Autumn Years Spring 2023

publisher’s letter

S pring!!! As the early spring blossoms peek above the dormant dirt of winter, I am eager to have my senses alert to the color and scent of spring. Spring also means that it’s time for our Autumn Years Living expo. Mark your calendars for May 24 at Crestwood Park in Allendale and be ready to enjoy a fun day connecting with friends. As usual, there will be wide variety of exhibitors who will be offering information on travel & leisure, senior living, health & well-being, finance, legal services and much more! We will also be providing complimentary light breakfast and lunch as well as raffles and music. Our cover couple this issue perfectly represents the beauty and breath of fresh air of spring. Tenn and Mei Lu are Haworth artists who complement each other with media and technique. Tenn has won numerous awards for his watercolor paintings and teaches at the Art School at the Old Church in Demarest and at the Rockland Center for the Arts in West Nyack. Mei, a calligraphy master, incorporates nature and storytelling with each traditional Taiwanese brushstroke. Together, their artwork conveys their outlook— create something beautiful to make life better. Remember your childhood local library? Martha Urbiel, director of the Westwood Free Public Library, has created a library that is so much more—a place of access where the setting, the staff, the array of materials, whether print, video, audio or digital, all combine to make it not only an outstanding gathering place for information but also an experience that is positive, enjoyable and welcoming. Highlighting my trip to Portugal was a must share (make that, no-brainer). From Lisbon to Figueira da Foz, follow my photo journalistic trip to one of the oldest countries in Europe. The history and culture, the food and art, and of course the friendly people are all reasons to put Portugal on your top ten list of places to visit. Tim Adriance presents the history of supermarkets in Bergen County, as only Tim can do. He starts the journey back in time to 1642, with the establishment of a trading post in what today is Bogota and walks us through the growth of food markets—from small shops, to multi-department grocery stores right up to online shopping and an Amazon Fresh. Along the way, there are those nostalgic moments revisited when, for instance, many of you may have taken your children to Packard’s in Hackensack so they could redeem those green stamp books for a treasure or two. Once again, we look forward to your joining us at our next Autumn Years Living expo on May 24 at Crestwood Lake in Allendale. Remember to register in advance by visiting autumnyearsmag.com or calling 201-747-2874. See you then! Heidi

CELEBRATING LIFE OVER 55

Readers’ Notes...

Your Winter issue features, as always, were interesting and quite enlightening. I particularly was taken by the one about the Sibling Group. I can’t imagine anything more concerning than wondering how to help a disabled brother or sister as you age and your parents are no longer around. To know about Spectrum for Living and the work of the Sibling Group founders is a reminder that where there’s a challenge, look for a solution; and if you can’t find one, create one. –Gwen Smythe studio. It is a reminder that we are surrounded by amazing people and remarkable businesses in the county we call home. Thank you so much for bringing another piece of history in our backyard to our attention. –Ralph Esteridge Your “In My Words” column about the man who cycled cross-country with his father who was suffering from Alzheimer’s was inspiring. All too often we get caught up in all the concerns, whether big or small, that we have as we age. But it’s good to remember not to let those concerns overwhelm us. To paraphrase the writer, it really is amazing what can happen if we focus on what is possible. –George Prisick What a great article about Don Samick and his stain glass

SPRING 2023 I AUTUMN YEARS 1