55+ Living Fall 2020

October - December 2020/Fall

Redefining Life After 55

Fall Favorites:

MUFFINS & BREADS

Columbia County:

Drive Through

History

10 POPULAR RED WINES TIPS ON

DRESSING OVER 50 Virtual Downsizing

OPEN HOUSE TOURS 55pluslivingguide.com

55pluslivingguide.com 1

“

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I couldn’t be happier. Living here gives me and my children peace of mind. What could be better?

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We offer Independent Living for active seniors and Assisted Living and Memory Care for seniors who need a little extra help.

Six exceptional communities located in: Troy - Beechwood at Eddy Memorial • Niskayuna - Glen Eddy Queensbury - The Glen at Hiland Meadows • East Greenbush - Eddy Hawthorne Ridge Slingerlands - Beverwyck • Latham - Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center — Now Offering Virtual Visits —

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CONTENTS 8

Publisher’s Note

58

The Vine: Grandma's Coffee

40

FOOD

12

40

Yummy Fall Muffins and More

50

Top 10 Best Selling Red Wines

TRAVEL

12

Columbia County: A Drive Through History

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Photo: boatingonthehudson.wordpress.com

38

4 Steps to Beginner Meditation

46

How to Preserve Your Joints

LIFESTYLE

20

Style is Ageless

20

26 50

The Playlist of our Lives

REAL ESTATE

28

Builder Spotlight: Peter Belmonte

31

5th Annual "Virtual" Downsizing Open House Tours

34

Jenn's Realtor Tips 4

October-December 2020 / Fall

UPSTATE NEW YORK’S PREMIER ADULT LIVING COMMUNITY

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Publisher/CEO Alison Michael

Preserve at Winding Brook, The

Managing Editor Christopher Michael

Production Manager/Designer MoonlightDesignsNC.com

Contributing Writers Wendy Ritz Dr. Joseph Zimmerman Christopher Michael Peter Belmonte Jenn Baniak-Hollands Curt Sembello Frank Buck

Website Development Elite Venture Media

Office 38 Mall Way, #83, West Sand Lake, NY 12196 Phone: 518-713-4765 Email: alison@55pluslivingguide.com

Luxury apartments in the heart of Guilderland

UPSCALE & CONVENIENT 55+ Living, a free publication published quarterly, serving the 55+ demographic throughout the NY Capital Region and beyond.

52 townhouse-style apartments 4 floor plans to choose from 1 & 2 bedroom options

55+ Living Guide, LLC. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

This publication may not be reproduced in any fashion, including electronically, in part or whole without written consent from 55+ Living Guide, LLC.

LUXURY amenities: stainless steel appliances, premium kitchen cabinetry & granite countertops, spacious in-unit laundry room, and large bedroom closets.

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All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination� we will not knowingly accept any advertising which is in violation of the law.

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October-December 2020 / Fall

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

T

his was a different kind of year in the life of 55+ Living, for all of us.

Three months into purchasing this publication, Covid hit. Sure I was scared, who wasn’t? I had a choice to make, I could continue with business as usual, when there was nothing usual about something so unknown, or push myself to create new opportunities, to continually challenge myself down the path of presenting 55+ Living to be the best it can be for myself, and more importantly, for our my readers.

This past year has taught me so much about myself, about resiliency, about what matters. I sought out some incredibly talented people to help me grow because I believe you are only as successful as the people around you, my lifeline. 55+ Living is my passion, it’s what I do. My vision for who I am, and who I have yet to become, continues to evolve.

as you age? What are the things you enjoy reading about? Each issue is a labor of love, a liken to creating a masterpiece. I would love to hear from you so if you have a story to share please email me at editor@55pluslivingguide.com and it may be featured in a future issue.

What does aging mean to you? How do you live your life? Are you living your best life? Is your perception of aging changing

As you take in the stories in this issue, I hope you reflect about what this year has brought to you.

With love & gratitude,

Alison Michael

"Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been."

— David Bowie

CONSIDERING DOWNSIZING? Be sure and visit our virtual open house at 55pluslivingguide.com See page 31 for a sneak preview.

Follow along on Instagram @ 55+Living

Follow along on Facebook @ 55+LivingGuide

ENJOY LIFE... with less responsibility

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We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have an old family recipe that has been handed down through the generations?

A recipe that has a great story to go with it?

Please send it to us and it may be featured in a future issue!

Email us at editor@55pluslivingguide.com

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Travel

Columbia County:

A Drive Through History

The Columbia County Historical Society recently launched Drive Through History, a series of free, self-guided road trips that allow visitors to explore different facets of the County’s history at their own pace. The following road trip, “Legends & Folklore” has been printed with the permission of the Columbia County Historical Society. For driving directions and more road trip itineraries, visit www.cchsny.org/drive-through-history

Legends & Folklore Love learning about obscure stories? Columbia County is full of them. Hop in the car and explore the legendary folk tales, strange occurrences and largerthan-life legends that once roamed this region of the Hudson Valley.

1. Legend of Spook Rock This idyllic spot on the Claverack Creek is said to be the final resting spot of two star crossed lovers. As the story goes, a beautiful Mahican maid fell in love with a young man from an opposing tribe (possibly Mohawk), defying the wishes of her father.

There are many tellings of what happened next; one version states that the gods, angered by the couple’s love, caused the creek to flood the region, killing them on this spot. Author Ruth A. Stickles, in her book Folklore of Columbia County, interprets another version: “One fateful night, under the cover of a violent storm, the Mohawk made his way to the overhanging rock, which was the lovers’ place of rendezvous. The rock gave way just as the maid ran to her lover’s arms. As lightning flashed and thunder roared, both were swept off the mountain with the rock, which went crashing down the hill.

As the boulder came to rest in the stream below, they were buried beneath its ponderous weight. When white settlers came, each time they rang a church bell to mark the death of one of their people, it was 12

said that the rock turned over, releasing the lovers for a shadow of a moment in the old world of their happiness. Then Spook Rock rolled back to entomb them again, together for all eternity.”

2. Aaron Burr’s Hiding Place?

The Lindenwald estate is best known as the beloved home of President Martin Van Buren from 1841-1862. Before the Van Buren family took ownership, however, the estate (then known as Kleinrood) belonged to Judge William P. Van Ness, who served as Aaron Burr’s “second” in Burr’s famous duel with Alexander Hamilton. Following the duel, rumors spread that Van Ness had spirited Burr away to safety in Kinderhook, giving him access to a secret room at Kleinrood. Other historical accounts claim that Burr went into hiding at Maizefield, a historic home in nearby Red Hook (Dutchess County).

3. Ichabod Crane Taught Here A teacher named Jesse Merwin was the longtime schoolmaster at this rural schoolhouse. A close friend of Washington Irving, Merwin is widely believed to have been the model for the iconic Ichabod Crane, the character made famous in Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The two corresponded for more than 30 years, and Merwin even named a son Washington Irving Merwin after the author.

4. Harry Houdini Braves Beaver Falls Harry Houdini was the world’s most famous magician in the early 20th century. The masterful escape artist and stunt performer began appearing in

October-December 2020 / Fall

movies in 1906, and it was a film shoot that brought him to the Village of Valatie in 1921. At that time, Valatie (pronounced va-LAY-sheh, an adaptation of the Dutch word Vaaltje, meaning “Little Falls”) was home to several mills on the two waterways that flow through town, the Kinderhook Creek and the Valatie Kill. Here, near the base of scenic Beaver Falls, Houdini performed a mesmerizing stunt on a water wheel for his final film, Haldane of the Secret Service. Nearly all of Valatie’s historic mill buildings have since vanished, and the mill that once stood in this spot burned to the ground in the Great Blizzard of 1888.

5. An Electric Park That Glitters No More A generic term for amusement parks operated by railroad and electric companies, “electric parks” dazzled with bright lights, motorized trolleys, entertaining rides and vaudeville acts. A grand electric park once sprawled across 40 acres at Kinderhook Lake, and was heralded as “the largest amusement park…between Manhattan and Montreal.” The park opened in 1901 and was devised by the Albany & Hudson Railroad Company to draw more passengers on weekends. It was such a success the railroad added double cars to accommodate massive crowds. The park was known for its wholesome atmosphere, a place where “ladies and children can go unattended.” World War I brought about the end of the Electric Park; after shuttering for the 1917-1918 season it struggled to reopen, and closed for good in 1920.

6. Austerlitz Cannibal While there is no specific location associated with the Austerlitz Cannibal, this site will give you a feel for Austerlitz in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1878, Oscar Beckwith was a 70-something hermit living in the backwoods of Austerlitz when a fortune-seeker named Simon Vandercook entered his life. After Vandercook purchased land from Beckwith on a dubious promise of gold, a dispute arose between the two men, with Beckwith threatening to sue. One winter morning in 1882, Vandercook vanished after

a visit to Beckwith’s cabin. Within days, the grisly remains of his dismembered and partially burned body were found inside the empty cabin. A manhunt for Beckwith ensued, and newspapers began printing sensational (and likely exaggerated) stories, including one that claimed Vandercook’s liver had been found in a frying pan. Rumors grew, and soon Beckwith was labeled “the Cannibal of Austerlitz.” He was finally arrested in 1885, and after multiple trials and appeals in Hudson, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. His hanging in 1888 was the last public execution in New York.

7. Boston Corners’ Infamous Past Columbia County seems to elbow into the Massachusetts border in this spot. This is Boston Corners, and its story is just as curious as its geography. In 1852, the hamlet indeed belonged to Massachusetts, and the recent arrival of the New York and Harlem Railroad turned Boston Corners into a bustling transport hub. Meanwhile, its remote location—effectively cut off from law enforcement by the Taconic Range—made it wellsuited to wickedness. Thieves reportedly brought stolen racehorses to be dyed, so they could race them elsewhere without detection. Then, in 1853, Boston Corners was the site of a famous boxing match between James “Yankee” Sullivan and John Morrissey. Varying accounts claim that between 3,000 and 10,000 fans of the then-illegal sport flooded in to see the fight, which lasted an astounding 37 rounds before Morrissey took the prize. Not surprisingly, Massachusetts ceded Boston Corners to New York soon after, forever altering the geography of the County.

55pluslivingguide.com 13

8. The Mysterious Taghkanic Basketmakers The rural hills around Gallatin were once the home of an isolated culture known as the Taghkanic basketmakers, sometimes called “Bushwhackers” or “Pondshiners.” Comprising a small group of families, this tight-knit community crafted some of the most skillfully made and attractive baskets from the early 1800s through the early 1900s. Today, they are prized among collectors. The Taghkanic basketmakers’ origins and way of life are as mysterious as their eventual demise. The settlement seems to have been centered around a ravine known as Stove Pipe Alley, but their homes have been lost to time. As outsiders discovered the community in the early 1900s, sensational newspaper headlines read, “The Bushwhackers of Columbia County! Strange People Populate Taghkanic Hills!” Whispers of witches, superstitious rituals and intense fear of strangers spread. The community was devastated by the Flu Pandemic of 1918, and the basketmaking traditions had all but faded out by the mid-20th century.

9. Claverack Giant In 1705, a Dutch tenant farmer stoops to pick up a massive tooth from the banks of the Hudson River, weighing roughly five pounds and having “a fang that could hold about a half-pint of liquor.”

This fossil, which came to be known as the Claverack Giant, was one of the first and most significant fossil finds in American history. Beliefs about the origin of the tooth were in line with the limited scientific knowledge of the period. Some, including the Puritan minister Cotton Mather, thought it came from the mouth of a biblical giant, washed ashore by Noah’s Flood. Indians of the area, who had long collected such fossils, similarly believed they belonged to ancient giants, which they called Maushops or Weetucks. Scientists would later identify the object as an Ice Age mastodon tooth— the first recorded discovery of its kind.

For directions, and to learn about additional driving tours, visit the Columbia County Historical Society website at cchsny.org

Columbia County Tourism

14

October-December 2020 / Fall

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October-December 2020 / Fall

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syrup farms sweeten the storylines across America’s historic East Coast. Swirl and sip at Vermont’s sustainable Shelburne Vineyard, enjoy a lighthouse keeper presentation in Portland, Maine, and learn why everyone’s eyes light up upon tasting Freeport’s famous Whoopie Pie. The plot thickens as you ferry across Lake Champlain to immerse yourself in the scene stealers of New York and Massachusetts, including the Lakeside resort of Lake Placid, the picturesque Berkshire Mountains, and the orchard and vineyard dotted riverbanks of the quaint Hudson Valley.

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A 55+ ADULT COMMUNITY WITH STYLE!

WENDY RITZ Owner, W Boutique

20

October-December 2020 / Fall

Style is

Ageless

BY WENDY RITZ

Style is ageless and being well dressed says a lot about the woman that you are. Dressing fashionable sets the tone for how you would like to present yourself while living your best life.

Having an updated wardrobe that fits well will build your confidence and put that bounce back into your step.

10 FASHION TIPS AND STYLING SUGGESTIONS TO BUILD A MORE CONFIDENT WELL-DRESSED YOU

My name is Wendy Ritz and fashion is my life! I am excited to be part of 55+ Living’s contributing editors and look forward to bringing you engaging content about fashion & style as we age. Just because we are not 25 anymore does not mean we cannot be stylish & look fabulous.

1

As we age, we metamorphosize into a new self.

Our bodies change dramatically & many women have a hard time accepting the changes. We need to embrace these changes and make the best of what we have. I look at every body shape as a blank canvas that I get to paint into a beautiful piece of art.

2 3

Making women feel good and look fantastic is what I do and brings me happiness. I am not only building wardrobes, I am building confidence and self-esteem.

Saying, "I wish I could wear that" is really saying "I'm

4

not confident in my own skin." Saying "I can never wear that" is just depriving yourself from dressing fabulous. This is your dress rehearsal and aging in style is the best way to love & embrace the aging process. I truly believe that every body shape in the world can be dressed to look amazing. Working with a professional stylist will create the best results for creating your perfect wardrobe and sense of style.

5

How youthful can I dress?

Golden Rule: Dress within 15 years of the age you look. Let's face it….women are looking younger and younger today.

(35 and up trends work best on ages 50 and up) No matter what age you are living…NEVER give up on fashion (nothing ages your more than a dull outdated wardrobe) Update your hairdo Long locks can age you and draw your face down. Get an updated fresh cut & color to regain your youth Get rid of those "mom jeans" Invest in high quality premium Denim that is current in style. There are so many styles and cuts of jeans available, it is definitely not a one size fits all; boot leg, slim, straight leg, etc.

Stretch and a good quality denim is your friend.

Accessorize Would you serve a cake with no icing? Jewelry is the icing on the cake! There is no easier way to dress up any outfit in your wardrobe. Try a statement necklace, a bold bracelet, a statement ring, or a pair of fun trendy earrings. *Jewelry draws attention to your face, not your body.

55pluslivingguide.com 21

6 7

Know your body shape & work with it to flatter the new figure that has emerged. (you've earned every curve…embrace it!)

Invest in higher quality garments that are timeless (they have a better fit & are constructed to last)

8 9 10

Add color to your black wardrobe (as you age color will be more flattering on your skin tone)

Invest in timeless shoes (loafers, block heel pumps, shoe bootie, tall boot, all white sneaker) Invest in outerwear. outwear can make an outfit look more expensive & pulled together (denim jacket, blazer, moto jacket, cardigans, bomber jacket, trench coat, vest)

Age is just a number. When you update yourself and your wardrobe no one will be able to guess your real age and most importantly you’ll feel more beautiful inside and out because you’ll feel more confident.

Wendy Ritz, owner of W Boutique in Glenmont, NY is fashion stylist & designer. She loves helping you build a wardrobe to fit your lifestyle & to create mix & match outfits that you will feel great in. 90% of her inventory is made in the USA or made in Italy. She builds her customers wardrobes to be timeless with a little bit oåf edge that brings out their personality and their own sense of style. Nothing makes her happier then transforming her customers into their "best self ". The best thing a woman can do for herself is to find styles that compliment her shape and for her to accept her body exactly as it is in the given moment. It is important for her to love herself for the "new woman" she has become. Instead of holding onto youth try celebrating the seasoned woman that you have evolved into.

Visit wboutiquefashion.com to learn more about the boutique, and follow Wendy on facebook for live shows.

You will want to TUNE IN to the Saratoga Showcase of Homes Show

We are very excited to announce our Showcase TV Special Saratoga Showcase that will be airing this fall on WRGB CBS-6, hosted by News Anchor Liz Bishop. Check our website of for dates Homes and times. What you’ve come to love from our home builders, now from the comfort of your home!

PARTICIPATING BUILDERS Beechwood Homes Bella Home Builders Belmonte Builders Caruso Home Builders Degraff-Bloom Custom Builders Heritage Custom Builders Kodiak Construction McPadden Builders The Earth Source Company The West Saratoga Condos Whitbeck Construction Witt Construction

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The Villas at Sleepy Hollow Lake is a peaceful neighborhood of private lots awaiting new single-family homes—the perfect place for resort-style living or retirement away from crowed cities, yet close to the necessities for a convenient, comfortable lifestyle.

Set in a quiet section of the Sleepy Hollow Lake resort community, The Villas’ two- and three-bedroom homes offer a wide variety of options for design and décor and access to all of the amenities of Sleepy Hollow Lake.

Sleepy Hollow Lake is one of the Hudson Valley’s premier, private residential lake communities featuring a pristine lake for water recreation of all kinds, plus two swimming pools, tennis courts, clubhouse, baseball field, playgrounds, and more.

Villas at Sleepy Hollow Lake, The

To learn more, call Vicki Wolpert at 914-980-2567 or visit sleepyhollowlake.org/villas 92 Randy Road, Athens, NY 12015

Free Books and Magazines in Audio or Braille NYS Talking Book and Braille Library

The NYS Talking Book and Braille Library is a FREE lending service that provides audio and braille books for people who have low vision, blindness or a physical disability that prevents them from using regular print.

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Call 1-800-342-3688 Or visit www.nysl.nysed.gov/tbbl/ Email tbbl@nysed.gov

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Whitehall Court Whitehall@ahfinc.net

VanAllen@ahfinc.net 110 One & Two Bedroom Apartments | Min. age requirement 55 Rent: 1 Bedroom $546—$846* | 2 Bedrooms $972—$1142* 790 Rte. 9W, Glenmont, NY 12077 | (518) 767-0923

72 One & Two Bedroom Apartments | Min. age requirement 62 Rent: 1 Bedroom $642—$672* | 2 Bedrooms $786* 360 Whitehall Rd., Albany, NY 12208 | (518) 446-1920

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Wilton Commons WiltonCommons@ahfinc.net

36 One & Two Bedroom Apartments | Min. age requirement 55 Rent: 1 Bedroom $547—$667* | 2 Bedrooms $788* 100 Wilton Commons Dr., Wilton, NY 12831 | (518) 581-7696 *Rents are based on income guidelines determined by the area’s median income.

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Music, T The Playlist of our Lives “When you're happy, you enjoy the music.

But when you're sad, you understand the lyrics.”

- Frank Ocean

BY CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL

hink back to your first memory of music. Where are you? What are you doing?

How do you feel?

Music is one of the great wonders in life. It can help us time travel, it can make us feel, it can soothe us, it can occupy our time and it can be there for you like no one can. The wonderful thing about music is our ability to have a personal relationship with it, while at the same time having a shared experience with millions of people around the world.

When “Hey Jude” by The Beatles comes on I immediately think of how this song speaks to me on a personal level and by the time the end chorus arrives I am singing in unison with all my brothers and sisters around the planet.

What was Paul McCartney thinking when he wrote this,

what was going on in his life, does he still think about that when he performs it? Wow, what a powerful song and that is one of millions that do the same thing for us.

What is it that draws us to music? Is it the rhyme or the rhythm or the lyrics or the feeling? It’s personal and only you know. At the same time it’s universal and we all know. The feeling of being at a live concert and hearing your favorite song performed by your favorite artist and the pure joy you receive from that is something we are all missing right now.

The great news is that music and the ability to access it and play it has never been easier. You can stream music on many different services.

Some popular ones are iTunes, Pandora and Spotify. Youtube is another option to explore too. Most have a free option with commercials and all have the opportunity for you to subscribe monthly for unlimited listening.

4 S

of my

Favorite

treaming music has never been easier thanks to our smartphone technology and the plethora of quality music apps available to download.

Our smartphones, both iPhone or android, have become this incredible tool to discover any and all genres of music with a push of a button.

There are tons of music apps offering a free version and a paid version. Typically, the paid version is ad free and/or unlimited music. They all possess their own unique features but here are a few of my favorites to get you started to listen to the playlist of your life!

Apple Music offers subscribers a vast library of more than 60 million songs.

Users can create custom playlists, try out new tunes in the "For You" category (which builds recommendations from your listening habits) $9.99/ month. Expert curated playlists.

Spotify has become synonymous with online streaming music, thanks to its familiar interface, Facebook integration and massive 26

October-December 2020 / Fall

The wonderful thing about these music streaming services is the ability to make a playlist. You can choose songs to put together in a collection and play them in order or on shuffle. You can share them with friends and family. I have playlists for all different types of moods and music. I have my Boat Cruising playlist for time on the boat, my Life’s Favorites playlist that includes all of my favorite songs, my Laid Back Sunday playlist for relaxing with coffee and my Grateful Dead favorites list that I am always adding to. The fun part is that you are the DJ spinning the songs that speak to you.

Many musicians have started performing live on the internet or streaming old concerts during this time to keep us all entertained until we are able to gather in large groups again.

Do a search and see what your favorite artist is up to.

It is time to sit back and relax, put your favorite music on and start creating playlists. Share them, listen to them and keep adding to them. Music truly is the playlist of our lives.

of the area’s finest Apartment Communities Tri City Rentals has a variety of communities to choose from with a wide array of apartment features and community amenities.

Tri City Rentals

Music Apps song library of more than 60 million tracks. The Spotify mobile app has been updated to allow for more free music streaming than ever. $9.99/month for premium.

Amazon Music is available for free as part of your amazon prime subscription Amazon's music streaming offering, Prime Music allows you to stream the music you've purchased from Amazon, as well as music stored locally in your smartphone or tablet. Prime subscribers ($119 per year) can also access a library of more than 1 million songs along with convenient playlists all through ad-free streaming. If you have Alexa you can listen hands free! Amazon music unlimited is $7.99/ month.

Pandora has been providing personalized online radio for years. A solid choice for users looking to stream music straight to their tablet or smartphone. This free app allows you to create stations based on your favorite artists, with users able to stream an unlimited amount of ad-supported music every month.

Pandora Plus is $4.99/month or Pandora Premium at $9.99/month.

• VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS •

With Over 5o Years of Experience, Tri City Rentals Offers Outstanding Value & Personal Service.

Each of our communities is unique in its own way and all offer a convenient location, peaceful neighborhoods, great amenities, and superior customer service.

TRICITYRENTALS.COM | (518) 862-6600

55pluslivingguide.com 27

Builder Spotlight

Peter Belmonte BelmonteBuilders.com

S

ince 1977, Belmonte Builders has been building high-quality homes in the Capital Region. A family-owned business, Belmonte takes pride in working closely with each customer to personalize their home and meet their unique needs.

55+ Living recently had a chance to talk with Belmonte Builders’ owner, Peter Belmonte about his business and trends he sees with customers 55+ looking to downsize.

How did you get started in home building?

My father started building new homes in 1977. After I graduated from college, I worked in corporate America for a few years. In 1985, my father invited me to join him. I was excited to have the opportunity to help build a family business in an industry that I had a lot of interest.

I am very proud of the company Belmonte Builders has become.

What’s your favorite part of running Belmonte Builders?

I’m very thankful that I’ve been able to grow the business into a brand that not only my family but also my work family can be proud of. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet people in so many different businesses. Learning about the backgrounds of our customers, tradespeople, suppliers, municipal leaders, and others has given me an appreciation for how important it is to be open to new ideas and ventures. I love talking with people. My family calls me the “mayor” because no matter where we go, I run into someone I know and have to stop to talk with them.

What are the most common features that your 55+ customer is looking for in a new home?

Downsizing means different things to different people. Some people truly want a smaller home with no yard. Others simply need a more flexible floor plan that allows them to live comfortably on the 1st floor with enough room for guests. This is the house they plan to 28

live in for the rest of their lives and they know what they want and need.

The 55+ buyer is savvy. They are not interested in features they don’t use often: whirlpool tubs, dining rooms, too many bedrooms. In most cases, downsizing means getting rid of rooms they don’t need while adding space and features to frequently used rooms.

Most 55+ buyers are looking for a ranch or master on the main floor with a low maintenance lot. Open floor plans with wider doors and hallways are also popular with this customer. They often choose to add a study and/or a screened porch and prefer large showers with a bench.

Another trend that we are seeing across all of our customers is a shift away from a formal dining room to a study - - especially now after working from home during the pandemic.

How has the Pandemic impacted the way you work with customers?

COVID-19 has made everyone rethink and reinvent ways to safely work and communicate.

For customers who want to tour our homes in person, we have safety precautions in place: masks required, temperature screenings, limited # of people allowed, cleaning of homes after each customer, etc. For those who are not comfortable going out, we offer virtual tours.

For customers in the process of building, we’ve developed new ways to review selections digitally with a full visual guide and use web conference calls to discuss and finalize their selections. The changes to our process have been so widely well-received that we plan to continue them as an option once the pandemic is over.

What advice would you give to people who want to downsize now?

This is advice not just for people looking to downsize, but for anyone building a new home. Don’t just plan for now. When choosing or designing a new home, try to develop it with both your current needs and future needs in mind.

The pandemic has created a strong market for resales and historically low interest rates making it a great time to sell your home and buy a new one. It has impacted the building process as well making it take a little longer. So be sure you talk with your builder about your timeline so you can plan accordingly.

October-December 2020 / Fall

It’s Always a Pleasure to Come Home.

Alexandria

Visit Our Award-Winning Model Home

Alexandria

is a unique new home community located in charming, historic Halfmoon. Tucked within a popular, well-established neighborhood, Alexandria offers its owners the benefits of new construction as well as the comfort of being a part of an existing community. Plus, Alexandria’s convenient location provides easy access to great shopping, dining and the Northway.

Perfect for Both Young & Mature Families The convenient location, schools, and value appeal to younger families while more mature families are drawn to the maintenance-free lots and variety of ranch and master down floor plans.

Maintenance free lots available Easy access to great shopping & dining Wooded ½+ acre lots Convenient location, close to I-87 Variety of ranch & master down From the high $300’s floor plans

Visit Our Award-Winning Model Home 5 Greenbrier Way, Halfmoon, NY Open Daily 12pm - 5pm, Tuesdays 10am -2pm, Closed Mondays Contact Tina Stanoski to learn more: 518-801-3202 | tina@belmontebuilders.com To learn more about Belmonte Builders’ communities and floor plans, visit www.BelmonteBuilders.com In neighborhoods with a Homeowner’s Association, Homeowners will be subject to all HOA covenants and design guidelines and will be required to pay HOA dues. For complete details see your sales representative.

Summit Senior Living

Myth: Aging means missing what you love.

Not at Summit.

Discover the friendship, fun and togetherness waiting for you at Summit.

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING | LEASING NOW

In-person or virtual tours available.

518.290.7814

NORTH GR EENBUSH | GLENVILLE | SARATO GA GUILDER LAND | CO LO NIE

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SummitSeniorLife.com

October-December 2020 / Fall

Join us for our 5th Annual DOWNSIZING

VIRTUAL Open House Tours Online October through December

Featuring 10 UNIQUE PROPERTIES ideal for those looking to downsize Maintenance Free Living for Sale Active Adult Retirement Communities for Rent Affordable Senior Communities and Luxury Rental Communities

Visit

55PlusLivingGuide.com to learn more

You’ll find interviews with builders, residents and property managers, photo galleries, videos and more!

Whether you are considering RENTING or BUYING in the Capital Region, this it perfect time to begin your research or get inspired.

ENTER TO WIN! Visit us online to enter for your chance to

WIN A $250 VISA GIFT CARD Hosted by:

Presenting Sponsor: NEW YORK CAPITAL REGION

Sponsored by:

55pluslivingguide.com 31

Visit 55pluslivingguide.com to explore these featured properties, view image gallery and watch property video Maintenance Free Living Community For Sale

55+ Affordable Apartments FRANCISCAN HEIGHTS SENIOR COMMUNITY

ALEXANDRIA BY BELMONTE BUILDERS

5 Greenbrier Way, Halfmoon, NY Contact: Tina 518-801-3202 Amazing Location! Conveniently located in the historic town of Halfmoon, Alexandria enjoys easy access to great shopping, dining, and the Northway. Situated within a well-established neighborhood, Alexandria gives its homeowners the best of both worlds - the benefits of new construction and the comfort of being part of a tight-knit community. Features maintenance free lots and award-winning ranch & master down floor plans. belmontebuilders.com

THE BENTLEY CONDOMINIUMS

1 St. Anthony Lane, Renssalaer, NY 12144 518-432-3555 This 55+ community is serenely set on 85 wooded acres just minutes from the heart of the Capital Region at Exit 7 off I-90. Offering one- and two-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom cottages. Maintenance free living. Beautiful cottages equipped with washer, dryer and dishwasher. CDTA bus to Route 4 and downtown Albany. depaulhousing.com

55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities • For Rent CARLTON HOLLOW APARTMENTS

8 Wall Street. Clifton Park, NY 12065 Contact: Joyce 518-505-0890

2000 Carlton Hollow Way, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-631-5813

The Bentley Condominiums, 55+ luxury living condos for sale in the heart of Clifton Park. Featuring 1 & 2 Bedroom condos. Walking distance to shopping, restaurants, walking trails, YMCA, 2 mins from the Northway(I87). This unique condominium community offers a maintenance free, comfortable and convenient lifestyle you deserve. bentleycondominiums.com

ENJOY LIFE…with less responsibility in Saratoga County.

Carlton Hollow Apartments, a 55+ active adult living community, combines upscale apartment living with amenities that offer fun, fitness, and wellness yearround, including an indoor pickleball court, a fitness center, an indoor pool, and sauna. Apartments feature 9’ ceilings, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. carltonhollowapartments.com

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October-December 2020 / Fall

PRESTWICK CHASE AT SARATOGA

NORTHERN PASS LUXURY RENTALS

100 Saratoga Blvd., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-584-7766 Saratoga’s premiere adult living community. Affordable pricing with no buy-ins, transportation included, screened in balconies and porches, washer and dryer in every apartment, a 4 -star restaurant and much more. prestwickchase.com

SUMMIT AT MILL HILL

62 Santanoni Drive, Cohoes, NY 12047 518-608-1502 New luxury rentals for all ages. Convenient location, off Loudon Rd. in North Colonie. 2 & 3 Bedroom floor plans from 1,506-2,400 sq ft. Refined living with high end amenities including a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, hot tub, community garden and much more. northernpasscolonie.com

STARBUCK ISLAND

2 Mill Hill Court, Guilderland, NY 12159 Call for Directions 518-941-8871 Summit at Mill Hill is the newest 55+ community in Albany County - recently opened in 2020. Call Summit home and gain access to our signature Connected Life Program with activities and learning opportunities that promote education, health, and wellness. Live maintenance-free in your spacious, beautifully finished apartment with beautiful amenities and high-end features — including a pool, 2 fitness rooms, yoga studio, tavern, hair salon, movie theater and so much more. summitseniorlife.com/guilderland

Luxury Apartment • All Ages

15 Starbuck Drive, Green Island, NY 12183 Contact: Austin 518-478-1172 Brand new luxury waterfront apartment community.

Beautifully located on the Hudson River, these apartment homes feature 1 & 2 bedroom apartments with modern, refined, upscale finishes. This luxury community includes 3 buildings for all ages & one 55+ building featuring a resort style swimming pool, tennis courts, clubhouse, expansive fitness center and underground parking. starbuckisland.com

PARK SOUTH APARTMENTS

GRANDEVILLE AT MALTA

1 Landau Boulevard, Malta, NY 12020 518-893-1148 Brand new, upscale apartments and townhomes. Our pet friendly community offers in unit washer/dryer, granite counters, attached garages, a new clubhouse, a heated indoor pool and spa, billiards, a cyber cafe and a fitness center. grandevilleatmalta.com

33 New Scotland Ave., #109, Albany, NY 12208 518-438-4700 This community features a unique mix of modern high-rise apartment living and more traditional threestory brownstone apartment community. Featuring studio, one and two bedrooms. High end finishes throughout include granite and quartz countertops, plank and bamboo flooring. Oversized windows and luxurious bathrooms. parksouthapartments.com

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Real Estate

Jenn's Realtor Tips

Is it better to move into my new home and clear this home out completely to sell it?

Actually, it is normally better to sell a furnished home so that we can stage each room for its intended use. Your realtor can provide staging tips of what furniture to put where and how to show your home to its’ best advantage.

My kitchen is dated, should I put in a new kitchen?

NEVER put in a new kitchen before listing your home for sale. New kitchens are expensive and you are better off pricing your home for the kitchen you have, rather than buying a new kitchen that might not suit your buyers’ taste. That said, clever refreshing of a tired kitchen can help you maximize your sale price. Consider having the cabinets professionally painted white or pale grey, swapping the handles for brushed nickel or stainless steel, and updating the appliances to matching stainless steel. You may also want to update the backsplash and/or add a makeshift ‘island’ using a standalone kitchen cart.

If your cabinets are in great shape and are on trend for the finish, you may want to consider updating the counters with granite or quartz.

Should I wait for summer to sell?

Commonly Asked Downsizing Questions Which should I do first – buy my new home or sell this home?

That depends. If you are able to make your purchase without selling your current home, then you may want to go under contract on your purchase first, and list your home shortly thereafter to minimize the amount of time you own 2 properties. However, if you need the cash from the sale of your current home to pay for your new home, then you will want to list this for sale before you start shopping for your next home. In this strong sellers’ market, contingent offers (based on selling your home) are difficult to get accepted, especially if the home you desire is in a multiple offer.

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That depends how much you enjoy competition. It’s true many buyers shop in the summer. It’s also true that there is usually the highest volume of resale homes listed in the summer as well. If you have a swimming pool, you will definitely maximize the sale price in the summer.

However, if you don’t have a pool think about selling in the early spring months – March or April. These are the months many homebuyers begin their shopping despite the fact that many sellers are not yet ready to list in the Spring. So homes tend to sell quickest and for the most money at this time of year when demand is high and resale homes inventory is low.

Jenn Baniak-Hollands is Associate Broker and leader of the Hollands Homes team at Keller Williams Realty. She is on a mission to deliver real estate experiences that WOW. In the past few years she’s helped many buyers and sellers achieve their downsizing real estate goals.

October-December 2020 / Fall

Your home is your happy place, Light It Well.

Your home is at the center of your life, so design your lighting to fit your lifestyle. Good lighting does so much more than make you happy: it adds to your home’s security, improves work spaces, sets the mood, and completes any room’s décor. You might not notice good lighting, but bad lighting is glaringly obvious. Talk to our lighting experts about creating your happy place!

Wolberg Richmond Chandeler

Hazel Pendant

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Albany 35 Industrial Park Road 518-489-8451 Kingston 1221 Ulster Avenue 845-802-5600 Saratoga 60 West Avenue 518-886-0446 Schenectady 152 Erie Boulevard 518-381-9231 (Electrical Supplies Only) Shop over 40,000 Items: www.Wolberg.com Beckham Classic Chandelier

PLUS - We offer a full service electrical counter for all your electrical supply needs.

55pluslivingguide.com 35

Solara Luxury FEEL GOOD about living in a luxury, Apartments

state-of-the-art, eco-friendly and net-zero community —that meets 100% of its energy through on-site SOLAR POWER. Leave virtually, no carbon footprint while living at Solara!

MULTI-GENERATIONAL APARTMENTS starting at $1,350 / month.

FEATURES INCLUDE:

Smart Home Technology • High-Speed Fiber Internet DISHTV • Pet Friendly • Fresh-Air Ventilation Stainless Appliances • Hardwood Flooring Walk-In Closets • Full-Size In-Unit Laundry Private Decks • Covered Parking Bike Storage • Elevators

Future generations will thank you.

SOLARA ECOLUXURY LIVING | 291 N Thompson Street | Schenectady, NY 12306

CALL TODAY FOR A PRIVATE TOUR: (518) 207-5836 • EXT. 800 visit: solaraluxuryapartments.com • email: rentals@solaraluxuryapartments.com

Spinney at Pond View, The

Enjoy cottage living, designed for active, independent “55 and better” residents.

Life at The Spinney is more than a great home...it’s a community of friends.

THE SPINNEY at POND VIEW Craftsman Style Cottages

Now Leasing!

Single-story, maintenance-free living with attached garages, patios and decks. Cottages offer modern conveniences… all completed with a charming and friendly community lifestyle.

CALL 518-479-0800 FOR A TOUR TODAY! 2490 Pond View, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY 12033 Mon–Fri: 8–4pm • TheSpinneyatPondView.com PondViewLeasing@TheSpinneyGroup.com

AMENITIES INCLUDED AT THE SPINNEY AT POND VIEW: • Pet Friendly • Cable & Internet • 24 Hour Maintenance • Front & Back Porches • Washer & Dryer in Unit • Community Activities • Attached Garages • Snow Removal • Trash Removal • Water Usage • Community Gardens • 5000 Sq Ft Clubhouse • Pools

4 Steps to Beginner Meditation Meditation is the act of using mindfulness or focus to calm your mind and body. It is practiced to strengthen awareness of the present moment. While the act of meditating can be easy, the actual focus is harder than it appears. For a beginner, you may want to start with a 5 or 10 minute meditation. As you train your mind to rest, you can increase the length of your meditations. Begin with these easy steps.

• FIND A PEACEFUL LOCATION Meditation can be performed almost anywhere, but a quiet location can help you to maintain your focus. Choose a comfortable location with no distractions. Some people prefer to meditate to the sounds of the outdoors. Others may require the quietness of an indoor space.

• GET COMFORTABLE Meditation requires you to be completely comfortable and still. Whether sitting in a chair or relaxed on the floor, your body needs to be at rest.

Any sign of discomfort will prevent your mind from focusing. If sitting in a chair, make sure your feet are flat on the floor.

• SIMPLE MEDITATION There are many different ways to meditate. The simplest form of meditating is to simply sit in silence. Once you are in a comfortable position, close your eyes and clear your mind. Focus on your breathing.

Breathing is the key to a peaceful meditation. Program your mind to focus on your breathing. Breathe

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in and breathe out. Feel the breaths as they enter and leave your body. As your mind wanders, bring your thoughts back to your breathing. At first, your mind will resist. Your brain is programmed to have multiple thoughts running through your mind. Continue to focus on your breathing. With practice, your focus will become easier to maintain.

When you finish meditating, take a few moments to appreciate the feeling. Sit quietly and feel the relaxation of your body. Your mind and body are completely relaxed. Now, stretch out your arms and legs before you continue with your day.

• BENEFITS OF MEDITATION Meditation is beneficial to your overall mind and body. As you meditate, both your mind and body will begin to relax. You may notice your heart rate slow. As your body rests and your heart rate slows, your stress level decreases.

Regular meditation has long-term benefits. You learn to manage anxiety and stress, which decreases your chances of depression. Blood pressure tends to lower through regular meditation. You gain more self-awareness with an increase in attention and concentration.

Meditation is a practice that can be easily worked into any schedule. Whether 5 minutes or an hour a day, meditation can be beneficial. The key to success is practice. At first, you may struggle to focus. Continue practicing until you achieve mindfulness and good health.

October-December 2020 / Fall

WE Grand ARE Premier OPEN!Tire

“Stay in your car.” Pay over the phone.

No contact, and still our same great service.

Spinney at Van Dyke, The

A 55+ ACTIVE, ADULT RENTAL COMMUNITY

Modern Cottage Rental Homes

1 Floor Living Attached Garages CALL Cable & Internet Exciting Community Monthly Activities!

24 Hour Maintenance 518.689.0162 TODAY! Trash Removal Call (518) 689-0162 • Open Mon–Fri: 8am–4pm Washer & Dryer in Unit The Spinney at Van Dyke • 6 Parker Mathusa Place, Delmar NY 12054 Private Porches & Patios Pet Friendly TheSpinneyatVanDyke.com • VanDykeLeasing@TheSpinneyGroup.com

55pluslivingguide.com 39

Seasonal Fall Muffins and more

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October-December 2020 / Fall

DOUGHNUT MUFFINS Recipe by Jenn Seagal, onceuponachef.com Sweet, cake-like and scented with cinnamon and nutmeg, these muffins taste remarkably like doughnuts.

Yields: 12 muffins

INGREDIENTS • FOR MUFFIN BATTER 1 cup milk (low-fat is fine) 1 tablespoon lemon juice 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off 2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon salt 12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still cool 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

PUMPKIN BREAD Recipe by Phyllis Michael

INGREDIENTS 1 cup shortening 2 3/4 cup sugar 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 (16 oz) can pumpkin 3 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon allspice 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• FOR MUFFIN TOPPING 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 2-1/4 teaspoons cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg,baking soda, salt, allspice, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

Set aside.

2. Combine shortening and sugar and mix well with an electric mixer. Add eggs, vanilla and pumpkin and mix well.

3. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, to wet ingredients. Combine well.

4. Pour into a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan. Let sit for 20 minutes.

5. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes. When done cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

55pluslivingguide.com 41

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray astandard muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Combine the milk and lemon juice in a measuring cup or bowl and set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt,and nutmeg. Set aside.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy,about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the vanilla.

5. Add a third of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix on low speed tocombine. Add half of the milk mixture and mix well. Mix in another third of the flour mixture, followed by the remaining milk mixture, and finally theremaining flour mixture. Mix until evenly combined but don't over-mix. Thebatter will be very thick.

6. Scoop the batter evenly into the prepared muffin pan, filling each cup to therim. (I like to use an ice cream scoop with a wire scraper for this.) Bake themuffins until firm to the touch, 25-30 minutes.

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Let the muffins cool in the panfor a few minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool.

7. In the meantime, prepare the toppings: Melt the butter in a small bowl. Inanother small bowl, whisk the cinnamon and sugar together.

8. When the muffins are cool enough to handle, working one by one, use a pastrybrush to paint the top of each muffin with butter, then roll in thecinnamon-sugar. If you have cinnamon-sugar left over, sprinkle muffins again.

Serve warm, or cool on a rack and wrap airtight.

Store at room temperature.

SPICED APPLE MUFFINS Recipe by Jenn Seagal, onceuponachef.com Yields: 12 muffins

INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed 1 large egg 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt (not Greek-style)

October-December 2020 / Fall

1 cup whole wheat flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off with back edge of knife 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off with back edge of knife 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda Heaping 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 2 cups peeled, cored and finely chopped baking apples (you'll need 2 large apples) • FOR TOPPING 6 tablespoons dark brown sugar, packed

Winner's Circle at Saratoga

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan with butter or spray with non-stick cooking spray.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

3. Add the egg and mix well, stopping to scrape the bowl if necessary.

4. Beat in the yogurt. The batter will look grainy.

5. Add the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Beat on low speed until just combined. The batter will be very thick.

6. Add the chopped apples and mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.

7. Use an ice-cream scooper or large spoon to divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. The cups should be full. Sprinkle the 6 tablespoons of brown sugar evenly over top.

8. Bake the muffins for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

9. Remove the muffins from the oven, cool them for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn them out onto a rack to finish cooling completely.

Northway Estates

A 55+ Close-Knit, Vibrant, Pet Friendly Community!

Conveniently located to major roadways for easy shopping. Health and fitness facilities, plus many social activities will help you feel rejuvinated.

• Active Tenant Organization • Community Clubhouse • NEW & Used Manufactured Homes for Sale northwayestates.com 2560 U.S. 9, Malta, NY 12020 • (518) 899-2526

55pluslivingguide.com 43

Hannaford

protein-packed protein-packed

apple apple & cheddar & cheddar muffins muffins

Start your Startday your with dayawith hearty a hearty AppleApple & Cheddar & Cheddar Muffin.Muffin.

Fiber and Fiber protein and protein foundfound in foods in foods like apples, like apples, walnuts walnuts and Greek and Greek yogurtyogurt work together work together to keep toyou keep going you going all morning all morning and help andthe help body theregulate body regulate cholesterol cholesterol levels.levels.

Here'sHere's what you what need: you need: 2 cups2 cups All-purpose All-purpose flour flour 3/4 cup3/4 Brown cup Brown sugar sugar ® 1 scoop1 scoop Cabot Cabot Whey®Protein Whey Protein Plain Plain Unflavored Unflavored PowderPowder ® ® 1 tsp. 1 tsp.

McCormick McCormick Ground Ground Cinnamon Cinnamon ® ® 1 cup 1 cup Stonyfield Stonyfield Organic Organic 0% Fat0% Plain Fat Plain Greek Yogurt Greek Yogurt ® 1 tsp. 1 tsp.

McCormick McCormick Pure ®Vanilla Pure Vanilla ExtractExtract 2 2 Eggs, beaten Eggs, beaten 1/2 cup1/2 cup Skim milk Skim milk ® Sharp® Cheddar, Sharp Cheddar, shredded shredded 3/4 cup3/4 Cabot cup Cabot 2 cups2 cups Apples,Apples, diced into diced 1/4-inch into 1/4-inch cubes cubes 1/2 cup1/2 cup Hannaford Hannaford Chopped Chopped Walnuts Walnuts

Roll upRoll your upsleeves: your sleeves:

Nutritional Nutritional Information Information (per muffin): (per muffin):

Thank you Thank to our yousponsors to our sponsors for partnering for partnering with Hannaford with Hannaford to to offer free offer dietitian free dietitian services. services.

Our dietitians Our dietitians communicate communicate their their own nutrition own nutrition expertise, expertise, views and views advice, and advice, using carefully using carefully selectedselected products products in recipes in recipes and demonstrations and demonstrations to shareto share information information on healthful on healthful eating. eating.

Total Carbohydrate 31 g 31 g CaloriesCalories 210 210 Total Carbohydrate g 2g Total FatTotal 7 g Fat 7 g Fiber 2 Fiber Total13Sugar g 13 g Saturated Saturated Fat 2 g Fat 2Total g Sugar 9g 9g Cholesterol Cholesterol 45 mg 45Protein mg Protein SodiumSodium 85 mg 85 mg

MAKES 12MAKES MUFFINS 12 MUFFINS

1. Preheat 1. Preheat the oven the350°F. oven 350°F. In a medium In a medium bowl, combine bowl, combine flour, brown flour, brown sugar, protein sugar, protein powderpowder and cinnamon. and cinnamon.

2. In a2.separate In a separate medium medium bowl, combine bowl, combine yogurt,yogurt, vanilla,vanilla, eggs eggs and milk. andSlowly milk. Slowly add dryadd ingredients dry ingredients to the wet to the ingredients wet ingredients and mix and until mix just until blended. just blended.

GentlyGently fold in shredded fold in shredded cheddar cheddar cheese,cheese, diced apples diced apples and chopped and chopped walnutswalnuts to mixture. to mixture.

3. Line3.a muffin Line a muffin tin withtin liners withor liners lightly or spray lightlywith spray cooking with cooking spray. Using spray.aUsing spoon, a spoon, fill eachfillmuffin each muffin cup socup batter so is batter is almostalmost even with even the with top.the top.

4. Bake 4.for Bake 25 to for30 25minutes to 30 minutes or untilor the until tops the oftops muffins of muffins are golden are golden brown.brown.

Allow to Allow cool.toEnjoy! cool. Enjoy!

Source: Recipe Source:adapted Recipe adapted from cabotcheese.coop from cabotcheese.coop

For more Forrecipe moreinspiration, recipe inspiration, visit hannaford.com/recipes. visit hannaford.com/recipes.

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Health and Wellness

Joint Preservation Surgery:

Sometimes LESS is MORE

BY DR. JOSEPH ZIMMERMAN

Over 54 million people in the United States have arthritis. The symptoms of arthritis can range from mild aches to debilitating pain. More and more, patients and their doctors are turning to joint replacement surgery to help treat severe symptoms of arthritis. The most common joint replacement procedures include knee and hip replacements, with shoulder replacement steadily on the rise. In fact, over 1 million joint replacement surgeries are performed annually in the US, and that number is rising exponentially. As the number of replacements increases, the patient population looking to them for relief is getting younger. Research suggests that joint replacement implants will last an average of 20 years, with a likelihood of earlier wear for younger and more active patients. Revision cases for failed joint replacements exceed 300,000 annually. This leaves many patients wondering if traditional joint replacement is right for them.

In an era of increased focus on fitness and staying active well into our golden years, there has never been a better time to consider alternatives to traditional joint replacement. Joint preservation procedures including partial replacements and resurfacing techniques can provide patients with the pain relief they need, while allowing them to return to the active lifestyle they desire.

46

With a focus on preserving and restoring the normal anatomy of the joint, partial replacements and resurfacing techniques minimize bone loss through minimally invasive techniques, and preserve options if other procedures are needed down the line. These types of procedures are quickly becoming popular for many joints in the body, with proven results in the knee and shoulder paving the way.

In the knee, these procedures are far from new.

With over 35 years of clinical data, partial knee replacements have proven to be an excellent option for the right candidates. What has changed is who we believe may be a candidate for a partial knee replacement. In 1989, experts in joint replacement surgery reported that only 5% of patients were candidates for partial knee replacement surgery. Through continual research and advancement in technology, we now consider up to 48% of patients to be eligible for such procedures.

From a joint replacement perspective, the knee is broken down into three compartments: medial, lateral, and patellofemoral. When arthritis primarily effects one compartment of the knee, that patient may be a candidate for partial knee replacement.

This leaves the remainder of the knee intact, including bone, cartilage, and ligaments. With more of the

October-December 2020 / Fall

native knee intact, and the patient’s normal anatomy preserved, this often results in a knee that feels more “normal”, and leads to a quicker recovery. With a knee that feels more normal, partial knee replacement patients are 2.7 times more likely to be satisfied with the ability to perform activities of daily living than total knee replacement patients. 98% of partial knee replacement patients return to work, and up to 97% were able to return to sports. Partial knee replacement also has a significantly lower post-operative complication rate than total knee replacement (4.3% vs 11%).

Similar advantages exist for resurfacing techniques in the shoulder. Traditional total shoulder replacement is an invasive procedure that significantly alters the patient’s anatomy. Native shoulder anatomy varies widely from patient to patient, and even in the same patient from one side to the other. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint. The socket (glenoid) is relatively shallow, and the ball (humerus) sits on the socket rather than in it. This allows for a tremendous range of motion, but also opens the shoulder up to

the injuries that can ultimately lead to arthritis. In order to restore the smooth surface of the shoulder, traditional total shoulder replacement removes the ball completely, inserts a stem into the shaft of the humerus, and attaches a new ball. This approximates the size and position of the native ball, but typically doesn’t recreate it perfectly, potentially leading to limitations in range of motion, and too much pressure on the cup. On the cup side, a piece of plastic is attached onto the surface of the glenoid. This significantly changes the position of the joint line, and can lead to failure over time. This is known as the “rocking horse phenomenon”, because micro-motion of this implant from everyday activity can cause it to loosen over time. This is of particular concern for younger and more active patients.

Resurfacing techniques of shoulder replacement aim to solve these problems. On the humeral side, the ball is not removed, but reshaped and “capped” with a smooth metal surface. This not only matches the size and position of the ball, but implants can

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55pluslivingguide.com 47

more accurately match the shape as well. Research has shown that the humeral head is more of an oval than a circle, and this unique shape plays an important role in joint motion. On the cup side, utilizing a technique that places the plastic component within the glenoid, has minimized the risk of loosening.

The glenoid sits flush with the native bone, eliminating the rocking horse phenomenon, and preserving the natural position of the joint line. These minimally invasive, bone-preserving techniques lead to better range of motion and a more “normal” feeling shoulder.

The benefits of these modern techniques are evident throughout the entire patient experience. Less invasive, lower risk surgeries such as these can often be performed in the outpatient setting, avoiding costly hospital stays and exposure to hospital-acquired infections. Likewise, these procedures often cause less pain and can reduce or eliminate the need for opioid medications. In our current times, these two facts cannot be overemphasized. Whereas tra-

Arthritis Ad

ditional techniques place significant restrictions on a patient’s post-operative activity level, resurfacing techniques typically require little to no restrictions.

This has opened up shoulder replacement to patients who were often not considered candidates for surgery, and left with few options. If conditions or injuries lead to the need for further surgery at any time, these techniques have preserved the patient’s normal anatomy, leaving more options available.

Arthritis can impact patients of all ages. Now more than ever, options are available to treat arthritis, and allow patients to return to a full active lifestyle. If arthritis threatens to put you on the sideline, consult with your doctor to see if one of these options is right for you. Remember, sometimes less is more.

Joseph Zimmerman is a Board Certified, fellowship trained Surgeon from the Bone and Joint Center in Albany, NY specializing in shoulder and knee surgery including joint preservation procedures. Please call 518-489-2666 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zimmerman.

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October-December 2020 / Fall

Orthopaedic Urgent Care Make Your First Stop Your Last!

At The Bone & Joint Center, we understand that injuries occur when least expected and that convenience is important. That’s when you visit our Orthopaedic Urgent Care with Bone why & Joint Cena bone, joint, or muscle injury orter, condition, you won’t need to go anywhere else. We are a The one-stop shop for all your orthopaedic needs.

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Red Wine:

the Top 10 Best-Selling Wines for Late 2020 After years of experimenting with exotic reds from far-flung places, the most popular wines of 2020 are close to home.

The most popular red wines this year are familiar friends from California, Italy, Spain, and Australia. Best of all, they aren't expensive.

BY CURT SEMBELLO

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October-December 2020 / Fall

1. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (CA)

4. Stella Rosa Black (Italy)

Robert Mondavi's offerings have always been among the top selling red wines, and this cabernet explains why. It has a bright acidity and flavors of Bing cherries, plum, blackberry, vanilla, coffee, and oak combined with aromas of spice, black pepper, and blackcurrant. It's the ideal accompaniment to a large pasta dinner.

Stella Rosa Black would be a top contender in a list of wines ranked sweetest to driest. Light, fizzy and saccharine, Stella Rosa ferments this wine in Charmat-style, pressurized tanks that create natural carbonation. A blend of red varietals, one tastes dark summer berries in every sip. Some critics find it too sweet, but it pairs beautifully with strong, savory cheese, nuts, and dark chocolates.

2. Menage A Trois Red (CA)

5. Meiomi Pinot Noir Red Wine (CA)

One of the top 10 red wines on Amazon, Menage A Trois offers this blend of zinfandel, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon that has distinct flavors of dark berries, cherries, and notes of pepper and tobacco.

It's Silky, soft, and fruit-forward with firm tannins.

It pairs well with grilled steak--and perhaps even poultry.

Meiomi makes their pinot noir with grapes from Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma and ages the wine in French oak barrels for six months. Their pinot noir a crisp, silky, strawberry-forward wine with notes of mocha, dark berries, and oak. It's a beautiful looking wine, indeed, with a rich color. Some might add it to a list of sweet wines. Drink it alongside a sharp cheese board or the darkest chocolate in the house.

3. Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (CA) The vintner describes Josh Cellars cabernet as "round and juicy with flavors of blackberry, hazelnut, cinnamon, and hints of vanilla and toasted oak," but tasters don't tend to find it as complex. This light and smooth wine has no off flavors, but it's young and best aerated. Josh Cellars sources the grapes from the most popular wine regions of California, including Sonoma and Napa. It's an adequate table wine and priced well.

6. Victoria Park Eden Valley Shiraz/Syrah (Australia) This earthy shiraz has a bouquet of red berries and pepper and tastes of pomegranate, cola, and cherry.

Other experts have noted it to be "amaro-like," which is a kind way of saying the finish is a touch astringent. It goes great with braised beef, gouda, and duck.

Tasters also like it with veal and venison.

55pluslivingguide.com 51

7. SIMI Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine (CA)

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52

From the Alexander Valley, this blended cabernet contains smooth tannins with flavors of red and black fruits and notes of spice that yield to a velvet finish. SIMI Winery dresses up their 88% cabernet sauvignon with 5% merlot, 3% syrah, 3% petite sirah, and 1% malbec grapes. It's spectacular with duck, lamb, and any dish involving smoky-flavored mushrooms.

8. Justin Cabernet Sauvignon (CA) This should fall on any list of good red wines.

Aged 14 months in 25% new American oak barrels, Justin Cabernet Sauvignon tastes of black cherry, blackcurrant with oak and vanilla mid-palate. It has a long fruit-and-spice finish and noticeable but silky tannins. Absolutely perfect with a thin-crust pizza or shepherd's pie.

9. Blackstone Winemakers Select Merlot (CA) A sub-$10 bottle that won't end up down the drain? Is it possible? Blackstone merlot could well be the best cheap wine on the shelves. This varietal combination is 78% merlot, 12% syrah, 7% petite sirah, and 3% other red. With flavors of plum jam, dark chocolate, and black cherry, it's smooth and fruit-forward. Blackstone merlot accompanies salmon and asparagus as well as eggplant Parmesan.

10. San Gregorio El Vergal Tempranillo (Spain) Spain's El Vergal vineyard creates this intense, full-bodied, silky tempranillo that tastes of summer berries, plum, and licorice. The flavors open the longer it airs, so allow adequate time for it to breathe. It's medium in acidity and tannins, and serves as a striking contrast to light, crisp wines of summer.

Regardless of your palate; sweet or dry, fruity or earthy, astringent, firm, or soft, these red wines will enliven your dinner through the winter months.

Share a bottle with those close to you, and toast to a new year.

October-December 2020 / Fall

DEPAUL HOUSING MANAGEMENT

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As more and more seniors are staying active longer planning stay activeactive for years to and As more andand more seniorstoare staying longer come, Teresian House offers a short-term planning to stay active for years to come, Teresian House specialty. Withspecialty. a full team of a full offersrehabilitation a short-term rehabilitation With teamphysical of Physical Therapists (PTs), Occupational therapists (PTs), Occupational Therapists (OTs) and and Speech Therapists, we will work to Therapists (OTs) Speech Therapists, we will youryour energy, strength and and abilities. workrenew to renew energy, strength abilities.

Where the spirit of love and dedication lives...

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October-December 2020 / Fall

Concepts of Health Care, Inc.

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With Medicare Advantage plans from CDPHP, you can: f See a doctor from the comfort of your own home with Doctor On Demand f Access emergency care CDPHP anywhere in the world

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CDPHP is an HMO and a PPO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in CDPHP Medicare Advantage depends on contract renewal.

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55pluslivingguide.com 55

Ingersoll Place Assisted Living Home Instead Senior Care

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For more information or to schedule a tour contact us at 518-689-0453 | daughtersofsarah.org 182 Washington Avenue Ext., Albany, NY 12203 56

October-December 2020 / Fall

­—ADVERTISER INDEX— Alexandria................................. 28 American Housing Foundation, Inc...................... 24 Aging Consultants..................... 52 Beltrone Living Center, The........ 52 Bentley, The.............................. 19 Blackfly Mountain Woodworks... 10 Bone & Joint Center, The........... 49 Burke & Casserly...................... 18 Carlton Hollow Apartments.......... 9 CDPHP..................................... 55 Columbia County Tourism......... 14 Concepts of Health Care, Inc..... 55 DePaul Housing Management.... 53 Eddy Senior Living...................... 2 Fagan Associates, Inc............... 25 Glenmont Abby Village.............. 25 Globus...................................... 59 Grand Premier Tire.................... 39

Hannaford................................. 44 Herzog Law Firm......................... 7 Home Instead Senior Care......... 56 Ingersoll Place Assisted Living..................................... 56 Madison & Saratoga Hearing Center....................... 18 Massry Residence, The............. 56 Michaels Group Homes............. 45 MVP Health Care....................... 60 Northern Pass Luxury Living..... 15 Northway Estates...................... 43 NYS Talking Book and Braille Library......................... 25 Peregrine Senior Living at Colonie.............................. 54 Preserve at Winding Brook, The... 6 Prestwick Chase at Saratoga....... 5 Roohan Realty.......................... 53

Saratoga Showcase of Homes.. 22 Seat Sheets............................... 18 Solara Luxury Apartments......... 36 Spinney at Van Dyke, The.......... 39 Spinney at Pond View, The........ 37 SRES........................................ 47 Summit Senior Living................ 30 Teresian House......................... 54 Teresian House......................... 57 Tri City Rentals.......................... 27 Villas at Sleepy Hollow Lake, The............................... 23 Visiting Nurses of Albany.......... 55 Wesley Community, The............ 53 Winner's Circle at Saratoga........ 43 Wolberg Lighting Design............ 35 Your CBD Store........................... 3

Teresian House is a skilled nursing facility with all private rooms. . . . . . . . . .

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55pluslivingguide.com 57

The Vine

BY FRANK BUCK

Grandma’s Coffee

T

When I was on summer break from high school, I would go to my paternal grandmother’s house and help her out with projects around the house.

My grandfather had passed some time before and my single uncle who lived with her, could not even spell hammer, let alone use one.

he two of us, Gram and I, would tackle projects that had to get done outside before winter set in. We also took care of some inside maintenance too. This was a way for me to make money for school clothes and grandma to get her chores done.

I would stay for a week and we would squeeze as much in as possible.

Before the work began each day, grandma had to have her cup of coffee in the morning, this was a ritual not to be interfered with. In those days; coffee was perked in a pot on the stove top and she had it down to a science. Once the coffee was done, she would toast herself two pieces of white bread and slather them with butter. The next step was to make the cup of coffee. She would get her favorite extra-large coffee cup, pour some condensed milk in the bottom, add a teaspoon of sugar, and then slowly pour that hot coffee into the cup. She would not use a spoon to mix things up and she would remark, “we mix the coffee this way Frank, no spoon!” “Yes gram”, I would say.

The next step in the ritual was to get the morning paper in hand and head to her favorite rocking chair on her back porch. The porch afforded her a panoramic view of the back yard from her second story.

It was an enclosed porch, so it was a lovely place to

58

sit. She would get all situated and then have her first sip of coffee and let out a deep moan of satisfaction.

As soon as the moan was completed, she made sure that I opened the side window of the house to let her cat Rusty, a big old scruffy tomcat, in so he could join in the festivities. He would make one large jump from the neighbor’s roof, in through the window and get close to grandma. The world was just right for her to continue dunking her pieces of toast in the extra-large coffee cup and then followed with another large sip of her coffee. You could say she was getting right with the world and readying herself to start her day. I too would have a cup of coffee and this started me on my coffee drinking journey. I graduated to all black coffee, but I have my grandmother to thank for my affinity of a wonderful cup of coffee to start the day.

As I think back on it, it was more than just the coffee, it was the varied topics of conversation we would have during the sipping, that made it so special. We would talk of family history, laugh about silly things, talk about the news, read Dear Abby aloud, talk to the cat, and just plan our day. I would love to have just one more session with Gram and be reassured as always, by her, that everything was going to be ok.

October-December 2020 / Fall

FAR FROM ORDINARY. CLOSE TO HOME. It isn’t necessary to cross oceans for adventure when there’s so much to discover from sea to shining sea.

Between North America’s breathtaking national parks, cool emerging cities, and tiny historic towns, there’s a surplus of sights you haven’t seen in your own backyard. With bucket-list vacations from Canada to Cali and Yakima to the Yukon, we invite you to fetch a pail of wonder as you discover the undiscovered right outside your door. From the redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters, this land was made for you to see.

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Let’s do Medicare together.

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