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September / October 2011 Edition

COUNTY WIDE SENIOR PICNIC was held at the Norfolk Dominic Zappia Community Center on July 8th, 2011. The picnic was sponsored by St. Lawrence County Council of Senior Citizens and St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging. Over 225 Seniors were in attendance and enjoyed a day of free bingo, raffles, silent auction, musical cake walk, and crazy hat contest along with information provided by many new vendors. Vendor services included some of the following: free massages,

relaxation demonstrations, healthy diet plans, computer class info, free public health blood pressure checks and identity theft information provided by SeaCom Credit Union. New musical entertainment provided by Dan Klebes from Brushton, NY was enjoyed by many as they danced to the popular 60’s and 70’s tunes. Thank you to all volunteers and Town of Norfolk Highway Department and Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department for assisting with all needs of the day. Also, special thanks to Sylvia Despaw, President of St. Lawrence County Council for all her hard work!

MEDICARE’S OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD HAS BEEN MOVED UP A MONTH. ENROLLMENT BEGINS OCT. 15th AND ENDS DEC. 7th, 2011

MEDICARE HAS AN ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD when you can change your Medicare Drug Plan, a Medicare Advantage Plan or add or drop Medicare Parts A,B,C,& D. In the past, many Medicare recipients waited until the end of December to make changes to their Medicare coverage. Starting this year, they will be unable to make changes after December 7, 2011.ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE FOR THE AGING recommends that those with a Medicare Drug Plan and/or Advantage Plan review what their plan(s) will cover in 2012. Premiums often change, covered drugs may no longer be covered in the new year, co-pays and deductibles also change. Often, the 2011 plan that was best for you can become the worst plan for you in the following year. Carefully read all correspondence from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and from your current Drug Plan and/or Advantage Plan so you can determine if your 2012 coverage will meet your needs. The Office for the Aging can often help with Plan comparisons to help you decide what the best plan will be for you next year.

MATURE LIVINGSt. Lawrence County Office for the Aging / 80 State Highway 310, Suite 7

Canton, New York 13617-1497 Telephone (315) 386-4730

Nancy Robert, Director

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Don’t Forget …. Senior Computer Classes Offered this Fall!(Written By Shava Kendrick, Volunteer Computer Program Coordinator)

St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging offers computer classes to seniors, called Cyber Classes. There are two different levels of Cyber Classes, C1 and C2. When you call our contact person they will be able to assist you in finding which class is best for you. These classes are designed to assist seniors who have no computer experience and provide instruction to those who would like to gain additional computer knowledge. Classes are instructed by Shava Kendrick, Computer Volunteer Coordinator, and student volunteers from St. Lawrence

University. Contact Office for the Aging at 386-4730 to register for these courses, as class size is limited.

County Council Celebrates 40 Years of Service!

(Written by, Sylvia Despaw, President of County Council)

“County Council members provide Seniors a sense of security knowing that someone cares.”

St. Lawrence County Council of Senior Citizens (County Council) By-laws were incorporated on November 29, 1972 for the purpose "to organize, operate and maintain a Council without profit for the social, cultural, recreational, educational and related needs and developments of those persons who are 60 years of age or over."

Many outstanding Seniors have charted the Council to what it is today. Changes and new rules for organizations are everywhere today and County Council has kept up with the times. Even though many changes have happened over the past 40 years – seniors are just as involved today as they were forty years ago. Traditions of the annual Mayfest Celebration, Senior Kings and Queens Parade, and the Summer Picnic are still going strong. Many of the members of the 17 Senior Clubs are in their 70's, 80's and some in their 90's, and are still strong in spirit and enjoying their "Fun Years.”

Strong collaborative partnerships have developed over the years with St. Lawrence County Council of Senior Citizens, Inc., North Country Council of Senior Citizens, St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging, NY Statewide Senior Action Council, United Way and even NYS Office for the Aging.

County Council organizes the Annual May Festival and Awards Dinner (honoring special “Seniors of the Year.”) A summer picnic is held for all St. Lawrence County Seniors where free bingo, door prizes and entertainment is provided by County Council. Office for the Aging provides the picnic lunch. All other funding support is provided by the Senior Clubs and some volunteers, agencies and businesses.

St. Lawrence County Council of Senior Citizens foresees many challenges in the coming years. Providing professional speakers to inform seniors on important issues and to keep them informed of services available to them in time of need is crucial.

Meetings are open to all seniors and are held the second Thursday of every month at 10 AM at the Potsdam American Legion, Post 74. Next meeting will be Thursday, September 8 th. For additional information, contact Sylvia Despaw at 384-3155.

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Seniorama's 20th Year Celebrated!

MASSENA – Over 700 seniors participated in the 20th Annual Seniorama (Health & Services Information Fair) held at the St. Lawrence Centre arena on Thursday, August 11th. Many seniors received valuable information from vendors along with bags of goodies from their respective booths.

"It's been constant," said Mary Jane Barnes, president of the North Country Chapter of the New York Statewide Senior Action Council, Inc., and organizer of this year's "Seniorama 2011. There was plenty for seniors,

with 70 vendors set up around the arena floor to distribute information. Representatives from Social Security, AARP, Massena Neighborhood Watch, Hospice and Palliative Care, Massena Memorial, Canton-Potsdam, Alice Hyde and Claxton Hepburn Hospitals, Renewal House, United Healthcare, Highland Nursing Home and various businesses were present.

In addition to booths, visitors also enjoyed entertainment, including bingo, line dancing demonstration by Kountry Rebels II, and a fashion show with clothes provided by Sears, BonTon, TJ Maxx, JC Penney and Fit as a Fiddle. Most models belonged to North Country Chapter Senior Clubs. Visitors were also eligible for door prizes including gift certificates, submarine sandwiches, bottles of wine and cases of soda from vendors. Ms. Barnes commented that events like Seniorama don't just pull themselves together. Without the efforts of the dedicated committee members, SENIORAMA would not have been such a successful event. Many thanks to the following committee members… Gail Bisonette, Doris Brown, Mary Degon, Carlton Doane, Diana Dufresne, Barbara Hance, Laura Jandrew, Donna Martin, Robert Miller and Gloria Zehr. In conclusion, Mary Jane Barnes stated that Seniorama 2011 was a huge success and she is grateful to everyone who participated.

Events like Seniorama are very important, according to Ms. Barnes. She stated, “Seniors are more and more becoming part of the dominant population in the north country region. That's where the New York Statewide Senior Action Council comes in.” She noted they are the only grassroots organization in NYS that advocates solely for NY seniors and that their voice is important!

North Country Chapter of NY StateWide Senior Action Council‘s next meeting will be held on Friday, September 23rd at 9:30 AM at the Canton VFW, 34 Gouverneur Street. All members are asked to contact Mary Jane Barnes at 315-714-2031 by September 16th if they expect to be present for lunch. Anyone interested in joining StateWide or learning more about its mission of advocating for New York seniors should contact Mary Jane Barnes at the above number.   

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FROM OUR RECEIPE CORNER… MAPLE APPLE MUFFINS (Low Fat, No Cholesterol)

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ cup plain nonfat yogurt1 cup whole wheat flour ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar¼ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons vegetable oil2 teaspoons baking powder 2 egg whites½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon maple flavoring2 medium apples, peeled, thinly sliced 1/3 cup chopped nuts, optional¼ cup maple flavored syrup Vegetable cooking spray¾ cup unsweetened applesauce

Stir together flours, salt, baking powder and soda, set aside; 2) Coat 2 ¾ inch muffin pans with cooking spray and place 3 apple slices and 1 teaspoon maple syrup in bottom of each cup. Set aside; 3) In large mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients and add flour mixture, stirring only until combined; 4) Portion evenly into prepared muffin pans; Bake at 375 degree oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Yield: 12 muffins

If It’s Not .gov, It’s Not Social Security

Countless consumers are victimized by misleading advertisers who use "Social Security" or "Medicare" to entice the public to use their services. Look for the “.gov” at the end of the web address — if it isn’t .gov, it isn’t the real Social Security website — www.socialsecurity.gov In many cases, these companies offer Social Security services for a fee, even though the same services are available from Social Security, free of charge. These free services include: ● updating a Social Security card to show a bride's married name ●replacing a Social Security card ● and getting a Social Security number for a child

Businesses may cleverly design their websites, so when people use search engines, their advertisement pops up. They may even make their advertisement look like the real Social Security website, and some of these sites appear to be affiliated with Social Security. But on closer examination, these are companies charging people for a service that is free by Social Security.

A Google search on “replacing Social Security card” brings up paid advertisements for sites that charge a fee just to get a card application. That service is free from Social Security.

The law that deals with misleading Social Security and Medicare advertising prohibits people or non-government organizations, and businesses, from using words or emblems that mislead others.

For information, you can read “What You Need to Know about Misleading Advertising” at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10005.html. When you go to www.socialsecurity.gov, make sure you look for the “.gov” sign along the way. Don’t be tricked into paying a fee for a service that’s free. And remember: if it isn’t .gov, it isn’t Social Security.

MATURE LIVING IS NOW AVAILABLE VIA EMAIL!(Mature Living is published every month by St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging)

If you would like to receive the latest issue of Mature Living via email, just send your name and email address to: emcdermid@co.st-lawrence.ny.us

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DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD BE HYDRATED ALL YEAR LONG, NOT JUST IN THE SUMMER?

From the hot, sultry days of summer to the bone-chilling days of winter, your body needs water to maintain its normal temperature.

Staying well-hydrated is important no matter what the weather. Extreme temperatures act more quickly to dehydrate the body, making it important to drink water-based beverages even though you may not feel like it. Try to drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day, with increased amounts for added activity. If you spend lots of time outside, your need will increase.

Beverages that best meet hydration needs include water, juices, milk or caffeine-free coffee or tea. Carrying a water bottle makes it easy to remember to drink. Alternating water and coffee in your mug is another way to meet your needs.

“Grandparents Day, September 11th”Talk To Your Grand-Baby and Toddler

Though babies and toddlers can barely talk back, hearing you talk helps develop their brains. Studies have shown that the more words a child hears, the better they do in school later. To develop the child’s IQ and vocabulary, he/she should hear up to 30,000 words a day!

So what do you say to someone that can’t talk back? Describe everything you are doing. For example, say “Now let’s eat lunch,” and describe what you are making. Sing songs when you put the child to bed. Describe his body parts as you bathe them. Name the sights and sounds on the street and in the supermarket. And of course, looking at picture books is great learning time and fun.

September 12th –Office for the Aging Advisory Council Meeting- Open To the Public!

For Your Information …The Fall meeting of the Advisory Council will be held at the newly remodeled Potsdam Nutrition Site, now known as the Sandstone Dining Room at 10:30 AM on Monday, September 12th. This is a public meeting open to all. The Advisory Council represents and advocates for the needs of older persons and helps assure the development of the continuum of care for older persons within their communities. Lunch will be available at the Nutrition Site at noon following the meeting. For information, and to reserve for lunch, contact Office for the Aging at (386-4730).

COME AND PLAY PEDRO! BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 6TH.

After a break for the summer, Progressive Pedro (card game) has resumed at the Grasse River Apartments, 37 Riverside Drive, Canton. Come and join the players every Tuesday night at 7:00pm.

The charge is $1.00 and there will be cash prizes. Everyone is welcome. For information phone 379-9363.

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DOES MEDICARE COVER THE SHINGLES VACCINE?(Information Provided By St. Lawrence County Department of Public Health)

Unlike some other vaccines that are covered by Medicare Part B, the shingles vaccine is covered by Medicare Part D. This is the same part of Medicare that you use when you buy your prescription drugs at your pharmacy or through mail-order. People get Part D either through a private stand alone prescription drug plan (if they also have original Medicare) or a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage attached.

The shingles vaccine (Zostavax) is able to be administered by St. Lawrence County Public Health located at the Human Services Center, 80 State Highway 310, Suite 2, Canton, NY. Public Health has clinics periodically to administer the Zostavax vaccine. It is advisable that you call Public Health to find out when they will be holding their next Zostavax clinic. The cost of the vaccine is $165.00 which must be paid at the time of administration.

In order for the Medicare Drug Plan to reimburse you for the immunization (keep in mind that the Part D plan will charge you a co pay for the vaccine so you will not be reimbursed the entire $165.00) you must contact the Part D plan to request a “claim form for reimbursement”. Ask the plan if you need a prescription for the vaccine to be reimbursed as Public Health does not require a prescription. You should receive the claim form in 7-10 business days. The claim form will indicate what you will need to submit in order to be reimbursed, i.e. the receipt you receive from Public Health, possibly the prescription, NDC code, etc. It usually takes about 30 days to receive the reimbursement.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to call St. Lawrence County Public Health at 386-2325, or St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging at 386-4730.

FARMERS’ MARKET COUPONS STILL AVAILABLE ATOFFICE FOR THE AGING!

St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging has a limited number of Farmer Market coupon booklets left for eligible seniors who have not already received them. They are worth $20.00, redeemable at your local Farmer’s Market for fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables.

These coupons are available free for seniors 60 years and over who are currently receiving or eligible for SSI, public assistance, food stamps, section 8 Housing subsidy or whose income is less than $1,678 if single or less than $2,267 if married. Only one coupon booklet will be issued per senior household regardless of how many low-income seniors comprise the household. Coupon booklets CANNOT be mailed to eligible seniors. Proxies MAY NOT pick-up and sign for coupon booklets. The booklets are now available on a first come first serve basis at our office at 80 State Highway 310, Suite 7 Canton. For further information call Office for the Aging, 386-4730.

TO SERVE YOU BETTER…OFA APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE!When you have a question you’d like to discuss directly with someone, please call ahead for an appointment. If you let us know you’re coming, we can be sure someone is available to help you and it also lets you know what information you need to gather and bring with you. Call 315-386-4730 to let us know when you’d like an appointment.

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ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY OFFICE FOR THE AGING NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLYFood & Friendship Centers Located in Brasher, Canton, DeKalb, Edwards, Morristown, Ogdensburg, Potsdam and Star Lake Suggested Donation: $3.00 (age 60

+) Guest Fee $5.00 (Under 60) MENU IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE.For more information contact DIANA McCORMICK (386-4730) 24 hour advance reservations recommended.

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

SEPTEMBER 2011

9/1 Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce

Italian Mixed Vegetables, MBB

Pudding Parfait

9/2 Savory Baked FishCreamy Rice

Green/Yellow BeansMBB, Assorted Dessert

5 LABOR DAY!! 6 Chicken Tenders withassorted Sauce

Spinach Macaroni and Cheese

MBB, Fruit

7 Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Italian Mixed

Vegetables, MB, Assorted Pudding with

Topping

8 Meat and Cheese SubsLettuce/Tomato

Potato Salad Milk

Melon

9 Savory PorkMashed Potatoes/Gravy

Broccoli MBB

Assorted Dessert

12 French Toast with Sausage, Syrup Warm Fruit Compote

Juice MB

Fruited Yogurt

13 Meat LoafMashed Potatoes and Gravy

Buttered Carrots MBB

Fruited Jell-O with Topping

14 Tuna and Egg SaladCold Plate, Macaroni Salad, Pickle Beets,

MBB Fruited Dump Cake

15 Cook’s Choice 16 Cheeseburger Tator Tots

Brussel Sprouts MB

Assorted Dessert

19 Chicken and BiscuitsHarvard Beets

MB Cookie

20 BBQ Beef on a BunColeslaw Peas

Fruit Crisp with Topping

21 Turkey DinnerMashed Potatoes with Gravy, Stuffing, Green

Beans, Cranberry Sauce, Dinner Roll, MB,

Pumpkin Pudding

22 Savory Baked FishCheese Potatoes

Zucchini and TomatoesMBB

Oatmeal Pie

23 PizzaItalian Mixed Vegetables

Warm Cinnamon Applesauce

MBAssorted Dessert

26 Sweet & Sour Pork overRice, Oriental Vegetables

MBB, Assorted Pudding withTopping

27 Slice Meat and CheesePlate, Broccoli Salad, Roll,

MB, Fruit Fluff

28 Chicken Pot PieYellow Squash

MBFruit Crumble

29 Cook’s Choice 30 Turkey Tetrazziniover Noodles

Stewed TomatoesMBB, Assorted Dessert

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Mature Living is published as a community service to the older residents of St. Lawrence County. Funded in part by the Administration on Aging, New York State Office for the Agingand St. Lawrence County.

ST LAWRENCE COUNTYOFFICE FOR THE AGING80 STATE HIGHWAY 310, SUITE 7CANTON, NY 13617-1497Telephone: (315) 386-4730

IMPORTANT SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER DATES

Monday, September 5 Labor Day - County Offices and Nutrition Sites Closed

Tuesday, September 6 Pedro Card Game @ 7PM – Canton Grasse River Apartments, 37 RiversideEvery Tuesday

Thursday, September 8 County Council Meeting – 10AM / Potsdam American Legion/ Public Welcome

Sunday, September 11th “Rememberance of 9-11” Grandparents, Day-Enjoy Your Grandparents!!

Monday, September 12th Office for the Aging Advisory Council Meeting @ 10:30 AM at Potsdam - Midtown Apartments Nutrition Site – Lunch follows at noon-Public Welcome

Friday, September 23rd North Country Chapter of NY StateWide Senior Action Council Meeting -

9:30 AM – 2:30 PM @ Canton VFW / 34 Gouverneur Street

Monday, October 10 Columbus Day -County Offices and Nutrition Sites Closed

Thursday, October 13 County Council Meeting – 10:30AM / Potsdam American Legion; Public Welcome

Monday, October 31 Halloween

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