Senior
Living
A Special Advertising Section by The Bangor Daily News | October 1, 2021
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SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
So in the early 1990s, Peter spent all his free time studying horology — the study and measurement of time — and developing the skills on his own clocks before starting his unique business. He chimes in, “What interested me the most about antique clocks was the history of the clockmaker, the style or period of the clock and the condition of the dial and movement.” In addition, he reminds us of the obvious, “The beauty of an antique clock adds so much character to your home or office, and it doesn’t use any energy other than you winding it.” In addition to his appreciation for history, his devotion to this science continues to grow. “Another passion of mine is proving to myself that I am worthy of the term ‘clockmaker’ which is someone who has actually built a clock movement from scratch. Ten years ago I did just that. I built a weightdriven skeleton clock out of brass and steel. This project took me four winters of part-time work.” While the rhythmic sounds of each clock are captivating, it’s the intricate, delicate moves of Peter’s hands with tiny tools that requires patience because of the complexities of each task. “Working on an intricate balance platform escapement is very much like surgery,” he says. Escapement releases the power at a measured rate. “Luckily clocks and watches live another day and you get to correct the mishap.” Quite often Peter’s work takes him and Susie on the road climbing to new heights, literally. When not in the shop, they can be found navigating steep ladders and crawling through rafters of churches throughout Maine and New England, refurbishing numerous tower clocks and maintaining them with annual service contracts. STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANNE GABBIANELLI
One contract in particular is Bangor’s Unitarian Universalist Church where the tower clock was installed in 1920. In 1998, Peter
“The pleasure you get from owning and using a mechanical clock and watch is abundant. The sound of it ticking and striking, as well
overhauled it and connected it to the bells that lay dormant for decades in the adjacent tower.
as the timekeeping it offers creates a personal interaction each time
Peter has been intimate with a great deal of history over the
you wind it and set it,” says Peter Rioux, who is clearly passionate
years. “I’ve worked on numerous 18th century clocks over the
about his work.
years, but the earliest clocks I’ve worked on were a few mid-17th
A self-made master in the industry of clock building and repair,
century Lantern clocks and table clocks.”
Peter was born and raised on a potato farm in Fort Kent. He
With all these fabulously timeless wonders, Peter says his
graduated from the University of Maine and gravitated to forestry
favorite clocks and watches to work on are time-only weight-
and construction work but felt something was missing. “Then
driven regulators, banjo clocks, early grandfather clocks, Chelsea
antique clocks were introduced to me by my wife Susie, and of
Ship clocks and mechanical pocket and wrist watches.
course the clocks weren’t working so I had to fix them,” he says.
He says many folks have limited knowledge of the clock’s workings,
“I guess you can say I sparked this ‘clock mania,’” Susie says. “I love
so he willingly teaches you how to care for your antique. When you
antique clocks and brought home a few which ignited an interest in
walk into Peter Rioux Clock Service, located on Old County Road in
Peter. But it was Peter’s mechanical ability and determination that is
Winterport, you are treated to melodious chimes singing on cue.
really responsible for the success of this clock mania, not me.”
For more information, call 223-4732 or email riouxclocks@aol.com.
SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
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SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
Sculpting a Healthy and Fit
Homebody
Improve your heart health, mood, balance and more with these at-home workout tips BY WENDY WATKINS
Looking to kickstart your fitness routine but aren’t quite ready to join a studio or gym? You don’t need a lot of equipment or space to get into great shape at home. It just takes a little ingenuity, motivation and planning. Plus, thanks to technology, you can enjoy many gym features – including some of your favorite classes – from the comfort of your living room or home office. One of the biggest takeaways from the past year and a half has been the power of being prepared. That also applies to your fitness and wellness, since it has such a major impact on your overall health, including your immune system. “Exercise benefits you from your brain to your toes,” said Dr. Michelle Toder, a surgeon who is board certified in obesity and bariatric medicine, and who serves as medical director for Northern Light’s weight loss programs. Picking up a regular fitness habit helps your cognitive function, your mood, heart health, blood pressure and digestive system as well as your bone density, said Toder. It also can help improve your strength, balance and flexibility, cutting back on the risk of falling, she said.
Exercise is especially important if you’ve fallen off your healthy habits because of social distancing and more time at home. Not only did many many people stop working out since the beginning of the pandemic, but they became a lot less active in general, said Toder.
GETTING STARTED While sneaking extra activity into your day – like parking your car farther away from a store entrance or taking the stairs instead of the elevator – is a great idea, it shouldn’t be counted as part of your exercise routine. “This is about setting aside a minimum of 30 minutes most days of the week, when you put on your workout clothes and you go as hard as is possible and reasonable for you,” she said. The American Heart Association recommends getting at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity – or a combo of both – per week. Plus, the association recommends getting in at least two total-body strength-training workouts per week. That’s the amount of exercise needed for basic health benefits. If weight loss is a goal, the amount of necessary exercise climbs to 300 minutes per week, or 45 minutes a day, said Toder. She also advocates getting outside for that exercise whenever possible. “Being outside really lowers stress levels, lowers your heart rate and it’s good for mental health,” she said. Plus, it can help boost vitamin D levels, which is important for keeping your immune system strong. She said she personally brings a mask along when she exercises outside, so she has the option of putting it on if she nears a group of people.
TRYING NEW WORKOUTS When it comes to the format of your home workouts, the sky’s the limit thanks to the internet. Some Maine gyms and studios are offering streaming services for their clients and members, bringing training and classes from their facility into your living room. Many personal trainers and fitness coaches are also offering custom workout training via applications such as Zoom.
continues on page 6
a special advertising section of the Bangor daily news To advertise in our next special section, please call 990-8036 or email jorcutt@bangordailynews.com. Advertising Sales LAURIE CATES JEFF ORCUTT lcates@bangordailynews.com jorcutt@bangordailynews.com Special Sections Editor AMY ALLEN aallen@bangordailynews.com
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PO Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402
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SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
Here to help you make your home
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COURTESY OF CLAUDE LEVESQUE CEO, ATP, CRTS, MCEAC, CARE SERVICES CO.
Where have the years gone? We all ask ourselves that question at different times in our lives. It does tend to get a bit more frequent as we approach our Golden Years though. I say “we” because I am seeing those years coming up fast, and as much as I would like to slow them down, I have realized I need to prepare for them as well. Of course, there are different ways we prepare for our “Life Plan” with retirement plans, annuities and saving for that rainy day. A big part of that planning is the home preparation that will allow you to stay safe and comfortable in your own house, also known as “aging in place.” After all, HOME is where you want to be. We feel safe at home, right? What’s not safe is a fall in the home or anywhere for that matter, but you can lessen those risks at home by being prepared. Removing scatter rugs that slip and installing grab bars where needed is a good start. And, please, please, have at least one handrail where stairs are involved. I consider myself fortunate to have a career that I love in the rehab equipment field. I’ve been here for the last 38 years and have seen a wealth of new technology over that time that just continues to improve the lives of those that need it. I have met many great and special people who I have been able to help with their equipment needs over the years and for that I am truly blessed.
CARE Services Co. started as an idea five years ago to integrate mobility with accessibility. After all, they do go hand in hand, as one does not work well without the other. CARE Services employees are trained and certified in both mobility as well as accessibility equipment, and can assist with decisions in regards to your home. CARE Services Co. not only provides manual and power wheelchairs, scooters, pediatric equipment and many aids for daily living, we also provide stairlifts, modular ramps, ceiling track lifts and power door openers just to name a few. CARE Services is located in Palmyra, Maine, just a mile off Exit 157 Newport. We are a Maine owned and operated small business with big plans to assist the greatest people we know — you, our customers, therapists, doctors, nursing facilities and schools. Please come and visit our showroom to see our interactive displays and experience all the things you “didn’t know we had.” We cover a minimum of 100 miles in any direction from our store to provide the best possible sales and service to the great people of Maine. We promise that when you call, we will answer our phone with a live person or at the very least call you back in a timely manner. We all look forward to our future but must prepare for the unexpected. So, as I continue to age, I will continue to make the preparations for where I want to be — at home. How about you? CARE Services Co., Small enough to CARE, Large enough to Serve
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SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
continued from page 4
WORKOUT ROUTINE If it’s been a while since you’ve worked out, it’s best to start doing a little less than you think you should. Starting slow can help you avoid soreness and burnout, allowing you to stay motivated for the long term. Always listen to your body and be sure to get your doctor’s okay before starting a new workout program. We have a sample week of workouts and a basic strength-training routine to get you started.
Plus, many popular fitness class formats are now available through your Smart TV or home computer. Companies like Les Mills (BodyPump, BodyCombat, etc.), BeachBody and Zumba all stream classes on-demand on a monthly subscription basis. Not only that, but there are also thousands of workouts available for free via YouTube. Just type in what you’re looking for – such as “low impact cardio workout” – and you can test out a free workout. These can be a fun and easy way to try out new styles of workouts without the intimidation factor of being in a classful of other seasoned exercisers.
EQUIPMENT During the height of the coronavirus shutdown, finding exercise gadgets like weights, resistance bands and home gym equipment was almost impossible, and prices skyrocketed due to shortages. While that equipment is becoming more available, you can still get a solid workout with just your own bodyweight and some light dumbbells (we have one below). If you need weights but can’t find any in stores or online, you can use cans of food, bottles of water or other sturdy, heavy containers that you can safely grip.
Note: This is just a suggestion – switch up your activities to include other forms of workouts you enjoy, based on the season and the weather. You can dance, jog, swim, snowshoe, cross-country ski or use cardio machines. Monday – 30 min. brisk walk outside Tuesday – 15-20 min. “interval” walk or bike ride — add short (30-60 second) bursts of more intense activity to rev up your heart rate and alternate with slower activity. Plus weight workout. Wednesday – 30 min. brisk walk Thursday – 15-20 min. “Interval” walk or bike ride, plus weight workout Friday – 30 min. brisk walk Strength training routine: Start with light dumbbells and add weight as you become stronger. 10 squats 10 pushups (you can do these standing with your hands on the wall or kitchen counter) 10 lunges each side 10 one-arm bent-over dumbbell rows 10 step-ups each side 10 overhead dumbbell presses 10 biceps curls 10 triceps dips 30 second plank Repeat entire sequence for a total of 1-3 times through. Wendy Watkins is a fitness and wellness coach in Bangor and the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Losing 20 Pounds in 2 Months.
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SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
Long-Term and MaineCare Planning: How BY CANDACE AUGUSTINE, ESQ., RUDMAN WINCHELL
Realizing you or a loved one may need long term care can be overwhelming and confusing. There are wellfounded strategies used to qualify seniors for MaineCare long-term care benefits which can help pay for: · nursing home services · in-home nursing services · residential care services Rudman Winchell can help by preparing the application and serving as your liaison with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). We also help to protect assets from Maine’s estate recovery program, and we provide guidance to your spouse to ensure their assets are protected once MaineCare benefits are received. Frequently Asked Questions: Q. Will the nursing home take my house? A. The nursing home will not take your house to pay for your stay at their facilities. If you are paying for your care at the nursing home without any public benefits
do I plan and protect my family and my assets?
assistance (like MaineCare), you pay the cost of the nursing facility. When you pass away, the nursing home might have a claim against your estate for the outstanding costs. Selling your house might help pay that obligation, but the nursing home will not “take your house.” However, if you need MaineCare to pay for the nursing home, the State has an estate recovery program that allows it to recover its expenses against the value of your estate after your death. Q. Will my spouse lose my income if I need MaineCare? A. While in the nursing home and on MaineCare, your income will go towards your care. If that means that your spouse’s income does not meet a minimum level, we can apply to DHHS to have some of your income allocated to your spouse. Q. Why shouldn’t I just give my camp to my kids? Why do all of this planning? A. Liability. When you own a property outright, that property is subject to all of our life’s liabilities –
PLANNING FOR YOUR FAMILYʼS FUTURE HAVE YOU
TIED UP IN KNOTS ?
bankruptcy, accidents, divorce, death. When we own that property with others, it also becomes subject to all of their lifetime liabilities. Proper pro-active planning can help protect the property from liability. Gifting also has consequences if you need to apply for MaineCare within five years of making that gift, so it’s important not to make significant gifts without seeking legal advice. Q. Can my kids be involved in the planning? A. The planning process and the options you have are yours to analyze and decide on. To some degree, planning utilizes the involvement of your family, especially in a situation where a child is acting on your behalf. Rudman Winchell has experienced attorneys who can help walk you through the MaineCare process and work to maximize the protections of your assets for your family and the next generation. Early planning is the best, however, it is never too late to learn your options. Call me today at (207) 947-4501 or visit us at rudmanwinchell.com to talk about MaineCare planning.
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207.947.4501 www.rudmanwinchell.com
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SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
The Medicare Maze BY ANTHONY ARRUDA, FOUNDER OF THE SENIOR PLANNING CENTER
The ever-changing Medicare health plan options present both confusion and opportunities. I hear from many seniors who are confused about the Medicare maze. Today, we have many options to reduce cost and/or enhance benefits for our seniors. Both changes in plan benefits and costs as well as changes with your needs dictate the importance of a plan review. Yet, most people will put this off and are somewhat reluctant to change. Plus, most Maine seniors are rightfully confused by the many complexities of Medicare and therefore they let their plan ride from year to year, without evaluating their options. In many parts of Maine, seniors have Medicare supplements on top of Medicare A and B. However, more and more seniors are looking for expanded benefits, lower premiums and drug coverage, and may find a Medicare Advantage Plan a welcome alternative. Many seniors who have converted, have been able to save money and cover items like preventive dental, hearing aids, eyeglasses and more. Many circumstances can affect our retirement income, which in turn may allow seniors to qualify for the Medicare Savings Plan. About 70% of Maine’s Medicare beneficiaries do qualify for some benefits through this program. At the Senior
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Planning Center we assist thousands of Maine’s seniors with this helpful opportunity to lower their Medicare health plan costs. Other life changes such as a move to a different area, or a change with a primary care physician, a change in financial circumstances or even a change in meds, could trigger the need to review a Medicare health plan with a qualified professional. Most people know that when you turn 65 you need to sign up for Medicare. However, most do not know about the numerous Medicare health plan options. At the Senior Planning Center we represent all the major Medicare health plans, and our professionals are able to assist you to find the plan that best meets your needs. By the way, you do not need to call an out-of-state 800 number for help with Medicare when you have Maine-based professionals right here at home. At the Senior Planning Center, we represent all the major Medicare health plans, so our agents work for you, not the insurance companies. To assist Maine seniors we continue to expand throughout our great state, by adding additional Medicare health professionals to our team. Plus, the Senior Planning Center has even added another new office at 1364 Main Street in Sanford. It is our job to assist you through the Medicare maze to ensure that you have a Medicare health plan that best suits your needs. As we say at the Senior Planning Center, “Help, when it matters most.” We want to ensure that you receive all the benefits you deserve and worked so hard for over the years. The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7. For more information, call 207-707-6565 to be connected to one of our team members.
SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
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SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
Tales from my Family Tree:
What’s the story behind your lineage? @ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
BY ANNE GABBIANELLI PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANNE GABBIANELLI
Napoleon Bonaparte bankrupted my family in 1814 by convincing them that paper money had no value so they switched to silver coins. I also have an ancestor who built the Catholic Church resting on a hill in Winn, Maine. Oh, and my great grandmother was kidnapped by the Gypsies when she was a little girl, and her father — who was a Major in the British army — took his entire regiment into the Gypsy camp to rescue his little girl. It is amazing the tales you can learn when working on your family genealogy, and I believe I still have much more to learn on my endless journey of piecing together my lineage. What I have ascertained goes far beyond submitting a DNA sample to determine from what part
of the world my ancestors came. My quest to learn more about my roots began in 1976 while creating a family genealogy for a college course assignment. Little did I know this assignment would linger on all these years later, and yet still offer amazement with every faded and tattered document I review and every email exchange I have with family. I dove into the college assignment with the help of my parents: my mother, Jane Crozier of Irish/Scottish/ French Canadian descent, and my father, Peter Gabbianelli of Italian descent. My mother was a keeper of documents and ancestors’ wills and was quite up to date, including writing in the family Bible. I have many of these original documents in my possession now. The Gabbianelli side was well documented by a relative in Italy who clearly mapped out a tree showing
my grandfather’s family dating back to the 1700s, and my mother’s handwriting is seen throughout as the tree grew over the years. Mom was good at staying up to date as she learned more of the history for both her side and dad’s side of the family. To bring the Gabbianelli side even further up to date, my aunts wrote to relatives in Italy seeking information. I have read their translated letters that span my grandfather’s family of eight children and the great story of Napoleon. On my grandmother’s side — Pierina Malchiodi — I have many documents with her first name spelled a variety of ways. A letter from a cousin says Pierina’s parents were married in 1880, however, there was no documentation of her grandparents. I referred to some translation websites to help me with the documents written in Italian, and I reviewed an
Jane and Pete’s wedding photo and marriage certificate, 1946. Pete and Jane dati ng
in 1940.
SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
, my nk) Gabbianelli Francesco (Frain his cobbler shop. grandfather,
Genealogy 101
Tips to get started discovering your own family history BY NANCY BATTICK
Ready to dive into your family’s past and explore genealogy? Here is a list of tips to get you started on your journey. •
Ellis Island website thinking my paternal grandparents came to America via Ellis Island only to discover I was wrong. Boston was the entry point. Efforts to learn more about my mother’s side of the family have not been as easy to follow as she had multiple families. My mom had been referred to by some as an orphan, yet I never considered that because she had family everywhere. Mom was born in 1918, and her mother’s death certificate reads Jane Knox Muir Crozier died of the Spanish flu a month after giving birth to my mother. How ironic to discover during the current pandemic that the 1918 pandemic impacted my family. My mother had an older brother who was raised by their father in Vermont, yet my mother was shared among her aunts. First on her father’s side and later on her mother’s side who tended to her higher education
• • • • • • •
• • •
continues on page 12 • •
•
• • • Mary (Cro her husb zier) Gormley w and raise it d my mo h my mom, Jane ther. . Mary an d
•
Begin by speaking with family members and family friends. Memories fade over time and aren’t always correct but don’t miss the chance to learn these stories before they’re gone. Make notes on all you remember about your family origins. Decide how many generations you want to cover. Starting with Jamestown in 1607 for example is much more work than beginning with your great-grandparents. Review documents such as family bibles, diaries, letters, bills, etc. Keep your various family lines organized by downloading free pedigree charts and family group sheets at www.ngsgenealogy.org/free-genealogy-resources. Note where you found your information. You may need to recheck sources. Include photos and humorous stories. Use free genealogical sites such as FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com (at local libraries). Check www.cyndislist.com for thousands of resources. If you need to research on a paid site, ask for a month’s membership or a trial period so you can cancel once your search is over. Other good sources include libraries, historical societies, genealogical groups, town/ city directories, town reports and newspapers. On Ancestry you can track your family at 10 year intervals through the U.S. Censuses. Maine vital records (birth, marriage, death) are at town clerk offices, on Ancestry.com and at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Augusta. There are state regulations on who can access vital records so find out what you need before you visit. Be wary of online family trees. Don’t trust until verified. Ancestor naturalized? The 1910 U.S. Census lists the date immigrants came to the U.S. and the 1920 census lists the naturalization date. The National Archives holds many, but not all, naturalization records. Watch out for other families with the same surname. Be sure you’re researching the correct family line. For example, think of all the John Smiths in New England alone. It’s easy to get confused. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling, just write down your story. If writing is scary, try telling your story into a recorder. Don’t give out information about living persons without their permission. If you run into a long-held family secret how will you handle it? All may be dead but I advise do nothing that will hurt or embarrass descendants. Finally, have fun with your project and research. When you’re done you can write an essay, a book or a photocopied bound document and then share your labors with your family and the future.
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SENIOR LIVING • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 1, 2021
continued from page 11 (mom was a nurse like her mother). All the correspondence I have seen and stories I have heard show how greatly loved she was. Her academic years were spent in New Hampshire with the Gormley family (a Crozier aunt married a Gormley) and her summers in Millinocket, Maine with the Corrigan family (another Crozier aunt married a Corrigan). So my research involves the Muirs and Croziers from St. Agathe going back to the mid-1800s. It also includes the Gormley family (originally from Ireland) and the Corrigan family (originally from Canada) and all their branches. Over the years, I have called on my older sister to fill in some blanks and my cousins for support. Close to 20 years ago, my cousin, Bill (Corrigan) Lewis, introduced me to various genealogy software programs and websites such as familysearch.org, rootsweb.com, 23andme.com, tribalpages.com and more. He taught me about numerous other venues including The Maine State Library which has a substantial collection of genealogies, town histories and vital records; local libraries including the Bangor Public Library’s genealogy department and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bangor. Most recently, he installed a program on my computer which details marriage records for the State of Maine. There are so many valuable resources beyond the popular ancestry.com. Bill’s knowledge is endless and his enthusiasm for family history is respectable. I wish for his passion to rub off on me as I continue to sift through pages and pages of family history that he kindly saved for me on a thumb drive. Meanwhile, my cousin Bruce Muir in Vermont regularly shares the most detailed stories via email of my maternal grandmother’s lineage. His storytelling is captivating including the Gypsy story and a recollection shared with him about George Knox Muir (my great grandfather) attending his 30-year-old daughter’s funeral in Montpelier, Vermont. Bruce writes, “Being a Presbyterian (following Scottish religion), he returned home and did state with a great deal of grief, that she (my grand-
mother) must have ‘turned Catholic’ as she had a Rosary in her hand at the wake.” In addition to securing family history, I have also been digitally scanning all the documents — authentic or copies — including naturalization papers and marriage and death certificates. I even have an original certificate of marriage and an invitation to my parents’ wedding on May 11, 1946. I have also scanned pictures from a photo album showcasing people I have only heard of but never met as our lifetimes were generations removed. My mother always teased me when I was a child about how she got me from the Gypsies. It was a little joke, yet I never knew my family really had a Gypsy encounter. No doubt more stories will be told and much more work will be done as I continue my family genealogy project. After all, I have over 300 years of material I am sifting through and multiple families I’m aiming to connect to my family tree as I thirst to learn more each day.