EE
Gender-based Wage Gap Hits Older Women Harder
FR Jim Terwilliger — The Art of Practicing Retirement
55 PLUS Issue 26 March / April 2014
For Active Adults in the Rochester Area
Cooking Journalist tries his hand at cooking (Oh, my!)
Life on the Stage Older actors still having a ball
Trends If 50 is the new 30, why am I so unemployed?
Camera Man Jack Bloemendaal has nearly 300 cameras in his collection
The Best Dog to Have? It All Depends
AGING IN PLACE How a local program, ElderONE, is helping people like Rochester resident Ann Mary Mazzochetti stay at home
cameron mackintosh ’s spectacular new production of
andrew lloyd webber ’s
A pr il 16 -27, 2 014
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March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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Your independent streak got you this far. ElderONE gets you even further. elderone coordinates your care so you can stay in your home — whether you need medicine, household help or a ride to the doctor. and since you hear from your care team as often as you want, they always know what you need. it’s your choice. your team. so you can live your way. elderone, formerly independent living for seniors, is an affiliate of Rochester General Health System and a Program of all-inclusive care for the elderly. to learn more, call 585.922.2831 (tty 800.662.1220), 855.457.4636 toll free or visit www.elderone.org.
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Medical care | Personal care | rehabilitation | day centers | Medications | transPortation 4
55 PLUS - March / April 2014 RGHS_ElderONE_55+.indd 1
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28
Savvy Senior 6 12 JOBS Real Estate 8 • Gender gap hits older women Financial Health 10
harder
14 My Turn 16 TRENDS
Long-term Care 38
• If 50 is the new 30, why am I so unemployed?
18 Visits 40 PETS
• Experts weigh in on what types of dog best fit older people
42 Q&A
President of the Victor Historical Society talks about her organization, work, aging
CONTENTS
Got a story idea? editor@ roc55.com
55 PLUS
MARCH / APRIL 2014
20 ACTING • Life on the stage: Older actors still having a ball on stage
24 COVER • SeniorONE, a program by Rochester General Health System, supports independent living
30 28 PROFILE • “Equipment freak” Jack Bloemendaal has almost 300 cameras in his collection
30 ADVICE • After devastating loss of husband, woman discovers new life as marathon runner
32 LEARNING • Rochester OASIS offers wide variety of courses for 55-plus
34 NEW LIFE • Executive decides to take a break to study wine making in the Finger Lakes
36 CHANGE • After trip to Machu Picchu, a local jeweler is back in action March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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savvy senior By Jim Miller
What to Know About Your Parents’ Financial Affairs
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ost adult children don’t know much about their parents’ financial situation or end-of-life plans, but they need to. Here are some tips.
Have the Talk If you’re uncomfortable starting up a conversation like this with your parents, see TheConversationProject. org for guidance. It’s also a good idea to get your siblings or other family members involved. When you meet with your parents, you’ll need to sit down and create several lists of important information, find out where they keep key documents and how they want certain things handled when they die or if they become incapacitated. Here’s a checklist of areas you need to focus on.
Personal Information • Contacts: Make a list of names and phone numbers of close friends, clergy, their doctors, lawyer, accountant, broker, tax preparer, insurance agent, etc. • Personal documents: Find out where they keep their Social Security card, marriage license, military discharge papers, etc. • Secured places: Make a list of places they keep under lock and key or protected by password, such as online accounts, safe deposit boxes, safe combination, security alarms, etc. • Service providers: Make a list of the companies or people who provide them regular services like utility companies, lawn service, etc. • Medical information: Make a copy of their medical history (any drug allergies, past surgeries, etc.) and a list of medications they take. • Pets: If they have a pet, what are their instructions for the animal’s care? • End of life: What are their wishes for organ or body donation, and their funeral instructions? If they’ve made pre-arrangements with a funeral home get a copy of the 6
55 PLUS - March / April 2014
55PLUS Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto
Associate Editor
agreement.
Legal Documents • Will: Do they have an updated will or trust, and where is it located? • Power of attorney: Do they have a power of attorney document that names someone to handle their financial matters if they become incapacitated? • Advance directives: Do they have a living will and a medical power of attorney that spells out their wishes regarding their end-oflife medical treatment?
Financial Records • Income and debt: Make a list of their income sources such as pensions, Social Security, IRAs, 401Ks, investments, etc. And do the same for any debt (mortgage, credit cards, medical bills, etc.) they may have. • Financial accounts: Make a list of the banks and brokerage accounts they use (checking, savings, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRAs, etc.) and their contact information. • Company benefits: Make a list of any retirement plans, pensions or benefits from their former employer including the contact information of the benefits administrator. • Insurance: Make a list of the insurance policies they have (life, longterm care, home, auto, Medicare, etc.) including the policy numbers. • Property: Make a list of the real estate, vehicles or other properties they own, and where they keep the deeds and titles. • Credit cards: Make a list of all their credit and charge cards, including the card numbers and contact information. • Taxes: Find out where they keep copies of past year’s tax returns. For more information, call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 and ask them to mail you a free copy of their publication “Let’s Talk: Starting the Conversation about Health, Legal, Financial and End-of-Life Issues,” or you can read online at eldercare.gov.
Lou Sorendo
Contributing Writers
Deborah J. Sergeant, Ernst Lamothe Jr., Mike Costanza Shelley Manley, Debbie Waltzer Saby Reyes-Kulkarni
Columnists
Jim Terwilliger, Susan Suben Jim Miller, Bruce Frassinelli Laura Thompson Barbara Carlse Dodge
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Chuck Wainwright 55 PLUS –A Magazine for Active Adults in the Rochester Area is published six times a year by Local News, Inc., which also publishes In Good Health–Rochester–Genesee Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper.
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Mailing Address PO Box 525 Victor, NY 14564 Subscription: $15 a year © 2014 by 55 PLUS – A Magazine for Active Adults in the Rochester Area. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. Third class postage paid at Syracuse, NY. Permit Number: 3071
How to Reach Us P.O. Box 525 Victor, NY 14564 Voice: 585-421-8109 Fax: 585-421-8129 Editor@roc55.com
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55 PLUS 55 Plus | 2.25"W- xMarch 4.75"H /| April release 2014 10/05/2012
real estate By Barbara Carlsen Dodge
No Pain, No Gain Are you ready to make a move? If so, what are the first steps you need to take?
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ost likely you’ve been in my chair — you know, the one where your mouth is propped open and a gloved hand is jammed in between your lips with a needle. The experience further highlighted by some inane question that is supposed to distract you from the task now underway. Ten weeks of eating only on one side of my mouth, a root canal, crown and a complimentary bill bigger than Christmas and I was back to eating my favorite burger at the local hot spot. So the question then becomes, why did I wait 10 weeks to get a professional? Because it took a little pain to help me see I needed one. When you need to make a move because the large family home as well as lawn and landscaping that came with it is more work than you desire at this stage of your life, how do you choose what housing options are available to you? And when an aging parent can no longer care for themselves, how do you assist them in locating a senior community best suited for their needs? Whether it be you or a parent that requires a move, having someone who will represent your best interest becomes of primary importance. You are bound to have questions such as: Is it time to make a move? What short and long term options are available? How do we choose? What will it cost? How do we finance the move? How do we protect our assets? What can we expect to net from the sale of an existing home? How do we ready the home for sale to obtain the highest price? This task can be overwhelming but the good news is that in the presence of counselors, wisdom is found. The first step is to hire a real estate professional with the contacts, resources and expertise you require. Like anything else, not all agents are created equal and not all service the
same. If a home needs to be sold, remember that it is for many people the single largest unit commodity they own. Would you trust your stock portfolio with just any financial planner? You want the best advice and return on investment possible and you want the same when you sell the investment you call home. As you interview agents, look carefully to where their focus rests. Do they have a system in place to help you determine what you need and then provide assistance in making that happen? Can they explain what they do, how they do it and the time line you can expect results? Do they offer a menu of services from which to choose so your needs are met? Or are they so interested in posting a sign in your yard, with their name on it, that they have no interest in getting help for the overflowing garage? Ask yourself some questions and then ask prospective agents those same questions. Who shows up with an interest in hearing your specific needs and is best equipped to create a plan to meet them? Who has market knowledge not only of where you are but where you want to go? Who takes the time to ask the hard questions and help you sort through your resources or locate new ones? Time is your most precious commodity so use it wisely. Select the agent you feel most confident to be your salesperson and sounding board for decisions, your compass for guidance and the one who will allow you the privilege of steering your own ship to a safe port you want to call home. Barbara Carlsen Dodge is a broker associate with Magellan®, Inc. Real Estate and Relocation with extensive experience with the senior population. Reach her at barbaradodge@1magellan.com or 585953-7385. She is also on LinkedIn and Facebook.
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March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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financial health By Jim Terwilliger
Practicing Retirement
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ractice retirement? That sounds a bit strange. After all, isn’t retirement the time to kick back, relax and do the things you have always dreamed of doing? No work-related time pressures, no schedules, no assignments due. What’s to practice? But think a moment. We’re talking, maybe, 25-30 years or more. For some, retirement will last longer than the years spent working. Calling an abrupt halt to a decades-long regimen of waking up to an alarm clock, following a schedule, interacting socially each day with co-workers and contributing to an institution’s success might turn out to be more than you bargained for. Filling the 40-or-more hours per week — one third of a workweek — with something meaningful doesn’t just happen without some serious planning and, yes, practice. The other consideration is the financial factor. Can I afford to retire? Will I run out of money? Will my standard of living change? How can I deal with being on my own financially, no longer having a steady paycheck? Let’s start with the financial piece first. This is easier to assess. First, I always recommend seeking the guidance of a fee-based financial planner. Whatever your age or station in life, a competent planner can help you understand what you need to do to reach your retirement goals — in terms of a retirement date and a desired ongoing spending level. Such guidance will take inflation into account, so that your targeted spending is based on a desired purchasing power. If it turns out that not all of your goals can be met, you can examine alternatives and understand what needs to be done to meet the most important goals, based on priorities. Or reset your goals so that they are achievable. 10
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Second, you can construct some ballpark estimates yourself. Using projected investment/retirement account balances at your desired retirement date, calculate a sustainable gross income by adding your anticipated household income streams (Social Security, pension(s), and others) to the dollars you can expect to safely extract annually from your nest egg (initially, about 4 percent–5 percent of your total account balances if you have a well-diversified set of investments). Knowing these numbers is the easy part. The tough part is how to deal emotionally with such a huge transition in your life, much bigger than the one you experienced when transitioning from life as a student to entering the workforce. This otherwise radical change might instead take several forms during the first several years of retirement. • Ease out — Some companies allow “retirees” to go part-time, either as a W-2 employee or as a contractor. While the work itself might be different, this may allow you to maintain the structure and mental stimulation that a job has offered for several decades. It also provides steady cash flow for the household, perhaps allowing you to defer starting Social Security benefits to, say, age 66 or 70 to yield a higher monthly benefit. • Volunteer — There are countless local charities that depend on a vital, active volunteer force to fulfill their missions. Volunteering can be as simple as addressing envelopes or as complex as serving as president of a hospital or school board. Everyone has something to offer. Each such opportunity to contribute will pay back many-fold in terms of personal satisfaction. • Become reacquainted with your hobbies — The initial years of retirement offer the chance to rede-
velop the hobbies you have not had time to enjoy during your working years. And, I don’t mean golf and checking off the to-do list. While these activities have their place in a meaningful retirement, too much of either gets old after a while. If you do not have any hobbies, you had better start to develop some. Twenty five to 30 years of retirement are a long time. • Visit places you may want to relocate to — Some folks dream of relocating to Florida or Arizona. This may be additionally attractive, given the recent drop in property prices there. But, before you do, plan to visit such places, on an extended basis if possible, to see if the grass is really greener. Sure, there are a lot of reasons to consider relocating, but where do you feel most “at home.” It may just be Western New York. While these examples can all wait until retirement, the idea of “practicing” suggests that sooner-rather-than-later is a good idea. That is, consider and experiment with what will occupy your retirement time and energies — way before retirement. I bet you’ll be glad you did. James Terwilliger, CFP®, is Senior Vice President, Financial Planning Manager, Wealth Strategies Group, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. He can be reached at 585-4190670 ext. 50630 or by email at jterwilliger@cnbank.com.
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55+
jobs
Gender-based Wage Gap Hits Older Women Harder Author: young women are paid about 90 percent of what men are paid. When they are over 35 they earn even less: 75-80 percent of what men are paid for the same job By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
I
n 1975, 23.1 percent of women 55 and older participated in the workforce. The US Census Bureau’s latest data, gathered in 2010, states that number has jumped to 35.1 percent. More employment opportunities for women, the wobbly economy and surge of baby boomers supporting both children and elderly parents are among the factors behind the growth in women 55-plus who work. Unfortunately, the wage gap between these women and their male counterparts remains the same as a decade ago, according to “The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap,” a report by Catherine Hill, released in 2013 by The American Association of University Women based in Washington, DC. The report states that women make only 77 percent what men do over the course of a career. The report further explains that a gap between men’s and women’s wages exists regardless of childrearing or elder care choices, the level of education, type of occupation, location and race, though these factors can influence the degree to which women experience a pay gap when compared with male colleagues. Taking time off for caretaking costs women greatly, according to 12
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Michael Vernarelli, professor and chairman of economics at Rochester Institute of Technology. “They suffer a deterioration of their marketable skills as technology advances and new ways of doing the same work are put in place,” he said. Unfortunately for baby boomers, the gap worsens with age. “Among younger workers, women are paid about 90 percent of what men are paid,” Hill wrote. “From around age 35 through retirement, women are typically paid 75 to 80 percent of what men are paid.” More women seek higher education than ever, which can only help promote equal salaries for women.
Though women far outstrip men in the number staying home with the children, a scenario of male caretakers and female breadwinners is becoming more accepted. Telecommuting can also help women stay working while caring for young or older family members. Missing years of career advancement makes the gap wider, as does not staying current. “The pace of technological change continues to increase exacerbating this problem,” said Vernarelli. “In order to compensate for this, women who contemplate re-entering the workforce should survey current practices, software, et cetera, in those jobs where they feel they have the qualifications. Then they should familiarize themselves with these practices and software by undergoing training either through courses or on their own.” Women also need to speak up more when opportunities arise for advancement such as a better position within their company or a higher level of responsibility elsewhere. And they should ask for the wage they deserve for a job well done. Typically, men tend to be more outspoken about their accomplishments than women, which helps men receive more notice and compensation for their work. Divorce or death of a husband forces some older women into the workforce after years of caring for children and elderly parents. They may have little current experience or competency with technology. They may not have the education or training that their husbands had, either. “If someone is out of the workforce a long time, it’s hard to pick up the pieces and re-enter,” said Betty Smith, 79, and a career counselor at Monroe Community College. “It takes preparing yourself.” She encourages clients to network, take any training or classes to spruce up their skills and learn how to use the latest technology. “A lot of returning adult students don’t have computer skills,” she said. “I encourage them to go to the library or take a class at a high school to learn how to use a computer.” She also emphasizes the importance of taking a civil service test to open up more opportunities. “Try to find a career, not a job,” she said. “Do something you love to do every day.”
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March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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55+
trends
55 and Still Unemployed If 50 is the new 30, why am I so unemployed? By Laura Thompson
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his economy has hit my cohort a staggering blow. Persons 50 and older can search for two to three years before finding employment. Some of us just give up, dumbfounded by the world’s cavalier dismissal of us. When did we become so lacking in value? I haven’t changed that much. I’m
older, fatter and definitely gray. My bottom is bigger, but my brain is intact. I like to think that, in addition to a few pounds and wrinkles, I’ve also gained some judgment and wisdom not available to younger workers. The world doesn’t always agree. There’s a subtle, discreet beast working against me out there. No one has come right out and said it,
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spoken its name. Instead, I’m told I’m overqualified, under qualified or just not qualified, no further explanation offered. No one admits I belong to an age group more prone to illness and medical expense that some of the other kids. No one says they’d prefer to invest in a younger version that will remain in the work world a few years longer. Absolutely no one
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confesses they want more or better eye candy for the office. No one uses the word O-L-D. Yet it’s quietly implied, delicately suggested. Sometimes, not so delicately. Recently, I had the doubtful fun of applying for a position offered through a temp agency. Four thin, young and uniformly beautiful women with hip-length hair and short black skirts ran the intake process. As I waited my turn, I was encouraged by the amount of time, patience and encouragement they gave the job applicants, especially the handsome young men. These same Medusas could not wait to tell me how extremely unqualified I was for the sole position I was interested in. No, they could not review my resume, they were very busy and had others waiting. No, this position on my resume, identical to the one I was applying for, did not qualify me for the job. No, there was not someone else I could talk to. Every ‘no” and “not” in the world, but still no job for me. I was talking to an artfully constructed wall of youth. And it could not be overcome. No rebuttal could break through their cool blank stares or perfectly made-up faces. No attempt at humor could produce a smile on their carefully lipsticked mouths. They were the “It” girls of the working world, and I was not. I got the message — this is the new economy, and no old women need apply. I waddle on. Hey, America! I am an older experienced worker. My skills, talents and abilities are not easily replicated. My enthusiasm alone has carried the day more than once. If I wanted to get something done, I would hire… me. And you are more than foolish not to. Eventually, this too shall pass. American businesses will remember that there is something to be said for maturity, judiciousness and a working knowledge of your own first language. R U with me? Available for hire: experienced older woman. No known health issues, strong appetite for life. Smart, witty and willing to learn. Computer literate, worldly and wise. Able to compose working sentences independently. Knows that “prioritize” is not a city in China. And, oh, yes — she can type.
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www.upsstore.com March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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my turn
By Bruce Frassinelli Email: bruce@cny55.com
A Journalist Tries His Hand at Cooking (Oh, Boy!)
C
oming from a strong Italian heritage, I have always had secret desires to cook and sing opera. My career path pretty much ruled out the latter and, to a large extent, the former, too. Working as a newspaper editor, then publisher, left little time for eating, let alone cooking. Still, I managed to balloon to 257 pounds at the time of my retirement from The (Oswego, NY) Palladium-Times. That, however, was a function of lousy eating habits rather than gluttony. I am now a much trimmer 172 and eat much healthier. Since I have retired, I have continued to harbor this desire to cook and bake, but my wife, Marie, who maintains a spotless kitchen, wails incessantly when I even bring up the possibility. She considers me a slob at heart and unfit for such an undertaking. Wanting to maintain peace in the household, I have put my cooking and baking aspirations for the most part on hold. Several years ago, when I shared my frustration with my good friend, Paul Scott of Radisson, near Syracuse, he insisted that we would surprise Marie. It was a few days before Thanksgiving, and I was scheduled to drive from Central New York to Pennsylvania to join Marie for Thanksgiving dinner. Paul invited me to learn how to make an apple pie. He and his wife, Gladys, opened their kitchen for our grand experiment. No one was more surprised than I to find that I took to the task like a chef takes to creating food masterpieces. When she saw how scrumptuous the
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pie looked, Gladys Scott presented me with a certificate of achievement, crowned with a blue ribbon. When I unveiled the pie to Marie, she was duly impressed and, upon tasting it, complimented me on the tasty outcome. She mumbled something about its being almost as good as hers. I expected this to be my entrée to kitchen privileges at our home. Wrong! Beef Wellington is something I have always wanted to make. The prospect of this undertaking unfolding in her kitchen sent Marie into a tizzy. Beef Wellington would have to wait until another day. She did consent, however, in a grandiose gesture of compromise, to allow me to make two poached eggs — in one of those twosided egg-poachers. Regrettably, at the same time Marie made this concession, Murphy’s Law — whatever can go wrong will — took up residence in our kitchen and became my co-pilot. I calculated that the poached eggs should be microwaved for no more than 40 seconds. What I neglected to do in my ignorance of such matters was to poke a hole or two into each of the eggs. At about 30 seconds, I heard this loud pop and immediately opened the microwave door. This was a big mistake. The microwave spat out pieces of egg all over me, the stove below and, of course, the kitchen counter and floor. Marie came running and shrieked words I had never heard come from her mouth in 22 years of marriage. The very next day, she asked me to get her a bottle of Boost, which she uses to pep herself up while she is on chemotherapy treatment for ovarian
cancer. I removed the bottle from the refrigerator, shook it, and partially opened the lid. I placed the bottle on the kitchen counter to take an incoming phone call. About three minutes later, I came back to the bottle of Boost, picked it up and shook it vigorously. (I had forgotten that I had already shaken it and partially removed the cap.) The lid flew off, and the Boost splattered everywhere — all over the kitchen, into every nook and cranny, all over my shirt and pants, on my face, in my hair (what little is left) — everywhere. Marie came running and shrieked words I had heard only once before during our 22 years of marriage. The cleanup took more than an hour. Two days later, I was emptying the dishwasher. I lined up all of the glasses on the kitchen counter so I could systematically put them into the kitchen cabinet, just as I always had done. As I picked up a six-ounce tumbler, it exploded in my hand. Glass shards were everywhere. Some flew in the direction of my face, but, miraculously, I was not injured. The mess was indescribable. Marie came running and shrieked words I had heard only twice before during our 22 years of marriage. She had thought that in my clumsiness I had dropped a glass. So, I guess it was three strikes and out. The next day, when I came home from teaching a class at the local community college, there were big signs at both entrances to our kitchen: “KEEP OUT — BRUCE, THIS MEANS YOU.”
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The Best Dog? It All Depends Experts weigh in on what types of dogs best fit older people By Shelley Manley
W
hether 70 is the new 60 or you’re 50 and feel like 80, the best breed of dog for seniors is, well, it
depends. Dogs can boost physical (lower blood pressure and other benefits) and mental health (decrease loneliness, add purpose) encourage exercise (they should be walked and played with) give a sense of security and act as a social magnet. There’s a dog for every purpose and any ability, so if you want one at any age, go for it, say dog lovers. American Kennel Club judge Stephanie Podejko, with 25 years experience as a dog breeder, trainer, groomer and exhibitor, says the best dog depends on the health of the owner. “Can they actually handle it?”
Dogs live one to two decades, so plan ahead, but they slow down with age. Individual dogs within a breed can vary quite a bit in temperament, particularly if they are mixed breed or not bred to breed standard. Consider: • Temperament: Do you like in-your-face affection, or the couch ornament type? Energetic or laidback? All dogs need training and socialization but they vary in their willingness to please and suspicion of strangers, not to mention barking. • Age: It’s rewarding to bond with a puppy only if you can get it out to training classes so it can become a valued companion and not a problem. Podejko suggests a retired show dog of any breed “as they
Boston terriers are gentle with an added benefit of security. “They’re most always friendly but protective of their humans as well,” says American Kennel Club judge Stephanie Podejko. 18
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Cavalier King Charles spaniel is Stephanie Podejko’s first choice. “The CKCS was basically bred to be a lap dog.” She says.
have had years of training and it eliminates the puppy-rearing stages!” Temperament and size is already apparent in an adult dog, too. • Size: Small dogs exercise themselves indoors and only need a small yard but can be tripping hazards, especially a dark-colored coat on dark rugs. Giant breeds may not need much room to run, but they can pull over a less-abled senior if reactive and not well trained. “Imagine walking down the street and the dog sees a squirrel! They take off with the handler flying behind,” says Podejko. Medium to large dogs bred for a specific job often need the most exercise and are more suited for an active senior or one who employs a daily dog walker. Many of these are the American Kennel Club sporting, working and herding breeds. Dog people agree smaller breeds are usually the best choice for seniors. “I look for a dog that is less active and therefore less likely to need hours of exercise,” says Podejko. For most older owners, “typically, smaller dogs are better. If the dog becomes ill, a small dog is easier to carry and get medical attention if it needs to be taken to the vet.” Sixty-something JoAnne Howard chose a small mixed-toy-breed puppy when she bought a new home. Though it has a large fencedin yard, she wanted a lap dog. “I like it when a dog can sleep on your lap and cuddle with you…and won’t knock you or anyone else over if they
Shih tzu and Lhasa apso: Beth Visser, a groomer for 20 years, says she sees a lot of these dogs with her older clients. “Both are breeds that love their people and adjust well to a quiet home and lifestyle.” misbehave!” Small dogs generally mean lower cost, from equipment to food and — care. “Less food, smaller poops and less pee,” notes Howard. • Grooming: Coated dogs can mean monthly trips to a groomer. All dogs need regular baths, dental and ear care and toenail trims.
Favorite Breeds Shih tzu and Lhasa apso: Beth Visser, a groomer for 20 years, says she sees a lot of these dogs with her older clients. “Both are breeds that love their people and adjust well to a quiet
and not significant pullers,” says Podejko, adding that proper training always makes a difference. For an active senior, Podejko likes the golden retriever. “They are easily trained to pick up things for their owners. They love to go on walks!” Other retrievers are similar, but Podejko recommends choosing from a calmer show bloodline rather than backyard-bred pets or hunting lines. “There is a huge difference in temperament and activity level between a breed dog and a field-bred dog!” The bottom line? Podejko stresses, “Dogs suitable for older people really depend on lifestyle.”
home and lifestyle.” Cavalier King Charles spaniel is Podejko’s first choice. “The CKCS was basically bred to be a lap dog.” She adds pugs are “a cute little breed that loves attention” and Boston terriers are “adorable and gentle” with an added benefit of security. “They’re most always friendly but protective of their humans as well.” Podejko notes poodles have an added benefit of no shedding and “love to be around people. This breed is wonderful for seniors who want someone to pamper instead of a child.” “Lots of good qualities there,” agrees Visser, but cautions against any dog that has not been conscientiously bred. “In more recent years, my poodle clients are having behavior problems. Even skin issues as well.” So what about larger breeds? “I would add standard poodle to my ‘like’ list as they are brilliant — easily trained
Poodles have an added benefit of no shedding and, according to Stephanie Podejko, they love to be around people. She adds: “This breed is wonderful for seniors who want someone to pamper instead of a child.”
Stephanie Podejko likes the golden retriever for active seniors. “They are easily trained to pick up things for their owners. They love to go on walks.” March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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acting
Life on the Stage
Older actors still having a ball on stage By Debbie Waltzer
I
f it’s evening time, then chances are good that Vicki Casarett, Fred Nuernberg, Tim McCormack and Greg Byrne are on a local stage, practicing for an upcoming theater production. The quartet—ranging in age from 63 to 81—is considered among the most talented senior adult actors in the Rochester region. They’ve played everything from Shakespearean characters and members of the clergy to historical figures and science fiction crew personnel. They love performing in community theater, and are always excited about the next role emerging around the corner.
Like Oxygen
Actors Vicki Cassarett (top) and Tim McCormack in a scene from Honeymoon Motel at the Jewish Community Center. “If I didn’t act, I’d lose a part of my spirit,” says Cassarett. 20
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“Acting is my oxygen,” says Casarett, an ESOL teacher at East High School, who once shared living quarters in New York City with actress Kim Cattrall. “There are times when being in a show is inconvenient or there are other things I should do. But if I didn’t act, I’d lose a part of my spirit.” After earning undergraduate and graduate theatre degrees from Mount Holyoke College and Florida State University, Casarett landed a fivemonth dinner theatre gig at a resort in the Poconos. In addition to acting, she was expected to demonstrate skeet-shooting techniques to guests and conduct volleyball tournaments. Casarett, a Pittsford native, decided to return home to Rochester to teach creative dramatics, serve as a private linguistics tutor and perform the role of Emily Dickinson in “The Belle of Amherst” for Young Audiences of Rochester, among other assignments. In 1995, she earned a
graduate degree in education from Nazareth College. Casarett loves the collaborative nature of community theater. “This is all about teamwork,” she says. “No one should be a diva—not the actor, director, set designer or stage manager. The most important thing is the production.” Most recently, Casarett has appeared as Clairee in the Blackfriars Theatre production of “Steel Magnolias” and as Judy in JCC CenterStage’s production of Woody Allen’s one-act comedy, “Honeymoon Motel.” “Everybody in a production is important,” she adds. “You know when to take the stage when you need it, and give it to someone else when they need it. We are all connected to the story.”
Good Roles for Older Men By day, Fred Nuernberg runs a dog boarding and grooming kennel out of his home in Victor. By night, he is an actor who has appeared in productions over the years for Rochester Shakespeare Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Shipping Dock Theatre, Blackfriars, JCC, Rochester Children’s Theatre and more. Acting is a passion, says Nuernberg, a native of Madison, Wis., who holds a bachelor’s degree in theater and French from University of Wisconsin and a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from Marquette University. “I love bringing words to life, and transforming people on the page into real-life characters,” he says. “There’s nothing like live theater. The immediate contact with an audience feeds my soul.” His roles have ranged from an older rabbi in “The Chosen” to lead parts in “Hamlet” and “Macbeth.” In January, Nuernberg portrayed King Henry II in Out of Pocket’s production of “The Lion in Winter.” “Thankfully, there are many good roles for older men,” he says. “The king is usually more interesting than the prince.”
Glorious Experience Brighton resident Tim McCormack has a lot of energy. That trait serves him well as the father of three teenage daughters and as a field agent for American Expediting Corp. His energy has also served him
Greg Byrne (left) and Stefan Cohen co-starred in the Blackfriars Theatre production of “Tuesdays with Morrie.” Byrne says: “Acting is a ball. I’ve had the chance to work with the most wonderful people. Community theatre is a terrific way to bond with well as an actor, both in his earlier full-time acting career in Los Angeles, and more recently in his community theater endeavors in Rochester. A native of Hamburg, south of Buffalo, who holds a bachelor’s degree in theater from SUNY Geneseo and a master’s degree in directing from Florida State University, McCormack played the role of Ensign Bennett for six seasons on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” He also portrayed the character of Charlton Heston’s chauffeur on “The Colbys,” an evening soap
opera, and played a detective on “Straightjacket,” which, he says, was described by one critic as “one of the 10 worst horror films ever made.” Acting is a ball, says McCormack, a member of the Unleashed! improv troupe, who previously directed a production of “The Wizard of Oz” for Webster Theatre Guild and appeared in “Honeymoon Motel” at the JCC. “I love creating a character and getting the chance to work with other actors in Rochester who are stunMarch / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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acting ningly talented and professional,” he says. “When it all comes together, it’s a glorious experience.”
Acting is a Ball While teaching English to high school students in Rush-Henrietta for 32 years, Greg Byrne loved exposing his students to fascinating literary characters. He gets the same thrill while acting in a play. Recently, Byrne — who was the only child of Irish immigrants, and holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and English from University of Toronto—earned critical acclaim in his role as Morrie in the Blackfriars’production of “Tuesdays With Morrie.” He co-starred with local actor Stefan Cohen, who played the part of Mitch Albom. Byrne, who has been married to his college sweetheart for 56 years and is the father of five and grandfather of 11, calls the experience “thrilling.” “There comes a time in an actor’s life when you get lost in a part,” he says. “That happened to Stefan and me. By the end of each performance, we were walking on air. It was an experience that neither of us will ever forget.” Byrne’s acting career also has included stints as Professor Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady,” the old man in “Prelude to a Kiss” and Bill in “Kiss Me Kate.” He says that the discipline of learning and memorizing lines of dialogue is particularly beneficial as people age because it fully engages the mind. Byrne, who took tapdance lessons for the first time at age 62, has performed in more than 75 shows over the years and is an active participant in Geriactors, a group of older actors who perform at myriad locations throughout the region. “Acting is a ball,” says Byrne, who would love to play the lead role in Shakespeare’s King Lear some day. “I’ve had the chance to work with the most wonderful people. Community theater is a terrific way to bond
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Senior Apartments Villas for Lease • Patio Homes For Sale March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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ElderONE: Promoting Independent Living New program started by Rochester General Health System supports independent living By Mike Costanza
Ann Mary Mazzochetti surrounded by three of her four children: Cheryl Chivaro, above, Mark Mazzochetti, left, and Stephen Mazzochetti on the right. “We kids were rotating our nights staying with her,” says Cheryl Chivaro.
A
nn Mary Mazzochetti’s eyes still shine, but her hands shake from the effects of Parkinson’s disease. Though the neurological disorder has left her unable to take care of 24
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most of the tasks she once found easy or walk without assistance, a Rochester program allows her to continue living in her own apartment. “I have a place to live, and I enjoy it,” the Rochester resident says.
Mazzochetti continues living her life as independently as she can through the assistance of ElderONE, an affiliate of the Rochester General Health System. ElderONE, which until recently was called “Independent Living for Seniors,” was created in 1990 to give qualified seniors the comprehensive care they need in order to live as independently as possible in their own homes. Those who enroll in the program must be at least 55 years old and suffer from a combination of medical and physical needs that renders them eligible for nursing home care. “They may have a lot of chronic medical conditions — like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure — the kinds of things that send people on a slow decline if they don’t have good health maintenance and preventive services,” says Kathy McGuire, senior vice president of behavioral health, long term care, and senior services at the Rochester General Health System. ElderONE does not provide housing and almost all of its costs are covered by a combination of Medicaid and Medicare funding. Most who enroll in the program have bounced in and out of emergency rooms and nursing homes due to their inability to obtain the treatment and preventive health care they need. “They keep ending up in the hospital and the emergency room because they’re kind of in the cycle of not being able to do the preventive care that they need to do,” McGuire said. In addition, those in the program
are unable to take care of at least some of the basic tasks that they once may have found easy. “They may not be doing as well at their activities of daily living, like cooking and paying their bills,” she says.
Everyone pitches in The combination of problems can prove stressful for the older adult’s relative and friends, who may be striving to care for the senior while tending to their own busy lives. In 2010, after helping her late husband Stephen run the family liquor store, working as a real estate agent and raising four children, Mazzochetti found herself unable to function as she once had and isolated. “I just sat there all day long and watched television,” she says. Her children did what they could for her and strove to make sure she was safe. “We kids were rotating our nights staying with her,” says Cheryl Chivaro, one of Mazzochetti’s two daughters. “We had to make sure someone was there to take care of her.” Throughout the day, they worried about how she was faring alone. “The week before Christmas [of 2009] she fell 10 times,” says Mark, one of Mazzochetti’s two sons. After multiple trips to the emergency room, Mazzochetti’s children reluctantly considered the possibility that she might need to enter a nursing home. As they did so, they joined millions of Americans who are faced with the same dilemma. Even older adults who have planned well for their retirements need some form of assistance to go on with their daily lives. At the same time, nearly 80 percent of adults 65 years old or older who were surveyed expressed the desire to “age in place,” spending as many of their later years as possible in their homes. To do so, they generally need to be able to access a wide range of services, from medical care to assistance with cooking or other regular activities. Programs like ElderONE provide that web of services. Mazzochetti enrolled in March 2011. ElderONE is based on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) model, which was first developed to care for elderly immigrants in San Francisco in the early 1970s (see related sidebar).
cover It’s Time to Keep PACE 55+
Program features all-inclusive care for elderly By Mike Constanza
T
he Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides comprehensive long-term services and supports to Medicaid and Medicare enrollees. An interdisciplinary team of health professionals provides individuals with coordinated care. For most participants, the comprehensive service package enables them to receive care at home rather than receive care in a nursing home. Financing for the program is capped, which allows providers to deliver all services participants need rather than limit them to those reimbursable under Medicare and Medicaid fee-for-service plans. The PACE model of care is established as a provider in the Medicare program and it enables states to provide PACE services to Medicaid beneficiaries as an option.
Philosophy The PACE model is centered around the belief that it is better for the well-being of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community whenever possible. PACE serves individuals who are 55 or older, certified by their state to need nursing home care, are able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment, and live in a PACE service area. Although all PACE partici-
pants must be certified to need nursing home care to enroll in PACE, only about 7 percent of PACE participants nationally reside in a nursing home. If a PACE enrollee does need nursing home care, the PACE program pays for it and continues to coordinate the enrollee’s care.
Services Delivering all needed medical and supportive services, the program is able to provide the entire continuum of care and services to seniors with chronic care needs while maintaining their independence in their homes for as long as possible. Care and services include: • Adult day care that offers nursing; physical, occupational and recreational therapies; meals; nutritional counseling; social work and personal care • Medical care provided by a PACE physician familiar with the history, needs and preferences of each participant • Home health care and personal care • All necessary prescription drugs • Social services • Medical specialists such as audiology, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and speech therapy • Respite care • Hospital and nursing home care when necessary
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SeniorONE leadership: Kathy McGuire, Stephen Ryan and Sue Barnes. Says Ryan, “The phrase that people use to describe SeniorONE is ‘nursing home without walls.’”
“The phrase that people use to describe it is ‘nursing home without walls,’” says Stephen Ryan, ElderONE’s medical director. “People get all the care that would normally be provided in a nursing home, but they get to live in their own home or home setting.”
Aging in place The web of care is designed to help participants — ElderONE doesn’t call its charges “patients” — maintain their physical health and continue enjoying life while remaining in their homes. Geriatricians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers and others all team up to make sure that the participant gets assistance. The teams meet every day to check on their charges, solve problems and make sure they are getting the treatment or services they need. “If there’s been any change in the status of the person, they’re able to react to it immediately,” says Susan Barnes, business development specialist for ElderONE. “We can make changes on the dime for them.” Participants generally come to one of the program’s two PACE centers in Rochester for most of the services they need. After traveling to the center free of charge, they can meet with their physicians or other medical professionals, see their social 26
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workers or take care of other business. While most other physicians are paid by the patient visit, encouraging them to see as many patients as possible, ElderONE’s geriatricians are paid a salary. For that reason, they can see their charges as often as they need and for as long as treatment requires. “Their job is, ‘Let me do everything I can once, let me do it right, and send them back out,’” says Ryan, the program’s medical director. “If they’ve [participants] got something really acute, sub-acute and I want to see them twice a day, five days a week, I can do it.” ElderONE’s physical therapy program also reaches beyond those provided by other models of senior care. Though other facilities may provide no more than the amount of physical therapy that Medicare will cover, the PACE centers’ physical therapists can exceed that limit when needed. Participants, many of whom suffer from arthritis, often stop in for heat wraps to ease the discomfort of their joints. “This is one of the very, very few programs that has maintenance physical therapy,” says Barnes, the program’s business development specialist. The PACE centers also offer more enjoyable activities than heat wraps. Participants can exercise and take
arts and crafts classes, play games, enjoy a meal or socialize with others in the program.
Reaching into community John Van Auken generally spends his twice-weekly visits to the year-old PACE’s Hudson Avenue center attending special events. “We went to see ‘Peter Pan’ at the Eastman Theatre on Ridge Road,” he gleefully says. Van Auken’s time away from home gives his 82-year-old wife a welcome break. “To have him go somewhere twice a week to mingle with other people, it’s good for him and for me,” Edna Van Auken says. “This way, I can make appointments for myself, if I want to go to the doctor, to go shopping, whatever.” ElderONE’s services aren’t limited by the walls of its facilities, but reach far into the community. Nurses, physical therapists, aides and other staff visit participants in their homes when needed to see that they maintain their health and that their personal needs are met. The staff might be based in one of the PACE centers or in one of four offices the program has out in the community, each of which is located in a building that caters to senior citizens. Those who assist Mazzochetti are based in an office that is right in her apart-
ment building. “They provide an aide that comes in here every two to three hours to check on me, and make sure I’m all right,” Mazzochetti says. “They make my meals for me, they clean up, and they [provide] a companion when I need somebody.”
Prepared for emergencies Medical professionals are also on call 24 hours a day for emergencies, ready to treat participants at home or take them to a PACE center for treatment. If a participant needs to go to a specialist or an emergency department, his or her ElderONE team contacts the medical professionals involved to monitor and assist with treatment. The combination of several types of assistance allows Mazzochetti to maintain a more independent lifestyle than she would have in a nursing home. Three days a week, she boards a bus to the North Park Drive PACE center, where she meets with her doctor or other professionals as needed, enjoys meals with friends and participates in arts and crafts or other activities. Over the holidays, she and other participants made presents for children in a local hospital. “We made Build-a-Bears,” she says, with a touch of pride. “They have a lot of activities that keep me going.” That’s not to say Mazzochetti spends all her time away from North Park sitting in her apartment. In warmer weather, she headed out from her River Street apartment to a local Walmart — on her electric scooter. ElderONE’s web of assistance has also given Mazzochetti’s children a measure of relief. “It just gives us a sense of ease that she’s being taken care of, and she’s safe,” Chivaro explains. “We’re able to live our lives knowing that she’s being taken care of.” Programs like ElderONE can also cut the cost of caring for seniors in the long term, according to the National PACE Association. The association, which represents PACE programs around the country, advocates for caring for senior citizens who suffer from chronic conditions at home, rather than in institutions. How do ElderONE’s participants feel about the program? According to McGuire, 95 percent of those who enroll in the program remain in it until the end of their lives.
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profile
Camera Man
Photo history buff, car enthusiast frames an exciting retirement By Ernst Lamothe Jr.
S
ometimes the simple things in life make a person happy. For Jack Bloemendaal, it’s framing the perfect shot right before he clicks the top of his camera and takes a picture. As a young boy, he was fascinated with cameras. He began with a small UniveX camera and used film from his father’s dentist office. He would take one shot a day and then process it. His love continued when he became part of the photography staff in high school and college. Today, he has almost 300 cameras in his collection, including the Kodak Super 620, the first automatic exposure camera, many 35-millimeter versions and a darkroom in the basement. “I’m basically an equipment freak,” said Bloemendaal, 73, of Rochester. “I just naturally was attracted to photography and it has been one of my prime interests ever 28
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since. Finding the perfect image to shoot and achieving the photo you want is fantastic.” It’s no surprise that Bloemendaal found his way to Eastman Kodak Inc. in 1964. After college, he applied for a job at photographic companies. By that time, he had a small collection of cameras as he moved from South Dakota to Rochester to work as a mechanical engineer. For almost three decades, he worked in designing printers, the Advantix camera and prototype for the disposal camera. He retired in 1991. “The biggest thing that hit was just how fast digital cameras came along,” he said. “One second it was knocking at the door, and then all of a sudden, it kicked and threw the door wide open.” Hoping to meet other camera collectors, he co-founded The Photographic Historical Society in
1966, a club for photo-historians and camera collectors in Rochester. It has grown to an organization of several hundred international members who share an interest in the history of photography, and in the collection of its images and artifacts. The organization meets the third Thursday of each month, featuring speakers, presentations and knowledgeable camera experts. “When you get so many people who love cameras in a room and who are fellow collectors, it can be wonderful experience,” said Sharon Bloemendaal, 72, his wife, a former features editor of The New York-Pennsylvania Collector. “Everyone in the field brings so much to the table once they all gather in a room. You get to interact with all the movers and shakers in the field. It is fascinating to hear people talk about their experiences in photographic history.”
Revved up for action Being a person who does most of his own car repairs, Bloemendaal is a self-described car enthusiast. It came as no surprise why he volunteered as head of the documentary and public relations photography at Watkins Glen International for 12 years. It offered another avenue for him to fuse two of his passions — cars and cameras. “I have always been thoroughly in love with the Ferrari,” said Bloemendaal. “And being able to shoot race car events and being so close to the action makes it even better. I could shoot from anywhere and didn’t have to take pictures from behind a fence.” However, being close offers challenges. “The cars are going very quickly so you have to set yourself up in the ideal spot and hope your technique works,” he said. “You have an object zooming at more than 140 mph with a long lens so you want to make sure you are capturing all of it in the proper focus. You sometimes have to attempt to shoot the same shot three or four times to really get it right. The nice thing about racing is that if you miss the shot, the cars are coming right back into your line of sight four minutes later.” They both walked every foot of the viewing area of the racetrack at Watkins Glen. “He is the better photographer, but I worked harder,” quipped Sharon. She once photographed two of Paul Newman’s racecars crashing into each other; they later presented him with a print. But even in retirement, photography still plays a central role in their lives. He is general chairman of the PhotoHistory XVI, a symposium that will take place in October held at the George Eastman House and the Double Tree Inn in Henrietta. Sharon is the media coordinator for the event. Held since 1970, the event attracts camera and photograph collectors from around the world. Typically, people from eight countries and 22 states attend, which is more than 200 camera enthusiasts. The Bloemendaals, who has been married for 51 years, are both instrumental in both the PhotoHistory XVI symposium and Photographic Historical Society. “Rochester is such a hub for pho-
Jack Bloemendaal holding one of the cameras from his personal collection. His passion for photography and equipment led him to co-found The Photographic Historical Society in 1966, a club for photo-historians and camera collectors in Rochester. tography with Kodak being here all these years,” she said. “So much has happened here surrounding photography and I think the general population doesn’t appreciate it as much as us older people. We appreciate the history of it all.” Usually collectors seldom collect just one thing. He also has a passion for finding antique musical instruments, including an 1820s keyed bugle and a Civil War-era over-theshoulder horn. In his spare time, he plays string bass with the Eastman
School continuing education program, New Horizons, and can also play the tuba. Sharon plays tuba and clarinet in the Irondequoit Concert Band and the Kodak Concert Band, respectively. The couple is also active in the Webster Christian Reformed Church and the Browncroft Neighborhood Association, where Sharon is a historian. They have two grown daughters and four grandchildren. “Retirement seems to be a fulltime job,” said Sharon. March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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Christine Dysart Field, right, with training partner, Lin Becker. They show their finishers medals during one of the marathons in which they participated, the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2013.
Field of Dreams
After devastating loss of husband, woman finds new passion: marathon running By Ernst Lamothe Jr. 30
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eople run for many reasons. They run for exercise, for enjoyment and sometimes as a temporary respite from life’s problems. Christine Dysart Field ran to get her life back after suffering a tremendous blow. On Christmas Day five years ago, Field became a widow. She had taken care of her husband, Paul, a Greece Olympia High School teacher for the 12 previous years, after he was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that caused a brain injury. She cared for him for two years in the hospital — two of those months he was in a coma. As a caregiver, Field helped him regain some of his energy. For months after his death, Field sat at home inactive. But thanks to constant and persuasive pushing by her daughter-in-law, Sharon Shepler Field, everything changed in the spring of 2009. The first step to recovery was jogging. Since that moment, she has run 13 half-marathons and three full ones. “My daughter-in-law told me to get off the couch and start running. And ever since then that is what I have been doing,” said Field. “When she first mentioned running, my answer to her was ‘I don’t think so. I’m not running any half-marathon.’ Running was something I was just never into.” She joined a Greece women’s running club, made up of a combination of family, friends and strangers. In the beginning, Field said it clearly showed that running wasn’t her thing. She would lag behind because the other women were so much better. But before you knew it, Field was running longer distances, including 10 miles on a rainy Saturday, during the first few months. “It was very empowering to start to run for that long, especially when I saw how far I came from,” said Field. “I’ll never forget my first day of running. I ran for three minutes and wanted to stop. But I pushed through and ran four miles and that gave me the confidence and strength to keep
going on.” Soon they became known as the Bagel Bunch because after long runs they would travel to Bruegger’s on Latta Road for a snack and rest. The camaraderie and good times with the other women kept her connected to the running group. Tapping into her competitive nature, she shaved off 49 minutes between her first and second marathons. She continued to keep getting personal bests. She also used the same skills that she needed as a caregiver. “In running, you are very isolated and you need great focus and you have to be on your own. Taking care of my husband who was disabled, there were times that I had to be there by myself as his wife and help him recover. I had to get him to walk and talk and I took it one day at a time,” she said. Her favorite half-marathon was her first, which took place in Disney World in 2010. “Everything was so over the top with 20,000-plus runners from all over the world and the atmosphere was electric,” she said. “I traveled down with six other of my Bagel Bunch running buddies, including my daughter-in-law, Sharon. It was 36 degrees and raining, which was no different than Rochester weather, and all of my friends waited over an hour for me at the finish line.” She ran another marathon two years later in Disney, but this time a full one. At least this time, the temperature was 60.
interest in gymnastics. She competed in high school and at SUNY Brockport in the 1970s. Field then started at Bright Raven and became part owner in 1976. The business continued to grow with every Olympics, including with the explosion of Mary Lou Retton’s gold medal performance in Los Angeles. For 12 years, she led the gym and continued coaching until her husband became disabled. She also coached at the Churchville-Chili Central School District and won Section V Coach of the Year. “My partners and I built the business from a small program run from recreational departments and YMCA to a full-blown, top-notch, full-time gymnastics center, producing state and regional champions,” she said. After her husband died, her granddaughter, Emily, caught the “gymnastics bug” and Field returned to Bright Raven.
Overcoming life’s curveballs Pat Tersigni, one of her friends, said she could not believe the strength and perseverance Field has shown during the past years. She marvels at everything her friend had on her plate before and after her husband died. “While busy teaching, Christine was dealing with taking care of her husband, battling insurance companies, Medicare and home health care agencies. She also decided to go on special assignment to become a
staff development coordinator at the school,” said Tersigni. “She now has become a marathon runner. Setting goals in life and working very hard to reach them has been Christine’s way of dealing with life’s difficulties.” Field appreciates those kind words. She does hope she can inspire others to run. While she said there is some pain at first, especially for those who were not natural runners, she views the experience as rewarding. “If you can put one foot in front of the other and move then you can run,” added Field. “I’m not saying that it won’t be a little difficult. But nobody should ever have the mindset that they can’t do it.” On occasion she runs by herself, which offers a completely different feel than running with her group. “Running by myself, I need to stay alert and aware of my surroundings. However I like the opportunities to take in all the sights and sounds. I used to run with music, but now I like to get lost in my thoughts,” she said. “The downside is staying motivated and not slowing down or cutting back on my speed.” She is training for a 400-mile fundraiser bike ride from Nashville, Tenn. to Jackson, Miss. by way of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Not only will she be riding an average of 65 miles a day, but she will be working with local communities either building or rehabbing houses.
Enjoying the moment “One of the most experienced marathoners from our Bagel Bunch group shared with me before this trip that a runner can never have another first marathon, so have fun,” she said. “Running a marathon is all mental. I think a lot of people can run 26 miles if they spend months training.” Last year, her life involved running two full marathons in back-toback months in September in Rochester and October in Washington D.C. She wore a picture of her husband, who was a Marine. She struck up many conversations with people along the way. “It was so moving running through our nation’s capital and seeing so many Marines out there cheering me on,” said Field. Outside of running, she had an
Members of Bagel Bunch supporting member Deb Ciulla (center in white top) at the Ovarian Cancer 5K race in September. Christine Field is on the far right; her daughter-in law, Sharon Field is next to her. March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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learning
Oasis of Thought Rochester-area seniors find oasis for learning By Saby Reyes-Kulkarni
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ental activity can preserve the structural integrity in the brains of aging adults. So says a study by Konstantinos Arfanakis, associate professor at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, which was presented at the annual meeting of the Ra-
diological Society of North America. Arfanakis’ findings probably won’t surprise anyone who’s taken or taught classes at Rochester OASIS, a nonprofit learning center that has, since 1988, offered courses in a dizzying range of subjects. Its mission centers on enriching
OASIS instructor Donald S. Hall posing in front of a slide from his class “Rochester’s Patent Medicine Men.” 32
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the lives of mature adults by offering challenging programs in the arts, humanities, health, technology, and volunteer service. Rochester OASIS charges no membership fees and relies entirely on volunteer instructors in addition to sponsorship from Lifetime Care, the Monroe County Office for the Aging, and North Coast Radio. Members pay fees calculated for each class they sign up for. Since OASIS first opened in Rochester at Sibley’s department store downtown, participation has increased from an initial 1,600 members to a current total enrollment approaching 10,000. The facility is now located in the Monroe Square Building on Monroe Avenue, just south of the inner loop. OASIS is headquartered in St. Louis, but its individual centers operate autonomously. Executive director Priscilla Minster, who has been with Rochester OASIS since 1990, attributes the attendance figures to word of mouth. “I have nothing in the budget for advertising,” Minster says. “Zero. Our only marketing is our catalog. That goes out, not only to our members, but to all the libraries, a lot of doctor’s offices,
and various places around the city that have requested it.” Even at first glance at the course catalog for the January-April 2014 term, the sheer variety of subjects jumps out at you. Alongside classes in expected areas of computer-literacy and mind/body maintenance — “Introduction to Power Point,” for example, or “Mastering Your iPad,” tai chi, pilates, and meditation — other classes delve into highly specific, even esoteric subjects. Ever wonder how to write Carolingian miniscule (lower-case) calligraphy developed in the 8th century under the rule of Charlemagne? Feel like breaking down season one of the HBO series “The Wire” over five sessions? How about an in-depth, 10-session study of Tibetan history and culture? Want to continue learning Arabic at an intermediate level? Perhaps you’re curious about musical “borrowing” from the Middle Ages to hip hop. Maybe you’d like to focus in on lesser-known historical figures such as John Winthrop or Lewis and Clark? The list goes on and on, with roughly 150 options per trimester.
Diverse offerings, instructors “There are different ways that I get instructors and choose classes,” explains Minster. “Many times, my litmus test is, ‘Would I want to take that course? Is that something that would interest me?’ Of course, I never have time to actually go, but I pick things that I myself would like to go to. Our membership is so diverse. And we have so many members who were teachers in the past who are very interesting people. They come and take classes and then they think, ‘Ooh, I’d like to teach something.’ It may be a very obscure topic, but I’m always willing to take a chance on something. You never know what will go over.” Case in point: classes such as “Mutual Contempt: Lyndon Johnson and Bobby Kennedy,” “Rochester’s Patent Medicine Men,” and “800 Years of Classical Music” were all robustly attended and sparked lively discussions among highly engaged participants during the September-December 2013 term. “Mutual Contempt,” a dissection of the acrimony between Kennedy and Johnson, and “Patent Medicine,”
Donald S. Hall gives a presentation at the OASIS Center of Rochester. The program offers a variety of programs about the arts, humanities, health and technology. a one-hour presentation on local 19th- and early 20th-century entrepreneurs who got rich selling ineffective cure-all tonics, both exemplify how instructors often end up teaching subjects outside of their chosen career field. Melvin Braverman, a Xerox retiree, has maintained a lifelong side passion for history. He’s also taught an Oasis class on the film “The Big Lebowski.” He showed up to the center lugging eight dense historical texts, all of which he read from with academic precision. But his wry wit and snappy summation of events clearly strikes a chord with his audience. Like him, they actually lived through the chapter in history he’s describing. One class member, a retired Monroe Community College sociology professor, raised his hand and recalled his college acquaintance with Jimmy Hoffa Jr., whose life was profoundly impacted by Bobby Kennedy’s actions. Referred to as a “Renaissance
man” by one of his students, Donald S. Hall, retired director of the Strasenburgh Planetarium, juggles several intellectual and scholarly pursuits including photography and antique glass. He stumbled across the local history of patent medicine manufacturing while researching for another course, “The Mansions of East Avenue,” a popular hit that OASIS offers on a recurring basis. With its vivid, antiquated, and — by modern standards — patently absurd visual imagery, Hall’s slide show elicits hardy rounds of laughter in several spots. As the filled-to-capacity class filed out, it was apparent that the students had just been thoroughly entertained. Across the board, in fact, the atmosphere at the center is strikingly pleasant compared to other work and learning environments. “People who come to classes at OASIS are here because they want to be here,” said volunteer Josie Mammano. March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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From South London to Rochester
Former executive with a lucrative career in London and Wall Street decides to give it up to study wine-making in the Finger Lakes By Mike Costanza
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t 55, Jeffrey Geesing has traded currency in Hong Kong and New York, helped make wine in France, studied international relations, and had a good time while doing it. Not bad for a kid from a rather rough-and-tumble part of London. “I’m very, very happy, and very lucky,” he says. Best of all, you get the idea that the best may be yet to come for this retiree. Geesing was born in South London, a part of the British capital, to parents who were government employees. His late father started as a police officer and ended up working for MI5, the British intelligence service. When speaking of his father’s work, the normally loquacious Brit suddenly grows close-mouthed. “He was a counterspy,” Geesing says. “He would monitor a lot of goings-on in Eastern Europe.” At that time, the docks on the River Thames were an important part of South London’s economy and culture. “You know what the docks are like in major cities,” Geesing says. “It’s a little rough-and-ready at the time.” Avoiding the “rough-and-ready,” Geesing managed to get into the Alleyn’s School Dulwich, one of the area’s better schools. Dropping out at about the age of 15, he began casting about for a job. “Things were different then—you could forge your way in life without a professional degree,” he asserts. After Geesing worked in a few low-level jobs, a friend’s father helped him obtain a job as a telegraphist in a British post office.
“That’s where I learned to type and to use a Telex machine,” he explains. Back then, transcontinental and overseas telephone communication was in its infancy. Governments and large businesses used Telex machines, which looked like oversized typewriters, to communicate over long distances via telephone lines. The corporate headquarters of The Gannett Company, Inc sported several of the machines back when it was located in Rochester in the 1970s. After several years, Geesing took a job in the local offices of R. J. Rouse & Co, a commodities trader that dealt in futures contracts for sugar, coffee, cocoa and rubber. In simple terms, a commodity futures contract covers the sale of a commodity at the current price, with delivery and payment at a later date. The buyer gains if the commodity has increased in price at the time of delivery. If it drops, the buyer loses. Sales are made on the floor of a commodities exchange, where those able to predict the upward or downward direction of a commodity’s value can make a great deal of money. “What I would do is send live prices to customers overseas, because they didn’t have access to what was going on in the markets in London,” he says. “This was the beginning of developing my career in futures trading.” Recognizing his potential, R. J. Rouse eventually sent Geesing to the trading floor of the exchange, where he manned a booth as part of a team that dealt in sugar futures. “I’d be on the phone to the customers, and my trader would be
outside of the booth sitting on what is called ‘the ring,’” Geesing explains. “He’d be trading with the various other companies around on the best prices, and I’d be telling him what he needs to do.” Once a sale was agreed upon, the trader would write up a ticket for it and give it to the buyer. For Geesing, it was an exciting time to be on the trading floor, competing for sales. “The business is populated with some very, very smart people, because that’s where the money is,” he asserts. It was also quite lucrative. His earnings came to about 10,000 pounds (about $50,000) a year. “It was an ungodly amount of money to give to a 20-year-old,” he says, with a grin. Shifting into futures trading in currency and securities, a much more lucrative part of the business, Geesing held progressively more responsible positions in London, Hong Kong and New York. As he rose, the business changed, until colorful traders no longer yelled at each other on the floors of their exchanges. “There’s no need for that — his
computer talks to my computer,” he wistfully explained. That, plus the exhausting nature of the business, led him to retire from it in 2010. Looking for something else to do, Geesing came upon a course catalogue for Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) in Canandaigua. A love of good food and wine led him to enroll in FLCC’s wine-making program. Though the idea of entering a college thrilled the high school dropout, the reality was a bit surprising. “I don’t know why, but I just assumed that the grapes would magically appear in a vat, and we would sit around drinking wine and discussing philosophy,” he chuckles. “I was really surprised when they actually meant that you had to dig things and carry things and lift things and learn math and biology.” An internship at a vineyard in the Burgundy region of France was more of an eye opener. “The place was great, the food was great and I had a wonderful time, but I don’t want to work that hard,” he explains. After graduating from FLCC
with an associate’s degree, Geesing decided to put his experiences in international financial trading to use. Last September, he enrolled at SUNY College at Geneseo as a student of international relations. “Trading is sort of reading the tea leaves of politics and policy, so I should have a leg up on this,” he asserts. Nowadays, Geesing heads out to classes from a posh apartment on Rochester’s East Avenue that he shares with his dog, Boo. In addition to objets d’art and books on political theory, the place sports pictures of his son, Josh, who recently graduated from St. Andrew’s College in Scotland. His immediate plans include a month he expects to spend vacationing in Spain and the south of France this summer, and continuing his studies at Geneseo. Once he graduates, he might acquire an advanced degree or take a job. Whatever direction he picks, Geesing appears ready to move up. “I would certainly consider working for Her Majesty’s government,” he says. “There’s plenty of activity that gets done in the United Nations.”
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change
Gem of an Idea
A trip to Machu Picchu and a local jeweler is back in action By Ernst Lamothe Jr.
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Glen Moscoe: New energy after his trip to Machu Picchu with his wife, Karen. 36
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ometimes you just need a break. A little time to collect yourself, free your mind and the rest will follow. When Glen Moscoe and his wife, Karen, went to vacation in Machu Picchu, it was a combination of relaxation and exhilaration. The couple wanted to have a romantic trip surrounded by a tropical setting, but also reveled in the elation of hiking in 10,000-foot elevation hills in Peru. “I knew after the trip that I was strong enough to challenge myself and do something different. Sometimes you end up talking yourself out of making a move because you are afraid to make that change,” said Moscoe, 60. “I listened to my inner voice, which told me not to be complacent and told me I could do it. And after a few weeks of downtime, I was anxious to get back to work.” In his case, getting back to work meant figuring out how to restart a jewelry business that he had decided to temporarily close down. In a turbulent economy, it’s not surprising when you hear of a store closing. But you don’t often hear of a business that is financially holding its head above water deciding to shut down. However, when Moscoe closed his Brighton jewelry store in December 2012 after 23 years in Tops Brighton Plaza, it was a daring move. He not only beat the odds by reopening his store in a new location
six months later, but he did it while changing some of his business model and store look. Taking time away from the business allowed him to attend vendor meetings, visit large antique jewelry stores and get familiar with the latest industry technology. “It wasn’t an epiphany. It’s not like I was in Machu Picchu and all of a sudden the idea came to me,” said Moscoe. “My mind was already thinking about making some of these changes. There were things percolating and things came together.” What that trip did was give him the encouragement to believe in himself. In Peru, he hiked, slept in tents and had to be on his feet for 10 hours a day. He worked out regularly to get in shape for the vacation. “A little time to reflect and regenerate myself is exactly what I needed.” he said.
New business approach The couple wanted a new game plan that would still deliver the high-quality service that they built their reputation on during the past two decades. Gone would be the shiny and glossy large storefront. They also added a special private meeting room where diamond buyers are guided through online purchasing through their international diamond and gemstone dealers. One thing they didn’t want to change was the one-on-one, firstname-basis customer service. They understand building a stable relationship benefits both the customers and business. When he decided to open up, he wanted to remain in Brighton because of his loyal existing customer base. After much searching, they found a new home across the street from McQuaid High School in Brighton Corners Office Park, 1655 Elmwood Ave. They decided to keep regular hours Tuesday through Saturday and brought back Marty McVay, who Moscoe calls his righthand person, and Zoey, their little dog who was known as the friendly customer greeter at the old store. “After being in the same location for 23 years, I needed a little change to shake things up,” added Moscoe.
“I needed to have a different window to look out of and a different door to open when I came to work.”
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Customers like family McVay has been working side by side with Moscoe for the past 15 years. “I am just glad that we didn’t stray too far from our first location because I really see our customers as family,” said McVay, of Irondequoit. With the business selling many diamonds for engagement rings, wedding bands and other high-end jewelry, Moscoe also wanted to make sure his customers receive a combination of good price and quality. While the trend is to buy everything on the Internet without any help, he tells customers that it isn’t always the best way to make such an expensive and precious purchase. “Today, there are literally thousands of sites on the Internet that sell diamonds,” said Moscoe. “The more companies, the more scams we have seen.” The private room he established allows him to help people buy the best diamonds they can on the Internet if they want. As a graduate gemologist and Gemological Institute of America-certified appraiser, Moscoe provides all his customers with a written appraisal for every diamond purchase. Customers also get a vendor catalog to view large sections of jewelry as well as an online workstation in the front of the store so they can browse without feeling rushed or pressured. The business also offers appraisal services, consultation, diamonds and fine jewelry sales, jewelry repair and design, buying and selling of estate and antique jewelry and confidential buying of silver, gold and diamonds. “People are finding things they haven’t used for years that they can sell that have not lost significant value,” said Moscoe. “As fashion has changed, people are cleaning their dressers and finding thousands of dollars of value.” He views his story as a guiding post to others who know they need a change, but allow fear to get in their way. “As part of the baby boom generation, we still have a lot of energy in us and probably another decade of productive results in the work world,” added Moscoe. “We can’t let fear keep us from realizing our dreams.”
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long-term care By Susan Suben
Insurance Checklist For 2014
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policy with cash value, do you know that you can use some of that cash value to pay for a long-term care insurance premium tax-free?
Life Insurance
• Do you own a partnership or non-partnership plan? A partnership plan would provide total or partial asset protection in NYS if you exhaust your benefits and still need care. Once you exhaust your benefits, you are also able to apply for Medicaid without any look-back period for gifting. • If you have a non-partnership plan, is it based on a reimbursement or cash/ indemnity payment model? A reimbursement plan would pay up to your daily/ monthly benefit for actual expenses while a cash/indemnity plan would pay your full benefit regardless of the actual cost of care. • Do you have inflation protection? If so, how has your daily/ monthly benefit grown? • Is your daily/monthly benefit keeping pace with the cost of care in your area? Do you need to supplement your benefit? • What are the triggers to receive benefits? Some older policies require you to be unable to perform two out of five activities of daily living as opposed to two out of six for the newer plans. Bathing was often missing as a trigger. • Does your home care benefit allow you to use independent caregivers or unskilled/unlicensed caregivers as opposed to only an agency? • Did you assign a third party to receive notification if you forget to pay your premium? Countless policies lapse because a premium has
nsurance is purchased for many reasons. The primary one is to transfer risk. Life insurance provides a tax-free death benefit to heirs to pay off debt or replace lost income. Disability insurance is designed to replace lost income in the event of an accident or illness. Long-term care insurance helps pay for services and settings when a longterm illness occurs. If you acquired any of these products as part of your financial or retirement plan, it’s important to review the features periodically to determine if your original need for the coverage still exists and if the product is performing the way you expected it to. Following are some questions that will help you review your coverage. • What type of life insurance do you own? Is it term or permanent (universal or whole Life) insurance? • What is your death benefit? • If you have a whole life policy, what is your cash surrender value? • What is your premium? How long is it guaranteed for? • Are your beneficiaries up to date? • Have you paid off the debt or fulfilled the obligations you originally purchased the coverage for? Your life circumstances may have changed and you may no longer need the coverage. • Would it be practical to exchange your current life policy for a life insurance policy with long-term care or chronic illness rider through a 1035 exchange as allowed through the Pension Protection Act? • If you have a life insurance 38
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Long-Term Care Insurance
not been paid. • Are you aware that there is a 20 percent NYS tax credit on your premium if your policy is tax-qualified? Since 1997, most long-term care insurance policies are tax-qualified.
Disability Insurance • Do you have short-term or long-term disability? • Does the policy provide own occupation protection? Own occupation protection means that you have to be unable to perform the duties of your occupation as opposed to a policy that guarantees to pay benefits if you are unable to work at all. • What is your maximum monthly benefit? • Can you increase your benefit? • Are your benefits adjusted for inflation? • How long will your benefit be paid? • How is your disability determined? • How long do you have to wait to receive benefits? • Is the policy guaranteed renewable? Your policy will stay in force but the premiums may increase. • Can you receive partial benefits if you go back to work part-time? • What are the exclusions? Insurance provides protection for you and your family against certain risks. However, needs and goals change and consequently so does your risk exposure. You should review your insurance policies at least every three to five years to make certain you understand your coverage and if it has retained its value. Set a goal to meet with your insurance agent in 2014. Susan Suben, MS, CSA, is President of Long Term Care Associates, Inc. and Elder Care Planning, and a consultant for Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. She can be reached at 800-422-2655 or by email at susansuben@31greenbush.com.
Many people will underestimate what their expected health care costs will be.
REDUCE THE GUESSWORK. INCREASE THE PLANNING.
How much will you need? Your costs will vary based on your income, age, health, location, your Medicare or supplemental plans and life expectancy.
It’s no surprise that health care costs are on the rise, and they are likely to increase during your retirement. In fact, health care will probably be one of the biggest expenses in retirement— estimated around $240,000 for the average 65-year old couple over their 20-year retirement.
LET US HELP YOU PLAN WITH A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THESE COSTS MAY MEAN FOR YOU IN RETIREMENT. At Legacy Financial Planning, we are offering a free Health Care Cost Assessment. Call us at (585) 2415297 or e-mail us at reservations@legacyfp.net to schedule your complimentary appointment.
1507 Monroe Avenue Rochester, NY 14618 (585) 241-5297 reservations@legacyfp.net New York Insurance License # LA-691241
Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC, Investment advise offered through Private Advisor Group LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Legacy Financial Planning and Private Advisor Group are both separate entities from LPL Financial.
A Legacy of Love for Your Community, Annual Payments for You.
The Salvation Army Charitable Gift Annuity provides you with a degree of financial stability while assuring that your concern for others will be your legacy. Here are some representative “one life” rates:*
Here’s How it Works:
You receive a tax deduction for the charitable portion of the gift. You receive fixed annual payments for life, a portion of which may be tax free. The rate is determined by your age. The older you are, the larger the payment. You can enact a Charitable Gift Annuity for yourself OR for yourself and another loved one. Payments continue until the death of the last annuitant. The payment rate is locked in at the time the annuity contract takes effect and NEVER CHANGES!
Doing the Most Good
AGE 65 70 75 80 85 90+
RATE 4.7% 5.1% 5.8% 6.8% 7.8% 9%
A Charitable Gift Annuity is an irrevocable gift. As always, The Salvation Army recommends that you consult your advisors to weigh personal and income tax benefits.
*The Salvation Army adopts annuity rates recommended by The American Council on Gift Annuities
For Free and Confidential Information or a personal illustration contact: John P. Gleason CFRE - Director of Gift Planning for The Salvation Army Phone: 888-434-1391 Email: John.Gleason@USE.SalvationArmy.Org March / April 2014 - 55 PLUS
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visits Independence hall
Visit Philadelphia, Where America Started By Sandra Scott
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hiladelphia is the birthplace of American democracy. The city was one of the Nation’s capitals during the Revolutionary war and served as the temporary capital until Washington, DC was established as the capital in December 1800. Historic Independence Mall is called America’s Most Historic Square Mile. Most of the must-see sites are within walking distance from one another. Any city that can honor Benjamin Franklin and the Three Stooges certainly has something for everyone — there are ethnic neighborhoods to explore, sport teams to root for, parks for hiking and nightlife.
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Visitor Center: Make the Visitor Center your first stop. There are several interesting displays but don’t miss the two videos that offer an insight to America’s Revolution and the mood of the times. Staff will help plan everything from tours to accommodations. Tickets for a free timed tour of Independence Hall 40
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and other tours can be booked at the center. There are also maps, displays and brochures. Getting acquainted: Take one of the several hop-on bus tours for an overview of things to see and do in Philadelphia. They are fully narrated. There is so much to see and do in Philly so if you have less than a lifetime this is the best way to pick out what you would most like to see. Take it once around (90 minutes) then plan your hop off spots of which there are more than 20. Independence Hall: This is where the Second Continental Congress met, where George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Take note of the “rising sun” chair used by George Washington as he presided over the Constitutional Convention. The sun carved at the
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top of the chair caused Benjamin Franklin to hope it was a rising sun and a good omen for the new nation they were forming. Admission is by tour only but tickets are free. Liberty Bell Center: The Liberty Bell Center is located between the Visitor Center and Independence Hall. There is a video presentation and exhibits dealing with the concept of liberty. The bell cracked on its first ringing and was recast several times. The bell gained the title of “Liberty Bell” in the 1800s by abolitionists hoping to bring liberty and freedom to enslaved people. The lines to get in can be long midday so early or late arrival works out best. The center is open 9 to 5. National Constitution Center: Touted as “America’s Most Interactive Museum” it is the only museum dedicated to the U.S Constitution. “Freedom Rising,” the center’s multi-media presentation,
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is a journey from the inception of the constitution to the present time — and uniquely presented. Be one of the thousands who have signed the constitution with the 42 life-size bronze statues of the original signers standing nearby. Betsy Ross House: Did Betsy Ross create the first U.S. flag? You decide after a visit to her home. Her small house is a good example of the era and has a small shop where the docent explains that Betsy Ross was responsible for designing our flag’s five-pointed star, which she claimed was easier to make than a six-pointed star, and how she came to be lauded as the designer of the American flag. She is buried outside. The arts: The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collection includes more than 227,000 works of art. One of the most popular artworks, albeit a bit controversial, is where visitors line up to have their picture taken with Rocky Balboa next to the steps where both were made famous in the Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” movies. Nearby is the Rodin Museum with the largest collection of French sculptor Auguste Rodin’s work outside of France. Explore the Barnes Foundation collection now in a new location. What started as an effort to channel the energy of graffiti artists into something worthwhile
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The Liberty Bell Center is located between the Visitor Center and Independence Hall. has resulted in over 3000 murals earning Philadelphia the title of “City of Murals.” Culinary delights: No visit to Philly is complete without trying their iconic culinary treats, including Philly cheese steak, a sandwich of thinly sliced beef, onions and cheese on a small loaf of Italian-style bread. Don’t miss their hoagie sandwich and try a whoopie, a soft chocolate cake-like cookie filled with sweet cream frosting. The best place to try Philly’s culinary delights is the Reading Terminal Market. To satisfy
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the sweet tooth take the Chocolate Walking Tour that stops at several locations for a sample or two. Festivals and more: Philadelphia has an event or festival for every season and every reason. Start the year off with their fireworks along the river followed by the Mummer’s parade, America’s oldest folk festival, on New Year’s day. The day-long parade includes comics, fancy brigades and the string bands. Outdoor food, art and music festivals take place (nearly) every weekend. And, as one might expect, the city pulls out all the stops to celebrate the Fourth of July. And then there is: There are so many things to do: Wander Effert’s Alley, America’s oldest continuously occupied residential street. Leave a penny on Franklin’s grave at Christ Church were other people instrumental in America’s development are also buried. At Liberty 360 there is a 15-minute film that deals with America’s most treasured value — liberty. The National Liberty Museum is a tribute to freedom with a dynamic section devoted to religious freedom for all religions. Philly is home to the only museum devoted to the three stooges, The Stoogeum. And, Valley Forge is just a short distance away. For more information log on to visitphilly.com or call 800-537-7676.
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Rocky Balboa next to the steps where both were made famous in the Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” movies.
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By Ernst Lamothe, Jr.
Kathryn White, 65 President of the Victor Historical Society talks about her organization, work, aging Q. How did you love of preservation get started? A. I was taught an important lesson from my grandmother who was born in 1880. I heard stories about her life growing up and the places she lived and the world around her. I inherited my love and reverence for antiques and historical things from her. There was history all around us. She taught me that just because something is old doesn’t mean it should be dismissed or not have true value.
exchanged ideas and networked.
Q. How did you get involved in the Victor Historical Society? A. At first, I was nudged by a friend while she was already volunteering at the Seneca Park Zoo. I started working in 1998 to help and maintain Valentown Hall, which was once a shopping center in Victor before becoming abandoned. When the historical society first took over the Valentown property, there was so much work that needed to be done. Especially early on if you were involved as a volunteer, you had to do everything from sometimes fixing plumbing to tackling any other area that needed your attention desperately. It was just a lot of hard work we all did to put things together.
Q. What has been the key to keeping Victor Historical Society running smoothly? A. You can’t get anything done well without a lot of hard working and dedicated people working together for a common goal. I’m so proud of everyone in this organization because we couldn’t get half the stuff we accomplished done if it wasn’t for the diligent work of these volunteers. They give of their time so that others can enjoy this.
Q. Why is Valentown so important to you? A. Valentown has always had the potential to be an asset to the community. We are not only the caretakers of artifacts and historic buildings but also of ideas. The basic principles of society and business that we represent from the past are the beginnings of today’s examples around us. We consider ourselves the first part of that story. We are proud of the collection we have. We see this place as the living history of a time where people gathered in one place, 42
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Q. Why is it essential to care about the past? A. We are all going to be history one day. But, seriously, there are lessons to be learned in the way people lived. When we have visitors who come to the museum and see an object that used to be in use hundreds of years ago, you hope that they appreciate it in itself. But you also hope they appreciate how much easier their lives are now.
Q. What are some of your other interest? A. I have had Ibizan hounds, who are of Spanish origin, for over 20 years. It is very hard to find related items in a pet store, but the market is very strong on line. Recently I got my fourth hound and reconnected with the woman who raises them. After much discussion we decided to combine our talents to see if we could design and market some items for this rare breed and Portuguese Podengos, a related breed. We hope to expand to other rare breeds but will work with what we know well first. Q. What else do you like to do in your spare time outside of historical preservation? A. I graduated from Rochester
Institute of Technology in the early 1970s and have worked in the graphic design fields on and off. But my true love is illustration and designs derived from archeology like Celtic and Native American. I did some natural science illustrations in the past. I love pen and ink/black and white drawings. I collect things like books, maybe too many. I may have gone beyond the ability to read them all before I die. Q. What advice do you have for other people as they get older? A. I think a lot about how my parents aged and what retirement meant to them. It seems very foreign to me. I think aging is serious business and part of your job is to work at it. I do not even refer to myself as retired right now. Most of my circle is not, really. I feel like I’m working for myself. It is interesting to have accumulated knowledge from all your experiences and be able to access it and deliver it in the right place at the right time for free with no pressure. That is all we can ever hope for, to be in that right moment and maybe pass it on. Q. What advice has been useful in life? A. There was never any one source or moment for good advice for me. I think it is a collective process and builds on itself and takes shape for each of us as individuals like a tool only we can use to negotiate our way.
From Our Hearts To Yours. Introducing the HeartMatters Cardiac Rehab Program.
St. Ann’s Community is proud to introduce HeartMatters, a new evidence based program that was developed in collaboration with Cardiologists and Cardiothoracic surgeons including Rochester General Hospital Chief of Cardiology, Gerald Gacioch, M.D. and St. Ann’s Chief Medical Officer, Diane Kane, M.D. HeartMatters provides the region’s best program for patients with cardiac conditions such as heart failure, myocardial infarction and post cardiac surgery (i.e., CABG, valve replacement). We recognize the uniqueness of each individual and will work with you to develop a plan of care that will improve your quality of life and reduce the likelihood of readmission back to the hospital. You and your family will receive the knowledge necessary to better manage your condition after returning home.
For more information or to learn how to preplan a rehab stay, please call 585-697-6311 or visit stannscommunity.com. The HeartMatters cardiac rehab program is available at: St. Ann’s Community, Irondequoit and St. Ann’s Care Center, Cherry Ridge Campus in Webster.
Caring forThe Most Important People on Earth
HeartMatters Cardiac Medical Director, Gerald Gacioch, M.D. and St. Ann’s Chief Medical Officer, Diane Kane, M.D.
Supported by a grant from Greater Rochester Health Foundation
How many retirement nest eggs do you have?
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