The mission of the Cohoes Multi-Service Senior Citizens Center, Inc. is to promote the dignity of older adults living in the community; and to provide the programs and services needed to support their living healthy and productive lives.

May 2012

www.cohoesseniorcenter.org A monthly publication of the Cohoes Multi-Service Senior Citizens Center, Inc.

Seniors Today

2Board of DirectorsEd Tremblay—PresidentLoretta Saheim—Vice-PresidentApril Kennedy—SecretaryCharles Valenti—TreasurerMichael BrooksJohn FarrellJane LaCivita-ClementeMarjorie MaroisHarold PerryCharles Ries, Esq.Myrtle StottMargaret Totten, CSJ

Membership BoardMyrtle Stott - PresidentHomer Duquette - Vice PresidentHal Perry - 2nd Vice PresidentElizabeth Dechene - Secretary/TreasurerDorothy Krupski - Corr. SecretaryMary CoxBertha FlanneryAudrey KennedyPat PerryPhyllis Pfitz

Executive DirectorKeith Hornbrook

Contact:Keith Hornbrook10 Cayuga PlazaCohoes, NY 12047518-235-2420Fax: 518-235-1624khornbrook@cohoesseniorcenter.org

For Advertising information call 518-235-2420

Adult Day Services, Congregate Dining, Home Delivered Meals, and Transportation are funded, in part, by the Albany County Dept. for Aging and the New York State Office for Aging

Director’s Message,

My grandmother lived to be 90 eating whatever she wanted. Who are they to think they should tell me what to eat? ~ Everyone.

There’s a war going on in our country right now, and it’s about healthy lifestyles. More and more, the agencies formed to protect the public’s heath are changing their approach. Gone are the days of encouraging physical fitness and a balanced diet. Now, we’re looking at legislating salt, trans fats, nutritional levels, fiber, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, and many other life-style choices.

Many argue over whether or not the government has the right to legislate and dictate consumer choices. I don’t know how many people have said to me, “No, I don’t want that on my plate. I don’t eat that,” or “I don’t want bread.” I have to tell them that I am obligated to provide them with all the items on the menu. The entire thing has been developed to ensure balanced nutrition. The guidelines are prescribed by the federal government. “Well, that’s ridiculous.” I’m told.

Here’s the thing. Most of us don’t live like our grandparents. Mine ate 3 meals a day at relatively consistant times. They ate a protein (invariably meat), potatoes, and vegetable. Bread was almost always on the table. To this day, I feel guilty if I eat dinner and don’t have all three things on the plate, and I very rarely eat at the same time or close to it every day. I also don’t do nearly as much physical work as they did. I have to try and incorpoate my physical activity into my “recreational” time. And, they pretty much worked until they were physically incapable. Retirement was not a part of their growing up. That came after. Still, can’t we make our own choices instead of someone telling us?

Optimally, we can make our own choices and Public Health’s responsibility is to inform and guide us in making the right ones. The unfortunate thing is that we’re not. This means that they create a formula for maximizing health and impose that formula on program that are publicly funded. This means senior meal programs, school lunch programs, acceptable levels of fat’s in prepackaged foods. Their responsibility is to ensure the well being of those most in need and least able to advocate for themselves. Until they can be assured that we all have become the Norma Rae of health and nutrition, we’re probably going to have to accept mandated standards for certain things that affect our health.

Keith Hornbrook

1-800-860-8707(TTY: 1-800-558-1125)

Monday—Friday 8am—8pm

fideliscare.org

3Membership’s Corner

11 Jean Bouleris Sister Margaret Totten15 Ethel Howell Ralph VanDerHyden16 Yvonne Carter17 Mary Kay Alpers Marion Lambertsen John O’Rourke18 Audrey Kennedy19 John Hodges21 Deborah Ries Jeanne Rysedorph22 Catherine Adams23 Mike Brooks25 Virgina McNamee Helen Narbon Jim Powell27 Beatrice Charbonneau28 Eiko Bogue29 Joe Rustin James Ryan30 Pamela Brennan Eileen Tolan31 Mary Bechard Thomas Remillaird

Monthly Membership Meeting

Interested in starting a new project? Want to help with the craft fair, another event, or get more involved as a member? This is your chance. All members are welcome to attend the monthly meetings. Come be an active part of what goes on at the Senior Center. The meeting is Wednesday, May 23rd at 10:30 AM.

Annual Flee Market and Craft FairJune 8, 2012

We will be looking for volunteers to help with set-up, tear down, to make baked goods for the sale, sell hot-dogs, and work at the sale tables.

Membership Renewals Start June 1, 2012

Come renew your membership. It will remain $12 again this year.

New Members of the Cohoes Senior Center: Nancy Slater, Kathleen Smith, Kathleen Walsh, Marta Page, John Connors, Thomas Remilliard, Yvonne Carter, Theresa LaPointe, Joan Donnelly, Joan Kennedy, Shirley Madsen, Mary Dinelle, Patricia Socola, Thida Bell, Henry Bell

Welcome to all of our new members. We hope to see you all at our functions, meetings, and our dinners and lunches.

Member Birthdays

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

1 Eleanor Gambelli2 Joan Marano Ann Marie Salov Heeran3 April Kennedy6 Emily Wilson7 Mary McGrath8 Lettie Saheim Vivian Burleigh9 Beverly Gariepy10 Patricia Colongione Ronald Muscatello12 Carol Fedorachak13 Karen Smith John Farrell Catherine Benson19 Theodore Demczar20 Frank Verald21 Alma Hansen Felicia Martin22 Cynthia Serbent24 Mary Lou Palmer25 Dorothy Blake

MAY BIRTHDAYS 3 Mary Ann Nadeau4 Irene Castracane5 Susan Farrelly6 Roger Minch, Jr. Serafina Carangelo8 Caroline Comi9 Michael Cooley Mildred Landry

5The Memory Book Project

A recent addition to the activities going on in the Adult Day Services Program is the Memory Book Project. Every participant of the program has their own individual memory book. Each person is encouraged to bring in photos from home and to tell the stories behind the photos. The photos are then scanned into the computer and stories are written pertaining to them and added to the memory books. Also, photos and stories of recent events going on in the program are added to the books such as our recent Easter party.

As shown above Ronnie, in particular, is proud of her book as she has many photos and stories of her immigrant family when they moved to Cohoes from Czechoslovakia. She loves to show the book to her friend, Anne, and to reminisce about her childhood days in Cohoes. Anne's memory book contains many photos of Anne and her husband, their children, and their grandchildren. The idea is to capture the essence of the individual person and to tell each one's own unique story and document their journey.

All the participants of the program are very enthused about their books. Participants of the program frequently come up to me and say, "Please put this in my book." As long as a participant remains in the program, the book remains on the bookshelf in the program area, but once a participant leaves the program the book is theirs to keep and to do with as they wish. It is an exciting project and great fun for all involved. Please feel free to stop by and see the memory books for yourself.

written by Barabara Hale, Program Coordinator

Cohoes Senior Center Expands Services to Watervliet

In late December of 2011, the old Watervliet Senior Center closed its doors. This ended years of programs and services provided at the Mayor Leo O’Brien Municipal Building. The City of Watervliet and community seniors acted quickly to develop a new plan for reopeing the doors and getting services and activities back up and running again.

Several community meetings were held to develop a plan and form a new advisory board of directors to serve as guides and volunteers for the agency that operates as Senior Services of Watervliet under the umbrella of the Watervliet Civic Center.

An important part of the programs and services at the Watevliet site was the meal program. Originally, the program provided meals to seniors at lunchtime Monday through Friday and some special evenings each month. In the last months of service, the Watervliet Senior Center had to scale back the program to just Monday through Thursday due to budgetary reasons. As a plan was developed to reinstate services, other local agencies were approached to assist. The Green Island Senior Center opened their doors to the seniors and utiilized the exisiting shuttle service to transport those interested to Green Island to enjoy meals until a permanent solution was found. After reviewing several options, the seniors determined that a plan by the Cohoes Senior Center to deliver hot food and prepare meals at the Watervliet site was what they wanted.

The Cohoes Senior Center began providing meals at the Leo O’Brien Municipal Building on March 5th. The expansion to an additional site alllowed Cohoes to bring its food services staff from 3.5 full time people to 4. An active group of volunteers at Watervliet helps every day and is a critical part of the meal service operations.

“It’s been both a growth and a learning experience” says Cohoes Executive Director, Keith Hornbrook. “But, we’ve done our best to make it a smooth transition. The City of Watervliet and the staff and volunteers at Senior Services of Watervliet have been excellent to work with. We are happy we were able to help.”

Designed with you in mind, the Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. Medicare

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network of local doctors that includes area hospitals in

Albany, Dutchess, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga,

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For information, call(518) 641-3400 or

TTY/TDD (518) 641-4000

CDPHP® contracts with the federal government to offer Medicare Choices. Medicare

Choices members must have both Medicare Parts A & B. All

routine health care must be received from plan providers.

H3388 09-4009BFOOD STAMP REPRESENTATIVE

The food stamp representative fromthe Legal Aid Society, will be comingto the Center to provideassistance with food stamps. Theywill be here on the first Tuesday ofthe month at 9:30 am.

LEGAL AID ATTORNEY

An attorney from the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY will be here on the third Tuesday of each month from 10-11AM. Because of cutbacks the attorney is only able to see two clients a month. You will need to call the Center at 235-2420 to make an appointment. You must live in Albany County and be at least 60 years of age.

CENTER’STRANSPORTATION

The Center offers transportation to seniors 60 and older who live in Albany County. If you need transportation, call CDTA at 518-437-5161 from 8 AM to 5 PM

HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HICAP)

Peg Moran from the HICAP will be here on the second Wednesday of the month to provide health counseling, education, and assistance regarding Medicare, and supplemental health insurance and drug plans, including Medicare Part D and NYS EPIC. She is here from 9 AM to 12 PM.

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like shopping, getting to appointments and meal preparation? Are you concerned they may be too isolated?

HomeCompanions

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SPECIAL EVENT DAYS FOR MAY

May 1, 20129:30 AM Food Stamps assistance

May 8, 20125:30 PM Declutter/Destress

May 9, 20129:00 AM HICAP (medicare assistance)

May 10, 20125:30 PM Diner’s only BINGO 6:30 PM Spanish Conversation Group

May 15, 201210:00 AM Legal Aide Attorney

May 16 and 189:30 AM AARP Driving Class Parts 1 and 2

May 23, 201210:30 AM Membership Meeting

May 24, 20125:30 PM Diner’s only BINGO

May 28, 2012 Memorial Day (Center Closed)

May 31, 20126:30 PM Spanish Conversation Group

Calendar Announcements

OSTEOBUSTERS:A strengthening excercise program for mature adultsTuesdays 10:15 AMFridays 1:00 PM

The strong bones exercises utilize a dynamic range of motion as well as strengthening movements, which enhance posture and balance, and much more! The program was developed by Tufts University.

If you would like to attend one, or just come in and see what they do, just come in and someone at the front desk will take you to the class and introduce you to the instructor.

MVP Gold Chair MovesTuesdays11:15 AMEnds May 15, 2012Free

Stay as mobile and strong as possible! This is a chair-based class that emphasizes strengthening, limbering, and stretching exercises for upper and lower limbs. To register or for more information call 518-235-2420 or e-mail ldufty@cohoesseniorcenter.org.

Walmart WednesdayWednesdays12:30 to 2:30

The Senior Center bus will be going to Walmart every Wednesday picking up at Cayuga Plaza, Ogden Mills, Columbia Crest, and Waterside Way. The bus will leave Cayuga Plaza at 12:30 picking up at each location and picking back up at the Super Walmart in Clifton Park at 2:30. If you would like to go please call Barbara Hale at 235-2420.

Holy Trinity-St. Michael’s Churches Communion ServiceWednesdays2:00 PM

Deacon Gerry Matthews from Holy Trinity and Deacon Charles Valenti from St. Michael’s will be providing Communion Service to the area residents.

Mah-jonggThursdays9:30 AMFree

Sally Cotugno, player and teacher, will be playing Mah-Jongg here at the Center. Sally is willing to teach anyone who doesn’t know how to play. They will need at least 4 players to play.

Mah-Jongg is a game of Chinese origin usually played by four persons with 144 domino like pieces or tiles marked in suits, counters, and dice, the object being to build a winning combination of pieces.

9

10Ceramics ClassThursdays12:30 PM$25 for 10 weeks plus materials

Nancy St. Louis, ceramic teacher, has openings in her ceramic class on Thursdays. The class includes the firing of your ceramics. You would buy your own paints, brushes, and whatever item you wanted to make. Nancy would be happy to get these items for you. Come in on a Thursday and see what they do in ceramics and see if you would like to attend.

De-Clutter De-Stress® Your Life: The BasicsTuesday, May 8, 5:45 - 7p.m.Free for Members; $10 non-members.

Can’t let clutter go? Don’t know where to start? Clutter causes stress, but it’s a stressor we can control. Learn what keeps you stuck in clutter and leave motivated to de-clutter your possessions, using the tips and techniques provided by the instructor.Instructor: Helen Volk, a motivational speaker and President of Beyond Clutter , ® is a former pack rat who lives clutter free. A retired lawyer and teacher, Helen has been helping clients de-clutter their lives since 1991.

AARP Defensive DrivingWednesday, May 16 and Friday, May 18, 2012$17 for AARP members$19 for non-AARP members

AARP members must have their AARP membership card with them when they take the class. Make your check out to AARP and mail it to the Cohoes Senior Center or bring it in at least two weeks before the class. Sign up has started for May. Sign-up will begin May 29th for the June class..

Memorial DayCenter ClosedMonday, May 28, 2012

Sunshine Girls SingThursday, June 7, 2012Dinner 5:30

The Sunshine Girls do a repeat performance dur-ing dinner on Thursday evening. Dinner is a part of the normal Congregate Meal Program. Suggested contribution of $3 for those 60 and over and cost is 6.50 for those under 60.

SPRING FLEA MARKET AND BAKE SALEFriday, June 15, 20129:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Come and browse through a wonderful collection of items at the Annual Spring Flea Market and Bake Sale. You can stop by to get a cookie or cake. Lunch is served at 12 PM. You can come and have lunch (please call by 10:30 AM for lunch) and browse through the market. Or, if you have any items that you don’t need any longer, please donate them to the center for the flea market. Also, we are looking for baked items for the bake table. If you could bake cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, or what-ever your specialty is we would be forever grateful. All proceeds from the sale benefit programs at the Cohoes Senior Center.

Cohoes Senior Center Presents: Richie Phillips from WGNADinnerWednesday, July 11, 2012Tickets Available in June

WGNA Morning Show Co-host for 23 years. The former high school Social Studies teacher who traded blackboard for a keyboard has been resident rhymer ever since. Co-recipient of 2000 CMA Award for Best Morning Show and NYS Broadcasters Awards for same. Two time winner of New York State Broadcasters Award for “Reading, Writing, and Rhyming” school program.

Dinner will be a picnic supper.

At the inaugural

Founders’ Day 15k &

Mastodon 5K

Sponsored by

N. H. Kelman Scrap Recycling

May 20, 2012 Craner Park near Fallsview Park

Cohoes, New York

Race Proceeds benefit

Cohoes Senior Center

Cohoes UPK ( Pre– School) Program

For more information visit

www.foundersday15k.com

www.cohoes.com

www.cohoesheritagedays.org

Cohoes Human Services Department

518-233-2116

Community-wide event

JOIN US

Vendors-Booths-

Entertainment in the park

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE PAID

ALBANY, NYPERMIT #667

10 Cayuga PlazaCohoes, NY 12047

Hours of OperationMonday - Wednesday - Friday 9:00 - 4:00Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 - 6:30Saturday - Sunday Closedwww.cohoesseniorcenter.orgPhone: 518-235-2420

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