Autumn Years Spring 2024

BERGEN COUNTY

CELEBRATING LIFE OVER 55

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H ere we are! Spring 2024!!! This issue officially marks the completion of 10 years of Autumn Years . I think it is fitting to recap the origins of Autumn Years especially for those who have discovered the magazine recently. It all began with a walk on a warm autumn day after I had helped my senior neighbor, John Kirincich, tidy up some clutter in his home. I noticed many magazines that were sent to him were unopened, sitting in a pile of newspapers and junk mail, ready to be recycled. I asked John why he hadn’t opened and read the magazines, and his response was “there is nothing of interest,” and he waved his hand as if to dismiss them. I got it. I understood what he meant. At times we get inundated with mail, whether we subscribe to it or not. And sometimes we do get something useful, like a coupon or an offer for a discounted service. John was from a time when being practical and frugal could enable one to live a financially comfortable life. When I thought about how many people of his generation were like him and didn’t read the local magazines because they didn’t find anything of interest or see value in them, I realized this was something to explore. The dismissive attitude my neighbor had to the local free magazines was the spark to create something special. I was ready to take a chance and give life to the idea of starting a magazine that was geared to the senior population in Bergen County. A periodical with a combination of human interest stories and informative content that speaks directly to the 55+ population needed to be pursued. With the efforts of experienced and talented writers and having an outstanding editor, Autumn Years launched its first edition, Sum mer 2014. Ellen Reinkraut donned our cover, exemplifying energy and inspiration with her artwork. And of course we included the story of John Kirincich, who had lived such an interesting philanthropic life and valued a good deal and a good education. Over the past 10 years, we have featured unique individuals, many of whom lived their lives in the shadow of recognition and achievement—the underdogs who went unnoticed, the unsung heroes who are simply our neighbors. We highlighted interesting facts about Bergen County and presented information that pertains to the overall well-being that would help us thrive in our senior years. We are proud to say we are a quality publication. So now you know our story. When you pick up Autumn Years , whether you subscribe to it or find it in Bergen County libraries, waiting rooms, senior centers, salons and spas, or you stumble across it online, we are confident you will enjoy it cover to cover. Our mission will continue to be a celebration of life. publisher’s letter

CELEBRATING LIFE OVER 55

READERS’ LETTERS

What was particularly amazing about your article in the Winter issue on Jack Teadore and the team

of students interested in robotics was how many students there are year after year who partici pate in the annual robot ics competition. What a great opportunity for them

Robots Reflect Students’ Hearts and Souls

By Emily Kratzer Jack Teadore and the Pi-oneers

The machine rumbles across the floor, its buzz ing parts turning and its lights flashing as it tackles a task. Students intently watch it while directing its movements with radio controllers. Dozens of stu dents known as Pi-oneers

poured their hearts and souls into building this new, competition-ready machine. Each year, the process starts the first Saturday in January.

The team when it won the 2017 world championship in St. Louis.

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AUTUMN YEARS I WINTER 2023/24

to gain skills and insights that will be invaluable in their future. Hats off to Jack and the other coaches. –Rob Purdmen It’s nice to read an article on AI that I can understand and doesn’t sound like something out of a science fiction movie. “Gardening and AI— Sprouting New Technologies” sounds like a great way to help those of us who lack a green thumb to successfully grow our own vegetables indoors. I’m going to try it. -Jean Millberg I always enjoy reading Roger Anthony’s Fit for Life column and this latest one is at the top of my list. Something as simple as taking a walk outside is so helpful to our well-being on so many fronts, and yet I have many acquaintances who once the tempera tures fall below 50 will not step out their front doors unless it’s to travel by car. I’ve made copies of “Take It Out side !” and have posted them on some of my community’s bulletin boards. -Patti Garand

On behalf of everyone involved with the production of Autumn Years we would like to thank you for your positive feedback and support. To our advertisers, we thank you, especially Valley Health, which has committed to back cover placement for the lifespan of Autumn Years . Here’s to 10 more years of Autumn Years !

Heidi Gross

SPRING 2024 I AUTUMN YEARS 1

contributors

CELEBRATING LIFE OVER 55

EMILY KRATZER After a journalism career that stretched from The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, CA, to The Journal

TIM ADRIANCE Tim is a well-recognized historian and a past president of the Bergen County Historical Society. In 2016,

Publisher/Creative Director Heidi Gross autumnyearsmagazine@gmail.com (201) 747-2874 Editor-in-Chief Carol Munns editorautumnyears@gmail.com (201) 874-6012 Columnists Roger Anthony Fit for Life Stephanie Sass Food for Thought Luke Yeagley What’s Up with Apps Staff Writers Tim Adriance Emily Kratzer Kelly Parr Circulation Manager Sean Kelley requestautumnyears@gmail.com Marketing Assistant Margie Downs mdowns.aym@gmail.com Webmaster George Mamunes Printer Walsworth Printing

News in West Nyack and Harrison, NY, Emily enjoys freelance writing. She helped establish the student chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists at California State University at Humboldt and has been a member of SPJ ever since. She served for seven years on the board of the N.J. Chapter of SPJ. Emily volunteers in Washington Township at the public access station WCTV.us.

Tim received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bergen County in recognition of his leadership in historic preservation for more than 30 years. A knowledgeable historian, entertaining presenter and expert on historic houses, he is a historical consultant, presenter of programs on local interest and provider of house histories and investigations. tim@timadriance.net executive career in the pharmaceuti cal industry. He is fluent in French and Italian and taught French in a Buffalo college. He has written numerous medical education programs and enjoys writing his “Fit for Life” column for Autumn Years . He is currently a fitness instructor at Holy Name Hospital Fitness in Oradell. ROGER ANTHONY Roger is retired from a 30-year

KELLY PARR Kelly is a freelance writer in

Charleston, SC. After holding multiple marketing communications positions

with KPMG, she made a career shift to higher education and worked in the English department and developed interactive e-books for a National Science Foundation grant at Brookdale Community College. She most recently worked at The Citadel for the former Mayor of Charleston, editing his memoir manuscript. STEPHANIE SASS Stephanie holds a master’s degree in Science/Nutrition and works as a retail Registered Dietitian for Inserra Supermarkets in the company’s ShopRite store in Wallington, NJ. She provides a range of free nutrition services, including presentations and workshops at senior activities centers. For a cal endar of events at ShopRite stores across Bergen County, go to events.shoprite.com, and for groups wishing to schedule a presentation or workshop, contact her at Stephanie.sass@wakefern.com

MARGIE DOWNS Margie, a second generation Ridge wood resident, is involved in various community groups and activities. She

For editorial questions and comments Contact Carol Munns at editorautumnyears@gmail.com For advertising inquiries Contact Heidi Gross at (201) 747-2874 or autumnyearsmagazine@gmail.com Letters to the Editor should be emailed to the Editor at editorautumnyears@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for style and space. Autumn Years Magazine LLC P.O. Box 104, Allendale, NJ 07401 • (201) 747-2874 Website: www.autumnyearsmag.com Email: autumnyearsmagazine@gmail.com Autumn Years published by Autumn Years Magazine, LLC, Volume 10, Number 4, March 2024 (ISSN 2694-2917) is published quarterly free of charge. P.O. Box 104, Allendale, NJ 07401. Periodicals postage pending at 1037 MacArthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Autumn Years, PO Box 104, Allendale, NJ 07401. Autumn Years is a free quarterly publication dedicated to celebrating life over 55. The purpose is to bring readers information on health and well-being, finance and technology, as well as inspiring stories about the activities and accomplishments of the 55+ population of Bergen County. No part of Autumn Years, whether in print or digital, may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, photocopying, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, with out the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

works for the Village of Ridgewood and is a volun teer with the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration and the Ridgewood Arts Foundation. Margie has worked for the World of Hibernia magazine, as well as the New Jersey Performing Art Center in Newark.

ROBIN FRANK Robin is a writer and public relations professional. In addition to news and feature articles, she specializes

LUKE YEAGLEY Luke is a former field engineer for a major technology company and a current data scientist. A graduate

in writing press releases, website content, blogs, e-newsletters and op-eds. Robin develops public relations and social media campaigns to increase clients’ visibility and enhance their reputation. She speaks, reads and writes fluent Spanish and French. Visit her website: https://robinfrank.com

of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Computer Science and Economics, he is quick to note with a smile that he honed his computer skills early in life by helping his parents and grand parents navigate their iPads.

To subscribe to Autumn Years, visit our website www.autumnyearsmag.com or call (201) 747-2874.

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AUTUMN YEARS I SPRING 2024

MAY 22, 2024 (RAINDATE MAY 23)

AN EXPO OF SERVICES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 55+

Crestwood Park, Red Barn 300 West Crescent Ave. Allendale, NJ 07401 9:30am - 2pm

You MUST register in advance THREE WAYS TO REGISTER: WEBSITE : http://www.autumnyearsmag.com/participant-registration/ EMAIL : autumnyearsliving@gmail.com CALL : (201) 747-2874

EVERY REGISTERED PARTICIPANT RECEIVES A FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH & FREE TICKETS FOR OUR RAFFLE DRAWINGS. VISIT EVERY EXHIBITOR TO GATHER INFORMATION ON SENIOR RELATED SERVICES AND ENJOY LISTENING TO THE BAND FOREVER YOUNG PLAY GOLDEN OLDIES. A GREAT TIME EVERY YEAR! NOTE: RAINDATE MAY 23.

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content s

6 IN MY WORDS Keeping Up?? By Sally Novak 9 COUNTY CALENDAR A selection of activities available in Bergen County and its neighbors 12 HEALTH & WELFARE 12 Fit for Life Conversation with My Body By Roger Anthony If only bodies could talk; here’s one that does and what it offers is good advice to help its owner stay healthy and, not surprisingly, Fit for Life

20 FINANCIAL PLANNING 20 How to Ensure You Are Financially Prepared for an Emergency By Timothy M. Duncan, JD, AIF® Financial preparedness is about creating a plan to help you deal with unexpected financial challenges; here is a guide to help create that plan 22 Estate Planning When You Are a Pet Owner By Nima Ashtyani Some advice for pet owners in the event they are unable to care for their pets either temporarily or permanently 24 To Roll Over (or Not to Roll Over) Your 401(K) By Timothy M. Duncan, JD, AIF® When making a decision about whether a rollover is the best choice, it is important to be familiar with these considerations If you are planning to move to a planned community or condominium complex, it would be helpful to understand how HOAs work 60 TECHNOLOGY TRENDS 60 Time to Spring Clean Your Tech Consider cleaning your digital devices to make them more secure and more efficient; here are some simple tasks to help do that If you are planning to move, these apps can help make the task less daunting (from packing to moving to changing your service providers and mailing address) 64 BEST BETS Got Spring Fever? Try These Fun Outdoor Activities with Your Grandkids By Kimberly Blaker Make the most of this pleasurable season by getting out in the fresh air with your grandkids and enjoying these family activities 26 Navigating a Homeowners Association By Nicholas Stratton 62 What’s Up with Apps By Luke Yeagley

14 Food for Thought Not Eating Nuts? That’s Nutty! By Stephanie Sass, MS RD

Nuts and seeds are among the most nutrient-dense foods you can include in your diet; find out why and then take a look at some creative recipes that include them

16 A Change of Place: Know Your Options By Michelle Malikzay

Understanding what options are available if you or a loved one finds

current living situations becoming burdensome requires research; here are some alternatives that may need to be considered

18 Does Your Hospital Make the Grade? By Robin Frank

When faced with a serious illness, a life-saving surgery or even routine medical treatment, choosing a hospital could be the most important decision you ever make; learn about resources available to help make that decision wisely

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AUTUMN YEARS I SPRING 2024

Mary Walker-Baptiste

Art and Poetry Go Side by Side: Mary & Lou

Jacky & Anne Dupont A Well-Matched Couple,

Thanks to Lady Liberty By Emily Kratzer

By Emily Kratzer Meet a lively, upbeat duo, resilient collaborators in life, sharing the blessings of family and friends, the fulfillment of creative expression and the limitations of challenging health issues; the couple (Mary, the artist, and Lou, the poet) is a real-life pairing of the “Painted Poetry” works that are shown in their joint exhibits Charleston A City with Something for Everyone By Kelly Parr For the eleventh year in a row, Travel + Leisure in 2023 named Charleston the Best City in the United States and included it in its list of 25 Favorite Cities in the World (among its other honors); read about Charleston’s rich history and beautiful array of sights and sounds, and you will understand why its accolades are well deserved and why it is worthy of a visit

Historical restoration brought this couple together—Jacky from France, when he was brought to New York to help build the Statue of Liberty’s new torch, and Anne, who came to New York on a visit from Nantucket where she had been documenting a historical house on the island; together they now run Maître Jacques, which Jacky founded in 2017, to focus on metalwork design Grave Matters Bergen County Cemeteries By Tim Adriance There are more than 160 cemeteries in Bergen County, containing the remains of the famous, the brave and countless others, and while known as hallowed ground, gardens of remembrance or graveyards, these cemeteries are actually outdoor history books; read about them and discover stories from this county’s past, from the Indian burial grounds to modern times

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SPRING 2024 I AUTUMN YEARS

IN MY WORDS

Keeping Up?? By Sally Novak

much more complicated. I have forgot ten most passwords for all the apps on my computer. When I create a new one it must include numbers, letters, capitals and sym bols. Using a portal to connect to a doctor’s office seems very redundant to me since they are asking questions to which they have known the answer for years. Mak ing an appointment requires anywhere from a minute to an hour of listening to bad, repetitive music. Even then it usually requires a call back from a different de partment. Of course, that occurs when my ringer is off because I’m in a rehearsal or a meeting. When I was learning to drive, the long driveway to our country road provided lots of practice both forward and backward. Since then I have always been really good at backing up! Many of my trips now are on three lane highways where no one is following the old fashioned rule of slow lane right and pass on the left. Now speed demons are whizzing by from all sides. I do love that GPS. That’s something that would be unimaginable for my dad who had to roll down the window and put out his arm to signal. Still we have to be technologically skilled to use a GPS cor rectly. On one of my trips to Boston, the GPS took me through every little town and village. I didn’t know there was a feature that called for avoiding tolls. I agree with my dad. It’s exciting but also hard to Keep Up.

FaceTime has been a real connection tool. I can sing to my one-year-old great granddaugh ter, and when I visit from eight hours away she can recognize me. Recently, I shared FaceTime with a friend who now lives in Japan. It felt like we were in the same room. What a blessing. Keeping up has been a won derful adventure. I can gather

I can’t keep up with soooo many chang es.” My dad was trying to adjust to a world that was evolving around him. He had been born in the horse and buggy era and was now dumbfounded by the news that we had landed a man on the moon. Pluto is no longer a planet. FaceTime can connect me with my family in Switzer land as if we were in the same room. Some changes are fantastic. During the extended Covid lockdown, Zoom and FaceTime helped folks deal with the isolation and for some avoided depression. I was grateful to keep up by having the equipment and the skills to learn these new connections. Keeping up with social media can really boggle the mind. Some posts are of real importance. Others not so much. There is much concern about the social impact, particularly for teenagers. There are some things I just as soon not Keep Up. There used to be just a few TV channels. Now there are hundreds. Who can keep up with such an overload? Now we watch Netflix and Hulu at home with no conversation to follow. We used to go to movies together. We often had social time after a movie with coffee and dessert. We could discuss the film and our different reactions.

by Zoom with my Girl Scout friends. We had gone to Europe in the summer of 1953 and now shared memories, photos and current activities. Classmates from high school are always reminding me to set up the next Zoom gathering. Now that the grandchildren are living in five different states, including Hawaii, it is a blessing to connect when we are careful about the six hour time difference. Keeping up is a constant process. My children have given me a memoir writing project. Now I have to learn to get photos from my phone to my computer and the computer to the writing program. It’s all great fun until I can’t make something work—just can’t keep up. I have always been a very impatient “quick draw McGraw,” but when the grandkids aren’t available to help, I quit. Their demos are too fast and infrequent for someone in my generation. Grandson Nick has put instructions into my phone so I keep making progress. Managing communication for commit tee work is easier with email lists but not everyone uses email. The newest change is the print-out of a voicemail—boy, does that get words and names mixed up! Technology was supposed to make things easier not harder. Keeping up is

“

Prior to moving to a continuing care community, Sally Novak, 87, lived in Allendale and is the mother of three and the grandmother of seven. She is

a retired special education teacher, watercolor painter, choral singer and swim instructor.

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AUTUMN YEARS I SPRING 2024

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CELEBRATING LIFE OVER 55

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AUTUMN YEARS • PO BOX 104 • ALLENDALE, NJ 07401

COUNTY CALENDAR

COUNTY PARKS

SADDLE RIVER COUNTY PARK Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Paramus, Ridgewood, Rochelle Park, Saddle Brook, Dunkerhook Area Paramus Rd., Paramus Wild Duck Pond Area Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ VAN SAUN COUNTY PARK/ BERGEN COUNTY ZOOLOGICAL PARK 216 Forest Avenue Paramus, NJ FAIRS, FESTIVALS & SHOWS WAYNE VALLEY SPRING CRAFT SHOW • March 10 Wayne Valley High School 551 Valley Road Wayne, NJ PARAMUS HIGH SCHOOL SPRING CRAFT FAIR • March 24 99 East Century Road Paramus, NJ LATIN FOOD FESTIVAL • April 14 Westfield Garden State Plaza Paramus, NJ SPRINGFEST CRAFTS, ANTIQUES & GIFTS SHOW IN THE PARK • May 5 Veterans Park 50 Madison Avenue Westwood, NJ AUTUMN YEARS LIVING EXPO • May 22 (rain date: May 23) Crestwood Park 300 West Crescent Avenue Allendale, NJ www.autumnyearsmag.com Wednesday, May 22, 2024 (raindate May 23) Crestwood Park, Red Barn 300 West Crescent Ave., Allendale, NJ 07401 SPRING STREET FEST • April 27 300 Market Street Elmwood Park, NJ

BELMONT HILL COUNTY PARK Palisade Avenue Garfield, NJ DARLINGTON COUNTY PARK 600 Darlington Avenue Mahwah, NJ FRANKLIN LAKES NATURE PRESERVE 1 Nature Preserve Way Franklin Lakes, NJ FORT LEE HISTORIC PARK Hudson Terrace Fort Lee, NJ

GREAT OAK PARK 23 Doty Road Oakland, NJ HACKENSACK RIVER COUNTY PARK Hackensack Avenue Hackensack, NJ

MORRIS MUSEUM • Through May 26, Jan Huling: Everything Is Alive • March 15-September 1, Set in Motion: Kinetic Worlds from the Studio of Richard Whitten 6 Normandy Heights Road Morristown, NJ https://morrismuseum.org NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART • Through May 26, Animal Kingdom • Through December 31, Unexpected Color: A Journey Through Glass 49 Washington Street Newark, NJ https://newarkmuseumart.org WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY GALLERIES • Through March 22, Andrew Cornell Robinson: Salted not Sugared • Through May 3, Feeling Fashion 300 Pompton Road Wayne, NJ www.wpunj.edu/coac/gallery/

NYACK FAMOUS STREET FAIR • May 19 94 Main Street Nyack, NY

SPRING FLING STREET FESTIVAL • June 2 Along the Boulevard Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

OVERPECK COUNTY PARK Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park and Teaneck, NJ PASCACK BROOK COUNTY PARK Emerson Road River Vale and Westwood, NJ

CRAFTS IN THE PARK SHOW • June 2 Veterans Park 50 Madison Avenue Westwood, NJ MUSEUMS & HISTORICAL EVENTS MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM • Through June 30, George In ness: Visionary Landscapes

RAMAPO VALLEY COUNTY RESERVATION 608 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ RIVERSIDE COUNTY PARK River Road Lyndhurst & North Arlington, NJ

• Through August 4, Siona Benjamin: Lilith in the New World • Through November 11,

Joel Meyerowitz: Photographs from Cape Cod (1976-1987) 3 South Mountain Avenue Montclair, NJ www.montclairartmuseum.org

AN EXPO OF SERVICES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 55+

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SPRING 2024 I AUTUMN YEARS

COUNTY CALENDAR

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE • April 4-May 5, Gun & Powder 22 Brookside Drive Millburn, NJ 1-973-376-4343 www.papermill.org PARLANCE CHAMBER CONCERTS • April 7, LeNuove Musiche: 1560-1660, The Baroque Revolution in Europe: Jordi Savall, vioila da gamba & conductor, Hesperion XXI, Early Music Ensemble • May 12, Mother’s Day Concert: Chee Yun, violin, Alessio Bax, piano, Lucille Chung, piano, Brad Gemeinhardt, horn (principal, Met Orchestra) West Side Presbyterian Church 6 South Monroe Street Ridgewood, NJ 1-800-838-3006 www.parlancechamberconcerts.org PRO ARTE CHORALE • March 23, “A Woman’s Touch” celebrating Women’s History Month West Side Presbyterian Church 6 South Monroe Street RIDGEWOOD CHORAL ANNUAL SPRING CONCERT • April 20, Leslie MacPherson, director; Susan LaFever, piano West Side Presbyterian Church 6 South Monroe Street Ridgewood, NJ ridgewoodchoral@yahoo.com RIDGEWOOD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • May 3, Bedrich Smetana, The Moldau; Amanda Harberg, Piccolo Concerto (Erica Peel, Soloist); Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 West Side Presbyterian Church 6 South Monroe Street Ridgewood, NJ 201-652-1966 www.ridgewoodsymphony.org Ridgewood, NJ 201-497-8400 www.proartechorale.org

MAYO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

NATURE & ENVIRONMENTAL CENTERS CLOSTER NATURE CENTER 145 Ruckman Road Closter, NJ www.wpunj.edu/coac/gallery/ www.closternaturecenter.org DEMAREST NATURE CENTER 90 Park Street Demarest, NJ www.demarestnaturecenter.org FLAT ROCK BROOK NATURE CENTER 443 Van Nostrand Avenue Englewood, NJ www.flatrockbrook.org LORRIMER SANCTUARY 790 Ewing Avenue Franklin Lakes, NJ www.njaudubon.org JAMES A. MCFAUL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER 150 Crescent Avenue Wyckoff, NJ www.co.bergen.nj.us/bcparks/ McFaul.htm MEADOWLANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTER Two DeKorte Park Plaza Lyndhurst, NJ http://moodle.rst2.edu/ meadowlands

• March 23, The Peking Acrobats • March 24, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis • April 10, One Night of Queen • April 19, The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute • April 28, The Glenn Miller Orchestra • May 4, A Bronx Tale: A One-Man Show Starring Chazz Palminteri • May 10, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players in “The Pirates of Penzance” • May 17, Bernadette Peters 100 South Street Morristown, NJ 1-973-539-8008 www.mayoarts.org MCCARTER THEATRE CENTER • March 6-24, Dreamgirls, The Musical • May 8-June 2, Choice 91 University Place Princeton, NJ NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • March 17, Trinity Irish Dance Company • March 23, Joey Fatone of ‘NSYNC and A. J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys • April 11, Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles • April 25-28, Shen Yun • May 10-12, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater • May 30-31, New Jersey Symphony: Epic Scores of John Williams and More! • June 5, Bonnie Raitt One Center St. Newark, NJ 1-888-466-5722 www.njpac.org 1-609-258-2787 www.mccarter.org

THEATER & MUSIC

BERGEN COUNTY PLAYERS • March 9-April 6, The Fantasticks • April 20-May 11, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time 298 Kinderkamack Road Oradell, NJ 201-261-4200 www.bcplayers.org BERGEN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • March 16, Johnny Mathis— Live in Concert • March 19, The Peking Acrobats • March 20, Blue October • April 14, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., and Darlene Love • April 21, New Jersey Ballet’s

The Sleeping Beauty • May 8, Brian Regan • May 9, Buddy Guy— Damn Right Farewell 30 North Van Brunt Street

TEANECK CREEK CONSERVANCY 20 Puffin Way Teaneck, NJ www.teaneckcreek.org

Englewood, NJ 201-227-1030 www.bergenpac.org

TENAFLY NATURE CENTER 313 Hudson Avenue Tenafly, NJ www.tenaflynaturecenter.org

DEBONAIR MUSIC HALL • April 27, Sean Chambers and the Savoy Brown Rhythm Section 1409 Queen Anne Road Teaneck, NJ 201-833-0011 https://debonairmusichall.com

10 AUTUMN YEARS I SPRING 2024

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HEALTH & WELFARE

Fit for Life

Conversation with My Body By Roger Anthony There I was. I had been lounging comfortably in my recliner for a couple of hours, read ing this and that when suddenly I heard a somewhat angry voice shout “Hey! Get up and move!” I bolted. “What? Who is that?” “It’s me. Your body. I’m talking to you and I’m telling you that you’ve been sitting too long and I need to stand up and move around!”

Me: “Okay. Got it. So how do you send your messages and what can I expect?” Body: “I can get your attention in a lot of different ways depending on the actual problem. My favorite is pain. That usually works. I can use it most any where. I can also vary the intensity from mild, moderate or severe, and I can add things like throbbing, stabbing, burning, itching, etc., but I also have plenty of other signals that I can and do use. Me: “Really? Like what? Body: “Well, bleeding is a great one. Blood anywhere always gets your atten tion. Swelling works well too. Whenever things puff up, you quickly realize that you have a problem.” Me: “Totally. So what else have you got?” Body: “Wow. So many things. Here we go. There’s cough, sneez ing, breathing difficulties, sore throat, laryngitis, fever, chills, excess sweat

Me: “Wait, what? My body is actually talking?” Body: “I send you messages all the time, most of which you ignore, so yeah, now I’m talking to you.” Me: “This is crazy. What messages? You have email? Body: “No stupid. Warning messages about what’s wrong or what’s about to happen to me, your body.” Me: “I’m not getting any messages. Let me check my spam file.” Body: “Ugh. I told you, it’s not about email. My messages come in the form of what you call “symptoms.” Me: “Oh yeah. That’s really annoying. How about just unfriending me and stop bothering me?” Body: “It doesn’t work that way. My messages, okay “symptoms,” are for your (and my) own benefit. They are wake up calls that something is not right and you need to do something about it.” Me: “Come on. If I just tough it out for a while, your irritating symptoms will go away, right?”

Body: “Sometimes, yes. And sometimes they will come back later on with a ven geance that will make you wish that you had paid attention to begin with.” Me: “So why not just wait until you send worse symptoms and do some thing about them then?” Body: “Because by then, whatever I am warning you about may be much more serious or even unfixable.” Me: “So you’re saying that I need to get medical attention for every little ache and pain I feel. I would have to actually live in my doctor’s office.” Body: “No, of course not. Unless you want to become a consummate hypo chondriac.” Me: “Alright, alright. I’m listening. Help me out here. What exactly do you mean by “symptoms.” Body: “You want a definition.

Okay, a broad definition is “A phenomenon that arises from and accompa nies a particular disease or disorder and serves as an indication of it.”

ing, lightheadedness, dizziness, fatigue or

exhaustion, rashes, upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, changes in stool, urinary problems, flatulence…”

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Me: “Oh good grief. So what can I do about that?” Body: “You need to start by making me your first priority. Like your car, if you don’t maintain your body properly, you will increase your chances of serious problems. You wouldn’t use inferior fuel so why eat unhealthy food? You wouldn’t avoid driving it, so why would you not exercise to keep your body in optimal running order? Also, when your car develops symptoms like not starting properly, running rough or handling poorly, you quickly check with a mechan ic to find out what is wrong and have it fixed. Why not do the same for yourself? And most importantly, you wouldn’t miss your car’s routine checkups and maintenance, so why wouldn’t you schedule routine physical examinations that can enable your medical profession al to find things even before symptoms begin, at which time, in many cases, it may be too late?” Me: “Okay. If I do all that, will you promise that you won’t bother me with any more symptoms?” Body: “No promises on that one, but I do promise not to actually talk to you again.” Me: “Well, it’s been nice and I learned a lot, but yeah, don’t do that anymore. And don’t tell anybody else about this conversation or they might send me to a psychiatrist!” Body: “Deal. As long as from now on you pay attention to my messages, get routine checkups and do all you can to stay Fit for Life !”

bornly refuse to seek help.” “People will cognitively avoid things they don’t want to be real; it’s a natural defense mecha nism” says Dr. Kim Lavoie, co-director of the Montreal Behavioral Medical Centre. “Many people delay seeing their doctors…and when they finally make an appointment, they tend to minimize their symptoms.” Me: “Sounds like that could lead to serious problems.” Body: “Absolutely. In fact, a study in the British Journal of General Practice found that almost half of cancer patients ignore early warning signs such as a per sistent cough or an unexplained lump. And a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that only one in five people who have heart attack symptoms call for help.” all do when we are faced with some thing we are afraid of. But also there is everything from fear of the outcome to not wanting to make a fuss or wasting doctors’ time. And a lot of people just use “busyness” as an excuse for procras tinating or completely avoiding seeking medical advice. Me: “So I don’t need to see a doctor unless I have one of your nasty symptoms, right?” Body: “Nope. I can be a real trickster too. There are many serious illnesses that don’t present any symptoms at all. They are “asymptomatic.” Me: “So it’s mostly about denial?” Body: “Well yes, denial is something we

Me: “Wait. Before you actually started talking, that last one was pretty much the only sound I ever heard from you.” Body: “Yeah but some of that is the fault of your terrible food choices!” (Both laugh) Body: “Okay, okay, let me continue. There’s also headaches, night cramps and/or sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss or gain, mood changes, confusion, suicidal thoughts, loss of vision, hearing, taste, smell, tingling or numbness… Do you want me to go on?” Me: “No, no. I’ve got the picture and the message. So symptoms can be an indica tion of disease or disorder. How do I find out what the problem is?” Body: “A lot of people first try to find out online, which is a good start but just remember that Googling your symptoms is the most efficient way to convince yourself that you are dying. There are actually even “symptom checkers” avail able online. Even though some of them are provided by reliable sources like WebMD and the Mayo Clinic, there are so many variables in diagnoses that it is unwise to rely entirely on these for the answers you require. You really need to discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider who can then do ap propriate tests in order to find out what is going on. Me: “I’m not good about going to the doctor until it’s an unbearable situation.” Body: “Well you’re not alone. Symptom denial is more common than you might realize. And it’s particularly dangerous for older people whose health status can change rapidly when they stub

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HEALTH & WELFARE

percent of an adult’s selenium needs for the entire day. Selenium is an essential trace mineral that contributes to several reactions in the body, such as DNA syn thesis. Copper is another essential trace mineral that we may Food for Thought Not Eating Nuts? That’s Nutty! By Stephanie Sass N uts and seeds are among the most nutrient-dense foods we can include in our diets. Nutrient-dense clots that can lead to strokes or heart at tacks. To increase the protective power of nuts and seeds, opt for unsalted or lightly salted options when available.

foods are high in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients such as fiber, healthy fats, protein and antioxidants. However, nuts and seeds are also energy-dense, which means they contain a lot of calories per gram, ounce or serving, and that is why paying attention to serving size is so im portant. Almonds, for example, contain about 400 calories per half-cup serving, while a one-ounce serving provides around 160 calories, as well as 6 grams of protein, 13 grams of healthy fats, 6 grams of carbohydrates and 4 grams of fiber. Different nuts and seeds will have dif ferent nutrient profiles and serving sizes, but with all those nutrients, it is easy to see why nuts and seeds keep the stomach full and satisfied. Almonds are the most popular nut eaten worldwide, but like all foods, vari ety matters. Incorporating a wide variety of nuts and seeds in the diet will increase the amount of nutrients consumed. For example, a single Brazil nut contains 175

Can you think of any other reasons to eat nuts? I can! They are delicious. Nuts have individual flavor

not think about, but it is needed to make red blood cells and help the nerves and immune system function prop erly. Almonds, cashews and sesame seeds are good

profiles that pair well with various foods. Almonds, for example, pair well with stone fruits,

berries, vanilla and cof fee. Walnuts pair well with blue cheese, dark chocolate, apples and bananas, whereas cashews pair well with ginger, sesame, soy and coconut. In addition to being a tasty snack, add ing nuts and seeds to any meal can bulk up the flavor and nutrients. At breakfast, chia seeds and ground flaxseeds are great additions to oatmeal that add fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, whereas almond butter can add a savory flavor. Chopped nuts or seeds can also replace granola when topping yogurt or a smoothie bowl. At lunch, sliced almonds can replace croutons in a salad for that crunch factor, and at dinner, chopped nuts or seeds can be added to breadcrumbs to add protein and healthy fats. If you are looking to get some nuts health benefits from your meals, check out these recipes from ShopRite’s Recipe Shop.

sources of copper. Also, nuts and seeds generally provide the body with zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, magne sium, phosphorus, potassium, manga nese, folate and calcium. If these are not enough reasons to shell-ebrate nuts, here is some more nut news. Studies suggest that nuts are good for your heart. When eaten regularly, nuts may reduce inflammation related to heart disease and decrease the risk of high cholesterol, hypertension and blood

Blue Cheese and Date Stuffed Apricots Ingredients • ¼ cup chopped unsweetened pitted dates • 3½ tbs crumbled blue cheese • 4 apricots (or other stone fruit), halved & pitted • 1½ tbs honey • 2 tbs sliced almonds Directions In small bowl, stir dates and cheese. Filled apricot halves with date mixture; drizzle with honey and sprinkle with almonds.

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Apple Pie Overnight Oats Ingredients • ½ cup rolled oats • ¼ cup milk • ¼ cut 0% Siggi’s vanilla skyr • ¼ cup apple, grated • ½ tbs maple syrup, plus more for garnish (optional)

Lentil Spaghetti with Cashew Leek Cream & Mushroom “Bacon” Ingredients • 1 tbs plus 1 tsp olive oil, divided • 1 tbs less sodium soy sauce • ¼ tsp smoke paprika • 1 package (6 ounces) portobello mushroom caps, thinly sliced • 1 package (8.8 ounces) red lentil spaghetti • 2 garlic cloves • ¼ cup raw cashews

• ¼ tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp chia seeds • Walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped, for garnish Directions

In a jar or bowl, stir together oats, milk, skyr, apple, syrup, cinnamon and chia seeds. Refrigerate overnight. Garnish with walnuts and a bit more maple syrup, if desired.

Earthy Vegetable & Kale Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

• 2 tbs fresh lemon juice • 2 tbs nutritional yeast • ½ leek, ends trimmed & thinly sliced crosswise • Thinly sliced green onions for garnish (optional) Directions

Ingredients • 4 medium parsnips, each cut into ½-inch dice (about 2 cups) • 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil • ¼ tsp salt • Large beets, peeled, each cut into ½-inch dice (about 2 cups) • 2 tbs pine nuts • 1 medium orange • ½ peeled and pitted ripe avocado • 1 tbs water • 1½ tsp fresh lime juice • 1 cup Chobani A Hint of Monterey Strawberry Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In small bowl, toss parsnips with 1½ tsp oil and a pinch of salt. In separate small bowl, toss beets with 1¼ tsp oil and a pinch of salt. Line rimmed baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Transfer parsnips and beets to opposite sides of prepared pan in single layer. Roast vegetables 10 to 15 minutes or just until tender; cool. Meanwhile, in small skillet, cook pine nuts over medium-low heat 4 to 5 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring frequently; transfer to plate to cool. Low Fat Greek Yogurt • 2 cups shredded kale • ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees, line rimmed baking pan with parchment paper. In medium bowl, whisk 1 tsp oil, soy sauce and paprika; add mushrooms and carefully toss. Let stand 15 minutes, tossing twice. Spread mushrooms in single layer on prepared pan; roast 20 minutes or until browned and crisp. Makes about 44 pieces. Cook spaghetti as label directs; reserve 1 cup cooking water, drain and return to saucepot and cover. In blender, puree garlic, cashews, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, ½ tsp kosher salt and ½ cup cooking water on high until smooth. Makes about 1½ cups. In large skillet, heat remaining 1 tbs oil over medium-high heat. Add leek; cook and stir 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic mixture; cook and stir 1 minute or until heated through. Add spaghetti and remaining ½ cup cooking water; cook and stir 30 seconds or until heated through. Makes about 4 cups. Serve spaghetti sprinkled with mushroom “bacon” and green onions, if desired.

Segment the orange by slicing off top and bottom ends to make 2 flat surfaces. Place orange, cut side down, on cutting board. With small paring knife, slice down the sides following the natural curve of the orange to completely remove skin and white pith. Hold ing orange over small bowl, with paring knife, cut on either side of the membranes to release each segment. In blender, puree avocado, water, lime juice and a pinch of salt until smooth. Makes about ¼ cup. In medium bowl, whisk together yogurt and remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add kale, vegetables and a pinch of salt and toss to combine. To serve, with back of spoon, smear ¼ of the avocado mixture onto each of 4 salad plates; evenly divide vegetable mixture over avocado mixture. Sprinkle each salad with 1½ teaspoons pine nuts, 1 tablespoon cheese and orange segments.

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HEALTH & WELFARE

A Change of Place: Know Your Options By Michelle Malikzay It is time to start looking at alternative living solutions when you or your loved ones start feeling like the current living situation has become burdensome. Often, an individual needs and prefers change as he or she ages so it is no surprise that downsizing becomes an appropriate option—why not live out one’s golden years with stress free and maintenance free living. Also, a medical condition may require selling one’s home and transitioning to communities that offer assistance with bathing, medication management and provide a warm atmosphere with robust social activities.

O ften families are faced with impor tant decisions about living options when these decisions need to be made in a very short period of time. So it is imperative to be proactive and do your research on living options ahead of time. Do not wait for a fall or hospitalization to start looking at communities and making life changing decisions. After all, how likely are you to pick the right community for you or your loved one while under duress? Also, if a loved one is the intended resident of a new home, be sure to take him or her with you as you visit the communities and ask for their opinion. This crucial step promotes independence. supervision, medication management, meal options, assistance with ADL’s (activities of daily living), socialization and promotes independence. Memory Care offers specialized care for people with memory loss and is often in a secured area of an Assisted Living com Alternative living solutions Assisted Living care offers 24-hour

munity. Skilled Nursing care provides 24-hour nursing care for those with declining physical health and high acuity medical conditions. Location is an important consider ation because seniors generally prefer to stay close to their family members or within areas where they have a deep rooted connection. Let’s use Mrs. Smith in Wayne as an example. She is need of assistance because she has become for getful. She leaves the stove on at home and forgets to take her medications. Living alone has become dangerous. Her family is unable to check on her every day and makes the decision to sell her home and assist her move into a com munity. The next step would be to look up the memory care communities in the Wayne area, make an appointment to visit them and check on pricing options. Keep in mind the person giving the tour is a salesperson for the commu nity. It is important that you see how the community operates so be sure to schedule tours during the lunchtime hours. While on tour, do not be shy to ask residents and their family members

about their experiences. Remember to look at the activities calendar as social engagement is vital in keeping memory impairment at bay. Inquire about the community’s medical director. Find out how often does he or she visit the resi dents and to which major hospital the doctor is affiliated. Check on levels of care Always ask what the rates will be for different levels of care even if your loved one does not necessarily need that type of care at the present time. Some private long-term care insurance plans pay for a portion of Assisted Living care. The representative at the community will discuss rates and insurance with you. Many of the longstanding assisted living and memory care communities, such as Sunrise, offer reasonable pricing and a home-like setting. The newer communi ties, such as Thrive and Allegro, offer a grand hotel-like setting at higher rates. There are a few communities in Bergen County that offer a very broad level of services such as the Actors Fund

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sue.surat@cruiseplanners.com

cal reasons to downsize? Is there a need to help with ADL’s? Is forgetfulness an issue? Does a medical condition require 24-hour nursing care? The answer to these questions will help you understand what type of community is needed.

Help with finding the right place Finding the right place can be a daunt ing task but it does not have to be if you plan ahead and use the right profession als to guide you along the way. A Seniors Real Estate Specialist is a real estate agent who is well versed in insurance, medical care, social services, who is able to sell your home and guide you to the right community. A Senior Living Advisor cannot sell your home but can provide guidance on different communities and accompany you on tours. Senior Care Authority in Bergen County provides a personalized service and stays in touch long after the resident has been placed. A methodical approach to choosing the correct living solution can make for a highly successful search. Figuring out why your loved one needs to move is the million-dollar question. Are there practi

Home in Englewood and the Jewish Home of Rockleigh. These communities offer short term rehab, assisted living, memory care and nursing home care all under one roof. The advantages of these communities include accommodating different levels of care so that residents would not be too inconvenienced in the transition from one area of the building to another as their cognitive or physical condition changes and requires higher care levels of care. Taking a trip? Moving? Some Assisted Living communities and nursing homes offer a very short respite stay for family members who are preoccupied and need assistance with care for their loved ones. Rates for respite care may differ from the normal daily rate. Whether it is Assisted Living, Memory Care or Skilled Nursing care, do the residents look happy? How did the tour make you and/or your loved one feel?

Michelle Malikzay is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist with Christies International Real Estate Group serving all of Northern New Jersey.

She is well connected in senior care and a member of The Alliance for Senior Services (TASS) group. Prior to real estate, she worked in long term care for 10 years in the skilled nursing setting. She uses her healthcare background along with real estate expertise to provide a seamless and compassionate experience for seniors looking to transition to their next home.

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