck driving. But for desk work and many types of professional work, there’s no reason to not work if you want to.”

He thinks that social connections drive people to return to work, as they feel adrift without the relationships they formed at their workplace.

The Great Unretirement There might be a Great Resignation going on in some parts of the American workforce, but other parts are witnessing a Great Unretirement.

A recent report from the AARP, citing data from the Indeed employment website, found that 1.7 million Americans who retired a year earlier have returned to the workforce.

That represents just more than 3% of overall retirees.

They’re not just going back to pad their bank accounts with fresh paychecks, either. Many are driven by other factors, ranging from stock market volatility to a desire for more social interaction. The majority are working part-time.

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money

Budgeting for and During Retirement How to create an accurate budget that works — it’s more complicated than you may think

By Kimberly Blaker

W

ith the average life span in the U.S. Now 78.87 years, and many more Americans living to and surpassing the age of 100, budgeting in preparation for retirement and during retirement is crucial to making your savings last to carry you through.

Without a budget, even some of the savviest individuals live with ongoing financial struggles. When finances are tight, creating and using a budget is vital to both preventing financial difficulties and attaining financial security. It can make the difference in being able to save for vacations, a home, or retirement.

20

THE NEGATIVE SIDE - CALCULATE YOUR MONTHLY EXPENSES Budgeting consists of determining your income and expenses, making necessary adjustments to your cost of living, and following your budget religiously.

The first step in creating a budget is to determine y our monthly income and expenses. One of the biggest problems in budgeting (aside from failing to follow it) is the failure to include all costs.

It’s an easy oversight with expenses you don’t incur on a regular schedule, such as vacations, gifts, auto maintenance,

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

clothing, and entertainment. Bills paid quarterly or annually, such as life and homeowners insurance or property taxes, are often forgotten as well.

Another error individuals make is the temptation to budget for the bestcase scenario with fluctuating bills such as gas and electricity.

So be sure to determine the average cost over 12 months, or else budget for the high side.

Finally, small dayto-day expenses are frequently overlooked.

Over a month, these add up to a heap of change. This includes eating out, buying a newspaper, pet

expenses or stopping for a pop or coffee.

Other overlooked costs include replacing a toaster, repairing the garbage disposal, and the countless other repairs and replacements over a year.

Brainstorm and create categories for all these types of expenses to include in your budget.

Now determine your monthly expenditures for bills that fluctuate from month-to-month by adding up the previous year ’s bills. Add 5% to account for inflation. Then divide by 12 to get a monthly average.

For categories like gifts or clothing, calculate what you spend in a full year. When totaled up, this is often an eye-opener. Under this category, i n c l u d e o u t e r w e a r, f o o t w e a r, underwear and socks, sportswear, summer clothing, work wardrobe, and casual wear. Add the total expense for the year. Then divide by 12 for your average monthly spending.

THE POSITIVE SIDE – DETERMINE YOUR MONTHLY INCOME Determining your monthly income is simple if you receive the same amount each month in social security or pension payments. If you still work, just multiply your weekly take-home pay by 4.3 weeks since there are nearly 4 1/2 weeks in a month.

If your income varies because of commissions, overtime or selfemployment, calculate your average weekly pay, then multiply it by 4.3.

THE BALANCING ACT To determine the difference between your monthly income and expenses, add up each column individually. Then subtract total expenses from total income.

Hopefully, you’re earning more than you’re spending. If so, you can create a savings plan for travel, make additional deposits to your IRA, or increase your emergency savings.

If you have a negative difference, you’ll need to cut costs. Place a checkmark next to each item you can’t reduce. This might include mortgage

or rent and fixed loan payments.

Next, from the items that don’t have a checkmark, determine which are unnecessary or don’t provide real value to your life, and begin cutting or reducing.

Other items you can reduce include dining out, entertainment, vacations, and gifts. You might also be able to reduce some of the essential categories, such as clothing, grocery, and miscellaneous expenses. First, determine how much you must spend to have your needs met.

Then continue cutting and reducing until your budget balances, or preferably, has a positive balance to cover savings, emergencies, and miscalculations.

Keep in mind when making reductions, you need a realistic, detailed plan you’re able to s t i c k t o . Yo u might want to devise a plan to reduce several costs rather than completely eliminate a couple if it helps reduce your temptation to break the budget.

Or vice versa. Just be sure to think it through.

DON’T GET SIDETRACKED The final step in budgeting is to stick to it. That’s where it’s easy to go astray. To remain within your budget, track unfixed expenses such as vacations, entertainment, clothing, gifts, and miscellaneous. Buy a ledger, and label a separate page for each category. When you dine out, log the expense to ensure you don’t go over your allotment by month’s end.

Also, keep in mind, when extra cash is floating around, it’s tempting to assume the money’s available to spend. Remember, your budget is based on averages. This means the extra $100 or $1000 sitting in your bank account must be available to cover another expense down the road, such as property taxes or car repairs.

Attaining and maintaining financial security requires selfdiscipline to live within your means.

By setting up an accurate budget and sticking to it, you’ll not only avoid debt and financial hardship but the stress that usually accompanies it.

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

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volunteering

Grace Joseph and her dog Annika. She shas volunteered at Loretto for the last six years. Annika is such a regular she has her own badge.

Ready to Volunteer?

Retirement is the perfect time to give back and volunteer. Area offers abundance of options

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

lthough you may be plenty busy now with work, plan now to volunteer during retirement.

“A lot of the folks who are retiring are looking for something meaningful to do with their life,” said Brenda J. McCutcheon, vice president of mission, director of the therapeutic 22

recreation department at Loretto, who also oversees volunteers. “For us, volunteerism is so wide-ranging.

We’ve had volunteers who come in and just visit or play a hand of cards with residents. There are people who don’t have a lot of family or visitors.”

She added that other volunteers offer a Bible study, work in the gift

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

shop, transport residents or take residents on a walk.

“The opportunities are endless,” McCutcheon said. “I am always in awe of the volunteers’ generosity of time. What is most fun for me is that they bring something different. I have a volunteer who comes every Friday with her dog. They go to the floor and visit. Some residents buy dog bones, so they have something to give her. It’s all life-giving. It’s amazing to watch the residents make new friends.”

Volunteers can also donate time off-site, such as knitting lap blankets or participating in a card drive during the holidays. Some drop off gifts for residents who do not have family members to see them. Consumable gifts such as puzzle books, coloring books, and tissues packets are favorites among Loretto residents, but it’s helpful to check with a facility before dropping off items.

Volunteers can work with any age group.

“One thing we’re always looking for is tutors,” said Sandy Roberts, assistant to the director at Upstate Oasis in Syracuse. “They’re actually reading teachers for K-third grades.

We have a lot of seniors doing that.

Syracuse is No. 1 in the nation for childhood poverty. Those children need extra help.

“We also need desk volunteers to greet people as they come in and check them off the roster and clean the whiteboards after class. A cheerful person greeting members as they come in is great to have. We also have class coordinator, good for people who ware computer savvy to take attendance online and introduce the instructor.

There’s also a chat room on Zoom for questions for the instructor.”

Oasis (https://upstate.oasisnet. org) seeks volunteers experienced in a variety of other pursuits to lead enrichment classes targeting retirees.

For example, if you have been teaching high school history classes, you could segue into teaching short-term courses on your favorite period of history. Or if you have mastered a language, pottery making, photography or any other interesting skill, you may be a good candidate to lead a class in it.

The humanitarian efforts of American Red Cross (www.redcross. org) needs help in its local chapters, including Syracuse. Or you could volunteer to travel to a stricken area

and help with their emergency relief efforts.

Seasonal opportunities include Toys for Tots (http://fulton-ny. toysfortots.org or http://syracuse-ny. toysfortots.org/local-coordinatorsites/lco-sites/default.aspx) which collects gifts during the early holiday season for children of families in need.

Volunteering seasonally can help you try out an organization and it limits your participation to a certain time of year if you would like to keep busier then or if you have other obligations during other parts of the year.

If you want to help in the community, check the opportunities at Volunteer CNY (www.volunteercny. org) where you find a list of links to CNY-based organizations that could use a hand.

Sites like www.volunteermatch. org can also help you find local ways to volunteer, through local or national organizations. You can search by location, keyword and cause to find a good fit. At www.justserve.org, you can search by location or select remote work.

Contact your place of worship.

Many of these need assistance in community outreach programs or in their own operation, such as in building maintenance and upkeep and office administration. The same is true of many hospitals, animal shelters and fraternal organizations like Elks, Kiwanis and Lions clubs.

Find where your interests and their needs intersect so the experience is helpful and enjoyable for you and the organization.

You could also offer help to friends and family in need. Could your granddaughter use a break from watching her toddler? Would your elderly neighbor appreciate a few minor home repairs completed? Could you take your teenage granddaughter to her orthodontic appointments, so your children won’t need to take time off from work? Making a no-stringsattached offer may help you find ways you can give back to those you care about and provide you with the satisfaction of knowing you have made a positive difference in someone’s life.

Start with a short-term commitment with limited hours to ensure a good fit and expand your volunteering efforts from there.

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23

my turn

By Bruce Frassinelli Email: bfrassinelli@ptd.net

Respect Your Elders

W

hen I was young, my parents stressed time and time again “show respect for your elders.” It was certainly top-of-mind awareness as I grew up, became a young man and gravitated into middle age.

I would give my seat to a person I deemed needed one more than I, I helped a number of elderly persons across the street if they seemed incapable of beating the “walk” signal, I always opened doors for persons I presumed to be senior citizens, and I always volunteered to do chores for some elderly persons in my neighborhood.

(By the way, I also always open doors for women, even though I was once reprimanded for doing so.

When I was returning from lunch one day, I opened the door for a woman in front of me who was entering The Palladium-Times building in Oswego where I was the publisher.

She snapped at me, “I can do that for myself.” Despite her admonition, I still open doors for women and tip my cap to them.)

Now that I am well into my senior years (83), I have become the beneficiary of some of the acts of respect that I had once accorded my elders.

Younger people defer to me when entering a building or exiting an establishment.

Family members and friends offer to accompany me down the driveway to my car after a visit. (I am secretly conflicted about accepting this offer.

On the one hand, I am grateful for the safety that it provides, but, on the other, I consider it yet another action that I might have to rely on others for, whereas once it was the type of task that was done without a second thought.)

Most of us have heard the phrase “respect your elders.” Many reading 24

this magazine probably are in the 55-plus age group, so I am sure you can share how you treated your elders before you became part of this amorphous group. Do you now have expectations for treatment from family, loved ones, even the general public, and, if so, what are they? Or maybe you say 55 or 60 is too young to have these expectations yet.

It is really difficult to pin down what society recommends when the term “respect for our elders” is dissected. Obviously, there is no one definition that fits all segments of society. Some of this revolves around expectations within certain cultures, ethnic groups and religion.

One of the most interesting debates I have had with people about this topic is whether age alone is sufficient reason to command respect. I argue that it’s not, but a lot of people disagree with me. They believe that longevity alone is reason enough to expect deferential treatment.

I don’t know about you, but one of the major areas where expectation vs. reality comes into play involves our relationship and interaction with our grandchildren. I have found that some of my nine grandchildren are very attentive. They check in with me by text or email periodically, make an occasional phone call and unsolicited visit and, while they are with me, volunteer to do any chores that need completion. Some of the other grandkids are much more aloof.

How we respond can be fraught with pitfalls, so perhaps many of you do what I do: nothing overtly, but I am frustrated by the lack of contact from some of the grandkids. I have even had fleeting thoughts of trying to get their attention by not sending a birthday or Christmas gift, but then calmer heads prevailed, and I wound up treating them equally in gift-giving.

I thought about having a

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

‘Why is respect for the elderly so important? It’s a way of showing we value their wisdom and contributions to society. We seniors have firsthand experiences when it comes to history, so it gives us a unique perspective.’ conversation with them or their parents about my expectations but scrapped that idea for fear of its coming off as petty or misunderstood.

Children and grandchildren receive mixed messages about how to treat us seniors. Let’s start with one of the Ten Commandments. There it is, big as life: “Honor thy father and thy mother.’’ By implication, this means honoring the elderly, too.

There are plenty of biblical verses about the importance of honoring and caring for the elderly. None is clearer than: “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged.” (Leviticus 19:32) At the other end of the spectrum, TV advertising often portrays the elderly as doddering old fools who engage in all sorts of socially inappropriate behavior. There is a line in recent Progressive Insurance commercials that says, “We can’t prevent you from becoming your parents….’’ The

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implication is plain: You don’t want to go down that potholed road and act and behave as your parents do. God forbid. Why not? A lot of parents set great examples for their kids. I hope I am one of them.

Following a study, Educational Gerontology concluded that negative stereotyping of the elderly has been identified as a “significant social issue.”

Because the mass media are a potent source for shaping attitudes, especially for children toward the elderly, they have a responsibility to portray the elderly in a more positive and realistic light.

Why is respect for the elderly so important? It’s a way of showing we value their wisdom and contributions to society. We seniors have firsthand experiences when it comes to history, so it gives us a unique perspective.

Seniors report feeling lonely and socially isolated, which negatively affects their health. The combination of isolation and growing old translates to a feeling of being valueless in a modern society. When children and young adults learn to value and respect seniors, it allows them to play more of a key role in their community and family life.

According to researchers who have studied this issue, learning to respect their elders can help younger people confront their own aging later in life. They are more likely to embrace the aging process rather than fear or resent it.

Something seemingly as innocuous as how we refer to the elderly can be an important factor in showing respect. I was brought up to refer to

someone a generation older than I as “Mr.,” `Mrs.,” or more recently “Ms.” If the person had a title, I would use it — “Dr.” or “Rev.”, for example. On second or subsequent references, it would be “sir” or “ma’am.”

As I have gotten older, I pay more attention to what people call me. When an unthinking younger person thought I wasn’t moving fast enough, he barked, “Hurry up, old man.” When I went into a fast food place recently, the 20s-something server greeted me with, “What can I getcha, pops?” I don’t know why but on a recent birthday a much younger friend referred to me as “82 years YOUNG.’’ I’m not. I’m 82 years OLD. I have overheard conversations among young people who referred to elderly neighbors, sometimes even family members, as “old geezer” “dinosaur” and “fossil.”

There is something to be said about the “generation gap” when it comes to a meeting of the minds.

Growing up, we tend to downplay our parents’ knowledge. In our quest to achieve our independence from their rule, we categorize what they tell us or suggest to us as outdated, inconsequential or out of it.

English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744) probably nailed this phenomenon when he wrote in a couplet: “We think our fathers fools so wise we grow; our wiser sons will no doubt think us so.”

Just remember, though, respect is a two-way street. If older persons act like jerks or are rude to a child or younger person, they shouldn’t complain if they don’t get respect in return.

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25

David Neibert, 80, is the owner of Aristocats and Dogs, a pet supply store in downtown Skaneateles.

“Yes, I have my dogs, but I like my kitties. They’re just so affectionate, very loving.”

26

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

second act Retired Couple Enjoy Owning a Pet Supply Store Owners David Neibert, 80, and wife Ann, 77, have been running their post-retirement business in Skaneateles for 12 years

By David Figura

B

usiness owner David Neibert is one of those guys who retired with no plans of what to do afterward.

He eventually found his calling.

He and his wife, Ann, currently own and run Aristocats and Dogs, a pet supply store in downtown Skaneateles.

“I just love dealing with pet people,” he said. “They’re always so happy. Many bring their dogs in and we give them treats. We’ve had everything in here from a 2-pound Yorkie-poo to a 210-pound English mastiff.”

For more than 35 years, Dave and Ann, both former teachers, had owned and run a ServPro franchise, which served Syracuse and the greater Onondaga County area. The business specialized in cleaning up water, fire and smoke damage for commercial and residential clients. At its peak, the company had six other employees, including a secretary, a salesman and four technicians. David ran the business; Ann was the bookkeeper.

“I was close to 65 when we sold it,” he said. “I just got tired of doing the same thing. I wanted a break.”

For the next two years, the Skaneateles couple kicked back. David said he got bored.

“I got tired of just sitting around, reading the paper, drinking coffee and watching TV. I like to golf, but you can’t do that every day. And there’s just so many times a week you can mow the lawn,” he said.

So when Aristocats and Dogs on Genesee Street went up for sale, David and Ann decided to buy it. “We only live a block and half from the store.

We’re animal people so I said, ‘What the heck?’” he explained.

Twelve years later, David, 80, and

All about dogs and cats. Interior of Aristocats and Dogs, a pet supply store in downtown Skaneateles.

Ann, 77, are still happily running their post-retirement business. The store is open seven days a week and is closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day and Easter. David is at the store five to six days a week; Ann covers things the other days.

Ann said her husband “just loves” being in his own business.

“For Dave, this store is very much about the socialization he gets with the customers coming in. It gives him an opportunity to use his experience, keeps his mental skills sharp and keeps him physically active. He’s always been a good people person,” she said.

Apart from the store, Dave said he plays golf once a week in a league. Ann is civic chairperson of the local garden club and oversees the hanging up and maintenance of the hanging flower baskets throughout the village each year, in addition to the maintenance of the shrubs and flowers in front of and

behind the Skaneateles Library. She is also an active member of a 100-yearold book club, which has 27 members and meets twice a month. The Neiberts are also members of the Skaneateles United Methodist Church.

As for the store, there’s more to pet supplies and pet food than meets the eye, the couple said.

“People will ask such things as ‘What’s the best collar for a golden retriever?’” Ann said. “You’d think every golden retriever would be similar. They’re not. So, if you haven’t measured your dog’s neck beforehand, I can’t tell you what size collar to get. I can only make a suggestion.”

Customers have numerous food and treat requests for their pets, Ann added. There are hard chews, soft chews.

“Some customers ask for grainfree items. Or organic. Or they say my dog can only eat chicken, or fish or

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

27

is allergic to most things. Recently a fellow was in here and wanted to know if we had any venison treats. Now isn’t that a strange one?” she said.

The store sells nearly 30 types of dog treats. The most popular? “My Doggy brand soft-baked cookies with peanut butter,” David said.

The most popular cat item? Hands down, the Finger Lakes catnip snakes and small pillows, he added.

“A local lady grows the catnip and makes them,” he said. “The best way I can describe catnip is that it’s like marijuana for cats. They’re attracted to it and it makes them wild and crazy, a little bit. They lick and chew on these items, toss them around and play with them.”

Pet supplies at the store include numerous collars and leashes; a host of dog and cat food and treats; clothing (jackets, sweaters, booties); life jackets—even Doggles, a pair of sunglasses that strap to your dog’s head.

“They’re popular with pet owners who have boats or who let their dogs ride with them on motorcycle side carts,” David said. “They protect a dog’s eyes from the sun and bugs from hitting them in the face and eyes.”

The store also has a machine that allows the customer to engrave a small, metal tag that can be attached to their pet’s collar with identification and contact information on both sides.

The couple has owned both dogs and cats for years. Currently, they have two small dogs (Shon, a shih tzu-bichon frise; and Buster, a silky terrier), and four cats (Charlie, Rusty, Pepper and Smokey). All the cats are strays that they’ve adopted and had neutered.

28

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP David Neibert, façade of store owned by the Neiberts and Ann

Neibert in the back office processes credit card charges at Aristocats and Dogs in Skaneateles.

David describes himself as more of a cat person. “Yes, I have my dogs, but I like my kitties. They’re just so affectionate, very loving. They like to be petted and held. To get their bellies rubbed. At least mine do,” he said.

Ann said that David has converted a carriage house behind their home into bedding area for their cats and other strays. She said Dave grew up in Ohio and his family had a reputation of being cat people, often taking in strays.

She described her husband as being a sort of “cat whisperer.”

“Maybe it’s his voice, his disposition, his gentleness. I don’t know what it is, but the cats just love him,” she said. “Weather permitting,

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

during the morning he’ll put on his bathrobe and slippers, along with a coat and take the dogs for a short walk and the four cats will follow him.

Everyone on the street laughs at that.”

Dave said he’s frequently asked by male customers for advice about retirement.

“I tell them, if you like what you’re doing, stay with it and see if you can cut back, take on less. Relieve the stress,” he said. “If that isn’t possible, retire and find something that gives your life meaning, a purpose. Something you enjoy. Something that makes you want to get up in the morning. Volunteer at the church, food pantry, Meals on Wheels. You just can’t do nothing.”

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

29

savings Cut the Cord, Cut the Cost

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he exodus from cable toward streaming has reached its highest level.

With an average rate of $107 per month, the rates for cable and satellite TV are substantially higher than streaming platforms.

The a la carte nature of streaming appeals to many viewers. If you don’t care to watch sports, why pay for ESPN as part of a viewing package, for example?

For those who already pay for a high-speed internet connection, adding a couple streaming platforms provides a custom viewing experience more affordable. Spectrum charges $19.99 for an internet connection (with a two-year contract) for up to 300 Mbps, which is fast enough for streaming programming. Viewers can watch live TV and stream new and favorite movies, documentaries, cartoons (for the grandkids, of course) and other new content.

Streaming platforms also allows viewers to watch on any device they want, download programs to watch later without a WiFi connection, and group watch with people elsewhere.

The a la carte nature of streaming appeals to many viewers. If you don’t care to watch sports, why pay for ESPN as part of a viewing package, for example?

Streaming includes no-contract options, which is ideal for someone who wants to access viewing choices seasonally, such as more programming while “hibernating” during the winter but less during more active warmer months. Perhaps adding Disney+ would help during the summer while babysitting the grandchildren. Cable and satellite require contracts.

Streamed programs may or may not include advertising, but when they do, the ads are very short and infrequent. Some streaming platforms like Hulu + Live TV include broadcast television.

Streaming does bear a few disadvantages. During times of heavy internet use, views may experience occasional lag time. Internet outages also disrupt playback.

If you want to watch television via streaming, these options are much less expensive than cable or satellite: • YouTube TV: $64.99/month (100plus channels) • Hulu + Live TV: $69.99–$75.99/ month (70-plus channels, also offers on-demand movies) • Philo: $25/month (63-plus channels, also has on-demand movies) • fuboTV: $69.99–$74.99/month (111–166+ channels) • Sling TV: $35–$50/month (30– 50-plus channels, also has on-demand movies) If movies and documentaries appeal to you, consider these ondemand providers, which work like a virtual video collection. Most of these allow a certain number of simultaneous streams, where members of your household can watch something different at the same time on their devices. Some of these services rotate what is available, so movies and programs come and go: • Netflix: $10 (6,000 titles, four simultaneous streams) • HBO Max: $10 (2,000+ titles, three simultaneous streams) • Amazon Prime Video: $9 (14,000 titles, three simultaneous streams) • Disney+: $8 (50+ titles, four simultaneous streams) • Hulu: $7 (10,000+ titles, six simultaneous streams) • Apple TV+: 5 (50 titles, six simultaneous streams) • FreeVee: $0 (9,000 titles, unlimited simultaneous streams, includes ads) Most platforms offer a free trial period to help you make up your mind.

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Vitamin D Supplements Won’t Help Your Bones, Large Study Finds

S

eniors who take vitamin D supplements to improve their bone health and ward off fractures are just wasting their time and money, a major new study has found.

These supplements did nothing to reduce their average risk of bone fractures, researchers found in a randomized trial testing vitamin D against a placebo.

“In generally healthy adults, these results do not support the use of vitamin D supplements to reduce fracture risk,” said lead researcher Meryl LeBoff, a physician who serves as chief of the calcium and bone section at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “We found that supplemental vitamin D did not reduce fractures in U.S. participants.”

In the study, published July 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine, more than 25,000 older adults were randomly assigned to take either 2,000 units of vitamin D daily or a placebo, and then followed for an average of five years. The average age of participants was 67.

Nearly 2,000 bone fractures occurred among more than 1,500 participants during the study period.

However, taking vitamin D appears to have had no bearing on who suffered a fracture and who didn’t.

Nearly 20% of U.S. adults currently take vitamin D supplements, often based on blood tests that find they have “insufficient” or “deficient” levels of vitamin D. These new results should cause both doctors and patients to question the value of routine vitamin D testing, said physician Steven Cummings, a professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco.

“Doctors routinely order vitamin D levels, and many patients hear that they are low, they’re below some level,” said Cummings, co-author of an editorial accompanying the findings.

“What we needed to know is whether those people who have low levels benefit from taking vitamin D. And the answer to that is no.”

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

31

cover

Moss Lake, in Webb, Adirondacks. Photo courtesy of Sandra Roe, https://sandra-roe.pixels.com

Best

Bets

for LOCAL LEAF PEEPING

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

As the temperature dips overnight and the sunlight mellows, plan to take a leaf peeping trip. But don’t plan concretely.

Avid leaf peepers have observed trees transform in 24 hours from barely tinted to peak. Or windy and rainy weather can obliterate a colorful tree’s leaves in mere hours. Microclimates, such at Watkins Glen, can make timing a leaf peeping trip tricky and higher elevation may mean cooler weather and sooner transformations.

Linda Lowen, author of “100 Things to Do in Syracuse Before You Die,” has crisscrossed the region while researching for her book. She likes the stretch of U.S. Route 20 between Auburn and Bouckville.

“It’s just under 60 miles and a little over an hour’s drive, but you could make a full day of it stopping in the towns along the way which include Auburn, lakeside Skaneateles (worth it for lunch and shopping), LaFayette (Apple Valley—pick some apples!) then on to Cazenovia (another lakeside village but smaller with more great restaurants) and then through Nelson and Morrisville on to Bouckville, which is a legendary village known for its numerous antique stores.”

Although Lowen likes driving south from Syracuse on Route 81, for leaf peeping, she prefers the slower pace of Route 281 from Tully to Route 13 in Homer and then on down Route 13 to Ithaca.

“The Route 13 corridor connects two college towns, Cortland and Ithaca, and both have a lot to offer,” Lowen said. “But don’t overlook Homer itself, particularly the quaint downtown village area, which is smalltown living at its most charming.”

In the Western Finger Lakes, she likes looping around Keuka Lake, which offers “gorgeous lake views, sweeping hillsides and plenty of fall colors and of course wineries.”

She added that Hammondsport offers some good dining options.

“It’s definitely a town that knows how to feed visitors well,” Lowen said.

Sandy Roe, a well-traveled local photographer, enjoys many CNY venues for autumnal photography.

“I often just go driving around, looking for something that catches my eye,” Roe said.

Her favorite spots include Webster ’s Pond and Strathmore – Onondaga Park.

“They’re close to home and have a beautiful view of the city,” she said.

In Oakwood Cemetery, visitors can enjoy both great old trees and historic headstones and structures.

Hikers would enjoy Charlie Major Trail. Roe said that the flat topography accented by waterfalls, streams, and the ruins of old mills and a distillery make it a favorite.

“Carpenters Falls has a new viewing platform,” Roe added. “It’s nice ride along Skaneateles Lake. At

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

33

A barn on route 80 between Tully and Fly Creek Cider Mill. Photo courtesy of Sandra Roe, https:// sandra-roe.pixels.com

AUTUMN IN CENTRAL NEW YORK By photographer Sandra Roe

Linda Lowen, author of “100 Things to Do in Syracuse Before You Die.” To enjoy fall foliage, she likes the stretch of U.S. Route 20 between Auburn and Bouckville.

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55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

Cazenovia Gorge Trail, there’s the rail trail, waterfalls, streams, and ruins.”

She also likes the overlook at Clark Reservation, the view of Skaneateles Lake from Ripley Hill, and the Cazenovia Art Park.

“They have art installations along the trail and a nice view of Cazenovia Lake,” she said.

Green Lakes, Thornden Park, and Onondaga Lake also make her list.

“We are blessed to have the Adirondacks close enough for a day trip,” Roe said.

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

35

passion Billy Martin, owner of Billy Martin’s Cole All-Star Circus, during a presentation earlier this year in Oswego County.

Opposite page: in the locker room of the Mexico High School, getting ready for the show. Photos by Ken Sturtz

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55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

Born to Circus ‘Every night is opening night’ says owner of Billy Martin’s Cole AllStar Circus

By Ken Sturtz

W

ith barely two hours before showtime the school gymnasium had morphed into a popcorn-scented circus wonderland ready to greet the crowds of children and parents soon to arrive.

The transformation occurred at breakneck speed with everyone — except a 9-year-old who doggedly practiced his juggling — unloading and setting up with commando-like precision.

On one end of the gymnasium they erected the ring and backdrop, ran cables and hung speakers and lighting.

At the other they inflated balloons and stocked toys, spun 30-pound bags of sugar into cotton candy and popped popcorn.

In the middle of it all was Billy Martin.

The charismatic, friendly-faced owner of Billy Martin’s Cole All-Star Circus is a hands-on boss, working alongside everyone else during set up and then seeing to the smallest details, such as positioning the spotlights just right so they bathe the performers in light.

Martin sets a grueling pace for himself and his circus. Working with school clubs and community groups that sell circus tickets as a fundraiser, they crisscross New York and Pennsylvania beginning each winter. Working seven days a week and living out of campers, they visit more than a hundred schools by season’s end in spring.

“It’s a lifestyle; you have to eat, drink and breathe it,” Martin said. “It’s not for everyone.”

Circus life takes dedication and perseverance, Martin said. He would know. During his years on the road he’s contended with recessions, equipment breakdowns and injuries as well as bomb scares, whooping cough outbreaks and awful weather.

Snow days are the reason the circus runs seven days a week without a scheduled day off. Once or twice a month a snow day is bound to cancel a show.

And there’s always another town, another school gymnasium on the schedule. Martin has driven all night to make it to shows and led the circus caravan through treacherous blizzards

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37

A circus artist prepares to do a cylinder stacking act. It involves balancing on top of cylinders stacked on the platform behind her.

to get to the next location on time.

On a recent morning the circus left Otsego County headed for a 7 p.m. performance in Oswego County.

About halfway into the 140-mile trip one of the box trucks carrying the show hit a pothole on the Thruway and got a flat tire. A long delay and $579 later, the circus got back on the road and arrived at its destination. The next day they had to be on the road by 7 a.m. to be in Canandaigua for several afternoons shows.

“It keeps you on your toes, it keeps your mind going,” Martin said. “You always have to anticipate things.”

Martin was in second grade when the teacher did a unit on the circus.

Mesmerized, he was soon putting on shows in his bedroom. His mother helped him build a model circus and he eventually checked out every circus book on the shelves of the local library.

In 1972, 12-year-old Martin met James Cole, a veteran circus owner, at a show.

Circuses had long followed a pattern of touring in the spring, summer and fall and then going into winter headquarters. From his 38

home base in Penn Yan, Cole staged performances for children visiting on school field trips. In the 1930s he hit upon the idea of filling the dormant winter months with a touring circus, reasoning that if people couldn’t get to the circus, the circus would come to them.

The show was small enough to fit in a high school gymnasium and eventually became a fundraising project for schools. Art classes designed the posters and the band provided the music.

“It was a unique and marvelous thing,” Martin said. “He was way, way ahead of his time.”

When he first met Cole, Martin exclaimed that he wanted to join the circus. Cole sent him the circus’s route cards and whenever there was a performance nearby Martin dragged his parents to the show. By then his mother had sewn him a ringmaster’s coat and Cole would introduce him at the beginning of shows.

When the circus’s route card arrived in the mail the following year Martin was puzzled by three dates that

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

said “Pending.” He pulled out an atlas and tried looking up Pending without success. So, Martin called Cole longdistance. The circus owner laughed and explained “Pending” wasn’t a place, but a placeholder for three dates that fell through.

Martin suggested he could book those dates for Cole, who chuckled and agreed to mail him the show contracts.

Martin lugged out his father’s Royal typewriter and composed several letters. Weeks later he called Cole and told him he had booked all three dates.

“He couldn’t believe it,” Martin said. “He was thrilled.”

Cole paid him $50 for each show he booked. Martin kept the check and never cashed it. From then on, his desire to be in the circus never waned.

He developed a balancing and juggling act, managed to wrangle a job and found a family that agreed to let him live with them while touring.

He graduated from high school at 17 and the next day his father drove him to New Jersey to join the Famous Hunt Circus, a big top circus that toured the Northeast.

Stage of the Billy Martin’s Cole All-Star Circus, during a presentation in Oswego County.

“He thought it was just going to be a phase and I’d get it out of my system,” Martin said. “That was 45 years ago.”

Martin continued touring with big top circuses in the summer season and joined Cole’s circus in the winters. He got a crash course in the circus business and a decade later when an 80-year-old Cole decided to retire, he asked Martin if he wanted to take over the show.

Martin agreed and took the show on the road solo in 1988.

Martin, now 62, still takes his circus on the road each year.

His home is Olean, but he only spends a few months a year there. In the summer and fall Martin and his wife, Angela, who is an aerialist in the show, run a circus under a big top at the Adventureland theme park outside Des Moines, Iowa.

Martin also produces a larger three-ring circus that supports Shriners groups.

His Cole All-Star Circus, however, typically operates with about a dozen people, which means he serves as ringmaster and light and sound technician. He does everything from booking shows and parking the campers, to meeting the principal and glad-handing school custodians.

He’s usually up by 5 a.m. and gets on the computer to respond to email and handle other tasks such as providing schools with insurance

certificates, coordinating with clubs and placing refill orders for toys, balloons and snacks.

But it’s as ringmaster that Martin shines. Clad in a tuxedo, he embraces the role wholeheartedly. He has a commanding presence and his deep baritone has a soothing golden tone when he introduces the show and each act (he even sings briefly). His personality has the warmth of a department store Santa Claus and it’s not unusual for youngsters to appear at his side during intermission to meet him.

During the 90-minute show, however, Martin is content to keep the spotlight on the performers, who typically each have two acts. This season’s tour included two aerial acts, a costume quick change performance, a foot juggler, and unicycle and balancing acts among others.

Martin dubbed the tour the “Time to Have Fun Again Tour” since it was the first time he’d been able to take the circus on the road in nearly two years.

In 2020, the pandemic stopped the circus in its tracks with 10 weeks of dates remaining, leaving Martin with a $30,000 printing bill for the tickets and posters from the canceled shows.

He applied for the first round of the federal Paycheck Protection Program for small-business owners, but the money had already run out and he wasn’t eligible for later rounds. He and

his wife scrimped and saved and took part-time jobs to pay the bills.

The circus in Iowa went on as planned in 2020, but when November rolled around Martin found himself, an admitted creature of habit, stuck at home and with no upcoming tour to plan for. He began piecing together a tour last year, but when COVID-19 surged in January was forced to postpone some dates.

“That was a big blow, that’s for sure,” he said.

But it was only temporary and, after 22 months of not being on the road, Martin and the circus set off. Martin said they’ve had some of the biggest crowds he can remember, something he attributes to pandemic-weary people missing the circus and wanting to experience live entertainment again.

As hard as the last two years were, now that he’s back Martin doesn’t plan to give up the circus life anytime soon.

He said he’d like to continue running the circus another 15 years, when it will be a century old.

Aside from a deep belief that he’s doing what he was meant to do, Martin said the experience of traveling with the circus is just as energizing as it can be exhausting.

“Every night is opening night and that’s the way you have to look at life,” he said. “Every day is going to be your best day.”

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

39

aging

By Marilyn L. Pinsky

The Men Who Made Me Who I Am

William Lawrence Pollard was the dean of Syracuse University School of Social Work for about 10 years. He then served in leadership roles in Washington, D.C. and Brooklyn until he moved back to Syracuse.

B

y a n y a c c o u n t , Wi l l i a m Lawrence Pollard is a success.

Most would say Pollard is a “pull-yourself-up-by-thebootstraps” success. But not Pollard.

He believes that his success has come from several men he met in his life, from high school years through to his presidency of two colleges.

His is a lesson in humility and an example for all of us who might have a chance to influence someone else’s life without even knowing the impact we are having.

First, the professional background.

A man of many titles, he was known locally for 10 years as dean of Syracuse University School of Social Work. In Washington, D.C., and New York City, he was President Pollard. To his wife, Merriette, he is just Pollard. And to his friends, Bill.

Pollard was serving as dean of the School of Social Work when Syracuse University decided to merge the schools of social work, human development and nursing (now known with additional departments as Falk College) under one dean and he was 40

asked to pull it together, becoming the “super dean.”

While in Syracuse, Merriette was working on her doctorate in the Maxwell School and serving as director of the storied Dunbar Association.

In demand in the community for her policy expertise, she served on several boards, including the Syracuse/Onondaga Aging and Youth board and the board of Syracuse 20-20, while they raised their two sons here.

Then off to Washington, D.C., where Pollard became president of the University of the District of Columbia.

That was followed by a move to New York City and the presidency at CUNY’s Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn and finally back to Syracuse.

They immediately were drawn back into community service, with Bill on the boards of First Tee and Clear Path for Veterans and Merriette serving on St. Joseph’s Hospital board, among others.

Now the history.

“I am not self-made,” said Pollard.

“You don’t make it by yourself; you make it because of the people you meet

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

through your life. They influenced me career-wise and they shaped and molded me professionally. They took what I had and pushed me in the right directions.

“I couldn’t have done anything without Sterling Whitener. The son of missionaries who grew up in Mao’s China, Sterling started a radical collaboration between a Black Livingstone College and a white Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina. He brought both programs together by insisting that certain courses were only taught on one campus or the other. Those were the years, 1968-69 when Vietnam and the Black Power movement were happening. I was about to graduate with my master of social work degree when my adviser introduced me to Sterling, who hired me to teach three courses. Then I got a letter to report for my military physical, which I passed and was ordered to report for service.

Goodbye career and school — until Sterling stepped in and made sure that my contract to teach got me an occupational deferment.

William Lawrence Pollard (right) chatting with New Yor City Mayor Eric Adams.

“First and foremost, as a youth I went to the only Black Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, where two ministers ignited my passion for community service. First was Pastor Oscar McCloud. He really supported youth development programming in the church and because of him I became involved in youth fellowship programs. When I was a junior in high school, he took me to an ecumenical youth conference in Ohio where I had the opportunity to participate in workshops and share ideas with a racially diverse group of 20,000 young people from all over the world. That made a big difference in my outlook on life. As a high school senior, I was asked to participate in a youth caravan that brought young people from across the country together to perform community service work. I was one of four Black students out of 60. After a two-week training, we worked first in a rural area in New York and then in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, working with youth from Pruitt-Igoe, one of the first high-rise public housing projects in the country. Additionally, Oscar’s wife was a social worker and I spent time working with her. All of this experience sent me in the direction of becoming a social worker, but one focused on larger systems.

“People in the congregation arranged jobs for students to staff two summer camps in Maine as cooks, dishwashers, etc. My job for two summers was as a groom for horses, where I cleaned stalls, watered the horses and put manure on the trucks.

Our new pastor, who replaced Oscar who had moved up to a church in Atlanta, was Frank Mutchinson.

Frank said, ‘Bill, you need to do something better with your summers than shoveling horseshit.’ Next thing I knew, I was on a bus to St. Louis, where I worked for three months organizing block groups and learning to be a community organizer.”

Fast forward to 1966.

Merriette was a pre-freshman from Wilmington, North Carolina, preparing to attend Shaw University in Raleigh. Bill’s fraternity brother at Shaw insisted on getting them together and he obviously knew what he was doing; they married in ‘68.

In a total leap of faith, they both quit their jobs and went to the University of Chicago as full-time graduate students where many of the same people we’ll meet, though not in chronological order, who helped Bill along the way, also helped Merriette.

“The third significant man in my life was my mentor and friend, James R. Dumpson. In 50 years of public service, he worked for every New York City mayor, both Democrat and Republican, running the public welfare department and other human services, then the health and hospital system.

“When he died at 103, I felt like I lost my academic father. I met him when I was teaching college in 1970 and he was dean of Fordham’s School of Social Work, one of two African Americans running schools of social work not in historically Black institutions. We maintained our relationship through

professional organizations that he led and through him, I learned the political end of working in that environment. He wrote all my letters of recommendation for every position I sought after completing my Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, through to my presidency in D.C. When I saw Jim at a meeting in Chicago in ‘73, he asked what I needed to finish my dissertation and I told him — money.

A couple of weeks later, I got a call to come to NYC to meet Kenneth Clark, known for his involvement in Brown vs. Board of Education, the 1954 US Supreme Court decision to desegregate schools. Jim invited me to meet Clark to discuss my research. A week later I received a check for $3,000 to cover my travel to out-of-state libraries to do the necessary research for the dissertation.

“At the University of Chicago, I got into a funk when I didn’t pass an exam in inferential statistics I needed for my doctorate. I was having trouble maintaining my focus. Here was where Frank Bruel, the head of the University of Chicago’s social work school’s SSA Policy Sequence, came into my life. He made me read 25 books which crystallized my field of study to policy, particularly the history of the settlement movement. I realized from my research that this was a missing piece for Black people.

“Immigrants got support from the settlement house movement but after Reconstruction ended, Black people had nowhere to turn except back to their former slave owner masters.

Who was doing for Black folk after Reconstruction what the settlement workers were doing for immigrants?

And that is where my dissertation focus went and why the money from Kenneth Clark was so important — it allowed me to travel to libraries to do that research. Frank Bruel understood where I was going and connected me to John Hope Franklin, a Black man from Oklahoma, a noted historian and prolific author. Because of Frank, John served on my dissertation committee; he taught me how to take notes, an essential skill in historical research.

As you can see, one person introduced me to another and that’s how life happened.”

This will all be part of a new book Pollard is writing. The next phase of the book will be the context in which he grew up: being Black in a southern community. Can’t wait to read it.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

41

fishing

Eighty-year-old Captain Tony Buffa in his charter boat, “My Gal Cal II.” He has fished and taken clients to fish on Oneida Lake for 47 years. He also chartered on Lake Ontario for 43 year. He is still going.

Photos courtesy of Katie Figura Photography 42

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

Captain Tony Buffa Enjoys Life on the Water ‘It’s my passion. It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning,’ says 80-year-old fishing guide

By David Figura

F

or more than four decades, Captain Tony Buffa has been a beloved and well-respected charter boat fishing guide on the Central New York angling scene — giving joy and memorable experiences to countless clients and inspiration to others.

Having turned 80 earlier this year, Buffa, of Bridgeport, continues to guide on Oneida Lake three to four times a week, weather permitting.

He takes clients out on My Gal Cal II, his 28-foot boat docked on the lake’s southern shore at Fremac Marina in Lakeport. His fishing season on the lake begins in April and continues through November. He specializes

in catching walleye, but also assists anglers in landing perch, bass and whatever else can be hooked in the lake.

At the end of this season, Buffa will have been taking out fishing charters on Oneida Lake for 47 years.

He chartered on Lake Ontario for 43 years, but stopped doing that last year.

“I’m simplifying,” he said with his infectious smile and laugh. “Right now, I’ve come to the point in my life where I’ll do a six-hour charter in the morning and never do a second charter that day. Also, I’ll never do three days in a row and I’ll never do more than four trips in a week. And I’m good.”

Buffa said friends and family

wonder how much longer he can keep going.

“I love the way my life is and I want it to go forever,” he said. “Friends say, ‘Tony, aren’t you sick of guiding?’ I say, ‘No, it’s my passion. It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning. As much as I’ve been out on the water, every day is a learning experience.’”

Born and raised catholic in Syracuse, Buffa, who has college degrees in mathematics and English, was a member of the Brothers of Christian Instruction, a community of Catholic men, similar to the religious order that teaches at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse.

While a member of the order, he taught math for six years at Mount Assumption Institute in Plattsburgh, where he had attended high school.

He later dropped out of the order, married and taught math briefly at both Bishop Ludden and Bishop Grimes Catholic high schools — and eventually was hired to teach at Onondaga Community College, where for 43 years, he taught calculus before retiring in 2015.

Juggling two careers — teaching and guiding — wasn’t always easy,

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

43

but Buffa managed.

While at OCC, he would teach Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

He would often be out on the water during the fishing season on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends, either on Oneida or Ontario lakes.

“Back in my younger days, when I was in my 30s and 40s, it was nothing for me to do two trips a day. That kind of energy is gone,” he said.

Over the years, Buffa applied his teaching skills to promote angling and his guide business. During the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, he gave fishing seminars during the off-season about Oneida Lake and Lake Ontario at Fredon’s sporting goods store on Teal Avenue in Syracuse.

“They kind of took me under their wing,” he said, adding that the store bought him a boat — and eventually a larger one to take out charters on Lake Ontario. In return, he pledged loyalty to the store, meaning he’d only give fishing seminars there.

“All I needed to do was pay the insurance (on the boat), the docking fee and take them (the owners) fishing a few times,” he said. “It was a great deal.”

When Fredon’s closed, Buffa continued to give fishing seminars at Bass Pro Shops and at the Northeast Sportsman’s Show at the New York State Fairgrounds, along with a class on fishing at OCC. He stopped doing seminars about five years ago, figuring he had an adequate client base and no longer needed to promote his guide business.

In addition to the fishing seminars, Buffa has been a long-time board member of the Oneida Lake Association. For the past 42 years, he has been the chairperson and emcee at the group’s annual public meetings.

One of the things that Buffa was known for on Lake Ontario was his “evening reflections” — which he gave daily using the VHS radio on his boat.

Other fishing guides on the lake and many on shore tuned in to hear Buffa speak at the tail end of his afternoon charters during the months of July, August and September. Some guides used to turn their boat radio volume up for their clients to hear.

It was a tradition that Buffa said he started more than 20 years ago on the spur of the moment. He stressed it was not a religious or evangelizing thing.

“It rose out of the need to recognize 44

“I love the way my life is and I want it to go forever. Friends say, ‘Tony, aren’t you sick of guiding?’ I say, ‘No, it’s my passion.

It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.

As much as I’ve been out on the water, every day is a learning experience.’”

Captain Tony Buffa our close friends and charter captains who had passed over the years,” he told The Post-Standard in a 2021 interview. “One afternoon I was out there and I said to myself, ‘Why don’t we create an evening reflection that included their names, and those who had most recently passed on. It will give us all a chance to remember them and reflect on the privilege of being out on the water and thanking a higher being for that privilege.’”

Buffa credits his good health and longevity as a guide to a number of factors. They include genetics (his mother lived to be 100); the fact that he never smoked and is a moderate drinker; the physical activity and excessive amounts of fresh air he has taken in other the years while guiding and fishing, and the fact that he’s a “chess fanatic” — a game he described as “real brain muscle activity.”

The following are excerpts from a recent interview with Buffa.

My Gal Cal II. Where’d you come up with that name?

“My boat is named after my wife, Carolyn, whose maiden name was Carolyn Ann Lawson. Her nickname in college was Cal, an acronym for her full name. It’s my second ‘My Gal Cal’ boat, an upgrade from the first.

We’ve been married for 47 years and Carolyn has been my number one fan and supporter for all my endeavors.”

Talk about the first time you went

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fishing.

“I was 7 years old and it was on a Catholic Youth Organization outing for kids at Green Lakes State Park.

You could choose either swimming or fishing. I said `Jeez, I think I’ll try fishing.’ But I didn’t own a fishing rod at the time. The day before the outing, my mother took me to the neighborhood tackle shop and bought me a hand line, some sinkers, hooks, some bobbers and bait (worms). When we got there, they strung us along the shoreline. I took the hand line, and whipped it around my head in a circle and fired it out there and watched the bobber. And lo and behold, the bobber went up and down and I pulled on the handline and brought in a pumpkinseed (a sunfish). I said to myself, ‘I think I like this’ and it’s been a passion for me ever since.”

Who taught you how to fish afterward during your childhood years?

“My father was not part of my upbringing. He left when I was six months old. I have to pay tribute to my uncles, Tony Merluzzi and Leonard Massaro. They took me on a boat fishing on Oneida Lake. Sometimes we went up to Sandy Pond or over to Montario Point, where the north and south branches of Sandy Creek come into Lake Ontario. Or for a quick outing from shore at the Caughdenoy Dam or Horseshoe Island on the Oneida River, or at the Belgium Bridge on the Seneca River. We did a variety of fishing. I enjoyed catching anything that would bite.”

Talk about when you decided to become a charter boat captain.

“I got married in 1975. I told my wife, Carolyn, that I did not want to live in the city. I wanted to live either on or near Oneida Lake. After getting married, we moved out to Bridgeport and rented a house on the lake and eventually bought a house just down the road that had lake access. She was good with that because she was raised on a farm and her father took her fishing as a child. In fact, I took her fishing on one of our first dates.

“I had a 17-foot boat with a 35hp motor and kept it a small marina just walking distance from the house we were renting. Apart from my teaching job, I fished every living moment possible that I had to fish.

“So, I’m looking around and telling myself, ‘There is no one on this lake

who is guiding and that it’s something I should look into.’ I looked into the requirements, studied what I needed to study and passed the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential exam in September 1976, the same year that Jim Boeheim took over the reins of the Syracuse University men’s basketball team. The certification gave me the captain’s title and allowed me to take up to six people at a time out fishing for pay. I was 34 years old. I started off on Oneida and expanded my outings to include Lake Ontario a couple of years later.”

Over the years, how have you dealt with crabby or rude clients who expect a banner day of fishing every time you go out?

“I think it’s important for the captain of a boat to set the tone i m m e d i a t e l y. B e u p b e a t w h e n you greet the people. Be positive throughout the outing. Go out of your way to help those people who aren’t as coordinated as the rest of those on the boat. Explain to everyone what your decision process is as you go through the outing. And if they can’t accept that, I’m not going to let anything bother me at all because I know I’ve done everything in my power to help the people on board have a good time.

Have we had outings where we’ve been totally skunked? Absolutely. But

I’m not a magician and I’m able to accept that.”

What was the scariest moment of your 47 years of guiding?

“It was up on Lake Ontario. My boat took a direct hit by lightning.

It was on August 15, 1985, on my mother’s birthday. I was coming back from an outing. Back then, we didn’t have GPS or the radar tech we have today. We looked to the south (saw the storm coming) and I got on the VHS radio to other charter boat captains and said, ‘There will be some sparks coming here pretty soon.’ So, all the boats started heading back in a row.

As we were approaching the Oswego Harbor walls and the lighthouse, we took a direct hit on the boat’s antenna.

There was a coupler with all the electronics at the base of the antenna.

It vaporized into a yellow mist and my boat, of course, shut down.

“The noise was incredible. My ears were ringing for maybe an hour.

Fortunately, neither I or any of my clients aboard had any sensation or feeling of an electric impulse. The antenna was directly grounded to my rudder. The bulk of the charge found ground through the grounding cable and into the water.

“But other funny things happened.

My hour meter for my engine spun backwards 400 hours. Every piece of

electronics that I had on board got fried. Afterward, when they pulled the boat out of the water, there were two to three holes in the hull where some charges found their way out. You could stick your fingers through them.

“Ever since that day, I’ve always been the first back to the dock whenever anyone would see lightning off on the horizon. Once was enough.”

For someone who doesn’t get it, why do you continue to be so passionate about fishing?

“The dividend of spending time fishing is this: You’re so involved in the fishing process that you don’t have time to think about other things that encumber your brain — the world’s problems, family problems, personal problems. You’re thinking about what you need to do to catch the next fish.

What I tell people is when you feel you’re having too much stress in your life; it’s time to add water.”

David Figura, retired outdoor writer for The Post-Standard, Syracuse.com and NYup.com, is working on his second book, “Nobody Likes a Whiny Man,” about guys handling life in their 60s and 70s.

His first book, “So What Are the Guys Doing?” covered how men are dealing with middle age.

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learning

Fun, Socialization, Learningg Various organizations in the Syracuse area offer classes for boomers

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

G

oing back to school as an adult just for the fun of it can offer many benefits.

“For seniors, especially post-pandemic, they need to get their minds re-engaged,” said Elizabeth A. O’Hara, program director at PEACE, Inc. in Syracuse. “You do enrichment classes with a group of fellow senior citizens. If you have four to five people trying something new, it’s built-in support system. People are willing to try something different after the pandemic. They want to get out of the house and socialize but have fun.”

Doing something new is not only fun but helps maintain good health.

Shannon Loughlin, director of recreation at The Nottingham, focuses on five domains in therapeutic recreation: cognition, emotion, social, physical and spiritual.

“It improves one’s quality of life, 46

increases cognition, memory and reasoning abilities, gives a sense of achievement, increases physical health by staying active,” she said.

She considers many residents at The Nottingham lifelong learners who like trying new things, such as art classes led by residents who were art teachers.

Vo l u n t e e r s f r o m S y r a c u s e University come in to lead a writer’s group, which produces poetry and other works.

“We had a resident who is Jewish and was on a refuge train to England and he wrote a book on it and he shared his story with us,” Loughlin said. “Another was in the Guinness Book of World Records for building the smallest piano. Another started an integrated boy’s club down South.

These folks have lived some beautiful lives.”

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Sandy Roberts

Sandy Roberts, assistant to the director at Upstate Oasis in Syracuse, thinks that keeping both body and mind active in retirement is the most important thing. “Oasis was founded on bringing together community engagement, physical activity and mental stimulation.”

If the class is physical, such as waltzing, tai chi or golf, it benefits aspects of physical health such as strength, endurance, balance and

flexibility. However, even getting in the car, driving to an art class, standing for 45 minutes and driving home is more active than sitting home alone all day.

Upstate Oasis’ most popular classes are art, history and second languages.

“People are also excited about taking fitness classes over Zoom,” Roberts said. “These are well-attended.

We’ve gotten people from across the country. Snowbirds will take them while they’re gone. They introduce their friends in Florida and we may pick up some of them.”

In addition to increased longevity, cognition and health, Roberts said that participating in classes can help develop friendships. Many retirees miss the friends that rearing children and working a job brought into their lives. Since they’re no longer going to a workplace or chatting with other parents and a child’s soccer game,

participating in enrichment classes can bring a new group of friends into their lives.

Want to Live Longer?

Exercise More, Study Confirms

M Elizabeth O’Hara

RESOURCES • Upstate Oasis provides dozens of in-person and remote classes targeting older adults on numerous topics, including fitness, arts, history and technology. Most are an hour long and can last one to 47 sessions, each meeting twice a week to weekly. https://upstate.oasisnet.org • Jewish Community Center and YMCA offer classes for all ages, but also provide select sessions for older adults. In addition to these organizations, look for enrichment opportunities at local schools. Many schools allow the public to audit classes for free with permission, meaning that they will not take tests or earn credits, but can enjoy the knowledge shared. Some provide fee-based enrichment classes targeting older adults. https://jccsyr.org https://oswegoymca.org https://ymcacny.org

• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County and Onondaga County provide numerous community classes. Although not geared toward a specific age group, they tend to attract adults older than 50 who have the time to join them. Their topics skew toward home-based concepts, such as gardening, nutrition, health and environmental concerns. https://thatscooperativeextension.org http://cceonondaga.org • Other sources: Some organizations have begun offering enrichment classes — not just educating people who want to make a living at their subject — such as Clayscapes Pottery in Syracuse and Infinite Light Center for Yoga and Wellness inFayetteville. www.clayscapespottery.com https://infinitelightcenter. com/yoga-classes

iddle-aged people could add years to their lives just by getting off the couch and going for a walk every day — though it wouldn’t hurt to do even more, a large new study suggests.

The researchers followed over 100,000 Americans for decades and found what many have shown before: People who exercise as much as health experts recommend tend to live longer.

In line with recommendations, adults should strive to exercise moderately for 150 to 300 minutes a week, through activities like brisk walking. The other option is to go for sweatier activities, like jogging or biking at a fast clip, for 75 to 150 minutes each week.

In this study, middle-aged people who met those goals were about 20% less likely to die over the next 30 years.

But while hitting those goals was good, the study found, surpassing them was a bit better. People who regularly got two to four times the recommended amount of exercise — moderate or vigorous — shaved a few more percentage points from their risk of dying during the study period.

Experts stressed that the most important thing is to get moving regularly, as doable amounts of activity are better than none at all.

“Most people — particularly insufficiently active people — can get significant health benefits by performing the currently recommended levels of exercise,” said lead researcher Dong Hoon Lee. However, to get the “maximal benefit” in terms of longevity, it’s a good idea to spend more time being active, said Lee, a research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

The findings, published July 25 in the journal Circulation, are based on more than 100,000 U.S. health professionals taking part in two longrunning health studies.

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technology So, You Were Invited to a Zoom Meeting…

Zoom 101: here’s what you need to know

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

hat began as a business meeting tool that boomed during the pandemic to keep workers connected has morphed into a means for families to easily chat online and for personal enrichment classes, even in postCOVID-19 life.

Similar technology has enabled people to experience telehealth and enrichment as well.

“We’re starting to incorporate using Zoom,” said Elizabeth A. O’Hara, program director at PEACE, Inc. in Syracuse. “A lot of people are keeping in touch with family members or even myself. We did a few Zoom group meetings earlier in the pandemic.”

Other organizations have “discovered” Zoom for connecting with retiree members, such as Oasis.

“We have a very large attendance on Zoom these days for enrichment classes and fitness classes,” said Sandy Roberts, assistant to the director at Upstate Oasis. “We’ve helped them over the phone mostly to learn how to Zoom.”

To u s e Z o o m , y o u n e e d t o download the free Zoom app to the device you plan to use. The device must have a camera, microphone and speakers or a headset jack and a headset with microphone and sound capabilities.

All of these must be turned on when you are ready to use Zoom.

Even if you are not the host of the meeting and someone sent you a link to join a Zoom meeting, you must have downloaded Zoom and possess the necessary speaker, microphone and screen before joining a meeting. You must also have a high-speed internet connection.

It helps to practice with one patient friend or relative before joining a big, 48

all-hands-on-deck family session or a group class.

Ask someone experienced in Zoom to invite you to a meeting where you are in the same room physically so you can ask questions and practice the controls with help. Or contact your local library and ask about technology lessons available.

If someone has invited you to a Zoom meeting, you will receive a link. Don’t delete that text or email containing the link.

“People lose their links,” Roberts said. “If they’re taking a class that’s multiple sessions, they need to save the link.”

After you click on the invitation link [which your friend may send in a text or email, for example], you must click or tap on icons in the lower left corner of the screen to turn on your audio and video capability. Then you must wait for your friend to allow you to enter the meeting from the “waiting room.”

Once you’re in, you should be able to both see and hear each other in real time. If the other person is too quiet, simply adjust the volume as you normally would for that device—an obvious solution that many people overlook.

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This becomes especially problematic with many users on at the same time.

Roberts said that many people do not pay attention to how their name is displayed in the participant box while joining a large group. Many are logged on as “Dad’s iPad.” To change the name, go to “Participants,” find yourself and tap or hover on the name to get the option to rename your device.

Roberts added that it does help to initially glance at one’s image to ensure the lighting and camera angle are good so that backlighting does not overwhelm the camera or that the other participants are not looking up one’s nose. Avoid using the screen as a mirror for grooming, as the other participants can see you, too. “ We a s k p e o p l e t o m u t e themselves,” Roberts said.

Also pay attention to what is going on behind you within the camera’s range. Unless you know how to blur the background or use a virtual background, the others participating in the Zoom meeting will see well past your shoulders.

If you run into problems, check the Zoom Help Center on their website, www.zoom.com

guest columnist

By Thomas Griffith

New Report Uncovers Opportunity For Local Charities’ Future About $25 billion in wealth is expected to be transferred for a new generation in CNY over the next 10 years

R

esearch commissioned by the Central New York Community Foundation has found that a combined net worth of $245 billion in Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Madison and Cortland counties is poised to experience an 11% transfer between generations, totaling $25 billion over the next 10 years.

The research, conducted by LOCUS Impact Investing, also found similar results for 15 counties in the Upstate New York: Putnam, Orange, Tompkins, Dutchess, Cayuga, Madison, Ulster, Onondaga, Sullivan, Oswego, Tioga, Oneida, Otsego, Herkimer and Cortland.

Over this larger region, the combined household net worth was calculated to be $832 billion. $84 billion of that is projected to transfer to the next generation within 10 years.

We are releasing this data in an effort to encourage residents to set aside a portion of their assets for the long-term benefit of the region.

Many of these assets are likely to be designated to heirs who live outside our community, decreasing the flow of support that Central New York charities rely on.

A robust charitable ecosystem in Central New York results in a more prosperous community. Philanthropy sounds like a lofty word, but what it really means is things like investment in affordable housing, advancement of healthcare and childcare for families, stimulation of economic growth and reduction of economic inequality.

LOCUS’s research analyzed what would happen if 5% of the assets set to transfer through Central New York’s probated estates were invested

15

of children don’t graduate from high school

THE NEED

Why consider giving to local charity in your estate?

6,500

Additional support would help us address the greatest needs in Central New York*, the community you love and want to see thrive for future generations.

are victims of domestic violence

14

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live below the poverty line

of Syracuse residents experience racial inequities

Source: cnyvitals.org & US Census American Community Survey *For the purposes of this illustration, “Central New York” represents Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Madison and Cortland counties.

in permanent endowments for the charitable benefit of the community.

Charitable endowments are invested to grow over time and last in perpetuity.

A portion of the earnings from funds are paid out in grants to nonprofit organizations.

Following that logic, if 5% of the assets transferring through estate gifts in the five-county region over the next ten years — an estimated $1.3 billion — was placed in an endowment, a potential $74 million in annual grantmaking could result. That could grow to $285 million per year within fifty years.

While these large figures initially seem daunting, they turn out to be quite practical when you drill them down. Per household, the average value of assets set to transfer over the next 10 years is $79,700, so an average gift of $4,000 from each household would reach the foundation’s goal.

Our 5forCNY campaign, which was designed to encourage residents to

5% of Onondaga County children and 10.5% of Syracuse children have lead poisoning

leave 5% of their assets to a charitable endowment, presents three ways individuals and families can give through their wills or beneficiary designations: by giving to a generalpurpose fund; establishing a fund of their own to create a legacy; or donating directly to a local charity’s endowment.

In just a few easy steps, the local organizations and causes that you care about could continue to receive your support long after you are gone – greatly improving the lives of your family, friends and future generations.

Individuals interested in learning how to establish a gift in their estate are encouraged to visit 5forcny.org.

Thomas Griffith, ChFC, AEP, CAP serves as vice president, development at the Central New York Community Foundation. He can be reached at 315-8835544 or tgriffith@cnycf.org.

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hobby

Ron Jardin recently built an authentic Sioux tipi in front of his home in the village of Mexico. It has attracted the attention of many residents. Photos

by Ken Sturtz

Mexico Man’s Tipi Project More Than a Hobby ‘I wanted to pass something on’

By Ken Sturtz

I

t was a warm summer morning on an otherwise quiet street, but nearly everyone who passed Ron Jardin’s house did a double-take when they spotted the full-size tipi in his front yard.

He didn’t mind the gawking.

Jardin invited each person onto his lawn for a closer look, encouraged them to step inside the structure and promised to give a tour later once he finished with an interview.

Jardin, 71, of Mexico, began building the authentic Sioux tipi last October. He was diagnosed with cancer a couple years ago and has received treatment on and off since then. But he’s been determined to 50

make sure that fact doesn’t define his existence.

“I’m not a quitter,” he said. “I continue to smile every day faced with this little inconvenience.”

An avid outdoorsman, he’s remained active, camping often and spending time with family, including his adult son and daughter. Last summer he and his wife vacationed out West, visiting Mount Rushmore, Wounded Knee, and Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

As busy as Jardin was, however, he realized last year that he needed a new project to focus on.

“This tipi project was a mental health project,” he said. “It kept my

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mind off of me.”

He wasn’t exactly starting from zero. He had already constructed three tipis in the past, but they had deteriorated over time. The last one, which he built about 30 years ago, had been damaged by squirrels while in storage.

Love of tipis Jardin’s love of tipis began nearly half a century ago. He was born and raised in Fulton, but attended college in Colorado. The summer after his senior year he spent several weeks staying with friends who were living in a tipi.

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51

LEFT Tipi poles, 24 feet in length, rest on sawhorses at Ron Jardin’s home in Mexico. He purchased the poles, but had to trim and smooth off all the tiny knots and branches with a hatchet.

RIGHT The tipi was constructed by creating a tripod out of three main poles.

The other poles are added around the tripod and wrapped with rope to bind them together and strengthen the structure.

“I was just fascinated by being inside one,” he said. “The sun wakes you up in the morning and you can see the stars at night.”

He became so enamored that when he returned to Central New York he decided to make one himself. He got a copy of Reginald and Gladys Laubin’s “The Indian Tipi,” the bible on Native American tipis, and began doing research. He gathered the necessary materials and cobbled together a serviceable tipi.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said. “It just looked neat.”

After college, Jardin became an elementary school teacher in the Mexico school district, teaching physical education for 42 years, including a 10-year stint teaching art, before retiring in 2016. He also coached track and cross-country for 45 years.

Tipi-building is but one of the unique hobbies he’s had. He joined the rodeo team in college and, for the first seven years of his teaching career, spent Christmas breaks riding broncos bareback with the rodeo.

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He and his family were involved in historical reenacting. They’ve also built a snow sculpture in their front yard each winter for the last 30 years.

The sculptures grew so elaborate that they became an annual neighborhood attraction. But rodeo favors the young and snow sculptures, no matter how beautiful, eventually melt. A tipi, however, can last for decades.

Attention to details Each subsequent tipi Jardin’s made has been better than the one before. On the surface it’s a fairly simple structure, consisting of a conical framework of poles, a cover, a liner and stakes to hold it down. But making a quality tipi — one that remains cool in summer, warm in winter and dry during rainstorms — requires careful attention to detail.

Once Jardin decided to make a new tipi he began by ordering 84 yards of canvas. Native Americans originally

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used buffalo hides, but canvas became popular in the second half of the 19th century. Jardin spread the canvas out in his driveway and measured it to be sewn together into a giant semicircle that would wrap around the framework of the tipi. The seams are placed at diagonals so rain doesn’t build up anywhere.

By the time he’d found someone to sew the canvas, winter was on the way and the weather made it impossible to paint the cover, so he worked on the tipi liner and carved the wooden stakes and lacing pins he needed.

Jardin still needed to find poles, 15 for the tipi’s framework and two for the smoke flaps. The tallest needed to be 24 feet long, but only about four inches wide at the base.

He spent several months making trips to eastern Oswego County and the North Country until he finally found an Amish carpenter whose brother harvests 30-foot poles that he sizes and uses in furniture making.

Jardin knew from experience that he’d have to wait several months to get the poles he needed with the bark trimmed off.

“If you cut them in winter you can’t get the bark off, so you have to wait until spring,” he said.

In the spring Jardin picked up the poles. He took 19 so he’d have a few extras. He tied the 24-foot poles onto the luggage rack of his car with the help of a trailer-hitch mounted shelf and took the backroads home.

The poles didn’t have bark on them, but all the tiny knots and branches had to be trimmed off and smoothed with a hatchet. Otherwise they can rip the canvas or collect raindrops inside.

“If it’s raining out, it will rain inside your tipi two hours after it stops raining,” Jardin said. “This way it’s so smooth the water goes right off it and out the tent.”

Jardin was receiving cancer treatments at the time, which sapped his energy and slowed his progress to trimming just a few poles each day.

That was also the case when it came time to paint the canvas, which proved to be the most challenging part of the project. He could only work on days he had both the energy and good weather.

The canvas was also so large that it had to be staked tightly outside on the ground. He would unfold the canvas, stake it down and begin painting with a two-and-a-half-inch brush. He had to leave enough time for the paint to dry by evening.

“By 7 o’clock at night I had it all

packed up and back in the house,” he said.

He knew if he made a mistake he’d be stuck with it. He used a compass, nail and string to measure out the stripes, a dinner plate for the circles and cardboard templates to trace the animals and other designs in pencil on the canvas.

Native American tipis weren’t always painted, but when they were the overall design was unique to the owner. They often included geometric shapes, animals and battle scenes.

Jardin wanted the finished product to resemble an authentic, functional tipi rather than a piece of artwork, but he still decided to incorporate images relevant to him as well as traditional symbols.

“I don’t want it to be a Rembrandt, it’s not a painting,” he said. “I wanted it to be meaningful with Sioux designs and my designs and I also wanted it to look like they did it.”

The circles represent the sun, the moon and the circle of life; the bottom border and triangles symbolize the Adirondack Mountains; and the top border represents the sky, the heavens and the Great Spirit. The bison signifies sacred life and abundance while the bears represent strength and courage and the pine tree stands for peace, longevity and wisdom. The loon symbolizes the wilderness of the North.

Ready to go When everything was finished

Jardin set the tipi up in his backyard to test it out. He lashed the three main poles together, pulled one of them apart to make a giant X that he propped up with a step ladder, and then held the frame up with rope and a stake. He pulled the third pole out to form a giant tripod. The other poles went up around the tripod, wrapped with rope to bind them together. The final pole, known as the lifting pole, had the canvas tied to it at the top so it could be wrapped around the framework and staked down.

After he set the tipi up in his backyard, Jardin took it down, packed everything up and set it up at his family’s camp in Redfield.

He invited family and close friends to celebrate the tipi’s completion and take a tour. He served a meal that included corn on the cob, venison and bison burgers.

Afterward he moved it back to his house and set it up in the front yard and a steady stream of people began stopping to ask questions.

Jardin, who said his wife and daughter helped him throughout the tipi’s construction, plans to take it down soon, but he’s already thinking about making another. The next one would be a smaller version roughly seven feet tall that his daughter could easily set up and take down on camping trips.

As for the current tipi, it’s been about more than just satisfying a mild tipi addiction or finding a project to focus on. For all the joy he took from building it, Jardin said the project was about creating something that his family could enjoy for years to come.

He’s quick to point out that it’s not just the physical tipi that he’s sharing, but also his knowledge. He said his wife and daughter have learned how to put up and take down the tipi and that his daughter helped with enough of the construction that she could probably make a brand-new tipi someday if she wanted.

“I’ve always been interested in this and I wanted to pass something on,” he said. “So, this is what I wanted to pass on.”

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adventure

MYANMAR

Sandra Scott in Myanmar with her late husband John. The country is one of her favorite places. She has visited over 70 countries in the last several decades, often writing about them.

Photo provided.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SANDRA SCOTT? Well, she is in Oswego now — after more than four decades traveling the world. In total she visited more than 70 countries writing about many of them for a variety of publications and companies, including 55 PLUS

By Steve Yablonski

VIET

NAM

Travel writer reflects on her decades of exploring the world OPE

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S

andra Scott started traveling the world in 1986. And, she’s still on the go.

“It’s sort of an interesting story. I always wanted to travel. But Mexico is a great place to bring up kids,” the octogenarian said of The Mother of Towns in Oswego County.

She’d gotten to the point where she realized that she probably wasn’t going to be able to travel, she said.

“I had three kids in college and I had an 8-year-old at home. So I thought, ‘well, it isn’t going to happen.’

I made sure all four kids did a foreign experience. I didn’t want them to think that Mexico was the center of the universe,” she explained.

OPPORTUNITY CALLS Then, the phone rang. It was her father.

He had been cleaning out the safe and found canceled checks from before World War II. They used to send money to her grandmother in eastern Czechoslovakia, she said.

There was an address; so they wrote to it. The person they wrote to

had died — but it was a small town so everybody in town knew who they were.

They got three letters back inviting them to come. It was behind the Iron Curtain.

“My father said, ‘your mom wants to go and your aunt wants to go.’ He said if I plan everything, he’d pay my way. So I was on that!” she said. “I started thinking — I’m not sure I want to leave an 8-year-old home with three college kids. So I said I’m going to take him with me.

“And then, my husband decided he didn’t want to stay home with three college kids, either. So, all six of us went.”

It was an eye-opening experience.

The next year, they decided to go to the Soviet Union.

“And then we just never stopped [traveling], she said.

After she retired, they ventured into Asia and started spending four months there in the winters.

“We have done a lot of South America, too. We actually traveled around Europe and then we went to South America,” she said.

When her youngest son got to college, he had a foreign semester in Singapore. They went to visit him for his 21st birthday.

“Asia was easier than Latin America,” she said. “They are much better organized and things are relatively inexpensive. They have budget airlines; where you can fly from one country to another for like $100.”

In the process, she started writing for a lot of people. At one point, she wrote for all the in-flight magazines for the Latin American airlines.

“And I wrote for Copley News Service. I don’t think anybody knows who they were. They were a syndicate and so actually some of my articles appeared in the Syracuse newspaper; that’s how the Syracuse people knew about me,” she said. “One day I came home from [teaching] school and found that they asked me to write a travel column. So I did that for 10 years, while I was still teaching (seventh grade social studies at Mexico Middle School)—it was like doing mini term papers every week.”

Every time they went to Asia they had to plan their visit according to the visas, most are good for 28 days.

“We’d bounce around; went to almost every place in Asia except Yutan (a sub-district in Ningxiang City, Hunan Province, China). It’s just too expensive to go to,” she explained.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

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ALASKA

“We’d always spend four weeks in Thailand. One of the things we learned is that if you go to the popular places, that Americans go, then the prices are high. So what you want to do is you want to go to the places where the Europeans are going; they go and stay all winter. It’s kind of like us going to the Caribbean or something.”

One of her favorite places is in Myanmar.

“I think we’ve been there eight times. When we first went there it was pretty closed off. But it changed rapidly. That’s why they’ve run into problems — I think they just changed too fast,” she said. “They have a lovely beach there [Ngapali Beach] on the Bay of Bengal. It was like two miles long.

There was nobody on it. And of course they are Buddhist; so they’re all easy to live with and kind and caring.”

TRY IT, YOU’LL LIKE IT “I really like Vietnamese food.

Actually, most of the food in foreign countries isn’t very exotic,” she said.

“We did go to a place — didn’t eat there, but we did go years ago in Vietnam — where you could pick out your wild animal. You could get food with snakes in it and stuff like that. My husband was good at trying just about anything. Those things are usually expensive, anyhow.

“I like Thai food, too. It’s a bit hotter. Vietnamese food generally isn’t too hot. If you go from Thailand and then go to Cambodia and so on, the food gets milder. Unless you go to Chongqing — that’s very hot. The spicy hot food [hot pot] in China is 56

PALA

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found In Chongqing and other places which is part of the Sichuan cuisine.

Definitely Asian food is the best, I think. It’s more diverse and a lot of vegetables. Japanese food is not my favorite.

“We found it interesting that Chongqing had a museum dedicated to an American World War II general — General Joe Stilwell — and across the street is one to the Flying Tigers,” she added. “We were told that Chinese students learn that Claire Lee Chennaut was the leader of the Flying Tigers. So much to know, so little time.”

Actually, the world is very safe, she noted. There have been some trouble spots from time to time.

“We were supposed to go to Kiev or Kyiv as it is today, and that was when Chernobyl happened. So we had to go north to Warsaw and then we took the train from Warsaw over to Moscow,” she said.

“Actually, we never had any real problems. Because we traveled for such a long period of time, we ended up being on the way to places when things happened; a tsunami in Thailand for example,” she said.

“Before everything was deregulated, there used to be a travel company in California; they had wonderful things — they had ‘round the world tickets for $900, they had circle the Pacific, they had circle Southeast Asia. We

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

were already on our way. So, when we got to Thailand we hadn’t planned to go down to where the tsunami happened, but they were offering buy one airplane ticket, get the second one free. So, we went down and stayed there, then continued on.”

“When we were in Saipan, it was when the Japanese tsunami hit and so we had to go to our room, which was on the seventh floor. The tsunami wasn’t really great in our area; just about three feet or so,” she added.

“We went to Japan a couple weeks later. It actually worked in our favor because it was cherry blossom time.

We were like the only people there. In fact, the hotel we stayed at had closed off all the top floors. There were like no tourists there, it was beautiful.”

When traveling, she speaks English.

“I used to know some Russian and I try to stammer through Spanish,” she said. “English is the first most common second language. If you go to Asian countries, they want their kids to learn English because it helps get them a better job. I learned to say hello and thank you in a bunch of different languages. If you’re traveling, more people speak English than you might imagine.”

In China, she had a free guide; they’re usually college kids who are learning English, she explained.

“They take you places where a regular tour guide wouldn’t. You’re not supposed to tip them or feed them,” she said with a sly smile that hinted she didn’t adhere to the policy.

She loves to go to natural heritage sites.

“The Great Wall, the pyramids — it’s amazing the things mankind has built over the centuries,” she said.

“I’ve been to Easter Island, and the Inca walls; we have no idea how they moved those stones. They shaped those stones so you can’t get a piece of paper in between them.

“That’s one of the things about travel — it opens your eyes all these possibilities. Also one of the things I learned is that the world is much safer than it looks like. And number two, people are nice almost everywhere. We just have to learn to get along.”

She recalled her first time in Red Square.

“It was the Soviet Union then — and the little girls from school, they were all so cute. They had braids and

ND

IRELA

these big puff white ribbons in their hair. I said to myself, ‘I don’t know whose enemy they are, but they’re not mine,’” she said.

Does she ever wonder how many miles she’s logged over the years?

“No. But my husband loved to fly.

He actually had a pilot’s log and he kept track of every flight he ever took from the time he was 12 years old and went to Ireland,” she said. “He went through three books.”

STAYING IN TOUCH There are a couple people they’ve been in touch with.

“During the Communist days, we had to pay for everything up front, including our food. When we were leaving what was then Czechoslovakia, we had a stack of food coupons and we were getting ready to go to Germany,” she recalled. “We saw this man and woman walk out of a restaurant. I said, ‘could you use these?’ They said, ‘yes.’

We exchanged addresses; we went back and met with them later.”

“I said to one guy in Saipan, or maybe it was Guam, if you are ever in

the States let me know. So, wouldn’t ya know, six months later he was in Toronto and I said if you get to Kingston, we’ll come and pick you up.

And that’s what we did. It was Fourth of July weekend and trying to cross the border then wasn’t a pretty story. But we made it,” she said.

“The U.S. was very, very slow in getting hepatitis shots; so we’d go to a clinic in Syracuse and get the vaccination that would raise our immune system for several weeks,” she said. “When we went to Guatemala, we had to get polio vaccine again. It was quite a few years ago, but they had had an outbreak there. I was glad that we got them because when we went down into the Amazon, if you couldn’t show that you’d had the vaccination, they gave it to you in the airport.”

“I used to say to my son, when he was young and traveling with us, ‘where would you like to go this summer?’ and that’s what we’d do. He finally got to the point where he said, ‘I’d like to go somewhere where I don’t have to get shots!’” she laughed.

She currently has several mementos of her journeys scattered

around her apartment in downtown Oswego. Among them are Shillelaghs and other Irish walking sticks, vases from Nicaragua, a scenic picture from Budapest, a couple pictures that a painter from Prague gifted her with, and a large wooden box that was handcarved in Honduras.

“When I moved [from Mexico, New York[, I really downsized,” she explained.

She’s planned and coordinated travel to more than 70 counties plus many United States locations.

“When I wasn’t traveling, I was volunteering. I am one of the founders of the Mexico Historical Society and Mexico Point Park. I am a trustee for both organizations,” she said. “I coauthored two of the local historical books.”

“When winter comes, I’m going to Panama for the third or fourth time and just stay at a hotel — I have a lot of hotel credit,” she added. “And then, we’ll all go to Jamaica in January, the family; we rented a house. When we get done with Jamaica, I’ll come home for a couple days and then I’ll go to Cancun for three or four weeks.”

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

57

An Incident at Polish-Russian border Sandra Scott recalled a sojourn in Eastern Europe. Her son, Jim, was 9 at the time.

It was an overnight train trip and it was his first sleeper train.

“When we got on the train, he hopped up on the bunk and went to sleep. When we got to the Polish – Russian border, the guards came. They said, ‘get your luggage and come on!’ I spoke some Russian and I tried to tell them my son was up there sleeping; but they weren’t listening,” she said.

Her husband, John, grabbed some luggage. She grabbed some and followed him down to the tarmac.

“I asked him, ‘what are you doing down here?’ And he said, ‘this is where the man with the gun told me to go,’” she said.

As she got off the train, the train left.

“And my son was still on it!” she exclaimed.

“The guard came along and I am babbling as much Russian as I know.

We went into the station and a room where they started ripping all my luggage apart—I mean really taking everything apart! I had a Hungarian dictionary with me that was my grandfather’s. The cover was gone.

My grandfather had taken a cover, a cover from an Episcopal hymn book and put it on there. The Russians got really tense over that. So, they’re getting tense and I’m getting tense and then I saw a guy that was on our train, he was from Africa, and he spoke seven languages. He was coming from London on the train. I asked him and he said, ‘the train will be back at 5 in the morning.’ I went out on the tarmac and thought I was in the film Casablanca. It was foggy, there was the noise of all the trains and cars and everything. And, finally, at 5 the train came back. I got on the train and opened the door of the compartment; Jim picked up his head and said, ‘what’s going on?’ I said, ‘nothing. Go back to sleep,” she said with a laugh. I always say we learned

everything the hard way.”

At the Polish-Russian border, the train detoured to another station and put on different wheels because the tracks in Russia are a different size than those in Europe.

According to legend, the Russians made their railway gauge 89 mm broader than the 1435 mm “Stephenson gauge” in order to thwart an invasion.

The track gauge of European railways outside Russia is, mainly, 4-foot 8-inches. The gauge of the Russian railway is mainly 5-foot 3-inches. Despite the existence of dual-gauge trains, there are still gauge change sheds on the railway lines into Russia, just across the border. The train stops there for an hour or so while a team of laborers changes the bogies.

The bogie is a set of either four wheels or six wheels. There are two kinds of bogies. Bo-Bo type bogie contains four wheels as two pairs of wheels. The CoCo type contains six wheels as three pairs of wheels.

Middle School.

“So I stopped pitching articles to inflights during which time the internet changed things,” she explained.

But, she continued to write for several other outlets, including the Oswego County Business Magazine.

“We reviewed hotels for an agency, mainly in Asia. I wrote a cooking column for a magazine that didn’t survive COVID-19,” she said.

She continues to travel.

“I recently returned from an Alaskan cruise and took Amtrak home from Seattle,” she said. “During COVID-19 I went to Cancun, Panama City, Belize, and Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Other countries were most COVID-19 strict, especially the hotels.”

As she slows down a bit, she said she misses spending four months in Asia.

Her favorite trips were “the early adventurous ones—traveling in La Mosquita and staying in a native village; and spending a week on a felucca on the Nile (no amenities),” she

said. “I also loved exploring the rivers in other countries: Vietnam, Myanmar, China, etc.

Because they traveled alone, planned everything themselves and often went to places that were not wellknown (“less expensive,” she added), they had many interesting experiences and met many wonderful people.

“The world is a wonderful place and much safer than a lot of people think — travel behind the Iron Curtain taught us that! We were very fortunate!” she said.

As they got older, they “upgraded themselves” and have stayed in some luxurious hotels.

“I will keep traveling as long as I can; but now it is mainly going to hotels in a sunny, warm area with a pool,” she said with a smile.

Her upcoming travel schedule includes: Caribbean cruise, Panama City, Jamaica, “and then probably Cancun again.”

Still Traveling Sandra Scott plans to retire from writing but travel plans include visiting ‘sunny, warm areas— with a pool’ Sandra Scott said she plans cut back on her writing; but she still wants to continue traveling, albeit at a more leisurely pace.

For decades, she and her husband journeyed around the globe.

John Scott, 80, died Jan. 22, 2019.

The couple had been married for 57 years.

“When I started travel writing in the ‘80s, to help play for our travel, the internet was not a factor,” she said. “Most of the countries in Latin America had their own airline, and then they consolidated.”

She wrote for the in-flight magazines for those airlines and also had articles in TWA’s and United inflight magazines, she added.

When she was writing the travel column for the Syracuse newspapers, she was also teaching at Mexico 58

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

By Steve Yablonski

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59

golden years

Lifestyle May Be Key to Helping You Avoid Dementia

By Harold Miller Email: hmiller@mcsmms.com

S

ocializing, taking classes and exercising may boost your brain’s cognitive reserve and stave off memory and thinking problems down the road, a new study suggests.

Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s ability to withstand the effects of diseases like Alzheimer’s and not show signs of decline.

The best way to boost your cognitive reserve?

“Never stop being curious, and learn something new or pick up a new hobby,” said study author Pamela Almeida-Meza, a doctoral student at University College London. “Stay active and connected, exercise, go on daily walks, keep in touch with your family and prioritize visiting your friends.”

For the study, researchers looked at genes and lifestyle factors among 1,184 people born in 1946 in the United Kingdom. Folks took cognitive tests when they were 8 and again at 69.

Everyone in the study received a cognitive reserve score that combined their education level at 26, participation in enriching leisure activities at 43, and job up to age 53.

The cognitive test that folks took at age 69 had a maximum total score of 100, and the average score for this group was 92.

Folks with higher childhood cognitive abilities, a higher cognitive reserve score and advanced reading ability performed better on the cognitive test at age 69, the study showed.

People with higher education levels also fared better than their counterparts who did not have a formal education.

Folks who engaged in six or more leisure activities, such as adult education classes, clubs, volunteer work and social activities, scored higher than people who engaged in four or fewer leisure activities.

“The finding suggests that a mentally, socially and physically active lifestyle at midlife can offset the negative contribution of low childhood cognition to older age cognitive state,” Almeida-Meza said.

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The Plight of the World’s Families

F

amilies are the core of civilization. American families are outstanding among all in the world, in my opinion.

Immigrants from near and far cross our borders. They’re searching for the American Dream. While many migrants are willing to work for it, others have found that, working with cartels, they can smuggle dope, which will finance their venture and then some.

Of course, this has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of migrants and others. That innocent looking powder, which is chemically made in laboratories and labeled Fentanyl — can be poisonous if taken in large amounts.

All of these situations have shuffled the cards. Evil and greed are always waiting in the shadows.

Along with that, most children are separated from their parents and become orphans, who can be sold practically anywhere in the world.

Busloads of immigrants are sent to all corners of our country and all corners of the world. Wouldn’t you think it is time to question our government leaders about open borders?

There’s been a cold war for some time now between China and America for top spot of the world’s economy.

China wants it, but America wants to keep it.

Xi Jinping, president of the People’s Republic of China since 2013, mandated a few years ago that each family be limited to one child (if the family bought two or three boys the Chinese government would turn its head the other way). It took a little time for them to learn that a child orphaned and brought up alone in a playpen would be a slow learner (if they learned anything at all).

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

Along with these plights — Europe has been dragged into war by Russia’s greed and evil. This affects everyone in the world. Families in Africa are starving — mostly because Ukraine supplied almost a quarter of the continent’s wheat and this beautiful country is too busy feeding its own families as whole cities have been blown to bits.

As winter approaches Germany and other Northwestern European countries scramble for fuel because the pipelines have been shut down by Russia (supposedly for maintenance).

Slowly NATO, and even America, is being brought into what may be World War III. Day by day, we up the ante with missiles, drones, ammunition and “teachers” to instruct their usage.

Neither side will give up until the last soldier is put into the ground.

I believe we’re living in the most dangerous time in our history.

Computers, satellites and nuclear power all provide a higher level of living. But we could be nothing but history by the push of a few buttons.

Perhaps we should all say a prayer every day.

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61

druger’s zoo

By Marvin Druger Email: mdruger@syr.edu

Change of Seasons

S

ummer was over. Fall was on the way and then winter.

I sat in a swinging chair on the deck of my house overlooking Owasco Lake. It was a beautiful day. I felt the warmth of the sun on my face, but the chill of September was in the air.

It was very quiet and I simply looked at the surroundings. What did I see? Green trees and houses stood silently on the opposite side of the lake.

The water had ripples that sparkled in the sun. Birds flew above the water and ducks floated on the surface. The boat dock extended into the water. It would be dismantled before winter arrived.

On the grassy lawn near the water, the hummingbird feeder beckoned, but no hummingbirds could be seen.

The grass and leaves were still green, but some grass had turned brown and some leaves had fallen from the trees.

Some flowers had disappeared, but others persisted.

There seemed to be a surge of life.

Ants were very active and they rushed around looking for food and water.

The air had a feeling of desperate tranquility, as everything prepared for the new season ahead. Chairs and tables were put in the garage for storage. My hammock overlooking the lake was put away. Everything in sight was trimmed and cleaned. The world seemed poised for change.

My mind drifted to the memory of when my dear, deceased wife, Pat, and I bought the house on Owasco Lake.

At first, Pat wanted to rent a small apartment in Manhattan. She liked one on the 20th floor of an apartment building. It was tiny and a bed folded out from the bedroom wall. The traffic noise from the street below was annoying and the rent was exorbitant, but I said nothing. The fee for the doorman was almost as much as the rent. That night, in bed, I courageously said, “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

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There was a moment of silence. Then, Pat said, “I agree.” Whew!

Then, we started looking for a house on a lake in Upstate New York.

Many of the houses on Cayuga Lake were seasonal cottages, so we turned our search to Owasco Lake. We had a long day of driving around and looking at houses. On our way back to Syracuse, I spotted a sign, “House for Sale.”

The owner kindly let us in to show us the house. Everything inside was colored pink. The owner had a small dog and my daughter asked, “Does the dog come with the house?” I was immediately impressed by a large porch with a closed-in area (no bugs), and a small den that overlooked the lake. It was a cold, blustery day, yet, there was no sign of the bad weather inside the house. The house was extremely well-insulated. I knew then that this was the house for us. We made an offer and bought the house. We became the caretakers of this paradise on the lake. This was a big step forward from the small, cockroach and mouseinfested apartment in Brooklyn, New York, where I lived as a child with my mother and father, sister, and two brothers.

My mind returned to thinking

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

about changing seasons at the lake.

I have been through this change of seasons many times. Each time there is a joyful sadness. Summer is over, but, happily, it will return next year.

Summer is warm, green, flowery and pleasant. Winter has its virtues. I like the cold, the snow, the coziness of sitting near a fireplace, and the eerie quietness. How many more changes of season will there be? We know that there is an end to experiencing the change of seasons. That’s why we must make the most of the season we have, here and now.

‘I have been through this change of seasons many times. Each time there is a joyful sadness. Summer is over, but, happily, it will return next year.’

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63

life after 55

By Michele Bazan Reed Email: bazanreed@hotmail.com

Season’s Greetings

W

e’re coming into my favorite season. Oh sure, I love a Central New York fall with its crunchy apples, brilliant leaves, sweater weather and pumpkin spice everything. But I was specifically thinking of … greeting card season!

The advertisements start coming back in August — catalogs from the Metropolitan Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, UNICEF, all ready to tempt me with the most beautiful Christmas cards. I eagerly browse the beautiful artwork and inspiring messages.

Renaissance Madonnas, modern art Christmas trees and stylized doves beguile me. I’d buy them all if I could.

But why stop there? There’s a whole big season of card-sending ahead. Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Year’s and Valentine’s Day call for personal notes on clever cards.

Then there’s Easter on the horizon, 64

and all the months sprinkled with birthdays, graduations, weddings and new babies.

There are those who long ago predicted the demise of greeting cards.

Why, if you can instantly send an email to wish someone Happy Birthday or post your greetings on their Facebook page, would you bother to handwrite a card, apply a stamp and head out to the post office or a letterbox to mail it? The rise of animated e-cards with music and dancing animals or interactive games caused the Cassandras to bemoan the sorry future of paper-andink greetings.

But a funny thing happened on the way to greeting card oblivion.

As Marshall McLuhan said, “The medium is the message.” People still clung to the personal touch: a greeting handwritten by a friend, on a card they hand-picked with the recipient

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

in mind, and the obvious time and effort it took to choose, sign, address and mail it was still a cherished thing.

Statistics compiled in 2019 by the Greeting Card Association show that Americans routinely purchase about 6.5 billion greeting cards per year, and spend between $7 billion and $8 billion on them. And while it’s true we baby boomers buy the most cards, millennials spend the most on them.

It seems the younger generation, they who grew up emailing and texting one another from childhood, somehow along the way discovered the joys of a handwritten greeting.

Maybe it’s all the thank-you notes we forced them to write as children, or maybe they discovered for themselves that the online world is fleeting. Texts and e-greetings are free and have the benefit of immediacy, but it’s just not the same as a paper greeting you can hold in your hand, pin up over your desk, or tuck in a book to reread whenever you need something to cheer you up.

The tradition of exchanging

These cards, from a local antique shop, carried warm Christmas wishes to recipients from 1911 to 1920.

holiday greetings dates all the way back to ancient new year ’s wishes shared by Chinese, Egyptian and Roman people. The modern paper greeting card craze started in the mid-19th century with postcards, made plentiful and affordable due to innovations in printing.

Traditions vary widely across the globe. I know when Bill and I were in France, they don’t routinely send Christmas cards. It’s possible to get Christmas cards wishing Joyeux Noel if you really hunt them down, but for the most part, the French send New Year ’s greetings with cards much like our own Christmas cards and neighbors wish each other Bonne Année throughout the month of January.

There’s a great divide between those who keep cards and those who dispose of them once read. Many people I know keep their Christmas

cards all season, hanging them on mantelpieces or banisters, or covering an interior door with rows of greetings from family and friends. But often they discard other cards after the occasion for their arrival has passed.

I have one cousin who sends carefully chosen greetings for every occasion, even St. Patrick’s Day. She expressed horror that a friend of hers admitted tossing greeting cards shortly after receiving them. I’m sure she thought of the time she spent meticulously choosing the right image and verse, not to mention the cost of cards, which averages from $3 to $5 now and can climb as high as $8 or $10 for pop-up or musical versions, or handmade creations with intricately cut or painted designs.

Earlier generations saved cards.

Perhaps the expense had something to do with it, or the tangible connection with loved ones far away. Thanks to them, we have many examples to hunt down and enjoy.

Over the years, prowling around

in antique shops and flea markets, I collected many of these postcard greetings, with rhyming verses, pinkcheeked children and illustrations alternately humorous and ornate. They marked the birthdays and holidays of people long dead. I loved decorating with them for the various holidays.

Reading the messages inscribed on the back always seemed a little like eavesdropping, but I enjoyed it nonetheless, imagining the writers and the recipients, and weaving narratives of my own out of the cryptic snippets of message.

So in this, my favorite season, I’ll carry on the tradition of those Victorian-age correspondents. I’ll shop for the funniest, or most heartfelt, or truly beautiful cards to express my wishes to friends and family at the upcoming holidays. And maybe, if the cards survive, someone a hundred years from now, poking through a 22nd-century equivalent of an antique shop, may find my good wishes and marvel at the old-fashioned greetings.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022 – 55 PLUS

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By Mary Beth Roach

Eugene Conway, 69 Onondaga County sheriff reflects on a career in law enforcement. He is retiring at the end of the year

as far as renovations. Actually, we’re trying to consolidate with the city police on property evidence. That has stalled. I don’t know why since consolidation was so important a couple, three years ago.

Q: Has there been a most favorite and a least favorite part of your job?

A: Most favorite is having the pleasure of promoting and recognizing people either on a monthly basis or at our annual awards ceremony and promoting those people who are deserving of promotion. Least favorite — attending police funerals.

Q : T h i s j o b co m e s w i t h s o m e controversy and stress. How do you handle all that?

A: I’m a person who embraces challenges. I accept those challenges and that’s how I look at things that maybe difficult or controversial or what people say maybe impossible to achieve. It’s certainly stressful, but I have a great family that supports me and I have a lot of people that I work with and also outside work that I enjoy being with, so that helps.

Q: You’re retiring at the end of the year.

What are some of the reasons behind your decision?

A: A variety of reasons. My initial plan was hopefully to serve two terms as sheriff. The first time was to become elected and then the second time being re-elected. To me, being re-elected is more of a validation of how I performed in the first term. I just turned 69. I feel that being 70 years old and in law enforcement is too old.

I think it’s a younger profession. I just listened to a lot of advice.

sheriff, what would you say are some of your accomplishments?

A: I don’t know if I like using the word accomplishments. I’m proud of the fact that we have reached the highest levels of accreditation for all four departments. I’m proud of having an employee of the month and an employee of the year recognition every single month that I’ve been here. That has not been overlooked. Just proud of supporting the men and women of the sheriff’s office who continue to distinguish themselves.

Q: Do you have any plans for retirement?

A: I have family — I have children and grandchildren, so certainly spending more time with my family will be a priority.

Q: Is there anything you would like to do or accomplish before you leave office?

A: Improve the facilities that we work out of. Our heliport, our property evidence unit, our headquarters building. They all need improvement

Q: As you look over your career as 66

55 PLUS – OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2022

Q: The sheriff’s department has been in the spotlight in recent months over various issues. How do you keep the morale up among your deputies?

A:Certainly through communication with them. I remind them quite often, and especially the new recruits, that we, as human beings, are imperfect. We make mistakes.

Those mistakes are probably amplified more so than other occupations. But it’s important that we continue to try to put our best foot forward all the time because when we do, that reflects on all law enforcement, and when we don’t, that also reflects on everyone in law enforcement, regardless of the agency.

Q: With the spike in gun violence lately, and with your years of experience, how can we mitigate some of these tragedies?

A: I think it’s a big picture question.

And my feeling is that somehow we have to get back to respecting people as human beings, have a value for life. These are more social issues.

Respect for each other, unfortunately, seems to have been all but thrown out the window. We have no respect for human life, and our value system seems to have denigrated.

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