Prime your life...your time
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AUGUST 2011
Prime people
E d Z aluski
talks about his love of news, pride in community.
...page 5
Prime experience
Her world is a
stage Q&A with
S kaneateles
camper shares her story of building a canoe with her granddaughter.
...page 5
Prime advice
Medicaid law
changes: Is anything safe any more?
...page 8
Christine Lightcap, founder, executive producer of The Syracuse Talent Co.
Cover story
On the cover: Starring in “Curtains!” are Bill Coughlin as Lt. Frank Cioffi, local Boston detective, and Christine Lightcap as Carmen Bernstein, a Broadway producer.
Q & A with Christine Lightcap
Love of theatre leads to life on the stage
Salt City Center for the Performing Arts, Limestone Players, and Syracuse Musical Theatre.
What first interested you in theater?
How did the company begin?
I grew up in Eastwood right next to the Palace Theatre. I fell in love with the theatre: I would catch a double feature on Saturdays, a new double feature on Sundays, and during the summer, new double features were presented on Wednesdays as well. Since my uncle owned the theatre that was six free movies a week. I can’t remember when I didn’t want to entertain. I made myself director of the neighborhood backyard plays. It was at Blessed Sacrament Church in Eastwood, when I attended junior high, that I got my first chance on stage. I sang “You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun” in the annual musical revue. I then moved on to creating, and I wrote a musical to replace the yearly variety show. When I got the lead in my high school show, I was really bitten by the “theatre bug.”
How did you get started?
My parents definitely did not encourage me to be an actress and did not allow me to major in theatre in college. However, I managed to sneak in a minor in drama. After honeymooning in California, my husband Richard and I decided to stay on the West Coast. While there, I did my first national tour playing Smitty in “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.” I also performed in local theatre and directed for the high school where I taught. I received my Equity and SAG Cards, which are memberships in organizations of professional stage and film actors. Upon return to Syracuse, I began performing with several local community theatre groups, most often
What is your fondest memory of your involvement with the company?
- I have earned two Lifetime Achievement Awards: One from the SALT Academy (Syracuse Area Live Theatre) and one from SALTY (the youth division of the SALT’s) and also I have been honored as actress-director-producer for “outstanding individual contributions to area theatre” by the Syracuse Theatre Alliance. - In 1985, I got a huge break when I was the first in the country to obtain the rights to produce “A Chorus Line” while it was still playing on Broadway. I have produced that show five times, and each time it is very special to me.
Is the company looking for actors, people who work behind-the-scenes?
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A monthly publication devoted to Central New Yorker’s in the “Prime” of their lives. Prime is published monthly by Community Media Group LLC, 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206.
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In 1980, I formed a company with two very good theatre friends, Barbara Gibbons and Rex Henriot. We mostly secured talent for local commercials and industrials. By1984, they had moved on to other endeavors, and I retained the company name and changed the focus of the “talent” to theatrical productions. As founder and executive producer, The Talent Company became my foray into producing musicals and comedies. The company had humble beginnings with dinner theatre at the Marriott Hotel in Syracuse and the Sheraton Hotel in Liverpool. It since has become a Syracuse-based semi-professional theatre company that has presented well over 200 productions at numerous venues including The Civic Center, Landmark Theatre, Springside Inn, Three Rivers Inn, Turning Stone Resort & Casino and NewTimes Theatre and has toured numerous dinner theatre shows to major hotels and restaurants throughout central and northern New York. In 1994, The Talent Company renovated a space on the New York State Fairgrounds that became known as The Empire Theatre. For the first five and a half years, we were the exclusive tenants in the theatre and did year round productions in two venues in the Art and Home Center - The Empire Theatre and The Broadway Bistro. As an example, during the first full year of occupancy, Talent Company did nine musicals in the Empire and 4 small musicals or comedies in the Bistro in addition to two others at the Mulroy Civic Center. During the past 17 years, I have produced almost 80 shows at the Fairgrounds, several shows at the Civic Center including one production in the Crouse Hinds Theatre, and a half dozen shows in The Showroom at The Turning Stone Casino. Since 2004, Talent Company has scaled back to approximately three productions a year in the NewTimes Theatre.
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I am always looking for talent for both on and off the stage! I work hard to try to keep The Talent Company website updated, and it is a good place to look for upcoming auditions. I also always submit audition notices to the “Post Standard,” “Syracuse NewTimes,” and the “Eagle” newspapers, but I can’t guarantee they will be printed. Of course, electronic communication is becoming the way of the world so I always post on facebook, theatre forums, and other media sites. Interested people can always e-mail me at thetalentcompany@aol.com or write me at: The Talent Company 7331 Barberry Lane, Manlius, NY 13104.
What are the things that make the company special and successful?
My motto has always been to present “quality theatre at affordable prices.” I try to keep the ticket price down and still do justice to all the demands of a show. That’s the foremost thing for me, but at times this is very difficult to achieve. Costs can be quite high, and there are always unbudgeted needs that crop up. It is important to me to keep high standards for “production values.” If you are doing a show that has specific costume, prop, or set needs, you have to do it if it is needed to make the show right. I feel if you can’t do it right, you shouldn’t do it. As an example when Talent Company presented “The Full Monty,” we needed a marquee that lit up for about five seconds. So even if it cost $1,500 to build for five seconds of use, I felt we had to do it because that’s the way it should be done. You have to go that extra mile and/or buck so as not to cheat the audience. And therefore, as a result, I think Talent Company has enjoyed a reputation for quality shows. I might add, that I too have a well-deserved reputation as a “perfectionist.” I was brought up that way and its carryover to my productions has helped me attain my goals. The Talent Company has always received excellent reviews from critics and audiences alike. We have loyal audience members who return show after show. We enjoy favorable reviews from many different critics associated with a variety of media, and since the inception of the SALT (Syracuse Area Live Theatre) Awards in 2004, Talent Company productions, actors, and staff have received 150 nominations and have taken home 52 trophies. Jim MacKillop, Syracuse NewTimes theatre critic, has, on several occasions, called The Talent Company the MGM of area theatre companies.
What is on the horizon?
I want to do what I love, as much as I can for as long as I can. This sentiment is a line from “A Chorus Line,” but it seems to sum up where I am headed.
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It’s ‘Curtains! ’ for CNY: Syracuse Talent Company presents whodunnit The Syracuse Talent Company Presents the Broadway Hit Musical Comedy Whodunnit ““Curtains!” ” in the New Times Theatre, NYS Fairgrounds through Aug. 14. Packed full of show-stopping numbers and one of the funniest who-dunnits ever, “Curtains!” is a delightful return to old-fashioned musical comedy. A new, hilarious musical from the creators of Chicago and Cabaret, “Curtains!” unfolds backstage at Boston’s Colonial Theatre in 1959 at a pre-Broadway tryout of a new musical. When the talent-free leading lady is murdered on opening night, Lieutenant Frank Cioffi arrives on the scene to conduct an investigation. But the lure of the theatre proves irresistible, and after an unexpected romance blooms for the stage-struck detective, he finds himself just as drawn toward making the show a hit, as he is in solving the murder. As the bodies pile up, everyone is a suspect. Can Cioffi solve the murders and save the show so it can reach Broadway? Complete with a knockout talented cast, drop-dead gorgeous costumes, and killer choreography, “Curtains!” is the “don’t miss” musical comedy of the sum “Curtains!” stars Bill Coughlin as Lt. Frank Cioffi, local Boston detective, and Christine Lightcap as Carmen Bernstein, a Broadway producer. An actor, director and drama teacher in Central New York for more than 20 years, Mr. Coughlin’s professional credits range from the classics to children’s theatre to the television soap operas “Ryan’s Hope” and “The Guiding Light.” With over 100 roles to her credit locally, Lightcap’s work as an actress has taken her on both national
and international tours and off-Broadway. Her credits include regional theater, summer stock, dinner theatre, film, industrials, and numerous radio and TV commercials. Curtains!” will play at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays in the New Times Theatre, NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse. Tickets are $30; $25 for seniors and students; and $20 for children 12 and under. Group discounts are available. For tickets or info call The Talent Company Box-Office 479-SHOW (7469). Visit The Talent Company website at thetalentco.com for further information.
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Mosquitoes are a nuisance for everyone – young and old. However, diseases mosquitoes may carry diseases that can be very risky for senior citizens. West Nile Virus (WNV) is one mosquito-borne disease that can be very serious. People over the age of 50 are more likely to develop serious symptoms of WNV if they do get sick and should take special care to avoid mosquito bites. Here are some things you can do to prevent mosquito bites: Use EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus; Wear protective clothing like long pants and long-sleeved shirts; Install and repair screens on windows and doors; Dump standing water so mosquitoes can’t breed ; Avoid outside activity between dusk and dawn (peak time for mosquitoes) The good news is that most people who are bitten by mosquitoes infected with WNV will not get sick. However, one in 150 people infected will develop severe systems such as severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, mental confusion, muscle weakness, tremors (shaking), coma, or paralysis. If you develop any of these severe symptoms, contact your health care provider. Please call the Onondaga County Health Department at 435-1649 for more information.
Syracuse Talent Co. members in a scene from “Curtaims!”
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Readers: Submissions wanted Send your photos, events, letters and announcements to: jwing@eaglenewsonline.com or Prime, 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206
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Physical Therapist for The Centers at St. Camillus
Summertime in Central New York is, for many, a time of liberation – freedom from winter’s confining overcoats, sweaters, gloves, and boots. In warmer weather, even everyday shoes can seem confining and uncomfortable, leading many to turn to more open, airy forms of footwear.
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Sandals, flip-flops, clogs and Crocs may seem more comfortable and harmless, but they may in fact cause problems if you walk any significant distance in them.
Applications for rent subsidized apartments for senior citizens age 62 and over and mobility impaired disabled persons regardless of age.
When walking, our feet are designed to move in a very specific pattern. We generally walk with a heel-to-toe gait. As we get ready to pick one foot off the ground, we flex at the ball of the foot with the toes bending upward. This pattern developed over eons and anything that might disrupt that is bound to cause a problem.
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Certain types of open sandals – specifically those that are not securely fastened around the heel, such as flip-flops – may cause such an alteration in this pattern. Very often, the foot compensates for this unstable platform by using the toes to “grab� the front of the sandal. This can result in overuse of the toe flexor muscles and, more importantly, it may also significantly change the timing and move-
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Zaluski talks war and his appreciation for newspapers By Michael Masucci Jr.
There are few people in Syracuse who can say that they have read and received every single issue of a specific publication. Newspaper, magazine, trade magazine – it doesn’t matter. Today, people are even starting to shy away from print news due to the expansive availability of news on the web. Although, WWII veteran, Ed Zaluski of Cicero has read and subscribed to every Star-News and Star-Review weekly newspaper since the paper’s birth in 1992. Zaluski and his wife, Betti Zaluski, 83, have received the publication for more than 20 years, and wouldn’t have it any other way. “I don’t ever remember not having the Star-Review,” said Zaluski. “We would get all the newspapers, the Post-Standard, The Herald Journal, the Star-Review. “I always liked newspapers. I like hometown pictures and papers.” Zaluski has been quoted and seen throughout the StarReview and the Star-News, mostly because of his historical and charismatic career in the Army Air Corp. as a flight mechanic and airplane bomber. According to Zaluski, the Star-Review has been a very reliable and happy extension to his family-life and achievements because of its local focus and community based news and stories. “Betty and I like it; it’s hometown,” said Zaluski. “It’s how I function.” Not only has Zaluski provided ads and photos for the StarReview, but he’s started multiple programs throughout the region to help bring the community together and appreciate the efforts of all war veterans who reside in Central New York. Zaluski entered the service in the summer of 1943 as an airplane bomber in the B24 Liberator Bomber, a historical bomber plane with four engines and a top turret where Zaluski manned control for much of career. He also trained as a mechanic to fix the plane if it was ever shot or damaged by gunfire. “It was very dangerous,” said Zaluski. “You could have engine trouble, fighters attacking you, you could get ground fire, and
you always were alerted to be ready to jump out of the plane if it was on fire.” Even with the life-threatening situations that Zaluski faced day-after-day, he loved flying, and he loved being in the air, he said. “It was something different all the time, and we traveled all over the country. It was dangerous and deadly, but it was exciting. You never knew if you were going to come back to the base,” said Zaluski. “Once you’re up there - there’s no place to hide.” While in active duty, Zaluski was put to 30 bombing missions including attacks in the battle of Iwo-jima, Saipan, Guam and Nagasaki. His bomb group was called the “Island Hoppers” because they would bomb an island and then leave as fast as they could complete the mission details. “I saw so many young men that were casualties,” said Zaluski. “If your plane went down and you bailed out over the ocean, you were shark bait. If you bailed out over Japanese territory, you were target practice.” According to Zaluski, when someone dies at war, “you don’t think about it, because you could be next.” After completing his service as an airplane bomber, Zaluski flew POWs that were captured by the Japanese in Bataan and Corrigidor, and brought them back to the states, Zaluski wasn’t a pilot in the planes, but he acted as military supervisor personnel. Once WWII ended and his military service was over in 1946, Zaluski moved back to Syracuse and and got married to Betti in 1947. After he and Betti were married, Ed worked at Crouse Hinds and retired there after 44 years as a factory superintendent. Zaluski’s duties in the Army Air Corp. may have ended in 1946, but that didn’t stop Zaluski’s passion for the military to continue. In the mid 1940s, Zaluski started the 174th Fighter Squadron at Hancock International. He was there for 13 years, both as military and national guard. Currently, Zaluski spends a lot of time working on programs
michael masucci jr.
Cicero resident, Ed Zaluski holds a photo of himself when he served in World War II as a plane bomber and a flight mechanic in a total of thirty missions. RIGHT: Zaluski shows one of the numerous saved Star-News newspapers he has saved. This particular paper pictured above was from 1995. with local school such Gilette Road Middle, St. Rose of Lima Elementary, Lakeshore Road Elementary, St. Camillus Health Center and the Liverpool School District to talk with the students and faculty about veterans, so that they are aware of the sacrifices and efforts that military men and women have given this country. “You can never forget the war. And you carry that throughout your life,” said Zaluski. Local programs that Zaluski has started: - USA Day, at Gilette Road Middle. - Veterans Day program, St. Rose of Lima: Veterans march for the school and make a presentation for the students. The school wears uniforms that the Veterans. Zaluski gets together about 40 to 50 veterans for the event. - Marching skit at Lakeshore Road Elementary: veterans watch plays and vocal demonstrations from the students as well.
Building a canoe with my granddaughter By Katharine Dyson When I picked Noelle up at the airport she was dragging a super-sized piece of luggage, her slight 12-year-old frame weighed down by an enormous back pack also maxed to the limit. “It only weighs 36 pounds,” she told me cheerfully, meeting my gaze head-on. Had she received a “List of Things to Pack?” Yep. We were after all heading for Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks, where she wouldn’t need a whole lot of clothes. Later I would see her unpack more than 20 fashion T-shirts, panties, short, tight pants, some very cute sundresses, a behemoth hairdryer, her electric hair straightener, hair brushes, paste-on nails, a little rub thing she told me tightened the bags under her eyes, a purple plush octopus, her iPad and a few small velour jackets with glitter designs. Where were her jeans, her sweatshirts, her windbreakers? I knew better than to ask her why she needed a hair straightener. Her hair had been straight from birth, but what did I know. In Noelle’s world of high speed texting, where her fingers moved faster than a court stenographer’s (she had taught herself to type using a Sponge Bob program), she was going into a remote area where there was no
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cell service and things like iPads were not allowed. I saw this six-day trip as a “bonding” experience, something different for a bright almost-teenager whose idea of a good time was getting her nails done and shopping. We were enrolled in a Road Scholar (formerly Elder Hostel) intergenerational program for grandparents and grandchildren: “Boat Building and Canoe Skills” at Great Camp Sagamore. A massive complex on a small, tree-fringed lake with mountains all around, the main log camp and other outbuildings including our cabin, Wigwam, were all once part of the historic Vanderbilt rustic retreat. We arrived late Sunday afternoon, settling into our room which looked cozy and comfortable with pine beds covered with Hudson Bay wool blankets and fresh-laundered linens with a bath towel, hand towel and washcloth. Our room had a big stone fireplace, a bureau, hooks for hanging clothes and one chair. We shared a bath with the room next door which was occupied by a friend and her 11-year-old grandson. Also in Wigwam were four other grandchildren and their grandparents, folks we would get to know quickly over the next few days laughing ourselves silly playing Ghost,
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Gin and other games in the evening in the main room of our two-story cabin. I should have known something was up when we first registered and were given a bug shirt. We were in camp late June, a ripe time, we soon learned, for black flies, deer flies, mosquitoes and anything else that flies and bites. Sure, we had bug spray, but it was hardly adequate ammunition for the vicious army of blood-sucking, heat-seeking missiles. “This is the worst we’ve ever seen,” said the camp director. The camp was filled with kids and adults scratching, swatting and applying hydrocortisone cream. Our khaki-colored net bug jackets were our first line of defense. Still we only got serious about this after that first day when we had canoed across the lake to a beach, swam off shore and canoed back. Our necks, hair, ears, were covered with welts that itched like crazy. After that day, the camp turned into a ghostly vision of scary netted people from a Fellini movie. But, bugs aside, every morning Noelle set her alarm so she could get up before everyone, wash her hair, straighten whatever need straightening and choose another pair of little shorts and a cool shirt to wear under her bug jacket. She did this cheerfully, humming and singing a camp song we’d learned the first day:
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Katharine Dyson and her granddaughter, Noelle, at Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks. “Another Cup of Coffee.” While our group of seven kids (ages 11-14) and their grandparents were there to do the Boat Building and Canoe Skills program, the younger kids in “Grands Camp” had a full schedule of camp-type activities We would all meet for meals in the Dining Lodge and evening programs. Here, when some little voice called, “Grandma,” more than one head turned. Nighttime activities included square dancing, concerts, fireside sing-alongs and s’mores The final night was Creativity Night and Noelle and her newest best Friend, Mari, sang See Canoe on page 6
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Canoe
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floorboards, gunwales, keel, planking and skin. How he managed to keep seven kids ages 11-14 interested and working on their projects from 8:30 a.m. until about 4:30 p.m. with a break for lunch for four days is a minor miracle. In fact, the kids could not wait to finish their sandwiches and get back to the shop. We laughed a lot as he peppered his ongoing instruction with wise sayings. “You swing like a monkey with a hammer;� he told one boy, showing him the proper way to get the best leverage. With our brushes loaded with red paint, poised to cover the outer canvas skin of the canoe, he asked, “Know what a holiday is? A missed spot.� When Noelle pointed to him to come help her, he replied, “ When you point a finger remember there are always three fingers pointing back at you.� And when someone got discouraged, he said with a grin, “You are never a failure: you can always be used as a bad example,� and later, “It’s OK to make a mistake as long as you don’t make the same mistake twice.� Noelle was one of three who signed up to make a canoe paddle. Starting with a roughcut shape, it took all day. Though the other grandparents did some of the physical work, Noelle wanted to do it all herself. I stood by her, handing her the spokeshave, encouraging her when she was struggling, at one point almost in tears. “I can’t do this,� she wailed as her plane shuddered across the wood. Then, when I tried to do it, she said “Grandma, you are chat-
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grandma and new found friends. A time when she completed a task done well. I recall saying to my own mother over and over again, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to do it myself.â&#x20AC;? While Noelle was wood-burning a tree into her paddle in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Henhouseâ&#x20AC;? (craft room) I went back to the shop to catch up on caning. As Pat started to explain what I had missed, I jumped ahead and started telling him how I thought it worked. He simply stepped back, grinned and remarked, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The apple doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall far from the tree, does it.â&#x20AC;? Busted. Anyone interested in attending a an intergenerational camp should contact greatcampsagamore.org or 685-5311; or Road. Katharine Dyson, a Skaneateles native, is a well-known travel, golf and lifestyle writer. Noelle Pinckney lives with her father, Michael Pinckey, a Skaneateles native, in Charlotte, NC.
Audibel Hearing Aids addresses myths about hearing loss
Do you know the real truth about hearing loss and hearing aids? Here are some helpful answers to some of the most common myths about each. Myth: If I had hearing loss, my family doctor would have told me. Truth: Only 15 percent of doctors routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical exam. Even when a doctor does screen for hearing problems, the results may be suspect since most people with hearing problems hear pretty well in quiet environments â&#x20AC;&#x201C; like a doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. Without special training on hearing loss, it may be difficult for your family doctor to even realize you have a hearing problem. Myth: Nothing can be done about my hearing loss. Truth: People with hearing loss in one ear, with a high-frequency hearing loss, or with nerve damage may have been told by their family doctor that nothing can be done to help. Modern technology has changed that. Now, nearly 95 percent of people with hearing loss can be helped, most with hearing aids. Myth: Only people with serious hearing loss need hearing aids. Truth: Your lifestyle, your need for refined hearing and the degree of your hearing loss will determine whether you need a hearing aid. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a profession that relies on your ability to discern the nuances of human conversation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as a lawyer, teacher or group psychotherapist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even mild hearing loss can interfere with your life. Myth: Hearing aids are big and ugly. Wearing one will make me look old or disabled. Truth: Untreated hearing loss is far more noticeable than todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hearing aids. If you miss
the punch line of a joke, or respond inappropriately to a comment or question, people may wonder about your mental capacity. Hearing aid makers realize people are concerned about how they will look wearing a hearing aid. Today, you can find miniature hearing aids that fit totally within the ear canal or behind your ear, making them virtually invisible. Myth: Hearing loss is an inevitable part of growing older and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing I can do to prevent it from happening to me. Truth: You can take steps to prevent hearing loss. Noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss; 10 million Americans have already suffered irreversible damage to their hearing from noise. Yet a third of all hearing loss could be prevented with proper ear protection. Myth: I cannot afford hearing aids. Truth: There is a wide price range in hearing aids on the market just like there is for other consumer products. There are also financing options available that can make purchasing hearing aids very affordable. Myth: Hearing loss only affects the old, right? Truth: Hearing loss affects all age groups. Only 40 percent of people with hearing loss are older than 64. The largest age group with hearing loss is people between 18 and 64 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; about 19 million people compared to 14 million at retirement age. More than 1 million school-age children have hearing problems as well. If you want to avoid hearing loss, it pays to know the truth behind the myths and the basics of hearing loss prevention.
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tering,â&#x20AC;? which is short for gouging. Pat came over. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can figure it all out because you have a brain,â&#x20AC;? he said, taking the tool and showing her how to hold it. Soon she was shaving off curls of wood like a master. I was proud of her. She had to shape the paddle part to a fine edge, make the rectangular shaft round and use the rasp to shape a smooth handle. Finally she wood-burned a design which included her initials and mine. It was a thing of beauty. The kids loved Pat and on the closing night at the talent show they made up a skit for him based on his sayings like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Speed isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always an advantage. Remember the snails were on board the Ark with the cheetahsâ&#x20AC;? He stood along the back wall, arms crossed, beaming. My hope is the paddle will remind Noelle of a fun time in the woods with her
Nurse/CPR Instructor
Beth Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor
(315) 256-3210 elizabetha.oconnor@yahoo.com (315) 256-3210 Nurse/CPR Instructor Madison/Onondaga/Oneida/Cortland Counties elizabetha.oconnor@yahoo.com
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and danced. Meals were things kids liked including fruits, veggies, proteins, starches and, always, peanut butter. During picnic night by the lake, Noelle said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the first meal where I like everything.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Everythingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, corn on the cob and brownies. If there were a god of canoe and boat building skills it would be Pat Smith. A big man with a huge laugh, Pat used to be a cop in Naples, N.Y., but always loved the outdoors, wooden boats, working with his hands and kids, not necessarily in that order. Now he operates a full-out classic cedar and canvas canoe business, West Hollow Boat Co., in Naples. (westhollowboats.com) Pat comes up to Sagamore Great Camp a couple times a year, bringing a partially finished canoe which the kids and grandparents continue to work on year after year. Some day it will be finished, but for now it rests on sawhorses in his workshop while his â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;studentsâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; us â&#x20AC;&#x201D; work on it. Pat taught us how to bend wood by steaming; how to stretch canvas; shape wood with a spokeshave, block plane and rasp and other hand tools. We learned how to sand and rub clean with a tacky cloth; how to hammer brass tacks so the point is clinched to hold; and how to cane seats. We constructed a â&#x20AC;&#x153;waniganâ&#x20AC;? a kind of storage box which fits into the center of the canoe and resembles a cross section of the canoe. We learned terms like yoke, thwart,
Madison/Onondaga/Oneida/Cortland Counties
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august Prime 2011 (315) 256-3210 elizabetha.oconnor@yahoo.com
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Prime health
Medical alert system allows seniors to stay at home longer
By Kelly Quinn Imagine falling in your home, not being able to get up, and not knowing when someone will find you. Falls happen to one out of three adults age 65 and older each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among that same age group. It’s an alarming issue and one that needs to be addressed. Donna Handzel of Liverpool has a history of working with the elderly. She knows people often wait until after their first fall before considering a personal response system. So when her mother, Marion Marcy, moved in three years ago, she signed up for Lifeline Medical Alert System. “My mom is cognitively intact but has some health problems,” Donna said. “I worry about two things - the potential for falls and some kind of medical event that would require pushing Lifeline. Since I work full time, if one of those things should happen, she may not be able to get to a phone.” It’s a good thing Donna thought ahead. Her mother has pushed “the button” about five times over the past three years. “In each one of those cases,
she didn’t need a 911 call but she had fallen and couldn’t get up,” Donna said. The most recent occurred just a few days ago. Lifeline couldn’t reach Donna so they called her husband. He was on his way to help his mother-in-law in minutes. “Without Lifeline, the bottom line is, she would have lain on the floor for hours and I wouldn’t have known about it,” said Donna. Lifeline is a 24/7 medical alert system that helps to support a senior’s determination to stay at home. Offered locally by Franciscan Companies, it eliminates the physical and psychological suffering of not knowing when someone will come by to assist. “Fear of falling is nearly as detrimental as an actual fall,” said Beverly Lawton, the Executive Director of Franciscan Lifeline. “With a fear of falling, the older adult limits their activity, becomes weaker and increases their risk to fall. The fear becomes a selffulfilling prophecy.” “I always tell people Lifeline is like an insurance policy. If you don’t use it, that’s fine. That’s great. But if you need it, it’s worth every penny and more, if you need it,” Donna said. Call Franciscan Companies at 4928175 for more information.
Medication errors on the rise Taking medication sounds simple. Open the bottles. Take out the appropriate pills. Put the pills in your mouth. Wash them down. You’re done. But as you age, medications become increasingly complex and confusing. You may forget to take them or miss a dose. The consequences of medication errors can be deadly. The number of people treated in U.S. hospitals for illnesses and injuries related to taking medications jumped 52 percent between 2004 and 2008, from 1.2 million to 1.9 million, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. These side effects and injuries result from taking or being given the incorrect dosage or medication. Blood thinners, cancer drugs, painkillers, arthritis drugs, and blood pressure medicines were among the top drugs causing side effects and injuries. “These recent statistics show that medication errors continue to be a serious threat to older adults. As more of our seniors are living longer with more chronic conditions, this trend will worsen,” said Beverly Lawton, the Executive Director of Franciscan Companies Lifeline. “Caregivers need to discuss their family member’s medications at every healthcare appointment and look at ways to reduce risks in their home,” Lawton continued. Syracuse resident Mike Hayes cares for his mother, Rita. She lives at Park Rose Retirement Community and takes four pills in the morning and one at night.
“She would forget it or sometimes she would double up. Sometimes she would not take it for a couple of days. Finally her doctor called and said your mom has early Alzheimer’s and you need to help her,” Hayes said. Mike ordered Lifeline’s Medication Dispenser for Rita in March. “Initially I thought, ‘Mom isn’t very tech savvy and holy smokes…I don’t know if she’s going to latch onto this technology’. Well, it’s as simple as it can get,” Hayes said. Family members or caregivers load up to 40 days of medications into the Medication Dispenser. The system sends out an audible reminder and a light flashes telling the user when it’s time to take their medication. If the medication isn’t dispensed, the Medication Dispenser alerts a caregiver. “Sometimes at night she’s out and around and not in her apartment and it’ll call me and tell me the patient hasn’t taken her medicine,” Hayes said. Now that Rita is taking her medications regularly, her doctor says her blood pressure and cholesterol are back in line. This gives her son peace of mind. “I don’t have to worry about it if I’m out of town. This thing will constantly give her the medicine. Plus with the med dispenser, you guys (Franciscan Companies) fill it, so it’s a mini check-up twice a month. If something went wrong, you guys would catch it,” Hayes said. Call 492-8175 for more information.
“I got results.”
“After my car accident, I never thought I would walk again. I can’t say enough about the short-term rehabilitation program at Syracuse Home. In less than three weeks, I walked into my home again.” - Michelle Rurka of Baldwinsville
Central New York’s leading choice for short-term rehabilitation
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Over 500 short-term rehab residents successfully returned home last year Eaglenewspapers
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Prime advice
Medicaid laws changed April 1, is anything safe anymore? By David J. Zumpano Medicaid law is federal law. What makes it unique is while it is federal it specifically requires the states to implement it. There is no federal Medicaid agency overseeing its operation, each state has created a Medicaid department to manage it within the state. In New York, it is called the New York State Department of Social Services. While the Medicaid program is run by the states, each state must follow certain Federal
mandates but the states have discretion on how to apply it. For example, the federal law provides if an individual is married and applying for Medicaid for a nursing home, a community spouse is entitled to retain a minimum amount of income per month. The federal law states the minimum can be no less than $1,821.00 and no more than $2,739.00. Each state gets to decide the minimum it allows, but it must be within the federal guidelines. New York’s minimum is $2,739.00. There are similar rules for the assets a community
About David J. Zumpano, CPA/Esq.
A Central New York native, he started the Law Offices of David J. Zumpano, remaining “of counsel” to his former firm, now known as the Estate Planning Law Center, David J. Zumpano CPA, Esq. He is founder of the Medicaid Practice Network and Medicaid Practice Systems, LLC (MPS) and is also the creator of a Law Practice System for attorneys. Estate Planning Law Center offices are located in Syracuse, New Hartford and Miami, Fla. Contact Mary Brewer at 446-3850 to register for a free educational estate planning workshop or schedule a complimentary consultation. Visit eplawcenter.com.
spouse can retain. A simple change in the budget bills April 1, 2011, has tremendous impact on everyday people. The crux of the change comes in
the state’s right to define what an individual’s estate consists of for Medicaid purposes. Federal law requires states to implement a See Medicaid on page 11
Estate planning includes the monument purchase Glenn and Jeanne Candee are owners of Sweet-Woods Memorial Company, located in Phoenix, Camillus, and in Brewerton. SweetWoods Memorial Company has been serving families throughout Central New York and surrounding areas with their memorial needs since 1932. Their philosophy is simple: they provide you with the best quality granite, workmanship, and service possible, through the selection and personal design of a fitting memorial. They understand that this can be a positive part of the grieving process, to offer families an everlasting and personal tribute to their loved ones. Since the beginning of human history, men have always built monuments for one basic reason… they want to remind present and future
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generations of the accomplishments of generations past. The very word monument means “to remind” or “to remember.” This “need to remember” is universal. Monuments are built because someone lived, and not because someone died. Their purpose is to encourage respect, hope, and inspiration. Monument designs are very personal and there is no single design than can be declared appropriate for every memorial. When purchasing a monument, keep in mind that this will last forever. The monument you create may serve as a source of genealogical reference for future generations. As such, it should be made without hurry, using great care and consideration. Pre-planning for your memorial is assum-
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ing a more important role in our lives. Why pre-plan for your monument? There are several reasons: You and your spouse can be the decisionmakers on what type, style, size, and color of granite you prefer. Lower cost today as compared with future prices; select what you are financially comfortable with, rather than financially burdening your family after you are gone. Protects your family from high-pressure sales tactics that can occur at a time when they are under emotional stress, and relieves their emotional burden. Peace of mind. In addition to personal memorials, the companies design many civic and community projects. Some of the more notable features
Prime 2011
are: Fowler High School’s memorial homage to the Columbia Space Shuttle; the statue of St. Joseph located at St. Joseph’s hospital entrance; the Korea-Vietnam memorial in downtown Syracuse; the Onondaga County Sheriff and Fire Department memorial at the Public Safety building in downtown Syracuse; the Taras H. Shevchenko memorial on Tipperary Hill; and the Kenneth Brand memorial at Moyers Corners Fire Station 1. Most of the carving on monuments is done in their shop, where you will find state-of-theart equipment for design and sandblasting. Their professional staff provides the installation. Each of these employees has been with the company in excess of 25 years. See Monument on page 9
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Prime advertiser news By Terry Ball, M.AuD., CCC â&#x20AC;&#x201C;A Hearing loss comes in many shapes and sizes. It can affect people of all ages and for various reasons. But unless the hearing loss is caused by a trauma to the ear, either physical or acoustical, the loss tends to be a slow, gradual onset. This gradual loss makes it even harder for people to recognize that they are having as much difficulty as they are. But most people, as they get older, do experience some degree of hearing loss and even mild hearing loss can significantly affect quality of life for people and their families. Loved ones often act as the ears for people who no longer hear like they used to hear. As such, they end up repeating themselves, speaking louder, interpreting the conversation of others, or maybe just saying, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;forget it!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; According to an article published by the Better Hearing Institute, the number one reason why people purchase their first hearing aid is that they recognize their hearing has worsened. The second reason is pressure from family members who are negatively impacted by an individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loss. The average age of first time hearing aid wearers is close to 70 years old, despite the fact that the majority (65 percent) of people with hearing loss are below the age of 65; and nearly half of all people with hearing loss are below the age of 55. (Source: Hearing Solutionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;The Impact of Treated Hearing Loss on Quality
of Life). So why wait to get a hearing aid? Oftentimes, the hearing-impaired individual fails to recognize there is a problem and resists taking responsibility for it. But untreated hearing loss can be associated with fatigue, irritability, anger, avoidance of social activities, negativism, loneliness, less alertness to the environment, impaired memory, less adaptability to learning new tasks, reduced general health, reduced coping skills, and reduced overall psychological health. There is data to support the idea that improved hearing improves quality of life for the hearing-impaired and their loved ones. Working with the National Council on Aging, 1,500 hearing aid owners and 1,500 family members were surveyed on various components of quality of life issues. The findings clearly demonstrate that those who sought help for their hearing loss had better relationships at home and with family, improved mental health, social life, emotional health, and physical health. Dr. Firman, of the National Council on the Aging, stated in a speech to the media in 1999, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This study debunks the myth that untreated hearing loss is a harmless condition.â&#x20AC;? So what can you, the family, do to help? First, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the ears of your loved one. If you repeat what you say, constantly raise
your voice, or act as the messenger, then they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to seek help. Your goal is to assist them in hearing better, independently of you, and especially as they transition into an environment where they interact more with others or have the opportunity to engage in more social activities. Be a real hearing aid Recognize life patterns in both you and your loved one who is having hearing difficulties. We all react differently and do things in certain ways. If you recognize general patterns of behavior and attitude, it may give you insight as to how to best address the issue. Likewise, you have your own patterns. Have you been assisting them for so long that they now expect it and you are now part of the pattern? You need to lovingly tell them you will no longer repeat yourself and then make a conscious effort to stop interpreting for them. Make the commitment not to be an enabler. Once you make up your mind to accept only what is best for your loved one, you can make it happen. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t force itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;create it. No one likes being pushed, but when gentle, helpful guidance in the form of love and compassion comes, so will change. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a hearing helper! So everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decided to make an appointment for the hearing test. Now what? See Hearing on page 12
Monument
from page 8
The sales staff at each location has had several years in the monument industry. Their gentle guidance and recommendations assist families when planning for a memorial at time of need. As a testimonial to their commitment of providing quality in memorialization, you will find their memorials in just about every cemetery in Syracuse and surrounding counties. Glenn and Jeanne Candee invite you to stop in at one of their three locations. The locations are open Monday through Saturdays, and home appointments and after-hour appointments are welcome. Call 695-3376, 468-0616 or 6762333.
Come Check out whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on at the:
& (FOFTFF 4U t
Thursday, August 11th Enjoy music from the:
Stan Colella All Star Band Starting at 4pm
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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s That You Say? The best way to help with hearing loss may be not helping at all
Chicken BBQ - $8
BBQ QN QN PS VOUJM HPOF 8BML *OT 5BLF 0VUT
Stop in! All are welcome!
SWEET-WOODS MEMORIAL Co. Serving all of Central NY EST. 1932
Camillus, NY Phoenix, NY 315-695-3376 315-468-0616 Brewertown, NY 315-676-2333
Home Appointments Welcome
We Participate In The Veteran Discount Program
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Cemetery Memorials and Bronze Cemetery Lettering
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. . .
McCarthy Manor Apartments
501 S. Crouse Avenue - close to doctors, hospitals, stores and buslines
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02477
CALL DANA AT 475-6390 OR TOD RELAY 1-800-662-1220 FOR A TOUR!
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IF YOU ARE 62 OR OLDER OR DISABLED OR HANDICAPPED OF ANY AGE, WE HAVE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING FOR YOU. . .
Prime 2011
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News
Madison County Office for the Aging Inc.
Considering your legacy
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Food Stamp Program is there to help
Have you ever had to decide whether to buy medicine or buy food? Have you ever had to choose between paying the heating bill and having enough food for dinner? Every day, thousands of low-income people in Madison County grapple with issues like these. But they don’t have to. The Food Stamp Program helps low-income Americans purchase nutritious, healthy food. However, only half of those eligible to receive food stamp benefits are currently enrolled. Food stamps are a win-win for low-income senior citizens, as well as for the local Theresa Davis, OFA economy. By helping them defray the costs of groceries, food stamp executive director benefits allow recipients to purchase more healthy and nutritious food. These benefits also help local retailers and the local community by bringing federal dollars into the area. Below are 10 myths and facts about Food Stamp Benefits and the Elderly: MYTH: Food stamps are welfare. FACT: The Food Stamp Program is a nutrition assistance program. It helps low income people buy nutritious foods. It is not welfare. MYTH: Elderly people cannot own or be buying a home. If they own or are buying a home, the government will take it. FACT: Individuals can own or buy a home and still get food stamps. The home and its lot are not counted as a resource in the Food Stamp Program. The Food Stamp Program does not require a person to sign away their home. MYTH: Elderly people must go to the food stamp office for an interview. FACT: If an elderly person is not able to go to the food stamp office, he or she may request a telephone interview. The person may also ask a relative, pastor, neighbor, Office for the Aging staff member, etc., to attend the interview
as an authorized representative. Applicants for and recipients of SSI may also apply for food stamp benefits at the Social Security Office. MYTH: Elderly people are only allowed $2,000 in resources. FACT: The resources limit for elderly households or households containing one elderly person is up to $3,000. MYTH: Elderly people do not receive credit for medical and prescription drug bills. FACT: Medical expenses that exceed $35 a month may be deducted unless an insurance company or someone who is not a household member pays for them. Only the amount over $35 can be deducted. If you would like more information about the Food Stamp Program, feel free to call the Office for the Aging at 697-5700 and someone will be more than willing to assist you.
Office for the Aging Senior Nutrition (SNACK) Sites Brookfield – Open Tuesday and Thursday, 1st and 7th Day Baptist Church, Elm and Beaver Creek Rd; Activities: Tuesdays and Thursdays – 12:30 p.m. Cards Canastota – Open Monday through Friday, Stoneleigh Apts, 400 La.m.b Ave; Activities: Wednesday – 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. –Blood Pressure Clinic Cazenovia – Open Monday and Thursday, Cazenovia Village Apts, 24 Nelson St Chittenango – Open Monday, Tuesday and Friday, A.m.erican Legion, 70 Legion Drive; Activities: Fridays – 1 p.m. - Cards Earlville – Open Wednesday and Friday, A.m.erican Legion -113 N. Main St; Activities: Wednesdays and Fridays – Bingo at 12:30 p.m., Cards at 1 p.m. Georgetown – Open Friday, Georgetown Town Hall, 995 Rte 26; Hamilton – Open Tuesday through Friday, Madison Lane Apts, Bldg 5; Activities: Alternate Wednesday - Sing Along; Fridays – Banana Bingo at 12:30 p.m. Morrisville – Open Monday and Wednesday, St. Joan of Arc Church, Brookside Dr; Mondays and Wednesdays – Cards at 10:30 a.m.; Second Monday each month – Sing Along and Birthday Celebration Oneida – Open Monday through Friday, Towers II Community Room, 226 Farrier Ave; Monthly health education topics are provided by a Registered Dietitian. For more information and to sign up to enjoy a hot noontime meal at a SNACK site call Madison County Office for the Aging at 697-5700 or visit our website at ofa.m.adco.org.
Retirement estimator has three-year anniversary online
It’s been three years since Social Security’s Retirement Estimator went online. Within months of its launch, the online application was praised as one of the highestrated online services around, and it has consistently remained so every year. Results from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) show Social Security’s online Retirement Estimator in one of the top two spots, with a score of 90. (Social Security’s online benefit application took the top spot.) The ACSI is the only uniform, national, cross-
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industry measure of satisfaction with the quality of goods and services available in the United States. The Retirement Estimator ranks higher than the websites of any other public and private sector agencies and companies, including the likes of Netflix and Amazon. Millions of people have used the Retirement Estimator. Try it out for a quick, personalized estimate of future retirement benefits by sending them to www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. It’s also available in Spanish, at www. segurosocial.gov/calculador.
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Almost everyone appreciates the importance of estate planning to assure comfort, support and financial security of our loved ones. Your personal situation may also allow you to remember charities such as the Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc. The inclusion of a bequest in your will is a significant way to assist the Office for the Aging. Such a gift can help to assure the continued quality of services provided to Madison County senior citizens. Through your bequests, you will have the personal satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing to the Office for the Aging’s future and the quality of life for the older people it serves. The following has been approved by the Legal Counsel of the Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc. and should be reviewed with the Legal Counsel handling your estate. Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc. is a 501(C) tax-exempt organization. Types of Bequests: The following are various types of bequests that you may want to consider and review with your attorney. Outright Bequest: “I give and bequeath the sum of ($ dollars) to the Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc.” 138 Dominic Bruno Blvd., Canastota, NY 13032. Securities or Other Properties: “I give and bequeath 10 shares of stock of the XYZ Corporation to Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc.” or “I give, devise, and bequeath my home and 10 acres situated at 111 Care Street, My City, NY 00000. Residuary Bequest: Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc. would receive the balance of your estate after payment of specific bequests to your primary beneficiaries and the payment of taxes, debts and administrative expenses. “I give, devise, and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, whatsoever it may be situated to Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc.” Contingent Bequest: Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc. would receive the gift only if a named beneficiary does not survive you. “I give and bequeath the sum of ($ dollar) to my sister, Her Name, provided she survives me. In the event my said sister does not survive me, I give and bequeath the sum of ($ dollars) to Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc.” Restricted Bequest: You may restrict a bequest to be used for a specific purpose, such as the Transportation Program. “I give and bequeath the sum of (& dollars) to the Madison County Office for the Aging, Inc. to be used in maintaining the Transportation Program.” Before restricting your bequest, it is requested that you or your attorney contact the Office for the Aging, Inc. In this way, you can be made aware of the most beneficial ways in which the Office can utilize your legacy for the Aging, Inc. The Use of a Codicil: If you presently have a will that has not been updated to reflect changes in your circumstances, you should review it with your attorney. This may be an ideal time to consider how you could benefit the Office for the Aging, Inc. If your will requires no change, you can provide for the Office for the Aging through a Codicil. This brief supplement to your will may be a more appropriate and less expensive way to make a bequest to the Office for the Aging, Inc. without redrafting your will.
August SNACK menu Monday, Aug. 1 – Seasoned pork chop, red potatoes, spinach applesauce Tuesday, Aug. 2 – Creamed chicken & biscuit, mashed potatoes, sliced dill carrots, tropical fruit mix Wed nesday Aug. 3 – Chili con carne w/kidney beans, corn niblets, rice pudding, no milk day Thursday, Aug. 4 – Vegetable lasagna, peas & carrots, tossed salad, apricots Friday, Aug. 5 – Chicken salad w/lettuce & tomato, 3-bean salad, sugar cookie Monday, Aug. 8 – Turkey divan, mashed potato, Harvard beets, sliced pears Tuesday, Aug. 9 – Italian sausage hoagie w/ peppers & onions, Italian mixed vegetables, chocolate pudding, no milk day Wednesday, Aug. 10 – Veggie quiche, tater tots, mixed vegetables, mandarin oranges Thursday, Aug. 11 – Macaroni & cheese, stewed tomatoes, tossed salad, fruit cocktail Friday, Aug. 12 – Roast beef & gravy, mashed potatoes, California vegetables, sliced pears Monday, Aug. 15 – Baked fish on bun, boiled potatoes, orange glazed carrots, fruit cocktail Tuesday, Aug. 16– Roast turkey & gravy, red potatoes, mixed vegetables, sliced peaches Wednesday, Aug. 17 – BBQ pork on bun, maca-
Prime 2011
roni salad, broccoli, tropical fruit mix Thursday, Aug. 18 – Spaghetti & meat sauce, Italian green beans, tossed salad, vanilla pudding, no milk day Friday, Aug. 19 – Chicken ala orange, boiled potatoes, spinach, chocolate chip cookie Monday, Aug. 22 – Hotdog on bun, baked beans, zucchini, applesauce Tuesday, Aug. 23 – Curried chicken & broccoli, biscuit, peas & carrots, mandarin oranges Wednesday, Aug. 24 – Meatloaf w/ketchup, scalloped potato, summer squash, oatmeal cookie, no milk day Thursday, Aug. 25 – Tuna noodle casserole, blend vegetables, tossed salad, white cake w/ frosting Friday, Aug. 26 – Hamburger on bun, pasta salad, diced carrots, sliced peaches Monday, Aug. 29 – Chicken spiedie hoagie, onion & peppers, mixed vegetables tapioca pudding, no milk day Tuesday, Aug. 30 – Turkey ala king, mashed potato, broccoli, sliced pears Wednesday, Aug. 31 – Macaroni & cheese, stewed tomatoes, tossed salad, fruit cocktail
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Madison County OFA News Labor Day is Sept. 5; celebrate with a slice of pie
Ten-inch frozen pies can stay frozen for up to six months and are available year round for $8 each. Flavors include Dutch apple, blueberry, cherry, peach, red raspberry, pumpkin, banana cream, boston cream, chocolate cream, and coconut cream (Ask about sugar free pies). Pie sales support programs and services offered by Madison County Office for the Aging. Pies can be picked up between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at Madison County Office for the Aging, 138 Dominic Bruno Blvd, Canastota, or at any SNACK Site (on the days they are open) Please call 697-5700 for details.
Caregiver Resource Center “Caregiving”, helping an older person stay as independent as possible, is both a rewarding and stressful experience. Most caregivers are family and friends. Many caregivers are part of the “sandwich generation”, meaning they are caring for a parent as well as children. Family caregivers provide assistance to people who cannot care for themselves, and often at considerable sacrifice; many caregivers also juggle the traditional demands of home, family, and career. Statistics cannot fully measure the physical, emotional and financial costs that family caregivers incur. The Caregiver Resource Center, located at the Office for the Aging in Canastota, can help. Through training, support groups, individual and group counseling caregivers can learn how to balance feelings of frustration and reward. The Caregiver Resource Center also provides books, videotapes, and other sources of information pertaining to caregiving issues. For more information about the Office for the Aging services call us at 697-5700.
In memoriam The Office for the Aging gratefully acknowledges contributions to honor the memory of beloved relatives and friends. Thank you. In Memory of Concetta (Jennie) Brophy Given by: Dominica Claire
Cycles for seniors event slated Cycles for Seniors will be held Saturday Sept. 17, with all proceeds from this motorcycle ride going towards programs and services that assist the senior population of Madison County. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m.; ride starts at 11 a.m. at the office for the aging, 138 Dominic Bruno Blvd., Canastota. All type of vehicles are welcome. Cost is $20 for drivers, $10 for riders. There will be food, raffles and entertainment. For more information call 697-5700.
Medicaid
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recovery against the estate of any individual who received Medicaid benefits during their lifetime. The concern centers around how the state defines the term “estate”. There is no federal guideline, and it is totally at the discretion of the state. To understand the grave impact of what has transpired, we must look at what traditionally has been recoverable from an estate of a Medicaid beneficiary; just assets in the individual’s own name alone. States were prohibited from pursuing any interest owned jointly with others, or beneficiary designated to others, or any interest that terminated at the Medicaid recipient’s death. The common law which has existed for centuries, provides a jointly owned account, by operation of law, goes to the surviving joint tenant at the death of the first. Similarly, under contract law a life insurance policy or other beneficiary-designated account goes to the individual designated as the beneficiary. This happens automatically without the need of any government action. The new Medicaid law purports to include assets that, for hundreds of years, have been treated a certain way under the law, to now be trumped by Medicaid’s right to recovery for benefits it paid on the applicant’s behalf. Under this new definition of “estate,” if you reserved a life estate in your home, Medicaid would be able to get your house after your death. The common law has provided for centuries that your life-estate in your home ceases at your death and your home would be
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owned, instantly, by the remainder beneficiary. Under the new law, Medicaid would assert a right of recovery against your home even though you no longer owned it at the moment of your death. The same is true for joint accounts and beneficiary-designated accounts. This is very problematic, as it creates a significant conflict of laws issue. The question of whether states’ interpretation of the federal Medicaid law can trump hundreds of years of common law and contract law is uncertain. Interestingly, this is not a new idea. It was originally introduced in Massachusetts in the early 2000s. The public outcry made lawmakers repeal it within six months of its passage. Other states, such as Ohio, have implemented wholeheartedly, and are standing firm in their approach. Many lawsuits are currently pending to resolve the conflict of laws issues. Many other states have implemented some element of these recovery procedures, some of which have been settled and others which have not. Are any of your assets safe anymore after this new law? Well, we’re not certain, but the government is taking the approach they can reach assets that they couldn’t previously. It is important that you get proper legal advice, more now than ever, when doing any type of planning to protect your assets, to ensure you are able to protect them. Contact your elected representation to share your disagreement with the new law. You may forward your comments to info@eplawcenter.com.
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Prime advice Hearing
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Look for an experienced audiologist. Be sure that he does a complete hearing evaluation, takes the time to do a communication needs assessment, and offers several options for meeting your loved oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hearing needs. And be sure that you are invited to the appointment. Be a part of the process in working with the audiologist to come to the best solution for your loved one. Terry has been fitting hearing aids and working with individuals with hearing loss for more than 20 years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in 1985 and her masters of audiology from the University of South Carolina in 1990. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and the American Speech Language Hearing Association. She has been assisting patients in a private audiology setting with Aspen Hearing Center in Denver, Colo. since January 2004. Terry can be reached at (303)7220886.
Ants, ants and more antsâ&#x20AC;Ś By Jennifer Savastino Gannon Pest Control
Many people are complaining about the amount of ants they are seeing this year. While we usually see ants in the spring and early summer, the 2011 season seems to be bringing them out in droves. This is due to the inordinate amount of rain that we had in the early spring. We had 20 days of rain in April alone! While we all were thinking of building an Arc, the ants were thinking of finding dry land in and around your home. Even though these ants may be trying to invade your home, most homes do not need a full inside/outside treatment this time of year. An exterior barrier treatment in the spring or early summer will keep the ants out and decrease the chances of the ants freeloading in your home. The information below can help you determine whether the ants are nesting in your home or just foraging in from the outside. When did you first notice the ants? If the indoor ant activity has been going on
for some time, the chances are greater that the ants are nesting inside Do you see ants inside year-round? Outdoor ants will forage actively only when temperatures are above 55° F. So, in cooler climates, if ants are seen indoors, it means an indoor nest. How many ants do you see? Large numbers of ants foraging inside makes an indoor nest more likely. Have you seen any ants with wings inside? How many? If the nest is outside, swarmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emerge outside. If many winged ants are seen inside, the nest is almost certainly within the structure. Where do you see the ants most often? If ants are regularly in a room that does not have food, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably a nest nearby. If carpenter ants are mainly around an outside kitchen door, they are probably coming in from outside looking for food. If the activity is in a bathroom or near another moisture source, the nest is probably very close. Have you had any wet wood, broken pipes or a leaky roof in the last year or two? Where? A structure that has had waterdamaged wood or moisture problems is much more likely to be infested by carpenter ants than a building that is dry. Have you noticed any little piles that
look like sawdust? Carpenter ant â&#x20AC;&#x153;dump pilesâ&#x20AC;? are usually located just below the nest site. If no dump piles are found, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily mean the nest is not inside. The piles could be inside a wall void and not visible. Have you heard any strange noises inside the walls? Carpenter Ants in the nest make a rustling sound like crinkling cellophane. If you hear this with your ear next to a wall, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found a nest. There are quite a few products that you can purchase at hardware and home stores that will provide a short term barrier around your home. Professional pest products offer a lengthier residual, therefore protecting your home longer. Also with professional treatment comes the knowledge of the technician and you can be confident that your home is being treated in the most effective manner. If you suspect that you have an interior ant problem, professional service is the best course of action. While many do it yourself sprays may stop the ants you see, these will not stop the activity going on behind your walls.
Jennifer Savastino is part-owner of Gannon Pest Control in Syracuse. Jennifer is a lifelong resident of Central New York. She has owned Gannon Pest Control with her partners for 14 years. Gannon Pest Control is located on West Genesee Street in Syracuse.
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just mention you sawprograms. us in Prime! Stay protected all summer long with Gannon Pest Controlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Springthat Prevention Whether you have Bees, Ants or Spiders Gannon Pest Control At -Gannon Pest Control, we only charge you for has the program that works for you. UIF TFSWJDF UIBU ZPV OFFEy/P )JEEFO $PTUT At Gannon Pest Control, we only charge you for the service that you needâ&#x20AC;ŚNo Hidden /P 4VSQSJTFTyBOE BMXBZT (6"3"/5&&% Costs, No Surprisesâ&#x20AC;Śand always GUARANTEED!
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