Eddy RetirementLivingCall us at 1-877-748-3339 for

information on any of our communities.

INSIDEShall we dance?Shall we dance?Shall we dance?Shall we dance?Shall we dance? .................................................................................................... 22222

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Rhubarb to the rescue!Rhubarb to the rescue!Rhubarb to the rescue!Rhubarb to the rescue!Rhubarb to the rescue! ............................................. 66666

A puzzle a day keepsA puzzle a day keepsA puzzle a day keepsA puzzle a day keepsA puzzle a day keepsthe doctor away?the doctor away?the doctor away?the doctor away?the doctor away? .......................................................................................... 77777

SPRING 2006

2

Ballroom is back … and better (for you) than ever

Put on your best dancin’ shoes …elegance is back in style!

Not since the 1940s, when Swingorchestras reigned supreme andcouples “dressed to the nines” for anight on the town, has the art andathletic grace of formal ballroomdancing been so wildly popular.Those timeless Tangos, Foxtrots andWaltzes are making a comebackwith rug-cutters of every generation:

Arthur Murray Dance Studios, Inc.,reports an “unheard of” 20 percentsurge in demand for ballroom lessons.

Membership in the United StatesAmateur Ballroom Dance Associa-tion has doubled in only the last twoyears – and one-fourth of those newmembers are college-age or younger.

Professional ballroom dancers arewinning substantial prize money.

ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”regularly tops the ratings.

And there’s even better news foractive, independent seniors: recentstudies in the New England Journalof Medicine and elsewhere showthat even moderate ballroomdancing, once or twice a week, will

dramatically improve one’s overallfitness and mental “agility.”

In fact, researchers say the olderyou are, the greater the benefits.“There’s just no downside,” saidone. “Ballroom dancing is great funand great exercise.”

But for one couple in our Beverwyckcommunity, Bill and Lois Webb, thejoy of ballroom dancing isn’t justabout fitness or nostalgia. Wheneverthey join hands for a Waltz, it’ssimply for the “pure enjoyment” of awell-turned move … whether on theballroom floor or across their ownliving room carpet.

For Bill and Lois Webb,the Waltz was a “calling”Although married 53 years, anddespite having grown up in the“Jitterbug generation,” the Webbssay dancing wasn’t a big part of theirlifestyle – that is, “until the nest wasempty,” as Lois jokes. And theirpath to the ballroom dance floorbegan in one of the unlikeliest ofplaces. At a square dance.

“Through a church group, we’dbeen square dancing for 10 years orso,” explains Bill. “The calls arevery rhythmic … and it came sortof naturally to us.”

“Between each set of squaredances,” adds Lois, “they do what’sreferred to as a ‘round dance,’because everyone is in a big circle.For square dancing, you need threeother couples and a caller – but inround dancing it’s just you and yourpartner, and it’s a lot like a Waltz.”

One day a friend told them about alocal ballroom instructor and theWebbs, who enjoyed the Waltz-like‘round dancing’ so much, decidedto stop by for a sample lesson.They’ve been waltzing ever since.

“And doing the Foxtrot,” saidLois.” That’s really Bill’s favorite.”

“We’re just starting to takeRumba lessons. There are 40different possible moves ina Rumba,” Lois says. “We’re

only up to four or five!”

Give ballroom dancing a whirl!If you’re ready to step out and start having some fun, there are finedance instructors and excellent ballroom venues throughout theCapital area … near every Eddy community.

For more information, you can go online and visit the local chapterof the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dance Association at usabda.org.

The “greatest generation” is at itagain: Now you’re defining whatit means to be a senior

Artist’s rendering.

3

It might seem strange to think ofour friendly, relaxed Eddy Retire-ment Living communities ashotbeds of revolution and socialchange, but demographers andsociologists say that’s exactly whatis happening here.

And they’re taking notes.

Eddy residents are among a genera-tion that’s “writing an entirely newchapter in social history,” oneresearcher said, that shatters existingpreconceptions of what it means tobe older. “Baby Boomers get a lot ofattention in the media, but theirparents are the ones showing theway, setting all the standards.”

If you’re surprised to find yourselfbeing described – at age 70, 80 orbeyond – as part of this sociological“vanguard,” don’t be. You’veearned the distinction.

“These are the same women andmen who won World War II andturned the United States into aglobal economic superpower,”said a gerontologist. “Getting olderis just one more life situation forthem … and they’re proving equalto the challenge.”

As better medical care and healthierliving habits have pushed the age-longevity curve to levels unprec-edented in human history, today’sseniors are literally making up therules as they go along. Even the term“senior” itself is relatively new.

“Empty-nesters” are tradinghome maintenance choresfor carefree and catered lifestyles,such as at Eddy Retirement Living,enabling them to travel on a whimand rediscover passions put onhold in mid-life. “Living at TheEddy lets me follow my muse …wherever and whenever,” oneresident said.

The trend in the 1960s and ‘70stoward isolated Sunbelt senior-villages also has abruptlyreversed course.

“A lot of successful retired peoplemoved away to Florida or Arizona –20 years ago – expecting to spendtheir so-called ‘golden years’ justplaying golf. Now they’re discover-ing that they’re still very much alive,healthy, vital … and really missinghome,” said one Eddy executive.

“Some of our new residents arepeople who’ve sold their homes –not here in the Capital region, butdown in the Sunbelt,” he said.“And most say they wish they’dmade this move 10 years ago.”

Over the past several decades, aslife expectations have increasedalong with life expectancy, dy-namic communities such asBeechwood, Beverwyck, GlenEddy, The Glen at Hiland Meadowsand (this fall) Hawthorne Ridge inEast Greenbush have evolved tomeet this growing demand foractive, independent living.

In a new survey of baby boomersborn between 1946 and 1961, mostrespondents (63 percent) said theybelieve retirement will be the bestyears of their lives. And who willthey have to thank for that? Asalways … their parents.

Breaking the age barrierResearchers have discovered that“breaking the age barrier” is verymuch like breaking the soundbarrier – once also thought to bean absolute physical limit.

One new study found that a sur-prisingly high percentage of womenand men who live beyond age 65 ...to 85, 90 or more ... retain ex-tremely high levels of indepen-dence. An average person living inan industrialized country has thegenetic makeup to live to 87.

But, of course, there are variables.Experts say you can subtractfive years from your life spanfor each “no” answer to the follow-ing questions.

Do you?•Maintain a positive outlook

on life.•Exercise at least 30 minutes a day,

three days a week.•Challenge your brain with

intellectual tasks (see our storyon crossword puzzles).

•Eat a nutritious, balanced diet.

4

The piano virtuoso VladimirHorowitz, as most other Columbiaand RCA artists, always insistedon having this man in therecording studio.

Bill Evans, the most important jazzpianist of the last 50 years, consid-ered him a personal friend andcreative collaborator.

And to Irving Berlin, the composerof “White Christmas,” “Blue Skies”and “God Bless America,” he waspractically a member of the family.

Who is this mystery figure of music?

He’s an unassuming, yet remarkableresident of The Glen at HilandMeadows, Eugene Manfrini – prob-ably the most in-demand and legend-ary piano tuner of his generation.

You won’t find his name among theproduction credits on famous record-ings or concert programs, but fordecades, New York-based GeneManfrini was instrumental in scoresof celebrated performances: GlennGould’s breathtaking Bach – stillconsidered the gold standard. Pio-neering jazz concerts at The VillageVanguard. And recitals at Carnegie

What would you like to hear?Eddy communities blessed with musical talent

Hall by the likes of Barenboim,Horowitz and Rubinstein.

The working relationship betweena pianist and his tuner is inexpress-ibly intimate, Gene said. “To makea piano sound more ‘brilliant’ ormore ‘lush,’ tuning requires ex-tremely fine hand-ear coordinationin the tuning process. Moving thetuning pin just a tiny fraction of aninch to settle on the right pitch andmake it stay there … that takes alifetime to master. There are veryfew world-class tuners, and theystay busy.”

The pianists for whom Gene tunedcomprise a Who’s Who of keyboardgiants. And as you might expect,the backstage stories and personalanecdotes abound.

“Glenn Gould was something,”Gene said. “He’d used to soak hishands in warm water before play-ing – he was always after thatcertain ‘touch.’”

“Sometimes we argued abouttuning. He’d ask me to do thingsthat technically weren’t right. Irefused,” Gene said. But when toldto “get another tuner if that’s whatyou want,” Gould acquiesced.

“Irving Berlin was quite a guy …wonderful personality,” said Gene,who for more than 45 years wasBerlin’s personal tuner and afavorite weekly visitor to thecomposer’ s home and studio.

“Honestly, he wasn’t a good pianist,but he didn’t need to be. He couldonly play in f-sharp, so he hadseveral pianos specially con-structed for him – they all had alever that automatically transposedthe keys for him.”

Gene now lives with his belovedwife of 31 years, Mary Ann, in atwo-bedroom cottage at The Glen.“We love it here. The staff is sodedicated,” he said.

As a side note, the story of Geneand Mary Ann’s lifelong romance,and how they overcame obstaclesto eventually marry, is no lessdramatic than Gene’s own career –in fact, it was the subject for aBarbara Walters interview. Gene’sbeen blind since age two. MaryAnn is sighted. But you might saythey shared a vision.

But we digress …

Another of our gifted Eddy residentswho’ve shared the stage with starsis JoAnne Steubing of Glen Eddy.JoAnne’s an accomplished violinistwho still plays in a string quartet.Born into a musical family andtrained at Peabody in Baltimore andthe Eastman School of Music, she

Gene, who is himselfa pianist, is among severalmusicians we’re fortunate

to count among ourtalented Eddy residents.Let’s meet a few of them.

Gene Manfrini

5

married while in college, startedraising a family and deferred hermusic career for several years.

“Back in 1948 … when I graduated… conductors weren’t auditioningwomen for positions in orchestras,”she said. (Not until the 1970s didfemale musicians began to attainthe gender-blind status they nowenjoy in the classical world.)

When she and her husband, a musicteacher, relocated to the CapitalRegion, JoAnne landed a part-timeposition with the Albany Symphony… and for the next 25 years, sheperformed under the batons of topconductors both here and in Florida.

Her performance-resume includesfree-lance gigs with figures fromacross the pantheon of pop and jazzmusic. JoAnne toured once withJohnny Mathis, played in an orches-tra behind Tony Bennett at Proctor’sTheater, performed with EllaFitzgerald, Errol Garner, twice withHenry Mancini (“very demanding”)and John Denver (“one of the nicestperformers I ever met”).

She also played several seasons at theSaratoga Performing Arts Center withthe New York City Opera, backingsuch stars as The Irish Tenors and –unforgettably – Liberace.

“It was such a hot, hot August day,”she said, “but there he was … inthat fur coat. Incredible.”

A lifelong lover of Romantic andImpressionist masters, “Brahms,Debussy, Ravel,” JoAnne now enjoysthe stimulating rapport of her stringquartet, an ensemble that performed

at Glen Eddy shortly after shemoved there two years ago.

“This is a wonderful place,”she said of Glen Eddy. “I havefour children here in this area,and two grandchildren, so it’sreally ideal.”

And guess what? Among them area budding trombonist, flutist andpianist. Music runs in the family.

“To be able to play byear … it’s just a gift.”At our Beechwood community,you’ll find a rare “piano duet” –two gracious ladies who’ve devel-oped a musical friendship based onmutual admiration.

“Between us, she’s the really goodpianist. I just play from memory,”said Edna Wells of her friend andfellow resident Peggy Lenel. Peggycountered, “No … it’s Edna’s styleI admire. She’ s a natural. I hardlyconsider myself a musician.”

Of course, both women are right.And our Beechwood residents arethe delighted beneficiaries.

Edna and Peggy have performedoften in the Eddy Chapel on theBeechwood campus, and at count-less impromptu sing-alongs. For aprogram in March, for example,Edna played American musicranging from blues and ragtimeto folk and gospel tunes.

Her ability to accompany or impro-vise on a tune – purely by ear, afterjust one hearing – is “a gift” towhich Edna admits. Pianists such as

Liszt were said to have this innateskill, as do a number of today’sleading jazz pianists. It’s rare.

Peggy’s playing is more classic andformally grounded. She reads musicand, along with popular standardsand hymns, still enjoys Schubertand others of the Romantic era.

“That’s my background … German,German, German,” said Peggy,laughing. “It started when I was agirl. My teacher gave me a recordand book that I still have, and I tooklessons for only three or four years… but that training is still with me.”

“For several years, I used to playfor people in the Alzheimer’s center(Courtyard at Eddy MemorialGeriatric Center) where my hus-band was staying,” said Peggy,who’s been living at Beechwoodfor 12 years now.

In their respective apartments, asyou might expect, Edna and Peggystill play on their favorite uprightpianos: treasured family posses-sions. Edna’s is a Stultz and Bauer.Peggy has a Petrof.

Come to think of it … if we were everto bring together our various Eddymusicians, we’ d have a fine chamberensemble. And a world-class pianotuner to keep everyone on key.

JoAnne Steubing

6

Rhubarb to the rescue!Two delicious recipes from Eddy residents.

A miracle cure for ailing Chineseemperors, the coveted prize oftreaties and trade wars … perhapseven a savior of the planet?

We are not exaggerating: over fourcenturies, since it was first culti-vated in China, rhubarb has beensomething of a to-die-for obsession.

Early European explorers smuggledthe plant in their cargo holds. Inthe 1800s, it was such a craze inRussia that tsars imposed a state-monopoly. And as recently as 1995,scientists discovered that oxalicacid found in rhubarb might helpneutralize chlorofluorocarbons(CFC’s) destroying the ozone layer.

Yet for all this, people stillargue whether rhubarb is a fruitor vegetable.

Does it really matter? Whatever itsbotanical classification, in sauces,pies, jams, muffins and hundredsof other recipes, rhubarb adds auniquely tart flavor that’s lovedthe world over.

Here are two excellent examplesfrom right here in our Eddycommunities:

From Beverwyck …From Glen Eddy …

Betty Dietz’ Rhubarb Raspberry Jam

3 cups – whole fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries

1 cup – chopped fresh or frozen unsweetened rhubarb

2 tbsp – lemon juice

1 to 1-1/2 packages of powdered pectin

8 cups – sugar

Simmer raspberries and rhubarb gently for 5 minutes

to allow some of the liquid to escape the rhubarb.

Add lemon juice and pectin. Bring to a boil.

Add sugar slowly, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil again

for 1 minute or until the jam “sheets” off the spoon.

Pour into hot sterilized jars. Cover with wax and clean

hot lids. (If you don’t use wax, invert for 5 minutes.)

Store in a cool place.

Makes eight to nine 8 oz. jars.

Elizabeth Sipe’s Rhubarb Pie

Make pastry for a two-crust pie. Put slightly more thanhalf into the pie pan and flute the edges.Filling:1 beaten egg2 cups unsweetened rhubarb cut into ½-inch pieces1 cup – sugar3 tbsp – flour

Mix well and put into bottom crust. Roll rest of doughand cut into ½-inch strips layered alternately over thefilling. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.Then bake at 375 degrees until crust is nicely brownedand juice begins to bubble up through openings (usuallyabout 40 minutes.)

Allow to cool. Enjoy.

7

What’s a nine-letter word for apuzzle-game that will dramaticallyenhance your memory? Or a six-letter word for a logic-based place-ment puzzle that keeps your brain“15 years younger”?

The answers are crossword andSudoku. These two “mind sports”not only are addictive fun forpuzzle solvers, they are beginningto astound researchers with theirability to measurably improveone’s memory … even enhancephysical health.

A number of new medical studieshave shown that cognitive exercises– specifically, working a crosswordpuzzle – stimulate the brain toproduce certain disease-fightingantibodies and stress-reducinghormones, such as serotonin. Forseniors, the benefits are evenmore striking.

In a four-month study, one group ofBritish seniors (60-plus) found thatdoing daily crossword puzzlesimproved their decision-makingskills, attention span and theirsense of humor (a result of feelingmore relaxed, less worried.)

So remarkable are the effects, oneBritish researcher called crosswordpuzzles a “wonder drug” for memoryenhancement among seniors.

Another scientist at Trinity Univer-sity (Dublin) investigating thebenefits of Sudoku, said the mentalstimulation of this game keeps abrain “15 years younger” in terms of

A puzzle a day keeps the doctor away?“Mind sports” such as crosswords not only boostyour memory, they might even improve your health.

problem-solving skills andrecall (when comparingseniors to various age groups.)

And you don’t need to be acrossword whiz or Sudokugenius to reap the memory-enhancing and health benefits. Justregularly working at these games issufficient as “cognitive exercise.” It’slike jogging, experts say. The goalisn’t to finish first … just finish.

What’s the magic to these puzzles?

Researchers aren’t certain – yet.They say that while chess or bridgerequire mental agility, and still arebeneficial forms of “mental gym-nastics,” somehow the unique left-brain challenge of crosswords andword/number-logic puzzles is theequivalent of a rigorous aerobicworkout for the brain. You remem-ber more, remember faster, makedecisions better and generally feelmore confident and assured.

If word or logic puzzles just aren’tyour cup of tea, experts recommendanother form of “mind sport” –simply reading a book. This left-brain engagement of one’s visual-verbal imagination, if done regu-

larly, produces many of the samememory-enhancing benefits ascrossword-solving.

So the message to seniors is clear.Along with making lists, keeping adate book and using other well-known “tricks” to keep your memorysharp, don’t overlook the mental-fitness benefits and sheer enjoymentof word and logic puzzle-solving.

What is Sudoku?Despite its Japanese name, Sudokuwas invented by a clever 74-year-old retired Indianapolis architectnamed Howard Garns. One day,Garns took a concept known asLatin Squares, added a third di-mension and created a nine-boxgrid that requires the solver to fillin the rest.

Garns’ new puzzle appeared in1979 and soon Sudoku (translatedas “one number per place”) was aglobal phenomenon. Today you’llfind these captivating puzzles —from easy to expert level — in dailynewspapers and book stores every-where. To learn more, visitsudoku.com.

The data from medicalstudies is so convincing,

some life insurancecompanies now includequestions about wordpuzzle-solving in their

questionnaires.

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@

Introducing The Eddy’snewest regionalAlzheimer’s centerThe Eddy is proud to introduce its newest regionalAlzheimer’s center scheduled to open in fall 2006on the same beautiful campus as Hawthorne Ridgein East Greenbush.

For the thousands of people currently affected byAlzheimer’s, and the thousands more whose liveswill be touched, the need is enormous. EddyAlzheimer’s Center at Hawthorne Ridge will buildon the success of Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center inCohoes ... and expand upon its accomplishments. Itwill be a place where a sense of dignity, indepen-dence and community helps improve the quality oflife for people affected by memory loss.

The center is a unique residential care alternativespecially designed for safety and independence,with flexible schedules so residents can continuelifelong patterns and preferences.

The center’s staff will share both their experienceand expertise through education and supportservices for family members, care partners andhealth professionals to help sustain their spirit andenergy, and to satisfy their quest to understand thedisease process. A resource center will offer educa-tional programs, support groups, family forums,professional conferences and workshops, and alending library for caregivers and professionals.

For more information about the center, please callus at (518) 833-1111.

@Eddy Alzheimer’s

CenterHawthorne Ridge

40 Autumn DriveSlingerlands, NY 12159

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDAlbany, NYPermit # 370

www.NortheastHealth.com/EddyRetirementLivingEddy Retirement Living is a publicationof The Eddy, a member of Northeast HealthA not-for-profit network

They say the good things in lifecome to those who wait. Well,in East Greenbush, the waiting isalmost over. And all the goodthings of Eddy Retirement Livingwill soon be yours to enjoy.

This fall, we’ll cut the ribbonand open the doors to HawthorneRidge. Here you’ll find all thedistinctive hallmarks of Eddy

Hawthorne Ridge ... one of the best decisions of your liferetirement living … our dedicatedstaff and services … deliciousdining … lovely apartments …and a worry-free, active lifestyle.

Located at 30 Community Way,just off the intersection of MichaelRoad and Route 151, HawthorneRidge features over 50 apartmentsin a variety of styles — one-bed-room, one-bedroom with den,and two-bedroom — all tastefullyand thoughtfully designed withcomfort and personal safety inmind. Apartments include fullyequipped kitchens; bathrooms andbedrooms with emergency pullcords for 24-hour assistance;washer/dryer hookups; andcloset and storage space.

Just minutes from shopping andrestaurants, Hawthorne Ridge islocated on the same campus with theEast Greenbush library and YMCA.Everything is here for you … andmore affordable than you might think!

Many of our apartments alreadyare reserved. But you still havetime to make one of the best deci-sions of your life.

To find out more about thisexciting new community,stop by our Information Center,Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5pm.Or, call Senior Living SpecialistJennifer at 833-1111. She wouldbe delighted to speak with you!