2015 Mar-Apr LIFESPAN - Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc.

Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc.
A private, not-for-profit agency
Volume XVIII No. 2
LIFESPAN
Serving Montgomery County Older Adults since 1975
March/April 2015
16th Annual Awards Dinner
Vincent J. Rossi is a native of
compassionate funeral caregiver. He
successful, well-known local business.
Amsterdam and a graduate of Bishop has been instrumental in making the
Karen has been an active volunteer
Scully High School. He graduated in
Betz, Rossi, Bellinger and Stewart
throughout the years. Her volunteer
1978 from Hudson Valley
Family Funeral Homes the
efforts started with the Mohawk Valley
Community College with a
esteemed Amsterdam
Women’s Club (MVWC). Karen also
degree in Mortuary Science. He
institution it is today.
volunteered at the Canajohariehas been a Licensed Funeral
Vince has been incredibly
Palatine-Root Community Chest and
Director since 1979 when he
valuable to our agency
Children’s Aid Society, where her
purchased the Sargalis Funeral
throughout the years. He
Mother was also a member. She
Chapel. He merged with David
pitches in every way
served on the advisory council at
Bellinger in 1984 to form Rossi
possible by volunteering his Mount Loretto Nursing Home and was
Funeral Home. Currently the
time and donating items
a member of the Aldine Society. Karen
firm is known as Betz, Rossi,
necessary for our
joined the Montgomery County
Vincent J. Rossi
Bellinger and Stewart Family
program operation.
Office for Aging Board of
Funeral Homes.
We take great pleasure in
Directors in 2002 and became
Vince is vastly involved in many
rewarding all of his charitable
secretary early in her term.
community organizations and is
efforts by honoring him with
After completing two terms on
currently the Vice President of the
the Father Joseph F. Girzone
our Board she continued to
Montgomery County Office for Aging,
Crystal Pillar of the
serve on the committee for our
Inc. Board of Directors. He is also a
Community Award.
Annual Awards Dinner. Karen
member of the New York State Funeral
Karen A. Wright was born
is known for her
Directors Association, Knights of
in Hartford, Connecticut and
thoughtfulness and kind
Columbus Third and Fourth Degrees,
is the oldest of three sisters.
Karen A. Wright gestures and has a knack for
the B.P.O. Elks Lodge #101 and
At an early age, her family
knowing exactly what someone
Amsterdam’s Lions Club. He serves on relocated to Fultonville, New York. She needs to brighten their day. Little did
the Board of Directors for the Sarah J. is a graduate of the Amsterdam School she know that a few years later she
Sanford Home for Women. Vince is a
of Commerce. Karen married Charles herself would be the recipient of our
Eucharistic Minister and Lector at St.
Wright July 15, 1961 and began a new very prestigious Diane G. Snell
Stanislaus’ Church where he is a
chapter of her life in Canajoharie, NY
Humanitarian Award!
parishioner as well as Our Lady of Mt. where Chuck was teaching and
Recipe Contest
Carmel Church. He is also a former
coaching football at the local high
Cocktail
Celebration
board member of the Horace J. Inman school. During that time Karen and
5—7
p.m.
on
Sat.,
Mar. 7 at the
Senior Center.
Chuck raised two sons, Christopher
Century Club in Amsterdam
Vince and his partner Rob are the
and Michael. Karen was employed at
Sponsored by Trinity Services Group
proud parents of Luca Marc and are
Canajoharie Building Savings and
$10 admission includes food
very involved in his school and
Loan until 1976. At that time Chuck
tasting and judging, a
sporting events. Vince is also an avid
founded his own business, W.W.
complimentary glass of wine,
gardener and loves to read. He takes
Custom Clad and Karen began
an active role as a funeral arranger
working there part-time. Together
entertainment and wine tastings
and has spent his entire career as a
Karen and Chuck built an extremely
by Hummingbird Hill Winery
2 - March/April 2015
The Cost of Stereotyping
From the
Director
David Jordan
Executive Director
During my time at the Office for
Aging, I’ve become more aware of the
perceptions that others have about
older adults and how these views often
guide how a person may interact with
an older person. Unfortunately, many
of these perceptions about seniors are
often incorrect and have been
developed over the course of many
years of being subjected to
unfavorable stereotypes that persist in
society. These negative stereotypes
are perpetuated in the media and
make it extremely hard to counteract or
change since we are all surrounded by
these images constantly. I’ve noticed
that negative stereotypes are not
questioned and are often encouraged
by others.
Montgomery County
Office for Aging, Inc.
The Designated Area Agency on Aging
Staff
Laura Penge-Burda
John DiMezza
Sharon Heroth
Mary Ellen Houlihan
David Jordan
Meeghan Lyons
Jennifer Moyer
Stephen Prohaska
Elizabeth Smitka
Jason Walrath
Tim Yager
Board of Directors
* Emeritus
Sheriff Michael Amato*
Peter Capobianco
Joan Conboy
Sharlene Cornacchia
Ronald Dievendorf
Ted Madej
Donald Massey*
Thomas Mickle*
Dolores Partyka
Claritza Reyes-Malavé
Vincent Rossi
Dorothy Savarese
Thomas Sorbero
Michael Wancewicz
Roberta Winsman*
William Winsman
Barbara Wool*
Advisory Council
Evelyn Bianchi
Lisa Mirabile
Phoebe Boschi
Robin Moller
Joan Cimino
Carmen Nieves
Sandra DiGiandomenico Jacob Sammons
David Dybas
Cathy Smith
Anne Keiley
Jeffrey Smith
Martin Kelly
Karen Sylvia
Michelle Kumar
Lynne Van Eps
Carl Marucci
Nancy Vertucci
LIFESPAN is published bi-monthly by the
Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc.
and funded by Title III B of the Federal
Older Americans Act.
Recently, I was watching a TV show
in which two actors portrayed a couple
who had become elderly (in a dream
sequence) and how their abilities had
diminished. The scene ended with
everyone laughing at the couple and
mocking the way they were dressed,
the way they talked and their difficulty
in being able to hear others. The scene
was part of a situational comedy but
seemed to take things a little too far, at
least for me. I like comedy as much as
anyone, but I found the scene to be
demeaning, mean-spirited and
tremendously disrespectful to older
adults.
Many of us already know the
common stereotypes that exist about
older people in our society. Some of
these misguided stereotypes portray
seniors as being self-absorbed, not
wanting close relationships,
contributing little to society, being set
in their ways, deteriorating mentally or
physically or not being able to make
good decisions on important issues.
I’d like to counter many of these
stereotypes by pointing out the
unbelievable amount of positive
attributes that people age 60 and older
bring to our society. Seniors are more
active than they have ever been and
many people look to enrich their lives
as they get older by traveling, going
back to school or even starting a
second career after they retire. Very
rarely are any of these attributes
portrayed in the media.
In many other parts of the world that
are less industrialized, elderly
individuals are often treated with much
more reverence and respect. Their
experience and knowledge may be
valued more and older people are
looked upon as a treasured resource
as opposed to being a perceived
burden on society. Certainly, this is not
true in all situations, but it can be
common.
To help you understand how seniors
are valuable in society, you need only
look at how senior volunteers impact
our society. According to recent
statistics, older adults volunteer more
hours in a year than any other age
group in New York State. In 2013,
there were almost 700,000 volunteers
age 60 and older, providing 49 million
hours of service per year at an
economic value of $1.3 billion. These
same senior volunteers have over
1,700 years of work experience and
over 4,200 years of life experience. If
you couple those numbers with the fact
that those same volunteers have more
than 2,760 years of volunteer
experience, the resulting opinion
should be extreme appreciation for
their contributions to society.
Keep in mind that these volunteer
hours, provided by seniors, aid in
providing services to others who would
otherwise have to pay for the service.
Due to these overwhelming statistics,
our agency challenges anyone that
makes the false claim that older adults
are a drain on resources. Instead, we
like to point out older adults’ value to
the community in all that they do, from
their volunteerism, to their support for
their local schools, to their contribution
to the state’s economy. Indeed, of all
the personal income generated in
NYS, older adults and baby boomers
represent 58% of all personal income
generated, about $310 billion per year.
This doesn’t sound like a drain on our
community resources but rather a
resource that should be recognized
and appreciated.
Source: www.aging.ny.gov
Centenarians to be Honored in May
As part of May’s Older
Americans month, special
acknowledgement will be given
by the Montgomery County
Office for Aging, Inc., to
residents of Montgomery
County who are 100 years old
or older, or who will reach their
100th birthday by Dec. 31, 2015.
Family members, agencies and
others are encouraged to contact
the OFA, 843-2300, by Apr. 10
with the names of those who will
be, or are older than 100 years
old.
We are pleased to honor area
centenarians for this
achievement and thank them for
being an inspiration to future
generations.
March/April 2015 - 3
Bon
Appétit!
National Nutrition Month
Healthy Lifestyle' theme gives
consumers an easy reminder that
achieving optimal health is not about a
specific food or time of year, but rather
Tracy Hojohn
a life-long commitment that leaves
Registered Dietitian
plenty of time for the foods and
The theme for National Nutrition
activities we love." Connor says "the
Month 2015 is "Bite into a Healthy
key is determining the lifestyle balance
Lifestyle". The goal of the 2015
that provides the body what it needs,
campaign is to encourage everyone to while still allowing room for the foods
adopt eating and physical activity plans and activities we enjoy most". Here are
that are focused on consuming fewer
some tips to follow to try and achieve
calories, making informed food choices that balance in 2015. 1) Eat breakfast.
and getting daily exercise in order to
There’s no better way to start your
achieve and maintain a healthy weight, morning than with a healthy breakfast.
reduce the risk of chronic disease and Include lean protein, whole grains, and
promote overall health. A healthy
fruit. 2) Fill half your plate with fruits
lifestyle – one based on regular
and vegetables. They add color, flavor,
physical activity and an eating pattern texture, vitamins, minerals,
chosen to meet individual nutrient
antioxidants and fiber to your plate.
needs within calorie limits – is vital to
Each time you grocery shop try one
maintaining good health and quality of new fruit or vegetable. You could
life," says registered dietitian
discover a new favorite. 3) Watch your
nutritionist and Academy President
portion sizes. Get out measuring cups
Sonja Connor. "This year's 'Bite into a and see how close your portions are to
the recommended serving size. 4) Be
active. Regular physical activity lowers
blood pressure and helps your body
Bring a friend and have lunch
control stress and weight. 5) Fix
CAFÉS
at one of our cafés. Lunch is
served Monday through
Friday at 12 p.m.
Call 843-2300 or 673-2000
to make a reservation or
to cancel a reservation.
Daily sites
Amsterdam
Garden Towers Café
52 Division St.
(New Amsterdam Apartments)
Canajoharie
Café Arkell
55 Montgomery St.
(Arkell Center)
St. Johnsville
Westside Café
16 Washington St.
(Community House)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Under 60 guest fee:
$8.15
Over 60 participants:
$3.00 suggested donation
Donations are greatly appreciated.
healthy snacks. They can sustain your
energy level between meals. Choose
snacks that are a combination of 2 or
more of the following: whole grains,
fruits, vegetables, low fat or fat free
dairy, lean protein or nuts. 6) Read
food labels. Pay attention to serving
sizes, total calories and fat, sodium
and sugars. Check the ingredient list.
7) Do more cooking at home. It can be
healthy, rewarding and cost-effective.
8) Drink more water. Water helps to
regulate temperature, transport
nutrients and oxygen to cells, carry
away waste products and more. 9)
Follow food safety guidelines. Roughly
1 in 6 Americans get sick from
foodborne disease each year. Reduce
your chances of getting ill by practicing
proper hand washing. Use a
thermometer to make sure foods are
cooked to the proper temperature. For
more tips and information on nutrition
and healthy eating visit the Academy
of Dietetics and Nutrition website,
eatright.org.
Source: Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics
Open House
We are very pleased to announce
we can achieve our fundraising goal.
that the kickoff event for our “40 for 40”
To date we have been successful in
campaign was a great success! The
attaining more than 25% of our goal.
attendance at our Open House on Jan.
22 far surpassed our expectations with
more than 80 attendees and we would
like to thank everyone for their
patronage. It was wonderful to see so
many new faces as well as our
dedicated regulars who continue to
support us year after year. We would
also like to thank Trinity Services
Group for preparing the delicious hors
d'oeuvres.
The community support we received
at this event has us optimistically
anticipating that same continued
support throughout the remainder of
our “40 for 40” year. To commemorate
our 40th anniversary year, and to help
achieve our goal of raising $40,000 in
our 40th year, we will be holding
several events and/or fundraisers
throughout 2015 and we’d like to see
all of you at each and every one. We
look forward to forging new
relationships with our community
partners and together we are confident
4 - March/April 2015
LegalEase
NYS Medicaid Law-Assets Transfers
that such a transfer was made for the
purpose of qualifying for Medicaid and
Del B. Salmon
thus should be looked at under the
Legal Services
Medicaid Law and not under the Gift
Representative
Tax Law. Therefore, the general rule is
I will focus this article on the transfer that, at the time of application, a
of assets as it impacts Medicaid
Medicaid Applicant who has made a
Qualification.
transfer of assets within the five-year
The transfer of assets, also referred look back period will be deemed not to
to as gifting, is addressed by two
be qualified for Chronic Care Nursing
distinct sets of law, the Gift Tax Law
Home Medicaid for the date requested.
and the Medicaid Law. The Gift Tax
The Department of Social
Law states that an individual can give Services will therefore expect
$14,000.00 per year, tax free and
that such transfer be returned
without the necessity of reporting to
before the applicant can be
the IRS, to as many individuals as he
qualified for Medicaid. There
or she wishes. Effective February 8,
are usually exceptions to the general
2006, the Medicaid Law states that
rule. Consult an Elder Law Attorney for
when an applicant for Chronic Care
how to qualify an applicant for Chronic
(Nursing Home) Medicaid makes such Care (Nursing Home Medicaid) when
a gift or transfer, the transfer is subject the applicant is in a Nursing Home and
to a five-year penalty or waiting period has made transfers during the fivefrom the date of such transfer before
year look back period.
the individual can qualify for Medicaid.
It is possible for a Medicaid
If, at the time of a Medicaid
Applicant to rebut, or show to be false,
Application, the five-year penalty
the presumption that a transfer was
period or waiting period has not
made for the purpose of qualifying for
expired, the Medicaid Law presumes
Medicaid, by showing the following:
HIICAP
Hotline
Meeghan Lyons
Client Services
Representative
What is it? It's not a bill. It’s a notice
that people with Original Medicare get
in the mail every 3 months for their
Medicare Part A and Part B-covered
services.
The MSN shows all your services or
supplies that providers and suppliers
billed to Medicare during the 3-month
period, what Medicare paid, and the
maximum amount you may owe the
provider.
When should I get it? You’ll get your
MSN every 3 months if you get any
services or medical supplies during
that 3-month period. If you don’t get
any services or medical supplies
during that 3-month period you won’t
get an MSN for that particular 3-month
period.
Note: Do you want to see your
claims right away? If you don’t want to
wait for your MSN, you can access
your Original Medicare claims at
that the individual was not in need of
nursing home care at the time of the
gift; that the gift was consistent with
the applicant’s history of gift giving;
and that the applicant’s intent was
purely to benefit the recipient of the
gift, rather than to reduce the
applicant’s resources for the purpose
of Medicaid qualification. This would
be done after an initial decision was
rendered by the local Department of
Social Services through a Fair
Hearing. A Fair Hearing is the
Applicant’s opportunity to
appeal the decision of the local
Department of Social Services
by presenting evidence that, in this
instance, would show that the
Applicant’s actions complied with a
different law.
Estate planning is a proactive
process designed to accomplish an
individual’s future goals. Gifting and
the transfer of assets fall into such
planning and should only be done in
consultation with a professional
familiar with both Medicaid and the
Estate Tax Law.
Medicare Summary Notice
MyMedicare.gov. You’ll usually be able
to see a claim within 24 hours after
Medicare processes it.
If I need to change my address:
Contact Social Security.
If you get RRB benefits, contact the
RRB.
Who sends it? Medicare
What should I do if I get this notice?
If you have other insurance, check to
see if it covers anything that Medicare
didn’t.
Keep your receipts and bills, and
compare them to your MSN to be sure
you got all the services, supplies, or
equipment listed.
If you paid a bill before you got your
notice, compare your MSN with the bill
to make sure you paid the right amount
for your services.
If an item or service is denied, call
your doctor’s or other health care
provider's office to make sure they
submitted the correct information. If
not, the office may resubmit. If you
disagree with any decision made, you
can file an appeal. On the new MSN
design, the last page of the MSN gives
you step-by-step directions on when
and how to file an appeal.
Source: Medicare.gov
March/April 2015 - 5
Caregivers’
Corner
20 Things Caregivers Should Know
Information
Corner
EmPower New York
Be sure to eat well, get enough rest
and exercise regularly. The healthier
Stephen Prohaska
you are, the better care you will
Case Manager
provide.
8. Don’t be afraid to say you need a
1. A caregiver is someone who cares break – no one can do it all of the time.
9. When people offer to help, say
for an aging, ill or disabled person.
yes. Keep a list of things you can use
2. Caregiving duties range from
help with and have them choose from
occasional errand-running and other
the list.
supportive care to 24-hour, live-in
10. If you are balancing work and
support.
caregiving, talk to your employer about
3. You don’t have to live with a
flexibility in your job.
person to be a caregiver.
11. Caregiving duties often change
4. There is no right way to care for a
over time. A person may need less
person. Each situation is different.
help now and more care later on.
5. You can provide care yourself,
12. Planning ahead can make
bring in other family members, or hire
caregiving easier in the future.
an aide.
13. As a caregiver, you may need to
6. When possible, you and the
learn about medical, financial and legal
person being cared for should make
issues.
decisions together.
14. Keep the person’s social security
7. Taking care of yourself is as
important as caring for your loved one. number, doctors’ names and phone
Well, there sure is! These services
would be provided at no cost to all
John DiMezza
eligible households. Also, EmPower
Client Services
New York may provide heating
Representative
systems repair and replacements for
eligible households in a no heat
Good day everyone,
situation. The program will run until
Even though gas and oil prices have funds are expended but no later than
been lowered it hasn’t brought
May 1, 2015. Listed are the income
electrical usage prices down. Maybe
eligibility guidelines. If you have any
it’s time to think about saving energy in questions please call, 843-2300.
your home. Did you know that there is “To be prepared is half the victory.”
energy efficiency services provided
Miguel de Cervantes
through EmPower New York? No?
Lottery Calendar Winners
We would like to thank everyone who
purchased calendars in support of our
services and to those who wished to
donate their winnings back.
Congratulations to our winners: Karl
Albrecht, Brenda Bowers, Helen &
Warren Buckland, Ralph Chaverri,
Kathy Coates-Kreisel, Sharlene
Cornacchia, Maria Crounse, Sandy
DiGiandomenico, JoAnn Dingman,
Mary Donato, Rachel Dormond, Loring
Dutcher, Shannon Fioretti, Barb
Furman, G. Gallagher, Rich Giardino,
Christine Gomez, Victoria Gonzales,
Erin Kielsa, Claude Krutz, Ed Krzysko,
Jean Labonte, Laraine Lake,
Lynn La Salle, Ron and Debby
Limoncelli, Gayle Longobardo,
Donald Louer, Mary Jane Marmo,
Tricia Martin, Eben Miller, Bill Mowrey,
Merry Moyer, William Nowicki, Barb
Partyka, Bonnie Pascuito, Christine
Russo, Richard Sleezer, Vicki
Sollecito, St. Lukes Church, Katherine
Steckler, Beth Stocker, Sherry Suite,
Brenda Tanner, Sally Taylor, Mari
Vosburgh, Donna Wilmot, and Janice
Zoller.
We have a few calendars left for
purchase. There are still plenty of
chances to win.
numbers, prescriptions and insurance
information where you can find them in
an emergency.
15. Find out about a Durable Power
of Attorney for health care and
finances. These give you the legal right
to make decisions if your loved one
cannot.
16. Learn as much as you can about
the person’s illness or condition.
17. Learning to care for another
person can take practice and special
skills.
18. All caregivers feel overwhelmed
at times. Caregivers who get help are
less likely to burn out.
19. One of the best resources for
caregivers is other caregivers.
20. A sense of humor can help you
deal with the emotional ups and
downs.
Source: Journeyworks Publishing
Family size: Gross monthly income:
1
$2,194
2
$2,869
3
$3,544
4
$4,219
5
$4,894
6
$5,569
7
$5,696
8
$5,822
6 - March/April 2015
“40 for 40” Pledges
Giving Tree Contributors
Ted & Arlene Madej
Medium Stone
The Partyka Family
In memory of Raymond Partyka
Del B. Salmon
Small Stone
Sharlene Cornacchia
William & Roberta Winsman
Dot Savarese
Sal & David Savarese
Jason & Bethany Walrath
In memory of Raymond Walrath & Margaret Gerhartz
Additional Contributors for “40 for 40”
Acorn
Peter & Diana Capobianco
Amy R. & Ronald O. Dievendorf
In memory of Adah S. & Theron J. Vosburgh &
Jean E. Dievendorf
Vincent J. Rossi, Rob & Luca
Karen A. Salmon
In memory of Bertha Green & Carl Salmon, Jr.
Gold Leaf
Michael Wancewicz
In memory of Jean Wancewicz
Silver Leaf
Joan Conboy
In memory of Edward & Madaleine Savarese
Dr. Anthony D’Addio & Family
Bronze Leaf
Virginia Kutchis
John & Evelyn Bianchi
Michael McMahon
Claritza Reyes-Malavé
Cathy Smith
Marilyn T. Ault
In memory of Mary & Tony Fusella
Thaddeus J. Marciniszyn, D.D.S.
In memory of Charles S. Pedersen
Kim & Jim Post
In memory of Roland J. Post
2015 is a very special year for the
Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc.,
and the support that has been shown so
far has been tremendous and for that we
are greatly appreciative and we look
forward to serving the county for
many years to come.
* * * WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT * * *
Because needs are always greater than the resources available, the Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc.
encourages and appreciates donations.
Name___________________________________ Address_______________________________________
I designate my donation of $____________ for:
Use where most needed
HIICAP
Legal services
Caregiver/Respite services

Home-care services
Meals program
LIFESPAN
Foundation
“Save a Stamp” please do NOT acknowledge
my donation by mail
Please do NOT acknowledge my donation in
LIFESPAN
Please make check payable to:
Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc.
Clip and return this coupon with your donation to 135 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, NY 12010
Thank you! All donations are greatly appreciated!
All contributions are tax deductible to the extent of the law.
For tax purposes, we will send you a receipt for single donations of $250 or more.
March/April 2015 - 7
Montgomery County Office for Aging, Inc. gratefully
acknowledges the following contributors:
Andy Aldi
Christine Andrzejewski
Beckmann Converting, Inc.
Patti & Roger Brown
Norma Cuesta
Florida Reformed Church Christmas
Mission Project
Eleanor Gerutis
Marjorie H. Jackson
Lucia Kern
Catherine Logiudice
Helen Malicki
Walt & Sophie Malkowicz
Peter & Patricia Marcucia
Mary-Martha Circle of United
Presbyterian Church
Mary Niemczyk
George Paton
Mary Payne
Dolores Pereicich
Diane Phillips
Melanie Pisarski
Eileen Show
St. John’s Reformed Church
Wayne Sweet
TOPS NY #911 Amsterdam
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Stone Arabia Ladies Aid Society
Linda & Michael Welch
Barbara Wood
Dorothy Yurkewecz
In memory of Ruth & Charles Austin &
Harold Montanye
Andrea & David Montanye
In memory of Richard Boschi
Jack & Sally Rogers
In memory of Susan C. Buddles
Peggy & Herbert Allen
In memory of Harry Cohn
Dolores Cohn
In memory of Ada H. Hotaling
Mary Lou Coughlin
In memory of Mr. & Mrs. George
Jarosenski
Gary Jarvis
In memory of Charles S. Pedersen
Karen Wright
In memory of Robert Piska
Dolores Piska
In memory of Anthony & Anna
(Togaila) Radzevich
Michael Radzevich
In memory of Richard (Shep)
Sczepankowski
Carol Langelier
In memory of Richard Sponable, Sr.
Shirley Sponable
In memory of Frank & Clara Kordyjak
Shirley, Chet & Michele Kordjak
In memory of Stephany Stanavich
Roberta Daley
Carol VanWie Anderson
Roberta Daley
Krystyna Emeterio & Mary Staniul
Lottie & Norbert Fryc
Jean & Michael Orapello
Linda & Felix Persico
Dolores Piska
Josephine Sargalis
Joan Stanavich
In memory of Joseph Makarowsky
Carmella Makarowsky
In memory of Ann Sum
Anna Rossi
In memory of Gene & Helen Miner
Sylvia Burroughs
In honor of Mr. & Mrs. John Thomas
Theresa Tomaszewska &
James Gumaer
In memory of Cathy Jobin Neuberger,
Anita Fiorillo Jobin & Richard Jobin
Mary Jobin
In memory of Marjorie J. King
Evelyn & John Bianchi
Kind Words From Our Friends
Dear Friends at the Office for Aging,
Thank you so very much for the
Christmas basket, it meant so very
much to me. I really enjoyed it. It made
me happy to know there are people
who care about other people. Thank
you again may god bless all of you at
the Office for Aging. Thanks again.
M.T., Fort Johnson
To O.F.A.,
Thank you and all your employees for
all the help you provide us each year.
Thank you for the wonderful meal you
provided us this Christmas. It was
wonderful and we enjoyed it so much.
God Bless all of you.
G.Q. and People of Stratton Apts.,
Amsterdam
Office for Aging Staff,
Thank you very much for the food
basket and gift certificate. It was
needed and very much appreciated.
You all are amazing.
M.C., Amsterdam
Office for Aging,
Thanks for calling me.
M.C., Amsterdam
Montgomery County
Office for Aging
135 Guy Park Avenue
Amsterdam, NY 12010
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Albany, NY
Permit No. 918
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
A
Agency
Happenings
Recipe Contest Cocktail Celebration:
5—7 p.m., Sat., Mar. 7 at the Century
Club in Amsterdam. Sponsored by
Trinity Services Group. Admission is
$10 and includes food tasting and
judging, a complimentary glass of wine,
entertainment and wine tastings by
Hummingbird Hill Winery.
Public Information Sessions: 9-11
a.m., Tues., Mar. 10 at Arkell Center,
Canajoharie; and Wed., Apr. 8 at Fort
Plain Senior Center. These sessions
offer information and assistance with
regard to seniors and OFA services.
Call OFA, 843-2300, for more
information.
Decision Making Day with Elder Law
Attorney Del B. Salmon: 12:30 p.m.,
Wed., Apr. 15 at the St. Johnsville
Community House. Call OFA for more
information, 843-2300.
16th Annual Awards Dinner: 6 p.m.,
Wed., May 6 at Glen Sanders Mansion
in Scotia honoring Vincent J. Rossi and
Karen A. Wright. Jason Gough from
WNYT will host. Call to request an
invitation.
Giving Tree Dedication Ceremony
and Chamber After Hours: 3-5 p.m.,
Thurs. Sept. 10, at OFA. More details
to follow.
Senior Picnic: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Fri.,
Living with Loss—Bereavement
Sept. 18 at the Fonda Fairgrounds.
Support Group: 6 p.m., Tues., Mar. 10 More details to follow.
and Tues., Apr. 14 in the Board Room
at St. Mary’s Hospital. Call 843-5412,
ext. 17 for information or to register.
**If you no longer wish to receive
this newsletter, receive more than
Montgomery County Senior Citizens
one copy, or have an address
Council Meeting: 9:30 a.m., Wed.,
change, please cut out your
Apr. 8, Sheriff’s Office in Fultonville.
address label from above and
Jeff Smith, Montgomery County
send it to OFA at 135 Guy Park
Emergency Management Coordinator
Avenue, Amsterdam, NY 12010.**
will speak. All older adults are invited.
Call OFA, 843-2300, for more details.
Free Tax Help
Trained and certified volunteers will
be available at Arkell Center each
Wed. from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Information is confidential and an
appointment is required. To make an
appointment or for more information
call 673-2943. You must bring the
following to your appointment:
 A valid social security card or social
security 1099 statement
 2014 W-2 form (wages)
 2014 1099 forms (interest,
dividends, stock sales, social security
benefits)
 2014 paid mortgage interest, real
estate and school taxes, charitable
contributions, medical expenses,
etc., if you intend to itemize
deductions.
Help with completing your IT-214 is
also available.
Assistance is also available at the
Inman Center every Mon. and Tues.
Assistance is given to low-tomoderate income taxpayers,
especially those 60 and older, by
appointment only. Please call the
Inman Center at 842-3815 to
schedule an appointment.