Forever Young November 2019

NOVEMBER 2019 |

FREE

Western New York’s FREE Monthly Magazine For Adults 50+, With More Than 85,000 Readers

Counting Our Blessings Colored Musicians Club | Senior Wishes | Marriage Longevity

Are you experiencing sharp pain in your back, legs or buttocks?

Do you have difficulty sitting or sleeping and experience cramping, weakness, tingling, numbness, balance issues?

FREE al Educationr Semina 0 Nov. 6 & 2 @ 1pm

You may be experiencing symptoms of

SCIATICA

Sciatica will affect up to 50% of people at some point in their life. It is often the result of the aging process, STENOSIS, disc bulges/herniations or trauma to the spine

We utilize a completely NEW TREATMENT PROTOCOL that may eliminate most if not all your pain and symptoms. It’s safe, FDA approved and highly effective for most people. If you have had or want to avoid surgery, drugs or injections or have tried other therapies with little or no relief then

Burning Feet? Electric Shocks? Pain & Numbness?

Pins & Needles? Creepy Crawlies?

You Might Have

NEUROPATHY Live your life again without pain, numbness, or medications with reducing the symptoms of neuropathy up to 90%.

Peripheral neuropathy affects nearly 20 million Americans. It usually begins in the feet and lower legs, but over time can advance into the hands and fingers.

We have a completely NEW TREATMENT protocol.

Our procedures are safe and effective for all.

CALL NOW TO SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION

Dr. Kevin Nightingale Dr. Christian Milioto

(716) 650-7246 4415 Union Road Cheektowaga, NY 14225

www.BuffaloPainRelief.com

NOVEMBER 2019

Erma Bombeck show

8

CMC: cultural treasure

12

NYC for Thanksgiving

24

Cover: The 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Photo by Christine Smyczynski

Home & Garden 6

Let's Talk About

Focus on Indoor Plants............................ Carol Ann Harlos

Getaways

Arts 8

22 Marriage Longevity.....................................Judith A. Rucki

November Theater............................................Donna Hoke

24 Macy's Day Parade Fun......................Christine Smyczynski

12 Colored Musicians Club................................Rick Falkowski

Being Well

Features: Supporting Seniors

28 Live Long, Be Happy................................. Catherine Stack

18 Senior Wishes..................................................... Kathy Schlaich

News

20 Rural Transport.................................................Rebecca Cuthbert

30 NAMPA Awards............................Wendy Guild Swearingen

Ever y Issue: Calendars 3 | Bingo Buzz 14 | Classifieds 32 | Noteworthy 33

Senior Housing Designed With You in Mind!

COLONIAL MEADOWS

6018 Broadway, Lancaster 683-3244

 1 BRs for Persons 62 & Up or Disabled Adults Regardless of Age

TOWNVIEW APTS. 50 Grambo Dr., Lancaster 684-3509

 1 BRs for Seniors 62 & up

716-884-7791 TDD 711

WOODLAND PLACE APTS.

4791 William St., Depew 668-9534

 1 & 2 BRs for Seniors 55 & Up

2136 Baseline Rd., Grand Island 773-2416

SOUTHWIND LANDING

5074 Transit Rd., Depew 206-0281

 1 & 2 BRs for Seniors 55 & Up

JULIANNA APTS.

ISLANDVIEW APTS.  Studios / 1 BRs for Seniors 62 & Up

505 Abbott Rd., Buffalo 825-5611

 Studios & 1 BRs for Seniors 62 & Up or Adult Disabled Head of Household

SENECA WOODS

TRUE BETHEL ESTATES

 1 BRs for Seniors 62 & Up

 1 BRs for Seniors 62 & Up

245 Indian Church Rd., West Seneca 825-7200

871 E. Ferry St., Buffalo 322-1282

 Income limits apply.  Non-senior households must include at least one adult with a disability.

EDITOR’S NOTE OUR 31ST YEAR 1738 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 103 Buffalo, NY 14207 Phone 716.783.9119 Fax 716.783.9983 www.foreveryoungwny.com

PUBLISHER

Barbara E. Macks Editor-In-Chief............................................................................Elizabeth Licata

elicata@foreveryoungwny.com

Editor......................................................................... Wendy Guild Swearingen wswearingen@foreveryoungwny.com

Creative Director..................................................................... Jean-Pierre Thimot Production Director........................................................................ Jennifer Tudor

jtudor@foreveryoungwny.com

Production Manager......................................................... Adam Van Schoonhoven Lead Designer............................................................................ Nicholas Vitello Senior Graphic Designers.............................................. Josh Flanigan, Kim Miers,

Andrea Rowley Graphic Designer........................................................................ Kristen Thomas Director of Marketing & Sales........................................................... Brittany Frey

bfrey@foreveryoungwny.com

Director of Advertising............................................................. Barbara E. Macks

bmacks@foreveryoungwny.com Director of Audience Development & Sales Coordinator.................... Robin Lenhard Senior Account Executives..................................... Mary Beth Holly, Keren Green, Caroline Kunze, Robin Kurss, Robin Lenhard, Betty Tata, Lori Teibel National Ad Director...................................................................... Terri Downey Administrative & Finance Director.......................................................................Michele Ferguson Classifieds Sales............................................................................... Robin Kurss BUFFALO SPREE PUBLISHING, INC.

President & CEO....................................................................... Sharon C. Levite Publisher/Chief Revenue Officer............................................... Barbara E. Macks Associate Publisher/Editor-In-Chief............................................... Elizabeth Licata Vice President/Production & Advertising.......................................... Jennifer Tudor Vice President/Administrative & Finance.....................................Michele Ferguson Creative Director..................................................................... Jean-Pierre Thimot Corporate Counsel....................................................... Timothy M. O’Mara, Esq. Forever Young is published monthly, with an annual Senior Directory. Copyright ©2019 by Buffalo Spree Publishing, Inc. 1738 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 103, Buffalo, NY 14207 and is open Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. The entire contents of Forever Young are copyrighted 2019 by Buffalo Spree Publishing, Inc. and may not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part without written permission from the publishers. All rights reserved.

Display advertising information and rates may be obtained by calling (716) 783-9119 ext 2250. Standard mail postage paid at Buffalo, NY 14207. POSTMASTER send change of address to Forever Young, 1738 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 103, Buffalo, NY 14207. Manuscripts and free calendar listings should be sent to the editor (wswearingen@foreveryoungwny.com) at 1738 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 103, Buffalo, NY 14207. Material cannot be returned unless accompanied by a self addressed, stamped envelope of adequate size and strength. The publisher does not take responsibility for the accuracy or legitimacy of the advertising message or any aspect of the business operation or conduct of the advertisers in the paper.

This publication is a member of the North American Mature Publishers Association.

Membership in NAMPA includes verification of member’s print & circulation totals.

2

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

From the Editor

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month in the United States, as well as American Diabetes Month, Diabetic Eye Disease Month, and Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month. What these diseases have in common is that they often strike after age fifty.

While this may make aging seem like a pretty grim diagnosis, much research is being done on preventative care and lifestyle changes that can lessen or eliminate our chances of having to cope with age-related illnesses. Begin with a healthy and balanced diet, include weight-bearing and aerobic or cardio exercise, and add a healthy dose of creating and maintaining social relationships if you want to slow the clock and maintain good physical, mental, and emotional health.

It's becoming ever more clear that it's not only diet and exercise that can keep you healthy; your attitude may have more effect on your health than you think. That's

why I was so happy to include Catherine Stack's article on how attitude affects longevity. It turns out your grandmother was right: it's important to count your blessings.

November is also the perfect month to do just that as we give thanks for nature's bounty and gather with loved ones.

Here's wishing you a healthy and blessed Thanksgiving.

Correction from the October issue: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2019

Wendy Guild Swearingen wswearingen@foreveryoungwny.com 783-9119 ext. 2253

FOREVER YOUNG NOVEMBER CALENDAR Ongoing

Erie County STAY FIT DINING PROGRAM offers a hot noon meal at 45 locations in Erie County. Menus and site list at erie.gov/stayfit or 858-7639.

Gowanda HEALTH COMMUNITY ALLIANCE Activities open to the public age 50+, (no residency requirements), Concord Senior Center, 1 School Street, Gowanda; for schedule visit communityalliance.org; 532-1010, or beemana@hcanetwork.org

2+ Lockport T.O.P.S. 9259

Meets every Saturday morning at 8:30 for weigh-in and 9 am.. for weekly meetings, Christ Episcopal church 7145 Fieldcrest Dr., Lockport. Offers tools, programs, support and friendship for healthy living and weight management. Contact: Wendy, 200-2618 or Mary, 433-1693

2

Niagara Falls NIAGARA FALLS SINGLES SOCIAL CLUB, An active 50+ crowd, Game Night 1st Saturday of each month,Wheatfield; contact for location or for more info 550-1232

Niagara Falls SENIOR COMPANION/FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM Looking for seniors who enjoy working with their peers or children. Volunteers receive a tax-free stipend, transportation assistance, and supplemental insurance coverage while volunteering. If you are 55+, have a minimum of 15 hours per week to give and want to make a difference, contact Nora Aloian (SCP) at 285-8224 ext. 217or Jennifer Britton (FGP) at 285-8224 ext. 228

3+

Williamsville MEDICARE EDUCATION PROGRAM offers complimentary services through the WNY Medicare Resource Center.

Appointments encouraged, 833-0252

5+ Farnham T.O.P.S. CLUB weekly

West Seneca NEW HORIZONS MUSIC Calling ALL musicians interested in music. New Horizons Music meets in the daytime and is for people 50 & over. For info, email Janet Stout at 354janet@gmail.com and visit newhorizonsmusic.org.

1+West Seneca PRESCRIPTIONS

Loopholes to Private Pharmacies, RX Discount cards and subsidy programs 10–11a.m. at WNY Medicare Resource Center, 8645 Main St., Williamsville, 833-0252 for details

1+

Hamburg GENTLE CHAIR YOGA Quiet the mind and improve strength, mobility, and balance. No prior yoga experience necessary. Light refreshments. FREE and open to the public. Reservations required, call 6491205. St. Francis Park, 5229 South Park Ave.

2 Williamsville WOMEN’S

LYMPHEDEMA SUPPORT GROUP 5:45 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month. Sheridan Surgical room, 4510 Bailey Ave., Williamsville. Call 908-4149

Buffalo MEDITATION, 2:30 p.m., El Buen Amigo, 114 Elmwood Ave. Free every Sunday. Meditation unites with creative arts and pain management.

Practitioner Sondra Holland welcomes people of all ages. Wear comfortable clothes. For information, Sondra: 9475092; store: 885-6343

4+

Tonawanda TONAWANDA TOPS CLUB #50 Weekly meetings on Mondays, weigh-in 6 p.m./meeting starts at 6:25 p.m., Zion United Church Koenig & Parker Tonawanda; 912-6875

5+, 7+ Orchard Park ZUMBA

Day and evening classes, Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays at 11 a.m. $30 for an 8-week session. Orchard Park Senior Center, 70 Linwood Ave., Ph: 6626452.

5, 19 Buffalo HEADWAY

SUPPORT GROUPS, 2635 Delaware Ave. For individuals who have sustained brain injuries, their families, and caregivers; exchange information and resources, and find mutual support and encouragement. Peer Support (Suite B), first and third Tuesday, 6:30–8 p.m.; Caregivers Support (Suite B), first Tuesday, 6:30–8 p.m. Info: 408-3100 or headwayofwny.org

6+ Orchard Park TAI CHI

Classes are Wednesdays at 1 pm. 8-week session costs $30. Orchard Park Senior Center, 70 Linwood Ave., Ph: 6626452.

6

Amherst FREE RESPITE CARE PROGRAM, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Trinity Old Lutheran Church 3445 Sheridan Drive. First Wednesday of the month, for those caring for loved

ones with Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia. A morning snack and nutritious lunch are provided. Info: 8364868

6+ Orchard Park

TAI CHI

Advanced Tai Chi in the Park at Brush Mountain, Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Build endurance, increase flexibility and balance. New students are welcome.

Contact the Orchard Park Senior Center at 662-6452 for information. Cost is $30 for a 8-week session

6+

Boston HATHA YOGA Wednesdays at 7 pm. Gentle and meditative. Bring your own mat. Faith United Church of Christ, 8651 Boston State Road, Boston, NY. For more info call church office 716-941-3529

6, 20 West Falls MEMORY CAFE

A gathering place for friends with Alzhiemer's and their caretakers. 1011:30 a.m. the 1st and 3rd Wednesday each month, with free refreshment and concerts11:30 a.m.-–1 p.m. West Falls Center for the Arts, Center, 1863 Davis Rd., info: westfallsartcenter.org or 5706520

meetings held Tuesdays at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 10633 Church St., starting at 9 a.m. Call 934-9619.

5+

Tonawanda T.O.P.S. CLUB, weekly meetings on Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Claremont Avenue. For information, call 693-5161

5+

Kenmore UKULELE SING

ALONG Ukuleles provided during

class. All levels welcome beginnerexperienced. Tuesdays 8 p.m. Church of the Advent, 54 Delaware Rd., Kenmore $5 suggested donation. 481-5735

5+ Buffalo TAI CHI FOR BETTER

BALANCE 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday, Tosh Collins Senior Center, 35 Cazenovia St. $3 For more information, contact monicazucco@gmail.com.

5+ Buffalo GENTLE YOGA, 11:15

a.m. Tuesdays at Tosh Collins Senior Center, 35 Cazenovia St. $3 Bring a yoga mat. Info: 828-1093

5+, 7+,

Tonawanda UKULELE SING ALONG Ukuleles provided during class. All levels welcome beginner– experienced Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays 1:30 p.m. Brighton Place Library 999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda.

Call to register 332-4375 $5 suggested donation

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 3

FOREVER YOUNG NOVEMBER CALENDAR 7 Holland

FREE RESPITE CARE First Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. for those caring for loved ones with any form of dementia, lunch included.

Presented by Holland Methodist Church, 11699 Partridge Rd.; 388-3150

7+

Akron T.O.P.S. CLUB Every Thursday, 5:30–6:45p.m. at the Akron/Newstead Senior Center, 5691 Cummings Rd. We offer tools, programs, support, fellowship and recognition for healthy living and weight management.

For information call Diane 542-4980

7+ Tonawanda LAUGHTER YOGA

Come as you are, just bring your laughter!

Thursdays 11 a.m. Brighton Place Library, 999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda.

FREE

7+ Cheektowaga T.O.P.S. MEETING,

Thursdays at 9 a.m., St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 900 Maryvale Dr. (corner of Union Road). Come for the love, support and friendship. For information, call Karen at 247-2334

8, 29

Williamsville MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS Maximize your Medicare benefits and save money.

10–11 a.m., WNY Medicare Resource Center, 8645 Main St., 833-0252

8

Niagara Falls NIAGARA FALLS SINGLES SOCIAL CLUB, An active 50+ crowd, Meet & Greet, 2nd Friday of each month, 6 to 8 pm at Tim Hortons 8500 Niagara Falls Blvd. NF. Call for more info 550-1232.

9

Buffalo FALL FESTIVAL Tour Lady of Hope Parish, Grant St. and Lafayette Ave., 5 p.m., offering $1,250 in cash prizes, theme baskets, 50/50, ethnic foods, barbecue and roast beef sandwiches, baked goods, and beverages. $5 admission includes coffee and sheet of basket raffle tickets. 885-2469

12

Orchard Park ALIENATED GRANDPARENTS ANONYMOUS, INC., meetings 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of month, 4295 S. Buffalo St.

12

Depew BREAST CANCER NETWORK OF WNY Monthly meeting second Tuesday, 6 p.m., Bella Moglie Bldg., 3297 Walden Ave. Call 706-0060 or visit bcnwny.org.

Professional support group will be held at 8 p.m.

13

Williamsville MCGUIRE GROUP MEMORY CARE SUPPORT GROUPS: General Support Group is second Wednesday, 3 p.m. at Harris Hill Nursing Facility, 2699 Wehrle Dr., Williamsville; Daughters’ Support Group, 5 p.m.

Coordinated with the Alzheimer’s Association, with caregiving tips and coping mechanisms. Info: 632-3700 or mcguiregroup.com

13

Hamburg OUTSMART THE SCAMMERS 1-2:30 p.m.; RSVP by Nov. 11. Sonja Jensen-Schell, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones, discusss how to spot fraud, what to do if you or a loved one are targeted, and what you can do to protect yourself. Light refreshments will be provided. FREE and open to the public. Reservations 649-1205.

13

East Aurora SHOPLIFTERS A family of small-time crooks takes in a child they find outside in the cold. Although poor, they live happily together until an unforeseen incident test the bonds that unite them. 4 pm.

Roycroft Film Society, Roycroft Power House, 39 S. Grove St., East Aurora; roycroftcampuscorp.com. $6 members, $8 non-members

15

Hamburg SOUTHTOWNS OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP Meets 2nd Tuesday of each month, March through November 11:30 a.m. ZJ's Restaurant, 140 Pine St., Hamburg.

Learn about the latest products, receive help, and make new friends. Lunch optional. Friends and family welcome.

Call Mike at 725-7126 for info.

Buffalo LGBTQ MEMORY LOSS CAREGIVERS PROGRAM: The Pride Center of WNY offers the LGBTQ Memory Loss Caregivers Program providing support and education for people providing care for a person with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. Third Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m., Pride Center, 200 South Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, 8527743 or pridecenterwny.org

12

15

12

Hamburg ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP for males at Wesleyan Church, 4999 McKinley Pkwy. 2nd Tues. 626-0600, alz.org/wnyc 4

Williamsville SNOW BIRDS Learn Tips & Tricks to saving money with Medicare when out of NYS 10– 11a.m. at WNY Medicare Resource Center, 8645 Main St. Info: 833-02

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

18 Niagara Falls NIAGARA FALLS

SINGLES SOCIAL CLUB, An active 50+ crowd. Dances are the 3rd Friday of each month, 7 to 11 pm at Buffalo Social Club 2565 Young St., Niagara Falls. Monthly activites include Picnics, restaurants and parties. 50-50 raffles, and door prizes. FaceBook: SINGLES SOCIAL CLUB or call for more info 550-1232

10:30–11:30 a.m. Akron-Newstead Senior Center, 5691 Cummings Rd., Akron; 833-0252

19 Akron NIGHT OF SHOPPING

AND SWEETS Akron/Newstead seniors hosts a vendor and craft show fundraiser to benefit senior programs. 5–8 p.m. at the Newstead Fire Hall, 5691 Cummings Rd. Free admission, free desserts. 542-6645

18, 29

Akron MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS Maximize your Medicare benefits and save money.

DANCE CALENDAR MONDAYS

THURSDAYS

Sloan CLOGGING LESSONS

by Kickin’ Rhythm Cloggers, 6:30 p.m. @ St. Andrew’s Parish Hall, 111 Crocker St., Bldg. 1. (585) 457-4455.

Kenmore JACKIE’S THURSDAY NIGHT DANCES @ Brounshidle Post, 3354 Delaware Ave. Lessons: 7 p.m. Open dancing: 8 p.m. 691-8654.

Buffalo HUSTLE FOR HEALTH URBAN LINE DANCING with Phyllis Caver at Gloria Parks: 3242 Main St, Buffalo. 12pm - 1pm. FREE for ages 55+ Call 832-1010 ext. 4

SATURDAYS

TUESDAYS

Buffalo LINDY FIX 8–10 p.m. @ Polish Cadets Hall, 927 Grant St. lindyfix.com, swingbuffalo.com.

WEDNESDAYS

N. Ton. DANCING WITH DOTTIE AND FRIENDS country-style line lessons, 7:30 p.m. @ Pendleton Center Meth. Church, 6864 Campbell Blvd. 625-8306.

Buffalo HUSTLE FOR HEALTH URBAN LINE DANCING with Phyllis Caver at Gloria Parks: 3242 Main St, Buffalo. 11am- 12pm. FREE for ages 55+ Call 716 832 1010 Amherst AMHERST VICTORIAN DANCE SOCIETY Authentic music, dress and dance of Queen Victoria's time. New members and guests welcomed! 1st Wednesdays @ Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village in Amherst & 4th Wednesdays @ VFW Post in Village of Williamsville. 7:00 p.m. Info: Geraldine, 877-0222 or amherstvictoriandance.org

Buffalo HUSTLE FOR HEALTH URBAN LINE DANCING at East Community High School 820 Northampton St, Buffalo. 11:30am - 12:30pm. FREE for all ages. Free Lunch. Www.HustleforHealth.com

ONGOING

WNY BELLYDANCE CLASSES 560-1891, nadiaibrahim.com.

Kenmore JACKIE’S DANCE Monthly dance. Call 691-8654 for details.

WNY BALLROOM SOCIAL DANCE, Argentine tango and belly dance instruction with Carol Allen; N. Collins and Amherst. 337-3092 or callen8801@aol.com.

West Seneca BALLROOM DANCE classes @ 1761 Orchard Park Rd., 771-3110, ballroomiliana.com.

WNY DANCE W/ ERIN BAHN 997-7190 ARGENTINE TANGO IN BUFFALO Dancing & Classes. traviswidricktango.com.

Contact Travis @ 517-7047

CROSSWORD 22. Hard place to scratch?

40. Hardens

23. Currently broadcasting

43. I, to a Greek

24. Sashay

45. Used a back-scratcher, e.g.

25. Surveyor's map

47. Kind of acid

26. *1984 winner Darrell or 1986 loser Dwight

48. Spay

27. Tutor's student

50. Solemn promise

30. *World Series play-by-play announcer

51. Singer Tori

31. Take illegal drugs

53. *Positions on the field

33. Fitting reward

54. Summer glow

35. *2018 losing team

57. *Sock color of the 1918 and 2004 winners

49. Pub order

52. Bald eagle's nest

37. Cause for food recall 39. Adam of "Stand and Deliver" fame

THEME: WORLD SERIES ACROSS 1. At a great distance

49. Dylan Thomas, e.g.

5. *TV network, last aired World Series in 1993

51. *League with most World Series victories

8. Biological blueprint

54. Miss America's headgear

11. "For" in Spanish

55. ____ en scene

12. Clarified butter

56. Successor

13. Kind of Wrangler

58. Picnic invaders

14. Foolish person

59. Change for a five

15. Capital of Latvia

60. Marine eagle

16. More so than #16 Down

61. Unknown power

17. *As opposed to #51 Across

62. *Formerly known as Stockings

19. Grateful Dead's kind of rock

63. Shirt is tied, then ____

20. Like Hitler's ideal 21. Bugling ungulate

DOWN

22. *2018 World Series winner

1. City dwelling, abbr.

25. Like default settings

2. Babe in the woods

28. American cuckoo

3. Cantatrice's offering

29. Interstellar cloud

4. Drum sound

32. Female gamete

5. Formal dishes

34. Noonan in "Caddyshack"

6. Between "begin" and "begun"

36. Olympic chant

7. Notary Public's mark

37. Related on mother's side

8. Cold cuts store

38. Narc's unit

9. Demand

39. Kind of acid

10. Credit card acronym

41. Mountbatten-Windsor ____ Markle

12. Breakwater

42. Financial deficit

13. *Single series HR record holder

44. Made noise

16. Opposite of sun-kissed

46. "I ____ You Babe"

18. Often-missed humor

47. Next step for juvenile

21. *Pitching stat

The solution for this month’s puzzle can be found on page 32.

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 5

HOME & GARDEN

Time to Focus on Inside Plants

CAROL ANN HARLOS the way to go tours inc.

DAY TRIPS Dec. 8 - “Carols Old and New” Buffalo Choral Arts Society at St. Joe’s Cathedral Dec. 19 - BPO Holiday Pops - SOLD OUT, but need waiting list Feb. 18, ’20 - Best of Buffalo, 27th Anniversary Tour Mar. 17 - St. Patrick’s Day Kitchen Party, Kitchener, ONT, Canada

MULTI-DAY TOURS Jan. 17-25 - Vision of the Seas, From San Juan Mar. 7-8 - Philadelphia Flower Show - “Riviera Holiday” Apr. 28-29 - “Queen Esther” at the Sight & Sound Theatre, Lancaster, PA June 18-July 1,’20 - Scandinavia Sept. 14-23,’20 - Shades of Ireland

716-693-0793 or 1-800-953-0793

www.thewaytogotours.com 6

B

y November, your gardens look worn and brown. Ideally, they are mulched. Leaves have been gathered and broken in pieces and spread over garden beds or are decomposing in your compost pile or in bags. Diseased plants have been removed and put into the garbage. Bare soil is not in sight; plants are not cut to the earth but allowed to remain to protect the soil and the roots of plants.

Now’s the time to focus on indoor plants. You may note that I didn't write “houseplants” because any plant that grows in your home would have benefited from living outside during our growing season.

I hope you were able to bring some summer pots indoors to enjoy, especially coleus. I find that potted plants that grew well outside look gigantic in an indoor setting! I like to think they are vacationing inside our homes—they give a lovely connection to last summer.

A few things need to be kept in mind. There is less light in your home even if you use grow lights.

There is no rain to wash off the leaves, just you. Your plants may be very unhappy in their new setting.

They rely totally on you. They need food, shelter, protection from too much or too little heat, the right amount of light, and water. How would you like to be stuck in a pot and to be totally dependent on a possibly forgetful human?

If Thursday is your plant watering day give it up! Not Thursday, but the idea that all plants have the same watering needs. Get to know your plants. It may be helpful to group those with the same light and water needs together. Stick

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

your finger into pots to check for moisture and to feel some of the roots.

Houseplants are seldom suitable for our outdoor climate all year long. Spathiphyllums or peace lilies are from the tropical regions of America and Southeast Asia.

African violets are from Tanzania.

Begonias originated in tropical moist climates of South and Central America. Philodendrons come from tropical rain forests!

This is why when we grow these plants indoors and they flower we are thrilled. We have imitated the growing conditions of their native countries!

Talking about tropical plants makes me want to share a gratifying experience with you. Old friends, a husband and wife, asked me to take a look at a fifty-year-old lemon tree.

Monica's father had grown it from seed! The tree was about seven feet tall. It spent its summers outside.

They brought the potted tree indoors each autumn to overwinter.

The lemon tree never produced fruit. (Propagating lemon trees is usually accomplished by making cuttings or layering from trees that have produced good fruit.)

My friends were heartsick, as

their tree was failing, and it had such sentimental value. “Carol Ann, could you look at it?” Well I stuck a hand into that pot, and it was just filled with roots intertwined with each other. I thought that the soil might be exhausted because they had never replaced or added to it.

I suggested removing the tree from the pot, spreading out the roots, pruning them back, and then repotting the lemon tree in a soil mix made for citrus plants.

Well, I didn't see this couple for several months and forgot about our conversation. When I went to see them, they said they wanted to show me something.

They had followed my advice and the lemon tree was thriving. When it was returned to the outside this past summer the tree put on new branches and beautiful new green leaves! This is what gardening is all about, taking care of the needs of our plants! FY I love hearing from you: caharlos@ verizon.net

One Day Installation. Lifetime Quality.

• ONE PIECE WALL • SLIP-RESISTANT • DURABLE, EASY-TO-CLEAN

UP TO

900

$

OFF

OR

48 MONTHS

NO Interest Financing

+Free Moen Shower Head with Purchase if you call 716-332-7518 by November 30th. Offer expires 11/30/2019 Call by November 30th to receive a free Moen Shower Head with purchase!

2851 Broadway St Suite 800 Cheektowaga NY 14227 • 716-332-7518 * Special offer good on the purchase of a bathtub or shower, wall and faucet kit. One offer per customer. 20% off up to $900. May not be combined with any other offer. Offer must be presented at the time of estimate. Discount applies to same day purchases only. Previous orders and estimates excluded. Offer valid only at the above location. Moen Shower Head Free with purchase. ** Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. Subject to certain limitations.

ARTS team then took to Denver and are now bringing to Shea’s 710.

Pam Sherman's Erma

BY DONNA HOKE

Pam Sherman stars in Erma Bombeck: At WIt's End Photo courtesy of Ron Heerkens Jr. & Goat Factory Media Entertainment

At Wit’s End

By Allison and Margaret Engel Shea’s 710 Main Director: Mark Cuddy Starring: Pam Sherman Erma Bombeck, one of our country’s most beloved humorists, captured the frustrations of her generation by asking, “If life is a bowl

of cherries, what am I doing in the pits?” Starring Pam Sherman, At Wit’s End is the story behind America’s favorite average housewife, who championed the lives of women with an incomparable wit that sprang from the most unexpected place of all—the truth.

Sherman, too, is a nationally syndicated columnist, and also

an actor, recovering lawyer, and leadership consultant who was profiled in People magazine about her career transition from attorney to actor. Since then, she’s settled in Rochester, New York, where, after years away from acting, she was tapped by Geva artistic director Mark Cuddy to play Erma in this new onewoman show. It was a smash that the

The story of how your law firm closed and you pursued your acting dreams made People magazine; how did that happen?

I met the DC bureau chief, and she was doing this story on people who ditched their day jobs to pursue their dreams, and she thought it was fascinating. It actually helped stoke my consulting career because, after the article came out, I got a call from the head of training at the Department of Justice saying, “we love this idea of lawyer turned actor; can you help me make my lawyers more interesting?” And I created all these workshops on how to show up using acting techniques for your business, and now I do it all over the world from Cincinnati to Saudi Arabia.

This all happened in DC, but now you’re in Rochester; how did that happen and what did it do to your acting career?

My husband is from Geneva, New York, and is an entrepreneur.

In 2001, he decided to buy an old army base, which gave us an opportunity to grow our business in his home state. Our business is TAGeXbrands.com, and we manage, liquidate, and refurbish to resell food service equipment. I had a busy acting career in DC and DC is a beautiful town to be an actor in, so I said, “You go; I’ll stay.” But, our children were three and five, and I kind of loved him still. You can still find my fingernail marks on the banister of my Bethesda home. We settled in a cornfield and that’s where my column, “Suburban Outlaw,” was born.

Then, last summer, someone came and put a note in our mailbox to sell our house and we moved into the city of Rochester; it’s a rental so it’s like an Airbnb but with all of our furniture. The column is now “Suburban Outlaw.”

Did you act once you got to Rochester?

I thought my career was done

8

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

ARTS because Geva at the time was doing August Wilson plays and musicals.

After my [one-woman] show, Pumping Josey: Life and Death in Suburbia, was produced in DC and we traveled to a couple of other cities, I thought, “I’m good.” I did the column and was building a business doing coaching. It’s called the ShermanEDGE; I like to say I used to tell bankers what to say and now I tell them how to say it.

How, after all that time, did you end up playing Erma in three cities so far?

The greatest gift when I moved here eighteen years ago was I met Mark and gave him my play, and he said he wasn’t interested. And I said, “OK, I’m never going to act again.”

Without that, I never would have created my business and created this whole other path. But, they asked me to do their Summer Curtain Call fundraiser, and I’ve taken on the role of auctioneer at Geva, and

performance satisfaction was coming from speaking and making a different platform with “Suburban Outlaw.”

I never thought I’d go back on stage, and then Mark handed me the envelope and said, “I can only hear your voice.” I opened the envelope and burst into tears, and said, “No, I can’t do that. I’m busy.” My husband, I gotta give him credit—thirty-five years, we’re still married; I call him my bungee cord—said, “How can you not do this?”

What was your previous knowledge of Erma Bombeck?

I don’t know if she was in the Staten Island Advance where I grew up. My awareness came from her television appearances on Johnny Carson and Good Morning America, so, for my own research, I read If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries and I laughed out loud and found myself totally connecting with her. She always saw herself as a journalist and she was a smart writer. Her economy and

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 9

ARTS

OPENINGS

November 15 Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean

A young girl is brutally murdered.

Two suspects, one black one white, face the heat from Detectives Breman and Janetty, hardboiled cops determined to unearth the truth. Or are they? Jon Elston updates his 2004 Artie Award winner for Best New Play. (roadlesstraveledproductions.org; 629-3069)

Members of a Texas James Dean fan club reunite twenty years after his death. (newphoenixtheatre.org, 853-1334)

November 1 Interrogation Room

November 8 A Child’s Christmas in Wales Vincent O’Neill stars in a stage adaptation of poet Dylan Thomas’ delightful reminiscence of a magical snow-filled Christmas past. (irishclassical.com, 853-ICTC)

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird Through an exclusive deal with the Broadway production, Kavinoky offers Aaron Sorkin’s record-busting adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork of honor and injustice in the deep South. (kavinokytheatre.com, 881-7668)

My Life in the Basement Buffalo native John “Circ” Kane’s one-man comedy show asks the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For Kane, the answer is “a clown.” (alleyway.com, 852-2600)

November 13 Elf the Musical Based on the beloved holiday film, Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. He is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. (musicalfare.com, 839-8540)

10

Two Trains Running The 1960s chapter of August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle takes place in Memphis Lee’s coffee shop, located in a neighborhood on the brink of development. This is the fourth in the cycle presented by Paul Robeson Theatre. (aaccbuffalo.org, 884-2013)

November 29 A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline Follow Patsy Cline on her compelling journey and hear greatest hits like “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Crazy,” and “I Fall to Pieces.” O’Connell and Company at Shea’s Smith Theatre. (oconnellandcompany.com, 848-0800)

PLAYING ALL MONTH Columbo (Prescription Murder) The TV series was based on this play! Lieutenant Colombo and a brilliant New York Psychiatrist engage in a cat-and-mouse duel of wits as Colombo whittles away at the doctor’s so called perfect murder. At Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre. Tickets: 713-7785, jaydesi47@yahoo.com.

CLOSINGS November 10 The Toxic Avenger This rock musical is based on the 1984 film of the same name. (secondgenerationtheatre.com, 508-SGT0)

November 14 Jersey Boys

November 17 Oh My God!

They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note.

Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. (sheas.org, 847-0850)

When a conflicted and depressed God seeks out an earthly therapist to aid him with his wrenching doubts, it is not always clear who is providing therapy to whom. (jewishrepertorytheatre.com, 281-0092)

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

sentence construction was beautiful.

She wrote that column three times a week, and every book she wrote was [on top of that], not a compilation of columns. She wrote through the story of her kidney disease; she had dialysis four times a day and continued to keep up with her column. That’s in the play, and the gasp that goes up from the audience is remarkable.

What made you feel you were right for the role?

I read it and thought I was completely wrong. I think Erma has a Midwestern sensibility. She’s very sort of a straight man and the humor creeps up on you. Today, our humor is very different. The generosity of her humor is what spoke to me and what I bring to my writing and that I could totally relate to. And the understanding of being a mother and wife and managing a big business.

There’s no “just a…” Everybody is something and someone and that’s the message I loved about Erma, so I was willing to take the leap and put on the wig.

Not having acted for thirteen years, what was it like to be back onstage?

It’s just me, an ironing board, and a vacuum. I won’t lie: it was terrifying, terrifying having to go back on stage and, by the way, learn to iron. For my opening night gift, I gave Mark [Cuddy, who directed] a bunch of wrinkle-free shirts to show him what my life is like. Eventually, I calmed down and did what actors do: be in the moment, pay attention, and do the doing. Memorization always seems so interesting to audiences and that’s the least important thing. Any monkey can memorize; the hardest thing to do was create the moments within the play and then walking, talking, vacuuming, and ironing to ground it in reality.

I was so excited to do the role and meet the playwrights; Peggy lives in my old neighborhood and is friends with all my friends; can you believe that? They’re twin sisters who were both journalists and they were commissioned by the family to write

the play. Peggy came to Rochester twice to see it, and Allison flew to Denver. Peggy is coming to Buffalo because they love this production.

I’m excited to have audiences. My husband has seen me at plays that were him and a bottle of Jack Daniels in the theater.

Has this wet your whistle for more acting?

It’s wet the whistle for more Erma. I love sharing her story. Who knows?

I’m very happy acting like a coach and consultant for clients. I love the combination of using acting and lawyer brain so leaders can show up with presence and impact. So, sure, as long as it doesn’t take away from the work I do with my clients. All actors have day jobs, right?

Anything else to add about Erma or the show?

She’s an iconic female voice for a group of women who didn’t have a voice. But then there’s this surprise that she was an unexpected advocate for ERA and fought beside Gloria Steinem and Bella Abzug. She was a Catholic housewife from Dayton who not only became a columnist but also wrote for thirty years three times a week and was in over 900 newspapers and traveled around doing something very controversial.

I want that heard by everyone.

I love a good laugh, when an audience guffaws. Comedy is really important to me, but that flip side is when it’s really heartfelt and you feel the richness of her life; in the moment, that’s special. My favorite parts of the play are the quiet moments, but I also love the discovery of her advocacy, when she has that moment of personal discovery. I’m so excited to bring this piece to Buffalo; it’s the cool city to the north. FY Playwright Donna Hoke writes about theater for Buffalo Spree and Forever Young.

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 11

ARTS

The Historic Colored Musicians Club STORY AND PHOTOS

BY RICK FALKOWSKI

George Scott, president of the Colored Musicians Club Photo by Rick Falkowski

T

he Colored Musicians Club at 145 Broadway, on the corner of Michigan Avenue, was formed in response to segregation in the early 1900s, but it became one of the main contributing institutions that ushered in integration in Western New York.

Starting in the early 1900s, However, black musicians were not white musicians were members of musicians were required to be allowed to join the white musicians AFM Local #43. The Buffalo local members of a musicians union in union. In 1917, Local #533 of the was the eighth Black Musicians Union order to perform at theaters and American Federation of Musicians formed in the United States. nightclubs in downtown Buffalo. was formed for black musicians, while Four founding members had an

CBDbyDIVA.com Natural Alternatives for Wellness & Beauty Medicinal Hemp Oils, Skin Care, Pain balms & more

12

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

Call/Text Karen

716-866-7202

impact on the community, as well as the club. Raymond Jackson was a mason and applied his fraternal training to rise to a leadership position with the local, state, and national musicians union. The National Union officials were so impressed with Jackson’s organizational qualities that he was asked to help form other Black Musicians Unions across the country.

His sister Francis was married to Reverend Jesse Edward Nash of the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church.

Reverend Nash’s son was later a member and was on the Board of Directors of Local 533.

Lloyd Plummer was an insurance agent who had an office in the building at 145 Broadway. He influenced the union to purchase the property. He set up offering life insurance policies as a union benefit and established a Credit Union, which granted loans to union members.

The original union vice president, Jesse Clipper, joined the Army shortly after US became involved in WWI. He was injured three times, but he declined being shipped home so he could return to his unit. During his fourth deployment to the front lines, he was mortally wounded, being the first African American soldier from Buffalo to be killed in WWI. The American Legion Post #430 was named after Jesse Clipper in 1919, and Jesse Clipper Square at Michigan and William was dedicated in 1935.

Vera Richardson was named president of AFM #533 in 1928. She was one of the first black female union presidents in the country.

The union members gathered for their first anniversary in 1918 at an undocumented location on William Street, and they had such an enjoyable time, they decided to meet more often.

The members of Local #533 met at various locations and purchased the building at 145 Broadway in 1934.

The following year, the property was incorporated with the title filed in the club’s name rather than the union’s.

During the 1930s, local and traveling national musicians met at the Colored Musicians Club to unwind after shows, discuss performances, trade ideas, play pool and cards, eat,

ARTS and drink. Jam sessions lasting into the night established a camaraderie between the national stars and local players. Friendships formed with visiting musicians from other cities, who reciprocated with jobs in their hometowns for Buffalo musicians.

Local #533 had stringent qualifications and standards that new members had to meet. Prospective members had to audition before a panel of musicians, sight read music, and transpose songs to other keys.

Some prominent musicians who could not read music did not pass the audition to become a member of the union. This resulted in Buffalo musicians having the reputation of high-quality musicianship. Many members of #533 were recruited to tour with national bands like Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Lena Horn, and others.

After five years of negotiations, the black musicians Local #533 merged with the white Local #43 to form Local #92 in 1969. The white union expected to move into the former black union offices at 145 Broadway, but discovered that building was owned by the Colored Musicians Club and Local #533 paid rent for the first floor of the building.

The Colored Musicians Club continued as a separate entity, with the club becoming a meeting place for musicians interested in jazz. Big band rehearsals took place every night of the week, with shows on weekends and jam sessions on Sundays. It was a place where black and white musicians interacted based on their love of music and it was one of the first integrated clubs in WNY. The membership of the Colored Musicians Club welcomed white musicians.

Celebrating music then and now The Colored Musicians Club is the longest continuously operating African American Musicians Club in the U.S. and it was instrumental in the integration of Buffalo. The club celebrates the history of jazz and its always integrated membership is now between thirty and forty percent white.

In 1999 the Colored Musicians Club was declared a Historical Preservation site and in 2018 it was included on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places by the NYS Historic Preservation Office and US Department of the Interior.

A museum was built on the first floor in the former space of the union offices, with displays and exhibits designed by Hadley Exhibits, a Buffalo company that has created displays for museums, visitor’s centers, and companies across the country.

The museum is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with tours given by CMC President George Scott, who tells many interesting stories about the club and history of jazz in Buffalo.

Last year, Governor Cuomo announced the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor funding as part of the East Side Corridor Economic Development Fund. This program will provide funding to expand the Colored Musicians Club, with a two-story addition along the back of the building, including an elevator to access the upstairs club, which will be remodeled. Groundbreaking will take place in the Spring of 2020, with construction anticipated to be completed by the end of 2020.

Big band jazz rehearsals continue in the second-floor club, with The George Scott Big Band on Mondays and Carol McLaughlin Big Band on Thursdays. The historic jam sessions are still held every Sunday.

An admission is changed for the Jam Session, but there is free admission for the rehearsals. The Colored Musicians Club Queen City Jazz Festival is held annually on the last Saturday of July and other special events are scheduled throughout the year. FY

A CO MMUNIT Y O F C ARING

FREE Wifi NEW Beauty salon Affordable Independent Living Walk-in showers Emergency pull cords Huge amount of activities

Brand new COMPLETELY renovated apartments!

Beautiful City Gardens Stay fit dining program w/ balanced hot meals 5 days a week!

On Site Parking Secure Building Spectacular Patio

276 Linwood Avenue

881-1120

www.baptist-manor.org • All Faiths Welcomed

Rick Falkowski gives presentations on Buffalo Music and Buffalo History.

He is the author of the books History of Buffalo Music & Entertainment and Profiles Volume I: Historic & Influential People from Buffalo & WNY – the 1800s.

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 13

Bingo Calendar VALLEY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION 93 Leddy, Buffalo 7:30 p.m......... 823-4707 MATTHEW GLAB POST 1965 Abbott Rd., Lackawanna 7:30 p.m........ 825-3733 HAMBURG–KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 36 Pierce Ave., Hamburg 7:30 p.m..649-9830/649-4340

Bingo Calendar Times and days may change without notice. Call to confirm.

MONDAY AMERICAN LEGION #1322 STEPHEN SIKORA POST 950 Payne Ave., Nort Tonawanda 7:25 p.m......... 693-1740 CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM 4660 Sheridan Dr., Williamsville 7:30 p.m......... 633-8877 AMERICAN LEGION MCKEEVER POST 1770 South Park Ave., Buffalo 7:30 p.m......... 822-6400 HOLY MOTHER OF THE ROSARY CATHEDRAL Fellowship Hall, 6298 Broadway, Lancaster 11:30 am......... 683-7527

14

FATHER JUSTIN K OF C 2735 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 7:30 p.m......... 681-7251 AMERICAN LEGION POST 1041 533 Amherst St., Buffalo 7 p.m.............. 875-9276 AM. LEG. POST NO. 567 3740 N. Buffalo Rd., O. Park 7:30 p.m......... 662-9780 ST. AMELIA 2999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda 7:15 p.m......... 836-0011 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 7 p.m.............. 549-4389 DOWNTOWN POST NO. 64 A.L. INC. 1770 South Park Ave., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

TUESDAY AMVETS MEDALLION POST NO. 13 25 Review Pl., Buffalo 7:30 p.m......... 874-0559 ASSUMPTION PARISH 435 Amherst St., Buffalo 1 p.m.............. 876-1038 FATHER JUSTIN K OF C 2735 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 1 p.m.............. 681-7251 ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH 1525 Sheridan Dr., Kenmore 7:30 p.m......... 873-6716 OUR LADY OF POMPEII 129 Laverack, Lancaster 7 p.m.............. 683-6522 WHEATFIELD NO. 1451 6525 Ward Rd., Sanborn 7:25 p.m......... 731-4712

GEORGE F. LAMM POST 962 Wehrle Dr., Williamsville 7:30 p.m......... 204-2405 RESURRECTION BINGO 130 Como Park Blvd.

7 p.m.............. 683-3712 HARTLAND VFC 8945 Ridge Rd., Hartland 7:30 p.m.

ARMOR VOL. FIRE CO. 4932 Clark St., Hamburg 7:30 p.m......... 649-9821 ST. ANDREW CHURCH 111 Crocker St., Sloan 7:30 p.m......... 892-0425 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 7 p.m......................... 549-4389 B.O.Y.S. ASSOCIATION OF LACKAWANNA VFW, 2909 South Park St., Lackawanna 7:20 p.m.................... 948-0316

WEDNESDAY ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI 4263 St. Francis Dr., Athol Springs 7:30 p.m................... 627-2710 SHAWNEE VOL. FIRE COMPANY 3747 Lockport Rd., Sanborn 7:30 p.m. ................. 731-3666

Bingo Calendar AM. LEG. MCKEEVER POST 1770 S. Park Ave., Buffalo 7:30 p.m................... 822-6400 KENMORE K OF C 1530 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo 1 p.m......................... 875-5780 FATHER JUSTIN K OF C — SPONSORED BY THE JUSTINETTES 2735 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 7:30 p.m.................... 681-7251 FATHER BAKER K OF C at the Matthew Glab Post 1965 Abbott Rd., Lackawanna 12:45 p.m.................. 825-3733 LANCASTER K OF C 6114 Broadway, Lancaster 11:45 a.m................... 684-2901 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 1 & 7 p.m.................. 549-4389 ST. ALOYSIUS RCC 156 Franklin, Springville 7:30 p.m.................... 592-2701 ST. AMELIA 2999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda 7:15 p.m.................... 836-0011 ST. MICHAEL’S BINGO 140 Warsaw, Lackawanna 7:15 p.m.................... 825-9415

THURSDAY FATHER JUSTIN K OF C 2735 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 1 p.m.......................... 681-7251 BLESSED TRINITY 317 Leroy Ave., Buffalo 8 p.m......................... 833-0301 ST. BERNARD’S CHURCH Clinton @ S. Ogden, Buffalo 7:30 p.m.................... 822-8856 PVT. LEONARD POST 2450 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga 7:30 p.m.................... 684-4371 ST. JAMES DEPEW 500 Terrace Blvd., Depew 7:30 p.m.................... 683-2746 ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH 1525 Sheridan Dr., Kenmore 7:30 p.m.....................873-6716 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 7 p.m.........................549-4389 FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS 1345 Indian Church Rd., West Seneca 7:00 p.m..................... 674-2374 K OF C MADONNA COUNCIL NO. 2535 755 Erie Ave., North Tonawanda 7:20 p.m.................... 693-5470

(continued)

VFW COL. WEBER POST 989 2909 South Park Ave., Lackawana 7:30 p.m.................... 823-9605

FRIDAY AM. LEG. MCKEEVER POST 1770 South Park Ave., Buffalo 7:30 p.m................... 822-6400 ASSUMPTION PARISH 435 Amherst St., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.................... 876-1038 KENMORE K OF C 1530 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.................... 875-5780

OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS 4125 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 7:30 p.m.................... 634-3420 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 7 p.m........................ 549-4389 ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA 157 Cleveland Dr., Cheektowaga 7:30 p.m.................... 833-1715 ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH 1525 Sheridan Dr., Kenmore 7:30 p.m.................... 873-6716

St . B e r n a r d ʻs C h u r c h

SUNDAY 7:30 PM

THURSDAY 7:30 PM

$1500 in prizes! • Verified Bingo Machine! • Queen of Hearts on Thursdays!

Red, White, & Blue STW! • Progressive STW! Smoke Free • Refreshments • Friendly Workers • SECURITY

1988 Clinton St at S. Ogden St, Buffalo NY (716) 822-8856

NOW HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE - NEW LIFT CHAIR!

NO ONE UNDER 18 ALLOWED IN BINGO HALL

Holy Mother of the Rosary Cathedral MONDAY @ 11:30 AM COME EARLY - LUNCH BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM

Featuring possible Double Payouts!!

Queern ts

of Hea JACKPOT

Ball s u n Bo !

Play r A Buck Fo

Fellowship Hall 6298 Broadway, Lancaster, NY (between Schwartz and Ransom Rds) Hall Phone 683-7527

up to

$2560 GUARANTEED + $1000 PROG, STW & RWB NO SINGLE GAME UNDER $60 * 5 ROUND ROBINS with $120 COVERALLS TRY YOUR LUCK with the QUEEN OF HEARTS GAME

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 15

Bingo Calendar DALE ASSOCIATION CENT. 33 Ontario St., Lockport 7 p.m......................... 433-1886 SANBORN VFC 5811 Buffalo St., Sanborn 7:45 p.m.................... 731-4616 MILLGROVE VFC 11621 Genesee St., Alden 7:45 p.m.................... 937-7612 GASPORT CHEMICAL HOSE 8412 State St., Gasport 7:30 p.m.................... 772-7751 OUR LADY OF PERP. HELP 115 O’Connell St., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.................... 852-2671 ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE 950 Lossen Rd., Cheektowaga 7:30 p.m.................... 668-3344

SATURDAY ST. AMELIA’S RCC 2999 Eggert Rd., Tonawanda 1 p.m......................... 836-0011 ASSUMPTION PARISH 435 Amherst St., Buffalo 7:30 p.m.................... 876-1038 BLESSED TRINITY 317 Leroy Ave., Buffalo 8 p.m......................... 833-0301 CARINAL O'HARA HIGH SCHOOL 39 O'Hara Rd., Tonawanda 7:30 p.m.........695-2600 x326

ST. JOHN XXIII 1 Arcade St., W. Seneca 7 p.m......................... 823-1090 INFANT OF PRAGUE 921 Cleveland Dr., Cheektowaga 7:15 p.m.................... 634-3660 ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA 157 Cleveland Dr., Cheektowaga 1 p.m......................... 833-1715 OUR LADY OF POMPEII 129 Laverack, Lancaster 7 p.m. (1st Sat.)........ 683-6522 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 1 & 7 p.m.................. 549-4389 ST. ANDREW CHURCH 111 Crocker St., Sloan 7:30 p.m.................... 892-0425 PALLOTTINE FATHERS 3452 N. Falls Blvd., Wheatfield 7 p.m......................... 694-4313 SOUTH WILSON VFC 4193 Chestnut Rd., Wilson 7:30 p.m.................... 751-6079 CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH 199 Clark St., Buffalo 2 p.m......................... 896-1050 OUR LADY OF BISTRICA 1619 Abbott Rd., Lackawanna 7:15 p.m.................... 822-0818

(continued)

BUFFALO GAY BINGO/ AIDS PLUS FUND OF WNY Westminster Church, 724 Delaware Ave., Buffalo 7 p.m (2nd Sat.)......... 882-7840

SUNDAY CARINAL O'HARA HIGH SCHOOL 39 O'Hara Rd., Tonawanda 1 p.m..695-2600 x326 OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART 3148 Abbott Rd., O. Park 2 p.m......................... 824-2935 KENMORE K OF C 1530 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo 7 p.m......................... 875-5780 ST. BERNARD’S CHURCH Clinton @ S. Ogden, Buffalo 7:30 p.m.................... 822-8856 OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS 4125 Union Rd., Cheektowaga 7 p.m......................... 634-3420 SENECA GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT 11099 Route 5, Irving 1 & 7 p.m.................. 549-4389 DELEVAN VFC N. Main St., Delevan 7 p.m......................... 492-1910 ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH 1525 Sheridan Dr., Kenmore 7 p.m......................... 873-6716

BINGO

Sundays 1:00pm $10 Admission Package

Saturday 7:30pm $1 3-Face Admission

EARLY BIRD (PLAYED AT 12:50PM)

THE ONLY BINGO CHARGING $1 FOR ADMISSION

No Game Under $50 Average Payout Over $3,000 4 Regular Round Robin Games Share the Wealth 60/40 Split Rags to Riches with $300 Coverall $1,000 Progressive with $250 Consolation Bonus Ball 70/30 Split

Average Payout Over $4,000 3 SUPER Round Robin Games Progressive Share the Wealth $300 Consolation Two $500 Round Robin Games

Queen of Hearts & Bonus Ball

Red,, White White,, & & Blue Blue Red Sponsored by

Cardinal O’Hara Home School

* CONCESSIONS *

CASINO SENECA GAMING Broad St., Salamanca 945-4080, 877-860-5130 ONEIDA INDIAN HIGH STAKES BINGO AT TURNING STONE 5218 Patrick Rd., Verona 800-782-1938

LG R O MILLUNTEVE ER VO

DE F I R E T PARTMEN

Millgrove Volunteer Fire Department 11621 Genesee Street Alden, NY • 937-7612

$1,300 Guaranteed

BIG

PROGRESSIVE STW 75% to Winner

Sponsored by

New Prizes!

Red, White, & Blue

No prize under $60

* PLENTY OF PARKING *

* AIR CONDITIONED BINGO HALL *

(Take Delaware to Joseph, 1st Signal North of Youngman, to O’Hara Rd. to O’Hara High) www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

UNCLE SAM’S 427 Garrison Rd., Fort Erie 905-994-0505 GOLDEN NUGGET 655 Garrison Rd., Fort Erie 905-871-1277 DELTA MONTE CARLO 4735 Drummond, N. Falls 905-356-8104

Queen of Hearts & Bonus Ball

39 O’Hara Road | Tonawanda, New York | 716.695.2600 x326 16

BINGO IN CANADA

in designated #or less - if not 50% to winner & 25% carried over to following week** STW 2-Face $1

Cardinal O’Hara Booster Club

Weekly Lunch Specials * HANDICAP ACCESS *

TWO Bonus Balls Played Each Night Regular Bonus Ball and Golden Bonus Ball Guaranteed $1,000 Game Played Weekly

OUR LADY OF POMPEII 129 Laverack, Lancaster 7 p.m......................... 683-6522 LOCKPORT ELKS LODGE 41 6791 N. Canal Rd., Lockport 7 p.m......................... 434-2798 PVT. LEONARD POST 2450 Walden, Cheektowaga 7 p.m.......................684-43710

FRIDAYS 7:45 PM All Paper!

Refreshments

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 17

FEATURE

Making Senior Wishes Come True

BY KATHY SCHLAICH

I

t’s important for people of all ages to participate in life—to get out there, meet people, have memorable experiences, and maybe even make a lifelong wish come true.

Senior Wishes in Orchard Park six, rode in a hot air balloon. Eddie, helps those age sixty-five and older 104 was a VIP at a Buffalo Bills game to do that by granting lower-income where he was escorted onto the field seniors the opportunity to fulfill and met some of the players. meaningful hopes and dreams.

“Most of our wishes are experiential Catherine, 109, the group’s oldest in nature. Forty percent want to visit wish recipient, wanted to be driven a loved one,” says director Wendy around her old neighborhood to Backman, who founded the program reminisce and then go to dinner at a in 2013. nice Italian restaurant. Ruth, eighty“I was looking into new program

18

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

Catherine, 109, has her senior wish fulfilled. Photo courtesy of Senior Wishes

ideas and did some research on wish granting organizations and found there was nothing like this in Western New York,” she says.

A need was established and the first wish was granted in March 2014. To date, 225 wishes have been fulfilled, according to Backman.

Those eligible for wishes must live in Erie or Niagara County, and the board of directors recently approved expansion into Genesee, Wyoming, and Orleans Counties.

Wishes are granted on a case-bycase basis and are approved by the organization’s ten-member wish granting committee, which meets every other month.

There are guidelines to be considered for the program. For instance, potential grantees must reside in Western New York, be a US citizen age sixty-five or older, and have an annual income of less than $38,000 a year for a household of one, $44,000 for a household of two, or be a permanent resident of a care facility.

Also, a recipient must be cognitively, emotionally and physically capable of communicating and experiencing the wish and be unable to fulfill the wish on their own or with family assistance.

No medical diagnosis is necessary.

There are also some restrictions, including vacations or travel outside the US, furniture, home repairs, requests for cash, medical assistance, physical assets, legal or employment services, and local transportation requests.

Senior Wishes strives to grant wishes that will make a significant impact on a senior’s quality of life, according to Backman. “We want to encourage them to fill out an application because we want to honor them in this way,” she says.

Around Veteran’s Day, a week is dedicated to granting veteran’s wishes, although wishes from this special group are also granted year-round, says Backman.

Like Ed, a Korean War veteran who got to celebrate his ninetieth birthday with friends and family at the Colored Musicians Club in Buffalo.

Senior Wishes is a non-profit funded by grants, fundraisers, and general donations. Backman and a part-time employee round out the staff along with a host of volunteers. “We couldn’t do it without our volunteers,” Backman says.

The group’s big fundraiser, Sips, Suds and Sweets, a wine, beer, and dessert sampling, will be held April 23, 2020 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Fox Run in Orchard Park.

Senior Wishes is located at One Fox Run Lane, Orchard Park and can be reached at 508-2121. Call to request an application or visit the website at seniorwishes.org. They can also be found on Facebook. FY Kathy Schlaich contributes to Forever Young and has reported for publications across the country.

FEATURE

Erie County’s Rural Transit Service Providing Miles of Smiles

BY REBECCA CUTHBERT RTS serves senior, disabled, and low-income residents in twenty-five municipalities. photo by Brenda ONeill

L

ives well lived are made up of meaningful moments spent with friends and family, engaging in favorite activities, and deciding where each day will take you. However, when residents in rural areas around Erie County can no longer drive themselves to their activities and appointments, that independence feels threatened. That’s when Erie County’s Rural Transit Service comes to the rescue!

According to information disabled, and low-income residents From medical needs to social provided by director Brenda in rural Erie County areas. Now, enrichment, volunteer drivers and O’Neill, Rural Transit Service was the non-profit service provides dispatchers work hard to help started almost three decades ago to thousands of rides every year to others make the most of their days. provide transportation to senior, folks in twenty-five municipalities.

“Our priority has always been

20

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

medical trips,” says O’Neill. “There are people who have dialysis appointments, chemotherapy, or need other medical help. What makes our service unique, though, is that we take it a step further. We take people to do their banking, to get their groceries, to get their hair cut, to the YMCA for swimming, and to senior centers to socialize.”

In Western New York’s fickle climate, the service is particularly necessary.

“We help people who otherwise would be isolated in their homes during our harsh winters, or who have stopped driving for safety reasons,” explains O’Neill. “With us, they can get out in their communities and live as actively as possible, and they can remain safely in their homes longer, too.”

As with any non-profit organization, finding dependable volunteers can be a challenge.

“When we do find volunteers, whether they are drivers or dispatchers, they are the most compassionate people dedicated to helping others in their communities,” says O’Neill.

One of those dedicated volunteers is longtime driver Larry Schwab, who provides transportation to folks who live in the Brant and Collins areas. For the past three and a half years, he has spent most Fridays behind the wheel of an RTS van.

“It’s satisfying to help the community,” says Schwab. “There is an intrinsic return. It’s one of the greatest things, knowing you’re helping do some good somewhere.”

Schwab also enjoys the social aspect of his volunteer job.

“I get to meet a lot of nice people,” he says. “I enjoy it. I feel useful. When you retire, you need to do something with yourself. The atmosphere is very friendly, too.”

The job felt like a natural transition for Schwab, who drove large construction vehicles in his youth, then school buses later on.

He did have to get over one small hurdle, though.

“I had to learn where all the

FEATURE little nooks and crannies of the townships were,” he jokes.

Erie County’s Rural Transit Service volunteers help residents in all of the Southtowns except West Seneca and Hamburg, since those municipalities have their own van services. Vans also run in Clarence and Newstead. The service runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

New volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. O’Neill and her staff make it easy to join their small and friendly army.

“Volunteers drive our vehicles, so there is no personal cost to them,” she says. “New volunteers go through training and a background check, then, initially, they ride with an experienced driver. Afterward, they have a staff member ride with them when they start driving to make sure they are comfortable with the route.”

There are lots of ways to help. In addition to drivers, dispatchers and

driver assistants are needed. “Fillins” are necessary in addition to “regulars,” too.

“Volunteers typically sign up for four-hour shifts, but we can accommodate volunteers’ schedules,” adds O’Neill. “We have a lot of people who fill in to cover shifts when regular drivers or dispatchers are out of town or have other commitments.”

To volunteer with Erie County’s Rural Transit Service, or to become a client, call 716-472-6065.

Whether driving or riding, making RTS a part of your life will change it for the better! FY Rebecca Cuthbert lives, writes, and cares for shelter dogs in Dunkirk.

Understanding your Medicare benefits can be both frustrating and concerning.

Many changes and much confusion leave you anxious about making a choice.

You have many options for Medicare information…flyers, ads, company seminars, and even big benefit groups and insurance agencies, but the WNY Medicare Resource Center is Buffalo’s most trusted place for Medicare information and the ONLY choice with a devoted team advocating for you, giving unbiased plan benefit comparisons.

FREE

Medicare Guidebook

For every 1 senior who ADMITS they are confused about their Medicare benefits, there are 15 seniors who are thinking it, but will never ask for help!

Since 2015, we have helped hundreds of seniors, just like you, reduce their biggest expense in retirement...healthcare costs. We encourage you to call us today at 833-0252 and schedule a complimentary review of your Medicare benefits…this service if FREE to you and just a good idea to ensure you are confident with the coverage you have.

“Medicare is different now from years ago. Companies keep changing their plans every year…who can keep up? It’s confusing and I usually just stay in the same plan as last year. The WNY Medicare Resource Center helped me discover a few places I was over-spending and saved me over $1,000 in 2017 and again in 2018! I’m so happy I found them! I tell everyone I know!” - Linda and Bill W. (Williamsville)

WNY Medicare Resource Center

Buffalo’s most trusted place for Medicare information. ( Located on Main Street near Harris Hill )

Getting Through the Medicare Maze for Annual Enrollment Period Call 716-833-0252 to request.

THIS AD ENTITLES READER TO A PRIORITY APPOINTMENT TIMESLOT. AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED. MUST PRESENT AD.

Are you CONFUSED about your Medicare Benefits?

CALL TODAY TO LEARN MORE! APPOINTMENT HOTLINE:

716-833-0252

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 21

LET’S TALK ABOUT...

The Secrets of Long-lived Marriages

BY JUDITH A. RUCKI

I Asked For A Companion

And I was Sent an Angel!

E

ver since I was a little girl, I’ve enjoyed looking at photos of brides. Back when newspapers had “society pages,” there were always lovely photos with accompanying descriptions of gowns, bridal parties, and honeymoon destinations.

Fast forward a few decades, and it’s the couples celebrating golden anniversaries, and beyond, that grab my interest.

The chances of reaching that milestone are small. Nearly half of all first marriages end in divorce. The number one culprit appears to be money problems.

New research says the seven-yearitch may be a reality, as American

couples believe this to be the most difficult year. Add issues like lack of communication, unrealistic expectations, and irreconcilable differences, and it’s a wonder anyone is willing to take the plunge.

Marriage has changed greatly over the years. At the end of the eighteenth century, love and marriage were often mutually exclusive. Marriage was looked upon as a political and

Senior Care

24

Hour Service

SERVICES • Available 24/7 including holidays • In-Home care supervision • Meal preparation • Full housekeeping • Transportation assistance • Medication reminders • Outpatient services

Call 716-259-2005

WECK Music Roadshow WITH

ROGER CHRISTIAN

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTIES WEDDINGS RETIREMENTS ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

www.angelsatheartseniorcare.com

4 Hours of Home Care Get 1 Hour

FREE with coupon only

Senior Groups Discount Min 4-8 Hours Split a

Free Hour with coupon only

22

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

Call 783-9120

FOR RATES AND DATES

economic institution.

Families arranged marriages, and loveless marriages were common.

By the turn of the twentieth century, dating became customary as opposed to having a courtship.

During the 1960s, sex without commitment, or what was known as “free love,” entered the picture.

The age at which people marry has also changed. In the 1950s, the average age of a bride was 20. Grooms were between the ages of 22 and 23.

Today brides are an average of 28, and grooms are 30.

So, what keeps a couple together for half a century or more? The vignettes accompanying the photos of celebratory couples offer few clues.

Most of them were married in church.

Some had one or two children, while others had large families. The men are almost always recognized as being retired from one career or another.

Many of the women also worked during their married lives while also raising children.

Years ago, couples may have stayed together because that was easier than walking away from their marriage.

Divorce was frowned upon. Women tended to be financially dependent on their husbands. Families were often large, and the expense of maintaining separate households made divorce impossible.

Couples remained together out of necessity.

A recent census report indicates that only six percent of married couples make it to fifty years. Ask these folks how they hung in for so long, and the most common answers include

LET’S TALK ABOUT... communication, commitment, kindness, acceptance, and love.

Other important qualities in a marriage include sexual faithfulness, respect, humility, patience, the ability to forgive, honesty, trust, and selflessness.

It also helps to remember the marriage vows. When things get tough, it may be easier to say, “I want out. This isn’t what I expected.”

Couples need to think about why they got married in the first place.

Time can also take its toll. It may take years to adjust to the differences every couple face. While things like wallpaper patterns, bringing home a dog, and what flowers to plant aren’t deal breakers, too many little differences can turn into one disagreement too many.

While arguments will happen, couples need to “fight fairly.” No yelling unless the house is on fire, and no name-calling. Hurling insults never works. “Never go to bed angry” is still good advice. Appreciating the

other’s point of view shows respect.

This goes hand in hand with talking to each other, rather than friends, when there’s a gripe. Remember to pick your battles. Let the small, unimportant things go. If things are really getting rough, professional counseling can help.

Ask a long-married couple what makes their marriage work, and it does take work, they offer up all sorts of advice. Some couples say they are best friends and like to hang out together. They truly enjoy each other’s company and have a sense of companionship. They do things together and create memories and feel like they are part of a team.

But, couples do need some personal space and time to enjoy different activities. When an introvert is married to an extrovert, for instance, compromise is needed. These couples can both bring interest to the relationship.

There is something to be said about staying in shape and maintaining one’s

UNITED CHURCH MANOR A PROGRAM OF UCHS, INC.

appearance. Being attractive to each other and staying healthy is a big plus.

While sex may not be as exciting as when they were first married, couples who have been together a long time say it’s important to show affection.

About fifty years ago, author Judith Viorst wrote It’s Hard to be Hip over Thirty and Other Tragedies of Married Life. What she says in her last sentence may be the key: “Despite cigarette cough, tooth

decay, acid indigestion, dandruff, and other features of married life that tend to dampen the fires of passion, we still feel something we can call true love.”

FY

Judith A. Rucki is a public relations consultant and freelance writer.

WNY Medicare Education Program is Helping to Reduce Insurance Costs The WNY Medicare Resource Center has been narrowly focused with providing complimentary specialty services to seniors in the local community.

Their 2019 initiative provided a FREE educational speaker series for members of the Niagara and Erie County Senior Center’s and residents at retirement communities. The “Medicare Education Program” helps those enrolled in Medicare to take back control of understanding and utilizing all of the Medicare benefits they’ve worked for and are entitled to.

Many seniors are still overwhelmed with attempting to navigate the Medicare Maze alone, not knowing when to go left or when to go right. You can get Medicare information from flyers, ads, company seminars, and even big benefit groups and insurance agencies, but the WNY Medicare Resource Center is Buffalo’s most trusted place for Medicare information and the ONLY choice with a devoted team advocating for you, giving unbiased plan benefit comparisons.

For every 1 senior who ADMITS they find Medicare confusing, there are 15 seniors who are thinking it, but will NEVER ask for help. Since 2015, the WNY Medicare Resource Center has helped hundreds of seniors, just like you, reduce their biggest expense in retirement…healthcare costs!

“The WNY Medicare Resource Center is the first group of people who actually asked me what my biggest concern about my healthcare is? What keeps me up at night and what my family history is. Living on a fixed income, they were able to limit my expenses and put a plan in place in case I need more coverage later.

They have set my mind at ease. I don’t trust anyone else!”

John and Dolores S (Lancaster)

.”

ed taint n i a n

“B

e ly ma resid l u tif e,

eau - Lou

is

SUBSIDIZED SENIOR APARTMENTS IN A PARK-LIKE SETTING

OFFERING:

Parking, elevators, laundry facilities, heat & water included, Erie County Senior Lunch program, and more!

50 North Ave | West Seneca, NY 14224 | 716.668.5804 | ucmanor.org

To schedule a complimentary benefit review appointment, please call The WNY Resource Center at 716-833-0252. Their specialty services are free to you, and an appointment is just a good idea to ensure you are confident with the coverage and benefits you have.

Take back control of the conversation and understand how to utilize all the benefits you are entitled to! You deserve more!

The staff provides concierge service with focused attention, rather than the traditional mediocre service. They encourage a scheduled appointment time.

Availability may be limited and determined by first come, first served.

Please call 716-833-0252 to schedule today.

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 23

GETAWAYS

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and NYC STORY AND PHOTOS

BY CHRISTINE A. SMYCZYNSKI

Charlie Brown is one of the many character balloons in the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

T

his past Thanksgiving, I had the chance to travel to New York with my husband and youngest son. Actually, the main reason we were going there was to visit our daughter who was attending grad school in New York, however, since we have always wanted to go to the parade, this was the perfect opportunity.

24

Planning ahead is key I made our hotel and train reservations at the end of August before all the reasonably priced accommodations within walking distance of the parade route were sold out. We chose the Hampton Inn-Manhattan, located near Penn Station, since we were traveling to New York by train.

While train travel does take longer than going by plane, you are less likely to have weather delays or cancellations if it snows. Plus, it’s cheaper, less stressful, you can bring your own food www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

GETAWAYS

The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center

and beverages, and you arrive right in midtown Manhattan! We traveled the day before Thanksgiving, taking the 4:45 a.m. train and arrived in New

Saks Fifth Avenue

York around 1 p.m., just in time for lunch.

We spent around $300 per night for our hotel; which was not located

on the parade route, so we had to walk several blocks to get to the viewing area. If you want to splurge, there are hotels on the route with windows

overlooking the parade that go for $3,000 and more a night!

Since our daughter had a studio apartment with a kitchen, we decided

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 25

GETAWAYS to prepare our Thanksgiving dinner at her place, rather than eating out at a restaurant. Plus, her roommate, an international student from China, had never experienced Thanksgiving, so we wanted to include her in the festivities.

We spent Wednesday evening baking pies and prepping food to cook after the parade.

If you don’t have the option to dine with a friend or relative in the city, be sure to make dinner reservations

as soon as you book your trip. Most restaurants seemed quite pricey in my opinion ($100+ per person) so you might have to check around. Also, many of the restaurants seemed to be more gourmet than traditional in their offerings, something that would have not gone over well with my teenaged son.

The day of the parade As mentioned earlier, our hotel was

THE ALL

NEW

Jewish Federation Apartments The nativity scene at St. Patrick's Cathedral

close to Penn Station, which is just a few blocks from Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square. However, the area right by Macy’s (what you see on the televised parade) is not open to the general public; it’s reserved for media,

dignitaries, and Macy’s personnel, so you will have to walk a bit uptown to find a place to stand along 6th Avenue to view the parade. We found a place to stand around 38th Street.

If you want to get a good viewing

HOW DO YOU WISH TO BE REMEMBERED? RENT ASSISTED APARTMENTS FOR SENIORS & MOBILITY-IMPAIRED ADULTS

Open to all religious denominations

All new Remodeled community space with stone hearth gathering area

Laundry facilities • Full-time social worker Activities • Transportation 24-hour emergency maintenance Computer center Emergency medical call system Chapel and various religious services Pool table Two elevators • Card room Community room • NEW! Fitness facility • NEW! Beauty Salon • Wifi Home theater room with hi-tech equipment And of course our beautiful aquarium!

Preplanning your funeral arrangement is a healthy step toward putting your affairs in order, it affords you the opportunity to detail your wishes and to secure funding at today’s prices.

To get started, visit our website at

DenglerRobertsPernaFuneral.com 873-7825 or 632-8200

275 Essjay Road | Williamsville, NY 14221

For application information please call 716-631-8471 • www.JewishFederationApartments.org *Jewish Federation Apartments does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its federally assisted program and activities.

26

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

DENGLER, ROBERTS, PERNA

PERNA, DENGLER,ROBERTS

3070 Delaware Avenue Kenmore, NY 14217

1671 Maple Road Williamsville, NY 14221

FUNERAL HOME

FUNERAL HOME

GETAWAYS spot, plan on getting to the parade route between 6 and 6:30 a.m. We left our hotel around 6 a.m. after having some granola bars and juice in our room. We were able to get a place to stand in the second row. You are allowed to bring chairs, but since we traveled by train, that was not an option for us. The family in front of us, a cute couple from Florida with three young children, secured their spot at 5:30 a.m.

Just a note: you may want to avoid drinking coffee or tea and limiting the amount of other liquids you drink before heading to the parade. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t bring a thermos of coffee or hot chocolate to have while waiting for the parade. There are no bathrooms readily available, as most businesses are closed for Thanksgiving. Plus, once you find your spot, you really don’t want to leave.

Be sure to check the weather forecast before traveling to New York City. Last year it was eighteen degrees, the coldest Thanksgiving ever in New York City! Luckily, we planned ahead, bringing cold weather gear, including snow pants for extra warmth. The Florida family with the small children was only able to stand the cold for about half the parade, so we were able to move up to the front row after they left.

While we had to get there early to secure a good spot, the parade itself didn’t begin until 9 a.m. and didn’t get to the area where we were standing until after 10 a.m. Of course, once you actually see the parade coming, the wait is worth it! It is very exciting to see it live, and there’s a lot more to the parade than what you see on TV. And, even though there was a big crowd, in a big city, everyone was friendly and well behaved.

Once the parade is over, it’s quite a mob scene for several blocks as everyone leaves the area. We got back to the hotel to warm up a bit before heading to our daughter’s place to make dinner. Cabs seemed to be nonexistent on Thanksgiving, so we ended up walking the mile from our hotel to her apartment.

Black Friday shopping I normally avoid Black Friday shopping like the plague, yet there I was in Macy’s the world’s largest store on Black Friday. It was crowded, but since it’s such as big store, the checkout lines weren’t really that bad. One of the main reasons you go to Macy’s at this time of year, besides doing some shopping, is to see the display windows decorated for the holidays.

The inside of the store is also decked out for the season.

After shopping at Macy’s, we headed to the Bryant Park Winter Village. The iconic park, located at 6th Avenue and 42nd Street, is turned into a magical shopping village for the holidays with all sorts of small kiosks filled with handmade and unique gift items. There are also numerous food and beverage stands; be sure to try the Italian hot chocolate, it’s really creamy. There is also a huge outdoor ice skating rink set up in the park.

Later that day, we checked out the exhibits at the Whitney Art Museum and finished our evening by having dinner at Junior’s Cheesecake in Times Square.

Checking out 5th Avenue On Saturday, we headed uptown to Rockefeller Center. Although the tree was set up, it wasn’t going to be lit for the holidays until the following week.

However, all the other decorations were up. Across the street, Saks Fifth Avenue was also festively decorated, including the outdoor windows. We also visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is right next to Saks. The cathedral is a must-see for the great architecture, beautiful statues, and nativity scene.

Our visit was all too short; by 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, we had bid our daughter good-bye and head back to Buffalo. It was a whirlwind trip but a wonderful experience. FY Christine A. Smyczynski is a freelance writer and blogger and author of Western New York Explorer's Guide.

Six Tips for Train Travel to New York City Train tip 1. When leaving Buffalo, arrive at the Depew station at least forty-five minutes before departure time, it’s a much smaller station than the one in New York City, so you don’t have to worry about multiple trains pulling into the station. Before leaving home, check on the Amtrak website to see if the train is running late (amtrak.com/home). For your return trip, when you get in Penn Station, follow the signs for Amtrak, as other carriers also use the station. There’s a big waiting area near Hudson booksellers and Tim Hortons.

Train tip 2. On the return trip, about forty-five minutes before your scheduled departure, wait in the main area of Penn Station that has all the gates and listen for your train number and what gate to go to. There is also a huge overhead display with all the arrivals and departures listed. We heard the call for our train and by the time we got to the gate we thought there was quite a long line. Actually, we were near the beginning of line! The train was sold out, so there were several hundred other people traveling with us.

You have to go down an escalator with your bags and then when you get to track level they ask which station you will be getting off at (Buffalo/Depew) and direct you to which train car to get into.

Train tip 3. Bring your own food, especially if you’re gluten intolerant or have other dietary needs, as there is a very limited food selection. We purchased microwave pizza and beverages from the snack car and ate at our seats. When we traveled by train on previous occasions, they did have a fancier dining car, but I don’t think they operate it when the train is sold out.

Train tip 4. Dress in layers onboard. It was so hot in the train on our return trip that I was starting to feel sick. Wear lightweight clothes but bring a sweater or small blanket in case it’s cold, which can also happen. A small pillow or neck pillow can make the trip more comfortable.

Train tip 5. Wi-Fi may be spotty on parts of the journey. Bring reading material, because you might not be able to look at your phone or tablet the entire trip. Amtrak does have its own magazine, which you will find in the seat pocket in front of you.

Train tip 6. Set your phone or watch alarm for about a half hour before your scheduled stop, so you can start packing up things, provided that the train is running on time. About ten minutes or so before the station they will announce its coming up. At this point, everyone started getting their luggage down and putting on their coats. When you get off train at the Depew station there are steps down off train, and Amtrak employees are there to help you get your bag down the stairs.

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 27

BEING WELL

Want to Live Longer?

Be Happy

BY CATHERINE STACK

O

ne of my favorite authors and mentors, Bernie Siegel MD, wrote, “The simple truth is, happy people generally don’t get sick. One’s attitude toward oneself is the single most important factor in healing or staying well.”

Your attitude and outlook on life underestimated by the medical strongly govern your immune system, profession. As a matter of fact, it is risk for heart disease and cancer, and rarely even considered. even your risk for accidents. The In 1973, Dr. Grossarth-Maticek strength of this correlation between gave a brief test measuring habitual attitudes and health has been grossly feelings of pleasure and well-being

to thousands of elderly residents of Heidelberg, Germany. Twenty-one years later, he compared the test scores with health status. The results were amazing. The 300 people who had scored highest turned out to be thirty times more likely to be alive and well

twenty-one years later than the 200 lowest! Though the test focused only on mental factors, it predicted future health more effectively than a much longer test on traditional risk factors such as genetics, lifestyle, smoking, and diet.

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY. PRESERVE YOUR LEGACY.

Elizabeth A. Ingold, ESQ.

Estate Planning Elder Law | Trusts | Probate

716.932.7447

5555 MAIN STREET, WILLIAMSVILLE | INGOLDLAWNY.COM 28

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

BEING WELL Happy people are more inclined to watch their weight, more perceptive of symptoms of illness, tend to be more moderate with smoking and drinking, and generally live healthier lives. They are usually more active, more open to the world (and change), more selfconfident, make better choices, and build stronger social networks.

Chronic unhappiness activates the fight-or-flight response, which has been linked to high blood pressure, lower immune response, and obesity.

Unfortunately, there are many unhappy people out there and, even worse, some can be members of our own family— or ourselves. Most live as if the world or someone has done them wrong. They tend to hold grudges, anger easily, or are always feeling guilty. They often play the martyr and let everyone hear about it. Unhappy people tend to live as victims, rather than living a full and vibrant life. Happy individuals have a hard time being around the unhappy ones for long periods, as it is emotionally draining. Happiness as well as unhappiness is highly contagious.

The good news is that unhappy people can change their ways. The following five suggestions have been noted to improve happiness and were even published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Be grateful Participants were asked to write letters of gratitude to those who had helped them in any way during the course of their life. The study found that these people reported a lasting increase in happiness—even if they were never delivered. Gratitude has a way of magnetizing more things to be grateful for.

Be optimistic Visualize your goals, your ideal future, and your ideal relationship.

These need to be thoughts first before they will have a chance at becoming reality. The sky’s the limit. Even when you feel the bad outweighs the good, you can still find something positive to focus on: a sunny day, a beautiful sunset, a loving pet, and so much more.

Make a list, if you must, to remind you

of all the things that can go right in your life.

Literally count your blessings Start by writing down three good things that have happened to you during the past week. People who put this to practice have shown significant boosts in happiness. It seems the act of focusing on the positive helps people remember reasons to be glad. Odds are, your list will grow longer and longer the more you practice.

COME HOME TO

Shaarey Zedek Apartments

1 & 2 BEDROOM STYLES

Stop by for a Tour M, W, F 9 am - 4 pm 834.3711

A quiet senior community nestled in the heart of Amherst.

410 Hartford Road Amherst, NY 14226

(off Millersport - 1 Block, North of Sheridan)

Use your strengths Another study asked people to identify their greatest strengths, and then try to use those strengths in new ways. Whether it’s employing your sense of humor at a business meeting or tutoring someone in math, using your talents will help to heighten happiness.

It helps to create a sense of purpose in your life.

Commit acts of kindness Otherwise known as “paying it forward,” it turns out that helping others is one of the best ways to help ourselves. Those who donate time, money, or assistance to those in need report dramatic improvements in their own happiness.

Now, sometimes bad things happen to generally happy people.

The difference is, happy people tend to bounce back quickly, heal faster, and experience fewer complications.

Having an optimistic outlook will have a positive impact on how the body and mind recover.

For those of you who are generally unhappy, it is never too late to change your habits. For those of you who are happy, longevity awaits. FY Catherine (Cathi) Stack is owner, facilitator and Doctor of Naturopathy at Journey II Health, LLC in Niagara Falls.

She specializes in colon health and bioidentical hormone replacement and is also a practicing staff midwife at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. Her books, Free Yourself from a CONSTIPATED Life and PUSH, Labor & Delivery from the Inside Out are available on amazon.com Visit www.cathistack.com for more info.

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 29

NEWS

Forever Young Takes Home Five NAMPA Awards

BY WENDY GUILD SWEARINGEN

F

orever Young won five awards at the 25th annual North American Mature Publishers Association, Inc. (NAMPA) convention held at The Guest House at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, October 13–16.

The School of Journalism of the University of Missouri located in Columbia, Missouri, performed the judging of the award entries submitted

by NAMPA members. Entries were divided into four divisions depending on circulation – Division A, 25,000 or fewer; Division B, 25,001–50,000; Division C, 50,001–100,000; and Division D, 100,001 or more. Forever Young, with a circulation of 40,000 is in Division B. Listed below are the awards,

categories, and some comments from the judges.

First place: Column Review “Carol Ann Harlos’ gardening columns are delightfully long on both personal and instructive fronts. She speaks directly to readers, as if they were having coffee, about Chelsea chops, beehive splits and spider plantlets.”

Second place: Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory “The issue features a rich contact list of medical, housing, business, volunteer and other services. Useful, relevant articles include donating as part of the decluttering process and keeping in touch with grandchildren through technology.”

Second place: Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory Design “Readers are treated to several welldesigned articles at the front of the directory, each with a strong dominant photograph. Special attention is paid to creating multiple-picture photo

packages. Lists are separated by types of services and color-coded for easy reference.”

First place: Best Overall Use of Photography “Clean covers highlight the main story, and the handy table of contents makes navigation easy. Each issue begins with a simple calendar and has a consistent layout throughout. Food photographs and pages are particularly striking and sophisticated.”

First place: Self Promotion “Forever Young uses a joyful, relatable image of a couple on the beach to draw in the readers eye and, once they have their attention, hits them with a value statement ‘Winner of 6 NAMPA Awards’ on publication quality. This ad lets the image do the talking and emphasizes a message of quality by listing each individual award below.

The message is reinforced by pairing print display with an insert campaign that keeps industry excellence top of mind.”

About NAMPA Founded in 1994, NAMPA is the only international non-profit association of senior and boomer publications in the United States and Canada. Its purpose is to help publishers in their publication enhancement— both in terms of content and advertising revenue, to aid in the exchange of ideas, to help maintain and improve standards, and to assist in improving the business conditions within this unique publishing industry.

NAMPA members publish 92 publications in 36 market areas with combined estimated monthly readership of 4.4 million seniors/ boomers located in the United States and Canada. NAMPA›s corporate headquarters are located in Shreveport, Louisiana.

For more information about NAMPA and its member publications, contact Gary L. Calligas, executive director at (877) 466-2672 or email gary@maturepublishers.com. FY Wendy Guild Swearingen is editor of Forever Young.

Safety, comfort, affordability.

We know what it takes to keep you Safe, Secure, Comfortable, and most importantly at a price that seems too good to be true. For over thirty-five years, our family owned and operated business strives to offer you this and so much more. Come be a part of our family.

Studio Apartments Starting at $520

30

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR QUALIFIED SENIORS. • 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments • All utilities included • Number one in WNY for Maryvale East Senior Complex crafts and activities 100 Moorman Drive • Coin-op laundry Cheektowaga, New York 14225 • Pet friendly Income Eligible Seniors 55 & Older • 24 hr. maintenance (716) 681-5061 • Meals program

FY FIND & SAVE

FIND SAVE $ AND

15% OFF WINE 10% OFF SPIRITS 750 ml or larger, excludes sale items

Must present coupon • No Limit • Coupon Expires 11/22/19

DELIVERYE AVAILABL

1430 DELAWARE AVE. • BUFFALO, NY 14209 716.884.1346 • GATESCIRCLELIQUOR.COM

10% off Any

· Custom Recovering · Lamp Repairs · Largest Selection of Replacement Lampshades in WNY · Decorative Finials

Purchase Prior sales & custom work excluded.

Not valid with any other offer.

896-7393 3035 Genesee

Shades Unlimited 3035 Genesee St. Cheektowaga

(between Harlem & Union) www.shades-unltd.com

Yes I'd like a subscription

Enclosed is my $12 annual payment

Name: Address: City: Phone: Please make checks payable to Forever Young and return to:

State:

Zip:

Email: Forever Young 1738 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY 14207

or call: 783.9119. x2238 with your payment

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 31

RADIO

CLASSIFIEDS APPLIANCE REPAIR Washer, Dryers, Dishwashers, Gas And Electric Ranges Repaired And Installed. Reasonable Guaranteed! Senior Discount 684-7786 or 877-4799

CLOCK REPAIR Grandfather Clocks & All Others.

Free In-Home Estimate, Pick Up, Deliver. 773-8930

PAYING CASH Cash For Your Old Toys: Trains And Railroad Items, 1 Piece Or Entire Estate, Collections Wanted!! Working Or Broken, Check Your Attic Or Basement.

Call 684-7786 Or 877-4799.

WANTED TO BUY Buying Costume Jewelry, School Rings and Scrap Gold. We make house calls. Carol & Jack 8768283.

NOVEMBER SOLUTION

AD DEADLINE IS NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 12TH FOR THE DECEMBER ISSUE. To Place your ad Call NOW! 7 8 3 - 9 1 1 9 x 2 2 3 5

YOUR PAGE Forever Young readers: we want to hear from you! Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized?

Tell us more. Do you have a story you’d like to share?

Drop us a line. We want to devote space in Forever Young to what matters most: you. Send your story ideas to editor Wendy Guild Swearingen at wswearingen@ foreveryoung.com or 1738 Elmwood Ave., Suite 103, Buffalo, NY 14207.

32

www.foreveryoungwny.com | November 2019

From the desk of WECK Radio owner and local business advocate Buddy Shula

BUFFALO TRADITIONS As we arrive into the holiday season, traditions become more important than ever. At WECK Radio, we live and breathe Buffalo traditions every day. The music you grew up with from the late 50’s, 60s and 70’s brought to you by the trusted personalities who played those songs when they were brand new on your radio.

While traditions have seemed to become a thing of the past in some arenas, it is something WECK takes very seriously.

Over the next few weeks, you will hear other radio stations playing their “Holiday Music”, some of them 24 hours a day. At WECK Radio, we follow traditions, we play your favorite traditional Christmas Music, along with your favorite oldies. We do not exploit our valued Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

During this special time of the year, remember to listen to WECK on 1230AM / 100.5FM in the northtowns, and 102.9FM in the southtowns. Also, listen to WECK on all voice-activated devices, download our free WECK app, and of course listen at www.weckbuffalo.com Thanks you for your continued support of Buffalo’s One and Only Oldies Radio Station!

NOTEWORTHY November 2 Rick James’ Original Stone City Band

November 9–10 Orchid Show Enjoy award-winning orchids, learn about orchid care, and browse a sale of orchids and supplies.

The Bad Boys of Funk are coming home for one night only with original band members Levi, Tom, Lanise, Oscar, Danny, and Nate.

6 p.m. at Tralf Music Hall (622 Main Street; tralfmusichall.com, 835-3500)

November 16 Annual Studio Artist Exhibition

Sat. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens (2655 South Park Avenue; Buffalogardens.com, 827-1584)

November 23–24 Greater Buffalo Train and Toy Show

This large show of mostly smaller works showcases the work of BAS’s thirty-two resident artists.

See operating train and Lego layouts, with activities, demonstrations, raffles, door prizes, and more.

5–9 p.m, Buffalo Arts Studio (2495 Main Street, suite 500; buffaloartsstudio.org, 833-4450)

Hamburg Fairgrounds (5600 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg; the-fairgrounds.com)

November 30 Wayne Brady The actor, singer, dancer, improviser, songwriter, and host has blossomed into an extremely versatile entertainer who shines on both stage and screen.

8 p.m. at Seneca Niagara Casino (310 4th Street, Niagara Falls; senecaniagaracasino.com, 299-1100)

Explore Your Options for Cataract Procedures at our next

LUNCH AND LEARN Wednesday, November 6th at Noon There’s no obligation and we welcome new patients.

Come learn about the different options available regarding cataracts and cataract surgery

Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery

Call 896.8831 or visit ATWALEYE.COM Reservations recommended • 3095 Harlem Rd., Cheektowaga

“Your Vision | Our Focus”

We participate with Medicare & Major Insurance Plans Visit us at www.atwaleye.com

November 2019 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 33